CH 246
Swain did get Kate the strong brew and pass it to her before walking over to his seat "bird ask you swain"
"Yes ma'am she told me how you like it" Kate took a sip of the drink
"Just the way I like it, thanks swain"
"no problems ma'am"
"Take her out"
"Yes ma'am" Swain said smiling
When bird walk into the ball pen mike walk over to her "Ready to start your shore leave"
"Yes sir, I saw your wife, I notice how tired she look" Mike grin
"Well it would be two weeks till I see her again" bird shook her head
"I asked Swain to make her the strong brew"
"Ok did you warn the crew"
"Swain, charge and Dutchy, we know that they would warn the others"
"ok shall we get started"
"Yes sir" They walk over to where bird will be working from.
Mike gave bird some work to do then he return back to his office. At lunch time mike, bird, Nav, bomber and Terri meet up at cafe not far from NAVCOM for lunch. They talk about different things including what it was like from them on there first day of shore posting.
Two days later when bird walk into the ball pen she walk over to say her good morning to Nav and bomber.
"morning bird" bomber said
"morning have you heard from the crew"
"no it only been couple of days, why"
"i have from two dads last night"
"Oh no what did he do" bomber asked
"snake in the bed joke"
"the same one he try to play on you"
"Yeah, from what two dads said in his message she was swearing and cursing at every one and mention that if she ever finds out who put the snake in her bed wish he or she wasn't even born" Bomber and Nav was shock
"So she doesn't know it was two dads"
"no and not going to tell her after what she said"
"Was there any thing else two dads said"
"Yeah Clarke been showing up late in the morning to cook breakfast, captain has had words with Clarke and they he and charge over heard captain yelling at Clarke in her cabin she been given a warning about meal times and her attitude against the crew"
"sounds like commander Flynn would need to find some one else" Nav said
"Sounds like it alright" Bomber said
"Talk to you both at lunch"
"sure" then they went to there desks where they went to do there work.
Week later that afternoon bomber walk into mike office he was on the phone she she put the files on his desk. Mike got bomber to stay while he finish his call then he turn to her
"Every thing alright sir"
"No, Melbourne meeting up with Hammersley" bomber look shock
"sir"
"the crew got food poisoning"
"all of them" bomber said in shock
"all of them excepted for seamen Clarke"
"she poison them all"
"Yeah for what reason I don't know"
"So who running the ship"
"no one it at a stand still. I've spoken to captain of Melbourne I suggested to send buffer and spider over since they know what to do"
"ok, is there any thing we can do"
"not at the moment"
"How did you know about the food poisoning"
"Kate call me on the sat phone while she in the bathroom"
"how long before Hammersley returns to port"
"tomorrow"
"Want me to let Amy know"
"I'll do it"
"Yes sir, want me to let Nav and bird know"
"I'll do that to" they walk out of mike office and went there separate ways.
When mike told bird about what happen she was shock "sir is there any thing I can do"
"sorry bird there nothing you can do"
"what going to happen to seamen Clarke"
"There would be a investigation"
"I can help if you like sir"
"I know you want to help thanks for offering"
"How Amy taking the news"
"Shock, bomber with her now"
"Ok, thanks for telling me sir" Mike walk over and into Maxine office to fill her in on what happen to Hammersley.
The next day mike, Amy and bomber were waiting on the wharf when Hammersley came into port just as number of ambulances and other personal showed up. They watch what was happening till they saw the paramedics carry stretchers on board then minutes later they slowly carry crew member off one by one.
Amy went to RO side soon as they were on the wharf "Robert, oh my god" she she saw how pale he look
"Who are you ma'am"
"his wife" They put RO in the back of the ambulance then help Amy in.
Mike and bomber watch as each crew member was carried off Bomber step ford when charge was carried off
"I'm his daughter in law"
"any other family members ma'am"
"Yes his daughter is with her husband, they just left in one of the ambulances, my husband can't make it back to Cairns he on one of the mining ships"
"alright" bomber hop in the back of the ambulances.
When mike saw Kate being carried off he walk over to them. He saw how pale she look so he went with her in the back of the ambulance to the hospital. When the ambulances arrived at the hospital the staff got to work strait away when they learn that a whole crew got food poisoning while out on patrol.
Later that afternoon bird walk into the hospital and down to where the crew are keep. Bomber text her to let her know what room they were all in. She spoke to each of them for a few minutes and even ask them what they had to eat so she could write it down so she could work out what cause them to have food poisoning.
