Ch 5. Mike is missing
Two days later
Maxine walked into Navcom to her office. She passed by the mess to pick up a cup of coffee and continued to her office, nodding now and then to her assistants.
Once in her office she put the cup on her desk and put her hat on the cupboard. She sat down behind her desk and brought the cup to her lips to take a sip.
Hmm, the temperature is perfect to drink.
She held the cup in front of her lips, stared through the window to the large operations room, taking sips from the brown liquid from time to time.
What for a day was that yesterday? The funeral of Kate, Lieutenant Hobson who played Walker on board of the Papua Trader and the poor murdered Leading Seaman Oliver Lake. The Commodore was also present and a few photographers, television and the press. Disgusting how they blew up the ceremony to almost a comedy!? The crew was present in their ceremonial uniform. The families of Hobson and Lake were broken. It winced my heart to see that there was no one for Kate, a forlorn coffin. Yeah, Mike, but they weren't even engaged yet. And she was loved by the crew, but that's still not a husband, mother, father, brothers or sisters. I've checked her records and she came to Australia when she was nine with her mother, but I couldn't find anything about her mother anymore. And her father has passed away also.
But, this sad event showed me also something interesting. Mike's XO, Caetano, fits extreme good in the Hammersley's crew. I read in her file that she has served once on it as a navigator but I didn't know that they understand each other that good. She had already a good reputation as an XO in Darwin and my stomach feeling says that she will perform well here too. Mike has still to take up his shore posting again and Caetano will only speed up that process. I'll observe her and if her results convince me then I'll recommend her to follow up Mike as lieutenant-commander.
"Right! Max stop dreaming! Work to do. You have a half day off this afternoon to catch up with Ryan, so you'd better hurry up", she mumbled.
She put down the cup that has become empty.
The Hammersley has to get out to the sea late this afternoon and I have to brief Mike and Nikki Caetano this morning.
On the Hammersley
"X?", Bird asked as she walked onto the bridge to Nikki.
"Hmm?", Nikki mumbled as she looked up from a clipboard.
"I still haven't received fresh vegetables and eggs", she said.
Nikki peered through the window of the bridge to the quay, "And that there?"
"Nope, toilet paper, towels, soap and new bandages", Bird replied as she threw a glance through the window as well.
"Then, it has still to come. If you don't have them within an hour, call Navcom", Nikki said as she looked at 2Dads who has also arrived at the bridge and who was waiting for her.
"Yes ma'am", Bird replied and walked away.
"2Dads?", Nikki said looking at the blond sailor.
"The fuel for the Rhibs ma'am, we're running out of supplies", he said.
She glared at him, "That's quite late to report that Leader!".
"But, ma'am, I did, even before we arrived back in port. They ought to know there!", he said annoyed gesturing with his thumb in the direction of Navcom.
"Ok ok, it's possible that they'll still deliver it, keep an eye on it", she said tapping with her ballpoint on the clipboard.
Can I continue with my own check list?
"Yeah, will do", he said.
"X?", another Able Seaman asked.
She turned towards him, "Yes?"
Really? And my job?
"Which maps do I have to take?", he asked.
She sighed, "I don't know yet. The CO has still to pick up our sailing orders".
Where's Mike for the devil?
"X, have you had the chance to make the grids for the watch? Or shall I do that?", Dutchy asked.
Nikki sighed again and looked at him desperately.
"Dutchy, normally I should have finished that list already one hour ago, but now, there's still nothing! Everyone is chewing the ears off", she said.
"Well, I'll do it", he said with a wink.
"Good, thanks! Have you seen Mike already?", she asked frowning.
"Nope. Strange, normally he's already here", he said looking around like he hoped to see him.
Nikki made a face, "Ok then, oh, by the way, can you keep an eye on the supplies delivery? There seems to be a delay in it", she asked.
He lifted his own clipboard and ticked on it with his finger, "I'm doing almost nothing else!", he replied annoyed. "Why do they give us not more time to fix the ship?"
Nikki shrugged, "An idea from Knocker. She wanted us at sea as quick as possible to get over the loss of Kate."
He nodded, "Ok then. I'll tell you when the grids are ready", he said before walking away.
Nikki looked at her watch.
Damn Mike, where are you?
Just after lunch time she looked at her watch again.
Gosh, already that late and still no Mike and still no sailing orders. I'll get them myself!
She left the bridge and walked to her cabin to change in her whites, but her hand lingered on the crank of the door.
No! You're going to lose time with changing clothes.
She released the crank and walked fiercely to the gangway where she met Dutchy.
"Dutchy, you have the ship, I go to Navcom to get our sailing orders", she said.
