Chapter 19.
Kingston launched their RHIB with Charge on board, ready to transfer to Childers. Dutchy and Buffer joined the senior and junior sailors to welcome him aboard. Dutchy saw that XO Harley was leading the party, and thought about introducing himself; then changed his mind, and watched as the RHIB came aft, and Charge climbed aboard. The crew of Childers welcomed him aboard heartily. Quite a few had heard of the legendary Charge and wanted to shake his hand. Charge saw Buffer and Dutchy and made for them. There was much back-slapping and hand-shaking as he greeted his former shipmates. Together they went forward to report to the Officer of the watch.
The RHIB carrying the Kingston party returned with an air of urgency. When they were onboard, XO Harley strode quickly to the bridge where her CO had a new report.
"X, the RAAF aircraft has spotted a boat in the shipping lanes heading for the Port of Darwin. We are the nearest asset, and are going after it. Set a course."
"Aye, ma'am" said Georgina Harley and moved over to the navigation station, to plot the course required. As soon as she had done so, she saw a dot on the radar screen. "Contact bearing SSE ma'am, speed 25 knots."
Robert Dixon, sitting next to her on the EOD said, "We have a visual. Looks like a high-speed craft. Ma'am, it looks like they are dropping something overboard."
Nikki Caetano said, "Can you identify?"
"Ma'am they appear to be dropping sea mines."
Lt-Cmdr Caetano snapped to her Chief Engineer "Increase speed. I want that boat. RO, get me NAVCOM. We can't let that boat get anywhere near the platforms."
"NAVCOM on the radio, ma'am," said RO.
"Nikki. What have you got?"
"Sir, we believe we have one of the terrorist boats heading toward the Port of Darwin. They are dropping what appear to be sea mines overboard. We are following."
"Very good, keep on them. Use whatever is necessary to stop that boat getting to Darwin. In the meantime, I'll send Hawkesbury to pick up the mines. Good thing we have a couple of minesweepers in Darwin. If needed I'll send Wollongong's Clearance Diver. Keep on them Nikki."
"Yes sir. Sir is there any news on Lt-Commander McGregor-Flynn?"
"No as yet. We have Bendigo and Hammersley's RHIBs looking for her. I'll let you know when we have news. Fair winds, Nikki."
On board Bendigo, the RHIB had just been lifted out of the water. The crew made for the aft deck, and the XO went forward to report. Just as he walked on the bridge, the RO said, "Contact 20 degrees ahead. Sir, it looks like a tourist boat, with only two POB."
She brought it up on the EOD. "I have a visual. There are weapons on board."
The CO picked up the mic. "Childers, this is Bendigo."
"Childers here."
"Childers, how close to Hammersley are you?"
"Bendigo, we are approaching Hammersley now. We are to assist in the search for Lt-Cmdr McGregor-Flynn, sir."
"Roger that, Childers. Good luck. Bendigo out"
For the second time in the space of an hour, Cmdr Marshall received a report of an FFV. This one was heading for Cairns. He detailed Bendigo to follow and do whatever was necessary to neutralise the threat. He took off his headset, and went to report to Mike.
After the unsatisfactory debrief with the ASIO team, he had sent them away. The lead operative had gone to the hospital where the fallen spook had been taken, to formally identify him.
When Steve went into Mike's office, he noticed that Mike was on a call. Steve waited until Mike had ended his call, then said, "Everything OK at home, sir?"
"Yeah. My daughter is giving her grandparents some stick. She's crying for her mother" He smiled briefly.
"Any news?"
Steve brought him up to date with the latest activity. He saw the look of disappointment when he nothing to report of Kate. Mike looks exhausted, Steve thought, but knew it was better to remain silent on the subject.
Childers sent a RHIB to Hammersley. Onboard was Dutchy, Charge and Buffer. They came aboard and went to report to the XO. Charge stopped in his tracks.
"Jamie." Then he corrected himself. "Sir". He did not expect to see his son on Hammersley as XO to Kate. Abruptly, he said, "I'll go below to see to the engines," and went down to the engine compartment, leaving Buffer and Dutchy on the bridge, with an equally surprised Jamie Patterson. He made to follow Charge, but checked himself in front of Dutchy and Buffer.
As they clattered down the stairs heading toward the RHIB which would return them to Childers, Dutchy looked at Buffer with a raised eyebrow. Buffer said, "He's Charge's son. There's been bad blood between them for some time. That's the last thing we needed. I had enough to do just to get Charge to come on this evolution, without this complication."
Dutchy shrugged, and turned his mind to the forthcoming evolution.
Having dismissed the boarding party, Jamie Patterson went down to the engine compartment. His anger was rising, why of all people did his father come aboard?
