Chapter 40

The actual official launching and christening ceremony for "Vector" was attended by members of the "451 Wives & Widows Association", the crew of "Vector" but not attached personnel, and GmBH executive. Denny had hitched a ride back on R2 for a well earned leave and also to be present at the ceremony. The event was real time shown over Tabes and to the GmBH yards.

Part of the ceremony was the unveiling of a plaque made from some debris found in the harbour some time after the 'Death Ride' which scientific analysis had shown was probably from a V & W class vessel. It had been worked on by the ERAs of the present name holder who had been with her on the ride and they had made pendants presented to Shelly Indira and the other widows from what had been left over. The pendants were small and only pieces of scrap metal, but...

The lower deck's celebratory party held in the Marines' Mess Hall was rather riotous resulting in a lot of polished metal in some obscure places found by the Regulating POs.

McCock and his Flock with Felix and Sally participating with Evan Evans taking the notes held a Promotion Board in the Admiral's Office. He set out his proposals and then opened the group to discussion. The discussion regarding the "Sprightly" frigate brought forth a derisory grunt from Polack,

"That frigate out masses "Vance" and come to think on it out weapons her by a wide margin and outruns her as well."

Slow's question of "Angie?" produced a grunt from McCock.

The division of the group into a fast and a slow squadron caused some discussion about the proposed deployment of the MC "Darling" with the slow squadron but on balance the decision to give it some teeth and thus have two strike forces which had trained together outweighed the counter argument keeping all the MCs together and deploying ad hoc.

The transfer from each DD of six UVAs and four Keys to each MC raised objections from Slow and Denny that whilst the MC 'puters were barely adequate, the com gear was not. McCock grinned wolfishly back at them and as the centi credit dropped, Denny moaned,

"We'll get onto it. Slow, start proceedings will you and I'll take over after I hand over to Chris. Suits?" Nod from all.

Posting Tim and Des Avers to warships was dismissed with expressed regrets when McCock informed the group that he had made the offer to be gently declined. Both officers considered that they were operating at the upper level of their pay scales now and pointed out they had been only PO 2s in RMN expecting to make Chief Warrants on retirement.

The longest discussion arose over how to manage "Shriek" and the Admiral's Barge. Finally "Shriek" was made part of COHAC's assets but at first call by the Commodore for scouting; crews from the wing as required. Alan and Colin Avers made CWOs and posted to Commodore's staff with the Barge and maintenance by the wing support squadron.

The Board made its decisions to be promulgated immediately:

119 (Reformed) Task Group.

Commodore HMS McCock;

Commodore's Staff — Denholt, Kowalski, Bollinger, McGraw, Evans, Alan Avers, Colin Avers, Trojan;

First squadron:

Commodore: Captain LA Gort;

"Vector" CVL, Captain LA Gort, XO Cdr Peter Lowell, HAC Ops Cdr F Arburthson. COHAC Lt Cdr A Hardman;

"Sprightly" Frigate, Capt(jg) Harryfor Avers, 1st Lt LtCdr Hugh Avers;

"Devon" MC, Lt Cdr Alistair Dinmore, section leader;

"Derwent" MC, Lt Shirley Wacol;

"Derby" MC, Lt Michael Bathurst; and

"Darling" detached to Second Squadron.

Second Squadron:

"Victoria" DD, Captain Keith Grant (Captain D);

"Vance" DD, Cdr Tony Pearson;

"Washton" DD, Cdr W. (Bill) Williamson,

"Warburton" DD, Lt Cdr Christine Dinmore

Attached to 2nd

"Darling" MC, Lt Carly Sefton

FURS:

"R1", Master and 'Commodore' Timothy Avers; and

"R2" Master Desmond Avers.

The Commodore and his staff except for Sir Henry repaired to "Trader" which was regarded as the HQ base for the 119 (Reformed). Sir Henry wanted to stay close to his sigint 'puter, at least until Trudie could get established to which Slow remarked to no one in particular,

"When Trudie 'takes over' he'll use the thing to study the cosmos and just happen to keep a listening ear on the day's sig take."

Angie at least allowed McCock to settle in his office with a mug of Kahawa blend before striding in, dropping into a seat and with one of the grimmest faces McCock could ever remembering seeing, demanding

"Why?"

McCock studied her for several moments before returning to the coffee pot to pass a mug to her and returned to his desk to face her. After a further minute or so to allow some of the tension to bleed out of her, he began quietly,

"Hugh Avers swallowed the anchor after fifty eight years of continuous service in RMN. He was highly regarded by all ranks, upper and lower decks. Milligan had been prepared to directly commission him to retain him. Hugh thought he was blocking a younger Avers somewhere so he went.