Hi guys. I hope you're liking the story so far. I know this story is going on for a bit but I hope you stick around to find out exactly what happens. Love you all. X
Maxine rushed back to the office with the file in her hand. She had to tell someone about this right now!
But who could she tell? Mike was out at sea with the Hammersley and Marshall for all she knew might be involved in what she had just discovered. She slowed a little once this hit her. No one would be there until the morning but there was one person she could tell. Someone who would actually listen to her and maybe even do something about all this.
She snuck into the office as quietly as she could, not to disturb the officers on duty. No one paid her any attention and just nodded their heads as she passed.
"Evening Ma'am." A few of them said.
She just nodded back, just wanting to get to a communicator. She finally got to her office and switched on the light. She then went over to her computer and switched it on.
She stretched her fingers out and then got to her communicator hoping the person would answer.
"Maxine?" Finally came an answer.
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Jim, Bomber and Spider were scrambling to try and get some way of getting communication to the rig teams. Jim pulled out plugs whilst the other two pressed the buttons with some hope fading.
"Anything?" Jim asked, looking up to Spider.
"No." Spider sighed.
"Well that's it, that's the last plug." Jim said getting up off the floor.
They then heard something that put hope back into them again. The rigs!
"Oh thank God." Bomber muttered under her breath.
The three went outside to greet and bring the rigs back in. Kate and Buffer were the first ones off of the rig meeting the others with open arms. Once they had stopped Bomber and Spider told them exactly what had happened.
"So everything is being blocked?" Buffer asked, confused.
"Seems so." Spider answered.
"Why would someone do that?" Kate asked backing Buffer.
"Someone did that to the Starlight and they were torpedoed." Jim shrugged.
"You don't think…" Kate stopped in her tracks.
"What Ma'am?" Buffer also stopped.
"Why would someone send us out if other boats were in the same situation?"
"To get more help." Spider said reassuring his X.
"But Maxine told us that all of our ships were in lockdown back at the port. We were the only ones out here." Kate said re-thinking.
"Yes she did." Buffer supported her.
"Why would Navcom send them out here?" Kate asked, putting her finger to her chin.
"In the middle of lockdown." Bomber supported her.
The crew looked at each other. Why was Navcom sending ships out if they were supposed to be in lockdown?
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Mike was reading his book in his quarters. He then got an email through on his computer from Navcom HQ but this seemed different. It was directed to him and no one else which was weird. He clicked on it and it said to call Maxine as soon as he could.
Before he could call Maxine back, a knock came at his door. He turned towards the door as he put his screen down as it looked private.
"Yes." He said.
Kate was on the other side of the door. She looked shocked and confused at the same time. Mike was surprised as he never saw her like this unless something was very badly wrong.
"Kate what is it?" Mike asked her.
"We need you on the bridge now." Kate said breathing heavily.
"What? Why?" Mike asked, confused as she was.
"Just come up to the bridge."
Mike looked puzzled at Kate. she didn't usually talk to him like this apart from when they were off duty or if either of them were in danger. Mike got his computer in his arm and followed Kate up to the bridge.
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Bomber and Spider had been told to make dinner. They really wanted to stay on the bridge to see what was going on but didn't want to be told off by Buffer or Kate in the moods they were in.
"I can't believe we're stuck down here!" Spider said, throwing a potato into a barrel near to Bomber.
"Watch it!" Bomber exclaimed.
"Sorry Bomber but I mean aren't you bored?"
"Yes but I listen to our superiors."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"You're not listening to anyone."
Before Spider could spit back at that statement, Nav came down to join them and brought a chair to the hatch of the kitchen.
"You been chucked out to?" Bomber asked her.
"Something like that." Nav sighed.
Bomber gave Nav some potatoes to keep her busy and keep her mind off everything else. Nav didn't exactly greet this with enthusiasm but helped Bomber and Spider out. She began to peel and cut her finger as soon as she started.
"Not used to this?" Spider laughed.
"Shut up Spider." Nav muttered.
Spider made a face at Nav and turned back to the work he was doing. All three of them were bored and anyone who walked by could tell. Just as they finished Swaine happened to walk past.
"You look like you're having fun." Swaine said, stopping when he saw them.
"Want to join us?" Bomber asked even though she knew the answer.
"I'm alright thanks." Swaine shook his head with a bit of a snigger.
Bomber kissed her teeth and went back to peeling. Swaine took Nav to one side when Spider and Bomber weren't looking to talk to her.
"Do you know what they're talking about on the bridge?" Swaine whispered.
"Probably our communication problem." Nav shrugged not really knowing the answer to Swaines' question.
"Right. Have you seen the CO?"
"He's up on the bridge with the others."
"He shouldn't be up there." Swaine let out a sigh.
"Why not? What are you keeping from us?" Spider butted in.
"Nothing." Swaine lied.
Nav gave him a not so sure face. Bomber and Spider leaned on the kitchen side of the hatch ready for Swaine to tell all. Swaine started to sweat a little when he saw this happening. He didn't think he could keep it a secret anymore.
"Alright. You really want to know."
"Yes!" The three said in unison.
"Alright. Well…"
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Mike had joined the rest of the bridge crew on the bridge. Being CO meant he had to be involved in this conversation even if he was in immense pain right now. Luckily he was sitting down in the CO's chair so could take the weight off of his feet for now.
"So you're definitely sure on this one?" He asked Kate.
"There can't be another reason!" Kate said, shrugging.
Mike started to bite his nails. This could mean the end of Navcom if this was true. He always trusted his team's judgement but this couldn't be true could it?
"Sir we have to do something otherwise we'll end up like the Starlight." Buffer finally broke the silence.
"I know we do Buf." Mike nearly cried.
The whole bridge team took a step backwards. Mike rarely spoke like this especially after having a lot of time away from the bridge. Mike sighed as he saw the looks he was getting.
"Sorry." Mike apologised.
"It's fine sir. We're not feeling like ourselves right now." Kate nodded at the rest of the team.
"Yeah." The rest of the team also nodded to keep Mike feeling happy rather than angry.
Mike leaned back in his seat. He didn't really know how to take the information he had just been given.
But before he could say anything else to his team, Bomber, Spider and Nav came storming up the stairs. None of them looked happy with them all stopping once they were up the stairs they crossed their arms.
"What are you guys doing up here?" Buffer hissed at them.
"We want to know something." Spider hissed back.
"What's that then?" Kate backed Buffer crossing her own arms.
"The CO knows." Bomber nodded towards Mike.
The whole bridge team turned to Mike. Not another secret surely?!
"Tell them." Spider urged him.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Mike put his arms out.
"Swaine's told us." Nav said.
"What has Swaine told them?" Kate gave Mike an ice cold look.
Mike couldn't get himself out of this one. He would have to tell them but how could he?