Big Ship

Posted on Fri Sep 23rd, 2022 @ 5:20pm by Captain Samuel Woolheater & Crewman Adelaide Kirkby & Gunnery Sergeant Kodiak "Kodi" Gunn

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS Elysium - DECK THIRTY-TWO - MARINE COUNTRY
1611 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

Kodi was lost. This ship, he was sure, was probably as big as a starbase. Just this deck alone went on for kilometers, it seemed. He looked down at his assigned quarters room number and then back down the corridor. He noticed what looked like a coffee mess and a lieutenant standing at the doorway.

“Excuse me, Lieutenant?” he asked as he walked over closer. “I am new on board and completely turned around. Could you help me out?” Kodi handed over his room assignment. “This place is huge, Sir.”

Woolheater was enjoying a new coffee blend from the replicator, "Tactisquatch" and it even had a little image of a marine sniper kitted out to look like a Sasquatch. He heard a familiar sounding voice and looked over at the tall marine standing nearby, "You bet I can help out Gunny." Sam took a look at the room assignment, "Oh? You get a berth; not a room man. That sucks. You get a rack; I can still help you." Sam looked up at the guy and thought he looked familiar. "This way, I'll show you." They started to walk, "Hell yeah the ship is big. Starfleet had to use one of those big ass novelty checks just to put a down payment on it. Elysium is definitely the plus whipped cream package and a cherry on top." Sam chatted, "Where you from?"

Kodi, relived to find someone that could help him, eagerly followed the lieutenant. “Ehh, I’m kind of from everywhere. My dad was a Marine, retired now. I was born on Starbase One while he was stationed on Berengaria VII.” He shrugged his shoulders some. “His last posting was on the Nimitz, then retired on Starbase 80, opened a pub. How about you?”

Sam started to put it together, who this man was. "Starbase One, I knew a SSgt. back in the day and he had a dad from....whoa." He said and stopped just outside the entrance to the marine barracks, "Your last name is Gunn? Oh hells yes. I know you bud!! Fuckin' ay, I know you! You're Kodi! Everybody calls you KODI!" Sam set down his coffee and shook the marine's hand and that pulled him into a bro hug, "Shit! Man! You and I met....doing that urban warfare trainign man? Remember? You were such a badass. Remember?!! Man did you get busted on that OP? I remember that it was some concrete town, spooks and shadows and shit and you were like" here Sam made a very tough guy face by scrunching up his nose and furrowing his brow, "...I ain't takin' this shit no more! Right?" Sam laughed out loud, "And....we were all like.....Staff Sergeant Kodi, no, we have to have minimal casualties and none can be civvies." Sam laughed and chuckled, and "Nope...I'm tired of this...I'm going" Sam continued, "And off you went a one man marine battalion and you took out the first what....like thirty? Thirty bad guys you just fuckin' DROPPED! Bwahahahahaha!" Sam's eyes were wet, "Aww shit man. How the fuck are you doing? What they happened after that? I heard Nimitz but that was an Admiral's ship man? Aww...brother it's good to see you!"

Instantly Kodi recognized the officer. “Holy balls,” he exclaimed as he fought through his laughter, “Lieutenant Woolheater! You look different without the helmet and mud on your face, Sir.” Gunn felt suddenly at ease. “Yeah, Major Dor chewed my ass out pretty bad for that. I don’t like to lose and those guys were mocking us pretty hard. It wasn’t my fault they gave us live flash bangs and they were wearing night googles. It wasn’t quite thirty, I don’t think, but they were all grouped up tight.” Kodi smiled and wiped the tears from his eyes. “Hey Sir, it was your idea to love those flash bangs into those windows, and if I remember right, you were the one that set up the flank and overtook them. I was just the dummy that was dumb enough to be bait.”

“Good times, LT. as for my Pops, yeah he followed the Admiral around for about seven years. List both arms while in the Nimitz. Won’t talk. Said it was a mission on a planer, that never existed. So when the Admiral took command of a Starbase, parents followed with him and some huge reman Captain. I think the Admiral retired and is living in some tropical paradise running deep sea fishing service.” Kodi slapped the other man on the shoulder. “How about you, Sir? How have you been? I see you got your promotion. Congrats.”

