Chapter 22
Flashback
Still in the officers' mess.
Nikki sipped her coffee and made a face, "Ugh, that's not what I hoped it was".
Kate raised an eyebrow, "Nik, it's good coffee otherwise we would have already had a mutiny aboard. It's a matter of taste. Don't blame Bomber. She can't satisfy the coffee tastes of twenty-two crew members".
"Hmm, you're right", she said and looked around. "I'll buy an espresso machine and put it here".
"Yeah, go for it. I have no objections", Kate replied.
"By the way, Kate, about last night, what did you want to tell me?"
"Yeah, indeed. I discovered the reason why there are so much FFVs in this area. They are waiting for an ice boat. If we can catch her, then the whole fleet is rounded up. The only problem is that we don't know where the meeting point with the ice boat will be", Kate said.
"We're taking one of the FFVs", Nikki said.
"Exactly".
"And we simply ask", Nikki added, grinning.
"Simply ask? Yeah, like asking where the next bus station is", Kate replied rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, sort of", Nikki said, shrugging.
"When you're done, let's see with Dylan if we can locate a possible meeting point".
"Okay. But this coffee is… I dunno", Nikki muttered after taking a sip.
Kate chuckled, "Restrain yourself if you still want to be Bomber's friend".
Ten minutes later they made their way to the bridge where Dylan was sitting in the captain's chair doing the watch.
"'Morning, ladies", he greeted them.
"Good morning guys", they replied to greet the occupants of the bridge.
"Nav, would you like to take a look at the chart", Kate asked and Dylan went to the chart table.
"Has anything changed?", she asked looking at the coloured flags indicating the FFVs.
"Nope, they are all sailing in the same direction, but we don't have a cross point yet", he said.
Kate called Charge, Pete, Smithy, 2Dads, RO and Bomber to explain the plan.
"So, here's the situation. We definitely need to get some information on one of them or the ice boat will be gone".
She looked at Nikki, "X, you're still on light duties, that means you're going to take over the ship".
Nikki frowned, "And you ma'am?"
"I lead the boarding party with Nav and Buffer", she replied.
Nikki nodded, but Kate could see she had huge regrets. She wanted so badly to correct her last blunder.
Kate knew her friend, "Nikki, see it as an opportunity to command a ship".
She looked at Dylan, "Which FFV is the nearest?".
He pointed to a flag, "This one. She's just on the horizon".
"Right! Full speed to this one. Kevlar plates for safety", Kate ordered.
One hour later, the Rhib raced towards the FFV and Dutchy jumped aboard, followed by Kate.
"It's the Australian Navy! You are fishing in our territorial waters! Who's the captain of this vessel?", Kate asked loudly.
"Who's the captain of this vessel?", she repeated looking around.
A man came forward raising his hand.
"You are illegally fishing in our waters. Do you know that?", she said slowly.
The man just shrugged.
"He pretends he doesn't understand you, but he does", Dylan mumbled to her.
"Uh-hu", she mumbled.
"Okay, Buffer, 2Dads, search the ship!", Kate ordered.
A few minutes later they were back.
"The hold is full of fish, ma'am, as we thought", Pete said.
"You have fish in the hold. Where do you have to deliver it?", she asked the man who stared at her, his face expressionless.
"Where's the big boat you have to deliver the fish to?", she tried again, but the Asian still didn't move.
"It's no use", Kate sighed.
"I wouldn't say that", Dylan said, motioning towards a younger guy. "There's a connection between them. Leave it to me", he whispered and he drew his gun.
Kate widened her eyes, "What are you going to do?", she asked baffled.
"Trust me", he mumbled to her.
"Where's the boat, mate?", he asked the captain, pointing his gun at the frightened boy.
The man didn't answer and Dylan looked at his gun and fired. The bullet passed in front of the boy who squealed.
"Oops, I missed him. One more time", he said and took aim again.
"Wait! Please, no shoot! My son. No shoot please!", the older man begged.
Dylan raised his eyebrows and looked at the man, "Aah! Tell us, where should you deliver the fish?".
"I don't know", replied the stubborn man.
"Okay", Dylan replied deadpan and pointed his gun at the boy who began to panic.
"No, no! No shoot! No shoot! I tell everything", the man said nervously, moving quickly to face Dylan.
