JAG LAWYERS
Chapter 7 - Memories Are Made Of These
Their trip to San Diego was just the distraction they needed to help renew their resolve for a good outcome to their JAG investigation. Rick volunteered to drive, Kate took the frontside passenger's seat, and Lanie stretched out in the back seat of her authorized rental car. Kate is recalling her trip to Santa Barbara with Josh just the day before. He had asked her if he could continue to see her, but Kate pondered if that was a wise thing to do. Granted she had not been with a man in a while! There never seemed to be enough time to explore a serious lasting relationship in the military, too many distractions.
Truth of the matter was, there had been no significant man in Kate's life since college. At law school, she had a brief relationship with a classmate, but it never resulted in anything. They had not even slept together, although they came close a couple times. But aside from some heavy making out, it did not last. Maybe at the time it had been the need for male company that drove this brief relationship. It ended when she got the 'it's me, not you' speech from him, but they did part as friends.
"Hey you two up front, why so quiet?", says Lanie, and Kate comes back to the real world as she puts aside her thoughts for the moment.
"Just taking in the beautiful view of the ocean and the great weather. I forgot how good it gets in SoCal!", Kate responds to Lanie's comment.
"Who would have thought that years after commissioning we would be back together. All three of us reaching that exalted rank of officer four, O4, that is, lieutenant commander for me and Lanie, Major for you Kate."
"Castle, really? Do we need a review of military rank structure. We had that in Military Command and Control 101 back in NROTC', says Lanie.
"You must admit though Lanie, did any of us think we'd get this far? For most of us it was just completing our Obligated Service to payoff our NROTC scholarships. Now here we are having finished many more years of service beyond our Obligation!"
"Well speak for yourselves, I opted to do this part time, as an active reserve officer. You two are doing it for a career."
"Come on Lanie, if you didn't like it, you would not have gone active reserve status."
"Got me there Castle-man, but as we reservists say, after weeks of annual active duty for training, we find out once again why we decided to leave active duty for reserve duty. It's all that military minutiae and red tape that make Active Duty less attractive, plus the months of long deployments. You get just enough of it on annual Actdutra to last till the next annual ActDUTRA. I for one like staying in one place and having only to travel far for my annual active duty location. For me it's a paid vacation. I've been to Japan, Philippines, and one ActDUTRA in Rota Spain at the Naval Base there. And I got paid for it! Nothing like ActDUTRA pay, it's like an annual salary bonus! Active reserve status does have its perks", responds Lanie.
"We're coming up on MCAS Miramar, do we need to stop by the base exchange for anything?"
"Nay, just head for the Gaslamp District downtown San Diego. We can have lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory there, then take in the sights.'
As Rick transitions to the US Route 5 heading to downtown, Kate is looking at Castle and remembering their one night together. It had been passionate and each had never regretted it. Kate wonders why the two of them never sought to continue that liaison. She gets a warm feeling in her heart and core remembering how good the sex between them had been. They had resolved some of that sexual tension built up between them all during their NROTC years. Both had avoided any intimacy back then to keep it professional between them. But Rick was now her team leader and the need to maintain professionalism and avoid fraternization was even more a requirement than in their past.
Still, if Rick made advances to her now, Kate probably would not reject them, quite the opposite, she may welcome them. Then her thoughts turned to Josh Davidson. Where was that going and would she accept his proposition to see where it might lead for them? It would be a long distance relationship until his next duty station. Lanie had revealed it would be in D.C. for Josh, placing him right in Kate's own neighborhood. Should she plant the seeds for a union now with the good doctor? Then see if it grew even more serious when he was in her domain and they could work on it under better conditions. That was Kate's thinking at the moment. As she sees the highway signs to Downtown San Diego, Gaslamp District, it brings her out of her thinking and back to the physical world.
Sister Cities?
The Gaslamp District of San Diego used to be the run-down section of San Diego, but in recent years, the city had poured funds into revitalizing it. It now was an attractive spot for bars, night clubs, restaurants, disco's', live theater, shopping, and other such entertainment. It had become quite the favorite hangout for many San Diegans. The crowds were often young, the college set from the surrounding colleges and universities, up and coming professionals in the computer and med tech fields, now growing industries for the Sand Diego area. Then there is the military, as San Diego is a known Navy town, with some half a dozen military installations nearby. Then lastly there are the tourists from all walks of life who came to visit 'America's Finest City', that logo coined by the City Government to make it a mantra for their tourism industry.
This part of San Diego reminded Kate so much of San Antonio, Texas, yet another military town. She had been there for a stopover during a cross country training hop back in her flight training days. The hop had started at MCAS Cherry Point on the way to NAS Moffett Field in Northern California and then back. They landed for an two day layover at Randolph Air Force Base. At the time rumored to have the best Officer's Club in the entire military inventory.
