Oceania - 5. Oce Chapter 5

“So, it is all automated for keeping all the plants alive?” I asked, “yes, and we have a team that goes to the island on a monthly basis to check everything is running smoothly. They are the same with Howell and Baker Islands, which have the same setup, as you see there” Dad said.

“Well, since they are the same, then there is no need to visit the other two islands, we will make our way directly to Wake” I replied. “Good, see you in about 5 days’ time, goodbye,” Dad said.

I made contact with Uncle Jonah as we were leaving Jarvis Island, and I had agreed to stay reasonably close to the Aquarius, so we had to slow down a little to allow the Aquaria to almost catch up, before continuing at the same speed as the other vessel.

Nearly six days later in the early morning, I had just finished breakfast, when I was summoned to the bridge, to see something, but Daniel would not tell me what it was. As I stepped onto the bridge, I could see that we had surfaced, but I already knew that, as I had felt us slowly surfacing, shortly after I woke up.

What I had not expected to see, was the sight of a number of multi-level buildings, on Wake Island, with most of them being about 4 or 5 stories high, located on the north-east side of the main island. “Wow” was all I could say, and this was interrupted by the communications officer on duty.

“Sir, I have Mr Lloyd on the radio, asking to speak to you,” the officer said, and I asked for it to be put on the shipwide PA system. “Mr Lloyd, you are on the ship PA system,” I said when we were connected. “Very well Commander.

All hands onboard the Oceania, welcome back to Wake Island, as you can see through your windows or the video screens now, is the new look base of Lloyd Corporation, as you can see, we have had quite a lot of changes since you have been away…

Now that Aquaria has joined us for this announcement, I wish to congratulate you all on a wonderful job that you did on Pitcairn Island over the past twelve months, I have received a report from the Administrator of the small nation, stating that they are forever grateful for saving their little country from extinction.

This is one of the main aims of this corporation, to save islands and communities from damage and destruction. On saying that, we have a large problem with floating waste on our world oceans, and this will be our next major project, to try and combat this problem, and clean up as much waste as possible from pacific nation islands, including our own islands.

As the Oceania crew have discovered, on their return journey, we have been working on restoring vegetation to Jarvis, Howell and Baker Islands, so that wildlife in the region can live happily and undisturbed. All three islands now have a forest of young plants that have been planted and will be allowed to grow, with the assistance of a desalination plant and solar power, to provide fresh water to the plants on all three islands.

We have also acquired Johnstone Atoll, which has had a major rubbish clean up, including toxic waste, and some basic facilities have been established there, as well as the planting of lots of trees, and it will be our secondary base, and the location of our soon to be established Science Research department of the Corporation, so anyone who would like to be part of that department, please let your commanding officers know.

Both the Aquaria and Oceania, are back here for at least one month, to allow everyone some rest and recreation time, so enjoy yourself, and thank you for listening,” my father said before the line was disconnected.

When we arrived at the main sea terminal, we saw that it had been widened, to allow for both vessels to berth at the same time, we also saw that there were bigger buildings at the terminal and that Wilkes Island, now have a number of two-level buildings, that look lie accommodation complexes.

From the bridge, we could see that the village on the north-west island, was now a lot bigger, and there are now a number of bigger buildings, which I presumed to be sports and recreation facilities. As we entered the terminal, Dad was there waiting for us, and after passing through customs, which was a new regulation to protect the island, all senior officers from both vessels were directed into a conference room.

Dad informed us about the new layout of the island, stating where the crew accommodations are located, and what new recreation facilities are available. We were told that alcohol is limited, with very strict rules on how much can be consumed per day and per week, depending on when the crew are next on duty.

After the briefing, we returned to our vessels and passed on the information to our crews, before they were given R & R leave, with crews split into three shifts, one on left, one on leave, but on standby, and the last one being on duty, and this was rotated every 4 days, to allow all crew members from both vessels, plenty of time to relax, over the next 5 weeks.

For me, I was allocated one of just 8 bungalows, located on Peale Island, which is reserved entirely for the owners and senior staff, which is separated from Wake Island by the yacht channel, that gives the visiting yachts, access to the yacht club, located between the main village which has been named Hamyshtown, and the main island residential area, for the Corporation staff and crews, and the commercial businesses, which is named Blackthorn.

