by M L Maki
John’s taking notes.
“You’re going to share all this?”
“Yes. You’re determining our national ship policy.”
“What if I’m fucking it up?”
Liz, “You’re a nuke. Who’s the person most likely to understand a problem, and the best solution?”
“The person closest. Okay, I see your point. Did you two just decide to come out here and recruit me?”
John, ‘Oh, hell no. Admiral Klindt sent me. Not that I wouldn’t have, eventually. I was just too myopically focused on my own issues. That, and I’m a sub guy. You folks are targets.”
Wakefield laughs, “A target with teeth.”
John, “True. Do you want to talk with him? I have his office number?”
Liz, “It’s about 0330 in Washington.”
John, “I meant later.”
Wakefield, “I’m sure he doesn’t want to hear from me.”
John, “He made a point of sending us out here to talk to you.”
Liz, “So, another thing to think about. Like John and I, you are training the next generation of Navy leaders.”
“Why would my people be special?”
John, “Your boat, with the Jarrett, are the only modern surface ships with an anti-submarine suite. They’re already building destroyers with the modern equipment. Your XO should get his own command soon. Choose your next XO from your crew. If no one is ready, start looking around. Start shopping for sharp officers. Klindt can help you there. Given that every single competent officer in your wardroom, along with your sharpest enlisted, will likely achieve command, this ship is really the Fife school of warfare. As captain, you get to decide what that will look like.”
“John, is your captain doing the same?”
“My captain is a tyrant with anger management issues, so no. I’m having to carry that load while dealing with him.”
“Why haven’t you relieved him?”
“Halsey and his staff know about the issues. The issue is my race. The 1942 Navy isn’t sure yet that they can trust me.”
Liz, “Halsey cares more about competence then he does skin tone. You’re responsible for your command.”
John, “Laura, as you know, the captain is always in charge. I’ve been directed to share every incident with higher. In the end, it’s Halsey’s decision and he likes Cumberland’s aggressiveness. When Cumberland is gone, the ship is going to need a great deal of healing, and in truth, I’ve been so close to the problem, I don’t know if I can be the solution.”
Laura, “Liz, you’re the RTA?”
“I am.”
Wakefield, “Talk to the RO and Captain Johnson. See if you can swap two or three officers and a few, newly commissioned, senior enlisted onto the sub for cross training. Give the reason as cross training to build a cadre of sub qualified officers. We may need Halsey’s blessing, but I’m sure he’ll see the merit. John, you get to sell it to your captain.
John says, “Will do.”
Laura continues, “I’ve a handful of officers and crew I can swap, but none of them are nukes. When we do this, we commission the enlisted first. I have two I want to send to nuclear power school. Liz and I want stars in return. I’ve already done some swaps with the Jarrett. One other thing, I would like a refresher board when possible.”
Liz, “You’re a nuke officer?”
Laura, “Yeah, I’m a mustang. I got accepted and went back through the program as an officer. They gave me this as my first assignment, rather than a nuke boat because they wanted me to have a combatant craft tour.”
Liz, “Does Klindt know you’re a nuke?”
John, “He does.”
Laura, “Liz, the officers I send your way, I want them trained on what your helicopters and S-3s do, as well. They’re qualified SWO here. I want them qualified SWO on the carrier and I want them to get their flight officer pin on a helo or a S-3.”
Liz, “I’ll talk to Johnson and Holtz.”
Laura, “Okay guys, have you had dinner?”
“No.”
“Let’s go eat.”
KINGS CROSS, SOUTH OF GARDEN ISLAND NAVAL BASE
Commander Cumberland walks past bars filled with sailors. The shore patrol salutes as they pass him. A teenage boy comes up, “Admiral, are you looking for a girl? I know where the best girls are. Clean, Admiral. The best in Sydney.”
“I ain’t an admiral.”
“That’s okay, sir. Still, you’re a man. You gotta want a shag.”
“I don’t cavort with prostitutes. Get lost, kid.”
He continues on and sees a hotel with a pub on a corner. He likes the song, ‘Tumbling Tumbleweeds,’ he hears coming from the pub, so he walks in. It’s a smallish room with a jukebox in the corner. The long wood bar is ornate with mirrors behind it. It’s half full with more workmen then sailors. There are several women sitting together at a table.
He walks up to the bar, “A beer, please.”
The bartender draws a pint and sets it in front of him, “Ten P.”
Cumberland gives him a dime. He puts his back to the bar and looks the place over. To himself, “In here, I could be in Virginia City. Out there, it’s ‘War and Remembrance’.”
One of the women gets up and walks over, “A beer, Joe.”
