“’Tis Life! A step upward”

Posted on Sun Apr 9th, 2023 @ 11:30am by Captain Samuel Woolheater

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: TITAN - AND LATER PACIFICA
Timeline: MD3 - AND FOLLOWING
1998 words - 4 OF Standard Post Measure

OOC: The author thanks and acknowledges the inspiration for the post from "The Modesty of Fearful Duty" by Ensign Miraj Derani and the contributions of Commander Taylor with thge Pathfinder narratives. Both having served as inspiration for this post entry. Thank you!





[ON: – “’Tis Life! A step upward”]


SATURN VI – TITAN – STARFLEET MARINE CORPS FORWARD OPERATING BASE (FOB) – A SIGN AT THE CAMP ENTRANCE

“WELCOME TO CAMP MARGRAVE –
STARFLEET MARINE CORPS SCOUT SNIPER SCHOOL –
TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT –
SATURN VI – TITAN”
----------

MARINE CORPS INTERSTELLAR SPACE TRAINING CENTER
SFMC REGIONAL COMBATANT COMMAND
MARINE CORPS COMBAT DEVELOPMENT COMMAND
SFMC SYSTEMS COMMAND
CLOSE-QUARTERS COMBAT
DIRECT SUPPORT OF INFANTRY AND RECONNAISSANCE UNITS
RECONNAISSANCE TRAINING COMMAND
SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER
TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMAND


“Where old devil dogs learn new tricks!”




Camp Margrave was a huge kind of place. It was a city unto itself. With an estimated population of 180,000 persons, it was one of the largest FOB’s that wasn’t a Jupiter-class space station. Marines were trained here, from all over the Federation to be infantry, officers, snipers, recon, supply and command. The facility saw as much traffic in a single day as a regular star base. And it was second only to Space dock One orbiting Earth.

It was also the main office for what the marines called, “Casualty Assistance Command” (CAC) and it was the home of Major Ben Fuller, one of the many field officers for the SFMC. It was a Thursday morning when Ben, in his office having just read over the morning’s briefings got word of the loss.

“Major?” a younger woman’s voice said. Her face bore more bad news. “The Colonel wants to see you.”

Ben Fuller looked up from his PaDD and met her eyes and he knew something was terribly wrong. “Something’s happened…something bad sir.”
Ben set the PaDD down and got up from his chair. He nodded and said, “Are you alright?”

She nodded yes, “I’m fine. You’d think, after all this time, that I’d get used to bad news right?”

Ben answered, “No. No, I hope that we never get used to it.” He put a hand on her shoulder and left for the Colonel’s office.


COLONEL ANSWARI’S OFFICE

Ben hadn’t realized he was holding his breath, “The whole ship? The whole detachment? That’s over 130 marines and an entire Starfleet crew.”

The report from the Pathfinder was devastating.

Answari looked at Ben and said, “I’ll be assigning you some help Major. This task is too big, too terrible for you and your department to bear up alone. Help is on the way. I have CAC officers from Camps Pendleton and Parris Island to help. They’ll be here shortly and will report to you. The USS John A. Lejeune stands ready to take you where you need to go.” The Colonel stood up and so did Ben, “Yes sir.”

“Dismissed Major” Answari said after a moment. Realizing the heavy burden placed on this team.” The men exchanged salutes and Ben was on his way.



PACIFICA – THE HOME OF GEORGE AND EMMA WOOLHEATER


Major Fuller arrived in a personal transport vehicle and was parked on the street outside the front of the home. Everyone handled this differently. Ben had seen so many different reactions and he had learned that he should expect the unexpected.

When he showed up at a person’s house, they always knew why he was there. They always knew.

He exited the vehicle. Fuller was in his dress uniform. He smoothed his uniform and put on his hat and entered the walkway to the house. As Ben walked up, from inside the house, Emma heard someone coming up the walk. She went to the window and looked out.

Her heart sank.

She felt this intense feeling of sadness wash over her. It was like a tsunami wave. And she didn’t know it but she started crying.

Emma went to the door and opened it wide. She stood at the threshold and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her hands went to her mouth. “oh…god…..no.no.no.no.no.no…nooo!!” She backed away as Major Fuller approached and her mouth open in a silent scream.

Finally, finding her voice as she staggered, she took a breath and screamed, “GEORGE!”


LATER

George listened as Major Fuller explained what had happened and what they knew. They were in the living room of the Woolheater home. George, Sam’s father, remained calm, collected and he shed no tears for his son. That did not mean that he felt nothing. George had always kept his emotions in check. George’s father, a Starfleet marine as well, had run a very strict military house. George did not, but this part of him, his emotions, were something that he always kept well in hand.

Sam’s younger brother, Barclay sat on the other chair across from the Major and listened as well. Stunned, but he had tears as he tried to console his mother. Ben explained the loss and what Starfleet and the Marine Corps was doing about it. Then, he asked about how the Marines could help with the funeral arrangements and what the family wanted done. The SFMC would take care of everything – which is not how it has always been – but it is now.

