Chopper Down

Reports are coming in of dhows and speedboats coming uncomfortably close to international shipping. HMAS Toowoomba finally gets the call it’s been waiting for and races to the scene. The boarding teams apprehend a skiff. A tense search reveals the men are armed to the teeth with automatic weapons and a rocket grenade launcher. Meanwhile, helicopter Pegasus is grounded and is unable to assist with long-range reconnaissance, boarding operations, or even a routine RAS – replenishment-at-sea. Just over halfway through their six-month mission the crew are homesick and struggling to maintain morale. To make matters worse a young officer commits the cardinal sin of falling asleep at the wheel. He receives a severe reprimand from Commander Ingham who is adamant that all his crew perform at their best. The problems mount up for Commander Ingham when the chef is medivac-ed out with a suspected broken arm and an outbreak of Jordan gastro cripples some of the crew.