Reyes had wanted to get everyone together in order to clear up doubts and decide what the next steps would be, as well as to meet the new additions to the team.
Grease had already spent a couple of days with the engineers trying to find a viable solution for increasing the speed of the ship to what they wanted. Gabi had just joined them the day before from Madrid and was the newest addition to the team.
Pablo had only seen him in person twice before and he remembered him somewhat differently. Maybe it was the uniform that made him look taller and wider, something chinos and a shirt can’t do. The thin, sharp face was the same, although with dark circles under his brown eyes and with less hair and grayer.
“Well gentlemen,” Reyes began, “I propose that each one of you updates the rest of us on any new items you may have.”
After a series of nods around the table he continued, “For my part, I’ve had success finding the doctor and the accountant. Both are relatively young and with some knowledge of the sea, and both are motivated. I don’t think I need to say much more since we’ll be meeting them both in a few days. As far as a helicopter and a pilot, I’m at a loss. However, I’ve been tracking down someone who I think will be perfect to head our boarding team. On the other hand, I’ve heard from Switzerland that the legal issues in Somalia are practically closed. And the sales contract with Navantia is signed and authorized by the Spanish government. That’s it on my end. Pablo, what do you have?”
Pablo sat up and replied, “My two great achievements are present and will speak for themselves. All I need now is a navigation officer, perhaps someone else to keep watch on the bridge. Otherwise, I think it’s time to start worrying about assembling the rest of the crew, especially now that we have our future heads of departments.”
Reyes nodded.
“Mr. Johnson?”
“It seems the engineers have a pretty good idea for granting our request.” Grease said. “All that’s left to do is see if it’s feasible. When I have more information I will let you know. As for sailors for the engines, I can get a few. There are two kids in my workshop that could help with propulsion and electricity. Both have Navy experience.”
“Excellent. Mr. Huesca?” Reyes addressed Gabi.
“I’m still catching up,” he said. “For now my only contribution is what I told Pablo when he explained the project to me. We need to be clear on what we’re going to do in the event that we capture pirates both on board and in the process of bringing them to justice. In the Castilla, we had a problem over this issue.”
“Good point,” Reyes said writing in his notepad. “I’m leaving matters having to do with the ship to you guys. As for the legal aspect, I will consult with Mr. Egger.”
Pablo and Gabi both gave a nod of acknowledgment.
“Good. I’m glad everything’s coming along,” Reyes continued. “Now the idea is to clarify as soon as possible the issue of the engines,” he said looking at Grease. “And to continue putting the crew together,” this time looking at Pablo and Gabi. “For my part, I will continue working on getting a helicopter and pilots and keep pressuring Navantia to get the boat ready as soon as possible.”
“At this point, I think it’s necessary to let you know that Pablo will be the commanding officer,” Reyes said without preamble.
His listeners were taken off guard and didn’t know quite how to react.
“Maybe it’s a premature decision,” Reyes said unruffled. “But I think it’s necessary to establish leadership from the beginning. And my use of the military term is not accidental. Given the characteristics of our company, I think we should consider our captain a commanding officer. Pablo is undoubtedly the most knowledgeable of the project right now and although he is the youngest one here, he has demonstrated with his planning skills that he is the right man for the job. Gabi,” he said, looking at him, “following the recommendations Pablo has given me, you will be the executive officer and operations officer.
Gabi nodded and turned to Pablo. Then he got up, stood at attention and said, "Aye aye, sir,“ as he held out his hand.
From that moment, Pablo knew he had the best executive officer he could ever want and that the little competition for being head of project, if there ever was any, was long forgotten. Gabi had been put under his command and, like any good seaman, he had respect for hierarchy in his blood.
#
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,