Chapter Thirty-Six:
The Name Alone
1603
"Third time's a charm?" Nav gave RO a big smile. RO restrained from rolling his eyes at his superior officer. She just looked back at her screen with a grin as he tried the radio again.
"Kanimbla, 51. This is Hammersley, 82. Please respond."
Nothing. RO groaned. "Why is it that it's easier to talk to the mainland when they're only 2 minutes away?" He asked exasperated, motioning to the big ship beside them.
"Unless they don't want to hear it?" Nav said with a small smile, raising her eyebrows.
"That's what I was thinking." A voice said from the top of the stairs. The pair turned to find Mike standing at the top of the stairs. "We'll have to do something else."
Charge got a small smile across his face as he looked up from the corner. "You aren't?"
Nav grinned. "Sir?" He nodded. She grabbed the radio. "Prepare the RHIB."
Mike's welcome was about as resounding as he had expected, being met only by a young Able Seaman who told him he couldn't see the captain right now and should come back later.
"He told you to say that didn't he?" He asked. The Able Seaman finally nodded, looking gloomy as he did. Mike nodded. "I have to talk to him about this morning."
The young man gave him a blank look that only confirmed what Mike had thought – Price had never even asked his crew to help them retrieve their men. "If you would like to…"
Mike cut him off. "He's in his cabin?"
The young man nodded again. "Yes sir."
So, pushing past the sailor, Mike headed straight for the CO's cabin. Reaching the door he barely knocked, just pushing it open with brute force. Price was on the phone and he stopped mid conversation when he saw Mike.
"… and you can tell them that while they're in Australian waters I can't ensure that they will not be disturbed by people like Mike…" He stopped as his eyes fell on Mike. "Flynn." He gave Mike a frown and continued. "Let me call you back sir. Yes, it is. Immediately. Okay." He hung up. "Hello again Mike." He gave him a big fake smile. Mike felt sick. Price turned on the Able Seaman that had followed Mike to the door. "Marsh, toilet duties." The young man slumped off.
"Don't punish him for your own mistakes Price." Mike said, shutting the cabin door behind him as he stepped inside. "You told your crew not to answer my calls?"
"I'm a busy man Mike. It isn't personal."
Mike scoffed. "Not too busy to chat to Canberra I see. Who was that then?"
"Captain Archer. He wants you home now."
"I gathered as much." Mike snorted. "So he can what? See how my men are?"
Price stood. "Maybe that's true. You think Canberra doesn't feel bad about sending the Stuart?"
"I think Canberra doesn't feel anything."
Price pushed past Mike and opened his cabin door, heading out and assuming Mike would follow. He did. They started back to the deck. "The men of the Stuart will reach the mainland in a few hours. There they'll be trialled. I assure you that someone will be held responsible for this."
"Like who? A Seaman? No one will pay for this Price."
Price stopped and turned on him. "Don't make this a moral crusade Mike. You'll only end up getting yourself and your men killed."
"Two of my men are already dead Price, thanks to being outnumbered. You said you'd send us men but you never even asked your men did you?"
Price sighed. "I do what's best for my men Mike. There's… there's someone out there that not even I am safe from." He turned cheeky again as he pushed open the door to the deck and they stepped out. "Anyway, turns out the Stuart needs a tug. They've done something to the ship. The Tobruk will be here in seven days to take them home." He grinned. "Stupid Stuart."
Mike frowned. "Don't brush over this Price. What do you mean 'someone out there'? What are you hiding from us?"
Price shook his head. "Nothing. Go back to your men Mike, I have things to do." Then, stepping back inside, Price shut the door in Mike's face.
1605
"Hello Brian." She grinned. "How are you?"
Rembrandt chuckled. "I will be fabulous if you can tell me you're now packing up, saying your goodbyes to the islanders and coming home."
Kate's smile fell. "I'm afraid I can't. We still have two men out on that island."
"Two of my boys or yours?"
"They're two of ours Rembrandt, don't worry. We got all of Black Box's men back now. It's Able Seaman Van Gould-Cooper and Petty Officer Tomaszewski."
"Tomaszewski. That's Buffer right? Oh dear, I won't have him answering my calls."
Kate gave a small smile. "Not right now, no." She paused. "Actually, why aren't you on the phone?"
"They've lifted the communications ban on you guys. Now I can call any time of the day or radio you lot."
"So, you're checking up on us?" Kate smiled.
"Absolutely love. Gathering information to use against you later."
At the thought of this Kate turned serious. "Brian, what have you heard around base about us?"
Rembrandt paused, gathering what he had to say. "Bounty hunters. Canberra hates themselves and has stepped down charges against you. You took down Lyons and the Stuart."
