Kevin Miller - Declared Hostile

Macho entered her stateroom and noticed right away that Shane’s rack was stripped of linen. Her fold-down desk was up, and Macho lowered it. Empty. She opened one of Shane’s metal drawers. Empty. A ship-supplied bath towel was left hanging on a hook, but Shane’s robe was gone, her closet empty. Macho opened the medicine cabinet over the sink. All of her roommate’s items were gone.

Macho wondered what had happened. Why was Shane gone? Was she still on the ship? Sudden illness or loss of a loved one? She hoped Shane was okay and called the ready room.

“Ready Five, Lieutenant Rutledge, sir or ma’am.”

“Ghost, Macho. Is Shane down there?”

“Nope, haven’t seen Wonder Woman in a while. What’s up?”

“Is she still on the ship?”

“Should be. Let me ask the OPSO.”

Macho heard him ask the Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander “Stretch” Armstrong, if Shane was still aboard.

“Yeah, OPSO says, as far as he knows, she’s still aboard. Do you think she’s not?”

“She’s my roommate, but all her stuff is gone.”

When Ghost didn’t respond, Macho added, “I’m going to CVIC to check.”

“Okay, let me know,” Ghost replied and hung up.

Macho closed the stateroom door behind her and headed to CVIC. Could she have fallen overboard? No, why clean out everything in the room? Suicide? No, she is the happiest person I know. It puzzled Macho that all Shane’s stuff was missing and she had moved out with no warning. She hoped Shane was in CVIC.

Macho arrived and was buzzed in. She stepped into the main planning room and saw Shane seated at a table studying a chart. A wave of relief flooded over her.

“Shane, are you okay?”

Shane didn’t lift her head. “Yes, fine.”

Macho noted the cold shoulder. “Your stuff is gone. Did you move out?”

“Yes,” Shane answered as she stood and walked toward the chart locker.

Macho followed, her face contorted in confusion.

“Why?”

Shane kept her head down and didn’t answer. They were now alone, out of earshot.

“Shane… why? ”

Shane snapped her head to make eye contact. “Because, I don’t want to live with someone I can’t trust.”

Stunned, Macho reeled from the verbal blow.

“ What? What do you mean?”

“I told you about my boyfriend’s pictures. You told Trench and Coach, and now those pictures are all over the ship. Every guy on board has seen me naked and my tattoo. I’ve asked for a transfer, but until I leave, I still have to work here — with everyone looking at me and judging me.”

“ I did not— ”

“ Yes, you did. I told you only, and I begged you not to tell. I thought I could trust a girl.”

“Shane, I did not tell anyone!”

“Then how are the photos all over the ship? Skipper and XO called me in to tell me. That’s how I found out!”

“These perverts are capable of finding things on their own—”

“We don’t have Web access out here. They had help, and they were tipped off. This didn’t happen until I opened up to you, my roommate, my squadronmate, my “fellow officer” of honor and integrity.”

“It’s not a bad picture. You can’t see anything—”

Shane exploded in fury. “I don’t care if it’s a portrait picture of me with my hair colored blonde! I came here — to a ship! — to escape my shame, to be an Intelligence Officer with a professional image. Free of blackmail! And now that’s gone, so I’m leaving.”

“When?”

“As soon as the XO lets me.”

“I’m going to find out who did this and kill them!”

“Tiffany, it’s you! Yes, guys are guys, but I opened up to you , shared with you , my new soul-sister. And you spread it. And I’m the one who has to leave.”

“I didn’t spread it! ”

Just then Commander Hofmeister appeared. “Shane, when you have a second, I need some help, please.”

Shane spun to follow him, but not before she addressed Macho with contempt. “Excuse me, Lieutenant. ”

Macho watched her walk away and noticed some guys from the E-2 squadron working on something in the corner. Did they know? Have they seen Shane’s photos? They didn’t seem to notice her as she walked past them to join Commander Hofmeister.

Things aren’t so bad. Shane is overreacting.

But Macho had Coach dead to rights! He was with Trench in the wardroom. Trench is off the ship — blinded in combat — but his sidekick is still here. Coach would have to pay for what he did. She would go to the XO and finger him for ruining Shane and causing a hostile workplace for her, and for Macho, and for all the women on Coral Sea . He would get his, and the Firebirds would be rid of those two pains in her ass.

Her little plan had worked. But would it cost a budding friendship? Until now, Shane had been nice to her, had admired her. She was sure this would blow over, and Shane would come back. XO would talk her into staying after she keel-hauled Coach, and maybe some other worms in the airwing. Once again the boy’s club was at fault.

Besides, it’s just a bare back! Good grief, Malibu Barbie! You need to lighten up.

Wilson met Billy Martin in the passageway as they both headed to CAG’s stateroom for the CO’s meeting.

“Did ya hear?” Billy asked him. “Admiral Meyerkopf is leaving the ship.”

“Yes. Quite a move on what may be the eve of battle. Have you heard of a relief?”

“Yes, Admiral Davies.”

“Devil Davies, a real warrior.”

“What do you think’s going to happen?” Billy asked.

“I don’t know if we are at war with Cuba or Venezuela… or Russia. Guess we’re going to find out when Devil gets here — or, maybe, right now.”

They arrived at CAG’s stateroom and knocked. When he told them to enter, they stepped inside and saw the Deputy CAG Captain, Bob “Not-o” Kay, and a few other air wing COs arrayed on the couch. Once the others arrived, CAG began.

“Okay, guys. First, Admiral Davies is coming aboard on the COD. Word has it we are spinning up, and Fleet Forces wanted a carrier guy here. Admiral Meyerkopf is leaving. I haven’t seen him, and he refused my request to meet.” CAG raised his eyebrows, as if to say C’est la vie .

Wilson reflected on this confirmation of the rumor mill. A new admiral on the eve of battle, and not just any admiral. Devil Davies was the closest thing naval aviation had to the Red Baron, a blood-and-guts warrior who, no doubt, was spoiling for a fight. Meyerkopf was a bespectacled nuclear engineer at heart, with little understanding of the combat power he wielded. Now they would be led by old Devil Dog himself, who had begun his career as a Marine F-4 pilot and had a full understanding of what the Coral Sea strike group could do to an enemy. Just point him in the right direction and give him a green light.

CAG had an easel with an aeronautical chart of the Caribbean and Venezuela. He referred to it as he spoke.

“In CVIC there are target folders for you Hornet guys. Looks like we need to be ready to hit Venezuela in three nights. TR is getting underway and will run down here at flank speed. Once she’s in the region, she’s going to take a position north of the Turks and Caicos to influence GITMO. We are staying here for a few days, then moving into the Atlantic to take a position south of Barbados. SOUTHCOM is giving us the area here around the Gulf of Paria and Delta Amacuro. The port at Río Salta and their air force base at San Ramón will be our main areas of focus. The USAF is taking the area around Caracas. The F-22 guys are coming down from Langley to stage at Homestead, and they are moving a wing of Eagles, Vipers, and Strike Eagles to Roosy Roads. The big wing tankers will be bedded down here in Borinquen, and we may get our “own” set of tankers in Barbados once we get there. That will be nice.”