CH 2

Two months later the crew went to a bar for some R and R when the building blew up by a suicide bomber. After what happen and dealing with the SAS once again and Madeline cruise for the first time. it took almost a year to relies what was going on and that madeline cruise was playing both sides.

Mike, Kate and Jim manage to disable the first bomb that was on pleasure boat then kate went up to the wheel house where she push the throater full ford while Jim and Mike throw the case that still got the bomb in side overboard then they hit the deck just as the bomb exploded under water.

they were please it was over with the hammersley crew cheering them on when they saw what happen. When they return back to port they were happy that the threat was over.

early the next morning kate and dutchy went for a run till they stop at the mariner. where they talk to the owner and relies that the threat isn't over. Kate called Mike about what she and dutchy learn while they walk along the jetty when they saw the boat they after just about to leave. so they ran towards it when a guy appeared on the jetty which cause dutchy to crash into him and they fell into the sea, he tell kate to go, so she ran fast as she could just as the boat started leaving.

Kate manage to jump onto the boat and hid against the windows and door since the guy was up on top driving out of cairns. Kate carefully work her way below deck where she open the case and saw the timer was already activated so she send a text to mike. then she look around and find a pair of wire cutters.

So since it was the same bomb as the last one she started cutting the white wires till it was safe to remove the first case. Then she just started the second lot of wires when the boat slow down then stop. so she carry on cutting them while watching out for the guy.

when she saw him coming down the later, she close the case then hid. she watch him from where she was. She waited for over an hour and knew how much time she got left before the bomb blow up. when he went back up top again, kate could hear him moving around so she move from where she was and return back to the bomb and carry on cutting the wires when she heard the boat start up again by then she finish cutting the white wires.

she knew there was no time to cut the red ones. so she move to the back of the boat where she saw the HRIB, she gave them a wave the she work her way up to the top of there boat where she quickly move to pick up the gun and telling the guy to turn the boat around which he did do and slow it down then she made him go down the ladder why she wave the HRIB ford.

when it was close the team got there guns on the guy and made him get in the HRIB while Kate pass the gun to dutchty then she went down below deck then return with the two cases and pass it to dutchty then she gave him an order. then she went up top and put the boat on full speed then return to the back of the boat where she manage to jump into the HRIB and they speed away just in time just as the boat blew up.

When the HRIB return the crew was happy that the real threat is over. Kate past the guy phone to swain and told him what she heard while on the boat. So swain and dutchy went and arrest Madeline Cruise for what she done. After it was finally over Kate decided to change her name from lieutenant McGregor to Lieutenant flynn which made Mike happy and Maxine shocked since she didn't know that they are married.

Month later Mike, Kate and jim received the cross of valor for risking their lives for disabling the first bomb. Kate then received the victoria cross for risking her life for disabling the second bomb by herself and taking down a tearist by herself as well having the boat move out of harm's way since the target was the navy wharf and all the patrol boats that was in port.

When Hammersley left for it next patrol both mike and kate where on it since there was still no new captains and XO to replace them since they both want a shore posting so they could spend it with their young family.

Three months later Kate was promoted to lieutenant commander. Mike was happy for her. Cause of this Mike got shore posting and Kate became the new captain.

a year later the crew celebrate a new crew member. Swain wife Sally gave birth to a boy which both he and sally are happy about it since they been trying for five years. Kate was going through XO like what Mike did till Kate finds out that Nikki done all her courses and training and at the moment she got a shore posting while waiting to be transferred onto any ship.

So with mike help Nikki and her family transferred to Cairns. they were even more shocked that it lieutenant Tomawaski since she and buffer elope two and half years ago when nikki father disapprove her choice for a husband and they got a fifteen month old son. Buffer left the navy on medical ground since he was overseas on tour when he was shot in the back. the surgeons remove the bullet which shattered a vertebrae. cause of that it was the end of his career.

He was in alot of pain since it was bone on bone and he was in the bad mood most of the time till nikki heard about the surgery over in germany after finding out more she email the hospital and she spoke to the navy hospital and between the two hospital niki found out that they can do the surgery but since it cost a lot of money that she and buffer didn't have till she told the base CO about it since she was up set one day before the birth of there son.

her CO did some checking out and gave them the news after their son was born that the navy going to pay for everything plane tickets, accommodation the surgery every thing since he found out that pete is eleable for any operations world wide if it can't be done in Austlria and the navy pick up the tab for it.

