Royal Australian Navy, HMAS Hammersley, Armidale - class patrol boat, Cairns, QLD
Hammersley's navigator had a family emergency and requested a transfer. His replacement, Lt. Nikki Caetano, came to be posted on HMAS Hammersley with only two months left in the six-month rotation.
Lt. Nicole Caetano, Nikki or "Nav", has served in the Navy for 14 years, joining upon turning 18 and attending ADFA. She then went on to receive advanced training in naval navigation. First, in her class, she was a gifted navigator, possibly the best.
Thirty-two and fiercely independent, she takes great pride in being one of the best at what she does. Nikki is pretty, of good stature at 168 cm (5' 6"), and very trim. Her hair is medium-long, thick, and a shiny medium brown. Her eyes are ocean green. She does date, but there has never been anyone serious, not even close as she concentrates on her career. That is until Leading Seaman Joshua Holiday," ET".
Nikki shares a cabin with Lt. Kate McGregor, "XO or X '' the ship's executive officer, and they have become best friends.
Kate is 38, quite attractive with long blond hair and brown eyes. She is considered tall at 174 cm (5' 7"). She's a firm but a fair leader, and she is well-liked by the crew. Kate has a secret, a big one. She and the captain, Lt Commander Mike Flynn, are lovers.
There is a strict Navy rule against fraternisation among shipmates. There is no fraternisation and, if exposed, would result in either party being transferred along with loss of rank (the minor punishment) or a trip to The Captain's Table leading to expulsion dishonourably from the Navy. But sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants, and you can't help who you fall in love with.
Mike and Kate had met when Mike was teaching a course at ADFA. Love followed. When Kate graduated, Mike broke off their relationship in favour of both of their careers. Kate was devastated.
Years later, as fate would have it, they end up being posted on the same ship, HMAS Hammersley, with Mike as captain.
They never stopped loving each other, and despite the "rule", their relationship rekindled and even strengthened. They were keeping their relationship professional while on the ship but seeing each other during shore leaves, with the hope that they will eventually be on different postings and be openly together.
Hammersley's crewhas the reputation of being one of the closest working crews in the Navy. They consider each other to be family from the captain on down. As a crew, they are a tight and efficient team that takes care of each other.
Nikki arrived on Hammersley and was greeted and welcomed by Mike and introduced to the ships, XO, Kate. Then she was escorted to the bridge to be introduced to some members of the crew.
"Lt Nicole Caetano is our new navigator as Shelly had to transfer off for personal reasons," Captain Mike Flynn announced. " She comes highly recommended and with a good deal of experience. Let's make her feel welcome. First, I'll introduce you to Lt Kate McGregor, XO."
"Pleased to meet you," Kate says to her, extending her hand.
"Okay, each of you introduce yourselves," Mike tells his bridge crew.
Andy Thorpe started. "Chief Petty Officer Andy Thorpe, 'Charge' ship's master mechanic," he said, standing. " Welcome aboard the best patrol boat in the Navy," said with a great grin. He's a big man and reminds Nikki of a teddy bear with his friendly smile.
Next came the communications specialist, " Leading Seaman Robert Dixon, "RO". RO takes a bit of getting used to; a bit quirky but well-liked. Often a source of amusement.
Sitting at the EOD console… "Seaman Billy Webb, Ma'am. 'Spider', Boatswain's Mate." Spider is a young, first-year sailor and very naive and sweet.
"Pleased to meet you, Spider."
"Petty Officer Chris Blake, Ma'am, I'm cleverly called 'Swaino', Naval Police Coxswain, ships law enforcement officer, also the chief medic, and leading helmsman."
"Wow, you wear a lot of hats! I look forward to working with you."
"You too, Ma'am."
Then Mike turns to Josh Holiday, who was hanging near Charge's console. "And finally, one of our most important crew members, Leading Seaman Specialist, Josh Holiday, our electronics technician, 'ET'. He keeps the bits in operational order."
With a saucy grin, Josh gives a little wave, " Hi, ah… Ma'am". He's was dumbstruck from the moment Nikki had arrived on the bridge to the point of being tongue-tied, an unusual condition for him.
Nikki, noticing him for the first time too, was also struck momentarily speechless as she looked at his gorgeous deep blue eyes, handsome face and blonde curls. Coming back into herself, hoping that her reaction wasn't noticed, Nikki responded, "Leader, nice to meet you."
"Who is that large man with the crew on the foredeck, Sir?" Nikki asked Mike.
"That's Chief Petty Officer Pete Tomaszewski, 'Buffer', Boatswain," Kate replied.
"Alright, introductions complete...we'll be leaving port in 15 minutes. XO, call the cable party."
With that, ET left the bridge for the boat deck to assist Buffer in readying the ship for the voyage.
ET and Buffer shared a quick laugh then got to work supervising and directing the seaman working on the deck. Nikki watched the action from the bridge, fascinated by how easily ET interacted with the crew and how they responded to him. He seemed always to be smiling.
As she watched the activity on the deck, ET glanced up at the bridge, almost sensing that she was watching. Spotting her, he lifts a hand in greeting and sends her one of his megawatt smiles before returning to the job at hand. Nikki felt a little flutter. (What the hell is wrong with me?)
