Olive Pit walked into the clinic. He needed to be training with Arrow, but first and foremost, there were 15 patients in his clinic.

The night before had been fun, but he was feeling the lost hours. Letting breakfast settle while he did some work here would be to his advantage.

Patient 1 was Honey Bee. He was broken and bruised in multiple places. Every rib had at least a minor crack. But he would walk out soon enough. Colonel Sky Gust had gotten him several extra health potions. There was no damage to the Lieutenant’s head outside of a minor cut. Assuming Cardinal Spitfire had assaulted him, it was impressive, focused work.

The Colonel Sky Gust, Colonel Mighty Maille, and Admiral Windy Lightning had tried to burn Cardinal Spitfire alive for the ‘assault’, but it fell of deaf ears within the Aerial Combat Battalion leaders. They had been warned it was very dangerous to be near the flight deck. They tried the other Generals and Admirals, but they were turned away too.

The ACUs had worked fast; seeding information in the mess halls, chatting to each other as they headed to their Units, and making sure the six of them were not seen in the best light.

Their main tactic was pointing out the dangers and that they were not supposed to be there, despite being warned multiple times. The incident with the recruits only bolstered that argument.

Others worked the angle that the six of them were squabbling with approved officers on the deck and had not only lost sight of any dangers, but had gotten confrontational. The idea that Cardinal Spitfire was protecting one of her best friends from an unknown assailant was going over well. Since she didn't press the attack, it looked defensive.

The Wonderbolts were more brazen in their talks, outright joining conversations. Many of them had been brazenly joining random conversations before, but this time it was with real purpose. They were there to tell them the tale of Honey Bee and Cardinal Spitfire that only a Wonderbolt would know. How he had entered his room to assault her, and had tried to pin his mistakes on her that evening.

They had effectively put doubt and confusion into the whole incident. That meant the blame was shifted away from Cardinal Spitfire and learned towards Honey Bee.

Olive Pit was pulled out of his work with groans he was familiar with. He lowed his chart. It would have to wait.

"Olive, I could use some assistance," Cardinal Spitfire moaned. She was in enough pain to drop the Pit.

"Where doesn't it hurt?" Olive Pit asked, not turning around.

"That is why I am here. I have never done and emergency stop like that before."

"Take a seat in the triage chair. I have no beds.”

“I am needed training troops. Your troops. I can’t spend time in a bed."

Olive Pit grabbed a new chart with a empty treatment sheet on it.

Patient: Cardinal Spitfire

Rank: Lieutenant Commander

Sex: Female

Diagnosis: Fall from the sky at high speeds. “Emergency landing.”

Info: Patient is a Wonderbolt who came in on her own. Patient is in real, justifiable pain with an obvious full body injury.

Treatment: Pain reducers backed with a healing potion and light steroids to facilitate healing.

Medicine: Med-X dose, administered slowly.

Health potion.

20mg of Buck: Twice a day for two days, once on third day. Administer with food at Breakfast and Dinner.

Comments: The Patient is needed in the field, teaching Aerial Combat School. Patient is teaching specialized maneuvers that only she knows. There is no way the patient can be grounded for any length of time.

"Good morning," Sunset Fury chimed. "I am not surprised to see you Olive Pit, I mean Lieutenant.”

“It’s fine,” Olive Pit said, not looking up from his chart. “What has you in here?”

“Food wasn’t enough,” Sunset Fury answered. “I didn’t sleep well. It has been a long time since I had to deal with such bad injuries. I am putting myself on some IV fluids to help.”

“Just make sure to chart it for supply reason,” Olive Pit replied distracted. “Wait, tell me what you think of this.”

Olive Pit passed the chart to Sunset Fury to double check his prescribed treatment of Cardinal Spitfire.

“Good call,” Sunset Fury nodded, signing the bottom as a witness since Buck was being administered. Better safe than sorry with something like Buck.

Olive Pit signed on his line and put the date.

“Alight,” He said turning to Cardinal Spitfire. “First, some Med-X for that pain.”

