Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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A week later, following three days of assisting the Lightman Island people to rebuild their town after a flood, all non-essential personnel were granted shore leave on nearby Titan Island.

Dressed in a pair of black knee-length shorts and a free flowing top, Kate makes her way to a RHIB. She'd been surprised when Mike hadn't made much of a fuss about her heading ashore, but as she stood at the bar two hours later, she realised that he'd put some other 'contingencies' in place. Buffer and Nav weren't leaving her alone – at any point. Even when she'd tried to brush them off, they remained glued to her side.

That is until Black Fingernails, Red Wine blasted out on the speakers. Nav had squealed and stood up with a shout of 'I love this song!' Kate laughs as she watches an excited Nav pull on a reluctant Buffer's arm and pull him toward the dance floor. Buffer looks at her for an excuse to get out of it, but Kate ushers him along.

Rubbing her back in an attempt to be rid of the dull pain that had taken up residence there, Kate leans back against the bar on her stool, looking around the bar. Taking a sip from her almost empty glass of lemonade she took pleasure in some 'alone' time – something that was seriously lacking in her life lately. 'So what can I get you pretty lady?' said a smooth voice close nearby.

Turning at the sound, she groaned internally. Why couldn't a gal sit at a bar and enjoy a drink without some guy coming up to her? 'No thanks,' she replied with a polite smile as she turns away from the stranger.

'You sure? Pretty girl like you must need something...' Kate can feel his eyes giving her a once over. '... and I'm pretty sure I have that something you're looking for.'

'Nope, I'm pretty sure you're not,' said Kate getting fed up. She wasn't worried, but she really wished this man would go away.

'C'mon,' taunted the man stepping forward.

'She said no,' said a new voice. Finding an arm around her shoulder, Kate looks up at the new arrival. 2 Dads? 'What's it to you?' snarled the man.

'Wouldn't you like to find out?' responded 2 Dads calmly. The man was clearly weighing up his options, and Kate breathed a sigh of relief when he left. 'Thanks,' she said to 2 Dads as he took the place of the recently departed man. 2 Dads shrugs his shoulders as he got the attention of the barman. Ordering his drink, he turned to her. 'Drink?'

'Sure,' said Kate, preparing to get her money out. 'But let me buy it. I owe you one.'

'Too late,' said 2 Dads with a smirk as Kate looks up again and realises that 2 Dads has already made the order. When a glass of lemonade is placed in front of her with a pack of salted nuts soon after, Kate stares at 2 Dads' non-alcoholic drink offering and food choice for a moment, before raising her head to look at 2 Dads who is now checking out the dance floor. 'How did you know?'

'I know the signs,' was his short response before he doffed an imaginary hat and disappeared into the crowd, leaving her at the bar as Buffer made his way off the dance floor toward her. 'Everything okay?'

'Yeah,' said Kate, still looking at the departing back of 2 Dads. 'I think so.'

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Meanwhile, Spider is at the other end of the bar haggling with a man over various pieces of 'merchandise'.

'$50?! I'll pay $20,' bargains Spider.

'No deal,' was the response from the man in front of him, complete with a vehement headshake.

'But you've got such lousy options here. I don't really like any of them,' countered Spider, gesturing at the watches and sunglasses on the table in front of them.

'Come to my boat,' responded the man, pointing his finger in the direction of the dock. 'Come to Jezra. More there.'

'Hmm,' contemplated Spider before he notices RO walking toward him. 'Yo RO. Check out these watches. $20 for a Ralph watch. Interested?'

'No thanks. I'm not on the market for a Falph watch,' said RO with a derogatory look at the knockoffs before turning his attention to Spider. 'Now hurry up. We've got to get back.'

'But that's why it's so cheap,' persisted Spider. 'No one will notice the difference.'

'I will,' said RO with a bored look on his face. 'I'd rather save up and buy the real thing.'

'What on our pay?' scoffs Spider.

