The Gunny

Posted on Thu Jun 5th, 2014 @ 3:01am by Captain Pete Samson & Gunnery Sergeant Nathaniel Cortez

Mission: New Frontier
Location: Marine Barracks
Timeline: Current

"Thank you for showing me the way, Petty Officer."

"Well, if you know the good doctor, I really didn't have much choice, Gunny."

And Nate did know Alex. He knew that Alex that was a very different person in and out of uniform. In uniform he could be rather stiff and inflexible. From the founds of his encounter with the new Chief Medical Officer, Nate could tell that Alex was stressed already in his new position.

"Please let Dr. Trebe know that I will be getting settled and waiting on him." He patted the Yeoman on the back and told him, "Once he gets to know you, he will warm up."

"I hope so." With that, the yeoman headed back to the medical bay.

The Marine turned and tossed his dufflebag onto the bed then dropped onto the bed with his feet propped up on his dufflebag. Sleep seemed like a really good idea since he hadn't slept well since leaving Earth.

The chime in the room informed the Gunnery Sergeant that someone was at his new quaters.

"Guest already? Who would have thought that I would be so popular already?"

As the door opened Nathaniel could see the uniform of a Marine Officer with the rank of Captain. "Captain Samson, Commanding Officer Marine Corps, these quaters are for Marines only and my Marines do not arrive for another few days. So who are you? And why are you occupying one of my assigned quaters?" Pete did not look happy.

The Marine Sergeant fell to attention and saluted the CO. "Gunnery Sergeant Nathaniel Cortez reporting for duty, Sir. I have been assigned to your battalion as First Sergeant."

Pete returned the salute after standing to attention. "I was not aware of your arrival and it appears that I have reported to you. Gunnery Sergeant. Not a good start would you agree?"

"Not the best, but certainly not the worse, Sir." Nate had assumed the Captain would have known of his impending arrival. "I should have notified you that I was arriving early. I left the Marine Academy once I finished training my last group of recruits. I thought I would take advantage a couple days to get to know the place. Largest duty station I have ever been assigned to, Sir."

"We will be very busy Sergeant. Please sort yourself out and meet me at the Marine HQ in 30 minutes." Pete turned around and left. He wanted to see if his new Sergeant could sort himself out and find the new HQ on-board the Starbase.

As soon as the Captain had left the door way, Nate headed for his bag retrieve a uniform before headed to the shower. 4 days was a long time to go without a proper shower. Like any good marine, he was able to shower, shave and get into uniform in less then 15 minutes.

"Computer, direct me to the Marine HQ." As he was headed out the door, he turned around and reaching into one of the side pockets of his dufflebag and pulled out a simple platinum ring with a small Terellian diamond that hung on a chain with his Marine dog tags. He quickly looped the chain around his neck, tucked it into his shirt, and headed out the door hoping to make it to HQ with 10 minutes to spare.

Nathaniel arrived with time to spare. Pete was waiting and had a pad in his hand. "Impressive service record Gunny. We have met before, in fact you were one of my trainers a couple of years ago."

The Gunny knew that the name as seemed familiar, but as with most things at the academy, names and faces all seemed to blend together until they are just a blur.

"I am sure that you are aware this is my first posting as a CO. I will not be a push over, I want a well run and organised Corps. As my First Sergeant you will have a lot of work to do and my door will always be open to you. But be warned when I make decisions I expect it to be carried out."

"I am aware of that and, as you know, this is my first posting as a First Sergeant. I would expect nothing less then a well run Marine Corp battalion, Sir. And when it comes to following orders, but father always used to say, "...ours is not to question why; ours is but to do or die."

"This will be home for us Gunny, I know it is a just a shell at the moment. I want us to run as if we were an independent state on-board the starship. We will all be residing and working here. I want Marine Police to ensure security on this level, they will deal with Marine on Marine incidents. I only want Marines to be given shore leave to leave this level. What do you think?"

"I think that in order to begin chaos to order you have to structure, disciple and control. I think you plan gives us all three of those things. Do we have a name for our Police State?" Nate always like order and this much control over this small little corner of the universe was something that made the Gunnery Sergeant smile.

"How about Little Portsmouth? The birthplace of the Marines." Pete enjoyed history, specially the Marines.

"I like the sounds of that for Deck 74." A little corner of this big station was all that Nate would need to thrive. "Do we know much about the incoming soldiers?"

"No not yet, I am trying to get a Search and Rescue Squad, clearly some pilots. I want the ability for us to respond twenty four seven. The Marine Police will come from the rank and file on six month detachments. On such a big station our security is essential. I am also hoping for engineers."

"So Gunny any ideas?"

"Well, I am all in favor of restricting the our guys coming and goings. I would like to see us restrict the coming and goings of everyone. Lock it down tight right from the start to keep our little corner secure. Always easier to loosen up the reigns then it is to tighten them up if he have a problem."


"I agree Gunny, the Marines and the Commodore will be the only people allowed access when we are set up."

"My XO is Chief Warrant Officer Janet King. Do you know her?"

"I can not say as I have met the Chief. I asked around at the academy to see what scuttlebutt would turn out, but I did not hear much. Personally, I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing."

"You will have your hands full with the two of us Gunny."

"I always like challenge, Sir."

"20 Marines have recently arrived. Get them out of the quarters and have them set up here. This might only be a shell but it is our shell. Set up a camp we live here from now on." Quarters had been allocated to the Marines but they were all over the starbase. Pete wanted his Marines in one place.

Pete had already set up his space, camp bed, camp shower and one bag, next to this was a simple desk and above the desk handing on the wall was a picture of the Federation President, The Marine General. Next to the table was the Federation Flag and the Marine Colours.

It has been quite some time since Nate had to rough it. Like all experienced Marines, he had spent his far share on my different planets out roughing it. But since becoming an instructor, he spent much of his time on easy street at the Academy. He had almost forgotten how good he had it.

"Set the camp up over here Gunny." It was away from Pete's set up. Pete was a Marine but also an officer.

"Absolutely, Sir. How long do you expect we will need be function at a camp level?" He scanned around the area found a secluded area to hunker down.

"We are a small cog on a large Starbase and Marines, I imagine a while but this is what we do Gunny."

"Very good, Sir." Nate headed to the quarters where he left his dufflebag. "I will round up the others and be back within an hour. When I get them back, Sir, we still have time for some training." There was half a question and half a comment in the statement. Was it too early to start the training and bonding for this company?

"Yes Gunny I think we do. I will get us a holodeck and we will do the Marine Annual fitness test. You have till 1400 hours. Dismissed Gunny."

"We will meet you at the holodeck." With a sharp salute to the CO, Nate turned on his heels and headed out to complete his task.

Pete returned the salute. He watched the Gunny and he was happy with his choice of First Sergeant. He had been impressed by him when he received training by him and he liked the fact that he arrived at the station early.

................................................................................................

Marine Captain Pete Samson
Marine Commanding Officer
Starbase 80

&

Gunnery Sergeant Nathaniel Cortez
Marine First Sergeant
Starbase 80