Over the next week, the rest of the Woolheater family was informed. Friends of the family were invited to attend the service. The Woolheater’s, much the chagrin of both Samuel and Barclay, were a conservative and somewhat old-fashioned family. Religion, for example, having been over the centuries regarded now more as a philosophy and an adopted way of behaving was seen as quite old fashioned indeed. But, that’s the way they were and they would have a military funeral at the church in the capital. It was not far and there was time for all of that.

And when that day came; one never forgets it. Funerals are, of course, for the living. And Major Fuller had, regrettably, plenty of practice as of late.



A WEEK LATER - THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF SAINT MICHAEL AND SAINT JOHN


It was the kind of scene that gives one gooseflesh.

Pacifica had no marine base. Samuel Woolheater’s basic training, his sniper skills were honed on Titan. But there were marines on Pacifica and there were Selkans in the service. The closest description of what happened next could be a Haka. A traditional, ceremonial display given at important events, including funerals for fallen soldiers.

The Selkan word means, “It is Life – a Step Upward” which really doesn’t come out too well in Standard. Most non-Selkans call it “Mata-thassa” which captures the essence of what is about to happen, meaning “Now, the Beginning”.

Outside the cathedral church, just arriving from a transport was the coffin. There was a large circular driveway that led up to the entrance. It was here, marines from Titan and the Sixth Division had gathered. Coached by the three Selkan marines from Pacifica that day, the challenge began.

As the funeral carriage arrived, the group of some twenty to thirty marines, led by the three Selkans made a loud noise. The transport stopped. Sam’s family got out of the vehicle and the parish priest greeted them and took them aside. The challenge for the dead was issued again, a bit louder and with arm slaps. The marines were uniformed and then they charged the vehicle. With a loud voice, they called in Selkan:


Taringa whaka! (Listen carefully! ...)
Kia rite! (Prepare yourself! ...)
Ringa Mikka pakia! ( Slap your hands against your thighs!) ...

As each statement was made, sad, angry faces were made. It was a sight to see. And the assembled mourners stood in awed silence. The sound of those marines, paying their respects to a fallen brother was thrilling and so tragic, heart wrenching to see.

The sound of all those men and women, all of those marines with arm slaps, feet stomps, growls and groans was impressive - and loud!

Then, from amidst the crowd, a sniper dressed in full, leafy, “Bushwookie” camo gear appeared. It was 1st Lieutenant Mason Hall. Sam’s former spotter and now a right qualified sniper on his own. Sam and Mason had been a team for a few tours. The closest to a marine brother he had other than Andrinn Orin.

Mason could not speak Selkan and so he stood by the marines that could. They said,

“Waewae takahia, kia kino nei hoki! (Stamp your feet as hard as you can!) ...
Kia kino nei hoki! ( As hard as you can) ...
taanei te tangata pihuruhuru (This is the hairy man)

When the loud chant and display was over, Hall said in standard to the assembled group, “Give heed and attention to orders! A Starfleet marine passes!”

The honor guard removed Samuel’s empty coffin and carried it in silence past the mourners and up the steps and into the church.

The cathedral organ started the processional hymn with the tune “Dundee” and the funeral procession entered the church at the long end of the nave of the cathedral. The crucifer was flanked by the torchbearers and behind them was the sextant. Following the sextant was the casket and marine honor guard performing the duty of pall bearers. The casket, though empty, as Starfleet had not recovered any bodies of the crew or marines, was draped with the Federation flag. Six marines carried Samuel Woolheater’s empty coffin. Then followed the priests and clergy to perform the service. The congregation watched in solemnity as the casket passed, most people not knowing that there was no body in it.

Dressed all in black, was Sam’s mother, Emma. Her other son Barclay was on her right and her husband, George, on her left. She was being supported, on both arms while she slowly walked down the aisle. She could not believe what was happening and was still in shock. Sam’s sister, Joanna walked behind with her husband Thomas and a few family friends.

Many of the gathered were friends of George and Emma. Most were from university or from Earth and had travelled here to Pacifica. There were a good number of Marines here, wishing to pay their final respects. The honor guard, folding the flag of the United Federation of Planets carefully prescribed with perfect military timing. The rifleman handed the UFP flag to Major Fuller and he took possession of it.

Major Fuller, holding the United Federation of Planets flag waist high, folded, and then leaning into Mr. and Mrs. Woolheater, he solemnly presented the flag to her. She put her hands on Fuller’s hand and she did her best to look him in the eye. Tears ran down her cheeks. Ben said the words that needed to be said, “On behalf of the President of the United Federation of Planets, the Starfleet Marine Corps, and a grateful Federation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service.”

The service ended and the graveside service and internment later ended. Major Fuller stayed with the family into the evening and having performed this terrible duty, took his leave of them. He walked to his transport and got back in the vehicle. He checked his calenda and looked at the next family he had to see and do the same thing over again. The next family was at Starbase 74. He started the transport and would be back aboard the John A. Lejeune in an hour.


[OFF:]

Captain Samuel Woolheater
“Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas”
Division VI, MARDET 62nd Company "Spartans", 1st Platoon CO
=/\= USS ELYSIUM - NCC-89000 =/\=