CH 51
That night buffer checking his e-mails when he watch the recording Nikki made of mike. He stop it when the door open and turn to see who it was
"X"
"Buffer don't worry me" she close the door then walk over and sat down next to him
"Nikki sent me this, you got to watch it"
"what is it"
"You will see" Pete start from the beginning just as Kate move the chair closer to watch the recording. Kate giggled when she saw what mike was doing and heard what Nikki said till it stop.
"Nikki right" Pete said Kate turn to him
"About what"
"might mike Flynn building sand castles"
"Yes your right, he looks happy there" Pete turn to Kate when he heard the sad tone in her voice.
"Are you ok X"
"Yeah"
"miss him and kids" she look at buffer
"I do"
"I know what you mean"
"Nikki"
"yes, in five weeks time we will be in our love ones arms for a few days"
"True"
Over the next five weeks Mike, Kate, Pete and Nikki keep in contact with each other till Hammersley return from it six week patrol plus it was four days before Christmas. The crew got Christmas off which they are looking forward to spending it with family.
Pete and Kate also learn that Stewart made a full recovery from the infection and is back at home but they knew it would be some time next year before they all will know if the transplant work or not.
The day Hammersley return back to Cairns, the crew looking forward to Christmas holidays. Kate and Pete were at the EDO when they zoom on the wharf when they saw who there waiting for them and Swain.
When Hammersley dock and every thing was done. The crew started leaving Hammersley looking ford to there shore leave. Mike and Nikki were shock when they saw Sally pushing the stroller towards them.
They saw two and half year old Chloe in it and they saw Sally expanding stomach since she almost five months pregnant. When Swain step on to the wharf Chloe was already out of the stroller.
When she saw Swain she ran to him. He stop and crouch down with his arms open wide as she ran into his arms giving him a hug and kiss. Then he pick her and his bag up then walk over to give Sally a hug and kiss then he put his hand onto her stomach while smiling.
Then he put Chloe into her stroller and move till he put his arm around her waist as they turn around and walk back the way Sally came while talking to Sally.
When Kate and Pete step onto the wharf, they step forward to give there love ones a hug and kiss. They pulled apart when they heard a noise. Pete put his bag on the ground then he pick Vicky up in his arms
"Hello to you to sweetie, been a good girl for mummy" She smile as she wave her arms and legs around
"I think that answer your question Pete" Nikki said
"Funny" then he turn to mike and Kate
"Built any sand castles lately sir" Kate and Nikki laugh
"Very funny buffer"
"Well Mike you did look cute in the sand box" Kate said smile
"you saw the video" Mike asked
"Yes" Kate said smiling
"Who else knows about it"
"no one sir" Pete said
"I hope so Buffer"
"come on Pete let's go home, see you guys at the pub later" Nikki said
"We will be there" Kate said.
They walk away from Hammersley after Pete put Vicky back in her stroller then pick up his bag and wave to the guys as they walk way while talking and laughing.
That night every one showed up at the pub, kids included. They greeted Flipper when she and boys walk out side. She got them up on seats then put back pack down under the table after she got her purse out then she went in side to get boys and her self a drink then return back out side where she join the crew for couple of hours.
They tell her and Mike about what happen while out on patrol the jokes they played on each other when there was a week of no FFV or may days. Mike, bull, Swain, Pete and Mac took there families home since it was getting late while the rest of the crew enjoyed there evening by getting drunk like they always do.
Early the next morning Kate cell phone rings so she rolled over and pick it up to answer it
"Kate McGregor hello... yes sir... yes sir see you in an hour" then she hung up and rolled over and give mike a morning kiss
"Who was that"
"bull we been crash sailed"
"What" Mike said in shock
"Yeah, we to take supplies up to Samurai islands this morning"
"That can't be right. They were suppose to go next week"
"Well some thing must of happen on the island"
"I suppose your right But Bendigo was due to leave this morning for it patrol, they could of taken the supplies"
"You don't think knocker has some thing to do with the crash sail"
"Well she still not happy"
"so the only way to get at us is to crash sail Hammersley which will affect the whole crew" Kate said
"Could be Kate"
"I better get up"
"Shame" Kate smile
"I know, I hope there plenty of panadol on Hammersley over half of the crew going to need it and plenty of coffee this morning" Mike smile
"True"
they kiss once more then mike watch Kate get up and out of bed and walk to the bathroom to do her morning things before getting dress. While Kate was in the bathroom Mike pick up the phone that was next to his bed and called NAVCOM to find out what was going on.
When Kate walk out of the bathroom Mike was still on the phone. So she got dress while she listen to mike talking on the phone till he hung up. Kate could tell he was up set. So when she was dress she walk around to his side of the bed and sat down next to him. He turn to her
"bloody Maxine she brought the supplies drop forward. I told her Bendigo can do it since heading that way. She said she in charge and it her decision"
"She doing this to hurt you and our family Mike"
"I know, when I go in to work this morning I'll send a complaint to fleet command about how she not only wasting tax payers money but doing this as a personal vendetta against us"
"i agree Mike"
"We were looking forward to being together as a family this year for Christmas"
"I know and the crew they got plans on what they were going to do, now it won't happen"
"True"
"I better go" she lean over and kiss him.
"Yeah, see you when you return"
"sure. How about inviting the others over on Christmas day"
"Sally, Nikki...
"Yes at least they won't be alone this Christmas"
"Good idea Kate" he lean over and kiss her before she stood up
"I'll call you when Hammersley returns"
"Ok" Kate walk over and into the walk in closet to pick up her sea bag that she always got ready just in case of a crash sail then she walk out of the closet and walk to the door where she stop and turn to mike
"love you" Kate said
"love you to fair winds" Kate smile before walking out of there bedroom.
