I would suspect the strongest reason would not so much be the connection with her brother, for General Ortiz now resides on San Diego Island as a Board member, nor Lieutenant Wolenczak, who is now married and a father and still an active crewman aboard the seaQuest IV. Rather, it is my resolute belief that it is her personal relationship with Captain Jason Morrell that is her main reason for staying. Over the course of their four year relationship, Commander Ortiz and Captain Morrell have grown quite close and emotionally intimate, so much so that upon certain occasions both have experienced episodes of temporary insanity during disagreements, mainly circulating around Captain Morrell's other line of work with NOVA Squadron, and the consequences it brings with it. Fortunately as of late, both have calmed down considerably and become what Captain Morrell has told me, 'a normal couple'.
It has been hard for me to keep their romantic relationship a secret, however, for it breaks one of the most important rules which the Navy has thrived upon for decades; that rule where "no commanding officer of any vessel may bear a personal relationship with any of his or her subordinates, lest they become emotionally attached and command situations thus become compromised." It is solely upon my knowledge of Captain Morrell's uncanny ability to put aside emotions during a command situation that this relationship is even allowed to endure, regardless of the fact that both officers met when they were Lieutenants. Strangely enough, it is also my belief that because of this relationship, their professional relationship has greatly improved in efficiency and function, making Commander Ortiz and Captain Morrell one of the finest teams of officers in the UEO Navy.