Kate walked on to the bridge and smiled looking round at her crew. She was so proud at how they were taking everything in their stride and knuckling down and getting on with the job at hand. It was their job but it was difficult times. Thankfully they were almost ready to sail.

"Nikki" she smiled walking up behind her friend who was sat at the radar console. "Did we get a supply of PPE and anti-bac with the supplies this morning?"

"i don't think anything like that came on board, it was just fresh produce. But you would have to check with Bird as I don't even think we had any new medical supplies" Nikki half smiled, turning back to the charts she was working on.

"right, thanks Nic" Kate sighed.

Heading down the steps from the bridge she bumped in to Buffer who was walking in to the galley

"settling in alright" she smiled

"just about although it feels weird being back. Nothing has change and yet everything has changed"

"I know" she half smiled out of everyone there was only herself, Nikki and RO that were originally on Hammersley. "unfortunately, introductions will have to wait, but Nikki is on the bridge she can fill you in on what the plans are"

"Ma'am" Buffer smiled edging around her as she carried along the passageway.

Thankfully Bird was in the wardroom sorting out the cupboards. She was a relatively new addition back to Hammersley. She had started as a gap student for 2 years and then went on to do her medics training before being posted on the frigates. Then 3 months ago she returned to Cairns and the patrol boats.

"Bird" she smiled "Did we take on any supplies of masks and anti-bac?"

"X... sorry Ma'am" she stammered still getting used to the fact that Kate was CO.

"it's fine" Kate laughed "so did we get those supplies?" she asked

"no Ma'am. The only supplies were food based. Nothing medical and I did ask as we are running low on field dressings and saline solution" she sighed "I sent the request to be authorized by Commander Smith after we got back from the situation with the Lockdown."

"For Fucks sake" Kate swore under her breath heading out. Back-tracking a few steps she turned around to face Bird "sorry" she smiled. she hadn't meant to snap at her it was everything.

Running back on to the bridge she was annoyed now. How could they operate safely when they didn't have the equipment needed to stay safe?

"RO get me commander Smith now please" she said sitting in the captain's chair

"Ma'am" RO said turning back to his console. A few moments later he turned back to Kate. "Ma'am commander Smith" he said as he patched it through to the sat phone.

Waiting a few moments to compose herself she picked it up. "Sir" she said sharply "I was wondering if these new safety measures of yours included PPE and any anti-bac hand sanitizer" she asked

"yes it does" he replied as if it was obvious

"right well why don't I have any on Hammersley. Sir."

"are you not at sea yet Flynn?" he asked

"No" she replied bluntly "and Hammersley is staying put until I have everything, I need to protect my crew"

She listened patiently to Smith who was rustling papers around on his desk. It was clear he hadn't had anything sent to Hammersley.

"right. Thank you. Sir." she said hanging up

Looking at Nikki, "we should have the PPE in the next few hours"

"so..." Nikki looked at Kate, it was the first time she had seen her be that rude to a superior officer, unless you counted her infamous spats with Mike when he was CO.

"Like I said until we have the right equipment to protect ourselves then I am not taking this ship anywhere. I am protecting my crew first and foremost." Kate said "anyway time for introductions. Jonesy has left Hammersley and decided to move on. So this is our new Buffer. Pete" she smiled as he stepped forward. "Pete, you obviously know Nikki who Is our XO and Robert is still our radio operator" Kate smiled

"for your sins eh? Roberto" Pete grinned

Rolling his eyes RO chose to ignore that comment and pulled his head set back over his ears turning to face the console.

"nice to see one thing hasn't change" Buffer laughed.

"then we have Jessica our medic, she trained with the best medical officer Hammersley ever had before going to Penguin to qualify as a medic" Kate smiled it was hard to believe it was almost 10 years since they had lost Swain.

