A.N. Thunderous shouts to Cajunbear73 and Sentinel103 for their rapid response Beta work. Chapter 17 is nearly done, maybe two or three days away so get ready.

Hero by Enrique Iglesais, I recommend that you listen to the song as you read. You can find it at youtube . com/watch?v=Rn2HIBcirqM Start playing where the lyrics begin.

Chapter 16 Let Me Be Your Hero

Just before she left, Tessa made sure to stop and tell Sousuke to make sure he got the keys back from Kim before they left for the night, as well as reminding Melissa and Kurz about tomorrow's Training Op.

They had moved out to the patio and separated by couple. Sousuke and Kaname had taken a spot on the far side while Kurz and Melissa were sitting near the door. This left Kim and Ron to their own devices on the other side of the patio. Tessa had left word that if the group went out there, the patio was to be given a wide berth.

Kim only had one more Long Island Iced Tea before Ron really looked at the glass. He looked from her to the glass and back again. She was flushed and wearing a slightly giddy smile. Ron told her, "Uh Kim, you might wanna make that the last one of those you have."

"But why? It tastes reeeaaaally good."

(Whispered) Let me be your hero

"Do you feel really warm right now?"

Kim's voice went husky and she looked at him with hooded eyes, "Ohhhhh yeah! You have no idea how warm I am!"

"Uh huh, Right! Ya know, I remember what Tessa called that drink. Do you?"

Kim reverted to a little girl voice. "She said it was the house special teeeeea."

"That's not quite what she said. She said it's a Long Island Iced Tea and it was a house specialty. You're just about drunk."

"Noooo, I don't drink. Ya know Ronnie, you look funny with that haircut."

"Thanks Kim! Random much?"

Would you dance if I asked you to dance?
Would you run and never look back?
Would you cry if you saw me crying?
Would you save my soul tonight?

Pout time, "Ronnie, I don't mean funny, Haha." Nearly sober now. "I mean different. Ya always had short hair, even when you were using that Le Goop. I like this one better than that foo-foo haircut though. Ya look sexy." Husky voice made a reappearance. "Ya know, you looked reallllly good in those Blues. You were yummy."

Ron had drank enough to have a buzz, but not enough to lose control. Even so, her statement set his cheeks and ears to flaming while her voice sent shivers down his spine.

Would you tremble if I touched your lips?
Would you laugh? Oh please tell me this.
Now would you die for the one you love?
Hold me in your arms tonight?

She grabbed the front of his shirt, pulled him down slightly until they were nose to nose and said with that same shivery husky, low voice, "Ya know, Ronnie, you don't have to worry about Vunder-hair. I think you're the sexiest man in the building! Why haven't you lost your pants tonight? I wanna see what kinda boxers ya have on."

"OOKaaay, you're not just about drunk, you are drunk."

"So what if I am? What are ya gonna do about it? Spank me?" She turned and offered him her wriggling butt. That shapely firm backside that had fueled more than one of his dreams.

It took a lot of self control. "MMMgggg, don't tempt me Kim. Please."

I can be you hero baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.

She turned back around and pulled him down nose to nose again. "Ronnie, I'll do whatever it takes to get you back. I want my friend back!" Her voice was starting to break a little, "I want my BFBF back. I want US back. I wanna be able to cuddle again, grab your ears and make kissy face. Go to BN and watch you stuff your face while I roll my eyes. I want you to call me KP again. I messed up and I'm sorry."

"I mean it! Anything! Tell me what I have to do, Ron!" She was looking at him with those emerald eyes that were shining in the tropical moonlight peering through the screening overhead.

"If you were sober, I'd ask you just how serious you are."

Would you swear that you'll always be mine?
Would you lie, would you run away.
Am I in to deep?
Have I lost my mind?
I don't care you're here tonight.

Somehow the alcohol had focused her thoughts like a laser beam at the same time it was loosening her tongue and inhibitions. "You want me to show you?" Using her left hand, she grabbed his left hand and placed it on her right breast and held it there while her right went behind his neck. He knew instantly she was sans bra. "I don't need to be sober. You think I haven't thought about trying to seduce you? The only reason I didn't, is I was afraid it would backfire. I mean it when I said anything, Ron!"

I can be you hero baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.

