by name.”
“Just for you?” Wilson deadpanned, suspecting the answer.
“Well, no… A TOPGUN guy they call Chainsaw is also flying with you. Doesn’t talk much and may have killed a man once. Got off on a technicality. But hey, that’s all behind us now!”
Wilson smiled. “How is he behind the ship?”
“Oh, just like me! Solid as a rock. Gets aboard two out of five tries and had only one blown tire last time out! You can sleep soundly!”
Wilson smiled again at Weed’s banter. Same old Weed. It will be fun to have him out here, he thought. And maybe they could find an excuse to fly together. Such opportunities were rare, but as the CO, he was in a position to make it happen.
“We better get going,” Annie said.
The three commanders left the ready room and headed forward to the Carrier Intel Center, or CVIC. The other strike group commanding officers were gathered there to hear from the admiral on the upcoming at-sea period.
Once they arrived at the restricted space, they showed their ID cards to the sailor in the window. Satisfied, the sailor hit a switch to unlock the door, which buzzed until Wilson opened it. When they stepped inside and went to the main planning room where the rest of the “heavies” were gathered in light conversation, Weed boomed an exaggerated Hey! at seeing former shipmates after many years apart. The trio found seats among the folding chairs and joined in the socializing. A few moments later, the murmur of conversation was broken by a sharply raised voice.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the admiral.”
The room snapped to attention, the silence broken by the footsteps of the admiral and his entourage as they walked up to the lectern. CAG Matson and Captain Sanders were right behind the admiral, and all were dressed in khaki, the admiral sporting his characteristic navy blue pullover sweater.
With the officers still at attention, the admiral pulled out a folder and placed it on the lectern. “Pleased be seated,” he said.
The group took their seats and waited.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I trust everyone had a nice time in St. Thomas. You are all to be commended on the conduct of the liberty party. Now that everyone’s batteries are recharged, we have a full four-week tailored training period ahead of us. While we are in these warm waters, we’ll be doing reactor drills in preparation for the upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection, as well as ongoing qualifications of new personnel, some of whom have just joined us. Damage control preparation and material readiness are also areas of concern, so we’ll be conducting general quarters drills and take a strain on material conditions and personnel qualifications.”