Cardinal Spitfire had no warning as Sunset Fury hit her shoulder with the needle, perfectly into a vein without needing to check first. It was a slow administration so he only pushed half of the dose in. The needle was cleaned off with alcohol since it was going to be used a second time.

“Now drink this,” Olive Pit said.

He didn’t give her any moment to even catch what was happening as he put it to her lips and raised her chin up to help her drink it.

“Is that a...”

“Yes,” Olive Pit cut her off. “Now give me a second for the last.”

Olive Pit opened up the restricted medicine cabinet and opened up a bottle of Buck. He pulled the chart off the inside and charted the dispensed medicine. He put each pill in a 7 day container to make sure she was give the proper dosage. He wrote her initials on a medical sticky tab and placed it on the container.

Olive Pit locked everything up and gave the first pill to Cardinal Spitfire, along with a bit of water.

“What is it?” She asked.

“Just a small medical steroid dose to facilitate the healing,” Olive Pit explained. “Standard stuff.”

Cardinal Spitfire just nodded and downed it. She was a bit woozy from the Med-X. Sunset Fury was ready to give her the rest of the dose. He had an IV bag taped to his head and gave her the rest through the other shoulder. Again, it was a perfect hit without needing to check for the vessels.

“Nice job,” Olive Pit said slowly shaking his head. “I won’t get used to you being able to do that in one, easy go.”

“Okay Cardinal Spitfire,” Olive Pit said. “That is it for now. At dinner, I have a pill to give you. So make sure you swing by.”

“Right,” Cardinal Spitfire said with a nod that was a half nod and a half shake.

“Are you sure you should just let her go like that?” A nurse asked.

“She will be fine,” Olive Pit chuckled. “If she wasn’t a Wonderbolt, I wouldn’t.”

“They are not all powerful,” The nurse warned.

“I will be out there with them,” Sunset Fury added. “I will keep my eye on her.”

The nurse dropped it, but still was weary. Since Cardinal Spitfire would be coming back, Olive Pit hung the chart up on the outpatient wall. If he didn’t make it back, somepegasus else would dispense the Buck.

Olive Pit wasn’t sure how she would react when she learned it was Buck. It was a tough enough drug to administer normally because of its rampant misuse during the war. After the incident, the Squad Barracks would never see Buck the same way again.

It was a good, standard dose. Heavier than the cut ones they had found, but it was still the lowest dose. He had little worry about her physical reaction to the drug itself, but he would keep his eye on her as much as possible. The biggest risk was her drowsiness from the Med-X, and that was a one time deal.

Olive Pit found Arrow at the steps of the Squad Barracks. A lot of officers were there for various reason. It was the most common meeting place, but it was extremely crowded at the moment. And or no obvious reason. Unit 17 was lined up way down at the end of the Squad Barracks.

Arrow was not her usual peppy self. She had the energy, but her voice was down.

“What’s up?” Olive Pit asked. “You are not yourself.”

“I assume you had to check in on the clinic?” She asked, deflecting the question.

“Yes,” Olive Pit nodded. “I checked through all fifteen patients. They will be moved to the Headquarters hospital by dinner time to make sure we can take in any possible emergency cases.”

“I understand that Colonel Nova, General Red River and General Shielded Vengeance are having a tough talk with the recruits after yesterday.”

“I haven’t heard anything,” Olive Pit replied. “But stop deflecting.”

Arrow sighed. “Several of 17 want to become officers. After seeing you work yesterday…”

“They are young and certainly inexperienced, but so are you. And me,” Olive Pit stated.

“Yeah, but you got sent to Officer School from Basic,” She rationalized. “And I had the best instructor who naturally taught me to lead an ACU. They made it here, but they were nothing special through their trainings.”

Olive Pit grinned. “Then we do what was done to us to make us prime candidates for officers. We push them to excel as they make all the calls. We let them fail. We let them experiment. It’s weather in a few days and then its basically the home stretch. Am I ready to lead and pass?”

“Yes, you are.”