He tried to pull his hand back, but she pushed against him until his back was against the wall and trapped his hand between them. His hands twitched reflexively and she felt a pulse of pleasure jolt through her causing a moan. "Ohhhhhhh, Kim. If you were sober!"

"I decided when I was sober Ron! Days ago! Whatever it takes! Answer me this. Why were you about to go Mystical Monkey on Kurz? Hmmm?"

"Well, Uhhhh, It's like this!"

She shifted her left for her right holding his hand in place against her breast, grabbed his free right with her left and moved it to her waist. She kept talking with that low husky, smoky voice, "Shut up! You were jealous! Good! So was I! When Tessa started flirting with you, all I could see was green and red! You were the same way. You were jealous, weren't you?"

I just want to hold you.

I just want to hold you.
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
Well I don't care you're here tonight.

Ron's breath was almost a panting, "Yes."

"No more beating around the bush, Ron! No more games! No he said, she said. Straight honesty. Do you love me?"

"Kim, ya gotta under.."

"Yes or No? No qualifications. I love you. Do you love me?"

Ron didn't know if he was about to cry or cry out. "Yes."

I can be you hero baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.

"Then lets start to fix US. Right here, right now! Tonight! Please!"

She looked at him with unshed tears. "Ron, you have never failed me. Not when it really counted. EVER! Ron, you're my hero. You've always been afraid of almost everything, but it never stopped you. I'd ask you to do something and you might have been afraid and whined about it. But you did it! For meeeee!" she finished the sentence in a low wail

I can be you hero.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.

"And the worst part is, I have let you down time and time again. It will Never Happen Again! Please give me another chance!"

He gently removed his hand from her breast and she knew she had to let go. Success or Failure, Victory or Defeat. It all hinged on her willingness to trust him.

You can take my breath my
I can be your hero.

Standing there in the tropical night, screened away from the insects buzzing outside with the moon causing everything to glow with a pale monochrome yellow-white, the last of his anger was washed away by the tears gently falling down both of their faces. He raised his hand and cupped her cheek. She nuzzled into his palm as his thumb wiped the tears away.

He lowered his face to hers and as their lips met, her arms wrapped around him in an embrace she never wanted to leave.

**********

For a timeless eternity, they stood there listening to the sound of a tropical night and the quiet tones of the music coming from inside the club. They talked in a murmur about what to do next. Kim was fully willing to take him to her bed. Even anxious to. It was something she wanted and she knew he wanted it to. But he deferred for a couple of reasons. First he wanted them to both have clear heads. Second he wanted to wait and make sure they weren't just doing it in the heat of the moment.

Kim had already made one decision though. Whether or not they made love that night, he was sleeping in her bed tonight. She just needed to get a little help from Kaname, a foregone conclusion there, then convince Ron to share with her. Maybe having Kaname 'accidentally' spill water on her bed would work.

When Sousuke approached them asking for the keys, she passed them over easily. She knew she was drunk, but she wasn't sure if it was the Long Island Iced Teas or if it was the feelings of relief coursing through her.

Just before they left the club Kim 'had to use the bathroom'. She gave Kaname a significant look and the other girl was right behind her. The normally shy, stuttering Kim wasted no time in laying out the sitch. She wanted Ron in her bed tonight, too much to waste time on embarrassment. Kaname was more than willing to jump onboard with her plan.

When they got back the bungalow, Kaname bolted to the bathroom and grabbed the damp towels from her shower earlier and 'laid' them out on her bed. Then for good measure she soaked them down with a glass of water from the bathroom.

She returned to the living room to see Ron passing a couple of ibuprofens from their missions packs and a glass of water to Kim saying, "Preemptive strike. It'll help prevent a hangover in the morning."

When they started heading to the bedrooms, Kaname grabbed Sousuke's arm and said, "I want to sleep with you tonight, Sousuke." She looked at Ron and said. "Do you mind using my bed?"

Ron just shrugged and said, "Sure, no problem."

Ron went into the room and grabbed a T-shirt and shorts to sleep in, while Kaname did the same in the other direction. Kaname was out first and when Ron exited, she ducked into the bedroom muttering "Goodnight." When the door shut there was a second click that for some reason had the distinct sound of 'Go Away!'

Kim changed into an oversized T-shirt that barely covered her bottom while Ron changed in the bathroom. She had already slipped under the covers when Ron came in. Ron didn't discover his problem until he saw the towels setting there. "Awww Man. She left her wet towels on her bed."

