Ch. 42 Unwanted guests
Three weeks passed.
The MV Katherine had just delivered five containers at Nhulunbuy in the northern territories and they were sailing through Torres Strait between New Guinea and Cape York of Queensland.
Dylan and Kate sat in the mess enjoying a cup of coffee after their lunch.
"Have you seen the figures of our different shipping lines?", he asked Kate.
At the same moment, Rebecca walked to them carrying a plate with her lunch.
"Do you mind?", she asked them.
"No, go ahead and enjoy your meal", Kate answered.
She sat down and shrugged, "I'm always the last one for lunch", she said in a general way as she started with the soup.
"It was good, as always", Dylan replied.
"Yes, I've seen the figures and it looks good, except for New Zealand. The cost tends to be high compared to the yield", Kate answered his question.
"Arthur asked to think what we could do", he said.
"Hmm, if it's not profitable, then why can't we drop that line?", Kate suggested.
"Nope, I suggested that too, but he's convinced that there's some potential in it", he answered.
"Why can't we take passengers?", Rebecca said between bites.
Both turned their head so sharply towards her that she looked a bit scared, "I..I'm sorry, if I've said something completely stupid", she stammered.
"No, not at all, it sounds like a very good idea", Kate said.
"And how do you see that?", Dylan asked.
"Uh..aah..well uh...", she stammered again scratching her head.
"Some cargo vessels have cargo and passengers. It's not a cruise, so it's cheaper and people go wherever they want. I thought we could do the same. There are cruise ships sailing from Sydney and Brisbane to Auckland, so why can't we?", she said.
"How do you see this aboard? Passengers expect a certain level of luxury, no?", he replied looking around.
"Yeah, indeed and I think we can offer that. We still have some spare cabins. This mess is big enough to split into two parts. One for the crew and one for the passengers and officers...", she said, but was cut off by Dylan.
"Are we going to eat with the passengers?", he asked surprised.
"That's how it goes normally. Each officer has his own table, but it's a detail. The most important thing is that they have their own dining room. We can refurbish the cabins and make them more luxurious. Concerning the food, that's no problem. I can manage", Rebecca said.
Kate nodded slowly, "Yeah, it sounds reasonable and feasible. But, as far as I can imagine, each cruise has an entertainment to offer. We don't. I can't imagine 2Dads doing one of his dubious card tricks", Kate replied.
"Oh yes, we do!", Rebecca said convinced, "It's in fact the easiest part. You!"
"Me?", Kate replied baffled looking at Dylan for support.
"Yes honey, Becca has right. You! Your Broadway show will hit the bull's-eye!", he said.
"Oh gosh!", Kate replied faintly.
"Captain and first officer to the bridge! At the rush!", they heard RO's voice in the loudspeaker.
Kate and Dylan jumped up and rushed to the bridge where Chris was waiting for them.
"Kate, I think we have a problem. A small speedboat is coming straight on us from behind. She's no coast guard", he said pointing at the radar screen.
"Pirates?", Kate asked.
"I'm afraid so", he replied.
"Ok, maximum revolutions! We can be even faster", she ordered.
"Aye aye, full revolutions", repeated Synthia who was sitting at the helm, pushing the engine room telegraph to the maximum speed.
"Can you see them already?", Kate asked.
"I'm already on my way", Dylan replied, heading for to the outer bridge wing with his binoculars.
She and Chris followed him and they looked in the direction of the wash of their ship.
"There she is. She's gaining on us", Chris said.
"Let's check if it's really for us", she said and she walked back inside. "Starboard 20!", she ordered.
The ship started to turn right and the three officers were watching the approaching boat.
"Damn!", she muttered.
Next she grabbed the phone and called Charge.
"Charge, can you get me more revolutions?"
"Nope Kate, It's not a frigate you know. Everything is already rattling and shaking. If I tried, then something would burst and then we wouldn't have any more speed at all anymore", he answered.
"Ok, Charge, thanks!", she said ending the call.
"Backboard 20! Keep zigzagging. It will make it difficult", she ordered.
