Chapter 7.

From her vantage point on board HMAS Canberra, Leading Seaman "Bomber" Brown could see Dutchy chatting with a guy from Clearance Divers, it looked like. They were unloading diving equipment for Arunta. Bomber had not seen Dutchy since the wedding. He looked pretty much the same, and she wondered vaguely what he was up to these days. Canberra would be sailing in three hours, so she had time to finalise all stores on board for the galley. In the meantime, she went back inside to the junior sailors' mess, logged in to a computer, and checked her emails.

She saw one from Robert Dixon. She decided to respond.

Hey there RO,

Still can't believe I still call you that. I'm glad you are well and most of the 'old gang' seem ok. I still miss the old days on the Hammersley. I think Nav will make a great CO and I am really glad you're serving with her. I saw Dutchy earlier – talking with a guy from Clearance Divers of all things. Wonder if he wants a Category Transfer. He's just posted off the Sydney and is on leave. Bird keeps me informed. You're not going to believe this RO, but she's a Leading Seaman now. Got her hooks three months ago. Anyway, we're about to sail, I'll keep in touch where I can, and hopefully one of us will get shore leave so we can meet up. Who knows? Say hi to Nav for me.

Bomber.

Mike walked into his office after taking Jessica to daycare. He noticed the morning signals coming through, and one caught his attention. He called out to AB Knowles, the Writer who acted as his PA. "Knowly, get me Commander Marshall please,"

Knowles responded "Yes sir," and smartly moved off to Cmdr. Marshall's office to deliver the message.

Seconds later, she returned, with Cmdr. Marshall in tow. Steve Marshall had been re-posted to NAVCOM following the sudden resignation of Commander Maxine "Knocker" White, in the wake of Mike's promotion to Captain. She had taken a civilian job with a defence contractor company and moved to Sydney. Cmdr. Marshall walked in to Mike's office. "Sir", he said then seated himself in the chair Mike indicated.

Mike waved the signal at him. "You see this? Canberra has seen fit to assign two Clearance Divers to the base. They are boarding the Arunta in Sydney, and will be here in a matter of days."

"I did know. There's some concern for possible terrorist activity either in Torres Strait or the gas fields off Northern WA. Intelligence indicated some activity could be brewing."

"Steve, isn't this more a surveillance mission? Why send Clearance Divers?"

"It is a surveillance mission, Mike. We already have Kingston and Wollongong in rotation patrolling the gas rigs. Kingston is currently alongside. Bendigo and Childers presently in the Strait, steaming for home. That leaves us Hammersley and Armidale in port. Both are undergoing routine maintenance. The divers are going to be working between the gas-fields and the Strait. Air Force and Coastal Watch already have aircraft conducting surveillance flights. We don't want a repeat of three years ago, do we?"

Both men fell silent at that remark. "No, we bloody don't," said Mike emphatically. Marshall looked across at his superior, surprised at the edge in Mike's voice. "Steve, send a signal to all COs of patrol boats alongside and in the Strait. A briefing is to be held tomorrow afternoon in the NAVCOM briefing room at 1500 hours. All COs not at sea to attend."

"Yes sir. That will be five, Wollongong is already off the north WA coast. I'll send an email to Lt. Commander Hughes at the conclusion of the briefing." Steve Marshall was halfway out of Mike's office as he spoke. Mike had risen from his chair, and Steve distinctly heard a muttered, "bloody leg" under his Captain's breath. He made a mental note to speak to Kate about it after tomorrow's briefing.

Arriving back at his office from the mine, Charge divested himself of the safety gear, and sat down at his desk. The conveyor belt mechanism was fixed, and he noted it into the maintenance schedule. The door opened, admitting both a blast of hot air, and Amy Fennell. Amy had been at the maintenance workshop all morning, and she took off her safety gear and went for a drink of water. It was nearly lunchtime, and Charge went over to her.

"Hey, fancy some lunch?" Amy looked up. "Sure," she smiled. "I'll input the morning's work and I'll be right with you."

"OK, see you at the canteen." Charge headed over to the little canteen attached to the office.

They picked up their lunch orders, and made their way over to a quiet table.

"Amy," Charge began. She looked at him over the plate of salad. "Listen mate, I'm sorry. I should've have said something to you, but I thought you had enough hurt of your own, without hearing mine."

"A problem shared is a problem halved, Andy. You know, I really would like to talk about Greg, and all that happened, but I just couldn't. Not here. I didn't think that anyone would get what it's have someone you love die on you like that. Then I find out that you would. You've been there, done that too."

"Yeah." He sighed. Then he decided.

"Pete's told you what happened. I'll fill you in on the rest. Tonight? My place. I do a mean salad and chips, and I've plenty of cold beer."

Amy smiled. "Kids are back tonight. I've missed them. How about tomorrow night? My place. I've plenty of cold beer too."

"It's a date."

In peaceful silence, they finished their lunch, then returned to work. A load was about to be shed, and neither wanted to miss the opportunity to clean their hearts of the troubles that had plagued them for so long.