CH 162
The next day Mike, Kate and there kids went shopping. They couldn't believe how busy it was at the mall. After they done there shopping they went to the super market to do some grocery shopping before heading back home later that afternoon.
When they arrived home the kids went out side to play while Mike and Kate went to sort out the presents and groceries. Then they went to start getting the tree and decoration sorted out while listening to Christmas music at the same time. After it was done they went to check on the kids only to have the kids running in side
"Mummy can we go for a swim it hot out side"
"Why not"
"Yes" kids said as they run to the stairs and up them Kate turn to mike
"Coming to join us Mike"
"Why not" then they walk to the stairs and up them while talking.
Fifteen minutes later they all were in the pool swimming and splashing each other while enjoying the cool water. Both mike and Kate was teaching them how to swim. Later that night they had cold meat and salads for dinner.
Two days later it was Christmas day. Michele, Patrick, Hannah and her family showed up at Mike and Kate place that morning carrying gifts for every one. Mike and Kate decided that there kids could wait till the others arrive before opening there gifts.
When they all open there gifts every one was happy with what they got. Mike got Kate her favorite perfume and she got him three pairs of suffer shorts and tee shirts. They both got the kids the same things. Hat, tops, pants, shorts and chocolate coins which they love.
Every one had a great day talking, laughing till that afternoon the Hammersley crew and families showed up with left over lunch and extra drinks. They all talk, laugh while relaxing or playing games. Bomber walk in side with her phone to make a call then few minutes late she walk out and walk over to where Jamie is then turn to every one
"Can I have every one attention please" Every one turn to bomber
"first of all every one say hi to Nav" she held up her phone so every one said hi to her
"Now there are two announcements to make first of all is...Jamie purpose to me this morning I said yes" Jamie then slip the ring on her finger as the crew congratulated her including Nav since bomber got it on speaker phone
"Hang on the second bit of news is I've spoken to commander Marshal yesterday for a transferred for a shore posting as soon as possible"
"what, why" every one asking
"I told Jamie this morning when he purpose to me that I'm pregnant he ask me again and I said yes" Every one was shock
"Talk about a bomb shell in a half there bomber, congrats" Swain said
"thanks swain"
"bomber" was heard over the phone
"Yes Nav"
"How far long are you"
"eight weeks Nav"
"when I get back I can help you with your wedding if you like since I'm at NAVCOM"
"thanks Nav"
"Can I talk to charge"
"sure" she past the phone to him
"Hey Nav" Every one started talking so charge had to walk into the house to hear what Nav has to say.
"bomber what did Steve say about your transferred request"
"It been granted and hopefully he can find a replacement before Hammersley set said. I said if he can't find my replacement I can return so long as I'm not on any boarding which he agree to"
"that good of you bomber" mike said
"Can I look at the ring please" Emma asked Bomber show them all the ring
It was shape like a navette or boat shape profile has this Edwardian era ring mark for smooth sailing. Crafted of 18ct yellow gold, three faceted natural rubies and two diamonds.
"It looks old" Kate said
"It is X it belong to Jamie great grand mother. It was past down to her daughter, that charge mum then it was past down to charge. When he finally found out about us he was shock but happy for us. When Jamie told him that he was planing on purposing to me this morning but trying to find the right ring for me that when he gave Jamie the ring"
"that was good of you charge" Charge walk back out side passing the phone back to bomber.
"It was X. It was going to be going to him any way if some thing happens to me, but he got it early and I'm happy for them both" They all had a great Christmas day with family and friends.
The next day Jessica received a phone call "Hello" Jessica said when she answered her phone
"Seamen Jessica bird"
"speaking" she was wondering who calling her
"This is lieutenant Young from NAVCOM Commander Marshal want to see you as soon as possible"
"thank you sir, I'll be there as soon as I can" then they hung up.
Jessica called a taxi then got change into her uniform. When change she walk out of her apartment and down to where a taxi is waiting for her. Once in she told the driver where to go then sat back and put her seat belt on just as the taxi started moving. When the taxi stop Jessica paid the fair before getting out and walking up stair and into NAVCOM.
When she walk into the ball pen she walk over to where commander Marshal is. She could see he was was busy talking to some one on his head set so she waited till he finish.
When he did he turn to her "Seamen bird"
"Yes sir" they saluted each other
"come into my office"
"Yes sir" they walk into his office
"Please sit down" Jessica sat down just as Steve did
"Settle in ok" he asked her
"Yes sir. May I ask why I'm here sir"
"You been assign to a patrol boat HMAS Hammersley" Jessica look at him in shock
"Hammersley"
"Yes do you know the boat"
"My late great grand father told me stories few years ago about a patrol boat when I ask the name of the boat he said Hammersley. A old friend of his, his son was the XO then promoted to captain of Hammersley" Steve raise his eye brows
"do you remember there names"
"Yes sir... retired Admiral Jason Baxter and retired vice admiral Thomas Picard. It was vice admiral Thomas Picard he was the XO before his promotion. His father was my great grand father friend"
Steve thought about the two names then remember Mike interducing them to him on the day of the decommission of the old Hammersley.
