Ch. 24 Checking out cargo vessels
HMAS Sydney
Indian Ocean
When Nikki was free of watch at the end of the day she usually wandered on the quarterdeck to enjoy the sea. Pete knew that and looked for her if he had time. So, just like this evening. He saw her small figure next to the railing and walked to her.
"Hi X", he greeted her.
Nikki turned to him and leaned against the railing. "Hey Pete".
He noticed the sombre expression of her face. "How was your day?"
"Fine, as usual", she replied dully.
"Hmm, I get the sense and I see that there's something more, no?", he tried.
She made a face.
"As a matter of fact there is! I'm getting sick of our situation here. Look at us! It's the only place on board and the only time schedule we can have a personal chat. Even on shore leave we can only have some of these stilted and artificial conversations.
At home we have to be in one of our homes or we've to drive to a secluded bay or city to be together in public. I'm really wondering how we can move on in such a situation", she said gloomily.
"Yes, baby I know, but we had no choice", Pete replied.
She closed her eyes and made a face, "I know that too, but sometimes it becomes too hard. Especially that we have no future prospect."
"It has been more than a year since the dismissals took place. The situation at the naval base has probably calmed down and maybe there's an opportunity to get a shore posting", he said.
"Probably, maybe. Too many uncertainties, no ?", Nikki replied frowning.
"Let's talk to Mike about it", Pete said.
Two other sailors passed by and they looked at them, but when Nikki looked up she noticed that they were quickly turning their heads away. One of them nudged the other just like to say 'have you seen them'.
"Damn, they've seen us", she mumbled.
"Oh, don't worry about that. They know. The entire ship knows", he said lighthearted.
"What do they know?", she exclaimed irritated.
"About us baby. Do you know how they called me behind my back?"
Nikki shrugged.
"Mr X. And we are Mr and Mrs X. Me or we, must have innocently let slip something that might have them think we're a couple. And also probably the way we look for each other's company to have a chat".
She rolled her eyes. "Jeez, now we can forget it!"
"I don't think so", he said but Nikki gave him a don't-laugh-at-me glare.
"I mean it", he continued, "You're respected by the crew and they also know that the backbone of the ship is you, Mike and me, that we are coming from the same ship. They also know that we three stick tight together. So if one of them dares to do something negative towards one of us, he knows that the other two will kill him."
"Hmm", Nikki mumbled gloomily.
"Let's talk to Mike again. Maybe he knows more about the ambiance on shore".
She nodded and sighed, "Yeah, tomorrow".
"It's a pity that we can't have a drink in the mess anymore. It's much more formal here than on our patrol boat", he mused.
"We can have a brew outside, here", she said deadpan with a twinkle in her eyes.
He poked her, "Yeah, splendid. Now I understand why you're an officer and I'm not".
The next day.
Sydney, NavCom.
Maxine was reading with astonishment an order from Canberra HQ.
No, is this real? I'd better read it again.
A minute later she shook her head and put down the document. She turned her chair and looked outside to the hustle and bustle on the quays.
I feel betrayed and if I feel it, then the enlisted men will feel it even harder. Just wondering which thoroughbred idiot has decided this. Probably by not mulling over the feasibility! For sure a politician! A big mouth and an empty brain.
I'll brace myself when I give the order to the ships.
She made a face.
I'll have to start with the most difficult one. Mike! I'll call him besides sending him the order.
She dialled the HMAS Sydney's number and waited for a answer. It quickly came by an unknown voice of their RO.
"Commander Maxine White speaking, could you put me through to Commander Flynn?", she asked.
"Aye ma'am", the man answered.
A slight smile appeared on her face.
Luckily for me he's on the ship. I don't want to think about his angrily nagging and his face like a thundercloud tonight at home. Sometimes he can be a real pain in the arse when he's forced to do something he doesn't like. At such moment you can't discuss anything with him, just only hope that it will pass quickly!
"Max! What can I do or the ship do for you?", she heard him asking joyously.
She frowned.
Sorry darling, but I've to screw up your good mood.
"Mike, we received orders from Canberra for the frigates. The coast guard ask us to ensure the inspection of cargo vessels. You have to look for illegal's, dodgy cargo, missing or faulty papers, smugglers", she said as neutral as she could be.
Maxine waited for an answer and looked frowning at the receiver.
