„I just got a one-hour notice," I stated. "What?" Noah looked at me disbelievingly, "There a storm raging out there." "Yea… That's probably why," I sighed. I quickly went to my room packed a bag.

"Can't help it, if we're needed, right?" I said. "You didn't need to join the Navy, you know?" Noah replied. "I'm not saying that I regret it," I retorted a little annoyed, "I love the Navy. I made the right choice joining. Even though it's inconvenient sometimes." "Just saying, I would have liked it better if you had just gotten a regular job in town." "Aw, do you miss me that much when I'm away at sea?" I cooed. "That's not what I meant. I just… worry." I smiled at Noah. "I can take care of myself, so relax," I said, "But I better get going now. See you soon, miss you, have fun without me." I gave Noah a quick hug before I left for Hammersley.

After we had left port Swain informed me that we were called to search for two lost boys. I went looking for the CO to ask for an estimate as to when we were going to be back. I found him in the ward with the XO. But before I spoke up I noticed the tape they were watching. Well I pretty much only noticed Spider dressed as the XO doing what resembled something like a lap dance on Chefo. It was terrifying and hilarious at the same time. But considering the XO's presence, I didn't laugh. "Sir," I spoke up instead. "Red, get me Spider!" the XO ordered me, "Now!" I didn't dare to say anything more than "Right away, ma'am."

Oh, Spider was in so much trouble now. I found him on the deck. "Spider, you are needed in the ward by the X and CO," I told him, "And if I were you, I'd hurry and get there as fast as you can." "Why?" Spider looked at me, obviously puzzled. "Just hurry," was all I said. At first I thought about following him, but I decided that I really didn't want to be there, when the XO caught sight of him. X didn't seem like a very forgiving kind of person and considering that Spider had humiliated her in front of almost the whole crew… Yea, I definitely didn't want to be in Spider's shoes right now.

Later when I was on my way to my cabin, I saw a rather large group of guys gathered around something. When they noticed me, most of them scrambled away, only the few that didn't notice me stayed behind. "Yea, I think you missed a spot there, Spide," I heard ET say. Spider was cleaning a toilet with a toothbrush. So that was his punishment. Or at least a part of it. "If that toothbrush leaves a streak you better finish using a cotton ball, Spider," Buffer added. "You'll probably find one of those in the X's handbag," ET said. "Guys," I tried to interrupt. "Or in your own handbag," Buffer continued on. "Give it a rest, alright," Spider snapped, obviously uncomfortable and exhausted, "Why did you have to use that tape anyway? You know the XO's got no sense of humor." "Less chat, aye." I jumped in surprise when the X suddenly spoke up. I hadn't even noticed her walk up beside me. "I want the gun bay hocked out and restocked this forenoon," the XO said and turned to leave, "And… a muster of all the gear in both boats for currency and serviceability. Thank you." "It's all on Spider's list, X," Buffer said. "Excuse me, ma'am," Spider spoke up, "Are we square then?" "Not even close," was all the X said before she left. The other guys then left as well, laughing.

I felt sorry for Spider. Of course what he did was pretty disrespectful and humiliating, I could understand the XO, but I couldn't help but feel for Spider. He was suffering humiliation right now too and it was even worse because the guys were making fun of him to his face.

"Spider," I started. "What do you want?" he snapped at me. "Hey, I just wanted to offer you some help," I told him. Spider sighed, "Sorry, Red. I'd really appreciate it." "Don't worry. I'll take care of the boats, I need to check the gear anyways," I said. "Thank you, Red, really." "Let's just say you owe me, alright?" I smiled comfortingly at Spider.

I left him to finish the toilet and started on the rhibs then. Better get it done quickly. And without the XO noticing. She was still pretty pissed at Spider. If she knew I was helping him… I guess that anger would come onto me as well. But I just couldn't let Spider be treated that way. He was still a child, in mind at least. We were about the same age, but Spider was just like a little kid sometimes. He was so naïve. He was always going to do some stupid things. That was just who he was. And I didn't think that made him a bad person, just a gullible child.

When I finally finished with the muster of all the gear, I went to the gun bay and handed it to Spider. "Here," I said, "And Spider, please try not to let the guys talk you into doing something stupid again, alright?" "I won't," Spider replied, "But Red, thank you. Really. I don't think the XO will ever let me off the hook." "Just show her that you're sorry," I told him, "You'll be fine." I left Spider to finish his work and started on my other duties.

We reached our destination, a small town named Redcliff, the next morning. We used the dingy to go ashore. Some residents and a military guy were already waiting for us. By the looks of it Nav knew that military guy, Craig Bolt. When I noticed ET's reaction to that, I had to smile. He so liked Nav too.

I followed the CO and X. A woman came running towards us. "Thank god you're here," she said, "My boy Connor, he's one of the two missing, gone since yesterday." "We know about the boys, ma'am," the CO said. "The dingy's gone. We think they might have gone to the island to go fishing or something, but it's… it's miles out." It was obvious how worried she was about her son. "Okay, ma'am," the CO said. "No, it's not okay," she interrupted him, "Connor's a diabetic, he could die without his medication." "Ma'am, we'll do everything we can to find Connor as fast as we can," I tried to reassure her. There was not much else I could do. Mrs. Bullen was a worried mother, nothing could make her rest before she had her son back in her arms.

I was to stay in the village to help with the repairs, while the CO, Nav and ET formed a search party to look for the missing boys.

