We
have a couple carriers that are ported here in Cortez. The “Nixon” just left – it’s now ported
up in Washington I believe. Today
it was the “USS Kissinger” that pulled in. They’re all the same, just big ships with a bunch of
people. That’s not how some of the
sailors see it though. For a while
we had 3 ships in port. The
Richard Millhouse Nixon, the Henry Alfred Kissinger, and the Spiro Theodore Agnew. It’s true that Agnew and Kissinger don’t have a ship named after them, or Nixon for that matter (and it’s
likely that none of them ever will) but just like my blog, their true identity
will be forever shrouded in anonymity, or as much anonymity is possible at this
point. I’d hate to defame such a
stellar service that Catherine runs over here. And so I digress.
At
any rate those hooligans from the Nixon caused us quite a bit of trouble when
they were in port. They had so
many of their sailors receive DUI’s that they imposed a ban on rental
cars. One of them tried to choke
the cashier at the McDonalds on base.
One
day a while back a few of the sailors from competing ships got into a pissing
contest about “who’s ship was the best” and started a giant brawl. Something like 140 people were
involved. In all fairness it’s not
all that unusual for people to get into an argument about this sort of
stuff. We call them children.
One
thing that I do enjoy when these ships come in is the business that they
generate. We get a huge influx of
business for the first few hours that a ship comes into port. I just go straight to the main gate and
pick up whomever needs a ride.
There’s no shortage of people who need a taxi at the main gate. People often try to bargain with me on
the fare. I don’t play that game
when it’s busy, and with the Navy, when it’s likely that they won’t be
tipping. Were not alone, I talk to
the servers at the local restaurants and they don’t get tipped either. I don’t make up the rates, the city
does, and although they are expensive, they’re fair.
Since
it’s so busy at the main gate there is typically a shortage of drivers
throughout the city that are needed to pick up passengers at other
establishments/homes. As soon as I
come back into Cortez, Catherine tries to send me to these. I used to oblige, although since her
thievery involving her competing livery service has become more flagrant I have
quit doing so.
I’m
out here to make money, not to appease my boss who is intent on stealing from
us, and since it’s become clear that there doesn’t seem to be any sanctions
handed down from the cab company, I don’t see the harm. I just go over and over to the main
gate and grab rides for $20 a pop.
I do it for the principle of the matter mostly, and to make Catherine
steam. If she’s going to illegally
operate her livery service I’m going to make her work for that money. Money that she’s not legally entitled to by the way, so that I can
make less. I sometimes turn the
radio off entirely so that I don’t have to listen to Julie or Catherine asking
frantically for help.
The
business continues through the night, but dwindles after a few hours and then
spikes again, typically around 11, since the sailors usually need to be back on
the ship by midnight. When they
leave the bars and request a ride back to the base they usually need a little
help. This was my conversation
from my last ride.
Me:
Hello, where are you going?
Sailor:
To the base.
Me:
Which base are you going to ? (There’s like 7 Navy installations near the City
of San Diego)
Sailor:
The Navy base.
Me:
Which Navy base are you going to?
Sailor:
The Navy base.
Me:
Right, but there are several, I need to know which specific one you are going
to.
Sailor:
The one here on the Island, on the other side.
Me:
They’re all on the other side.
What’s the name of the base you need to get
to?
Sailor:
I’m going to the ship.
Me:
What’s it called?
Sailor:
It’s over there. (Pointing)
This
is ridiculous. How can you not
know the name of the ship your on, or which base you’re currently ported
at? These are kind of important
details. Do they lose their gun
too?
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