Joshua 'ET' Holiday, 36 yrs old, blonde curls, piercing deep blue eyes and a handsome face, tall at 183 cm ( 6'), with a bright smile and amazing dimples. Joining the Navy after completion of high school at age 18, he trained as an electronics technician. Six years ago, Josh had been posted to Hammersley. His innate charm and sense of humour made him well-liked among his shipmates. His outgoing personality and pleasing looks also made him a "chick magnet" without even trying. When going out to the pub with the crew while on shore leave, some young woman would inevitably seek out his company. ET was never at a loss for dates prompting his crewmates to label him Casanova or Romeo. Even with his attraction to women, he was always a gentleman. He never talked about his dates except in general terms, even when pressed for details by certain crew members.
Josh was having a good time, but he felt like something was missing. The attention of these ladies, while fun, was not enough and left him wanting more than a string of casual hookups. Josh is a sensitive man and, despite his carefree attitude, was longing for someone special. He longed for a family. Then he met the new lieutenant, he felt a spark of something and immediately knew that he had to get to know her. ( Time to kick up the charm), he thought.
His first watch rotation at the helm with Nikki as officer of the watch came a week later and was his prime opportunity to reach out. As they worked together, they both slipped into easy conversation and banter.
"ET, I'm going for a brew. Can I bring you one?"
"Yes, Ma'am. That would be nice, thanks, just white."
"No worries, and it's Nav."
Smiling, "Thank you, Nav."
They found themselves talking about everything, from music to books and favourite movies. The conversation just flowed in easy comparability. That watch just flew by.
After that first watch together, they actively sort out each other's company. They would meet regularly for coffee or a chat on the deck or over a beer at the pub when they returned to port. By the end of that rotation, they had become good friends; some of the crew took notice but said nothing.
Almost a month after Nikki joined the crew, Josh had been getting up the nerve to ask her out on an actual date; regulations be damned, he thought. He could feel something special happening, and he didn't want to let it go. Sensing,...hoping that she might feel the same, he asked her if she would like to go for a hike with him on the next turn around. Nikki happily agreed, knowing that there wouldn't be any watching eyes. She, too had been hoping for some time alone with Josh.
Toby Jones, " Chefo", was in the galley doing his meal prep with Spider. It was Spider's rotation for galley duty. Chefo has a reputation as a "shit-stirrer", having a big mouth and thinking he was funny, but most times falling flat.
"So," he says to Spider. "Looks like the Nav is going to be ET's next conquest."
"Nah," Spider replies. "He knows the rules. He loves Hammersley. He'd never risk his career for a hookup."
"Mark my words Spidey... would you care to make a wager? She's going to be the next mark in his book."
At that moment, Spider noticed Nikki in the galley doorway, and the look on her face told him that she had heard every word of the conversation. She turned and stalked angrily away.
"Oops...Chefo, I think she heard us." Toby just shrugged like it was no big deal.
Nikki had just been outside the galley on her way to get a brew when she overheard Chefo. She was hurt and furious. (How could I have been so stupid! I'm no one's conquest! I knew his reputation, and I totally went stupid over his charm...those blue eyes...) berating herself as she fled, trying unsuccessfully to hold back her tears. She had fallen head over for ET. They had had a wonderful time on their hike up to Angel Falls, had felt special. Rushing to get away, as she was climbing the steep stairs to the next deck when her foot slipped, and she fell, twisting her ankle. Josh happened to be nearby and rushed over to her.
"Nav, Nikki, are you all right? Here let me help you."
"Leave me alone. I don't want or need your help," said between tears.
Confused, " Nikki, what's wrong? Did I do something?"
"You! You are what's wrong! How could I have been so blind! I am nobody's conquest! How could I have been so stupid as to trust Casanova! Now rack-off Josh!"
Josh was sputtering, confused, ( What the fuck?) as Buffer came around the corner. Seeing his LT on the floor, and rushed over to her. He had overheard the last part of the conversation, the rack-off part.
"Come on, Ma'am, let me help you to your cabin, then I'll get Swaino for you."
Josh went to step in when Buffer, a large man, grabbed him by the back of his shirt and threw him against the wall. "Stay away from her ET, or you'll be dealing with me."
Confused but what had just happened, Josh watched Buffer supporting Nikki as he led her to her cabin. While running his hands through his hair, he's trying for the life of him to figure out what was happening. Turning away, he headed towards the galley for a brew and to sit and think when he bumped into Spider.
"ET, I'm sorry, mate. It was just stupid guy talk…" Spider spit out.
"What was, Spider?"
"Nav overheard Chefo and me talking, and…"
ET was starting to steam, "What did he say, Spider?" ( I'm going to kill him and his mouth!)
"Uhh, he was saying that the Nav was your latest conquest. I told him no-way."
ET grabbed Spider by the shirt and pushed him against the wall, then realising that Spider was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, he let him go. "Sorry, Spider," then stomped off to the galley and Chefo.
Josh went storming into the galley, finding Chefo chopping vegetables.
"Hey, ET, what's up mate," he says innocently.
"You and your mouth! If it wouldn't mean an invitation to the Captain's Table, I would gladly shut it for you! Stay the fuck out of my business!" giving him a shove. Then he went to try and talk to Nikki and sort things out.
