Bridgett responded faster than Andenes had expected. The trimaran was on station within a matter of a few hours. By that time the Grind was already well underway. As she raced past the cruiser she gave her a warning snarl. Of course she didn't know Andenes was on her side but that fact wouldn't stop the cruiser from attacking if her crew ordered her to. She had to maintain secrecy. She had no choice. Reluctantly, she loaded blanks into her guns. Bridgett wouldn't know the difference but the scare factor was there. Andenes was well versed in Sea Shepherd's tactics so she knew this was a very effective means of getting people to do what you want without hurting them in the process.
Bridgett went to work at once, zipping around the poaching vessels like an annoying fly. Andenes could think of no other description that would fit her. She was annoying! She was lucky to escape her wrath so far. Andenes couldn't help but laugh as she watched several poachers get fed up with her antics and give up the Grind to chase her off. Bridgett, being much more nimble than them, merely veered out of their path and gave them the bird as she went by. This further served to aggravate them but Andenes knew that was exactly what Bridget wanted. Even if she was caught, captured, and taken to drydock, she would've achieved a tactical victory. She came to get the story of the Grind out to the world and even as Andenes watched that was taking place, courtesy of the camera's on board. Andenes, with her military background and training, had to appreciate various sorts of weapons and by far the most powerful was the camera. It was non-lethal in the physical sense, it maybe ruined some unlucky politician's career by capturing an embarrassing moment, but it never physically harmed or killed a person. Yet, it was the most effective weapon in Sea Shepherd's arsenal.
"Good job kid, keep it up." Andenes thought to herself.
Bridgett kept it up until night fall. She couldn't stop all the whales being killed but she managed to save a majority of the pod. On the way out she passed Andenes again.
"Several times there I thought you'd intervene." She said.
Andenes winced. "So she noticed my inaction. I must be more careful from now on." She thought. Outloud she said "Several times I thought I'd have to. You were walking a pretty fine line there, missy."
"Who cares how fine that line is as long as you don't cross the line." Bridgett replied wisely and with a touch of smugness.
Andenes knew she was repeating words that Paul Watson had said but she kept quiet. Better to let her have her moment. "You have a point there." She conceded. "But know this. The second you step across that line, I will be forced to intervene do you understand that?"
"Aye, you're a warship with orders, protecting the islands and all that. Yeah, I get it." Bridgett sniffed. "See you around, um.."
"Andenes."
"See you around Andenes. I'll be very careful so you won't have to intervene." She said.
"Thanks kiddo. I don't like getting involved in things like this. It can get messy really quick." Andenes replied.
"I hear ya." The trimaran chuckled.
With a flick of her Australian ensign, she was off. Her powerful engines working up to 28 knots, creating a roostertail of water behind her. Andenes watched her go until she vanished over the horizon, then, using her private frequency, contacted Pol and gave her the latest news.
"Bridgett did a good job. She successfully held off a majority of the hunters." Andenes reported.
"That's good. That's very good. I'll be sure to give her praise for that when she gets back." Pol replied.
"You'll keep me out of it right?" Andenes asked.
"Andenes, you know I will. Why ask?" Pol said.
"Because slip ups can be fatal." Andenes replied.
"Still sore over that aren't you?" Pol sighed. "I'll be careful, don't worry. I nearly lost you once, I'm not about to make the same mistake again." She said.
"Good girl."
5 weeks later, Andenes got word that Westra had been freed from the impound and was on her way to the Faroes. Sure enough, 2 days later, Andenes' radar picked up a new contact. It appeared over the horizon as a ship resembling that of a patrol vessel. Andenes had seen many in her years of service. As this one drew closer, she could picked out details on it. The dazzle paint was an instant giveway as to the ship's allegiance. Andenes' first guess would be Pol but Pol was no patrol boat and she definitely did not sport the dazzle stripes this ship had, Andenes' former apprentice had a leopard pattern to her dazzle. But the biggest different between her and this new ship was the number on the bow. Pol didn't have a "77" the last Andenes looked. The 77 wasn't the ship's yard number, but rather it stood for the year Sea Shepherd was founded, 1977. Only one ship could carry that honor, the flagship.
Westra halted in front of her, amber eyes narrowed. But from annoyance or curiosity, Andenes couldn't tell.
"You must be Westra." Andenes said.
"That's MY Steve Irwin to you." Westra growled back, tone chilly.
"Very well then Irwin. While on names, mine is Andenes." Andenes answered.
"I know who you are." Westra said. "Just stay out of my way and there will be no problems."
"I'm merely hear to observe. As I told Bridgett, I will only intervene if you do something illegal." Andenes said, adopting a cooler tone.
"Then we understand one another." With a dip of her head, Westra sailed past her.
"So this is Westra." Andenes mused as she watched her go. "She's an interesting sort. Cool but not without feeling. A perfect blend, a perfect flagship."
