Lesson in Pain

Posted on 30 Mar 2018 @ 12:33pm by Gunnery Sergeant Gaius Sejanus (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR, Camp Revenant) & Sergeant Major Donovan Daly (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR, Camp Revenant)
Edited on on 30 Mar 2018 @ 12:35pm

Mission: Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio - Heroes & Villains
Location: Deck 22
Timeline: 66003.3

Deck 22, Marine Command-Level Offices, 0530 hrs.

Gunnery Sergeant Gaius Sejanus picked up another PADD from the multitude of orderly stacks of the devices piled all over the table's highly polished obsidian surface. Sitting at his desk in the Marine Command Center, the newly assigned 5th Marine Special Operations Team Chief had spent the last couple of hours pouring over reams of personnel data from the Hawaii's files. He was trying to familiarize himself with his newly assigned Marine Detachment. Sejanus made it a point to get to know what kind of Marines he had under his command.

He had already become familiar with the detachment's commanding officer Major Terrance West and the other Marine officers. The MCO seemed to have his staff wired tight and he ran a very tight unit. From what he gathered from perusing through the Hawaii's mission logs the Marines on board this ship seemed to be pretty squared away, and their leadership was quite capable, but there was always room for improvement. He would see to that when he gave the MCO some of his ideas for running through some new tactical training scenarios of his own devising.

GySgt Sejanus’s knowledge in the arts of martial combat were something that could help with this new assignment. His vast experience over the last decade serving in some of the most inhospitable regions of the galaxy honed him into a consummate warrior. His meticulous and methodical indoctrination and training of the Marines under his command would harden them into a force to be reckoned with. Sejanus would make it his personal mission to ensure that each and everyone of the men and women in his unit preform to the best of their abilities.

* * *

Deck 22, Marine Training Ground 0600 hrs.

As Sergeant Major Daly entered the Marine Training Ground, which in actuality, was a multi-purpose cargo bay converted for the use by the Marines, he tried to ignore his mounting concerns. Since they departed Bre'el IV, Daly's recurring feelings of doubt had plagued him during the past few days. But despite his melancholy mood he couldn't help himself but feel a sense of pride as he observed what was transpiring on the Marine Training Ground, which was currently being used as a makeshift gymnasium. Affectionately called the 'House of Pain' by the Marines, Daly observed why the gym had earned this particular moniker.

As the Sergeant Major toured the gymnasium, to his immediate right he observed a tall, burly Capellan Staff Sergeant leading a platoon of Marines in daily calisthenics, and by the looks of it, they were doing rather well as they attempted to keep up with the Capellan's nearly limitless fortitude. As the Sergeant Major made his way around the formation of sweating Marines, he momentarily locked eyes with the Corporal. Daly nodded his approval. The Staff Sergeant nodded almost imperceptibility in response, as he simultaneously ordered his platoon to halt and to begin a new exercise.

The Marine Detatchment's Senior Noncom continued his rounds as he made his way around the gymnasium. A short distance away from the first formation of exercising Marines, Daly encountered another group. This time they weren’t exercising they were executing various advanced combatative movement techniques. The Sergeant Major had an affinity for the martial arts and paused in his inspection of the troops to observe the men and women under his command.

As Daly neared their formation the instructor ordered the Marines to cease performing their individual movements and had them pair up in teams of two. SgtMaj Daly's interest was further piqued as he observed one of his new GySgts that was squaring off against a rather large Orion male. He recognized the Gunny Sergeant as the Magna Roman who was the new 5th Marine Special Operations Team Chief.

The mismatched pair seemed out of place compared to the other pairs of Marines who matched themselves up by the same relative height and weight. The male GySgt was of average height and muscular build. His hair close-cropped and clean-shaven in the Magna Roman style.

