Chapter 123
Kate went to get change since her duffel bag was already in her cabin. Once she was change she went to do her normal duties. When she saw RO in the coms room he past her the normal paper work
"X these came for you I had them printed out for you" he past her the three files
"thanks RO"
"X who our temporary captain"
"Lieutenant commander Taylor"
"not Zac Taylor"
"Yes do you know him"
"Yes ma'am"
"what your opinion of him...off the record"
"i can't believe that fleet command promoted him ma'am he reckless the next two weeks I'm not looking ford to"
"that bad was it"
"try nightmare ma'am. Some of the crew on here would remember him"
"thanks for that RO"
"Yes ma'am"
Kate walk out of the coms room to go to the bridge then back down to her cabin then on the wharf. Once every thing was done there was no sign of lieutenant commander Taylor. Kate look at her watch to see it was time to leave
"RO get me NAVCOM on the line please"
"Yes ma'am" Kate look out to the docks
"X, commander Marshal" Kate turn and walk over to RO who past the phone to her
"Thanks RO... commander Marshal it lieutenant McGregor sir lieutenant commander Taylor isn't on board sir and we were suppose to leave port a minute ago" Kate said looking at her watch
"what do you mean lieutenant commander Taylor isn't on board didn't you both show up together"
"no sir he left when I was talking to you sir, I walk quarter the way here when one of the crew member gave me a lift the rest of the way sir"
"Is every thing done lieutenant"
"Yes sir I did both mine and lieutenant commander jobs sir. Every one is on board except for lieutenant commander Taylor sir"
"X he here" buffer said when he look down on the wharf
"Sir lieutenant commander Taylor just arrived sir"
"Ok lieutenant I'll have a talk to lieutenant commander when you return fair winds" then they hung up.
Kate walk over and pick up the mic phone to give the orders of departure just like what Mike always dose. While sitting in the captain chair. Few minutes later Swain took Hammersley out of port and heading north for there two week patrol.
Hour later Zac Taylor walk up onto the bridge "Lieutenant who gave the order to depart" Every one turn to Zac then to Kate.
She turn to him "our departure time was zero nine hundred not zero nine of five sir" said she in an angry tone
"don't you talk to me like that lieutenant" he said angry.
Kate stood up and turn around to face him "you neglected your responsibilities plus we had to leave port since a patrol boat was on it way in"
"It still hasn't given the right to take Hammersley out"
"If you got a problem with what I've done you tell commander marshal when we return sir"
"don't you worry I will lieutenant" he walk past her and sat in the captain chair.
Kate walk over to the radar where Nav is "i thought you and commander Flynn was bad" Nav said to Kate quietly
"thanks Nav"
"buffer told me about him"
"ok" then the phone rings and every one heard RO
"X phone for you ma'am" Kate walk over to take the receiver from RO when Zac got up and took it from RO
"Who ever you are you are not to call lieutenant McGregor on here, this is a navy phone not a pubic phone" he said yelling then he hung up
"sir you shouldn't of done that" RO said
"What did you say"
"you shouldn't of said what you said then hung up"
"RO who was it that called for me"
"It was vice admiral smith chief of the navy from fleet command ma'am"
"what" Zac said in shock
"You just told chief of the navy not to call X on the phone again sir" RO said while trying not to smile then the phone rings.
Kate pick it up "Hammersley lieutenant McGregor speaking...yes sir vice admiral smith...yes sir... lieutenant commander Zac Taylor... yes sir... two weeks sir... yes he would be back on board then... yes sir... thank you sir... yes sir" then she past the phone to Zac
"sir the chief of the navy want to talk to you" Zac took the phone from Kate hand and put it up against his ear
"Lieutenant commander Taylor..." then he pull the phone away from his ear. Kate and RO could hear the chief of the navy yelling. When he put the phone back to his ear
"Yes sir, sorry sir... yes sir, I under stand...yes sir" he past the phone back to Kate
"he want to talk to you lieutenant" Kate put the phone to her ear
"lieutenant McGregor... yes sir... yes sir I can I got great crew..." then she smile
"yes sir, we work well as a team sir...yes sir I will tell them... thank you sir" then she hung up and turn to the crew who was looking at her
"Well what did he say" Nav asked. Kate walk over and pic up the mic and turn the PA system on
"Now here this X speaking...I've received a call from chief of the navy vice Admiral smith. For the remaining two weeks I'll be acting as captain of Hammersley, lieutenant commander has been remove as captain by vice admiral orders. I know that I got all of your support for the next two weeks. Further more the chief of the navy as well fleet command has read my report about the FFV we boarded few days ago where as HMAS Bendigo and HMAS Kingston couldn't do." there was number of chuckles on the bridge
"Fleet command was impress with the way we boarded and very happy with the results we found on board. Vice admiral and fleet command sends there congratulation to you all especially the boarding crew. A job well done" she saw them all smile
"it would also be noted in our files for what we did as a team and for that when we return dinner and drinks will be on me"
"Guava mojo" Charge scream out loud which every one heard through the PA system causing every one to laugh
"Yes charge guava mojo...that is all" then she put the mic back and turn to Zac
"till further notice you are confined down below deck till I say other wise" he gave Kate an angry look before turning around and walking down the steps. Kate walk over and sat in the captain chair.
