Hi guys. So, I'm back with another sea patrol story. As my last one was quite well received I thought I'd do another one. I also have started using google docs as it seems to be easier to use for me.

As lockdown was the thing that kind of got me into writing more, I thought I would do a story about a cast of characters in this situation. What better than Sea patrol characters?

Thanks for reading this very long intro and I hope you enjoy the story. Thanks. :)

The Hammersley was chugging along. Everyone aboard were worn out as they had been on a very long mission in the pacific. Now all they were looking forward to was getting home and relaxing.

On the bridge, Mike Flynn and Kate McGregor were watching over everyone making sure they were doing their job and not messing around. However, with this crew it wouldn't be very long before something or someone did something wrong to mess with this plan. Spider was working with Bomber on navigation whilst Nav was getting some rest in her quarters. This was asking for trouble!

"How far are we from port Spider?" Flynn asked towards the two young sailors.

"Ummm…" Spider replied.

"Spider!" Flynn insisted.

"Not far?" Spider came out with.

Mike looked at Kate and they just both shook their heads. Kate went back to join them to see what they were up to.

"Typical." Mike whispered under his breath.

"Not long now sir." Swaine smiled at him.

"Well let's hope so Swaine."

Swaine looked back to the sea in front of them. It seemed to go on forever and never seemed to stop. Swaine was with the rest of the crew in waiting for home and the family that were waiting back home.

"How we doing back there X?" Mike called.

"We're getting closer sir. Even though Bomber might have slightly changed our course." Kate sighed looking at Bomber who was sinking into her seat.

"Bomber!" Mike said in frustration.

"Sorry sir." Bomber called trying to get out of trouble.

Mike just sighed and went back to looking at files on the ship. Bomber sighed a sigh of relief. Mike was a good captain and actually was quite easy on them then other captains in the navy.

0000

Commander White was visiting Commander Marshall at HQ. Maxine had been on a ship for ages and had missed being back at HQ. She was used to working in HQ and not used to working on a patrol ship which she had been on since the start of the year!

She walked back into the room. Everyone was just working away and didn't even look up when she came in. Great, exactly what she wanted. She didn't want any fuss. She walked over to Commander Marshall's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Marshall's voice from the other side of the door.

Maxine walked into the room to find most of Marshalls stuff in boxes next to the door. She looked at them very confused before she could finally say something.

"Going somewhere sir?"

"I'm being promoted." Marshall answered her.

"That's good. Shame you're going though."

"Well, can't work in the same place for your whole life."

"Suppose not." Maxine said staring at the boxes.

If Marshall was leaving, who was going to keep HQ under control. She hoped it was someone nice rather than someone who wasn't.

"Any idea who's taking over?" Maxine asked hopefully.

"Not yet." Marshall answered her question.

"Right."

Maxine knew that even if Marshall did know, he probably wouldn't tell her yet. Maxine nodded again and left the office.

000

The Hammersley were getting closer and closer to port. The ocean didn't seem as long as it had. Spider and Bomber had been moved off of navigation and Nav had come back. Spider and Bomber were now just sitting down waiting to go home.

"I can't believe you did that." Spider whispered to Bomber.

"Me? Who suggested the idea?!" She hissed back.

"It wasn't me!"

"Yes, it was, and you know it."

"That's enough!" Nav hissed out of earshot from the others on the bridge.

Bomber and Spider turned away from each other with folded arms. Nav shook her head. She couldn't believe those two sometimes. They were on a ship and needed to keep themselves under control, so they didn't fall overboard again!

0000

Maxine was sitting with other officers in HQ. It had been pretty quiet so far that day so were hoping it stayed that way. How wrong they were!

Suddenly Marshall came out of his office and switched on the TV. The TV switched on. The news flashed up on the screen. Everyone in the room sighed. They were used to seeing the news these days as there seemed to be nothing else on TV.

"Why are we watching this?" One of the officers asked.

"You just missed it." Marshall responded.

"Just missed what?" Maxine spoke up.

"Australia's going into lockdown."

The room gasped together, started talking and asking questions. If the country went into lockdown this meant no one could come in or out.

"Have we got any ships out there?" Marshall asked with haste.

"Just one I think." Maxine responded.

"Which one?"

"The Hammersley." The room said in unison.

Everyone knew Hammersley had been out for months. They were so close to coming back into port and now they had to be sent out again as they weren't allowed back in.

"Who's going to tell them?" An officer asked.

"I will." Maxine volunteered.

Everyone nodded and went back to their work, to finish up before they had to go home for lockdown to start.

0000

"There's a call from Navcom sir." Buffer said to Flynn as he passed over the phone.

"Wonder what they want." Flynn said, taking the phone.

Flynn answered the phone with the others listening in to see what Navcom wanted.

"Lieutenant Commander Flynn here."

"Commander White here."

"Commander. Just coming back into port."

"That's the thing."

"What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid you can't come into port."

"What?!"

"We're going into lockdown. We can't let anyone in."

Mike nearly dropped the phone when he heard this.

"Mike? Are you still there?" Maxine asked.

"Yes, I'm here. What do we do?" Mike said.

"I'm afraid you have to stay away from shore. You might have to stay at sea."

"Right. That won't go down well." Mike said looking around the bridge.

"I know. We'll be here for you giving you information."

"Thanks Maxine. Flynn out."

Mike put the phone down. He looked back at the bridge. Everyone stared at him waiting for an answer to what the call was about.

"We have to stay at sea." Mike said to the bridge.