CH 157
The day Hammersley leave for there three week patrol it was also Barry Simpson last patrol since Kate course was due to finish about the time they return from there patrol. That same week that Hammersley left for it patrol
Mike took couple of days off and flew up to Sydney so he could surprise Kate. He rented a car for the two days while up there. When he sign into a hotel he went and got change into his dress whites uniform then he left to go to Watson bay to surprise Kate.
When he arrived there he knew which class Kate was in so he walk into the building and down hall way to the class room where Kate would be in. He look through the glass in the door to see what was going on. He could see Kate and another officer up front in class arguing. So Mike open the door and walk in closing the door quietly then step ford and sat down at the desk at the back putting his hat on the desk as he listens to what being said plus he could read what was on the board.
It was about a board a FFV. Mike smile as he listen to what Kate was saying and from what he could tell she was the captain and the other guy he recognised as captain Johnson, he was acting as the lieutenant. Mike could see what Kate was drawing on the black board while talking at the same time. He remember their deep throat debates on number of FFV boarding and the out come on each of them.
"OK lieutenant you did good, you can sit down now"
"Yes sir" Kate turn to walk back to her desk when she saw Mike at the back of the class smiling at her, which she did in return before she turn around and sat down in her seat.
The captain notice some one who not in in his class sitting at the back "I see we got a guest and who are you"
"commander mike Flynn from Cairns NAVCOM sir"
"Is there a reason why your here commander"
"yes sir, class would be over in..." he look st his watch then to the captain
"Two minutes and second I'm here to see lieutenant McGregor."
"i see lieutenant McGregor use to serve with you couple years ago as your XO"
"Yes sir, she the only one of eleven XO who serve under me for six months out out lasted eighteen months. The others weren't good enough" Kate try not to laugh at what Mike just said.
"and lieutenant McGregor was good enough commander"
"Yes sir she one of the best XO I have ever serve with. And yes we did have number of...deep throat debates about different boardings"
"Like the one we were just acting out on"
"Yes sir"
"from what you heard commander when you came in here do you think lieutenant is right"
"Yes sir. From what I heard and what the lieutenant draw on the board. We were in the same situation our selves. As for the out come. Lieutenant was right in both accounts sir" the captain look at his watch then to the class
"that it for today, tomorrow we will talk about the three cases, you all dismiss"
The class stood up and pick up there hats and folders before leaving the classroom saluted Mike along the way out. Kate was last to leave. Mike pick up his hat and step ford till he was standing in front of her. He then gave her a kiss
"Hi" mike said smiling
"Hi this is a surprise"
"Steve gave me couple days off so here I am"
"Who looking after our kids"
"mum and dad are"
"Ok" then they turn to the captain who was looking at them both
"mighty mike Flynn it good to see you again"
"you to sir" they shook hands.
"So lieutenant here told me you gave up Hammersley for your family" mike smile
"Yes sir. Kate and kids are more important"
"I under stand. No these deep throat debates. We they bad as it was when we were acting" mike laugh
"Yes and some times worse. When we argue we did it in front of the crew. After a while the crew got use to us doing it" Mike said
"so lieutenant McGregor here out lasted eleven XO in eight months. Were they that bad"
"Two of them got honor discharge from the navy and the other return back to what they were doing before a sign to Hammersley"
"that was till fleet command step in and sent me since they had no choice cause they were running out of lieutenants to send to Mike" the captain laugh
"Well they choose well lieutenant"
"Yes sir but they over look one problem sir" Kate said
"what problem"
"when Kate was assign to Hammersley she was my wife at the time and we had no choice since it was for six months."
"sounds like some one screwed up" Captain said
"Yes they did but some of the crew knew we were married and they made sure we didn't step over the line and Kate set some rules if she or I brake one of them... tooth brush duties at home" the captain laugh
"they must be some rules commander"
"Yes sir they were"
"commander care to join us in class tomorrow"
"Thank you sir, I would like to find out how well Kate dose tomorrow"
"Very well I'm sure lieutenant here will tell you what time class starts" mike turn to Kate
"I'm sure she will"
"good see you both then" they saluted each other before the captain pick up his brief case and hat before walking out of the room.
