Story Market Day
- Thread starter ComCamGuy
- Start date
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Later That Day
Sgt. Jenson had CQ this evening. He really didn’t want to leave his wife this evening. She was seriously upset at all the news out of San Diego. They had a lot of friends still stationed down there and they had no idea if they survived. There was no hope of getting a phone call to them. They just had to hope and pray.
He finally got her calmed down enough he could come in to work. He knew she would be ok. She would hold herself together for their Jennifer. They promised to shut off the computers and watch some DVDs.
When he took turnover from Sgt. Nolan, he found out the Duty Officer he had for the evening was Capt Frickel. Great! Capt Frickel was a serious pain in the ass. He always seemed to have a ‘better way’ to do anything, even though his ideas had usually already been tried and discarded. Worse, whenever anyone in his section tried to point it out or question for clarification, he would belittle and squash them.
At least Sgt Jenson only had the duty this evening. He knew he would try to stay off his radar as much as possible. Hopefully everyone would be too busy worrying about the San Diego thing and he could just work on some school work.
His thinking was interrupted by the deputy commander’s wife.
“How are you doing this evening, Ma’am?”
She walked up to his desk.
“I’m doing fine, Sgt. Jenson. Here, I saved you some.” She handed Sgt. Jenson a plastic shopping bag. He looked inside. It looked to contain several pieces of chicken and a small thing of potato salad.
“You shouldn’t have, ma’am.” Jenson started to protest.
“Sure I should. Us enlisted have to stick together. I’ve been in your shoes when I was still enlisted. Dang officers too worried so much about the planning that they forget to eat and take care of the troops.”
This was part of what he really liked about her and the DO. They always tried to take care of everyone and didn’t put on airs.
“Thank you very much, Ma’am. You’re too kind.”
“We learned years ago. If you take care of your troops, they will take care of the mission. Now, if you or the wife need anything with the whole San Diego thing, don’t hesitate to call. We will do what we can. The number is on the recall roster.”
“Sure thing ma’am.”
And with that, she left.
Sgt. Jenson had CQ this evening. He really didn’t want to leave his wife this evening. She was seriously upset at all the news out of San Diego. They had a lot of friends still stationed down there and they had no idea if they survived. There was no hope of getting a phone call to them. They just had to hope and pray.
He finally got her calmed down enough he could come in to work. He knew she would be ok. She would hold herself together for their Jennifer. They promised to shut off the computers and watch some DVDs.
When he took turnover from Sgt. Nolan, he found out the Duty Officer he had for the evening was Capt Frickel. Great! Capt Frickel was a serious pain in the ass. He always seemed to have a ‘better way’ to do anything, even though his ideas had usually already been tried and discarded. Worse, whenever anyone in his section tried to point it out or question for clarification, he would belittle and squash them.
At least Sgt Jenson only had the duty this evening. He knew he would try to stay off his radar as much as possible. Hopefully everyone would be too busy worrying about the San Diego thing and he could just work on some school work.
His thinking was interrupted by the deputy commander’s wife.
“How are you doing this evening, Ma’am?”
She walked up to his desk.
“I’m doing fine, Sgt. Jenson. Here, I saved you some.” She handed Sgt. Jenson a plastic shopping bag. He looked inside. It looked to contain several pieces of chicken and a small thing of potato salad.
“You shouldn’t have, ma’am.” Jenson started to protest.
“Sure I should. Us enlisted have to stick together. I’ve been in your shoes when I was still enlisted. Dang officers too worried so much about the planning that they forget to eat and take care of the troops.”
This was part of what he really liked about her and the DO. They always tried to take care of everyone and didn’t put on airs.
“Thank you very much, Ma’am. You’re too kind.”
“We learned years ago. If you take care of your troops, they will take care of the mission. Now, if you or the wife need anything with the whole San Diego thing, don’t hesitate to call. We will do what we can. The number is on the recall roster.”
“Sure thing ma’am.”
And with that, she left.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
yup, five out of six basically start with the quake and look from different points
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Late That Evening
“We didn’t expect you guys til tomorrow.” Sgt. Jenson opened the door for six NCOs coming on temporary duty for the class starting Monday.
“The Major sent us ahead with the gear so we wouldn’t be in Friday night traffic. Do you have somewhere for us to drop our cases?” One of the NCO’s answered as they came into the reception area.
“We have your gear cages already designated in the building next door. Just pull your truck around to the roll up door on the south side and I will meet you over there and let you in.” Sgt. Jenson replied.
“What about our weapons crates?”
“Let’s get your other stuff secured first and I will get the Duty Officer and the Armorer so we can get those all checked in afterward.” He said, even as he was cringing. He hoped Paige wasn’t asleep. He would have to call her. She might let him put them into the room and start inventorying them for her so she didn’t have to rush. The part he didn’t want to do was let Capt Frickel know and get him involved but the Duty Officer was the only one after hours with access to the Arms Room.
It didn’t take long to go to the other building and open up the storage area. While the NCOs were unloading and separating their equipment, Sgt. Jenson went to get Capt Frickel.
Sgt. Jenson knocked on the Duty Officer’s closed door.
“What is it?” came a gruff voice from within.
“Sir, an advance crew for the class Monday are here to drop off their gear.”
“They weren’t supposed to be here til tomorrow.”
“That’s what I told them. They said their Major didn’t want them to get stuck in traffic.”
“Well, have them put their shit in the cages then.” Capt Frickel sounded annoyed now.
“I have that happening but they also brought their weapons crates so I have to notify you and the Armorer any time we gain access to the Arms Room not during duty hours without prior notification.” Sgt. Jenson tried to explain without sounding condescending. This was all normal Duty Officer stuff.
“Just put the shit in the Armory and the Armorer can check it in tomorrow.”
“Sir, we can’t do it that way. It’s against installation and unit policy. We notify the Duty Officer and the Armorer, the Armorer comes in, logs in the weapons, countersigned by the Duty Officer.” Sgt. Jenson saw trouble coming.
“Hang on.” Capt. Frickel’s voice sounded pissed. Moments later the door opened. Capt. Frickel was standing there in the doorway, buttoning his shirt.
“Jenson, There is no reason for us to do all that shit. Do what I say and just put the cases in the Arms room. She can take care of them tomorrow.”
“I can’t put them in there, Sir. It’s against regulation and I don’t have access. Only you do sir, as the Duty Officer.”
“Fine. I’ll go unlock it, you have them put them in there and she can inventory and sort them tomorrow.” Capt Frickel was sounding more and more pissed.
“Great Sir. I’ll let the Armorer know so she can come in and process them to complete the loop.” Sgt. Jenson tried to slide the fact he was going to call the Armorer and have them do this right.
“Absolutely not. She can fill out her spreadsheets and forms tomorrow. We aren’t going to keep these guys here waiting to get a signature that means nothing that they can get just as easily tomorrow.” Capt Frickel was getting red in the face now.
“Sir, it’s the rules that we do it this way.” Sgt. Jenson tried to push the issue.
“Sgt. I don’t care what that little bitch’s rules are. I don’t work for that prissy little ****! I don’t know who she blew to get here but she needs to go back to polishing nightsticks for the shore patrol instead of up here with special operations! Now, I will go unlock the Arms Room door, you will have them wheel the cases in, I will relock the Arms Room door and you will get back to shining that chair with your ass. That is the whole extent of what you will do regarding the weapons being placed in the arms room. Am I understood?”
Spelled out that way, Jenson didn’t have much choice.
“Yes sir. I will have them meet you at the Arms Room.”
“We didn’t expect you guys til tomorrow.” Sgt. Jenson opened the door for six NCOs coming on temporary duty for the class starting Monday.
“The Major sent us ahead with the gear so we wouldn’t be in Friday night traffic. Do you have somewhere for us to drop our cases?” One of the NCO’s answered as they came into the reception area.
“We have your gear cages already designated in the building next door. Just pull your truck around to the roll up door on the south side and I will meet you over there and let you in.” Sgt. Jenson replied.
“What about our weapons crates?”
