A/N: Since many of my readers are from Australia, according to the statistics, here's a different kind of disclaimer…
Please note that I'm not from Australia. In fact, you probably could not be much further away from it to my residence. Any mistake is my own. I try to keep it close to Sea Patrol, and I will use this as a reference when in doubt, concerning characters, locations and events.
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Legacy
Chapter 2
0934, HMAS Cairns, Forenoon Watch
The body was carried ashore by some of the sailors, carefully supervised by an AFP agent. The Kingston was lying alongside the Hammersley on the quay, the crews busy with preparations.
"How did you find the body?" another agent questioned Chloe.
"I was in the boarding team", Chloe explained, "We had just gotten aboard, and I saw it lying there behind the barrels."
"Anything else?" he queried.
"No, Sir" Chloe shrugged.
Further along the quay, the Kingston's CO walked up to the Hammersley's CO. Both were wearing their white uniforms.
"Hey, Knocker, how are your guys holding up?" LCDR Kathy Steele asked.
"Would you please stop using that nickname?" Ryan asked in mock exasperation, "Or should I call you…?"
"Alright", Kathy gave in, desperate to avoid the use of her own nickname, "Are you ready? We're both expected at NAVCOM."
Ryan turned to his XO, LEUT Liz Doyle.
"X, Rusty and I are over at NAVCOM", he explained, ignoring Kathy's pained look, "You alright here?"
"Sure thing, Sir", LEUT Doyle replied.
1023, NAVCOM, HMAS Cairns
"Take a seat you two", CDR Kate McGregor pointed at the chairs. She waited until both officers were comfortably seated, then opened the file on her desk.
"What began as a routine illegal fishing vessel ended up the scene of a murder", Kate began, "AFP will lead the investigation. I expect cooperation."
"Aye-aye, ma'am", the two patrol boat captains supplied.
"We pursued them for ages", Kathy Steele recounted, "Since they changed course sometimes, the killer must have been aboard until the Hammersley came in sight."
"Yet we found no one", Ryan added, "The body seemed to have been hidden behind that barrel of Trochus, but it would have been far easier to throw it overboard."
"The only way to get off that boat would have been by dinghy", Kathy mused, "We never had any other contacts on our radar."
1449, HMAS Hammersley, Timor Sea, Afternoon Watch
Bird found Chloe standing in the middle of the hallway, staring at the old crew photos.
"What is it?" she asked. Chloe looked at her, with a small tear glistening in her eye.
"I never thought, I would end up on the same boat as my dad", Chloe whispered, "I barely remember him."
"He was a great guy", Bird told her, "You were pretty small, I recall."
"My mum barely talks about him", Chloe admitted, "She's been afraid ever since I was old enough to want to join."
"She's not wrong – it's a dangerous job", Bird admitted, "And she's afraid of losing you as well."
"You knew him", Chloe stated, pointing at the image.
"That was in my second year in the navy", Bird recalled, "God, I looked so young. And the guy next to me is our CO, Midshipman Ryan White. Behind me, that's Commander Flynn, Ryan's father, and next to him stands Kate Mcgregor, who is now the flotilla's CO, over at NAVCOM."
"And who's that guy next to my dad?" Chloe wanted to know.
"Two-dads", Jessica rolled her eyes.
"Two-dads?"
"Leading Seaman Leo Kosov-Meyer", Bird elaborated, "Our Electronics Technician. Always up for trouble. Deserted a few years ago."
1507, HMAS Hammersley, Timor Sea, Afternoon Watch
"Sir! We have a mayday!" the Radio Operator's voice sounded over the bridge.
"I'll take it here", Ryan answered immediately, reaching for the microphone.
"…Mayday, Mayday. This is the Sunset View…"
"Sunset View, this is Australian Warship Hammersley", Ryan replied, "What is the nature of your emergency?"
"Ship is on fire… We're sinking!"
"Hang in there, we're on our way", Ryan encouraged them, before turning to the others, "NAV, what's our ETA?"
"Just short of three hours", LEUT Chan told him.
"We'll be with you in three hours", Ryan informed the Sunset View.
"Hurry… Please…"
Ryan laid the radio back on the console, before turning back to the Navigator.
"Bring us underway", he ordered.
"Starboard 20, steer 1-2-5, Full ahead, revolutions 1-7-0-0", LEUT Chan ordered.
1742, HMAS Hammersley, Timor Sea, First Dog Watch
Susan and Chloe were standing on the port nock of the bridge together, scanning the horizon with their binoculars.
"Do you think we will get there in time?" Chloe asked anxiously.
"Don't know", Susan shrugged without setting down her binoculars, "Nothing we can change about it."
Chloe had barely turned around when a call sounded over from the starboard nock.
"Red 30, distance 7, plume of smoke!" Spider called.
The CO immediately walked out to him, raising his own binoculars to his eyes.
"Get us closer, NAV", he ordered, "And prepare a boat."
1747, HMAS Hammersley, Timor Sea, First Dog Watch
"Ready on the seaboat!" the command came when the boat was lifted to the water. Susan was sitting there, waiting to be released from the hook, before Thunder sped across the water towards the burning wreckage of the Sunset View.
1807, HMAS Hammersley, Timor Sea, Second Dog Watch
Bird was waiting for the two crewmembers of the Sunset View on the deck, ready for medical assistance. The yacht had been sailed by a wealthy couple, both were now coughing on the deck, their faces blackened with soot.
"X, take the ship", Ryan said as he stepped to them, "Bring us back to base."
"Can you tell us what happened, Sir?" he asked the owner of the yacht.
"I don't know", the man stammered, "It just began burning."
1354, HMAS Cairns
"Permission to come aboard?" the visiting officer asked as she encountered the sentry next to the gangway.
"Granted, ma'am", the sailor replied.
The Kingston's CO walked over the plank, saluted the ensign and made her way towards the Hammersley's bridge. She knocked on the door of the CO's cabin.
"Enter!" Ryan answered inside. Kathy slipped in quickly.
"How are you doing?" he asked, as his colleague sat down.
"I'm fine, thanks", Kathy smiled, "Heard you had a burning yacht…"
"Yeah, we got there right in time", Ryan frowned, "What about you?"
"My shore leave is just about to come to its end", Kathy sighed, "We had engine problems and spent the last week in port."
She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, before she snatched her cap from Ryan's desk, where she had dropped it before.
"You do know that my stepmom likes you, don't you?" Ryan asked as he put an arm around her.
"She's our superior officer", Kathy grinned.
"I best get going", she said as she stood up.
"How about I invite you for a coffee?" Ryan suggested. Kathy leaned towards Ryan and let her lips graze softly over his.
"You know I can never say 'No' to such an invitation", she grinned.
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A/N: I hope I satisfied your expectations for the second chapter...
My PC crashed and I used my brother's to update, so I don't know yet, when I will be able to write the next chapter.
Don't forget to review!
