Chapter 18.
Charge went back home after seeing his boss, who was happy to release him to active Reservist duty. Amy accompanied him back to his house, and watched as he threw a few things into a bag, then drove to him to the helipad.
As the aircraft from the gas rig platform landed, Charge waited for the men who had flown in to disembark. He hugged and kissed Amy, then turned and climbed into the aircraft. He watched her as the chopper lifted, then as it turned away, he put the headphones on, then, settled himself. He looked out and saw the gas rigs standing up from the ocean, like so many sentinels, it looked to him.
The pilot was addressing him through the headphones: "Welcome aboard, mate. We're headed for HMAS Coonawarra near Darwin. Flying time about two hours."
"OK mate," Charge answered, and sat back to enjoy the view from the air. He was amazed at how much shipping activity was going on in such a huge area. He was mesmerised by the view, and the cloud cover made it necessary to fly relatively low.
The chopper had now reached the Naval Base and descended. "Thanks for the ride, mate. All the best," then Charge disembarked, turning to give the pilot a 'thumbs up' signal. He then walked briskly to the security office, showed his credentials, then was met by the XO of Coonawarra, Commander William Gray.
"CPO Thorpe. I have your Reservist status here; you are now active. Report to Stores and get kitted up. I'll send my Coxswain to you there, and she will escort you to the dock, where you'll embark HMAS Kingston."
"Yes sir. Thank you, sir," Charge responded. He brightened at the thought of embarking Kingston. He looked forward to seeing Nikki Caetano again.
In the briefing room at NAVCOM, Captain Wentworth finished his report. The three Naval officers sitting opposite him were silent. Then after a brief whispered conversation, Cmdr Marshall asked, "Did you know the ASIO operative was dead when you first met up with the others?"
"No sir. All we were told was that their cover was blown when the group heard the RHIB approach. They were running for the boats, and decided to take one hostage. We saw someone run past us as we rushed to the camp, but thought that was the operative who was taken and had escaped. In the dark and wet we couldn't make out who it was. And by that time the firefight had started, and we wanted to keep them away from the boats. When it was all over, we saw the dead operative. Apart from the injured and the others we caught, the ten who escaped got away to launch the boats."
Marshall said, "Except that one inserted himself into the ASIO team picked up by Hammersley."
"It would appear so, sir." Wentworth said expressionlessly.
Now Mike spoke. "Do you understand, Captain Wentworth, that the failure of your team to conduct your mission to its best outcome, has not only crippled one of our Patrol boats, but has resulted in the abduction and disappearance of one who is not only the most competent officer in the Patrol Boat Fleet, but who also happens to be my wife?! Until she is found, alive, not only do I hold you and your team responsible for the bungled mission, but for the well-being of Hammersley and her CO. I will be reporting this to your Commanding Officer, as it will be up to him as to what charges will be laid. In the meantime, do not leave this base under any circumstance. You are confined to your assigned quarters and mess hall. CPO Mulholland, you will report to HMAS Childers. You are to assist with hunting down the remaining terrorists, assisting wherever you are directed. Understood?"
"Aye sir", answered Dutchy.
The SAS team had now stood up. Mike said curtly, "Dismissed." As they left, he detained Dutchy.
"Chief, a word." He walked into his office, Dutchy following.
Dutchy stood stiffly before his former CO's desk. He looked over Mike's shoulder as he couldn't bear to look him in the eye and see the anger and pain in them.
"Dutchy, I recommended you for this mission, not only for your experience, but to look out for Kate. You've let me down."
"Yes sir."
"I'm giving you another chance. You do all you can to find Kate, and those other bloody terrorists. Your career's on the line here, Chief. Now get out of here."
"Sir." Dutchy beat a quick retreat and headed out of NAVCOM towards Childers.
Steve Marshall put his head round the door. Mike had slumped into his chair, his head in his hands.
"Sir?"
Mike looked up.
"The ASIO operatives are in the briefing room."
"Thanks." Mike stood up, composed himself, and followed Steve back into the briefing room.
Charge stepped onboard Kingston. He reported to the ship's XO, Lt. Harley, then came on to the bridge. Nikki Caetano turned towards him.
"Charge. Good to see you again."
"You too, Ma'am," he answered. Then he turned to RO. "Good to see you too, mate."
"We should intercept with HMAS Childers just before we get to Bright Island. That will be in about two hours' time. We'll transfer you across via RHIB. Childers will then take you to Hammersley. Meantime, go below and get yourself a brew."
"Aye, Ma'am." As Charge went below, a flood of memories came back to him. He was surprised at how quickly the sights, sounds and smells returned. The routine of a Patrol boat, as familiar to him as it was three years ago. He went to the galley and made his brew.
Onboard Childers, Dutchy sat in the senior sailors' mess, staring into his coffee. He knew he let the Boss down, he knew he let Kate down. He was angry, with himself, with the SAS team, with the spooks. He vowed never to work with ASIO again, not even if ordered by the Chief of Navy himself. He looked up as Buffer came in.
"G'day. Pete Tomaszewski. We met at the Boss's wedding."
"Yeah," said Dutchy, "I heard you'd got out. What are you doing here?"
"I did get out. Last year. I was working at the same mine as Charge, and came over here on my time off. I'm going out with the CO of Kingston. I'd just got over here, when this drama kicked up, and the Boss made me active Reservist. Kate's disappeared, and I'm helping to find her. Charge has come back too. He's going to try to repair the engines. He's aboard Kingston. We'll be meeting them and picking him up, then heading to Bright Island."
Buffer sat down next to Dutchy. "You don't look like the happiest man on earth, mate."
"No, I'm not. Our team and those bloody spooks screwed up the operation on Bright Island. We only got six of the terrorists. The rest of the bastards got away; they killed a spook, then one boarded Hammersley, set explosives, and abducted Kate. And I had to stand there in front of the Boss and hear him chew Wentworth out for the loss of his wife. You do know if we don't find her, Mike Flynn has my bum in a sling, don't you? You know my career is on the line here? He trusted me, and I screwed up."
"Well, mate, I'd say that you're in a place to make it up to him. He's given you another chance. You want to move heaven and earth to find Kate. We know she's either on that island or one of the boats. And we've got to hope she's still alive. Don't think otherwise. We have to believe she's alive. We have to."
Just then the pipe chime went and the XO's voice was heard, "Do you hear there, XO speaking, we'll be coming up to Kingston in 30 minutes. Hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations,"
Dutchy stood up and went aft, Buffer following him.