"I'm not sure it's best, me meeting all those cadets," Missy said, as she unconsciously touched her face, near her missing eye. She had gone all out on supper; batter fried blagy, a huge bowl of mashed taters, and a big jar of white gravy. Some beans and sprouts, too, but the real food was celebrating my first day at the academy.

Bet none of them cadets had food like this!

"Well, I'd love for you to if you want to. They's going to ask me to be Chief, and help them through the Academy. I want them to see who keeps me strong." I cut off a chunk of the blagy, forked it solid, and held it up. "And why I got fat while running crazy in classes."

Missy blushed, but I knew she was pleased. Lucky for me it was all true, I really had to eat the green stuff so I didn't weigh too much. Back home, everything was fake food, made in a processor. All of this was real.

"Maybe in a few months. Let's see how things go," Missy replied.

- - -

It was raining the next morning, pouring down buckets at a time. Missy had made me a thermos of qana, and it helped warm my insides. She had taken a liking to it, 'cause of the First Officer, but she couldn't have any until the baby was born. I needed to make sure we were stocked, something else to add to my list.

Soon as I got underneath the overhang, I pulled off my rain coat and shook it out. A bunch of Navy cadets just walked right in, dripping a trail on the brand new carpet. They'd learn, especially since the Academy had cleanup details for new cadets.

Raul, Conrad, and Patricia were inside, waiting for me. So was every other gray suiter in our cadre. I gripped my thermos and walked straight for them, everyone straightened up and stood at attention.

"Did you decide?" For the life of me I couldn't think of anything smart to say.

Raul nodded. "Everyone had a say, and we talked it out before voting. There are a few questions, but we're all in."

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Yeah, how did you serve on half a ship?" Some guy in the back called out. Everyone chuckled.

"That story comes later. Much later. Right now, I want you to step up, give me your first name, and I'll give you a number; one, two, or three. That will be your group, and one of these Shift Leads," I pointed to Raul, Conrad, and Patricia, "will be your group leader. That's still too many to lead, so we'll be looking for leaders from you. Let's move quick, classes start in ten minutes."

The people in front started forward, and each one gave me their name. I counted one, two, three, and then repeated the cycle until everyone was done. Then it was time to get them leaders. "Raul, take the ones, Conrad, the twos, and Patricia, you get the threes. Be learning everybody's name, and try to find out if you have any potential leaders in your group. Also, if anyone is going to need extra help, be aware of that, too. Now, time for class. Let's go, everyone!"

Yesterday, everyone had been on their own, and it was a bunch of teenagers in uniform. Today, everyone looked sharper, and they paid more attention. Even Patricia's jokes were more subdued. We sat together in classes, and in the chow hall.

Things weren't going to stay perfect forever, but with the Shift Leads in place, I wouldn't have to be running around doing everything. That gave me time to think, and I came up with a plan. I asked a couple gray suiters to pass along that we needed a short talk in the atrium, before the class duty day was over.

I got there a couple minutes early, but several others were already there. They looked at me, one girl blushed, and then they all went back to talking. Pretty soon, everyone was there and looking at me. Time to see if my idea actually made sense.

"Okay, listen up. Shift Leads, get the names of everyone on your teams to be by 1900. Everyone, I will be at the dorm at 0700 to do a walk through inspection."

That got their attention, and a bunch of them looked at each other. I kept going. "Like I said, I have served on two and a half ships. One of them crews was downright pathetic, probably ex-Navy."

That got a chuckle. I took a deep breath, and looked at them hard. "One of those crews inspired me to be a lot better than I thought possible. I have served under a captain who trusted me with his life, and I have held the body of a friend in my arms."

I had to relax; or I was going to start crying. No one else said a word, and I took a deep breath. "I am not a great leader, but I have served under them. My job is to get you ready to serve under one of those great leaders. To put you in a position to be more than you ever thought possible. If I can do that, then I've earned my title. You have to want it, though, I can't do it for you. Dismissed."