The Kraken Wars - Epilogue

Epilogue

Time passed more slowly after the  Cobalt Brotherhood abandoned their underwater base. The few Kraken that had been left behind, showed a listless quality and were easily collected. Without the stimulation by the Marconi Receptive Leaf, they gradually became lass and less a terror threat.

The Cobalt Brotherhood seemed to have abandoned Piracy by Kraken, and if they had undertaken any other form of larceny, it remained unknown.

Air Piracy was still a matter of concern to Consolidated Airship Transport.
The Ajax Class of Armed Merchantman became ubiquitous, and was included in any convoy of two or more Cargo Blimps.

Susan Wayne was promoted to Arms Officer and Trainer Of Gunnery. This move did ease her fathers mind, but the main reason for that promotion was Susan: her skill as a pilot, her natural ability as a gunner, and her talent as an instructor. She surprised everyone with her  patience and calm, attributes for which she was previously unknown.

Jack and Phineas by now were rather wealthy: though, truth be told, they were never what one could call poor. The airships; Kraken Bane and Kraken Doom, were none the worse for the wear and long flight miles. After a cleaning and refit they were moored on either side of Nymbus in her slip on Never Drift. A Video Production Company wanted to lease them for a documentary they wished to make on the entire history of The Kraken Wars. Jack and Phineas were adamant, and would not trust anyone with their Cutters.

Then there was the little matter of what to do with The Device; it should be returned to the Department of Naval Procurement. Jacob Elwood wanted no part of taking it back. It was listed as lost aboard a Flying Boat, it couldn’t just turn up again.

Nymbus and Bane were flown to the secure dock at Hollywood Airport and a switch was made. The hulls of the Cutters were identical, so the lift bags were deflated and and the hulls were exchanged. Nymbus now carried The Device and Jack retained control of it. Jacob was finally able to get a good nights sleep.

Phineas had become much enamored of Kraken Doom and offered to buy her.

“Phineas, I have watched you fly Doom in fair weather and foul. She was yours the day you first took the helm. It was plain to me that you were bonded. Take her with my blessing. Live long and well.  Fly high and far.”

Phineas and Doom, liftoff on Tong Island

Kraken Bane was sold to Consolidated Airship Transport. Susan had her canon replaced with the Rifled Rapid Fire guns that were used on the new Armed Merchantmen. Bane would be used to train gun crews.  Ajax had a copilots seat installed for Tactical Training, and three passenger seats were installed for Student Observers.

Emilene Kogg, Editrix In Charge, was editing Susans new Training Manuals  and Workbooks, which were being printed and published by Sprocket & Kogg Publishers.

Life had become boring!

Then a message came form Stella Celeste, asking Jack and Phineas to come to her office at their earliest convenience.

That very afternoon they entered the Biological Science Office at Caladon Oxbridge University. A very polite receptionist directed them to her office.

Starla Celeste sat behind her desk with a flash drive in her fingers. The corners of her mouth were turned up in a smirk.

Jack and Phineas sat on the other side of her desk, knowing she wouldn't have called them here if it were not important. However, that smirk had them worried. This may not bode well.

She placed the flash drive on her desk and opened a tablet with a map on the screen.

"This small island is on the far western edge of the grid. We know very little about it, or about it's biology or ecologic systems. It is tropical rein forest for the most part and we at first thought it might be the source of the Mysterious Leaf. That turned out not to be the case but our Early Assessment Team found that the number of mammalian species to be smaller than expected. Lots of lizards, salamanders, toads, frogs and snakes but the most common mammal was a huge rat. Really huge! "

"This drawing of a skull and the thirteen pages of text are all that we received from a wireless transmission. Jeremy Watson Scott is one of our best field researchers and a meticulous scientist. He is well known for always being armed, but as far as we know, he carried only his personal sidearm. We have had no contact with him for over a week. "

"The rat he described in this dispatch is unlike anything on record: its weight is in excess of 150 pounds, it is comfortable in a bipedal stance, moves on four legs with  the speed and agility of huge ground squirrel, it is mostly nocturnal and is arboreal in nature and not often found on the ground. It is quite wary but can become aggressive."

"I would consider it a great favor if one or both of you would collect some specimens for the Natural History Museums Mammal Collection. What we wish most is for you to  contact Jeremy Scott. We are worried about him. Our exploration staff has an extraction team, but they are, ummm, occupied at the moment."

"You would of course be on contract at staff level with appropriate salary and benefits for the duration of said contract and duration is open ended. All reasonable expense will be paid, of course.”

Jack picked up the flash drive and said,”I assume all the data is on this. With the end of the Kraken attacks, we seem to have time on our hands. You should hear from us in a week.”

They stood and walked from Starlas office. She whispered, “I do so hope”


                                                   The Kraken Wars Are Ended