Indian Ocean Invasion - 1. IOI Chapter 1

For the past few months, I have had no memory of what happened before I ended up in the hospital, only what I have been told by my work colleagues, and the psychologist is trying to help me get through this trauma as they call it.

According to them, I am an officer in the Australian Navy, a graduate of ADFA - Australian Defence Force Academy, second from the top of my class, after completing the NEOC - New Entry Officers Course, and I currently hold the rank of Lt Commander.

I was also told that both of my parents are deceased, but I have an older sister – Margaret, two older half-sisters, Susan and Amanda, and an older half-brother – Jeremy, we have the same father, but Margaret and I are from the second marriage, and we have our mother’s maiden name of Shaw instead of our father’s surname of Hughes.

I know my name is Lewis Shaw, and I am 26 years old, single, and I’ve had a few boyfriends and girlfriends, but no one in the Navy knows that bit of personal information.

My best friend is Kylie Sanders, we were in high school together, and she knew my preferences, from when we first met, she didn’t mind being my date for school balls and social nights out, she is one awesome chick, and she has been with me through my recovery from being injured while patrolling in Afghanistan.

Kylie is an AFP – Australian Federal Police Officer, with the rank of Senior Sergeant, so she is the only person with enough security clearance who I can tell what I do in the Australian Navy.

After completing the NEOC, and Officer training, which included a double degree in Asian Studies and International Security Studies, I became an intelligence officer with ASIS – Australian Secret Intelligence Service, where I spent the next four years working in Canberra, and travelling worldwide, too many of Australia’s Embassies, for not just my University training, but also my language skills in fluent Japanese and Malay, during this time I had gained my helicopter pilots licence, served onboard many Naval ships, plus I have started a degree in Paramedical Science.

Having gotten sick of the continual travel, and dealing with government red tape, I requested and received a transfer to the Clearance Diving Team, after completing the diving fitness and suitability test.

The 40 weeks of clearance diving were brutal, but rewarding, having fine-tuned my skills in weaponry, and learning about using explosives, including defusing conventional and improvised explosive devices.

During this time, I also completed my third and final year of Paramedical Science, meaning I was now a qualified paramedic.

With all my degrees and training, it was a sure bet that I would end up being shipped to Afghanistan, to assist with defusing IEDs, and when I was on my third tour, while I was heading out on patrol in an armoured vehicle when we hit one of these devices and I ended up in hospital for twelve weeks.

Now that I was finally out of the hospital, and on medical leave, I was not sure what to do. Kylie was now posted at the Perth office of AFP, and she invited me to spend time with her in Perth, while I continue to recover.

She had used up three weeks of her holidays to come to Darwin, to help me recover from my injuries, which have resulted in a permanent limp, due to my injured left leg, I also have some burn scars on the left side of my cheek and jaw, which means I now have a permanent goatee, as it is too painful to shave.

When I arrived in Perth, Kylie was there to collect me, dressed in her work uniform, she said she had some business at the airport, so she was still working technically.

Once she had me settled in her apartment, Kylie returned to work, leaving me to get used to my new surroundings. I had been to Perth several times, during my first job in the Navy, so I knew my way around the city quite well, and Kylie’s apartment is in East Perth, on the edge of the city, with great views of the Swan River and the sports stadium and casino.

For the first few days, I kept close to the apartment, not going any further than 300 metres from the front door to the apartment block, which meant I was just walking along the riverbank to get regular exercise as suggested by my doctors, and there was an upmarket café just 100 metres from the front door, where I would have lunch each day.

When Sunday finally came around, Kylie had her only day off, so while she slept in, I went down to the café for breakfast, and to bring back a cup of coffee for Kylie.

Sure enough, she appeared from her room, less than a minute after I had returned, having smelt the coffee.

“I prefer tea myself, I can’t stand that stuff” I commented as I saw Kylie smile after her first sip of the coffee, as I revealed a small paper bag containing a warm fruit muffin, another one of Kylie’s favourite foods.

“So… what are we going to do on our day off?” Kylie asked between mouthfuls of muffin and coffee.

“How about taking me to Kings Park for a picnic, I have always….” I began before being interrupted by Kylie’s house phone ringing. “Hold that thought, let me get that, it may be my work, I turn off my mobile on weekends,” Kylie said as she stood up and headed to the phone.

