Chapter 539

"President Drake."

The messenger was dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant colonel of the United States Army, with an expressionless face and a straight military posture.

"The president's office invites you to drive the cruiser valkiri of your Chamber of Commerce to berth 1 of New York port at 10 a.m. on June 1."

"Invite? Stand by?" Lorraine thought about this sentence, which was obviously flawed. The more he thought about it, the stronger the color on his face.

"Yes, invite and stand by," said the messenger. "President Washington named your warship to visit Boston, and even if the security office strongly opposed it, he still insisted that you arrange the crew list on board."

"In order to keep us as happy as possible during this short journey, the security office ordered me to convey some requirements of our position to you."

The sound is far away and noisy.

It was Lorraine's mood that interfered with his hearing. He had thousands of doubts in his heart. He rushed left and right restlessly, as if he would blurt out a little carelessly.

President Washington is visiting Boston?

For the first time this year? Or the second time?

If it's the first time, shouldn't his trip be over on April 13?

What is the reason for the sudden change of itinerary? What happened?

Lorraine wanted to be a straightforward man, but reason warned him that asking would not produce any value except adding chaos.

Whatever the reason for Washington's change of itinerary, the result is the same for Lorraine.

The key now is that the missed opportunity suddenly came back. All he has to do is hold it firmly.

Thinking of this, he suppressed the excitement in his heart, spread his hands and opened his lips.

"Colonel, go ahead."

The messenger took the paper out of his pocket and spread it out.

"First, the security office wants you to submit the crew list and basic information to us 15 days in advance. We respect Mr. President's opinions, but we also don't want people hostile to the United States to appear on board."

Lorraine nodded: "the list will be handed over to you before 9 o'clock tonight. You can take it back on your return. It's just a statement. I won't accept any opinions on personnel."

"Of course, it's your right."

The messenger twitched in the corner of his eye.

"Second, there are 47 presidential entourages and security personnel. We promise that there will be no more than 20 security personnel, which is also the president's requirement."

"Two hours before the president boarded the ship, most of the entourage will board the ship in advance. We need to take over the ammunition cabin, equipment cabin, kitchen cabin and the president's special cabin on the first floor. This is to ensure the president's safety. I hope you will understand."

Lorraine closed his eyes and thought for a moment: "in half an hour, you can go to valkiri to select the presidential cabin in person. Except for a few functional cabins that can not be adjusted, including my captain's cabin, it is within your choice."

"There are four kitchen cabins in valkiri. You can choose one to take over. You can provide the food for the president and his entourage, and we can provide the food for the crew."

"In addition, in consideration of mutual trust, the equipment and ammunition compartment can be handed over to you. However, the ammunition in the gun compartment and the crew's personal equipment are not within your security scope, and valkiri should maintain the minimum defense needs."

The messenger's eyes jumped even harder.

"You don't need to worry about valkiri's safety, Mr. President, because the American navy will arrange six destroyers to escort you when you go north."

"Whether to escort or not is your own business, and you don't need to consult me." Lorraine said, "I said that keeping your personal equipment and gun compartment ammunition is to maintain the trust of both sides. If Mr. President is willing to trust me, I have the obligation to ensure Mr. President's safety."

"Do you doubt the loyalty of the security office?"

"If in doubt, I will directly refuse your unreasonable request to take over the ammunition compartment..."

The atmosphere of debate is intense and powerless.

The messenger probably never thought that so many differences would arise from this condescending envoy. After reading out all the contents on the paper in a formula, he directly said goodbye.

Before leaving, Lorraine asked the messenger to sort out all his feedback. As for the crew information and cabin selection, the messenger didn't mention it, just like running away in panic.

Two days later, the messenger returned. The commander was demoted to Deputy envoy, and the commander was replaced by a lieutenant general, who was an acquaintance of Lorraine who had met several times during Edward kenvey's time, General Robert Smith.

The colonel is still as expressionless as he was two days ago. He is a little less arrogant and two points more alert.

He introduced General Robert Smith to Lorraine: "because there are many differences between you and me on the defense of the president, Mr. President, the president's office has appointed a higher-level envoy to Miami this time."

"This is General Robert Smith, a member of the Maryland Senate and lieutenant general of the Baltimore fleet of the United States Navy. He is also the commander of this North escort mission. I hope you can establish good communication."

Lorraine raised the corner of her mouth and stood up. "Lorraine, general Lorraine Jonathan Drake Smith, nice to meet you."

Smith raised his head arrogantly, but it was a pity that even with his height, he could only look up at Lorraine's chin, which made him very unhappy.

