Thank you to those that read part 2 and to capsarchick for the review
Things are going to start getting more dramatic in this chapter so brace yourselves.
Any characters you recognise are not mine and are only borrowed.
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Part 3 – Into the storm
Dutchy was on the bridge in quiet discussion with their other new appointee, "Buck" White, the Commander's son. The lad had been posted to Hammersley to plug the gap left by Bomber when she was transferred, the crew still missed her in the galley, but Bird was making an effort to fill their former chef's shoes.
The XO was in the command chair while 2-dads was at the helm, when Bird appeared with a tray of refreshments. Appreciative groans and nods were returned from the bridge crew as she put them down in a safe place while exchanging a glance with Buck, before departing she turned to the XO.
"Sir, the CO would like a word if you have a few minutes."
"Thanks Bird," he answered leaving the command chair and helping himself to coffee. "Dutchy you have the ship."
"I have the ship sir," Dutchy echoed, reaching for his own coffee and taking the seat the XO had just vacated.
"So, what happened last night?" Asked 2-dads leaning toward Dutchy and keeping his voice low, an amused grin crossing his face.
Dutchy raised the binoculars to his eyes and scanned the horizon, when he lowered them again he turned to the ships Electronics Technician, "none of your business 2-dads and if you bring it up again I'll have you on report."
A surprised look crossed 2-dads face, the threat sounded serious, this was not the normal Dutchy, any other time he had joked with the crew about the girls he'd been seen with. Something about this one was different.
"Okay, I'll drop it for now," he answered in one breath and immediately set about an equally uncomfortable subject for the Bosun, in the next. "What do you think of the CO? She's a bit of a mystery, just showing up like this, according to the guys on the dock no one's seen her before, haven't really seen her myself yet, but I hear she'd look great in a bikini."
Dutchy nearly choked on the mouthful of coffee he had just taken, but just managed to contain himself and raised the binoculars again to stare out at the sea, granting him a moment to form an appropriate reply and dispel the image 2-dads had just created in his head. Finally he set his cup and the binoculars down, "2-dads, whoever NAVCOM appoint to cover the CO's absence is nothing to do with us, just do your job and I'm sure there'll be no problem." He wasn't sure if he was really talking about 2-dads or himself, but it was definitely a discussion he didn't want to get into.
For a few minutes the bridge fell silent and his mind drifted back to Elena; dinner and a walk along the beach had only been the start, the night had ended with her spending the night at his place; he smiled at the thought, then shook the memory away, trying to focus on his job and set aside any personal thoughts in order to protect both of them.
...
Gordon pushed open the door to the CO's cabin and private office. "You wanted to see me ma'am"
"Yes X, come in and close the door, take a seat."
A moment later having complied with her instruction she turned to him. "I thought it would be good to get to know you and the crew a little more, how long have you been on Hammersley?"
"A couple of months, I was assigned when Lt-Cdr MacGregor became CO. I'd been based out of Darwin previously, so I knew patrol boats. They're a tight knit crew, so it's taken a while to settle in, and my family are still in Darwin so there are times when it's tough, do you have family ma'am?"
"My father, he lives further north, his health is failing so I've been allowed to post here to be nearer to him. The CO will be back for your next patrol, I'm just filling in and I don't have the luxury of getting to know the crew as well as I would like so I'd like your insight, tell me about them."
"Where should I start?"
"Wherever you like, anything I should be aware of disciplinary wise, family circumstances, how long they've been on Hammersley, that sort of thing." She offered a starting point as she took in the second in command who seemed to shift uneasily before her. "Lt I'm not here to cause trouble, I just want to have a head's up on who the troublemakers are likely to be and what motivates the crew."
"Okay, well there's RO, Robert Dixon, one of the long term appointees, been on board at least 5 years, he's not exactly a team player, although I understand he's got a little better the last year or two. He's a stickler for the rules and guards the comcen like it's his own private kingdom. No family, ... technically sound, but socially impossible is how I'd put it. Next is Charge, divorced, two grown up kids, son is on the minesweeper Huon, likes a practical joke ..."
The XO continued for several minutes running through the crew, and had just told her about Swain.
"... Chloe is the apple of his eye."
"He was saying earlier." Elena commented then turned to the files before her and opened the last one, "that leaves Dutchy."
