This is nice and relaxing, maybe mum is right having Mike around is a good thing. Maybe I can eat and then kept lunch down today. Kate thinks to herself as Hammersley cruises through the water to its location.
While Hammersley has been cruise to its way point, Steve has gone down to Navcom to talk to Maxine, to find out why she has allowed Kate to go out.
"Steve Hammersley along with Chandlers are working with the AFP and the SAS on a high security operation I have limited details about it all but enough to get a basic understanding of what they are being used for, and due to its nature I was told I had to have experienced officers who have had dealings with high security take downs before, I rang Mike knowing he could handle this but also temporary CO are not easy to find right now, they are either out on other boats or sick. Then come experienced XO well that is near impossible I can get XO Steve but not any that have done the job before and we can't risk it."
"Maxine can you pass me the folder." Steve says as he starts to read the Intel on what Hammersley are doing.
"Look Steve I know sending out a pregnant office could mean the loose of my job but she isn't land locked yet, and Mike was very firm about taking her out with him. He said he was grounding Kate to Hammersley. I doubt Mike will put Kate and their baby in danger sir."
"Maxine did you just say pregnant?" Steve says back to her once she has finished
"Yes that is what Mike said to me this morning. This has me a tad confused after what I got yesterday. So what is going on between the two?" Maxine says back to him, Steve looks puzzled.
"Right now Maxine I have no idea what the hell is going on between those two." The two keep on talking about a few different things related to what Hammersley is doing that they have information on.
Back on Hammersley
Mike is still in the galley talking; When Kate starts to head to them as she has gotten hungry and sick of waiting for Mike to come with her lunch.
"Sir, how is Bird doing?" asks Dutchy
"Oh she's doing great thanks Dutchy enjoying her medic's course, so where is the CO with my lunch." Says Kate having answered the questions for Mike; Mike turns and smiles, while Swain, Charge and Dutchy start to laugh, Birds replacement not sure what to make of what is going on. And Jim is left in shock in the officer's mess at hearing Kate's voice. Unknown to Kate is that Jim is in the officers mess hearing everything.
"Ma'am is there something wrong with the food that I cook that has you requesting the boss to make something different for you and why can't you do it yourself he is our boss not our slave?" says the chef. Kate stands there looks at Mike they have this silent conversation. Everyone who is near stop and stay quiet not sure how the X is going to react to this. Mike stands there, hands up in the air, shaking his head. Trying to keep a straight face at what the chef has said to Kate.
"Ok which idiot on this boat forgot to inform Jessica's replacement of who I am?" She says hands on her hips. Her voice very firm and strong, face very straight and serious looking. Kate looks the sailors up and down.
"Rank and Name sailor?"
"Seamen; John Smith and I've only been on this boat for two weeks you've been here like what a few hours."
"Mike what happened to Jessica's replacement." He ducks his head so he can't look at her. Kate totally ignores the last part of the seamen's statement.
"Looks like you're in trouble again Sir?" Says Charge cheekily, and Kate lets this past as she is enjoying how the crew are being with her around.
"Kate did you have your cup of coffee this morning?" asks Mike
"Mike don't change the subject, what happened to Jessica's replacement?"
"He refused to cook anything in the deep fryer ma'am" replies Charge
"Wasn't Bomber like that?"
"Yes"
"And did she get fired for it?" the chef watches on wondering how she knows so much about the crew.
"No Ma'am?"
"So Mike what really happened?" she says again to him.
"I'll tell you later."
"Oh you better mister or I might have to ring dad." The guys who know who Kate is referring to can't help but smile when Kate says that.
"Seamen once you have finished cleaning your galley you are to then go find Dutchy who will supervise you cleaning a toilet of your choice with a toothbrush."
"Why ma'am?" Kate takes a big deep breath. Swain, Charge and Dutchy try not to laugh. Mike walks out of the galley with Kate's and his lunch.
"Well where do I start and what do I start with? Maybe the fact you are talking to your superiors in an unacceptable way. Whatever the CO does for me is his choice." Mike tries to hold back his laugh but instead he half snorts it out. Kate looks at him.
"Smith it might be best to stay quiet and not say anything and take it from me it is best to shut up and do as you're told with the X or it gets worse. Trust me on this one never ever play jokes on them or do anything to cross her, its hell and being pregnant her hormones will be worse." Says 2Dad's as he get his lunch.
"2Dad's what wise words to say to the chef are you planning on following what you say?"
"Yes ma'am no way am I crossing a pregnant woman, done that once never doing it again." Says 2Dad's, as he looks at Kate.
