Real Cluster....

Posted on Mon Jun 17th, 2019 @ 8:12am by

Mission: Episode 1: Hell is a four letter word
Location: Marine Country
1211 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Rhodes hadn’t had the chance to really get in and meet the troops yet, having been butthole deep in administrative crap before the shit hit the fan with the disappearing command crew, but his time was at hand, ~It’s always best to start with the problem children.~ He decided, pointing himself towards 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company. Storming into the barracks he found what looked like the entire detachment lounging around: shooting pool, playing video games, or generally doing nothing. Lifting a nearby receptacle, he slung it across the pool table, hitting a couple of standing lockers across the way as his Marines dropped to the floor, ducking and cursing, “All right, clowns, listen up because there’s a new ringmaster to this circus.” He began, “My name is Gunnery Sergeant Rhodes and I have drunk more beer, pissed more blood, chased more tail, and eaten more fire than the combination of all of ya. I’m here to whip your asses into the finest fighting unit in the sector and you’re gonna get with the program or you’re gonna wish your parents had decided to just stay cousins.”

“Yo, Gunny, chill.” PFC Jackson laughed, this guy was way too serious.

“And who might you be?” Rhodes snarled, glaring right through this kid’s soul.

“I’m Slam Jackson, Gunny.” The younger man replied, smirking, “I provide the entertainment here, best hard rock this side of Sector 001.”

“Slam Jackson?” Rhodes sneered, “Sounds like a gay porn star.”

The assembled Marines began laughing at Jackson, who was becoming angrier with every laugh, “Alright, y’all shut up.” He demanded, which did no good whatever.

“No, he’s right.” Rhodes said, his voice a hiss, “Shut up.” That brought the whole crew to a dead silence, “Who’s the platoon sergeant here?”

“That was Sergeant Downey.” LCpl Darwin interjected, “But he mustered out three weeks ago.”

“Than who’s his Assistant?” Rhodes demanded, “And where the Hell are they?”

“That was Cpl. Re’sik.” Darwin answered, “He shipped out to the Cardassian DMZ when we hit DS9, Gunny.”

“Well, that’s just swell.” Rhodes groaned, “Alright, you maggots get this shit cleaned up and get into fresh fatigues, we’re going to start today fixing this.” He shot them all a look that had them moving at higher speeds than most imagined they were capable of.

Rhodes stomped out of the barracks, looking around the Marine deck for a Corporal, any Corporal. After a couple minutes of search, his eyes landed on an Orion woman wearing two stripes, “You, Corporal!”

Startled, Mona turned around, almost dropping the mug of tea she was carrying. She had to clear her throat before she spoke. “Gunny.” She came to attention as much as she could, with tea in one and a PADD in the other hand.

“What platoon and what company, Corporal?” Rhodes snapped.

“Strategic Defence, sharpshooter”, Mona said. “Beyond that, currently unassigned.”

“Well isn’t this just wonderful.” Rhodes grumbled, it seemed his predecessor, Gunnery Sergeant Deakins, had left him one hell of a mess to clean up when he retired, “Okay, Corporal, you got a name?”

“I do”, she said. “Mona Lott. I’ve been on the Elysium for a little over six months now.”

“Mona Lott… Slam Jackson. What is with everybody giving their kids porn names?” Rhodes growled, ordering, “Follow me.”

“Well, I did work as an escort at one time”, Mona offered. “The name was appropriate then, didn’t have it changed.” She quickly took a sip of her tea to make moving with the mug easier, then fell into step with him.

It didn’t take them long to get back to 2nd Platoon, where the others were cleaning away, “Alright, dumbasses, listen up, this is Mona Lott, and she is your new Assistant Platoon Sergeant until we promote her or replace her, she owns your asses and only answers to me. Got that?”

“Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!” The platoon replied in unison.

“Oh, and just for shits and giggles.” Rhodes smirked, “I’m going to personally act as your platoon Sergeant. Lott, you’re on!”

Mona gave him a deer-in-headlights stare. She was supposed to be in charge of these people? She did not have a high opinion of herself as a leader. That was part of why she had specialised into sharpshooting. That, and it often allowed her to hide in some greens. There was never enough green. “Get your woodland gear, we’re going for a walk. Simulator two, in ten minutes.” She might as well start to get to know them while going for a walk, with full kit, up in the mountains. She loved the mountains. There were trees, and meadows, and moss, and generally lots of green. “I’ve got a training programme that should do them good”, she said, turning back to the Gunny.

“Right.” Rhodes nodded, “That bunch needs serious discipline, Lott, and I’m counting on you to get them into shape. I’ve got the whole damned detachment to run, but I’ll be around as often as I can to help you. You just tell me what you need, marine, and I’ll crawl down somebody’s throat until it happens.”

“And you are sure you want to give the job of instilling discipline to an Orion, Gunny?” Mona wondered.

“No, I’m giving the job of instilling discipline to a Marine.” Rhodes replied, “I don’t give a damn about your race, your sex, your politics, all you are is a Marine. You’re a rifle and a pair of combat boots above all else. Now, you’ve got your assignment, I expect it to be carried out to the best of your ability. Understood?”

“Yes. That I can do”, Mona said. It didn’t matter she didn’t actually rate her ability that highly.

“So set up your platoon the way you want, fill any leadership positions that aren’t, and just bring it to me to sign off on.” Rhodes instructed, “In the mean time, make those idiots earn their leisure time.”

“They have, though”, Mona said. “All except two of them, who have only been assigned after, they’ve all worked overtime with little sleep during the evacuation of Cortic. But I would also rather they’d be properly ready should we be needed to bust our people out of wherever it is they are.”

“You think I’m being too hard on these Marines, Corporal?” Rhodes questioned, locking eyes with her.

“No, if they didn’t like it hard, they wouldn’t have joined the corps”, Mona replied. “I promise they’ll all be exhausted after this walk in the woods I’ve got planned.”

“I like that attitude, devil dog.” Rhodes laughed, there might be hope for some of this bunch after all, “Alright, they belong to you now, Lott, carry on.”

“Thank you, Gunny”, Mona said, though she still wasn’t certain she felt that. She downed the rest of her tea. She’d have to get ready herself. “I better dress up.”

Rhodes simply nodded and walked off, he’d see them all in the holodeck soon enough and he had other units to check on beforehand.