I tuned out of the first part of the phone call until I heard Kylie say… “Yes, he is here, it’s good to hear from you again Jeremy, it has been way too long, hang on a moment”, before she held the phone in my direction.

“Jeremy, as in my half-brother,” I asked not too pleased that he had tracked me down, after I had not seen or heard from him, since the death and funeral of our father, seven years ago.

“Yes, what do you want Jeremy,” I said in an annoyed tone, and I heard my half-brother sigh loudly, then a period of silence, then another sigh.

With that, I slammed the phone down and walked out onto the balcony to cool off, as I was pissed off with him.

When I heard the phone ring again, I didn’t move from the balcony, and I could tell that Kylie was whispering to not upset me, and it was a good ten minutes before I heard her end the call before she came out onto the balcony.

“As you may have guessed that was Jeremy calling back, he is sorry about the earlier call, when he heard your voice for the first time in such a long time, he got a bit overwhelmed, and he didn’t know what to say,” Kylie said to me.

“Well, I am not interested in hearing from him ever again, he knew how to get in touch with both Margaret and me, and he never once tried to call me, since our father's funeral, not once in seven whole years, so he can go and jump off a cliff,” I said to Kylie.

“Well, he has found out, that you were injured while in Afghanistan, I know you have me listed as your next of kin, but I sent a message to Jeremy to call me, but I didn’t say why, he must have found out from his contacts, as he is a successful barrister in Adelaide” Kyle announced.

“So, what does Mr high and almighty want then?” I asked. “Well, he wanted to know about your injuries, and what your job entails in the Navy.

I told him you were on a special assignment when you were injured, and that you have a permanent injury to his left leg, and some facial burns to the face, nothing more than that.

He said that I wasn’t telling him the whole truth, and I told him, that was all I was permitted to say. Thankfully he didn’t push me any further on that, he just wanted to know more about your recovery and what you plan to do next” Kylie said to me.

“Well as far as I am concerned, that is none of his business” I replied when the phone rang again, and Kylie went inside to answer it, this time using the portable phone, which she brought out to the balcony, “…I’m sure he would love to speak to you Margaret, make sure to come and visit when you are next in Perth, I will pass you onto your brother,” Kylie said and she handed the phone to me before I sat down heavily in a chair.

“Hello Sis, how are things in Tasmania, sorry I haven’t spoken to you in a while, I presume Jeremy called you,” I said cheerfully, glad to hear my sister's voice, as we had always been close siblings.

“Yes, he called me, he said you were injured, and that you were in Afghanistan when it happened, I thought you were on board a ship based in Darwin, the last time I heard from you,” Margaret said in a concerned voice.

“Yes, I was injured due to an IED, but I can’t go into details for security reasons, now how are my niece and nephew going, I bet they are growing fast” I responded, quickly changing the subject.

“Yes, they are both growing so fast, it is hard to keep up with them sometimes” Margaret answered, “Well you give them my love, and tell them I will try to see them fairly soon,” I said to my sister.

“I will, but that isn’t the main reason I called, when Jeremy spoke to me, he felt sorry for ignoring us two, and he would like to correct that, he pushed me for some more information about your injuries, and how you got them, I only told him, that I hadn’t spoken to you for about 3 months, and that last I heard you were in Darwin,” Margaret said.

“Thanks for that Sis, now what is it that Jeremy wants to do, to make up for him ignoring us for the past seven years?” I asked.

“Well, he is in a place to help in a little way, he has a small accommodation business, that I feel may be very beneficial for you,” Margaret said to me, “Oh, and where is this place?” I asked, a little surprised at this offer of assistance. “Christmas Island on the Indian Ocean” Margaret replied smiling. “Wow, that is something, that I didn’t expect. So, what exactly is he offering?” I asked.

“I suggest that give him a call, and see how it goes, he will tell you some more about his offer,” Margaret said, “ok Sis, I will give him a call, I’m going for a walk around the riverbank first thou” I explained.

After the phone call, I let Kylie know that I was taking a walk, as I grabbed the keys and left the apartment. When I returned, I delayed making the call to my half-brother, deciding to relax on the balcony with a cup of tea first.

Finally, when I called my brother, at his work, I was informed that he was in a business meeting, and could not be disturbed, so I just let the secretary know that it was his brother calling, and I ended the call.

