Chapter 119
Over the next three weeks the Hammersley crew help out around the village with the clearing up and fixing thing. The army engineer were busy rebuilding the hospital while the every one else help out much as they could till one morning every one heard a ear piercing sound then explosion where the new hospital was being build then more explosions. Every one running around when there was gun fire.
The crew ran to the wharf when that was being hit. They all manage to get on to Hammersley with the army engineering crew. Mike gave the orders with Kate at the helm since swain and bomber was busy with the wounded. Once they were out at sea the sat phone rings so mike answered it
"Hammersley, commander Flynn speaking"
"Mike it Steve I just heard what happen are your crew ok"
"got three crew members wounded we got army engineers on board as well, half of them are wounded from the explosions. We were lucky to get out when we did"
"Was it that bad"
"Steve we and the army were the target. One of the mortal just miss us when we were leaving port"
"mike, hang on...mike you have to go back SAS need our help they got two wounded, I'm faxing you the concordats"
"Steve my crew aren't train for that sort of thing"
"i know that mike we got no other choice, good luck and fair wind"
"Steve" he heard the click and knew Steve hung up. Mike put the phone back.
Then he stood up from his chair and turn to Kate. "We have to go back"
"Why?" Kate asked
"SAS are in trouble, I'll be leading the shore party, charge get the two HRIBS prepared"
"Yes sir" then he walk off the bridge while mike pick up the mic and turn the PA system
"Now here this captain speaking, I want buffer, spider, swain, ET, and Rhino to gear up double plates for shore party in five minutes, that is all" then he put the mic back.
He turn and walk over to Kate and look at her. He put his hand on top of her's while looking at her "Be careful"
"will do" he gave her hand a squeeze before letting go and turning around to walk to the steps
"X has the ship"
"i have the ship" Kate stood up and walk over to the captain chair while some one took her spot at the helm. Mike and his team use a Ute to go in land once they got the concordant of where the SAS is. They got far as they could then had to walk the rest of the way. Mike keep in contact with Kate every ten minutes.
On the way to where the SAS might be spider slip down a embankment. When he went to move when he notice his lift vest was caught on to tome thing
"spider are you ok" mike asked
"Ah yeah but I'm caught on some thing." Then he move slightly then look down then he move couple of leaves
"Ah sir" spider said in a worried voice then he look up at mike with a shock worried look
"what wrong"
"Granada sir, my vest is caught on string"
"Stay there" Mike work his way down to where spider is. He saw where spider is caught so he got his clippers out and cut the wire
"Ok move back slowly" spider did so when mike spotted another five more Granada
"Buffer ET grab spider arms and slowly pull him up" ET and buffer lean over and grab onto spider hands then they slowly pull him up when spider foot caught on a wire and pulled it. Mike saw the clip came away from the Granada so he quickly climb the embankment talking spider, ET and buffer to the ground at once when there was a five explosions one after another. Mike got up then the others did
"Are you guys ok"
"Yes sir"
"lets keep going"
Half and hours later they came across the SAS team. Swain quickly check the wounded over when they heard explosions
"Let's head back" mike said
They all help each other out "charlie eight two we found the SAS and on our way back"
"copy that sir, the bombing stop"
"copy that X" They work there way back to the UTE Kate walk out side from the bridge, she pick up her binoculars to see if she could see the Ute when the bombing started again
"X ray eight two, the bombing started, what your ETA"
"X send the HRIB's we three minutes out" mike said
"copy that" then she look down to where the two HRIBS are
"Away sea boats" She called out.
Then she radio Mike before picking up her binoculars to see the Ute coming down the hill and headed towards where the two HRIBS are heading to. Kate watch the men get out and off the Ute when a mortal hit not far from them they ran towards the two HRIBS when mike and Jim were pin next to the Ute.
They ran one direction only to be stop by a mortal so they ran another direction towards the HRIBS when a mortal hit the Ute causing it to explodes. Kate watch in horror when the two men went flying cause of the blast landing on the stones on the beach.
Both the SAS and crew jump out of the HRIB's and ran up to where mike and Jim are. They pick them up and carry them back to the HRIB's. Then they headed back to Hammersley.
"X get bomber to set up the ward room"
"how bad swain"
"sorry X"
Kate took a deep breath before walking back onto the bridge to give orders. Once they were on there way home Kate went to see swain in the ward room.
"Swain how bad"
"He needs a medic vac, a sharp nil hit artery in the back of his leg. I done the best I could but he need surgery"
"thanks Swain" then she walk out of the ward room when she saw RO
"RO can you get NAVCOM on the line, I'll take it in CO cabin"
"Yes ma'am" then they went there separate ways.
When Kate was in mike cabin she sat down at his desk while trying to hold it together when the phone rings, she pick it up
"Lieutenant McGregor"
"sip rep lieutenant"
"sir I request a urgent medic vac for commander Flynn Swain said a piece of shrapnel has hit an artery in back of his leg, he need emergency surgery. Swain done the best he could."
