Dedicated to TessaTessa. I'm so sorry for what happened so this chapter is just for you. X
"Boarding?!" RO nearly shouted.
Charge hushed him up however. Both of them were worried about boarding but that didn't mean he had to spread it through the whole ship! If Jim knew they were being boarded that was it for them!
"Yes boarding! Now will you be quiet!" Charge shushed RO.
"But I hate boarding." RO said like a spoilt toddler.
Charge rolled his eyes at RO's reaction. RO was so all about him. Sometimes Charge could ignore this but right now it was really not needed! Charge typed something to communicate with Apollo. RO watched on to make sure Jim didn't look their way.
"Right they're on their way. We've just got to wait it out." Charge said putting the communicator down.
"RO? Charge?" Jim asked.
RO tutted as he stood up again. Charge soon followed standing up also. Jim didn't want to make a fuss over some small movements so just ignored it.
"Right so this game will be all about me then." Jim said again.
"Looks like it." Kate whispered under her breath.
"Right. Well this is going to be fun." Jim chuckled.
Kate managed to hold her breath whilst Jim explained the game he was about to play. She hated any game of any sort and whatever Jim was rattling on about it didn't sound like a game anyone would enjoy!
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Mike and Swaine were now both looking out of the window. Both of them were waiting for the Apollo to come closer with a boarding boat. Both of them hated waiting especially for something so serious.
"Why aren't they boarding yet?" Swaine exhaled.
"Give them time Swaine." Mike muttered.
"But we're running out of time sir. We haven't got long left until Jim comes down here and finds us." Swaine pointed out.
Mike wanted very much to disagree with this. However, he kept it back because of Swaine's state at the moment. He didn't want to anger or upset him further than he already was.
"Hang on there's something." Mike pointed out of the window.
Mike was right. Something was moving in between the Apollo and one of the other ships that made up the fleet. Swaine got a little bit more happy to see that at least something was happening.
"There you go. Something is being done." Mike smiled.
"Yes okay. I know I was a bit over the top." Swaine admitted.
"A bit!" Mike chuckled.
They then heard movement upstairs on the bridge. They really wanted to be able to go up there and help but they also didn't want to risk their own or anyone else's lives. Swaine was the more worried out of the two because of how unsure he was what went on up there, being in the sick bay a lot of the time.
"I hope everyone's alright." Swaine muttered.
"They will be. We would have heard something else if they weren't." Mike tried to reassure his colleague.
However much Mike tried to reassure Swaine, Swaine was still very unsure about everything. He continued to look at the ceiling just trying to take the situation in again.
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Archer was still waiting for an answer from the other ships for an answer whether they were ready or not. He knew the Hammersley might not have very long if they left it any longer. Soon one of his officers came running up to him with news.
"Well?" Archer asked her.
"They're ready sir. Waiting for your orders." She said saluting.
"Right. Give them the order." Archer nodded.
The officer nodded back and went back to give out the orders. Archer remained on the bridge. He really wanted to give Hammersley a hand but he knew he was more needed on the bridge at the moment. He knew his officers would do justice however and the Hammersley was in safe hands.
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Marshall was still keeping Maxine from jumping into the sea to help the Hammersley herself. Maxine was still worried even after the communication with Apollo. Marshall's communicator rang again.
"Marshall."
"It's Archer sir." Archer's voice answered again.
"What is it this time Archer?" Marshall asked.
"We're boarding the Hammersley sir." Archer answered, sounding quite calm.
Marshall tried to keep calm with this news. Boarding was never the first decision to land on. It also meant that whatever Archer did next would affect all of the ships and crew involved. He sighed and then talked to Archer once again.
"Alright make sure the crew is ready." Marshall told Archer.
"Yes sir. Wish us luck." Archer sort of chuckled.
"You don't need it captain." Marshall sort of chuckled back.
"Thanks sir. Talk when this is all done." Archer ended the call.
Marshall put the communicator away. Maxine had heard the whole thing. She was a little bit more calm. She knew Archer very well and knew if he couldn't get this right no one could.
"Archer's team is on their way." Marshall nodded.
"I heard." Maxine answered quickly.
Marshall nodded as both of them returned their attention to the water in front of them. Boarding normally didn't take too long but things could still go wrong.
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Archer watched on as the team left for Hammersley. Well by team, this meant about five different rigs with at least six people on each. The Hammersley crew was one of the most liked in the whole navy. Most of the Apollo got along very well with the crew. Any of them would give their lives for Hammersley to get home safely. Archer held a walkie talkie close to his ear listening into everything going on.
"How close are we?" Archer asked into it.
"Getting closer sir. How close do we want to go?" The officer responded.
"Not to close. Remember how high the bridge is. They can see for miles." Archer told the rig crews.
"Yes sir." All of the rig crew commanders responded.
Archer pulled the walkie talkie away a bit from his head. He looked at the rest of the crew of the bridge. All of them held their breath waiting for a response from them.
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Nav could see something beeping on her machine. Luckily Jim couldn't see this. She knew what this meant. Another few ships were coming to their rescue. All they had to do now was wait.
"So that's the game over." Jim smiled looking over to Buffer who was now on his knees in front of Jim holding his hands up.
"Can I go back to my station please?" Buffer asked shakily.
"No stay there." Jim shouted at Buffer.
Buffer nearly fell over by this power behind Jim's voice. Kate knelt next to Buffer to keep him upright. Jim let her as he still had some feelings for her even if she didn't.
"You alright?" Kate asked quietly.
"I'll be fine Ma'am." Buffer nodded even though he had a bloody lip.
Kate removed the blood from Buffer's mouth and then re-joined Nav and Bomber at the front of the bridge. She nodded to calm Bomber and Nav down. Nav then pointed to her station to tell Kate about what she had seen.
"That's great Nav. Keep an eye on it." Kate patted her on the back.
Nav slowly nodded trying not to attract attention from Jim. Jim then rubbed his forehead with the gun again. Something was obviously bothering him. Kate hated his stinking guts but she was still a bit concerned about him.
"What's wrong?" Kate asked mildly.
"All of this. It's making me mad." Jim answered her.
Kate nodded and decided not to keep the conversation going any further. She knew Jim would just have a go at her again and as he had just repeated his answer from earlier, she guessed he would just repeat again. The communicator buzzed to life again and it was a scramble to get to first. Bomber was the first to reach it and put it on speaker so everyone could hear it.
"Yes." Bomber spoke.
"This Captain Archer. You're about to be boarded. Surrender or we will take action." Archer's voice came through.
"Yes sir." Bomber answered back.
Jim looked around at the bridge. He knew what boarding meant and it was never good. He then took Bomber in his arms and held a gun to her head. Kate dived forward trying to get her back but to evail. Jim walked back with Bomber trying to get out of his grip. Everyone on the bridge watched on as he disappeared down the stairs with their friend.