The Marines meet the Chaplain

Posted on Fri May 15th, 2020 @ 10:18am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant JG Maxmillio (Max) Solanga MA, Rev., & 1st Lieutenant Corisk Malluk

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Various
Timeline: MD 1
1600 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

On:

Chapel/Office

Sitting at his desk Max was a bit jumpy, Continually looking at the wall chronometer inside the chapel, even Ikay noticed that Max was jittery as he continously looked at the time. Finally Ikay could not stand to see her boss behave this way and said...

Manong Max (older person Max, kind of a friendly saying behind close doors). Are you a bit nervous in meeting the Marine Co?

"Yes I am Ikay", and I"m nervous as heck in meeting the Marines Commanding Officer, 'its' not that I am not afraid of a woman, but one who is a Marine Officer, replied Max.

During the Chaplain Combat Course, Max always had this problem with female officers, especially his Tac officer; Lt. Verna Higgenbottom a twelve year veteran of the Corp was his classes Tac officer, and she ran her platoon like a Marine line platoon. And whenever one of the chaplain recruits always tried to use God as a basis, she'd always shoot him down in front of everyone coming up with a multitude of reasons why that chaplain should not get his butt in gear. But after graduation, and now talking to Lt. Higgenbottom, Max found that she was older than the other female Marines, and she was a Lesbian; so she was determined to not let that keep her from getting the Chaplains to do their best in whatever they were taught.

Listening to Ikay only say "OH", then she kept quiet and returned back to her desk. At 1245 Max got dressed wearing his Starfleet Uniform, and putting on his black Ministerial collar, and the rank of Lieutenant on his uniform, Max made sure he was as presentable to a higher ranked officer, and once he was finished dressing, he made his way down to the Marine Detachment' deck. Taking a turbo lift, many who saw max now with the rank of Lieutenant over his right breast and the black ministerial collar, no one bothered Max, and finally he arrived on the Marine Deck.

Marine Deck/ Admistrative area:

Getting out of the turbo-lift Max was surprised at how clean this part of the ship was. Seeing that the passageway was inlaid with mohagany floor tiles, it was the fact that every 10 feet was a small logo of the 65th Marines in the middle, and no one walked on the middle. Besides the wooden deck, hundreds of Marines were now standing in straight lines, waiting for the person in front of him/her to move forward.

Judging by how clean this part of the wooden deck was, and that it was buffed and waxed the old way by hand every morning, the middle part of wooden deck was buffed to a high shine. To demarcate the area that was free to walk on, the sides were bordred by a red/gold stripe.

Suddenly the voice of Gunnery Sergeant/first sergeant Timothy Rhodes, Sr could be heard..."Anyone of you maggots here better not be caught walking on my deck, unless they are the 'old man', 'the Xo', 'the Ships Chaplain', 'or me' roared Gunny Rhodes.

Suddenly there was a loud commotion at one end of the passageway, when a brand new private decided to walk across the highly polished deck marring its gleaming exterior. Max turned towards the voice and saw the figure of gunnery sergeant/first sergeant Timothy Rhodes Sr., who had sprinted across and grabbed the young private by the collar, and began to berate him in front of everyone. "Okay Maggot", you low lying POS, I should take you outside the ship and have you paint every weld red, then repainted white, but since we're in space, the only thing I can put you on is my own Shit Detail, and buddy an hour of my shit detail and you'll wish you and your family were never born"!

Feeling someone behind him, Gunny Rhodes said "However is back there, you better sound off with your name, rank, platoon, squad, and by god you better wish that you have your platoon leader and platoon sergeant when I get done with you... And as he turned around and saw the Starfleet Uniform, the Clerical collar, and the rank... standing on his highly waxed and shined deck that was buffed that morning to a bright shine, Gunny Rohodes said "Oh FUCK".."Padre", forgive me,"

Not saying anything else, Max only laughed and said "Gunny, can you point me to where the old man's head shed is at", then Max said "Carry on Gunny, and you're doing a fine job, to which Gunny Rhodes said... All you lamebrain shits for brains, even the Padre knows my job better than me... so all you girly girls; drop and give me 100 pushups... "NOW" screamed Gunny.