"X" she turn to buffer
"You should give the boss a call" Kate smile
"no need"
"Why do you say that?"
"I heard Mike telling commander Marshal 'I trust Kate and my crew with my boat Steve' plus he had it on speaker phone"
"Oh"
While they were talking after Kate spoke to the vice admiral, the vice admiral press a button when he finish talking to Kate.
"commander can your wife can handle two weeks as acting captain" mike grin
"Yes sir. I know she would need to do advance officer training. If Steve and I can work out a roster where the crew has month off Kate could fly down to Watson bay to do the three week training"
"that a good idea commander"
"Yes sir" they talk for few more minutes before the chief of the navy walk out of Steve office.
"Well Steve at least we know that Hammersley is in good hands"
"Yes she Mike, here is your wife report about the boarding" Steve pick up a file and pass it to Mike
"thank I'll go and read this in my office" Mike walk out of Steve office and in to his.
When the two week patrol was over the crew was looking ford to shore leave. Kate pick up the mic "now here this X...captain speaking just a reminder about dinner tonight at the pub...yes charge Guava mojo's" Every one laugh
"See you all at eighteen hundred hours and yes your families are invited. that is all"
"X on the wharf" Spider said
Kate pick up her binoculars to see who on the wharf. She smile when she saw who there. Mike and their kids watch as Hammersley comes in to port. Once dock and gang way was in place a car showed up. Mike turn to see Steve and another commander get out of the car.
Emma ran over to Steve "Uncle Steve"
"Hello Emma" he crouch down to give her a hug then pick her up then walk over to Mike
"Looking ford to seeing your mummy"
"Ah ha and the crew" Steve smile
"Yes the crew...Mike"
"Steve, Greg"
"mike" Steve put Emma on the ground.
Emma, MJ and David wave to some on the crew which they did in return. They watch as Zac Taylor walk off Hammersley and over to where they are. He saluted them which they did in return
"Lieutenant commander Taylor I'm placing you under arrest and send you to the captain table for neglected your responsibilities while captain of HMAS Hammersley, commander take lieutenant commander back to NAVCOM"
"Yes sir" Zac and the commander walk towards the car which was few meters away
"Daddy did he do some thing wrong" Emma asked
"Yes Emma"
"will he be cleaning toilets with a tooth brush" Mike and Steve grin at Emma comment
"No sweetie" he said smiling
"How come I thought if your in the navy and you did wrong you got to clean toilets with a tooth brush" Mike pick Emma up in his arms
"your right Emma, later I'll explain it to you"
"ok can I go and see mummy now daddy" mike grin
"Yes you can" He put her on the ground and watch her, MJ and David run onto Hammersley saluting Thor along the way.
Mike turn to Steve "Kids must be heading to the bridge first" When they heard giggling
"Sounds like it, enjoy your night Mike"
"thanks Steve" Steve walk back towards the car while Mike walk up onto Hammersley.
He went looking for Kate when he saw his kids eating a Tim tam "Who gave you that"
"Uncle Josh did daddy"
"Ok, where are you off to now"
"Bridge" then they ran past Mike.
He walk down to Kate cabin when the door open "sir"
"Nav is Kate in"
"Yeah, see you tonight at the pub sir"
"sure" Nav walk past mike while he walk into the cabin Kate stood up to give him a hug and kiss
"Miss you" Kate said
"miss you to, how was your patrol"
"busy, twelve may day calls and five FFV"
"you have been busy"
"Yes I have, where the kids"
"They were heading to the bridge, they starting to get hypo"
"Oh no who gave them chocolate" she gave mike a look
"not me, ET he gave them a Tim tam each"
"Well luck it only two in the afternoon"
"True, were you doing your reports"
"Yes two may days from this morning, it been along two weeks doing both captain and XO job. But Nav help out which it would be good experience for her"
"that good, so how long are you going to be?"
"all after noon"
"alright I'll go and find our kids and meet you at home"
"sure" they both kiss when they heard running, giggling and kids laughter they turn when they saw their kids ran into the cabin
"mummy" Mike move a side so Kate could crouch down to give them a hug
"miss you kids"
"miss you mummy" they all said
"look kids I got some work to do but I'll be home in few hours"
"Promise mummy" Emma asked
"Yes and we going out to dinner to night looking ford to it"
"Are the crew going to be there?" MJ asked
"Yes they are" they grin. Kate gave them a hug once more.
"now go with your dad while I'll finish my work"
"ok Mummy" Emma said
Kate stood up and gave mike a kiss "see you in few hours"
"sure, come on kids let go" Kate watch Mike and their kids walk out of her cabin.
She just sat down when she heard "Uncle Pete" Emma said yelling making Kate Grin then she return back to her reports.