After knocking, he poked his head into her cabin. Having sprained her ankle when she fell, she has temporarily confined her to her rack, her ankle elevated on a pillow with an ice pack. A quick look around, and he stepped inside.
"Josh, what are you doing here… please leave," looking at him with fire in her eyes.
"Nikki, please," taken back a little by her tone. "I wanted to see how you are doing, see if I could get you anything."
"Really? ET? What could I possibly want from you."
Josh was stunned, " Nikki, what's wrong? What did I do?"
Wanting to shout but not wanting to attract any attention, she hissed, "I'm no one's conquest! I overheard Chefo with Spider saying how I was just another name in your book! Besides, there's the 'rule'."
"Nikki, please, you're not a conquest, never were, and I've never thought of any woman that way. That's just Chefo talking stupid like he always does. Stupid guy talk is all."
"Please leave now, Josh."
"Nikki, I'm sorry for what that asshat said. He's wrong. Please believe me, you were never a conquest, as he put. I would never want to hurt you."
"Okay, changes nothing. I'll never be able to trust you. Please leave."
Taking a deep breath and looking stunned and crestfallen at how his life just took a plunge, he turns to go, stops, and turns back to her.
"We have almost six months to go in this rotation. Nikki, what if I swear off all women until then… to prove… to prove to you how much I lo… care for you. I promise you; I haven't been with anyone since we started...being friends."
"You… You will have no dates and no sex for six months," looking sceptical.
"That's right, no women, no sex, six months. Lots of cold showers…( nothing different there)... Nikki, at the end of the six months, I'll transfer off Hammersley, and we can be together. We can actually date. Nikki, please," begging her.
Nikki stares at him for a full minute, all the while thinking about what she feels for him. "Alright, six months. Now you best go before someone sees you and says something."
"Thank you, Nikki. I'm so sorry that you had to hear that. I'll check on you later?"
"Alright."
Josh leaves feeling somewhat better but still unsettled…( I really want to tank Chefo)
Nikki opens her laptop and her photo gallery. She looks with fondness at pictures of Josh. Her favourite was taken on their hike to Angel Falls..( He looks so happy).
A month after his promise to Nikki, Josh's life fell apart. He and Nikki were sitting in the crew's favourite pub, having a beer and enjoying their chat, when a young and very pregnant young woman approached their table.
"Hi, Josh…"
Josh looked up at her, and his mouth dropped open, " Ahh, hey Lucy. Ahh, how have you been?"
"Really? Josh? How does it look like I've been?"
Nikki is confused and stunned, and worried as she was looking back and forth between the two of them.
"Remember when we ran into each other at that wine bar? Well... the baby," pointing to her stomach, "she's your's Josh."
Josh's eyes went wide, and he was practically hyperventilating. Nikki, having heard enough, stood abruptly, "Obviously, you two have some talking to do, and you don't need me here."
Josh called to her as she turned and almost ran away. " Nikki, wait, please!"
As he caught up to her, " Go, Josh, just go."
"Nikki, I can explain… please!"
She just kept walking, not looking back.
Hanging his head, he returned to see that Lucy was still standing there. Josh gestured for her to sit.
"Nice one Lucy. You could have approached me when I was alone or may be called to meet up someplace so that we could talk. I'm sorry… but are you sure the baby is mine?"
"Positive. She's yours."
"It's a girl, huh? Why am I just finding out now?"
"I wasn't going to tell you at all, but my mother was adamant that you had a right to know. That maybe you would make it right."
"Lucy, I don't know what you expect from me. I'm sorry that this happened, but you were there too. I'll help out wherever I can, and I want to be a part of her life, but that is all I can be. If you're looking to get married, I'm sorry, but I can't marry you. You deserve someone who loves you."
"Maybe you would come to love me; I'm willing to try. You know with the baby and all..."
"Luce, I think you're a great girl, but I don't love you. We had fun, and I thought that you understood that when we split up. I'm in love with someone. I mean it, I will help, and I want her to know me. But that is all I can do."
Rising from the table, "I knew that this would be a waste of time."
"Lucy, keep in touch, please. Let me know if you need anything."
"Bye, Josh," she stalked away.
Josh put his head in his hands, ( What the fuck am I going to do? Oh God! I going to be a dad..Oh God...Nikki...) He went over to the bar and ordered two shots.
"ET, you ok, mate?" Swain asked, seeing the strain on his friend's face. "Have something to do with that young woman who was at your table?"
"Yeah, ex-girlfriend, she's pregnant. It's mine, she says."
"Are you going to get a paternity test?"
"Hadn't thought about it… but I'm pretty sure from what she said, baby's mine. I gotta get going..."
Swain clapped him on the shoulder, "If you need to talk…"
"Thanks, Swaino."
Josh left the pub, hoping to find Nikki. After walking for a bit, he returned to Hammersley and found her leaning on the aft deck rail. It would be quiet and peaceful if it weren't for the inner turmoil.
"Nikki," he said softly, approaching her.
" Josh…" and he could hear her voice breaking.
He reached out and put his hand on her arm, and she flinched it away. " Nikki, nothing happened since my promise to you. That night was seven months ago. It meant nothing. We hadn't been together in ages; it was a stupid, drunken one time mistake. Please believe me. Nikki, you mean a lot to me, please."
