A/N - Some of the characters introduced in this story (i.e. Jack Somers, Ted Edgars, the survivors of the Gunadoo) are featured in another fic on the actual Biggles site - Biggles in the RAAF. As they are my own creation, I have introduced them into this story as well - basically because I couldn't ignore characters I'd introduced in the other fic when both stories are set in the same timeline and geographical location. Anyway, as usual I don't own any of the characters created by W.E. Johns nor those belonging to the Sea Patrol TV series. [Jack Somers, Ted Edgars and any other introduced characters, however, remain my intellectual property.]
Four hours later the Hammersley had dropped anchor off Foote Island and her crew was being introduced to the island base's current inhabitants.
"We've a bit of an assortment of all three services here at the moment," observed Biggles laughingly. "We could almost set up our own command HQ, Jack." This last comment was made to the young RAAF Group Captain whom Biggles had introduced as Jack Somers, Biggles' own immediate superior.
"You've almost got an embarrassment of riches, mate," responded Somers.
"Well, without making too fine a point of it, you could fly a load of the Gunadoo's survivors back to Cairns or Townsville in the Cat, tomorrow," suggested Biggles. "This island's going to be a bit hard-pressed to accommodate everyone."
"Why do I get the impression you're trying to get rid of me, Biggles?" laughed the Australian.
"Probably because he is." Mike, Kate, and those members of the Hammersley's crew who were standing nearby were taken aback when they saw this last comment came from an Australian Army sergeant who was standing beside the Group Captain. But Somers only rolled his eyes.
"Ahh, Lt Commander Flynn, Lt McGregor, meet Sergeant Edgars," Biggles introduced the man, making no effort to hide the merriment in his own eyes. "They're by way of being family," he offered in a somewhat ambiguous explanation.
"Pleased to meet you, sir, ma'am," greeted Edgars.
"Ted's going to be my brother-in-law soon," explained Somers. "You'll get to know him quite well if you stay here."
"Speaking of which, we need to talk. Jack, could you come with us?" Biggles' gesture included Algy, Mike and Kate. He turned to the Flight Lieutenant whom he had introduced as Bertie.
"Why don't you take our guests to the Mess, Bertie? Look after them and we'll join everyone shortly."
The Hammersley's CO and XO followed Biggles, Algy and Jack Somers along the edge of a grass airstrip to a small timber building with a wide verandah and a door marked "Commanding Officer". Biggles smiled at Mike.
"Perhaps you'd better tell Jack your story yourself, Mike," he invited. "Then we can decide how we're going to deal with this."
….
Somers let out a low whistle and slowly shook his head when Mike Flynn finished speaking.
"2009! So this is rather ancient history to you?" He gazed thoughtfully at the Hammersley's senior officers. "You – and all your crew – know how this is all going to end."
"I think you're stating the obvious there, Jack," observed Biggles drily. "We've got the future standing in front of us, but the future seems a little wary of giving us any details."
"I've never had occasion to think of myself, or my ship, as the future," Mike grinned apologetically. "We've always been 'the present' – till now. And quite frankly, it's just as difficult for us to get our heads around this as it is for you."
"Jack, Mike and I've already talked about this. What we have to decide is what we're going to do."
"Do!" Somers' eyebrows rose almost to his hairline. 'We've just been handed an additional naval patrol boat, complete with crew. You know how we're placed. I'll tell you what we're going to do, Biggles. We're going to use them."
Biggles saw the glance that passed between the two naval officers. In his brief time on their ship, he had observed with interest their apparent ability to communicate quickly and effectively without any words being spoken. He decided to forestall the objections he knew would be coming.
"Jack, it may not be as simple as that. I gather there's some concern about the possibility of inadvertently interfering with events in the here and now that can lead to changing history for the future." He gave Mike and Kate a quizzical look. "Have I put that correctly?"
"Something like that," Mike agreed, glancing at his Executive Officer. "I don't want to do something in this time that could affect the lives of my crew in their own time." He paused, thinking about the impossible situation they now found themselves in. "If say, one of my crew contributes to the death of someone in 1942 who shouldn't have died, or conversely, saves someone who should have died, what impact will that have on the future – even their own lives. Damn, this sounds too far fetched to be real! I can't believe I'm having this conversation!"
