Scout Force (39 page)

      
Kelly walked over to where the squadron would be parked once they came in.
 
He watched as twelve F-53 fighters passed over the field at altitude before peeling off and landing two by two.
 
Kelly stood just off the apron as the dozen sleek fighters were guided into their parking spaces.
 
The fighters shut down, canopies opened and the pilots climbed out.
 
It was 1LT Kanakis that first recognized Kelly standing by the fence.

      
He pointed and yelled, “Hey everyone, it’s Kelly!”

      
Several heads turned in his direction and a crowd of pilots ran over to him.
 
Angie was first, giving him a big hug.
 
He was slapped on the back and had his hand shaken by five of the pilots before CPT Willis, his old flight leader, noticed the twin silver bars on the collar of his coveralls.

      
“What the hell is this?
 
Who did you steal this uniform from?”

      
Kelly quickly explained his frocking as exec of the Vigilant.
 
Several lieutenants quickly saluted him and followed it with a rude noise.
 
Kelly laughed along with his former squadron mates.
 
He stopped laughing when they told him he was buying the first two rounds at the club that night.
 
LTC Matthews, his first Squadron Commander, came over to him.
 
The others walked back to their fighters.

      
“Wow!
 
Lieutenant
Blake.
 
I heard that Fleet made rank faster, but I thought it was just a myth.
 
How have you been, Kelly?”

      
“I’ve been just fine, sir.
 
How have you been?”

      
“You know how it is in the squadron with this bunch.
 
There’s never a dull moment.
 
Things did get a lot better though when your favorite General was ordered to retire.
 
The new General is supposed to be a breath of fresh air.
 
You’ll be happy to know that the Wall of Fire tactic has been officially retired.”

      
“Great to hear that, sir.
 
I believe I saw your new general up on the station today.
 
I’ve been informed that I’m buying the first two rounds at the club tonight.
 
I’d be glad to buy a drink or two for you, sir.”

      
“I might be a little late, but I’ll take you up on that.
 
After more than six months on cruise, I’m ready for a few drinks.”

      
Kelly saluted as LTC Matthews walked away to take care of a matter brought to his attention.
 
Angie came over to him.

      
“Hey, Wing, I haven’t had a drink in six months.
 
How’s about buying a girl a drink?
 
We can celebrate your jump in rank at the same time.”

      
“Sounds good to me.
 
I need to change out of my coveralls.
 
They’re not really appreciated out of the spaceport after noon.
 
Come on.
 
I’ll show you my ship.”

      
Angie and Kelly walked to the Vigilant after she saw to it that her gear would wind up at the BOQ.
 
It was a good distance to his ship and they caught up on what all had happened since last they saw each other.
 
Angie told him of the minimal ceremony held for General Bugarov’s retirement and the expected blowout now that she was gone.
 
Kelly told her of his two patrols and his actions against the K’Rang.
 
He told her of his parents’ invention and what their part in it might be.
 
They arrived at the Vigilant.

      
“Wow!
 
I’ve seen these out in space, but it looks so much bigger sitting here on the ground.
 
How big is the crew?”

      
Kelly told her about the crew and how they were organized.
 
Then he brought her onboard the Vigilant.

      
Angie impressed the crew.
 
At 5’6”, fit, wearing a partially zipped open flight suit, tight turtleneck shirt, and fighter boots, she was impressive.
 
He brought her up the ramp into the crews’ quarters area, past sensor crewmen with gaping mouths, past the galley, chiefs' country and up to the officers' quarters, where the captain was standing, looking over the bridge.

      
“Captain, you wanted to meet 1LT Shappelle, well, here she is.
 
Angie, this is my boss, LCDR Edgar Timmons.
 
Captain, this is my former lead pilot, 1LT Angie Shappelle.”

      
LCDR Timmons had a smile from ear to ear.
 
“I’m glad to meet you, Angie.
 
Kelly has told me a lot about you.
 
I have to say that his description of you doesn’t do you justice.”

      
“Why, thank you, sir.
 
I must say that I’m quite impressed with your ship.
 
I wouldn’t trade my F-53 for it, but I like it.”

      
“Sir, I didn’t give Angie the full tour.
 
I’ve been informed that I am responsible for some rounds of drinks and I need to change into something more fitting for the club.
 
You’re invited to come and partake, if you wish.
 
Could you give Angie the grand tour while I change?”

      
“I’d be happy to, on both counts.
 
Come on Angie, let me show you my ship.”

      
When Kelly came back out, the captain and Angie were waiting for him on the bridge.

      
“Kelly, let me see your quarters.
 
I want to see how Fleet lives.”

      
Kelly opened the door to his stateroom and Angie walked in.
 
He left the door open as he followed her.

      
“This is nice.
 
What’s in here?
 
Oh, you have your own head with shower.
 
Can I move in here with you?
 
This is much nicer than I would have expected on a ship of this size.
 
Are there just you two officers?”