"Do you want to get back with her?"
"No! No. I have no feelings for Lucy, but I want to be a part of my child's life. That I can't walk away from."
"Of course not, I wouldn't think that you would."
Then she got quiet. She turned from the rail and faced him as tears traced down her cheeks. "Josh, I can't see you anymore."
"But… But...Nikki, please…"
"This whole thing was a mistake we should never have started. You're a sweet guy, but I can't trust you. I can't risk my career for someone I can't just ... Goodbye, Josh," she walked away, breath hitching and tears flowing. She quickly escaped to her cabin, thankful that Kate wasn't there. Climbing into her rack, she buried her head into her pillow and sobbed.
Josh was numb ( This can't be happening! How can my life turn to such shit in just a few hours…). He was so distraught it hurt to breathe. He thought about returning to the pub to drink his pain away but went to his rack instead.
Over the next week, he was morose. He did his job, and well as he always did, but he had nothing to say to anybody. Those that were at the pub that night and saw Lucy assumed that it was the pregnant girl that was the problem. It was, but not in the way they thought.
"Nikki, do you have any idea what's bothering ET? I've never seen him like this," X said.
"No, why would I know what his problem is?" said a little harshly, which took Kate back.
Nikki did her best to keep her feelings undercover, not to bring about suspicion, and for the most part, she did.
After a couple of weeks, Josh started to come around. Started going to the pub with the guys. Still, he discouraged any woman that approached him, and he certainly didn't seek out any female company. Keeping the promise he made to Nikki. Continuing to hope that she will come around. The guys took notice, but he just put them off by saying he had too much personal stuff going on.
Josh decided that it was time to call his mum and tell her about the baby. She lived in Melbourne, as did his younger sister Gail and her husband. Amelia, his older sister, lived in Cairns. His dad had died the year before from a heart attack. Even though he was so far away, he remained close to his family, especially his mum.
"Hey Mum, how have you been?"
"Josh! Are you on shore leave?"
"No, I got permission to use the SAT phone. I have something that I need to talk to you about."
"Is everything okay? How are things going with Nikki?"
"Well, that's part of it" ( just spit it out ). My ex-girlfriend Lucy is pregnant, seven months."
"Lucy? Do I know her?"
"I never mentioned her because it wasn't going anywhere. We had fun, but I didn't love her. I don't love her. Not like Nikki."
" And Nikki, how did she take it?"
"Not well, she left me. Said she couldn't trust me because of my reputation. Then she added that it had been a bad idea anyway because of her career and Navy regs."
"Oh, Josh, I'm so sorry. Maybe it's just the shock of it, and hopefully, she'll come around."
"I don't think so, Mum. Nikki is fairly stubborn, and it appears that her mind is made up. She'll barely look at me, and things were really going well too. We had been on a couple of dates. I was planning to transfer off of Hammersley at the end of the rotation so that we could openly be together. Then Lucy shows up at the pub where we were having drinks, quite pregnant."
"Did she say why she waited so long to tell you?"
"Yeah, cause she wasn't going to tell me at all. Her mum pressured her."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm not marrying her…"
"I wouldn't expect that you would given your feelings for her and your feelings for Nikki. It wouldn't be right."
"I'll support her and the baby however I can. I want to be a part of the baby's life. We're having a girl, by the way."
"That's good to hear. Your dad would be proud of you for doing the right thing."
"Thanks, Mum. I wanted you to know about the baby and everything else that is going on. I have to go. Mum, I'll keep in touch."
"Should I tell Gail?"
"Yeah, it's happening, so she should know that she's going to be an aunt."
"Alright, I Love you, Josh."
"Love you too."
Nikki returned to going out with Kate and the crew. Still, she had no desire to date. She discouraged any guy who showed any interest while trying to delude herself about her continued feelings for Josh. Because they had to work together in the close confines of the ship, they were cordial to each other. Even so, their friends could sense the tension.
As the rotation continued, fate kept throwing Josh into life-threatening situations. First, he was on an FFV with a junior sailor when the boat caught fire and went down. Josh had them abandon ship, saving the fishing boat crew, the junior sailor, and himself. He managed to keep them all calm while they floated in the sea for several hours, waiting to be discovered by Hammersley. When the fishing vessel was lost on radar, Nikki became concerned but kept her anxiety to herself and immensely relieved when they were found safe.
A week later, while Kate had the bridge, Hammersley hit an underwater buoy. Since Josh is one of the dive specialists on the ship, he and Swain were ordered to dive down and investigate.
The buoy was attached to what appeared to be a metal box sitting on the sea bottom. The buoy was most likely marking a pick-up point for drug runners. While they were looking over the box, lights on the lid started flashing. Swain signalled to Josh to get out of there.
Kate and Buffer had been tending the dive when Swain popped up and alerted them to the bomb as he swam as hard as he could with Josh swimming just as hard behind. Swain had just made it to the RHIB with Josh several meters behind him. Josh was several meters behind as Swain was clambering onto the RHIB. Then Kate was pulling Josh from the water as an underwater explosion sent up a geyser of water.
Nikki, watching with Mike from the flybridge, saw the RHIB speeding towards them and away from the plume of water shooting into the air behind them.
