It's too bad that you can't do a fast track program, but ...

[She does have an idea. Hans had managed to work things to his favor. While Kate is fairly certain he did it through slightly underhanded means, that doesn't mean that she can't make the recommendation. He doesn't need to be underhanded to get what he wants, after all.]

You can talk to Captain Holiday about finding a better place where your talents can be utilized. They'd be wasting a talent otherwise. He's pulled strings for other people; that means he should be able to do the same for you. Besides, you're way better than them.