After Sea Patrol

by rheadelwel

Charge has discharged from the Navy and is working as Chief Mechanical Engineer for a mine in NW WA. He is bitter over the death of Swain and severed all ties with Navy. Buffer has discharged and gets a job in the same mine. He meets Charge by chance in a pub. The other crew have posted elsewhere in Navy and are called upon, when Hammersley is attacked and Kate goes missing.

16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16.

As the endless rainy dark night gave way to a rainy grey dawn, there was plenty of activity. Childers had picked up the SAS team, along with six members of the terrorist cell secure in Austere. The body of the deceased operative was also onboard. Childers also had Jack 'Buck' Rogers onboard, having been transferred from the Hammersley overnight, and was now steaming for Cairns where he would be taken to hospital. Dutchy, who was standing guard in Austere, knew something was wrong when the RHIB from Childers, not Hammersley came for him and his team. He knew that Kate McGregor-Flynn had somehow gone missing when the explosion occurred. He was not pleased to be steaming for Cairns when he felt he could be of use in the search for both Kate and the missing terrorists who had managed to launch their boats before the SAS team came ashore. He was convinced that somehow that one of the spooks had aided and abetted in them getting away. Dutchy neither liked nor trusted ASIO spooks. He had had more than his share of them, holding one of them directly responsible for the loss of Jim Roth and Swain.

Bastards, he thought.

At NAVCOM, Mike sent Steve home to rest. He'd need him back in a fresher state of mind while this was unfolding. He had also phoned his parents to ask them to look after Jessica. They went to his place at first light, taking over from Buffer who had come to NAVCOM to have his Reserve status activated.

While he was waiting, he went to Naval Stores and was once again in Naval DPNU. He thought, funny, I never thought I'd wear these again. He also went to the senior sailors' mess for breakfast.

On board Kingston, there was silence on the bridge. By now, all ships knew of the disappearance of Lt-Commander Kate McGregor-Flynn, and the explosion onboard Hammersley that crippled the ship. Nikki Caetano sent a quick text to Buffer, and then ordered her XO to ready the RHIBs to take the Clearance Diver to Wollongong who was tasked to patrol the gas field platforms. All eyes were scanning for the high-powered speedboats the terrorist cell had commandeered; it was vital they did not get anywhere near the rigs. Nikki was annoyed at this detail – more than anything she wanted to join the search for Kate, but she kept focussed on this evolution. She, like all the other Patrol boats at sea was listening for any news from NAVCOM.

On the Hammersley, the RHIB crews were returning, from their search. They were frustrated, hungry and exhausted. They went to the galley for some late breakfast, whilst the RHIBs from HMAS Bendigo took over the search. XO Jamie Patterson went to debrief his RHIB crews, then to look at the damage in the engine room. He did not like that Hammersley was a sitting duck; an easy target for the terrorist boats. He needed to be able to move the ship. He hated this feeling of powerlessness, and he hated the guilty feelings he was carrying over the loss of his CO.

Returning to the bridge, Jamie requested reports. The watch crew were being diligent, and yet had nothing to report. Just then, the RO turned to him. "Sir, I have NAVCOM here."

"XO Patterson."

"XO, this is Captain Flynn. Explain the situation." Mike's brevity was cold.

"Sir, we have all available assets with RHIBs looking for Lt-Commander MacGregor-Flynn." Jamie babbled nervously. His exhaustion could be heard as well.

"XO, what is the status of Hammersley?"

"Unable to move, sir. An explosion onboard has taken out our engines. We're sitting ducks."

"Understood. Find your CO. Now. Quickly."

"Aye, sir." Jamie hung the handpiece back up. Picking up the ship's intercom, he said, "Do you hear there, XO speaking. Away sea boats."

He needed to get the RHIBs back in the water, searching for the CO; he heard the edge in his Captain's voice.

In his office, Mike picked up the phone and dialled his mother's mobile.

"Mum? Is Jessica OK?" In the background he could hear his daughter crying while his father was singing to her.

"She's upset, son. She missed you this morning, and is crying for her mother. Have you any news yet?"

"Not yet Mum. I don't know where Kate is –" he broke off, as frustration threatened to engulf him. Controlling himself, Mike said, "I'll try to come home if I can. Can you and Dad stay with her for a while?"

"Yes, son. Don't worry, we have plenty of experience with upset toddlers, remember? Now you just concentrate on finding Kate, and we'll hold the fort here. Love you, son."

"Love you too, mum. Bye."

Mike looked up to see Buffer standing there, back in uniform.

"Buff, I want you down at the dock ready to board Childers. She is steaming into port and is on quick turnaround. The police and ambulance will be there waiting for her when she comes in. I want you back onboard Hammersley. Report to XO Jamie Patterson, tell him I have activated your Reservist status to active. Damn, we need to get those engines working again."

"Boss," Buff couldn't drop the old form of address, "Boss, there's someone both you and I know who knows Hammersley's engines like the back of his hand. He can be activated as well."

Mike nodded.

"Charge."