( Oh My God! A bomb! ...Josh, Josh, please be okay…) Nikki was praying.
Josh and Swaino climbed the ladder to Hammersley's deck, where Mike was there to greet them and get their report about what happened.
Nikki approached Josh, put her hand on his chest and asked him if he was okay.
Josh's heart fluttered at her touch, and the adrenalin was still pumping. "I'm fine," he chuckled. Thought I was cactus, but I'm fine."
"Josh, you were almost blown to bits!"
"Couldn't kill this one that easily," Buffer says as he walks by.
"I'm fine. Feet and ankles hurt a bit; otherwise, I'm good," turning away and went to the showers.
It was 10 January, and they were now three months into this six-month rotation, two months from when Lucy bombed his life at the pub, when RO received a call for Josh. The call was being patched through NAVCOM, and RO called him to comcen.
"Hello?" he answered nervously. Urgent shipboard calls usually meant nothing good.
"Josh?"
"Yes?"
"This is Linda, Lucy's mother. Lucy has had the baby. She's beautiful, Josh. She was born at 6:45 this evening, 3 kg ( 6 lbs 7oz). She has your blue eyes, Josh. Lucy named her Emma. Emma Grace Masters."
"That's beautiful. How's Lucy?"
"She's fine, sleeping."
"Give Lucy my best. I'll call when I get back to Cairns so that I can come and see the baby. Linda, could you please take a picture for me and send it to me through messenger?"
"Of course, I'd be happy to."
"Thanks, and thanks for getting in touch."
"Of course. See you when you get back."
Josh ended the call and wiped his wet eyes while RO looked on curiously. "I'm a dad, RO; I'm a dad." Then he went to stand on the aft rail watching the ships wash for some quiet time. About twenty minutes later, his phone alerted to a message. Opening it, he found a picture of his beautiful baby girl, and he found himself wiping his eyes again. Josh returned to the comcen looking for RO. Finding him there, he asked him if he could make a print of the picture. RO made two, one for Josh's cabin and one for his pocket.
Because of RO, word got out about the birth of Josh's baby. Josh was asked frequently if he had a picture of the baby, her name and such. Nikki, of course, became aware of the news and congratulated him when she saw him, then retreated to her cabin for a cry while hugging the giant stuffed koala that Josh had given to her during their last outing together.
It was only a week later when an FFV boarding went very wrong. The boarding party, which included Josh, got caught up in a firefight with the fisherman, during which Josh was shot in the chest. Mike had fortunately ordered double plates in their vests, saving his life but not without injury, a cracked sternum.
Nikki went to see him in the wardroom claiming that as Josh's divisional officer, she wanted to know that he was alright. He thanked her, wanting to say more, but he couldn't.
Near the end of the fifth month of the rotation, he came close to losing his leg when he was trapped in the hold of an FFV. This was, by far, the worst incident that had ever happened to him in the Navy.
Hammersley had been tasked with assisting a Marine Protection Officer to stop the poaching of trochus. The officer, Campbell Fulton, was arrogant and pushy.
Mike senttwo boarding parties to subdue the vessel, and after a brief gunfight, they took control over the trochus FFV. Once aboard the boat, Fulton tried to push his weight around, trying to bully Kate, who, as XO, was in charge of the action.
As Buffer and ET were searching the vessel, they found a fisherman moribund in the hold. Buffer reported it to Kate, and she had sent for Swain.
"Is this really necessary? I need to get on with things." Fulton grumbled.
"I would say that this is pretty serious," ET responded with annoyance. "This man appears to be dying."
Swain arrived from Hammersley and began trying to access what was wrong with the fisherman as Fulton continued to pace, slapping his torch in the palm of his hand, complaining that he needed to get on with his investigation.
Swain ignored him. Unfortunately, within five minutes of Swain's arrival, the man died,
before he was even finished with his assessment.
Kate then ordered everyone, including the fishing crew, back to Hammersley. Swain and Buffer were to stay behind to finish up.
Back on Hammersley, Fulton wandered onto the bridge and found his way over to Nikki's console. He had been eyeing her since he came aboard.
"You have some pretty sophisticated equipment here," he says to her while he crowds into her space with a sleazy smile.
Backing away, "Being the Navy, we have the best technology that's available," she answers.
"So, I guess you wouldn't find yourself lost on a deserted island with a handsome Marine Protection Officer?"
"No, that wouldn't happen."
"Aww, where's the romance in that?"
"I don't think the Navy is paying us for romance." With that, she leaves the bridge and heads down to the bow of the ship, trying to escape the annoying and decidedly creepy man.
Fulton follows her and manages to back her into a corner under the typhoon gun.
"Nikki, how about when we get back to Cairns, you have dinner with me."
"Thank you, but I can't."
"Aww… why not? I'm a nice guy…"
At that moment, Josh comes jogging by and sees red when he spots Fulton pressing Nikki into a corner.
"Ma'am, I was wondering if I could talk to you about what happened during the boarding. I need to write my report."
Looking relieved, "Sure, ET, let's get a brew and talk." Nikki ducks away from Fulton without looking back.
"Thanks, Josh. He was absolutely obnoxious."
"I'll always be there for you, Nik."
