Chương 83: Just Icelandic Things
Reykjarvík, Iceland (Denmark)
June 8th, 1783
Vice Admiral John Paul Jones of the United States Navy was on a civilian merchant ship, the Happy Wife, while he waited for the volcano to erupt. Technically, he wasn't supposed to be here; he was supposed to be patrolling the Atlantic on the USS Bermuda. However, he was asked by the president himself to accompany the Happy Wife and nine other merchant ships to evacuate people in Iceland when the volcano erupted. The ten ships were officially designated as civilian ships and docked in the Icelandic town of Reykjarvík on June 1st. Thankfully, the locals weren't hostile and allowed the ships to dock in the small port after the American sailors explained that they were there to research the volcanos on the island and trade with the locals. While the crew of the ten ships bought some supplies and traded with the Icelanders, a team of three individuals made their way to Laki to inspect and take note of the volcano right after the ships docked. They weren't on the secret, but they were told by Admiral Jones to return on the morning of June 8th at the latest. The lead researcher, a French Canadian man named Lucas Daoust, agreed and promised to return as soon as he could.
To match the cover story, the admiral was dressed out of his military uniform and was wearing a normal civilian outfit, something he only wore at home when he was with his wife. Ever since he got married (and how he pulled it off, he still did not know), he desired to return back to the states every once in a while. Now? He definitely did not want to go back home, not yet at least (even if his two-year-old kid was waiting for him back at home). Not until he got to watch the volcano erupt and swoop in to save the locals from disaster.
"Admiral," Lieutenant Adam Smith, one of his officers from the USS Bermuda that was accompanying him, asked, "Do you really think the volcano will explode?"
They were ways out from the volcano itself, but Admiral Jones knew that the volcano would catapult ashes, dust, and debris across the entirety of Iceland and then Europe itself. Even if they were some distance away from the Laki Volcano, they would definitely hear and see the volcano erupt.
"I do not know," Admiral Jones "confessed," "But Secretary Jefferson said that he sent a team earlier this year, and the team reported that there was some interesting activity surrounding the volcano. Nothing will probably happen, but I don't know for sure."
Just then, as if God was answered his statement, a loud rumbling noise thundered from the east. The ship didn't rock violently, but Jones felt a vibration shuddering the vessel. Lieutenant Smith felt it, too, and looked off into the distance, "Well, it looks like we have our answer, admiral."
Admiral Jones looked toward the sky and saw that plumes of smoke had already appeared in the sky "Do we have any damn translators with us?"
"We have two, sir."
"Well, tell them to get off their asses and tell the locals that a volcano just erupted. Warn them that smoke and ashes will rain on the village if they don't evacuate and that we're offering them a chance to get off the island before it goes to hell. Also, inform them that any of their belongings and possessions will be compensated, and they can choose to return once it's safe."
"I'll get it done right away, admiral," Lieutenant Smith replied. He scampered off immediately to find the translators.
"Where the hell is that research team?" Admiral Jones bellowed to the other sailors on deck.
"They returned just a few moments ago, sir." One of the sailors answered.
The American naval officer sighed in relief, "I want all the sailors on board to prepare for an evacuation! That volcano just erupted, and if we stay here any longer, we'll be toast. Help any Icelanders fleeing the island on board and assist them with moving their belongings. We leave in two hours, max!"
Reykjarvík had around 10,000 inhabitants, and he only had ten small vessels, but he would have to make do. Not all of them would evacuate, but he was going to do his damn hardest to ensure that those who were evacuated survived. After all, in the other history, thousands died due to the eruption. As the admiral placed his foot on a nearby crate and watched the plumes of smoke clouding the sky, a nearby sailor saw the image and scribbled something on his journal.
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