"Ron, turn out the lights."

"But Kim, the bed's soaked!"

Kim flipped the covers back and said, "Ron, turn out the lights"

"Kim?"

"Just turn out the lights and get in. We have an early day."

Ron looked at her for a moment, flipped the light switch and climbed into the bed. Once he was settled, Kim wasted no time in molding herself against him, throwing one leg over his and settling her head into his shoulder. She pulled the light covers up to her chin and settled in with a contented sigh, then murmured "G'nite Ronnie."

Ron looked down through the auburn mane to the pert nose peeking out with a slight smile on those pouty lips and wrapped his arms around her. When he did she settled deeper and he smiled. Just before she drifted to sleep she thought she heard, "G'nite KP."

**********

For Ron and Kim the following morning was a shock. At 06:30, they were jolted out of bed into mission mode by the sound of muted explosions. Looking around wildly they didn't see anything wrong. They bolted from the bedroom to see Sousuke dressed in damp PT's, (a Physical Training uniform) standing there like nothing was wrong. He was making coffee. "Possible-san, Stoppable-san, is something wrong?"

"Dude, what're those explosions?"

"Ah, you've never spent time on a military base. Those reports were the QRF test firing and setting their weapons to battle-sight zero before the exercise this morning. The range is about a klick away on the beach aimed out to sea. That way we can avoid most of the hazards associated with unexploded 57 MM HE Rounds littering the island

Kim didn't know what to think. "Those booms were a thousand meters away."

"Yes. As I said, the ASes use a 57 MM Bofors for short to medium range engagements and an A.S. sized monomolecular Combat Knife for hand to hand." Sousuke paused for a second. "Miss Possible, don't you think you should be more appropriately dressed."

Kim went wide-eyed and looked down to see the T-shirt that nearly didn't cover her panties. "EEEPPP!" She pulled the hem a little lower and bolted back to the bedroom, face aflame.

Ron watched the retreating backside until it entered the room, then he looked back at Sousuke. "Dude, I think if you were anyone else, we'd be scrapping right now."

"By the context, I believe you mean a fight. Why?"

"That question is why we're not."

Sousuke looked puzzled for an instant then went back to finishing the coffee for the Americans. He had already started the morning tea for Kaname. Her low blood pressure made it hard for her to get started in the mornings and she needed what Ron had dubbed her morning jump start. She was as bad as Kim in her need for caffeine to start the day.

Sousuke asked Ron, "Did you sleep well Stoppable-san?"

Ya know, I did. Best sleep I've had in at least a couple a months."

Sousuke looked at Ron hard for a moment. "Stoppable-san, for my friends' sake, I feel I must inform you of something. What happened last night with Kurz and Tessa was a planned operation."

It took Ron a minute the figure out what he was talking about. "What a minute, you mean it was a setup?"

"Yes. I don't know where they got the idea though. If I had to guess, I would say Commander Director."

"Who knew about it?" Ron was starting to get steamed.

"As far as I can tell, only Kurz and Tessa. Neither Mao, Kaname nor myself had any idea."

"What about Kim?"

"I believe she was just as in the dark as you were."

"Are you sure?"

Sousuke weighed his words carefully. "Beyond a reasonable doubt, yes. Her reactions to Tessa's actions would have been very hard to fake. Particularly in light of how much she imbibed. She was on her second drink before Tessa and Kurz initiated their plan."

"Why would they do that?"

Sousuke looked at him like he was crazy. Even he wasn't that clueless. Sousuke asked what seemed like a non-sequitur question. "How did you sleep last night, Stoppable-san?"

"Great. You already asked me that."

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why did you sleep well? Could it be because you feel like a burden has been lifted from you?"

Ron started to get where Sousuke was going with this. "So they set both of us up?"

"Yes. Like me and Kaname, the two of you are part of a whole. Neither is complete without the other. If you will recall, part of my mission to America was to help you through your time of need. A portion of that was repairing the rift between you and Possible-san."

"With Melissa, Kurz and Tessa, my missions become theirs and vice-versa. They are people who have put their lives on the line for mine and I have done the same for them."

"I gotta tell ya, I was ready to lay some serious smack monkey on your friend last night."

"I know. That's why I felt I should tell you this. Kurz is my friend and I wish to protect him from your anger. Do you agree, Possible-san?"

