Chapter One

A New Beginning, Old Friends

I look along the line of fellow graduates. Am I seriously a Seaman of the Australian Navy? "Kasey Stucky." My name bellowed from the PA system as I walked along the line of forever hand-shaking. Finally, I thought. I was through the college and hopefully being stationed on a patrol boat. I should really introduce myself. Kasey Paige Stucky, 24 years of age. Graduated from university three year ago with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic). I then had a gap year and decided to enlist in the navy, my dream. Growing up in a small country town, I was one of the boys. I never liked playing with dolls or dressing up or the tea party thing. I was forever playing with the footy or climbing trees or wrestling with some of the farm animals. When looking at careers in Year 10, only one thing caught my eye: to become an engineer in the Australian Navy. During my gap year, I found out that I was adopted when I was a baby. I decided to go in search of my biological parents, which lead me to going to America. I found them via my biological older brother, Tony. He works with a government agency known as NCIS. I did a bit of work on the side for him while there, and formed a close bond.

"You coming to the bar, later?" Vicki asked me, awakening me from my daydreaming habit.

"Sure am!" I quickly replied, "We won't get assigned until tomorrow. So let's get going!"

"Seaman Stucky." Called one of the commanding officers. I turned backed and saluted in the direction of the voice. "This is your first posting. You fly out at 17:00." I saluted again as I took the envelope. "Your CO will meet you at NAVCOM when you get there."

"Yes, sir, Thank you sir." I replied and raced back to Vicki. "Change of plan, I won't be meeting you for that drink."

"Why not?" She asked.

"I just got my posting, looks like I'm starting early." I said, "Good luck for the future, and keep in touch."

"I will, and I'm holding that drink against you." Vicki replied hugging me tight.

"Okay, I'll catch you later." I replied with a grin.

"My apartment is a mess!" I exclaimed. I did a quick tidy-up, and packed my bags. I looked closely at my watch for time and worked out the time in Washington DC. 01:00 there right now, he'll forgive me. I dial the number and waited for the call to be connected. Undoing the envelope, I pulled out a ticket to Cairns and details about my posting. I re-arranged my things into boxes ready to be sent to my new accommodation and finally there was an answer at the other end.

"It's one in the morning, don't you ever sleep?"

"And a hello to you too, Anthony."

"Kasey, it's one in the morning, why are you calling at ONE IN THE MORNING?!"

"It's two-thirty in the afternoon here, so suck it up!"

"Right, time zone difference. What do you want?"

"To let you know that I'm officially in the Australian Navy. Geez, why else would I wake you at this time!"

"Yeah yeah. Hang on, I got an incoming call… It's Gibbs. I'm going to call you back."

"No you're not! Ever herd of a three-way conversation?"

"Fine." There was a slight pause, "Hello Gibbs." "DiNozzo, get up! We have a case." "Boss, I was rudely awakened by Kasey so you know the 'get up' bit has already been applied." "Oh… How is she? I didn't know she was back in DC."

"I'm not in DC, I'm still in Australia and I'm good"

"Hello Kasey, it's been too long. Are you coming to DC soon?" "Sorry boss, she has to go…" Another slight pause. "Are you coming to DC?"

"No, I fly out of Adelaide at 17:00 for Cairns. I've got my first posting there so… I'll let you go before Gibbs get madder. You know Gibbs will kill you for hanging up like that."

"That's a no brainer, but he'll forgive me later… I'll talk soon. Got to go."

"Say hi to everyone for me!"

"I will, bye." Beep, beep, beep.

"Bye" I replied to the disconnected tone.

...

I looked at the bottom of my laptop screen, it was 15:00. I open a blank email to write to McGee, I had half-an-hour before the taxi arrived to take me to the airport and I had finished packing.

Dear Tim,

How are you? I hope that all is well and the weather is fine. I start my new posting today on a patrol ship, berthed at Cairns (that's in the state of Queensland). I really miss you and hope we can catch up soon. It has definitely been too long since we've seen each other. I hope that you haven't told my brother about us, 'cause I think we'd better go into hiding if he ever found out. Give my love to the "gang" and hope to hear from you very soon.

Coming to you from "Down Under",

Kasey. xxx

I pressed send and packed up my laptop. Taking one final glance around the room, I picked up my bags and locked the door behind me, hoping that something would come of this transition.