11:10am...

Equestrian waters…

I slowly open my tired eyes to hear the sound of running feet. My blurred vision prevents me from seeing much, but through the haze, I see four men running towards me. I try and push myself up from the ground, but as I try, the sailors reach me and help me up. They hold me up by the arms while my vision comes back slowly. When it does, I see two sailors standing in front of me wearing their PASGT uniforms.

“Captian! Are you hurt?” I hear the left one say. I look over, and nod my head. He looks at the right one as he looks at him. They exchange looks before they look back at me.

“Can you stand?” The right one asks. I again nod as the arms let go as I feel my body come back to life. The two helping sailors walk out in front, give me a good look over and salute. Following their example, the two in front do the same.

With a weak arm, I return it, before it falls to my tie and fixes it. I dust my uniform off as my body returns to normal health. After straightening my tan over coat, I look behind the sailors to where the one who had fallen was last seen. He wasn’t there anymore. Looking back to the confused men, I stiffen up my chest and speak.

“Well, we gonna stand here all day, or are we going to find out what the hell happened.” I said from left to right. They nodded with an “Aye aye,” and they move aside to let me pass. I start off in a hurried walk as they follow quickly behind. By the time I had reached the bridge, I had received the status report for the ship. Luckily everyone was fine, minor casualties. I throw open the cabin door to see that, like every sailor I had passed on the way here, the ones in the bridge had their PASGT uniforms on too. They talked and shifted about, taking control of the ship.

“Alright, talk to me, what we got?” I ask, walking over and re taking the helm. The room becomes silent as they begin looking at each other, as if they weren’t sure how to talk. Soon, one of the sailors turn around and begins to talk.

“Well sir, the assistant captain has ordered general quarters. The security teams have swarmed the ship and have found no signs of an enemy. The only thing we’ve seen was, the ship off our portside.” I look portside as I leave the cabin to the platform, and sure enough, a giant ship loomed in the distance. A pair of binoculars was pushed into my view.

I look down to see who gave them to me. It was one of the sailors from the two spotting teams, he looks like he was no more than 24 years old. Thanking him, I lifted them up to my eyes and looked out towards the mystery ship. I started at the bow, getting a good focus and working my way back.

This ship was old, it had three main tri-battery cannons, just like the Missouri. It’s ID number was small, unlike ours which was big. It didn’t have modern equipment like us as well, I would guess it was probably mid second world war. It’s super structure was massive, and it bristled with anti-air guns. To top it all off, the stern of the ship housed what looked like a recon plane set up, something that hasn’t been mounted on a ship since world war 2. I lean out of the binoculars and look around me, puzzled, like I was searching for a an answer. I look back at the sailors who were now surrounding me gripping their M-16’s. They wore mixed faces, some scared, some confused.

All the sailors on the lower decks also looked out towards the ship, just like me.They were just as confused, like me. I didn’t have an answer, so I looked back, trying to find one. This time I zoomed in on the superstructure. I watched in awe as if what I was seeing was a dream, sailors marched about with their rifles drawn. But, something was off about these men, they look different. They looked out of place, they looked older, but younger at the same time.

I watched a particular sailor standing guard outside the bridge. His helmet, weapons, clothing, gear, was old. But some how, they looked new. His helmet was a World War Two ballistics helmet, his gear was merely just a belt with ammo pouches sewn into it. His top was a light blue shirt, and his pants were merely dark blue jeans. His boots weren't really boots at all, they were black leather shoes.

His uniform was strange, as if he stepped back in time to world war two, I laughed at the thought of him being a war re-enactor. But, my laugh died quickly when I saw his weapon.

“M1 Garand…” I whispered softly. What did this mean? That light, the shaking, the blackout, that ship? Did we travel back in time? Einstein said it was possible, but he just wasn’t sure how. Did we finally do it? Can we go back?

I zoomed out and looked at the other sailors on the ship's superstructure. They wore the same attire, further proving my point. I watched for a good while, until I began noticing something strange. The sailors on that ship, were watching us, just like we were watching them. It got to the point where I looked up at the bridge again, and saw their captain walk out. He looked at me, and then was handed a pair of binoculars from another sailor, just like we did. I looked out in fear as his eyes, met mine.

“Holy shit…” I said out loud. The sailors closest to me looked in wonder as I took a step back from the railing.

“Sir, what’s wrong?” Came a sailor that walked out in front of me. I pointed towards the ship and looked at him dead in the eyes as I spoke.

“We… have gone back in time… and that ship… is looking at us. And I don’t like this one bit.” They all seemed to stop moving about, as if they were frozen in time. The ones that weren’t looking at me, slowly turned my way with gaping mouths. Their faces drooped down in awe as others began laughing while the remaining ones just looked at me. Suddenly, one of the sailors stopped laughing and looked towards the ship, pointing as he spoke up.

“What in the hell are you talking about? Sir, have you been watching Back to the Future again?” His hand fell to his hips, “or are you just screwing with us?” I look at him angered eyes and his hands fall down to his sides while everyone else around me continued laughing. Soon, he began nudging the sailors to stop, and after about 30 seconds, everyone was quiet again. Regaining my posture I give the sailor the binoculars and pointed towards the ship.

“Why don’t see for yourself.” After saying this he snapped around towards the ship and looked out. Five seconds later, his mouth dropped.

“Holy god… the captain is right.” The men who were still smiling stopped and looked at the befound sailor. He slung the binoculars around his neck and turned around, straight as a stick. Following his example, the others around his did the same.

“We’re sorry to doubt you sir, Awaiting orders captain.” After saying this I heard footsteps run off behind me. I turn around to see the bridge regaining it’s staff as they begin preparing the ship. They throw on their caps and headphones, while other rearm with their rifles and vests and rejoin me on the platform. I thought for a moment, searching for my next move. Finding my move, I whipped my head around and entered the cabin again.

“Men, set course for that ship. We’re going to meet them,” turning my head the sailor mounted near the intercom I pointed to him, “Get the weapons room on the line, tell them to take up arms.”

“Aye aye captain!” He turned around and dialed up the weapons room and relayed my message. A few seconds later, he turns around and looks at me.

“Which weapons sir?” I turn to him slowly and walk over to him. With uncertainty in my actions to arm up, I grab the phone in my right hand and put it up to my ear. I think long and hard about my next action. This could kill us, crossing two timelines together let alone attacking them. But I guess there was no other way out. I take a breath and speak into the phone.

“All of them…” And with that I slam the phone down and retake the helm.