CH 16

The next morning she arrived at the hospital at the same time Swain did. She's smiling as she walks over to his car and met him just as he got out of it, closing and locking the door.

"MacGyver, you're wearing the wrong hat and top."

"No, I'm not," she said smiling. He looked her over and saw the new medal and then he saw her shoulder insignia.

"Well, I'll be damned! Petty Officer! Did this happen yesterday?" he said hugging her.

"Yes, and the Star of Gallantry came from General West from SAS."

"For what?"

"Blowing up that camp and the crates."

"Of course, so... shall we?"

"Sure, How's Sally and Chloe?"

"Good, they're good."

"That's good."

"Does anyone else know about your promotion?"

"Mike and Baxter, oh and he got into trouble with Commander Marshall," they walk towards the front doors.

"About what?"

"Respect for starters and not being a team player."

"Ok, how is Lieutenant Commander Flynn?"

"You mean Commander Flynn. He's settling in ok and in three weeks he can throw away the sling."

"He got promoted."

"Yep, I was there." She said grinning

"Funny."

A few days later, Hammersley left port for it next patrol when there was a mayday from Ray Walsmen's boat so Hammersley headed to the boat and the HRIB was launched heading to Ray's boat. As they approached Walsman's yacht another boat that was there sped off. "Spider, disable his engine," Kate ordered. Spider got off a clean shot and got the engine causing it to slowly slow down. The boarding team went on board Ray's Yacht. When the other RHIB crew went after the runaway boat, they caught up with them and arrested the men. They found a newspaper.

"Sir they were after the man that I saw on Ray Walsmen's boat."

"What's his name, X?"

"Massita Ballenbaan, Sir."

MacGyver, who was on the bridge thought about the man's name so she walked off the bridge and down to her cabin where she opened her laptop and did some typing.

"This is very interesting" she picked up her laptop and returned to the bridge with it and put it on the table.

"Sir, you will want to read this."

"Later."

"Sir, you want to read this, it's about Ray Walsmen's guest."

Looking at her, "what is it?"

"He's a candidate for president in the upcoming election."

"So, Ray Walsmen's backing him."

"Sir, his previous occupation was Minister of Mining before he was toppled. Then a few days later he announced his candidacy to become the new president of Samaru Island."

"Look, Ray Walsmen can back whoever he likes."

"Sir, if you read all the reports about what has been happening on Samaru Island and the surrounding islands..."

"Yes..." She let out her breath.

"Take a wild guess at who's funding these mercenaries?"

"You tell me since you know everything."

"Ray Walsmen, he's got the money, the connections, and one of his boats was blown up so it wouldn't be identified. It's the same boat that dropped those eight crates of weapons. Plus, not to mention, the camp that Captain Roth and I found, and the sat phone that the leader had. One of the phone numbers was identified as belonging to Ray Walsmen. Shall I go on Sir, or do you get the picture."

"Yeah, I get the picture… RO get me NAVCOM."

When the men were brought on board, MacGyver recognized one of them so she went down and met them in austere. She was recognized immediately by the leader.

"Put the others inside, I want to talk to this man," she said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah" they put the other men in the room then left except for the guard at the door.

"This way," they walk a few feet away.

"Tell me this, are you after Ray Walsmen or Massita Ballenbaan?"

"Massita Ballenbaan, but you Navy stop us." He said angerly

"Can I ask why?"

"Why should I answer."

"Perhaps I can help you but only if you help me. Look we know that he was the Minister of Mining until he was toppled, can you tell me why he was toppled?"

"That man, Walsmen, he wants to mine on our island, Ballebaan agree to it at a price which Walsmen agree to pay. When he was found out, he was fired. His plans could ruin our island."

"So, Ray Walsmen hired mercenaries to do what?"

"To hurt people, telling them if they don't vote for Ballebaan they will be punished, on one island to set an example, they shot a child as a warning."

MacGyver was shocked, "On whose orders was it to shoot the child!"

"Walsmen."

"Look, I'll be back, I'm going to get a video recorder and I want you and your friends to tell me and another sailor everything, ok?"

"What will happen to us?"

"I will do the best I can for you and your friends, ok?"

"How do I know I can trust you, Navy?"

"Because those mercenaries have killed good men from the SAS and they have wounded…. Navy also. Me included."

"You were wounded?" He said in shock

"Yes, I was, and I've got the scar to prove it. I came close to leaving the Navy because I wouldn't be fit for duty. The previous captain of this ship was also wounded. He is still slowly recovering from his wounds." They walked over to the door, and the Sailor on guard duty opened the door and let him back inside.

"Talk to your friends, and I'll be back soon."

"Ok," he walks in and the door closed.

MacGyver went to the bridge. "Where the hell have you been?!" the Captain asked. She walked over and put her hands and elbows on the table as she bends over.

"MacGyver, what's wrong?" Kate asked as she walked over to her.

