Chapter Twenty-Seven;
Help In The Darkness

After reading what she could about The Avalanche, Nav rushed back to the bridge where it was chock-full of people. The sky was lit up with flashes as the fireworks exploded on the side of the ship and flew every which direction.

"It's like Guy Fawkes Night out there!" Scruffy yelled from the EOD, giving away her very British upbringing.

Nav went to the shoulder of Radar. "What've we got?"

Radar jabbed the screen with his finger. "There're three other ships in the area, one container ship and two civilian boats. We've got one not far away, the other two a decent distance. I say from wherever they are it looks like a great show, late New Years Eve."

Nav frowned. "This other ship, who is it?"

Radar shrugged. "Unregistered, ask Clark." He thumbed to where Clark was seated at the EOD. "Got a name Clarky?"

Clark shook his head. "Can't see her from here. Try giving her a call Scruff." Nav glanced up at Scruffy then went back to her chair. The team seemed to be working well, even if they weren't the team she'd expected she'd be in charge of all those years ago when she'd joined the Hammersley.

"Ma'am…" Nav turned to see Sparks standing there.

She frowned. "Please please please don't say the engine's shot to the sky too."

Sparks shook his head. "No ma'am, better than that, the fireworks have started to scorch the bulwarks. They're heating up faster than a tin trough in an oven."

Nav shook her head. "What can we do? Turn the cooling up?"

"Not without blowing the top off the cooling vent and screwing us forever. But we can't sit back cos the heat is warping the walls."

Nav frowned. "So what do we do?"

"Stop getting fired on?" Sparks replied with a shrug.

Nav glared and made to reply but was cut off when Clark yelled from the EOD. "This is about to get worse." Nav looked up. "That second ship Radar?" Radar nodded. "They've just Morse light liaised with the Arctic Princess. I think they're working together."

"Murphy, over here." Nav called and Scruffy rushed over. "What're they saying?" Nav motioned to the image of the Morse light.

"Can't really see, but I think that was 'help' and I'm sure that's not linked with 'this isn't the best way to help the Navy'." Scruffy muttered, squinting at the screen.

"'We're here to help' it's safe to say. What's her name Clark? We can get some info on her from the system." Nav glanced as Scruffy headed back to the comm. system.

"The Reginald ma'am." Clark frowned. "What've they got?" He glanced up at her. "Are we inside the rules of engagement yet ma'am?"

Nav shook her head. "No, they have to fire something real upon us first." She glared at the rulebook near her chair. "Stupid rules."

***

The radio spluttered, cutting out every so often. Hearing it, he could tell from the voice of the radio operator that something was very wrong. Despite sounding calm, it was clear that the girl at the other end was calling for help from any surrounding vessels. However, with nobody nearby and the quality so bad, the CO of the Canberra knew he could offer no assistance. They were simply too far away.

"Are you getting this Flynn?" Steven Price's voice came through, no longer smug but deathly serious.

"Get off the line Steven, I'm trying to hear them."

The radio crackled once more then words that Mike thought he'd never hear again came out. "I repeat; this is Australian patrol boat 82. We are under attack from two, I repeat two, unknown vessels. Assistance required."

Mike frowned. Where were they? He snatched the radio from his CIS. "Hammersley, this is Captain Mike Flynn of the HMAS Canberra. What is your exact location?"

"Canberra!" The girl breathed a sigh of relief. "Our location is 46…" the radio cut out again and came back at the location. "… 10 minutes east."

Mike frowned. "Please repeat Hammersley."

But nothing. The old patrol boat was gone. Mike switched to pick up Price. "We have to locate them."

Price remained the voice of reason. "We don't know where they are Mike. They could be anywhere from that description."

"We can guess."

Price sighed. "Mike, be reasonable and realistic. By the time we get there it'll be over. Do you really want to go up there and find whatever is left behind of your precious patrol boat?" Mike didn't say anything. "I didn't think so. There's nothing we can do Mike. Get used to it, it's part of the job."

***

Swain appeared at the top of the stairs. "Someone needs to go down there and calm down the guests, they're worried and have no idea what's going on."

Scruffy stood up. "I'll get Luke to take care of them ma'am." Nav nodded and she rushed off the bridge.

Nav waved Swain over. "Chris, can you search the system for some info on… what's it called Clarky?"

"The Reginald ma'am." Clark's voice floated back.

Nav nodded. "Yeah, some info on The Reginald."

Swain frowned. "What? Is it taking on water again?" Nav frowned, looking thoroughly confused. "Ma'am, The Reginald was the ship we helped out the other day. They were taking on water but we couldn't figure out where the leak was. They were headed back to shore last time we saw them."

Nav shook her head. "No they weren't." She pointed to the EOD and Swain went over. "Is that The Reginald we helped?"

Swain nodded. "That's her. What's she doing here?"

"Helping the Arctic Princess. Anything we should note about her?"

Swain nodded. "Yeah, she had more fireworks on board, said there was a celebration coming up and they were coming to let them off… tonight." Swain's expression fell. "This is nowhere near over is it?"

"Depends on how many fireworks they had." Swain frowned. Nav sighed. "Okay then… no, no it isn't."