“Yes, Boss. I’m right as rain.”
“Let Dixie fly the entry. We’re too close to mess with changing pilots.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Sally came to stand next to Jackie. She asked, “What’s the hurry, Boss?”
“I screwed up, and mentioned going to the Navy yard on my comm. I hope we can still get there before the Squirrels rig some kind of surprise for us.”
Sally thought a second, and then said, “You remembered when Scotti told you about her idea for securing the comms?”
“Yep. If I’m the best we can do for a Captain, we’re in a bad way.”
Dixie sang out, “Entering FTL.” She was just as smooth as Ruth. When she had us steadied out, she passed the helm to Ruth, and left the bridge. Topper stepped up to Saucy and asked him if there was anything he needed to be aware of before he took over. Saucy said, “No, Sir. Would you like me to resume training?”
“Yes, please. Your progress so far is encouraging. I may have to get you to help me train some of the others.”
“Thank you, Sir. Your board.”
“My board, thank you.”
I turned to Sally. “Do we have any training material on the size and configuration of the Commonwealth Navy?”
“Yes, Boss. Would you like me to have Jasmine light you up?”
“Since we’re headed to go wake them up, I should have some idea what I’m getting into, don’t you think?”
“That sounds like a good idea. What would you like to know?”
“I don’t know enough to answer that question, Sally. I have time to do three courses before we get there. Pick the ones you think will do me the most good.”
“I understand, Boss. May I have the conn?”
“Your ship, Sally. Are you ready to take a ship when we get there?”
“I have all the training, but I’m not sure that’s enough.”
“Somebody told me that a lack of self-confidence isn’t necessarily a bad thing in a captain.”
“What is it the humans call you? I remember, asshole. That’s it.”
Topper spoke up. “I think she told you, Boss.”
“That she did, Topper. She’ll do fine.”
“Just remember, Boss. Even with you recognizing my field promotion, I’m still only a First Lieutenant. I don’t have enough rank to take a ship.”
“We could always give you another bump, Smartass.”
“I’m fine, Boss, really, I am.”
“If I have to be the bathroom door, you can be a captain if I need you to.”
Topper looked puzzled. “Bathroom door?”
“Commode Door.”
I was glad we were cruising safely in FTL, because Ruth was laughing like a hyena. She said, “Good one, Boss.”
I went across to the ready room, and Jasmine was there to light me up. She said, “Are you okay, Boss? I know it’s hard on you, passing sentence on people.”
“When I have time to slow down and think about it, it will be rough. That hasn’t happened yet.”
When I came out of the course, I was by myself. I decided to go find Diego, and see how he was taking his people turning on us. I said, “Gene, where is Diego Chachi?”
“Sim deck, Boss.”
I grabbed a transit and headed down. Jasmine was there, supervising. She said, “Are you here to work, Boss?”
“I had hoped to talk to Diego, but he seems to be busy.”
“He’s been burning through the scenarios nearly as fast as you, Boss. He could use some real competition.”
“You want me to go against him? Is that fair, Jasmine?”
“Do you think the Squirrels will play by the rules, Boss?”
“Help me hook up, then. Remember, I need to get three courses in before we go back to real space.”
“Yes, Boss.” Having had all the Squirrel tactical training, I could manage to look like a normal Squirrel ship, until it came time to surprise Diego. I pulled several flavors of sneaky crap on him before he ended the sim, and came to see who he was flying against. He said, “Dang, Boss, I’m glad you’re on our side. You’re sneaky.”
“I do my best. I just wanted to make sure we were still good after what I had to do to your people.”
“They brought it on themselves, Boss. I had no idea Jennie was as far gone as she was, or I would never have recommended her. That was my fault, and I think Bill probably could have fit in, if she hadn’t been pushing him to mutiny.”
“I think you’re right. I just wish I could have figured it out sooner, and saved Bill.”
“He was a follower. She managed to push the right buttons to send him the wrong way. Not your fault, Boss.”
“Not yours, either, Diego. I can see where you might think so, but it’s not.”
“Thanks, Boss. You have time for another round?”
“Danged if I know. Ask Jasmine, she keeps my training schedule.”
“What are you training on, Boss?”
“The Navy. If we’re going to wake it up, I need to know what we’re getting into.”
“What changed your mind all of a sudden?”
“I screwed up, and mentioned we were going to have to wake them up on a comm that the Squirrels monitor.”
“So, we’re going before they have a chance to get there and destroy the ships?”
“I hope we’re quick enough. It took me awhile to realize what I had done.”
“As much of a speed advantage as we have, and the fact that we started from so much closer, we should be able to beat them.”
“We’ll still have to wake the ships up, and get them underway, hopefully before they show up.”
Jasmine spoke up. “Boss, it’s nearly time for your next training session.”
“Yes, Ma’am, on my way, Ma’am. You’re doing good work, Diego. You just
