Legacy 10
1921, HMAS Kingston, Bright Island, Evening Watch
"Kingston, this is Hammersley, Over."
LCDR Kathy Steele grabbed the radio's handset from the console.
"Go ahead, Hammersley", she replied.
"We've searched the entire eastern side of the island – no trace of the missing divers."
"Thanks, Hammersley. We haven't had much luck on our side either. Kingston Out."
1922, HMAS Hammersley, Bright Island, Evening watch
Ryan cursed silently, as he put the handset back on the console. They had spent all day, trying to find a group of three divers. The girlfriend of one of them had reported them missing about 40 hours ago, and they were not getting anywhere.
"X-ray-2 for Charlie-2, Over", he said into the radio for shorter distances.
"X-Ray-2."
"Return aboard", Ryan ordered, "They are not there. How copy?"
"Roger that, Sir. X-Ray-2 Out."
0343, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Middle watch
"Everyone, Listen up!" LEUT Chan, the officer on watch announced on the bridge.
"We have just received a storm warning", he explained, "Expect to be hit within the next hour. Wind is up to 70mph, waves up to 5 yards. Spider, go make sure everything is fastened tight."
Spider hastened outside. As the Hammersley's Boatswain's mate, preparing the boat for the storm was his responsibility. He pulled his jacket over and stepped on the outer deck. He immediately felt the winds grip his gear. They were already strong, and he knew it would only get worse.
With his torch he checked the hatches and fittings, the leashes on the RHIBs and everything else. He was just at the starboard side, climbing up a ladder to the higher deck, when the Hammersley was rocked by a sideways wave. Due to the wet soles on his boots, he lost his footing for a moment, and fell. The water splashed only a little, when he went under.
0401, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Morning Watch
"What's the situation?" LEUT Liz Doyle as she took over the watch.
"We expect a storm to hit us in about half an hour", LEUT Chan told her, "It is predicted pretty bad. General course is 1-3-0, speed 7 knots. Everything is calm for now."
"Very well, consider yourself relieved on Watch", LEUT DOYLE smiled, "XO has the ship."
0805, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Forenoon Watch
Chloe gulped nervously, before she addressed the Hammersley's CO.
"Sir, we have a situation", she said.
"What is it?" Ryan wondered.
"Sir, we are one man short on watch", Chloe explained.
"Who's missing?" Ryan wanted to know.
"Chief Webb", Chloe told him.
"If he overslept, then go wake him, Seaman Blake", Ryan replied. Chloe went off, hurrying through the ship to Spider's stateroom. Only a minute later, she was back on bridge, totally out of breath.
"Sir,… Chief Webb… not… in his… rack…", she breathed heavily.
"Has anyone seen Spider?" he asked aloud.
"I sent him to secure…" LEUT Chan began, then stopped while the color drained from his face.
"What is it, Lieutenant?" Ryan asked impatiently.
"I sent him to check on the outside equipment, shortly before Morning Watch", LEUT Chan admitted, "I cannot remember if I mentioned it to Lieutenant Doyle, though."
"So, he may have gone overboard", Ryan repeated, "And you are telling me that for about four hours we didn't even notice? Not to mention the storm that is still going on…"
"Aye Sir, I'm afraid so."
"Dammit! Jackie, mark a search area", Ryan ordered, "Captain has the ship!"
"Captain has the ship." LEUT Doyle repeated.
"Starboard 1-5, course 2-9-0, revolutions 2-1-0-0", Ryan ordered.
"Starboard 15, steering 2-9-0, revolutions 2-1-0-0", Susan Lewinski replied from the helm.
1001, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Forenoon watch
The Patrol boat was heaving heavily, as the waves crashed against its hull. On the bridge, everyone was clinging to the handles and seats.
"Sir, we are now entering the search area", LEUT Chan reported.
Bird was watching the EOD which showed the image produce by the Typhoon's camera, while Chloe was scanning the radar for any signs of their missing crewmate. Not that it was worth much, the display was mainly showing reflections of the unruly sea.
Instinctively, they all gripped even tighter, when the boat was going up on a high wave, already expecting the crashing impact on the windward side of the wave.
The Hammersley's bow cut through the water, and for a moment, it would almost have looked as if the boat was flying, then it turned downward and crashed into the water again.
Spider didn't know how long he had been in the water. Swimming was getting harder with every moment, and the high waves were pummeling down on his body and throwing him around. This was not good.
He had actually remembered the first time he had ended up in the water, together with Bomber all those years ago. Back then, they had stayed afloat by using their overalls as swimming devices. But in this storm, it wouldn't help.
Tiredly, he kept moving, the salt burning in his eyes, his throat and the wound where he had scraped his knee during the fall. Falling asleep would be so easy, almost a relief. But then he would not wake up anymore, he knew that.
1138, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Forenoon watch
"Object in the water, Green 3-7, distance four miles!" Bird reported from the EOD, "Looks like a person."
"Recovery by swimmer!" Ryan ordered. Although the storm had mostly subsided, it was still too heavy for the RHIBs.
"Aye, Sir", Bird acknowledged before she left the bridge to get changed in the neoprene suit.
A few minutes later, she was standing ready on the railing, waiting for the order to jump into the sea.
"Away swimmer!" LEUT Doyle ordered, and Bird jumped. She dropped into the water and came back to the surface, before she moved towards her target. Even here, she could feel the force behind the waves, still crashing around her.
Finally she reached the person. From the first look it became clear that this was not Spider. A member of the Royal Australian Navy would not be wearing a black and red diving suit.
"Royal Australian Navy!" she called out, "Sir, I'm going to get you out of the water."
The man didn't answer, he had lost consciousness. The only thing that kept him above water was the lifejacket that he had worn, although it was barely hanging around his body anymore.
Bird grabbed the man by his suit, and began swimming towards the Hammersley. They winched him aboard, before Bird followed. Chloe had already brought the First Aid equipment, and Bird quickly examined the man.
"Begin CPR", she told the young sailor. For several minutes, the two worked at the man, but to no avail. The man was dead.
"Blake, get me that report on the missing divers on Bright Island", Ryan ordered as he joined them. Chloe handed him the mugshots, and Ryan nodded. It was one of the divers.
1452, Arafora Sea, Afternoon Watch
Spider was gritting his teeth with every stroke. Every fiber of his body was in pain, he just wanted to fall asleep. Still, he kept on swimming, although he had little illusions about the chances of someone finding him in time.
He was so exhausted, that he needed a few moments to register the gray ship in the distance, maybe a few miles off. Trying to stay on the surface of the water, he waved his arms.
He waved for what seemed an eternity to him, but the ship apparently didn't see him. Slowly it was moving along its course, passing Spider.
"This can't be happening", he thought, "This close! And they didn't see me!"
In resignation, he let his arms down, and just floated on the water a moment. The waves washed against his DPNU-clad body. What a joke, making a military uniform to be seen, with all the reflective stripes and the chemlights. And it doesn't even work…
The chemlights! He had forgotten about these. Finding new hope, he pulled the stick out of his pocket and ripped the package. Biting down on the plastic, he activated it and waved it frantically with his hand.
1523, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora sea, Afternoon Watch
"Everyone, Listen up!" Ryan shouted over the Hammersley's bridge.
"I just got off the radio with the Kingston", he explained, "They found him. He is dehydrated and exhausted, but alive."
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A/N: For this chpter I brought back a regular part of the scenery of season 1. Simply beacuse it was about the only remote island I could think of right now...
I am aware that I am pushing the limits of how long someone can survive in the ocean, but I hope it isn't too far off.
Don't forget to review!