Ch 13. Goodbye Navy
The next day.
Mike had worked late in his house on the documents of the operation and he had woken up early to be in time on Hammersley. After a quick breakfast with a cup of coffee he left with the cheerful idea of being together with her the next weekend.
On the gangway he was greeted by Dutchy.
"Good morning sir!", he said joyfully.
"'morning Dutchy!", he replied.
"You're early sir, but not early enough to welcome our new XO!", he said with a broad smile.
"Uh? Is he here already?", Mike asked startled as he looked at his watch.
"Oh yes sir, certainly! And it's a lady", Dutchy replied with a huge grin as they walked together inside.
Mike grinned at him, "Seeing your smile, you seem to like the new XO already. Who is it, because I haven't a name yet?"
"Well sir, I think that you have to discover that by yourself. She's at the bridge.", he replied with a conspiracy tone.
Mike lifted one eyebrow and looked suspiciously at his buffer as he opened the door of his cabin to put down his suitcase and his sports bag.
"You're making me extremely curious!", he mumbled as he started walking to the bridge.
Dutchy walked whistling back to the gangway.
Once he reached the bridge he was really startled.
"Nikki!", he exclaimed.
She was looking at the map and lifted her head when she heard his voice, "Yes sir, I'm happy to be back!", she replied with a huge smile.
"Well, I'm glad to see you back again. That's almost two years ago, not?", he asked her as they shook hands.
"Yes sir, two years".
"So, and you're the replacement for Kate?", he said knowing that this was a stupid question but he couldn't devise another one at the moment.
"Indeed, the day before yesterday, I've got the order to pack my things and to fly to here. My CO was rather vague about it. He said he has got the order from the brass", she said with a shrug.
"Yeah, it's all out of the blue", he confirmed.
"And what are you going to do after this operation? Kate is coming back."
Nikki shrugged again, "I don't know, honestly. I've asked my CO, but he just said that they, here, I mean, will find something for me and that I don't have to worry about."
Mike nodded.
I'll see Max's face already when she finds out that she has to put Nikki somewhere on an appropriate position according to her function.
Nikki looked around, "but I know that I'll miss the Hammersley already when Kate comes back", she said.
"I understand, but let me congratulate you. You're an executive officer now", Mike said.
Her eyes twinkled, "Yes, when I left Hammersley, I went to Darwin. They had two new patrol boats installed; I started as a navigator on one of them, but shortly after that I was sent to Watson's Bay to follow a training for executive officer. I returned and I became XO on board of the ship I just left. I succeeded the XO who was promoted . I'm an XO already for one and a half year", she told proudly.
"Nice, very nice, but our CO, Commander White wanted to see you before we left. Just to meet each other you see."
"Ok, when?"
He looked at his watch, "Oh let's say within 45 minutes, then she'll be at her office."
"Ok"
"I'm getting changed and uh… pull on your whites again. Maxine sticks to the rules about uniforms", he said as he left her to head to his cabin to change into his DPNU.
Nikki's back. That's at least one good thing. I can trust her just like I can with Kate. And she still knows the majority of the crew and she's loved by them too. Moreover she has been XO for months. If she wasn't good, then the Commodore wouldn't have sent her to us.
No, I don't have to worry about that.
A big hour later Nikki was back. She was still tying the buttons of her DPNU as she arrived at the bridge.
"Boss, I'm back", she announced herself.
"Ah! That's good, what did Knocker say?"
"Ah? Is she called like that?", Nikki said surprised.
"Uh-hu, but she doesn't like it at all!", Mike replied with a smirk.
"She was kind to me, although I could sense a certain reluctance. She mumbled something that she hasn't received my file yet, so I had to tell her about my background. When I told her that I served before under you she has got a mysterious smile.
The next day.
Mike got at 8 AM a call from Navcom that the team of the Feds was heading to the Hammersley.
"X, you've the cabins of the Feds prepared?", Mike asked as he turned his in the direction of Nikki.
"Yes, boss, done!", she replied.
"Nice, go to the gangway to welcome them. We'll have a briefing when we're at sea", he ordered.
"Aye sir", she replied and she left the bridge to go to the gangway.
A minute later she welcomed five men of the Feds, the team leader, Sergeant Gallagher and his men, Brigadier Grantley and three constables.
"Good morning, I'll guide you to your cabins", she offered.
"Ok we'll follow you", the sergeant said and they followed her.
In the corridor near the junior sailor's mess they crossed Leading Seaman Oliver Lake, Swan.