“Let’s get your other stuff secured first and I will get the Duty Officer and the Armorer so we can get those all checked in afterward.” He said, even as he was cringing. He hoped Paige wasn’t asleep. He would have to call her. She might let him put them into the room and start inventorying them for her so she didn’t have to rush. The part he didn’t want to do was let Capt Frickel know and get him involved but the Duty Officer was the only one after hours with access to the Arms Room.
It didn’t take long to go to the other building and open up the storage area. While the NCOs were unloading and separating their equipment, Sgt. Jenson went to get Capt Frickel.
Sgt. Jenson knocked on the Duty Officer’s closed door.
“What is it?” came a gruff voice from within.
“Sir, an advance crew for the class Monday are here to drop off their gear.”
“They weren’t supposed to be here til tomorrow.”
“That’s what I told them. They said their Major didn’t want them to get stuck in traffic.”
“Well, have them put their shit in the cages then.” Capt Frickel sounded annoyed now.
“I have that happening but they also brought their weapons crates so I have to notify you and the Armorer any time we gain access to the Arms Room not during duty hours without prior notification.” Sgt. Jenson tried to explain without sounding condescending. This was all normal Duty Officer stuff.
“Just put the shit in the Armory and the Armorer can check it in tomorrow.”
“Sir, we can’t do it that way. It’s against installation and unit policy. We notify the Duty Officer and the Armorer, the Armorer comes in, logs in the weapons, countersigned by the Duty Officer.” Sgt. Jenson saw trouble coming.
“Hang on.” Capt. Frickel’s voice sounded pissed. Moments later the door opened. Capt. Frickel was standing there in the doorway, buttoning his shirt.
“Jenson, There is no reason for us to do all that shit. Do what I say and just put the cases in the Arms room. She can take care of them tomorrow.”
“I can’t put them in there, Sir. It’s against regulation and I don’t have access. Only you do sir, as the Duty Officer.”
“Fine. I’ll go unlock it, you have them put them in there and she can inventory and sort them tomorrow.” Capt Frickel was sounding more and more pissed.
“Great Sir. I’ll let the Armorer know so she can come in and process them to complete the loop.” Sgt. Jenson tried to slide the fact he was going to call the Armorer and have them do this right.
“Absolutely not. She can fill out her spreadsheets and forms tomorrow. We aren’t going to keep these guys here waiting to get a signature that means nothing that they can get just as easily tomorrow.” Capt Frickel was getting red in the face now.
“Sir, it’s the rules that we do it this way.” Sgt. Jenson tried to push the issue.
“Sgt. I don’t care what that little bitch’s rules are. I don’t work for that prissy little ****! I don’t know who she blew to get here but she needs to go back to polishing nightsticks for the shore patrol instead of up here with special operations! Now, I will go unlock the Arms Room door, you will have them wheel the cases in, I will relock the Arms Room door and you will get back to shining that chair with your ass. That is the whole extent of what you will do regarding the weapons being placed in the arms room. Am I understood?”
Spelled out that way, Jenson didn’t have much choice.
“Yes sir. I will have them meet you at the Arms Room.”
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Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Don't be feeding that to your dogs - clear case of animal cruelty if I ever heard of one!
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Turnover
“I’m telling you, Nolan, she’s going to be pissed.”
“So, he told you to crack open the Arms Room and shovel stuff in, sight unseen, no serials, no counting, no anything?” Sgt. Nolan didn’t understand the whole concept. There was a whole host of reasons this was against the rules. Such things like limited access to areas with sensitive equipment, chain of custody and accountability for weapons, and a bunch more he couldn’t think of right now.
“Yup. And anytime I tried to get him to follow the right procedures, he shot down the idea and wouldn’t even entertain the concepts. Shit! I know what he did was wrong. I told him it was wrong. He’s the officer. It wasn’t going to kill someone or break shit so I figured it was better to just follow his orders and let the officers fight about it.”
“It’s still wrong.” Nolan insisted.
“Hell yeah, it’s wrong, but the fight is above my pay grade. What I will tell you is the Armory NCO is going to have his ass. She won’t put up with it. She’s a real stickler for rules and she is in the system effected. She’s going to run this shit up the chain and get him jacked up.” Jenson replied.
“What’s she going to do? He’s an officer and was the Duty Officer when he did it. He gets the big bucks to make decisions.” Nolan wasn’t sure how much trouble she would be willing to get into calling Capt Frickel out.
“I’m not sure, but she has the rules on her side and I’ll bet twenty bucks she ends up getting him in, not her.” Jenson said.
“I hope I’m wrong but I’ll take your money.” Sgt. Nolan replied.
“I’m telling you, Nolan, she’s going to be pissed.”
“So, he told you to crack open the Arms Room and shovel stuff in, sight unseen, no serials, no counting, no anything?” Sgt. Nolan didn’t understand the whole concept. There was a whole host of reasons this was against the rules. Such things like limited access to areas with sensitive equipment, chain of custody and accountability for weapons, and a bunch more he couldn’t think of right now.
“Yup. And anytime I tried to get him to follow the right procedures, he shot down the idea and wouldn’t even entertain the concepts. Shit! I know what he did was wrong. I told him it was wrong. He’s the officer. It wasn’t going to kill someone or break shit so I figured it was better to just follow his orders and let the officers fight about it.”
“It’s still wrong.” Nolan insisted.
“Hell yeah, it’s wrong, but the fight is above my pay grade. What I will tell you is the Armory NCO is going to have his ass. She won’t put up with it. She’s a real stickler for rules and she is in the system effected. She’s going to run this shit up the chain and get him jacked up.” Jenson replied.
“What’s she going to do? He’s an officer and was the Duty Officer when he did it. He gets the big bucks to make decisions.” Nolan wasn’t sure how much trouble she would be willing to get into calling Capt Frickel out.
“I’m not sure, but she has the rules on her side and I’ll bet twenty bucks she ends up getting him in, not her.” Jenson said.
“I hope I’m wrong but I’ll take your money.” Sgt. Nolan replied.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Early Morning
Sgt. Nolan started counting when the Armory NCO walked by. It was all of a minute or so when she came storming back up to the duty desk.
“Who dropped boxes off in my arms room?” Her voice sounded a little upset but there was a fire in her eyes. Jenson was right. She was pissed.
“The Duty Officer let the arms escort with the new student group put the boxes in there so they would be secure.” Sgt. Nolan tried to explain. The Female NCO started to say something, the color and apparent temper rising exponentially.
Sgt. Nolan kept talking. “He watched them the whole time. He only let them wheel the crates in, made sure they were in the middle of the room with nothing around them, and walk straight back out. No body touched anything and they were only in there two minutes. Jenson was the Duty NCO when it went down and that’s what he told me at turnover. He also said he told the Duty Officer he should at least call you or text you to let you know what was happening. The Officer said and he quoted ‘I don’t answer to that NCO’ end quote.”
He looked at the female NCO and considered running she looked so pissed. Her face was red and the veins in her neck and face were bulging. She held up her hand in a ‘wait one’ gesture as she marched back over to her workspace.
Sgt. Nolan sat there thinking to himself ‘well, that wasn’t so bad.’
Moments later, she reappeared, a grin worthy of a comic book villain on her face.
“Sergeant Nolan, could you please document my coming to you with an unauthorized access to the arms room and potential security breach? I have no record in the access log, nor the in and outs sheets. I have multiple unknown, unidentified unlogged objects of a suspicious nature in the arms room and am requesting LE and EOD support for such. I assume you have no documents in the Duty Book on these as well?”
Sgt. Nolan looked at the Duty Log, the Arms Room’s logs, and the clipboard for ins and outs. Nowhere was listed the unit arms courier dropping off the weapon boxes. At this point he knew three things; one, she was well within her rights to initiate the actions, two, the Duty Officer would try to weasel out of the blame, and three he was going to be busy with this all day. Four. Make that four things he knew. The forth thing was this officer just committed a major foul, on paper and would be severely gigged for it, maybe even removed from the unit. Accountability of sensitive items is one of the places you can really bone yourself if you are not careful. This officer will learn, if he survives. He also knew he owed Jenson twenty bucks. He said she would go high order and get him gutted.