MacGyver stood up and walked out to the side bridge putting her hands on the railing rocking back and forth. Everyone looks at her wondering what was going on until she stopped, lifted her head, and screamed at the top of her lungs. The bridge crew stood there in shock.

"I've never seen her do that before," Nav said.

"Neither have I," Buffer added.

Kate went outside, "MacGyver?"

She turns to Kate, "I talked to the leader." Then she saw Nav and the Captain walk outside.

"What did he say that made you scream like that?"

"Ray, bloody, Walsmen is a cold-hearted bastard. What I found out will shock you all."

"It can't be that bad," the Captain said.

"Oh, yes it is, Sir. The man I spoke to, he said that Ray Walsmen's mercenaries have been threatening people that if they don't vote for Ballenbaan, they will hurt the villages. They gave one island a warning message, if they don't fall in line," then she turned and looked out to sea, "the warning message was… they killed a child as a warning. Ray Walsmen gave the order to kill the child." Turning back she could see the shocked looks on their faces. Then she walked back onto the bridge.

"I'm taking Swain with me. We are going to video record everything the men we have down in austere can tell us," as she walked past them.

"Swain, come with me please, I'll explain on the way. It a police matter"

"Sure," He followed her down the steps.

She told him what the plan was and warned him because he has a child of his own and what he will hear is upsetting. it might upset him. MacGyver went and got her video cameras and tripod then walks down and into the austere where Swain was waiting for her. She got everything set up.

"Did you talk to them?" she asked the leader.

"Yes, they will talk."

"Thank you."

"If you can come over and sit here," he walked over and sat down, "we will ask you some questions and you can answer them, yes?"

"Yes."

"OK," she pressed the record button.

An hour and a half later, Swain and MacGyver walk up the stairs quietly not saying a thing. "MacGyver, Swain?" Buffer asked.

"We've got to stop them," MacGyver said.

"We will," Charge said.

"RO, I'm going to be needing to use the comcen."

"For what?"

"I need to make copies of the recordings from the interview."

Ro looked at MacGyver then to Kate, she gave the nod, "When?"

"Now please." He stood up and walked down the steps to comcen with MacGyver behind him.

"Swain, are you ok?" Nav asked him. Kate walked over to him

"Swain?" he turned to her with tears in his eyes.

"The child that was murdered that MacGyver told you about."

"Yes..."

"It was the leader's cousin's nephew, he was only five years old and an only child. They targeted him because his cousin is also fighting the mercenaries."

Everyone was stunned, and swain cried, so Kate hugged him. When he pulled back, "On another island, a young pre-teenage girl of about twelve was raped by a group of mercenaries. She was gang-raped in front of the whole village, in front of her parents who were held at gunpoint, and was warned not to go to the police. When these four men and others showed up, the mother told them what happened, they saw the girl for themselves, they are angry and I don't blame them" Everyone on the bridge was shocked and in disbelief.

"I wonder what would've happened if it was Carly Walsmen in that girl's shoes," Spider said.

"Don't know mate," Charge said thinking about Jessica his twenty-year-old daughter.

When Hammersley docked, Swain and MacGyver walked the four men onto the wharf. MacGyver handed over a video to the police. "You need to take this to the acting president, he needs to watch it and pardon these four men."

"Why?"

"They were after two men who were on board the boat, one is an Australian citizen who has ties with the other man."

"We will look at it first."

"Sir, have you got children?"

"Yes."

"How would you feel if your wife witnessed your son being executed in front of her and others because they didn't do as they were told. Or, you and your wife have to watch as other men are raping your daughter and you couldn't do a thing to stop it?. Think about that before you decide to watch the video or give it to the acting president. If you give it to him, warn him about what he is going to hear because it will shock him." Then she turned and walked back onto Hammersley.

"I was there when she spoke to the four men and she knows that they are telling the truth, Sirs." He handed over the papers then returned to Hammersley. Fifteen minutes later Hammersley left Samaru port and headed for home port.

When Hammersley docked a few hours later, some of the crew planning on going to the pub for the night. Swain opted to go home to spend time with his family. MacGyver went with the crew taking her shoulder bag mini backpack with her. Just as she was just about to step on the gangway she heard...

"MacGyver," she stopped and turned to see Kate walking over to her.

"X."

"Mike called, the acting president saw the video and read your's and Swain's reports. He called Mike and asked him to pass a message on to you and Swain. He has pardoned the four men and understands why they were after Ray Walsmen and Ballenbaan. But they are going to need proof before he will agree to an arrest warrant."

"What about all the other evidence?"

"He knows about it but since Ray Walsmen is an Australian citizen his hands are tied."

"Damn and with the elections just a couple months away, it's going to be hard."

"I know, but I thought you should know."

"Thanks, X, enjoy your shore leave," giving Kate a wink.

"I will, what about Jim?"

"Meeting him at the pub."

"Great, have a good night yourself."

"I will" then she turned and walked off Hammersley.