"Mike?"
"Yeah Max, I'm still here", he said and she noticed that the joy in his voice had completely vanished.
"Are you serious? Checking out cargo vessels? Isn't that something for the patrol boats? The great coast guard?", he sneered.
"Yes Mike, I know, but these are orders".
"Jeez Max, that's the job of the patrol boats, the job of the coast guard and now they fob it off on us", he replied indignantly.
"Not everything Mike, just the bigger cargo vessels", she said in her defence.
"We did that too you know! And why can't they do that?", Mike replied getting angrier.
"I.. don't… know… Mike", she said emphasising every word.
She could imagine him shaking his head, "Come on Max, first, they kick out all these experienced men and now we have to do with a frigate a job that should be done by a patrol boat. Is that what the government calls restrictions?", he taunted.
Maxine sighed, "I know Mike, but I can't help it. Orders are orders."
He grumbled something and then clearer, "Well I hope that this news will not be heard by all these poor sods who have been fired".
"No, they won't", she comforted him, not exactly believing in her own words.
"And uh, Mike, these orders will be sent to you by the official way, but I wanted to inform you personally".
"Hmm, ok, thanks Max", he replied and she imagined him nodding .
"Fair winds Mike".
"Yep indeed", he replied and they ended the call.
Maxine let out a deep breath.
I don't want to be around him right now. Beware of his men!
Disappointed, Mike hung up the phone and kept his hand on the handset while staring blankly at his cupboard.
Why for God's sake? Now we have to check the cargo vessels. What's the next step? The FFV's, the motor boats and the yachts? Just because of a crazy idea of a minister all the men of the patrol boats were fired. What a waste of good skills! Charge, 2Dads, Swain, Harpie, Swan, Kate…. Kate?! What if we had kept the patrol boats? Could we have moved on? Hmm, I guess not, she didn't show up anymore, not a single sign, no message, nothing. For sure she must have someone else. But why didn't she tell me? I would have understood. We can sometimes be wrong about someone!
"Ok, Flynn, you have work to do!", he said as he stood up. He left his cabin and walked to the bridge.
On the bridge he met RO who handed him a printed paper. "Orders sir, from Navcom".
"Thanks", he replied and he peeked over the bridge to try to find the small black-haired figure of his XO.
A slight smile appeared on his face.
Found.
He padded to her, "X? Can you come to the command room?"
"Aye boss", she replied and Nikki turned on her heel to follow him.
He leaned against the cupboard and waited for Nikki to enter the room. She looked rather surprised by his sombre face.
"Take a seat", he said dully and he handed her the printed paper.
"Our new orders", he added livid.
Nikki pulled the paper a bit closer and started to read. After a minute she looked at him bewildered.
"Yes, Nikki, you read well", he grumbled.
"Sir, do they really mean it?", she asked startled.
"Apparently they do".
"Come on, if it continues, in a year then we'll check the FFV's again!", Nikki replied indignantly.
"Yep, I was thinking the same".
"And all our people then? They were fired for nothing?", she asked baffled.
"That's why I'm so angry!", he replied squeezing the edge of the table with his hands.
"What now?"
"What now?", he repeated her sentence and he shrugged. "Doing what the Brass says. Checking out cargo vessels on demand."
Nikki sighed. "All right, then I'll go to the armoury to see if I can get a gun and a Kevlar jacket".
He shook his head, "Nope Nikki, not for you, neither our buffer. This isn't a patrol boat. We have a load of subaltern officers who can do that".
She nodded and stood up. "Do we already have an order?"
"No, not yet, but I expect that I won't take long before we got one", he replied looking at the order again.
"Good, then I'll instruct my men", she said leaving the room.
A minute later she bumped into Pete.
"X? Have you spoken to the boss?", he asked her.
"No, he wasn't in the mood! We've to inspect suspicious cargo vessels again", she replied and he looked at her like he just has tasted something rotten.
At the same moment, the Chief Engineer, Harry Wittacker, passed. He was wearing the white overall to work in the engine room, although, white? It must have been white because there was more grease and oil on it than in the engines. He slowed down in his pace and turned to them.
"X, Pete, it's none of my business, but I've heard that they're looking for an experienced NCO for the Operations Room of Knocker. Perhaps something for you Pete?", he said.