Sgt. Nolan knew he had work to do. He knew he had to call the Sergeant Major. He wasn’t going to call EOD or the LE desk until after talking to the Sergeant Major.
Sgt. Nolan started counting when the Armory NCO walked by. It was all of a minute or so when she came storming back up to the duty desk.
“Who dropped boxes off in my arms room?” Her voice sounded a little upset but there was a fire in her eyes. Jenson was right. She was pissed.
“The Duty Officer let the arms escort with the new student group put the boxes in there so they would be secure.” Sgt. Nolan tried to explain. The Female NCO started to say something, the color and apparent temper rising exponentially.
Sgt. Nolan kept talking. “He watched them the whole time. He only let them wheel the crates in, made sure they were in the middle of the room with nothing around them, and walk straight back out. No body touched anything and they were only in there two minutes. Jenson was the Duty NCO when it went down and that’s what he told me at turnover. He also said he told the Duty Officer he should at least call you or text you to let you know what was happening. The Officer said and he quoted ‘I don’t answer to that NCO’ end quote.”
He looked at the female NCO and considered running she looked so pissed. Her face was red and the veins in her neck and face were bulging. She held up her hand in a ‘wait one’ gesture as she marched back over to her workspace.
Sgt. Nolan sat there thinking to himself ‘well, that wasn’t so bad.’
Moments later, she reappeared, a grin worthy of a comic book villain on her face.
“Sergeant Nolan, could you please document my coming to you with an unauthorized access to the arms room and potential security breach? I have no record in the access log, nor the in and outs sheets. I have multiple unknown, unidentified unlogged objects of a suspicious nature in the arms room and am requesting LE and EOD support for such. I assume you have no documents in the Duty Book on these as well?”
Sgt. Nolan looked at the Duty Log, the Arms Room’s logs, and the clipboard for ins and outs. Nowhere was listed the unit arms courier dropping off the weapon boxes. At this point he knew three things; one, she was well within her rights to initiate the actions, two, the Duty Officer would try to weasel out of the blame, and three he was going to be busy with this all day. Four. Make that four things he knew. The forth thing was this officer just committed a major foul, on paper and would be severely gigged for it, maybe even removed from the unit. Accountability of sensitive items is one of the places you can really bone yourself if you are not careful. This officer will learn, if he survives. He also knew he owed Jenson twenty bucks. He said she would go high order and get him gutted.
Sgt. Nolan knew he had work to do. He knew he had to call the Sergeant Major. He wasn’t going to call EOD or the LE desk until after talking to the Sergeant Major.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
The Commanders Office
Ivar had been on the phone with higher levels of command for hours already when Silas came in and closed the door behind him. He motioned for him to sit while he finished the current phone call.
“Yeah, you’re right, it’s probably for the best but how soon is he headed out? Do I just take over now or do I wait for him to head out?”
Silas knew Ivar had just inherited the entire base. Yay. That meant he did as well. He would now be the Senior Enlisted for the base.
“Well I know he was really pissed when you guys told him I was taking over. I’m sure that’s why he snaked his way onto the list for those going to support the recovery efforts. I know he probably padded the list with all his favorites and lackeys as well. That’s great as far as I’m concerned. That leaves fewer headaches for me. I’ll get with the guys left this afternoon and see what we have and can support.”
Hearing this, Silas started thinking of all the whirling pieces he and Ivar would have to come up to speed on. Things like classes capable to still teach, maximum class size they could support, and so on. He also knew they needed to look to the families of those who were at the conference and probably lost or at least missing. Time to crack out the dress uniform and do notifications. He better tell Amber to expect a lot more patients. He knew she hated doing death notifications even more than Sofia did, but it helped having a military PTSD psychiatrist as part of the notification team. He just hated doing it to his wife.
“So, I’ll call you back this evening with a better snapshot of our capability. Yes Sir.” Ivar hung up and turned to look at Silas.
“So, you heard most of what we figured last night is happening. I head over to the main gaggle in about an hour to take over. Unless they are idiots left behind, I’ll leave their Senior NCOs and officers in charge, they will just report to us until we find out more.”
“Sounds good boss. I know we were talking about spreading some of our officers out into their envelope, but I recommend against it until anyone needs replaced.” Silas said as a preamble before going to the next topic.
Ivar new Silas far too long to let him get away with it too long.
“OK, what else. You came in here for something. Out with it.”
“Capt Frickel ****ed up last night.”
“Shit. What the hell could he screw up with simple Duty Officer? It’s not the weekend. We don’t have classes underway. Was he watching porn on the government computer? Running naked around the compound fence?” Ivar thought about the aspirin in his desk drawer and this led to him thinking about how he had to move his shit into his new office.
“Some of the guys for Mondays class showed up late last night and there was an issue.”
“OK, and?”
“Well, evidently he blew off all the procedures and processes the commander put in place to conform to USMC procedures and just had them drop the sealed boxes off in the Arms Room.”
“I know the Commander was a stickler for it, but he had the IG up his ass here for missing weapons when he first got here with how lose and carefree they were treating things. I can still hear him when he inbriefed me. ‘just because we are special ops, doesn’t mean we need to be sloppy with accountability of sensitive items’. That’s how I was able to get us the Armorer chick in the first place. She actually stays in the Arms Room instead of traipsing all over the countryside wanting to play junior commando.”
“Funny you should mention her. She was ready to call EOD for suspicious boxes in the Arms Room! She’s the one who turned him in. He didn’t document anything, no sign in, no inventory, no anything. Just opened the door and pitched them in.”
At this Ivar cringed. The Duty Officer effectively took possession and signed a blank check. The unit could turn around and claim they dropped off twenty boxes and he would have no paper trail to show one way or another. It’s a great way to clear up a hand receipt. ‘Gee, I turned the box of M2 fifty caliber machine guns over to Capt Frickel. He must have lost them.’ And poof!
“Dumbass…Well, let me talk to the Armorer and Frickel. Pull the packets on both so I can have a better backstory. Oh, we might need to bring in the Duty NCO from last night, but let’s try to hold off until this afternoon so he has at least a couple hours of sleep. Who was the Duty NCO?”
“Jenson.”
“He’s been here a hot minute and knows the procedures. If Frickel wouldn’t listen, then that’s another teachable moment. He’s a young Officer and evidently still needs to learn to listen to the NCOs who know better and will keep him from stomping on his dick with the golf spikes.”
“I’ll get you the packets and then the Armorer. You could probably squeeze her in before you go across to the other side.”
“Yeah, sounds like a good idea. That gives me a chance to grab a bite before I talk to Frickel.” Ivar sighed.
“Sofia said we are on our own for food. She delivered last night.”
“Tell her again we owe her. One of these days we will have to get Amber to do a full workup on her to find out why someone so wonderful stays with you.”
“You don’t want to do that! If you do and she comes to her senses, no more snickerdoodles for you.” Silas countered.
“Point taken. Better get me those files.”
“Sure thing, Sir.”
Ivar had been on the phone with higher levels of command for hours already when Silas came in and closed the door behind him. He motioned for him to sit while he finished the current phone call.
“Yeah, you’re right, it’s probably for the best but how soon is he headed out? Do I just take over now or do I wait for him to head out?”
Silas knew Ivar had just inherited the entire base. Yay. That meant he did as well. He would now be the Senior Enlisted for the base.
“Well I know he was really pissed when you guys told him I was taking over. I’m sure that’s why he snaked his way onto the list for those going to support the recovery efforts. I know he probably padded the list with all his favorites and lackeys as well. That’s great as far as I’m concerned. That leaves fewer headaches for me. I’ll get with the guys left this afternoon and see what we have and can support.”
Hearing this, Silas started thinking of all the whirling pieces he and Ivar would have to come up to speed on. Things like classes capable to still teach, maximum class size they could support, and so on. He also knew they needed to look to the families of those who were at the conference and probably lost or at least missing. Time to crack out the dress uniform and do notifications. He better tell Amber to expect a lot more patients. He knew she hated doing death notifications even more than Sofia did, but it helped having a military PTSD psychiatrist as part of the notification team. He just hated doing it to his wife.
