Katy fought to catch her breath and finally sat up, “Every one told me I was insane to trade Johnson and Benning for the two of you. And now you tell me you are better than they are.”
“We didn’t say that.”
“Are you better?”
Jan smiled, “We could kick their backsides six light years across space.”
Josey shook her head, “More like ten.”
Katy blew out a breath and said, “I’ve always considered myself lucky and if I hadn’t been so stupid I would have had the two best pilots in the fleet. Now, I guess my luck has run out.” Katy looked at them, “Have either of you ever been in love?” They looked at each other and then nodded. “Well, I think you know how love can make you do some pretty ridiculous things. I apologize for what I’ve done to you; you really didn’t deserve it. I was acting insane.”
“From what I saw, you lost all your chances to ever get the First Commander’s attention.”
Katy looked at Jan and nodded, “I don’t want it anymore.”
Josey’s head went back, “What? Why not?”
“He just scared me enough that I don’t want to be anywhere near him ever again. I saw his eyes and whatever I felt for him is gone. I think I finally pushed him too far.”
Josey looked at Katy, “What have you done?”
“For starters, I intimidated every girl in our classes to stay away from him all the way through graduation.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me?”
“It gets worse.” The three relived all the things Katy had done along with all the mistakes Josey and Jan made growing up. When they finally went to sleep, they knew each other in a personal way that is extremely difficult to achieve. Josey and Jan agreed that they now understood why Fifth Fleet loved their Commander. She was more than either of them thought.
Ten days later, Michael and Audrey entered the brig and Michael stared at Katy, “I have gathered the Senior Officers necessary to conduct your Court-marshal. You should choose an officer to defend you.”
Katy saw Michael was still angry. Audrey looked at her and then turned to Michael, “Sir, Fleet has received a petition from every sailor in Fifth Fleet asking that Admiral Greenwall be returned to command them.”
Michael looked at Audrey, “They don’t like how I’m treating their Admiral?” Audrey shook her head. Michael’s rage was immediate, “Notify Fleet Personnel to issue dismissal orders to everyone in that fleet. I want all of them washed out of the service.”
Katy fell to her knees in front of him, “PLEASE DON’T DO THAT!! I’LL PLEAD GUILTY TO ANYTHING YOU WANT. THEY DON’T DESERVE YOUR ANGER, IT’S MY FAULT!”
Michael looked at Katy on her knees and sneered. Audrey said, “Can you think of another time and place where someone’s rage caused them to do things they later regretted?”
Michael snapped his head up and Audrey just stared him in the eyes. Josey and Jan remained silent behind them and wished they were somewhere else. Michael finally said, “What makes you think this piece of trash is worth saving?”
Audrey looked at Jan and Josey, “Do either of you want to be transferred back to your former fleet?”
Michael turned around and looked at them. Jan looked at Josey and then turned to Audrey, “No Sir. I prefer to stay with Fifth Fleet.”
Michael was shocked. “After all she’s done to you?!”
Jan looked at Katy still on her knees and said, “It was a misunderstanding, Sir. We’ve worked it out.”
Michael looked at Katy still shaking her head. He looked at Audrey and rolled his eyes as he threw his arms up. He looked at Katy still begging him not to punish her sailors and turned to Audrey. He shook his head and said, “Fifth Fleet are your children now. Make them behave.”
Audrey nodded, “And Admiral Greenwall?”
Michael looked at Katy, shook his head, and said, “She’s part of Fifth.” He turned and walked out.
Katy looked up and then turned to Audrey, “Sir, what does this mean?”
“Admiral, you have your command back. I do hope you never do anything to draw my brother’s attention your way again.”
“Sir, I no longer want to be anywhere near your brother.”
“Stand at attention.” Katy stood up and Audrey reached in her front pocket and took out the two stars Michael had torn from her collar. She handed them to Katy and said, “Don’t disappoint me, Admiral.” Katy nodded and saluted. Audrey returned her salute and Katy looked at Jan and Josey, “When will I get my pilots back?”
Audrey shook her head, “I don’t know that you will.”
“May I keep them on my fleet rolls to use them in Fleet Competitions?”
Audrey smiled, “I suspect they won’t give you their best, Admiral.”
Katy looked at them and said, “Sir, I believe they will and I believe they are worth everything I gave up to get them.”
Audrey looked at the two Lieutenants and saw them staring at Katy. She didn’t know how Katy did it, but it was clear these two would give their all for their new Admiral. “I’ll see what I can do. However, the First Commander wishes to have a discussion with your pilots in the morning.”
Katy walked out of the cell and looked at them. She stuck her hand through the bars and shook both of their hands, “I will always have a place in my fleet for either of you. Good luck and keep me posted on what’s going on.”
Josey smiled, “Yes Sir, we will.”
Audrey walked Katy out and went with her to change out of her prison uniform. Katy stepped out of the room in an Admiral’s uniform and looked at Audrey, “You don’t have to worry about me chasing your brother. He frightens me more than I can say. I nearly lost it all and I’ve seen how he sees me now.”
“Some lessons come hard, Admiral. Go and make Fifth Fleet the best fleet in the service.”
“That I will, Sir. I know you didn’t have to do it but thank you for coming to my defense. I will never forget your kindness.” Audrey nodded and Katy walked out of Fleet Operations.
The next morning, Jan and Josey were in uniform when they were led into Michael’s office. Audrey, Josh, Jinks, and Laney were sitting along the wall in silence. They came to attention and saluted. Michael returned their salutes and said, “Sit down.” They sat down in two chairs in front of Michael’s desk and he stared at them, “Initially, I thought that Lt. Bartolo was just an extremely lucky pilot who exhibited extraordinary bravery in attacking those four battleships. After examining the recording of your two actions, there was nothing brave about it.” Michael stared at them and neither of them denied what he was saying. “As a matter of fact, both of you attacked much larger groups of enemy vessels prior to the final attack that cleared the way for the heavy to fire. Now, I want to know what you’ve done to your ships to allow you to do those things and an explanation as to why you did not share this information with us. Six thousand pilots lost their lives in that battle that might still be alive today if you had been open about what you’ve developed.”
Josey looked at Jan and nodded. Jan turned to Michael and said, “Sir, we are extremely reluctant to discuss this.”
“You’re worried that the third member of your team will kill himself if I bring him in and question him.”
Jan and Josey’s eyes went wide and Michael nodded slowly, “Both of you should understand that I’ve watched everything you did in that battle and it didn’t take long to see that there were three of you working together, not just two. I’ve not gone after the third member because I have it on good authority that he is hanging on by a thread and might do something stupid if I brought him in.”
“He would, Sir.”
Michael stared at them for a moment and said, “That’s why you haven’t shared what you used or did anything to stand out?” Both of them nodded. “What is it you’ve developed?”