„What's going on?" I asked Nav, as she seemed to be the only one around. "We rescued a woman," was her answer, "And you know what Navy guys are like…" I got it. I sighed, shaking my head. "They're all the same, aren't they?" I thought out loud and Nav laughed. Male navy sailors were worse than little kids with candy, when they could rescue a woman. I just shook my head and started my watch duty with her. Spider, the CO and the XO joined Nav and me later.
"You doubt her story?" Nav asked the XO as she laughed when the CO reported the woman's, Clair Watts's, story of four pirates in a speed boat attacking her to Navcom. "Why would you get out of maneuverable yacht into a rattly life raft to escape from pirates?" the XO replied and I understood her doubts. "Sounds like the poor thing was in fear of her life," Nav said wryly and I had to hold back a chuckle. But why would that woman make up a story of being attacked by pirates? I was curious to meet her.
I was part of the boarding party that brought Clair Watts back to her yacht when we found it. She seemed pretty energetic. "Nice yacht," the XO complemented and I nodded in agreement. "She's got beautiful lines," Ms. Watts said. "Yea," ET agreed. But it was obvious that he was thinking of other lines than her. 'Men,' I thought, shaking my head.
When we boarded the yacht, I was surprised to see it pretty tidy for a pirate visit. And it didn't look like there was anything valuable missing, in fact it didn't look like anything was missing at all. And Ms. Watts confirmed my assumption. There was indeed nothing missing. Everything was working fine, so we left her on her yacht and went back to Hammersley. I understood the XO's doubts about Clair Watts's story even better now. It just didn't seem right. Why would pirates attack her, chase her off her yacht and then not take anything? Pirates usually took everything they could. But they took nothing from Clair Watts's yacht. Nothing. That was more than strange. But she was back on her yacht now, so I didn't need to concern myself with that any further.
Right the next morning we got another mayday call. When we reached the sight, there were three guys leaving the motor launch that had sent the mayday. And they suddenly started firing on us. I quickly cowered down on the rhib. We got cover fire from Hammersley and took cover behind the launch. When those guys had left, we proceeded to board the launch. I needed a second to breathe. I wasn't used to someone firing a gun at me. And really, I didn't want to be. I was glad they were gone now.
There were three men on board the motor launch. According to them the guys who attacked them had called them over the radio, asking if they could buy some fuel.
At first I thought this might have been the same guys that attacked Clair Watts, but I doubted that now. First of all, Ms. Watts said there were four, but here there were only three guys and second she didn't mention anything about them asking for fuel and nothing was stolen from her yacht either, while these pirates took whatever was easily accessible.
I sighed and then made my way to the galley, after we had gone back to the Hammersley. I joined the guys for some breakfast. All they could talk about were the pirates. They were probably all thinking about that Clair Watts. Well, except Spider. He still seemed concerned with his fishing friends that were killed, Sam and Carl.
These pirates seemed to be pretty active. Just a few hours later we received another distress signal. I went up on deck to join the others on the lookout. The XO was the one who spotted a lone swimmer in the water. I took a look and realized who it was. "It's Clair Watts," I stated. The XO and the CO both looked at me and then exchanged looks. It was pretty clear what we all were thinking.
ET recovered her and Ms. Watts's explanation this time was that they were the same guys as before, but this time they asked for fuel, like with the other three guys. Somehow this seemed really fishy to me. Something was up with that woman. Nav and the XO thought the same, and the CO seemed to as well. The other guys didn't seem to notice anything strange about what she was telling us though. But the way she threw herself at ET… It was like she just signaled to get the attention. I kind of felt bad for Nav who watched the whole thing. I knew she liked ET and I actually thought that ET liked her too, but I guess there was no changing a womanizer.
I decided to head back to the bridge to help locate Ms. Watts's yacht. It didn't take long at all. But this time there actually was something stolen and even broken, so Ms. Watts had to come back to Hammersley with us for lunch, while ET fixed whatever could be fixed. I didn't stay on deck to listen to Ms. Watts's stories, instead I paid a visit to RO, since it was my e-mailing slot right now. I wrote to Josh and asked him about Rhihannon. I didn't write much about what was happening here, considering he wasn't a fan of the Navy, or rather my being in the Navy. But I told him about Ms. Watts and what I thought of her distress signals. After that I went to my cabin to rest up for my watch tonight. There wasn't much else I could tell him. The navy was a big part of my life now, it was pretty much my life. I couldn't talk about it with my family, so what else was I supposed to tell them? It sucked a little, but I had to respect my brother's opinions.
