There was a sharp knock at the door and the Captain looked up.
“Enter,” he said and the door opened. The Lieutenant strode into the room and came to attention. The heels of his boots clacked together and there was not a wrinkle on his uniform. He saluted smartly and held it until the Captain acknowledged it with a half salute of his own.
“You wanted to see me Captain!”
"Yes Lieutenant" the Captain said, looking up from the papers he held in his hand. “We have received a communiqué from the Admiralty. It seems that another crisis has developed and the High Admiral asks for our help.”
“What is it sir? Have we been invaded? Is the enemy on the move? Should I order the legions to full alert?” The Lieutenant still stood at attention, not a hair out of place, never wavering in his stance.
“No Lieutenant,” the Captain said, setting the paper down on his desk and folding his hands. “It seems that the High Admiral is planning a barbeque this weekend and, during the move into her new house, has misplaced her grill! Besides her Officer Corp, I believe the Admiral has invited the entire Diplomatic Service and various members of the Viking Leadership. It seems that without a grill, her barbeque would be considered a disaster. I have official orders here that we are to design as many barbeque grills as possible and post them in the forum. It does not matter if they are charcoal, gas or nuclear powered. She just wants grills!”
“What shall we do sir?” the Lieutenant wanted to know.
“Alert all sections that I am placing the forum on Red Sauce Alert! Cancel all leave and recall everyone you can get in touch with. I need grills, Lieutenant! I need them as soon as possible so the Admiral will get off my a#$%$#!”
“Any special orders Captain?”
“Well Lieutenant, I would suggest you remind our gallant men and women that the grills must be objects of their own creation! No stamps! No animations and above all, no backgrounds! Let’s get the word out immediately, Lieutenant. We will give this the highest priority. Codename…'Operation BBQ Grill'.
“Yes Sir!” the Lieutenant saluted. He did an about-face and marched out of the office, quietly closing the door behind him. The Captain sighed and put aside the Admiral’s communiqué. Reaching into his desk, he pulled out the latest issue of Hot Rod Magazine and turned to the article on “Hot Rod Girls!” Now where did he put those imported Viking cigars?
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| Kaye |
Nick |
