CH 27

Later that night Jim and MacGyver were on the back of the boat in each other's arms as they watch the sunset.

"Do you know how long you going to be on Samaru for?" MacGyver asked Jim.

"About two, three weeks, how long is your patrol?"

"Three weeks."

"Ok."

"ET was talking about diving on red reef with some others when we return from our patrol. I asked if there's room for one more. He's checking into it."

"You want to go diving, why?"

"I am a qualified diver Jim, you know that. Anyway, it will be a short dive to see how my lungs will handle it. It's not always easy for me to find a dive partner while on shore leave."

"I understand, be careful."

"Always am and ET's going to be there. He is one of the safest divers I know."

"He better look after you, if he knows what's good for him."

"True," she said grinning.

The next morning when Hammersley docked the crew helped the SAS with their gear. Then Jim and MacGyver hug and kiss before she walked back on board, waving to Jim from the boat deck as his jeep drove away. Ten minutes later Hammersley left port for its patrol. Three weeks later the crew's looking forward to shore leave.

Early the next morning Macgyver's cell phone rings, "June McGunnies, hello."

"Hey, it's ET, got a call, are you still interested in the dive?"

"Yeah, what time?"

"An hour, I can meet you down at the mariner."

"I'll be there."

"Great, oh call me Josh, guys don't know that I'm in the Navy."

"I understand," then she hung up.

She got up and went to do her morning routine, get dressed and make her bed. Going downstairs, she made herself a drink, put it in a travelling mug and grabbed her two bags and headed out the door.

She parked her car and sipped her drink while munching on a danish that she had picked up on her way. Adding a couple of pieces of fruit to her breakfast, she saw ET talking to two guys. She got out of her car when he saw her and waved her over.

"Hey, you made it!"

"Yep, I'll get my gear."

"Ok,".

She got her things and followed them down and onto the dive boat. As the rest of the guys showed up ET did the introductions.

"Guys, this is June McGinnis, and yes, she's a qualified diver."

"Hey guys, so where can I put my bags?"

"Down here next to mine," ET said.

"Thanks" putting her bags down she turned to them, "so, when do we leave?"

"Now," ET said.

"Good," She sat down as the guys took the dive boat out.

They talked and laughed for the next three hours until they stopped at Red Reef. MacGyver watches them get everything set up. ET got her an oxygen tank and she did her pre-dive check. Once everything checked out, she took off her shorts and tee shirt. When the guys looked at her they see the scars she has all over. ET noticed the shocked looks, "June..."

"Yeah?" turning around with her wet suit in hand she saw the guys looking at her, stunned.

"What's wrong?"

"Your scars, what happened?" one of them asked.

"Casualties of war."

"What? Iraq?"

"Yeah, and some from here."

"Are you army?" another one asked.

"Navy"

"Josh, did you know she's Navy?"

"Yeah, I did, and she's a hero."

"Why? Really?"

"I've received more commendations and medals than any other sailor my age in the history of RAN."

"Does that include the Victoria Cross?"

"No, the Star of Gallantry, Star of Courage, and the Medal of Gallantry twice."

"Which is what?" another guy asked.

"The Star of Gallantry is the second-highest military gallantry award."

"So the Victoria Cross is the highest?"

"Yes, along with the Cross of Valour."

"What's the difference?"

"Victoria Cross is awarded when an individual risks his or her life in the line of duty by doing something heroic, whereas the Cross of Valour is when two or more risk their lives in the line of duty and do something heroic."

"I didn't know that"

"Now that you all got some medal history, shall we go diving?" She said as she put her wetsuit on.

A few minutes later MacGyver was first in the water then ET joined her and they went down together and the others followed. She watched what ET was doing because he had told her about the coral they gather and fishes that are going to be sold overseas.

Later that afternoon, they talk to a couple who were in their kayak.

The wife took a photo of the guys before they continued their paddle towards Penfold Island. After the couple left the guys and MacGyver went diving once more. While they were diving MacGyver heard a motor and looked up. She tapped ET on the shoulder and pointed upwards, he looked up and she gave him hand signals then they went to let the others know.

MacGyver started towards the surface and moved to the bow of the boat. When she surfaced she saw it was Robson boat. She heard noises so she moved around to the side of the boat and hung on to the side, and then pulled herself up so she could see between the tanks. MacGyver could see someones back.

He was where the compressor motor was that controls the oxygen levels. Getting out her camera, she took photos of what was happening. When the man turned around she was shocked. She silently lowered herself back into the sea, put her goggles on and inserted her mouthpiece then went under again.

June saw that the guys were close to the surface and she signalled for them to stop. Wondering what was going on as she waved to them to follow her. They went under the boat until they reached the bow then they surfaced. MacGyver put her finger to her lips then removed her mouthpiece and goggles. The guys did the same.