"President Drake..." he said, "you may not know that your valkiri adopted a lot of my opinions in the design. She should have become a legend of the American navy, not a poor privateer."

Preemptive?

Lorraine raised her eyebrows unexpectedly: "Haite told me about your friendship and your relationship with valkiri. I remember... You seemed to be the commander of the Charles River formation at that time? Haite firmly believed that you were humble at that time and did not need to be responsible for the premature death of the Old Navy revitalization plan. Was he wrong?"

"I'm talking about valkiri's design..."

"Unfortunately, the design draft of varkiri is far from that of the micro battleship in the Old Navy revitalization plan."

Lorraine said in a mocking tone.

"Walkiri's design draft is the main reason why I decided to buy Haite shipyard. Although Edward kenvey is an enemy of Great Britain, his vision is commendable at least in ship design."

"It was his harshness that made Haite's design team abandon a lot of compromise details suggested by you, which prevented valkiri from becoming a mediocre work. I am grateful to him for this."

The preemptive script obviously failed.

General smith sat down in a muffled voice and looked at Lorraine without saying a word.

Lorraine sat down across from him and called Monica for tea.

Until tea filled the study, Lorraine finally made a sound.

"Did General Smith come with the Lieutenant Colonel? It's not close to Baltimore. No matter how fast the ship can go back and forth in two days, as for New York, it's farther..."

"There is no need to hide this matter. If you cooperate enough, I don't need to come forward at all," said General Smith coldly.

Lorraine smiled, "that means the United States is ready to accept my request."

"I don't know how you approached Secretary Hamilton, and I don't know why the president trusted an Englishman so much that he firmly believed that your request would not exceed our bottom line." Smith clenched his teeth. "You're right. I was authorized before I came. Unless you show your intention to murder the president, I will accept your conditions completely."

"So, do you think I want to murder the president?"

"No. just because I know you don't want to, I need to know why you stick to war readiness."

"Probably because the current American navy can't give people a sense of trust?"

Lorraine used a question, but he said a rhetorical question.

"The close protection on the sea should maintain a ship distance of at least 15 meters. Considering that we have no experience in formation navigation, most of the destroyers of the American navy are the Old French and the French modification of the maritime group. There is a big gap with valkiri in speed, and the safe formation distance between us should be expanded to 50 meters."

"With a ship distance of 50 meters, I have at least ten ways to split the frigate and valkiri in a short time. Although this delay will not sink valkiri directly, it is better to do more than less. Mr. President, it is better to be more safe."

……

Even though the president's security office of the United States was more dissatisfied with Lorraine's attitude, the security plan was finalized in the shortest time.

Lorraine did his best this time.

On the valkiri, Lorraine was the captain, Katrina was the first mate, faraming was the second mate of the secret service formation, and Cao was the third mate. Lev continued to manage the Stormtrooper.

The main helmsman and pilot are in the charge of bell during the observation period. Although he was temporarily expelled from the decision-making level due to suspicion, Lorraine still trusted his skills, and from the performance, he really didn't look like an exposed spy.

In other positions, Haina is in charge of the lookout, Karen is in charge of the boatman, the sailor, the acharin cannon, and Wang is also in charge of the kitchen and deck.

Noah's divination room has always been the spiritual authority of valkiri, and Carmen's staff room is the intellectual authority. This time, little Sharon was also transferred to the ship, and the secretary was the second Chief of staff.

In addition, the first formation, which was badly damaged in the Indian War, is under reconstruction and is not expected to undertake any sailing tasks within half a year.

Their elite sailors were temporarily transferred to varkiri to fill the vacancies of three or four seats.

Anne, fafuna's assistant, stayed in Miami to preside over the reconstruction. Fafuna herself was transferred to valkiri for the first time because of her exquisite drawing and tactical ability, serving as the second pilot and the chief of the tactical room.

Everything is ready.

On May 17, 1786, the fully loaded varkiri finally pulled anchor from the anchorage in the Jackdaw area and left the port.

Lorraine stood proudly in the bow of the boat, watching the pure white embankment retreat further and further.

"Raise the flag on the foremast and turn the bow!" he shouted. "This time we are going to New York to meet a distinguished passenger."

"Maybe someone will be curious and wonder how noble our passenger is... I can only tell you that when he gets on board, he will live in my captain's room, and his flag will be hung on the main mast of valkiri."

"Please try to control your curiosity, guess, don't talk, and don't try to find out the identity of the distinguished guest from our new friend. This is the most important rule of this voyage."

"Let's hope for smooth sailing. I command, valkiri, set sail!"