Nikki retreated to her cabin to work on some paperwork, and she can't help but think of Josh. When there was a knock on the door.
"Yeah, come in," she said without looking up.
"So, this is where you live," Fulton says, looking around.
Shocked to see him there, " ahh… yup. This is home."
"Pretty cozy. So you and that ET guy, huh?"
"No, he's a crew member, and I am his divisional officer, that's all," she says as she stands. "Now, if you would excuse me, I have work to do."
"Well then, there's no reason not to go out with me," reaching for her.
"That's it!" Nikki shouts. "GET OUT!"
"Awe, come on, Nikki, don't be like that."
Fulton is a tall man and well built. The ships cabins not being that big, he reaches out, slams the door closed.
"Fulton, if you don't leave right now, I'm going to report you to the captain. NOW LEAVE! GET OUT!"
"You don't want to do that, Nikki. If you report me, I'll tell him a nice story about you and that ET guy. How I walked in on you, and I can be very imaginative and convincing." He pushes her up against her rack, unsnaps her coveralls, grabs her breast, and at the same time forces a kiss on her before she realised what was happening.
With a yell, she kneed him in the crotch. Fulton doubled over, cupping himself, as Nikki grabbed his shirt and threw him out the door slamming and locking it. Rushing into her bathroom, she rinsed her mouth and, shaking, put herself back together.
As Swain and Buffer were finishing with the fishing boat, they discovered several crates of dead chickens.
"Oi! Swaino, check this out. These crates are all full of dead chickens."
Swain looks confused for just a moment then, "Mate! Drop that chicken and wash your hands!" Swain shouted.
"What?"
"Bird flu, mate, this boat has bird flu! That's probably what killed that fisherman." Swain called the captain, and he and Buffer high tailed it out of there.
After returning to Hammersley, Swain met with the captain on the bridge and suggested they call Fleet Medical to determine what procedure they should follow because of the possible contamination. After speaking with Fleet Medical, it was determined that anyone who had been on the fishing boat would need to be quarantined until they could be tested for the bird flu or until the incubation period passed. Mike ordered anyone involved with the FFV boarding to be isolated in austere until further notice. The fishermen were quarantined on the aft deck. Because of Fulton, Nikki realises that she needs to isolate herself with the others in austere. Needing to talk to Kate, she waited near the hatch for austere.
"X, can I talk to you?" Nikki calls out.
"Yeah, but I'm just heading to quarantine."
"I believe I need to go too," Nikki said.
Kate stopped, "Why?"
"Well, I've had close contact with Campbell Fulton," she said, fidgeting.
" What kind of contact?"
"He kissed me," she shivered.
"I didn't realise you were getting close."
"I'm not. It wasn't wanted or encouraged. Quite the opposite."
"Nikki, you need to report this."
"I don't want to be one of those women who report harassment at every turn. I don't want to be looked at like that," her voice shaking. ( I'm afraid of what ET might do to him.)
"No one would look at you that way. They all know you, know who you are. Come on, let's get to austere; we'll talk about this later."
Nikki walks into austere with Kate, and Josh stops her, whispering, "why are you here? You weren't near the boat," looking concerned.
"I picked up Fulton's jacket, and the captain thought that we should play it safe, and I should quarantine," she went and found a seat. Fulton sat next to her. Josh glared.
"Anything I need to know about?" Fulton asked her. Having warned her against saying anything about what happened.
"No, I shouldn't have picked up your jacket," she said, moving away from him while Kate sent him a glare.
Josh is sitting across the room, and he can't take his eyes off her. ( I bet that asshole's the reason she has to be in here.)
On the bridge, RO approaches Mike with the latest weather report.
"Captain, that storm that we've been watching has changed course and intensified. We're going to catch some of it, Sir."
"How long?"
"Maybe five hours."
"RO, call into austere and ask for two volunteers to take the FFV into the estuary for safe harbour." ET volunteers so he can get out of there, and Fulton volunteers to mess with ET.
While steaming into the estuary, Fulton starts in... " There's a better spot over that way."
"Well, Captain said he wants it up this way, so that's what we're doing."
"You and the pretty navigator, huh?"
"What are you talking about."
"I know about you two. I see you looking at her and the way she watches you. I bet she goes off like a rocket. If you're not into her, I'd like a piece of that." he said lewdly.
Josh had had enough of his mouth, shoved him back against the bulkhead, holding his forearm across his throat.
"SIT DOWN AND SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Josh yelled. Fulton came back with a punch to the jaw, causing Josh to fall backwards. Jumping up, Josh landed a punch of his own, and a full out brawl broke out. Fulton pushed Josh into the vessel's hold, then followed him down where the fight continued. Then Fulton shoved Josh forward towards the bow just as the unattended boat hit a huge underwater rock.
The jolt from the collision caused a heavy steel barrel that was chained to the ceiling to fall, pinning Josh's chest and causing him to yell out in pain as his leg was jammed between the boat's hull and the rock. Not being able to move the barrel from his chest, he was trapped as the water poured into the breached hold. Fulton just looked at him, smirked, and walked away. He sat at the top of the stairs to the hold and watched as the water advanced on the pinned ET.
RO approached the captain, "Sir, we should have heard from ET by now. He's late for pick-up."
