The Ensigns - The officers 2

Epilogue - To the Future

They were doing the morning muster of the Marine detachment when Lt. Wilcox blindsided Mila and Holcum. The muster and list of work had been handed out before she took over, "Ensign's Whitewater from and center!" It was almost a bellow. She waited for them to fall in and come to attention before her, "I have a charge sheet that indicates you have been seen wearing your uniforms incorrectly. What do you have to say for yourselves?" She was scowling at them as she was speaking. Behind them she could see the Staff Sargent trying not to laugh since their bodies showed their utter confusion.

Neither could help it when they glanced down at their uniforms and everything was in the correct spot. It was clean, and met all uniform regulations. When they looked back at the Lt. it was obvious they had no idea what she was talking about, "Ma'am? We don't understand. Our uniform is as it has been every day since we arrived." There had been a few additional awards and medals but all were properly applied. It helped that most awards and patches were permanently attached. About the only thing which wasn't was their Pride necklaces and their Were-cat emblem.

She continued glowering at them. "You do not have the correct rank on. You are out of uniform and this will be corrected forth with and with all due speed. As of 0001 this morning you are now Lieutenant Junior Grade's. I do believe there is an updated uniform in your room already prepared. Go and change now Lieutenant's. Make it snappy since we have work to do."

Holcum was almost forced to hiss at her for the set up. He had honestly been worried somehow, they had screwed up and he worked hard not to. This entire setup was enough to make his cat growl as well. It was obvious he was feeling slightly insulted and irritated, "Yes Ma'am." He came to attention as did Mila before falling out and stomping out of the cargo section which belonged to the Marines.

Once they were out of the section Mila hissed before she started laughing. She had been upset until Wilcox had mentioned their advancement in rank. She was laughing since Holcum was just plain offended, "Relax Holcum, it was amusing even if you don't see it that way right now. We can get changed, go back, get congratulated, and then on with work." She bumped his shoulder with hers and gave him a good purr.

He yowled at her before a disgruntled hiss escaped from his lips, "Still not amused. She had me really concerned that we had screwed up badly." He returned the bump before he grinned, "At least we will be reporting to our next command with our new rank." They had just received orders that they were going to be assigned to a new FTL ship when the tour here was done. They would be Plank Owners since they would be part of the crew taking charge of her out of the yards. It was something few people had a chance to do. Being a plank owner went back to the wet navy. When a new ship was commissioned in the wet Navy it indicated they were 'owners of the planks on the main deck'. Now it simply indicated the crewmembers were stationed aboard the ship when she was commissioned. They would get a certificate and an emblem to wear while stationed aboard the ship.

Both had been very pleased to have been selected for the ship. It was going to be six to nine months before her maiden cruise but they would be there for it. They were both looking forward to getting aboard her and seeing what she was like. The name was still classified but the rumor was she was going to be named the Enterprise. It was a name which had been in the American military for generations. There had been at least six different ships with that name.

When they walked into their quarters there were two new uniforms neatly hung on their lockers. They had been customized to include a new Cat's head emblem. He hissed again though it was a more relaxed hiss, "Drated woman! I will do something to get her back." Holcum quickly stripped off his current uniform. He would have to take it to the uniform shop to get the new rank added.