Chapter 1: decommissioning the old girl.
The crew of the Fremantle class HMAS Hammersley looked around their old workstations for the last time as the hour of her decommissioning quickly approached. The air around the ship was filled with sadness because many of the sailors had come to love the old girl especially the XO Lieutenant Kate McGregor. When she had first set foot on the ship she saw herself as a 'big ships sort of person' but now after 6 months she thought otherwise she did fit in here after all. There was also excitement in the air because some of the sailors were beginning to think of things to come on the new Armadale class Hammersley.
The captain of HMAS Hammersley picked up the radio that was connected to the ships internal tannoy system and squeezed the transmit button wanting to give the crew a final message before they disembarked for the final time.
"do you hear there captain speaking as the day of the old girls decommissioning is upon us I would like to take the chance to say thank you to each and every one of you. You have been an amazing crew to work with and I would like to see everyone on the new Armadale class Hammersley that I have just been informed that I will be commanding. That's all"
After his short speech he placed the radio back on the console and then slowly left the bridge. Heading up to the quarter deck for the ceremony.
Everyone was fallen in on the wharf with Hammersley in the background, they were ether in the guard lead by lieutenant Nikki 'Nav' Caetano and Petty Officer Boson Pete 'Buffer' Tomaszewski. Or in the unarmed platoon lead by Lieutenant Kate 'X' McGregor. This was with the exception of the 2 lucky sailors that had been chose to lower the white ensign on the aft of the Hammersley for the last time and then hand it to their captain, so that it could be handed to the chief of Navy ready for the new Hammersley. The 2 lucky sailors were Able seaman Becca 'Bomber' Brown and Leading Seaman Robert 'RO' J. Dixon. Another sailor that had an important job stood on the quarter deck was seaman Natalia 'Bambi' Jones she was the bugler. The brass that had made the trip down from Canberra sat on the benches that lined the side of the dock joined by the senior staff from NAVCOM including Commander Steve Marshall.
Stood next to the Australian sailors that where all smartly dressed in their white dress uniform where a group of sailors that wore the same uniform except the jacket and trousers that they wore where black along with their boots. The 2 platoons where from British Royal Navy patrol boats HMS Raider and HMS Severn. They were honoured that they were invited to join in with such a special day.
Bambi started to play the bugle that hung over her shoulder on its ceremonial rope. Bomber started to lower the ensign for the last time then with the help of RO proceeded to fold it the allow him to march over salute the captain and hand him the flag.
Once the Chief of Navy had been given the ensign the band fell in next to the guard and everyone was ready on the parade the parade commander (Mike Flynn) started to do his job.
"Parade hoe!" with that the parade was stood at attention ready for the next orders. "parade with the band leading, move to the right in column of route. Parade right turn" with that the parade was ready to march down the wharf. "parade by the right quick march" and they were off for the final time showing their proudness of the old girl.
A/N I don't own anything you recignise in this story. the rights go to the creators. this is just something I came up with. sorry its a slow start but things will pick up soon. I hope to hear your thoughts too. I have no Beta so any mistakes are my own, English isn't my strong point but I do try my best.