“Then we give them all we got. Just like we were given. We want them to be officers. Its not just because of what the ACUs do, but because it makes better soldiers.”

Arrow got her confidence back and her voice perked up. “Lets do this!”

She followed Olive Pit down the flight deck to where Unit 17 was on standby. He walked their short line as he spoke.

“So, I hear some of you want to go to the Officer School that will be conducted after this school is done. A lot of time and effort has been put into me earning my Silver Wings. There is not much time left in that regard, so I hope you have been paying attention.”

“With your interest peaked, and my training essentially done, its all going to rest on you to get things done. If you are ready, you are ready. If you are not, its not a mark against you. Being an officer takes time, effort and the balance is a lot to learn.”

“You know how to fly. You know how to conduct aerial combat warfare. You already understand how to lead. Now its time to put it into practice. We will start with the Cityscape Maze we did yesterday.”

Arrow organized them and they made their way to the Traffic Control Coordinator. Unit 0 was trying to get clearance. Marble Falls was arguing with him. He stopped the conversation and let Unit 17 skip ahead. Marble Falls was not happy.

“She care barely stand,” The Traffic Control Coordinator said, pointing to Cardinal Spitfire.

“She is cleared medically!” Marble Falls exclaimed. “And these are medics and he signed off on her heading out.”

“He also has an IV taped to his head.”

“It is just formation work.”

“Those two are a health risk to themselves, your group, and every single Pegasus in the air. And on the ground. Whatever they gave her is doing number on her little body.”

“She is fine it was only,” Marble Falls stopped. She had no idea what they had given her.

“Master Sergeant, what did you give her?”

“She is feeling the Med-X a bit, but we administered it slowly to help ease the side effects.”

“I want her to learn to fly with that. All of Squad 12 will learn to fly with Med-X. Why I didn’t think of it before is beyond me. Now, what else did you give her?”

“A health potion was administered.”

“And?”

“And she is on a small, short term steroid boost to help her body recuperate from such a harsh fall.”

Marble Falls groaned as she was shaking her head. “Please tell me it wasn’t Buck?”

“It has it’s uses,” Sunset Fury defended. “This is one of them. It is the small starting dose; for today, tomorrow and then half the third day. Why, does she have a problem with the drug?”

“No,” Cardinal Spitfire answered. “Never had it before.”

“This is all standard for her injuries,” Sunset Fury pressed. “The other steroids are heavier than most Buck doses and not appropriate solutions.”

“I believe you,” Marble Falls sighed. “But I can not let her fly right now. And since she is sitting out, so are you. Pony Patrol will do med training when things calm down. We shall see how things are after lunch.”

Sunset Fury groaned as he caved. Cardinal Spitfire shrugged and walked off towards the Squad Barracks.

“Then I am going to sleep,” She yawned.

Unit 0 was let onto the flight deck and took off in their formations. Cardinal Spitfire was just the most enthusiastic about formations and teaching them. She had made sure Pony Patrol was amazing at combat formations. She also was more likely to change up their formation than anypony else in Pony Patrol. The others had no problem instructing them.

Tough break,” Deke said to Sunset Fury as he sat down on the grass next to the stairs.

Deke had posted up on the edge of the stairs, as usual. Not the safest place to be, but it was outside the funnel of the door.

“It is probably for the best,” Sunset Fury replied. “Still is annoying. I have work I could do, but I don’t feel like it.”

“You all took a beating yesterday,” Deke replied. “Prime work, but a beating. I got to watch. I am not sure if I was lucky, or unlucky. Even at our distance, it wasn’t pretty.”

“I got over most of it so long ago. Had to with my job. But it isn’t pretty. Especially wing or spine injuries. Wings just… the bad ones, you get lucky to fly. I do not know how the Colonel does it with his. The neck and spine, they can shake me to the core. They are so strong to support us, but when the break, it breaks you.”

The heard a yelp and then a thud and a crumbling as somepony fell down the stairs and rolled along the ground. They were by their side faster than their eyes stopped rolling.

