CH 9

MacGyver and Jim follow the group for ten minutes when she felt her beacon vibrated "Back up on it way" She whispered to him.

"Ok, but they won't get here in time will they?"

"Hammersley won't, but both HRIBS with armed personal would and knowing Mike he would call the army in as well."

A few minutes later they stopped when they saw the camp. "All we can do is wait," MacGyver said.

"How long?"

"Fifteen, twenty minutes, and if your guys are in the area or close by, it might be sooner."

"I'll be right back, going to check out what's in that truck," Jim said as he took his backpack off and passed it to her. He managed to get into the back of the truck where he saw crates of weapons.

When he returns, "There mortars, guns with extra ammo, and RPGs in the truck."

"Bloody hell, and with Hammersley here, that RPG could badly damage or blow Hammersley out of the sea."

"It would do a lot of damage."

"I agree." They look around and count to see how many men there are.

MacGyver noticed the leader on a sat phone. She watches him and reading his lips when he turns around. "Damit," she said.

"What is it?"

"The leader on the SAT phone, he was talking to someone about the missing guns."

"The ones we took yesterday?"

"Yes." The leader turned around and she could read his lips.

"They're planning another drop off by sea tonight at…." Jim noticed he turned around again. Then the leader hung up and put the phone on the table.

"I gotta get that phone."

"Why?"

"Then I can find out who he called, then we can get a name and perhaps the main man who's behind all of this."

"Good idea, I'll get it."

"No, I'll go," she took off her pack then managed to get to where the SAT phone was left when it rang, she hid and listened.

"What is it?… Navy?... What are they doing?… leaving…. Well, they don't know where we are then… they what? Are you sure… perhaps they've gone to a Mayday there are boats not far… crates… What? Who got them… How did they find them?… Well, find out who" then he hung up, put the phone on the table, then walked over to his second in command.

MacGyver managed to get the phone and got back to where Jim is. "Someone in the village is an informant. Whoever it is just told the leader about the guns and where they are."

"Question is who?"

"Who knows...Jim look your army buddies arrived," they saw the platoon on the edge, MacGyver got her tracker out of her pocket, it looks like a compact mirror with a mirror on one side, she reflected the sun on one of the SAS soldier's face. He turned to where the light was coming from and he saw Jim and MacGyver.

He gave hand signals to the others and watched as Jim and a woman slowly work their way around to them. "Captain, Sir, we received word about this camp and you being here with a woman."

"This is the rebel camp, pass me a couple of guns" they pass him a couple of guns, then he passed one to MacGyver.

"She can't have one," the lieutenant said.

"I'm leader McGinnis, MacGyver, as my crewmates call me."

"She's on Hammersley. This is what we're going to do." Jim told them his plan then MacGyver made a few suggestions that he agreed with.

They spread out and hit the camp full force. During the firefight, Hammersley's crew showed up from the other side effectively surrounding the rebels. They surrendered. Once the rebels were rounded up and secured, they were arrested as Swain and MacGyver took care of the wounded. The army took the truck with the weapons on board back to their camp and the navy took the men with them.

Everyone was pleased with the outcome. Jim returns to the Hammersley with the rented Zodiac as it will have to be returned to the owner when he returns to shore. Everyone back on board, Mike turned to Jim and MacGyver, "some adventure you both had."

"Yeah, some date, we didn't even have a chance to have lunch or see where Jim was taking me," MacGyver said.

"There'll be plenty of other times," Jim said hugging her.

"So long as we don't get interrupted by the Navy or the SAS, they've got no sense of timing," Jim grinned.

"That is so true."

"We'll take these guys back to the village and hand them over to the police."

"No, Sir," MacGyver said.

"MacGyver..." Kate warned against her tone.

"Sorry, Sir, not the village, Samaru Island, hand them over to the police there."

"Why, Samaru?" Mike asked her.

"There's an informant in the village. I heard the leader talking to whoever it is. They knew that we got the crates of weapons, and about the men planning on picking them up. There's another drop happening tonight, by sea"

"My men can help, Mike"

"Joint mission," MacGyver said.

"So long as you've got the go-ahead, your men are welcome aboard."

"Thanks, Mike, I'll head back to camp and get the approval."

"Sure," Jim says, then he hugged and kissed MacGyver. "Raincheck on the picnic."

"I have a collection, our fifth rain check."

"That many?"

"Yes, that many." They kissed once more before Jim returned to the Zodiac and left waving at MacGyver with her waving back.

Then turned to Mike and Kate, "I'm going to get changed and grab a bite to eat then check on the SAT phone and get phone numbers," she said before walking to the hatch.

Hammersley headed to Samaru Island where they handed the rebels over to the police and then headed back to the island. Mike got word that they had the go-ahead on the joint mission with the army. MacGyver was down at the ComCen getting phone numbers from the SAT phones they took from the rebels, both incoming and outgoing numbers. With the last number she dialled it and waited until someone answered it, then she hung up. Then she tried the next number.

"Ray Walsmen speaking, hello?" She hung up and sat back in the chair, then she wrote something on the laptop and printed it. Gathering everything up, she opened the door and walked out running into ET in the passageway.

"ET, can you go and get Jim please? I'll be on the bridge."

"Sure" Then they went their separate ways.

When she walked up on the bridge, she put everything on the chart table and turned to Mike and Kate who were watching her. "We'll wait for Jim."