“So, I’ll call you back this evening with a better snapshot of our capability. Yes Sir.” Ivar hung up and turned to look at Silas.
“So, you heard most of what we figured last night is happening. I head over to the main gaggle in about an hour to take over. Unless they are idiots left behind, I’ll leave their Senior NCOs and officers in charge, they will just report to us until we find out more.”
“Sounds good boss. I know we were talking about spreading some of our officers out into their envelope, but I recommend against it until anyone needs replaced.” Silas said as a preamble before going to the next topic.
Ivar new Silas far too long to let him get away with it too long.
“OK, what else. You came in here for something. Out with it.”
“Capt Frickel ****ed up last night.”
“Shit. What the hell could he screw up with simple Duty Officer? It’s not the weekend. We don’t have classes underway. Was he watching porn on the government computer? Running naked around the compound fence?” Ivar thought about the aspirin in his desk drawer and this led to him thinking about how he had to move his shit into his new office.
“Some of the guys for Mondays class showed up late last night and there was an issue.”
“OK, and?”
“Well, evidently he blew off all the procedures and processes the commander put in place to conform to USMC procedures and just had them drop the sealed boxes off in the Arms Room.”
“I know the Commander was a stickler for it, but he had the IG up his ass here for missing weapons when he first got here with how lose and carefree they were treating things. I can still hear him when he inbriefed me. ‘just because we are special ops, doesn’t mean we need to be sloppy with accountability of sensitive items’. That’s how I was able to get us the Armorer chick in the first place. She actually stays in the Arms Room instead of traipsing all over the countryside wanting to play junior commando.”
“Funny you should mention her. She was ready to call EOD for suspicious boxes in the Arms Room! She’s the one who turned him in. He didn’t document anything, no sign in, no inventory, no anything. Just opened the door and pitched them in.”
At this Ivar cringed. The Duty Officer effectively took possession and signed a blank check. The unit could turn around and claim they dropped off twenty boxes and he would have no paper trail to show one way or another. It’s a great way to clear up a hand receipt. ‘Gee, I turned the box of M2 fifty caliber machine guns over to Capt Frickel. He must have lost them.’ And poof!
“Dumbass…Well, let me talk to the Armorer and Frickel. Pull the packets on both so I can have a better backstory. Oh, we might need to bring in the Duty NCO from last night, but let’s try to hold off until this afternoon so he has at least a couple hours of sleep. Who was the Duty NCO?”
“Jenson.”
“He’s been here a hot minute and knows the procedures. If Frickel wouldn’t listen, then that’s another teachable moment. He’s a young Officer and evidently still needs to learn to listen to the NCOs who know better and will keep him from stomping on his dick with the golf spikes.”
“I’ll get you the packets and then the Armorer. You could probably squeeze her in before you go across to the other side.”
“Yeah, sounds like a good idea. That gives me a chance to grab a bite before I talk to Frickel.” Ivar sighed.
“Sofia said we are on our own for food. She delivered last night.”
“Tell her again we owe her. One of these days we will have to get Amber to do a full workup on her to find out why someone so wonderful stays with you.”
“You don’t want to do that! If you do and she comes to her senses, no more snickerdoodles for you.” Silas countered.
“Point taken. Better get me those files.”
“Sure thing, Sir.”
It is too bad Sabine did not apply 3.6 pounds of pressure to that trigger. I like the fact you named him Frickle, it rhymes with Pickle. Anyone who has been here a while knows how this turns out for him, but Im looking forward to seeing his side of the, ahhm, latrine visit.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Jenson’s House
“It’s ok, Margaret. I wasn’t asleep yet. I was barely out of the shower. Besides, I was expecting it.”
“You just got off work. They shouldn’t call you about shit when you’re just getting off CQ. His wife continued.
“I know but some stuff went down last night they probably needed details for and I would rather answer them over the phone than sticking around there all morning to getting caught up in all the bullshit.”
Jenson picked up the phone by the bed.
“Hey, Paige. Sorry about leaving you that present in your Arms Room last night.”
His wife was standing there as he talked. He knew she was a worrier sometimes and here he was getting a phone call from some ‘woman’ claiming work stuff. He couldn’t blame her though. They have both seen enough infidelity and drama tear apart families in their units over the years. Objectively they both knew they were faithful but…
“Yeah, Frickle wouldn’t have any of it. He didn’t seem to think it was important…”
His wife was looking at him, trying to figure out what he hadn’t told him when he got home.
“I know it’s important, it’s the regs and all of that. He ordered me not to…Yeah, that’s pretty much what he said. He was kinda pissed I was questioning him and telling him what he could and could not do so he spouted off….Technically? OK, here it is, as he said it:
“Sgt. I don’t care what that little bitch’s rules are. I don’t work for that prissy little ****! I don’t know who she blew to get here but she needs to go back to polishing nightsticks for the shore patrol instead of up here with special operations!”
“Yeah, I know…I agree…Sure I can make it an official statement if that’s what you need. I’ll type it up in an email and shoot it over to you. Give me about twenty minutes”
He hung up the phone and looked over at Margaret.
“Well, he really stepped in it.”
“Who?”
“The Duty officer. He broke a bunch of regulations and told me to do some inappropriate stuff and now he’s getting called on the carpet about it. Paige has him between a rock and a hard place. He can’t deny he did it, and the very lack of paperwork convicts him of it.”
“Will you get in trouble for any of this?” Margaret looked worried now.
“Nope. I can prove I did the right thing, and the students can back up that I tried. She’s got the jackass dead to rights.”
“As long as it doesn’t get you in trouble…” Margaret said as she went back to the living room.
Jenson had an Email to write before he could go to sleep.
“It’s ok, Margaret. I wasn’t asleep yet. I was barely out of the shower. Besides, I was expecting it.”
“You just got off work. They shouldn’t call you about shit when you’re just getting off CQ. His wife continued.
“I know but some stuff went down last night they probably needed details for and I would rather answer them over the phone than sticking around there all morning to getting caught up in all the bullshit.”
Jenson picked up the phone by the bed.
“Hey, Paige. Sorry about leaving you that present in your Arms Room last night.”
His wife was standing there as he talked. He knew she was a worrier sometimes and here he was getting a phone call from some ‘woman’ claiming work stuff. He couldn’t blame her though. They have both seen enough infidelity and drama tear apart families in their units over the years. Objectively they both knew they were faithful but…
“Yeah, Frickle wouldn’t have any of it. He didn’t seem to think it was important…”
His wife was looking at him, trying to figure out what he hadn’t told him when he got home.
“I know it’s important, it’s the regs and all of that. He ordered me not to…Yeah, that’s pretty much what he said. He was kinda pissed I was questioning him and telling him what he could and could not do so he spouted off….Technically? OK, here it is, as he said it:
“Sgt. I don’t care what that little bitch’s rules are. I don’t work for that prissy little ****! I don’t know who she blew to get here but she needs to go back to polishing nightsticks for the shore patrol instead of up here with special operations!”
“Yeah, I know…I agree…Sure I can make it an official statement if that’s what you need. I’ll type it up in an email and shoot it over to you. Give me about twenty minutes”
He hung up the phone and looked over at Margaret.
“Well, he really stepped in it.”
“Who?”
“The Duty officer. He broke a bunch of regulations and told me to do some inappropriate stuff and now he’s getting called on the carpet about it. Paige has him between a rock and a hard place. He can’t deny he did it, and the very lack of paperwork convicts him of it.”
“Will you get in trouble for any of this?” Margaret looked worried now.
“Nope. I can prove I did the right thing, and the students can back up that I tried. She’s got the jackass dead to rights.”
“As long as it doesn’t get you in trouble…” Margaret said as she went back to the living room.
Jenson had an Email to write before he could go to sleep.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Pretty sure it won't be long now.
I might be mistaken but it seems this method, going back to a common point in time event, capitalises on the laid-out story to date while providing alternate view points, commentaries and issues as the segment pertains to a different slice of the cast.
