The Hammersley had had a whole day in lockdown. All of them were off to sleep now to get some sleep and rest from what was going on outside the ship. Mike had volunteered to stay awake that night to keep an eye on anything that was going on and in case they got a mayday. Plus he needed to get some time to figure out what exercises he was going to set the crew. RO was also still on the bridge but he hadn't volunteered.

"Anything RO?" Mike asked him three hours into the night shift.

"Nope."

"RO!"

"Sorry sir."

"Is there something wrong?"

"No sir. Actually there was one thing."

"Yes?"

"I heard shouting coming from the kitchen earlier and I wanted to go down there to have a look."

"Well did you?"

"No. I couldn't be bothered."

"What if we had been boarded?"

"I doubt someone would board through the kitchens sir."

"You never know."

RO rolled his eyes out of view of Mike. Sometimes he couldn't deal with things Mike said. Even if he was the commanding officer, it didn't mean he had to agree with everything he said.

"I saw that." Mike said.

"Sorry sir."

"A quiet night all round then?"

"For now sir."

"Don't say that RO. You've just jinxed it now."

"I'm sure I haven't sir!"

Mike shrugged. He didn't like it when people jinxed the ship especially at night. It just felt like the wrong time of day to be jinxed.

0000

Nav was waiting for Bomber. As they stayed in the same quarters neither of them could go to sleep until the other one did. Bomber was taking ages as per usual. Nav looked over at her fish. It was doing well over the past few months and Bomber didn't mind it sharing the quarters as long as it didn't fall over.

"Bomber come on!" Nav shouted.

"Coming!" Bomber shouted back.

"You've said that for the last hour!"

"Well it takes me a long time to get ready!"

"Would you two shut up?! Some of us are trying to sleep here." Buffer's voice came through the walls.

"Tell that to her!" Both Bomber and Nav shouted.

"If you two aren't quiet, I'll get commander Flynn to come down." Buffer threatened.

Bomber and Nav went quiet as soon as they heard that threat. No one liked to bother Mike at night as he was even more easy to make angry at night. Bomber came into the quarters and sat down on her bed.

"Finally." Nav whispered to not bother Buffer.

"Well I'll go first next time." Bomber tried to say.

"No because I wouldn't get any time whatsoever." Nav hissed.

"Lights out." Bomber said switching the lights off.

"I hadn't finished!" Nav said but the lights were already off so she couldn't say anything else.

0000

Kate couldn't sleep. Not only because Nav and Bomber had been shouting at each other, but there was a lot on her mind. Plus it didn't look like the chips and veg were agreeing with her. A knock came at her door.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Want some coffee?" Spider asked from the other side of the door.

"Spider!" Kate sighed.

"I'll take that as a no then." Spider said, walking away from the door.

Kate rubbed her forehead with her hands. She liked Spider but right now, the last thing she needed was coffee! Another knock came to her door. Not another person!

"What?!" Kate called.

"Can I come in?" Nav asked.

"Come in Nav." Kate sighed with a smile.

Nav came in with a blanket and her pillow. Kate knew exactly why she was doing this.

"Bomber annoying you is she?" Kate smiled.

"You have no idea!" Nav sighed.

"Well I don't have any room in here Nav."

"Can you please tell Bomber to stop?" Nav pleaded.

Kate leant back in her chair. She really didn't want to have to deal with Nav and Bomber at this time of night but she wouldn't get a wink if she didn't deal with it until morning.

"Fine but you owe me one." Kate said getting out of her chair.

Nav smiled and followed Kate back to her quarters. Bomber was waiting outside the door once they got there. She didn't look happy at all, just like Nav.

"Bomber…" Kate started.

"You didn't have to go and wake her up!" Bomber said with a scowl.

"You won't stop talking!" Nav piped up.

"Bomber just leave off will you. So we can all get some sleep tonight!" Kate said, annoyed.

Bomber scowled again. Bomber wasn't the easiest to win round. Kate was going to have to try something else to get her to stop annoying everyone in the whole universe!

"Bomber just for tonight and then I'll get Commander Flynn to move you two tomorrow." Kate pleaded.

"Fine. Just for tonight." Bomber said, turning back into the quarters.

Nav looked at Kate and smiled which thanked Kate for getting it sorted. Buffer had also been watching the whole thing and was glad to see Nav and Bomber being quiet and actually getting along even if it was just for one night.

"Thanks for sorting those two out." Buffer said to Kate once Nav and Bomber had gone.

"No problem." Kate answered.

0000

Mike was nearly falling asleep on the bridge. RO was still wide awake but knew not to disturb Mike unless he wanted to get it in the neck for the next week. Mike had finally finished exercises for the crew over the next few months to be put in with their usual madness.

"All finished." Mike said turning to RO.

"I'm not even going to ask." RO said back.

"Well I wouldn't tell you if you did."

"Are they that secret?" RO said in surprise.

"For you guys yeah."

Before RO could delve deeper, a flash came up on his screen. He turned back to the screens to find out what it was.

"Sir?"

Mike got up out of his seat to see what it was.

"What is it RO?"

"I think I'm picking up a mayday." RO said turning to Mike shocked.

"This far out and under lockdown?"

"Seems so."

Mike went back to his chair to inform Maxine back at Navcom just in case anything got out of hand.

0000

Back at Navcom, Maxine was just about to clock off after a long day in communication with the Hammersley, when Mike's call came in. She sighed and picked it up.

"Mike."

"We've got a mayday out here. We're going to respond to it." Mike replied on the other end of the phone.

"All the way out there?!"

"That's what I said but they seem pretty institant."

"Alright, respond but be careful. Since the lockdown came in, we don't know who's around."

"Alright. We'll be careful." Mike said, putting the phone down.

Maxine was confused as she put the phone down. A lot of the Australian ships were still in port so it can't be them. What on earth was a boat doing out all that way?