CH 225
The next morning Hammersley came in to port. Once dock Mike walk onto Hammersley when Kate walk though one of the hatch doors and over to him
"Mike what going on, the crew are worried and so am i"
"Relax the reason why I'm here in person is this" he show her the e-mail letter from fleet command. Kate read what it said and her eyes widen in shock. She look up at Mike
"your joking"
"No I'm not, I call the admiral of the fleet about it and it true"
"oh my..."
"Crew leaves tomorrow so they all get shore leave to get what they need to get to take with them"
"they would be happy, but what about there flights"
"already taken care of"
"Ok, well you can tell them" Mike grin
"if your sure"
"Yes I am" they turn and walk to one of the hatches while talking about other things.
When they walk up and onto the bridge, some of the crew who was there greeted mike. Kate pass him the microphone. "now here this commander Flynn speaking"
"no kidding" Kate said which every one heard and laugh. Mike gave her the look to let her know that she in trouble.
"the reason why Hammersley return back early is cause a letter from fleet commander stating that the HMAS Hammersley and it crew will be going down to Melbourne tomorrow and fleet command has given the three couples permission to have there wedding photos taken on Hammersley since all three couples either work on Hammersley or meet there future wife, husband on board. So all crew will have twelve hour shore leave so you can get what you needed done, any questions I'll be on the back of the boat, that is all" then he put the mic back and turn to Kate
"Mike what about kids"
"I'll be flying down with them as plan"
"ok"
they walk off the bridge and walk to the back of the ship where they talk for a few minutes when some of the crew showed up to ask mike questions which he was able to answer. Ten minutes later mike return back to NAVCOM.
Hour later number of taxis showed up as crew started walking off Hammersley. Bird she went home to do a few things including enjoying along hot shower since the crew got time limit on Hammersley. When done and dress. Bird went to do some shopping before returning back home then she left to return back to Hammersley since she got to get dinner on for the crew. Every one enjoy there shore leave and was able to get the last minute things sorted out before returning back aboard.
The next morning Bird knock on Kate door then it open "Here you go ma'am" bird pass Kate cup of coffee
"thanks bird" then she took a ship of the hot drink
"I brought your wedding dress aboard" Kate let bird into her cabin. Bird saw her wedding dress in it bag hanging up on a hook
"thank you ma'am, what about the shoes..."
"In the cupboard here" Kate pointed out
"ok thanks for help me with every thing"
"Your welcome"
"I'll leave you to get change ma'am"
"thanks for the brew" Bird smile as she walk out of Kate cabin.
Two hours later Hammersley left port to head south. They know that they would be entering Melbourne harbour the next morning. The crew looking ford to spending few days down in Melbourne before returning back to Cairns and back out on patrol.
On the way down they attended to four may day calls. Later that night two dads was sitting on his bunk bed with radio in has hand when RO walk into there cabin
"Two dads what are you doing"
"Trying to pick up a radio station... got some thing" they both heard statical so two dads slowly turn the nob till it became clearer
"Alright every one tomorrow weather forecast is another beautiful day with thirty degree temperatures, and slight wind. The lines are free so give me a call and talk about any thing you want" RO and two dads heard from the radio.
"Try some thing else" RO said then they heard
"Hello we got call on line what is your name"
"Jack"
"Hello jack what do you want to talk about"
"Friends of mine from the RSL said that the HMAS Hammersley is coming down to Melbourne" RO and two dads look at each other then two dads turn the volume up.
"Really, who is HMAS Hammersley don't know that boat"
"you never heard of HMAS Hammersley and it crew"
"no care to share with us"
"HMAS Hammersley and is crew are hero's few years ago they stop a boat load of toxin water from going over into international waters and they alone with a navy commander and army captain stop a teariest attack off Cairns last year. Four members risk there lives to disable a dirty bomb"
"Wait a minute... now I remember that. One of the hero's getting married on Monday"
"Yes Jessica bird"
"you saying that the famous patrol boat and it crew coming here to Melbourne"
"that is right, tomorrow morning"
"Well I be dam, are you sure about this"
"Yes... John hooks the president of RSL spoke to Jessica bird yesterday on the phone and she ask him to let us members know"
"that is great news, thanks you for share that with us Jack" then they heard click
"Well every one spreed the word Hammersley coming to town so what you all you boaties say we give Hammersley and it crew one big hero welcome tomorrow morning. I recons they deserve it, don't you... hello your on the air"
"hi I'm Eve, dose any one know what time HMAS Hammersley going to be here in the morning"
"That is a good question Eve. If some one can give up a call to let us know that would be great"
Two dads turn the radio off then he pick up his cell phone and did some typing onto it "what are you doing" RO asked
"Getting that radio show phone number...got it" then he dial the number and have it on speaker phone so RO could hear it as well
"Hello your on the air, who am I talking to"
"Leo sir"
"Leo what do you want to talk about"
"Hammersley"
"Hammersley, ok do you know any of the crew" Two dads grin
"Yep sure do, the reason why I call to let you know that HMAS Hammersley will be in Melbourne about nine thirty in the morning unless they attend to a may day and is the closest asset"
"How do you know this Leo"
"I'm leader Leo kosvo Myers, crew call me two dads. I'm the electrician technician on HMAS Hammersley"
"No way, how do I know that this isn't some joke" then every one heard
"bird,RO, Swain to the bridge rush, bird,Swain RO to the bridge, Bird RO Swain to the bridge rush bridge" was heard over the PA system.
