Chapter 12.

The SAS team, with Dutchy arrived at where Hammersley laid alongside. Captain Wentworth stepped forward to where Kate was waiting to receive the party.

"Permission to come aboard, ma'am."

"Permission granted. Welcome aboard. Your accommodation is ready." She turned to Dutchy. "Report to PO Brierley, my coxswain, he will show you to your cabins. Captain, I'll be briefing my crew at 1730hrs, then you may brief my officers and senior sailors on your mission."

The team proceeded up the gangway, and the familiarity of Hammersley returned to Dutchy. He knew where to find the coxswain and led the team to the boat deck. Odd, he thought, the entire crew has changed, the only one I know onboard now is Kate.

On board the Kingston, Nikki and her XO, Georgina had received the Clearance Diver assigned to them. Nikki and George were perusing their orders. Kingston would go out just after the Hammersley tomorrow morning. George had the boat in sail condition much earlier than expected. Nikki was pleased, and, to reward her crew, gave them shore leave until midnight, with a stern warning that hangovers would not be welcome. A watch was appointed, with a promise of extra shore leave after this mission was complete, and the rest of the crew happily went down the gangway and went their separate ways until midnight.

Dutchy, from Hammersley's boat deck saw Georgina Harley as she strode down the gangway. He made a mental note to introduce himself to her, smiling inwardly.

Nikki came down the gangway. Buffer was there waiting for her, and she moved over to him, and they walked up to her place. When she came in, she saw that Buffer had not only set the table, but had cleaned the living areas, made some dinner and had her favourite wine ready. He remembered that, she thought.

" Big day?" he asked. He poured the wine, and set a plate of food in front of her. Nikki smiled at him, "Yeah," she said. "We sail tomorrow at 0630, just after Hammersley. We are patrolling the Strait and the Arafura Sea. Intel suspects possible terrorist activity in the area. "

"Gas platforms?" asked Buffer. "We're not sure of their intended targets, we are assuming the gas-fields, it's a big operation, the Boss doesn't want what happened 3 years ago to repeat itself. We're covering all possibilities," Nikki replied.

"Anyway, I have to get back to Kingston at 0500hrs, so let's make the most of it." She leant forward and kissed him, as he sat down to eat.

"Wish I didn't have to leave tomorrow, "Nikki sighed.

"Me neither, but yeah, that's Navy." Buffer looked across the table at her. He finished his dinner, picked up his plate and put it in the sink. He went to the fridge.

"Dessert?" He produced two dishes of ice-cream, and moved to the lounge room. Nikki smiled, put her plate in the sink and picking up the wine bottle, followed him.

"Pete?" He turned to look at her. Smiling at him, she said, "you're a great guy, you know that?"

Buffer put his empty dish to one side, and took her in his arms.

In the Flynn household, silence reigned. Jessica had gone to sleep overnight at her grandparents, and Mike and Kate sat on the back veranda. Usually, only Kate was the one who felt the combination of excitement and anxiety the night before sailing, but tonight, her husband shared it. Mike was concerned that Hammersley was assigned the lead role. While he was proud that Kate was considered the most experienced and competent officer in the Patrol Boat fleet, he was anxious at the potential danger she could find herself in.

He said, "I can get the order changed. I can send Bendigo instead."

Kate said, "No, the crew is briefed and prepared. We have Dutchy with the SAS team. Besides, I think this assignment will be good for Jamie Paterson. He will be heading the boarding party to take them to Bright Island. It will be a test for him. I'll be onboard Hammersley, I'm not the XO now."

Mike stroked her hair, as she leaned on his shoulder. "No, but you still argue with me." She laughed quietly.

"I'm due some leave, after this rotation," Kate said. "I'd love a holiday, just the three of us."

"That's a great idea. Why don't we take Jessica to see your dad? Where is he now?"

"Exmouth, I think. I'll send him an email and see where he is," Kate warmed to the idea. She loved her father dearly, and tried to see him whenever work permitted. She looked at her watch and sighed. "I have to be onboard at 0500 tomorrow."

"Then let's have an early night and make the most of it." Mike stood up, and reached out his hands to her, pulling her to her feet. The effort brought on the stab of pain in his leg, and he gasped. Under the light, Kate saw his face go white.

"That's it!" Kate snapped. "You're going to Medical tomorrow! You need to sort that out."

"I'm fine" he hissed.

"No, you're not! I've seen you do this too often now. And so has Steve Marshall. He was worried enough to pull me aside after the meeting to point it out to me."

"Oh to hell with Steve! He's worse than a fussy mother hen!"

"Mike."

"Okay, okay! If only to get you two off my back!" In spite of his bravado, Kate noticed that as they moved into the house, he was leaning on her arm.

As midnight drew close, the crews of Hammersley and Kingston started to return to their respective boats, Dutchy among them. He kept his eyes skinned for Kingston's XO, but he was disappointed. Georgina Harley had chosen to remain onboard, as was her preference when the boat was to sail within 24 hrs. Dutchy saw Robert Dixon about to walk up Kingston's gangway.

Dutchy called out: "Oi! Robert!"

"Who's that?"

"It's Dutchy! Wait up a tic, I want to ask you something?"

"Yeah? Well, be quick, I don't want the XO breathing down my neck." Robert sounded annoyed.

"It's your XO I want to ask you about. What's her name?"

"Lt. Georgina Harley. Why do you want to know?"

Dutchy slapped Robert on the back. "That's for me to know, and you to find out, mate." He turned away and walked off toward Hammersley.

Robert watched him go, then shrugged his shoulders and went up the gangway and made his way to Kingston's bridge to report to his XO.