A Liberty Story

[Sunset Glow]

The Primary Fleet

Recruit Rivers had been summoned to the commodore's office again. That was the second time in only a few weeks and the other pilots on board the Mississippi had begun to wonder if "little miss bomber" as they decided to nickname her had gotten into trouble somehow.

Needless to say Sandra was worried as well and so her steps leading to the commodore's office were not far from very hurried.

**The door notice went off**

"Come in." The commodore said, these words coming to him very readily.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Sandra stepped inside and almost couldn't hold back before the door closed.

"Ah, yes. Recruit Rivers. Please, take a seat." The commodore motioned to the seats before his desk. To Sandra's surprise he did not seem uspet at all.

"Sir, am I in trouble?" She couldn't hold it back any longer, before the commodore could get to the matter at hand.

The commodore chuckled only and shook his head. "On the contrary, recruit." He wasted no time to hand her a transmission pad with her approval for the primary fleet.

Sandra read it quietly and the commodore watched with an amused smile. He had chosen to let the pad bring her the news for the sake of ease.

MS SANDRA RIVERS, your application to attend West Point's Prospective Officer Program has been approved, you will undergo an accelerated Basic Training Program on planet Manhattan before shipping out to West Point where you'll receive formal training as a Junior Officer within the Liberty Navy Primary Fleet, upon completion you'll be assigned to an Executioner Very Heavy Fighter until your probationary flight period has come to an end.

"Im approved?! For the primary fleet?" She exclaimed in surprise.

The commodore chuckled again. Oh how much fun those recruits always were. "Yes, infact, the transmission came in this morning. Thats why I needed to speak to you."

"Wow..." Sandra looked up from the pad. "But.. won't this mean I will likely get reassigned?"

The commodore nodded, now the recruit was catching on. "Yes, the primary fleet isn't operating in a single sector like many of the subdivisions of the secondary fleet. From now on you will likely operate in the entirety of Liberty and, maybe, sometimes even slightly beyond its borders."

"I see..." Sandra nodded and gave all these considerations some thought.

"But don't worry." The commodore reassured her. "Since you will operate through out Liberty the Mississippi is a perfectly valid staging ground for your craft. Just remember, your horizon just broadened from texas to the entirety of Liberty. Don't let that overwhelm you, just as you learned texas, you will learn Liberty in no time." he nodded another reassuring nod.

"Will I have to write a transmission to the primary fleet headquarters, sir?" Sandra packed the transmission pad away.

"Already taken care of." The commodore handed her another pad. "These are your orders, I took the liberty of handling the formalities for you, unless of course you changed your mind?" He gave her a chance to reconsider.

"Oh, no sir, I am... quite happy of my approval." Then she blinked. "Err, no offense of course sir, I positively loved my time on the Mississippi!" She gave a quick nod.

The commodore couldn't help but respond in a hearty laugh."Recruit, even if you hated it, that'd be okay. But I know, most recruits actually like it here in the end even if they at first think that being assigned to a more modern warship or base would have been better for their career." He paused a moment. "But in hindsight many realise that the veterans and experienced officers here are much more valueable to them than shiny new walls or up to date tech in the briefing room."

"Actually, that is exactly what happened to me, sir." Sandra admitted.

The commodore gave a knowing nod. "I am glad for your service here recruit Rivers, it was a pleasure." He stood up and offered his hand.

Sandra rose as well and offered hers. "Thank you, sir. For everything."

The commodore chuckled again withdrawing his hand. "Don't thank me just yet, recruit." He couldn't help but say that again. "Now, go pack up, they expect you at Navy Officer training on Manhatten in two days."

"Understood, sir. Thanks again, sir." Then her eyes widened realizing she just thanked him ~again~.

Now the Commodore grinned and pointed a humorous finger to the door. "Off my ship, recruit, on the double!" But laughed heartily indicating it was just a joke. "If you go on like that you'll thank your opponents to death." He mused. "That'd be a first."

"Sir!" She saluted and turned to leave.

"Good luck, recruit." The commodore nodded as he watched Sandra leave.