Scout Force (62 page)

      
The captain said, “Scout Force will send you a list to consider from, but you get to choose your Senior Chief.”

      
Chief Watson broke in, “If you won’t mind my advice, LT Blake, you could do a lot worse than Chief Blankenship.
 
She’s got her stuff together.
 
She’s technically competent.
 
She’s also senior to all the other Chiefs on board and a lot better than what Scout Force will be able to offer.
 
That’s just my opinion though, sir.
 
You can pick whoever you want, of course.”

      
Kelly replied, “Thanks, Chief, I’ll give that a lot of consideration.
 
It would probably be prudent to wait until I assume command to make any personnel decisions.
 
I’ve seen too many slips between the cup and lip to be presumptuous.”

* * * * *

      
Two weeks later, Kelly’s promotion ceremony and frocking to Lieutenant Commander immediately preceded the Vigilant’s change of command ceremony.
 
Kelly became the youngest ship commander in the Fleet.
 
Commander Timmons became his Squadron Commander.

      
His parents, Candy, Tammy, and Angie were all present at the ceremony.
 
He looked at the three young women sitting together and wondered if they were comparing notes on him or sizing each other up.

      
After the speeches and the mandatory mass handshaking, the three women came over to him.
 
Kelly was unsure whether to run or stand fast.
 
He stood fast and waited to see what was coming.

Candy led off.
 
“Kelly, you should have introduced us sooner.
 
We like each other.
 
We like each other so much that I’m having a party this weekend at my new house and you are all invited, especially you.”

Kelly considered the possibilities and was about to reply that he would enjoy that very much, when Yeoman Benitez came up behind him and cleared her throat.
 
He turned toward her.

She said, “Captain, you and Commander Timmons are requested to meet with Admiral Craddock in his office as soon as possible.”

Kelly paused for a second to let the fact that he had just been addressed as Captain for the first time to settle in.
 
He decided he liked the sound of that.

“Yeoman Benitez, thank you.
 
I’ll be right there.”

He turned back to the three waiting women, all wearing mischievous looks on their faces, and said, “Ladies, I’d be delighted to join you, if my duties allow, but now I have to go meet with your dad, Candy.”

* * * * *

Hours later, LT Casimirski approached a shuttle outside Scout Force HQ and was about to climb in when a voice shouted out, “What do you think you're doing, Lieutenant?”

      
He turned and saw Kelly walking his way.
 
LT Casimirski saw Kelly’s rank insignia, blinked in surprise, dropped his jaw, saluted and said, “I was going to take this shuttle to my quarters, sir.”

      
“No, you aren’t, Lieutenant.
 
I’m using that shuttle.
 
I’ll be taking that shuttle back to my ship in a minute or two.”

      
Caz gritted his teeth and replied, “Sir, if there is no shuttle here the central motor pool will send another.
 
It should be here before you need it.”

      
“Maybe you didn’t understand me, Lieutenant.
 
I said I’m taking
that
shuttle.
 
If you need one you can wait for it.
 
I don’t intend to.
 
Now run along.”

      
As LT Casimirski stalked away, Kelly entered the shuttle, programmed his destination, and chuckled all the way back to the Vigilant.

Revenge was sweet.

The End

Rodney Smith retired from 33 years serving in and working for US Army Military Intelligence.
 
He currently resides in the Texas Hill country with his wife, two cats, deer herd, barn swallow colony, hummingbird flock, and an occasional roadrunner or two.
 
When not reconnecting with his Texas roots, he dabbles in motorcycling, RVing, and other outdoor pastimes.
 
Rodney is an active member of the Canyon Lake Area Writers (CLAW).

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