It was a mare in a dress uniform. She was laying on top of a folder full of files. Sunset Fury pushed her back down when she tried to get them out from under her.

“I’m a medic, just relax.”

She giggled. “I am pretty sure medics are suppose to give IVs, not wear them on their head.”

“Well,” Sunset Fury shrugged. “Its complicated but there is a reason I am not in the air. Unrelated to doing my job as a medic.”

“I’m fine. I just took a quick second to look into the air. It was impressive. I took an extra, unplanned step and ended up down here. Probably just a good bruise. I never hit my head.”

Sunset helped her up and Deke picked up the crumpled files.

“Shit,” She groaned. “She is going to kill me. These were for the Admiral. How do I explain this?”

“With the truth?” Deke suggested. “You tripped and fell down a few steps. It happens.”

She hurriedly began to flip through them, checking each one. Deke expertly snatched it out of her hooves, not losing a single page.

“Lets get you away from the flight deck,” Deke said. “We don’t need you getting hit by another Cardinal Spitfire accident.”

“A what?”

“Did you just arrive?” Deke asked.

“Late last night. We came over here this morning from Headquarters. By Chariot. I have about and hour free.”

She looked at her watch. It was a very rare thing to see a watch. Few had a real need for them and they were not cheap to produce. “Make that 43 minutes.”

“I was clear to step out,” She stammered. “Honest.”

“We don’t doubt it,” Deke smiled as he got her to sit on the steps where he had been. “But we already had some big accidents here, and they had a massive one yesterday on the other side with the recruits.”

“He has an IV bag on his head, what has you grounded?”

“Oh,” Deke chuckled. “I am not a flier. I let the Cloudship do the flying for me. I am here on… I’ve lost track now. We got here before everypony else suddenly converged on the place. We had business. Now all I do it sit here, poking at my friend who is in the school, so he trains better. Its been working.”

“What brought you here in the first place?” She asked.

“The First Mate’s sister is an ACU officer and is getting married. Then they took our ship for some repairs and forced R&R. I had the chance to stay here or head to New Heaven. Or go with the Ship to Nellie, but I chose here. Some friends are here, so even on the boring days, a quick lunch with them is a good day.”

“I am Lieutenant Commander Deke.”

“And I am Master Sergeant Sunset Fury. I do belong here.”

“And I Second Lieutenant Sunny Swirl. I am Vice Admiral Breezy Sky’s assistant.”

“How did they let you in here?” Deke blurted out. She wasn’t wearing any rank insignia.

“I mean,” He stammered. “It’s all been senior officers and we have no room. Only a few lower officers have come, to the annoyance of all.”

“I assist the Admiral in a few way,” Sunny Swirl replied. “I am a correct, real assistant. I love my job, but I would love to be a line officer on the bridge like you do on the Buttercup. And our stay here was planned well in advanced. They had rooms held for us before this gathering came. We were planned from the start. I don’t get why so many others came. That wasn’t planned, or known about unil we arrived this morning.”

Sunset Fury pulled the empty IV bag off his head. “We don’t get why they came either.”

“The Admiral guesses its all for the uniform and rank adjustments,” Sunny Swirl shrugged. “But for 90% of them, it means nothing.”

Deke rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but that means they can say they were here for it. And that has power when it comes to a big change like this.”

“Have any fights broken out?”

“Just yesterday,” Deke shrugged. “An old Lieutenant I was under was not happy about my rank and some other things. He was one of at least three who shouldn't be here. It ended, with a big twist and a ball of fire. Long story.”

“Interesting. Often the Admirals and Generals can get pretty heated in their talks. They don’t trust the other because of the rank name change. They think they are the superior rank.”

“We have three Wonderbolt Squadrons stationed here,” Sunset Fury chuckled. “A fight breaking out would bring them all down on their heads. Not a good ending for anypegasus fighting. Even a verbal match. Several of the Wonderbolts can command better than most of them.”

Sunny Swirl checked her watch. “Shit, I have to go. Thanks for the help.”

She scrambled up the stairs, looking like she was going to fall again.

