New job, same old office

Posted on Sun Jun 14th, 2020 @ 8:55am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea
Edited on on Sun Jun 14th, 2020 @ 9:49am

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Naxea's Office.
1264 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Naxea hadn't been in the best of moods lately with her XO departing the detachment--which had once again left her with all of the duties of running the Detachment. However, as she sat behind her desk, reading a message from the Starfleet Marine Commandant, she smiled. "Major Azhul to Gunny Rhodes, please report to my office as soon as possible."

Rhodes, fresh from chewing Briggs out, wandered in less than five minutes later, "Reporting as ordered, Ma'am." Rhodes said as he came to rigid attention.

Naxea stood and took a black box out of the top drawer of her desk, holding it in her hand. "At ease. I just received a communiqué from the Starfleet Marine Corps Commandant. It seems you are not only getting a promotion but an honorary commission to Warrant Officer and assignment as the Detachment's Executive Officer until further notice," Naxea was now smiling as she opened the box that held a Warrant Officer Pip.

"Well, that's a load off, good to know I'm not being transferred off of the ship." Rhodes said, "XO?? What happened to Lt. Mollusk?"

"He got orders to Starbase 57," Naxea explained. "He didn't seem like a good fit for the detachment--never really took the time to get to know those under him. You however, I know don't have that problem and you've been here longer than I have so you know them even better than I do. I'm just glad they promoted you and not send me another boot lieutenant."

"Last thing in the galaxy I wanted to do was break in some new shavetail." Rhodes sneered, he wasn't all that fond of officers period, and newly minted Second Looey's were the most worthless things in the military, that had never changed, "So, what about Stohl or Wyatt to take my spot? If you're not interested in transferring De la Rosa over as a Master Sergeant and letting him take my spot." Rhodes knew the Major didn't share his high regard for his chosen successor, but wasn't about to miss a chance to push for him.

"No," Naxea said sharply. She would not ever have Chief De la Rosa in her detachment. He was a wild card and in her opinion not Marine material. "I'm planning on promoting Gunnery Sergeant Wyatt to your old position as he has the experience and rank necessary."

"Wyatt's a good man." Rhodes nodded, "Though, with respect, Major, what exactly is your problem with De la Rosa? He mentioned you didn't have a high opinion of him, want to tell me why?"

"Because he's a wild card, gunny--er, Gunner. The first time I gave him an order, he argued with it and defied it," Naxea said. "And in a combat situation nonetheless. I don't need nor want someone like that under my command."

"Fair enough." Rhodes nodded, he wasn't about to argue with her about something like that, "Like I said, Wyatt is a good man and can go right in. I like plug and play as much as the next guy."

"So, Gunner," Naxea said as she walked around the desk and took the rank pip out of the box. She removed the Gunnery Sergeant rank and placed the Warrant Officer Pip in it's place. "Welcome to the Officer Corps. May whatever higher power you may believe in, have mercy on you," she smiled.

"Just hope the clowns don't think I'm going to go any easier on them now that I've got this on my neck instead of my stripes." Rhodes laughed, "Because there's damn sure not going to be any breaks or cake assignments for that bunch, I know how much they screw around."

Naxea laughed. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you. You can start setting up in your office at anytime. Is there anything you need from me?"

"Yeah, I need you and Gunny Wyatt to join me in a reclamation project on PFC Briggs." Rhodes replied, bringing up the name of the Marine he just gave his last ass chewing as an NCO, "She's been in seven years, got two left on her hitch, been busted twice and if she doesn't show some serious progression in the next two years they're going to muster her out, she's too good a Marine to lose. That was the argument Maj. Ozaki made to keep her in a year back when she signed on for three more years, they were going to kick her in the ass and send her back to civilian life then."

"What has she been busted for?" Naxea asked, crossing her arms. She didn't know much about Briggs other than the few times she had exchanged pleasantries with the woman.

"Well, there was a brawl at a nightclub on Risa when she was with 7th Recon, though her story has always been that the guy came up from behind her, grabbed her ass, and tried to kiss her so she swatted him one." Rhodes replied, "That was last year right before she got sent here after Recon dumped her."

"She's Recon qualified and she was busted for defending herself from a pervert?" Naxea asked. Not many aboard had Recon training. It was something that Naxea had in common with the woman."

"Local prosecutor wasn't interested in her story, JAG didn't care about the brawl, they busted her for AWOL when she was sentenced to ninety days confinement." Rhodes continued, "Her original demotion before that she went from Lance Corporal back to PFC for making a pass at her CO, then Capt. Ozaki, when she was stationed on the Atlantis-C. XO filed the charge, third party sexual harassment, claimed fraternization, he wanted Ozaki's job and was aiming for her, hit Briggs instead."

"I see..." Naxea began as she contemplated. "And she now has an attitude, believing everyone is against her?"

"No, she was given bad information from her First Sergeant with the 7th who told her after she got an article 15 with the last one that she was going nowhere in the Corps now so her attitude is I've got no chance, why bother? And it's grating on me because she's got the skills to be the best one we've got here."

"Well then. It looks like I may have to speak with her," Naxea said, fuming at her former 1st Sergeant. There were plenty of outstanding Staff NCOs in the Corps but there were always a few that made it a goal everyday to ruin some Marine's career and she despised Marines like those. "In fact, I may have an idea to get her motivated but again, I will need to speak with her first."

"I'll see that she's properly motivated to make time for you, Major." Rhodes replied, "And the First Sergeant at the 7th was Master Sergeant Winthrop, good man, over thirty years in, needed to keep the safety on his mouth that particular day."

"Agreed. Is there anything else you need?" Naxea liked Rhodes and wouldn't have anyone else as her new XO.

"Just a little indulgence, since I'm not going to be taking it easy on this bunch." Rhodes replied, "But you knew that already, so nothing really else."

"That I do, Gunner. Then that's all. Just have Briggs to see me at her earliest convenience. And again congratulations on the promotion. You earned it."

"Thank you, Major." Rhodes nodded, waiting to be dismissed properly.

Naxea grinned as Rhodes was still standing at her desk. "You're dimissed." Good thing he's not married, she thought. He would likely wait for permission from the wife to go to sleep.

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