CH 93
"Sir, are you going to let her talk to you like that?" his XO asked.
"First, I find out if what she's said is true before deciding on reporting her."
When it was almost time to leave port, the captain talked to Mike after talking to Knocker. "Mike, I had no idea she was that bad… I don't blame her… what advice can you give me about MacGyver… yeah… yeah… ok…." Then there was a knock on the door
"Hold on, Mike" he stood and opened the door. "MacGyver, what is it?"
"We're not leaving, Sir."
"Yes, we are."
"No, we are not…." They heard laughter from the phone.
"Ask Commander Flynn since you've got him on the phone. He will tell you, Sir."
The captain returned to the phone. "Mike… really hang on…." then he turned back to her.
"Alright, give me a good reason. "
She handed him the clipboard. "Look at the stars; that's what's missing from our requisitions, Sir…. Including toilet paper," she said a bit louder for the benefit of Mike to hear.
He sat down and went through the list that MacGyver had handed to him.
"Eight boxes?"
"Toilet paper and food, look at the medical page."
He turned to check that list to see what was missing.
"I had no idea."
"Commander Flynn can tell you how to deal with something like this."
"Thanks."
"I'll leave you two to chat about me," then she walked out the door. As it was closing when she heard…
"Mike, how the hell do you manage to deal with her?" She smiled as the door closed, and she walked away. She was on the wharf with the ship's buffer, who was hitting on her.
"Dingo, stop flirting with me."
"Why? You're a great-looking woman."
"Who also happens to outrank you and who is happily married. Get the message Petty Officer?"
"Yes, Ma'am," he went over to his mates.
"So, she shot you down," one of them said.
"Yeah, she said she's married."
"You will have to ask her."
"Yeah"
Half an hour later, the captain turns to MacGyver before walking out to the side deck. "MacGyver, take her out."
"Yes, Sir!" MacGyver stepped forward as the ship's coxswain got up and stepped back from the helm, and MacGyver walked around and sat down.
She picked up the microphone and gave out the close-up orders. Everyone watches what she does till she turns the ship around. "Sir, permission to play a song over the PA system."
"Granted."
"Gaz hit it!" The music started as the ship turned around and headed out of the channel playing 'Rough Ride' over the PA system.
Hammersley's crew gathered out on the side deck watching as Childers sailed past. They saw someone standing up from the helm on Hammersley, giving them a wave; they waved back.
MacGyver bobbed her head side to side as she mouthed the words as the song played over the PA system. The bridge crew watched as she expertly guided the ship out of the harbor. MacGyver set course north for their patrol.
"Very good, MacGyver," the captain complimented.
"Thank you, Sir. Blackie how're the engines?" she asks the ship's engineer.
"Everything fine here"
"Is there something wrong?" the CO asked from the captain's chair.
"There's a slight vibration, Sir. I noticed it when I maneuvered the ship around, Sir."
"Ok. Blackie make a note."
"I don't feel it, Sir," Blackie said
"Just do it."
"Blackie, go down to the engine room and listen to the engines that will tell you if something wrong," the captain ordered.
"Sir"
"If there's something wrong, I want to know what it is and if I will have to turn us back to port."
"Yes, Sir." Blackie left to carry out the captain's order.
"MacGyver, you're just a chef and medic," the XO commented.
"I'm also a board qualified helmsman and engineer, or have you forgotten that, Sir," she said, looking at him then turning back to look out at sea
"Turning one two two, Sir," MacGyver called out.
"Go back to one-two zero MacGyver; I didn't order the change."
"Sir, if I change back to one-two zero, we would hit a sandbank on our port side, Sir. When Hammersley returned to homeport, we had to change course because of the sandbank." The watch crew went outside, looked down, saw the bottom, and reported to the captain.
"She's right, Sir," one of the sailors reported.
"Thank you, MacGyver."
"Your welcome, Sir. Didn't you get a warning report about it before we left?"
"No, I didn't."
"Commander White should have told you, Sir. Commander Flynn informed her and gave her his report detailing where it is," shaking her head.
Then Blackie returns to the bridge. "Sir, the vibration is coming from the engines. I've got one of the crew keeping an eye on it."
"Thanks, Blackie, make a note of it."
"Yes, Sir," returning to his seat.
"Blackie, when was the last time the engines were serviced?"
"I'll check." He brought up the information on the computer in front of him. "Eight months ago, Sir."
"Eight months… it's supposed to be done every six months. Any reason why they weren't serviced two months ago?" MacGyver asked.
"Taking emergency supplies to Stroke Island."
"When we return, make it a top priority to get those engines serviced, or otherwise you're screwed and could cost the Navy thousands of dollars in repairs because of overdue service," MacGyver said
"Sir, are you going to let MacGyver talk to a superior officer like that?" the XO asked with annoyance.
"MacGyver is right, Spike. Make the ship's engines are serviced when we return."
"Yes, Sir."
"Spike, Sir, why not email NAVCOM now and book in the service with a note letting them know that it is overdue to be sure it will be done."
"Good idea, MacGyver, do it now, Spike."
"Yes, Sir."
A Week later they pick up a boat on radar, not showing it's transponder. The captain sends the boarding team over, MacGyver included. After boarding the large ship, the XO talked to the captain. MacGyver notices what the XO is doing and she steps forward.
"Sir, how many are on this boat?"
"Just us three, we're fishing."
MacGyver looked around, then back to the skipper. "Where's your fishing gear?"
"In here," he answered as he walked over to the door.
"Stop! Sir! Stand back!" MacGyver ordered, stopping the man.
