Legacy 09

1832, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, 2nd Dog Watch

"I thought the Feds had them", Spider muttered.

"It's been a while since we last found one", Bird agreed. Both were climbing out of Lightning back on the Hammersley's deck.

"Are you sure?" Ryan asked as they got out of the RHIB.

"Yes, Sir", Spider said, "It seems that way. Unfortunately."

"Three bodies on a FFV on autopilot", Bird reported, "All of them were shot in the head."

"Shit", Ryan cursed, "I was hoping we had these cases behind us."


0955, HMAS Hammersley, Cairns, Forenoon Watch

The Hammersley's XO, LEUT Liz Doyle was carefully marking the list of supplies, while the rest of the crew carried the various boxes and bags aboard.

They all stopped when another sailor walked up to them, clad in DPNUs.

"Look who's back!" Bird exclaimed.

"Missed me?" Chloe Blake asked, before she approached the officer.

"Ma'am, Seaman Chloe Blake reporting aboard from medical leave", she smiled.

"It's good to have you back", Liz Doyle smiled, "You are still on light duties?"

"I should keep my hand still for another week", Chloe shrugged, raising her mutilated hand a little, "But then I'm back for good."

Chloe walked over the gangway, saluted the RAN's white ensign and made her way to her room. She dropped her bag on the rack and started unpacking.


0413, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Morning watch

"TURN OFF THE FRIGGIN' LIGHT!" Susan yelled as she was awoken by Chloe's return from watch.

"Sorry", Chloe mumbled, before she took off her uniform and jumped into the bed. She staggered a little when the Patrol Boat moved in the heavy sea.


0932, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Forenoon Watch

"Contact, Red 3-0, distance 7 miles, ma'am", LS Mike O'Donnell reported from the EOD.

"Can you identify it?" LEUT Liz Doyle, the XO asked.

"A trawler, but I can't say anything else", LS O'Donnell informed her.

"Let's take a look", LEUT Doyle decided, "Port-10, Steer course 2-5-5, revolutions 2-5-0-0."

"Port-10, course 2-5-5, revolutions 2-5-0-0", Susan acknowledged from the helm, "Aye-aye, ma'am."

The Hammersley turned towards the trawler and gained a little more speed. Soon they were close to the trawler.

"Vessel on my portside bow, this is Australian Warship Hammersley", LEUT Doyle announced over the radio, "Identify yourself. Over."

"Hello Hammersley, this is the Green Angel, registered in Cooktown. Over"

"Green Angel you are in an area that is restricted for fishing. We advise you to leave immediately. Over."

"That is the reason why we are here: We are trying to get proof that there are fishing vessels here. They are destroying the great natural diversity of this region."

"Leave them be", Ryan added while he had followed the conversation, "They're not doing anything wrong."

"Yes, Sir", LEUT Doyle acknowledged.


1342, Barry General Hospital, Cairns, Afternoon Watch

Chloe was sitting in the examination room, waiting for the surgeon for the last check-up on her wound. She looked up when the Medical Officer entered.

"Sorry for the delay", the surgeon said, "Now let's take a look, shall we?"

"Sure", Chloe smiled and placed her mutilated hand on the table.

"Does it hurt when I press here?" the doctor asked.

"Not really", Chloe shrugged.

"Well, it seems the healing has been as good as we could hope", the doctor smiled, "You have been to the counseling session for amputation victims and apparently you are also psychologically cleared for duty. If you encounter any phantom pain or inflammation of your hand, don't delay asking the ship's medic, or come to the hospital immediately."

"I understand", Chloe nodded.

"Then I believe, we will part for good", the doctor smiled, "And hopefully never meet again…"


0152, HMAS Hammersley, Timor Sea, Middle Watch

The bridge was darkened, only the electronic displays and controls were illuminated. Chloe was sitting on the helm, taking a sip from her coffee, while the Hammersley's Navigator was studying the map.

They looked up startled when the phone rang.

"Hammersley, Navigator", LEUT Tom Chan answered it.

"This is NAVCOM, is the captain awake?"

"No, he's in his cabin", LEUT Chan replied. He pressed a button on the phone and the call was redirected to the CO's cabin.

A couple of minutes later, Ryan emerged from his cabin and entered the bridge.

"A helicopter has reported a FFV mothership within Australian waters", he explained, while he handed a note to the Navigator. LEUT Chan quickly compared it to the map, then made his calculation.

"Starboard 15, Steer 0-2-3, revolutions 2-8-0-0", he commanded.

"Aye, Sir", Chloe agreed, fully awake by now, "Starboard 15, course 2-3, revolutions 2-8-0-0."

The Hammersley gained speed and slowly turned in the desired direction, as the engine came to live.


0607, HMAS Hammersley, Timor Sea, Morning Watch

"Pipe boarding stations", Ryan ordered from under his binoculars. They were still out of visual range to the mothership, but nevertheless, he was already searching for it.

"All hands to boarding stations", LEUT Liz Doyle announced over the ships' intercom, "Assume damage control state Yankee!"

"Sir, we have another contact", Susan reported from the display of the radar, "Bearing 3-4-0, 2-3 miles. Approaching our target vessel fast, Sir."

"Do you have a visual contact?" Ryan asked.

"No, Sir", Susan replied.

"Alright, Captain has the ship", he ordered, "Port 12, course 3-5-0."

"Captain has the ship", LEUT Doyle confirmed, while the sailor at the helm repeated the instructions.

For a few minutes, no one on the bridge spoke. Then finally, they were close enough to the ships.

"Sir, the targeted vessel is a FFV mother ship", Susan reported from the EOD's display, "The other one seems to be a speedboat."

"Thanks, Monica", Ryan smiled.

"Sir, they have noticed us", Susan added after another moment, "The speedboat is trying to get away."

"Have Thunder on their traces", Ryan ordered, "They are probably making a run for the coast, and there we will hardly find them."

"Aye, Sir", LEUT Doyle agreed, before she went off to carry out the order.

Chloe held on to the handle as the RHIB Thunder was set down on the water. Soon the engine was started and the RHIB sped over the water.

The speedboat was quickly approaching the coast, where they would have a better chance of avoiding them, hiding in the mangroves.


0641, HMAS Hammersley, Timor Sea, Morning Watch

The Hammersley had caught up with the mothership, now both were moving through the water at a high pace.

"Vessel on my starboard bow, this is Australian Warship Hammersley", LEUT Doyle announced over the speaker, "Stop or heave to, we intend to board you!"

"Sir, they are not stopping", LEUT Chan muttered, his eyes not leaving the EOD's display.

"Call them again", Ryan ordered.

"Stop or heave to", LEUT Doyle tried again, "We are going to board you!"

"Five rounds with the M-2, fifty yards ahead of the bow!" Ryan ordered.

"Engage! Starboard M-2, five rounds, fifty yards ahead of the bow", LEUT Doyle ordered the assigned gunner. The heavy Machinegun came to life, and the salvo splashed into the water.

"Sir, they are slowing down", LEUT Chan reported.


1123, RHIB Thunder, Mangroves, Forenoon Watch

They had been cruising slowly through the mangroves for hours, now the team was getting tired after a short night and a hectic morning.

"Alright, let's return to Hammersley", Spider ordered.

"X-Ray 2 for Sierra-2, Over", he said into his Radio.

"This is X-Ray-2, go ahead."

"Ma'am, we are abandoning our search here", he reported, "There's no use. They are either well-hidden or more likely, long gone."

"Copy that, Sierra-2, Out."

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A/N: So I've decided to make Chloe's injury permanent. But that doesn't mean she's incapacitated...

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