1400 Local, August 7, NAS Patuxent River, MD

When he climbed out of the F/A-18 simulator after completing the training mission spelled out in excruciating detail on the profile card clipped on his knee board Harm didn't look like an aviator with over 2,000 hours and more than 200 traps. The sweat-soaked flight suit and damp hair looked more like it belonged on the greenest nugget in the fleet after his first round of carrier qualification traps aboard ship.

"Hammer, grab a Coke or some coffee and let's debrief before the mission gets cold."

1430 Local, August 7 NAS Patuxent River, MD

Lt. Robert "Iron Head" Klumb, USN, walked through the good, bad, and ugly of training syllabus mission G6 highlighting the negatives in substantial detail. "Hammer, you're killing yourself paging too much data through the jet's MFDs (multifunction display screens). You are ALONE IN THE GODDAMN JET and can't possibly process that much shit. While you are occupied looking down at the passing parade of detail the bad guys are busy busting your ass at worst, or, at best, your situational awareness (SA) is going into the toilet.

"I'm going to say this one time: The jet doesn't want to die anymore than you do, so let it work for you. Set up the port side MFD with the weapons shit; the starboard MFD with the electronics, and leave the amidships MFD to handle navigation. You have access to everything you really need to know through the HUD (heads up display on the glare shield). Unlike the Tomcat, you can manage all of the critical weapons and detection functions through HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick).

"Once you are airborne set the jet up and leave the miscellaneous crap alone. If something bad happens, or something breaks, the right emergency checklist jumps up on the starboard MFD by default. Then you follow it. You can fly the wings off the Bug, but if you don't stop messing around in the cockpit trying to be RIO and pilot you're not going to make the grade here."

It had been years since anyone had challenged Harm's skills in the cockpit, and his instant reaction was to be defensive. Giving voice to that reaction would have been the end of the program, and Harm immediately shoved that feeling back into the box.

"Yea, the HOTAS system is awesome, but I'm still fighting it aren't I?"

"Hammer, you will master this. You're so damn close right now it's painful to watch you still not trusting the jet to do its part. Keep your head up. Don't worry about what the jet is doing. It will take care of itself most of the time if you keep the external threats under control.

"Okay, that's enough of a break. Back into the pool and we'll refly the last 10 minutes of G6 and get the G7 mission run this afternoon. That will get you into the air and out of the box. Hell, it's always easier when you can look out the window." With that Iron Head slapped Harm on the back and headed back into the simulation center.

1545 Local, August 7 NAS Patuxent River, MD

Following the G7 mission the debriefing was a lot better from Harm's viewpoint, and he was really starting to feel more at home in the Hornet but there was a lot more to master.

"You've just about got the air-to-air stuff cold, but I'd expect that from an 'ole Tomcat driver. After you've flown the A1 and A2 missions you will be back here for the air-to-mud portion of the program before heading back to the flight line. If you are looking ahead, CARQUALS are always flown either Thursday afternoon or early Friday." With that Harm got a hand shake from Iron Head before heading back to VOQ for a shower and more quality time with the computer learning program before happy hour got into full swing at the club.

1755 Local, August 7 NAS Patuxent River, MD

Skates and Stargazer were standing at one end of the bar when Harm walked into the club. When he spotted his former RIO he headed in that direction for a libation and a little hangar flying. Things didn't appear to be all warm and fuzzy as he walked up. In fact Skates and her nose gunner (pilot) were both a little hot under the khakis. Both officers almost came to attention as he walked up leaving Harm a little puzzled. His long-time RIO's stiff posture was a surprise since he and Skates had been close for years.

The "as you were" was an automatic response, but it should not have been necessary since informality was a critical protocol point in most O- Clubs. After a drink appeared Harm took a moment to study his companions a little more closely, and he didn't like what he saw. Skates had apparently been up in her pilot's face over something, and Stargazer's ego wasn't responding at all well.

Lt. Commander Elizabeth Hawkes' was a senior RIO, in fact before Harm left the fleet she was in the top 10% of naval flight officers flying regular missions, and her partner was a relatively junior lieutenant who had a lot to learn about his RIO.

"Lieutenant, I hate to ask, but can I borrow Skates for a few minutes?" Harm offered to put a little space between the two. Stargazer's response with automatic and evidently sincere, "Yes sir. I need to check in with maintenance anyway. They are supposed to turn our bird over to operations tonight, and I want to be sure there aren't any problems. Excuse me, Sir, commander." With than he vanished into the crowd heading for the telephones.

"Not working and playing well with others Skates?"

"Is than an official request for information, or a sarcastic comment, Sir?"

"Aside from a 'Sir' of questionable sincerity the first time we met on the Henry a zillion years ago, I can't remember the last time it wasn't Hammer or Harm. What's going on in your head and how can I help?"

"Harm, since you obviously don't remember, today's my birthday. I don't mind being 35. I really don't, but I am getting tired of the rest of the crap. When this deployment ends I'm going to ask the CAG to endorse a request for transfer to shore duty somewhere. Stargazer is the third pilot I have had to break in since the cruise started, and I am tired of showing nuggets how to do their job then getting a batch of crap for my trouble.

"Mac told me that when you left the fleet and went back to Washington that you were disenchanted about being a 'dinosaur,' her words not mine, in a ready room full of hot headed youngsters. I feel the same way, but I don't have another trade to fall back on. So, in a nutshell, I'm about burned out, ready for the beach, and don't have a secondary skill. It's a small, hard world for a highly skilled female aerial assassin with three kills and no other trade. What would you suggest?"

As Skates was rolling out her story Harm's mind was running in overdrive, and when she wrapped up he actually had two answers.

"You are too good a RIO to loose just because you're pissed at your new driver, so get over it." Before Skates could get a word in Harm continued. "There isn't any alternative to finishing the cruise, so you are headed back to the fleet. Before you just punch your ticket out, take a look at the inter-service program. The Air Force almost always can find a spot for a back seater with your record for a 12-month ride in a Strike Eagle.

"Think about it. If that doesn't work out I'll find you a job somewhere your skills won't be wasted. Just don't do anything silly in the meanwhile."

The laughter started in the eyes and in moments ran completely through her. "Hammer, that's got to be the most outrageous thing I have ever heard you say. 'Don't do anything silly' That coming from a guy who shot up the ceiling in a courtroom, was involved in a brig break, and holding a second DFC for shoving another Tomcat by the tailhook."

Stargazer made his way back from the phone to find the two laughing like loons holding each other up to avoid rolling on the floor. A ready room scuttlebutt tale played back in a corner of his mind about Skates and Hammer. It was said on the Henry, and elsewhere in the fleet, that they were the pair that in a pinch could beat three of a kind. Now he believed it.