"Hey, the mud is camoflauge! Hahaha!" It was good to see Kodi again and Sam was happy for it. "Yeah, I thought I'd never make it past second lieutenant. Last tour was on the Hale, it is a good ship, a good Captain. I had a good team there. The OP went to shit; we lost good people and...yeah...it didn't end well. The Corps ut me on administrative leave. So, y'know, I was done. OK? I was going to go and get my Sharpshooter, the fuckin' coveted holy grail." Sam wished he hadn't gone down this path now. "Anyway...things didn't turn out there as I wanted them too. We got a high score, I'm still a damn sharpshooter. But, I kinda lost in a bigger way." He shrugged his shoulders, "Anyway, look, I'm glad you're here, I'm here, they made me a first LT on this beast. And the sixty-second....we're damn good Kodi. Colonel and the XO, this detachment is death to the enemy, man."

“Oorah, LT! I heard that!” exclaimed Gunn. “This is the cream of the crop, The 62. You can imagine how lucky I felt when they accepted my transfer as First Sergeant.” Kodi smiled. “It’s damn nice to see you, Sir. I’ll go to war with you, any day.”

Sam nodded back, "I feel the same way Kodi. So, let's get your berth figured out and I'll give you a tour ay? Did you already get medical check-in done Gunny?" Sam asked as he put his hand on the man's shoulder in a friendly gesture as they walked into the barracks.

“I haven’t seen the doc, yet.” replied Gunn. “I figure they should be my next stop. The hyposprays freak me out, when you get your inoculations. I swear I can taste the medicine every time I get one. Docs say it’s impossible.” Gunn was unknowingly smiling while walking. It was always nice to find a familiar face in a new duty assignment.

After finding the cabin assignment and the fact that Kodi shared the cabin with another Gunnery Sergeant, Sam said, "Did you have to share a room back on your previous posting?"

“I was Senior Drill Instructor back on Earth. Camp Pendleton. There is some satisfaction in watching the next generations of Marines learn how to work together and overcome difficulties.”

Woolheater nods, "Well. Cool. We can always move you around to your own quarters. Maybe the XO can help you out there? I have never been to Pendleton. But, you know, I was born on Pacifica to colonists from Earth. My parents didn't want a marine son...well...just my dad really. Anyway. Not important. Parris Island and then off to Quantico. I am human, despite what anyone else says, so, I guess they just figured what worked 500 years ago stills works today. Got my rifleman at Quantico. Then I while at naval academy I did my sharpshooter at Camp Margrave on Titan. I've only ever been to Camp Falkirk. Good times; what a life we lead. Hey? You ready for the nickel tour Kodi?"

"I took a tour of Quantico, once. Nice place there. I heard they serve real food to you guys over there?" Gunn nodded and smiled. "Yeah, a nickel tour sounds great. The CO gave me a basic tour, but I'm sure you know all the fun places."

"Yup, well, I try to know the fun places. C'mon?" They started walking the deck and Sam showed Kodi around. "Food here is good. Somebody must have passed a note to the replicator board of inquiry because food sure is tasting better. Hell, I put on five-fuckin' pounds already. I need to work out more so I can eat whatever I like, y'know?"

Sam continued the tour and showed Kodi the coffee bar, the weight room area, the target range and the weapons lockers. "Hey? C'mon, we got a new admin secretary. Her name's Adelle. Oh? Don't mention that I called her the secretary. Administrative assistant to the Colonel" here Sam used his fingers as air-quotes as they walked into the Adelle's office.

She turned and said to Sam, "I heard that. What now Lieutenant?" she asked with a pretend annoyed face. She winked discreetly at Sgt. Kodi. Sam said, "Does there always have to be a problem Addy? Don't answer that. I want you to meet our new Gunnery Sergeant Kodiak 'Kodi' Gunn. Gunny, this is Adelaide Kirkby."

Adelaide smiled warmly and said, "I'm pleased to meet you Gunnery Sergeant Kodiak Gunn. Please just call me Adelle. I saw your transfer orders come through this morning. Welcome aboard sir. I'm here to help you anyway that I can. Trying to take some of the paperwork burden from the Colonel."

Sam and Kodi finished up their tour and finished up their coffee.

[OFF:]

Gunnery Sergeant Kodiak "Kodi" Gunn
Signed off by Woolheater

&

First Lieutenant Samuel Woolheater