Two weeks later.

Tuesday

Hammersley

Somewhere out at sea

Kate is checking her emails there is one from Mike. She opens it first.

Hi Kate

How are you doing out there? Missing me yet ? I see you guys are due in back in port on Thursday afternoon was wondering if you won't to have the crew over on Saturday for a BBQ. Lizzie will be up for the weekend as she has been begging my sister to come and visit again so I gave in and said yes to her coming this weekend. Hope you don't mind? Also maybe we should introduce her to the crew what do you think? Anyway will leave it up to you to decide just let me know.

Anyway better get back to work Maxine has me working hard.

And by the way I told Marshall I won't be returning to Hammersley as CO. So he is now on the hunt for a new CO for her as they are going to send Jimmy back to Darwin.

Miss you

Love

Mike

Kate rereads the email several times. She thinks about what Mike has suggested about introducing Lizzie to the crew. Why not some of them have already met her at the hospital it won't make any difference if the rest find out and why not do it under our terms and not under someone else's terms. Kate replies to Mike's email agreeing to the BBQ and introducing Lizzie to the crew.

After Kate sends off the email she notices a new email come in it is from Commander Marshall. Why is he emailing me why not ring and talk to me? Kate opens the email

Lieutenant Kate McGregor

You are properly wondering why I am emailing you instead of ringing and talking to you. But I felt that this way it gave you time to think read over and process what I am about to ask you.

I am well aware that you would prefer a shore posting for both yourself and Mike. I can understand why you two wont to be on shore. But we are left with a slight problem we are short a Commanding Officer that is able to take control of a Patrol boat at this time.

When speaking to the Brass here in Canberra. They have asked if you would be prepared to take over command of Hammersley for the next twelve months. I know this is a big ask of you. I would not normally do this but I think with what has been going on at present it would be better for someone who knows the crew and has been acting CO of Hammersley to take over. It does involve a promotion.

This would also for the time being would help me with placements of the two of you.

Think it over and talk to Mike about it if you won't.

I know it leaves you with out an XO but XO's are easier to find than CO's

Thank you

Commander Steve Marshall

Do I won't to do this? God I won't to be on land with Mike and Lizzie. God what do I do. I will talk to Mike and see what he says. Wonder if he has heard back about the course idea he has put forward to them.

Cairns

Navcom

Mike is in his office working on some paper work when his desk phone rings

"Commander Mike Flynn speaking"

"Mike Steve Marshall speaking"

"Hi Steve what can I do for you?"

"Mike the proposal you sent re course in cairns for training up Executive officers and also buffers the Brass likes the idea."

"That is good to hear"

"They also like the course plan you did up as well with the high lights on important things that need to be addressed. They also liked how you wanted it to work for both the Patrol boats and frigates as well. But there is a down side"

"What is that Steve?"

"They won't you to run it not Kate" Mike is not impressed

"But Steve I have a job here at Navcom. And why can't Kate do it she be perfect for it?"

"They feel a Patrol Boat Co would be better doing it. Re Kate not doing it that is the Brass choice. They are at present going over what you sent and working out the course plan. They have greed to the five week course and one week out at sea on Hammersley. They are just working out the finer details of the course work and topics. You will receive emails form them over the next few days for your help with it all. They won't your input since it is your idea and you will be delivering it. They also suggested getting a second person in to help so start thinking of anyone you know who could be of help for you with running it out of Cairns."

"Ok thank you Steve. When do you think it be up and running?"

"Not too sure they said they wont to get it started as soon as possible so don't be surprised if this is under way within a month."

"Ok thank you Steve I will do my best to be as helpful as I can be."

"I knew I could count on you Mike…."Steve keeps on talking to Mike about more personal things. How his recovery is going. About 20minutes later they both hang up.

Thursday

Mikes place

Cairns

Mike and Kate are sitting down on the couch together watching a movie.

"Mike" Kate says

"Yes Kate?"

"Um Marshalled emailed while I was out at sea. They have asked me to take over command of Hammersley for the next twelve months." Replies Kate sounds a tad down about it. Mike picks this up.

"What's wrong honey?"

"Well if I take it means we end up delaying everything we spoke about. Bringing Lizzie here to live with us."