Two weeks later they fly to germany where buffer had the operation and week later they return home happy that buffer not suffering any more. Since he a house husband, he misses the sea so now that they family lives up in cairns and with Kate help, her nanny look after Nikki and pete son while Hammersley is out on patrol and buffer back out at sea again, he was hired by a charter firm for when they go for a fishing since he retired and chief petty officer.

Six months later Nikki end up having a shore posting cause of her pregnancy. Six months later Nikki gave birth to there second son which made buffer happy.

Four months later Kate received a high school reunion invitation but it was in her maiden name. She didn't want to go plus she didn't know if she was going to be out on patrol or not. When Mike found out about it he made some phone calls without Kate knowing what he was up to.

Till Mike show her a email from fleet command telling them that they would be doing recruiting from five school and the dates and who the sailors going to be that would be with them. When she saw the list of the school she was shocked to see the last school is the one she use to go to twenty years ago plus it around that time of the high school reunion. She turn to Mike and gave him not happy look which made him smile.

Two months later while Hammersley is in dry dock getting work done to to it and it engines, the crew got three week shore leave. And it was good timing since that is when Mike and kate head south to do the school.

First they flew to Cambarra to see the admiral of the fleet. when they did see them, he surprise Mike with a promotion to captain and now the new commanding officer of HMAS Cairns. They were shocked and happy at the same time. Maxine going to stay on as Mike second in command.

the first four school the girls where amazed with what metal both Mike and Kate got and learn that they are married. After spending over a week going to the first four school, now they on there way to the last school. Mike and Kate in one SUV and the two sailors following them in the other SUV.

Mike look at Kate as she look out the window. "Hey are you ok you been quiet since we left this morning" she turn to him

"sorry Mike been thinking about the last twenty years in how much has happened" Mike smile as he put his hand into hers and gave it a squeeze before returning back to the steering wheel

"A lot has happened hasn't it"

"Yeah" she look at the GPS

"Mike can we stop up at the petrol station that up a head, i need to use the head"

"good idea and we can stretch our legs"

"and fill the car up" Mike look at the petrol gage

"good idea" Mike turn the indicator on and off twice then look in the rear vision mirror to see the driver behind him blink it once back.

Since Kate said to the two sailors that if they indicated twice means they getting ready to pull over and they blink back letting Mike and kate know that they understand.

When they pulled into the petrol station they got out. Kate went in side to use the toilet while Mike spoke to the two sailors then return to his wagon and took care of the petrol while one of the sailors did the same while the other went to use the toilet.

When Kate finish she return to the car to get her purse out. "mike want a drink"

"Yes thanks and tim tams if they got any" Kate laugh

"In the chilly bin with lunch Mike"

"Thanks Kate"

"I know a place not far from here where we can stop off for lunch"

"sounds great" Kate return inside to get bottles of cold drinks then waited to be served.

Kate saw Mike walk in and gave her a look she point, and he smile at her before turning around and walk over where the toilets are. When she was next, she paid for the drinks and for petrol for both wagons. then she walk outside and over to where the sailors are

"Here you go"

"thank you ma'am"

"I spoke to mike, there a place which is half an hour drive from here, we can stop there for lunch"

"sounds good to me" one of the said

"Yeah, how far is this town we going to ma'am"

"Two hours"

"We are glad we are staying for two night cause there no way we would do it in less than two days"

"I know and at least we can rest"

"And face bunch of high school students"

"True"

"Hey ready" she turn to mike and pass him his cold drink

"Thanks Kate"

"Yes sir"

"ok, Kate care to drive"

"love to" She took the keys out of Mike hand then turn around and walk around the drivers side, while Mike got into the passenger side. Then they were on the road again.

When they reach the spot Kate knew and google it. they got out of the wagons, it was a picnic area with a creek not far away and trees nearby. Mike for the chilly bin out while kate got the two picnic blankets and table cloth out and with the sailors help they put the tablecloth over the table and the blankets on the seats before sitting down under the tree for shade. they talk while enjoying their lunch.

"sir, maam how did you two met?" one of the sailors asked, Mike and Kate look at each other then back to the two sailors.