I flew under the Junker banner for more years then I care to mention, so when I say I'm with the V.A on this, I want ya' to understand my full meaning. Nothing wrong with voicing your opinion. In fact, darn glad to hear you doing it. There's no point in the ma'am being out there fightin' for your right to do so, if no-one actually does, right? And you know what. You're probably not too far off, son. We're all human. We make mistakes. I'd be a liar if I tried to tell you anything different. The fact we're in a military organisation don't change that, there's still morons and genius and everything in-between. You watch for long enough, and you're bound to see some odd stuff. Sounds like you might've just tuned in at the wrong time.

Now, Mrs Grey's already talked about the military side of things, so I'm not going to go repeatin' it. Though I would like to point out a couple of things in your message that, in all honesty, I find downright offensive. You seem to think that our fleets make a habit of sitting on their hands. Well I can't say some Captains don't, but it's a hell of a generalisation to say they all do. I've patrolled through Texas. Chased hostile gunboats out of it, and been chased right on back. I can tell you that I was mighty glad of those 'highly unprofessional' crews manning their stations. You imply they're traitors. As I said, I've got no objection to your opinion. 'least have the backbone to put your own name to it would you?

The Vice Admiral's done a damn fine job in the past, and I trust her to keep doing it in the future. You've got issues with policy? Fine, no problems. When you turn that into a personal issue with a senior Officer, one I happen to hold in the highest regard, that's when I start doubting your argument. You might pay my wage, Mr Azzameen, but I challenge you to find a single darn officer in this service that would leave the cockpit if it stopped. Trust me, no-one here does it for the pay, and there's a lot of folk in uniform prepared to give up a whole lot more then you do. I'd say it's the least you can do to treat the Admiral with some common courtesy.

No hard feelings, Tom. You've given your view, reckon I had to give mine. Ma'am, my apologies for the intrusion.