"Sir, Captain Steve Marshall for you."
"Thank you," Mike says as he takes the sat phone.
"Mike Flynn."
"Mike, Kate's been injured." Mike can tell from Steve's voice that it's not good.
"How bad is she?"
"She's unconscious, and has a number of other wounds. She's on her way to Cairns, via HMAS Melbourne." The crew on the bridge notice their Captain's pale look.
"Steve, just be honest with me. How bad is she?"
"Melbourne has her stable but it's still touch and go, Mike. They told me she may not make it. She's lost a lot of blood."
"Steve, just tell me what her damn injuries are and don't give me any bullshit about you not knowing," Mike says crossly. The crew on the bridge are surprised to hear him talking to a superior in that manner.
"Ok, Mike, calm down. She has a number of wounds, most are small but have been bleeding. She has two major wounds, one on her left thigh and one that she somehow got under her Kevlar. Melbourne said that your new Swain did a great job preventing too much blood loss but she had already lost a fair amount, and we know with her size any loss is not good. She will head straight to surgery when she arrives, to remove the splinters from those wounds."
"Why isn't she on a medivac back to Cairns?"
"There isn't one free."
"Oh God, no." There is a lot of emotion expressed in Mike's voice, a tear rolling down his face, George notices this. Steve can tell by Mike's voice that he is worried and upset at the news.
"Mike, she's a fighter. She'll make it."
"How...how did it happen?" he manages to get out while wiping away the few tears that have left his eyes. His crew on the bridge hearing the way he is talking all realise something bad has happened back at home to someone close to him. Their normally totaly in control and focused Commander is showing a different side to them.
"She was doing a boarding and the boat they boarded had a bomb on it. They got off but she and Dutchy got caught in the worst of the explosion.
"Steve, what the hell was she doing on a boarding? She's the CO, she should've been on Hammersley where it's safe."
"She had no choice, Mike. Nikki got injured yesterday and their Swain put her on light duties. They were on their way to drop off medical supplies when I sent them to deal with this boat."
"Ok, that is understandable. I would have done the same thing."
"Mike, is there anyone that I need to ring?" There is silence while Mike tries to absorb what is being said.
"Um, yeah. My parents. They'll need to be informed, plus mum will want to be by her bedside. If anything happens, please ring me."
"I will, Mike. She'll make it, she's a fighter."
"I hope you're right about that Steve, because if anything happens-" he is cut off by Steve.
"I know, there's no need to explain. I'll ring once I know more."
"Thank you."
"Fair winds, Mike."
Mike excuses himself from the bridge and heads to his cabin.
God, why am I out here? I should be at home to be there for her. She needs me and I'm stuck here. Oh God, she better pull through I can't lose her.
He has tears coming down his face while looking at the picture of Kate that he brought with him.
You better make it honey. I don't know what I'll do if you don't.
Twenty minutes later, Mike has gotten himself together and is heading back to the bridge.
Back in Cairns
Steve picks up the phone and dials the number in Mike's file for his parents.
"Hello."
"Hi, I'm wanting to speak to either Mrs or Mr Flynn please?"
"You're speaking with Mrs Flynn. May I ask who's calling?"
"Captain Steve Marshall." Oh God, something's happened to Mike runs through Megan's head first.
"Um, ok. Why are you ringing?" she asked with uncertainty in her voice.
"I've just gotten off the phone to Mike. He asked me to ring you both, to inform you that Kate is at present on her way to Cairns naval base to be transported to hospital."
"Is she ok?"
"Mrs Flynn, it's not looking good. Mike said you would want to be there."
"Yes, I'll catch the next flight to Cairns."
"Let me know what time you land and I will have a car waiting to take you to the hospital."
They talk for a few more minutes, exchanging mobile numbers before Megan hangs up and books a flight to Cairns and rings her husband to inform him of what has happened.
Hammersley
Everyone is in shock. Not only is their CO's life is hanging in the balance but so is their buffer's. They stay on course and complete the supply drop but due to having no buffer or CO they are unable to do anything else. Steve has ordered them back to base once the medical supplies have been dropped off.
"Nikki, she's a fighter. She'll make it," says Charge.
"I hope so, Charge. I just wish there was more I could do."
"You did a great job, Nikki. Dutchy and the boss are going to make it. Do you know if Mike's been informed?"
"I have no idea but, knowing Marshall, he most likely knows by now. (and) Thanks for the vote of confidence."
As Hammersley heads for home port they can't help but replay what unfolded in front of them several hours earlier.
"X, command state Oscar in force. Pipe boarding stations," calls Kate from the bridge as she is about to leave to get ready for the boarding.
They kit up, putting Kevlar on as well as they been unable to locate anyone on board. The RHIB is lowered into the water and then they are away.
As they approach the vessel there is still no sign of anyone. They board and start searching, Kate and Dutchy go down below to search the cabins. No one is found during the search and there are no signs that anyone has been on board, except in the last room where they find a bomb that is due to go off.
"Bomb! Get into the RHIB, there's a bomb!" rings out through everyone's headsets and the crew races to get in the RHIB. Dutchy is behind Kate as they run to the deck and climb aboard. Halfy pulls the RHIB away as Dutchy puts his body over Kate and the next thing there is a large explosion. A chunk of wood comes flying towards Dutchy and Kate. The RHIB tips and fires everyone out, but not before the bit of wood hits Dutchy, causing him to push Kate and hit her head on the metal frame before they both fall out. Halfy, thanks to where Dutchy and Kate were standing, does not get affected by the flying debris. The three other crew members are at the front of the RHIB and fall out. They get knocked around by the RHIB as it tips, but due to their location they manage to come off not too bad.
