Not much more to come with this story - I've been distracted writing a new one! I can't wait to post it, but will wait until this one is tied up first!

An hour later, all the remaining senior sailors were gathered in the Wardroom, huddled round the small table guzzling the small buffet Cheffo had laid out for their meeting.

Setting his cup down, Mike looked round the table "As you are all now aware, Lt Barnaby has transferred off The Hammersley effective immediately" Putting his hand up for silence when there was a growing murmur of joy and happiness from the others in the room "this is not a good thing guys; whilst there is nobody at fault…"

Charge muttered under his breath a little loudly so everyone could hear "Barney is"

Silencing Charge with a look, Mike continued "as I said, whilst there is nobody at fault, NAVCOM and Cmdr Marshall are going to want everything from our last boarding, particularly as Dove was injured and we've just had to requisition a new tinny from Stores"

At the mention of his injured crew mate Buffer queried "Sir how is Dove?"

Looking to the one person he knew had actually made it to the Hospital to check on their injured crewmate Mike prompted his report "Swain?"

"He's fine, he had surgery to re-stitch the wound but is alert and coherent; he shouldn't have any lasting effects from his injury and should probably be back to full duties in a few weeks"

"In the meantime, NAVCOM have advised that we will be replacing Dove with Billy Webb; Buffer can you do the usuals? The kid is only out of the Academy, not even wet behind the ears – show him the ropes and ease him into the job."

Nodding his assent, Buffer confirmed with a "Sir"

Noting that their CO was avoiding the topic of a new Executive Officer, Nikki prompted him "Sir, obviously we can't sail without an X – who did we get landed with this time?"

Taking a breath, Mike lifted the file he had been resting on his knees under the table "We have had The Kingston's Executive Officer transferred to us"

Looking quizzically at his CO, Buffer asked what everybody else in the room scrambled to ask at the same time "What? Lt Chambers is near retirement; surely there has to be some mistake" Buffer couldn't forsee how the boardings would function efficiently with a semi-retired XO leading them.

Realising that he hadn't explained himself properly Mike continued, "No Lt Chambers is seeing out his retirement on The Kingston, we have acquired his replacement instead. Lt McGregor has recently been posted to Cairns, she was…"

"She?"

"Lt Kate McGregor, she was due to take over as Lt Cmdr Curry's XO but has had her orders changed last minute to us; she's at home now and is due on the ship imminently."

"Kate McGregor? About yay-high and blonde?" Nikki indicated an approximate height with her outstretched hand whilst looking at Mike

Furrowing his eyebrows Mike nodded his agreement "You know her Nav?"

Plastering a noticeably fake smile on her face Nikki reciprocated Mike's nod "Yeah, you could say that but last I heard she was heading back to her shore posting but that was 3 years ago"

"Lt McGregor has spent a number of years working for Naval Intelligence, this will be her first active sea posting for a few years; as far as I know she hasn't served on patrol boats, mainly frigates"

Sensing there was story Charge looked at his CO "what do you mean as far as you know? You have her personnel file there in your hand, what does it say?"

Mike looked at the file in his hand formulating his answer "I do have Lt McGregor's file but it is a little light on detail; a lot of the work she has done is redacted and I don't have the Security Clearance to be read in. What I have got access to leads me to believe that Lt McGregor has sufficient experience to join The Hammersley and you will all do everything in your power to make her stint with us a positive experience for all concerned."

Being faced with more questions from his curious senior sailors "Look guys the only extra information I know is that Lt McGregor is due here soon, we'll do the meet and greets and you can try and get whatever information out of her that you want; but knowing her chances are you'll end up with more questions than answers"

"Sir have you worked with her before?" Knowing the type of unsavoury characters the crew came across, Buffer was hesitant to allow another inexperienced Boarding Officer take the lead; but if the CO signed off on her, Buffer was willing to try and make it work.

"No, I met her briefly at NAVCOM this morning; she didn't give much away; but she comes highly recommended and is navy enough to take directions and follow orders." Turning his head to Nikki "Nav you've got yourself a roommate for the next patrol, make her feel welcome"

"Ok guys, that's all. Back to work, we'll be setting off at 15.00hrs; dismissed"

Mike rejoined his Navigator in the Bridge after a short detour to his cabin to replace Kate's personnel file in his locker; after some idle chit chat and reports from all departments that The Hammersley was ready to make sail, Nikki alerted Mike to a car pulling up on the Dock alongside them.

Peering through the window Mike observed Kate alighting from the car, closely followed by an older woman he had a notion he recognised; he watched whilst they talked and embraced before excusing himself and all but running to the gangway to greet his new Executive Officer.

Leading her through the ship Mike finally brought her to the Bridge where Nikki was checking through her charts, "Lt McGregor this is the ship's Navigator Lt Nikki Caetano" Nodding at the other woman, Kate allowed a small smile to form on her lips in acknowledgement before looking round the confined space that was to be her new work place for the foreseeable future. Mistaking the look of fear on Kate's face for disgust, Nikki automatically became defensive "not quite the cushy desk job you're used to I'm sure Ma'am"

Not knowing where the hostility was coming from or how to actually respond Kate ignored the comment and asked to be excused to change out of her whites and into her overalls.

Assenting to the request, Mike watched Kate's retreating form before turning to Nikki "What happened to welcoming?"

Throwing her hands up into the air "What? I was just pointing out that it's going to be a different style of working for her"

Kate made it to her cabin and locked the door behind her; after surveying the room she sat on the chair at the small desk, she noted all of the personal touches adorning the walls that Nikki had obviously added over her time on-board. Kate didn't have anything to personalise her small living space, she had a few pictures stashed away in her bag of friends and family but nothing she felt comfortable sharing with the Ship's Navigator. She unpacked a few bits and pieces, changed into her overalls and returned to the Bridge to face the official start of her new posting.