Thank you kessiebabes for your help finally the creative juices are flowing again.

Chapter 23 The Water

"Starboard 40 revolutions 2000" yelled x as they desperately steered the ship away from the object.

"Starboard 40 revolutions 2000 Ma'am" repeated Swain, just as Kate picked up the radio.

"BRACE, BRACE, BRACE, BRACE!" yelled Kate as the crew clung to the ship, holding on for dear life.

Hammersley narrowly missing it by metres, the crew all wanting to know what they had missed rushed up onto the deck as they watched it float in the water.

" Ok Charge get the boys, and get it out of the water we cant leave it there" said Mike, walking over to Kate as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

"You were right u know this was only the start, now we have found this, we cant just let it go" said Mike in a reassuring tone.

"Yeah well this has just proved it there is a ring, this isn't a one off, look I'll inform Navcom and I'll do up the paper work" replied Kate as they watched a backpacker and all the camping gear being pulled up onto the ship.

"I don't have a very good feeling about this" said charge as he walked up onto the bridge RO following close behind.

"Yeah I know what you mean" replied RO as he walked over to his station checking his emails.

Kate sat in the seniors mess with alexia doing her paper work and talking to commander Marshall.

"Look Sir we found another body, and more camping gear this has to connected to Hinton Cove" said Kate frustrated and annoyed.

" Yes Kate I know that, it appears that there have been backpackers going missing for about 3 months all from Hinton cove"

" But sir why weren't we told about this before" replied Kate annoyed it had to be the AFP's.

" The federal police didn't want to alarm anyone, but we are liaising with them now"

" Yeah and we all know how useful they are" replied Kate, looking up she saw Mike leaning on the door watching her.

" Well Kate, we don't have a choice, but they would like to speak with you and the crew and they will brief you"

" Yes Sir look I have to go I'll call you back later" replied Kate, hanging up the phone, she looked over at Mike he was still standing in the same position.

" What did Marshall have to say" asked Mike, as he sat down beside Kate.

" Well the feds are involved now, and when we get back to port they will brief us and the crew" replied Kate, sighing and annoyed she looked over at Alexia in an attempt get her mind off everything that was bugging her.

" Well we all now how reliable the feds are" replied Mike both laughing as they looked back at Alexia.

Kate had almost finished her mountain of paperwork when Mike called her to the bridge.

" You called" said Kate, walking over to Mike as he handed her the phone.

" It's Marshall he wants a word with you"

" What now?" replied Kate

"Yes now!"

" Lieutenant McGregor speaking" said Kate, she really didn't want to talk to Marshall but her orders were clear.

" Ah Kate, change of plans the feds are going to rendezvous with you on your way out"

"yes sir got it, has the co been informed?" replied Kate

"Yes he has now u will only be in port for 36 hrs"

" Ok sir" replied Kate before she hung up.

Hammersley was 4 hours away from port before Mike and Kate had a chance to sit down, " so how's your day been" Mike whipped out as they both laughed, all Kate waned right now was the warmth of Mike and the smell of her house as well as break and a hot shower.

Hammersley slowed into port they had been out on a 4 week patrol and with the discovery of another backpacker it looked like they would be out for another 4-5 week patrol again.

Kate and Mike walked into the house Alexia running ahead of them of course like she did every time she got home, and after her time at Mike's mum and dads she was even more energetic, but after weeks at sea who wouldn't be glad to be home.

They each had the showers and headed for the pub for dinner, arriving the crew had already ordered and were settling down out in the garden, something the booked every time they were there for dinner, it was so peaceful and relaxing in the garden. They all sat down eating there dinner, when Bomber spoke up.

" So what's happening with the backpackers x?" asked Bomber asking the question that was on every ones mind.

" Well we have been tasked with the duty of finding out what happened and we will be escorting the feds to the island" replied Kate.

" Huh well you of all people know how useful they are look at the bright island debarcle" replied charge as he told Bomber all about what happened.

" Well with us on it I think we will find out for our selves, the feds were a big help last time, not" replied Mike sarcastically.

They slowly finished there dinner and got on with there shore leave, leaving Bomber, Buffer, Alexia, Kate and Mike at the pub talking. It had just ticked over to 10pm and Alexia was fast asleep on Kate's lap when they called it a night, heading home to there beds were in Bomber and Buffer's case they had to be on watch in a few hours, they were lucky enough to get a few hours off the boat.

The night slowly passed for them as the sun slowly rose above the clouds that once hid it, and it was time for bed. Heading to there racks they were greeted by the sight of 4 federal agents ignoring them as they walked pass, they both collapsed in there racks finally getting the 40 winks they had been waiting for all night.

Kate and Mike arrived back on the ship refreshed and ready to go, although Kate hated were they were about to head to, she stepped onto Hammersley saluting and heading down to her cabin to get changed. stepping up onto the bridge she saw the 4 federal agents waiting for her and Mike, two faces she knew, it appeared that agent Turnball and Murphy.

"Ah just the faces I wanted to see" Kate said sarcastically bringing a smile to Mike's face.

"Likewise" replied Murphy.

Kate and Mike sat in the seniors mess for 2 hours being briefed on the current situation and what they knew.

" Wow that's was the worst briefing I've been to since ADFA honesty" said Kate as Mike nodded in agreement.

Hammersley would set sail in just under 2 hours, where they would drop off there federal friends and begin there investigation, something Kate wasn't looking forward to, she never wanted to set foot on that island ever again and she had just been handed the task of going back, sending a shutter down Kate's spine when she even dared to think about it. The island was trouble.