AN: sorry for not updating sooner. Been dealing with health problems as well being a driver for my parents since my mother finally had her hand surgery last month. So with out further ado here is the next chapter you all been waiting for.
CH 59
When Nikki ran up to the bridge "sir" every one turn to Nikki and raise there eye brows
"Enjoy your shower Nikki" Kate asked smiling
"Yes, sir there a dingy three hundred meters off the port side"
"where" Mike asked as he stood up from the captain chair. she walk over to where the door is
"there" she pointed. Mike walk over and saw what Nikki was seeing.
"We got to get a HRIB in the water, tell the guys they getting another shower X"
"Yes sir"
"Nav you better go and get dress before you lose the towel" mike said
"i better sir, don't want to give the crew an eye full except for one crew member only" she said grinning before turn around and walk off the bridge while the crew laugh.
The guys strip down to there underwear and went out to lower the HRIB into the sea. Buffer drove it over to where the dingy is since he was wearing shorts and a life vest.
"boy we glad to see you" the guy said.
"You were lucky you were spotted sir, come on let me help you all on here" buffer help the family on to the HRIB.
"Why are you dress like that" the women asked.
"Well ma'am cause there no power on the ship and we can't use the washing machine to wash our clothes or pump the water for us to have showers"
"How long have you been drifting for" the guy asked
"Over a week, we went through three bad storms. I'll tell you more once we get you all on board and in to some dry clothes"
"thanks, we been drifting for four days our selves" the guy said. Buffer help the last person in to the HRIB. Then he look at the dingy
"Can you tow it"
"sorry it already taking on water, where the engine"
"Fell of during the storm during the night"
"Ok" Pete radio a head to let mike know how many extra guests they got before he started the engine and headed around to the other side of Hammersley
"Oh my god, what happen"
"Boat and yacht hit the ship during the storms after we manage to rescue the people on board"
"How many have you rescue"
"Including you six... twenty" When buffer stop the engine charge lean over the side and lower the harness.
"sorry it the only way to get you all up on deck"
"Ok then how are you going to move this back up there" the women asked
"Man power ma'am"
"Oh" Buffer did the kids first then the adults.
Then he got every thing set up before the crew pull him back on board. The family was still shaking but they were amazed with what them men were doing to pull the HRIB put of the sea and back in it spot. Once every thing is done they walk towards the hatch where Nikki pass them all towels.
"If you six come with me we see what we can find some dry clothes for you then you all can have a hot drink"
"sounds great, but how when you got no power" the women asked
"Gas" Nikki said
"Oh" Once the family was in dry clothes Nikki took them to the galley where Pete already made hot drinks for them
"Ah, thank you, is there any thing to eat" the women asked
"Yes, not much" Pete said passing them all a nut bar and piece of fruit each
"thank you" they all said.
They walk into the junior mess where Nikki and Pete ask the questions "Why are you asking us these questions for"
"Reports ma'am plus there number of boats missing. We don't know if your boat was on the missing list or not" Nikki said
"Oh, ok" they talk for few more minutes then they took them to where they could get some sleep.
Then they went to let Mike know about the family. Nikki went to check on the latest e-mail from NAVCOM.
"any thing new Nav" Mike asked Nikki rub her eyes.
"Yeah... Pete can you go and check on the beacon, it got here that the beacon stop working about forty minutes ago and they try to call you on the sat phone but line engage"
"Sat phone right..."mike said when he look to his left
"It gone"
"Pete go and check the beacon , I'll get the crew to help me look for it sir" Nikki said.
"Nav most of the crew gone to get few hours sleep"
"Ok I'll see who still up" then she follow Pete down stairs. She look every where till she ward a male voice talking so she walk to the door and listen there was no one else so she open the door to see the teenager with the sat phone Nikki step ford and took it from him and hung up
"Hey why did you do that for I was talking to my girlfriend"
"This is not you to use to call your girlfriend, this is navy property and for emergencies only. Cains NAVCOM been trying to call us for over forty minutes. Do you know how much it cost for one minute on this phone, do you"
"no I don't care Navy paying for it"
"I will make sure that your parents get the bill and how much it cost per minute... a lot"
then she turn and walk out of the room she walk back up to the bridge and over to her lap top where she e-mail NAVCOM then she look up the phone number then type it in with the teenager name and his parents name. When finish and was sent. She pick the phone up and walk over to Mike and pass it to him
"you found it"
"Yeah that teenager Brad had it he was chatting to his girlfriend for how long I don't know sir. I already told him that his parents will be getting the bill for the call and I sent the info to NAVCOM as well."
