CH 8
Two days later Mike was in Steve office they were talking about the up coming month patrol. When they finish sorting out every thing Mike notice Steve was grinning at him
"Steve why are you grinning at me like that?"
"Rear admiral Thomas told me some thing after we left you place the other day"
"Care to tell me"
"When your kids saluted us and we did back. He told me that he remember a young boy about your kids age did the same thing to rear admiral and chief of the navy"
"Really did he tell you the boy name"
"Yes he did Mike, you" mike look at Steve in shock
"Me?"
"Yes he was a newly promoted lieutenant serving on HMAS Sydney, your father was the captain" mike thought about it then he look at Steve in shock
"no way not lieutenant Jon Hammer Thomas"
"Yes the very same... Hammer" Steve asked. Mike smile
"I remember asking dad why they call the lieutenant Hammer. He told me cause he got a hard head and in fight he used his head to knock against the other guy head. He broke number of noses and lost teeth in number of bar fights in his younger days" Steve chuckled
"No wounder they called him Hammer"
"True, what else did he say?"
"If you kids join the navy god help the navy" mike smile
"Ah so it because of what they did"
"Yes but I did remind him of your XO and her father temper"
"that so true with combo of the McGregor and the Flynn's"
"that is what he worried about" Steve said
"I'm sure he is"
"there some thing else he said to me on the way to the air port"
"what that"
"mike do you have any other kids besides the quads"
"Steve what are you talking about, there no others, why did you ask"
"It some thing that the rear admiral said to me"
"what did he say Steve"
"mike do you know a commander Maxine white"
"Maxine got promoted"
"you didn't know?"
"no, I do get letters and photos from her, I'm her two sons god father why, how dose he know her?"
"she at Canberra fleet command"
"Really good for her but why did you ask me about her and my god sons for?"
"Rear admiral told me that Mary and connor a bit like them, the eyes, hair, the smile. He said he swear that your god sons look like them" mike look at Steve in shock. Then he remember the two times he sleep with Maxine when he was drunk and he did some calculating then he went pale
"Mike are you ok"
"i will be Steve... is there any thing else"
"no that all"
"thanks" he stood up and walk out of Steve office.
When he walk onto Hammersley he walk down to his cabin while still in shock. He got change and went to do his normal things before Hammersley left port for it month patrol.
Couple hours later Nav and Kate were up top on the look out deck. "How was your shore leave X" Nav asked
"It was great had kids for two weeks"
"School holidays"
"Yes mike and I miss them so much"
"i bet you do"
"Nav remember couple years ago, mike told you about the transferred investigation" Nav thought about it
"Yes I remember, why?"
"Who ever is it try to transferred me back to Perth"
"what?" Nav was shock
"Yeah, I spoke to commander marshal about it, when I received my transferred orders, I spoke to him and he call fleet command."
"so what happen?"
"Rear Admiral Thomas and commander Marshal show up at home. It was the time you call me and told me you were worried about buffer"
"Yeah, they were there?"
"Yes. The rear admiral gave me two letters, one stating that I'm staying on Hammersley till it decommission in two months time and a second letter from both rear admiral Thomas and chief of the navy" Nav look at Kate with her mouth open in shock
"what dose the letters say?"
"when Hammersley is decommission, I will be given first opportunity to serve on any boat in Australia"
"no way" Kate smile
"Yes, I told the rear admiral my answer"
"Let me guest, New Hammersley"
"Yes as XO"
"That is great news"
"i know. Mike and I talk about it weeks ago, I think he is please also"
"Why that?"
"Deep throat debates, and we know what he was like with the other lieutenants" Nav laugh
"Yes I do"
"what about you Nav, what are you going to do when Hammersley been decommission?"
"shore posting"
"Shore posting why?"
"Starting a family" Nav said smiling
"Dose mike know?"
"Yes"
"Have you spoken to buffer about this"
"yes he under stands and support me"
"that is good to know"
"Yes it is" then they turn when they saw spider walking up the steps smiling
"X, Nav, have you heard the news"
"what news" Kate asked
"Swain a dad"
"what when did this happen" Nav asked
"Last week, you two didn't know"
"no what did Sally have?" Nav asked
"a girl, Chloe that name her"
"that is great news spider"
"Yes ma'am" then he turn and walk back down the steps.
Nav got her phone out and send a message to buffer "Telling buffer?" Kate asked
"Yep"
"so how was your shore leave" Kate asked just as Nav sent the text massage
"quiet, tom and Heidi took kids to Sydney for the holidays. Nick spent two weeks with Vicky"
"How is she?"
"she good, Pete called her last night, they spoke for over an hour on the phone. He said soon as Gallagher case is close, he going to spend some time with her"
"How is he handling every thing"
"It been tough on him we talk about it and the wedding"
"Yes the wedding, got dress sorted?"