"Robert! Send a mayday message. MV Katherine attacked by pirates in Torres Strait. Position 10° latitude and 144° longitude", she ordered.
"Aye captain", he repeated.
"And?", she asked looking at the other two.
"I see seven men, well-armed", Dylan said noticing her concerned face.
"I get the guns. Get me Harpie and 2Dads", Dylan said.
"2Dads?", Kate asked in disbelief.
"Yes, honey, 2Dads. During shore leave we can't count on him, but in situations like this, I would trust him with my life", he answered hurrying downwards.
A few minutes later he was back with the three guns. Harpie and 2Dads were there too.
"Here guys, It's serious now. Shoot to kill, but don't waste ammo. We have a small advantage, these bastards don't know that we ware former guys of the Navy", Dylan said arming his own gun.
Both men nodded.
"And me?", Chris asked.
"Mate, you stay at the bridge to protect Kate and Synthia", he said.
"Hey! I can take care of myself!", Kate answered slightly indignant.
"Forget it Kate, you ought to know what these bastards do when they find a woman", he said harshly rushing downwards followed by the other two.
Kate dropped her eyes, realising the rude reality. Meanwhile, Chris had taken a big fire axe.
Kate grabbed the microphone of the intercom system, "This is the captain speaking. We are facing trouble. Pirates are heading for us. Lock as many as you can! Over".
Meanwhile, the emergency message was received by the HMAS Sydney. The radio officer brought it to the XO.
Nikki read it and widened her eyes, "Shit!", she mumbled.
She took two steps and handed the message to Mike who was sitting in his chair.
"Sir, mayday message. The MV Katherine is attacked by pirates", she said.
"Where?", Mike asked.
"10° latitude and 144° longitude, Torres Strait", Nikki replied.
"How far are we from them?"
"Give me a sec", she replied walking quickly to the chart table where the navigator was already checking the positions.
"2 hours at full speed!", she said.
"Ok, set course to Torres Strait, full speed. Get LT and send a chopper to investigate the situation", he ordered.
"Aye sir", she said, grabbing the microphone to call LT and the pilot".
"It's Kate's boat sir", she said.
"I know X, but it doesn't matter. It's a ship and a crew in distress!", he answered.
Back at the MV Katherine.
At the same time, the pirates reached the ship and quickly attached a makeshift ladder to the hull. Like a monkey, the first boarded and pointed his Kalashnikov machine gun towards the bridge and fired. Everyone on the bridge ducked the bullets which also allowed other pirates to climb aboard. Quickly they scattered over the ship and snuck through the open doors.
Dylan was almost downstairs when he heard the shots. He stopped to peek past the corner. 2Dads stood behind him.
"Nobody. Cover me", Dylan mumbled turning around the corner in the next corridor. At the same moment the first pirate came from the opposite corner. They could see he was an inhabitant of New Guinea. The man who didn't seem impressed raised his machine gun to fire but Dylan was faster and shot him twice. He jumped over the body and peeked behind the other corner to be greeted by a burst of fire. He quickly pulled his head back and winked at 2Dads.
"Aaaargh!", he yelled, stamping his foot on the floor and knelt down to give 2Dads a clear field of fire.
The trick seemed to work because the second pirate jumped behind the corner, but got the full load of 2Dads. Dylan blindly pointed his gun behind the corner and fired. At the same time 2Dads rushed forward, turned the corner and fired also. Both men reached the outer door and peeked cautiously behind the corner to be greeted by the gun fire from the bow of the ship. Quickly they took cover next to the door.
When Kate's voice announced the arrival of the pirates, Rebecca looked at the loudspeaker, "Jolly good!", she mumbled.
At the same moment she heard the first gun fire, "Damn bridge, couldn't you tell that a bit earlier?", she said irritated. Then she heard someone stumble down the corridor and looked frantically around. Her gaze stopped on the shiny meat chopper. She grabbed it and hid behind the door.
A tanned man with black greasy hair entered the galley cautiously, his Kalashnikov ready to fire.
Fuck! Why exactly in my galley? I can't get away. If that prick turns around, then he'll see me and then I'll be toasted.
