Chapter 9
From the road there was a shout, she turned hopefully to see Natalie there. Natalie ran down to the beach
"Kate we were so worried" she said hugging her tightly, noticing she was freezing
"Mum he didn't show" Kate sobbed, "I waited for him and he didn't show" Natalie hugged her even tighter wishing there was something she could do to ease the pain. She escorted Kate to the car using the car phone she rang everyone to tell her Kate was safe.
Arriving home she ordered Kate to take a warm shower and get into her PJ's. Then reassured Steve, Simon and Ian she was going to be ok and not to kill anyone.
Next she made hot chocolate with marshmallows and lots of timtams. Taking them up to Kate's room she waited. Kate came out her hair still wet and un-brushed her eyes red and swollen with tears.
"I thought he loved me" she sobbed folding into her mum's embrace.
Natalie spent the rest of the night comforting Kate glad she had a week's leave before sea posting they'd need it to repair Kate's broken heart.
Mike sat at home watching the clock. The words echoing in his head 'she is just using you' at graduation she had barely looked in his direction no eye contact nothing. She had gotten what she wanted the Navy sword he slammed his fist down angrily he hated being used.
Midshipman Kate McGregor stepped foot onto her fist Navy boat as an officer saluting, the HMAS Tobruk. She worked hard earning the respect of fellow officers her duties steadily being increased. She went on 3 tours over 2 years with them before transferring as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant onto the HMAS Sydney again she worked hard as they went on a peacekeeping mission in the Solomon islands, for a whole year keeping a clear head under pressure and demonstrating clear leadership. Next she worked in NAVCOM learning more behind the scenes watching and observing, as a sub lieutenant keeping a cool head in lots of highly charged situations. She even ran training courses off HMAS Watson she knew she was rumoured as a hard task master but she demanded no mistakes off herself and the same off others. Plus in the Navy a 1 degrees baring made a huge difference. It was because of that Lieutentant Kate McGregor found herself on the HMAS Anzac heading into a war zone Iraq.
The first month was peaceful all the action was on the land. Kate formed part of the boarding party going on regular raids of boats to ensure they weren't carrying guns or boats into or out of sIraq.
It was a regular day Kate was ordered to survey boats in and out of the harbour. She noticed one behaving oddly
"Sir, I think we have a problem"
"Sub Lieutenant?" her CO questioned.
"It looks like a fishing vessel but it's just waiting out of the harbour, but the fishing grounds are the other way" Kate explained her gut instinct screaming
"We will board it see what is going on it'll be good practice."
Kate went across with 8 others from the ship.
They isolated the crew when suddenly from below deck a gun shot fired hitting the Lieutenant in charge. Kate took charge
"Dodger, Loops, Freddo get him check the ship again properly this time, Swain over here, Bomber, Diggs keep your eye on them " Kate ordered placing pressure on the wound
"Anzac this is McGregor I need medics to be ready returning with 1 casualty and 4 crew, leaving a steaming party of 2" Kate said down her radio signalling the boat to come back around. The crew were tied up and transferred with the Lieutenant. Kate sent them forward going below deck to see what was taking Dodger, Loops and Freddo so long going below deck she saw Loops on the floor hands above his head and shouting in English and Arabic. Gun drawn she went in Freddo had a gun to his head, his attacker had his back to her. Dodger was lying bleeding Kate pushed her advantage knowing she had only one choice. Aiming she pulled the trigger with one shot to the head. The attacker went down dead.
"Loops, see to Dodger, Freddo are you ok?" she asked,
"Yes Ma'am"
"Right you get Dodger above board, Freddo with me let's see what was so important to protect" They searched the boat finding a whole hoard of weapons. Kate radioed the ship
"Sir we found a whole hoard of weapons down here recommend sending a party to secure them" Kate told him
"What we looking at?"
"A few P-90s, grenade launchers and rocket launchers, Sir"
"Good catch well done,"
"We also have one hostile KIA and one injured have a medic on standby we will need a body bag"
"Sending a RHIB over"
Kate and Freddo waited below deck hearing people come down they aimed their guns ready lowering them when they saw they were friendly.
"Maccer, Gunner, take the weapons above." The Lieutenant ordered. Kate began securing the weapon grinning at her nickname Maccer it could have been worse she was just glad she had lost the nickname Princess perfect.
Arriving back on ship they were all called to the CO's office. He wanted to know why 2 people on the boarding team had been shot. Kate told him the situation from her point of view the others doing the same afterwards he was silent for a minute
"Sounds like you all did a bang up job in a difficult situation, especially you Maccer, well done" Kate nodded trying to hide her smile. For once in her life she was fitting in making a difference, and she never wanted that feeling to end.