Marine Det Headquarters:

Entering and talking to the young Corporal, manning the front desk; Max said "Lt. Maximillio Solanga, Ships Chaplain, here to see the Commanding Officer" Then max sat down, and as soon as he sat down the young Corporal got up from her chair, and ran to a door, knocked and waited for a reply from the person inside the office...

Naxea looked up from her desk. "Enter," she called out as she stood.

Stepping inside the CO's office, Max came to attention and said 'Chaplain Max Solanga here to see the Commander, sir".. Although Max was below the commanders paygrade, he wasn't afraid of her bite, just her bark. Spending the weeks in the Chaplains Combat Course, taught him that the marines for all their bark and bravado, still looked upon the Chaplain as the one person that they could trust, and so Max just stood there beaming as he watched the Commander, to make her first move...

While Max was inside the skippers office, Gunny Rhodes had finished with his screaming as he watched the last of his Marines finish their 100th pushup, then he said in a loud voice... That Man you just saw is the ships official "PADRE", if you "wannabe Jarheads want to see the Padre", and ask those silly questions about life, and whether its okay with whatever god you worship that you have a problem with a rainbow Marine, or that you didn't get any pussy from the female Marines, then fine....

I would trust his judgement over those that fall under Starfleet... "WE"RE MARINES, AND WE DO OUR OWN THING", within reason.... spoke Gunny Rhodes as he made sure that all of his Marines understood his reasonings, for Gunny Rhodes in his years as a Marine had talked to many Chaplains and found them to be understanding of the things that Marines were forced to do, or did in Combat. Talking to a ships Counselor with their fancy words that only meant the 'loony bin' was not his cup of tea, so he always welcomed a new Chaplain aboard....

Seeing the Chaplin enter, Naxea stood up behind her desk. "Welcome to Marine Country as it's known. Please, have a seat, Mr. Solanga," she gestured to a seat across from her desk.

Corisk introduced himself to Lt. Solanga after arriving at the Marine Headquarters and Administrative Office Complex and entered His CO's Office " Im 1st lieutenant Corisk Malluk the Marine detachment XO its a pleasure to meet you Lt. " he said as he stood beside his CO.

Taking his seat in the middle of the office, Max began to feel the usual friendliness of the Marines, tough but fair, and in times of war, the Chaplain was the one you talked to, not Counseling. However since the ship did the talking the Marines were taking a back seat, not that they couldn't hold their own, and woe is be to anyone who found themselves at the pointed end of their Ka-Bars, so Max just sat, as he soon began to relax a bit, and since he was a guest, he did what he was asked to do...

"Lt... Why don't you just call me Reverend, or Chaplain for now... replied Max who just smiled at the Louie...."

Corisk said " sorry for that Revereand im just used to call fellow officers by rank whenever i am in front of a superior officer."corisk explained.

TAG solanga

"I'll be blunt with you, Mr. Solanga," Naxea began. "I'm not big into the whole religion nonsense. But I also will not prevent any of my Marines from seeing you if they choose to do so and you are welcome to Marine Country at any time."

Thank you Major, for allowing me the opportunity to come down to Marine Country. Though I do agree with your assertions, I believe that though you actually don't believe in what you call religious nonsense, there are a few Marines who feel that there is one, so until I'm needed by the Detachment, I shall keep out, and allow you to send me some of your Marines whom do want to talk to me. My door is always open, then Max got up, saluted the Commander, then waited for her to let him leave the orderly room, as he stood waiting. as he watched Naxea sitting there wondering what else he was going to say. But with a big smile and a genuine attitude, all Max did was continue to stand.

Naxea was a bit caught off guard by the Chaplin's attitude. It was surprising to see a chaplin--especially one she had just met act as boldly as he did. "I see...welcome aboard then. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to come to myself or my XO."

END