There is no death of Jim or Swain in this story. It does take place after the bombing, Swain and Jim do get injured, they manger to remove the stuff and get off just in time. Also this story is OC for the series story line as well as what would really happen in real life. Also Mike and Kate have known each other a lot longer than the show says they have as I have decided that they have a different start to how they got together.

Two days after the boat explosion.
Sitting on the bridge of Hammersley

"Sir stat phone for you." Ro announces to the bridge.

"Who is it RO"

"Commander Rolwes Fleet command he said its urgent Sir."

"Patch it through to my cabin please RO" Mike says as he leaves his chair, giving XO control of the ship a look passes from Kate to him as if to question why fleet command wont to talk to him.

CO's Cabin

"Commander Rolwes, Commander Flynn speaking"

"Hi Mike, Neil here we can drop the formal titles we've known each other far too long for hta business."

"Well then hi Neil how's Linda and kids doing?"

"Doing well and yourself, how's your crew dealing with the events of the other day."

"Better than expected but I think that is largely due to the fact that no one lost their live in that explosion and the injuries are relatively minor which is surprising."

"Yes your Swaino and the Army Captain did bloody well, anyway I should really get to business we have been going over your case regarding your position at present. Now I know you weren't impressed to be staying on and I can understand for five years they have pushed you to take the promotion and a desk job and you don't then you do and they stick you back out there it seemed odd to me so in honestly mate I did a shit load of digging around and have found the issue as to why and I'm not sure why they just didn't bother telling you why they wanted you to stay on."

"So what is their excuse I mean reason?" Mike says and hears the chuckle from Neil on the other end of the line.

"They wanted their best team on the job, somehow Kate and you have the best record. And since you guys were at the first bombing and Miss Cruise was with you it seemed best to keep you guys on the job. Of course having the best on the job is always great and after I went through your guy's reports and success records I can see why, how the hell do you guys have this high a percentage rate on FFV's and everything else. It takes years of service for a Patrol boat to get these numbers not a single team and doing it in half the time that it normally takes others."

"I know we are a great team but still it would've been good to know what was happening."

"True there Mike."

"So what about moving me on? Will that be able to be done or am I going to have to resign?"

"You won't need to resign Mike I totally understand your reasons for it and I explained that to them, your job makes it hard to have a life even a family and alongside the long struggle they have had to get you to be in a desk job it just seems so wrong to not be honest with you? So anything you don't want to be doing."

"I'm ok with anything as long as I'm off Hammersley, I would prefer the desk job I am meant to have at Navcom but anything will do."

"Good we need someone to step in and run HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin, Commander Brightly has taken ill over the last week and the report has him off for several months. Well up to six months. Of course we would provide you with accommodation while you are over there and everything else you need, as I do understand you own your own home so we can have a furnished apartment for you all ready to go."

"When would this happen?"

"Steve is up there right now so was thinking once Hammersley is back in from Patrol next week then give you a few days to sort a few things out before starting in two weeks?"

"Sounds good and who's taking over the reins of Hammersley?"

"That would be Lieutenant Commander Gowing. Not sure how your crew are going to like working under him Mike he is the total opposite of you more like your XO, a strict taskmaster."

"Well if you were to see her now she is not so strict and a hard task master as she use to be, she has relaxed in some areas."

"Anyway Mike I can hear the call for you to go to the bridge. If you need anything feel free to contact me I will email through everything you need to know." Neil says as they hang up and Mike heads to the bridge to see what the issue is. Over the next few hours they deal with the issue at hand.

Later on the same day after dinner

Mike is in his cabin going over the last lot of reports handed to him when there is a knock on his door, he tells them to enter not even looking up to see who it is but once the door closes and the smell of her enters his nostrils he all knows well who it is who has come to see him.

"X what can I do for you?"

"What did fleet command what?" she says as she sits down on his bunk, his eyes and face still looking at the paperwork in front of him.

"Just informing me of how my case went, where I'm going and who's taking over." she sits there shocked he is getting off, stepping down from running Hammersley. 'He must have really meant it when he said nothing would get in the way of our future.' those words that were said to her several months ago running through her head again, and again.

"Why didn't you say something, anything? So when do you finish up and the new CO start?"

"Whys does it matter to you? Your with Jim, I wasn't going to go back on my request to be removed from Hammersley. And to why I didn't tell you um I did tell you, well you see someone told me they have a little birdy who knew I had gone to fleet command, do you real think I would withdraw my application, anyway your new CO is a guy by the name of Lieutenant Commander Bruce Gowing" He hears a groan from her.

"Do you know him?" He says as he finally looks up at her
"Yes he was the XO on HMAS Brigaden, the frigate I was on before I got transferred to Hammersley."
"Well then you will be able to inform the crew of what his standards are like then." She is getting sick of the short sweet answers from him, he's not giving much away to her.

"I beat Maxine will be pleased to have you back, the crew will miss you but at least on shore leave we all can catch up."

"Maxine won't be having me I'm off to Darwin to run Navcom up there while their Commanding officer is out with illness." He sees the totally shock and loss of him being so far away.

"Will you keep in touch?"

"Most likely keep in touch with Charge and check on Swain but other than that no reason to stay in touch with anyone here." He says to her and she can hear the hurt and the dismissal in his voice all at the same time.

"Not even me?"

"Kate..."

15 years earlier

"Welcome you two. I know this is not in the Navy job description but the AFP have asked for experienced and knowledgeable people for this job. And my first thought were you two after they had spoken to me about the job at hand."

"What is it you want us to do?" Mike asks. Sitting there thinking about being back out on Hammersley sailing the seas, not here in Canberra a fellow sailor.

"You both going under cover. We have been able to get the AFP to leave you both with the same first names, Mike and Kate it's not normal but makes it so much easier for any of us Navy, or AFP people who know you Mike to not have to try and remember a different name and then also make it known your undercover for them."

"Undercover in what way Sir?" Comes from Kate.

"You both going to be working for these two officers who will also be under cover, they be your bosses and you two are responsible for the running of a cargo ship, Mike you're the Captain and Kate you're his second in command as well as his wife. Yes I know you look too young to be married but hey it's only looks. You will also be based out of Brisbane as well. Now all the information you need is here in these files you have a week to get your head around it all. For you Kate I can't see that being too much of an issue Mike on the other hand. We have an apartment set up for you two but right now you will be going to a hotel."

"Also remember you two if in trouble remember the code phrase."

"Sir what about when Navy ships won't to board us? They going to know who I really am?" comes from Mike.

"There will be only 2 ships allowed to board you Mike info has already been sent to the CO of those ships, the info is in the pack and if any other Navy ship tries to board you there is information on what you need to do in the info back at the hotel. Go read you've only got a week to get all this down."