***Chapter 17
"Charge, you think we ever get out of here?" Spider's voice sounded thin. The engineer didn't answer. He sat on the floor of the container, back against the wall and held his left hand. In the course of transit the cargo inside the container had shifted as Charge had feared it would. He had caught his hand in between the cargo and the wall and now it was swollen and throbbing. The bosun's mate needed only a short glance to realize that his crew mate was in trouble. He pulled off his shirt and opened a bottle of water. After wetting the garment thoroughly he carefully wrapped it around the injured hand of his crew mate.
"That'll help with the swelling. I don't think there's anything broken."
"And how do you know?" Andy retorted sharper than he had intended to. "Sorry mate. It's just..."
Spider put him off. "Well, Bomber once showed me... ah know what, just forget it, Charge." He plopped down next to the engineer and grinned. "By the way, I don't pull of my shirt for just anybody, only on special occasions."
Despite the pain Charge had to grin too. "Say, have I already told you the story with the spider monkey?" he asked getting ready for one of his famous yarns. Billy shook his head denying even though he was sure he had already heard that one. Hearing one of Charge's stories – even if it was a familiar one – was better than sitting in the dark wondering how their involuntary adventure would end.
"And that's the whole story. We're just waiting for a re placement for the X and then we're off for the next patrol."
Buffer ended. He shot a searching look at Nikki to see how she had taken the news. Wisely enough he hadn't told her the whole story. In his opinion there was no need mentioning the fact that Sara nearly died while diving. And yet the Navigator just stared at him blankly. Inside her head the thoughts kept swirling around. Sailors missing. That can't be happening. Not again. Please not again! Nikki tried really hard to maintain her composure. She swallowed and shook her head in an attempt to get the black thoughts out of her mind. Than she forced a smile.
"I'm sure Charge and Spider can handle. Who knows, maybe they have already been discovered and are sitting at a bar waiting for us to come and get them, enjoying their extra free time." It didn't sound convincing at all and she could see it in Pete's face, he didn't believe a word. Neither of what she had said nor how she had said it. But he was smart enough not to say something, just padded her arm and stood up.
"Sure they'll do. And I have to go back to the bridge now."
Halfway out the door, he added: "It really is good to have you back, Nav."
Nikki waited until she was sure that no one could hear her before she started to sob uncontrollably overwhelmed by the memories that came back haunting her ever since that dreadful day they had found ET and his diving buddies.
Everything was ready to set sail. There was nothing more to do than wait 'till the CO gave the order to put out to sea. 2Dads took the few precious minutes to relax and sat with his feet at the marine link console eyeing the new executive officer who was talking with Lieutenant Commander Flynn. They stood at the chart table hunched over a sea chart discussing their patrol route. The new XO seemed to be one of the though guys, the ones you don't want to mess with. Leo sight. As if one should mess with Lieutenant McGregor. So no change here.Maybe he's nicer than he looks at first appearance. The new officer must have noticed that he was being watched and looked up. His left eyebrow raised.
"Seaman, what was again your duty aboard Hammersley? I don't remember having read anywhere that one of the tasks up here at the bridge is loafing around."
Everyone looked up from what they were currently doing. Leo flinched and blushed. Why is it always me?
"Sir, I'm the electronics technician aboard. The marine link console had some blown fuses we changed yesterday and I was checking if everything works fine now before we set sail."
"Really? Well unless you are more flexible than you look I suggest you put your feet back on the ground to continue with that task."
He turned around and looked at the other sailors. "Someone else needs something?"
The crew shook their heads almost simultaneously and all continued with their work. The XO pointed at the chart again. "Sir, I think we should ..."
2Dads didn't pay attention any more. He bent over the console and made sure he looked like concentrating on the task ahead. I never thought I would like to have the X back so soon.
Swain – who sat at the helm waiting for the order to put out - and Buffer changed a look. The boatswain had entered the bridge just at the right moment to hear the XO rebuking 2Dads in front of the crew. He neither liked the attitude the leading seaman showed sometimes but he did not approve of the way the new officer introduced himself. By the look of it, Swain did neither as well. That is going to be interesting.
Mike had looked up too when he had heard the footsteps on the stairs and caught the look on Buffer's face. I maybe should have a word in private with my new XOhe thought. If there's something I don't need right now it's more trouble than we already have.
"Sir, Hammersley is ready to set sail." Buffer reported and ignored the curious look the new X gave him.
"Well then, Swain, go ahead. Put her out to sea." Mike ordered. Seeing Nikki entering the bridge, he continued: "Lieutenant Perkins, that is Lieutenant Caetano, our navigator. Nav, plot a course to Port Moresby. We're going to pay a goodwill visit."
Both coxswain and navigator confirmed their orders and the patrol boat started to vibrate softly when the two MTU diesel engines came to life. Harry Perkins wanted to shake hands with the navigator but Nikki ignored his outstretched hand, just bowed over the chart table, parallel ruler and pencil already in hand and a concentrated expression on her face.
The Hammersley slowly drifted sideways clearing the docks and made her way out of the port. An other patrol started just the same as it usually did and yet nearly everyone aboard had the weird feeling that something was wrong. The new XO seemed to be not easy to get along with, Nav was back but not the same as she was before, the other two new crew members constantly remembered them that there were two others still missing.