Works for me.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
That's his real stock in trade Kyrsyan; thankfully, after the hook is set, he doesn't jerk the line too hard......
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Later in the Commanders Office
This was the part Ivar didn’t like. He hated sorting through HR bullshit. He reviewed the notes Silas left him and talked to the current Duty NCO about the Arms Room incident. It was a serious thing, not so much the weapons themselves. Those were never out of physical control but the whole disregarding the process and stuff. That was what bothered him. The commander put these checks and balances in place for a reason and the Capt. Hadn’t been here long enough to break them without good reason.
Now Ivar needed to glance through the personnel jackets of the Capt and the Armorer. He wanted a good gauge of their backgrounds before he talked with them. He knew what he expected from his officers and at first glance, this wasn’t it. It came off as sloppy and lazy, two things he abhorred especially when they were supposed to be teaching people how they were supposed to do things.
Unless Capt Frickel came up with a phenomenal reason, Ivar thought it boiled down to a failure to lead. He was usually willing to give one mulligan, but it didn’t mean they were excused or forgiven. It meant they were given one opportunity to correct the errors of their ways and prove they were worth saving.
He knew The Armorer was a stickler for following guidance. She was informed of the procedures when she got here. She cross-referenced them with the Marine Corps guidance to deconflict and has been holding everyone to the standard ever since.
He knew it rubbed some old heads the wrong way at first since there isn’t a big female presence in Special Operations, but she was in a support position and wasn’t trying to do more than be the true subject matter expert at her craft. She also wasn’t intimidated by rank. With her, what’s right is right.
He remembered the Colonel who wanted her hide for telling him he couldn’t shoot for shit. Trouble was, she was right and he was wrong. She stood her ground and he told the Colonel to go pound sand when he was asked about it.
If it was just a ‘he said, she said’ thing, he knew where he was already leaning. The problem was all the headaches it could cause. He was looking at a whole new set of problems in picking up the whole base as his responsibilities. The ****ing dumbass! Why couldn’t Frickel just have done his job the way he was supposed to!
He had to talk to them both.
This was the part Ivar didn’t like. He hated sorting through HR bullshit. He reviewed the notes Silas left him and talked to the current Duty NCO about the Arms Room incident. It was a serious thing, not so much the weapons themselves. Those were never out of physical control but the whole disregarding the process and stuff. That was what bothered him. The commander put these checks and balances in place for a reason and the Capt. Hadn’t been here long enough to break them without good reason.
Now Ivar needed to glance through the personnel jackets of the Capt and the Armorer. He wanted a good gauge of their backgrounds before he talked with them. He knew what he expected from his officers and at first glance, this wasn’t it. It came off as sloppy and lazy, two things he abhorred especially when they were supposed to be teaching people how they were supposed to do things.
Unless Capt Frickel came up with a phenomenal reason, Ivar thought it boiled down to a failure to lead. He was usually willing to give one mulligan, but it didn’t mean they were excused or forgiven. It meant they were given one opportunity to correct the errors of their ways and prove they were worth saving.
He knew The Armorer was a stickler for following guidance. She was informed of the procedures when she got here. She cross-referenced them with the Marine Corps guidance to deconflict and has been holding everyone to the standard ever since.
He knew it rubbed some old heads the wrong way at first since there isn’t a big female presence in Special Operations, but she was in a support position and wasn’t trying to do more than be the true subject matter expert at her craft. She also wasn’t intimidated by rank. With her, what’s right is right.
He remembered the Colonel who wanted her hide for telling him he couldn’t shoot for shit. Trouble was, she was right and he was wrong. She stood her ground and he told the Colonel to go pound sand when he was asked about it.
If it was just a ‘he said, she said’ thing, he knew where he was already leaning. The problem was all the headaches it could cause. He was looking at a whole new set of problems in picking up the whole base as his responsibilities. The ****ing dumbass! Why couldn’t Frickel just have done his job the way he was supposed to!
He had to talk to them both.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
An hour later, Ivar had the Armorer in his new office having a pointed discussion. He was pissed at the whole event.
“I get it. He’s an arrogant little shit who cut corners and didn’t do things right. Do we really need to go through all the hoops?”
“Sir, the officer ignored USMC regulation, Installation policy, the Commander’s guidance and willfully ordered the Duty NCO to do so as well. Part of the reason he has done so is his inability to separate his personal feelings about women in the military from his professional duty.”
Shit! Ivar didn’t really want this to go there. He saw a lot of people throw the race, religion or gender card as an excuse or a reason to justify their bad behavior. If he didn’t already review her record and know of her prior work here at the unit, it might have made him a lot more skeptical. As it was, with her few words, this has turned into a much larger and more serious issue.
“That’s a pretty serious accusation. I hope you have something to back up such a thing.” The tone in the room was serious, heavy, and dark all at once. She had just thrown a huge gauntlet to the floor and it landed with a crashing sound in the silence. She continued.
“Sgt. Jensen was the Duty NCO at the time. He tried to get the Officer to follow proper procedure and was shut down in a very blatant and colorful verbal exchange he is putting in his sworn statement as we speak, sir.”
Ivar cringed again. Doing dumb shit is bad. Doing dumb shit in front of witnesses is worse. He now had an officer who broke regulations, ordered others to break regulations and did so in a mannor that will surly get him hemmed up. Ivar knew now that Capt Frickel was done here. It remained to be seen if he would just get moved or would it be enough to separate him all together. That would be an awful lot of paperwork and headache on such a small installation. Then again, what’s right is right.
“Must be pretty bad for you to continue with this rather than just letting me slap him around with a warning. “He paused. He had to know the details and how hard she felt on the issue. “What did he say?”
“His reply to Sgt. Jensen’s request to follow procedure was” she looked at the notepad in her hand. “Quote ‘I don’t work for that prissy little ****! I don’t know who she blew to get here but she needs to go back to polishing nightsticks for the shore patrol instead of up here with special operations!’ end quote.” She closed her notebook and looked at the commander calmly, quietly and waited.
Ivar was surprised to say the least. This attitude troubled him more than anything else in the whole incident. He looked at the two folders on his desk. One was the officer in question. The other was hers. Hers was easily twice as thick, and not in a bad way. It was full of positive performance reports, letters of appreciation, as well as the list of decorations and medals. She has more than one deployment, and really knew her job, better than anyone he had worked with that had less than twenty years of experience.
The officer on the other hand, his record was less impressive. He had all the blocks filled to get where he was, but they looked like just that; block filling. There was no struggle to do better, no innovation, just cookie cutter ladder climber.
He would do a quick investigation among the staff. He would follow the process. He also knew when he was done, one of them would be leaving with a down check on the promotion category of their performance report at the least and most likely charges.
“I get it. He’s an arrogant little shit who cut corners and didn’t do things right. Do we really need to go through all the hoops?”
“Sir, the officer ignored USMC regulation, Installation policy, the Commander’s guidance and willfully ordered the Duty NCO to do so as well. Part of the reason he has done so is his inability to separate his personal feelings about women in the military from his professional duty.”
Shit! Ivar didn’t really want this to go there. He saw a lot of people throw the race, religion or gender card as an excuse or a reason to justify their bad behavior. If he didn’t already review her record and know of her prior work here at the unit, it might have made him a lot more skeptical. As it was, with her few words, this has turned into a much larger and more serious issue.
“That’s a pretty serious accusation. I hope you have something to back up such a thing.” The tone in the room was serious, heavy, and dark all at once. She had just thrown a huge gauntlet to the floor and it landed with a crashing sound in the silence. She continued.
“Sgt. Jensen was the Duty NCO at the time. He tried to get the Officer to follow proper procedure and was shut down in a very blatant and colorful verbal exchange he is putting in his sworn statement as we speak, sir.”
Ivar cringed again. Doing dumb shit is bad. Doing dumb shit in front of witnesses is worse. He now had an officer who broke regulations, ordered others to break regulations and did so in a mannor that will surly get him hemmed up. Ivar knew now that Capt Frickel was done here. It remained to be seen if he would just get moved or would it be enough to separate him all together. That would be an awful lot of paperwork and headache on such a small installation. Then again, what’s right is right.
