It was after dark when Hammersley arrived back in Cairns. They had been out all of 15 hours and as Kate predicted Commander White wasnt happy with them and had ordered Kate into NAVCOM as soon as they docked.

Walking through the Glass atrium of NAVCOM, Kate felt a wave of nerves. She had no idea as why she had been ordered in to Commander White's office, they had done nothing wrong in fact they had done everything right. Taking a deep breath she knocked on the office door.

"Ah Lieutenant Commander McGregor come in please" Maxine forced a polite smile

"Ma'am" Kate stood in front of the desk.

"I want to know why you returned to Cairns when you were given clear orders to head to Thursday Island?"

"we responded to a Mayday call..."

"yes 25 kilometres of your course" Maxine cut her off

" unfortunate. But we were the only vessel in the area"

"but you still should have been much further north"

Kate swallowed back her anger. This was unfair. "the swell was hard to deal with. I didn't want to push Hammersley and risk sinking or capsizing her. I put the safety of my crew first" she was trying to defend her self

"Lieutenant Commander McGregor that is just pitiful. Hammersley is a 300 ton war ship I think she can cope with a little rain, and I am sure if you waited some one a little closer would have responded" Maxine was sticking the knife in.

"only a mad man would have been out in a force 3 cyclone in that area it is full of hidden reefs that is what caused the yacht to crash in the first place. We did wait and no responce came through. We gave assistance a duty of care to give that assistance no matter what." Kates protests fell on deaf ears

"I don't want to hear it. You clearly disobeyed orders. Hammersley will sail at first light and head for Thursday island at best speed"

"Ma'am" Kate smiled through gritted teeth. It seemed that she was always picking on the Hammersley

She walked out of Commander Whites office and let out a silent but frustrated scream. She felt annoyed more than anything. She couldn't understand why Maxine was doing this as she never had a problem with Hammersley when Mike was CO. Heading out she left via Mikes office. Looking through the window she was dismayed to see he wasnt at his desk. Guessing he had already left for the evening she herself turned to leave.

"Kate?!" he walked up behind her. "what are you doing back. I thought you would be bobbing along the coral sea"

"oh nice to see you too Sir" Kate smiled reaching up to kiss him

"that's not what I meant and you know that"

"I know. We had to rescue 3 idiots who went out in a yacht in this weather and drove it up on to a reef. Then knocker halls me in here to have a go at me for not going straight to Thursday island"

"Do you want me to have a word?" Mike asked concerned

"NO!" Kate shot back horrified "I mean no. I don't want people to think that I cant cope and need to go running to my higher ranking fiancée every time my CO has a go and says something I don't like"

"if your sure. So how long you in port for?" mike asked

"till first light. I swear she gives Hammersley all the crap jobs and crash sails us on purpose because I am CO and I Though Coonawarra was closer" Kate let out a frustrated sigh.

"I thought you had learnt to go where the navy sent you and learned to like it" mike grinned

"the Navy yes, Knocker on the other hand I swear she is doing this out of spite"

"So do you have time for a bite to eat or a drink? Mike asked

"I had better get back to Hammersley. I need to make sure everything is in order before we sail tomorrow. I am sorry."

Kate flopped down on her rack back on Hammersley. She had ordered a refuelling for first thing and checked with Bomber and Bird that they had enough medical supplies and food retrospectively which thankfully they did.

There was a knock on the door

"yeah" she called

Nav opened the door carrying a bowl with a baked potato and some salad as well as a brew.

"thought you may want this" she smiled

"thanks Nav " Kate tried to smile back at her friend

"everything okay.? What did commander white want?" Nav asked sitting on the desk chair

"to ask why we responded to the mayday and returned to port. Oh and she wants us out at first light back to Thursday Island"

"what did mike say?" Kate asked

"he asked if I wanted him to talk to her. Which I don't it will just add fuel to the fire and make her think I cant cope with being CO if I cant even take a dressing down from my CO"

"well its good that he cares"

"yeah. Can you inform the rest of the crew the bad news and that we are back to Thursday island tomorrow."

"sure" Nav squeezed Kates shoulder "at least the cyclone has been downgraded

"thanks Nikki"

Kate lay back on her rack she had so much left to sort out and arrange and on top of that she didn't know how long they would be stuck up on Thursday Island. She would just have to grin and bear it they wouldn't be the only members of the armed services and usually the army did most of the graft they were usually just the suppliers and taxis for materials as it was eaiser to get those in by sea than road. She just prayed that they wouldn't be stuck there for too long.

so I have made a few tweeks to the last chapter because of some slight errors. anyway I hope you enjoy please let me know what you think. duckmadgirl x