Memo

From Adm. Cartwright

ONI

To Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

Re: Privileged Info

Dear Harry,

You realize that agreeing to send you a copy of Cmdr. Crane’s personnel file is a breach not only of our own security but his own decision not to include said info to your NIMR Personnel Dept.

By design or deceit (a field agent’s stock in trade) that was his decision and hell, Harriman, more than half of it’s classified, even from you.

You served with him aboard Nautilus and you had him for that dash to the arctic to save the world, not to mention for the last few months. What more do you need?

From Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

To Adm. Cartwright

ONI

Re: Privileged Info

What I need is for his  complete record of  education and experience, that’s what I need. It’s an NIMR thing. In fact, both Personnel AND the Seaview Corpsmen insist on having a little more something to go on regarding his past.

You don’t have to tell me what he did when on assignment with ONI, just tell me of any special ‘experience’ or training he’s had. And why he’s so adverse to Sickbay!

Now, do I get his records or do I have to go to the SecNav?

From Adm. Cartwright

ONI

To Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

Re: Privileged Info

Be my guest! But trust me, he’ll agree that you don’t need any more info on Crane than what you already have.

 From Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

To Adm. Cartwright

ONI

Re: Privileged Info

Blast it man, it’s a legal thing. Personnel tells me if the boy’s injured, (becoming an altogether frequent occurrence) worker’s compensation may be adversely affected if he decides to put in a claim if hasn’t trained or been certified for whatever it was that caused an injury.

You know and I know that there’s a lot more to his ‘official’ record than the one courtesy of the Navy that  I’m looking at. Besides, I doubt he learned  ALL those kinds of slithering skills from ONI Secret Agent Camp!

From Adm. Cartwright

ONI

To Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

Re: Privileged Info

Just what are you implying? And for your information, it’s called Field Agent Training.

From Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

To Adm. Cartwright

ONI

Re: Privileged Info

I’m implying that he might also have been working on the sly for the CIA, not to mention  several other super-secret agencies we’re both well aware of.

From Adm. Cartwright

ONI

To Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

Re: Privileged Info

If Crane was designated to the CIA, we’d never been able to put him into our stable in the first place. But they’re so full of their own importance,  I really doubt Crane would have been able to put up with it.  As for any of the others, well, that REALLY would be privileged info. Not that I’m saying he spends time with them, just that if he has or is, I can’t tell you.

Look, Harry, I’ll relinquish his current ONI record sans the mission details, etc., but you have to understand that some of this stuff he’d like to keep to himself. You might have a mutiny on your hands if he finds out you delved into the places of his life he’d rather not share.

You could, of course, just ask him yourself.

From Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

To Adm. Cartwright

ONI

Re: Privileged Info

When Personnel inquired about it,  all they got from him was that he had a couple of designations he hardly ever used and didn’t expect to need aboard Seaview. Then, apparently , with some skills incorporating  his damn eyelashes and debonair grin, he made a couple of dates with his inquisitors (yes, our personnel staff if entirely female) and the topic was completely forgotten on their part!

I have no idea what resources he’d use to change the topic with me, probably something about him having to rush off to Seaview to check her inertial navigator or finish some reports for Angie. Nobody but nobody gets them late to her, not even me!

Of course it could be worse. He might dash away from me as soon as I mention his missing personnel info to supervise Seaview’s new paint job…he likes red. No way can I let him get near the paint shop.

From Adm. Cartwright

ONI

To Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

Re: Privileged Info

You’ve convinced me, Harry. Find enclosed Crane’s  partial file. I checked with the SecNav and you’ll have to  get Presidential approval for the rest of it.

You might notice some special awards in the official photos.  By special permission of the President’s office Crane’s not obligated to display some of these. Apparently he has some cockamamie idea that they would make him less approachable to his crews. In fact, he used that same excuse when the Promotion Board  tried to get him to pin on a fourth stripe a couple of years ago. I’m trusting that when his name comes up again, you’ll persuade him to agree. Besides, if he doesn’t, the Navy will have no choice but to kick him out totally, and neither you, I, or he, would  want that.

From Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

To Adm. Cartwright

ONI

Re: Privileged Info-Again

Hard to believe it’s been little more than a year and Personnel is harping again about the lack of more detailed information in Cmdr. Crane’s file.