      
“Just the captain and I and six very good chiefs.”

      
“That’s amazing.
 
The smallest division on the Bolivar is bigger than your whole crew.
 
I’m envious.”

      
Angie moved over and sat on the bunk.
 
“Kelly, I’m so glad things worked out for you.
 
I felt just terrible when that horrid woman shipped you out.
 
I miss you.
 
Your replacement as my wing man has been hopeless.
 
I have to constantly remind her to keep her spacing and stay in formation.
 
I think she screwed her way through fighter school.
 
You were fun to fly with.
 
She’s a pain in the butt.”

      
Kelly laughed.
 
“Come on.
 
Let’s head over to the club before the ship’s rumor mill gets too wound up over us being in here together.”

      
The two of them departed the ship and headed over to the club.
 
Kelly showed her the base shuttles and how they worked.
 
They got out at the club and Kelly led her into the junior officers’ bar.

      
Kelly and Angie were loudly greeted as they entered the bar.
 
Kelly was grabbed by both arms and led to the bar to put his credit chit down.
 
Kelly told the barmaid to give two drinks to anyone in a flight suit.

      
CPT Willis came over.
 
“Kelly, now that you don’t work for me and we’re both the same rank, can I kiss you and give you a hug?”

      
Kelly, wondering how much she had already had to drink, said, “Sure Janey, why not?”

      
Janey Willis came at him with a look of mischief.
 
She locked lips with him.

      
Kelly broke the kiss off and said, “Thanks, Janey.
 
Didn’t you and that major in the 73rd Fighter Squadron have a thing going on?”

      
“Oh, you mean Fred?
 
That was just a shipboard romance.
 
Once you leave the ship, they’re over.
 
Of course, I do have some time on my hands while we are here on Armstrong.”

      
Kelly looked her in the eyes, saw the mischievous look replaced by a questioning look, and decided she wasn’t kidding.

      
“Janey, I’ll have to take a rain check.
 
My dance card is filled for the moment.”

      
“Oh, too bad.
 
I was looking for someone local to bestow my favors on.”

      
“If you can wait, my C.O. will be here in a bit and I can introduce you.
 
He’s available.”

      
“Is he cute?”

      
“I wouldn’t call him cute, but I think he’s better looking than I am.”

      
“Ooooh!
 
Where is he?
 
I need to meet this Adonis.”

      
“When he comes in we’ll come find you.”

      
Angie walked over.
 
“What was that all about?
 
What did Janey want?”

      
“Me!”

      
“Oh, she and Fred did say their goodbyes.
 
I wondered how long it would take for her to get feisty.”

      
“Obviously, not very long at all.”

      
Angie broke out laughing.
 
The night went on quite late.
 
Kelly introduced LCDR Timmons to Captain Willis, but not without warning him first.
 
The two of them hit it off right away.
 
They retired to a table in the corner and got to know one another.
 
Kelly didn’t notice when the two of them left the bar together.
 
The barmaid deftly made her way through the boisterous crowd and returned his credit chit to him, which had been used to buy two drinks for each member of the fighting 68th that wanted one, and a few others.
 
Kelly authorized a generous tip for the barmaid for taking care of it all for him.

      
A group of lieutenants up near the bar were breaking out into some of the raunchier squadron songs.
 
One of the female officers, it was hard to tell her rank as she had stripped out of her flight suit into her skivvies, was dancing on one of the tables.
 
Angie grabbed him by the hand and led him through the throng and out of the bar.

      
“So, Kelly, would you be so kind as to escort me to the BOQ?”

      
Kelly told her he’d be honored.

      
The “Q” was only a short distance from the club.
 
It was a Fleet myth that there was a master base design specification that said the “Q” could be no further than max crawling distance for an ensign away from the club.
 
They didn’t have to crawl, but they did arrive in short order and Kelly walked Angie to her room.

      
At the door, she turned around to face him.
 
Kelly wondered if he was about to get a handshake instead of a kiss.

      
“Kelly, when I said I missed you earlier, it’s not just because of having a lousy wing man.
 
You were fun.
 
In a way I’m kind of glad you aren’t my wingman anymore.
 
I could never do this if you were my wingman.”
 
She leaned into him, cradled his head in her arms, and kissed him.
 
It was not a friendly kiss.
 
It was a take your breath away and leave you swaying kiss.
 
Kelly literally rocked back on his heels when she pulled away.
 
He caught his balance on the doorway alcove wall.

      
“I’ve wanted to do that ever since that first day we met on the Bolivar.
 
I’m glad I finally got the chance.”

      
“I'm glad you got the chance, too.
 
Now, if my heart will stop palpitating, I’d like to do it again.”

      
Angie laughed, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him into her room.

      
The next morning, Kelly got up early, cleaned up, found his clothes, got dressed, and kissed Angie goodbye.
 
She lifted her head off her pillow for his kiss then dropped back onto it sound asleep.