His opponent on the other hand was a whole different story. The green-skinned Orion was much taller and more muscular than the average Human male. His corded muscles rippled beneath the taunt fabric of his SFMC issued utility uniform. He loomed over his hapless opponent, eager to inflict as much pain upon his opponent as possible, "So Gunny, are you ready to taste some pain?" The large Orion said, taunting his smaller opponent.

"Words fall from your mouth like shit from ass. Halt tongue from wagging and fight!" The smaller human replied, a vicious smile forming on his face in anticipation of the fight. Gaius stepped up to the Orion and assumed a fighting stance. Sharad-Har looked him over. 'There’s not much to him,' he thought over-confidently. With cat-like reflexes, Gaius lashed out and attacked Sharad-Har. Despite his large size, the Orion managed to counter Gaius' attack and launched a series of punches. Gaius deftly countered his counter, and danced out of range.

The Orion angrily charged the Gunny, launching a buffet of punches. It took all of the human's concentration to block the vicious attacks of his enraged opponent. Their dangerous dance went on for many minutes as Sharad-Har stayed on the offensive and Gaius was forced to assume a defensive posture. Despite his large size, the Orion moved very quickly. Gaius began to grow weary from the constant barrage, and in a moment of carelessness he miscalculated the timing of one of Shard-Har's punches. The Orion connected solidly across the Gunnys' jaw.

The brutal punch knocked Gaius for a loop, causing him to momentarily see stars. Sharad-Har pressed his advantage and quickly followed up with a spinning back-kick. Despite having his bell rung, Gaius managed to shake off the brutal assault, focusing just long enough to duck the Orion's kick. He then dropped low and swept his opponent's legs, dropping the larger Marine to the floor. Gaius quickly pressed his advantage and dropped his knee into Sharad-Har's solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him. Gaius then leaned forward, smiling maniacally, taunting his opponent, "All you have? Impressed I am not." Gaius then using all his body weight and momentum, landed a vicious strike into Sharad- Har's square jaw. *WHAM!* The Orion's body went slack as he was immediately knocked into unconsciousness by Gaius' devastating punch.

Impressed by his Gunnery Sergeant's tenacity and determination, SgtMaj Daly slowly began to clap. GySGT Gaius came to a standing position and looked over to the person who had been watching him bout with the Orion. Noticing the stern-faced visage of the regiment's senior NCO, he automatically snapped to the position of parade-rest. Daly ordered, "As you were." Gaius maintains the modified position of attention, but noticeably relaxed his arms just a fraction.

'Hmph,' Daly thought to himself. The senior NCO walked around the young Gunnery Sergeant, trying to gauge his reaction to his presence. The Sergeant Major observed a nasty purple bruise that had begun to form along the left side of Gaius' face along his jawline.

"Nasty bruise you have there Gunny," Daly commented.

"Tis' nothing Sergeant Major. Much worse I have had," GySgt Gaius responded.

The Sergeant Major looked at him approvingly. He would have smirked, had he still had the ability to do so. "I'm impressed by how you handled yourself Gunny," Daly complemented the young NCO.

"Gratitude Sergeant Major," GySgt Gaius responds.

"You adapted and you overcame a larger and much stronger opponent, despite your overconfidence in your own abilities. You managed to keep a level-head even when things looked a bit bleak. That's what we need on the front lines Gunny; rational thinking and the ability to overcome any setback, despite the odds," Daly explained to the young NCO.

"Yes Sergeant Major," the younger Marine answered.

The older Marine appraised the Gunnery Sergeant one more time, and then satisfied, nodded his approval, "Keep up the good work Gunny."

"Again, gratitude Sergeant Major," replied the Marine. It was a rare privilege indeed, when the battle-hardened Marine hero, Sergeant Major Daly paid anyone an approving comment.

Daly had a gleam in his eye, the only tell-tale sign that he was smiling on the inside. "Carry on Gunnery Sergeant," the hoary-old veteran ordered the NCO. Concluding their brief conversation, the Sergeant Major then performed a parade-perfect about-face and proceeded to walk out of the gymnasium.

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