Devil Dog to Devil Dog...

Posted on Sat Aug 6th, 2022 @ 10:31am by Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS Elysium, Marine County, MCO's office
Timeline: TBD (an hour following "Marine Lovers")
1503 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

After hearing about the altercation down in, not only Marine Country, but in the MCO's office, Mattias told Josh and Anna to stay put in their quarters for now.

He would deal with them after he tried to repair the damage they caused with the Colonel.

He made his way down to her office, greeting the various Marine he saw, a few he had served with a one time or another, until finally, he stood outside her office.

Making sure his uniform was looking proper, he reached up and pressed her door chime.

"Enter," she called tiredly. It had been a long day and she couldn't wait to get to her quarters and relax. But that would have to wait as she saw Captain Richardson enter her office.

Mattias entered and, after moving smartly to a spot in front of the Colonel's desk, snapped to attention and saluted. "Colonel, thank you for agreeing to meet with me." He stood at ease, then continued. "As I'm sure you realized, this has to do with the earlier altercation."

"I suspected as much," she replied before gesturing to a seat in front of her desk. "Have a seat, Captain. To be honest, I expected better from Marines assigned as a Diplomatic Protection Detail. "

"Thank you, Ma'am," he replied respectfully as he sat in the offered chair. "And to be equally as honest, So do I Colonel." He was silent for a moment, then asked, "Permission to speak openly, Ma'am?"

Naxea nodded. "Permission granted," she said, wanting to hear what Richardson had to say.

Mattias nodded again. "Thank you. First of all, Ma'am, I must apologize for what occurred here. As their commanding officer, both during the recent Black Ops mission, and now in DipSec, I clearly have failed them in my leadership. I thought I had fully stressed to them the importance of being aware that we are now back in a line company setting, and not still out in the reeds." He sighed and shook his head slowly.

"Please don't get wrong, while we were out doing the job, they were not only an excellent team, but a pair of some of the best operators that I've had the privilege to serve with. And as a Marine who has spent most of his career in SpecOps, I know talent when I see it." He took a breath and reiterated

"So, I must accept that the fault of their behavior is solely on me, and I humbly apologize, Colonel. Rest assured; I will ensure this situation never occurs again."

Mattias tone was clearly honest, sincere and regretful. All he could do was hope that Naxea would accept his apology.

Leaning back in her chair, Naxea gauged Richadson for a moment. "Apology accepted, Captain. I don't mind sparring and friendly banter among my Marines but when it nearly comes to blows with my XO of all people and not to mention having insults hurled at me by Lieutenant Hendrix of all things. So she is on paper thin ice with me. If she so much as looks at me wrong, I will throw her ass in the Brig so fast she will think she's a first-year cadet again."

Mattias nodded in agreement. "That is certainly fair, Colonel." He was thoughtful for a couple beats, before adding, "With respect as to any possible issues. What would you say about me sending her down here, to get refamiliarized with how a line company works? Perhaps she has spent too much time out in the reeds and needs to relearn her manners? Besides, she is of no good to me right now. Can you imagine how her short temper will been received with any of the ambassadors?"

"Sure," she replied. "She can start by being on the maintenance detail," she stated. It was a detail of Marines assigned to keep up maintenance on weapons and equipment. The detail changed each month and there was a detail being scheduled in the next few days.

Mattias chuckled a bit. "Tell you the truth? I think she'd actually love that job! She is a big fan of guns. On the team, she toted around this huge Phaser Repeater cannon."

"That doesn't seem very bright," she observed. Lugging a huge weapon around on missions was never a good idea in her book, unless you naturally had above average strength and endurance such as Klingons, Gorn, Vulcanoids, and Capellans.

"Believe me, she is stronger than she looks," Mattias replied, as if sensing what was going through Naxea's mind. "And she really only used it twice. Once when..well...when enemy found us and the other..." he chuckled again. "Towards the end, when they did again." He hoped the Colonel wasn't insulted by his vagueness.

"I see," Naxea replied after a moment. "As her direct supervisor, just make sure she is on her best behavior because she will be watched very closely whenever she is in Marine Country."

Mattias nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. Believe me when I tell you that she is on the same ice on my team. I can't have someone who is that volatile be trusted to do what is right, when one of their protectees gives them an attitude. I'm sure you are aware that Marines that pull embassy duty, of any kind, especially DipSec, are held to a higher standard than the rest of the Corps. That's the way its been for centuries." He shook his head sadly as he continued.

"If she doesn't get her act together soon, I'll have no choice but to remove her from team."

"Maybe it would teach her a lesson," Naxea concluded before letting out a sigh before grinning. "So, rumors have it you and Captain Lalor are getting married."

Mattias shrugged at the first part of Naxea's comment. Then, when she mentioned Phoenix, his face lit up in a happy grin. "Yes Ma'am, we are. The invitations should be going out to everyone in the next couple of days. You, of course, are invited. I was actually going to ask if you'd be willing to be on my Saber detail, have you and my best friend, as the final set, to wish us on our way?"

"I'm honored, Captain. Yes, I'll be there," she smiled. "Thank you. I don't have anything else unless you have any questions?" She could only hope that the issue with Lieutenant Hendrix was dealt with.

Mattias smiled, glad to hear that the Colonel accepted his request. Then, he turned a bit more somber. "What could you tell me about the man that Phoenix was married to previously? The one that she had the twins with?" He shrugged slightly as he nodded. "I know what she has told me, good and bad. I was just wondering about an outside perspective, Marine to Marine?"

Naxea thought for a moment. She had known the Captain had been married but she barely knew anything about the man. Captain Lalor is a rather private person in Naxea's regard. "I honestly don't know much about him other than the ending of the relationship and his passing left her a distant person socially."

Mattias nodded slowly, seemingly deep in thought. He was a little worried that Phoenix had shut herself down after her husband's death. Of course, who could blame her? He had done the exact thing when Saundra and Little Charlie had been murdered.

Looking back at Naxea, he gave her a polite smile. "Thank you anyways, Colonel. I guess things haven't exactly been easy for you guys here? I heard briefly, through other trusted sources, about your unfortunate run in with your MU counterparts." He raised his hand to stop her from saying anything. "I'm not saying that to pressure you into going back through that trauma. I've never experienced that part of the universe, so I could never understand what you all experienced. What I will say is this, I've had my own share of trauma, so, if you do ever feel like needing a friendly shoulder, or someone to spar with, it would be my honor to help a friend."

"Well, sparring is off the list for the next several months but thank you Captain," she replied. She didn't want to ever relive that experience again and if they ever did run into their mirror selves again, she would toss the rules of engagement out the nearest airlock and kill everyone in sight.

Mattias nodded and stood, offering his hand to her in friendship. "Anytime, Ma'am. And please, when we are in relaxed settings, please feel free to call me Mattias."

Naxea stood, grasping Mattias' hand. "We'll see," she grinned at the man. She watched Mattias turn and leave her office as she sat back down behind her desk.

Mattias nodded to her, then turned and left. Unfortunately for his now-relaxed mood, he had to no go and rip into his Marines. Above all else, discipline and proper military decorum had to be maintained. Especially when one was dealing with superior officers.

END

 

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