“Come on in. Sit down, you two. Sit down.”
The admiral moved around behind his desk.
“Damn, Ed, I didn’t send you out there to take on the whole K’Rang Fleet. A K’Rang command ship, four battle cruisers, four missile cruisers, four destroyers, seven frigates, and an armed support ship. We didn’t need to send in the 1st Combined Fleet. We could have just sent you. Admiral Chang has been burning up my communicator. He wants to personally award the Vigilant with a blue E, a red V and a campaign star. Yours is the first ship in Scout Force to ever get a Fleet designation for excellence and valor. You kept that reinforcement fleet from coming forward. If it had come through unimpeded, it could have done some real damage to the fleet. Those missile cruisers could have stood off and pounded the fleet with a swarm of hundreds of ship killers.”
“In toto, the Scout Force did well. We took out 75 ships of various types-everything from the command ship to some planetary defense ships that got a little too curious. All that and not a ship lost. Our sources are telling us that there are some major shake ups going on in the K’Rang military.”
“John, send them on down to debriefing. I’m sure they’d like to get back planet-side.”
The captain and Kelly went through an abbreviated debriefing. The debriefers went through their logs and merely asked clarifying or amplifying questions. The more detailed debriefing would happen once the debriefers had more time to study the logs. That would happen planet-side in a day or two. The crew would get some time off first.
The Vigilant was released to the space dock crew. While Kelly and Timmons were being debriefed, the space dock workers gave the ship a thorough inspection inside and out. With the exception of some paint smudges, the Vigilant was in perfect condition. The empty missile launch module was removed and stowed away for future use.
The captain gave the order to leave space dock and move the ship to Antares Base. In an hour, the Vigilant was coming in for a landing. The crew went through the shut down sequence and made the ship secure from war status, while the base personnel hooked up power, water, comms, and sewage.
The next few months were good for the Vigilant. The K’Rang had been stung by the 1st Combined Fleet, both outside and inside their territory. They settled down and stayed real quiet.
It hit them pretty hard that they were met by a force 100 times their size and they never knew it was coming. It also didn’t help that the ten Scout Force ships destroyed more ships in K’Rang Space than were in the invasion fleet. Three separate K’Rang reinforcement fleets were chewed up or stalled by Scout Force ships.
As the Vigilant was returning to port from a training cruise, a message came in that was captain’s eyes only. The captain retired to his quarters to take the message. After 30 minutes he called Kelly and Chief Watson into his conference room.
“Sit down you two, I have some interesting news. I just had a video conference with Admiral Craddock. It seems that Fleet hasn’t had enough of me. I have been selected for promotion to full Commander.”
Kelly and the Chief both smiled broadly and congratulated the captain for a well-deserved promotion.
Chief Watson spoke first, “Damn glad that Fleet showed the good sense to promote you, Captain.”
It was Kelly’s turn. “I’m very glad for you, sir. You deserve it. I didn’t think you were up for promotion at this time.”
“I wasn’t. I shouldn’t have been picked up for promotion by this board. I was promoted below the zone of consideration. I suspect our last three combat patrols helped me along. I have you two to thank for that. I couldn’t have asked for better leadership than you two have provided.”
Both thanked him for the sentiment, but insisted that they owed him more, much more.
He picked up a dispatch and said, “I am to be the Commander of the new 22nd Scout Squadron. It will consist of the Valiant, Vindicator, Vehement and the Vigilant. It’s a nice honor, but it will mainly be a desk command for me. There are no Commodore’s quarters on these ships.”
He continued, “But I’m not done with the good news yet. Allow me to congratulate you, Kelly. The Lieutenants board also met and you are now officially a Fleet Lieutenant. We must have been doing something right. You were also selected below the zone.”
Kelly’s mouth dropped open.
Chief Watson slapped Kelly on the back. “Good for you, sir. It is very well deserved.”
“Kelly, the admiral asked me for a recommendation for who should replace me. I told him that I had an exec that would make a great captain. He thought as a frocked Lieutenant he would take a lot of heat for making you captain, but as a frocked Lieutenant Commander, he thought he could handle that. Kelly, barring any unforeseen circumstances, you will take over command from me.”
Kelly was stunned. Chief Watson reached over and slapped him on the back again. A Fleet command for a Lieutenant wasn’t unheard of, but it was rare.
“I’m speechless, sir. I really don’t know what to say. This is something I wouldn’t have even considered. Thank you for your recommendation.”
“No need to thank me, Kelly. You’ve earned it. I am doing one other thing to you, Kelly. I’m taking Chief Watson with me to the 22nd Scout Squadron. You’re stuck with me, Ken, or should I say Master Chief Petty Officer Watson. The chiefs board also met while we were out in K’Rang space.”
Kelly slapped Chief Watson on the back, shook his hand, and said, “Now there is a promotion that is well deserved. Wait, this means I lose my Senior Chief. Will they bring someone in or do I get to pick somebody?”
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.”