Andenes knew Westra from years earlier, back when she was still a Scottish Fisheries Patrol Vessel in the 80s. Her long patrols carried her far into the North Sea in search of foreign ships and she often found herself wondering into the Norwegians' patrol area. Her past could be classified as rocky at best. Not even Andenes knew the full story. But she did know of her estrangement with her siblings and with her homeport in Scotland. Following that incident, Westra left her home and in tears, found her. Andenes let her stay with her in Norway for nearly a year before she decided it was time to move on. She escorted her to the border. That was the last time she ever saw her, until now.
Watching her work now, she was proud at how far she'd come. She went from being a lost young ship with no purpose to a seasoned veteran vigilante, full of a youthful energy a ship her age shouldn't have. Though not as nimble as Bridgett, a ship like her didn't need to be when facing down small ships like these. Her fangs worked as intimidation tools and if a boat got too bold and approached then Westra would crouch as though she was going to attack and growl a warning. That usually did the trick and sent the little blighters running! Even Andenes, watching from a far, resisted the urge to run at the sound. It wasn't the growl itself that was dangerous, it was what Westra had done with it. She used it to summon a ships' natural base instinct. The same found in every animal. Fight or flight. It was brilliant.
By nightfall the job was done and not a single pilot whale was killed, courtesy of Westra's sonar and whale sound efforts previously. Sailing back to the bay's entrance, the Sea Shepherd flagship held her head high in pride, smugness radiating off every inch of her hull. Andenes figured she'd earn the right though. What she did, was pretty impressive.
Westra sailed up to her. "What did you think of that?" She asked.
"That was, pretty cool Westra, pretty cool." Andenes answered.
Westra bristled at the breech in protocol but decided to let it slide this time. In a gentler voice she said "Andenes I, to see you like this..."
"I know. I know." Andenes' green eyes, bright round and sad, reflected the moonlight, making them luminous. She stretched her nose out and nuzzled the other ship. A questioned had been nagging Andenes for some time now. Having the chance to say it, she took the opportunity. Who knew when she'd have another chance. "Why didn't you come back?" She asked.
It was Westra's turn to look sad now as her amber gaze sweeped over the Norwegian. "I moved on." She replied.
"You know you were always welcomed in Norway." Andenes said. "I-I waited for you."
"I'm sorry." Westra's eyes closed as she looked away, her breathing hitched.
"I know you are." Andenes murmured. "But that doesn't change the fact that you hurt me."
Westra's head dropped, a whimpering sound escaping her as she struggled to fight back her emotions. Andenes, knowing Westra's nature and that she'd have to get her to crack to get through, pressed on.
"I kept up on your whereabouts, always hoping you'd come my way. But you avoided the North Sea region like a bitch!" Andenes chuckled. "I sent Pol to you, you know." She continued. "I sent her to you because I knew you'd be a good teacher to her, and always treat her right."
"Andenes, please..." Westra begged.
Andenes knew she was getting close now. "I always believed in you." She said. "I knew you'd go on to do great things. Not because of your prophecy, but because you were a good ship with a determined heart. You believed in what was right and weren't afraid to set about striving for it and helping others to strive for it as well."
Westra sniffled.
"Those years in which we'd cross paths every patrol, I cherished them and I cherish them even more today. For they're the only real memories of you I have." Andenes said. "My sisters were estranged then and they are quite happy to remain so now. But you, you were the sister I never had. I loved you like one and I have never, ever stopped loving you. Because you Westra, you are my one and only sister."
Westra broke down in tears, throwing herself on Andenes and clinging to her. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" She wailed. She buried her bow in the cruiser's side.
Andenes held her, rocking her back and forth gently. "I forgive you, darling. It's okay, shh.." She whispered.
The two ships sat there in their sorrow and their love. They knew that come morning, they'd have to inevitably part ways again but for the time being at least, they could enjoy one another's company.
Come morning, Andenes and Westra said their last farewells before the latter had to head out again.
"Don't stay away so long this time." Andenes begged. "Remember, my berth's always open."
"I know but I doubt Norway would appreciate seeing me in their waters." Westra chuckled.
"Aye but there's always the border. Name the time and place and I'll be there." Andenes replied.
Westra smiled and leaned forward, giving Andenes a kiss on the forehead. "I'll see you soon, I promise." She whispered and then she was gone.
Westra had never really been one for long goodbyes, Andenes reflected. She'd always stick around only for a short time, just long enough to say a few words, then leave. But the one constant about her was despite her roaming nature, she would always come back. And come back to Andenes she had.
Briefly the cruiser considered calling her back and telling her who she really was. That she'd been a spy for Sea Shepherd this whole time. But that could wait. Westra would be back and Andenes could tell her then. For now though, she'd found her way back to Andenes and for the aging cruiser, that was all that mattered.