CH 190
Couple minutes later Kate return "Melbourne is twelve hours away, how is she"
"Still weak, there still blood coming out from her right lunge. Dutchy was the only one who donated blood, is there any one else"
"I'll go and have a look, what about you"
"I'm B positive, what about you"
"same as you."
"Are we leaving port"
"no we going to need a tow, the exposition damage both pillars and part of the engines"
"I could use thrusters to get Hammersley away from the docks then we can use both HRIBS to tow Hammersley out to sea"
"that is what I wanted to talk to you about, we going to do that when Bendigo get here"
"when is that ma'am"
"they steaming here top of the green, it will be six hours"
"Ok if there is no one else with the same blood type perhaps some one on bendigo my have the same blood as bird"
"I'll see what I can do, in the mean time look after her"
"i will. What about the phone"
"RO seeing what he can find out for me"
"ok" Kate look at bird once more before walking out of the ward room.
Five hours later Hammersley was pulled out to sea by the two HRIBS. Then they waited when Bendigo showed up. Once the cables were set Bendigo started heading back to Cairns. Swain was getting worried about bird, she was losing more blood.
Kate inform him that there was no one on Bendigo with the same blood type and the other crew member with the same blood type couldn't donated blood cause of antibiotic he was on from a cut that got infected Four days earlier.
When Melbourne was close to Hammersley and Bendigo Kate went to let swain know.
"Swain" she walk into the ward room to see Swain working on bird
"what happen"
"she loss to much blood, unless she get a blood transfusion soon she won't make it and I don't want use use Dutchy again it so soon"
"Keep her alive" then she ran out of the ward room and up to the bridge
"Charge get a HRIB perpeared get a HRIB in the water and over to Melbourne now" then she pick up the microphone
"Melbourne this is Hammersley do you have any crew members who is AB positive"
"Yes we do Hammersley"
"I'm sending a HRIB over now for your doctor and any one with that blood type, able seamen bird needs a transfusion ASAP"
"Copy that Hammersley we will be waiting"
Two minutes later four crew members and medical team arrived on Hammersley they head strait to the ward room. When they walk in swain gave the doctor the latest up date on bird.
Then the doctor and swain hook two crew members to bird so they could pump the blood into her and stabilizer her before transferring her to Melbourne where a medic vac was waiting. The crew of the three boats waited to hear news on bird.
Hour later bird was put in the helicopter and air lifted back to cairns once bird was aboard. Now they know all they can do is wait so Melbourne return back to what it was doing while Bendigo tow Hammersley back to Cairns while waiting news on bird.
Eight hours later Hammersley phone rang Dutchy answered it "Hammersley"
"Dutchy, it commander Flynn"
"sir how bird"
"she going to make a full recovery, one of the bullet nick an artery, that is why she was losing blood"
"that is good news sir, I'll let the crew know we been waiting for hours"
"I bet, If there any changes I'll keep you up to date"
"Yes sir, thanks for calling"
"night Dutchy"
"night sir" then he hung up.
Then he pick up the microphone and turn the PA system on "now here this, sorry for waking you all up at three am. Commander Flynn called Bird going to make a full recovery, he will keep us up to date on bird condition, that is all" then he flip a switch
"Bendigo this is Hammersley"
"This is Bendigo go a head Hammersley"
"commander Flynn called, able seamen bird is going to make a full recovery, pass the message onto the crew"
"will do and that is great news, Bendigo out"
then he contacted Melbourne to give them the news so they can pass it on to the rest of the crew including the four who donated blood that help save bird life.
Two days later both Bendigo and Hammersley arrived back in Cairns. A tug boat took over the towing, towing Hammersley to dry dock for repairs. When every thing was done all of the crew got shore leave since they don't know how long Hammersley going to be in dry doc for.
