Rear Admiral Naval Air Corps

Hannah was a bit nervous, even after 4 years with her 30^th Fighter Wing / 1^st Naval Air flotilla in the Imperial Eglonian Navy, of which the last three years on board the Eglen's Reach. She had only met the Admiral during that very first dinner. And now he had summoned her to his office, not on a ship this time.

"Major Wright." He greeted her when Hannah came in. "It is my understanding that all other fighter wings are led by a Lieutenant-Colonel. And yet you were sent to us as a Major, and the Air Corps has never promoted you. Why is that?" This question made Hannah nervous, she had thought about it, several times. "Because the 30^th is much smaller then the others, because I didn't have the experience." Hannah offered up some options. "Coal dust and foul wind, no. It's because they hoped you'd fail. Some hoped this whole experiment with the Odonats would fail. But they specially wanted you to fail. Some of my colleagues could live with, no, ignore the fact that the pilots were woman, but the commanding officer that was a step to far. But the Air Corps insisted it was to be you."
"oh" Hannah wasn't even surprised.
"You didn't fail." The Admiral concluded, and Hannah felt a huge relief, even though she didn't even know that was what she was nervous about, she knew the whole test was a great succes.

"So I want more." It took a moment for Hannah to realize what the Admiral was saying. "So I've ordered the build of six more Odonat carriers. Based on yours and Captain Oliver Steam's recommendations. We're going to need a whole lot more Odonats, and I don't want to rent them from the Air Corps anymore, but have them as a true part of the Navy. Pilots will still come from the Air Corps Orphanage for Lost Boys and Girls, no need to change that. But you cannot stay on as Major of the 1^st. Please choose anyone from your crew to lead them on." Was the Admiral just telling Hannah that she was fired? Just after telling her she did not fail. And to add insult, to choose her descended. Guess she was going back to Larkin then.

Hannah took a deep breath; "Why can't I stay on?" The Admiral reached behind him to grab a letter from his desk and handed it to Hannah. It was a letter from the Board of the Admirals. Asking the Admiral overhere to do what he had just told her, form a Naval Air Corps, build six ships, and find staff and crew for that all. "I need someone to lead that Naval Air Corps, Madam Dutches of Larkin. So I want to ask you to resign from the Air Corps, and sign on with the Imperial Eglonian Navy as Rear Admiral of the Naval Air Corps."

"Will they accept it?" Hannah held up the letter from the board. The Admiral shrugged. "I got some outstanding favours I can cash in, some others that will see reason, and a few that need a bribe. Just politics."
Hannah was silent for a moment, "Can I still take my vacation to Larkin next month?"