6181A. You lot are not ready - Admiral Knight former 1st. Lieutenant of the Army Scout Rangers.
USS Bataan was having the best day of her life. There was barely any paperwork, and with the recent new faces in the base work had been light and easy for her. And most of all she was able to spend her days off with her husband and commander without worrying too much. There was nothing that could sink her happiness now.
How wrong she was.
"I'm leaving for a few days." Admiral Knight announced just as she entered the office.
"Eh?" That caught her off guard that it took her a good few seconds to process what he just said. "What do you mean leaving for a few days?"
"Army HQ just called in and wanted me to come to HQ." Knight explained with a sigh as he twirled his office chair, eyes off in the distance. "Wonder what they want with me."
"Must be something important that they wanted you of all people." She guess as she walk towards her own table. "I'll prepare our bags for the trip."
"You're not coming Bataan." The silence that followed was deafening if it weren't for the cracking wood table.
"What? Why Not?" She asked surprise by the decision her husband made.
"Your taking charge of the base while I'm gone." He said. "Your the next officer in-charge here. And as much as I would love to bring you but there really isn't anyone here left if you go with me."
"Very Well. Then bring souvenirs or else your sleeping in the couch for a month." The sickly sweet smile meant she was serious with her threat Knight knew that much. And he really doesn't want to sleep on the couch.
"I Promised."
-0-
Two Days Later...
Camp Tecson
"Long time no see... Sir." Admiral Knight greeted. Gone was the white naval officer uniform of the Navy and was replace with a pure black BDU with two red patches. One was stitch on his left breast pocket was his name while the right one had his Army affiliation... The Scout Rangers.
"At ease Lieutenant." A man wearing light green GOA said with a smile as he stood up from his desk chair. This was Col. Gift Sumagaysay the current head of the Scout Rangers at the Camp. "It's been a while."
"How's life been treating you?" Knight smiled at his old friend. "Last I remembered you, you have a lot more hair in your head." He pointed at the higher officers balding head.
"Last I remembered you is that you don't drink." the Colonel countered pointing at the flask that was strap to his side. "Hope your wife knows about this."
"Touche." He laugh at the mans jab at his developing vice. "Also she joins me on the drinking when its too much even for her."
"That Bad?"
"I'm Drinking that's pretty much shows how bad thing I need to deal with on a regular basis." Knight said seriously without an ounce of jest. "Enough about what I deal with. What you need that your calling out to me?"
"Your Promotion"
"Rejected"
"I Reject that Rejection"
"I Reject that Rejection of my Rejection"
"Drake..."
"Fine." Knight raised his hands in surrender. Conceding to his fate. "And why the sudden promotion? And promotion to what exactly?"
"Let me answer your second question first." He said with a smile as he toss a document towards Knight who caught it without much trouble. In a swift motion he read through the files and his jaws drop.
"Promotion to Lieutenant Colonel?" He look up at his old friend to see if he was joking.
He wasn't.
"That's a lot of jumps there. What the deal?"
"SOCOM had approve that the Scout Rangers shall be accepting Shipgirls into their ranks. We are currently recruiting as we speak. If this succeeds then the Scout Ranger would be one of the few Army Units to have Shipgirls in their ranks."
"And how is this involve my promotion?" Then it dawned on him. "Oh..."
"You are to train the prospective girls for two weeks in preparations for the Six Month Training that Scout Rangers goes thru biannually." the Colonel announce. "As well as teach the Instructors on how to adjust the Course with regards to the Shipgirl's unusual standards for the lack of better term."
"Do I have a choice?"
"No. Not really."
He sighed.
"When do I start?"
-0-
A Few days later...
Yang!Iowa was excited, giddy, and happy. It was the day of the Initiation for Shipgirls to Enter the Scout Ranger Course. She was able to convince Bataan that since she was prohibited from sortieing since the incident at Batanes this was the next best thing that could alleviate her boredom. It took some time and persuasion but the Secretary and current temporary Commander gave in to her request. She was ever grateful to the CV.
She look around noteing that most if not all of the shipgirls that joined were Heavy Cruisers or above. There was the occasional Battleship here and there and the scares Carriers. But none of them were a Light Cruiser or even a Destroyer.
Her musing was cut short when a familiar man appear on stage. His unmistakable sharp dark eyes and the scar running below his left eye was something she can't forget easily. It was her Commander at Corregidor. She had heard from the smaller ships back at base that their Admiral was once and Army Officer she thought it was a joke. But to think she would see the day that he wore his old uniform was unbelievable. It didn't help that the black BDU suited him better than his Naval White Uniform. She thought that he was dare she says it... attractive.
She shook her head dispelling that particular thought knowing full well that Bataan had claimed the man infront of her. And she rather avoid that particular CV's wrath.
"Welcome to the First ever Shipgirl Scout Ranger Preparatory Training." He announce gaining everyone's attention. She noted that his eyes turned mischievous and taunting that stirred her competitive spirit ever so slightly.
Then he smirk that somehow pissed her off.
"Do Try To Keep Up" That was the last straw. She was going to prove to her commander that she deserve to enter the Scout Rangers.
Several Hours Later...
Yang!Iowa collapse in complete exhaustion. She didnt expect that this was going to happen. The none stop drills and exercises were taking a toll on her body. And she was a Battleship. All around her was no different either. The loud sounds of girls gasping for air was the only thing she could hear. She also noted that there was a lot fewer of them now compared to when they started. They were dropping like flies and this was just the first day! He look forward to their instructors who were with them through out the ordeal and had to give her respects to them. Even with all that running not one of them were gasping like a fish and sweating profusely.
Then she saw her commander looking at the collapse form of the shipgirls. Smirk Smugly and said.
"You Girls aren't Ready Yet."
If only her Commander would wipe his smirk away. This would make thing a lot more easier.