"And I'm not sure your concerns are necessarily right, sir," Kate stared back, her green eyes thoughtful.
"Why not?" asked Somers. The ease with which the Lieutenant interacted with her commanding officer, and indeed with Biggles and Algy, intrigued him. The woman didn't even seem the least bit intimidated.
"Because we don't know why we've come back in time. For all we know this could be meant to happen and we could be here for the very purpose you've just alluded to – to correct something that should have happened but hasn't…or something that has happened that shouldn't have," she stated with a slight smile.
"Oh come on, X," Mike made no effort to hide his exasperation. "This isn't Dr Who or Star Trek. This is real life. I've never heard you talk like this before."
"With all respect, we've never been in this situation before. Sir." It was as if she added the designation as an afterthought, and she gazed unflinchingly at her captain. Remembering Mike's earlier comments about the pair's tendency to engage in what he had described as "throat-ripping debates", Biggles intervened.
"I think you both have a point." He smiled as both heads snapped around towards him and he noted the slight embarrassment that flickered across both faces.
"Jack, I agree. Having a warship like this to help out would be invaluable right now. I can see how we could work together quite easily, Mike, and whilst I understand the concerns you've voiced, I also think Kate has a valid point. In fact, if you've been able to travel back to now from the future, how do we know that someone who's sympathetic to our enemies hasn't done the same thing. Although you've been very careful not to reveal anything, the fact that you and your navy exist as you do nearly 70 years from now speaks volumes. Young Spider said his grandfather served on Catalinas during this war. You haven't told us anything specific, but it's obvious that Australia, at the very least, was not defeated. Therefore, I'm taking a leap of logic and presuming that the Allies will win this current conflict."
"Well done Sherlock," grinned Somers. "You might make a good detective yourself one day. This is the most encouraging bit of reasoning I've heard in a while. So it's possible that the Hammersley's been sent back to help us fulfil history and settle this damn war." He rose and picked up his hat. "I'm off to get Ted or that young Roy Smyth of yours to send a message to Ken about this and see how we can turn this to our advantage."
At this both Mike and Kate stared in alarm and Biggles reached out a restraining hand.
"Hang on, Jack. Let's not rush things. I'm not sure it's a good idea to let this news get around just yet. It could complicate things. Particularly if Ted's father gets in on the act. And it's probably not fair to Ken to expect him to keep something like this completely under his hat."
Somers looked back at Biggles with a quizzical brow. "Biggles, you can't expect us to sit on this. Ken's responsible for the defence of a sizeable chunk of northern Australia and I thought we just agreed that you and the Hammersley could work together up here?"
"Yes, but we haven't discussed it with Mike yet, have we?" reminded Biggles reasonably.
"I wondered when you'd remember I'm the CO of my ship," Mike interjected rather coolly. "With all respect, sir," he turned towards Somers, "I think it would be safer for all concerned if knowledge of our presence remained as contained as possible. For one thing, I'm not confident that the naval authorities of this time will allow my entire crew to continue serving together and I can't allow that to happen. I need thiscrew, my whole crew to sail the Hammersley – and to fight if necessary. I've lost contact with my own direct chain of command and as my ship doesn't really exist as yet, I'm taking responsibility for all decisions and actions we engage in. If we've really been brought back in time to correct something that's changed that shouldn't have changed, then that's what we have to focus on doing – otherwise we continue to run the risk of changing history. It's the whole ripple effect. We need to stop it spreading any further than absolutely necessary."
The Group Captain groaned.
"This is giving me a headache. I don't think I really want to know about it. Biggles, I'm going to do as you suggested and take the rest of the Gunadoo blokes to Townsville tomorrow. As for this business," he waved his hand towards Mike and Kate, "I know nothing, nothing at all. As far as I'm concerned, Lieutenant-Commander Flynn, you, the Hammersley and your crew just don't exist." He glared at the four officers in Biggles' office. 'And now, can we go get a drink?" he finished plaintively.
"Good command decision, Jack," grinned Biggles in return, rising to his feet. "That way you won't get any grey hairs worrying about what we're going to be doing – or not be doing - around here with the Hammersley."