“That mare,” Sunset Fury shook his head. “She is something else. We are going to end up with her in out clinic if she keeps that up.”

Deke let our a few mischievous chuckles. “I bet the others will leave soon if they were waiting on that Admiral. Then things can be put back together. The last question is, what can we get them to break in revenge?”

“Don’t start a fight,” Sunset Fury warned. “Even being involved in one indirectly could have serious repercussions. You are not a Wonderbolt.”

“It is an unfair balance,” Deke said annoyed.

“They can kill you in your sleep while they sleep. You don’t piss that off and you make sure that anything valid is held accountable. They regulate themselves well. They are very professional. It’s just been a bit odd around here with Shadow Flare marrying Cardinal Spitfire and him going MIA after suspicious circumstances. It will calm down.”

Deke sighed. “I have no idea if she hit him because it was him or because he was right at me. I want to say it was to protect me, and everything else after was once she knew who it was. It all happened so fast and she doesn’t fly slow.”

“That is the big mystery,” Sunset Fury replied. “It is a good mystery. It is keeping her safe. She won’t tell. That and the information that got kicked around fast.”

“Lieutenant Commander Deke!” Admiral Purple Breeze called out. “There you are. I have been trying to find you for an hour now.”

“I haven’t been anywhere else since I came here.”

“Its a hectic morning,” She panted. “20 minutes, Unit 0, Meeting Room C. I also need to find Lieutenant Commander Cardinal Spitfire.”

“They are in Zone One,” Deke said. “He can get her for you. Just tell her to land at Unit 0. Screw the flight deck. She knows how to land properly.”

The Admiral shrugged. “She did land right next to you at a speed and trajectory that is almost impossible to believe that she was on target.”

Deke chuckled. “You stay out of her way at times for a reason. I went to Basic with her. I saw some shit go down. Some of it was between her and Shadow Flare. Funny to think on those times.”

“15 minutes,” Admiral Purple Breeze reminded him.

“Fuck!” Deke said scrambling up the steps and into the Squad Barracks.

Before the door closed they heard him yelling. “IDIOT LIEUTENANT COMMANDER COMING THROUGH! I DO BETTER FLYING A SHIP THAN I DO OFF THAT DAMN THING!”

Cardinal Spitfire slid in front of Deke and hopped into Unit 0 ahead of him.

“I win!” She declared.

“Yeah well, you had a head start! You were already flying.”

“I was sleeping in my quarters,” Cardinal Spitfire reminded him. “The Med-X.”

“Damn,” Deke swore. “Fucking embarrassing.”

“Faster in the air, still faster on the ground.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah” Deke said rolling his eyes.

They entered the meeting room.

Little shook her head at the sight of Deke. “Your uniform is all over the place.”

“Hey miss pretty prissy something, I have been working. Not getting all fancied up like you in that dress uniform.”

“Working? By sitting on the steps?”

“I actually was assisting Master Sergeant Sunset Fury on a fall case. Down the steps of the Squad Barracks.”

“Everypegasus can relax,” Admiral Purple Breeze said entering and closing the door.

“This is simple. The other Admirals and such over the Cloudships are here to look at the new rank structure and displayed uniforms. We were waiting on the arrival of Vice Admiral Breezy Sky. Deke, if I had wanted you to be nice and pretty, you would have known it.”

“The service uniforms do not stay nice and pretty all day. I want to show that the rank is still plainly visible throughout the day. And you always manage to mess yours up shortly after breakfast, yet it never gets worse after that.”

“Yes, I have been observing, almost stalking, you two to see how the new style is working.”

“Creepy,” Deke smiled. “Yet flattering.”

“Cardinal Spitfire is here to show off the Aerial Combat Battalion uniform. Although we will need you to remove that flight jacket. It doesn’t have your proper rank.”

“Of course,” Cardinal Spitfire said taking it off. “The first one is almost always the first love. I was wearing it when they announced my name and orders over the PA system. If I had known, I would have grabbed the other.”