'Even on a navy pay,' promised RO. Neither was prepared for the abrupt and sudden reaction from the seller beside them.

'Navy?' he squeaked. 'Navy?' Throwing a watch each at the two sailors, he picks up his wares and quickly moves away, leaving behind a confused Spider. 'What was that about?'

'Probably scared to be caught,' responded RO, brushing the whole thing off.

'Well, who cares. I got a free watch,' said Spider happily strapping on his new acquisition.

'Have mine too,' said RO dismissively as he turns to leave.

'Sweet,' said Spider as he follows RO to the front of the bar – via the toilet. Waiting for RO to finish his ablutions before they headed back to the ship, Spider admires his two new watches. Looking around at the slightly less crowded bar he spots the man who had tried to sell it to him. He was arguing with another man, gestures and anger clear on display. When RO joined him again, Spider nodded his head in the direction of the arguing couple. 'What do you reckon they're on about?'

'Probably getting told off for giving away two perfectly crappy watches,' responded RO with a shrug. 'Now move it. We've got a curfew to keep.'

'Yessir,' said Spider smartly, complete with a salute as RO just rolled his eyes and they left the bar.

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Spider's joy at his new – free! – watches is quickly extinguished the following day. On watch, he spots a boat on the port side. Advising his XO of the sighting, the Captain is then called to the bridge. Spider stands to the side as Kate and Mike huddle around Nav's shoulders as the ship comes up on the EOD. 'It's a boat called the Jezra, boss,' said Nav.

Realising that this is the same boat that the man who had 'sold' him the watches last night had referred to, Spider makes a move toward his Captain. 'Ah, sir.'

'Yes Spider,' responded Mike as he gestures to RO to try and raise the Jezra on the radio.

'I've seen the Jezra before,' said Spider fumbling. 'Well not seen it, but that's the boat of the guy that tried to sell me some knockoffs at the bar last night.'

Turning to Spider, Mike takes in the worried sailor before him. Before he can say anything further, RO's voice pipes up and advises him that the Jezra was not responding. Looking back at the boat on the screen, Mike exchanges a glance with Kate before he turns back to Spider. 'Something tells me that this is more than just a piracy boat.'

'There's been an increase in the drugs entering Australia,' said Kate. 'Customs and AFP have their suspicions that it's coming from the sea. This could be one of the boats.' Mike nods his head in agreement.

Gradually closing in on the Jezra, Mike finishes his call with NAVCOM and makes an announcement to those on the bridge. 'We have approval from NAVCOM to board and take control if we find evidence of drugs.'

Within minutes, the entire Hammersley crew is positioned and ready: Bomber and Spider are standing outside with the 50-cal, Buffer is boarding the starboard RHIB with Swain, 2 Dads and Rhino, Nav and Mike are standing on the bridge with a loudspeaker and RO is continuing trying to raise the Jezra as Kate has control of navigation and guides Charge's steering and speed.

With no response on the radio and to the Nav's directions over the loudspeaker – and if anything the Jezra has increased their speed – Mike peers through his binoculars and sees action on the deck: men were moving around frantically. He orders for a short blast in front of the ship. Nav relays the order, Bomber equips the gun and Spider fires. The Jezra ignores this warning and Mike prepares to order another shot when Nav grabs his arm. 'Sir, what's that?'

Turning, he can see what could only be described as a cannon being focused on the Hammersley. Realising that they were going to shoot at the ship, Mike felt like the next few minutes were in slow motion. 'Down,' he yelled. Falling onto his own knees, he reaches up to twist and pull open the bridge door as he gestures for Nav, Bomber and Spider to enter the bridge, before finally entering himself.

The door was shut just in time as shrapnel hit the outer wall. He didn't have a second to stop as this 'cannonball' was quickly followed by gunfire. When the first bullets hit a window, Mike yells at all to duck once again. When the window shatters just seconds later, Mike roars out simultaneous orders. 'Kate – below. Nav – evade.'