“Sure.”
Cumberland puts a dime down. She looks up and smiles, offering her hand, “I’m a sheila named Sheila.”
He smiles and takes her hand, “George.”
“Are you a Yank, then?”
“An American, yeah.”
“I heard some Yanks don’t like being called Yanks.”
“Some don’t. Ever heard of the American civil war?”
“No.”
“It was between the north and the south over slavery. It ended in 1865. The south called the northern soldiers Yankees. Southerners, to this day, don’t like being called Yanks.”
“If they lost, why do they join the Yank navy?”
“Now that is a good question. I don’t know.”
“Are you from the south?”
“No, I’m from California.”
“Do you know any movie stars?”
“No. I’ve never met even one. I grew up on a ranch.”
“We call them stations here. Have you ever been in one of those rodeos?”
“I have. I earned a buckle in calf roping when I was in high school.” The jukebox stops. Cumberland goes over and puts in some coins and selects all country music. As ‘Cool Water’ starts, one of the workmen says, “Hey Yank, how about something else?”
Cumberland looks at him, holding his gaze, “I want to listen to it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Cumberland escorts Sheila to a table, “That was Cassy Jones. I wouldn’t cross him.”
Cumberland smiles, “I’ll keep that in mind.
ANTONIO’S CAFÉ, WOOLWICH, NSW
After Petrea, Wakefield, and Morrison, and Flanagan are seated, Antonio comes out, “Captain, you honor my table. I’m so pleased to see you.”
Laura, “Thank you, Antonio. You’ve met my XO, Commander Flanagan. This is Commander Petrea of the Carl Vinson and Commander Morrison of the San Francisco.”
“I’m so delighted to meet you. Would you wish wine?”
Laura says, Please, your house red is wonderful.”
“You are too kind. We have an excellent lasagna verdi al forno and a superb Fettucine Carbonara.”
Liz, “Your lasagna, does it have spinach?”
“Ah, of course.”
Laura, “I recommend anything on the menu.”
“You are too kind.”
They order, and as he goes back into the kitchen, an older woman serves their wine. “It’s good to see you, Commander.”
Laura, “Thank you, Elena. Everyone, Elana, Antonio’s wife, and better half.”
THE PORTER PUB, KINGS CROSS
Cumberland is laughing at a comment by Sheila when a tall man in workman’s gear walks in and makes eye cont
act with her. She stiffens as he approaches. “Hey Sheila, you need to be making money.”
Cumberland, “Is there a problem?”
“No problem for you, codger.”
The man grabs Sheila’s arm and Cumberland grabs his wrist, “We’re talking.”
“Old man, let go if you want to keep breathing.”
Cumberland smiles, his eyes lighting up, “Are you actually threatening me?”
The man pulls his hand back and shifts his focus to Cumberland. “Who the fuck are you?”
Still smiling, Cumberland stands, “Are you threatening me?”
“Old man, I could split you in two before you take another breath.”
“Bluster. I’ve never seen your graveyards.” His smile grows.
“Do you want to die, old man?”
“Go ahead. I won’t die.”
The man goes completely still, looking into Cumberland’s eyes, “Get back to work, Sheila.” He abruptly turns and leaves.
Cumberland shakes his head. Sheila immediately leaves the bar, not looking back.
ANTONIO’S CAFÉ, WOOLWICH, NSW
The four officers walk out together. John and Liz shake Laura’s and Brewster’s hands. John, “I’m so glad to have met the two of you.”
Liz, “I’ll be talking to Captains Tucker and Johnson on Monday.”
They get into their Ford and drive away. Liz, “That went very well.”
“It did. She’s really sharp.”
“Yeah. You noticed that, once she figured out what we were about, she took over the meeting?”
John, “Well, yeah. She is a full commander, and she wears the mantle of command well. Way better than I thought she would.”
“A woman can be an effective leader.”
John, “I know. Look, can you get past my unfortunate birth with a penis and not assume my every statement has something to do with genitals? I was referring to her elevation from JG to commander. That’s one hell of a leap. Most people, regardless of crotch equipment, would struggle in that position.”
“I’m sorry, John. Yes, I will try to look past the genitals. Now, that was a weird sentence.”
He laughs, “Yep, and it implies a mammoth size problem.”
She starts giggling, and affects a high-pitched voice, “John dear, could you please be a darling and move your penis over so I may see out the windshield?”
He pulls the car over, curling up laughing, “I’m sorry, love. It quite has a mind of its own.”
Liz, “Why yes, darling, but the poor thing needs house training.”
“All handled love, I’ve tucked it into my sock.”
