CH 64
"MacGyver," Kate called out as she walked over to where they were standing. She could hear Mike talking to a woman on comms when suddenly the sound of gunfire could be heard through the radio. Then silence. Mike wasn't able to establish contact with the woman he had been speaking to.
"I want you on the boarding team, MacGyver," Kate said. She then turns around, "Swain, Two Dads gear up, there's a woman in trouble, double plates."
She walked onto the bridge and down the steps with Swain and Two Dads behind her. Bird was watching from the side bridge as they got into the RHIB and as it lowered into the sea. The RHIB sped off headed to where the boat with the woman might be. When they arrived fifteen minutes later they boarded and looked around.
During the search of the vessel, MacGyver pulled back the deck carpet and opened the aft hatch. What she saw shocked her… a bomb. She got down on her hands and knees and carefully lifted the bomb from its nest. She slowly turned around while Kate had "Halfy" move the RHIB alongside the boat. She got into the RHIB and walked over to Halfy.
"Move away from the vessel and go full throttle now!" she ordered.
The RHIB shot forward as Halfy gave it maximum throttle. MacGyver checked the bomb's timer. With less than a minute to go, she threw it off the back of the RHIB. There was a huge geyser of water as the bomb exploded underwater.
"Let's head back," she said.
"MacGyver what was that explosion?"
"There was a bomb on board. If we hadn't found it we wouldn't be here. Swain, see if you can get this thing going."
"We can't. The engines shot," Two Dads said.
"Alright, let's tow it back to Hammersley," Kate said then she reported it to Mike about what happened. It took them half an hour to reach Hammersley since they were heading towards them. Hammersley then handed off the tow to another patrol boat who was returning to Cairns. They were ordered to check out each boat in the area. When they board the barge. Kate spoke to the captain as MacGyver looked at him. While Kate was talking she looked around and then went down below deck with Swain following behind after she got his attention and signalled for him to follow.
They checked each room until they saw one where a woman was tied up. Swain went to cut her down while talking softly to her.
"X, we found Caroline Taylor. The bastards beat her up pretty good. We're going to need a stretcher," MacGyver said.
"Copy that." Just then the door closed and locked.
"X! Can you hear me?" MacGyver yelled over the comm. "Dam it!" Then she looked at the door and then around the room. They could hear fighting going up on the deck.
After looking about she found what she was looking for. A slim piece of metal strip. Managing to slide it in between the door and lock she was able to flick it open.
"Good work," Swain complimented.
"I'll be back. She went up on deck and went to help Kate and the boarding party take down the six men and arrested them.
"What happened to you? Where's Swain?" Kate asked once the boat was secured.
"We were locked in a room with Ms Taylor," MacGyver told her as she gathered the supplies that they would need to treat Ms Taylor. "I need to get back to Swain."
"Go."
Once Swain and MacGyver had Ms Taylor stabilized she was situated on the stretcher and they carried her out onto the boat deck. The stretcher was loaded onto the RHIB and they headed for Hammersley.
The other RHIB with an armed crew helped Kate and the others with the men they had taken prisoner. A thorough search of the boat and they found two more men.
Caroline was in the wardroom with both Swain and MacGyver taking care of her.
"Caroline, I'm June Roth, Can you tell us why those men beat you up?"
"They wanted to know where the Ambassador is... they beat it out of me," she sobbed. "Tell him I'm sorry," as tears fell down her cheeks."
"Hey, I'm sure he will understand. Do you know where he is?"
"Yes," as she continued to cry. "And now so do those men."
"Ok, if you can tell us where he is we can let our people know and they can warn the American Ambassador's people that his life is in danger."
Caroline nodded, "Water please?"
"Sure." MacGyver picked up a cup with a straw in it and put it close to her mouth.
"Small sips," MacGyver told her.
When she had enough, MacGyver pulled the cup away.
"He's on an island, Angel Island."
"Ok, good. Thank you, get some rest and I'll inform my captain about this."
''Ok, thank you."
MacGyver walked out of the wardroom just as Mike showed up.
"Good timing," MacGyver said to him. "Caroline just told us that the Ambassador is on Angel Island. They know, the bastards beat it out of her."
"How bad?"
"Broken and cracked ribs. She is lucky she hasn't got a punctured lung. There's multiple cuts, bruising, and swelling. They did a number on her, Sir."
"Ok, JJ and Two Dads are on the boat and they're steaming for home port. The men from onboard are down on austere. We'll be in port in four hours." "Thanks, Dir, I better get back in there."
"You did well today."
"Thanks" Then returning to the wardroom she let Swain know what was happening.
