Ch 112
Two weeks after they've left for a month patrol, Kate managed to check her emails finally. She smiled when she saw one of Buffer.
'X, thank you so much for loaning me your laptop, you didn't have to, but I owe you one.
PS: The games were pretty neat.'
After that, she read one from Hannah just as Mike entered the room.
"X?"
"Come in and close the door, I've received an e-mail from Hannah. You are got going to believe what Emma did to Buffer!" Mike frowned and closed the door behind him and sat down on the second chair.
'Kate, you are not going to believe what Emma did to Pete! I took them to visit him at the hospital, and I had to find a visitor loo finding one on the next floor down. When I returned, I got in to find your daughter holding a bottle of nail polish, and she had painted Pete's nails while he was sleeping. Should I mention it was a pink "the girls are out" color?
Anyhow, he was out from some meds, and I went through my purse searching for nail polish remover, with surprisingly I didn't have. I took pictures for you of your daughter's masterpiece.
When the nurse entered, she grinned when she saw Emma's state and Buffer's fingernails. Thankfully she did have something to remove it! But, she barely left the room to search it when Pete woke up and smiled when he saw Emma.
With all the fuzz, she felt guilty and started crying and pointed him to his hands. He looked at them and laughed and embraced her. He told her that pink wasn't his color and made Emma giggle. He did tell me that if the guys on the Hammersley find out about this, he wouldn't be happy. So, please, don't mention it to anyone but Mike.
You'll think that's all but there's more. The nurse came back, and she was finishing with his hands when the Doctor entered the room and pulled the sheet to check his legs, and we all found out that Emma had also managed to paint his toenails! They chuckled as the Doctor asked him to wriggle his toes and he said, after we explained what happened, that's not every day he had seen something like that happening to a patient.'
When Mike finished reading, Kate clicked the photos.
"Poor Buffer!" Mike said laughing
"Yeah, I don't think Emma will try that again." They laughed at the pictures,
"Well, he does need the cheer up, and Emma sure knows how to make him happy. And he always sees the funny side of things, especially if they come from Emma," Kate said
"True" Kate replied to Hannah before turning to Mike.
"Should I tell Buffer now or wait until we return?"
"Wait"
"Ok."
"I'll leave you to your e-mails, Kate."
"Thanks," she said as he turned away and left her alone in the room.
Once the month was over, Buffer was playing a game on Kate's laptop when he heard voices coming towards his room. He recognized them quickly and closed the computer as the crew walked to see him.
"So, Buffer, are the nurses taking good care of you?" Spider asked while grinning
"Yes, they are. How was your patrol?" He asked, and they started talking until the crew left to go to the pub.
The next day, Mike and Kate walked into Buffer's room to see him getting out of the wheelchair and back into bed before the nurse pushed the wheelchair out of the room.
"Hi, Buffer; how are you feeling?" Mike asked as they sat down.
"Getting stronger, sir. X, I read your e-mail about what Emma did," Kate grinned
"Well, pink surely doesn't suit you." Mike said grinning
"Gee, thanks! I know Emma means well, but from now on, I'll ask any lady to take their bag with her before leaving me alone with Emma." He said making all of them chuckled.
The next day, the Hammersley's left for two weeks. Their first stop was Samaru island to drop off the SAS. Ten days later, RO walked up the steps to the bridge to find Mike.
"Sir, new orders from NAVCOM."
Mike looked at the orders, then to RO who walked to the radio. Kate joined Mike and read the change of plans.
"You are kidding."
"I'm afraid not."
"ET, turn one two zero."
"One two zero," he said. Soon they started turning.
"Sir? We are heading to Samaru island," Nav said as she noticed their direction.
"That's correct. We are going to pick up the SAS."
"Great, why us, sir? We are not a boat taxi," Charge complained.
"Orders are orders, guys. Trust me I don't like this either. X how long before we reach Samaru islands?"
"Two hours, sir."
"Sir, by the time we get back to port tomorrow we will need to refuel. Then leave again, for three days. That's a waste of fuel," Charge said.
"RO can you get me NAVCOM on the sat phone?"
"Yes, sir." Few seconds later
"Sir? Commander Marshal," RO said passing him the sat phone.
"Steve, it's Mike."
"Mike. did you get new orders?"
"Yes, we did. Can you tell me why we are the ones picking them up?"
