We followed Heather through the grounds, we were walking in almost a straight line towards the Commandant's office.  I had a feeling that he wasn't going to like what she was doing.

we entered the Commandant's building through the story and a half tall heavy oak doors, they had been built to appear to be built during the dark ages of human history; back when they were still regulated to a single planet.

the secretary made a move to stop us, but the four of us walked passed him and straight into the office.

"You were told these three could not answer very specific questions.  what makes you think they could divulge that to people who aren't even supposed to be aware of how closely involved with this project they are?  you asked them to tell their entire class what, specifically, you were ordered you couldn't ask; and I doubt you were even aware they could contact me, or their ship's captains as quickly as they can.  Commandant, you will cease and desist whatever game you are playing.  you will not put these kids at any further risk than they have put themselves, and if I find out you have you will be scrubbing bathrooms for the remainder of your career, even if I have to have you transferred to the Tsunami to make sure it happens.  Do I make myself clear?"

"I don't think you know where you are at Fleet Captain."  the commandant replied as though he had expected her response.  two more people filed in at his comment.

"Commandant, she knows exactly where she is, and who you are."  Admiral Dixon said as he took a cigar out of the box on the sitting table behind me. "its you who aren't aware of how much trouble you are in."

"Or how much danger your stunt could put your school in." Admiral Radford followed.  The two men then lit their cigars. 

"Commandant, how many years have you been at charge at this school?" I asked, already knowing the answer was six years.

"Long enough to know that you three kids shouldn't be here."  he retorted.

"So you would sabotage the safety of these students, and your own career to attempt to get a nine, ten and eleven year old out of your school?" Jonathan asked.

"You wanted us to complete this school with the same standards applied to your other students, and now that it looks like we can complete your school, you are trying to sabotaged us mentally?" Beth stated.

At Beth's comment, I saw the true gears of Jealousy spin in his eyes.

"Your Jealous." I stated aloud.  "You are Jealous, that the three of us are younger than any other student who have ever been accepted before.  including yourself."  I voiced my guess.  he was taken aback by my response, and his hesitation, as well as the enlarging of his eyes told me I was right.

"You, young lady...." he was Interrupted by Admiral Dixon;

"That's Master Chief Warrant Officer Garis."

"These pukes aren't Warrant Officers until they leave my school."

"That's where you are wrong Commandant."  Heather retorted.  "Regardless of your school's outcome, while assigned to my battle group, they maintain their rank as a field promotion by the Carrier group Admiralty.  your school only makes to where if they are reassigned they keep their field promotion."

We all stared at the commandant for a few minutes, until he started talking again.

"If they graduate, they will be the youngest graduates at this academy since it's founding."

"A claim to fame, you currently hold Commandant." Jay responded.

"Their graduation will open the flood gates of politicians wanting to give their kids a leg up, and forcing this place to become some kind of a joke, boarding academy for their spoiled kids."

"Then we don't tell anyone we graduated." I replied.  everyone in the room looked toward us.  "We are too close to the carrier group, and have too much specific knowledge of the ships to be able to be replaced in the foreseeable future, and at this point, its safe to say we wont be reassigned until we are over the age of 18; at which point, our 'new' graduation certificates can be presented.  Enough of our presence here is cloak and dagger anyway, what would be the problem with adding this as well?"

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"Susan, that might actually work." Logan said.  "Commandant, do you think their graduation certificates could be put in the vault, to be released on their eighteenth birthdays, and by doing so, gets you off their back and lets them graduate with their flight, oh, and if they don't graduate with their flight, I will gladly request your transfer to the Tsunami."

"And I will back his request." Admiral Dixon added.

for the first time since we came to the school, he appeared to be in the mood to help us.

"Its time for you three to return to class." Heather started. "I think we can handle the rest of the problems from here.

Our remaining two months at the Academy went on without much incident.  We barely passed our PT tests.  I finished the final marches of the class, the three of us sat in the stands instead of walking our graduation with our flight.  The public reasons for it was our medical problems.  The Flight leader came up to us after the march was over and saluted me in my wheel chair.  the Commandant even came up to the three of us and saluted each of us.  A few council members approached and spoke with us, and seemed apprehensive. 

While we were finishing our classes, Admirals Dixon and Bradford pushed approval of badges to denote those who had served onboard one of the carriers, so there were few questions as to who we were when the badge was seen directly below our nametags on our dress uniforms.

The few people who knew exactly who we were saluted us.  As agreed, we received the ribbon for completing the class, and wore it on our uniforms, however, the certifications, and orders that went with it were stored at the school until such time as we either turned eighteen, or the Commandant changed, whichever happened last.  This was to protect us from questions, as well as the Commandant from having to admit politicians kids. 

But in the end, the last three months were basically a vacation from the real issue, for the last three months, the three carriers were maintained in dry-dock, supposedly undergoing repairs and modifications, however there had been no supplies going in, and no waste outside of the normal wastes of living on a civilian space station.  If the three carriers don't start moving, and soon, people might get suspicious.  however the carriers moving, means we have to be a part of killing people again.  Beth and I have both taken out ships, we have both taken human lives. 

I haven't talked to Heather about any of this yet, but I really don't want to have to take lives again.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This marks the end of the prolouge I hope all of you who are reading have enjoyed this story up to this point. the next chapter will be up soon.

I know some of you have commented to clarify the point of view changes by makring the beginnings of them. The reason I dont do that for this story is that it is part of the narritive. for those brief few words, its not certain who is speaking. there are a few times where the point of veiw will not be revealed. This story's narrative is supposed to have a slight confusion at the start of the point of view changes. Think of it as the 'fog of war'. where it is neccisary to clarify the point of view, I will do so, but so far all of the changes have been purposeful for one reason or another.