Mike let out his breath then he got up to go to the loo then he went and have a shower before getting dress. He knows that the kids won't be happy when he tells them that Hammersley been crash sailed.
When Kate arrived on Hammersley she went and got change then she went to get the faxes of the list of the supplies that being taken to samurai island. She look over the list before walk down and onto the wharf where she saw some of the hung over crew.
They said there good morning to Kate before walking on board just as the pellets arrived that got boxes on them. Kate look them over when more crew arrived not looking happy about the crash sail. But know they it was the navy for you.
When buffer arrived he didn't look happy "Morning X"
"morning buffer. Sorry about this"
"I know it the navy for ya"
Kate look around then to buffer who stop on the gang way since Kate put her hand on his arm. He look at her with a frond
"Mike and I think that knocker behind the crash sail"
"why"
"Personal vendetta against us and she not taking it out on mike and me but the crew as well"
"What, but we know about the crash sail and from those boxes some thing bad has happen on one of the island"
"mike called NAVCOM. These boxes are suppose to be drop off next week, Knocker brought it forward. And she could of gotten bendigo to deliver them since they were leaving this morning for there patrol and is two hours off there patrol area"
"some thing got to be done about her"
"I know. Mike sending a compliant to fleet command about it cause she wasting tax payers money for no real reason at all"
"I agree X,I'll go and get change and hurry the crew along" Kate smile
"some of them are hung over" buffer smile even wider
"Good" then he walk up and onto Hammersley just as some of the crew walk off.
When the crew finally put every thing on board bull showed up after a driver from NAVCOM drop him off. He walk over to where Kate is carrying his sea bag
"X"
"sir every thing on board some of the crew look hung over" He smile
"Well they did relax last night"
"Yes sir"
"Mike spoke to me this morning, he not happy with what commander white has done"
"I know we were talking about it this morning and crew was looking forward to spending Christmas with there family"
"Yes I know" They walk on board while talking some more.
Hour later they left port and headed to samurai island. Kate could tell that the crew wasn't happy about the crash sail. When Kate walk down to get a drink she heard bomber cursing from the galley so when she open the door she saw Bomber going through the cupboards till she turn and saw Kate there
"Every thing ok bomber"
"sorry X, and no"
"what wrong" Bomber folded her arms across her chest
"X there no food and water supplies for us"
"what" Kate look shock
"There nothing, we got enough food for two days at most and water there enough for one bottle per crew member a day. On top of that we all most out of gas so crew can't have hot showers, and there about one hundred and fifty litters of fresh water left, so no showers and only flush the toilet when need to. On top of that the tank need to be empty and charge hopes that there is enough diesel to get to Samaru islands and back again if not we would need a tow back to Cairns"
"How do you know this"
"Charge just told me, he on his way to the bridge to tell the captain about the situation"
"So no coffee then"
"sorry X there only tea, some one had the last of the coffee, but lucky there twelve litters of milk left in the fridge"
"Most probably half of the crew since they were hung over this morning" Bomber laugh
"i know I saw ET and spider"
Kate went and made her self a cup of tea when her cell phone rang so she got it out of her pocket to answer it
"hi Mike... yes every thing on board from the list... ok... no... bomber told me we got no extra food and water supplies...very little... bottle a day... yes she is going to ration them out... not even coffee... no we won't be able to have showers... not enough water... one hundred and fifty litters... just enough for the cooking and dishes... only when it bad... not much... they almost full...ok see you when we return... love you to" then she hung up then she finish making her drink
"How did commander Flynn sound" Bomber asked
"he not happy and going to look into it"
"Ok"
When Kate finish her making her drink she left to return back to the bridge when she and the crew heard captain announcement over the PA system about the shortage and what going to happen till they return back to Cairns.
It was the next afternoon by the time Hammersley dock at Samurai island. They got started on unloading supplies. When done they were given the night off so they could go and get some thing to eat and drink since that haven't had any thing since ten that morning and it wasn't much.
Kate got the crew to give her some money before they left to go into town. Buffer and bomber went with Kate to super market that on the island. They went and brought some food and bottle water then they took it back to the ship even though Kate stay with the boxes of food and water while buffer and bomber went to take the first load to the ship then return.
They did two more trips then they and Kate went to a take away place to buy some food for them and the ones who on Hammersley then they took them back to the ship and pass there fish and chips to the crew with bottle of coke each. They were happy and hungry. They thank Kate, buffer and bomber before walking away looking ford to having a feed.
The next morning Hammersley left port to return back to Cairns. The crew thank bomber, Kate and buffer for getting some extra food, water and coffee, enough till they return back to Cairns. On the way they attended a may day call which was twenty minutes away. Once the may day call was taken care off they sail back to cairns.
Charge was doing some writing when Kate walk up on the bridge. "X" She walk over to Charge
"what is is charge"
"We got a problem" He showed her the piece of paper, she look at it then to charge
"Are you sure"
"three times" She turn and walk over to the captain and shows him. He look at it and frond then turn to Kate
"what dose this mean"
"there not enough fuel to return to Cairns"
"how short will we be"
"Ten miles" Kate said Bull stood up and turn to charge
"Is there any other way"
"sorry sir" Kate thought about it then walk over to the computer and did some typing
"Sir there is a way" he walk over to her
"there is"
"Yes if we turn fifteen degrees for twenty minutes. We will reach here" she pointed to the screen
"that off course"
"I know that sir" then she did some typing then pointed to the screen
"the current can pull us along here for" then she did some typing
"six hours. They would take us closer to Cairns"
"how many miles if we did that"
"with the current speed... twenty plus miles"
"Ok let's do it" Kate gave the new concordant then they turn for twenty minutes till Kate said
"Stop all engines"
"stopping all engines" Charge said then the engines were turn off.