Kurt's Pretty Lady by Cliff Ashbridge - HTML preview

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The launch of War Club went off without a hitch. It obtained orbit and was being positioned by the master engineers at the consoles in the command center at Dreamland. Tom Crenshaw was standing next to Mary Anderson who had her arm tightly around Kurt’s waist who also had his arm around her shoulder and was enjoying her clinging to him. Bob Riddle was on the other side of Crenshaw.

“The Soviets have launched their satellite and are trying to position it near War Club’s position over the northern hemisphere,” Crenshaw said. “They’re having some difficulty as they didn’t expect us to use stealth technology in our killer satellite. We’re using the same technology we use with our aircraft. They’re having trouble locating us. The only hint they have is when we fire one of our test shots. Their sensors can pick up the source of the beam, but we move right after shooting and they can only guess as to which way we went. They’ve already tried one shot and have missed by several miles. How many shots did you say they would have before the system burns out, Mary?”

“Only three before it overloads. From what your people told me, they tried one test shot on the ground before launch to test it and the second one came when they missed War Club. They may only have one left, although they don’t know it yet. I just hope they miss as badly as on the first shot.”

Crenshaw said, “We’re about to give them another chance, Mary. Ed Jones over there is now maneuvering the satellite for one more test shot at a drone aircraft over the Arctic. He should be firing the pulsar in another minute or two. By the way, Mr. Riddle, how did things go between Iran and the Russians?”

“The Russians reported that an Iranian C-130 went down in the mountains in Russia during a severe storm and they sent the charred bodies of the crew back to Iran along with parts of the aircraft and their sincere condolences. Our other contact said they think Panin defected by getting on the plane with Miss Tishinsky and they think both of them perished with the Iranians in the Gulf between Sweden and Russia as the boat they thought was there to pick them up was never found after another storm came up right after the rescue from the island, so it looks like the matter is completely closed. We have still given Victor and Vicky new identities and a new home in the western United States though.”

Ed Jones turned to Crenshaw and said, “We’re ready to fire at the drone.” “Fire and move quickly, Ed.”

“You got it, boss.”

Jones input the codes for the firing sequence and seconds later a brilliant flash of light streaked out of the northern sky and vaporized the drone flying at 200 miles per hour over the Arctic snow.

The Soviet killer satellite technicians tried once again to fire at War Club, this time the beam from the Soviet satellite was very weak and although it was a direct hit, it did not do any damage.

Jones turned to Crenshaw and said, “Doesn’t that constitute an act of war, shooting at our satellite, even if it didn’t’ damage the satellite?”

“Crenshaw replied, “I have the authority to protect our satellite the same as a navy captain has the authority to protect his ship at sea. You may rotate and fire on the Soviet killer satellite.”

Jones grinned and turned back to his panel. “Thanks boss, I was hoping you’d say that!”

Jones gave the command to War Club to rotate and target the Soviet killer satellite. The huge satellite rotated on command and then waited for the firing command. Jones then input the command for war Club to fire and two seconds later the Soviet killer satellite was blown to pieces. A cheer went up throughout the entire room as technicians gave each other high fives.

Riddle said with a look of relief, “Well, it looks like we’ll stay number one in defending world peace for a while, Mr. Crenshaw.”

Mary let out a sigh and said, “Well, you don’t seem to need me for a while, Tom. Do you mind if I collect some of that overdue vacation time to get married to this wonderful man I’m holding on to?”

“Be my guest, Mary. See you when you decide to come back.”

Mary gave him a hug, then put her arm through Kurt’s and said to Tom Crenshaw, “We have a vacation wedding planned in Las Vegas, see you later, Tom!” With that, Mary and Kurt walked out the door of the control room and made their way out of the complex to her car.

Riddle turned to Crenshaw and said, “My secretary has flown out too. She is going to take Kurt’s son back home to stay with her and her husband until they get back from their honeymoon.”

Kurt and Mary were married at a small, private party paid for by the NSA in Caesar’s Palace, after which, Bob Riddle and Mrs. Clancy flew back east accompanied by Brian. Victor and Vicky also attended the wedding with Riddle and Mrs. Clancy along with Brian as the Best Man and were then off to Omaha and a new life after the ceremony.

Kurt and Mary had a suite in the penthouse, compliments of the NSA. It was the final thank you from the agency for the job they had done. Their bags had already been deposited in their suite before the ceremony and after Kurt put the key into the door and unlocked it, pushed it open and put the key back in his pocket. He turned and put his arms around Mary and gave her a sensual kiss, soft and warm. Mary felt a sudden burst of orneriness. She reached up and put her arms around Kurt’s neck and lifted herself up and wrapped her legs around his waist while still in her white knee-length wedding dress. She leaned back with her hands locked behind his neck and gave him a big grin. He laughed as he pulled her close and whispered, “This is a new way to carry the bride across the threshold! I love you, pretty lady.” Mary giggled as he stepped through the doorway and kicked the door shut with his foot. Still in a tight embrace and her legs still locked around him, he carried Mary across the living room and through the open double doors into the bedroom. She put her legs down and he let go of her so they could both take in the luxury of the suite.

The bedroom was extravagant. It had deep plush carpeting and a large eight-foot diameter bed up on an elevated platform with a mirrored ceiling above it and a window- wall to the right of the bed