Chapter 8 Crash sailed
That Thursday.
The Hammersley crew had two weeks shore leave, but Navcom decided to shorten it.
Commander White ordered Lieutenant-Commander Caetano to make an extra patrol with a team from the Federal Police. They were in the middle of an investigation in to the drugs lab and wanted a particular area investigated.
Nikki sent a message to her crew about the crash sail.
Dutchy received the message and made a face. There went his opportunity to see Kate and Stephanie. He took his cell phone and keyed in a message.
Sorry Kate, have been crash sailed. Let you know when I am on shore again.
At the other end, Kate's phone buzzed and she smiled when she saw the sender of the message, but her face became a thundercloud after she has read it.
Damn, just when have a free weekend. I like him and to be honest I've always felt something for him. I loved Mike, but now I'm starting to feel the same things for him also. And I feel like he wants to accept Stephanie too, which is great. Stupid crash sail. I hope we see each other as soon as possible, I can't wait.
She giggled realising she couldn't wait. On the other hand I promised Stephanie that I would take her on a trip with the new boat. Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity and I'll ask Maxine to join us. Becca is sailing the ship on Monday, so I can sail on Saturday and then we can prepare it on Sunday.
She looked for Maxine's number.
"Hey Max, it's Kate. How you're doing?"
"Hi Kate, I'm fine, and you?"
"Good, good. You remember I promised to take Stephanie sailing on the new boat? I will do that on Saturday, are you free to join us?"
"Yeah, that's good, I have nothing special on my agenda."
"Ok. See you at the boat at 1000 AM."
"Thanks and bye."
Ok, where do we go? Woody Island - there is a lovely pool and a nice waterfall. Stephanie will like that. Yeah that shall it be.
On board of the Hammersley.
Nikki was on her way from the galley to the bridge. She was about to take a bite from the doughnut in her hand when she was side tracked by a flickering tubular lamp in the hallway.
"Damn! 2Dads! Where are you for god's sake?" She yelled as she hurried to the bridge.
"Ma'am?" 2Dads asked a bit surprised.
"How many time already did I ask you to fix that bloody lamp in the hallway?" She continued yelling.
"Uh, I was busy with other jobs." 2Dads tried to save his skin.
The other crew members looked to each other with a glance of 'here we go again'.
"Bullshit! You had enough time to fix that stupid lamp. It's just a matter of a couple minutes. You do it right now! Move! Do I have to do everything here by myself?" She shouted and she threw an angry glance at her XO by the last bit.
"XO ! A word in my cabin, Now!" She snapped and she stepped angrily from the bridge followed by Wilkinson.
She entered her cabin and leaned with crossed arms against her desk waiting until he closed the door.
"XO, why do I have to look for this kind of fine details? That's supposed to be your job."
"Ma'am, normally it's the buffer who takes care of that," he defended himself.
"No, No, you can't get away with that. You always try to put the responsibility on someone else's shoulders. You are the executive officer ! You have to see that these things are done ! Moreover, last I heard, our buffer was complaining about the paperwork. I also found a pile of paperwork that you'd 'forgotten'. Listen, Lieutenant, improve yourself, otherwise you are off my ship. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Ok, dismiss," she said with a gesture of her head.
On her way to the bridge she glared at 2Dads who was busy with the lamp. 2Dads tried to make himself invisible, but it didn't seem to work she was just back at the bridge and sat in her CO chair, the three guys from the Feds came onto the bridge.
"Captain, we want that you steam to Woody there, we need a team to inspect a specific area," the sergeant said convinced.
Nikki looked at him with a glance of 'are-you-really-going-to-say-what-I-have-to-do-on- my-ship'. She was still in a bad temper and this made it no better.
"Navcom said that we have your full cooperation," he said to underline his first request.
If the situation had been a cartoon, you would have seen steam coming out of Nikki's ears."And what … do we have to expect to find there?" She replied icy with a dangerous smile.
"Sorry that information's classified," the sergeant said with a poker face.
If her eyes had been knifes, he would have been dead right now. "So, I have to send my men into an unknown location without knowing what we might expect once there? Do you find that normal? These are people, not play cards!"
"I know what we are looking for, But it's an on-going investigation, and I'm afraid I can't tell you that."
"And how are we supposed to prepare ourselves? We don't know what's out there?" She said paused."You don't say much anymore, do you?" She said hatefully.
"I don't think it will be that bad. Moreover you're Navy, I'm sure you can handle it," he answered to appease her. This CO wasn't someone to be messed with.
"I hope so, for your sake!"
The crew looked at each other - today was one of those days. You had better stay away from her, because with her temper, she was liable to yell about everything.
"X, gather a team. Add RO too. I don't want to have any mistakes with the radios."She saw that Swain was raising his hand. "No Swaino, you stay here. Bird is a medic, she can go. I need you here in case we have casualties.
Oh yeah, and take 2Dads also, I'm sure we need a cowboy there too," she said with a grin.
"A Cowboy? Me?" 2Dads stammered.
That broke the ice, because everyone on the bridge began chuckling.
"Aye ma'am," sounded from different corners.