There first stop was the hospital to see how bird was doing while Kate and X went to NAVCOM. While Kate and her XO was talking to Maxine about what happen. Kate could tell that Maxine wasn't happy with her
"Lieutenant commander how did you manage to let that man get so close to Hammersley and damage it"
"We only learn of the third suicide bomber minutes before the explosion ma'am"
"According to Ms Cruse report that you knew about the the night before"
"what" Kate was shock
"Isn't that true"
"Able seamen bird suspected that there might be a third bomber, if you read my reports I double the shifts as be causation. The man attack during the day, He was going to kill two crew members that was on the wharf if it wasn't for able seamen bird spotting him and warn the two crew member while running to the guy and tackling him which cause them to ended up in the sea. Cause of what she did in risking her life for not only saving the two crew members but a million dollar patrol boat. She almost died doing her job" Kate said angry
Then she said "As for ms cruise, she show no respect for any of the crew the whole time she was on Hammersley, in fact she wasn't happy that two SAS was injured when there parachutes didn't open." then she past Maxine a report
"Captain Roff of the SAS and coxswain Blake reports states that it was no accident, it was attempted murder. some one cut the main and back up cords so the parachutes wouldn't open. Ms Cruise also got a copy of there report"
"did she tell you that she was going to make a formal complaint against you in the way you treated her"
"Yes I did" then Kate handed Maxine a file
"Here my report on what happen and why she wanted to make that complaint"
"Ok since Hammersley in in dry dock for two weeks cause of what happen, the crew get a month shore leave, I'll let you inform the crew"
"Yes ma'am"
"Good is there any thing else"
"Yes, Bird was able to grab the bomber cell phone before he killed him self. I gave it to RO to find out what was on it" she pass Maxine a file
"Here is a list of phone numbers, text messages, every thing"
"Why not pass it on to Ms Cruise"
"the number that was high lighter that on the list, it Ms Cruise back up cell phone the one I guest the ASIO doesn't know about"
"how do you know it her phone"
"I use the sat phone to call the number, all I got was her answering machine"
"perhaps it a personal phone"
"I asked mike to check it out for me yesterday when I spoke to him. He told me last night that the ASIO doesn't have a record of Ms Cruise having that phone at all"
"so she didn't tell them"
"the night that bird took down the two suicide bombers, she saw the third one talking on the cell phone. The only number he called at that time was Ms Cruise cell phone. It all in the file"
"alright leave it with me, if there nothing else your diss miss" Kate and the XO walk out of Maxine office
"you were lucky that commander white didn't have you up on charges with the way you spoke to her" XO said
"she knows that I'm right, don't worry about it, it my problem, lets go and see how bird doing"
"More likely save her from the crew" Kate grin
"the crew good"
when the crew walk into the hospital they went to find out what room bird was in. Soon as they knew they walk down the stop at the open door they could see she was sleeping. They could see wires connected between her and the machines, an oxygen tubes up her nose,two IV lines in one arm, one for IV and the other for the blood. Tube coming from her right side of her ribs. They could see she still look pale and they notice some one was in the room, the guy turn to them and they were shock to see it was Ryan they walk into bird room
"how is she" swain asked
"Good she was awake just be for. The doctors said she would be like that for a few days, Mike told me what happen"
"she a hero" Dutchy said
"Again" two dads said
"that she is, so how long are you in port for"
"We don't know about a month cause of the damages done to the pillars and in the engine room as well shore leave" charge said
"ok"
"Hey" they all heard and turn to see bird looking at them
"Hey you self you gave all of us quiet a scare" Dutchy said
"sorry"
"don't try to make a habit of it" Swain said
"I'll try, how Hammersley"
"she in dry dock the exploitation did some damage to the pillars and to the engines" charge said
"any one got hurt"
"No just a free shower" two dads said smiling
"funny" Bird said
"look we will let you get some rest" Dutchy said
"Ok, thanks for the flowers and balloons" when she saw what they were carrying
"Your welcome, we will let you get some rest"
"ok" they put the flowers on a table and tie the balloons to her IV and blood poll plus to the bed before leaving her to get some rest.