"Yeah, joined the crew about a year ago after serving in the gulf. Received a medal for that too, from talk I think he had an issue with the CO when he first came aboard, but they eventually sorted things out, he admires and respects her and he's integrated well with the crew, protects the women and has taken young Buck under his wing. No family to speak of, parents used to own a cattle ranch down south losing him his inheritance when the business failed, so he joined the Navy instead, they're living in Sydney now. Good worker, great to have in a crisis but can be a little overzealous on occasion. Also not afraid to speak his mind if he believes the situation warrants it. The CO seems to trust his judgement, maybe a little more than she should, but that could be because he knows the ship and the crew better than I do."
"Okay, anything else you think I should know?"
"No ma'am."
"Very well, you may return to your duties. I'm going to join you shortly."
Gordon pushed himself from the chair and left her cabin. Elena sat for a moment with Dutchy's file in her hand.
For one night it had been good to forget that she was Navy and be treated like a normal woman rather than a link in the command chain. Maybe it was time to make a stand for what she wanted, her father was in failing health and it wouldn't be long before he passed on and the ranch became hers, she then had choices, stay and keep it running, or sell up and put the money into something else, she had often thought about buying a yacht and sailing the world, but she never had the nerve to do it alone. Maybe it was time to bite the bullet and force herself to do something out of her comfort zone, who knew what other doors it would open. Maybe the unsettled feeling she had was what prompted her to take up Dutchy's offer the night before, unfortunately that decision had come back to haunt her; if only Megan hadn't suggested she wait for her in that bar.
...
The ship had left Cairns two hours earlier and they had about another hour until reaching their destination, but the seas had started to swell, the skies had darkened and the rain was pounding off the deck, the result causing the ship to pitch and roll as they battled into the storm towards their designated anchor point.
Swain was at the helm and the XO in the command chair while Dutchy and Ryan were glued to the radar and EOD, watching out for ships in distress and other obstacles which the storm could pitch in their way. Visibility was much reduced even though it was still daylight, and they were lucky they could even see the bow of the ship; the streaks of lightning occasionally giving them a brief moment of clarity, barely allowing them to see the crests of the waves crashing around them before they were once more hidden by the darkened clouds.
"I can't see a thing," Buck muttered trying to pick out anything visible on the EOD among the crashing waves.
"Just do your best," encouraged Dutchy glancing across at the other monitor.
"Engine temperatures climbing X, we can't keep running like this." Charge called from his station in the corner of the bridge.
"What do you suggest?" Gordon replied, turning to look at the engineer.
"We have to cut power or we'll burn out, 50% at least, ideally I'd like to shut them down and run some diagnostics to find the cause."
"That's clearly out of the question until we get to quieter waters." Gordon replied quickly bracing himself as the ship pitched again.
"X we cut power we risk being dragged off course and the wind direction could take us onto the reef." Swain pitched his counter argument.
"I agree, but Charge is right we can't risk continuing as we are. Cut the engines to 50%, Swain revolutions one-zero-zero-zero same heading."
"Roger sir, revolutions one-zero-zero-zero same heading," Swain acknowledged reluctantly as he moved to the switches in front of him to follow the order.
A few minutes later Elena appeared on the bridge, grasping the handrail at the top of the steps to stop herself being tossed around. "Why have we slowed down X?"
"Problem with the engines ma'am, we needed to throttle back to help preserve them or we risk losing them altogether."
"Sit rep Charge," she turned to the engineer who was muttering to himself in the corner.
"Not sure ma'am nothing on this console is saying what it should. I need 2-dads to take a look and make sure it's not an electrical fault."
"Fine, get him up here and get us back on line as fast as you can, we need full power to keep us off the reef in this." She instructed.
As the call went out for 2-dads Elena took the brief lull in the roll of the ship to step properly onto the bridge and secure a handhold on the pole behind the command chair and peer out of the window. "This is set to last a while so we'd better stay vigilant, Dutchy, keep your eyes peeled on the EOD, report even the slightest anomaly, it may be the difference between putting a hole in the hull or staying afloat."
"Yes ma'am," he responded instinctively to the order and after a brief glance out of the window he turned back to the monitor, swapping places with Buck who then had the easier job of watching blips on the radar.
The ship pitched violently as she reached for a spare set of binoculars and crashed into the console in front of her, grasping at anything that she could hold on to she tried to remain on her feet while she doubled over gasping, severely winded from the jolt her ribs had just sustained.
"Ma'am?" The voice of the XO filtered through the oxygen deprived haze which surrounded her. "Are you alright?"