“It is fine. They do not need to see a Wonderbolt’s special jacket. Basically, you will just need to stand up front, at parade rest. I will give you cues if I need you to move to display a different side or something. So stay focused.”

“Yes Ma’am,” They said in unison.

“Lets roll in,” Admiral Purple Breeze said. “We may have to do this again, once or twice, to get rid of those pesky army officers who have no real business being here. We will take things slow for now.”

It was boring. Deke focused as best as he could. Ruby Snow was up front and the only officer below Admiral. Admiral Windy Lightning was in attendance, sitting in the back. Lieutenant Green Shield wasn’t to be seen. The room had a chair or two open, but there was no way they were letting a pointless Lieutenant in.

Sunny Swirl was in the front, taking notes. She was sitting besides an old Pegasuswho’s eyes were a tad cloudy. Her ears were certainly attentive. Her mane was silver from old age and so was her wing feathers. An odd contrast to her forest green coat.

Deke almost missed his cue. He was focused on Sunny Swirl. It occurred to him too late that she had said he was a line officer on the Buttercup. She knew of him and his position before she met him. It wasn’t sitting correctly with him. He would have to catch her after, when she wasn’t working. But that seemed to be never with the stack of files she had and as she was adding more to it.

When it was over, Deke breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“You actually made it,” Little jeered.

“I am surprised myself,” Deke smiled. “And proud.”

“You should be proud,” Admiral Purple Breeze stated. “That was well over three hours of passive modeling. Its not easy to do that. Especially in front of a crowd of Admirals who will remember what you did. Especially a mistake.”

“I am so glad I didn’t think about that beforehand,” Deke replied. “That would have been disastrous.”

“Vice Admiral,” Admiral Purple Breeze greeted her. “It is good to see you again. It has been too long.”

“Yes, it has dear. I have been so busy with the Second’s Seventh Task Force. They are a wreck. I wish I had time to divert the other day when the emergency arose, but you all did fine.”

“And you two,” She said looking at Deke and Little. “I heard great reports about you two. Holding the Enclave’s line during and then the after effects of the legendary storm while the Captain had to retreat to get reinforcements and equipment.”

Deke cocked his head. “That is the report you got?”

Little punched him in his arm to tell him to shut up.

“I may have embellished it a bit, but it is what you did. You led 30 troops, spread out in the frozen north, as they protected and worked to keep the community calm, warm and safe. Often times, the things that you do that are most admirable seem like the obvious and simple choice. Seeing the greatness of those choices can be difficult from where you stand.”

“Okay,” Deke shrugged.

“I have no idea how an officer like yourself failed your first practicum.”

“Don’t get him started,” Little groaned.

“It’s what the fight yesterday started about,” Deke replied, ignoring Little. “Just a rival Lieutenant who doesn’t like me. Who is the protege of an Admiral and caused trouble for me.”

“I was the navigator. If I decided to double check with visual and map navigation, I got in trouble for neglecting my duties. What happens if nav goes out? Or worse, when the discrepancy in the system compared to the real location causes a problem so troops deploy too far forward or too far back. That could be a very bloody mistake. They ran the engine efficiency program, but won’t listen to me about the nav system!”

“Commander, is the system information true?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Little replied with a quick nod. “I corrected ours and all the others in the Third. It was off by a tenth of a mile. His concerns are more than valid. A tenth of a mile in the heat of battle is a huge margin of error. And he is correct that we do not have a back up in place if nav goes out.”

“I do not doubt that he caused half of the problems on the reports, but I do not doubt that he was right. He has done some wonderful maneuvers with the Buttercup, including a Bootleg turn.”

“How did that go?” The Vice Admiral asked Deke.

“Depends,” Deke chuckled. “For me or her? It was arriving here. They got up to the launch point to make their grand entrance. I made it grander, but scared them. Almost got flayed alive for the stunt since pegasi were in the air. Clear, but in the air. I was in control and I swung in exactly where I wanted to.”

“Was that your first attempt?”