"What is it?" Kate asked when she saw the look on MacGyver face. "You'll find out soon," just as Jim walked onto the bridge.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Jim, the two incoming phone numbers from the SAT phone, the last number came from the police station."

"Are you sure?" Mike asked.

"Yes, so that it appears that the head of police is the informant, as for the second phone number...you are not going to believe who it came from," MacGyver said looking at Mike.

"Who?" Kate asked.

"Ray Walsmen." They all looked at MacGyver shocked.

"Are you sure?" Mike asked.

"I called and he answered, 'Ray Walsmen, hello', it was his voice."

"Your gut?" Mike asked.

"He's behind supplying those rebels weapons. Also working with some businessmen."

"Big question is why?" Jim said.

" That is the big question," MacGyver added.

That night both RHIBs were in the sea, one with a Navy boarding team and the other SAS. "Sir, I've got a contact on radar heading to the island" Nav informed Mike.

"Team Thunder and Team Lighting, heads up," Mike said over the radio so they know it almost showtime.

"Sir," Spider said from the EOD. Mike walked over and looking over his shoulder with the night vision lens, he could see crates being unloaded.

"Team Thunder, Team Lighting, go in slow, they are unloading the crates."

"Copy that," Kate answers. Both RHIBs slowly head towards the mercenaries boat stopping a hundred meters away and letting the tide slowly take them closer to their target.

When the boat started leaving, "Insert! insert! Insert!" Mike ordered.

Both RHIBs started up and headed at speed towards the boat which as it was speeding away. As Team Thunder went after it, Kate called out, "Team Lighting! Take the beach!"

On Hammersley, they are following what was happening on radar and EOD. The mercenaries began firing at Thunder, they took evasive action and returned fire. The boarding team then shot out the engine and was able to catch them. Boarding the boat they arrested the four men.

As they were towing the boat towards Hammersley, with the men in cuffs on the RHIB, their boat caught fire. " Drop the tow!" Kate ordered. "Go top speed!"

They were just out of range as it blew up. On the bridge, Mike and the crew stood watching, shocked.

"Charley 8-2, Mike, we found the crates, and they're full of weapons."

" Great news Jim, I'll send Thunder to help bring them on board."

"Copy that, we heard an explosion."

"We're all fine, Jim."

"Thunder leaving Hammersley to meet up with Lighting," MacGyver said from the boat deck.

"Copy that."

Fifteen minutes later Hammersley returned to the village to drop the SAS off and head to Samaru Islands to drop the four men with the police there.

" Plot the course for home, Nav."

"Aye, Sir."

They headed to Cairns home port to drop the guns off and have a night of shore leave before heading back out to finish their patrol.

That night MacGyver used her laptop to find out who owns the boat that has blown up by using the name of the boat and registration numbers. They all came back to Ray Walsmen. She went and told Mike, Kate was in his cabin so she also heard about her findings.

A few mornings later MacGyver went to let Buffer know that she was going to ditch the gash as he was on watch when she noticed something was wrong.

"Buffer, what's wrong, mate?"

"It's nothing."

"I know something is wrong, you seem distant."

He turned to her, "It's my mother, I got a phone call from NAVCOM."

"How sick is she?"

"She's got cancer and is on borrowed time."

MacGyver stepped over to him and hugged him while he cried on her shoulder.

"Want me to let the Captain know?"

"No," he said pulling back. "We've got a patrol to do."

"Family is more important than the Navy, Buffer, you should know that by now. I'll tell the Boss that NAVCOM called and that there's a family emergency. He will understand." Then she walked to the steps, then stopping she turned back to him, "I hope we make it back in time for you to see your mum one last time."

"Thanks, MacGyver." She turned and walked down the steps. Going to the Captain's cabin, she knocked on the door then opened it.

"What is it?"

"It's me, Sir."

Mike turned his lamp on as MacGyver walked into his cabin. "What are you doing here?" he said sitting up.

"It's Buffer, Sir."

"Buffer?" he went to get up when she put her hand on his arm to stop him.

"NAVCOM called him, there's a family emergency back at home."

"Who? Buffer's?"

"Yes."

"D'you know what?"

"It's his mum," then she turned and walked to the open door, stopped and turned to him. "Time's ticking, Sir." She closed the door and went to take care of the gash then get breakfast on.

Mike got up and dressed then he went to the bridge to see Buffer.

"Buffer."

"Sir."

"MacGyver told me you've got a family emergency."

"Yes Sir, NAVCOM called and told me to call home. I knew what it meant."

"Who is it?"

"My mother, she has stage four cancer".

"She's on borrowed time?" Mike asked thinking about MacGyver saying 'time's ticking'.

"Yes, my guess, it could be hours."

"Ok, we're returning to port."

Mike steps forward checking their position and calculates course adjustments giving the order to the helm. Going over to RO's station he called NAVCOM to let them know that they are returning to port. Then Buffer did the wakey wakey call over the PA system.

Mike got onto the PA, "Now hear this, Captain speaking. We're returning to homeport. NAVCOM called, one of the crew has a family emergency. We will be home in four hours, that is all"

"Thank you, Sir."

"Family is more important than the Navy, I hope that you get there in time."

"That's what MacGyver said, about family."

"Smart woman."

"That she is, Sir." When the crew was up and having breakfast they of course were wondering which crew member it is.

Buffer told Kate and Nav so they would understand and they both hugged him in support. Once docked and close-up was complete, the crew was on shore leave until further notice.