"How long has it been?"
"An hour, Sir."
" Buffer, take a crew up into the estuary and find them."
" Yes, Sir. Spider, with me."
"I would like to go too, Sir," Nikki couldn't help herself.
Knowing that she and ET were friends, he gave her the ok.
Ten minutes into the estuary, they found the boat.
" Bravo 8-2 to Papa 8-2"
"Go Ahead."
"We found them, Sir. The boat appears to have hit a rock. No sign of ET or Fulton. We're boarding now."
"Roger that." Mike looks at RO, "strange that ET didn't call in…"
"ET! ET!" Buffer bellowed as Nikki joined him in calling out.
Fulton heard them climbing aboard and scrambled away from where he was sitting, turning right into the boarding party.
"It was an accident, I swear!" Holding up his hands in a gesture of innocence.
Nikki pushes past him and looks into the hold. "Oh, my God! ET! Buffer! Down here!" as she rushed over to Josh.
"Jeez, how the hell did this happen?" Buffer asks. " ET, mate, hang in. We're gonna get you out of there. Spider! Over here and help me get this barrel thing off of him." Fulton continued to just watch, then retreating to the deck, not offering to help. (Wish the son a bitch had died. Would have drowned if they hadn't shown up.)
Buffer and Spider tried but couldn't budge the steel barrel, and adding to that, ET's leg was wedged firmly between the hull and the rock.
"ET, mate, gotta call for some help. We'll get you out, no worries." Buffer assures him.
"Okay," Josh managed to grunt, clearly in pain. It was evident that he was also losing blood, as the water was tinted pink around his leg.
Nikki positioned herself behind him and wrapped her arms around him so he could lean on her as he tried to breathe through the pain.
"Thank you," he managed to get out.
"Bravo 8-2 to Papa 8-2"
"What's happening, Buffer?" Mike asked.
"There's been an accident, Boss. The boat smashed into a rock. ET is pinned between the hull and the rock and trapped under a heavy steel barrel. Water is filling the hold. Boss and we can't budge the barrel. He is completely pinned. We need a wench or something."
"Okay, we're coming. How is he?"
"He's in a bad way, Boss. In a lot of pain, lost some blood, could have cracked ribs from that barrel thing."
"On our way with a crew and a wench."
Mike, X, Charge, Swain, and Bomber head to the distressed vessel.
"Nikki, I'm sorry…" Josh whispered.
"Not now, Josh. Let's get you out of here."
Mike arrived with his crew and went below to assess the situation. They tried with everybody to move the barrel with no luck.
"Jeez, that thing is wedged in there tight!" Mike exclaimed. " Okay, Charge, set up the wench!"
"Aye, Sir!"
"FULTON!" Mike bellowed.
"Yeah?"
"How the hell did this happen? ET would never leave the wheel."
"Heard a strange noise in the hold, went down to investigate."
"Both of you?"
"Yeah."
"This isn't over. If I find out that you've hurt a member of my crew, there will be charges."
As Charge and Spider cranked the handle on the wench, the barrel started to move, Swain and Buffer moved in to try and lift ET out.
"AHHHH!" crying out as they tried to lift him. The water was now almost reaching his neck; he was exhausted and barely conscious.
"STOP! STOP!" Swain called out. "His leg is completely stuck!"
Nikki moved back in place to support his head. Swain gave him some morphine for the pain.
As the drug took effect, and he mumbled, " I don't want to drown, Swaino. Don't let me drown."
Swain patted his shoulder. "We won't let that happen, Mate."
Mike, Kate and Swain gathered to discuss options. ET was running out of time; the water was flowing in faster now.
"Swain, can we operate? You know…"
"It's been done. I'll need to consult with Fleet Medical," Swain answered, looking pained.
"Go, do that."
" You can't be serious!" Kate says.
"I'm not going to see him drown, Kate."
"Kate, do you have any idea what could have happened?"
"Apparently, ET and Fulton got into it over some crude comments Fulton made about Nav. Nav told me that Fulton had made unwanted advances earlier in her cabin."
"What kind of advances? Did he touch her, assault her?"
"I believe there was some physical contact, yes."
"When this is over, I'll be getting to the bottom of this. Why didn't she report it?"
"As a woman, I can say that she was afraid of the process and the possible consequences to her career."
"I'll be doing a full investigation. You can count on it. This behaviour can't and won't be tolerated."
Nikki popped out of the hold looking for Swain, who was just then returning from his call to Fleet Medical. "Swain! He's not breathing right!" Swain scrambled past her to go and check on ET.
"Nikki," Kate started, "I know that you and ET have feelings for each other." Nikki looked panicked. "I'm not concerned. I know that you wouldn't let anything happen while on the ship. You're too professional to let anything happen. You have to be strong for him now; things are about to get a whole lot worse."
"What? Why?"
Kate explained that they were planning on cutting off Josh's leg in order to free him from the rock before the hold filled entirely with water.
She started to cry. "Nikki, be strong for him." She nodded and returned to ET. The water was now up to his chin. Mike was explaining what they were going to have to do.
" You… You want to... what??...I... I don't want to drown."