“Of course Ma’am,” Deke beamed. “It wouldn't be special if I had done it before. Even if I had failed previously.”

“Not even most Raptor pilots will try that. It is a valuable tactic. Rough on the engines, but valuable.”

“Rough on the engines, but battle is worse,” Deke shot back. “And if you are burned alive while being chased, the engines are pointless.”

“Only a skilled officer can do it and only if he has full control of the ship.”

“The Buttercup and I are very well acquainted,” Deke mischievous grinned.

Little’s head was in her hoof. “You are talking to a Vice Admiral. Some class would be wise.”

“Nah,” Deke shrugged. “I am not going to be stupid, but hiding who I am as an officer, who has skill, won’t get me appointed to where I am really needed. Kissing ass sucks and you don’t get appointed by merit and skill. Often, that comes with rough edges. Which I know you love.”

Little was speechless.

“She still hasn’t backed up why she is called lightning yet,” Deke smiled. “I don’t think she has any. At least not for me.”

“You are gutsy and confident, almost to the point of arrogance,” The Vice Admiral said. “Tough to be that when you are not even a Captain. It is threatening to your superiors.”

“Still, you are not the only one on the Buttercup. Commander Lightning here is beyond a fine officer and First Mate. After all, she trained you. And while she has a bit more class and less of an arrogant feel, she knows this stuff more than most captains.”

“The big question is, what do both of you really want?”

Deke didn’t answer, he was letting Little go first.

“I love the Third,” Little finally stated. “Its got its quirks, the jobs vary and nothing is solid. But the Third is my home fleet. I would be a Captain on a Net Layer before I took the chair on a Raptor in another fleet. They wouldn’t be able to handle my unique command style.”

“I don’t micro manage, but I want to know how the ship is doing. And often. Most of my time flying the Buttercup is from the pilot’s terminal and controls. I would drive an experienced crew insane. I know we are taking on a batch of officers soon, which is part of the reason why we were promoted, but they will be learning a different ship design with a drastically smaller bridge. That should be enough change.”

“What is your optimal job?” The Vice Admiral followed up.

Little didn’t have to think. “Captain of the Buttercup. Although I realize that the Buttercup is the training hub, and a more experienced captain will be sent elsewhere, since the Admiral can oversee the younger captain. The Lord Clove seems like a fine ship and from the specs, is very similar. I bet I can beat her top speed records.”

“If anypegasus can beat the Clove’s speed records, it would be you,” The Vice Admiral smiled. “You have good observations on the whole workings of the Third. Admiral material.”

“Ha!” Little exclaimed to Deke.

“Hey, I don’t want to be an admiral. Give me a good ship with a good crew I can take into any job, face any danger or lack of danger and be the best performing ship in the entire Enclave.”

“Simple, but loft goals,” Vice Admiral Breezy Sky said. “You would make a fine commandant. A Captain in charge of a short term task force.”

Deke’s smile grew. “Can I be Commandant and then keep the title permanently? Or admiral?”

“No, not really.”

“Eh,” Deke shrugged. “Worth it. Goal is still the same.”

“Commander Lightning, could you command Lieutenant Commander Deke, if he was a Captain and you were an Admiral?”

“Absolutely,” Little grinned. “It’s not hard. We poke at each other all the time, but when stuff needs to happen, it happens. We would work perfectly together. Probably best in an Admiral Captain relationship. I know I could trust him to not cause a real problem and focus on the rest of my Task Force.”

“Lieutenant Commander...”

“Yes,” Deke said cutting her off. “I would have no problem with her as my Admiral. I know that if she gives an order, it means business. It isn’t a worthless command or one to keep me under her hoof.”

“Good,” The Vice Admiral smiled. “I am old and with my eyes fading, I can’t stay in my position much longer. I am putting the finishing touches on my retirement and making sure the right Admiral takes my position.”

“You want Admiral Purple Breeze, don’t you?” Little asked.

“I do and have a good cloud to stand on. Despite the Third Fleet’s small size, her technical rank is Fleet Admiral. One of three. It would be a step down in ways, but the move would be a powerful one and good for the Second Fleet.”