"My sister ma'am she's pregnant due any day and I did something I shouldn't and yea" 2Dad says before leaving to go eat his lunch.
"By the way Smith, I was the XO on this patrol boat for five years until seven weeks ago when I took a shore posting, so I know this crew extremely well and they know me and what I am like so don't push it or toothbrush duty won't be your only worry." She says as she takes her lunch off Mike and heads into the mess noticing Jim busy reading and slowly eating his lunch.
"Charge can you go get the Feds and Captain Roth and get them to meet us in the mess I need to go debrief with them." Says Mike
"Yes Sir."
"Charge, Jim's already in the mess just get the feds. Oh and inform RO where we are I'm expecting a phone call soon he can bring it down to us in here." Kate says from within the mess.
"Yes ma'am" Charge says.
"Kate lovely to see you again." Says Jim while reading his briefs for the mission. He doesn't look up at her yet.
"Hello Jim." She says as she sits down and starts eating her salad. The room is silent for a few minutes as Mike is sorting out a drink for Kate.
"Kate here you go." Mike says as he passes her a glass of juice from the galley fridge.
"Thanks." She says as she looks at him and smiles.
"You might want to check with the chef re what he has planned for dinner tonight so that if it's not something you can eat then we can get something sorted out." He says to her.
Jim looks up from what he is reading, his head still looking semi down and he watches the two as they speak. He notices Kate has had a promotion and also she has Flynn on her uniform.
"Kate did you get your uniform mixed up with Mike's?" Jim asks.
"No not at all why do you ask?"
"The surname on them it's wrong."
"Wrong what do you mean by wrong?" Kate asks a tad puzzled. RO then walks in.
"Ma'am Stat phone for you."
"Who is it RO?"
"Not sure all they said was that they needed to talk to you urgently." Ro replies as Mike passes the portable stat phone to her.
"Lieutenant Commander Kate Flynn speaking" she says and Jim is sitting there in semi shock. Mike and Jim hear a one sided conversation.
"Kate it's your father speaking."
"Hi dad what can I do for you?"
"You can explain to me what the hell is going on and why Maxine thinks you're still pregnant?"
"Dad now is not really the time."
"Kate the stunt you pulled on us including Mike yesterday was bad enough but to tell him you're still pregnant when your not is not acceptable to any of us let alone your husband."
"Dad…" She says her voice sound quiet and unsure; Mike picks up the worry and takes the phone off her. Before something happens that has her in tears.
"Captain Marshall, Mike speaking." He says into the phone, as he goes to stands to leave Kate puts her hand on his leg and he stops and sits back down.
"Mike why did you tell Maxine Kate is still pregnant?"
"Because she is."
"Mike we know where she went yesterday and by you walking out we know she went through with it."
"Steve now is really not a good time to explain into details about yesterday's appointment." For once I get told something before him goes through Mike's head then the text this morning from Helen
"Mike she's my daughter I have a right to know what is going on."
"Hang on Steve." Mike asks before he directs a question to Kate.
"Kate who else knows about yesterday's appointment and what happened at it?" Mike says to her while covering the mouth piece on the phone.
"Just mum." She says back to him.
"Steve you still there?"
"Yes Mike I am. Look I'm just worried that she might be stringing you along son."
"I can understand that Steve but the appointment yesterday that she had well yea things didn't go to plan, Helen knows what happened and I'm surprised she hasn't said anything to you or my parents yet."
"Mike is everything ok?" Steve says worry sounding in his voice.
"We won't know till next week, but she will be fine here. She going to be doing mainly my job so no risk to her or the baby." He replies back to him Jim sits there in shock. Kate is too busy watching Mike to notice Jim reaction. The Feds now enter the mess.
"I hope so Mike."
"Look Steve I have to go, got to debrief with our passengers, talk to Helen and get her to explain to you and my folks what happened and once we're back we can go over things with you."
"Ok Mike just be careful ok, bring my girl and grandchild home safe and sound."
"I plan on it Sir." They say their goodbyes then hang up.
Due to the Feds being in the room Jim is unable to ask questions of the two about what just went on. The group talk about different things regarding the operation that is ahead of them, he also explains to them that he is going to be doing all the boarding's that involve the Hammersley team as Kate is not allowed to do them. They go over the plans that the Hammersley crew have come up with from the Intel that they had been given. They talk for a good hour or so before both Mike and Kate are called to the bridge.
While Mike and Kate are in the meeting, Smith is about to leave the galley when Dutchy appears to make sure he does his toothbrush cleaning duty.