"All true." Kate confirmed. "But anything else? Any rumours?"
"You deal in rumours now Katie?"
Kate frowned. "Right now I'm inclined to believe anything."
"Mmmm." Rembrandt murmured. Then he continued. "The Tobruk is headed your way, should be there in seven days. That has been confirmed. They say it's to take control and help the Stuart, but there's always something else." Kate nodded to herself. They'd expected more Canberra intervention. But Rembrandt wasn't done. "There's a rumour that there's someone else. Someone already there. Someone that wants you out of there. They say it's the real reason Canberra are so determined to get you out now. Why they dropped the charges."
"What?" Kate gaped. "Like who?"
"They're just rumours Katie. Bored Seaman tales."
"Rembrandt, please." Kate said, searching for answers.
"They're saying… oh god this is stupid… they're saying that they're A…"
Rembrandt's transmission was blanketed by another transmission and Kate stared at the radio, searching for answers, until the voice came across. "Hammersley, this is Trevor Barnes. I want to talk to Mike Flynn."
"Ma'am." ET said from the EOD. Kate glanced at it. It was Trevor Barnes, finally a face to the name, with a hostage. He had Dutchy by his neck, his arm wrapped around like he would snap the young sailor's neck at any second.
Kate answered him slowly. "Mister Barnes, this is Executive Officer of the Hammersley Lieutenant Kate McGregor."
Barnes laughed, speaking into a radio he'd obviously stolen from one of their crew. "The beautiful X. It's a pleasure ma'am. But I want Mike."
"He's not here at the moment. You'll have to talk to me for now."
"Alas I do not have the time to wait for Mike. So, I guess, I'll deal with you then."
"Yes, you will." Kate answered, still watching him on the EOD as he spoke.
"Good. Then, if you want Mister Van Gould-Cooper here to survive this, you will meet me here on the shore as soon as possible."
Kate paused then realised what she had to do. "Okay." She looked at Nav. "Prepare the second RHIB."
"X, I don…" Nav started, but the X cut her off.
"Nav, prepare the RHIB now please." Then she left the bridge, leaving Nav frowning at her back.
The RHIB bounced a little, causing Kate to grab hold of the seat in front of her, as they reached the shore. Giving the RHIB driver, Leading Seaman David 'Charlie' Chaplain, a small smile she got out slowly, being watched the entire time by the man on the edge of the beach. Instinctively she glanced back at the Hammersley, then at the Kanimbla. On the deck of the Kanimbla she could see three men she recognised as Mike, Price and Rhino. Mike and Price looked deep in discussion, Rhino simply watching on.
Tearing her eyes from them Kate looked back at the man then strode towards him, her Browning clutched in her right hand as she limped slightly, finally stopping and resting on her good foot as she got to him. "Mister Barnes."
Trevor Barnes gave her a big, dare she think it unnerving, smile. "Please Kate, call me Trevor. We're all friends here."
"On that front I fear you are mistaken Mister Barnes." Kate restrained from growling at him. "You may call me Lieutenant McGregor."
He shrugged. "Fine. But I prefer Kate." He glanced at Dutchy, who was no longer struggling in his hold. Evidently the young man had realized that such a hold could render him dead in seconds. Barnes seemed to follow Kate's eyes. "Now, about Mister Van Gould-Cooper here."
Kate spoke to her crewmate. "Are you okay Dutchy?"
He gave a weak smile. "I'm fine ma'am. You shouldn't've come."
"Don't tell me how to do my job Ryan." She said sternly and Dutchy's eyes went to the ground. Kate looked back at Barnes. "Why did you want to see me?"
"I want you to know how well I'm treating your men." He gave a smile. "And how upset I am about how you've treated mine. Especially this afternoon."
Kate frowned at him. "You don't have any men left, do you?"
Barnes smiled still, his smile making Kate look away. "If I told you that I'd be giving away my upper-hand." He looked at Dutchy. "But, I was also hoping for a deal. You know I have your Petty Officer as well, right?"
Kate nodded. "We do." She narrowed her eyes. "Are you about to propose something? Because if you are, I'm walking away from you."
Barnes looked impressed. "Yes, but if you walk away from me than I'll kill this young man here."
Kate just moved her Browning just a little to show him. "Remove Dutchy and you'll be left unguarded. If I don't shoot you myself, the Hammersley's Typhoon will."
Barnes chuckled. "Gee the Navy is trigger-happy these days. Back in my day we sorted things out with other methods."
"Like words? Isn't that what we're doing now Barnes? Sorting things out with words."
Barnes smiled. "You're from an older school than the others Lieutenant McGregor. I like you." Kate's facial expression didn't change. He continued. "So, I'll give you some information in exchange for information."
