Free Islands of Rage and Hope (eARC) by John Ringo Page B

to monitor the radio.
    "As well as could be expected," Steve said. "Better even. The night sky video has helped immensely with some building pressures from the Euro block."
    "That's the second time I've heard about that video," Sophia said. "Description?"
    "Watch it," Stacey said, laying out some sushi rolls. "It's better if it's not described. Then you'll come back and watch it again."
    "We'd gotten a video from The Hole to show to our people," Steve said. "It was powerful but I ran it past Zumwald as a cross check. He said let him have it and he'd get back to me. Came back a week later with a new one. And it was, yeah, better. But you do need to see it. I think it's over the top. Most people don't agree."
    "I suspect you'll hate it," Stacey said. "And not be able to keep from crying. Your cook left these in the fridge. What is the fish? It's good."
    "Something we found under a raft," Sophia said. "It looked like a triple tail but it wasn't. I was sort of afraid of eating it but Batari just chopped it up."
    "Putting cooks on the small boats is making more sense," Steve said. "But there's a bunch of work to do on the large ships, too. And you really can't have people trying to cook for themselves, there."
    "So what's the problem with the Eurotrash?" Sophia asked, taking a sushi roll. The fish was still fresh and richer even than tuna.
    "The Euros are, understandably, interested in when the squadron is going to put some ships over clearing Europe," Steve said, shrugging. "I'm sure that when I do, Americans will ask why we're not putting all our resources to the U.S. And China has officially requested aid."
    "Hell, we don't even have a Pacific squadron clearing the West Coast," Sophia said. "We're not even clearing the East Coast."
    "We're getting there," Steve said. "Now that the tropical season is over we can work our way in. I'm looking at various concepts. We'll do it. And Europe and, yeah, Asia. Somebody has to..." he added, rubbing his face.
    "Da, it's not all on you, you know," Sophia said softly.
    "No, it's not," Steve said. "It's on all of us. But we'll get it done. Well, we'll get it more done. I want lights on. I want cities lit. Small cities, mind you. There's not going to be many left of us on the land. But we'll get it done. How is the clearance going?"
    "We find boats, we clear boats," Sophia said, shrugging. "Same old same old. Occasional odd items. No biggie."
    "Having any problems with your skippers?" Steve asked.
    "No," Sophia said. "They're good and they're getting better. Teaching them to teach their crews is the tough part. They're learning. Thomas has been a damned blessing, I'll tell you that."
    "The ESL teacher?" Steve said, taking a bite of sushi.
    "He's more than an ESL teacher," Sophia said. "I don't know what, but he's a damned good shot. He's covered in scars. Not like Olga; I know combat scars at this point and he's been blown up and shot so many times he must be held together with stitching like Frankenstein's monster. And he's like a walking dictionary, not to mention a walking translator bot. He says he's a man of many parts. I'm wondering how many."
    "That sounds like an issue," Steve said, frowning. "If he's been less than forthcoming, that's a trust issue."
    "He's been less than forthcoming," Sophia said. "But I trust him. Totally. I don't know why I do. Yes, I do know. He's former military. U.S. He feels like Fontana, you know? He says he was a truck driver but his records got lost. Bull. He was an NCO or something. A senior one. He sort of has that feel. Not like a gunny. Army. But he doesn't, too. Like, he has a quote for everything, like you, Da. But, I dunno. There's more. All I know is I trust him and he's one hell of an asset."
    "Should I look into it?" Steve asked.
    "I'd prefer you didn't," Sophia said. "You're the boss and it's up to you. I don't know why he doesn't come out and say what he really was, but I'd hate to lose him."
    "I ever talk about the French Foreign Legion?" Steve