I’ve added his certificates and licenses since joining NIMR,(as you well know as he insists on keeps going off on assignments for you) but our Personnel Dept. keeps going on and on about a tattoo, being an ‘identifying’ mark on his body should he need to be identified.  (Lee seems to come back from both ONI and Seaview missions a bit worse for wear), not to mention the fact that he seems to attract trouble as soon as he steps off the boat as well!

Personnel  also  thinks that some of the latest tattoo dyes have been proven to be dangerous. The Surgeon General of the United States doesn’t seem to think so, so at least we’ve put that aspect to rest.

While Crane’s current girlfriend (in NIMR Communications) says that yes, Lee has a tattoo, she won’t expand on it, and our Chief Medical Officer and his Corpsmen cite privileged patient information as to confirming it or not.

What Personnel needs is a description of the tattoo, location,  and how old it is. (Apparently they can fade and change color tone with time.)

From Adm. Cartwright

ONI

To Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

Re: Privileged Info-Again

Harry, why are you so adverse to ask the boy yourself? It’s a simple question. Word is you’re good friends. A tattoo is nothing to be ashamed of, and most guys appreciate  really good artwork.

From Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

To Adm. Cartwright

ONI

Re: Privileged Info-Again

Personnel beat me to asking him about it, that’s why! When  I offered him a cup of coffee and poured in the no sugar added cocoa mix, ‘ just the way you like it, Lee’,  he glared at me, fumed that his life getting to be an open book, and slammed out! I dread to think what  he’d have said if I’d asked him about the damn tattoo! But I’m sure he really does have one, now.

From Adm. Cartwright

ONI

To Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

Re: Privileged Info-Again

As your medical staff can’t abuse doctor/patient information in this matter,  neither can ONI.

Simply tell your Personnel Dept. that if he comes back maimed, or hard to ID, we’ll take care of it. We do have all DNA samples for all our Armed Forces, even Reservists like Crane is now.

Harriman, Lee’s been complaining  that you’ve been bugging him a bit about his continued work with us. Give him a break already, okay? He’s only trying to do the right thing.

From Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

To Adm. Cartwright

ONI

Re: Privileged Info-Again

I know that’s what he thinks! But damn it, is he my Captain or not? I know you haven’t been drafting him away from Seaview as much as before, but do you have to interrupt almost all of his shore leaves?

It’s getting old, Cartwright. And dangerous. Our Chief Medical Officer has been threatening to beach him until he can get a little real R&R, which makes the entire crew, myself included, especially while aboard Seaview, walk on eggshells, secure all hatches, and hope he doesn’t decide to go  hide in the ventilation shafts or ballast tanks to brood. Or worse, steal the Flying Sub. Nothing like those jet engines to make Crane feel better.

So much better that  the last time, we didn’t find him for a week, (he’d disabled the tracker) until the Captain of the USS Enterprise contacted us to tell us that Lee’s take offs and landings  of a non- tail hook vehicle was pretty darn good for a bubblehead, and thanked  us for Lee’s assistance  in some SEAL mission!

I want an answer, and I want it now. Was ONI involved with  this SEAL mission and did you ask Lee to participate?

From Adm. Cartwright

ONI

To Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

Re: Privileged Info-Again

No, Harriman, we weren’t involved. But we did hear about it. After the fact, of course. The boy did himself proud.  In fact, well, never mind, I can’t tell you. Classified.

One thing though, he was sick as a dog on that flattop at times, but seemed to think it was worth it to avoid being beached and miserable.

Tell you what. We’ll limit our call ups, and you limit your complaints. 

From Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

To Adm. Cartwright

ONI

Re: Privileged Info-Again

Why do I think we’re getting the short end of the stick?

Oh very well. But you’d better give him enough time between cruises before you start deciding you need him again.

Besides, I also need him to help with the Administrative details at NIMR. He may be Seaview’s Captain, but he’s taken (at my request) a fair amount of work like a VP.

From Adm. Cartwright

ONI

To Adm. H. Nelson

NIMR

Re: Privileged Info-Again

I knew there had to be a reason NIMR was running smoother! Good choice Harry. Multi-tasking is the wave of the future.

PS. Thanks for sending me your additions to the Personnel File we sent last year. Not that we needed it, of course.

Oh, yes, a note…that ‘license to kill’ from the British Secret Service? Well, it’s been renewed. I’m afraid we had no choice but to ‘activate’ Crane as an Agent on Loan again. Sorry. It’s a James Bond kind of thing. Good PR and all that.