"You are the closest asset, and you all have dealt with the SAS before. Plus, Captain Roff needs you and your crew help, they uncovered a large supply of weapons and found some mercenaries while there. They asked for back up to help move the weapons on to the Hammersley."
"You think their findings are connected to Ray Walsmen," Mike affirmed.
"We don't know, Mike. All I know is that the order came from high above. While there, take photos of the mercenaries so they can be identified."
"Alright, Steve."
"Good luck and fair winds."
"X, I'll be leading the shore party," Mike said lowering the phone.
"I can handle the SAS...sir"
"There's more to it, X. They've come across mercenaries and weapons. They asked for backup, and the fleet command wants that help to be us. We should bring the weapons back and take pictures to try and id these people."
"You mentioned Ray Walsmen?"
"I did. They don't know if there's a connection."
"But you think there is."
"Yes, you would be in charge while..."
"I know," Kate said while they looked at each other.
Once they arrived at Samaru Island, the shore party reached the beach and part of the SAS crew appeared.
"This way," one said walking towards the bushes. They walked for a few minutes until they stopped where the whole team was.
"Mike."
"Jim, what's the situation?"
"There are at least twenty men, two vans and a truck full of ammo and weapons. I managed to get into the back of the truck to see what they got. There's enough ammo, guns, and grenades to supply a small army."
"Ok, let's go. I'll take it from here."
"Mike, there's one more thing; there's a kid, he was kidnaped, and we have to get him back."
"Why?"
"He was just about to tell me where he got the gun he tried to sell me when we were on the village. He told me there were more guns like that and then, a van appeared and knocked me out."
"Alright, let's go."
They all headed to the camp while Mike and Jim talked some more about what Jim saw. On the way, Jim told Mike and his crew that there where grenade traps. They disabled them and collected the grenades.
"These might come in handy," he said as he gave one to each of his men.
As they reached the camp, RO started taking photos of the men, while Mike and Jim murmured about how to approach them.
"We should use the grenades as a diversion. That will send them over that area, and we can use that to get the boy. Jim, you can go and pick him, since he knows you and meet with RO by that fallen tree. Give the kid to him, and RO will take him to safety." Jim nodded. "RO, take the boy to the Hammersley and tell x that we need backup."
"Yes, sir."
"Jim. After that, meet us at the second HRIB. I'll take two of your men, along with Kitt and Charge. We will go for the truck. As for the rest, cover us as we move and divert them away from the truck. We will meet at midnight at the drop-off point; understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"Jim, pick the men that will be going with me."
"Wilson, Jones," he pointed.
"Yes, sir." They said at once.
"Alright, let's do this!"
Mike's group started moving; they reached the other side of the camp. They quickly placed the grenades under the van, while Charge did the same under a car that was close to it. With the grenades set for maximum chaos, Charge waited for Mike's signal to cut the break. After a nod, they both worked on cutting brakes and rushing themselves out of the vehicles and out to cover.
"Get ready!" Mike radioed the group as they saw the vehicles moving slowly towards the grenades. A few seconds later, there was a loud explosion.
"Now!" Mike ordered.
They ran out of their hiding spots and into the truck that contained the guns and ammo. Charge went for the driving seat while the others jumped in. They moved and the second explosion went off; as they speeded down towards the beach. Some men opened fire towards the truck, and Kitt threw his two grenades towards them effectively blocking their path.
On the other side, Jim ran towards the tent the moment the first explosion happened. The boy was inside, legs and hands tied together. He huffed before he explained what he was about to do. He picked the boy in a fireman's lift before he ran away throwing his grenade over to some drums he saw when approaching before. He picked up his pace, and they barely stepped the edge of the clearing when the grenade hit the drums, and the fourth explosion happened.
RO saw them, and Jim yelled at him to show the way, they rushed towards the HRIBS and as soon as the boy was inside Jim turned away. Spike followed RO's command and sped back towards the Hammersley. Jim jumped into the second HRIBS and quickly positioned it on the secondary beach were Mike was going to drop the truck.
RO reached the boat with the boy in tow and Kate assessed him quickly while RO delivered the news. Kate promptly gave orders to move the Hammersley before she kneeled in front of the boy.
"Hi, I'm Kate. This is Bec, can you go with her? She will clean your wounds," Kate smiled pointing him towards Bomber. The boy looked from one woman to the second before he nodded.
"Come this way," Bomber said extending her hand and taking him inside.
