Clidepp Requital Read Free

complete."
    Sydnee just stared at the screen as the image faded. Her first reaction was anger. Sterling had attended my graduation at NHSA and never told anyone he was there? she thought. How could he do that? But then she remembered how truly contrite he appeared over his earlier behavior. She would forgive him, of course. He was her brother, and she still loved him. And it sounded like he had suffered as much as she from the prolonged separation. She touched the record button and began speaking from her heart. She used up almost the entire time allotment and then quickly signed off. It was such a relief to have completed what she'd foreseen as a chore. In her signoff she told him she loved him and hoped he would message her again soon. Then she retired to her bunk again to think through the events of the day.
    A chime in her left ear brought her up out of her reverie. She touched her Space Command ring and said, "Marcola," when the carrier was established.
    "Marcola, this is the watch commander. Report to Commander Vernon Galeway in the A deck conference room."
    "Right away, sir. Marcola out."
    Sydnee hopped off her bunk and checked her appearance before hurrying to the door, which picked this time to malfunction. After an unsuccessful attempt to open the door manually, she used the flat of her fist to smack the bulkhead where the switch was located. The door slid open noiselessly.
    * * *
    "Lieutenant(jg) Marcola reporting to the Commander as ordered," Sydnee said as she braced to attention in front of a Commander standing in the conference room with a Lt. Commander.
    "At ease, Lieutenant," Cmdr. Galeway said. Gesturing towards the Lt. Commander, he said, "This is my XO, Commander Helen Wheeler.
    "When I learned of your amazing performance during the past few months, I told Captain Lidden I wished to meet you. He was good enough to arrange this meeting. He said he would approve a transfer off the Perry to a posting more consistent with your remarkable abilities and where you'd have a better path to promotion. Have you decided where you'd like to go?"
    "Um, I haven't really thought about it, sir. I suppose a lot will depend on the outcome of the Inquiry Board hearings. I don't know if they'll agree with your assessment of my performance."
    "You never know how an Inquiry Board will rule. They sometimes have issues of which we may be unaware, but after reading the reports filed by you and the supporting documentation from the people under your command, I personally believe Captain Lidden's assessment is accurate. You did save everyone aboard the Perry . If you hadn't convinced your fellow officers and the Marines to get that Clidepp destroyer operational to come here to assist the Perry , everyone aboard would most likely be dead. When I spoke to you following the Missouri's arrival here, I wasn't aware of your official rank. I only knew you were in command of a destroyer. I think I was even more impressed when I learned that a junior pilot had gotten a Marine platoon to follow her in battle."
    "Um, I was the only officer there, sir. Lieutenant Kennedy had been killed."
    "I realize that, but I'm still impressed. If they hadn't had confidence in your leadership, I doubt you could have gotten them to follow a ship's bridge officer into ground combat. I wish I had an open position on my ship. If I did, I'd try to convince you to transfer to the Missouri ."
    "Thank you, sir."
    "Perhaps something will open up before it's time for you to make a decision."
    "Yes, sir."
    "Would a posting to the Missouri interest you?"
    "Um, yes, sir."
    "Okay, we'll have to see what happens in the days ahead. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lieutenant. That's all."
    "Thank you, sir." Sydnee said as she braced to attention and turned to leave.
    As the door closed behind Sydnee, Lt. Cmdr. Wheeler said, "She wasn't what I expected."
    "What were you expecting, Helen?"
    "More of a Type A personality, I suppose. She seemed almost— indecisive."
    "I did sort