He walked into engine room, where Charge was already at work.
"Well, well," he sneered. "Andy Thorpe. The last person I wanted to see. Who was the moron got you sent here?"
He was totally unprepared for what happened next. Charge had lunged at him, with a large spanner in his hand. "Who are you talking to, boy?" Charge shouted into Jamie's face. "I wouldn't be here except for your CO being lost! And you, you let her get kidnapped, possibly killed! You're supposed to be the ship's XO boy, you have your CO's back at all times! You'll never be HALF the XO Kate McGregor was! Now piss off and let me get these engines fixed, sir!" Charge spat the last word at him, spun on his heel and went back to the engines.
Jamie walked out of the compartment, too shocked to respond. He had never seen his father like that. He saw LS Kathy Green walking toward him on her way to the compartment to isolate the electrical generator from the engine and check battery power. "Are you OK, sir?" she asked.
"Fine, Leader. Carry on." He wondered how much she had overheard.
Dutchy and Buffer returned with the RHIB crew to Childers. As they came aboard, they were met by the ship's XO. "Stand fast there. I'm sending both RHIBs to Bright Island. Mulholland, you know where the terrorist camp was. Either the bastard who took Lt.-Cmdr McGregor-Flynn has taken her to that camp, or she is still on that boat somewhere on the island. It hasn't shown up on radar scans; it's got to be around that bloody island. Mulholland, you are to lead this party, I'll lead the other one. I'm taking no chances, full Kevlar, extra plating."
"Yes. Sir." Dutchy and Buffer turned to the armoury to kit up.
HMAS Kingston was fast closing the distance between her and the terrorist boat. "Vessel on my port bow, this is Australian warship, Kingston. Stop or heave to, I intend to board you." CO Caetano broadcast. The boarding party, under the command of XO Harley was already in the water, awaiting the order.
Nikki repeated, "Vessel on my port bow, this is Australian warship, Kingston. Stop or heave to, I intend to board you, I repeat, stop or heave to, I intend to board you." For answer, the terrorist on board threw a grenade. It exploded harmlessly just in front of Kingston's bow.
RO, observing next to Nikki, said, "I think you have your response, Ma'am."
Nikki grabbed the radio. "X-Ray 2, insert, insert, insert."
With a roar, the RHIB was away, speeding toward the boat. In next to no time, the RHIB was alongside. Georgina, leading the party, boarded with her 9mm pistol pointed at the nearest terrorist. Behind her, the others boarded, and yelled, "DROP YOUR WEAPONS! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"
For answer, the nearest terrorist lifted a grenade and pulled the pin. George lunged at him, grabbed the hand that held the grenade, and loosening his grip, she dropped it overboard, at the same time, swinging him around, and grabbing him around the neck. As she dropped him to his knees, she said, "That's enough out of you, sunshine." Still holding him in a painful half-nelson, she ordered her party to search the boat. The Coxswain, Brian Richards, moving swiftly to the wheelhouse, charged in, and landed a pinpoint uppercut to the jaw of the man at the wheel, felling him like a tree. The Able Seaman Bosun's Mate, a giant of a man, who at times didn't know his own strength, tackled the third terrorist to the deck who was trying to pull a gun on the X.
The ship's Buffer reported, "all taken X!" George heard the clear note of triumph. All three were taken into custody, with George manhandling her prisoner into the RHIB as if he was a rag doll. She said to her Coxswain," what weapons are onboard this boat?"
"X, we found a cache of automatic rifles, pistols and there were four sea mines as well."
"Right, I want you and Bigfoot, (referring to the AB Bosun's mate) to form a steaming party and we'll tow this boat home."
"Yes, Ma'am." George then went to the RHIB, and unearthed a tow rope which she passed to her Coxswain Richards. With the three terrorists now cuffed and in custody, the RHIB roared back to Kingston, the steaming party following.
As soon as the RHIB had returned, and the prisoners placed in Austere, Nikki turned to RO. "Get me NAVCOM, Robert."
"Aye, Ma'am"
"Cmdr Marshall."
"Sir, we have three of the terrorists in custody, and towing the boat. There are a few sea mines on board as well as other weapons."
"Very good, Lt-Cmdr. Well done. I'll contact Wollongong to send their Clearance Diver. You may return to home port."
"Yes, sir." As she passed the hand-piece back to Robert, Nikki was aware of her XO coming onto the bridge, looking quite pleased with herself. Nikki wondered what Peter or Kate would have made of her XO's take down. She said, "You were impressive today, X. That terrorist didn't have a chance. Where did you learn those moves?"
George coloured slightly and said, "I've been taking Krav Maga classes."
"Well done today," said Nikki, "and keep taking the classes."
George smiled. "I will, Ma'am."