AN: Sorry for not updating sooner, i still haven't heard from my beta reader so this chapter isn't beta read.
Chapter 122
Steve went to see mike to let him know after talking to Kate. When he walk into mike room mike look up to see Steve in the door way
"Steve...what wrong"
"Hammersley returning back to port"
"Why has some thing happen to Kate"
"she fine, it lieutenant commander Freemen, lieutenant relieave him of his command" Mike was shock
"she wouldn't do that unless he was going to put ship and crew in danger"
"He did mike and he stole whole box of panadol, he try to put the blame on some one else"
"Why?"
"Lieutenant spoke to your coxswain. Freemen been suffering from headaches for a while and never been to the doctors to find out why"
"so Hammersley a ship stopper"
"there is a replacement waiting for when they return"
"When will they be back"
"tomorrow after noon, they towing FFV back with them"
"Why not sink it"
"not with about twenty kilos of semtex on board"
"what" mike said in shock
"They were on there way to the FFV when lieutenant relieave the captain of his command. Mike it the same FFV that Bendigo and Kingston try to board in the past two months" mike thought about it and smile
"Kate found a way of boarding the boat"
"she did, mike what have you been teaching your crew" mike laugh as Steve shook his head
"Steve you knew that some of them been with me for few years"
"that true"
"Yes I know any idea where the boat was heading?"
"Yes Ray Walsmen private island" mike smile gotten even bigger
"He must be up to some thing big any idea where the explosives came from"
"don't know mike I've put in a call to the army, hopefully they will tell me tomorrow"
"ok" they talk for few more minutes before Steve leave to go home for the night.
The next day Steve and two other officers were on the wharf when Hammersley came into port. They watch what was happening with the boat that they were towing in. A police boat took over the tow before Hammersley was being dock. Once it was dock a police van showed up.
Steve watch as number of crew members appeared with the men from the boat on the back deck. They walk onto the wharf and handed over to the police then the crew return back to to ship to get the next guy. Once done the two vans drove away.
Then Swain appeared with freemen they walk on to the wharf and over to Steve just as Kate appeared and walk onto the wharf while Freemen walk with the two men and got into a car and drove away
"sir" Kate said as she and swain saluted Steve which he did in return
"Lieutenant, swain"
"Here my report sir about lieutenant commander freemen" Swain said as he pass his report to Steve
"thank you your dismiss" they saluted each other then swain turn and walk back onto Hammersley.
"lieutenant. Message from fleet command job well done" Kate smile
"thank you sir, here is my report about what happen with lieutenant commander freemen and the boarding sir" she pass him her reports as well the maps and bag of other items that they got from the wheel house.
"thank you lieutenant. Hammersley will be leave tomorrow morning with a temporary captain for the remaining two weeks"
"I'll inform the crew sir"
"You do that lieutenant and mike knows I saw him yesterday"
"I bet he was happy"
"he was, I'll let you return, see you at zero eight hundred in the morning"
"yes sir" they saluted each other before Kate walk back onto Hammersley while Steve walk to his car when he heard
"spider, what did you just do" Steve look up on Hammersley to see Kate talking to one of the crew members. He watch what was happening for a few seconds before getting in to the back of the car since he got a driver.
Three hours later Kate walk into Jack Freemen room "Sir" Kate said quietly.
Jack open his eyes "lieutenant" Kate step ford
"Sir what did the doctors say" He took a breath
"I've got cancer...stage four brain tumor"
"the head aches, memory and loss"
"Yes, they said there nothing they can do for me but make me comfortable in the time I got left"
"I'm sorry to hear that sir"
"I've already spoken to fleet command and send them a letter giving you commendation for what you had to do and the reasons be hind it, why you did it. Hopefully it would help you get the next strip lieutenant. You done a great job commander Flynn is lucky to have you not only his wife but XO"
"thank you sir"
"Can you tell me did you get the FFV"
"Yes sir crew and I did"
"Good you got a great crew there lieutenant"
"Yes sir, they know not to get into trouble if they know what good for them" He smile
"good luck lieutenant"
"thank you, is there any one you would like for me to call"
"No, but thank you"
"I'll leave you to get some rest sir"
Kate stood at attention and saluted him which he did in return. Then she turn and walk out of the room. As she walk down to mike room she got her phone out and made a call
"Charge, it the X..."
Few minutes later Kate walk into Mike room to see him dress "Mike" he turn around and smile
"Kate" she step ford to give him a hug and kiss
"Steve told me about what happen"
"He got my report about what happen"
"that good, Kate what wrong"
"I saw lieutenant commander Freemen...the doctors found out what wrong with him...he got cancer"
"Cancer" Kate nodded
"Stage four brain tumor. The doctors going to make him comfortable"
"sounds like he hasn't got much time left"
"no he hasn't, I call charge, he on his way here. He doesn't know about the cancer" Mike pulled Kate into his arms
"you did the right thing Kate"
"i know" then they pulled back
"Let's go home"
"Good idea, I got to see commander marshal in the morning he got another temporary captain for the remaining two weeks"
"Ok" Mike pick up his bag then he and Kate walk out of the room while talking.