“Must be pretty bad for you to continue with this rather than just letting me slap him around with a warning. “He paused. He had to know the details and how hard she felt on the issue. “What did he say?”
“His reply to Sgt. Jensen’s request to follow procedure was” she looked at the notepad in her hand. “Quote ‘I don’t work for that prissy little ****! I don’t know who she blew to get here but she needs to go back to polishing nightsticks for the shore patrol instead of up here with special operations!’ end quote.” She closed her notebook and looked at the commander calmly, quietly and waited.
Ivar was surprised to say the least. This attitude troubled him more than anything else in the whole incident. He looked at the two folders on his desk. One was the officer in question. The other was hers. Hers was easily twice as thick, and not in a bad way. It was full of positive performance reports, letters of appreciation, as well as the list of decorations and medals. She has more than one deployment, and really knew her job, better than anyone he had worked with that had less than twenty years of experience.
The officer on the other hand, his record was less impressive. He had all the blocks filled to get where he was, but they looked like just that; block filling. There was no struggle to do better, no innovation, just cookie cutter ladder climber.
He would do a quick investigation among the staff. He would follow the process. He also knew when he was done, one of them would be leaving with a down check on the promotion category of their performance report at the least and most likely charges.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Too bad we can't dish out a similar end to the current scum "guiding" our destinies.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Once the Armorer left, he called Silas in. Silas barely got the door closed before Ivar started talking.
“Frickel’s screwed, and that might not be a bad thing.”
“Alright, boss. I take it she had a lot to say?” Silas said as he slid into the chair across from Ivar.
“Not a lot, really, but what she said counted. She has sworn statements by Sgt. Jenson and is collecting some from the Arms Couriers detailing Frickel’s dereliction of duty, ordering Sgt. Jenson multiple times to violate standing orders, regulations and directives, including footage of him inside the Arms Room. Oh, did you know she put a set of security cameras inside the Arms room and right outside the arms room?”
“There have always been cameras there.”
“I’m not talking the 1990’s rejects that don’t work half the time and only operate as remote viewing prior to opening the door. I’m talking 4k with sound backed up off site?” Ivar smiled when he saw the surprised look on Silas’ face.
“First I’m hearing about it. I’ll have to talk to her about that some. Recording people without their knowledge is illegal and could get her hemmed up.”
“Not this girl. She pointed out the signs on the perimeter for our compound identifying the consent to recording, plus she had her cameras mounted in the celling near the big bulky ones and their ‘Closed Circuit Monitoring’ signs. She covered her bases on that. More importantly, they have microphones and great sound capturing capability.” Ivar held up a pair of DVDs. Handing one of them over he continued.
“On here we have full color high quality sound and image of Capt Frickel doing all the things he is accused of and more.”
“Shit! You’re right. He’s screwed if he was a normal Captain. The problem is, you know who his uncle is, right?”
“Yeah, and that’s one of the problems. He will activate the smokescreen, publicly humiliate and destroy the accuser and muddy the water tactics to get away with this sort of shit. I’m not worried too much about my career, but he will make life hard on the Armorer. The good thing is, she has the photographic evidence and has already thrown the gender card with concrete, not circumstantial, evidence of it.”
“Really? What does she have?”
“Sworn statements and video of Frickel breaking all the rules and such, but when he is confronted by Jenson, he popped off with ‘I don’t work for that prissy little ****! I don’t know who she blew to get here but she needs to go back to polishing nightsticks for the shore patrol instead of up here with special operations!’ All on camera, crystal clear, both sound and picture.”
Now Silas’ temper was up. He was the one who made the final call to hire Paige, so Capt Frickel was implying he was the one she was blowing to get this job. He never did things like that, either figuratively or literally! Not that she wasn’t cute, but she was about the same age as his daughter, he was more than happily married and on top of that, he has seen her boyfriend. Hell, the first time he saw him, he thought someone put a Marine uniform on a grizzly bear! Maybe if she tells her boyfriend what he said, he might just rip him apart and solve their problem. Back to reality.
“So what do we do to bottle this up and keep the ****atude off of us while we try to solve all the other shit we are taking over?”
“I’m going to hit him in the nuts with all this and hopefully cut him off at the knees before he gets his sea legs under him. He’s out of here as of today. Closest decent JAG office is over on Fallon. We ship him there next week to cool his heels while he waits for the Article 32 hearing and all the rest. That way, he’s away from here and out of our hair. Meanwhile, I’ll drop enough facts and inferences in his file that if he does find a way to stay in, he won’t be in Special Ops ever again.”
“Sounds like a good plan. You going to talk to him before or after you go over and take command?”
Yeah, let me get this out of the way so I can vent my temper on the real target. That way I’ll be more calmed down for the three ring chaos show next door. I already had the Duty NCO call him and tell him to get his ass in her to see me. He should be here any minute.”
“While you talk to him, I’ll get the schedules and assignments reshuffled, dropping him off. Don’t take too long ripping him a new one though boss, otherwise you will be late for your own meeting.”
“Right. As soon as he gets here, I’ll get it done, then you can watch the shop while I go collect our new little ducklings.”
“Frickel’s screwed, and that might not be a bad thing.”
“Alright, boss. I take it she had a lot to say?” Silas said as he slid into the chair across from Ivar.
“Not a lot, really, but what she said counted. She has sworn statements by Sgt. Jenson and is collecting some from the Arms Couriers detailing Frickel’s dereliction of duty, ordering Sgt. Jenson multiple times to violate standing orders, regulations and directives, including footage of him inside the Arms Room. Oh, did you know she put a set of security cameras inside the Arms room and right outside the arms room?”
“There have always been cameras there.”
“I’m not talking the 1990’s rejects that don’t work half the time and only operate as remote viewing prior to opening the door. I’m talking 4k with sound backed up off site?” Ivar smiled when he saw the surprised look on Silas’ face.
“First I’m hearing about it. I’ll have to talk to her about that some. Recording people without their knowledge is illegal and could get her hemmed up.”
“Not this girl. She pointed out the signs on the perimeter for our compound identifying the consent to recording, plus she had her cameras mounted in the celling near the big bulky ones and their ‘Closed Circuit Monitoring’ signs. She covered her bases on that. More importantly, they have microphones and great sound capturing capability.” Ivar held up a pair of DVDs. Handing one of them over he continued.
“On here we have full color high quality sound and image of Capt Frickel doing all the things he is accused of and more.”
“Shit! You’re right. He’s screwed if he was a normal Captain. The problem is, you know who his uncle is, right?”
“Yeah, and that’s one of the problems. He will activate the smokescreen, publicly humiliate and destroy the accuser and muddy the water tactics to get away with this sort of shit. I’m not worried too much about my career, but he will make life hard on the Armorer. The good thing is, she has the photographic evidence and has already thrown the gender card with concrete, not circumstantial, evidence of it.”
“Really? What does she have?”
“Sworn statements and video of Frickel breaking all the rules and such, but when he is confronted by Jenson, he popped off with ‘I don’t work for that prissy little ****! I don’t know who she blew to get here but she needs to go back to polishing nightsticks for the shore patrol instead of up here with special operations!’ All on camera, crystal clear, both sound and picture.”
Now Silas’ temper was up. He was the one who made the final call to hire Paige, so Capt Frickel was implying he was the one she was blowing to get this job. He never did things like that, either figuratively or literally! Not that she wasn’t cute, but she was about the same age as his daughter, he was more than happily married and on top of that, he has seen her boyfriend. Hell, the first time he saw him, he thought someone put a Marine uniform on a grizzly bear! Maybe if she tells her boyfriend what he said, he might just rip him apart and solve their problem. Back to reality.
“So what do we do to bottle this up and keep the ****atude off of us while we try to solve all the other shit we are taking over?”