"What would we need from you?" Kate asked frowning at him.
"The name of the men in there." He thumbed back to the trees. "Who else is out there."
Kate narrowed her eyes. "What do you know?"
Barnes smiled. "We've all heard them ma'am. The whispers in the dark. The movement of the trees. They're out there and they're worse than you want to know." He breathed deeply. "Which is why your support will be appreciated, so I can go home with my bounty." He gave a small movement that indicated he was talking about Dutchy.
Kate frowned. "The charges have been dropped against us. There is no longer a bounty on our heads."
Barnes didn't look shocked. "I know, Grey told me. But this one here is worth more than that. Aren't you son?" He sneered at Dutchy.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Dutchy replied, looking away from him.
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand either Barnes." Kate answered as well.
Barnes smiled. "The Van Gould-Coopers are a well-off family I have heard. Their son the richest of them all."
Kate nodded. "That may be true Barnes, I believe Ryan here is stable. However if you attempt to hold him hostage you will be disappointed. His lifestyle comes from the fact that all his relatives have passed on. All the money in the Van Gould-Cooper family is due to this and nothing else. He has no one to pay you any ransom money." She gave Dutchy a sad look. "I am correct aren't I Ryan?"
Dutchy sighed. "She's right. My parents died last May."
Barnes frowned. "The joys of using old records. Looks like he's disposable then." He looked about ready to kill Dutchy then and there but Kate spoke.
"I have a deal for you. Take me and let Dutchy go."
Barnes smiled. "The daughter of a single mother? What would you be worth?"
"My father is a wealthy Englishman. My mother will contact him and they will pay the ransom. You may not get as much as you would from Dutchy, but you will get something."
Barnes took a minute to think about it. "Alright then." He motioned to the gun. "Throw it away and then I'll let Dutchy go."
"Let him go first."
"Now if I do that the Typhoon will fire on me, right?"
Kate glanced back at the Hammersley to find the first RHIB being raised. Mike was back on board. She looked back at Barnes. "Okay." She threw the gun far away from her then strode towards him. As she reached him another figure jumped from the bush behind her and pulled her arms behind her back. She squirmed but then stopped, staring at Barnes, as he still hadn't let Dutchy go. "Fulfil the deal Barnes."
Barnes smiled. "Of course." He pushed Dutchy away from him and she saw he was still tied up, unable to grab the gun. As he did he pulled Kate to him as a shield. He grinned and looked up at Dutchy as he turned and looked back at the X. "Now ma'am. You and me have some information to change hands."
Kate looked at Dutchy. "Get out of here Ryan. Get back to the Hammersley." Dutchy faltered, looking at her, but she waved him away with her eyes and he ran to the RHIB. Kate watched it start to pull away just as Barnes and the other one dragged her back into the bushes behind them. A second later her comforting view of the Hammersley was lost.
Mike's arrival back on the bridge of the Hammersley wasn't what he had expected. Rather than the usual peace of the place he was met with utter confusion. ET was bent over the Typhoon, glaring at the EOD. Nav was on the deck with the binoculars to her eyes, frowning. RO was talking loudly on the radio with Charlie who, it appeared, was in the second RHIB. Finally Mike looked up from the bridge and to the island where everyone's eyes were trained. He gasped when he realised what was happening. There was Kate standing across from Dutchy and a man Mike guessed was Trevor Barnes. He watched as Kate walked towards him after throwing away her gun then be grabbed by someone hiding nearby. He gasped as her arms were pulled behind her back and he watched her flinch as she leant on her sprained ankle. He frowned and looked at Nav who had just come back inside.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Nav frowned. "Sir, Barnes called on the radio just after you left. He wanted to talk to you. The X took the call instead and opted to go down and meet him."
"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Mike fumed.
Nav faltered. "Uh, we couldn't reach you. The Kanimbla still aren't answering our calls."
Mike glanced up as the RHIB pulled away from the island, minus Kate, and headed back towards them. He glared at Nav. "This isn't good enough Nav. I am holding you partly responsible for this." He turned and walked away from her, back to the deck to meet the RHIB.
Nav gaped, her eyes filling with tears. She'd never been told off like that by the CO. ET seemed to realise and went to her, but pushing him away Nav left the bridge quickly.
Someone was whistling in the kitchen as Nav made for her little cabin and she ignored it, trying to get away without being disturbed, but she was spotted. It was Bomber and she was hanging around the door deep in conversation with a bored-looking Princess. She frowned at Nav and stepped out in front of her to stop her. "Nav, what's wrong?"
Nav sighed. "It's nothing, just, I stuffed up."