The young man slightly irritated winded the telephone cord around his left forefinger and snorted.
"Yes, that's exactly what I told them. A blue one." he imitated a deep voice. "As if we could find a container when given the colour of it! I'm sitting here for over an hour now checking the documents and so far I found nothing at all. Anyway, remember the one wherefore I called you last night? I don't remember its colour but there was lemonade and water in it, wasn't it? And that's how the navy guys stuck inside the container described the cargo."
Sam waited for an answer and than nodded.
"Yes, the one with the open door. It could be it – what you think?" Again there was a pause. The person at the other end of the line made a comment that made Sam laugh.
"I don't know. Maybe the navy doesn't pay them good enough and they thought there was something valuable in it."
He wrote down a sequence of numbers and letters and repeated it. "Right then, thank you. See you tomorrow night mate."
He hung up and leaned back in his desk chair really pleased with himself. If the number he had been given was the right one, he should find out the matching ship and its destination in no time.
Harry Perkins knocked at the door and opened it when he heard a voice from within allowing him inside. Having already heard a lot of rumour he wasn't sure what to expect from the CO. The crew seemed to be reluctant to accept him and he couldn't blame them. Being just an interim solution was always a reason for rejection. And obviously the CO seemed to have his doubts about him as well.
"You wanted to see me, Sir?"
"Yes, come in and close the door please."
Lieutenant Commander Flynn tried to sound nice. After all it wasn't Perkins' fault that Kate was injured and Spider and Charge were in a bit of a jam. The CO had tried to remember his first day as an executive officer. It hadn't been easy and he had had to earn the trust of the crew before being accepted as a new member. So he was willing to help the new guy along but Perkins had to change his way of interacting with the crew. Mike wondered how to tell the other man without offending him that he sounded kind of rude sometimes.
"It is your first day aboard the Hammersley. What do you think of her?" he started the conversation with a topic he considered being neutral.
Harry thought for a moment. Was that a trick question? He answered cautiously:
"It is a nice boat, Sir. Very high-tec, bit smaller than the boats I served before."
Mike nodded. "I've read your recommendation. You've been on a frigate before? Well there are some things you will notice to be different. First, we do sit very tight together so it is more familiar on a patrol vessel. The degree of formality is a little bit less 'cause of such a small ship's company. We all knew each other very well. Which doesn't mean of course that there aren't rules to be followed."
Harry nodded his approval. "I already noticed that, Sir. The crew seems to be very close." He waited for Mike to comment and continued when the tall sailor didn't made a move to say something. "There are some things I still have to see through. Your navigator, she seems to be a really reserved and quiet person? I don't really get a connection with her. And the technician, well..."
The young lieutenant run his fingers through his short brown hair not sure what to say about 2Dads. He didn't want to get in hot water on his first day.
Mike helped him along. "You're right with one thing: 2Dads sometimes has an attitude, yes. But he has changed a lot since he first came aboard the ship. He's a skilled technician and I trust him to do the right thing when needed. Which doesn't mean that he won't need a reminder from time to time."
Harry showed a shy smile which Mike returned. "Nav on the other hand... you would find out for yourself I'm sure but maybe it is better if I tell you. We lost our former electronics technician – he had a diving accident. Josh Holiday, ET, he was Lieutenant Caetanos' fiancé."
Seeing the surprised look on Lieutenant Perkins' face, he added: "Don't ask, it's a long story. All in all, Lieutenant Caetano is a hard working officer – by the way very good at her job – who normally gets along well with the crew. She was on shore leave do get things sorted out and today is her first day back aboard Hammersley. I'm sure she will unbend with the time. Just give her some."
"I'll do, Sir." Perkins shot a questioning look at the CO. "Something else, Sir? If not I'd like to go back to the bridge and talk to the bosun. I'd prefer to get to know him before we're on our first boarding party together."
Mike looked as if he wanted to say something else. But than he didn't. Instead he opened the door and smiled.
"Give the crew some time to get to know you as well, Lieutenant. We have a fine crew, they may have their own struggles and problems but they stand together if something's coming from outside. Don't push them, be fair and everything else will straighten out. And keep in mind you're not on a big frigate any more, Lieutenant."
Before the other one could respond, RO's voice came over the ship's PA: "CO to the bridge, CO to the bridge."
"Sir, coast watch reported a ship using signal flags to get their attention. It seems the communication system is blown and they're asking for assistance. We're the closest asset."
Nav took over: "I've already plotted a course and we have the ship on the EOD, Sir. Estimated time of arrival is 15 minutes."
Mike seemed very pleased. Turning around to his new XO he looked like telling him I just told you so.
"Lieutenant Perkins, I guess that is your first real action. Get a boarding party ready and take 2Dads with you. Maybe we can help."
Perkins nodded and left the bridge, Buffer and 2Dads at his heels. Mike turned to his radio officer:
"RO, how's your flag signalling? Still firm with the alphabet?"
"It is some time since I last used signal flags, Sir, but nonetheless I can surely..."
"I take that as a yes. If we are in sight, I want you out at the deck with me. Let's see what else we can find out about that ship before boarding it."
took me some time but finally here it is - chapter 17 - hope you enjoyed it :-)