Legacy 11

1342, NAVCOM, Cairns, Afternoon Watch

"That was good work on Tuesday", CDR Kate McGregor complimented Ryan.

"Thank you, Ma'am", he replied. Even though she was his stepmother, the military etiquette had to be followed.

"It has been going on for months, we found one dead FFV-crew after the other", Kate continued, "For the first time, we have a survivor now."

"How is the victim?" Ryan wanted to know.

"Still unconscious, the MedicOs over at Barry General are not able to say if and when he will regain consciousness. The bullet almost ended up in his brain and it is by pure luck that he made it this far."

"And I assume the Feds are going to want to talk to him, once he comes by", Ryan added.

"Exactly", Kate agreed, "Surely we will be told whatever information they get out of him, but it will take a while."

"Aye, ma'am."

2043, Cairns

The Hammersley's crew was sitting together in the bar, overlooking the harbor.

"Three more weeks, and our boat is ready for the junkyard", Bird reminded them, "To the last 20 days of the HMAS Hammersley, Armidale-class!"

"To the Hammersley!" the rest of the crew chorused.

"It's weird, that is now the second Hammersley I see decommissioned", Spider declared, "I must be getting old."

Everyone agreed heartily to that.

Chloe sat back on her chair, across the table from Susan. She eyed her stateroom mate for a moment, then leaned forward again.

"Susan, I know that something is bothering you", she smiled, "Come on, give."

"It's nothing", Susan denied.

"Really?" Chloe asked, "Come on, I've been around you for most of the time at sea, and for the past weeks, you've acted differently."

Susan took a sip from her beer, then nodded slightly and walked outside. Chloe hesitated for a second, then followed her to the bar's parking lot.

"Alright, what is so secret that you can only tell me here?" Chloe asked.

"I've been in a relationship", Susan admitted.

"Really?" Chloe asked, "But why wouldn't… it's someone from the crew, isn't it?"

"Mike O'Donnell", Susan told her, "Please, don't tell anyone…"

"Don't worry, my lips are sealed", Chloe smiled.

1021, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Forenoon Watch

The Hammersley's grey hull was cutting through the calm water as the ship was cruising along its patrol route. Chloe was watching the EOD's display, while Susan was on the helm.

"Contact, possible trawler", someone reported from the radar, "Distance four miles, bearing 3-4-1."

"Captain has the ship", Ryan ordered.

"Captain has the ship", LEUT Doyle confirmed.

"Port 15, steer 3-4-5, revolutions 2-5-0-0", Ryan commanded.

"Port 1-5, course 3-4-5 revolutions 2-5-0-0", Susan replied, "Aye-aye, Sir."

The Hammersley rocked a little when the engines were applying more power. The boat gained speed and approached the trawler.

"Sir, I have a visual!" Chloe reported. Ryan walked over to the EOD and looked over her shoulder.

"Doesn't that one look somehow familiar?" he asked aloud.

"Yes, Sir, I think so", Chloe answered, "But I can't exactly remember when we've come across it before."

While they were watching the display, a couple of men came on the deck. They were talking with each other, entirely oblivious to the approaching warship.

"Trawler on my Port bow, this is Australian warship Hammersley", Ryan said into the radio, "Identify yourself."

"Hammersley, this is the Green Angel, Over."

"That's these environmental activists who are trying to find proof of illegal fishing here", LEUT Doyle remembered.

"Right, thanks", Ryan smiled.

2346, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora sea, First watch

Ryan snuck in the galley and poured himself a cup of coffee. Fortunately, it was already freshly brewed for the new watch at midnight. He waited for a moment to let it cool, then drank it.

"That one is for the new watch", Bird said behind him.

"You sound like my mom when she caught me pocketing the Christmas cookies", Ryan commented lightly.

"Well, that is exactly what every woman loves to hear", Bird sighed, "I hope you have better compliments for your girlfriend…"

Both looked at each other for a moment, then broke out in laughter.

"Seriously, how is it going with her?" Bird wanted to know.

"Really great, actually", Ryan smiled, "Not that it is any of your concern…"

0613, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Morning Watch

"Sun coming up", the Hammersley's Navigator, LEUT Chan declared, "End of nautical twilight."

Everyone on the bridge nodded in agreement, the night was now entirely over.

"I have a contact on the radar", LS O'Donnell reported a little later, "Distance 17 miles, bearing 1-3-2, moving slowly to the south."