"All right, tell us where you need to meet that boat!", he said, securing his gun.
The Asian pointed to the wheelhouse, "I show coordinates".
"Good!", Dylan said and followed the man inside.
All the while Kate had watched the action in disgust and followed Dylan to the wheelhouse.
Inside the man grabbed a grubby chart and pointed to a cross. The coordinates were written next to it. "This place, tonight, at sunset.
Dylan looked at Kate and saw her characteristic frown when she clearly disagreed with something.
"Okay", she said and poked her head outside, "Buffer!"
"Ma'am?", Pete said, walking over to her.
"Leave Sharky here to watch the boat. We go back and take the fishermen in austere", she ordered.
"Aye ma'am", he said and turned around to fetch Sharky.
Back aboard, they had returned their weapons and Kevlar jackets to the armoury.
"Are we going to chase the ice boat?", Dylan asked her.
Kate glared at him, "A word in my cabin!", she snapped.
Dylan raised his eyebrows and followed her. She entered her cabin, turned around and put her hands on her waist. She waited for him to close the door.
"What the hell was that?", she asked angrily.
"What do you mean?", he asked.
"Lieutenant, are you pulling my leg? Draw a gun and shoot at people! It's not our way of working. We are not cowboys, but civilised people", she ranted.
"Did you really think that old bugger was going to give you the coordinates of the ice boat just like that", he said, snapping his fingers.
"It's the only language they understand. These blokes are more afraid of the ice boat guys and even more of the scum ashore towering over them, than of us. And you won't get a decent answer, just because we are civilised Australians and we ask politely", he replied irritated.
"We. don't. do. that! It's unethical", she repeated fiercely.
"Fishing in our water is also unethical", he replied but Kate huffed.
He leaned over and looked into her furious eyes, a few centimetres from her nose, "If you really think like that, then you won't get anything. So you better quit that job and start a coffee shop. It's the only way Kate, hard against hard and we have to be the hardest. Welcome to this world", he whispered dangerously.
"Oh? Do you think I don't know what this world is like Mulholland? I tasted it too!", she snapped and turning talk into action, she undid the belt and unbuttoned her trousers. She pulled it down and turned slightly to the side to show him the upper part of her buttocks. He saw a pink scar about 2 centimetres above her deep blue lace panties. A slight smile appeared on his face, but she didn't notice.
"An Iraqi shrapnel from the Gulf. So, I know damn well what it is!".
"Did you also feel the power of a man's arm holding the machete that was to land in your neck? Did you also see the white eyeballs and hatred on a face before life escapes from it when you stab him with a commando knife? ", he asked softly.
Kate frowned and was confused, "Uh..no..wha..what are you talking about?", she asked.
"It's the real war Kate, not a black dot in the distance that you fire a missile at", he said.
Her anger vanished. "Where were you then?", she asked worriedly.
"In Afghanistan, we were an advanced observation post with the army and we were often in the middle of the front line. It was often them or us. If we weren't the hardest, then I wouldn't argue with you now", he said.
She looked down, "Sorry", she simply said.
"It's big business for them and they have gone the extra mile. So, it's up to us to do even more. This situation is the ultimate opportunity to round up a whole fleet. Low hanging fruit so to say", he said.
Kate bit her lip and nodded, "Yeah it's true", she said softly.
When I was XO, it was so easy. Keeping the ship together and do what Mike said. And sometimes, uh, often discussing his way of anticipating. It was easy being the academic, skinny bitch to show off your perfect attitude. But now it's up to me to make it work. If you still want to be an academic, you must apply for a position at ADFA. The time of the Princes Perfect is over. It must be Joan of Arc now!
She glared at him, "Let's get them!" and she left her cabin, Dylan on her heels.
Nikki was rather confused when they arrived at the bridge,
"Where have you been?", she whispered.
"And did we hear a shot?", she asked louder.
Kate looked at her innocently, "A shot? Nope, heard nothing",
"X, call Charge, Pete, Smithy, 2Dads, RO and Bomber. We're going to round up that fishing fleet".
A few minutes later, they were all gathered around the chart table. She looked at them, the backbone of the Hammersley.