"so care to show me you room"
"This way...sir" They walk out of the class room while talking.
They walk out of the building and over to where the accommodations are. Kate show mike her room. While talking Kate got change. Once change and Kate pack an over night bag they left to head to Mike rented car. Then he drove them to the hotel where he was staying. They spent the afternoon and evening in bed making passionate love as well order room service. Mike told Kate about what been happening back in Cairns.
The next day mike meet up with captain Johnson in the mess hall. "Captain" he turn around and smile
"commander, meeting up with lieutenant McGregor"
"After lunch before class starts. I was hopping to bump into you sir"
"oh, why"
"Perhaps you can fill me in about the three boarding" the captain smile "Why not, I could do with your experience since I've never been on a patrol boat"
"Why not sir" They got there lunch and walk over to a table where they sat down and talk about the three boardings.
After lunch they walk together down and into the class room to see Kate already there reading from her folder. She turn the stood up and saluted both mike and the captain which they did in return
"Lieutenant"
"sir...commander"
"Lieutenant" then the others walk into the room and saluted the two officers before sitting down.
"Before we start I've ask commander Flynn to sit in on today discussions about the three boardings we talk about and did yesterday. Commander Flynn has spent half of his navy career on patrol boats so his experiences will come in handy. Shall we begin"
Mike sat in one of the free seat up the front while listening for the next half an hour. He could see and hear Kate arguing with a new promoted lieutenant commander about the boarding. Mike look over to the captain and grin while shaking his head slightly
"commander Flynn" mike turn to Kate
"Yes lieutenant"
"Care to share with us your option about the case sir" Kate said. Mike knew that she would get him involve sooner or later.
"Yes I do lieutenant"
Mike stood up and walk over to the board where he pick up a felt pen removing the top the started writing and drawing on the board while talking at the same time. The lieutenant commander try to argue with mike about the boarding which mike told him and the class about what he would do if he was on the boarding team.
"sir that what lieutenant McGregor said" the lieutenant commander said
"then she right"
They all talk about the first boarding then on to the second boarding where the captain and the class watch and mike and Kate having one of there throat ripping debates For five minutes. When done Kate return to her seat while the captain walk over to mike who was wiping the board down
"Commander your weren't joking about the arguments and that normal for you two" mike turn to the captain
"Yes and as you heard sir, she right" Captain grin then turn to the class
"now the third case" they all talk about it and Kate pointed out a number of thing during the case. When class was finish the captain dismiss them all.
Kate left last by giving Mike a kiss "See you in couple of weeks Mike"
"looking ford to it"
"give our kids a hug and kiss"
"will do" Kate turn and walk out of the class room.
Mike turn to the captain who was looking at him. "today was one of the most tense interesting classes I've ever seen. The way you and lieutenant McGregor taking turns in talking about each of the cases, like tag team. Where you two like that while on patrol"
"Yes and because of what we did we were one of the top crew that the navy ever seen in years I guest"
"Why that commander"
"In the six months that Kate was on Hammersley we took down more drug boats, FFV, ice boats and attended number of may calls plus stopping a shipment of toxin water from going over into international waters than any other patrol boat done in a year"
"sounds like you got a great crew commander"
"Yes sir I did"
They pick there hats up and the captain pick up his brief case before they walk out of the class room together while talking some more. Mike left an hour later to head to the air port since he was flying back to Cairns.
The next morning he walk into Steve office "Morning Mike how was time off"
"good thanks Steve, I went and saw Kate"
"How is she doing" mike smile
"top in her class. Captain Johnson got me involve in yesterday class topic on three different boardings. I forgot how good Kate is"
"she corrected you"
"More than that Steve we ended up having one of out deep throat debates in front of captain Johnson and the class" Steve grin
"i bet that was interesting"
"You have no idea Steve. When I flew up to Sydney I went to see Kate, she was in captain Johnson class they were having there deep throat debate. Kate corrected him four times while I was there listening"
"Four time. That not good for captain Johnson"
"No. we talk about it yesterday after class. He said to me that Kate is one of the top students he ever come across in all the years he been the instructor at Watson bay and from her test scores on every thing she will be getting her strip with in the next eighteen months or less. She show the class and captain ways on getting onto a FFV and drug boats if a normal way doesn't work"
"She show them the ways you use to do it"
"Yes" Steve smile
"right here is the latest reports on FFV and drug boats that has been boarded in the past three days while your away" Steve past mike folders. They talk for ten minutes before Mike walk into his office and started work.