When she walk over to charge bed she sat down on the chair "How are you feeling"
"Tear able, any idea how a train cook could give the whole crew food poisoning"
"It being investigated. Charge I know you to well was there any thing you notice in the fridge that look odd to you" Charge thought about it
"Yeah, I notice that Clarke doesn't put meat in a bowl or on a tray like what you and bomber do and that some of the dishes weren't clean properly" Bird wrote what charge said
"About the meat how long is it in the fridge for"
"day or two... hang on the chicken drum sticks"
"what about them"
"I notice they were in the fridge for... five six days. And it tasted a bit funny, even the others notice it, Dutchy said it cause it not covered in your sweet chilli sauce"
"did Clarke have any of the chicken"
"no she just have vegetables. Some of the crew only had few bites cause it wasn't cook properly in the middle" Bird wrote it all down
"thanks charge now I know the cause, I'll let you get some rest" she stood up
"Ok, thanks for dropping by"
"No worries" bird walk out of the ward when she saw mike talking to a doctor so she walk over to them
"sir" Mike turn around
"bird"
"any luck of the cause"
"No if we know what meat it was"
"Salmonella from chicken drums and possible clostridium"
"You think it might be botulism" the doctor asked
"For the symptoms and I've spoken to the crew about what they had twenty fours hours before they started feeling sick"
"but are you sure it chicken" the doctor asked
"Yes I spoke to charge just before I ask him if he notice any thing odd about the food in the fridge since I know what he like" Mike grin
"what did he say" mike asked
"He said that seamen Clarke doesn't put any of the meat into bowls or tray which is one of the rules we all learn while at the cooking class at the academy and that to make sure all raw meat is on a tray or in a bowl cause the blood can be drop of to fruits and raw vegetables"
"That is true" the doctor said
"charge also said the me that the chicken tasted funny and number of pieces were still raw in the middle. He said he notice that the chicken drums was in the fridge for a week before cooking them. That the only answer I can come up with was the chicken"
"Able seamen white thank you for telling me know we can start treating all the crew members" he said smiling then he turn and walk away.
"Well done bird"
"Thank you sir, if you need any help in finding a replacement I can help you sir"
"thanks bird, I'm going to check on Kate before headed to get the kids"
"ok sir, I'm heading home I'm tired it been a long day"
"Yes it has been alright" bird turn and walk away.
The next morning when bird walk into the ball pen she saw mike and Clarke in Maxine office. Bird walk over to her desk to start work while she and others could hear yelling from Maxine office. Ten minutes later Clarke walk out of Maxine office and out of ball pen. Mike walk out a minute later and over to bird
"morning sir"
"morning bird"
"any news on the crew"
"they are responding to treatment"
"that is good news sir"
"thanks to you"
"Yes sir what going to happen to seamen Clarke?"
"Captain table for what happen"
"Ok"
"Care to help me find another chief and medic" bird smile
"Yes sir"
"Great come into my office in an hour and we can go though the list"
"Yes sir" Mike turn and walk back to his office.
Later that afternoon. Bird showed up at the hospital to spent few minutes talking to the crew before heading home for the night. All the crew was release from the hospital three days later. They are looking ford to returning back out on patrol.
Few days later The crew was taking supplies aboard when bird and women sailor was walking towards them. Bird and the sailor were talking and laughing till they were close to the crew
"Hey chicken leg"
"hi Dutchy looking ford to your patrol"
"yup and who your friend"
"Every one this is your new chief and medic leader Jane cook. Cookie as you can call her. Cookie this is the Hammersley crew, this is Dutchy, RO, two, dads, charge" Hi all round
"cookie already meet captain and XO"
"Ok, so cookie have you been on a patrol boat before" Dutchy asked
"no first time, I'm looking ford to my first patrol and to get to know you all"
"Bird"
"hi swain" Swain just walk off Hammersley.
"Swain this is cookie, chief and second medic, she know who you are"
"Ok nice to meet you cookie"
"you to swain" They shook hands
"I'll show her to my old cabin while you lot return back to work"
"Ok bird" Swain said.
Bird and cookie walk onto Hammersley and towards one of the door hatches. Bird show cookie to her cabin
"This is it, home away from home"
"thanks" Bird pull out a piece of paper and past it to cookie
"Here list of things you need to know about the crew including how captain likes her coffee when every one return back from there shore leave" cookie unfolded the paper and read it
"wow strong brew" Bird laugh
"Well you saw how tied she look"
"Yeah why is that"
"blame her husband"
"Her husband"
"commander Flynn, let just say he had plenty of energy to burn"
"What do you mean"
"love making"
"Oh" bird grin.
"Any questions there my e-mail address, oh before I forget, charge and RO are related"
"how" she said with a frown
"Charge daughter Amy the one you met this morning is, is RO wife"
"Charge son in law"
"Yep and bomber is charge daughter in law" Cookie was shock
"Wow I heard of families but..."
"Now you know, I'll let you get settle in but before you do" bird walk over and pull back the covers revealing snake
"what that"
"It fake, as it on the list one one of two dads jokes. Ask the crew about my revenge I got on him"
"will do and thanks"
"I better go and get back to NAVCOM"
"ok" Bird walk out the door closing it behind her.