"You're coming home with us, ET," Mike assured him, and he nodded. Tipping his head back into Nikki's shoulder, he said weakly, "Lots of people get by with only one. I'll never have a problem getting a car space," making Nikki sob, and he tries to comfort her. Swain and Buffer look on sadly. Mike can't help but notice how Josh and Nikki are interacting.
Nikki is thinking, trying to find another way to get him out of there without cutting off his leg. Then she had an idea. Life jackets, inflated to displace the water and add buoyancy to lift the bow from the rock. Just as they are about to begin, Nikki shouts for them to stop and listen to her idea. Mike agreed to try it and ordered that all of the jackets from Hammersley be retrieved along with the OCCABA breathing apparatus. It worked, they inflated the jackets and the hull lifted, and ET was able to be hoisted out of the hold.
During all of this, Fulton was making himself scarce on the deck. Once ET was off the boat and on his way back to Hammersley, Mike tracked him down. He confronted him about the attack on Nikki, which, not surprisingly, he denied. Then he asked about ET's accident.
"Why didn't you call for help? Did you even try to get ET out of there? There is going to be a full investigation; count on it. You are confined to your cabin until we reach Cairns." Mike barked and then walked away.
ET was brought to the wardroom and placed on the bed. Bomber and Nikki cut off his wet overalls, got him dried off and covered with heated blankets. He was hypothermic and shivering, almost violently.
"Bomber, start a line with warm Ringer's solution 200cc for the first hour, then slow it to 100cc," Swain instructed as he applied oxygen and the blood pressure cuff. " RO, can you patch me to Fleet Medical?" Swain called on the intercom.
After speaking with the doctor on call, Swain administered another 10mg of morphine.
"ET, I have to rinse your leg...umm, I'm afraid it's going to be a bit uncomfortable. I just gave you some more morphine. Hopefully, that will help."
ET nodded weakly, and Nikki went to hold his hand.
True to his word, washing out the seawater and debris from his leg wound was excruciating. Swain finished, and he applied a loose dressing.
"Nav, I need to hit the head and get a brew. Do you mind staying with him for a moment?" thinking that Nikki and ET needed a moment.
"Sure, Swain, go ahead."
Josh reached out for her, "Nikki, thank you," taking her hand.
"It's what friends do…"
"Friends?"
"I still care about you but, nothing has changed Josh, I'm sorry."
Josh was exhausted, in pain, and couldn't look at her as his eyes were filling. Then taking a deep breath, "you can go, I'm alright. Swain will be back in a moment."
"Alright, Josh, I'll just be outside until he gets back if you need anything." Josh nodded once and closed his eyes.
Two weeks later, after having surgery on his leg and then spending a week in the base hospital, Josh returned to duty, receiving a warm welcome from the crew and a smile from Nikki.
With three weeks left in this rotation, Hammersley came across a large FFV. The fisherman heaved to as they were told to do so, and the boarding party boarded the vessel. After securing the ship, Swain and ET were assigned as the steaming party to take the boat and its crew toward port. Hammersley had a mayday call to deal with and then would rendezvous with the fishing boat.
The cruise was going smoothly, and then it wasn't. They are overrun by eco-terrorists. ET and Swain tried to fight them off and then tried to reason with them by explaining that the boat was under the jurisdiction of the Royal Australian Navy. They weren't having any of it and being that they were outnumbered and outgunned, ET and Swain were taken, hostage. The terrorists transferred them and the fishermen to their mothership, placing them in a compartment below decks.
"Ya know what, Swaino?" sitting with his hands and feet tied.
"What's that, ET?"
"If we get out of this, when this rotation is finished, so am I."
"What'cha mean?"
"Swaino, I was almost blown to bits, as you well know, shot at, drowned with the possibility of losing my leg because of a sociopath. Now I'm held hostage by another sociopath. Add to that that I can't take Nikki's cold shoulder anymore. It's too hard seeing her every day. I'm out of the Navy, gonna try and move on."
"Jeez, when you put it that way. I always thought that you were Navy through and through. Why not just go through with the transfer?"
"At one time, I was career Navy, but I'm a dad now. I have to think of Emma and these past six months scared the shit out of me."
Four hours later, when they had failed to report in, Hammersley tracked them down, and they were rescued after a brief skirmish.
After they were back on Hammersley and everything was settled, Josh went to Mike and told him of his plans not to renew his contract and leave the Navy. Mike was disappointed. "Josh, you're the best ET that I have ever worked with. You are going to be difficult to replace."
"Thank you, Sir, but my mind is made up. I'm a father now, and I need to be around for my daughter."
"I didn't know you were marr… oh, I guess that's not a requirement. How old is she?"
" Emma is just about three months old now."
" That's right. Do you have a picture?"
"I did, but it was ruined when I was stuck in that hold."
Mike just nodded and clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, congratulations and the best of luck."
"Thank you, Sir."
The rotation finished, and he said goodbye to everyone, and he made plans to meet up with the crew at the pub for drinks. Nikki was on the aft deck when he walked to the gangway. As Josh's divisional officer, she had been notified of his plan to leave the Navy.
"Goodbye, ET," she said softly.
"Goodbye, Nav," as he continued walking toward the gangway. Then Josh stopped, turned and walked back to her. "I Love you, always will," he whispered, then walked away without looking back.