No matter how much I complained to my Dad about this, he refused to change the name and told me to deal with it, so I dropped the subject and tried to relax. Jonah was enjoying spending time with his family again, as was Daniel, and I was able to spend some time with my son, Joshua, who has grown quite a bit since I last saw him.

I was pleased that my cousin, Wallace was not on Wake Island, although I did learn that he had spent two weeks of his university holidays on the island, while we were away.

After five weeks of doing absolutely nothing, I was starting to get quite restless, and when Dad called a meeting with Jonah and me, I was hoping that we would be assigned some new projects, so as to keep busy once more.

“Jonah and Trent, as you know, I have been working on developing new projects, and part of it is the establishing of a second base, located 2 ½ thousand kilometres east-south-east of here, on Johnston Atoll. I am assigning Oceania, to have its permanent base located at Johnston Atoll, which I have renamed Meredith Atoll, as I feel it needs a more feminine name.

What I have not told you both before is that like here, Meredith Atoll is a fully operational research base for Lloyd Corporation, with its own boat harbour, accommodation and recreation facilities for all of its 60 base staff and the whole crew of Oceania.

A large aircraft and maintenance hanger have been constructed, to hold a total of four large and 4 light aircraft, for when there are storms in the region, and all of the 4 storey buildings, have been built to withstand category 4 hurricanes or cyclones.

The three smaller islands to the east and north-east of the main island have had new trees planted and are growing very well, as are all the trees that have been planted on the main island.

All the required advanced communications and radar and satellite systems required to maintain the islands weather and air traffic management are operational, and the 40 staff and their partners are operating it all very well, it just needs a Commanding Officer to take over control” Dad said to me.

“Well, I look forward to the challenge thank you Mr Chairman” I answered formally and both Dad and Jonah laughed at this. After a further twenty minutes of the briefing, our meeting concluded with my instructions to inform my crew to prepare for departure at 8 am the following morning.

Back at my bungalow, I did my laundry, cleaned up my quarters and packed up my belongings, before moving back into my living quarters onboard Oceania. It was a little strange being back in my quarters, after spending five weeks in a bungalow on a remote island, but I knew that this was my life, and I had to get used to regular changes.

The journey to Meredith Atoll would take four days to complete and as I was planning the journey in my office, later that afternoon, with Daniel remaining on the island, to be closer to his family, I had appointed Derek Overton as my new XO, which surprised him a lot, when I announced it to him during lunch on the island, and now in the late afternoon, Derek arrived, to announce that all officers and about 50% of the crew, including my stewards, had returned to Oceania.

It had been decided by Dad, that Oceania would take on the responsibility of patrolling the Pacific Ocean East of 180 degrees, better known as the International Date Line, while the Aquaria would be patrolling the Pacific Ocean West of 180 degrees, and include the Indian Ocean.

Dad had already obtained permission from the Canadian, United States, Mexican, Peru and Chile Governments, to patrol coastal areas of those countries, for marine research and ocean waste collection, having decided to avoid all Central American countries because of their volatile and sometimes precarious history, in regards to piracy.

This makes our patrol area go from as far north as the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and 50 degrees south, which is just below level with New Zealand, and I was pleased to know this includes the Pitcairn Islands, and we would be visiting for the first time, Easter Island, which is part of Chile, located 2,085 kilometres East of Adamstown.

It was during this first journey north, to the Aleutian Islands, that I gave the crew the chance to have a short break, when we arrived in the sub-arctic city of Cold Bay, Alaska, and Travis Patterson, one of my personal assistants, joined me for a walk around the small community.

While we were walking and chatting, I was stating that I have always enjoyed Travis’s company and that I regard him as a good close friend. When I realised that I was alone, I stopped, and looked behind me, to find Travis staring down at the cold snowy ground, and he looked visibly upset.

I rushed up to him and wrapped him in a tight hug, and Travis started to cry softly, and I gently rubbed his back in comfort, suddenly realised that it was a lot more than just close friends, I now realised that I had strong feelings for him.

After a while I released him and stood back a little and using two middle fingers, I placed them under his chin and lifted his head, so I could see his eyes. Gorgeous blue-green eyes that glistened with tears.

“Now tell me, Trav. What is the problem why are you crying?” I asked softly, and I patiently waited for his response. “I think… no, I know that I… I am in love with you” Travis said to me in a whisper, so quiet, that I nearly didn’t hear him.

I smiled and pulled him into a hug. “I have to admit, I have just come to the same conclusion, I am in love with you also” I responded, and moments later we gently kissed.