Ch.1:Failed interception

"I have it, Sir." Charge said from the EOD. "Good. Prepare for a warning shot. XO, lead the boarding team, taker Buffer, Jasper and Spider. Remember, they are in the protected zone- we are allowed to use everything to stop them" the CO ordered.

The boarding team met at the armory to equip, and Spider shared his thoughts:"Maybe it's a ghost ship". "According to that we saw on the EOD it's the flying dutchmen. A rusty bucket, propably only hold together by duct tape and good wishes" Jasper joked, and Buff asked:"So now you are the expert for ships? ": "You gamble with your life, comrade. Better think about it twice, before I replace your firing pin with a toothpick". "Enough. We should go."Kate interrupted them, and led the team to the boat deck. After a last weapons check they climbed into a RHIB and left the ship.

The suspected ship, a bigger white motoryacht, drived with 12 knots into the protection zone around the australian gas and oil production platforms.
The boat droved a bow and tried to come closer to the yacht from behind.
They spotted no one until they was only 50 meters away. Then, from one second to the other, hell opened doors to the sailors.
they heard the sound of starting RPGs, the "Splash" as they landed in the water and all this underlayed with the characteristic "Ratatat" of AK47, which no one who heard it will ever forget. For a moment Jaspers mind traveled back into northern afganistan, were his unit once walked directly into an ambush. He waked up from Buffer, who yelled towards the the driver:"Bring us out of here!". The RHIB turned hard, and the 4 tried to response the fire with their personal weapons. The SAS man raised his rifle, spotted a movement on the yacht, he pointed the crosshair of his scope on the target and squeezed the trigger 2 times. He felt the recoil of his weapon and saw the enemy's body fall into the water, directly behind him Spider felt a hit, struggled and fallen ofer the RHIB's air chamber into the seas. The yacht speeded up, turned and left the area. XO raised her hands to signal the boat's driver to stop the engine. The boat changed the course slowly to pull Spider back in.
The yacht was out of range and still drived with full power, so they decided to
take the dead enemy in too and return on the ship. Spider was not injuried, but the enemy was dead. He weared a black combat dress, and a tactical vest.

On the bridge the CO has to make strategic and tactical decisions. "Sir, do we follow them?"Nav asked, and Mike's head fast worked through the list of options. "No. We are here to protect the platforms and directly behind the end of the protection zone the Australian naval space is over. We will not reach them ,and to pick up our crew members is more important. I am sure that the enemy will make a second try."

After the sailors on the RHIB reached the ship they went to the armory. "Fuck. They are all in all 3 bullets in my body armor" Spider said shocked as he checked his vest. Jasper answered:"See the good side. Better three bullets in the vest than an RPG in the boat"."Funny. but even without an direct RPG hit the boat is heavy damaged. It is nearly a wonder that they made it out there alive. We should go to the debriefing"Buffer said.

Minutes later at the briefing room Buffer said:"We droved directly into an ambush". "We all knowed that this could happen since this Korean smuggler telled us. But it seems like he maintained silence about the fact that his customer buyed next to the explosives other heavy weapons too. Maybe his last poor try to revenge, now we have to deal with this situation"the CO said. As he saw a red-edged cut at Buffers uniform he asked:"Buffer!You are injuried?"."Only a scratch,Sir"the sailor answered. "Sure. Let Swain and Bomber take care of this".

"I don't know why, but you are like a magnet for bullets. And you are a lucky, it's only a graze shot wound."Bomber said while she treaded his wound with a bandage. But even through he was smiling it was easy to hear that she was worried about her. "Yeah he was a lucky one-because I renounced to remove the firing pin from his rifle"Jasper joked as he plugged his head through the door."Get out of here before you become the next patient!"Bomber joked back and throwed a empty water bottle against the SAS trooper who pulled his head out of the door and closed it. "So, it seems liken in the last time you are the one who need a guardian angel"she said and finished the wound treatment. Buffer embraced her and answered:"I have an angel-that's more than the most people ever get".

Jasper went to the garbage room, were the body bag with the dead enemy was storaged. He opened the zip of the bag, grabbed on his right hip and pulled out the combat knife he always weared there. The blade was so sharp that it was usable as a razor, so it easily cutted through the textile material of the enemy's uniform. But he got disturbed by the CO's yell:"What to hell you are doing there, Sergeant?!". "Only checking a theory, Sir."- "Okay. Show me"the CO said calmer. Sergeant Nicols cutted the uniform sleeves of the enemy comleteley open, so they saw the skin. "Bingo,Sir. That was what I expected." On the arm of the enemy was a tattoo, a black bat. "So. A unit logo or what?"Mike asked. "Exactly. Soviet or russian special forces. Many of them work as paramilitaries and mercenaries now.". Mike was completely calmed now:"Okay. That's good input. But please next time ask me before you act. I will inform NAVCOM now."

LTC Mike Flynn walked to his office, closed the door and grabbed satphone.
"Commander, Mike Flynn here."
"Good to hear from you" What happened?"CMDR Marshal asked.
"A motoryacht violated the protection zone, fired upon us and escaped. We killed one, and identified them as an former member of an eastern europe speznaz unit. We need orders". After a few seconds Commander Marshal answered:"Okay Mike. We send you a helicopter to transport the body on the main land. I will inform you when the authopsy is made or we got any other intel."

2 hours later a seahawk helicopter flown in, balanced out over the Hammersley's stern deck and lowered a loop- Swain and Buffer mounted he body bag into it, and the grey MH60 helicopter left. "A rare view" Mike on the bridge. "A clear sign that NAVCOM takes it serious."XO said. "I am not sure if this is a good thing"Lieutenant Commander Flynn answered.

The ship returned to the patrol course and the night laid darkness over the seas. Noone abour hat even a small thaught of the huge hazard towards the security of the ship, the platforms and even australia's national security.