MacGyver pulled out her gun and looked behind her at the ship's buffer. "Where's your gun?" He pulled it out. Shaking her head at him, she turned around and opened the door.
"Hey, come on out, Sir." He walked out carrying two fishing rods and a tackle box.
"Set them down over at the corner, Sir, and join the others," XO said.
MacGyver stepped forward to the skipper, "When I asked you how many were on board, you said three. Then how come there are four? Is there anyone else on board?"
"No, there's no one else."
Turning to the voice, she saw it was Jim; he must be working undercover. She steps forward towards him
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"You've gotta believe me."
MacGyver saw his eye and hand movements telling her that he was undercover and someone else on board… someone dangerous. She gave him eye movement to let him know she understood, then turned to the XO.
"Sir, what are your orders?"
"Well, it looks like they're just here fishing, as the captain said. Let's leave them to it, MacGyver."
"I'll check the transponder to see if I can get it fixed before we leave, Sir."
"Alright."
MacGyver walked up to the wheelhouse and checked the transponder. It was turned off. She turns it on then returns to the back of the boat where she hears two of the crew talking.
"Hey, I know you, your MacGyver's husband."
"Who are you talking about?" Jim asked.
"MacGyver, you're her husband. We saw you drop her off on the wharf."
MacGyver walked up to them. "That was fast," Spike said.
"It was turned off, Sir. Ginger, you mentioned my name?"
"Yeah, don't you recognize your husband?"
MacGyver looked at the men. "Nope, my husband is at home."
"No, he is here," he said as he pointed to Jim.
MacGyver turned to the guy and then to Ginger. "That doesn't even look like my husband. You need to get your eyes tested."
"I agree with Ginger," Mac said.
"He is not my husband." She turned to Jim, "sorry about that, Sir."
"It's ok, it's not the first time I've been mistaken for someone else."
"Who are you?" the captain asked Jim.
"Johnny, Hunt…you know that, mate. Some people mistake me for that actor…. Ditch Davis."
"Who?" another man asked.
"Ditch Davey I checked him out. He was in the show called….. Blue Heelers, you should check it out sometime."
Another guy got his phone out and did a search."Bloody hell, he's not joking, you do look like Ditch Davey, but he's got dark hair."
"See, there you go, mistaken identity," Jim said.
"Sorry about this, Mr. Hunt, Ok, let's head back… and Sir, leave your transponder on so we don't mistake you for a foreign fishing vessel," Spike said.
"I will." They got back into the RHIB and returned to Childers.
Once they are back on the ship, MacGyver turns to the XO. "You bloody idiot! You should have stopped Mac and Ginger from talking about Jim. And you should go back to Watson Bay, lieutenant!" MacGyver yelled at the XO, then turned around and walked quickly to the hatch. She walked straight up to the bridge.
"MacGyver, you should've removed your vest before coming up here."
"Sir, I suggest you shadow that ship and send the XO back to Watson Bay."
"What? Why?"
"I can give you a list of reasons. First, he didn't send the boarding team to search the ship, the captain of the ship lied to us twice, and to top it off, Mac and Ginger might… I say might… have blown the cover of an agent who was on that boat undercover."
"What agent?"
"Captain Jim Roth, my husband. He sometimes works undercover for the feds or ASICO, and Mac and Ginger opened their big mouths while I was in the wheelhouse revealing who he is to the men on board. If his cover is blown, there will be hell to pay. I had to act fast, saying he was not my husband. He had given a false name which means he was working undercover."
"For what?"
"My guess is a weapon. They must have been heading towards their rendezvous point when we stopped them."
What about backup?"
"Looks like we are it, Sir. If his cover is blown, at least we can keep an eye on him, and if things do go south, we can go in."
"You ever done undercover work?"
"Yes, I have, Sir. We shadowed the boat but kept an eye on the stern just in case."
"Alright, I'll deal with Mac and Ginger later."
"And the XO, Sir?"
"Yes, and the XO."
MacGyver left the bridge, went to the lockers to put her gear away, then returned to the bridge and took over the EOD. Twenty minutes later, MacGyver saw trouble on the boat they were following. "Sir, we need to return to the boat now! Jim's in trouble."
The captain walked over to the EOD. "His cover's had been blown and is in trouble." The captain gave out the orders, and they headed towards the boat.
MacGyver and the boarding team went on board and arrested three men.
"Where is the fourth man?" the XO asked.
June saw blood and followed the trail that led her to a tarp. She pulled it back and saw it was Jim with a cut to the side of his head. "Oh my God!" she removed one of her gloves just as the engine stopped. She put her fingers against his neck; she could feel a pulse. She let out the breath she was holding.
"Swiss! Injured man here!" MacGyver called out. Swift went over to Jim then called out for a stretcher.
"There's another man, a man who was fighting him," she pointed to Jim. "Where is he?"
"There's no one else on board."
"Has anyone checked below decks?"
"No," XO answered.
MacGyver turned to JJ. "You're with me." They head to the door with guns at the ready. They went down to the lower deck and started checking room to room. MacGyver reached the last room.
"Charlie eight five… I found an army case of weapons, PRG, stinger missiles… the works."
"Copy that."
"Sir, contact NAVCOM and ask them to crash sail Hammersley. If Commander White wants to know why tell her Jim Roth needs back up."
"We can help."
"All due respect, Sir, you and the crew don't have the clearance that Hammersley's crew have."
"Understand, how is captain Roth?"
"He's got a head wound and is unconscious, Sir."
"Copy that… return to Childers."
"Yes, Sir."
