Honor & Duty

Posted on 27 Jan 2019 @ 9:40pm by Captain Edward Bolingbroke (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War)
Edited on on 27 Jan 2019 @ 9:52pm

Mission: Ka Hakaka Maikaʻi - The Good Fight
Location: Deck 22 Marine Offices
Timeline: Evening after the Second Battle of Xavier

[ON]

[Decks 21 & 22 - Marine Barracks]

Bolingbroke spent the next two hours after the After-Action Report debriefing completing the routine post-mission duties of an MSOT Team Leader. He handed his phaser rifle into the Armory for a check over and maintenance, then went around to the Marine accommodation to check on his Team members.

They were in that weird mix of post-combat euphoria, relief, contemplation and sadness over the loss of Sergeant Miller. He found time for each of them and shared a word and maybe a quiet joke or reminisce about Miller. News of his promotion had traveled fast and he quietly accepted their congratulations along with the reassurance that since they were still short handed he'd be pulling double duty as Company and Team CO for a while.

He oversaw the opening of Miller's locker, the inventory of his property and it's safe storage for onward transportation to his family. He spent a moment looking at some of the family images Miller had on his locker door. The man had not been married but there was a long term girlfriend, parents and a younger sister, they
all lived on Mars. Soon he knew they would be getting a visit from a pair of Marine Officers to bring them the news of Miller's death.

He left the Team with the news of West's grant of forty-eight hours liberty on Xavier; which lightened the mood a little,

Later he went to his office, started the draft of his post mission report and wrote the commendations for both Miller and Johanson.

Then he began writing a letter to Miller's family, he would amend a copy for the girlfriend. He set out the details of Miller's death, the sacrifice he had made for the others and that he had been recommended for a commendation; finishing, in all sincerity, that it had been his honor to serve with and command Miller.

He tried not to brood over the fact that a medal, a ribbon, a scroll and a flag was poor replacement to the family for the loss of a son, brother and partner.

That done, he found time to stop by the Bravo Company Admin Offices. The clerk NCO showed him his new office, they had packed up Santiago's gear and he spent a while looking over the Company orders, training records and dozen other duties that had now become his.

It was getting late when he left there, stopping by the Officer's Mess for a quick meal, he found himself unusually hungry then realized he had last eaten fifteen hours earlier. He wolfed down a couple of steak sandwiches and a large salad. He would have liked a beer, or three but he was not done yet.

He returned to his cabin and peeled off his BDUs, they were dirty, sweaty and torn and he tossed them in recycling before ordering a new set from the replicator. He showered, shaved and sat down to spit shine his boots and brass. Satisfied they were gleaming he donned his dress uniform and cover then made his way up to the transport and went across to Xavier

[Xavier Fleet yard Station]

The losses from the battle had been significant, a cargo bay had been turned into a make shift resting place for the fallen. At one end of the lines of coffins were those draped in Marine Corps flags instead of the standard 'fleet ones.

Two Marines from the Hawaii were there, standing silent vigil with their comrades. He joined them, coming to attention and remaining there for an hour.

[Deck 21 - Marine Officer's Quarters]

Returning to his cabin, he undressed and got ready for bed. On his table lay the sealed letter he had prepared for his own family. It was in a pale fawn envelope, embossed with the Creedmoor crest. It contained his farewell, handwritten in ink using his great grandfather's antique fountain pen.

He lifted in, placed it back in a drawer and went to bed, thankful that somebody was not sending it home, this time.

[OFF]


Edward Bolingbroke, Capt, UFMC
BCMSOC/CC