After touring San Antonio city sites that first day, they dinner at that O'club. They were in flight suits with their Marine Corps patches on them after doing a brief test hop late that afternoon. This, after reserve navy and marine techs from the local reserve squadron had done a routine stopover check on their planes. This layover also provided additional maintenance training to that local reserve unit.
Being Naval Aviators on an Air Force Base drew them lots of attention. Arriving at the O'Club at Randolph, they chose a table and sat down, getting ready to order dinner. After finishing their dinner, a couple of Air Force pilots wearing F-5 patches on their flight gear came up to their table.
"So Naval Aviators?", says the one Air Force Captain.
"Marine Corps to be exact", replies one of Kate's fellow aviators.
"Right, but Marine Corps is part of the Navy, isn't it?"
That draws a frown from the Marines, they always hated to be reminded that they were fleet marines, especially during wartime.
"So why are you guys here?", says the blonde Air Force first lieutenant of the group.
"Training hop heading for NAS Moffett."
"So what are you guys driving? We're F-5 Tiger drivers."
"We're flying training aircraft, F-4 Phantoms."
The F4 had long since been retired from the fleet, but were still used now primarily as jet training aircraft.
"F4, huh, that's a two seat fighter for the Navy and Marine Corps."
"Yeah it was", replies Marine Capt Goss, their flight instructor and flight leader for their training hop.
He continues, "Driver in front and the NFO flying back seat as Navigator and Radar Intercept Officers or RIO as they are fondly called."
"NFO? Is that what you call your GIB?"
"Naval Flight Officer to you guys, so yours are GIB's?"
"Air Force lingo for Guy In Back, who is Weapons Officer/Navigator."
That comment gets a laugh from all of them.
"So which ones are the NFO's?"
"You can tell by their wings, Naval Flight Officers have two anchors on their wings crossed like an 'X', Naval Aviators have a single anchor running vertically, up and down, on their wings."
"So what are you designated to fly once out of flight training?"
"I'm slated to fly AV-8 Harrier Jump Jets, Red-Dog here, (using call signs and pointing to the Marine with fiery red hair) is bound for the A-6 Intruder Attack Jet, and Katgirl here is scheduled as a Cobra combat driver," replies 1st LT. Meyers, the next senior marine in the training flight.
"So KatGirl is your call sign and a cobra driver, that's hot and badass!", says the one strikingly handsome Air Force Lieutenant to Kate, obviously hitting on her. By his swagger Kate could tell he is the ladies man of the group.
The lieutenant continues,"I'm Hitman by the way, named so because I have the most hits of the squad,…..and those are not necessarily combat kills." He gives her such a look that creeps Kate out, along with his aggressive come-on to her. He is truly the playboy of the squad.
Kate recognizes she is being hit-on but chooses to ignore it, as she says, "That's Kat with a 'K', as in Katherine, my given name, and yes, Katgirl, is my call sign."
Hitman is still doing eye sex with Kate, but despite, he manages to ask, "So you guys call yourselves Aviators as opposed to pilots?". His voice showing disdain for the label, but continuing to stare at Kate lasciviously. Just by the look alone, Kate could claim harassment!
"Yes", replies Capt. Goss, "it is a distinction from other pilots."
"Quite arrogant, don't you think, given the present company here. We all know the U.S. Air Force has the best pilots of all the services!", says the Air Force Captain.
"The best pilots… maybe?.. but none are aviators. That's a name reserved for those who fly the oceans of the world. Pilots who take-off then land back on that small postage stamp of a ship called an Aircraft Carrier. We have to find it on limited fuel once completing our missions away from the carrier. That's what our 'GIBs' do for us, handling navigation and getting us back to that big assed carrier before we run out of fuel. That carrier does look like a postage stamp from altitude and surrounded by nothing less than the vast expanse of an ocean or sea. It can be hard to find. Naval Aviators do all that as part of their missions and are required to have a fuel reserve, or bingo fuel, when we get back to the Carrier. That is Naval Aviation protocol. Until you can take off and then make it back to the carrier to land, you are just pilots, and not aviators!"
"So what happens if you expend most of your fuel on your mission, and then don't have enough gas to make it back to the carrier?", asks Hitman, the squadron's now revealed predator. He is still staring at Kate, looking her up and down like she's a treat just for him.