"Well goddamn Grantley, how dare you to show your ugly face on our boat?", Swan exclaimed.
"Bad luck fella! Now I can take the time to punch the message in your head that you have to stay away from Sarah", Grantley responded.
"Forget it cop, you stuffed it up with her not me. Just forget her and get lost!", Swan replied angrily.
"Grantley!", the sergeant grumbled sternly.
Both men glared over their shoulder to each other and continued.
Nikki looked suspiciously over her shoulder at Swan and made a mental note to speak him about the cause of this quarrel.
Three hours later Mike has called the Feds and his team together in the command room. It was narrow and tight with that amount of people, but it was only for a short briefing.
"Listen up. This is not a normal patrol, but a special operation. We are going to intercept a cargo trader that is going to smuggle an entire F18 Hornet in boxes out of our country. The ship is the Papua Trader and two undercover agents are on board. They are going to pass the coordinates of its course to us and we will follow the ship under the horizon. We'll wait until they've loaded the cargo and then we'll catch them in the act. We board them with a team that is composed of our Federal colleagues and our men under the lead of Lieutenant Caetano and Petty-Officer Mulholland. Questions?", Mike said.
Nikki raised her hand, "Boss, what do we have to expect about the weapons?"
Sergeant Gallagher replied, "Lieutenant, consider that they will use their weapons. It's a millions trade and they'll do everything to succeed".
"Ok".
Mike looked around, "No more questions?"
The persons around him shook their head.
"Ok, the X will compose a team. Carry on!", he said and everyone left the command room.
End Flash back
4 months later
Mike's house
To the Commonwealth Graves Commission
Dear Miss Porter,
I want to visit to grave of my great-grand father Private Charles Flynn, id 5571 during the week of 5 September.
Can you tell me where I can find his grave?
Many thanks.
With best regards,
Mike Flynn
Mike reread the mail and pressed the Send button.
A few days later he went to the pub for his goodbye drink with his colleagues.
When he entered back home a couple of hours later, he had the feeling that he was cheating them. They all were persuaded that he left Cairns to forget his loss of Kate and that he was going to take up a function in the operations department at the base in Perth.
He entered his living room and looked at the boxes that were scattered around.
"Gosh, what a mess", he mumbled.
He shrugged.
The most difficult part of this operation is done. Saying goodbye to the colleagues. They still believe we can meet each other one day. They ought to know! Tomorrow the last hard nut to crack, saying goodbye to Maxine. I can't deny this, no way around! But, I haven't said anything to Nikki. I couldn't. It was too hard. I know it's not brave, but I couldn't. I really didn't know what to say.
"Sorry Nikki, really", he said faintly.
...
Tomorrow they come to pick up my boxes and I see the new owner of my house. It gives a weird feeling to burn all the ships behind me, to start all over, from scratch. Finally I can go! Although I even don't know what I'm going to do there. I can't barely think that I could join the Belgian Navy. For sure Kate will know something.
Kate? Helen, Mike! Forget Kate. It's Helen and Kate is your daughter.
...
It took 4 months to finish my notice of termination and to get the appropriate emigration papers for Belgium. Wherever you go on earth, people are keen on paperwork and signatures.
I'm looking forward to see her face when she'll find out that I don't go back this time!
The next day Mike stood in front of his mirror and put his visor cap on, looked long at his appearance.
Well Commander Flynn, are you ready for your last act?
He grimaced and left his house. He got in his car, started and drove to Navcom.
There he headed to Maxine's office and knocked the door frame.
"Come in," he heard and he walked inside.
"Ah Mike," she said with a sigh while she leaned back in her chair. It was like she hoped that he delayed his arrival. She watched how he sat down.
"Yeah, Max, this is it. The last time in uniform. And now? Honestly I really don't know yet. But that's something we have to figure out there, together."
"Yeah, indeed," she said with a small voice. "I'll miss you."
"Me too Max, like so many other people here, but who knows, one day, you'll never know," he said with a smile.
Maxine tried to smile, but it didn't work. She stood upright and walked around her desk to him and embraced him.
"Fair winds Mike and go now before it becomes embarrassing," she said huskily.
They broke apart.
"Yeah, fair winds for you too Max, we'll keep in touch in one way or another," he said but he saw she turned her back to him.
"Mike, go, now!", she said with a raw voice.
"Yeah, ok … bye then…", he said unsure and left.
He looked for the last time back and saw how she wiped tears from her cheeks.
To be continued
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