CH 7
Few days later Kate was in the galley talking to Swain and charge "so X what are you going to do when we return on Friday" charge ask while drinking his coffee
"go and see... mike"
"and"
"and what"
"come on X" Swain asked
"Talk to him, there really nothing we can do at the moment" both men chuckled
"well that is true X perhaps later on" Charge said Kate thought about what was said and started blushing
"you guys" then they laugh
"now hear there" they were quiet
"I'm sorry to say but we won't be returning back to Cains for another two weeks, that is all"
"what the hell" Kate put her mug on the bench and walk out of the galley with swain and charge behind her.
When she was on the bridge "sir what going on"
"your heard"
"Yes sir for what reason are were staying on patrol for another two weeks sir"
"orders from NAVCOM"
"did they give you a reason sir"
"lieutenant that is enough from you and I don't have to tell you what the reasons are, your dismiss"
"all due respect sir" Kate was getting angry but she held her temper
"I do have my rights as second in command of this boat I should be inform of any chances and for what reason"
"Are you disobeying an order lieutenant"
"I'm pointing out a fact sir and if any one who not following the rules sir it is you" then she turn around and walk off the bridge
"she right sir" charge said the CO gave both men an angry look
"any reasons why you both are on the bridge"
"We also have a right to know with Charge her being chef engineer and with me being a medic"
"Get off this bridge both of your"
"Yes sir" they turn around and walk off the bridge.
"Hey let's go and ask RO, he might know what going on" charge said
"good idea" they walk down to where RO.
"Hey RO what going with new orders" RO turn to see charge and swain in the doorway
"It's knocker, she told old grumps" charge chuckle
"nice one"
"she told him it for two weeks the CO of bendigo had family emergency so we are covering for them for the two weeks, didn't he tell you"
"no, he wouldn't even tell X"
"something not right" Swain said from the doorway as he keep a lookout
"what do you mean" RO asked
"Here let me send a message to buffer, he on there, He might know what going on"
"sure"
RO got up and charge went to keep look out. Swain sent a message to buffer. Once done all they could do is wait for his reply.
"Hey I saw X she doesn't look happy" RO said
"Well I'm not surprise" Charge said
"what happen"
Swain and Charge told RO about what happened on the bridge just a few minutes ago.
"no wonder she doesn't look happy" they talk for few more minutes when there was a beep Swain turn to see a new message
"It from buffer" he click onto the link
"what does he say" charge asked
"He contacted his CO and that there is not emergency. He want to know what going on and so does his CO"
"Tell him" Charge said
Swain rely back telling buffer about the new CO and about the new orders, every thing.
"Shit hurry up I can hear the boss" charge said charge left the room while RO took his place as look out
"Here he comes"
then he walk over to another seat to finish what he was doing while Swain carry on typing. When the Co walk into the room Swain click up another email message
"what are you doing" Swain turn to the CO
"AH... it his turn to check his email messages sir he was suppose to three days ago but he was called to that boat emergency when that guy hurt his arm"
"Ah yes... here fax these off to NAVCOM"
"yes sir" the Captain pass RO a file then he turn around and walk out of the room. Both men relax
"thank mate I owe you a beer"
RO grin then he stood up and walk over to the fax machine then stop when he remember that it was broken and her was curious in what was in the file so he open the file and saw what it said
"hey swain read this" he pass the file to Swain
"Why" then he look at it while RO went to see if the coast was clear
"these are complains against X... this is bull crap"
"she should know about this" then he saw bird walking toward RO
"Hey bird can you go and get X"
"Why"
"Tell you when you get back, she might be in her cabin"
"sure" then she turn around and walk away. Just as change showed up
"Any news"
"no but there bigger problems, boss is sending a complaint against X, I got to fax it, Swain reading it"
"what" then he walk into the room and over to where Swain is.
Couple minutes later X showed up "RO what going on"
RO pulled Kate into the room "what going on"
"you better read this X" Swain said he pass her the file
"Swain have you sent the message" RO said
"I'll finish it now" he turn around and finish typing a message while Kate read what going on.