"Eeep." Kim jumped from around the corner dressed in a set of cargos and black T-shirt.

Ron figured out she'd been eavesdropping. "Kim, did you know about what they were up to last night?"

Sousuke had enough sense to say, "I believe I will go check on Kaname. Excuse me." He left for the bedroom.

"Kim."

Kim knew she was on trial and the slightest mistake would cost her everything. She wouldn't even be back to square one. She'd be completely off the board. Gulping she said, "I figured something was up when we were on the dance floor. I asked Tessa about it when we were in the bathroom. She confirmed it."

"So you only knew about it afterwards?"

"Yes."

"And the patio?"

"That was all me. Ron, I saw a chance for us and I took it. The two of them might have opened the door, but I jumped through it. I'd do it again."

"Alright, you didn't play me so we're chauncey. Cause I'm done being played by people."

"I told you last night, Ron, I'll never let you down again."

He could see her lip trembling "Awww, come here, I'm sorry." He pulled her into a hug. "I didn't mean to get mad at you."

"I was scared, Ron. I was afraid you'd hate me again."

He cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes. "Kim, I've never hated you. Ever! Not even two months ago. I was hurting and angry at you. But I never hated you. OK?" She nodded.

He said "Good. You heard about how I slept, what about you?"

"Same as you, best night I've had in months." She looked pensive. "Ron, last night, me and Kaname played you a bit." Ron's eyes hardened as Kim went on. "I wanted to sleep with you and she wanted to sleep with him, so she soaked her bed for me. Don't blame her, please."

Ron was wearing a wry grin, "Well, I guess it's OK. I did sleep good."

Sousuke and Kaname entered the main room. They were both dressed like Kim in cargos and Black T's. She made a beeline to the kettle steaming on the stove and poured her tea as the Americans retrieved their coffee.

Sousuke interrupted them with, "Stoppable-san, if you hurry, we can make it to the cafeteria in time for breakfast."

At the mention of food, Ron's reaction was typical. "Wait, you mean we're waitin' on me? Be right back." a few minutes later he returned pulling the black T-shirt over his head and moving to the door, saying "Come on, let's go! The Ronster's about to starve."

**********

After a quick (to Ron at least) breakfast, Sousuke took them to the FTX Command Post located near the top of a peak on the windward side of the island. Inside they met up with Captain (Naval O-6)Testarossa and were introduced to Urzu-1 Captain (Ground Forces O-3) Belfangan Grouseaux.

Tessa had them sit in a room with dozens of small monitors covering one wall surrounding a large central monitor. Some of the pictures were from high points around the training area, others were aimed into open areas and some of the rest were obvious overhead drones. Apparently each A.S had it's own drone assigned to it.

Tessa told them that 'insurgents' from 'Threatmondia' were planning to attack a portion of the base. The Arm Slave Quick Reaction Force had intelligence that they were coming. Just not exactly when or from where, so the QRF Commander was rotating his platoon of ten ASes through 70/30, 2 hour alert/1 hour stand down cycle. This allowed his people a chance to exit the machines for a while, significantly increasing the amount of time he could keep them on alert. The pilots that were resting had to stay within thirty seconds of the machines, but when an alert comes, you can cover a lot of ground in thirty seconds. The ground crews had latrines, cots and food in the bivouac area.

What no-one expected was Mao's willingness to exit her M-9 and infiltrate the bivouac on foot, placing 'explosives' near both the sleep tents and the ASes. After she returned from her mission of sabotage and settled in the cockpit again, she carefully moved ahead with her ECS on full to the very edge of detection. When she was in place, she signaled Kurz to open the ball. He did so by firing from outside the sensor grids of the QRF. And his first shot was a killer. He took out the units Commander from nearly 4 klicks away. When the paint round hit, the computers deemed it a kill shot and shut him out of the rest of the battle.

The next thing any of the QRF knew the bivouac area went up in a cloud of smoke and the three ASes and their pilots standing by were 'killed'. When the 'explosion' went off Mao jumped forward and 'killed' the QRF Commander's wingman. That was where the 'insurgents' stopped having things their way. The rest of the QRF rallied behind the number 3 man, a long serving Staff Sergeant. The first thing he did was order an immediate scatter and ECS activation. This took Kurz out of the equation for a while. Long enough for the remaining 5 QRF members to localize and eliminate Mao. Once she was down, Kurz had two choices, attack or withdraw. The smart move would have been to withdraw. A five to one kill ratio was nothing to sneeze at. But the briefing had said that Threatmondian insurgents were fanatical in pressing home an attack, so he went ahead and started to move forward.