I didn’t feel like a picnic, after dealing with the phone calls, so I retreated to my room to read a book for the rest of the day, interrupted only by Kylie insisting that I eat some lunch, and we went down to the café for a light meal.

When we returned, there was a message on the house phone, so Kylie hit the play button as she headed into the kitchen, “Hello Kylie, this is Jeremy speaking, I was wanting to speak to Lewis, my mobile number is … leave a message if I am unable to answer the call, as I have court this afternoon, bye”.

I watched Kylie jot down the mobile number on a pad near the phone, before preparing a cup of tea for me and coffee for her, as I sat down in the lounge, ignoring the notepad.

“I believe there are some travel restrictions with this offer, so you better give him a call,” Kylie said to me as she handed me a cup of tea and sat down next to me. “I will mate, let me drink this first, then I will” I replied.

A good twenty minutes later, I finally dialled the number for Jeremy’s mobile, using the house phone, “Hello, Jeremy speaking” I heard my half-brother say, as he answered the call.

“It’s me, you wanted me to call back” I responded, “Lewis, I am glad you called back, listen, mate, I know I have partly ignored you, but I have also been very busy.

I want to offer you a 6-week holiday on Christmas Island, I thought maybe the sea air, salt water and natural landscape, may help you with your recovery.

The place that I partly own, with three university friends, is an Eco Lodge, located in the National Park, on the far northwest coast of the island, 18.5 km from the main village of Flying Fish Cove, with the nearest sign of civilisation being the closed down detention centre 4.5 kilometres away, by road and a rough track.

It is very remote, and no one will disturb you, and I will make sure that you are well cared for, there is just one favour that I ask of you.

I am not sure if you know but I have a son and two daughters. My son, who is the oldest, has been suspended from his grammar school for two weeks, so I was hoping that you would allow him to join you. His name is Mitchell, he's 15 years old in a few days, and he is generally a good kid,” Jeremy said to me.

“Ok, that sounds possible, so when will all of this happen?” I asked, "Mitch and I will be on a plane tonight, and we will stay in a hotel in the city and catch up with you tomorrow. The flight to Christmas day is the next day, as there are only two flights there each week.

Mitch and I will come over there to Kylie's place at 11 am tomorrow, so we can discuss the trip in more detail, I will see you then Bro, bye for now” Jeremey said.

“Well, what did he say?” Kylie asked me after I stared at the phone for a minute or more, “It looks like I am taking a 6 week's holiday to Christmas Island, and Mitchell, Jeremy’s teenage son is tagging along too” I replied.

“Wonderful news, I hear that it is really beautiful up there, although this time of year, it is cyclone season, so it gets pretty wet and humid” Kylie replied. “I guess I have some shopping to do tomorrow, and I also need to let work know that I am going to be away for six weeks,” I said, as I headed to my room to see what clothes I do have and what I will need.

The following morning, after an early breakfast, dressed in my Navy dress uniform, I headed to Campbell Barracks in Swanbourne, the headquarters of the SAS Regiment, and presenting my Navy ID, I asked to speak to the SASR Commanding Officer, Lt Colonel Peter Atkins, who I served with on my first tour in Afghanistan.

“Well, Lt Commander Shaw, it is good to see you again, I heard about your injuries, how are you coping?” the Lt Colonel said smiling, when I entered his office, “Not too bad thanks sir, it is just a long slow process, which is very frustrating” I replied as I shook his hand.

“So how can I help you today, Lewis?” the Lt Colonel asked me, “Well Peter…sir, my half-brother has offered me a holiday of sorts, that he thinks will help me with my recovery, and I was wanting to ask you to put in a request to allow me to travel overseas, I’m not sure where yet, as I will see my half-brother later today, he is travelling over from Adelaide to give me more details” I announced.

“I see, I presume you still have the NV2 security clearance, if so then we need to get the AGSV – Australian Government Vetting Agency involved, when are you planning to go?” the Lt Colonel asked, “Well sir, my brother has me booked on the flight to Christmas Island, for tomorrow, from there I am not sure” I replied.

“Ok, well that is not a problem, because it is still within Australian Territory, but we will need to know where you are going if you are planning to leave Australia” the Lt Colonel informed me.