The bridge of the Hammersley stared at Mike. Most of them couldn't believe it and some of them nearly burst into tears at the thought of staying together for another few months. Another few months on the Hammersley?! They couldn't bear it!
"What do you mean we have to stay on the ship?" Kate finally spoke.
"Just that. We have to stay here." Mike replied.
"We can't stay here!" Spider said.
"Spider…" Mike tried to say.
"No. We've stayed here long enough! We should have been the ship to come back in, not any others."
"We were the only ones out here. Everyone else was in port." Kate said sitting down in her seat.
"Still, we should be allowed to go into port." Spider said, folding his arms in frustration.
Mike and Kate sighed. Spider was always the one who got angry first. Bomber tried to comfort him but to no avail. He just turned away from her in anger. Mike took a deep breath.
"Look, I'm sorry we're not going home but for the next few months or more then that, we will be staying here and there's nothing we can do to change that but we're strong enough to deal with it. Aren't we?" Mike asked, looking around the bridge.
The crew nodded and agreed with their CO. Even though they didn't like the idea, they would just have to deal with it. Mike sat down in his seat again.
0000
Maxine put the phone down. She had hoped to try and give the news gently to the Hammersley but to no use. No one would take sitting in the middle of the ocean well. She turned round to see the room empty, everyone had left her to it so they didn't have to get involved. Marshall however had stayed.
"How did they take it?" Marshall asked as he walked towards her.
"Better than I thought they would." Maxine answered him.
"Mike Flynn always takes it on the chin. He knows his crew can take it."
"I know."
Maxine thought back to the last time she had seen Commander Flynn. He had always had an air of command about him that commanded respect from anyone who met him. Even her being two ranks above him.
"Daydreaming?" Marshall said, taking her out of her thoughts.
"Oh sorry sir. Just thinking that's all."
"Good. I have a task for you."
"What is it sir?"
"I need you to keep in contact with the Hammersley and see how they're doing."
"It would be an honor sir."
Marshall nodded and left to go to his office to collect his stuff. Maxine smiled. Marshall was right, she was one of the closest officers to the Hammersley and her crew. She needed to be the one who kept contact if it was going to be anyone.
0000
Mike beeped the communicator. He had just told the rest of the crew on the ship that they were staying at sea. He couldn't hear replies but knew the crew wouldn't like it. He put his hand to his forehead. A sudden headache had come about ever since he had heard the news from Navcom.
"Tired?" Kate asked him laughing.
"A little. Any news like that would make anyone tired." Mike replied.
"Want some coffee?" Kate asked, smiling.
"That would be a good idea." Mike replied, smiling.
Kate got out of her chair to go and see Bomber. Mike slid back into his chair. He had also told Charge to get them back to sea. Charge hadn't taken this news very well and had argued when he was doing it. Mike had to take this on the chin, Charge might be right but Charge couldn't undermine a direct order from Navcom.
"But why sir?" Charge had asked.
"I've already told you. Navcom said we can't get any closer." Mike had said to him.
"Well, it's utter…"
"Charge."
"Sorry sir."
Charge had gotten about his work after that conversation. Mike had left him to it. Charge also needed somewhat silence to get about his job and if Mike stayed he wouldn't be able to do it.
0000
Kate arrived at the kitchens. Bomber was busy working away to make that night's dinner.
"Looks like fun." Kate laughed.
"It's really not." Bomber said not even turning round to face her.
"Can I ask something?"
"As long as it doesn't take too long?" Bomber said, turning round to face Kate.
"The CO wants some coffee and no one else can supply it."
"X!"
"Please Bomber."
"Okay fine. I'll send it up."
"Thanks Bomber." Kate said, waving as she left back to the bridge.
RO was passing on his way to his quarters for a rest. He wanted to check in on Bomber before he did.
"What's for dinner?" RO asked.
"Don't really know yet." Bomber sighed.
"How come?"
"I need to make coffee before I can start apparently." Bomber rolled her eyes.
"Who said that?"
"The XO."
"Well do you have to make it?"
"Apparently."
RO sighed. When Bomber was in this sort of mood, he wasn't going to get much sense out of her. He decided to leave it there for now and come back later.
0000
Kate rejoined the bridge. Mike turned round and smiled when he saw her. Mike and Kate had gotten along quite well in recent months, so this meant another few months together wasn't going to be too testing. For the rest of the crew it might be though.
"Is Bomber making coffee?" He asked her.
"As we speak." Kate said, leaning on his seat.
"Good. Charge has said that we reach the outer parts of the quarantine zone in a few hours."
Kate nodded as she saw the ocean grow larger and larger in front of them. She had gotten so used to seeing the vast ocean that it didn't bother her anymore but now seemed different.