He'd gone through hell and back for the CIA without any public recognition. That was the job of CIA operatives. To conduct their battles silently for God and Country without any recognition at all! He'd been beaten on by his own subordinates and the thanks he gets is a dishonorable discharge and a shut down of his entire program. This injustice would not stand! He would not allow it! It had taken him years to get his plan in motion but at long last, revenge was finally in his reach. Today was the day that William Strannix brought redemption to his name and to his program.

...

USS Missouri (BB-63), 50 nautical miles NE of Pearl Harbor

Captain Adams was a proud man as he stood on the bridge of his ship, this great battleship that had ended WW2 50 years before. They'd just come from the anniversary ceremony in Pearl but it was somewhat of a somber event for the crew, knowing that they were leaving right after for the states and their ship would be decommissioned. He glanced at the officer next to him. Lieutenant Commander Madeline Franklin, a veteran of three wars. Holder of three Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars, cited numerous times by NATO and other top organizations for Tactical Excellence and Leadership Abilities. A legend in her own right. Her blue eyes caught his gaze and he quickly turned his attention back forward, ignoring her raised eyebrow and accompanying smirk. She didn't dare say anything in front of the other bridge officers though.

Finally, she spoke. "I understand that you are retiring after this trip, Captain." She said.

"Aye. Rather than gather dust with an Admiral's desk I would prefer to go out with a bang as it were, not literally of course." He replied.

A young ensign stepped onto the bridge. "Captain sir? Chief wants some help down in engineering. He says one of the generators is giving him a bit of fight."

"Thank you ensign, tell him I'll send someone down shortly." Captain Adams replied and the ensign left.

"I could arrange that for you if you wish. Add it on to your birthday ceremony this evening." Madeline said, resuming their previous conversation.

"I still haven't had the chance to thank you for that. Kind of you to arrange the amenities."

"Oh it wasn't just me sir." She smiled, now turning to him. "The crew pitched in a few of their own ideas as well. I think you'll find them quite interesting."

He raised a brow now. "Oh? Will these "interesting" ideas be of any useful significance Lieutenant?" He asked.

"Classified sir. I am forbidden for telling you more." She replied, her blue eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief.

He hid a chuckle. "Forgive me for my line of questioning then madam." He said, sweeping his cap and offering her a mock bow.

This time she really did giggle. "Oh captain, you're such a dramatist." She laughed.

"I'm the captain. I can be a dramatist if I want to be. Now I think the chief needs some help down in engineering, Lieutenant." Captain Adams ordered.

"On my way sir." She replied, standing at attention before turning on her heel and departing the bridge, still a small smirk on her face.

On her way she passed by the cook's station in the mess halls. As she walked down the hall one of the cooks, a big burly guy wearing a chief's hat stepped out on his way to the supply locker. He paused and stood at attention as she passed by. "Ma'am." He greeted. She returned his greeting with a nod and continued on. Casey Ryback watched her go for a moment longer than necessary, his gaze half admiring, half confused. He was still new to this ship but he had thought he'd met all the officers already. This Lieutenant Commander had managed to avoid his eye thus far but something about her was different. She'd roused his curiosity and a few other this. Those pants were about a size too small to fit that ass and the way it swung about as she walked... pinching himself out of his daydream, Ryback turned his focus back to his original mission, get meat out of the meat locker. There were going to be lots of hungry people tonight, not to mention the guests the crew had arranged to come aboard. Ryback wondered if the new officer was going to be there. She likely would be, along with everyone else. Oh, tonight was going to be interesting to say the least. But as he returned to the mess with his meat, Ryback didn't know the half of it. Interesting, was not even going to cover the next 12 hours.

The bridge got a call from the helo. Strannix was inbound.