Chapter
Eight;
Supplies,
Naval…
"Three days out." Nero reported to the CO that morning as they gathered on the bridge after breakfast. "Three days."
Captain Edmunds laughed. "You sound disappointed Nero."
Nero shrugged. "Maybe just a little bit." He stepped towards the CO and lowered his voice so no one else on the bridge could hear. "Any report on the inquiry?"
Edmunds' smile fell. "Nothing, which is not a good sign." He sighed. "It's never going to go away, this stupid mistake."
Nero frowned. "I'm sure it won't go on your permanent record sir."
Edmunds' shrugged. "Maybe. Either way, we're getting punished. Everyone knows the Solomons have quietened down. No other ANZAC is being sent there these days. They had a Balikpapan up there the other month. A Balikpapan – the troop carrier version of an Armidale!" He lowered his voice even more. "We were supposed to ship off to the Gulf in three months to replace the Arunta. That's not going to happen now."
Nero nodded. "The crew have suspected that for a while now sir." Edmunds frowned. "Sir, it's classified information – which means everybody knows."
"That explains the group morale."
Nero lowered an eyebrow. "Sir?" He hadn't noticed any change.
"Finn and Jack have both reported a drop of morale in the boarding parties. Just yesterday Jack had to council Leading Seaman Brown for disobedience. And Finn has stated that the new sailors aren't working too well with Able Seaman Doyle and Leading Seaman 'Marks' Target. It isn't just the boarding parties either. The technicians have reported problems everywhere. I think even this old girl has lost morale." He patted the controls in front of him.
"What can we do sir? We're not due back in Sydney for another two months."
Edmunds sighed. "I don't know what we can do." He gave a shrug. "Maybe it will clear up when we get to beautiful San Christobel?"
"Yeah, hopefully." Nero agreed half-heartedly. But both of them knew that it wouldn't.
***
Lieutenant Watson slapped a piece of paper down on the CO's desk as Edmunds sat in his office writing a report to the CO of HMAS Kuttabul about the crew and asking for information on the inquiry. Edmunds frowned at it then glanced up at his Supply Officer. "What's this?"
"This is a list of the supplies that have gone missing since we left port."
"WHAT?" Edmunds almost thundered. He didn't need this right now. Especially since the list was a whole two pages. "How?"
Holey shrugged. "I have no idea sir. The men and I have been checking every day. At first it was a few things, small things, and we assumed it was the crew just looking for things and forgetting to sign them out. But now… it's getting to bigger stuff. Like, why would the crew take ten lifejackets?"
Edmunds read the list and saw there were, indeed, ten lifejackets missing. He frowned up at Holey. "Are you sure they haven't just been misplaced?"
"Sir, Eagle and Aardvark are good at their jobs. They've counted the supplies 20 times over. These things are no longer where they should be."
Edmunds sighed. "I guess I'll have to put out a call. Hopefully most of these things can be returned. Probably a dare or a joke."
Holey frowned. "Well I don't find it very funny sir."
"No." Edmunds shook his head. "This won't be on your head Holey, whether they're returned or not. I know you're doing the best you can. And you can tell Able Seaman Manley and Leading Seaman Harker that they're appreciated as well."
"Thank you sir." He turned to leave then looked back. "Sir, what's going to happen to us after the Solomons? There's rumours we're gonna be split up. I've been on the Parramatta ten years sir. I don't want to leave her."
"No one does." He shut his laptop with a snap. "Tell me the truth Holey, you're out there with the junior sailors. Troop morale is…"
"At an all time low sir. As I just said, everyone thinks we're gonna lose the Parramatta. We've been blasted on national television, our friends replaced and then sent to a job an Armidale could do. It really makes you wonder about the truth behind the slogan sir. How can the team really work when the bigwigs are so hell-bent on breaking a good one up just because we made one stupid mistake?"
"I ask myself that every day Lieutenant." He gave a smile. "Thanks for the update Holey."
"Any time sir." As Edmunds turned back to his desk, Holey spoke again. "No matter what happens to us sir, you were still the best CO this old girl could ever have. The crew knows that and will stand by you, no matter what."
"Thanks Holey."
"Any time sir." Holey repeated. He left. Edmunds sighed and opened his computer again to continue his report.