The next morning Kate walk into Steve office "Lieutenant come on in"
"sir"
"Lieutenant McGregor, lieutenant commander Taylor"
"sir"
"lieutenant"
"please sit down, lieutenant, how mike" Kate smile
"good thank you sir, he said he might drop by in the next few days to read my reports on what happen in the past few days"
"Lieutenant a civilian can't walk in here to read any reports it navy property"
"lieutenant commander" Steve said in angry tone
"all due respect sir, I do know the navy rules and if commander Mike Flynn want to read my reports he can do so with out your permission...sir" the guy was shock
"mighty mike Flynn"
"Yes sir do you know him"
"Yeah, I lasted one patrol on old Hammersley five years ago, I thought he had a shore posting"
"Fleet command left him on Hammersley for a reason, if you want to know what it is ask them sir"
"do you know why he on there?"
"Yes sir I do, I'm not only his XO I'm also his wife and fleet command transferred me on the old Hammersley cause commander Flynn was going through number of XO that fleet command had to step in. I was on the old Hammersley for eight months till her decommission and now on the new boat"
"I remember you now lieutenant, you were commander Flynn student at Watson bay. So that how you got to stay longest on Hammersley you were sleeping with him"
"that enough lieutenant commander" Steve said he turn to Steve
"you knew about it sir cause your friends with him"
"All due respect sir" he turn to Kate
"you know nothing about commander Flynn private life and with your attitude like that no wounder you lasted one patrol and how you manage to get promoted... As for commander Flynn we keep our personal and professional lives spectate sir" Kate said in angry tone
"don't you talk to me like that I out rank you lieutenant and don't you for get that." he said angry
"all do respect sir we are here for a briefing not for you to talk about commander Flynn or my private life, do we under stand sir" he look at her angry
"lieutenant commander" they turn to Steve
"what you said about lieutenant McGregor and commander Flynn is uncalled for. You are here for two week patrol. The last captain, the lieutenant here had to relieave him of his command while out on patrol. I hope she doesn't have to do it again"
"Why was the last captain been relieve of his command"
"He was putting crew and ship in danger"
"commander Flynn did it when he was captain what the differences"
"commander Flynn know what he was doing and the last captain ordered change in direction headed to uncharted waters close to a reef if I haven't taking over command Hammersley wouldn't be at the docks sir" then she turn to Steve
"what are our orders sir"
Steve past the lieutenant commander three files while talking about two week patrol. Steve notice that the lieutenant commander didn't open the files or even pass them to Kate to read. When they finish they stood up and walk out into the main room. The lieutenant commander walk away leaving Steve and Kate alone.
"Lieutenant you did good in my office"
"thank you sir"
"any problems give me a call" Kate smile
"I'll be fine sir, crew on the other hand going to be shock"
"Yes they would alright fair winds lieutenant" they saluted each other
"sir those files you gave the lieutenant commander, can you send me a copy sir just in case he doesn't show me the files"
"I'll get onto it strait away"
"thank you sir" Kate turn and walk away while Steve went to talk to one of the personal.
When Kate walk out side and down the steps to where lieutenant commander Taylor should be. She notice he was gone so she started walking towards Hammersley when she heard a toot behind her so she turn and smile when she saw it was swain and sally so they stop next to her
"Want a lift X"
"thanks Swain" Kate got into the back seat.
"Are you alright Kate" Sally asked
"No I met our temporary captain he did one patrol on Hammersley"
"Who is he X"
"lieutenant commander Taylor"
"not Zac Taylor"
"do you know him swain"
"Remember him, commander Flynn and him were arguing over a boarding that went wrong. Taylor didn't follow protocol so commander Flynn had him off the boat soon as it was dock"
"what happen" Kate asked
"Taylor got onto the boat first"
"the bosun always go first"
"that right and commander Flynn reminded him of that rule"
"Now he the captain for the next two weeks"
"Crew that remember him won't be impress"
"i bet swain"
"How commander Flynn" Kate smile
"He good and at home"
"that good any word about lieutenant commander freemen"
"Medical discharge, he was diagnose with stage four brain tumor"
"that would be the end of his carrier"
"It is, he hasn't got much time left" Sally stop the car next to Hammersley
"thanks for the lift Sally"
"no worries Kate" Kate got out and walk over to the gang plank
"morning X"
"morning buffer, have you seen our temporary captain"
"no ma'am, do you know who he is"
"lieutenant commander Zac Taylor"
"you got to be bloody joking, sorry X"
"it ok buffer"
"X he reckless"
"It only for two weeks"
"Great"
"i got some thing that would cheer you up"
"Yeah"
"mike home"
"Hey that is great news X I hope you didn't tire him out last night" he gave her a wink which cause her to laugh
"buffer you need to get your self a women"
"Yes ma'am"
"how long before the suppliers are aboard"
"Twenty minutes X"
"Ok" Kate walk onto Hammersley as she heard buffer giving swain a hard time.