"what was that"
"That was the PA system RO is leader Robert Dixon, he one of the grooms that getting married" RO open the door to see Dutchy there
"Two dads, get off the phone"
"Why what going on"
"Two boats collided not far from here, we the closest asset, we need you to get in your wet suit search and rescue"
"How long"
"fifteen minutes"
"I'm on my way" then Dutchy turn and walk quickly down the collide
"sorry I got to go, it looks like we could be delay getting to Melbourne in the morning"
"thank you Leo" then he hung up and put his phone in his draw then he went to get suited up.
When they got close to where the two boats were, they saw people in the water so two dads jump into the sea to swim over to the first person while the two HRIBS went to get the others that was to far away from Hammersley.
Hour later every one was on board and two HRIB's was back in there spot. Bird and swain attended to the wounded including a pregnant women who gone into premature labor. While the rest of the crew talk to the ones they rescued to find out what happen as Hammersley headed to the closest port which was Merimbula which is in south wales.
But since they couldn't get Hammersley into port cause of it low tied, the coast guard came out to them with paramedics and stretchers on board so they could take the wondered and the women who gave birth back with them. While the two HRIBS took the other survivors to port. When the two HRIB's return and back in there spots, Hammersley carry on heading south.
The next morning two dads was in the junior mess listening to the talk back show when Dutchy walk in
"Two dads what are you doing"
"Listening to Melbourne talk back show, two guys are talking about us, listen"
"It seams that Hammersley is late from what I heard last night that the ship was going to be in by nine thirty and it almost ten, I think that Leo guy set Adam up last night"
"I agree, we got a caller on line...your on the air"
"Hi I listen to Adam show last night if you listen to it like you said, they were called to that two boat collision last night. I'm ex navy and I recon that by the time Hammersley reach the area and rescue every one, they would of headed to one of the closest ports if there was wounded. Once they and any survivors and wounded been handed over to the paramedics and for them to where they would be heading, it would be at lest three four hours so my best guest would be about midday by the time they do get in to Melbourne"
"You could be right mate listen up, if any one come across Hammersley while out on there boats, give is a call and let us know where Hammersley is" Two dads turn the radio off.
"We better let the captain know" Dutchy said
"Yeah" They walk out of the cabin and up to the bridge
"Ma'am, there some thing you should know" Two dads said
"We heard, RO was able to pick up the take back show, we been listening to it"
"Captain, ma'am" RO said then he turn the volume up
"Hello you said your one of the Hammersley crew is that right"
"Yes sir"
"that bird" Dutchy said
"so tell me what is your name"
"Why so you can make fun of me like you did with two dads, I don't thinks so, well not yet. The reason why I called to let you and your listeners know we will be coming into port in an hour"
"an hour is this some sort of joke" the guys laugh
"No sir if you met me in person you would be... crapping your selves and the last person who made fun of me got a hair cut from me, well six of them did and they are all older than me and I did beat the crap out of all six of them at once"
"where they elder"
"No they weren't sir, in fact four of them were under thirty"
"and you beat them up"
"Yes sir and there was plenty of witnesses"
"did they press charges"
"No they didn't. So now all your listeners now know when HMAS Hammersley will be in port, if you will excuse me I got work to do sir's"
"what is your name"
"Able seamen... Jessica bird sir's" then bird hung up
"On my... no way that was her"
"Well able seamen bird if you listening to this, we would like for you to come in to the station to meet you in person tomorrow and we promise we would apologize to you on air" one of the men said then RO turn it off and turn to every one
"those guys are going to crap them selves" Two dads said
"We should let bird know" Charge said
"We should" Kate said.
"no need" they turn to see bird walking onto the bridge
"I was listening to what they were saying" she show them her small radio.
"Are you going bird" Dutchy asked
"Yep"
"Ma'am we got three...ten contacts twenty miles a head of us" XO said from radar
"sounds like beginning of our welcome comity" two dads said
"could be" bird said
"Let me know if there any more X" Kate said
"Ma'am another... ten, fifteen...thirty more have appeared on Radar" Kate got up from her seat and step over to where the X is, then so did some of the crew when they saw more boats appeared
"Ma'am dead a head" two dads said he he was looking through his binoculars.
Kate raise her's then others manage to pick there up to see a lot of white dots on the horizon.
Twenty minutes later the crew saw number of yachts and pleasure crafts in front of them so Hammersley show down just as the yachts and pleaser crafts started tooting there horns then they started following Hammersley towards Melbourne then more boats appeared before long they were surrounded by boats.
Then they notice helicopters flying around and they saw some one with a camera filming them and relies it news crew. When they reach the beginning of port Phillips bay they could see boats and navy ships every where. Then they saw two fire boats slowly made there way towards them then they toot three times then the turn there fire hoses on up on an angle spaying water back into the sea. Then they notice crew from different frigates on the deck waving to them. Kate pick up the microphone
"Now here this captain specking all crew on boat deck and thank our welcoming comity that is all"
then every one par from Kate and swain left to get there camera and headed to the boat deck where they wave to the boaties which cause the boaties to cheer them on.