"Kate just because you are out at sea does not mean Lizzie can't move up here to be with us. I am on land now and my sister is happy for her to come and live with us whenever we are ready and Lizzie is too." Mike and Kate are quiet for a few minutes

"You know Kate taking the position good be a good thing in the long run."

"Why Mike?" asks Kate puzzled

"Well if you take command you get your promotion to Lieutenant Commander. Then when we either decide to expand our family you could apply for another promotion along with a shore posting. Still being able to keep in mind your bigger picture you have for the Navy and being chief one day or is it admiral?" replies Mike

"Did not think of it like that. Though will I cope sending a new Xo out for boarding's when I will still be wonting to be out there myself" Replies Kate, Mike pulls her into his chest and gives her a hug

"You will be fine and anyway with this course that the brass has approved you will get your time out on the water when we are on board." Replies Mike

"Mike what are you not telling me?" Kate asks questionly at Mike

"The Brass approved the course. They won't me to run it and get someone to help me. Marshall said when he rang that the Brass did not wont Kate doing it now I know why. SO every six weeks you will get to lead some boarding's if I think your been good enough." Mike says with a grin on his face

"Oh is that so?" replies Kate playfully

"Yep"

"Well then Sir you won't get to command her then since she will be my baby now an not yours" replies Kate cheekily

"She is still my baby I am just sharing her with you"

"So you would be ok with me taking command of her for the next twelve months that is how long they won't me in command for at this stage."

"I don't mind honey as long as you are ok with it."

"I am going to go email Marshall now and let him know that I will take to job offer." Kate replies as she gets up off the couch.

"Don't take too long ok?"

"I won't, sooner I do it the better less chance of changing my mind or thinking it out far too much." As Kate is walking off she remembers about Lizzie coming and stops and turns around to talk to Mike.

"Mike are we picking up Lizzie tomorrow or is your sister bringing her up here to us?"

"Mum and dad are bring her up they wanted to say hi and visit us both"

"What time they due tomorrow?"

"Mum said about 7pm. I offered them the use of your place since you said you wanted to spend your shore leave here with me" Mike replies to Kate. With a smile on his face. Kate rolls her eyes at him

"Ok no problem." Kate then turns and heads off to get out her laptop and email Marshall back about taking over command of Hammersley

FRIDAY MORNING

Canberra

Marshall is in his office. He is reading through his emails when he sees he has a reply form Kate.

Hi Commander Marshall

I have thought about the job offer and have spoken to Mike about it. Mike thinks it is a good idea me taking over. I am though still not too sure but I think that is more to do with the events that unfolded not so long ago. But with Mike's encouragement and also his thinking of the wider picture and future promotions for myself I will take Command of Hammersley for you.

Please let me know when I will be taking over Command. Also do I get a say in who will be my executive officer because if I do I would really like to have Pete Tomaszewski as my executive officer if not I will understand. I do know he is due back when Hammersley departs again on Monday morning. Though for me having people I know working under me would make it much easier to deal with the transition to CO and also provide less stress for me and the crew with all the changes that have been going on of later with the crew of Hammersley.

I do have one question though what will happen with Ryan White as you are well aware we just found out Mike is his biologoly father. And with Mike also being the father to Lizzie. This makes me related to Ryan through Lizzie. Is Ryan still going to be able to work on Hammersley? I know how much he enjoys working with our crew and I would really hate for him to have to move from a crew that is teaching him so much and a crew who he also respects as well. Is he able to stay on or not? I would hate to take over and then he have to leave because of me being the mother to his half sister. I have not spoken to Mike about this yet I felt I needed to know from you first.

Thank you

Lieutenant Kate McGregor.

Steve sits there and re reads the email several more times. Ok I think I can do that for her. She is right they have had a number of changes and some without warning. I wonder if Pete would be happy to accept staying on Hammersley with Nikki being in Darwin. Maybe I suggest to Mike that he gets Nikki to help him with this course. Her Navigation skills and having worked on patrol boats before would be of great help. They might take the job offers if they both got a job in Cairns.

Ryan White yes interesting topic that is here. Will need to check with the Brass about that one. Not too sure about that. If Mike was CO then yes but Kate not sure. Something to look into.