Chapter Twenty-Five;
Arctic Princess

"Again?" Radar said from the navigation controls. Nav looked up.

"What is it?" She put down the log where she'd been adding all the information Swain had gathered the day before from The Reginald.

Radar pointed to the screen. "She's back. The Arctic Princess, that ship that was following us. We lost her when we went to see The Reginald, but she's back."

Nav stood and went to the screen. They'd lost sight of The Reginald the day before and now, almost in her place, sat the Arctic Princess. Nav frowned, squinting into the morning light trying to see her. She was too far away. She glanced up at RO who was seated at the communications controls. "Want to give her a buzz RO? See what she's up to?"

RO nodded and five minutes later Nav was on the radio to the captain of the Arctic Princess, a young man called Timothy Remington. "Mr. Remington, this is Lieutenant Commander Holliday and I'm the Commanding Officer of the HMAS Hammersley. My Navigator has told me that he's had your ship on our screens for in and out of about 96 hours. May I ask why?"

Remington gave a small laugh. "I'm so sorry Lieutenant Commander, I think we've underestimated the true cost of sightseeing. We're just a fishing vessel out on a pleasure cruise in home waters, I assure you."

"So you won't mind if I send a crew over to check that?"

"Of course not ma'am, come on over, you're very welcome."

Nav put down the radio. "Radar, call hands to boarding stations and tell Swain I'm leading this one."

***

The man on the deck, who Nav assumed to be Remington, smiled and waved as they pulled up alongside. He held out a hand to her but she ignored, jumping into the boat without much effort. "Lieutenant Commander Holliday." She held out a hand formally and Mr. Remington smiled and took it.

"I didn't expect you to come over ma'am, just the plebs." He gave a warm, cheery smile but Nav remained emotionless.

"Can I ask what you're doing straying around our ship Mr. Remington?"

Remington gave a chuckle, his attempt at looking guilty but Nav didn't buy that one either. "It's my sister ma'am, she's a bit of a fan." Almost on cue a girl, about 20, skidded onto the deck. She stopped at the sight of the Navy crew gathered on the deck and turned a bright shade of red, stepping behind her brother. "Lieutenant Commander, my I introduce my sister Hallie." The girl gave a nervous wave, assessing the crew as they gathered behind Nav, but her eyes kept going back to the CO. She seemed rather awed by her actually.

"Hi Hallie." Nav glanced back at Buffer and Swain who nodded. She looked at Remington. "Do you mind if my crew have a bit of a look around your ship?"

Remington shook his head. "Go right ahead ma'am. I guess you'd like to see some papers too?" Nav nodded. "Okay, they're just in here." He headed off and Spider and Bomber followed him. Buffer, Swain and Haynes headed downstairs to have a browse for anything suspicious. Nav stayed with Hallie who was looking at the ground, wiggling one foot and trying to avoid eye contact.

"You interested in the Navy Hallie?" Nav asked. She nodded silently. "You look old enough, how old are you? Twenty?"

"21." She answered, still not looking up.

Nav assessed her silently. 5'8. She'd guess about 75 kilos but well within BMI requirements. Clearly a little shy, but that had never stood in front of anyone before. Heck, she could remember how nervous she'd been in her first year at ADFA. She's been shy then too. "So have you applied? I wouldn't say it's great fun but it's certainly an experience."

Hallie looked up, biting her lip. "I applied but they rejected me. I take tablets." Nav frowned. "I have genetic high blood pressure."

Nav sighed. "I'm sorry." Hallie shrugged like she didn't care, but she clearly did. Nav yanked her 'Navy: The Team Works' cap off it's strap. "Here, it's the very least I can offer you." But it seemed to mean a lot to Hallie who pulled it on over her shoulder-length brown hair and grinned.

"Thanks." She glanced at Nav's shoulder, biting her nails. "So, you're the captain?" Nav nodded. "That's cool. You have to be pretty good at your job to get that, don't you?" Nav shrugged. "What job do you do?"

"I was the Navigator. Being CO is kinda a full-time job now." Hallie smiled. "What job did you apply for?" Nav asked.

"Writer, I wanted to be the writer. You know, the captain's right-hand man." She sighed, her thumb still in her mouth, then touched her cap. "It's cool though."

Nav made to reply but the others had returned. Bomber came to her. "Papers are fine ma'am. I've radioed the info to RO and he's checked the logs and details. It all seems clear." Nav frowned. "They're here as a pleasure cruise. They look filthy rich. Got enough supplies down there to feed Sydney for a week."

"How many crew?"

"Ten. Two don't speak English at all, Brazilian nationals. They must've picked them up in Argentina, they've been based there for the last few months."

Nav cast Remington and Hallie a look. Remington was holding Hallie's new cap away from her as the girl tried to swipe it back. She returned her look to Bomber and Spider. "What do you think of them?"

"I don't know ma'am, they look legit. Maybe they are just fishermen."

"He's too cool, like he knows something we don't." Spider piped up. The girls glanced at him. "You know what I mean ma'am."

Nav did. "Yeah, but if he's clean there's nothing we can do. Maybe he is just a pompous ass."

"What's the girl like?" Bomber asked, watching Hallie stamp on Remington's shoe and snatch the hat back, donning it proudly.

Nav shrugged. "Maybe a bit slow, but she seems alright." She gave Bomber a small smile. "I think she's a fan." Bomber grinned then all three looked up as the others joined them. Buffer shook his head. There was nothing below deck, not even a spear.

"They're cleaner than clean. Heck, there isn't even poison on this ship." He muttered. He caught Remington's eye and the man came over.

"All done guys?" Nav nodded. He looked at her. "Thanks for the cap, it means a lot."

"No problem." Nav replied as Swain called Halfy back. "Thanks for the co-operation Mr. Remington."

He smiled. "Sorry to make you feel like a bunch of circus freaks, just, Hallie gets what Hallie wants." The young woman gave a large smile.

Nav shook her head. "I understand. Look, when you get back to the mainland just go see what's left of the Defence Office. I think, right now, they're handing out Navy jobs like lollies."

Hallie grinned. "Awesome, I might finally stand a chance."

"Good luck." Swain turned to Remington. "Sorry to disturb you Mr. Remington."

Remington held up a hand. "No probs, you made the crew's day I think." He watched them jump back in the RHIB. "Cya."

"Afternoon." Nav gave him one last look them motioned for Halfy to start off.

As the RHIB got out of earshot, the still-smiling Remington turned to Hallie. "Prepare the crew." He looked back at the Hammersley, still smiling and waving. "We attack tonight."