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Way back when I was still planning my awesome women holiday shenanigans, I asked people to toss prompts my way if they wanted to receive fic of awesome women doing awesome things at some point in the future. And white_aster said:

...you know, now that just makes me want sci-fi, blaster-totin', sexy, no-bullshit-takin' women starship captains. Hawkeye would make an awesome starship captain, yus. ._.

Gnnh...yeeees. Hawkeye would make an awesome starship captain. Does make an awesome starship captain. So happy (winter) holiday shenanigans, Aster!

~2,200 words. Gen, no warnings. Less SF-y and blaster-totin' than I'd like. Clearly this means my brain will want to remedy this...eventually, but my follow-up folder frightens me.


The problem with the Elric brothers -- well, Edward...mostly -- was that the point one would normally point to and say, "There, that's where the trouble started," was actually the point when an Elric Situation became unsalvageable. And unfortunately for Edward, she was not the same kind of captain Rear Admiral Mustang had been.

(The depressing thought, if she let herself dwell on it, was that she probably was the same kind of captain Rear Admiral Archer had been. Similar enough, anyway. The rear admiral was very...orderly.)

"Why the fuck did you lock me in here?" Edward demanded, jumping up from the bunk in his holding cell.

"You called Rear Admiral Archer a brainless fuck not worthy of the space he'd take up in a Cretan eel colony." Hawkeye fought a quick smile at the memory. The admiral had been acting particularly dense. "You're lucky he didn't override my order to throw you in the brig with one to jettison you out into space."

"Too many reports to file." Edward flopped back down on the bunk.

"That," Hawkeye said, giving him her most stern frown, "is Rear Admiral Mustang's opinion. Rear Admiral Archer likes filing reports. He's very good at writing and filing reports. People read his reports. Remember that, Edward. We are not under Rear Admiral Mustang's chain of command."

"You can just call the bastard Mustang."

Edward was staring up at the ceiling of his cell, so Hawkeye knew he missed seeing the quick glance she cut to the sensors at the brig's door, the ones recording their conversation. She sighed. "That's another two days in here, Edward. You will respect rank and the chain of command."

"Thought you said we're not under Mustang's chain of command."

"That's why it's only another two days instead of another two weeks." That and they were on schedule to dock at the Eastern Command Cluster in sixteen standard days. She didn't need to keep Edward in the brig any longer than that.

Edward snorted.

Hawkeye stepped closer. "Lieutenant Commander," she said, feeling some of the tension loosen in her chest when Edward looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Rear Admiral Archer is not Mustang. I am not Mustang. I do not have the authority Mustang had when he was our captain."

Edward's gaze slid back up to the ceiling. "How can you say that? You're a captain, just like he was."

"I'm a captain just like he was three years ago."

Edward snorted again, but that testing glint in his golden eyes wasn't molten anymore. A good sign, even if it was only temporary. She stepped back and turned to leave.

"Three years is awfully fast for that kind of promotion," Edward said.

Hawkeye didn't look back. She didn't need to. She knew he was still lying on the bunk, hands clasped under his head, staring up at the ceiling. "Yes," she said, then keyed the door open.

At some point -- some point soon -- she would have to trust Edward with more information. He wasn't as young as Mustang liked to believe, and he deserved it. And beyond that, he needed it, because maybe knowing what was at stake would help him keep his temper.

But she could not share anything as long as Archer was on the ship. Or until Fury was back from leave, because she did not know how to alter the sensors' recordings, and she did not trust anyone but Fury -- oh, she hoped he wouldn't be transferred -- to perform that task for her. And she needed those recordings altered, because she did not trust Rear Admiral Archer. He'd snoop on her ship.

* * *

She would be glad when they arrived at the Eastern Command Cluster. Rear Admiral Archer would disembark, set up shop at his new command, and then the Rose of Ishbal would truly be hers. Perhaps then she could use some of Mustang's tactics on Edward.

"I trust Lieutenant Commander Elric is comfortable in the brig," Archer said, not looking up from the desk screen.

"As comfortable as he can be, sir."

Archer did look up at that, smiling faintly. "Yes, I suppose it would defeat the purpose if the brig was too comfortable."

They stared at each other for a beat. Hawkeye knew what he was expecting, knew giving it to him would make things easier for her, knew it would hardly cost her anything, but she also knew that enough of those "hardly anything's" would eventually add up to her pride, so she held his gaze coolly. Yes, he was her admiral, but this was her ship. They were transporting him. She would not thank him for allowing her to captain her ship, her crew, as she saw fit.

His smile widened slightly. He dimmed the desktop screen and rested his elbows on the smooth surface. "What were you told when the Rose of Ishbal was transferred under my command?"

"Standard protocol, sir, since Rear Admiral Mustang had been the previous captain."

"Yes, yes. We must avoid all appearances of the admirals amassing private fleets." The admiral waved his hand. "That's not the question I'm asking, captain."

"I was not told anything, sir, beyond being informed we are under your chain of command and that we were to transport you to the Eastern Command Cluster."

"I see." Archer steepled his hands and rested his chin on them. "I requested you, captain."

Hawkeye blinked. That...was not entirely unexpected, but she hadn't expected him to be so -- she allowed herself the pun because it kept her from frowning -- frank.

His smile widened into a smirk. "I assure you, captain, not for the reasons you are likely thinking."

"I am thinking of my exemplary service record, sir." A lie, but Archer wasn't like Mustang, didn't have the sensory implants and AI companion. She could like to him.

"You may be, captain, but I know you are aware of my...friction with Rear Admiral Mustang."

She did allow herself a thin, brittle smile. "One thing I have learned, sir, is the wisdom of avoiding gossip. If there is...friction between you and Rear Admiral Mustang, I hope it does not carry over to me simply because I was his First Officer."

