Ensign Dan Emery stared up at his new command with an appraising eye. She was big that was immediately obvious. She was also old which was not immediately apparent. But no new battleship had been built past 1944 and this old girl was approaching 50.
He could feel someone's gaze on him as he walked up the brow and made himself known to the guard. He risked a look up, seeing a young woman on the bridge wing. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a bun and stuffed under her cap. She gave him a wave then disappeared inside.
Shrugging, Emery dropped off his bags in his room before heading upstairs to report to the captain. He was on the bridge and seemed to know Emery was there before the ensign said anything. "Emery how nice of you to join us." Captain Moosely greeted his newest officer with a grin. "So your old man fuming about you going away from the silent service to join this old dame?" He asked. Emery should have known his father's name would reach here. "Slightly sir. But the Iowa's a legend." "So you joined just because the Iowa's a legend?" "Lay off him skipper!" Said the same young woman he saw earlier.
Without the bridge wing in the way she made for quite a sight. Her rack was so huge he wasn't sure how she stood upright. Her enormous number of ribbons only drew more attention to her massive chest. He recognized a Navy Unit Commendation but the others… was that a Korean Liberation Medal and fucking hell a Pacific Theatre one as well? If she minded his staring she didn't mind it. "Ah cap I think he likes me!" She grinned. Captain Moosely pressed a palm to his face clearly used to these antics. Emery did even better. To his credit he simply sighed. "Iowa I presume." He said. After all who else would it be?
"Commander Franklin." She put an arm around his shoulder, pressing her assets close to his face. Emery was not a short man but she was easily a head taller. "You look like you could use a beer Ensign?" "Irene please not now!" Moosely begged. "Oh don't be such a spoilsport captain. You're just as bad as Maddie is! Fucking little bitch is always like 'Irene don't do this. Irene don't break that.' So fucking annoying!" Moosely just sighed and pressed his hand to his face again.
Thankfully the pleasantries were properly exchanged leaving Emery with little to do until tomorrow. Irene wasn't helping matters. She had hardly left his side since he reported aboard. Apparently since he was young and unmarried he was fair game. And she had taken upon herself to call dibs before anyone else did. She had all but pouted when he told her to leave his room so he could change. "That's a pity ensign I'd have loved to seen your piece of ass." He blanched at that, not expecting a veteran of two wars to be so forward. Then again, the tales of Iowa's behavior ashore read like any by the book admiral's worst nightmare.
Irene was waiting for him when he re-emerged. She had changed as well. Emery gulped as he saw her outfit. Could shorts be that short and actually still be considered shorts? Her tank top wasn't much better. By this point Emery resigned himself. She did after all outrank him. "Ready Dan wasn't it?" "Yes ma'am." He replied. "Ah none of that bullshit! Off duty it's Irene. I'm not one to stand on ceremony." She replied. "I'm beginning to see that ma'am." He said and she grinned, putting an arm over his shoulders she pushed him out.