Answering the question, Capt Goss says, "Well then our 'GIBs' calculate our position where we will run out of fuel and where we will ditch our plane; then sends those coordinates back to the Carrier. That location has got to be spot-on so the SAR (Search and Rescue) helo's can pick us up after we make a water borne landing in the drink. We also train for that event should it happen. Water landings can be as dangerous and as tricky as carrier landings."
Those statement of facts by Capt Goss seems to quiet the Air Force pilots putting them in their place. Despite all the dangers faced by military pilots, Naval Aviators probably have more so than land based pilots. Flying the oceans and seas of the world is a distinction that separate the Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers from their counterparts in the U.S. Air Force.
The Coast Guard also have Naval Aviators, but they are not part of DOD except in Wartime. They fly mostly SAR helo's off capital ships with platforms made for helicopters. The Coast Guard also have a cadre of pontoon configured aircraft that can take off and land on the water. During war they do coastal patrols to spot advancing enemy ships entering U.S. international waters. This they do with their ships and their aircraft. Their larger ships are equipped with guns, missiles, and torpedo's that can sink enemy ships, if it came to that.
So the term Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers applied to three branches of service, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard. They all proudly wear their Gold Wings as the fliers of the oceans and seas of the world, the Air Force has silver wings.
Upon hearing about the perils of Naval Aviation, that draws a inquiry from the Air Force Captain who asks, "So all of you are Carrier qualified?"
"Yes, on our training Carrier, the USS Lexington, that is where it all begins for us. The Lady Lex, as we Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers are fond of calling her, is where it starts."
The Marine Captain's response shows a unique tradition for the Navy. The ship is mostly always referred to in the female gender. It's appropriate, given that the Carriers gave birth to Naval Aviation as is presently practiced.
"Well, alright then, how about we buy you Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers a round as a welcome to Randolph AFB", the Air Force Captain says as an offering of the fig leaf, symbol for peace and reconciliation, to ease tensions between these two groups.
Once the rounds arrive, the senior Air Force Captain makes a toast as a gesture to the Marine training squad.
"To Naval Aviation", he toasts. That is followed by a 'Roger that!' from the crowd.
After finishing the round treated by the Air Force pilots, they all start to head back to the Q.
That one handsome Air Force pilot, who had hit on Kate, comes up to her again.
"So, Katgirl, want to continue the party and celebrate elsewhere? I know of a more private place for it", Hitman asks, hoping to get lucky with Kate tonight. Hearing this, his squad share looks at each other knowing what is happening. Hitman has found a target of opportunity and is going for the kill shot.
The proposition is not new to Kate. As an attractive woman, she has many such proposals from men like the lieutenant. They all wanted the same 'Thing', that 'Thing' they can get, if the woman is vulnerable and gullible. Kate knows this and handles it in her usual manner.
She politely responds with, "No thanks, Hitman, we have an oh-dark-thirty launch tomorrow, so I need my rest."
"Too bad, it would have been fun", the handsome lieutenant says arrogantly as if to imply that Kate is missing out on the best time with him.
Kate knows the type. They think of themselves as the Universe's gift to womenkind but all they want is just a romp in the hay and then on to the next conquest. That stirs Kate's anger that Hitman thought that way about her. She knows where that 'private' place is located that he wants to celebrate with her. She controls her emotions and calmly invades the lieutenant's personal space, bringing her lips close to his ear. Then whispers in that ear, but loud enough so the others can hear, "You have no idea!"
The Air Force pilot is stunned by her action and her response to him. His eyes grow wide in surprise. He blushes a bit, embarrassed by Kate's cordial rejection to his proposition. It is then that he realizes he is out of his league with Kate. She would have been the one in control and not him. The prey had become the aggressor!
The young lieutenant was not used to such a rejection from a woman he hit on. Especially in the manner Katgirl had chosen. She had taken him down a peg and the look on his face is epic. All see that face and know what it means. Katgirl had humiliated him so publicly. The young man had his pride injured, and wasn't handling it well.
Kate leaves the young pilot dumbfounded and incredulous. Kate had stuck a knife in his ego and he hadn't noticed till it was done. Never had he been rebuffed so soundly yet so subtlety by a women in that manner. Katgirl knew just how to take him down!
As they leave the O'club, Red-Dog says to Kate, "Way to go Katgirl, great put down. Talk about crash and burn, that hurt just to watch. Never mess with the KatGirl, she'll make you eat humble pie."
The others in their squad hear the remark and chant back to Kate, all in one voice, 'Uhh Rah', in typical Marine fashion. They all continue to their rooms for a good night's rest. Departure will be bright and early the coming morning for them.
Reminiscing fondly about that event, Rick's voice pulls her out of her recollection when she hears him say, "Here we are, Gas Lamp District. Time now to start exploring San Diego."