The crew showed up every day to see bird. They please she was getting stronger and soon be back to her normal self in no time at all. Two weeks after bird was in hospital she was able to go home. She was looking ford to walking into her house for the first time.
Kate was there to pick her up and to take her to the navy wharf "Ma'am why are we going to the wharf for, Hammersley in dry dock"
"Commander Flynn want to see you before going home"
"ok by why the wharf"
When they arrived at the wharf. They both got out. Bird was slower cause of her healing wounds. Then she follow Kate to the wharf where she saw not only her crew members but other people there as well.
"Hey you made it" Dutchy said as he gave her a gentle hug
"Yeah, what going on"
"not sure we received text message two days ago to be here"
"It time" Kate said They all line up when they heard the marching band then they walk along the wharf and stop where Hammersley use to be.
"Hammersley up" They all stood at attention
"About face" the XO said then they turn to face the ones who are there, mike, Maxine and the admiral of the fleet. The admiral of the fleet step ford to the podium to say a few word.
"We are here today to ward two fine Australian navy sailors for risking for what they did not only saving number of lives but also deactivated and remove a weapon that could of not only killed but wounded a lot of lives plus able to save the patrol boat the HMAS Hammersley while in a foreign port. Theses two sailor in act of conspicuous courage in circumstances of extra peril are ...able seamen Jessica bird, Petty officer Dylan Mulholland front center"
Bird and Dutchy step ford and stood at attention just as the admiral of the fleet step off the podium and step ford with mike next to him passing the first box, which he open it and remove the metal and pin it onto Jessica first as he said.
"I here by reward Able Seamen bird the highest bravery metal the awarded The Victoria cross of Austrlia for the most conspicuous gallantry, or a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the face of the enemy and for risking her life in taking down three suicide bombers by her self who was planing of cause death and destruction while in a foreign port and royal Australian navy patrol boat the HMAS Hammersley while at a foreign port" Every one was shock when they all heard what bird was reciving, Bird included
They saluted each other and shook hands, then he step in front of Dylan.
"I here by reward petty officer Dylan Mulholland the bravery metal for disabling two bombs while on shore leave in a foreign port" He said as he pin the metal on to Dylan chest, they they saluted each other. Then they return back to there spots then mike walk up to the podium.
"Able seamen Jessica bird is the youngest navy sailor to received the Victoria cross of Austlria. She risk her life in disabling two suicide bombers at a night club at a foreign port while on leave as well stop the third suicide bomber from killing two crew members but also getting on the the Australian war ship the HMAS Hammersley. Able seamen bird risk her life by draw the attention of the bomber toward her while the two crew members ran for cover. The bomber who was carrying two nine mil hand guns shot able seamen bird five time before she tackle him resulting them both going into the sea close to where HMAS Hammersley was dock. While under water the suicide bomber blew him self up cause damage to the patrol boat and force of the water cause able seamen bird to be push to the other side of Hammersley. For what she did, she saved a lot of lives in the few hours. Petty officer Dylan Mulholland risk his life in disabling not one but two bombs that the two suicide bombers were carrying. For what they both did in risking there lives in saving others. A job well done"
"Hammersley up...dismiss" the XO said
then every one clap and they all got up and mingled with the guests there including Jim Roff, Madeline Cruse, Emma, MJ and David. They all talk for about fifteen minutes then they all went there separate ways so they could get change and meet up at the pub to celebrate.
Kate drove bird home since bird gave Kate her new address. When Kate pulled up in the drive way she was shock when she saw the two story house
"nice house"
"thank you, I got a good bargain for it"
"how much"
"four hundred thousand dollars it was a mortgagee sale"
"Really how can you afford it on your wages" Bird smile
"inheritance"
"Ok"
"thanks for the lift, see you later at the pub"
"sure, would you be needing a lift"
"I'll be fine thanks" Bird got out and open the back door to get her sea bag out then close the door
"See you later ma'am"
"alright bird" she close the door and walk up to the front door while Kate reverse her car and drove home.