"Buffer, we need to organize a repair party, you can start with Spider," the X said, "Red, you can help as well." "Alright, ma'am," Buffer and I replied. "I'll leave you guys to clean up," Craig Bolt muttered, before he left. He may have been one of Nav's friends, but to me he seemed quite conceited. I didn't really like him. "Red, you coming?" I heard Buffer call. I quickly ran to catch up with him.

Buffer started to repair the roof of the local school while I helped Mrs. Bullen and the children clean up inside, starting with the desks. Spider joined a little later, followed by a pretty energetic blonde boy. "Come on everyone, let's pick up the pictures, aye," Mrs. Bullen then said and so we did. "They're still wet," the boy who had followed Spider, Oscar, exclaimed. "That's okay, they'll dry on the wall," Mrs. Bullen tried to be optimistic even though she must have been worried sick about her son, "Like hanging out the washing:"

"I reckon Tim's okay," the boy suddenly said. "Connor too, yea," Mrs. Bullen added shakily. "Don't worry, we'll find your son," I reassured Mrs. Bullen, while Spider distracted the boy, "Connor will be alright." Mrs. Bullen just nodded and turned away to hide her tears. I felt so sorry for her. She had no idea where her son was, if he was alive or whether she would ever see him again or not.

Then the XO walked in. "Seaman Webb," she spoke up, "I've found another job for you." "Yes, ma'am." I didn't really want to know what she had planned for him now. It couldn't be anything good. I continued helping Mrs. Bullen and Buffer. The school had taken quite a lot of damage.

"Mrs. Bullen," the XO came in again after some time and spoke up, "I just received a message from our CO. They found your son. He's alright. They'll be here any minute now." "Really?" You could see the relief in Mrs. Bullen's face after hearing the news.

Just a few minutes later the CO, Nav and ET appeared, with a boy. "Connor!" Mrs. Bullen exclaimed and ran towards him, embracing him. I couldn't help but smile at the scene, a mother reunited with her lost son.

But then Spider came running with Oscar and another boy. "Sir, X," he yelled. The other boy was Tim, the second boy that had gone missing. "Well done, Spider," the CO praised him, "How did you manage this?" "Oh well, this guy pretty much tipped me off, aye?" Spider replied, ruffling through Oscar's hair. "Spider, why didn't you tell us what you knew before racing off like that?" the X questioned him and I frowned. Did she really have to go down on him like that right now? He had found the missing boy after all. "Uh, well, um, it happened really fast, ma'am," Spider answered, his smile fading again, "But there's something I think you should see. Now."

Spider seemed pretty serious. He led the CO, the X, and me, since I wanted to come as well, to a small shack on the beach. "They build this when they didn't want to come home after Connor was lost," Spider told us. "So they'd come home when they'd heard he was back," the X concluded. "Well, I don't think coming back was an option, ma'am," Spider said, "See, they put this here for a reason. They were, um, trying to protect their new toy." Spider lifted some leaves and a tarp. But what he revealed made me gasp. "That's…" "Ugh, great," the CO exclaimed.

I kept my fair distance from the sea mine while the XO called the crew over. It didn't take long before everyone had gathered, even some of the townsfolk had come to see what was going on. I helped Spider get them back over the hill, away from the sea mine. When I saw Craig Bolt approaching, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. The way he walked, just everything about him screamed 'prick' at me.

"Red, get over here," the CO called me after talking to Bolt for a few moments. I walked up to them. "Why don't you watch Captain Bolt here, while he tries to disable the sea mine?" he suggested, "It would be a great experience for you." I wanted to decline, but the CO right. Seeing a WWII sea mine from up close might actually be quite enlightening. So I followed Bolt to the sea mine.

"See that over there," Bolt pointed at something, "The access is rusted tight. Do you know what that means?" I thought for a second. "It means… we can't disable it. The sea mine needs to be blown up," I responded. "Hey, not bad for a little Navy girl," Bolt applauded and I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes.

I had to help Bolt set up the sea mine for detonation until Buffer came to tell me to get out of the parameter. And boy was I glad to hear that. I really wanted to get away from Bolt. He was such a tool. The way he talked, his gestures, just everything about him repelled me. How could Nav have ever liked someone like him?

I got out of there with everyone else to wait for the detonation. I stayed there patiently, until Spider suddenly ran past me. I called after him, but he just ran on in the direction of the sea mine. And just a few moments later I heard the explosion. Did Spider…? I ran to the beach as fast as my legs could carry me. The XO was already leaning over Spider when I got there. "Spider!" I yelled out. Swain gently pushed me aside so he could take a look at Spider. All I could do was stand there and watch, hoping he was alright. The boy, Oscar seemed fine, but Spider was bleeding.

"What the bloody hell did you think you were doing? You could have died there!" Bolt yelled. I wanted to beat him so badly that moment, that I almost did, but the CO pulled him aside before I had the chance. Spider was injured here and Bolt still had the nerve to yell at him. What was wrong with that guy?

"Ma'am, does this make us square now?" I had to laugh a little at Spider's question. "Not quite Spider," the XO replied and I looked at her disbelievingly, "Not quite."

Our job in Redcliff was done and we went back to the Hammersley. I was glad that Spider's injuries were nothing serious, just superficial.

Being in the Navy could sometimes be really dangerous. I realized that. But I still thought that I had made the right decision by joining. Because of that I got to meet all these amazing people that I can now call my friends.