Nikki, who is on the bridge, sees the RHIB take off and the boat explode, tipping the RHIB sending its crew flying into the water. She deploys the second RHIB and sends Swain out to help, sending Jones to the wardroom to get it ready.
Once the RHIB had rights itself and the crew had get their head around it, they start to search for each other. Charge tells 2Dads to find the boss while he gets Dutchy, having noticed from the position of Dutchy's arm and leg that they are broken. He remembers hearing 2Dads screaming that they need to get the boss out of the water asap because she is bleeding. Bird is dazed but ok, she just floats on the water with her life jacket inflated, waiting. Halfy swims straight to his RHIB to assesses it and climbs back in.
The second RHIB comes over to collect Bird but hears 2Dads screaming that the boss needs to be picked up first since she's bleeding and possibly attracting sharks. They change and go to her first, then Dutchy before getting Bird last.
As soon as Kate is loaded Swain takes over and gets 2Dads to put pressure on her leg wound while he quickly wraps something around the top to help prevent too much blood loss. When Dutchy is pulled on board, Swain gets them to lay him across the seats and he shakes his head at the injuries. Man, I'm pleased I've had some experience dealing with this type of stuff before as a medic on the frigates, Swain thinks to himself.
Once they are back on Hammersley, Kate and Dutchy are taken to the ward room. Nikki has Melbourne on the line and is in the process of having the boat turned around once both RHIBs are back on board, so they can meet with the Melbourne.
In the ward room as Swain takes off Kate's vest and Kevlar, blood starts to pour out of a wound on her left hand side of her stomach. He quickly puts both hands on the wound and gets Bird to grab more bandages. He gets her to press on the wound while he finishes getting everything off her. There are no more surprise wounds, but as he moves the bandages he notices a wood splinter. He packs bandages around it and does as he is told via the doctor from Melbourne. He notices the same thing when he tends to her leg wound and gets Bird to press firmly on the bandage above Kate's leg as he moves the dressings and cuts the pants away. He knows he can't remove them, so he packs bandages around them and puts a bandage over top to hold them all in place. He informs the doctor that she has lost a lot of blood and he has fluids going in but she still bleeding, although not as bad.
They then go to Dutchy with his broken leg and arm. He has to straighten out his leg and splint it and do the same thing for his arm.
"What a day not to have a medivac available," curses Nikki while steaming towards HMAS Melbourne.
Two hours later they are transferring them to HMAS Melbourne and the doctor informs Swain that he's done a first rate job with the supplies he has. Once on the Melbourne, they examine Kate again and change some of the dressing. She's still losing blood, so they keep pumping in fluids and give her a blood transfusion.
HMAS Melbourne informs Captain Steve Marshall that Kate may not make it, due to her blood loss. They tell him it is touch and go and to try and get a Medivac if he can, but he tells them he can't it's elsewhere. They go top speed back to base, to try and save one of their own.
Six hours later. Nine hours after Kate and Dutchy were injured.
Kate arrived at the hospital three hours ago, and was rushed straight into theatre. Megan is unable to get any information from the doctors or nurses until Steve turns up. He tells them who she is in relation to their patient, where her partner is and why he is unable to be here.
Since the phone call earlier on today, the crew have watched on as their boss seems partially out of it. Every time George looks at him, he seems to be looking out to sea as if he is thinking about something totally different and not what is in front of him. George is pleased that today is a slow day for them, but then again it gives Mike far more time to think. If the news was not good, which George is thinking it wasn't, this means a slow day provides more chance for Mike to lose it, since he can't be where he wants to be.
Mike is on the bridge when he is passed the sat phone, having not heard who it is that wants to talk to him.
"Mike Flynn speaking."
"Mike, I've just had an update from the hospital."
"How is she doing?"
"She's in ICU now."
"How bad is it looking?"
"Well, since I last spoke to you I got some more information. The two wounds that were causing concern are now all fixed up and should heal fine. They got all the splinters of wood out as well, but she hasn't woken yet. Mike, I had to tell them that you and Kate are married it was the only way the doctor would let your mum be with her. "
"Well, it's not too far from the truth."
"No and the fact she was wearing your ring helped some."
"She did a boarding wearing it?"
"I'm not totally sure."
"It is unlike her to do that. Maybe Nikki put it back on once they got her back on board."
"Maybe. Anyway Mike, how are you?"
"I would prefer to be there with her, Sir, but I know I can't so I have to accept updates via the phone."
"Sorry that I can't bring you back in."
"I understand, and we'll be home in a couple of weeks. How was my mum when you saw her?"
"Very upset."
"I thought so. Can you make sure she looks after herself please?"
"I will, Mike, and I'll ring if there is any more information or change."
"Thank you, Sir. Oh, hang on. How is Dutchy?" Mike asks, remembering Kate wasn't the only one injured.
"He's still in surgery. He has a broken leg and arm and some lacerations, he woke up just before they got back here to base."
"That is good to hear, Sir."
"Fair winds, Mike."