The week between Christmas and new years that normally dragged seemed to drag even more for the crew. Like the rest of the patrol this week was quiet. Even when they did catch a FFV in Australian waters and boarded there wasn't enough evidence to take the crew and that boat back to base. Kate was sat in the CO's chair drumming her fingers on the arm rest in frustration.
"everything alright X? Mike asked from behind her. Smiling at Swain who was steering the ship. They both knew her well enough to see that she was annoyed.
"yes Sir" she turned around and stopped her drumming aware she was being watched. "nothing to report " she stepped down from the CO's chair. "all quiet ... again" she said as she stepped around mike
"you don't want to go saying the Q word Ma'am. Never ever say the Q word as soon as you say it everything goes Tango Uniform"
"well its a good job I am not that superstitious and right now I would be happy with Tango uniform" she said "at least we would have achieved something" she muttered under her breath turning to leave
At that moment Ro pulled of his headphones "sir I am picking up a Mayday call. I cant quite make it out they sound inebriated to be honest"
"put it on speaker RO"
" Mayday , mayday, Mayday this is Barbie Girl urgent assistance required mayday, mayday , may day"
"this should be fun" RO quipped
" Robert" Kate warned
"Ma'am its true though. They all sound drunk and with a boat named Barbie girl ..."
"RO we have a duty to assist to all mayday calls" mike said picking up the radio. "Barbie Girl this is Australian War ship Hammersley what is the nature of your mayday?"
" I don't know" came the voice from the other end the boat just stopped" the voice came from the other end
"okay what's your position"
" I don't know" the voice giggle drunkenly "some where between lizard island and low wooded island"
"big help" Ro chimed in sarcastically
Mike turned to look at RO and shook his head. "Barbie Girl is there any way you can help us any more" the radio fell silent. There was no reply. "Nav how long"
Nav pulled her charts out. "about 4 hours till we reach lizard island
"lets get there "
"sir the points they have given us are 80 miles apart that's a massive search area not to mention that it will be tricky to navigate there are loads of reefs that hug the coast line right the way from Somerset in the north well past cairns and we have to go past cairns to get to low wooded island"
"Nav if anyone can navigate us then you can" mike smiled " X when we get to Thursday island I want every available personnel on deck looking out."
"Sir" Nav and Kate called together.
7 hours in to the search Nav was sat at the EOD looking around trying to find any sign of their missing yacht. Turning to look at the radar
"sir I have a contact on radar baring 2-8-0 " she aimed the EOD on to the position "sir its our missing yacht"
"how can you tell Nav"
"I think you want to take a look" she grinned
The yacht ahead of them was sat stationary and was a bright shade of hot pink
Looking at the EOD and then in the direction of the yacht through his binoculars. He smirked "that's a lot of pink"
"sir they are on a rather large coral reef and we cant get any closer sir if we do we may run aground"
"X take the RHIB with Buffer and ET see what's going on"
It took a matter of minuets for the RHIB to reach the stranded yacht it was clear to see why it was called Barbie girl. Everything inside like the outside was pink. The seats, worktops floors beds even the utensils like cups and plates were pink. The 8 woman on board were also dressed in pink.
Kate boarded at the back on to the yacht. "Australian navy what seems to be the problem?" she asked
"ah well we were sailing towards lizard island coconut bay, its Shelia's hen do and the boat just stopped."
"well that possibly has something to do with the reef you have smashed in to and more than likely obliterated" buffer said. He said it under his breath but Kate still heard him
She whipped her head round and gave him her "death stare" he was right and these woman were drunk but it would do no one any good blaming anyone at thi moment.
"Buffer can you go below and asses the damage see if we can tow back to port?"
Some of the woman were fascinated over ET and draping them selves over him. He was doing nothing to encourage them but then again he was doing nothing to dissuade them ether.
"Leader" Kate shouted in his direction. He jumped back and almost to attention.
"ma'am"
"ET can go and see if the electronics are okay see why they some how managed to land on a reef as large as this."
"ma'am"
Kate walked to the side of the boat and pulled out her radio. "Charlie-82 this is x-ray 82."
"x-ray 82 this is Charlie 82 go a head X" mikes voice crackled over the radio
"sir they seemed to have driven the boat on to the reef. Buffer is checking the Damage and ET is checking the navigation equipment to see why they failed to see this. Though I think I know the answer" she stepped over a empty bottle of Champaign. ", I do recommend that we bring them on Hammersley and take back to cairns."
"Okay X what's the situation like"
"8 POB all female and all rather inebriated..."
"ma'am she aint got much longer the hole is massive and she is taking on water she wont make it back to base even under tow."
"thanks Buffer. ET any clue as to what caused the crash?" Kate yelled towards the wheel house
" no ma'am all the electronics seem to be working fine. I think this may be what caused it." He held up one of several empty bottles of bubbly
They managed to transfer all the woman over to Hammersley safely before the boat went down. One of the woman did trip up the stairs and was caught by ET.
"my Hero" she swooned in to his arms staring up at him
Nav was looking down at them from the look out by the bridge. How could he just allow these woman swoon over him like that. She returned on to the bridge mumbling to her self frustrated at the situation
"Nav how long before we get to base ?" mike called
"what does he even see in her she's a airhead and she is not even his type..." Nav continued to mumble
"Nav?" mike asked
"sorry sir what was the question?" she asked looking towards her CO
"how long to base?"
"oh" Nav pulled her charts towards her "at this speed about 5 hours"
"good" he smiled "we should be docked just in time for the new year. RO get me NAVCOM and patch it through to my cabin please. Nav you have the ship" he called leaving the bridge
"Navigator has the ship" Nav replied taking her seat in the CO's chair
Mike had just got of the phone with NAVCOM when Kate knocked on his cabin door.
"yeah" he called "X what can I do for you"
" oh nothing really I just have those reports for you about the Barbie girl2
"thanks X" he smiled
"some one looks pleased with them selves" Kate grinned
"who wouldn't be. We are heading home and NAVCOM have given us 36 hours shore leave"
"well what about a watch 2 people will need to stay on board even in port shall I prepare a lucky dip well a un-lucky dip"
"ah well I have said I will stay on board and was hoping you would stay with me as the two most senior officers I think we owe the others that"
Kate Sighed "oh all right" she grinned
"thanks X" he smiled "I'll let you tell the crew"
" Sir" she smiled as she left and headed towards the bridge
She walked on to the bridge smiling
"what's happened" Swain asked
"you'll see" she grinned picking up the radio "you hear XO speaking. Thanks to our glorious leader we have been given 36 hours shore leave when we get back to cairns to see the new year in ETA to Cairns 3 hours that is all"
Mike was sat in his cabin smiling to him self there were cheers from all parts of the ship.
Back on the bridge Kate was sat in the CO's chair, with Nav at the radar.
"who's posted on watch X?" she asked
"me and the CO have said we will stay on board and all you can go and enjoy the new year."
"thanks X" Nav smiled
"hey it wasn't my idea the CO kind of made me"
"hey at least you'll be alone" Nav said a glint in her eye
"Not funny Nav" Kate shoved her friend her friend in the arm
They arrived back in Cairns just before 9 pm. Everyone left the ship excited and in civvies heading straight for the bar.
As she left Nav turned to Kate
"Have fun guys. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Or anything I would" she grinned
"bye Nav" Kate Called back.
okay here it is. so I think there is one more left with this fic. I hope you enjoy please rate and review next chapter I am hoping to have complete before the new year
