CH 2
Later that night a navy car pulled up outside of Kate's apartment. She took her bags down to the waiting car and passed them to the petty officer. She looked around as she opened the back door when she heard a toot from a horn, she looked around and smiled when she saw Mike showed up in his car. He got out and walk over to her
"Kate"
"Mike" He hugged and kissed her.
"Before you go here i want to give you this" he show her a box, he open it
"Mike," she said in shock. Mike got out the ring and slipped it onto her ring finger.
"This proves what i said Kate"
"I love it" she kiss him
"I'm going to miss you" Mike said
"Same here Mike, i got to go, i'll email you much as i can"
"Same here Kate love you"
"I love you to" they kiss once more before Kate got into the car, she look at Mike
"Fair winds" she said
"Fair winds and stay safe"
"I will" He closed the door and watched the car drive away. Then he returned to his car and returned home.
When Kate looked at the ring it was one carat princess cut diamond set in yellow gold with three point thirty three princess cut diamonds on each side in a channel set, set in three millimeter wide yellow gold band. She loved the ring as she sat back looking out the window with a smile on her face.
Hours later Kate was standing on the deck of HMAS ANZAC. She was escorted to the bridge first then down to her cabin where she shared it with three female lieutenants.
When two week shore leave was over the crew of Hammersley was shocked when they met their new XO. Mike explained to them that Kate was temporarily transferred to ANZAC for six months which the crew understood. Hours later Hammersley left port for a three week patrol.
During the next six months Mike and Kate manage to email each other. Mike kept Kate up to date on the crew and she told him that she saw Chefo, he was doing his tour on ANZAC and they were able to talk and catch up on what had been happening since he left three and half years ago.
Two months after Mike gave Kate her engagement ring, he was in his cabin doing his paperwork when the phone ring "commander Flynn"
"sir, i got fleet command on the line, please hold" Mike wondered why the fleet command wanted to talk to him. He heard click
"commander Flynn, rear admiral Mcdonald"
"Sir what can i do for you"
"commander i call to tell you myself it about lieutenant McGregor" mike sat up
"Kate, is she ok, what happen sir"
"A boarding went wrong, commander, all I know at this time is that Lieutenant McGregor and her boarding team have been missing for over an hour. The boat that they were on might be blown up by an RPG. The last message was one of the men was holding an RPG. There has been no contact since."
"thank you for telling me this sir, can you keep me up to date"
"will do commander, fair winds" Mike hung up then started to cry.
That is how dutchy found him a few minutes later "sir are you ok" he stepped inside Mike cabin to see the look on Mike's face.
"Fleet command called, Kate and her boarding team are missing, the HRIB that they were on might of been blown up by an RPG over an hours ago" Dutchy was shocked with the news.
"Want me to tell the crew"
"no, not till i know more, fleet command going to let me know soon as he knows"
"Ok, if you want someone to talk to, i'm here sir"
"thanks Dutchy"
"Captain to the bridge" they heard over the PS system.
"Better go and see what going on" Mike said as he stood up
"sir you better wash your face first"
"thanks Dutchy" then he walk into his bathroom while Dutchy walk out of captain cabin.
Early hours the next morning Mike phone rings so he turn the light on and got up and out of bed then he pick up the phone "commander Flynn" mike said in sleepy voice
when he saw it was after five in the morning since he got little sleep since he been worried about Kate and there was no update since the day before from fleet command
"Commander flynn, NAVCOM here please hold" Mike heard couple of bings
"commander Flynn hello"
"mike" He sat down in shocked
"Kate, my god are you ok"
"Yes couple bullet wounds but i'll live"
"Are you sure Kate rear admiral Mcdonald told me about an RPG"
"Yes i know captain Brown told me"
"what happen"
"We went to board a boat when we were fired upon and I saw the RPG. I told the crew to jump, we jumped into the sea when the HRIB blew up. When the boat was close by to where the crew gathered, i swam to the boat since they didn't see me and i manage to get on board and kill two men l and wounded the other one since they were going to kill the boarding team, i was wounded when they shot me but i was lucky to take down the third guy and brought the boarding team on board the boat. I head towards ANZAC and to let them know what happened. By the time I stopped the boat at the back of ANZAC. The crew found me collapsed onto the bridge. The doctor removed the two bullets, one from my arm and the other from my leg. I woke up half an hour ago and the captain let me talk to you to let you know that i'm ok"
"That is wonderful to hear your voice Kate. what about the boarding team"
"they were miner injured but will make a full recovery like me"
"That is good news, i can't wait to see you return" Kate smile
"Same here Mike. I'm feeling sleepy still Mike, i'll email you soon as i can"
"i'll be looking forward to it, love you"
"Love you to Mike, fair winds"
"Fair winds Kate" then they both hung up. Mike wiped the tears away as he stood up and walked into his bathroom to use the loo and to wash his face before returning back to bed with a smile on his face.
The day that Mike knew that HMAS ANZAC was due to go past an area which was not in his patrol area he changed course to head where the frigate was going to be. the crew especially the new XO wondering why he charged the course.
