Ch 116
The crew on the Hammersley watched two HRIBS head towards the boat. Mike could see on the EDO as a man appeared from below deck firing at one of the HRIBS. They fired back and saw the man go down before the two HRIBS got close enough to board it.
"X? Do you know who he is?" Swain asked as they boarded and reached to the man that went down.
"Yeah, Franz Szapolyai. Dwayne identified him. Buffer, ET, Spider check below deck; Swain, Spider, check the top. Be careful; we don't know if there are any others aboard," Kate ordered. "Sir, the shooter is dead, I identified him as Franz Szapolyai."
"Copy that, X. Isn't one of the men Pearson identified?"
"Yes, sir."
"X, all clear up here," Swain said over the radio.
"Copy that, Swain. Buffer, sit rep?"
"X, Swain? I think you better come down," Buffer said.
"On my way," Kate walked to find Buffer standing in the hallway outside of the room. Kate looked inside and saw the crates stacked. Buffer pointed to the other room, and ET entered it. "Charlie, eight, two. Sir, we got Army crates," she added.
"How many crates, X?"
"Thirty!" ET said finishing counting.
"Buffer?" Kate asked
"Thirty!"
"Sir, sixty crates on board." They opened another door. "Sir, make that about ninety."
"Copy that; I'll let NAVCOM know. We need to bring them onboard."
"Yes, sir."
"I'll send some more help."
"Copy that, sir." She turned to Swain and Spider.
"Let's start moving these crates up on deck."
The male started moving the crates before they walked out of the first room leaving Kate behind. Over three hours later, they finally loaded the last box on the Hammersley; before they towed it the boat to Ray Walsmen private island.
"X," Mike grinned.
"What did Commander Marshal say about the crates?"
"He sends his congratulation on a job well done and will be looking forth to giving the Fleet Command good news for a change."
"Why is that?" Mike leaned over and said quietly.
"There are problems on some of the frigates and patrol boats."
"Any idea of what sort?"
"Mutiny on four frigates, and two patrol boats. Eight will go to Captain's table, possibly more. So good news from us will make fleet command happy." Kate smiled.
At NAVCOM, Steve leaned back in his chair and called the Fleet Command.
"Fleet Commander leader Wilson speaking."
"Hello, this is Commander Marshal of Cairns NAVCOM. I need to talk to Admiral Towers."
"Yes, sir. One moment please."
"Commander Marshal, I hope this is important."
"Yes, admiral it is. I'm aware of the situation at the fleet command, sir," the Admiral groaned as an answer.
"Which patrol boat and who are they?" The Admiral sighed.
"The Hammersley, sir."
"What? The Hammersley?" Admiral asked in shock.
"Yes, sir."
"Commander Flynn, of course. Who has he upset this time, Commander?"
"The army, sir."
"The army? What did he say or do to piss the army?" The Admiral yelled.
"The Hammersley save the Army bacon once again, sir."
"Commander Marshal, you are on speaker. I'm with Real Admiral Johnson, Real Admiral Clarke, Vice Admiral Smith and Commodore Campbell. Can you repeat what you've told me?"
"Yes, sir. The crew of Hammersley save the Army bacon once again, sir."
"Commander Marshal, can you give us more information?"
"Sir, the crew of HMAS Hammersley, was aboard a wanted boat presumed stolen, and that was used to board a ship yesterday."
"Commander," the Vice Admiral butted in.
"Sir."
"You said presumed stolen, was or wasn't stolen?"
"I don't know, sir. The owner of the boat, Ray Walsmen, reported it as stolen. However, the witness of the shooting of nine men aboard of the freighter Beltane has identified the boat as the one who boarded them. He also identified other members of the shooting. They all work for Ray Walsmen. And, the boat that the Hammersley boarded earlier today had one casualty identified as Franz Szapolyai. He's also the leader of the group that boarded the freighter. And works for Ray Walsmen."
"And how is the Army involved?" Steve smiled.