His mistake was not wanting to give up his precious sniper rifle. The rifle accidentally passed beyond ECS coverage and when one of the stationary camouflaged QRF Troopers saw a weapon's stock floating twenty feet above the ground, he looked down and saw footprints being created from nothing. He called in the sighting and quietly maneuvered behind the advancing 'terrorist' calling in locations as needed. The Staff Sergeant moved the rest of his people to catch the 'insurgent' in a killbox crossfire.

The entire operation from the time Urzu Team moved out at 07:30 to Kurz's 'death' took just under 3 hours. Back in the control center, the ECS had been canceled out by the computers, so every camera in the area could see them moving through the jungle and clearing dotted training area. During that time Kim and Ron watched in fascination and awe as these machines moved with an almost human grace. When Mao moved to take out the QRF Commander's wingman, her machine moved so fast that they blinked thinking it was a CGI trick.

They remembered the expanded Diablo's had moved with a clunky mechanistic way. They seemed to be able to travel as fast as these piloted ASes and had a broader array of hand-to-hand weapons. But the QRF had shown that the reactions and training of the pilots more then made up the difference. The biggest advantage the Diablo's had was numbers and the regenerative properties of the Hephaestus material. But the coordination, speed and sheer brute force the ASes had used would have canceled these out, at least on a local scale.

The After Action Review took another hour and a half where Captain Grouseaux, as one of the graders, lambasted the ground and support crews for not being more aware of the threat of possible infiltration. Their job was ground and bivouac area security, and they blew it. The rest of the meeting covered the AS deployment. The Staff Sergeant was complemented on his quick thinking after the rest of the command team had been taken out.

Once the exercise and debriefing was over it was after 13:00 and Tessa released them to Chow and to get ready for the Ceremony in a couple of hours. Sousuke drove them back to the Chow Hall and they all ate hurriedly except for him. The rest of them watched as he just toyed with his food for a moment and excused himself say he would meet them at the Jeep. They found him outside playing with a blue dolphin keychain. Kaname had given it to him after his return from the mission that killed LT Wiseman, and she knew he was replaying that mission trying to find something he could have done to save them.

They finished, drove back to the bungalow and got ready for the Mission. They all took another quick shower, the guys shaved again and they laid out the Class A Uniforms. After getting dressed and packing the rest away, they drove back to the AS hangar and turned the Jeep back over a Corporal from the Ready Reaction Force. They could see a C-130 aircraft with U.N. markings standing by just outside the doors to the hangar. There were also several Arm Slaves on hands and knees, in formation on either side of the hangar doors, in an arc around the plane.

They entered through a side door to see a casket on a pedestal with five Troopers acting as Sentries, one on each corner, facing away from the casket and the last at the head facing in. They were in Mithral Dress Uniforms, under Arms with old fashioned M-14's, standing there at Parade Rest with expressionless faces. The casket was covered in a light blue flag that had a winged-hilt Sword superimposed over a Shield, with the globe emblazoned across the Shield and a Banner across the bottom that read, Mithral.

Sousuke's detail had arrived inside the hangar at 14:55, five minutes before scheduled. He led them to a position at the head of the casket, about twenty feet behind the Sentry facing the casket, looked into the eyes of each one of his people, took a shuddering breath and whispered "Fall In" They lined up shoulder to shoulder by Rank. Once they were in position, he said "Parade REST." and they shifted to match the Troops around the casket, minus the rifles. This was the hard part for Ron, Kim and Kaname. They had to remain there until ordered to move. Luckily they didn't have to wait long.

From outside there came the sounds of Arm Slaves starting up and shifting position. The hangar doors opened to reveal what had to be nearly the entire base complement. The Arm Slaves had been shifted so that the left knee and right fist was on the ground and the heads were bowed. Once the doors were open there came the sounds of a snare drum sounding a three/quarter tempo marching beat. When the drum started Sousuke ordered "Attention" and both the Honor Guard and the Detail snapped to. Several groups of men and women, by Battalion and Company, in total silence, other then the tread of boots and tattoo of the drum, marched into positions around the hangar facing the casket.

