wished to either highlight some facial feature, or make her natural coloration appear more subdued. When she was satisfied, she finished getting dressed, applied a hint of fragrance, and left for the lobby in the Bachelor Officer Quarters. The chronometer on the wall opposite the elevator indicated that it was two minutes before 1900 hours.
Lt. Commander Spence entered the lobby just as Jenetta stepped from the lift car. The handsome six-foot one-inch JAG officer spotted her, smiled, then stopped in his tracks. The smile disappeared and he hesitated for a few seconds before continuing on to greet her.
"What's going on, Ensign?" he asked as he reached her, concern clearly evident on his face. "Why are you wearing Lieutentant Commander's bars, and medal ribbons?"
Jenetta looked up into his trenchant cobalt-blue eyes and smiled innocently. "I was promoted today," she said simply.
Spence's first response was to run his right hand lightly over his short blond hair. Jenetta had observed the mannerism previously and knew it evinced a feeling of discomfort. "Promoted three grades? That's a bit— unusual."
"That's essentially what I said to Admiral Holt, but he and Admiral Margolan put the rank insigna on me anyway— personally. Admiral Holt said that since advancement from ensign to lieutenant(jg) is not really a promotion in the usual sense, but simply an upgrade at the discretion of a commanding officer when the new officer is considered deserving, it's really only a two grade promotion. He said that by promoting me two grades, Space Command was just making up for the years that the Promotions Selection Board had skipped over my name because they believed me to be deceased."
"And the two medal ribbons?"
"The SC Star was awarded posthumously following the explosion of the Hokyuu, but the record has been amended and I'm entitled to wear it in recognition for the almost eleven years that I spent asleep in the escape pod. The Purple Heart was awarded for the broken arm I suffered during the retaking of the Prometheus."
"And the collar pip?"
"For recovering the Prometheus from the Raiders and returning it to Space Command, I'm being recognized as his first commanding officer. Although largely an honorary appointment, it's nevertheless official, so I received the pip as de jure recognition of being the commanding officer of an active duty warship."
Lt. Commander Spence had dropped his arm to his side as she explained. "Congratulations, Commander," he said smiling, when she was done. "I'm sure that the pip will only be the first of many in a long and distinguished career."
"Thank you, Commander," she said smiling widely. "I hope you're right."
"You look wonderful, by the way."
"Thank you."
"I'm surprised by your choice of uniform. I thought that you didn't wear skirts and stockings?"
"I've had a change of heart. Lately I find them more comfortable than I used to."
"Shall we go?" Lt. Commander Spence asked, extending his left elbow.
"I'm ready," Jenetta said, as she slipped her right hand beneath his crooked arm.
Exiting the BOQ lobby, they turned left in the wide walkway and headed for lifts that would deliver them to the concourse level.
"What else did they have to say?" Lt. Commander Spence asked as they strolled.
"Who, the admirals?"
"Yes."
"Oh, there were a few other things. I'll tell you over dinner," Jenetta said demurely.
"Alright. I've made reservations at a little place called Gregory's for 1930. The food is always excellent and the service is without peer on the station."
"Wonderful. But what'll we do until then?"
"Let's go down and see how busy they are. Perhaps they can fit us in early."
Gregory's, located on the shopping concourse in the civilian section of the base, was only a ten minute walk from the BOQ.
"How long have you been in the service, Commander?" Jenetta asked as they walked towards the restaurant.
"Now that we're technically in a civilian area, may I suggest we use first
Lt. Commander Spence entered the lobby just as Jenetta stepped from the lift car. The handsome six-foot one-inch JAG officer spotted her, smiled, then stopped in his tracks. The smile disappeared and he hesitated for a few seconds before continuing on to greet her.
"What's going on, Ensign?" he asked as he reached her, concern clearly evident on his face. "Why are you wearing Lieutentant Commander's bars, and medal ribbons?"
Jenetta looked up into his trenchant cobalt-blue eyes and smiled innocently. "I was promoted today," she said simply.
Spence's first response was to run his right hand lightly over his short blond hair. Jenetta had observed the mannerism previously and knew it evinced a feeling of discomfort. "Promoted three grades? That's a bit— unusual."
"That's essentially what I said to Admiral Holt, but he and Admiral Margolan put the rank insigna on me anyway— personally. Admiral Holt said that since advancement from ensign to lieutenant(jg) is not really a promotion in the usual sense, but simply an upgrade at the discretion of a commanding officer when the new officer is considered deserving, it's really only a two grade promotion. He said that by promoting me two grades, Space Command was just making up for the years that the Promotions Selection Board had skipped over my name because they believed me to be deceased."
"And the two medal ribbons?"
"The SC Star was awarded posthumously following the explosion of the Hokyuu, but the record has been amended and I'm entitled to wear it in recognition for the almost eleven years that I spent asleep in the escape pod. The Purple Heart was awarded for the broken arm I suffered during the retaking of the Prometheus."
"And the collar pip?"
"For recovering the Prometheus from the Raiders and returning it to Space Command, I'm being recognized as his first commanding officer. Although largely an honorary appointment, it's nevertheless official, so I received the pip as de jure recognition of being the commanding officer of an active duty warship."
Lt. Commander Spence had dropped his arm to his side as she explained. "Congratulations, Commander," he said smiling, when she was done. "I'm sure that the pip will only be the first of many in a long and distinguished career."
"Thank you, Commander," she said smiling widely. "I hope you're right."
"You look wonderful, by the way."
"Thank you."
"I'm surprised by your choice of uniform. I thought that you didn't wear skirts and stockings?"
"I've had a change of heart. Lately I find them more comfortable than I used to."
"Shall we go?" Lt. Commander Spence asked, extending his left elbow.
"I'm ready," Jenetta said, as she slipped her right hand beneath his crooked arm.
Exiting the BOQ lobby, they turned left in the wide walkway and headed for lifts that would deliver them to the concourse level.
"What else did they have to say?" Lt. Commander Spence asked as they strolled.
"Who, the admirals?"
"Yes."
"Oh, there were a few other things. I'll tell you over dinner," Jenetta said demurely.
"Alright. I've made reservations at a little place called Gregory's for 1930. The food is always excellent and the service is without peer on the station."
"Wonderful. But what'll we do until then?"
"Let's go down and see how busy they are. Perhaps they can fit us in early."
Gregory's, located on the shopping concourse in the civilian section of the base, was only a ten minute walk from the BOQ.
"How long have you been in the service, Commander?" Jenetta asked as they walked towards the restaurant.
"Now that we're technically in a civilian area, may I suggest we use first
Similar Books
Touch the Wind
Janet Dailey
Seduced by a Spy
Andrea Pickens
Cat on the Fence
Tatiana Caldwell
A Fairytale Christmas
Susan Meier
Frightful Fairy Tales
Dame Darcy
Finity's End - a Union-Alliance Novel
C. J. Cherryh
South By Java Head
Alistair MacLean
With This Ring
Amanda Quick