“Message from the Ruth take up station ten thousand feet at a five-mile radius. Watch for any sign of vessels fleeing or returning to the pirate bas...e. We are going to look silly circling like vultures up here sir.”“I would rather look silly then have to be one of those marine officers who have to go in and secure the pirate base. They are in for a rough night. Even if the pirates all surrender, and I have no illusions that will happen. Helm begin our scheduled course. Lieutenant Collins sound. When he announced plans to reduce the size of the Federal Government by 10% a year though retirement, normal attrition and financial incentives, the expected objections of union leaders were drowned out by the cheers from everyone else. Hal Franks ‘ruled’ the Congress with an iron hand and openly, but always good naturedly chided them when they bloviated or became partisan. He worked with both parties to get needed legislation enacted into law. He shamed them out of much of their hog trough,. For a few minutes he simply watched her work out the limits of her confinement. He resisted the urge to unzip his fly and force her head down onto him right there and then. There would be plenty of time for that later, he reminded himself. Instead, he just watched as she felt the padlocks, the chain, the ring; as she walked a few steps forward, pulling the chain tight, working out the perimeter of her semicircle. The chain only permitted her to move a short distance, barely a quarter of the. As she closed the door behind her and took her seat in the back of her Science class, her professor gave her a glance over the dark frames of his glasses and shook his head, marking her tardy. She was embarrassed; this happened for too often, her being late. It wasn't her fault the bus never ran on schedule and the guy beside her managed to knock her hot mug of coffee out of her hands and down her shirt for the third time in two weeks. She paid attention in class, taking notes on the.