She was shock "what the...RO have you sent this yet"
"no ma'am"
"you better"
"i wish I could ma'am remember it broke two weeks ago during the storm"
"Yeah I remember"
"done" swain said
"Swain what message did you sent and to whom"
"to buffer"
"buffer"
"X... the reason why we are going to be out here for two weeks is apparently the CO of bendigo had well a family emergency so he suppose to take two weeks off" RO said Kate look at him confuse
"what RO trying to say is the Knocker told CO that the HMAS bendigo have to take two weeks off for family emergency"
"Well that understandable"
"X there no family emergency, I sent a message to buffer since he on that boat. He was talking to his CO when he got my message. It's news to them both and the CO family is fine, that want to know what going on, so I told them" Swain said
"RO was there any written orders about this two weeks extended patrol"
"nothing ma'am if they try to send a fax through we wouldn't of received it. NAVCOM knows about the broken fax machine so the only way is to sent it by e-mail which there been none in the past two days"
"check now just in case it has come through"
"yes ma'am" Swain stood up and RO sat down and did some typing
"there nothing ma'am, no messages"
"RO get me NAVCOM get me commander Wilson"
"Yes ma'am" then he turn around and pick up the phone to make the call
"he can tell me what going on"
"do you trust him X"
"Yes Mike was his best man when he got married and he trust mike with his life and he knows about me"
"X commander Wilson" He pass Kate the phone
"commander Wilson it lieutenant McGregor"
"Lieutenant what can I do for you"
"Can you find out why Hammersley has had their patrol extended for another two week"
"pardon did I hear you right"
"Yes sir, commander white told lieutenant commander Thomson over the sat phone about the new orders"
"so what wrong with that"
"the reasons why is cause the CO of HMAS bendigo had to take family emergency leave"
"Are you sure that was the reason"
"that is what I've been told and no it wasn't from my CO it was from someone else on this boat"
"there should be also in writing did you get a fax or e-mail message"
"none sir and the fax machine hasn't been working for the past two weeks since it was damage during the storm our RO e-mail a message to let NAVCOM know about the damage machine"
"Hang on a sec I'll check it out" Kate could hear typing in the backround
"Ah yes I see the message about the damage fax machine. As for for sending a fax about new orders" then he did some more typing
"there nothing been sent by e-mail or fax. look lieutenant I'll look in to these new orders and get back to you"
"thanks sir, and if and when you call ask for me and not lieutenant colonel Thompson sir"
"Why is that"
"it will be in my report sir"
"Have you got a copy"
"Yes sir"
"send it to me"
"Yes sir I'll go and do that now, Hammersley out" then they hung up. She turn to the others
"not a word till I know what going on"
"Yes X"
"RO I'll be back in couple of minutes, I need to send a message"
"Yes ma'am" then she walk out of the room
"Hey I better check to see if buffer sent a message back" Swains said. RO stood up and Swain sat down he did some typing and notice a new message came from buffer so he open up the message
"Message from buffer. He said that His Co knows nothing about any chances of the patrol segral and he going to talk to commander white"
"no tell him to talk to who was it... Wilson, commander Wilson, he knows what really going on"
"good idea" so swain sent buffer a message and sent it. Once done all they can do it wait.
Back in Cairns buffer and his Co was walking in to NAVCOM when buffer phone rang so he got it out and read the message
"boss" his Co stop and turn to buffer
"what is it"
"got a message from Swain he said don't talk to commander white talk to commander Wilson he knows X and mike he knows what really going on"
"i know commander Wilson, well then I should still talk to commander white"
"sir the message also said don't trust knocker she send the change of orders" the Co let out his breath
"alright we will talk to commander Wilson first cause I would like to know what the hell going on"
"you and me both sir" they walk over to commander Wilson office and knock on the door the guy turn around and smile
"john, buffer it good to see you both, what can I do for you"
"Lieutenant McGregor and Hammersley new orders"
"close the door and sit down" buffer close the door and they both sat down
"You two know what going on"
"some of it sir what is going on" Buffer asked
"that what I like to know my self"
"From the messages I received from couple of the Hammersley crew that their new CO not following protocols and X had to take over control on four occasions" the commander said
"Really any idea what they were"
"One was she called the HRIB back when they were just about to board a boat she and Duchy got into trouble from the Co for it"
"Why is that" buffer asked
"they were two meters from the international line and had no choice to break it off"
"Why didn't the CO give the order"
"We have no idea. But from what Charge told me X and CO were having an argument on the bridge cause X told the two HRIB to back off cause they were under fire and X told charge to hit the engine When done the two HRIB were able to get on board cause of the black smoke for the engines"
"any one wounded"
"none they were lucky, If X didn't give the orders sir, thing would be a lot worse"
"buffer you work with lieutenant McGregor what do you think of her"
"she a bloody good X and officer. She and commander Flynn have lock horns a few times and she wins about half of the time. Commander Flynn has number of times ask for her input and advice and she has been acting CO on number of times. Hell she should have been promoted by now"
"In other words she called a spade a spade"
"Yes sir" then his phone rings
"Wilson... hang on a sec, I'll put you on speaker phone" then he push couple of buttons and then hung up
"lieutenant I got buffer and lieutenant john Johnson with me"
" I sent you a copy of my reports on what been going on here sir" Wilson did some typing
"yes I got them lieutenant, I'll look them over when you arrive back home and see me straight away"
"Yes sir"
"oh shit here comes old grumps" they heard in the backround
"When will that be sir in few days or two weeks"
"soon as I get get things sorted out here"
"Yes sir" then they heard
"lieutenant what the hell are you doing on the phone you dame will know you not to use the navy phone for personal use now hang up and the rest of you go and do something RO did you send that fax I told you to do"
"no sir"
"what the bloody hell not, are you disobeying my orders boy"
"no sir"
"then go and send those fax now" they heard the CO yelling then they heard the clunk of the phone dropping