"Yes, Pete and I talk about the wedding, crew will be in uniform, well the male crew members will be" Kate smile
"Well there goes half of the guests" Nav laugh
"True"
"did buffer call you when he had a chance?" Kate asked, she saw Nav grin
"no he showed up at my place five in the morning, he was having a shower, that what woke me up"
"He must of smelt bad" Kate said making Nav laugh
"He did a little, at least he clean by the time we got to bed" she said grinning
"how long was he with you" Kate asked
"three wonderful days, we never left the house"
"three days, I know what that is like" Nav laugh
"We got it so bad"
"oh yeah"
Over the next three weeks the crew was busy with number of FFV and may day calls. So mike decided that the crew need some R and R. so he plot a course to an island where they stop there for the whole day. Some of the crew went to shore to play touch foot ball as well have drinks and having different fun. While playing tough foot ball three of the guys were in the sand when they stood up spider notice a box falling out of chefo pocket so he step ford to pick it up
"Hey chefo you drop this" chefo look at the box in spider hand then he patted his pockets
"Yeah it mine" spider open it
"engagement ring, you getting married" spider said
"Ah, well I'm thinking about it"
"Thinking about it mate it must be serous if you brought a ring" Swain said
"Yeah I am" spider pass chefo the box then the guys chase chefo till they tackle him to the ground. Nav was standing next to mike
"Looks like there going to be another wedding Nav"
"Yes sir" then they all stop to get a drink
"a toast to chefo and his girlfriend, one piece of advice, listen to your heart" mike said
"Here here" Swain and Dutchy said
"thanks sir"
"you know what this calls for" ET said grinning
"no what" Charge said
"bucks party" they all cheered
"no" chefo said then spider ran over to Mike
"sir it the X" he pass mike the radio
"X it the captain"
"sir sorry to ruin every one day we got a may day call, the boat two hours away from our location"
"copy that we will return"
"Yes sir" then he turn to the group
"listen up every one sorry R and R been canceled, we got to attend a may day, so lets pack every thing up"
"Yes sir" they all said.
Then they pack every thing up and got into the two dingy then return back to Hammersley. Once on board Kate gave out orders then they were on there way to the may day call while Mike and the others got changes while talking about bucks party.
When Nav walk onto the bridge Kate was at the controls "Has the captain been here yet" Nav asked
"no why"
"chefo might be getting engage"
"Really, did he tell you on the beach?"
"box fell out of his pocket spider pick it up and open it. Chefo said he was thinking about it"
"Ah so that is why they crew tackle him to the sand"
"Yes and they planing on buck party"
"Have you contacted buffer?"
"I sent him a text message" Nikki said grinning
"Ok" then they turn when they saw mike open the door and walk onto the bridge
"X, what can you tell me about the may day call"
"A women, Asian she said that her family been attack by pirates, they need help"
Kate pass mike a sheet of paper, he read what it said about the prates and the boat it self. They talk more about the boat and the pirates plus how long it will take to reach the boat in question.
When they reach the cord ants of the boat, they saw a old boat and could tell it wasn't in good condition. Mike send a boarding team over to see if any one on board.
When they got on board they could tell that the boards are rotten so they carefully check the top deck and wheel house first before going down below.
Dutchy went first. He saw a family in the corner scared "X" he look up the man hole
"Dutchy what have you found"
"Refugees ma'am" Kate started climbing down the ladder then couple others did as well. Kate step forward while trying to talk to them when the guy pick up a bucket and through it at the crew getting the water over chefo. Dutchy restrain the guy while Kate try talking to the guy and then to the others.
"do you speck English" Kate asked them
"i do" a teenage girl said
"you call for help, I'm lieutenant McGregor, we talk over the radio"
"Navy"
"Yes we are navy, we here to help you"
"to save us"
"Yes what is your name, I'm Kate?"
"Samira"
"ok Samira are these your family"
"Yes, father trying to protect us"
"I under stand, tell you father we are here to help you, not to hurt you" Kate said. Samira turn and talk to her father in there language. Kate listen to them and say the guy and family relax.
"Father said he sorry for throwing water on you" she said looking at chefo
"It ok"
"X" she turn to Dutchy
"We better get these family on to Hammersley"
"i agree" then she turn and talk to Samia.
Fifteen minutes later the boarding team and Samira and her family was on the boat deck on Hammersley when chefo scream in pain as he collapsed. Swain ran over to him with spider behind him. The family was scared.
Kate manage to calm them down while Dutchy and ET carried Chefo down to the dinning room. Kate stay with the family then she got a couple of crew members to stay with them while she went to sort out her gear and to report to mike about what happen.
Ten minutes later Hammersley was sailing back to cairns at the top of the green soon as mike found out that chefo was stung by Irukandji jelly fish which are poisonous that was in the bucket of water that was thrown at him.