"Ok, thanks Nav why don't you go and get some sleep"
"soon as Pete returns" then Pete walk up on to the bridge with the beacon
"sir some one stole the batters from it" Nikki pinch her nose.
"We don't have any extra D in that size I only brought C" Nikki thought about it
"that dam kid, he done it again" she turn around and walk off the bridge.
She went looking for him when she heard music from the junior mess so she walk in to see three of the crew talking to the teenager while playing games. Nikki pick up the radio and stop the CD
"Hey why did you do that for we were listening to some music" the teenager said.
Nikki gave him the not happy look as he open where the batters are "You idiot" she took the batters out
"Nav what going on" Spider asked Nav show them the batters
"These batters you friend here stole from the emergency beacon so he could play his music. And because of that the navy doesn't know where we are" Nikki turn around and walk out the door with batters in hand.
"Oh man you are in a lot of trouble" spider said
"what can she do, she just a guest like me"
"Oh she can do more than that, she lieutenant in the navy" the teenager look at spider in shock
"you mean like your XO"
"Yes, and if you were in the navy you would be given tooth brush duties"
"what that"
"Cleaning every toilet with a tooth brush"
"your joking"
"no, no joke"
When Nikki return to the bridge she walk over and put them back in the beacon and turn it on. When it wasn't working check check every thing.
"Nav"
"It not working sir, I don't know why" then she walk off the bridge to get the battery tester then return, she test the batters
"Dam it" she slam the batters on the bench. Mike got up from his seat and walk over to her
"what wrong
"they almost flat these batters are only design to use for beacons not some... CD player" Pete walk over to her
"come on let's go to get some sleep, there nothing much we can do"
"Pete I'll go to Kate cabin"
"mother and daughter are in there. X is in the captain cabin"
"Great where am I going to sleep"
"with me, come on"
"and charge"
"He will under stand"
"Ok"
"go on, swain taking over from me in couple of hours"
"Ok sir"
Pete and Nikki walk off the bridge while talking. When they walk into buffer and Charge room. Pete use a torch. They took there jackets and boots off. Pete took his pants and socks off before he got up and onto his bunker bed. Then Nikki did the same since change got his back to her. Then she climb up and into bed with her back to Pete front as he cover them bother with blankets and sheets.
Nikki turn her head to kiss him "night Pete"
"night Nikki" then he turn the torch off and put it in his cubbyhole hold then he wrap his arms around Nikki as they close there eyes and fall into peaceful sleep.
When Swain walk up on the bridge he was hold a traveling cup of coffee. Mike was typing his report on what happen yesterday on Nikki lap top.
"sir"
"Swain manage to get some sleep"
"Yeah three hours, it better than nothing... what happen to the emergency beacon" when he say it on the table with the batteries next to it
"the teenager Brad Dawson he took them for his CD player, they no good now"
"Back ups"
"none that size. I've already inform NAVCOM on ruffly where we are and where we heading to. Bad news is no ships available"
"what who said that. Don't tell me"
"Yes Maxine, I spoke to her and she not happy about some thing and taking it out on me. I e-mail lieutenant young, waiting for his reply in to what going on"
"Ok" then there was a ping.
So mike check to see that it was a e-mail so he click on to it and read what is said. "Sir, every thing ok"
"fleet command order a investigation in to why Maxine been crash sailing Hammersley and not any other patrol boats who been in port longer since she been CO at NAVCOM and from what lieutenant young is saying here. Maxine my either get a transferred to some were else with a demotion and with discipline actions against her or captain table depends on sustain reports. But good news the six crew members are recovering well"
"that is good news" Swain said
"Yes it is." Mike finish doing what needs to be done then shut down the lap top.
