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Forty days later, Pablo was nodding approval from the bridge wing of Albatros. On the bridge, a sailor announced over the PA system that they were docked so the deck personnel could retire from their posts. Pablo exhaled a breath that he seemed to have been holding for hours and finally pulled his hands from his pockets. That was the only way he could keep from touching his earlobe like we always did when he was nervous.
Albatros had just completed its first sea trial successfully. It had been a simple leaving of the port to test the latest modifications. The Portuguese had made several such trials but for Pablo and his newly formed crew, this had been the first time. And the first time is always special.
Pablo kept watching from his spot on the bridge wing (in the BAM the wing is covered, inside the bridge) how the deck personnel cleared up lines and other instruments used for mooring the ship while mentally reviewing the last few days.
The Navantia engineers and Grease had made a superhuman effort and had managed to modify the ship’s engines in record time. Grease had warned him that they probably wouldn’t be able to reach the desired thirty knots, that it would be something more like twenty-four or twenty-five. Pablo knew that the request they had made was quite ambitious and never expected it to be resolved so quickly. In addition, Grease had told him that the improvement implied an increase of fuel consumption close to 200% over twenty-three knots. However, Pablo knew that expense was not an issue. All he had to worry about was making sure they had enough fuel in case they needed to navigate at those speeds. In other words, it was its range that could be affected.
They took advantage of the sea trial to test the new engines and they had responded perfectly. Grease had admitted a few days before that the modifications had gone so well because Navantia had already studied them back in the day and most of the calculations had already been made. All they had to do was implement them.
Since virtually everything else had been tested before and they couldn’t afford the time it would take to repeat the entire battery of tests, they would have to rely on the ones previously made by the Portuguese Navy.
The only other innovation they tried out was the two new RHIBs. Navy BAM have free space on the quarterdeck (back) to carry configurable containers. They can have living quarters, humanitarian aid, and even unmanned vehicles. Since they weren’t planning on bringing any of those things along, they had taken advantage of the extra space to place two other boats which, in addition to the original two, would enable Pablo to take the entire crew in them if he wanted.
There was still some unused space in the quarterdeck that Pablo thought would work for storing an extra fuel tank. That would restore the range lost with the increased speed.
They had also taken some time to get used to the ship, becoming familiar with her seafaring ability, which was impressive, and to train the crew they had managed to gather so far.
As executive officer, Gabi was in charge of distributing the crew, putting together what in the Navy is known as a ship’s watch and station bill, setting the position of each person for every post on the ship.
By now, they had forty of the fifty-five men they wanted, a number similar to the one used by the Navy, leaving room for the boarding team and the helicopter crew with their maintenance people included.
Most of the recruits had previous Navy experience. Some were no longer seamen because of early retirement, others because they had been fired. Pablo had made sure that the reasons for the expulsions had been overcome, like the new boatswain and his former addiction to pot; or they had not been important as in the case of the gunner, whose captain didn’t like him. As a result, he had pushed him to the limit to force him to make a mistake.
The rest of the crew came from the merchant navy and fisheries and formed the core of people for deck, bridge, and engine departments.
Pablo and Gabi had decided to follow a procedure similar to the one Reyes had used with them. First, they had sought people to fill the positions of warrant officers and then had delegated them to find their own people, with supervision, of course. Grease had brought two of his mechanics for engineering. Damage Control
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They had also found a commis chef, who had convinced them that he could be the cook after preparing them a meal; and an unemployed accounting assistant looking for adventure. These two would work under the accountant Reyes had promised them.
Apart from the gunner, also they had an electronics specialist, a radioman, and another former non commissioned officer for the CIC.
These eleven gentlemen had been entrusted with the mission of finding three subordinates each. Within a few weeks, they had a crew of forty men and women, all selected by their superiors and all approved by the commander and executive officer.
Pablo knew that his people were all motivated, each one in his own way, and you couldn’t ask for more. Upon joining, the mission of the ship had been made clear to them and also that things would run as they did on military ships. Discipline would be much stricter than what they were used to. Pablo had informed each one about this personally and no one had seemed surprised. Everyone had accepted the non-verbal contract. What no one had expected was that immediately after, they were asked to sign a contract outlining in detail the set of rules on board, from dealings with crew members to the behavior expected of them and including corresponding disciplinary action. In this regard, Pablo and Gabi had opted for financial penalties because that’s where it would hurt people the most. The contract also established the commander as an omnipotent judge.
Pablo sighed. Each time he stopped to think, his mind led him to how lucky he was, rather, they were. And occasionally, he pondered the enormous responsibility that was coming. He had never had so many people under his command, neither such a big ship nor such an important mission.
At such times, Pablo would look at Gabi and could not help wondering if Gabi would have been better than him for the position. During the previous days, Gabi had already demonstrated what a valuable asset he would be, always treating Pablo with the utmost respect and subordination.
And that would always bring Pablo back to thinking about how lucky he was.
He came back from his thoughts remembering a saying he had heard years earlier that said, “luck only accompanies those who do not count on it in their plans.” He went to the center of the bridge and called Gabi over. Together, they crossed the small CIC (just aft of the bridge). They went two decks down and headed aft to stand under the poop deck.
At the same time, Reyes was coming up the gangway accompanied by a small entourage that was inspecting the boat curiously. Reyes had said he was busy and could not go to the trials. What Pablo didn’t know was that Reyes had decided not to go so as not to take away the limelight from Pablo on his first day in front of his new crew.
After shaking Pablo and Gabi’s hands, Reyes introduced his companions to them.
“This is Ana Molinos and Esther Rodriguez; accountant and doctor, respectively.”
The seamen managed to hide their surprise. The two had expected both to be men.
Reyes looked amused.
“Now, for my surprise gift,” he said turning to the rest of his companions. “This gentleman,” pointing to a man in his forties who was over six feet tall, “is Paco Díez. Paco was a SWAT member in the police but left to start his own training academy for security personnel. After much insistence, I managed to get him to leave his pseudo-retirement and become head of our boarding team. His companions are a couple of former teammates. He has also brought with him outstanding students, former rivals in shooting contests and some former soldiers. Unless you have any problems or suggestions, they will make up the boarding team.”