Kevin Miller - Declared Hostile

“Macho.”

“You gotta be shittin’ me! Macho? NOW’s future president?”

“Looks like. I got this from the Rustler XO who leaned on his JO who fingered Coach. I just met with Coach and put the fear of God in him. Seems Macho led him and Trench both to believe Shane had some photos out there.”

“Macho told them?”

“Not in so many words, but just put it out there for the guys to research. And, guys being guys—”

“So what do we have here?”

“A compromising situation: Shane opens herself up for blackmail, the officer corps gets a black eye. But it also appears a personal confidence may have been betrayed.”

“How?”

“My theory. Roommates. Girl talk. Oversharing.”

“I’ve heard.”

“And you guys don’t? Coach couldn’t keep his mouth shut.”

“Touché. Does Hof know?”

“Don’t think so. Otherwise they’d be coming to us top-down. He can’t have one of his intel officers read-in to classified programs with this hanging over her head.”

“Yeah, this is JOs spreading this.”

“And enlisted,” she added.

Wonder Woman was still the talk of the airwing, and Wilson knew that when she briefed the aircrew in the ready rooms or on closed circuit TV the guys were looking at her more than listening to her. He also had heard the snickers in the wardroom and passageways when she passed through. This photo — and there could be more — added fuel to the fire, and it seemed, to Wilson, he was the last to know. One of his pilots, Coach, was the lead distributor, and another pilot, Macho, the catalyst.

Why? Why would she tip them off? he wondered.

Wilson imagined Shane would be devastated. He figured the photo was out of character, but she was a young woman. Half the women aboard probably had some Facebook image they regretted. As did the men, he surmised. Shane was such an asset to the squadron and ship…. How would she handle this? How would he handle this?

“I think we need to bring Shane in and tell her, if she doesn’t know already,” Annie said.

“Yeah. How shall we proceed?”

Annie smiled. “You mean how shall I proceed?”

“Look, this is sensitive, and she may not want a man, especially her CO, around when she learns about it.”

“ Because you are her CO you need to be here, and you need to do the talking. Your intel officer is in a difficult position, somewhat self-inflicted, yes, but she needs help to get out of it. We need to lead the effort.”

“Yeah… okay… and with us spinning up for combat…. These things never happen at a good time.”

“No,” Annie agreed.

“Okay. I’m going to hang out here. You find Shane and bring her here in thirty minutes.”

“Roger. Shall we bring in Stretch?”

Wilson thought for a moment. “No, we’ll inform her department head after we tell her. Olive, too. And Norb Hofmeister. I’ll contact him, and you can brief Stretch and Olive.”

“Wilco,” Annie replied and stood up.

“Then there’s Coach and Macho,” Wilson added before she reached the door.

Annie nodded. “How do you want to handle that?”

“After we inform Shane’s superiors, you and I together can hear their versions.”

Annie opened the door to leave. “Roger that,” she said as she closed it behind her.

Alone in his stateroom, Wilson thought about his squadron. Situations like this could tear it apart. His fear, at the moment, was that it may have already broken into armed camps. If Macho was the catalyst, as Annie thought, would she turn into a complete pariah? Was Coach guilty of misconduct? If so, did it rate a formal hearing and punishment? Wilson’s quiet posture was in sharp contrast to the thoughts that ran through his head about what was going to happen next.

“Enter, please,” said Wilson when he heard the knock on his door.

Annie stepped in with Shane in tow. The Intel Officer’s eyes betrayed her nervousness, even fear, at this unexpected meeting in her CO’s stateroom. Wilson sat at his desk and motioned for the ladies to take seats on the couch opposite him. When he noted Shane’s rapid breathing, Wilson felt compassion for her but knew he had to begin.

“Shane, XO and I have learned of something that you need to know but may not be aware of yet.”

“ My grandmother! ” Shane blurted out, her eyes wide with panic. “Is she—?”

“No. This isn’t about your grandmother,” Wilson answered.

“Oh, good!” Shane exhaled with relief, but, seconds later, her face again registered concern about why she was there.

Wilson paused to gather his thoughts. “Shane, there is an image of you being circulated about the ship.”

Ensign Shane Duncan shrank inward, as if her trembling body were being squeezed. Her head drooped, eyes closed, and she tightened her hands into a white-knuckled clasp in her lap. Shane began to breathe through her mouth as she processed the information.

“What image, sir?” she whispered. Wilson sensed she knew the answer.

Annie reached into a folder and retrieved a sheet of paper. When she handed it to Shane, the young ensign only needed to take a glance.

From a place deep inside, Shane sounded a mournful groan. Her body heaved, and she fought sobs at the dreaded realization that her secret was out — and the whole ship knew!

Shane struggled to stay in control as her world collapsed around her. Tears ran past her trembling chin, and Annie handed her a box of tissues from Wilson’s fold-down desk.

No one spoke. Wilson and Annie watched with compassion as Shane began to process her situation. She replayed in her mind her former boyfriend’s pleading and betrayal. She had hoped here at sea — far from home, far from her mother’s condemnation — to escape her shame.

Shane removed her glasses to dab at her eyes. Wilson noted she looked different, the sunny disposition gone from her face. She was more composed now, no, determined. Her jaw was set full of resentment — and anger. Wilson broke the silence.

“We believe Lieutenant Madden obtained the photo, and the XO has talked with him. I intend to speak with the other squadron COs to squash its distribution and to speak with Commander Hofmeister. Shane, you’ve made a huge contribution to the Firebirds , and to the ship. I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry this has happened, but we are going to fix it.”

With her glasses back on, Shan studied his face. “Sir, how can you unring a bell? You say everyone on the ship has seen this? No wonder I’ve been getting more looks than usual.”

She looked away, her body trembling again, but only took a moment before she continued.

“ I can’t help what the Good Lord gave me. All I wanted was to be on the team and contribute, to be more than this body .” She interrupted herself with a soft sob. “I’m minding my own business and working hard, and I’m still made to feel like a slutty tramp. I hate their leering eyes and their snickering when I stand up in front of the squadron—”

“When? I’ve not seen that!” Wilson protested, unaware of the antics in the back of the ready room when Shane was presenting.

“ I see it, sir. And, if I say something, I’m a troublemaking bitch and get the silent treatment. But, if I remain silent, I get more of it. I really thought I could start fresh here. I was so-o-o stupid.”

“Shane, you’ve done nothing wrong. It’s not your fault. This happened because your boyfriend betrayed you,” Annie said.

“He’s not the only one who betrayed me,” Shane answered, her eyes fierce and accusing.