Chapter 10
The next few weeks was manic as the war really began. They were providing sea support of land based operations, firing shells onto the main land.
Kate was busy identifying targets with the joint command and setting co-ordinates.
They finished the tour after, most of the crew were transferred Kate included. Having conversed with Simon and Steve she applied for a smaller ship. It would give her experience running a ship perfect for the career path upwards.
"Kate I found you the perfect ship, a 6 month tour then it's being decommissioned." Her brother Steve said, working at NAVCOM, "Captain can be difficult but serving under him will get you a lot of respect."
"Thank you Sir" Kate said
"Sis" Commander Steve Marshall replied
"Thank you bro" Kate repeated rolling her eyes
"One problem it sails out of Cains so you will be under my command I have cleared it with the brass but we have to keep it professional"
"Yes Sir, what is the ships name?" Kate enquired
"The Hamersley"
2 weeks later Kate with the crisp pressed uniform strolled up to the boat. It looked so small compared with her other ships she had served on with only 22 crew members. She was so nervous, only 6 months she promised herself worriedly. On big ship she could be anonymous, blend in with the crowd working hard and not having to worry about fitting in. On a small ship it was a totally different game, if her own mother couldn't stand her what chance did she have with total strangers?
Walking on the ship with her sea bag she automatically went to see the Captain. He was on the bridge alone looking out over the water.
"Mike" she whispered her heart throbbing as it remembered the pain he had caused her all those years ago. He was her first love and if she was honest only no man since had managed to measure up.
"Kate McGregor" Mike smiled he had regretted that night ever since. Kate flinched at the smile why was he acting like nothing was wrong did he truly not care. "You're my new XO?" Mike guessed
"Yes Sir" Kate replied relying on formal protocol to get through this encounter.
"Good lets go to my office and we will run through your duties before the crew get here" he said touching her shoulder, Kate flinched and pulled away. In her eyes he had lost that right.
They went to Mikes office discussing duties and crew an uncomfortable tension lying between them.
After the meeting Kate familiarised herself with the ship, before greeting the crew that were boarding noticing the old hands and new obvious new faces.
It wasn't long before they were underway, spotting there first FFV.
She watched her boarding party carefully looking for any weakness of nerves. Spider was one.
Arriving on the FFV to her horror the smell and the waves got to her. Never in her life had she been sea sick before but the nerves on seeing Mike, eating that chocolate bar instead of a meal, the smell of the trocus and the waves made her vomit repeatedly. Outside she remained cool while internally cursing, Mike would be watching she didn't want him to think she wasn't cut out for this. Still the boarding was routine much to Kate's relief.
Back on the Hamersley she dressed for dinner checking in on the CO. He told her they didn't dress for dinner again making her feel stupid then mentioned she should talk to Nav. He smiled fondly Kate felt a wave of jealously remembering a time he smiled like that at her.
"Kate I'm sorry for what it is worth" he told her sadly.
"It's not worth a lot Sir but I'm sure we can keep professional" Kate replied not wanting to tell him she waited all night for him.
"I'm sure" Mike said happy thinking they had reached some kind of agreement. Kate left going to the room she shared with Nav. Climbing on the top bunk her sea sickness grew worse and worse. Running to the toilet and puking she knew she would have to swap bunks. Smiling she was glad she had seniority.
Giving permission to take down the engine was easy they were towing and she did have the ship.
A medical emergency with an engine down Kate cursed still there had been no way to predict it. Mike was angry Kate thought unjustly, was it their past relationship clouding him. Then she heard him get bollocked by Steve and understood the consequences. She would be better she would show him.
On bright Island she took charge organising everyone, the situation was serious, she cursed herself for the wasted time but kept calm in these situation leadership was needed more than anything. They got her on the boat her condition still grave.
Next they had to search for the FFV, Kate spent most her time sitting next to the girl hating herself, if only she hadn't said yes to the engine they could have got there quicker. Suddenly she stopped breathing, even as they started CPR they both knew she was dead. Kate prayed hard harder than she had ever prayed with each compression but to no avail.