"HI!" Bird grinned excitedly "you can just call me Bird everyone does" she smiled

Smiling Kate turned "and we have Capri our chief engineer"

"Henry Ford" Capri said holding his elbow out to bump elbows

"Kipling is our chefo, she makes the best cakes ever" Kate smiled indicating to a small blond woman who only looked about 19"

"so, we have a bake-off hopeful," buffer grinned "well I look forward to trying them" he smiled.

Kipling blushed "I am not that good" she smiled.

"sure, you are" Bird smiled

"thanks Bird" Kipling smiled

After the introductions were all done Kate walked out on to the fly bridge. An hour late than promised and 2 hours after Hammersley should have left port the PPE, anti-bacterial cleaners and hand sanitizers finally arrived and were loaded in double time. Once out at sea Kate felt a little calmer but she had a sinking feeling that her earlier spat with Commander smith was going to have some serious repercussions, she just hoped brass would take her side.

"Ma'am?" Buffer walked out on to the fly bridge joining Kate

"yes" she turned smiling

"RO says Captain Flynn is on the phone and he needs to talk to you immediately"

Walking in she looked at RO who was holding out the phone. "RO can you patch it through to my cabin please. Nav you have the ship"

"i have the ship ma'am" Nikki called sitting in the captain's chair

Sitting in her cabin she waited for the call to come through. The phone rang once before she lifted the receiver.

"Mike what's …."

"this isn't a social, call Kate" Mike said sharply

"Sir" she called back

"Kate, Commander Smith has made a complaint that you have been rude and disobeyed orders to sail..." it was killing him to say this especially over the phone but also slightly glad she was out at sea as she might just throw the phone at him. "look go on to Skype, I hate not being able to talk to you face to face about this" he said softly

Pulling her laptop from the draw she quickly logged in and loaded up Skype. Clicking on to Mikes profile she established a video call. It didn't take long for him to answer.

"Kate" he smiled

Looking up a huge grin grew across Kates face as she saw mikes face on the screen of her laptop.

"Mike, so what did Smith complain about then, because all I said was, I was not taking Hammersley to sea until we had the PPE and anti-bac to protect the crew. He hadn't sent any at all" Kate sighed

"okay well I will have another chat with Smith about this, but did you get the stuff in the end?" he asked

"yes, hopefully it will be enough for the 2 or 3 weeks we are out but only time will tell."

"good well just let NAVCOM know if you need to come back for fresh supplies and let me know I will make sure its waiting" he smiled

"thank you" she said back grinning

"how is it anyway Pete settling in okay?" he asked

"yes, it's almost like he never left. It's like the old days just missing a few faces though" she said

"good" he said turning slightly as there were calls from the children. "i best go" he said softly

"sure. Umm quick question, have you looked in the mirror lately?" she asked

"no why..." he paused catching sight of himself on the mini view.

He had a huge red lips , red hearts on each cheek and thick blue eye shadow over each eye going over each eye brow. He looked like Dame Edna after a night on the town

"i shall bloody Kill them" he said as he looked at his face.

"say cheese" Kate grinned as she pressed the print screen button taking a screen grab of the call. This would be the perfect picture for his birthday card or as a bargaining tool.

"you best delete that Lieutenant- commander Flynn otherwise I can have you on charges for that" he said with a slight grin.

"well Sir that's all well and good and you may be the boss at work but I think this is classed as a domestic matter so..." she said with a wicked smile

"Kate" he warned

"sorry Sir got to go something urgent on the bridge" she said ending the call before he could say anything.

Leaning back in her seat she wondered where they had got the make-up to give mike his makeover. She just hoped they hadn't found her make-up bag and used that. Not that she wore it that often but it was all expensive and decent stuff. But she could deal with that when she got home for now she needed to focus on the task in hand

so hope you like this. and let me know what you think. as I have said this is a semi-alternate time line. the idea of this came from something I did to my uncle when I was about 7 and me and my sister plastered him in the kiddy make-up we had got for Christmas . he wasnt impressed. the kids did this to mike when he fell asleep that's why he didn't notice.

enjoy x