“I’m going to hit him in the nuts with all this and hopefully cut him off at the knees before he gets his sea legs under him. He’s out of here as of today. Closest decent JAG office is over on Fallon. We ship him there next week to cool his heels while he waits for the Article 32 hearing and all the rest. That way, he’s away from here and out of our hair. Meanwhile, I’ll drop enough facts and inferences in his file that if he does find a way to stay in, he won’t be in Special Ops ever again.”
“Sounds like a good plan. You going to talk to him before or after you go over and take command?”
Yeah, let me get this out of the way so I can vent my temper on the real target. That way I’ll be more calmed down for the three ring chaos show next door. I already had the Duty NCO call him and tell him to get his ass in her to see me. He should be here any minute.”
“While you talk to him, I’ll get the schedules and assignments reshuffled, dropping him off. Don’t take too long ripping him a new one though boss, otherwise you will be late for your own meeting.”
“Right. As soon as he gets here, I’ll get it done, then you can watch the shop while I go collect our new little ducklings.”
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Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Couriers ???
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Passing Judgement
“Sir, that shit isn’t right! We didn’t lose anything! They were put exactly where they were supposed to be, secured and right there ready to be inventoried today. I got it done. She’s just bitching that I didn’t say ‘mother may I’. I was the Duty Officer. I was authorized access. I went in, secured them and secured the room afterward. That was my JOB, taking care of things.” Frickel said again.
Ivar wasn’t swayed or convinced. Frickel didn’t know this was coming so Ivar ambushed him and got more of a true snapshot of his attitude.
“Your job was to do the things that need done, but you were supposed to obey and follow the unit procedures we have in place. There was no immediate threat needing a deviation from our policies. You also can’t use ‘I didn’t know’ as an excuse. Sgt. Jenson tried to keep you on the right path, as he should. You shut him down and gave him several unlawful orders. Your dumbassery wasn’t going to destroy equipment, endanger lives, or jeopardize sensitive items, so rather than pushing the issue and going over your head or trying to stop you which would have been within his rights, he figured to engage through channels. The Armorer got there first.”
All during his speech, Ivar could see Frickel getting madder and more uncomfortable, barely holding onto control of his temper and his tongue. Ivar just kept going. The way to drive a nail is all the way flush.
“Right now I have two NCOs who have tried to uphold their duty and follow their guidance, and one Officer who thinks he can do whatever he wants as long as there are no witnesses. I have two NCOs who follow orders, and an Officer who doesn’t. If I can’t trust you to follow the simple guidance you had, even when prompted, I can’t trust you when things get hot and dangerous. I cannot and will not trust you in a combat zone. I don’t know who’s dick you’ll have to swallow to stay in the service but there isn’t a list of people long enough to keep you in Special Ops. Maybe YOU can go polish nightsticks for Shore Patrol because you sure as hell don’t belong up here with Special ops. You will clean out your locker, turn in your gear and be out of the compound by the end of the day. Monday we will have travel orders for you to Fallon to await your Article 32 hearing to find out if it’s just separation or greybar hotel for you. You can shortcut most of this and resign your commission. If you do, I will recommend nothing worse than a General Discharge and no confinement. You fight this and I will list every charge and infraction, and I am a creative man.”
Capt Frickel started to say something but Ivar cut him off.
“Don’t talk. Just get out.”
Ivar finished grabbing his papers and throwing them in his messenger bag. He had a meeting to get to and he was late. He knew by the time he got back, Silas would have him off the compound and maybe even off the base. Silas was good that way.
“Sir, that shit isn’t right! We didn’t lose anything! They were put exactly where they were supposed to be, secured and right there ready to be inventoried today. I got it done. She’s just bitching that I didn’t say ‘mother may I’. I was the Duty Officer. I was authorized access. I went in, secured them and secured the room afterward. That was my JOB, taking care of things.” Frickel said again.
Ivar wasn’t swayed or convinced. Frickel didn’t know this was coming so Ivar ambushed him and got more of a true snapshot of his attitude.
“Your job was to do the things that need done, but you were supposed to obey and follow the unit procedures we have in place. There was no immediate threat needing a deviation from our policies. You also can’t use ‘I didn’t know’ as an excuse. Sgt. Jenson tried to keep you on the right path, as he should. You shut him down and gave him several unlawful orders. Your dumbassery wasn’t going to destroy equipment, endanger lives, or jeopardize sensitive items, so rather than pushing the issue and going over your head or trying to stop you which would have been within his rights, he figured to engage through channels. The Armorer got there first.”
All during his speech, Ivar could see Frickel getting madder and more uncomfortable, barely holding onto control of his temper and his tongue. Ivar just kept going. The way to drive a nail is all the way flush.
“Right now I have two NCOs who have tried to uphold their duty and follow their guidance, and one Officer who thinks he can do whatever he wants as long as there are no witnesses. I have two NCOs who follow orders, and an Officer who doesn’t. If I can’t trust you to follow the simple guidance you had, even when prompted, I can’t trust you when things get hot and dangerous. I cannot and will not trust you in a combat zone. I don’t know who’s dick you’ll have to swallow to stay in the service but there isn’t a list of people long enough to keep you in Special Ops. Maybe YOU can go polish nightsticks for Shore Patrol because you sure as hell don’t belong up here with Special ops. You will clean out your locker, turn in your gear and be out of the compound by the end of the day. Monday we will have travel orders for you to Fallon to await your Article 32 hearing to find out if it’s just separation or greybar hotel for you. You can shortcut most of this and resign your commission. If you do, I will recommend nothing worse than a General Discharge and no confinement. You fight this and I will list every charge and infraction, and I am a creative man.”
Capt Frickel started to say something but Ivar cut him off.
“Don’t talk. Just get out.”
Ivar finished grabbing his papers and throwing them in his messenger bag. He had a meeting to get to and he was late. He knew by the time he got back, Silas would have him off the compound and maybe even off the base. Silas was good that way.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Having to give someone a career adjustment is never nice, no matter how deserved it might be.
Lone_Hawk
Resident Spook
Just a suggestion. Ivar and Silas I seem to recall were very senior NOCs. If in fact they are the senior officers, which I am assuming they are, you might want to through in their ranks just as a refresher as to where they are in the chain of command. Because Lord only knows where that information was provided in 160+ pages of great story!
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
i did in post #6640
Ivar is the Executive Officer/ DO and Silas is the Sgt Maj for the Special Ops detachment
Market Day
Part 6
10 Apr 2022
The earthquake surprised everyone in the country. The effects of it and the tidal wave shocked the world. The scope and scale weren’t quite apparent right away. It took time for the shear totality of the devastation and the cascade failures resulting from them to surface. People not within the initial impact zone mostly went on with their lives as best as they could, until the ripples started reaching them.
Ivar was sitting at his boss’s desk when it hit. He was filling in as the temporary commander of the little Special Operation Detachment here at the Marine Mountain Warfare Center. It was near the end of the week and his boss, and a bunch of the others were down in San Diego at a big conference.
Ivar was doublechecking the details for the class starting next week when his longtime friend, the Sergeant Major for the Detachment came in.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
ok, point taken, but in my own defense it was only a page ago.
Lone_Hawk
Resident Spook
Oh, no reason for you to defend! Honestly this is a complicated story, well written, that is just a minor detail that seemed to stand out to me. I don't quible about the small shit.
Texican
Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
I think that's a large club Tex; I'm a charter member myselfLH,
Your other half has trained you well.
Texican....
Yes. If my error was only a page or two, I consider all well. 50 is too much.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Yup, it was many pages ago in part 3, but only a page ago in part 6 so if you missed a sentence or two, it could have skated past you
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
In the Equipment Bays
Silas was in the equipment bays talking to the Senior Sgt of the students for the class starting this week, or at least supposed to start this week.
“Well, I’m sure we will still be able to do some training, but the main iteration you were supposed to integrate in with towards the end won’t be happening. The base is down by half to two-thirds of its instructional staff between those already at the conference in San Diego and the recovery support elements we are sending south. We still have almost all our instructors here for the first part though and you guys will still be able to learn the core lessons, we just won’t have anyone for you to play with your new skills.”