"sir why are we heading north west it not in out patrol zone"
"I know and it my choice we go this way lieutenant"
"May i ask why"
"Yes you can and no i'm not saying" Mike looks out to sea then turns to see Swain grinning at him, he gives Mike a nod knowing what the day is.
"sir i hope we make it there on time" Swain said
"Same here Swain"
"I hope you don't get into trouble with fleet command sir" RO said.
Mike turns to RO and smiles at him which the crew notice. "RO we know it won't be fleet command, it would be lieutenant McGregor whom he will be in trouble with" Charge said. Swain laughed.
"Your right charge, she would threaten him with a toothbrush, isn't that right sir" Swain said.
"Yes your right, She would"
"Sir, what are you going to do if she threatens you?" Dutchy asked from the radar station.
"I'll think of something up Dutchy"
"So long as you don't forget the milk chocolate," Charge said.
"Very funny charge"
Two hours later "sir i got a contact on radar"
"what is it bird" mike said
"It HMAS ANZAC" she said smiling
"Dutchy" since he was on the EOD.
"got it sir" Mike and the others look at the monitor while smiling. mike walk back over to his chair
"RO, on speakers" Ro who return to his radio turn it on for Mike
"HMAS ANZAC This is commander Flynn captain of the HMAS Hammersley"
"This is ANZAC hello commander Flynn are you part of our welcome home community" Mike grin
"I wish we were sir, I'm out of the patrol zone. How is Lieutenant McGregor doing?"
"she done an amazing job commander, how the hell you put up with her for four years, you will have to tell me one day"
"Let me guess sir deepthroat debates" The crew laugh
"You got it commander, she's one hell of an ice queen" the crew laugh knowing what she was like when she first boarded the old hammersley.
"Yes i know what she like sir, she come along way since then and i guess your toilets are clean" the crew laugh again
"Yes they are commander," he said laughing.
"May i ask where the lieutenant is now sir"
"Dealing with couple of officers"
"I understand sir, we will return to our patrol and welcome home ANZAC"
"thank you commander and crew of Hammersley, Anzac out"
"I remember Nav called her ice queen after she was transferred to the old girl," Charge said.
"I know, especially after she got spider, to scrub the toilets after what was on that tape from chefo buck party" Mike said grinning.
"Bad wig and all," Swain said, making them laugh.
Mike picks up the microphone. "Now here this, all personnel on the deck and welcome home lieutenant McGregor and HMAS ANZAC who are returning from their tour over in Iran, that is all" Mike said over the PA system.
While on ANZAC everyone heard. "Now here this, your captain speaking. We got a welcoming community from one of Cairns patrol boats and its crew. Let's thank the captain and the crew for their welcome home. That is all"
Twenty minutes later Hammersley was sailing next to ANZAC as the crew yelled and cheered the ANZAC crew on. Mike tooted the horn in a special way for Kate. When Kate was blow decks with some of the crew, she was having a bad day till she heard the horn from another boat which made her stop
"No, It can't be" then she ran down to corridor and up to the bridge
"sir"
"Lieutenant"
She walks over to the window and smiles then she turns and walks outside waving to the crew. When the crew saw Kate they yelled and cheered her on. Kate smiled when she saw Mike waving to her so she waved him back just and the captain and his XO stepped outside.
"lieutenant how did you know"
"the horn sir, commander Flynn got a way to let me know"
"Which one is he"
"One in the middle sir, on the fly bridge" the captain raises his binolas to see what Mike looks like.
"Ah so that commander Flynn"
"Yes sir"
"You know he away from his patrol zone to welcome us home"
"Really sir" she said smiling
"that what he told me" Kate turn and walk back onto the bridge and pick up the microphone and turn it on
"Hammersley this is ANZAC"
"This is Hammersley"
"RO it XO put the boss on"
"Yes ma'am, welcome home"
"thanks. RO" kate waited just as captain and XO return
"Lieutenant McGregor, i miss my XO" Kate laugh
"We know whose fault was that…. sir. What this i hear your out of your patrol zone"
"Oh don't you like Hammersley welcome home surprise" everyone on the bridge could here what Mike saying and the laughter in the background
"Oh i'll give you surprise if you don't return back to your patrol zone sir"
"And what surprise would that be lieutenant"
"toothbrush duties sir"
"Ouch lieutenant, the ice queen is back" the crew was laughing in the background
"what duties would that be" mike asked
"all the toilets on Hammersley sir, so i suggest you turn your ship around and head back to your zone sir or you will have fleet command calling you up and wondering why you're out of your patrol zone and don't you ever call me ice queen commander. i already had to deal with two officers calling me that, and they doing what i'm threatening you to do if you don't do as your told sir"
"don't worry we on our way, the crew wondering when you going to return to Cairns"
"I'll let you know as soon as i know sir, fair winds ANZAC out" then she put the microphone back and flicked a couple of switches.
"Lieutenant you shouldn't talking to a commander like that" Captain said
"sir commander Flynn knows i'm right and it not the first time he was threaten with toothbrush duties cause he was out of his patrol zone and it won't be the last"
"He done it before" He said raising his eyebrows
"Yes sir" the captain shook his head
"what this about missing his XO" the commander XO asked
"since i've been on here, commander Flynn been though six lieutenant XO in that time"
"sounds like he wants you back lieutenant"
"Yes sir, he does" Kate turns and watches as Hammersley moves one direction.