Over the next two weeks captain Johnson set up a number of hard written tests for this class do do. They all had ten days to write up every thing. So Kate got started strait away and when she wasn't in class she was studying every thing she learn and reread her notes from the past three and a half months. She study till late at night before going to bed since she got to be up early in the mornings.
On the last day Kate was please she finish her written work the night before and has gone over every thing. When class started she re read every thing once more. Once done class was over. So she followed the others leaving there paper work on the captain desk. Kate walk up to the desk last. She open her case and pulled out her paper work and put it on the pile.
When the captain saw that was was at least twenty plus pages of Kate paper work compeer to the other students three, four pages. He was not looking ford to reading Kate paper work but he please that Mike warn him that she gives twice plus the amount of papers than any other student and the reason why about it. After Kate walk out of the class room.
The captain pick up Kate paper work and started reading it since he got couple of hours to spear.
Over the next three days the captain read every one paper work and mark it. On the last day he was stand up in class looking at every one.
"In the past two weeks I gave you all written tests to do as part of your final test. Some of you need to work more on your writing since the written test was to cover what you all learn in the past four months" He pick up the papers and walk around the class room giving them all there papers back.
"some of you done really well and some of you would need more training before you captain any boat but some of you will go far in the navy and others will be promoted in the next two years." the captain said.
"On each of your papers is an envelope of where you will be station from next week. Some of you will be transferred to different posting and others will be returning back to ships or shore postings you were doing before"
when he finish handing every one paper work out he walk up to the front and turn around to see every one opening there envelopes to find out where they are going to be. Some was shock and others disappointed.
When he look at Kate who open her letter to read what is said, he saw her smile then folded the letter up again and put it back in it envelope.
"On the last page of your written papers are your score and over all test score"
Every one flip to the last page to see there scores. When Kate saw her's there was a sticky note added to it 'lieutenant, I'm glad commander Flynn warn me about your paper work, well done and good luck. I hope you don't mind if I send a copy of this to fleet command. I've never seen any officer written out every thing and not missing a thing like you did. Captain Johnson'
Kate look up at the captain and smile then she gave him a small nod knowing that he got her approval. After class every one got together and talk about where they are going and there scores.
"Kate where you been assign to"
"Cairns, I'm back on Hammersley"
"Really good for you"
"thanks I know the crew will be happy to have me back"
"Why that?" one of the lieutenant asked
"Cause they gone through two lieutenants while I was here" they were shock
"what happen" a lieutenant commander asked
"the first lieutenant ended up at captain table for not follow the book, cause of what she did a crew member was wounded when he save her life from a foreign fishermen who appeared with a knife and went to stab the lieutenant when the bosun push the lieutenant out of the way, the bosun arm was cut but was lucky it miss an artery"
"What did the lieutenant didn't do" the captain asked
"Send boarding crew members below deck to check to see if any one was down blow. She was arguing with the bosun about following the rules when a man came up from below deck and went to stab the lieutenant. It was her fifth boarding when it happen."
"what happen to the lieutenant" a lieutenant commander asked
"honor discharge for not following the book protocol when boarding any boat and as a result of that a crew member was wounded"
"sounds like the Hammersley crew going to be happy to have you back lieutenant" Kate smile
"Know the crew like I do they will want to have a party in my return"
"Lieutenant are the patrol boat crew different to freights crew" one of the lieutenant asked
"Yes the crew of a patrol boat are more like a close nit family. They are always there for each other whether it on shore leave or out on patrol" Kate answered all there questions before class was dismiss.