Grasping at the arm of the CO's chair she forced herself to control her breathing and after several seconds she began to straighten up. She could feel the eyes of the bridge crew on her, pain radiated across her lower ribs as she drew in air to speak. "I'm fine," she croaked, "just winded."
Dutchy may have been harbouring some resentment over her omission about her career path, but he'd not really had the chance to think about it in the last hour, on the bridge she seemed efficient and capable, just like their normal CO. She hadn't unfairly picked on him when she had been on the bridge so he was beginning to calm down a little. He had looked up just as she collided with the console and watched as she gasped for air, her arm flailing trying to hold onto something. Unable to take his eyes off her he was aware that Swain started to move from the helm to go to her aid, but then she seemed to recover and he settled back.
"Ma'am, you should let Swain take a look at you, that console's a lot harder than you."
Dutchy winced, while the XO meant well, the words could have been better chosen. He noticed her steel herself and straighten up fully. "Thank you X, but I think I'll know when I need medical intervention."
"Of course ma'am." He answered contritely. Elena glanced around the others then back at Gordon.
"Captain has the ship," she stated formerly, the acknowledged response from the XO confirmed the change in command and he relinquished the chair to her.
Once she was settled, Dutchy couldn't help notice her hand resting against her ribs and the determined look on her face. She was in more pain than she was letting on, he wouldn't be surprised if she didn't have a couple of cracked ribs.
"Where's 2-dads? Charge call him again, we need those engines, X, tell RO I want a weather update from NAVCOM and to know if Darwin has sailed yet, if not advise them of our situation and request them on standby to help us if we don't solve the problem."
"Yes ma'am," Gordon acknowledged. With a further acknowledgement he disappeared down the stairs.
...
Mike picked up the latest call to the co-ordination centre at NAVCOM.
"Flynn," he greeted abruptly. "R-O, ... say again, ... alright I got that, I'll check on that and get back to you. Storm's set to last for the next few hours, tell Charge to do what he can, Darwin sailed 20 minutes ago, I'll have them track your course." Mike acknowledged the situation and confirmed again that he would get the requested information before hanging up and turning to a junior officer at his side.
"Lieutenant, have the latest weather reports and storm track sent directly to Hammersley and Darwin, and get Commander Wilson on the line, I need to speak to him."
"Yes sir, and Commander White wants to see you." The officer replied, starting to move off to follow his instructions.
"Patch the call through to her office when it's sorted."
Mike turned and headed into Maxine White's office.
"Mike, how's it going out there?"
"A little hectic, but we're getting sorted. Kingston just docked and Darwin left about half hour ago."
"Good, stay on top of things, I've got Canberra breathing down my back about all of this and they've just added the patrols out of Darwin at our disposal, that's 3 more patrol boats and a frigate. We're waiting for details on their current locations before we decide on deployment. Hammersley should be nearly at their rendezvous, have they checked in yet?"
"Actually I just spoke to Robert Dixon, I'm waiting on a call, but we may have a bit of a situation brewing."
"Not another CO they've wasted," Maxine commented quickly, fixing Mike with a glare.
"No, from what I can make out the CO's doing just fine. No, they were in for maintenance before being crash sailed and it seems that all is not well with their engines. Charge and Kosov-Meyer are on the case, but for now they're running on 50% power."
"Is everyone alright?" She asked anxiously.
"Robert didn't go into details, so I would say yes, but I'm concerned they're in the peak of the storm with reduced power and high seas, if they can't hold course for any reason they'll be blown onto the reef."
"Is there anything we can do to assist them?" She asked, her eyes dropping to the photos adorning her desk, as she reached out and plucked the centre one and held it.
"Not at this time, I'm going to bring Darwin up to speed and have them plot the same course, we may need to get a little creative."
"Alright, I'll leave it in your hands, just let me know what you need and that Ryan is safe."
The phone rang on her desk and she stared at it for a moment before Mike picked it up and announce his presence. "Tug, good to speak to you again, sorry we missed each other last night."
"Well if it isn't the Mighty Mike Flynn, tamed by a shore posting at last." Commander Wilson chuckled at the other end of the line. "What can I do for you?"
Mike proceeded to explain the situation to the Frigate commander before they rang off.
I take no credit for the comment about RO - technically sound, but socially impossible - I found it on the internet somewhere and thought it fitted him.
I'm curious, who would become 2IC if something happens to the X? - Can anyone help?
SeaKat