“Do you think she’ll listen?”
“She never has in the past but, just like you, I enjoyed sending it.”
Michael left the stage and the reporters flooded around the medal recipients. Josey began answering questions but had a nagging fear she should have listened to Jan.
“Averel.”
“Yes Sir.”
“I want a watch put on Lt. Bartolo’s personnel file. If anything changes in it, I want to be notified immediately.”
“Greenwall, Sir?”
“Count on it. She’s probably banging her head against the wall right now but she will try something. I want to know what it is.”
“Yes Sir.” Averel didn’t bother with putting a watch on Josey’s personnel folder, she simply looked at Katy’s mind and watched what she was planning. That Admiral was cunning beyond belief.
Katy stopped pounding her head on the wall after she saw stars. She was past rage as she tore off her clothes and put on a workout uniform. She arrived in the gym and yelled, “EVERYBODY OUT!!” The gym emptied faster than a wino’s bottle. She put on the sparring gloves and began hitting the heavy bag. It swung back six feet and she stopped it with her left hand. An hour later, exhausted, her mind was clear enough for her to think clearly. She hung on the bag and after twenty minutes, she smiled.
Admiral Rickman saw Admiral Greenwall on his monitor, “What can I do for you, Admiral?”
“I must say that your pilot that was awarded the Crescent has really impressed me.”
“She’s impressed all of us.”
“I was wondering if I might be able to work a transfer to move her to my fleet.”
Rickman smiled, “Do I look that stupid? I can use her to train my new recruits. Forget it!”
“But you haven’t asked what you would get in return.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why would you want to use her to train your new pilots? She’s never placed in the top eight hundred pilots in fleet maneuvers.” Rickman’s eyes narrowed and Katy said, “I’m willing to trade Johnson and Benning for her.” Rickman was shocked by the offer. What was going on here? “As you well know, they placed third in the last competition and would be much better at training new pilots.”
“Why do you want Lt. Bartolo so much?”
“That’s not something you should concern yourself with. Do you want to make a trade or not?” Rickman knew he shouldn’t do it but he was getting the best of this deal. Katy smiled and said, “I do ask that you send her best friend with her to make the transfer less traumatic. They can support each other.”
Rickman thought about it and decided that the Admiral must not have bad intentions or she wouldn’t have asked for Jan to go with Josey. He was going to get Johnson and Benning out of this deal, who should have won the competition this year. They lost by a freak accident. They would help bring him to the attention of the Senior Admirals. “I will not trade them back!”
“I don’t expect you to do that, Admiral. Do we have a deal?”
“Send me the forms.”
Katy tried not to smile as she said, “I’m sending them to you now. I’ve already signed them and if you’ll sign and send them to Fleet Personnel, I’ll send Johnson and Benning right over.”
Rickman forgot about Josey and Jan and rushed to the printer to retrieve the forms. He signed them and sent them out immediately.
Josey and Jan arrived back at her unit’s quarters and was surrounded by her fellow pilots congratulating her. She smiled and insisted she didn’t deserve it until Captain Coronado came in the door and yelled, “Bartolo, Keller, pack your bags!”
Josey looked at him with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, “Sir, what’s going on?”
Captain Coronado looked at her and shook his head, “You’ve been transferred to Fifth Fleet.”
Josey stared at him and said, “Sir, you know the Admiral in Fifth has it in for me.”
Joe shook his head, “She offered Johnson and Benning for the two of you.”
Josey’s eyes went wide and she saw Jan shaking her head, “Why does she want Jan?”
“I gave up trying to understand how Admirals think years ago. If you two would have put up a better effort in the competitions, you’d probably not be going and don’t even try to say you gave it your best. I know better.”
“How long do we have before we have to report?”
“You’re expected to report to Admiral Greenwall’s office in thirty minutes. I suggest you don’t keep her waiting.”
Josey and Jan packed their duffle bags and Jay said, “I’ll send the rest of your things. Get moving.”
They looked at Jay, who had been listening in and Jan said, “Thanks.” Jay nodded and they sprinted out toward their Battle Pods.
Captain Coronado looked at Jay, “You know I’m right.”
Jay shrugged, “There are worse things than being transferred.”
Coronado smiled and tilted his head, “Say that after Admiral Greenwall finishes with her.” Jay looked at the two women sprinting out the door and hoped the Captain was wrong.
They arrived at Fifth Fleets location and left their pods on the concrete as they ran toward the Headquarters building. A warrant officer met them, “I’ll deliver your bags; get moving.” They dropped their bags and the officer shouted, “We’re proud of you, Bartolo!”
Josey yelled, “Thanks!” over her shoulder and entered the entrance to Fifth Fleet’s Headquarters building. They ran to the elevator and found a Sergeant waiting on their arrival. He closed the door and ran with them to the Admiral’s office. He gave them a moment to straighten up their uniforms and then pressed the door speaker, “Sir, Lt. Bartolo and Keller are here.”
“Have them stand at attention and wait!”
The Sergeant looked at them and shrugged, “You heard her.”
Josey looked at Jan and went to attention. Jan followed her lead and they stood outside the door and waited. Three hours later, both of them were starting to feel their legs lock up but still they were forced to wait.
“How much longer are you going to allow this to continue?”
Michael looked at Averel sitting in front of his desk and blew out a breath, “I really don’t want to deprive the Lieutenant of seeing what’s coming.” Averel’s mouth turned into a frown and he said, “I won’t wait much longer.”
“Enter!”
Josey looked at Jan and helped her take a step. They pushed the door button and the door rose into the ceiling. They walked in and went to attention again in front of the Katy’s desk. She looked at Jan and said, “You may step outside and wait until you’re called.” Jan saluted, did an about face, and walked stiffly out of the room. Katy waited until the door closed and then turned to Josey, “You will start your new assignment as soon as you leave this room. The bathrooms you’re going to clean start on the end of this hall. Your tools to do your cleaning are in the corner.” Josey looked and saw a toothbrush and a small bucket. She turned back to Katy and kept her expression neutral. “Did you honestly think you could get away with ignoring me?!” Josey remained silent. “I asked you a question, Lieutenant!”
“Sir, I never thought anyone as shallow as you would ever achieve your level of command. I am surprised that I was wrong about that.”
Katy’s rage was instant and she stood up just as the wall monitor illuminated showing Admiral Stone. Katy pulled herself together and said, “Wait in the hall!”