Whispering she tells them, "Listen, there's a man on the boat and he was changing the oxygen levels on the pump. I got photos of him doing it."

"I noticed that I was getting light-headed just as you gave us the hand signal to follow you up. You saved our lives," one of the guys said.

"If you stayed down there you all would have died."

"Who's boat?"

"Robson Marine's, it's a dive boat like this one," MacGyver said.

They heard the guy moving around and then they saw the anchor being pulled up. MacGyver put her finger to her lips, Then they heard a banging noise. Then they heard the guy get into the Robson boat, start it up and head away. Now they all move around to the side of the boat where they can't be seen. MacGyver moved around to the back of the boat, "All clear."

The guys all got onto the boat and then helped MacGyver with her gear and then she got up onto the boat.

"Your right, there's enough carbon monoxide to slowly kill us," Josh said

"Josh checks the radio, you guys check on everything else," MacGyver took a photo of the tank gauges.

"Radio's dead and the emergency beacon's been destroyed," ET announces.

MacGyver looked at the floor and then turned sideways still looking at the floor.

"June, what is it?" ET asked her.

"The boat is tilted."

One of the guys looked over to the side of the boat, "she's right, we need to check the engine compartment"

ET opened the hatch and looked down, "It's flooded."

MacGyver put her goggles back on, "I'm going to check underneath," as she jumped into the water and went under the boat. She found the problem, returned to the surface and got back onto the boat.

"The bung's gone and that bang we heard it must have been a sawed-off shotgun because there are pellet holes in the hull where the engine is."

"What do we do now?" one of the guys said.

"Check for the life raft, and let's get these fish back into the sea."

One guy went to check for the life raft while everyone else emptied out all the containers. MacGyver went to one of her bags, opened it, and pulled out her cell phone, pocketknife, and GPS locator. Then she walked over to the radio and pulls it out of the wall so that she could get to the wires. She used the wire to attach it to her open phone to get a signal.

When she got two bars, she sent Kate an S.O.S with coordinates and let her know that the beacon been activated and how many there are and last words 'attempted murder'. Then she sent the text message when she notices the bar drop down to one but then it showed that the message was sent. That being done she activated her beacon.

"It's not here, the raft is missing, I know it was there this morning when I check everything over."

" The guy who was on here took it," Josh said.

"But why take it if he was going to kill us?" another one said.

"Just in case one or more reach the surface before losing consciousness and survive," MacGyver explained.

"What are we going to do now?" another guy asked.

"A Raft, we're going to build one. Let's finish emptying the containers," June said. Working together they get all of the collected fish back into the sea.

"June, what were you doing in the wheelhouse?" one of the guys asked.

"I used the aerial antenna and wire to attach it to my phone, there was just enough signal to send a text for help with our coordinates to my XO, she would know what to do."

"That's good, so now what?"

"Put your bags into the containers" They all did that including MacGyver herself. Then she cut the tow rope and started to unravel it with the guy's help.

"OK, let's tie them together." They tied the containers together after MacGyver showed them what to do. By the time they finished the boat was starting to tilt.

"Ok let's get onto it" so they slowly got onto their raft and MacGyver used the flipper and metal bars put them together to use them as paddles. They paddled away from the boat and watched as it sank.

"Now what?" one guy said.

"If I'm right the currents will take us to Penfold Island," MacGyver said.

In Cairns, Kate and Nav were at a cafe having a coffee, when her cell phone rings looking at it Kate sees a new text message. Looking at Nav she looks stunned.

"It's from MacGyver, she's calling in S.O.S, coordinates, and… my God attempted murders, Robson Marine, nine P.O.B. Penfold"

"MacGyver, she said that she was going diving with ET and some guys this morning"

"Sounds like they're in trouble." She then called Mike and got Steve.

She told him the coordinates of the mayday and what he told her shocked her.

"That is Red Reef, no boats should be in that area."

"Sir, she said that she's on a Robson Marine vessel. Isn't that a business that got approval to dive in Red Reef, Sir?"

"Let me check," Steve said. "Yeah Robson Marine, they've got approval for diving for coral and exotic fishes for the aquarium industry."

"Sir, who's on patrol in Red Reef?"

"Kingston, I'll send them."

"Sir, tell them to be careful when using the radio. MacGyver's gut is telling her that the Robsons can't be trusted"

"I understand."

"Nav and I will head back to the ship, MacGyver's laptop is there and she would have activated her emergency beacon, Sir."

"Good, call me soon as you can, keep me updated."

"Yes, Sir"

Kate and Nav left the restaurant and headed to NAVCOM. Steve called Kingston and told them the situation. The timing was important since there wasn't much sunlight left.