The New Ship
Chapter 1
Since the James had been sunk, the government decided there needed to be a 'new' Nathan James. Mike wasn't sure of that idea and was not happy with the prospect. A lot of the original crew had either died, moved on or retired. Mike and Russ were the two left still in the Navy and still fighting. The captain of the Michener had alerted Mike that a group of senators were going to be arriving and Mike groaned, but as the most senior members of the Navy, he and Russ had to be there upon their arrival.
The captain, new to his job, was nervous and Mike reassured him that the senators would probably be more interested in him. The helicopter landed and several people in business suits, men and women alike were standing on the deck. They were not dressed for a Naval ship.
"Hello, I am Admiral Michael Slattery. This is MCON Russ Jeter and Captain Alan Jeffery. Lets get off the deck. The wind is pretty bad today." Mike said. He was concerned about the women, wearing stiletto heels. This would be an interesting tour. Only one wasn't wearing a business suit or heels. She was wearing a pair of khakis, blouse and tall boots, serviceable and with no heel.
"Hello, I am Senator Grace Montgomery, hailing from Texas." The senator that was actually appropriately dressed said as she shook his hand. She looked to be about forty and had a thick Texas accent.
"Right this way." Mike answered as he led them away from the deck.
"Sir, do you need me?" Captain Jeffery asked.
"No, I think we can handle this. We'll be up to the bridge soon if you want to forewarn the bridge crew?" Mike suggested gently.
"Gladly." Captain Jeffery said. He was a good captain and cared for his crew but he was new and young. Mike liked him. He had potential.
"Forewarn, huh?" Senator Montgomery remarked.
"This kind of tours are disconcerting to the crew of any ship." Mike replied. Several of the senators were struggling through the p-way, other than Senator Montgomery. She was keeping up with him, not an easy feat. "Have you been on a Navy ship before?" Mike asked.
"Yes. I served four years in the Navy. Was able to finance my law degree. I find myself missing it at times. But I was twenty-two when I got out. Its been over two decades." Senator Montgomery replied.
"Makes sense now." Mike remarked under his breath.
"Huh?" Senator Montgomery asked.
"The way you're dressed. You can navigate the p-way a bit easier." Mike replied.
"Ah, yes. I warned them but they didn't like that I dressed down." Senator Montgomery said.
"Dressed smartly, more likely." Mike answered.
"So…Admiral Slattery, how do you feel about the new Navy ship being commissioned as the new Nathan James?" Senator Montgomery asked.
"The President told me I had to behave myself." Mike said.
"You don't like it?" Senator Montgomery asked.
"No. The James needs to stay at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. She didn't need to be a museum ship but she also doesn't need to resurrected. I feel it would make any ship named that a target and endanger her crew." Mike answered.
"You were a plank-holder, yes?" Senator Montgomery asked.
"Yes. Probably why I feel so strongly." Mike said as he led the group into the galley and began giving the statistics of how much food they went through on a daily basis, special training that the culinary arts crew with through, some of the crew's favorite meals and how they handled holidays. Russ would add little comments in and even Senator Montgomery jumped in.
After the galley, came the engineering room, the bridge and other areas. Senator Montgomery was very interactive and would answer the other senators' questions. By the end of the day, Mike actually enjoyed having her there. The group left the ship about six after eating dinner with the enlisted crew, at Mike's insistence. They would have preferred eating with the officers, other than Senator Montgomery. She seemed at home with the enlisted crew. Mike was thoroughly impressed with her.
As he escorted the group of Senators to the waiting helicopter, she passed him a business card. He stuck it in his pocket and it wasn't until he got back to his quarters and after his shower that he read the card. It listed her cell phone number and email with a firm direction on it:
"Call or email me. SOON."
Mike thought about emailing her right then but he was tired and needed to think about what to say. Senator Montgomery interested him in a way that no woman had since Christine. He opened his laptop and began researching her.
She was a junior senator, and was quickly making a name for herself. While in the Navy, she had gained her Bachelor's Degree in Pre-Law and after she left the Navy, she had put herself through a small law school. She was a public defender for a while, then a prosecutor. She rose through the ranks, got married and had three children.
Like Mike, she lost her spouse in the Red Flu. Her oldest daughter had also died. Her twelve-year old son and seven-year old daughter lived with her in Washington DC. Her parents helped her raise them. There were a few photos of her taken with her hair in a severe bun and with her wearing a business suit, but then there were some with her kids and parents. She looked similar to what she did that day. Mike felt himself becoming attracted to her. A now unfamiliar feeling.