He leaned back and considered her. "Forgive me, captain, but there are plenty of notes in that exemplary service record of yours detailing how loyal and dedicated you were as a First Officer."

Ah, she had to be careful, and she'd be wise to be suspicious. She hadn't anticipated having this conversation with Archer so soon. "Of course I was, sir. That's how one earns promotions."

He tapped the desk screen again and pulled up a series of reports, scanning them quickly. "There is nothing to indicate you are overly ambitious."

"I have always wanted to be a captain." That, at least, was in the records available to him. She'd had that goal from childhood, had written countless grade school essays on her future as a captain.

"And now that you are one?"

"I..." she allowed herself to look lost, a little uncertain. "Truthfully, sir, I haven't been a captain long enough to believe I've met that goal. I'm not sure what I want now." She cleared her throat, pulled back a bit on the uncertainty in her expression. "I do hope you won't hold that confession against me, sir."

He watched her, and for a moment, she was struck by the sudden fear that he'd seen right through her, that he knew exactly what she and Mustang were doing. But no, if he had anything, they were suspicions. And she -- they; she shouldn't forget her crew -- could combat suspicions.

"There's no shame in taking the time to savor a promotion." He smiled at her again, and this time, it almost reached his eyes. "I do look forward to hearing your plans after you've had time to enjoy your current position."

That was...too easy. "Thank you, sir." She considered her options. He was being too open with her, but since he was allowing this conversation, she could push a bit. "May I ask you a question, sir?"

"Of course."

"How many personnel transfers will I have when we dock at Eastern?"

"Worried I'll replace your entire crew?"

His expression was smooth, faintly amused, but Hawkeye knew how carefully he was watching her. She could not get away with a lie. "Yes."

"You'll be assigned a new Science Officer. I'm afraid Lieutenant Commander Elric needs...well, unless I am missing part of his service record, he has not gone through officer training. That needs to be remedied."

She'd been afraid of that. She'd have to talk to Alphonse, and then to Edward again. Perhaps...no, Mustang had tried hacking the database, couldn't alter Edward's record without leaving a trail.

"I'll also be assigning you a new Intelligence Officer."

She'd been expecting that. They'd been without one since Hughes. But expecting it didn't make hearing it any easier.

"You have some additional personnel scheduled to leave. They'll be replaced. Aside from that, I see no reason to interfere."

That was more than she'd hoped. It made her nervous. After all, it would be easier for Archer to keep her and her crew under observation if he had them all in one place.

"Is there anything else, captain?"

"No, sir."

"Then you're dismissed."

"Thank you, sir." She saluted, waited for him to acknowledge it, then left.

* * *

Sometimes, she preferred dealing with Edward. He was brash and stubborn and hotheaded, but she knew how handle that. Alphonse was so sweet. She always felt guilty when she had to get firm with him, but she had no choice now. The brig's sensors picked up everything she said to Edward. Alphonse could guarantee privacy in his cabin. His augmentations included jammers that would shield them from the ship's secret sensors.

"I see," he said, his armored face betraying no expression. "So, we're essentially being sent to reform school."

"Officer training. And technically, only Edward will be enrolled. The rear admiral didn't mention what would happen to you, but I need you to stay close to Edward. He listens to you, Alphonse."

"Sometimes." Alphonse laughed that tinny laugh of his.

"Alphonse..."

"I understand, Captain Hawkeye. Brother..." he shifted.

"Your brother's reports are sometimes intentionally vague, I know. I don't want you to betray his trust by telling me something he's not ready to share yet. But this is important, Alphonse. Right now, I can't protect either of you like Mustang did. Edward needs to watch his temper."

"He understands more than you think, captain. We're," Alphonse shifted, "investigating Hughes' death. In addition to our Gate research."

"Investigating Hughes' death is very dangerous."

"That's why he doesn't want Rear Admiral Mustang to know. He'd stop us."

"I should stop you."

"Haven't you been telling us you're not the captain Rear Admiral Mustang was?" Alphonse shifted again, and Hawkeye realized, belatedly, that he was embarrassed. "I...hear more than anyone thinks I do. I know you encouraged the admiral, when he was our captain, to stop shielding us."

"He feels responsible for you."

"So do you, captain, but as you keep saying, you can't protect us like he did. Right now, all you can do to help us is to give us information, isn't that right?"

She closed her eyes. "Yes."

"You and Rear Admiral Mustang are planning something."

"Just because we are no longer under his chain of command doesn't mean we're not working for him."

"We?"

"The crew of the Rose of Ishbal is very loyal."

"The entire crew, captain?"

"Well." She gave him a tight smile. "After we dock at Eastern, some of the crew will be loyal to Rear Admiral Archer."

"And you'll have at least two people loyal to you at Eastern."

"For the time being, Alphonse, it's safest for you and Edward to be loyal to each other."

"Well...I'm sure he'll be resentful since you tossed him in the brig." Alphonse looked straight at her, his eyes glowing that eerie red. "You are a lot like Mustang. You're still hiding things from us."

Hawkeye swallowed. Mustang wanted to shield the brothers from the news, but Archer would not. "There's going to be a war, Alphonse. With Liore."

"Liore? But we --"

"The theocracy is still intact and forced our diplomats out."

"But we...helped."

"I'm sorry, Alphonse."

He was silent for a moment. Then he said, "I won't tell brother. He thinks we helped."

"You did, just not enough."

"I don't think that will help brother." Alphonse rose. "We have a few days before we dock at Eastern. I should think about what I'll tell brother." His eyes were bright, intense. "We will help you, captain."

She bowed her head. "Thank you."

"Captain."

"Yes?"

"It's not treason if you win, so you have to make sure Mustang succeeds."

"He will." She'd make sure of it.