"That's the restricted area for fishing", LEUT Chan thought loud, "Could it be a FFV?"

"Affirmative, Sir", LS O'Donnell replied, "I have no transponder signal."

"Someone get the CO", LEUT Chan ordered after a moment of staring at the display, "Hard starboard, steer course 1-3-7, revolutions 2-8-0-0."

"Revolutions 2-8-0-0, course 1-3-7", Bird replied from the helm, "Aye-aye, Sir."

A minute later, Ryan entered the bridge.

"Sitrep?" he asked.

"Sir, unidentified radar contact within the zone restricted for fishing, no transponder, possible FFV", LEUT Chan reported. For over an hour, the Hammersley approached the other boat.

"Pipe boarding stations", Ryan finally ordered.

"All hands to boarding stations", the Hammersley's XO sounded over the ships intercom, "Assume damage control state Yankee."

Chloe, Susan, Spider and the other members of the boarding party were in the ready room, all getting their gear together to board the FFV. They sat in their RHIB and were put in the water, before they accelerated and swiftly approached the FFV.

"There is someone on the deck!" Susan cried out as they came close. True to her word, a couple of men were standing on the deck of the fishing boat. For a moment, they looked at the RHIB coming at them, then they turned and jumped into the speedboat they had waiting for them on the far side of the FFV.

"Hammersley, this is Thunder", Spider said into the radio, "We are in pursuit of a speedboat taking away at least two men from the FFV. Send Lightning to board the boat. Out."

They all clung to the handles, as Thunder shot across the waves, aiming at the speedboat.

"This is the Royal Australian Navy. Stop or heave to!" it sounded from the speakers over the water, yet the speedboat just ignored them. Slowly, they were beginning to catch up.

They chased the speedboat for miles, the spray flying in their faces. Everyone had closed the visors on their helmets, and the sailors were clinging to the handles. Chloe looked at them, one of the men seemed oddly familiar.

"Spider, I've seen this guy before", she yelled, "He was on that eco-activist trawler."

Finally they were getting side by side. The sailors held onto the speedboat, and some jumped over. Almost immediately, the men aboard were overpowered and arrested.

0723, HMAS Hammersley, Arafora Sea, Morning Watch

The boarding crew was just returning from making an arrest on the Green Angel. They had arrested a couple of men, and found a load of weapons. They would have to wait for the ballistics report, but there was a rather great probability that the weapons matched the ones used for the murdering of the illegal fishermen.

"Lock them up in austere", Ryan ordered LEUT Doyle as the suspects were brought aboard.

0601, HMAS Kingston, Cairns, Morning Watch

Ryan made his way over the gangway to the sister boat. He was already wearing his dress whites, he would need it later during the day.

Glancing at his watch, he knocked on the CO's cabin.

"Enter", LCDR Steele replied from the inside. Ryan opened the door and entered. Kathy Steele eyed him for a moment, then smiled.

"So today is the day?" she asked.

"Yes, it still feels weird", Ryan admitted.

"I couldn't tell you", Kathy grinned, "We have two more weeks to go until decommissioning."

"I wanted to talk with you about something", Ryan began. Kathy raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"I wanted to ask you: Will you marry me?" Ryan said as he produced a small box with a ring. Kathy nodded and with happy tears in her eyes threw her arms around him.

0732, HMAS Hammersley, Cairns, Morning Watch

The sailors and officers of the Hammersley's crew were just passing over the gangway for the last time. All had dressed in their white uniforms, and each of them looked over the boat with a bit of melancholy.

Finally, the RAN's white ensign was taken down, the trumpeter played and Ryan handed the folded flag to his stepmother. The band played, and with precise steps, the crew marched off the pier.

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A/N: So, guys, this is it!

I could have probably done one or two more chapters, but I wanted to keep the number of chapters approxiamtely the same as the number of episodes in each Season. And I don't think delaying the inevitable end any longer would have done any good.

I want to thank everyone who commented, pointed out my errors, favorited or followed this story and kept reading, despite my sometimes irregular updates. Thank you!

The Hammersley's journey is over – and like her predecessor, she went out with a successfully completed mission. I hope you enjoyed it, at least as much as I enjoyed writing this.

It is far too soon to tell, but maybe, one day I will bring this crew back, on their new Hammersley. We will all see about that.

Let me know what you think about it - Don't forget to review!