It was the next day when HMAS ANZAC was greeted by other boats as they entered Sydney harbor. Everyone was in their dress whites and lining up on the deck as ANZAC slowly headed to the navy wharf where families of the crew members were waiting for them. Once ANZAC dock everyone went to finish their jobs before leaving the ship.
Kate was in her cabin picking up her bags when there was a knock on the door. she walked over and opened it "sir" when she saw the captain.
"Lieutenant there a helicopter coming to collect you to take you up to Cairns"
"Why sir"
"They need you on one of the patrol boats, the captain is wounded and the XO refused to return back to port"
"Who the ship sir"
"Hammersley" Kate was shocked
"When will the helicopter be here sir"
"any minute" Kate pick up her hat and bags
"I'm ready sir" He turned and walked down the corridor with Kate behind him.
When the helicopter landed, Kate got on and saluted the captain before the door closed and it took off heading north. Kate found out from a lieutenant from NAVCOM about what happened. But they had little deal tales about what happened but orders from Mike was to get someone on his ship and to return to Cairns.
Kate changed helicopters up in Cairns, plus they gave her time to change before leaving on the second helicopter. When they reach where Hammersley is Kate was wrench down onto the deck. The crew doesn't know who the officer is. Once on the deck with her bags she turn around to shocked dutchy
"X your back" he said smiling
"Yes i am, where lieutenant Andrews"
"On the bridge"
"Right and Mike" Here X" Kate turns to see Charge and two dads carrying the stretcher out that got Mike on it and Swain behind them with two crew members holding him up since he was shot in the leg.
Kate saw the basket coming down and a harness. She started giving out the orders then they saw Swain who was in the harness and Mike being lifted off Hammersley and being wrenched up into the helicopter then it turned around and headed back the way it came.
Kate picks her bags up and walks towards the hatch. she went and put her bags in Mike cabin then she walked up onto the bridge.
"Charge start the engines, leader turn one two zero, revolutions top of the green, Lieutenant Andrews you're here by been relieved of your command and been confined to your cabin till we return to homeport" Kate said
"Who the hell are you"
"I'm acting captain now, get off my bridge lieutenant" Kate said in a command tone. she walk over and pick up the binoclas and sat in the captain chair just as the engines started
"turn the engines off, i don't know who you think you are coming on here giving out orders, i'm the XO here" Kate stood up and turn to him
"I'm acting captain, orders from fleet command, if you have a problem with that then you take it up with them. Dutchy escort the lieutenant here down to his cabin and he not aloud to leave his cabin till we dock"
"Yes boss, you heard her X" the lieutenant walked down the steps with dutchy behind him.
"Welcome back boss" Two dads said
"thanks two dads, RO let NAVCOM know that we returning back to port"
"Yes boss and welcome back"
"thanks RO can someone tell me what happened to commander flynn and why he was on the boarding team?"
They told Kate that he lead a boarding on a suspicious boat only that the ones on board had guns on board. they shot the HRIB with the boarding team on board. Mike, Swain and Dutchy was wounded.
Mike orders the lieutenant to take out the engines but he disobeys the order causing the boat to get away. Swain was shot in the leg and Dutchy on the arm. Bird took care of Dutchy and swain wounds then helped Swain take care of Mike since he was shot in the shoulder but lower close to his lunge.
Swain spoke to fleet medical and they had to return back at the top of the green, the lieutenant wouldn't follow orders, so Ryan, he was the next high ranking officer, managed to talk to Mike who got RO to call NAVCOM and inform them about what happened. The ship was at a stand still till a replacement could be found.
When they finish telling Kate she left the bridge to get a brew and saw Bird. "Bird"
"X welcome back"
"Thanks, I've heard about what you did for Mike, Dutchy and swain. You done good, they would be proud of you"
"thanks X, are we returning home"
"Yes we are" then she turns around and returns to the bridge.
Two hours later "boss i got a contact straight a head"
"What is it two dads" Kate asked he turn to her
"It's sea blue ma'am"
"Are you sure"
"Yes ma'am are we going after them"
"to right we are how far away are they"
"Twenty minutes ahead at this speed ma'am"
"ok lets go after them"
"what about there weapons" Kate smile
"Ours bigger"
"the Typhoon" Ryan said
"that right, RO contact NAVCOM to let them know that we going after sea blue"
"Yes boss"
Twenty minutes later Kate called the boat to stop, when it didn't she sent both HRIBS and a plan of attack. When it was time both HRIBS did what Kate wanted them to do. While the men on board were busy with the two HRIB's Kate got one of the leaders on the front of the deck waiting for her order, when she gave it, he shot the engine compartment causing the boat to slow down since there was black smoke coming from the engine room.
Both HRIBS was able to get close to throw tear gas on board then board the boat arresting the men on board. They found two boxes of semtex. Kate was please her plan work. they brought the men back onto Hammersley with the two crates and set a tow up then they slowly return back to Cairns.