"what happen" Steve said in shock
"A mortal hit and blew up a Ute when commander Flynn was help wounded captain Roff to the waiting HRIBS when a mortal bomb blew up the Ute. Both men were about five meters from the blast. They were throw in the air and landed on the...stone beach"
"Did you see it happen"
"Yes sir"
"Alright I'll contact Melbourne about the situation and you can rondeveiw with them"
"thank you sir"
"Lieutenant you are now acting captain, I know you can do it"
"Yes sir"
"Is there any thing I can do this end"
"Ah... can you call mum and dad please"
"sure. Kate don't worry about Mike, you got a ship to worry about."
"i know sir...sir can you keep me inform of captain condition"
"i can do that for you"
"thank you sir"
"good luck and fair winds lieutenant" then they hung up.
Kate stood up and walk out of mike cabin and walk up to the bridge where the crew look at her
"we going to rondview with Melbourne. Then we heading home"
"X are you acting captain now" ET asked
"Yes ET I am" she said as she sat down in the captain chair
"Well X captain knows that Hammersley is in good hands" Nav said
"True Nav, so true"
Hour later Kate went to see swain for an up date, he was in the ward room attending to Jim wounds since he was still unconscious. Swain left Kate alone for a few minutes. She walk over and sat done on a stool picking up a cloth that was in a basin rinsing it out then she started wiping his chest when she started crying
"please. Don't you die on me mike, I need you, please don't die" She put her head down on Mike arm.
Jim woke up when he heard some one crying he turn his head to see Kate with mike. He carefully sat up then stood up and step ford. Kate raise her head when she saw Jim looking at her.
"Jim"
"you care about him"
"Yes i love him...i...I pray that he makes it"
"what do you see in him"
"a lot...he more that my captain Jim...he also my husband" Jim was shock with what Kate said
"husband does fleet command knows?"
"Yes he was suppose to have a shore posting but when what going on in Samaru island, fleet command want him here till things are sorted out then he would have his shore posting and we get a new captain" Kate look down at mike running her hand through his hair
"I'll return back to my men, I hope he makes it to"
"thank you Jim, you better let Swain know that your conciseness"
"I will" He open the door and walk out closing it behind him.
Kate look at Mike "you better make it Mike"
hour later they meet up with Melbourne. Kate was on the back deck watching swain and buffer carrying Mike onto the HRIB. When they lower the HRIB in to the sea Kate stood at attention and saluted as she watch the HRIB headed toward Melbourne.
Ten minutes later Kate was up on the bridge give out orders. They were heading home. Three hours later Kate was out on the back of the boat when Swain walk over to her
"X" she turn to him
"commander Marshal called. He going to be ok, he made it through surgery and will make a full recovery"
"Thank you swain for what you did to save his life"
"your welcome X" then he turn and walk away.
Kate turn and look up into the sky saying "Thank you"
The next morning they finally arrived in port after attending four may day calls along the way. When Hammersley was dock and every thing sorted out. Kate was in Mike cabin sorting out his reports as well finish doing her's since there was only one report she needed to do and that was the last may day call she and the crew attended to. She was typing away on her lap top when she heard behind her
"i thought you would be at the hospital lieutenant" Kate turn around and quickly stood up
"sir"
"As easy Kate, as I said I thought you would be at the hospital"
"just finishing off some paper work sir"
"Why didn't you do it on the way back?"
"i have sir, it was the last may day report that was needed to be done"
"Alright, how are you coping?"
"alright sir, the crew ask me to keep them up to date on Mike, I said I would and they all know that Hammersley is a ship stopper till a replacement can be found"
"I've spoken to some of the crew they all said you done a great job under certain stances and even attended those may day calls when another patrol boat could of attended it them selves"
"We were the closes assets sir and the other patrol boats were busy chasing FFV at the time"
"i know. Mike tough you well lieutenant"
"thank you sir, and I do have a great crew behind me"
"that you do, I'll let you finish up. We can debrief tomorrow morning. Just drop the reports off at NAVCOM before going to the hospital"
"thank you sir" Steve turn and walk out of Mike cabin leaving Kate to finish her report.
Hour and a half later Kate walk into Mike room soon as she knew which room he was in. She walk over and put her hand in his while looking at him then she turn to bring a chair closer to his bed then sat down holding his hand once again while looking at him. Kate stay for couple of hours before leaving to head on home then to her in laws place where she broke down in front of them
"Oh Kate Steve told us what happen" Michele said she hug her while rubbing her back.
When they pulled a part they walk in side and into the kitchen where Michele made them a drink while they talk. Kate spent the day with Michele and Patrick. She spent the evening with the kids and even bath the three of them and read them a book while they were in bed slowly falling a sleep. She stay for another hour before returning home alone.