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Carrier Air Wing 16 Headquarters Meeting Room
NAS Oceana
New Year's Day
Skates made it back to the East Coast just in time, changed into her flight uniform and literally moved like the Road Runner to the conference room. "Hey Skates, looks like you ran through a snowstorm or a hurricane," quipped Commander Richard Metcalf, one of the other COs of VF-18, another commented.
"Yeah," Skates panted then excused herself to the ladies. Phew, she though as she combed her hair more into place and splashed some water on her face. "So, how was your Christmas holiday?" Commander Metcalf asked.
"Just the usual. How bout you?"
"Oh full family gossip and whining. Did you have a nice time with that JAG?"
Skates stared at him for a few seconds before blurting out, "What?"
"Oh come on, the words out. People saw you dancing with him back in Naples."
"My personal life is my personal life, Sniper," Skates used his call sign.
"So yeah, he's tall and handsome but I hear scuttlebutt that he's a sticker for breaking rules and getting into trouble and pulling people down with him."
"That's ENOUGH Metcalf! You are way out of line!" Skates burst out.
The Super Hornet driver shrugged and moved away, whistling. "Hey boss, ignore him. He's always poking into other people's business," started Skates' deputy and Squadron XO, Commander Michael 'Shooter' Neil. "If you want, I can rough him up in a game for you."
"Thanks, Shooter," Commander Elizabeth Hawkes patted him on his back. "But I rather you have clean marks so you can shoot up to CO."
"Well Skates, you're still in charge of the fort for now." Yeah, Skates thought, the only female CO in the whole carrier air wing. No other female was as senior as she was, not even the pilots in the E-2 and rotary wing Squadrons. All and the guys, even most of the XOs like Neil were older than her in terms of age. What did she once say to Harm? It's important to be one of the guys. Well, it is but you do stick out as a girl, the young kid amongst the older ones. Again Skates wondered how she got a full third bar that quickly. It wasn't like I was in the zone for promotion. Did somehow high above pull a huge ball of string to push me to an O-5? I couldn't question it back then or later; I mean who in the world would want to revert back to a lower rank.
"Room Ten-hut!" the Command Master Chief called. "At ease, seats," CAG Sheffield said. "I know what day of the year this is, but you people are in the might US Navy. You can get pull away any time and yes, technically we are a nation at war. The McClusky is undergoing repairs but we are of course operational. CENTCOM wants us back in the Gulf for strikes so this is what will transpire: the whole air wing will fly out to NAS Sigonella for…no Robertson, we're not doing R&R again and sit up. As I said, the Wing will fly to Sigonella to fly combat air sorties with our Italian and British Royal Air Force counterparts. We've done too much ground pounding so I hope you Super Hornet drivers remember your dogfighting skills. Hopefully after the one and a half week break, our carrier would sail back to join us. Then in back again through the Suez and to the Gulf, around end February or early March. Questions?" There were no. "Ok, that's not the end. Admirals?" Admirals Skates wondered as the Carrier Strike Group Commander and a familiar face entered, casuse Skates to gap with her mouth open. "Happy New Year and well fair winds and following seas to you all. Yes, I'll be leaving you as of today to take up the post as Deputy Commander, Pacific, pending the usual Senate confirmation of course. As of today, and already confirmed, I'll like to all to meet the new Commander of CSG Sixteen, Rear Admiral (Upper Half) Tobias Ingles." Skates couldn't help being the first to stand up to give her old ship CO.
Trish Rabb's Residence
La Jolla, California
Around the same time
"Harmon dear, it's so regrettable Elizabeth couldn't stay for this," Trish remarked as she spooned another lots on the couscous minus the fish onto his plate.
"I know mom, but she's a naval aviator who can be recalled any moment," Harm noted to, wishing he could still cuddle Skates. Well, cuddle, not to have that much sex.
"I know, you're dad told me that and well you know…" Trish drifted off in a reverie. "Harm , do you think you will ever settle down?"
"What retire? I'm not at the age yet mom and I'm still go at my job."
"No, I mean really settle down. Stay married for the long term. Have a family."
Harm settled his fork down. "Mom, you want me to pop the question to Sk…Elizabeth? We've barely hooked up. She'll be deployed again…"
"I know dear but just meeting her, I really sense she's really a better match than that Mackenzie girl was to you. That one was just a Barbie wanted to drag you all along. Elizabeth feels…confident, strong and well the daughter I wish I had."
NAS Oceana Meeting Room
"Well, Well, Hawkes look at you a silver oak leaf an a CO!" Rear Admiral Ingles remarked, patting her on her arm. "Top Marks!"
"Thank you sir," Skates acknowledged.
"Don't thank me, thank yourself for making the grade. You were always one of the best RIOs I've ever met. One wonders if you were an aviator then, you would have literally shot past all the boys."
"It's good to know that sir," Skates said, though remembering Ingles didn't think much of her initially, especially with the court martial charge.
"So how's things? Still living the salty air and water life?" Ingles passed the usual questions to Skates then stopped. "Some words has gone down the vine that you and Rabb are more than friends now?"
Skates again couldn't keep a straight face. Damnit, can this Harm and me questioning stop. "Sir…"
"It's ok, Skates, no one wants to stop any love life now. But just an advice from an old sea dog—keep both sides of your world separate. Don't let things trip you down."
JAG Headquarters, United States Naval Forces Europe/US Sixth Fleet
A few days later
Harm strolled through the doors and reached his office until he saw his personal Legalman and his now cleared desk. "Ahem…"
"Oh, hello Captain, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year. At ease. Something I should know about?"
"Oh sorry, thought you were informed sir," the Legalman said. "I've been posted to EUCOM legal office. It's been a great pleasure serving with you sir," the Legalman shook Harm's hand.
"Oh, well, that's some pleasant surprise. But, uh, who's replacing you?"
"She's inside Captain." She? Harm found his room door unlocked and saw a female brunette with Petty Officer Fist Class Stripes. No it can't be… "Excuse me," he started and the LN1 spun around on her heels.
"I'm sor….Captain Rabb! It's so good to see and work with you again sir!" The chirpy voice of Legalman First Class Jennifer Coates exclaimed.
To Be Continued.