Chapter Four
“Hey, Bartolo! You’re wanted in the front conference room!”
“Who wants me?”
“An Admiral so you better shut your yap and get moving!”
Josey looked at Jan, “I wonder what this is about. I’ll catch you later.”
Joey reached for her tray and Jan said, “I’ll get it; you get moving.”
“Thanks, Jan.” Josey left the cafeteria running. She caught the elevator to the fifth floor of Eighth Fleets’ Headquarters Building and slowed as she arrived at the conference room. She took a breath, squared her shoulders, and pressed the chime. The speaker beside the door said, ‘Enter’.
She walked in the room and saw a young woman dressed in an Admiral’s uniform. She went to attention and saluted as the Admiral continued to stare out of the conference room’s window at the thousands of Battle Pods parked on the giant runway. Josey remained at attention for five minutes and the Admiral ignored her. What was going on?
Finally the Admiral turned around and Josey saw her name above her right pocket: Greenwall. The Admiral stared at her for a long moment before returning her salute. Josey lowered her arm and remained at attention. Had she done something wrong? The Admiral stared at her with malice on her face and Josey was starting to go back and forth between fear and anger. What was going on?
The Admiral sat down and continued to stare at her in silence. She didn’t tell Josey she could stand at ease so she remained at attention. After four more minutes, Josey was no longer afraid, she was angry. The Admiral said, “You are going to be awarded a medal for your actions during the battle to take out the Legend Warship. I am here to instruct you on proper behavior when you receive that award.”
“I’m not aware…”
“Did I tell you to speak!?” Josey closed her mouth and stared at the Admiral. She smiled and said, “Lieutenant, the First Commander will be presenting the award and you will stare straight ahead, salute him, and say ‘Thank you, Sir,’ when he hangs it around your neck. He will step back and you’ll salute him again and keep your eyes to the front! You got that!” Joey stared at her in silence and Katy said, “I asked you a question!”
“You haven’t given me permission to speak.”
“Answer me!”
“I understand your instructions.”
“They’re not instructions, they’re orders.”
“And I will gladly follow them when my commanding officer issues them. Is Admiral Rickman not capable of instructing those under his command, Sir?”
Katy was up in an instant and put her nose an inch from Josey’s, “You are making a mistake with your smart mouth, Lieutenant. You will do as I order or you’ll be cleaning latrines for the rest of your career!” Josey’s eyes narrowed and Katy smiled, “I have a very long reach. You’re dismissed.”
Josey saluted her and Katy continued to smile as she returned it. Josey did an about face and walked out of the conference room. Katy watched her go and knew she was doing the right thing. This Lieutenant was breathtakingly beautiful. She couldn’t allow her to smile at Michael. No, that just wouldn’t do.
The next day Katy received a call from Admiral Rickman, “Sir, why did you come and meet with one of my sailors?”
“I wanted to personally thank her for saving my warriors in the battle we just concluded.”
Jerry stared at her and started to challenge her on what happened in the meeting but then he would have to put Bartolo’s words over an Admiral’s. “In the future, I want a heads up if you intend to meet with any member of my command.”
“Certainly, Admiral. I didn’t see offering congratulations would be such an issue.”
Jerry stared at her and ended the call. Katy smiled and was thankful she was senior to Jerry. He wouldn’t push her. If he did, he’d pay for it. Katy smiled and thought about Michael.
Josey stood outside the public arena on Eden and stood still while Jan straightened her collar, “You are always a mess, Josey.”
“Yeah, but you’re there to keep me straight.”
“What are you going to do?”
Josey pretended to fan herself with an imaginary fan, “Whatever do you mean?”
“I know you! You’re up to something.”
“That twit kept me standing at attention for thirty minutes. If she had simply said she wanted to help me understand the etiquette of receiving a medal and congratulated me on it, I would have done exactly what she said.”
“But?”
“She didn’t.”
“Josey, she’s an Admiral.”
Josey smiled, “But she’s not my Admiral. I’m not only doing this for me.”
“Doing what?”
Josey winked at Jan, “Just keep an eye on the monitor. I’ll see you after the ceremony.” Jan sighed and shook her head as Josey walked toward the huge arena.
Josey reported to Admiral Jekins and he escorted her up to the stage. There were four other pilots receiving awards and they were going to be recognized first. No one had told her what award she was receiving and she wondered how her attack on the four battleships had been seen. In the mayhem of all the combat happening around her, she wasn’t able to see anything but enemy warships. She looked around the edge of the curtain and saw the arena was standing room only and she began thinking she might need to forget what she was planning; but then she saw the Admiral’s smug smile and her anger rekindled.
Finally, it was her turn and she marched across the stage and came to attention on the large X painted in the middle of the stage. She went to attention and listened as Admiral Jekins read what she had done during the battle. The huge monitor over her head came on and she wished she could turn around and watch it, she hadn’t seen anything on what had happened. She stared out at the reporters and attendees and saw them go silent. What were they seeing? Then the First Commander was standing in front of her and he said, “It is with a profoundly grateful heart that I award Josephine Bartolo the Alliance’s highest medal for bravery. Her actions are what allowed us to win this battle and she deserves the Alliance Crescent.” The room exploded into cheers as Michael took the Medal and placed it around Josey’s neck. He stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations, Lieutenant. The Alliance is proud of you!”
Josey took his hand, shook it, released it, and then reached up and put both hands on his cheeks and kissed him on the mouth. Michael was stunned and stood there a moment before Josey broke the kiss and went to attention. She saluted him and he returned the salute with a smile. He looked out at the assembly who were all laughing out loud and said, “Well, let’s hear it for enthusiasm.” The crowd roared and Michael said, “I present to you the brave warriors who fought with courage and determination.” He started clapping and the room joined him. He glanced at Josey standing next to him and said quietly out of the corner of his mouth, “What was that about?”
Josey smiled and waved at the assembly and said without moving her lips, “Just a message.”
Michael looked out at the arena as he waved and said, “It wasn’t being sent to an Admiral, was it?” Josey’s head came around and Michael saw her surprise. “You know she is probably really ticked off at you right now?”
Josey looked back out at the crowd waving as the applause grew and said out of the corner of her mouth, “She’s not my Admiral, Sir.”
Michael lowered his hand and looked at the award recipients and said, “She is absolutely the most tenacious person I’ve ever seen. Be careful!” Josey’s smile slowly disappeared and she said, “Do I have anything to worry about?”
Michael walked over beside her and put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug. Josey’s eyes narrowed as he smiled and said, “That’s a message from me telling her to stay out of places she doesn’t belong.”