Princess came to the door. "What are you talking about ma'am? You never stuff up." She frowned at Nav. Able Seaman Leann 'Princess' Smith was the ship's Combat Systems Operator and the only other female on the ship. Like the other women on board she got on well with the boys, but when you're outnumbered 5 to 1 there's times you just want to talk to other women. Every so often Princess would join in on one of she and Nav's conversations, but she and Bomber were closer as they were the same rank and Princess worked closely with RO.
Nav smiled at Princess. "Thanks but we both know that's not true." She sighed. "The X went out to meet Barnes and the CO is blaming me for not stopping her."
Bomber gaped. "What? A brick wall can't stop the X when she wants to do something. The CO must know that!"
Nav gave a small smile. "Yeah. Still…"
Princess shook her head. "You couldn't've stopped her. You couldn't pull rank on her or anything. She was in charge while the CO was away. It was her choice." She patted Nav on the shoulder. "Look, cheer up, the CO was probably just in a bad mood. From what I've heard about Price I would be too." She gave Nav a smile and went back to cooking dinner.
Bomber and Nav continued down the hall. "Cheer up Nav. You've been in a good mood all day for the first time ever…" Bomber started with a grin that was met with a comical death-stare from Nav. "Oh come on, tell me I'm not right."
Nav grinned. "You are." She fished into her pocket and pulled out something she'd held in her pocket with a safety pin. "ET gave me this this morning."
Bomber's jaw dropped. "He didn't!"
Nav nodded. "He did. I mean, he did again." She gave a small shrug. "Long story."
"But the short version is…" Bomber prompted, coming to a stop.
"He asked my dad for my hand in marriage. It was my baby brother's 21st birthday a few weeks ago and apparently dad told him to ask me then. In the middle of the party he just got down on one knee and proposed." She sighed. "I had to say no."
Bomber nodded slowly. "Of course you did." Nav gave her a look and she shook her head with a confused look on her face. "What the hell Nav?"
Nav laughed at her friend's expression. "You don't get it Bomber. It was so… traditional. My family are Italian. Everything we do has something to do with some stupid tradition. Nothing is ever by choice. When I joined the Navy I messed with that tradition. And ever since then I've hated tradition. And then he just goes and does this. The big Italian proposal. In front of relatives I don't even the name of!" She exclaimed causing Bomber to grin widely and snicker. "It was embarrassing."
"And saying no was less embarrassing?" Bomber asked, tipping her head a little.
Nav sighed. "I took control of the situation. I took my engagement away from my father and regained it as mine. You don't know what that's like."
Bomber smiled. "Yeah, I get it." She looked at the ring. "It's nice. Congratulations Nav."
Nav grinned. "Thanks Bomber." She pinned the ring back inside her pocket just as ET rounded a corner behind them. Bomber noticed him and gave him a smile before casting Nav an 'I'm out of here' look and heading back to the galley. Nav then realised ET was there. "Oh, hey."
ET frowned. "Are you okay Nikki? What the CO said up there was too far."
Nav sighed. "Yeah, well, maybe." She smiled at him. "Thanks for coming to see if I was okay."
ET smiled and touched her arm. "Anytime Nav." Then ET headed back to the bridge. Watching him go Nav smiled after him then followed him back.
As Mike got the story of what had happened from Dutchy, the young man shaking and recieveing a check-up from Swain as he did, Kate was being reunited with a friend.
"X?" Buffer asked as she was pushed towards him by Barnes and the other man with him. "What are you doing here ma'am?"
The X frowned as she had her hands tied behind her back. "I swapped myself for Dutchy. I think he's had enough of this man." She motioned to a stupidly grinning Barnes with her head.
Buffer smiled. "That's very selfless of you ma'am. What did the boss think of that though?"
The X shrugged. "So, he doesn't know." She smiled sheepishly. "He was with Price."
Buffer shook his head. "Better you than me ma'am." He put out his arms, breaking her fall as Barnes roughly shoved her down. She pulled a face as she turned on her sore ankle, but Buffer's arms stopped her from hitting the tree behind her. She gave him an appreciative smile then looked back at Barnes.
"I believe we had an information deal Barnes."
Barnes nodded. "We did. Tell me first, are Canberra sending any more ships?"
Kate nodded back. "The Tobruk will be here in seven days. Why?"
Barnes smiled. "That's for me to know and for you to find out." He glanced at the other man and he walked off into the bushes. "Now, these men in here with us."
Kate frowned. "Yes? Who are they?"
Barnes crossed his arms. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Kate growled at him. "Tell me."
Barnes smiled and then, without a moment's hesitation, muttered a single word. Both Buffer and Kate gaped.
The X gasped. "No, it can't be…"