CH 10
Kate went to the drawers and got out lots of syringes and needles. Then she walked over and into the next room where she uses the Captain's keys that she had removed from his pocket before sending his body overboard.
She found the right key, unlocked the first Cabinet, and opened the door. She looked through each shelf until she found the bottle she was looking for. She noticed how many bottles there are so she put the syringes and needles together removes the cap from the needle, and begins to fill the syringes just as she had remembered seeing Swain do it. She filled ten syringes. When the last one was done, she closes and locks the Cabinet then carefully pockets the ten syringes and the keys.
Armed with the sedative syringes, she left to go looking for the first mercenary. She saw one in the corridor, she got her gun out, and taps on the wall. He stopped and turned to look then turned back around so Kate taps again. Now she watches as the guy is walking towards her. She can see him from a reflection in the silver door handle.
Kate moves from where she was, slowly leading the guy down to the back of the ship where she hid. Watching as he walks passed her, she pulls out one syringe. Then she heard the voice of another guy and foot steps.
The second guy walked over to the first guy. Kate gets another syringe ready. Then she stepped out from where she is hiding, quickly steps forward and then quickly injects both men in the arms. She removes the syringes then steps back and watches as they turn towards her right before they collapsed. She then put the caps back on just as her radio beeps.
" Lieutenant McGregor."
"X it's Buffer, we're back. How many have you got with you?"
"Two mercenaries, I knocked them out with a sedative, I'm pushing them overboard, get ready to get them."
"Copy that." Kate removed the guy's gun and other weapons then she picked his arms up and pulled him to the edge of the ship, put the vests on them, then rolled one into the sea. Then she did it again with the second guy.
Then she waited "We got them."
"Ok, I'll see how many more I can get. McGregor out."
Kate picked up the weapons and hid them. She works her way to the top of the first hatch where there was a bar stopping whoever is in the room below her from escaping. So she removes it and unlocked the hatch.
Then she looked around and then down into the hatch, "Lieutenant!" one sailor said in shock.
"Shhhh. Listen I know you all want to get out but not yet. Any wounded with you?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
The sailor stepped aside, "Lieutenant."
"Sir."
"I'm coming up."
"Sir, no, listen I only can take any wounded."
"Listen here Lieutenant I'm coming up and that's an order!"
"All do respect Sir, wounded only."
"Why"
"The leader of the mercenaries is planning on throwing all wounded and dead crew members overboard. I can save the wounded, Sir."
"How?"
"With Hammersley's help. They're not far from us. They have been taking the wounded and dead crewmates back to Hammersley. I have been able to take out some hostiles by knocking them out."
"I'm coming out and going to look for the Captain," he started to climb the ladder.
"Sir, you are the highest ranking officer." He stopped and looked at Kate.
"What do you mean?"
"I regret to inform you Sir, that the Captain, his first, second and third in command where shot execution style. There are eight dead, four wounded Sir. I have managed to get them off the ship."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes Sir. Sir, please let me help save the wounded. If the leader comes looking for the high ranking officer, naming you, and you are not where you're
supposed to be, he might order to have the ones that were with you killed."
"She's right Sir, let her take the wounded. If she can save them, let her," one of the Lieutenants said.
"Alright. Where are the others?" The lieutenant commanded as he went back down the ladder?
"Four other rooms all over the ship...How many wounded down there?"
"Eight wounded."
"Can they walk?"
"With some help."
"Ok, let's get them up here. Time is ticking, we have to move before the leader soon realizes he can't see any land."
The crew that are down below begin helping the wounded onto the deck. Once they were on the deck, Kate says,"I'll keep you up to date, Sir."
"You do that, and good luck."
Kate took the eight wounded down to the back of the ship. Three were shot in the legs but they can make it on their own. Two were shot in the shoulders, the other three were shot in the chest or stomach. They help each other as they follow Kate until they are on the back of the ship.
"Buffer, it's Lieutenant McGregor, get ready I've got eight wounded with me."
"Copy that Ma'am, Captain said that Bendigo arrived and their two HRIBs will be here in a minute. HMAS Sydney will be here in an hour"
"Copy that Buffer, first two wounded away." the first sailor who got his vest on pulled his vest cord as he jumped into the sea. Just as Kate pushes the unconscious sailor overboard, shes sees two small lights moving together knowing that the conscious sailor swam over to the other sailor and waited to be picked up.
Then the next one jumps just as Kate rolled the next unconscious sailor overboard, then the next two until the four HRIBs have picked up all eight wounded. Once done Kate went to the next hatch. It took over three hours to get all the wounded off the ship as well as knock out ten more mercenaries. By that time it was getting late and she was feeling thirsty and tired, but she pressed on.
Kate went back to the Engine room to use the computer to access the surveillance cameras so she can check on where the remaining mercenaries are. She saw that the leader was on the Bridge and wasn't happy. He was on the sat phone talking to someone. Kate was able to record what the leader was saying on the phone since he was the one that made the call. Kate smiled when she got the name of who's funding the mercenaries. When done, she walks over and stops the engines.
She went back to the first hatch and opened it, "Sir", calling to the officer in charge.
"Lieutenant why did the engines stop?"
"I stopped them. We can take back our ship, Sir. Bendigo and Hammersley got half of the mercenaries on board."
"Wounded?"
"Thirty two, Sir, with ten confirmed dead."
"Guns?"
"I've got them,Sir," they all started climbing the ladder until everyone was on the deck.
They picked up their double plated vests, put them on, and then grabbed their weapons.