She stood on the front of the boat, arms folding looking out to sea trying to find peace. Mike came over, she stood there for about an hour, before she remembered she needed to go to watch.
Identifying the body was a first standing there as the face was revealed Kate focused on anything but her. Ursula stumbled right into Mike, Kate found it a little convenient Mike didn't.
The next patrol she got told to drive the ship. It reminded her more of a speed boat neatly skimming across the waves. Movements were quick and direct unlike the heavier boats where moments were slow and heavy.
Nav checked her charting, it was wrong off by 1 degrees. Kate kicked herself remembering the lectures she had given, even 1 degrees could send you miles off course. As the ship hit something she checked her charts no way had she navigated into a reef. Relieved the depth and chart was correct but she knew it had lost her some respect proven as she headed to the galley and they were joking about a woman driver.
Complaining to Mike he didn't deny it. Calling her Kate she stopped that he had lost that right a long time ago. Then to watch Dr Morel flirt with Mike hurt, she was jealous so very jealous.
Investigating the buoy Kate got a bad vibe that hadn't been there earlier. She followed orders aware Mike would get the fall.
On the RHIB Kate's instincts grew, Swain emerged panicked and Kate knew she was right hauling him in then getting a good grip on ET she ordered them out.
On the small boat Kate began hatching a plan to get names. Telling him that his brother was dead he raised his fist, Kate reacted on training remembering the promise she made herself nobody would hit her again. She disarmed him, cuffing him and his colleague. Giving him time she then made her move it worked with only a small lie about a brother she didn't have. Whatever worked she wouldn't lose any sleep. After with a big score in her belt she went back to the Hamersley.
The next few missions went the same with positive results, although the methods weren't always official. Kate tried to keep her distance from Mike but found it hard seeing what a caring and respected officer he was, so warm and open all the qualities she had first fell in love with. When Ursula Morel came on board Kate hid her tears hiding under her professional mask. She would be professional even if it killed her and it was killing her watching them flirt around the ship wherever she looked.
That night Kate's nightmares started again, if Nikki heard her she didn't say anything. Storming off the boat she planned to go to the gym and beat the hell out of something. She also visited her mum, Natalie, both her and Simon were aging a lot. She swore her to silence before pouring out her heart. Natalie comforted her telling her Mike would come around if it was meant to be or he wouldn't either way she reassured Kate he was missing out. After Kate felt a lot better her heart lighter. Now if only they could get that shark fin mother ship it would be perfect.
She walked to deck glad another mission had gone well. They had the shark fin boat and although she felt bad for the fishermen she was glad for the sharks. Strolling up she came upon ecowarrior fight with the seaman she jumped in. A fist to the face knocked her to the deck, suddenly she was 7 years old and Roy was standing above her fist raised. She froze she couldn't get up and couldn't move or breath or anything just waiting for the next hit. Then Mike was there gently holding her head
"You ok X?" he asked she snapped out of it smiling then wincing as the movement hurt her eye.
"Yeah" Kate said, standing up and leaving she needed to go to her quarters to deal with the emotions she felt. On the foreign fishing vessels she had time to try to come to turns with what had happened but when the fight happened she stood frozen. That night the nightmares were back and worse than ever. Nikki coming back off watch woke her frightened. Kate jerked awake her eyes terrified. Seeing Nikki she relaxed before swearing her to silence. For Nikki seeing the normally cold almost inhuman XO this vulnerable was scary and she swore she wouldn't tell although offered a friendly ear if Kate ever wanted to talk. Kate knew she would never want to talk about her childhood. Even Natalie and Simon only knew what was in the folder, not even Mike knew anything about it. She was just so ashamed she had let it happen to her. She should have been stronger, better, easier to look after something.
Leaving the boat at port she booked a self-defence class. They came at her she froze and went down. Again she told them angry at herself she used the anger to fuel her self-defence. This time she took them both down. Happy with herself she then practiced techniques. Promising herself that was the last time she froze she left.
Back on the boat she threw herself into the work, the nightmares didn't go but faded slightly.