"Have you meet them" Steve asked
"Yes sir once at my late great grand father funeral"
"ok. Well I'm sure they would be happy that you are assign on Hammersley"
"more like shock sir. I keep in contact with both of them since they are in a retirement home down in Melbourne. When I talk to them yesterday I told them that I was assign up here. They said that I might be assign on Hammersley but since there are other patrol boats up here as well I might be assign to one of them sir"
"Next time you talk to them you can tell them"
"Yes sir"
"Now you taking over able seamen brown job which is chef and medic, plus any boardings that require a second medic. Since you got training and expediences in both areas you wouldn't have any problems there. The crew you will be working with is once of the best patrol crews ever."
"Yes sir"
"Be here at zero nine hundred with your sea bag, I'll interduce to you commander Flynn and lieutenant McGregor"
"I'll be here sir. Is there any thing I should know sir before tomorrow"
"Yes commander Flynn is temporary captain on Hammersley cause lieutenant commander Coburn is on sick leave till February next year"
"thank you for telling me that sir"
"there is one more thing seamen, commander Flynn is lieutenant McGregor husband" Jessica eyes widen
"sir there rules against having married couples serving on the same ship"
"Yes that is true but with situations like this it can' be help"
"couldn't you or fleet command find some one else to captain Hammersley"
"there was no one available and commander Flynn was the last captain on Hammersley before his promotion and shore posting" Jessica thought about it
"no captain, mean a ship stopper" she said
"Yes"
"i under stand sir"
"Good. I'll see you tomorrow then"
"Yes sir" Jessica stood up and saluted Steve which he did in return before walking out of his office and NAVCOM.
The next morning Mike and Kate walk into Steve office to talk about the patrol that they will be doing for a month. When they finish going over every thing Steve past Mike a file
"what this Steve"
"file of seamen Jessica Bird she taking over able seamen brown responsibilities"
Mike took the file from Steve hand and open it. Kate lean over toward mike so she could also read what it said
"Qualified medic, chef, black belt in karate and tai koan do" Kate said
"she top in self defense, cooking and in medic training. third in fire arms" Mike said
"Here" Kate said pointing to one part in the file
"She been busy before joining the navy" mike said When it show what marshal arts training, extra cooking classes and doing St John first aid and medic course before joining the navy.
"she only seventeen" Kate said when she saw Jessica bird date and work out how old she is.
When finish reading her profile mike close it and put it on Steve desk "There some thing else mike she knows retired Admiral Jason Baxter and retired vice admiral Thomas Picard." mike was shock
"she knows them how"
"Thomas Picard father is a close and personal friend of her late great grand father"
"your kidding Steve"
"I'm not I did some checking out, Jessica great grand father warrant officer Donald Murphy VC" Steve past Mike another file.
"VC" Mike said as he open it so he and Kate could read what it say about his navy record about him.
"Oh my he a hero" Kate said as she read about what he did to save others lives
"yes he is what he did back then during world war one and two received two victory crosses." Steve said
"Yeah sounds like it alright it seams the ones who serve in those wars would never received metals that we got today" Mike said
"Except for the Victoria cross Mike. Back then it was called the victory cross till it was change few years ago" Kate said
"that true Kate"
"If seamen bird is any thing like her great grand father he would be prod of her" Kate said
"I guest your right Kate" mike close the file and past it back to Steve.
"Seamen bird will be here in few minutes"
"Steve dose seamen bird got black hair tired up in a bun"
"Yes" then they look through the glass wall to see a young girl in uniform carrying her sea bag.
Steve smile as he stood up and wiggle his fingers at Jessica for her to walk over and into his office. She walk over and into his office where she stood at attention and saluted Steve which he did in return
"At easy seamen" Jessica then relax a bit
"Seamen bird this is commander Flynn and lieutenant McGregor"
"sir, ma'am" Jessica said saluting them both which they did in return
"bird relax" mike said
"yes sir"
"Looking ford to your first patrol bird" mike asked
"Yes sir I've already meet two of the crew members since I've been here"
"Who" Kate asked
"One called spider and two dads."
"Are you at the junior accommodations flats" mike asked
"Yes sir"
"bird what did they say about the crew"
"they told me there names and that including your sir, ma'am from what they told me I rather meet and get to know the crew in person so I would know what they are like for my self rather than from what two dads and spider tells me" mike and Kate grin
"good on you bird I like that in a sailor who rather met and get to know a crew member rather hear some other story from another crew member" Kate said
"My great grand father said for me to keep an open mine and he gave me a lot of great advice"
"He must be a wise man" mike said
"He is sir" Mike turn to Steve
"Is there any thing else before we leave Steve"
"yes you losing another two crew members"
"Who" Mike asked
"petty officer Pete Tomaszewski and able seamen Webb. This will be there last patrol, they would of gotten there letters in transferred since there time is up on Hammersley" Mike and Kate were shock
"buffer and spider, who going to be replacing them" Mike asked
"Your new bosun will be here in February so in the mean time Hammersley would be doing other duties till he arrives"
"thanks for telling us Steve the crew going to be shock"
"i know"
"where are they transferring to?" Mike asked
"HMAS Melbourne"
"both of them" mike asked
"Yes why" Mike grim
"that is where ET is"
"Yes I know he getting transferred to HMAS Bendigo next month"
"Nav would be happy to have him back up here" mike said
"Yes she would, she doesn't know yet mike"
"ok any thing else Steve before we head off"
"that it for now" Mike and Kate stood up just as Steve stood up.
"Seamen bird good luck and fair winds on your first patrol"
"Thank you sir" they both saluted then Mike, Kate and Jessica walk out of Steve office while talking.