"Lieutenant, it's Buffer," they all look at Kate.
"Go ahead Buffer."
"Ma'am a team of SAS have arrived on Melbourne, Captain wants a sit rep."
"Tell the Captain that the crew is going to take back the ship. Have the medics on standby for any wounded."
"And the SAS?"
"Are welcome aboard!"
"Copy that Ma'am."
"Approach from the back."
"Copy that see you soon, X"
Kate smiled, "See you soon Buffer, McGregor out." She put her radio back in her pocket.
Kate told the others where the other crew members are. Then she split them up as they put their headsets on.
"Lieutenant what about you?" the Lieutenant Commander asked.
"I'm going to the Bridge, lets go!" The teams split and went separate ways.
Kate works her way to the Bridge. As she walked onto the Bridge she had her gun pointing towards the three men who had their backs to her. "Australian Navy! Put your weapons down!"
They turn around and fire at Kate but she manages to dive behind the table. Then she got up and moved to the corner of the table "It's over, give yourselves up!"
"It's not over, Navy!"
Kate saw the reflection from chair leg so she moved, sticks her gun and head around the corner. One of the men saw her and fired a shot at Kate only for her to shoot him first in the hand damaging the gun which the guy dropped.
Then the second guy appeared and went to shoot Kate only for her to duck behind the table, she waited and listened. When she heard them moving from both directions she got her other gun out and put the safety off, she took a deep breath and quickly stood up... looking quickly from right to left shooting both men until they collapsed on the ground. The leader went to shoot her, only for her to duck down again.
She moved quietly from where she was when both she and the leader heard gunfire, "That's my crew that I set free, they're going after your men. It's over." She ducks her head as he fired his gun until he ran out of bullets. Kate stood up pointing her guns at him, "I said it is over!"
Not giving up he grabbed his knife and went to attack Kate. She shot him in the hand causing him to drop his knife. Then he ran towards her so she shot him in the knee causing him to collapse on the ground in pain. Kate stepped forward looking at him, "I Said It's Over! Now roll over onto your stomach spread your legs and put your hands behind your back." the guy did as he was told.
"You are dead Navy!"
"No, I'm not."
Kate returned her guns to their holsters then she got ties and secured the guy's hands together. She stepped back, pulled out her gun and pointed toward the steps as she heard someone approaching. When she saw Buffer, Spider and a man in an army uniform step on to the bridge Kate lowered her weapon.
"X" Kate smiled
"Buffer, sit rep."
" The crew got the remaining mercenaries."
"Good, this one is the leader, he's injured and will need medical attention."
"No problems. So how are you going to return back to Perth?"
"Same way we got here." They look around the bridge.
"Don't worry Buffer, I know what to do."
"Yes Ma'am..." Buffer said smiling then he picked up his radio,
"Xray 82, Sir, all hostiles have been captured, including the leader."
"That's great news Buffer, what about Lieutenant McGregor?" Kate picks up her radio and turned to the Navy channel.
"Xray82. I am fine ,Sir."
"That is good to hear Lieutenant. Bendigo and Hammersley will be towing you to Darwin"
"Negative, Sir."
"Negative? Lieutenant didn't you say that the bridge is shot up and that a lot of the equipment is badly damaged?"
"Yes, Sir, but the engines still work. We can go to Darwin on our own thank you very much... Sir."
"Ok' but just in case, Bendigo and I will be coming with you" Kate smiled.
"Your choice ,Sir. If you will excuse me, Sir, I've got work to do still. I'll let you know when we are underway."
"You do that, Hammersley out."
Kate turns to Buffer as some of the crew show up and see what happened to the Bridge.
"Ma'am what's going to happen now?"
"For starters, take these men down to the back of the ship with their mates. Then
do another sweep just in case there anymore of them hiding on board. Once done we are heading to Darwin."
"How ma'am?" one sailor asked when he looked around the Bridge.
"You will know soon, come on we've got work to do."
"Yes Ma'am."
Over the next hour all the mercenaries and wounded had been transferred to Kingston and three other patrol boats. The ships headed for Darwin just as it was getting light. When the other Navy ships have heard that the crew of HMAS Stewart have taken back control of the ship they were happy but remorseful for the loss of some of it's crew.
When it was time, the Lieutenant Commander, who was now on the Bridge with Kate and four others, turns to Kate.
"Lieutenant, when you're ready, take us to Darwin."
"Yes, Sir," she picked up the handheld radio.
"Rocky, start the engines."
"Starting engines" the engines came to life.
"Turn one two zero, revolutions one five zero zero" Kate ordered.
"Turning one two zero, revolutions one five zero zero" was heard repeated over the radio.
Kate has the chart and compass in front of her on the chart table. Hammersley and Bendigo follow Stewart to Darwin. When they reach Darwin, late that afternoon, Kate called out for speed and course changes until they were docked and the engines shut down.
"Well done Lieutenant. One day you will make a great Captain," making Kate smile.
"Thank you, Sir. I'll go and start on my report."
"Do it tomorrow, you need to get some rest."
"I still have things that need to be done first, Sir"
"Ok. I'll let you know tomorrow about what's going to happen to the ship."
"Yes, Sir."
Kate left the Bridge then went to her cabin. She got her robe and toilet bag then went and got a couple of towels as she headed down to where the showers are. She enjoys her shower and feels refreshed as she grabs her things and returns back to her cabin, and got dressed. She went and got a brew and returned back to her cabin where she started on her long report about what she's done in the past fourteen hours.