He frowned, "X, don't you forget something?", he asked as he saw her in her DPNU.
"Nope!", she replied determined.
Damnit!
He did a few quick steps so that he walked next to her.
"Nikki, are you sure that you go like this to Navcom? Knocker kills everyone who's wearing a DPNU inside."
"That's the last part of my sorrows. We sail within three hours and I still don't know where we're going to and where our CO is. I can't lose time with taking clothes out and on!", she said irritated.
"Ok, then, success!", he said as he walked back to the gangplank.
Nikki, you don't know Knocker yet. She can really nag about ridiculous things like the kind of uniform you wear inside Navcom.
Maxine sat behind her desk, arms stretched, hands leaning on her desk. Meanwhile she had cleaned her desk and between her hands lay the file with the sailing orders of the Hammersley. She was nervously tapping with her fingers on the desk.
They may come! I have a half a day off and normally I should be at home right now, changing to see Ryan. I'm wondering what Mike is doing? Does he really think that he has oceans of time? Damnit! I'll give him a very short briefing about the orders and then I'm off. Everyone has to right to have a few hours of holidays, so do I!
She whipped her head up as she heard a knock at the door frame.
She saw Nikki's appearance and she lifted her eyebrows.
Well, I'll be damned!
Maxine opened her mouth to give a reprimand, but Nikki was quicker.
"Sorry Ma'am for the uniform, but we're actually drowning in the work and I haven't had time for it. I'm coming for our sailing orders and have you seen Commander Flynn yet ma'am?", she said determined as she entered the office.
Maxine swallowed her reprimand and narrowed her eyes, "I expected that Commander Flynn had to be on board?", she said sharply because her mood didn't get better by the second.
"No ma'am, I really hoped to find him here", Nikki said.
Maxine grumbled something and gestured to the chair in front of her desk, "Please, take a seat".
Nikki sat down while Maxine opened the file and she looked at the dark haired officer, "Did Mi.. Commander Flynn leave a message?"
Nikki shook her head, "No ma'am, nothing. He ought to know when we're leaving because he warned us all".
"Listen, I have a free afternoon and normally I'm not supposed to be here now. So, I'm going to give you your sailing order and I leave. If you haven't seen him within", and she looked at her watch, "one and a half hour, drop me a call and I'll look for him, ok?", Maxine said.
Nikki nodded, "Ok ma'am".
Maxine started to tell, "Right, thus your patrol area will be the northern coast towards Papua New Guinea. The customs have said that there's an increase of people smugglers..."
After a few minutes Nikki stood upright, the file with orders in her hand.
"So fair winds Nikki", Maxine said.
But when Nikki wanted to leave the office, Maxine remarked, "And pay more attention to your uniform when you enter Navcom the next time!"
Nikki turned her head towards Maxine, "Yes m'm", she mumbled.
Maxine looked baffled to the door frame.
What did she say? Was it 'Yes ma'am', or did I understand 'Yes mum'? That's promising, another obstinate character on board of the Hammersley!
Ok, my time now!
She stood upright, took her brief case, put her hat on and left.
At home Maxine refreshed herself and changed in some pretty clothes. She swung her handbag over her shoulder and before she left her apartment Maxine had a final look at herself, adjusted a strand of hair and nodded satisfied. A colorful blouse, a pale yellow skirt and a pair of heeled open toe pumps.
She has just left the parking with her car as her mobile phone rang.
What now again?
She stopped the car and fiddled with one hand the phone from out of her handbag.
"White speaking!", she said holding the device against her ear.
"Ma'am, it's Lieutenant Caetano here. Sorry for disturbing, but we haven't seen our CO yet", Nikki said.
Damnit!
"Ok Nikki, I'll check him out!", she said.
She closed the connection and chose for Ryan's number.
"Goddamn Mike! You screw up my free afternoon with my son, … our son, you know!"
She sighed.
"Ryan, it's mum here. Sorry but there's an issue with Mike. He has to leave and he's not on his ship. I have to chase him", she said hearing the 'Hello' from Ryan.
"Ok, mum, no worries, get him first and then we'll see. We still have the entire evening you know", Ryan said to comfort his mother.
"That's cute from you, but I really hope that I can recuperate a bit of our afternoon", she said hurtfully.
"Sure mum, but do you need help?", he asked.
"That generous from you, but I'll manage", she said.
"Ok, I'll let you", Ryan said before closing the call.
Maxine put the mobile back in her handbag and continued the drive to Mike's house. She couldn't help herself, but she smiled. The small call with Ryan had cheered her up.
If she had known!
To be continued
5