Chapter 11.

Kate looked up from her laptop at her former buffer. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "I thought you were in Afghanistan."

"I was, until a fortnight ago," said Dutchy. "I posted off Sydney and I was on leave. Then I got a phone call from the SAS and found out I was seconded to them."

"Is this to do with today's briefing?" Kate asked.

"Yes," answered Dutchy. "I expect I'll see you there."

Kate nodded. She really wasn't in the mood for conversation, yet Dutchy hadn't taken the hint.

"Was there anything else?" she asked. "I have a lot to get through before the briefing."

"Bird tells me you have a daughter now. Congratulations."

Kate smiled. "Thanks. And how is Bird? Did she get her hooks?"

"Yes, she did. And still wanting a sea posting. You know, she's really grown up since I last saw her. At your wedding. She's doing well."

Finally, Dutchy became aware that Kate was pre-occupied. She was frowning at her emails.

"Look, Dutchy, I really have to get on. I'll see you at the briefing, ok?"

"Ok, ma'am." He turned and left Kate still frowning at her laptop. She looked at her watch, and remembered she was meeting Nikki and the other COs for coffee before attending the briefing.

The COs of Hammersley, Bendigo, Kingston, Childers and Armidale walked into NAVCOM to be greeted by Cmdr. Steve Marshall. They went into the briefing room, and aside from Mike, Kate noticed an Army Captain and Sergeant, standing next to Dutchy. Beside him, she noted the Clearance Divers. Arunta must have steamed at a great rate of knots to get them here, she thought. She's not alongside, so must have come in last night.

Kate took her seat alongside Nikki, and took out her notepad and pen, in readiness for the lengthy session ahead.

Buffer sat contentedly on the wharf, drinking beer and watching his fishing line for any bites. He had caught a few fish already, and thought he'd try for one more before heading back to Nikki's place. He adjusted his hat, as he thought of Charge. He remembered similar fishing expeditions with Charge, and Swain. Such good times. Such great mates. And now one of them is dead and the other barely speaking to him. What can I say to Charge? He's still my mate whatever has happened. I so want to patch things up with the big feller, especially as I want to try for work over here. I'd like to make a go of Nikki and me.

He cast his mind back to early days onboard Hammersley, when he first was attracted to her, and went to lengths to warn ET off. Did I really like her back then? He would have liked to say more to Charge about what he thought, but the time wasn't right. He finished his beer, and the sandwiches he had brought with him.

Buffer stared out ahead of the tip of his fishing rod, and ran through scenes in his mind. Memories, people, friends, family, they all seemed to make a collage in his mind. He realised that one person kept appearing in all these scenes – Swain.

Swain.

What the hell happened that day? Why did Swain stay with Jim? What was he doing onboard that boat anyway? Wasn't that a bosun's job to handle any weapons? With something close to horror, Buffer realised that could have been him in that situation. He decided that the first thing he would do when he went back to the mine would be to confront Charge and talk this out once and for all. Then he would look at transferring to a mine in Queensland, and become more serious in his relationship with Nikki. She's a good woman. I don't want to lose her. And I will see that she isn't hurt.

Having made these vows, Buffer reeled his line in, picked up his bucket and tucker bag, and made his way back to Nikki's place.

** ** ** ** ** ** **.

The briefing had finally concluded, and was breaking up. The COs had received their orders, and the SAS and Clearance Divers had been assigned. Kingston and Bendigo each were assigned a Clearance Diver, and Hammersley was to take the SAS crew, with Dutchy, who had been seconded, and drop them at Bright Island. Intelligence had been received that the cell on Bright Island were preparing to activate, and so the SAS would be sent in to neutralise any threat they posed. Intelligence had good reason to believe that this cell was well-equipped with boats and weapons. Kingston and Bendigo were to patrol the Arafura Sea and Childers would patrol Torres Strait, along with the RAAF flying surveillance missions. Kingston was also to transfer the Clearance Diver to the Wollongong where the platforms were to be patrolled and monitored. Armidale would complete maintenance as early as possible and be ready to sail when all maintenance was signed off.

As everyone left the room, Cmdr Marshall took Kate aside.

"Sir?" she asked, non-plussed.

"This is nothing to do with your orders, Kate, I am concerned about Capt. Flynn. I have noticed he is having trouble with that leg of his. He needs to get it seen to."

"Yes sir, I've noticed too, but he's so stubborn. He tries to hide it from me, but I have been trying to get him to go to Medical."

Steve Marshall sighed. "Don't worry sir, I'll act the nagging wife, if I need to."

"Good on you. Fair winds, Kate."

"Sir," she came to attention, then turned to walk out of the briefing room. She hurried away toward the Hammersley. She knew that they were to make sail tomorrow morning, and she needed to see that all was squared away before she spent the last night with Mike and Jessica. I'll speak with Mike tonight, she vowed, if it's the last bloody thing I do. I don't need worries ashore, I have enough to do to complete this mission successfully.

Arriving back onboard, she sent for Jamie Patterson. "Crack on X," she told him. "We are taking the SAS crew onboard and dropping them off on Bright Island. See that there's accommodation prepared for them, and extra rations. Prepare for sailing at 0600 hours tomorrow morning. Orders are being promulgated now; RO will receive the signal shortly. Familiarise yourself with them thoroughly. Pipe 'clear lower deck' at 1730. I'll address the crew then."

"Aye ma'am." Jamie moved with alacrity off the bridge, to Kate's surprise, to carry out his orders.