“I do not know if I did anything wrong, but I am sticking to it all,” Deke said to Admiral Purple Breeze.

“So,” Little hesitated. “That would put Captain Ruby Snow as an Admiral?”

“Yes, dear, it would. Fleet Admiral since we only need one. And you would take the Captain's chair of the Buttercup and Lieutenant Commander Deke would be your First Mate.”

“I don’t get to choose?”

“No,” The Vice Admiral chuckled. “Do you think you can handle all of that?”

“Please,” Deke waved it off with a wing. “We basically are anyway. She flies, I fly, Warrant Chief Bronze Valve flies. Captain Ruby Snow would stay on the Buttercup. Not much would actually charge, outside the intake of new officers.”

“You two have been seen in a very good, promising light in front of all these Admirals. Admiral Purple Breeze got to assert her real rank explaining the changes in the Third Fleet. And Captain Ruby Snow was also seen. They won’t forget him and won’t be surprised when any of these changes happen.”

“I will still be around,” Admiral Purple Breeze said. “The Vice Admiral has helped me out at times with some of the oddities of the Third Fleet, and before too. I won’t leave any of the six ships hanging. Ruby Snow knows that. I also couldn’t stand not keeping up with him. We were, at one time, a lot like you two when it came to working on the bridge together.”

“That sounds amazing,” Little replied. “A good chunk to take in, but amazing.”

“Your uniforms look grand now that I can see them up close,” Vice Admiral Breezy Sky smiled. “But, I am hungry. I think lunch is in order.”

Deke held back outside the door to catch Sunny Swirl. She walked right past him without noticing him, like he had planned.

“You know,” He said surprising her and catching up. “If you want to make a good, clean jump to a line officer position on the bridge, you should use your standing with the Vice Admiral to make it now, to the Buttercup. We won’t take on the rest of our compliment until after the admiral changes happen.”

“I would be asking to abandon her,” Sunny Swirl stammered.

“No, you would be stating the facts. She leaves, that leaves you where? Take the opportunity to request that when your time serving her is over, that she sends you to the post you want. You have put in a lot of great, loving time and effort. She will recognize that and give you just about anything you want.”

“I,” She continued stammering. “I will tell her.”

“She doesn’t bite,” Deke added.

“Why do you care?” Sunny Swirl asked.

“I just do,” Deke shrugged. “I can’t have an answer for everything. I try, but no. Not everything. I do on my ship though. I have to then. Down here, I am just a simple pegasi.”

“Are you hitting on me?”

“Am I?” Deke asked. “I am only speaking the truth.”

“You are not involved with the Commander?”

“Unless she is involved with me, I don’t know. I am just doing my job, so is she. We get things done together, no problem. We get along great, even with the petty, fun, childish squabbling. Although she has been unusually kind the past few days.”

Sunny Swirl giggled. “Well, everypegasus is afraid of me because I am the assistant to the Vice Admiral. There still is time for you two to figure that out before I end up on the Buttercup. You are right: I ask, it will happen. I won’t wait for you because you have been kind to me for half a day.”

“You are a smart mare,” Deke stated. “Too many have swooned over me. None since I ended up on an obscure ship, but I am past most of that. Most.Running a ship with a full bridge crew will be weird and stressful. Having you on board will be wonderful.”

“How long have you been in?”

Deke had to think. “Its been about a year.”

“Wow,” Sunny Swirl stated, shocked. “I would have guessed four or five. Especially with the rank advancements you are looking at obtaining in the near future.”

“I am good at what I do,” Deke said strutting a bit. “And it is why I failed my practicums. They just can’t handle this much perfection. But, this perfection needs food. And food is that way!”

Sunny Swirl couldn't help but giggle and smile. Deke was too sure of himself. It was fun, and comforting. He wasn’t hiding anything either. A rare mixture.

Next Chapter: Chapter 80 - Cardinal Spitfire Estimated time remaining: 7 Hours, 12 Minutes