“Shit! I understand. We all do. We were wondering if you guys would have just sent us away or what. Better here and getting the training. I got some junior guys who could use it. We are next to go and we will hit there in winter, so we really need this tune up.”
“Great! We will be flexing the schedule some to make it all still happen, so if you have your guys get familiar with the layout here, get your gear sorted and we should start classroom stuff tomorrow. I’ll have one of the senior Instructors swing by with the updated loadouts, your study books and daily class schedules.”
“Anything we can do to fill in and help out just let us know.”
“Sure thing. Kingfisher will get with your guys shortly.”
“Kingfisher’s still here?”
“Yeah, he’s still here. This was going to be one of his last classes though. He was supposed to be moving down to Pendleton. Don’t know if that’s going to happen now. I take it he was here when you took the class last time?”
“Yeah, that man is a wizard on the range.”
“How many cases of beer did he take you guys for until you got smart and stopped playing?”
“I lost track but it…”
He was interrupted by the intercom speaker.
“Corpsman to the Arms Room, Corpsman to the Arms room. Make it fast, Doc, Man Down!”
“That can’t be good!”
“I’ll get with you later. I gotta go check this out.” Silas said as he left the bay headed for the other building and the Arms Room.
Silas was halfway to the other building when one of the junior NCOs came running across from the main building. When he saw the Sgt Maj, he veered off course and came straight to him.
“Sgt Maj, Capt. Frickel attacked the Armorer! Doc called for the MEDIVAC and wanted you and the Commander.”
“The commander is down on main base. I’ll have to do. Did someone already call the helicopter?”
“Yes, Sgt Maj. I was looking for you and getting the UTV.”
“Well, you found me, so get the UTV.”
The Junior NCO raced off as Silas continued towards the Arms Room, all the way kicking himself for ****ing this up so bad.
He knew he was too calm. H knew he was taking it too well. H should have had two other guys escort him all the way. He thought he was working more on thinking about who to call, who to connive, who to blackmail, when instead he should have seen him lashing out like the cornered dumbass he was.
There was a crowd of people in the hallway next to the Arms Room. Some seemed to be trying to see what was going on, others were standing around gossiping about what happened. Silas started pushing his way forward. As he moved someone told him the MEDIVAC was inbound, eight minutes out. He had to get in there.
“Make a hole!” Silas’ voice echoed in the hallway.
The bodies parted and let him in. He made his way to the doorway. “Someone want to tell me what…..” His words trailed off as he took in the scene. The sight that greeted him took a moment or two to digest.
Paige was on the floor. Two of the student Medics were working on her mostly naked form, franticly attaching leads, putting in IV lines, drawing up drugs. Damn!
The other people in the room! Two more of the students were holding Frickel in one corner and Sabine stood in the middle of the room between Frickel and Paige. She was standing stock still, holding a pistol at full extension, pointed right at Frickel. He saw her face. Sabine. He sure as hell knew she could kill, but he didn’t know if she could like this.
He saw Frickel start to move forward. That’s when he heard the click of Sabine taking the safety off. He looked at Sabine’s face, expecting anger or fear or something. Instead, it was like looking at a porcelain statue.
After what felt like forever, he spoke. He had to, otherwise, he knew in his heart Sabine would shoot Frickel. As much as part of him wanted her to, he didn’t want all the consequences it could cause.
“Doc, we are going to take him away now. The bird is inbound, seven minutes. We will take care of this so you can take care of your patient.”
“Sergeant Major, better get him out of here or I will put him in a bag.” Sabine never broke eye contact with the Captain, never blinked or wiggled.
Several NCOs moved in. All were careful not to get between the muzzle and the Captain. They escorted him out of the room. Sabine went back to packaging Paige.
The two medics lifted Paige up on the backboard and carried her out to the medical UTV. It had a spot to put a litter patient. They drove out of the compound and straight over to the helipad.
Silas was in the equipment bays talking to the Senior Sgt of the students for the class starting this week, or at least supposed to start this week.
“Well, I’m sure we will still be able to do some training, but the main iteration you were supposed to integrate in with towards the end won’t be happening. The base is down by half to two-thirds of its instructional staff between those already at the conference in San Diego and the recovery support elements we are sending south. We still have almost all our instructors here for the first part though and you guys will still be able to learn the core lessons, we just won’t have anyone for you to play with your new skills.”
“Shit! I understand. We all do. We were wondering if you guys would have just sent us away or what. Better here and getting the training. I got some junior guys who could use it. We are next to go and we will hit there in winter, so we really need this tune up.”
“Great! We will be flexing the schedule some to make it all still happen, so if you have your guys get familiar with the layout here, get your gear sorted and we should start classroom stuff tomorrow. I’ll have one of the senior Instructors swing by with the updated loadouts, your study books and daily class schedules.”
“Anything we can do to fill in and help out just let us know.”
“Sure thing. Kingfisher will get with your guys shortly.”
“Kingfisher’s still here?”
“Yeah, he’s still here. This was going to be one of his last classes though. He was supposed to be moving down to Pendleton. Don’t know if that’s going to happen now. I take it he was here when you took the class last time?”
“Yeah, that man is a wizard on the range.”
“How many cases of beer did he take you guys for until you got smart and stopped playing?”
“I lost track but it…”
He was interrupted by the intercom speaker.
“Corpsman to the Arms Room, Corpsman to the Arms room. Make it fast, Doc, Man Down!”
“That can’t be good!”
“I’ll get with you later. I gotta go check this out.” Silas said as he left the bay headed for the other building and the Arms Room.
Silas was halfway to the other building when one of the junior NCOs came running across from the main building. When he saw the Sgt Maj, he veered off course and came straight to him.
“Sgt Maj, Capt. Frickel attacked the Armorer! Doc called for the MEDIVAC and wanted you and the Commander.”
“The commander is down on main base. I’ll have to do. Did someone already call the helicopter?”
“Yes, Sgt Maj. I was looking for you and getting the UTV.”
“Well, you found me, so get the UTV.”
The Junior NCO raced off as Silas continued towards the Arms Room, all the way kicking himself for ****ing this up so bad.
He knew he was too calm. H knew he was taking it too well. H should have had two other guys escort him all the way. He thought he was working more on thinking about who to call, who to connive, who to blackmail, when instead he should have seen him lashing out like the cornered dumbass he was.
There was a crowd of people in the hallway next to the Arms Room. Some seemed to be trying to see what was going on, others were standing around gossiping about what happened. Silas started pushing his way forward. As he moved someone told him the MEDIVAC was inbound, eight minutes out. He had to get in there.
“Make a hole!” Silas’ voice echoed in the hallway.
The bodies parted and let him in. He made his way to the doorway. “Someone want to tell me what…..” His words trailed off as he took in the scene. The sight that greeted him took a moment or two to digest.
Paige was on the floor. Two of the student Medics were working on her mostly naked form, franticly attaching leads, putting in IV lines, drawing up drugs. Damn!
The other people in the room! Two more of the students were holding Frickel in one corner and Sabine stood in the middle of the room between Frickel and Paige. She was standing stock still, holding a pistol at full extension, pointed right at Frickel. He saw her face. Sabine. He sure as hell knew she could kill, but he didn’t know if she could like this.
He saw Frickel start to move forward. That’s when he heard the click of Sabine taking the safety off. He looked at Sabine’s face, expecting anger or fear or something. Instead, it was like looking at a porcelain statue.
After what felt like forever, he spoke. He had to, otherwise, he knew in his heart Sabine would shoot Frickel. As much as part of him wanted her to, he didn’t want all the consequences it could cause.
“Doc, we are going to take him away now. The bird is inbound, seven minutes. We will take care of this so you can take care of your patient.”
“Sergeant Major, better get him out of here or I will put him in a bag.” Sabine never broke eye contact with the Captain, never blinked or wiggled.
Several NCOs moved in. All were careful not to get between the muzzle and the Captain. They escorted him out of the room. Sabine went back to packaging Paige.
The two medics lifted Paige up on the backboard and carried her out to the medical UTV. It had a spot to put a litter patient. They drove out of the compound and straight over to the helipad.