When they return back to Cairns, Chefo was starting to feel better. When he was on gurney next to the ambulance his girl friend show up. The whole crew watch him purpose to her. They all clap and cheer him on before the paramedics put him in the back of the ambulance, this his girlfriend got in and sat next to him as the doors close.
Since they haven't got a chief and second medic, the crew got the night of shore leave. So while they left the ship Kate and couple of the crew took the family onto the wharf and hand them over to immigration before returning back to the ship. Chefo was in hospital for two days before the doctors sent him home.
The next day Hammersley set sail to finish it patrol. Two days later they came across pacific mariner. Kate turn to mike who was talking to Rick Gallagher about having permission to use his badge for training exercises. Mike turn to Kate as they wait for Rick answer
"Captain you got my permission"
"thank you sir, Hammersley out" then he put the microphone back in it spot and turn to Kate
"I hope you know what you doing sir"
"I do X, warn the others about buffer"
"i will, should Nav be on the boarding team sir"
"no"
"Sir, I think she should join the team she dose need the training" Mike and Kate look at each other for a minutes then he nodded
"alright, Nav go and gear up"
"Yes sir" then she walk off the bridge. Kate gave him a smile before she follow Nav off the bridge.
On pacific mariner Rick, his mate and buffer were watching what was happening on Hammersley.
"Rick what going on" Pete asked
"Navy using my barge for training practice"
"Training practice, sound like they must be board and got nothing better to do" rick grin
"I guest your right" they watch as the boarding team got onto the barge.
Rick and buffer walk down the steps where rick spoke to Kate. Buffer saw Nav so he walk over to her "Sir stand back" Dutchy said
"Why I just want to say hello, I didn't know that you guys got great looking women on your boat" Buffer said smiling
"sir I said stand back" Dutchy said
"ok" buffer said as he raise his hands as he stood back
"sorry about Pete he hasn't seen his girl friend in a while, if you know what I mean lieutenant"
"sir will you let us carry on with out training" Kate asked
"Of course, Pete back up to the wheel house"
"Sure, see you later sweet cheeks" he gave Nav a wink before turning around and walking back to the steps with Rick behind him
"You know rick I wouldn't mind finding out what that women like with out her uniform on" rick laugh
"Pete mate keep away from women who in the navy"
"Why that?"
"they can be unpredictable"
"Well I wouldn't mind finding out how unpredictable that women is in bed" rick laugh
"forget about her, she wouldn't want to be with you"
"Shame though she look hot in that uniform" they walk up the steps while talking and laughing.
The crew did do there training exercises till they were called back to Hammersley cause of a may day call. Rick, Pete and the other guy was on the back of the barge with the boarding team when Kate got the call.
So they started getting into one dingy then they move away then the other one showed up next to the barge. Pete turn to Rick mate and grin, the guy shook his head at Pete. Pete turn to the group, he waited till the perfect time then he quickly step ford and held onto Nav helmet and kiss her till they heard yelling and some one pulling Pete away since Nav was pretending to try to get away from him.
He turn to see not happy Rick looking at him "Get back to the wheel house I'll deal with you later" Pete saw the crew didn't look happy. Nav step forward and slap his face
"Nav get into the dingy" Kate said
"don't you ever kiss me again" Nav said giving Pete piss off look. Pete smile as he turn and walk towards the steps with Rick mate with him
"Gee Pete what you did took guts, you lucky they didn't shoot you"
"i know, but she great kisser" the guy laugh
"when we return you need to get a women mate"
"i got one mate remember, but that navy chic, she kiss better than my girl friend" the crew heard the talk.
Mike was on the look out deck with his binoculars when he saw what happen. When the boarding team return he could hear them giving Nav a heard time about it till Kate put a stop to it.
Ten minutes later Nav walk onto the bridge, she saw mike smiling at her. "I saw what buffer did"
"i couldn't believe he did that, he is in so much trouble when I see him next"
"i bet"
"but he did it for a reason sir" she pass him a piece of paper
"While kissing me he slip this down the back of my overalls" Mike unfolded the piece of paper and read what it said
"Now we know what what the reason why Dr Monroe got the crab toxin"
"What that sir" Kate asked as she walk onto the bridge hearing the talk between mike and Nav.
"Rick Gallagher got couple of his mates to kidnap Dr Monroe three year old daughter. They forcing her to get the toxin from the crabs or her daughter would be killed" mike said as he pass the note to Kate to read.
"i wounder where he keeping the little girl?" Kate asked
"don't know, Nav let the feds know about this"
"I already did sir"
"good, X lets go home" Kate smile
"Yes sir"
Kate check the maps then they change course to head for home since the crew for a few days shore leave and the guys planing on giving chefo a bucks party. When they arrived home the crew left to enjoy there shore leave while Mike and Kate went to see Steve before going home them selves.
