CH 176
On Melbourne buffer and spider was up on the bridge when buffer phone rang so he got it out and open it to see it a text message. He smile when he read the message
"It about time"
"what that buffer" Spider asked just as every one turn to buffer
"Hammersley got a new captain"
"what...what happen to commander Flynn" the commander asked
"He got his shore posting back and you not going to believe who the new captain is" buffer said looking at his CO
"Who"
"Lieutenant Commander...Kate McGregor"
"what, X got promoted" spider said
"Yep"
"Well I be dam" Spider said smiling then a able semen walk up and onto the bridge
"sir this fax came for you from NAVCOM"
"thanks" the able seamen pass it to the commander. He read what it said
"It affical, lieutenant commander Kate McGregor is the captain on Hammersley"
He past the fax to buffer since he knew that buffer and spider were on Hammersley before transferred to Melbourne.
"I bet commander white would be shock and pissed off sir" buffer said passing the fax back to the captain
"Why that buffer"
"commander white try to black mail the X... I mean lieutenant commander McGregor"
"What are you sure buffer"
"Yes sir a crew mate she working at NAVCOM send me the recording. Commander Flynn wasn't happy with commander white"
"what was the black mail"
"commander white wanted..X to brake up with commander Flynn, saying the navy is his life and if rumors got around about the captain of Hammersley sleeping with his XO could destroy there careers"
"They broke the rules" A leader said
"No they didn't commander Flynn was only on Hammersley for couple of months and as for them sleeping together there no rules broken since they been married for eight years"
"Oh that understanding buffer" the leader said Buffer grin
"what is the new captain like" another crew member asked
"she the best XO I have ever work with and the only one who lasted the longest out of...eleven lieutenant who serve on Hammersley. Plus she one hell of a task master, I've learn a lot from her" Buffer said
"Done some thing wrong even if it small tooth brush duties" spider said they laugh
"your joking" one guy asked
"no mate" buffer said
The crew was on the boat deck since they received work that they getting a new captain. So they all in uniform and waited when the car pulled up and saw three people got out. They reconsigned Mike and Kate then they saw who the third person is
"Oh my god"
"what wrong bird" two dads asked
"X is our new captain, she been promoted"
"what" the crew watch as mike, Kate and lieutenant Simpson walk onto Hammersley
"Hammersley up" Dutchy said then they all stood at attention
"At ease" mike said
"congratulation ma'am on your promotion" bird said
"thank you bird. And I know it will take time for you to call me ma'am and not X. lieutenant Simpson is the new XO and most of you already know him"
"Sir what happening about commander white" Charge asked
"she been given a warning and it will be on her record for what she try to do to Kate and me. Next time it will be captain table" Mike said
"Alright every one go and get change we leave here in an hour, you all dismiss. Two dads show lieutenant to his cabin"
"Yes ma'am, this way...X"
"Sir" lieutenant said as he and mike saluted each other
"good luck and fair winds"
"thank you sir" then he turn and follow two dads while the others went to get change.
Kate and mike turn to each other "any problems I'm a phone call away"
"I know" they both hug and kiss
"i love you" mike said
"I love you to"
"Fair winds and see you in three weeks" they kiss once more
"See you when I return Mike"
"I'll be waiting" then he walk off Hammersley while Kate walk down and into Mike old cabin.
The day before Kate and mike showed up to do some work as well moving every thing of Kate from her old cabin into her new cabin with out letting the crew know and when they left they took all of mikes stuff out.
When it was time Kate was sitting in the captain chair as Hammersley left port for it three week patrol.
When mike return back to NAVCOM he walk strait in to Maxine office to talk to her for an hour before he walk out and into his office to do his work. He saw a wrap up package on his desk so he pick it up and look at the message
'There was some thing missing in your office Mike, not any more. Love Kate'
He unwrap the package to see a photo of the five of them. It was a professional photo of the five of them after Kate promotion. Mike and Kate were in there uniforms with Emma wearing a yellow dress, MJ wearing a sky blue short sleeve shirt and black pants and David wearing blue green short sleeve shirt and black pants They were smiling for the camera.
MJ, Emma and David were sitting on bar stools with Mike and Kate behind them. He put it on his desk then he look at the second one. It was of them both with there arms wrap around each other with Kate head resting on Mike chest as they look at the camera. Mike put that one next to the other one then he sat down to start his paper work when there was a knock on the door, so he turn and smile
"Morning Bomber, how are you feeling"
"Beach whale" she past him some file when she saw the photos
"Hey, when were they taken" mike turn to the photos then back to bomber
"Day after Kate promotion"
"Really, you both look so happy, I like this one" she step ford and pointed to the one of mike and Kate together
"Same here. Looking ford to maturity leave"
"Yes, and Jamie would be home in time for the birth"
"that good, have you set a date for the wedding"
"After the little one is born and I lost all the weight I gain while pregnant"
"Ok I'll let you return back to work"
"Thanks sir, it good to have you here" then she turn and walk out of Mike office.
