Chapter 1
' six months', thought Lieutenant Nikki Caetano(nav) as she awoke ready for her watch, staring around her cabin that she shared with Lieutenant Kate McGregor (X). Nav was quite thankful that when the time came for a new XO to come onboard the HMAS Hammersly two years ago it had been a women, as nav was the only one on the ship before that, she was thought to be one of the boys as she could beat anybody even buffer the at the drink comps that were held on shore leave.
Nav started making her way to the galley for some breakfast when a hand grabbed her and pulled her into the garbage room, she screamed silently only to find the loving face of her boyfriend E.T staring back at her
" oh we do have to stop meeting like this E.T or rumours will start flying about" she said with a cheeky grin plastered on her face
"hmmm well since shore leave was cancelled I don't think I can control my self any longer" kissing her softly in between each word he continued "i… need…to…have…you" she lent in for a kiss but they were interrupted by the captains voice booming out of the speakers above them.
"Navigator to bridge at the rush", nav gave him one last kiss before rushing out of the door up to the bridge. 'Breakfast will have to wait' she muttered
"Sir" she said as she gave her CO a quick salute before waiting for her orders
"we have just received a mayday call from a very distressed young girl, plot the coordinates nav get there best speed"
At this moment x walked in.
"aye sir" replied nav walking over to the maps.
"x your late you were supposed to be her almost ten minutes ago" said mike(co)
"sorry sir wont happen again" replied x
"eta one hour sir" nav informed
everyone in the bridge looked around to face their female officers, they had all noticed a change in them this morning from their usual punctual and cheery selves.
"what" said x as she and nav looked up to find they were being stared at.
"x, nav are you ok?" buffer said with a slight twinge of concern in his voice
"were fine buff" ensured nav putting on a fake smile which didn't fool anyone.
They returned to their jobs but mike noted to keep an eye on them, they could be coming down with something. There was silence in the room for a couple of minutes then nav turned to x not daring to make eye contact with anyone
"I cant do this much longer kate"
" I know hopefully we won't have to"
"its been 6 months today"
"yeah and its NOT going to make it to seven, where not going to let it"
concerned faces filled the room everyone respected the female officers on a boat this size they were family and nobody liked to see them sad or worried.
"we need to ring harry and will today" said x
"when?" asked nav
"the sooner the better, harry and will need to be upda…." They suddenly realised that they were still on the bridge with most of their crew now staring at them again.
"oh what the hell their going to find out sooner or later" nav said, building up to what she was about to say. "Kate" not waiting for her reply she carried on quickly "look I don't want you to interrupt yeah coz I want to be out of here before you have time to react…. Harry and Will called me the other day… they asked me to tell you that… emm… They… they got someone else"
"who?" x asked with a tremble in her voice "who have they taken now!"
"harry snuck his phone into the throne room where they were discussing it" said nav pretending not to hear x
"Who did they take" now tears rolling down her cheek "oh for god sake nikki just tell me I cant be anybody worse than they already have!"
nav could barely get the words out " f-fran-francis and her bodyguards were.. were all killed except phillip who is really injured"
"no no not her" blinking so the crew wouldn't see her while she was so vulnerable
"I know" nav whispered blinking back her own tears"will said as soon as we get close to base we have to ring them and he'll send a copter over so you can go to London 'secretly' of course for protection he said there was no way in hell that you were staying over here they cant risk losing you to them not again"
"I am not going to London more people are getting killed over there than over here"
"me neither" nav finished as the x walked out onto the deck. Buffer went to follow her but nav stopped him "leave her, just leave her"
"sorry sir but i knew if i told her in front of you's then she wouldnt break down as bad as if we were alone"
"whats going on nav" mike asked
A couple minutes later she walked back " nik get 'the' radio from my cabin" ordered the x. when she came back the crew watched intently as their XO typed in the numbers.
"Here let me do it, it'll take forever to get through security since you can't say who you are" Nikki said taking the radio from here. 'Security?' ET thought
"Hello I need to speak with Prince Harry or Prince William preferably both... I don't care just put one of them on the damn phone…. Put Carter on…. What do you mean who, he's standing right next to you I can hear him…. Oh for god sake just put Carter on im in Australia im hardly going to kill him through the phone you bitch…. Hey Car erm we need to talk to Harry and will now….", this caused even more glances their way though now they were more confused.
