Chapter 61

"Vector" carried the Raffles shore leave party through the Junction to the yards at Mountserrat. She had been ordered in for repairs to her stern. Her return unfortunately drew the attention of the Chapati Admiralty to 119 DD Squadron. The stand down from War Status provided the Admiralty with a surplus of freed up war ships of all types. The existence of 119 was examined by the Admiralty and the decision was made to retire the V and W DDs and replace them with more modern vessels which were to be retained in that Navy and for whom employment was needed. Things run slowly in bureaucracies at any time but took longer in that dysfunctional organization.

"Vector" was repaired and returned to service.

Tentative enquires for tender were publicized for the sale to breakers' yard for five V and W DDs. There were no responses as the breakers were already at full stretch with the downsizing of the fleet and retirement of vessels. Further enquiries were made on the basis of "we will pay you to take them"; this was actually economic as the cost of mothballing was high and the available moorage was considerably diminished.

119 DD Squadron continued the peregrinations of convoy duty. The word however did filter down as the enquires for tender had been noticed by friends and relatives of the crew who passed it on. A gloom spread over the Squadron but not enough to affect its efficiency. The vessels themselves seemed to droop just a bit and to show their years.

McCock put the Flock back to school. They had completed the "Crusher" although this would never be officially recorded and the Senior Officers who knew of it had long been retired on half pay. He had received notices of the affairs of GmBH from MFH in Gorgipest and noted them for future reference. He had passed them to the Flock who read them but did not as closely note them.

Polack had thrown an idea into their collective minds some time previously about using the harmonics of the power plant to tune the hull so that emissions did not leak out of the shields. Cowboy had joined in and the two from time to time further thought on it. McCock kept abreast of their thinking and added his thoughts.

McCock had obtained the syllabus for Master Mariners and was leading the Flock through its intricacies as it reflected the civilian aspects of space commerce and travel.

The Naval Attaché at Old Breslau brought them the orders. This was their last convoy run. Upon returning to Raffles, 119 DD Squadron was to proceed to the Navy Yards in Settlement where the ships would be paid off. The destroyers had been "sold" to a breaker's yard in Gorgipest, Chas Ferguson and Sons Pty. The purchaser would hire civilian crews to ferry the vessels to Gorgipest. The Mountserrar officers were to go onto half pay. The Grenoble officers were told their services were no longer needed and to look to the GDF for further employment. The RMN other ranks were to be discharged to the Reserves. Navy personnel whose home port was Gorgipest could seek passage as supernumeraries and please contact MFH who are the agents. MFH was seeking a Master and six spacemen for each vessel, the absolute minimum allowed for vessels of this size being ferried that distance.

. The last convoys had been without event or loss. 119 DD Squadron saluted the 12th Cruiser Flotilla, its replacement, as they passed en route to Settlement. The dinner dance given by the officers for the personnel of the squadron was held in a Mess Hall at the yard four nights after coming alongside. The spacers were to begin their sequenced disembarkation the next day. Wives and girlfriends attended. Friends of the squadron turned up including some previously senior serving officers. Diana Halliday and Silas Rowan attended looking somewhat lost at losing yet another piece of their lives and not having fully adjusted to being on half pay after two years. Sally McGraw came last but had to leave early; she too had been 'beached' but her prize money meant there was no financial hardship. Being a Navy bash, there was the usual collection of extra females, usually from the government offices who had heard of the party. Slow spotted McCock deep in conversation with an older woman, red headed, classically beautiful and well turned out. She thought that McCock must have had a thing for older redheads and let the thought go as she entertained her companion.

Taking time from the Naval duties associated with the paying off of ships and crew, McCock got the Flock to the Mountserrat Marine and Navigation Department where they wrote and passed their Masters' examinations. Their ship log books, which McCock had insisted they keep, certified to by Captain Viscount Gold Roper, and one, HMS McCock, Master Mariner all tonnage all space, satisfied the practical requirements. The Flock received with most unusual speed their "less than 100 k ton local space" tickets.