[Travis McGee]

I find the above story 100% plausible or even probable, FWIW.

[cva66snipe]

There's an old saying "Sometimes it's easier to apologize or explain later than to obtain permission." That being said yea this sounds like what likely happened. The ships CO listing needs to be watched for a while for a premature command change. In that region the Captain's decisions should be the final authority on such matters. Even in this age you can't get Sit-Reps back to the COC in DC for a timely response anyway. It should have either been the Team Leader or the ships CO call along on what level of force was needed and what plan to go by. That is what set us apart from those who lost in WW2 was our ability to do what needed done and make critical decisions then and there.