Nikki looked baffled at him, "Ho… how…how do you know that?", she stuttered.
He gave a short move with his head, "Come on X, the entire ship knows. It's too obvious. You're known as Mr and Mrs X", he said.
"I told you", Pete mumbled.
She grimaced and looked at Pete raising her eyebrows.
"Probably the right time?", he replied.
"Just ask, you have nothing to lose. Moreover Pete, you can finally ask the X for a dance, you can have a good chat with each other between the colleagues instead of an official crap chat and…. you can finally have a good fight!", he said with a smirk and a wink.
She patted his arm, "Oh Harry! You're terrible. And disappear into your grease cave!", she said waving her hand.
"Aye ma'am", he sneered and he walked away whistling, hands in his pockets.
Pete and Nikki looked at each other. "shall talk to the boss?", he asked.
She nodded, "I'll wait for him to calm down. Tonight during supper. I'll clear the path".
"Splendid Nik", he said and they both walked away.
A couple of hours later on the bridge.
"Ma'am?", the RO said a paper in his hands.
"Yes RO", Nikki replied.
"Orders from Navcom", he said handing the paper over.
"Uh-hu", she mumbled reading the paper and walking over to Mike's chair.
"Boss, our first task for the new orders", she said while giving the order to Mike.
Mike read it quickly and nodded. "Ok, the Maripuva, do we have it on the radar?", he asked loudly.
"Sir?", replied the petty officer from behind his screen, "Yes, I have the ship on the radar. Position 5-4-1."
"Ok, Nav, change course to position 5-4-1. ETA?", Mike ordered.
"Aye sir", the navigator replied.
Two minutes later.
"1 hour sir", he replied.
"Ok, steer 5-4-1", Mike ordered.
"X, who's going to lead the boarding party?"
"Lieutenant David Rowlings boss and his second man is Petty Officer Andrew Patterson", Nikki replied.
"Good, get them together and instruct".
"Aye boss".
One hour later, Mike and Nikki stood on the bridge wing, observing the boarding party with binoculars.
"Strange feeling. I was peeking to see Kate and Pete. A sense of déjà vu feeling".
Mike sighed, "Yeah me too, I wondered why Kate and Dutchy weren't in that Rhib".
"Dutchy, that was the buffer after Pete, no?", she asked.
"Yep".
"How was he?"
"A solid rock, with a high degree of initiative, sometimes a bit too much for his own good. And Kate's best friend", he said.
"Uh-hu".
Thirty minutes later Lieutenant Rowlings and Petty Officer Patterson were back on the bridge.
"Mission accomplished sir", Rowlings said.
"Good, anything found?", Mike asked formally because no trouble was reported.
"No sir, it's all right", he replied self-confident.
"Good, then you and Patterson are now our boarding team. So form a boarding team and make sure that it includes a medic", Mike ordered.
"Aye sir!", the lieutenant said and both men left the bridge discussing how to organise their new task.
During supper time Mike and Nikki noticed how Rowlings was elaborating on his boarding experience to his colleagues at the other table. They didn't make part of it because the senior officers had their own table.
Nikki waited until they were both alone at their table.
"Boss", she started, "We've heard from Harry that there's a vacancy for a senior NCO at Navcom. Maybe, this is a good opportunity for Pete to ask for a shore posting, no?"
He stared at her for an instant over the top of his cup of coffee and finally nodded. "Yeah, you're right, but I don't like to see him go. He's a good buffer."
He straightened his back. "But, personal life must come before the Navy, although others have another opinion about it."
All this time Nikki was looking at him with mixed feelings, not really knowing what he was going to say.
Mike grinned, "Nikki, don't look so sad, I'll call Maxine."
A radiant smile appeared on her face, "Thanks boss!"
He frowned, "I'm just wondering who we can take to replace Pete? Hmm, Dutchy was a good one and he's still in the Navy. Maybe I could have him transferred to the Sydney".
"Dutchy? Dylan Mulholland?", Nikki asked.
"Yep, you know him?", Mike said surprised.
"Well, Kate told me about him and I saw him on TV when the Hammersley was decommissioned.
"Indeed, I'll talk about it to Maxine as well!", he said before emptying his cup.
"See you soon X", he said as he stood up.
Nikki poured herself another cup and thought about the conversation. Many dreams suddenly became reality.
To be continued