From:    brendan.dillon@xx.xxxx.xxx 
Date:    Sat Nov 29, 2003 11:23 am
Subject: Norman makes his move


The red light changed to green, and a Chevy Lumina turned to enter the Food Lion
parking lot. The driver looked around to see the progress since yesterday. The
operation headquarters had been built up nicely in the last couple of weeks.
With little else to do, troops had cordoned off a section of the parking lot,
built large tents for command and staff centers, and set up power and
communications equipment to support the operation.

The car came to a halt, and Bevin Conners stepped out in Class B uniform. As
commander of Operation Gripping Hand, she had again assumed the acting rank of
General in the Oligarchy Army. She flashed her ID at a sentry, who gave her a
quick salute.

Inside the command tent, she met Colonel Robert Tageki, commander of the 82nd
Airborne's 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Bevin's second-in-command. "Any
news?" she asked, resignedly.

"Nothing. Norman hasn't made a peep in two weeks. I'm starting to think he never
wanted global power, he just enjoys sitting on the throne and pretending."

"Not likely. I know Norman better than that. He's planning something, and we're
going to have to be ready. How are the troops?"

"Well, they're starting to get complacent, after all the silence. We've started
doing drills to keep them on their toes. And needless to say, morale's dropping.
No one likes blockade duty."

Bevin nodded and sighed. She handed a dollar to a young Private. "Run over to
the Food Horsie and get me a bottle of Coke." As the soldier left, she sat down
behind her desk. It was going to be another slow day.

* * *

Matthew Pulley, Chief of Staff of the Emperor, entered Cronan's old office in
the west building of Enloe. Norman the Elf sat in a tiny chair on top of the
desk. "'Morning, Emperor," said Matthew. "I've got good news."

"Project Escort?" asked the diminutive conqueror.

"Yeah. R&D finished it this morning."

"Excellent. Let's take it for a spin."

Matthew carried Norman out of the building towards the Enloe motor pool. Norman
eyed the bored soldiers standing guard just outside of the grounds, perking up
when they noticed the self-declared Emperor. One reported the sighting over a
field radio, but none seemed to be expecting anything unusual.

* * *

That changed a couple minutes later. Col. Tageki got the call from a company
commander along Clarendon Crescent. "Bevin," he said after hanging up, "Norman
and Matthew just drove a car up to the west parking deck. They're headed towards
the Mustang ramp."

Bevin grabbed a pair of binoculars and ran outside. Peering towards the ramp,
she saw a red Ford Escort revving up for launch.

"That's Cronan's old car! Shit, they did a thruster conversion! Scramble the
choppers, now!"

* * *

Norman stood on the dashboard as Matthew floored the gas and sent the car flying
off the ramp. A few surprised troops popped off rounds at them, but the Escort
pulled hard left away from the Clarendon perimeter.

Three Apache helicopters launched from the shopping center roof to pursue the
car. Matthew brought the Escort about and fired a rocket at the lead chopper,
which went down hard next to New Bern Avenue. He then hit the thrusters at top
speed, and took off straight between the other two Apaches. By the time they
turned to follow, the car was long gone.

--
Brendan, the Duct Tape Avenger,  | brendan.dillon@xx.xxxx.xxx
GPG; 1SG, KPS OPC; SC, HQ, SURLI | http://www.holyducttape.com

"You've seen generals inspecting troops before. Just walk slow,
look dumb and act stupid." -Major Reisman, "The Dirty Dozen"