Then he pick it up and put it over and onto a seat. "sir why did you put it there for"
"Brad Dawson been caught using the sat phone to call his girlfriend and steeling the batteries from the emergency beacon"
"i under stand sir, why don't go and get some sleep"
"thanks swain" then he turn around and walk off the bridge.
When Mike walk into the cabin he close the door quietly "mike"
"Sorry Kate"
"Mmm" she said half asleep.
He took his jacket boots, socks and pants off then he got into bed and pull Kate in his arms
"It would be better if you were against the wall Mike" Kate said
"good idea" they move around till Mike was lying on top of Kate
"I love this Persian" mike said making Kate giggle
"I know you do" Then they move around again till mike back is against the wall and Kate snuggling up to his back
"Who on watch"
"Swain is"
"ok"
"night Kate"
"night mike" they close there eyes and fallen asleep.
Every one got a few hours sleep which they needed. Nikki, Kate and couple crew members sorted out the food for every one before they went to the bridge to give the ones who on there there ration of food and cups of coffee. Nikki use the lap top so she and Kate could calculate on where they are since they haven't got a beacon no more.
"Sir by Kate and my calculation we will be seeing Ului island in the next hour" Nikki said.
"That good to know"
An hour later they saw Ului island as they slowly went pass it to see Warral Island. When they sail pass it. Nikki did some calculations as well check the tide and current changes. Just as the sun was starting to set Charge started the engines up so they could change course or they would hit a reef.
Once Hammersley pass the reef safely. Charge turn the engines off. By the next morning they just past Arlington Reef. So charge turn the engines on so they could change direction to head towards Cairns.
"Charge is there any way we could get the second HRIB in the water" Mike asked over the radio
"We could try sir"
"Ok lets get started" when the engines stop
"Yes sir"
mike charge, ET and buffer got to work to sort out the second HRIB. Once sorted out they with crew help were able to lower it in the water with one of the crew members on board. Then they lower the other HRIB into the sea.
When done with a crew member on board they stay with Hammersley till it was time to connect the tow ropes to the two HRIBS.
"sir we got welcoming comity" Nikki said.
Every one on the bridge look to see helicopters flying over head and around them and numbers of pleasure craft heading towards Hammersley. One of the crew members went down to let every one know what was happening so every one went out on deck to yell and cheer to every one who showed up to see the missing crew and ship.
Nikki walk down and stood next to Pete as he was talking to the two drivers of the HRIBS. He turn and smile to Nikki then he wrap his arm around her shoulder as she did with his waist as he work. She turn to see mike and Kate out side on the outer bridge looking at what was going on.
Nikki turn to see media there so she held up the hand held radio "Hey sir why don't we give the media some thing to talk about"
"what do you mean Nav"
"Remember what the four of us did on the day Hammersley was decommission and the crew found out our secret" Pete turn to Nikki who was smiling so he smile back the turn to see where the two HRIBS are
"Yes are you thinking of doing it now"
"Why not we will make the papers again sir"
"What do you think buffer" Mike asked Nikki pass Pete the radio
"Why not sir, what about you X"
"Why not" Kate said
"Ok on three... one... two... three" Mike said
Pete turn and kiss Nikki at the same Time mike did the same to Kate. The crew who was close by cheer both couples on then the others showed up and cheer them on and so did the people on the pleasure crafts and boats were doing the same. The media took heaps of photos as well record what happen on Hammersley
When both couples broke apart. Pete turn to see smiling mike and Kate so he turn around and return back to what he was doing with Nikki next to him.
When Hammersley was close to the docks both HRIBS drop the ropes and move till they were against the side of Hammersley while the crew pull the ropes back on board. Mike and buffer were at both sides of the ships.
Both HRIBS use much power they got in there engines to push Hammersley side way towards the wharf. Till they were close to throw the ropes to the shock workers.
Then both HRIBS move till they were at the back of there ship where ropes were through to the drivers so they could tie the HRIBS to the ship. Then ropes was thrown down so the crew could help pull both drivers up onto Hammersley.
Once on board they went to help get thing sorted out. The wharf was full of people, from the other patrol boats, three of the crew that was wondered . Hammersley crew families and numbers of staff from NAVCOM and fleet command showed up when they received word on when Hammersley was coming into port.