It’s ten minutes before John can pull back onto the road.
CHAPTER 18
USS HORNE, CG-30
0630, 11 February, 1942
Cumberland and Morrison are eating breakfast in the Horne’s wardroom. Morrison, “Sir, we have no shortage of volunteers for commissioning. We need to pick two senior nukes.”
“I don’t want to lose senior crew during a war cruise.”
“Yes, sir, but we’re getting two officers and a couple of junior nukes in exchange. Their officers will be cream. I suggest Wankowski and Mallory. They’re our EWS qualified first classes.”
“No. Absolutely not. They’re also our tracking party.”
“One of them?”
Cumberland sighs, “Wankowski would be the better officer. Wankowski and Forrester. We don’t need two new officers, so let’s give them Lieutenant JG Forrester. I don’t much like Forrester’s attitude.”
“Yes, sir. I think they both would do well on the Vinson.”
Captain Arron Grey, CO of the Horne, joins them and a steward takes his order. “Commander Cumberland, have you received the royal summons?”
“We cannot support it. Too much to do.”
Grey smiles, “You do understand what a royal request means? Our host is a cousin to the King. Unless you’re dead, or in the hospital, you must come.”
Cumberland, “But, they’re not supposed to know we exist.”
Grey, “They’re not supposed to know your type of vessel. You’ve sailors all over this city with USS San Francisco emblazoned on their shoulder rockers.”
“I’ll take my navigator. I’m sure they don’t want to see Morrison.”
Grey stares at him.
Cumberland, “Yes, sir.”
USS SAN FRANCISCO
0940, 11 February, 1942
Wankowski is in the officer’s seat reviewing logs when Morrison enters. “What’s up, XO?”
“Have the valve replacements passed QA?”
“Yes, sir. We’re squeezing them now.”
“Thank you. The boys paint the bilge last night?”
“Yes, sir. Are we getting ORSE ready?”
“We’ve a mobile training team inspection coming up.”
“I get it, sir. We can’t paint underway.”
“Yeah. Can I drag you out of maneuvering for a minute?”
The shut-down reactor operator, ET1 Brown, says, “I can keep my mouth shut, sir.”
“I know, Brown. That isn’t it.” The two exit maneuvering and stand among the RC cabinets. “The CO and I would like to commission you.”
“Really? I thought I was in trouble and I couldn’t think of anything recent.”
“I wanted to talk in private. That way, if you said no, there wouldn’t be a crew reaction. Also, this comes with a transfer to the Carl Vinson reactor department.”
“Don’t I have to go back through power school?”
“No. The carrier will train you. It means learning a brand-new plant, while also learning your SWO.”
“I’m to be a line officer?”
“Absolutely. Let me give you my best guess as to your career path. After you complete all your nuke quals and SWO quals, you’ll probably report to a new sub as CHENG. Eventually, if you do well, you’ll earn your own command.”
“Wow. If only Ruth could know.” He lowers his head. “It fucking sucks, sir. The worst is the kids. I had amazing kids. They left a hole in my heart nothing will ever fill.”
“I understand. No words, nothing at will fill it. Do you want the commission, Stan?”
“Sir, I’m standing up with Gary for his marriage. Can we hold off on the commissioning so I don’t outrank him?”
“Sure. I need you to get measured for your new uniforms.”
“Roger that, sir.”
USS CARL VINSON
0900, 12 February, 1942
Morrison stands next to his car. With Petrea when she walks down the brow are Captain Tucker and two ensigns. The ensigns have silver enlisted surface warfare specialist pins and enlisted air warfare specialist pins. Petrea, “Commander Morrison, these are our two swap candidates, Ensign William Harvey and Ensign Joseph Vaught. They had their nuclear qualification board yesterday. We’d put them on the SWO path, but they volunteered for your sub.”
Morrison, “I talked to the CO and the wardroom. I have two guys to swap. One was commissioned before we went back. He’s an exceptional officer who should thrive at your command. The other is our E-div LPO who Commander Cumberland agreed to commission.”
Tucker, “What’s wrong with the officer?”
Morrison looks Tucker in the eyes, “He’s a smart, squared away, diligent nuke who loves to learn. My opinion, sir, the skipper doesn’t like him because he has a permanent tan.”
Tucker, “The service has no room for prejudice.”
“Sir, at this time, the Navy has regulations codifying prejudice. Black people are only allowed menial jobs and cannot be officers.”
“You’re aware we do not run our commands that way.”
“I am and I totally agree.”
“Are you attending the Governor’s Ball?”
“Of course, sir.”
Petrea, “Can he have a plus one?”