"Bomber, get him something to eat and drink."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I have the pictures," RO said as Bomber took the kid away. And passing her the camera.
"Good! Go and see if you can match names to those faces."
"Yes, ma'am!"
By the island, Charge had to slow down due to the awful road, but they reached the beach in ten minutes, and by then the two HRIBS were waiting for them. He parked the truck with the back towards the shore as the ships got closer and quickly the officers joined forces to form a chain and shoved one box after another on the first HRIB.
With there was no way to place anything else inside but the driver they moved back and the HRIB made its way to the Hammersley that now was in close range. Once the HRIB was out of the way, the second one took its place, and they repeated the process.
On the Hammersley, the crew helped unload the cargo in the same fashion, and once it was on board, someone took pictures of the contents and marking of the crates. They repeated the process until the truck was empty.
By then, Charge moved the truck towards the forest to hide it when gunfire was heard. He jumped off the truck and ran back to the beach.
"Go! Go! Go!" He yelled, and he saw the men by the beach running into the HRIB. He barely entered the vessel when Spike turned it on and sped away.
Once on the safety of the Hammersley, they turned away with direction to Cairns. With things handled, Mike went for a shower, and he was still on it when he heard his door open.
"Mike?" he pulled the curtain.
"X, you know the rules," he said carrying on with his shower. And missing her rolling eyes.
"I know, but there's nothing there I haven't seen." He chuckled. "I've spoken RO; he believes the gun Jim was telling you about was from one box which where one has gone missing. I've talked with the kid, Saka, and he confirmed RO's suspicions."
"Everything is accounted?"
"Yes, I also spoke to Commander Marshal," Mike turned the shower off and pulled back the curtain to get a towel.
"He received RO's e-mail, he is going to try to find from where they came. He said excellent job."
"Anything else?"
"Yes, Saka also mentioned the leader talking on a sat phone about half an hour before the explosion. He said the person on the other side was called Massita Balanbaan."
"And?"
"The leader thanked him for the weapons and wished the best for November." Mike frowned.
"November?" he asked toweling his hair.
"Yes. Mike, the Samaru election's will be held in November." The phone rung at his cabin and Kate walked away pressing the speaker.
"Lieutenant McGregor."
"Lieutenant, why are you answering Mike's phone?" Kate turned to Mike who now was standing by the threshold.
"I was filling him on the news, sir."
"Steve, what can I do for you?" Mike said as someone knocked on the door.
Kate answered it and grabbed the papers RO was presenting her before she thanked him and closed the door again.
"I've figured out where the crates are coming from the info your RO emailed," Steve continued oblivious to the exchange going on in the cabin.
"They were stolen from the army," he announced and Mike chuckled
"Any idea if this is all that was stolen?"
"What you got on board is only half of their missing crates. We are still looking for info about the explosives."
"I'll bet the army will be happy to have their crates back."
"Yes, they are pretty embarrassed that the Navy helped them retrieve half of their stolen property." Mike and Kate exchanged a grin. "Now, the fleet command sends their congratulation on a job well done, and they are looking forth to your report Mike."
"I bet they are, Steve."
"The congratulations also come from the Army top brass, Mike."
"Well, Steve, from what I was told, Kate did an excellent job and the way she's going she should be promoted in a year or two,"Kate's eyes widened.
"That's correct, Mike. See you both when you return to Cairns."
"Commander Marshal," Kate said once she managed to shake herself.
"Lieutenant, you are still there?"
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry for butting in, can you get information on Massita Balanbaan?"
"Any reason why, Lieutenant?"
"The boy Captain Roff saved said that the leader of the mercenaries was talking to him on a sat phone. The leader thanked him for the cargo and wished him the best for November, sir."
"Hang on; the name does ring a bell. Yes, he's one of the Samaru presidential candidates, and he was the Minister of Mining."
"Why would he give mercenaries stolen army weapons?" Mike wondered out loud.
"I don't know, Mike; it is a good question. I'll make some calls and get back to you fair winds." Then they hung up.
"You think that there's a connection between Massita Balanbaan and Ray Walsmen?" Kate asked as soon as the call was off.
"Yes, I do."
"Mike, I have a few contacts in the mining industry. Maybe they can help?"
"It's worth a try," Mike said. "Use my phone."
"I'll need your laptop too," she said taking a seat on his desk while he finished getting dressed.
Kate started the calls while Mike went in search of something to eat and drink.