Chapter Four-

Interview Room One- Internal Affairs Officer Laura Greer

Commander Mike Flynn

Lieutenant Kelly Martin

Seaman Alexei Hunt

Leading Seaman Robert Dixon

Seaman Gabriella Romano

Seaman Logan Anderson – to be seen at later date.

Leading Seaman Leo Kosov-Meyer

Petty Officer Pete Tomaszewski – to be seen at later date.

Able Seaman Billy Webb

Petty Officer Jessica Bird – to be seen at later date.

Able Seaman Toby Jones

Chief Petty Officer Andy Thorpe

Seaman Matthew Phillips


Kelly and Mike sat outside interview room one, both of them nervous. Kelly's face and arms were bruising nicely, something she was sure that the IA officers were going to ask about.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"We'll be fine. We announced our relationship; we did everything we could to protect us and to keep our relationship strong. We can't be faulted. We'll be fine," assured Mike, though deep down, he felt the same way. His head snapped up as the interview room door opened, and a young woman stepped out.

This could mean the end of everything.


Internal Affairs Officer Laura Greer – Interview Room One:

"Commander Flynn. Please, come in," said Laura pleasantly. Mike entered the interview room, feeling nervous. He didn't know how this interview was going to go, what she was going to ask. He just hoped that whatever happened that he would survive, that his relationship with Kelly would survive. She offered him a seat, and then opened his file in front of him.

"Your record is impressive Commander Flynn. I do have a few points of note though. Your file has recently been updated by Commander White to say that you are in a relationship with Lieutenant Martin. Is this true?" She asked.

"It is. I have already put in the paperwork for a transfer, and I am waiting for it to go through," replied Mike.

"Despite the fact that fraternisation rules state you can't have personal relationships whilst working?" Asked Laura.

"Our relationship hasn't interfered with our duties, and it has only ever been acted on when on shore leave," responded Mike. Laura flipped through the file.

"I have reports here from some of your crew members that there was evidence of the two of you having a personal argument that was interfering with your duties. I believe it was around the time of the failed SAREx?" She asked. Mike flushed, and Laura knew she'd hit a sweet point.

"I, ah, um, perhaps…" Mike trailed off.

"Good. Let's start there then."


Interview Room Two – Internal Affairs Officer Michael Fletcher

Lieutenant-Commander Kate McGregor

Lieutenant Nikki Caetano

Midshipman Ryan White

Leading Seaman Jonathen Long

Able Seaman Charlotte Woods

Able Seaman Emily Kosov-Meyer

Petty Officer Dylan Mulholland

Seaman Lachlan Noble

Petty Officer Liam Gordon

Seaman Daniel Giordano

Chief Petty Officer Jamie Patterson – to be seen at later date

Seaman Alex Todd


Nikki sat outside interview room two by herself. Kate had already come in early to do her interview, and there was a lunch break between Nikki's interview and the next sailor to be interviewed. She wrung her hands nervously; she knew she was in dire straits.

They would find out everything, and she'd be dishonourably discharged.

All because of a stupid relationship.

She loved him though. Despite the fact he was in so much pain, she loved him.

Nearly as much as she had loved Josh…


Internal Affairs Officer Michael Fletcher – Interview Room Two:

Nikki was seated in front of the Internal Affairs officer, silently sweating it out.

"Lieutenant Caetano, what was the nature of your relationship with Leading Seaman Joshua Holiday?" Started Fletcher.

"We were shipmates serving on Hammersley for several rotations," replied Nikki.

"No sexual relationship of any kind?" Asked Michael. Nikki chose not to answer.

"Anna and James Holiday speak very highly of you. You were going to marry their son," explained Fletcher.

"I was," replied Nikki evenly.

"And then his murder put an end to those plans, didn't it?" Nikki nodded.

"So what sort of relationship are you having with Leading Seaman Jonathen Long?" Asked Fletcher.

"There is no relationship!" Exclaimed Nikki.

"No relationship? Then why did he physically abuse you in ComCen?" Retorted Fletcher.

"He has his reasons," replied Nikki cryptically. Michael pulled out another report from Nikki's file.

"And yet your buffer has reported that he abused you due to sexual relations you had had the night before. Your medical officer reports that whilst you didn't break your nose, it was quite swollen. So tell me Lieutenant Caetano, what sort of relationship are you having with Leading Seaman Long?" Nikki gulped. It was going to have to come out now.

"It started four months ago…"


Maxine was down to two options.

And she didn't like either of them.

One of them was to still transfer Mike to a desk job. He'd hate her for it, but it would work. The only problem was that then she'd have to find two officers.

And that was just as hard.

The other option was to somehow allow Mike to stay on Hammersley and continue to have his relationship with Kelly, and the find a replacement for Pete.

Either way, someone was going to be very unhappy.

She looked at the file of Lieutenant Commander Alex Taylor; he'd served for several years under Jumper Collins on the Kingston, and was currently working as their Buffer. The Bosun's mate on the Kingston was definitely due for a promotion, and as Maxine looked at Alex's file, she realised that he would perfect to fill the position of Bosun on Hammersley. He was bold enough to speak his mind if needed, and was strong enough to take on anything he needed to.

Now she just needed to find a way for Mike and Kelly to stay on the same ship without breaking protocol.


Bec begged for a wheelchair to be brought to her room, and a kind nurse agreed to push her down to ICU to visit a friend. She was wheeled into Pete's room, and she took his good hand in hers.

"Pete, what happened to you?" She asked softly.

"Didn't learn to dodge bullets properly, that's what," he rasped, carefully rolling himself to face her. She stroked his face gently.

"How are you and bubs going?" Asked Pete.

"Still going at the moment. We've had our fair share of excitement. I would be a very happy girl if the rest of this pregnancy was very uneventful," replied Bec. Pete nodded.

"So what's the damage?" asked Bec.

"Bullet to the shoulder has torn ligaments and muscles, and they're going to try and fix it, but there's no guarantee. The second bullet just missed my heart. For now, my Navy career is on hold until they work out if they can fix this or not," responded Pete.

"Would it be so bad if you weren't in the Navy?" Bec asked. Pete rolled back onto his back, settling himself as best he could. He nodded to Bec.

"I can't see myself out of the Navy. I've been there ever since I was eighteen, and I've never considered leaving. I can't leave," replied Pete.

"What if you had a desk job? You would still be part of the Navy," said Bec.

"But it wouldn't be active duty. I love being out on the ocean, Bec. I don't want to leave," said Pete sadly.

"Then buy yourself your own boat and sail that way. Leo and I would be happy to come out on the water with you. Make your own sea life Pete. Just don't be a stranger," replied Bec. He gave her hand a quick squeeze.

"We'll see." He gently floated back to sleep, and Bec's personal nurse came back and wheeled her back up to her room.

She hoped Pete would be okay.