As the buzzer rang on the base commander’s secretary’s desk, Shih rose sharply to his feet, his boots clicking to anticipatory attention, three crisp manila folders clasped in front of him. The secretary stood and, head bowed, opened the base commander’s door. The door was made of thick but brittle wood, an opaque glass panel in the center framed the gold on black Chinese lettering showing the comrade’s auspicious title. At a summons from within the office, the drill sergeant stepped through, the secretary closing the door behind him and resuming her seat.

* * *

On the other side of the planet, Lana Wilson sat on her bunk in her barracks at Annapolis and folded her uniform neatly. As usual, she was not participating in the revelry at the other end of the long room, as many of her other female navy officer-wannabes laughed and talked about the mischief they intended to get up to this weekend.

“All I know,” said Marie Smulyen, leaning against her pillow on her bunk, “is that I am horny.”

The other girls laughed and a couple nodded emphatically. “No shit, sister,” said Latesha Harris from her perch on the end of Marie’s bunk, “ten weeks in a room with you bitches is not my idea of fun.”

Marie extended her leg and kicked her friend, “You love it, ya big dyke.” she laughed.

“Hey,” interjected KC Smith from the next bunk, “I’m with Latesha on this one.”

“Sure you are!” laughed Marie.

KC did not look at Marie, but gave her the bird as she continued, “I have never seen so many naked women in my life. I intend to redress the balance this Saturday.”

“You got a boyfriend?” asked another girl.

“Even if I did, I wouldn’t want to have to explain to him the kind of freak I plan to get on this weekend. No, my friends, this will be strictly NSA.”

Several of the girls shook their heads in disdain, their upbringing keeping them from sinking quite to the level of their male cohorts in the next building.

“Well,” said Marie, “we have our first leave since joining the program this weekend, and I know some of you plan to have a nice dinner with some of the boys. Well, let me tell you, those boys are no good to me, so I’ll be skipping that snore-fest and heading straight to the club. You fools can come on after and have what’s left.”

“I’m with you!” said Latesha.

“Hell yeah!” said KC, and the two of them reached over and high-fived.