"The boarding team did a sweep of the boat; they found over eighty creates of weapons, army property. They matched the numbers with the list of stolen weapons, and it's a match, sirs."
"Commander Marshal, that is great news! We will inform General Adams." Steve smiled.
"Yes, sir. Is there's anything you want me to past onto Commander Flynn and his crew, sir?"
"Yes, excellent job. Shame that the crews of all boats aren't like the Hammersley's crew," Steve grinned.
"You are right about that, sir. They have taken down more FFVs, ice boats, drug boats and weapon boats than any other patrol boats in the past eighteen months. And there was that whole toxin issue from last year."
"We know all about the Hammersley, Commander. Now, what's the latest on Samaru island? I understand that's something big going to be happening on there?" the Vice-admiral asked.
"Yes, sir. Presidential elections are in four months; there have been reports of several weapons, mercenaries, insurgents and fighting increased on the island in the past three months. The patrol boats in the area noticed the increase of boats heading to various parts of the island. There were at least four boats boarded, and they were carrying weapons, insurgents, and mercenaries. They all been identified and all connected to Ray Walsmen and the presidential candidate Massita Balanbaan, sir."
"Are you saying there's a connection between these two men, Commander?"
"Yes, sir. Lieutenant McGregor, XO of the Hammersley, did some checking and from what they're informed it doesn't look good. If Massita Balanbaan becomes president, he will give Ray Walsmen full rights to mine on the island."
"Mining shouldn't be so bad, Commander," the Vice Admiral said.
"Uranium mining, sir. Lieutenant McGregor knows people in the mining industry, and she made some calls. I have all the information including maps of the uranium. The estimated is over billions of dollars on the black market. But the mining will create a natural disaster not only for the island but the sea life."
"Commander, do you have proof?"
"Commander Flynn and Lieutenant McGregor have, sir."
"When they return to Cairns send them here with all the evidence."
"Yes, sir. They are due to be in port tomorrow morning for repairs."
"Alright, we will meet with them the morning after at zero nine hundred."
"I'll let them know, sirs." After hanging the call, Steve informed Mike by an email before returning to his work.
The Hammersley stopped close to Ray Walsmen island, Mike and a team took the boat to one of the docks. The HRIB followed them to pick them to return to the Hammersley. Mike exchanged some words with the men on the island before getting back to the Hammersley.
"Sir, what's wrong?" Kate asked when she saw Mike.
"Ray wasn't on the island. The guy I spoke to said he was in Cairns for business but would contact him to let him know about the boat."
"Ok, we will be back in Cairns in eight hours."
"We will be good as long as doesn't rain," he grimaced watching the lack of glass.
"Yeah"
At three in the morning, they docked in Cairns. They went to see Steve later that morning, and the crew was granted for some shore leave, while the windows were fixed and the crates of weapons downloaded from the Hammersley.
"Mike, Lieutenant," Steve greeted them.
"Steve"
"Sir," Mike and Kate sat down.
"I've spoken to the Fleet Command, and they congratulated you and your crew on a job well done."
"Thank you, Steve. I know the crew will appreciate it."
"Yes. I haven't mentioned them what happened to the bridge. I'll let you tell them, Mike."
"I'll send them my report."
"Good. They also asked for copies of your reports on the Ray Walsmen and Samaru island case."
"As soon as possible, am I correct, sir?" Kate asked
"Actually, you will be flying to Canberra this afternoon and meeting with the Fleet Command first in the morning at zero nine hundred. Here are your airplane tickets and accommodation has also been taken care of," Steve said passing Mike two tickets and the information about the hotel.
"Thanks, Steve."
"There will be a car waiting for you both at the airport. It will take you to the hotel and will be picking you both up in the morning for the meeting. Wear your dress whites so the driver can find you."
"Steve, is there anything else before we go?"
"No, that is all. Good luck Mike, Kate." Steve said as they stood up at the same time.
"Thanks, Steve. Shall we, Kate?"
"Sir," Kate nodded to Steve before they left.
They went home to have a long hot shower together. After getting dressed and packing, they left home towards the airport.