Upon returning to Cairns, MacGyver received a phone call from NAVCOM asking her to come in. She left with Mike while Swain continued to take care of Caroline.
Arriving at the bullpen at NAVCOM, Mike noticed a woman in what had been Steve's office and pointed her out to MacGyver.
"That must be the new commanding officer," Macgyver said.
"That's Commander Maxine White," Mike told her.
"White as in Knocker?"
"Don't call her that, she hates it."
"Ah, okay, so how do you know her?"
"We went through ADFA together and became friends."
"Well shall we go and see Knocker?" she said grinning.
"MacGyver..." he warned. As they walked towards the office she saw them approaching.
"Mike it's great to see you."
"Maxine."
"How are you?"
"I'm good thanks, Commander Maxine White, Petty officer June Roth, Macgyver as she is known." MacGyver saluted and Maxine returned it.
"Petty Officer."
"Ma'am, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes, I've received an email from Fleet Command, Chief of the Navy after reading a report about how you single-handedly saved Lieutenant Flynn from certain death. I'm presenting you with the bravery award for your heroism. Congratulations Petty Officer." Picking up the box from her desk she opened the lid and passed it to MacGyver.
"Thank you, Ma'am. I was doing my job as I was trained to do."
"I understand that I've read your record and I'm quite impressed."
"Thank you, Ma'am."
"Congratulations MacGyver."
"Thank you, Sir," she said smiling at him.
"Now with this ambassador business, I've contacted Fleet Command about this and they made the call to warn the ambassador about the assassination attempt on his life. The ambassador told Fleet Command that he would like to meet you and Mike so that he can thank you in person for what you and the Hammersley crew did for Caroline Taylor."
"All of the credit goes to MacGyver, Maxine."
"What do you mean?" she said shocked.
"Well if it wasn't for MacGyver we wouldn't have gotten to her in time to save her life."
"Really..."
"Yes, you will have to read my XO's and Swain's report about the incident."
"Alright. Now I've got some good news. When you leave your new Buffer will be there."
"I hope he comes highly recommended, Ma'am," MacGyver said.
"Why do you say that, Petty Officer?"
"Well, the last Buffer was a nightmare. I hope that this Buffer will work with the crew as well as get on well with them. If not he will be booted off Hammersley, Ma'am." MacGyver told her.
"Well, Petty Officer, it's not up to you to kick anyone off, am I clear?"
"If anyone's doing the kicking, Ma'am, it will be the Captain. I know that Commander Flynn wants a crew who gets on well with each other as well as watching each other's back. He wants a crew who works well together as a team. If one crew member doesn't do all three he will be kicked off Hammersley. Look at the list of chefs and lieutenants he's been through before the decommissioning of the old Hammersley. He wants a crew he can trust, Ma'am."
"She's right Maxine."
"Very well, I can respect that. Now when you return from Angel Island you will be getting a new CO."
"That's great news, Maxine."
"What about a chefo and medic, Ma'am?"
"You'll be staying on Hammersley until your contract expires next year."
"What?" MacGyver exclaimed, shocked at what she was just told.
"Maxine, MacGyver's a temp on Hammersley until a replacement is found."
"Orders from Fleet Command," picking up a copy of the email that was printed out and passing it to Mike to read. After reading it he turned to MacGyver.
"Sorry MacGyver, it's true."
"Then why the hell wasn't I told this sooner?" she said angrily.
"Good question," and he turned to Maxine.
"I don't know Mike, call Steve, he might be able to tell you."
"I will." They talked for a few more minutes before they left and returned to Hammersley.
"MacGyver, I know that you are upset about what Maxine said about your posting."
"Jim and I have been trying to start a family, but when we do have shore leave the timing hasn't been right."
"Sorry to hear that."
"Now it's going to be harder for us both."
"I know what you mean."
"You and Kate?"
"Yeah."
When they arrived at Hammersley MacGyver walked onto the ship leaving Mike on the wharf talking to Kate.
"Mike, what's wrong with MacGyver?"
"She found out that she's staying on Hammersley until next year when her contract is up."
"What? No wonder she's upset."
"It's hard for her, she's very disappointed."
"There's something else, what is it?"
"This will be my last patrol. There's a lieutenant commander taking over and our new buffer arrives before we set sail."
"Ok, is that why MacGyver was called into NAVCOM?"
"No, because of her actions in saving your life she was awarded the Bravery Medal."
"You're joking."
"I'm not."
"Who's the new Commanding Officer?"
"Maxine White."
"Knocker White..."
"She hates that name."
"I remember you telling me about her and what happened years ago."