A week later Mike walk in to the pub where all navy crew go to after being out on patrol he walk up to the bar where the owner is
"hi mike, what can I get ya"
"Nothing thanks Barry, I'm here to give you this" Mike past Barry an envelope
"what this"
"A new captain on one of the patrol boats" Barry open it and pulled out the letter and photo when he saw the photo he was shock then look at Mike
"she finally got promoted" Mike grin
"Yes she has" the Barry open the letter letting him know who the new captain is and on what boat and dates. Then he look up at mike
"thanks, I'll take care of it this afternoon. When is Hammersley due back"
"Two weeks"
"Ok it will be done by then"
"Thanks, I better get back to NAVCOM or I'll get into trouble with Nav and bomber for being away to long" Barry laugh
"you better mate or they will tell your wife"
"I know" Mike turn and walk away
While Barry walk around the bar to where all the patrol boats photos are and the ones with names of each captain and photo under it. He took the one of Hammersley down and walk back to the bar
"Conner I'll be in my office"
"ok Barry" Barry walk to where his office is.
He carefully remove the back of the large backing of the frame that got the photo and the list of captains and photos on it. Then he walk over to a large table where he put it on the table then he started writing Kate name in old fashion writing in special feather pen and ink.
When done he went and scan Kate photo in his scanner then he save it to four pen drives as back ups. Then he got into his web site where he up dates the changes of captains and what boat it is. Then he wrote a message for every one to see.
'HMAS Hammersley has got a new captain. Congratulations to lieutenant commander Kate McGregor on your promotion and becoming the first female navy officer in navy history to command a navy patrol boat. Formal Captain, commander Mike Flynn is back at Cairns NAVCOM while his wife lieutenant Commander Kate McGregor take over as captain of Hammersley' Barry reread it once more before posting it. When done he walk back out to the bar while the ink was drying.
The day Hammersley return back from it patrol the crew was looking ford to three week shore leave since they got longer patrols coming up for the rest of the year. When every thing was check and done. Kate went and got change and she got all her reports done before leaving with her new XO in the waiting navy car.
When they walk into the ball pen Kate smile and bomber and Nav who was talking and gave Kate a quick wave which she did in return before walking into Maxine office. Bomber and Nav watch what was going on
"Knocker not happy with Kate" Nav said
"Yeah, I wounder what it is about"
"Who knows"
"I think Knocker still hate the X I mean captain" Nav grin at bomber
"Why do you think that"
"Well she look shock and piss when Mike told every one about Kate promotion and being captain of Hammersley"
"True, but we know she can handle it after all if she can handle commander Flynn she can handle knocker"
"True"
"what are you two talking about" they turn to see mike there
"Knocker, it looks like she giving Kate a hard time" Nav said Mike look over to Maxine office and could see what was going on then he look down at them
"Kate can handle it"
"Well after three years of having deep throat debates with you sir about boarding, knocker sure will be a challenge for her" Nav said making mike smile
"Your right Nav. Bomber are you ok"
"Yeah just by back a bit sore that all and this little...big one been driving me crazy"
"In what way" Nav asked
"He...she won't keep still, I either get punch or kick, he, she won't settle"
"Micheal was like that till I put soft music on at night, he settle down give that a try"
"thanks Nav I will"
"I'll leave you two to get back to work"
"Yes sir" they said before Mike walk to his office.
Fifteen minutes later Kate and her XO walk out of Maxine office. Kate look to see if mike was in before leaving NAVCOM when he was she walk around to his office after talking to the XO. When Kate walk into Mike office he turn around and smile
"How was your patrol
"long been busy with eighteen may days and ten FFV and an ice boat"
"not bad for your first command Kate"
"thanks Mike" Kate let out her breath as she sat down in the empty seat
"what wrong"
"Knocker she trying to find weak spots in my reports questioning every thing I do"
"and" Kate shook her head then look at mike
"She can't find any thing but one day"
"Kate you done great and I'm prod of you"
"thanks Mike"
"Well I'm finish for the day, let's go home"
"sounds good to me. Crew planing a party for us at the pub" They stood up and walk out of mike office with him pick his hat up along the way.
"what your promotion and me returning back here"
"Yes" They talk till they got to the elevator to see bomber there since she finish work for the day
"bomber" she turn around and smile
"sir, ma'am going to the pub tonight"
"Of course, are you ok" Kate asked
"Just my back and this little...big one won't keep still. Nav suggested soft music" Kate smile
"I know what you mean with Emma it sea waves, with the twins it was baby classical music"
"Ok I'll try them as well" the doors open and they walk in and turn around when the doors close. Mike push the 'G' button for the under ground garage.
"Have you and Jamie thought up names yet" bomber laugh just as the door close
"Yes but it crazy" then the elevator started moving
"Try us" Kate said
"Well if it a..." then elevator stop and the lights went out