Not questioning his order, and not even noticing the fact that he'd just called her by her first name on the ship, Kate heads for the stairs, grabbing a radio on the way. She's on the last step when another cannonball hits the bridge wall and sends metal pieces flying onto the floor. She's tempted to return, but when her radio crackles to life with the frantic voice of Buffer, Kate continues to head down and snaps into action. 'What the hell is going on?'

'Get off the RHIB,' ordered Kate. 'And take cover. We're being hit by shrapnel and gunfire.'

As Buffer, Swain, 2 Dads and Rhino leap off the RHIB and take refuge against the Hammersley starboard wall (entering the ship currently being too much of a risk) Nav yells her orders at Charge as the Hammersley takes evasive manoeuvres. It was only a matter of seconds before the Hammersley slows, and they dropped back far enough to be free of the rapidly departing Jezra, but to those present it felt like an hour had passed. All are breathing heavily and adrenaline courses through their body as blessed silence descends upon them and the Hammersley comes to a stop.

The boat now at a standstill, Kate steps out onto the deck, and races to check that the RHIB party are uninjured. Finding them safe and sound, she follows Buffer to the port side RHIB as her radio crackles to life and Mike's voice comes over the line. 'X?'

'We're all fine sir,' she responds breathlessly. 'But I can't say the same for the portside RHIB. The RHIB's deflated, and the crane looks like it's suffered some damage.'

'Okay,' said Mike, brushing his hand over his forehead. 'We need Swaino to the bridge now and get Buffer to round up all the sailors on the deck.'

'Sir,' said Kate in compliance.

Mike's voice came over the PA seconds later with the order for all sailors to muster on the lower deck as Kate and Swain dashed for the bridge, meeting up with Spider carrying a first aid kit. Swain makes his way over to where Bomber is holding her jacket against a cut on RO's arm as Charge heads down the stairs to check out any potential damage to the engine room.

Kate sucks in a breath as she takes in the sight before her – it looked like a warzone: papers were strewn everywhere, pieces of metal lay on the floor, and she could see a number of bullets. Making her way over to Mike, Kate asks him about injuries as she unconsciously places a hand on her abdomen. 'We got lucky,' he responds with a heavy sigh. 'RO got a bit of shrapnel to the arm, but apart from that, it all looks okay.'

The good news continues as Nav reveals that at first glance, none of the equipment appears to have been damaged, and Charge then radios up to share the news that the engine room is untouched. In addition to the damage to the port RHIB and crane, the only other apparent damage is two shattered bridge windows, two bullet-ridden windows, a small number of shrapnel embedded in the outer bridge and portside walls and a lot of debris littering the bridge and deck.

'I need to get onto NAVCOM,' said Mike lightly touching Kate's arm as he made his way over to the satellite phone. 'You're in charge of cleanup.'

'Yes sir,' said Kate as she exited the bridge with Spider close behind. 'Swain, I'll need you when you're done.'

'Ma'am.'

Buffer stood in front of the 15-odd sailors standing on the deck as Kate approached them. 'We were hit with shrapnel and bullets, but I am pleased to be able to announce that we have not sustained as much damage as anticipated. As all breathed a collective sigh of relief, Kate continued. 'Anyone with injuries is to see Bomber in the dining room.'

When Charge joins them soon after, Kate gives out the orders. '2 Dads, you'll be in charge of recording all the damage. No one is to move anything until Swain has given the word that documentation is complete. Buffer, you're in charge of cleaning up the shrapnel and storing it. Charge, pick a team and get started on repairing the windows on the bridge. Do the best you can. Spider, return to the bridge and offer whatever assistance the Navigator and Captain need. And you two, you're on watch. Everyone else, the bridge is off limits until further notice.'

'You heard the X,' yelled Buffer. 'Get to it.'

Fourteen hours later, the HMAS Hammersley limped back into Cairns.

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Next chapter: Commander Marshall calls Kate into his office to discuss her shore posting.