When I got back to the bridge, we were following the trail of an FFV. "Double check your plot," the CO ordered Nav. "Spider you okay?" the XO asked the boy. I looked at him. He was breathing kinda hard, but he said, "Yea, yea, I think I just ate too much of that squid." I watched him another few seconds. "I… I appear to have made a slight error in my calculations by one degree," Nav distracted me. "One degree… Sixty miles," the CO raised his voice. "I don't know how…" Nav stuttered, "We need to come about new course 270." Nav ordered the directions, but Spider didn't react. "Spider, pay attention!" the CO yelled. I looked at Spider. "Spider!" Something was wrong with him, very wrong. "Red, go get one of the guys!" the CO ordered me. I quickly ran into the hall. "ET!" I yelled as I saw him, "Come to the bridge, quick! Spider…" ET ran to the bridge and helped the CO carry Spider to the ward. I stayed behind on the bridge and helped Nav renew our course when the CO radioed that we should head for home port at best speed. That strengthened my fear that it was something serious. Something was really wrong with Spider. My whole body tensed as I set course for home port.
I stayed with Spider and Buffer, who had also gotten sick, while Swain, Chefo, the XO and the CO talked with the doctor in the hospital. It looked like Buffer and Spider were suffering from food poisoning, but without vomiting. It was strange. But all I could think about was hoping that they would get better really quick. Chefo and the CO came back sometime later. Chefo sat down next to me by Spider's bed. "How you doing Spider?" he asked. "Ugh, dodgy… squid," was all he could mumble. Chefo sighed. "It's not your fault, Chefo," I tried to cheer him up. But in vain. Chefo felt responsible for poisoning them, even though he was a great chef and nothing had ever happened before. So why now?
We left port again later that day, without the guys who were still in hospital. They needed rest. We followed up on the lead we had for those FFVs. I was part of the boarding party. There was a difference between approaching a ship in the dark and during daylight. I was more anxious than usual. But at least I didn't have time to worry about the guys.
We were ready to board the first FFV when we suddenly got the order to abort. I wasn't the only one who voiced their lack of comprehension. We were so close. We were right on top of them.
As I was told later, the reason we had to abort was a mayday call from Clair Watts. "You gotta be kidding me!" I exclaimed. This had been a great chance and we had to give that up for her? When the mayday was probably as faked as the other two were? I couldn't believe it. Something was seriously wrong with that woman. Three maydays in less than two days?
And on top of that we would need to go to unsurveyed waters. I was posted as a lookout on deck with pretty much everyone available. We barely made it through without gracing anything, before the XO spotted Ms. Watts's yacht. I didn't even want to be part of the boarding party. And luckily, I didn't have to be. It looked like this time everyone was annoyed by Clair Watts, even the guys, even ET. She had ruined a great opportunity for all of us after all.
"Red, go and see if ET needs help with our guest." The CO seemed pretty tense when he ordered me. He was probably the one who was the maddest about her ruining our chances of getting those FFVs. "Aye, Sir," I saluted and left.
"ET, do you need any-" I cut myself off when I found Clair Watts yelling at ET while he was trying to calm her down. "…morale superiority? You don't! You don't! My dad didn't do anything wrong." Ms. Watts suddenly pulled out a gun and pointed it at ET, "He didn't do anything wrong." She hadn't noticed me yet, being too distracted with ET, so I quickly snuck out again and called the CO, before I went back in despite the CO's orders for me to stay put. "Ms. Watts, calm down. No one said your dad did anything wrong," I spoke up. At the sound of my voice she took a few steps back, pulling ET with her. The CO came up behind me. "Clair, put the gun down," he said calmly pushing me back out, "Put the gun down, please." I could still hear the CO trying to calm the woman down. I wanted to go back in, but I didn't dare.
To my relief ET came out just a minute later. "You're alright," I breathed out. "Yea," ET replied distant. I was just glad he was okay.
"Red, a word," the CO said when he came out as well and I averted my eyes. "Yes, Sir." "I told you to stay put, didn't I?" the CO asked me, already knowing the answer. "Yes," I nodded, "And I'm sorry, Sir, but I just couldn't stand by and do nothing while ET was in danger." "You disobeyed a direct order, Seaman Taylor," the CO stated, "You're lucky that this is the first time you ever did anything remotely disobedient. I won't punish you. But if you ever do anything like this again, be sure that there will be consequences." "Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir," I quickly said. The CO dismissed me.
These had been an eventful few days. I don't think I would ever get bored being in the Navy. Something nerve-racking, exciting, challenging or whatever always happened. I didn't know whether that was a good or a bad thing just yet. For now I was glad that everything turned out allright.