"We'll shadow a fleet of FFVs and they will lead us to the ice boat. We just caught one and the captain gave us the coordinates of the ice boat. Now our first goal is to catch the ice boat. The others will come to her and we will be able to capture them also. So, the first step is to man the fishing boat and sail to the ice boat. They will expect to see the FFV but not with us aboard. When we are alongside, we'll take over the ice boat before they even know it. I'll lead the operation and Nav will be my backup. The X will take over the ship.
"But ma'am", Nikki started but was interrupted by Kate.
"You're still on light duties X. Commanding the ship will be a good alternative", Kate said.
She continued, "So, no uniform. Put on something scruffy. We must look like them. Any questions?"
Pete raised his hand, "When is the meeting point?"
"In two hours", Kate replied.
"How will we catch the other FFVs?", asked Charge.
"Aboard there will be more data to figure out".
2Dads raised his hand, "Uh ma'am, how are we going to look like them? We're white people".
"Use foundation cream 2Dads. You will look perfect like an Asian bugger", Bomber grinned.
"Oh, very funny, Bomber. Scratch under my arm with a fork to make me laugh", 2Dads said.
"Yeah, that's a good idea Bomb! Can we borrow some from you?", Pete asked.
"Hey, I don't need that stuff", She replied.
Dylan looked at Kate, "You have some".
"Hey, wait a second! Have you any idea of the price? It's not cheap you know", Kate answered confused.
"Put it on the expense report as uh…camouflage", Dylan replied causing the others to laugh.
Kate rolled her eyes, "Okay, okay, but remember, it was not funny!"
She looked at all the smiling faces around her and knew the crew stood by her.
"Okay guys, work to do! I'm going to get my …uh… camouflage and you are going to get your outfit", she said.
The team left and Dylan touched her arm, "You better stay in the wheelhouse. There isn't a single blond-haired Asian and your foundation tube won't be enough to make you look like them. And finally, for your own safety", he said.
Kate frowned, "Dylan, you're terrible", she muttered and saw that he was smiling broadly.
A little later they heard laughter coming from the control room.
Kate left her cabin to see what it was all about. She had put on her jeans and borrowed a T-shirt from one of the sailors to look scruffy.
"So! Now you look like the nastiest Chinese bastard ever!", Bomber said, admiring her work on 2Dads face.
"I don't see much difference", Dylan commented with a grin.
"Still ugly", Charge grinned.
"Yeah, make fun of me, but I'll be the one to take over that boat like Jack Sparrow", 2Dads replied.
Kate couldn't help, but started to laugh when she saw 2Dads with a tan face and a black headband around his head.
They looked at Kate and chuckled, "Wow, is that your last purchase? You liked the pattern, but they didn't have your size?", Bomber smiled.
"Yeah, okay, knock it off guys", she said, looking around. They were all wearing old T-shirts or jackets. She smiled, "You all come straight out of the dustbin. Good job!"
"Check your weapons and headsets and let's go to the fishing boat", Kate ordered.
"Oh ma'am, wait!", Bomber said.
"Yes?"
"I'm going to make up your face ma'am. There's still some in the tube and uh…. you really need a layer because…", Bomber said but stopped.
Kate grinned and sat down, "Because I have the same complexion as an aspirin, don't I?"
"Well uh….sort of", Bomber said as she applied the foundation cream to Kate's cheeks.
Everything went as planned, even a bit too easy. The FFV sailed to the meeting point with the ice boat. The men remained inside except for the most like-looking sailors. The ice boat didn't look suspicious and as soon as they were alongside the sailors jumped aboard and led the crew to the stern.
Kate and Dylan turned their backs to the deckhouse and stared at the defeated faces of the crew.
"It went well. Unexpected, in fact", Dylan said.
"Too well in my opinion. I don't see any anger on those faces. It's as if the skippers of the boat are not among them", Kate replied.
"We're going to ask who the captain is. Usually there's someone who steps forward".
She looked at him and smiled seeing his outfit, black trousers, ditto T-shirt, cap and dark sunglasses. "You look really nasty!"
He grinned at her, "I am nasty!".
She laughed and patted him playfully on the arm, "No! You are not!"
Just then, the deckhouse door swung open and two men rushed out with baseball bats. The first swung his bat, hit Kate's head and she blacked out.
End of Flashback
To be continued