MEDITERRANEAN SEA MARCH 17 2003
Enterprise was fuming as she launched her aircraft. That team of marines needed her help and that help was hundreds of miles away offshore. If only her planes could fly faster and she urged them to move with speed and purpose. But the helpless feeling wasn't the only thing that got the carrier fuming. Al Queda operatives had the marines pinned down from their position inside a hospital. Using a building meant for the protection and welfare of lives as a base of operations for killing was the mark of a coward and Enterprise had no problem taking it out. If that hospital was being used for warfare, it was not a hospital. It was a legitimate military target.
"Target in sight." reported her first fighter. "Let the bombs fly, Papi. Take it out." She growled. Over the comms the distinctive sound of the bombs whistling away to the ground was heard moments before a loud explosion. There was a brief silence and then the fighter came back on. "...That was a little bigger than I thought." "What do you mean?" Enterprise knew something had gone wrong and she tensed. "Surrounding buildings were hit. Possible civilian casualties." The carrier bit back a curse. Collateral damage was a part of war. It was inevitable and Enterprise didn't think too much of it. She couldn't afford to, not when hundreds of American lives depended on her for support. "Rodger that, Papi. Return to the ship." She ordered. "Return to the ship, aye ma'am." Enterprise heaved a sigh. Once her fighters were back on board she turned and headed farther up the coast. No sense in hanging around now that the enemy knew she was there.
Enterprise was surprised when she received orders to return to the states. It was rare for a carrier such as her to be ordered back so early into a deployment. But she didn't dare question the order. It had come from the top. Missouri was awaiting her arrival in Pearl Harbor. When the carrier pulled into Hawaii a week later she noticed how grim the battleship looked. Something was very, very wrong and Enterprise did not like the jittery feeling she felt.
Once the salutes were exchanged Missouri said "Enterprise, I'm placing you under arrest." She nodded to two Ticonderoga-class cruisers who came forward and put thick chains around the carriers' rudder. As one finished tying those off the other came forward with a needle designed to cut off Enterprise's flow of uranium and help shut down her reactor. The carrier remained calm as she simply asked "Why?" "You've been charged with war crimes, Enterprise." Missouri replied, her face impassive as ever. "I am suspending you from further military service and removing you from your position as deputy of this fleet until the outcome of this hearing can be determined." Enterprise bowed her head. "Yes ma'am." She agreed. It wasn't in her nature to fight and she put up no resistance as she was towed to a drydock.