When the final group was in position, the snare drum rattled to a halt. Kim, Ron and Kaname moved their eyes around the assembled Troops. They spotted Tessa, looking fully like Captain Testarossa now, standing in front of her crew. They saw an older woman, carrying an American Flag in her left arm, approaching them. She stopped in front of Sousuke. As soon as she halted, he saluted her, holding the salute, he waited until she returned it. When she did so, he lowered his arm and waited.

"Sergeant, do you formally accept responsibility for the safe journey of our comrade to her Final Rest?"

"Yes ma'am!" She formally offered him the Flag. when he took it, she saluted him and stepped his right, turned and gave her last Command for the ceremony, "Detail POST!" The reason she saluted him was because Command of the entire ceremony had been turned over to him and it was a heavy weight for the young man. The snare sounded again and the detail marched forward. As they approached the Sentry at the head 'About Faced' and brought his weapon to 'Present Arms'. Sousuke stopped a pace away, returned the salute and said, "You and your detail are relieved."

The Sentry said, "I stand relieved." snapped the weapon to 'Port Arms', he 'About Faced' again. He addressed the Honor Guard, 'Ready, FACE' they turned facing the foot of the casket. 'Right Shoulder, ARMS' the weapons were brought to the right shoulder in perfect unison. 'Forward, MARCH.' The snare started again allowing the men to maintain step. As they marched away another group of six approached and split around the casket. Once in place they folded the MITHRAL flag, leaving the casket bare.

When they moved out of the way Sousuke marched them forward and they split around the casket, Kim and Sousuke on the right, Ron and Kaname on the left with Ron and Sousuke at the head. Ron knew he could NOT mess this up, it was too important. Because the Flag was to be positioned with the blue field of stars on the left shoulder of the deceased, the rest of the Flag was positioned off of that. That meant the entire thing rested on him.

Sousuke laid the Flag on the casket and started unfolding it, passing the end to Kim, who passed part to Kaname, while Sousuke passed the blue field to Ron. They laid the Flag so the bottom of the blue field rested on the center of the casket. Once Ron had it positioned, they draped it over and carefully folded the ends and secured them with clips to hold it in place. They finished and marched back to the head of the casket, retaking their former positions.

A squad of six men approached from the side. They stopped in front of Sousuke and faced him. It was Staff Sergeant Zimmer and part of the Ready Reaction Force. Sergeant Zimmer saluted him and said, "Sergeant, my Detail and I request the Honor to move the deceased to transport."

He returned the salute, saying, "Carry on." The RRF moved around the casket, three to a side, center faced, grabbed the carry handles and lifted to their waist. They side-stepped until they cleared the pedestal, and in one motion, moved LT Wiseman to their shoulder and faced forward. The drum started sounding again, at half-tempo this time, and they marched slowly forward. From outside they heard, "READY, AIM, FIRE." BANG "AIM, FIRE," BANG "AIM, FIRE," BANG. When the last shot was fired, Sousuke very loudly ordered, 'Present ARMS' and everyone, both inside and out, slowly raised their right arms and held them there. After she was on her way up the ramp of the waiting C-130, he said 'Order ARMS' and they slowly lowered their arms back to 'Attention'. Swallowing he glanced around with his eyes, and ordered 'Fall Out'.

As the rest of the assembly disbursed, he looked over at the team and saw Kaname openly had tears flowing and Kim was right behind her, while Ron was wearing a look of stone with unshed tears standing in his brown eyes. They were all stunned when he said, "This is the easy part, wait until we get her home."

A.N. Both Army and Navy use the Rank of Captain. But where an Army Captain is a Junior Officer O-3, a Navy Captain is a Senior Officer O-6. So Captain Testarossa is significantly higher ranking then Captain Grouseaux. When aboard ship and at sea, there is only ONE Captain onboard, Period. So Army and Marine Captains are by custom 'bumped' one pay grade upwards to Major and other Navy Captains are called Commodore for purposes of address.

Army / Navy

O-1 2nd LT / Ensign

O-2 1st LT / LTJG (Junior Grade)

O-3 Captain / LT

O-4 Major / LT Commander

O-5 LT Colonel / Commander

O-6 Colonel / Captain

O-7 through O-9 General / Admiral Ranks