Her gaze was drawn by a few walnuts on the cupboard next to her.
Hmm, that's what I need!
She grabbed the nuts and threw one behind his back to the other corner of the galley. The nut made a loud 'bang' on the ground and the pirate turned quickly in the direction of the noise, turning his back to her. Rebecca bit her lip, raised her right hand and smashed the meat chopper as hard as she could in the back of his head. The man fell over like a tree trunk, the meat chopper firmly stuck in his head. She grabbed the machine gun and checked if it was loaded and if the safety switch was not on 'safe'.
At that moment she heard someone running and she turned quickly the gun in that direction.
Harpie.
"Hey hey! Take it easy huh, it's me", he said quickly.
She breathed out, "Jeez, man, you could have said something. One second later and I had served you blue beans!"
He made a face when he saw the body with the meat chopper stuck in the head, "Fuck! What a mess! You're dangerous Becca!", he said horrified.
"Mate, you're warned now. Now you know what happens when you're not kind to me", she replied with a smirk.
He made a small nod to the gun, "Shall I take that?"
"Nope mate, it's my toy now", she answered as she held the Kalashnikov more firmly.
He replied her with a grin, "Ok, Tiger, on me!"
"Idiot", she grumbled and followed him.
At the same time they heard gunshots fired from the other side of the ship, followed by hasty footsteps. Harpie quickly turned the corner, his gun held firmly and saw a pirate assault the staircase. He chased him and fired him twice in the back. He tumbled down. Meanwhile Rebecca was firing several shots at another who ran towards the stern of the ship and fled through a door.
"Damn!", she muttered when she missed him. She chased him, but she had to take cover when the pirate shot at her behind a container.
"Fire shot by shot every second, meanwhile I'll take him from behind", Harpie whispered.
She started firing at the corner of the container and he jumped out of the door and ran to the other side of the containers. He slipped between them and a minute later she heard two more shots and a body fell from behind the container on the deck.
"Harpie?", she yelled concerned.
"I'm fine. Cover me!", she heard and she peered outside to try to spot another one. At the same time he leaped inside.
"Three down. I'm wondering what the others did?", he panted.
"Harpie?", they heard Dylan's deep voice shouting behind them. .
"Yeah, here. Bec and I are fine", he shouted back.
A second later, Dutchy and 2Dads were standing next to them. "Ah! Reinforcements", he said seeing Rebecca.
"And? We've got three of them", Harpie said.
"We, two. Two are left in the bow", Dylan said.
"Casualties?", Harpie asked.
"Nope".
"Close everything firmly here and come to the bridge. From there we can keep them there until we got reinforcements. 2Dads go ahead, we're coming", Dylan said.
The doors to the bridge house were locked and Dylan, Harpie and Rebecca climbed onto the bridge. When they got there they found a relieved Kate.
"Thank God, you're all safe!", she said.
"How did it go?"
"We shot two of them", Dylan said.
"I shot two others and Becca got the third and do you want to know how?", Harpie said making chopping movements with his hand.
Kate made a face, "No, I don't think it's necessary".
2Dads was peering over the metal plate of the bridge wing to the bow of the ship where the two remaining pirates were hiding. Rebecca walked bent with her gun to stay out of sight.
She gave him a little tap on his shoulder, "Leo, let me do that", she simply said.
"Huh?"
"Come on, you're good on short distance fights, but you should to know I'm the best on long distance", she said.
He shrugged, "Okay, so, if you think that you can catch those bastards. But Dutchy gave me this order", he said in protest.
"He'll understand", she murmured pointing her machine gun at the bow.
Dylan's attention was drawn by 2Dads who padded back inside and he went out.
"Becca?"
"Did you forget that I'm good on long distance?", she asked.
"Yep indeed. How many do you see?", he asked.
"Hmm, hard to say. I see a head every time and I bet it's always the same", she said focussing on the bow.
"Ok, shoot when you have a clear view!", he ordered and returned.
"And?", Kate asked.
"We are still missing one because there's only one at the bow", he said.
"I'm wondering where that bastard is?", he said again.
To be continued