Saboteur Part 5
by Eleni, Maureen, and Laura

Joel Michaels leaned back in his station chair. He put his hands behind his head, careful of his headset. He smiled. Life was going good. He had just gotten promoted to being head of communications of a boat (to the grudgery of his former captain). He was on the boat with his identical twin (to the grudery of his brother).

He thought about Jordan for a moment. His brother had just gotten out of the ward again. Britt, Jordan's ex-wife, had written to Jordan while he was in there. Unknown to Jordan, though, she had written a letter to Joel. She had heard about them both being assigned to the SeaHawk. She congratulated Joel on his promotion but asked Joel if he could keep an eye on Jordan. Joel would of course, with or without the request but the request did confirm something for him. She was still in love with Jordan.

Joel shook his head to himself as someone walked up behind him.

"Soilder, I'd advise you to be more observant to your station when you're under my command," he said. Joel swivled( around to look at him. His nametag said Lt. E. Diringer. "Just to let you know, don't daydream under my command," Lt. Diringer said in a low voice. He obviously wasn't out to make enemies, but he wanted the ship run down to the letter of regulations. He was awfully young for a senior Lt.

"Yes, Sir!" Joel said immediately. "Sorry, Sir!'

Joel sighed as the man turned away. He wanted to smack himself in the head. No daydreaming. That was what the doc had told him was his biggest problem.

When Lieutenant Diringer was giving his little speech, Joel kept nodding. He wasn't a kiss up by nature necessarily. He just felt like a moron, having already been yelled at on his first day as head of communications.

People in the crew looked at this stone-faced senior Lt. "If anyone has a problem with the way I run a ship, you can talk to the Captain about a transfer. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Lt. Ethan Diringer, and I'm fourth in Command, after Lieutenant Commander Rushton. And I don't care how they did it on your other ship, this is the seaHawk."

"Exactly, Lieutinent. This is the seaHawk. My ship. And not one person got here without breaking a few eggs, not even you. I don't want my crew to be perfect little soldiers happy to go to the slaughter. That's what Macronesia is doing and it has never worked in the past and it won't work now. I merely expect every individual to be the best in their field in the fleet. And I think they are." Captain Fitzgerald smiled back the his crew and ignored the glowering Diringer. He headed over to his office off of the bridge. Yes, he had reprimanded a senior officer in front of the crew, but he had also praised everyone without making him look like a fool.