Ch. 1 The next assignment

[chromalfean]

"now see, that's where things might get a little sticky, Sargent. nobody bothered to inform me that you were acting in the capacity of XO, which is a strict violation of command structure guidelines and according to the same, to be an XO, acting or otherwise, first, you have to be an officer before you can assume the role or title of executive officer. last time I checked, an NCO was still considered enlisted, not an officer, and not eligible to act in the capacity of XO."

"my rank does grant me the authority to issue orders to enlisted personnel, which I don't remember doing, but if that's how you took it, so be it. your prerogative, but no military law, guideline or otherwise gives an enlisted person the authority to override or undermine a lawful order issued by an officer, nor would any military court, entity or tribunal ever uphold such authority granted to any enlisted over an officer without blatant misconduct, which I don't believe I'm guilty of."

"bottom line is, I have every right to issue orders if I so choose. if you have a problem with that, it's just that. your problem. so tell me, what is it about my 'attempting' to issue orders that bothers you so much? is it the orders you think I'm giving that's the problem, or just that a qualified officer is giving them and not you? if my 'orders' were out of line then here's your chance to prove it, but if it's just your ego getting bruised, get over it."

[dakota]

Shep had overheard enough. " Okay, let's get this settled real quick before someone does something stupid. Sam, you're in charge. You call the shots. Rhys, yes you got nominated XO because I didn't want the job and the LT needs someone to be there to do what she needs, which quite frankly isn't always me. Cabal, or Luietenant Thorne, or however you want to be addressed, yeah you can sling all the orders you want and pull rank if you think it'll do you any good out here. Don't mean we're gonna listen to them." Shep was definitely annoyed judging by his slow deliberate tone. " My job is to make sure as many of us get back alive as possible while completing the mission, so I'd appreciate it if you two would make both mine and Luietenant Fraser's jobs alot easier by butting heads and learn to work together before we hit the ground."

the airman shouted back from his seat. " Eight minutes."

[chromalfean]

Cabal stood at-ease, "when I said to can the chatter, it was directed at Cannons because I didn't care to be compared to some circus troupe and was trying to change the subject, but it's starting to look more and more like he hit the nail on the head. I'm starting to see both his and the Major's point of view. no discipline, no structure, no regard for the chain of command. what I'm hearing is we play by two different sets of rules, or in this case, one set of rules fits all, fast and loose, survival of the fittest. screw the rules, throw the book out the window, all bets are off. is that what you're telling me? if so, then let me remind you of something I learned early on, which you seem to have forgotten or lost."

"it's our conduct and the way we handle ourselves both in and out of the field that sets us apart from every two-bit merc group out looking to make a name for themselves and prove they're the baddest dogs on the block. we're supposed to be setting the example for others to follow. the thing about that I picked up is that nobody is totally useless. you can always serve as a bad example, so what kind of example are you? one of the ones that tries to inspire others, lead by example and walk what he talks full-time, 24/7, or just another run-of-the-mill, two-bit, hands-off, back-seat driver that only wants to step up to the plate and take charge when it suits you?"

by this time, the propaganda that Cabal has been exposed to all his life is starting to show. his words drip with the same contempt of a drill instructor. it's obvious he holds himself and those around him to a higher standard and he's looking to see who measures up. he's obviously out of his element now that the two people he expected to set the pace, Shep and Sam, seem to be dropping the ball on him instead of backing him up, and it's looking like he's trying desperately to strike some chord of idealism in Shep that has been instilled in him and he embraces.

[Marcethus]

Rhys rolls his eyes under his helmet then glances to Shep. "That was so when I was apart of this squad yes, but on an unimportant side not I was XO under Norrin as well, which was why I thought that I had been brought back to this squad when I got the transfer orders." Turning to Sam. "If I was wrong about that I apologize Ma'am." Turning to look at Cabal, "Listen, Cabal. I have no problem with you or your rank. But we have been in the crud multiple times. We know how to operate out there. Especially Without support. Which requires one to do things much differently when you have the full support that most of the Infantry does."

[dakota]

"Rhys, take it easy. Remember, both Lt. Thorne and Deryk are new to CSOG, so they won't understand we do things a little different. " Shep pointed out. " You weren't so different on your first tromp through the bush with us." he adjusted his tattered ball cap. " I understand where you're coming from Lt. Thorne, we were all brainwashed by the prpoganda department when we enlisted, but once you spend a little time in CSOG, you learn that everything isn't black or white like they tell us. Like the fact the people that we're out here because of in the first place are rogue coalition special forces. In fact Li Sung was tapped to join CSOG before he went bonkers and declared himself a warlord." He smirked," And if you don't like back seat drivers, you and I are liable to butt heads."

Cannons was watching the meeting from the distance, wanting no part of it.

[Marcethus]

Rhys nods to Shep. "Yeah I know it wasn't that long ago that I was green in the field." *gesturing to Lt Fraser, "its her decsion as to whom her XO is not mine, Sheps or Cabal's," *looking to Sam* "Tis your decision Ma'am." Snapping a salute with one hand while he grips the rail with the other. "Whatever it is I will do as I have always done Lieutenant."

[chromalfean]

"look, I'm not gunning for the XO slot. honestly, I thought it was Shep. he seemed to be the logical choice as second ranking officer with the most field experience. I could care less if you want to make PFC Putz the XO, but I'm not taking orders from a junior-grade. might as well take all my time and training earning my bar and flush it. if the enlisted and non-coms are giving the orders, might as well turn the academy over to them and the rest of us go home, and if I do give orders or directions, unless I'm completely out-of-line, I don't expect to have my authority as an officer questioned or undermined by a junior-grade. you can all stand here and pussy-foot around all day about the question of the XO, but that's all I'm saying on the subject." Cabal looks at Sam thoroughly disgusted with the whole mess. "permission to dismiss?"

[Marcethus]

"Stalker, I think you forget your place and whom your around." Rhys voice going ice cold.

[dakota]

Shep groaned, looking at Sam for help to difuse the situation. " Ma'am, permission to toss these two idiots out of the chopper early?" He cuffed Rhys in the back of the helmet, " don't play that supremist crap, unless you want to piss me off."

[Mierin]

Sam sighs, doing her best to temper her frustration with the whole exchange. “Permission granted.” She replies to Shep’s request with a smirk. In response to the XO situation, she says to Rhys “While Shep is officially the XO, I want you to continue developing your skills with the idea that you’ll be running your own squad one day.”

Turning to Cabal, she simply says “One of the things they don’t teach you is that the commanding officer is only as good as the people they are commanding. Both of these men are good soldiers. If you can put your ego aside for two seconds and listen to what they have to say, it will make you a better officer. It may also save your life one day.”

[chromalfean]

Cabal looks at Sam, "Lieutenant, with all due respect, I assure you your judgment is misplaced. this isn't about ego, at least not mine. it's about discipline. something your squad seems to be sorely lacking. apparently we have very different views on what makes a 'good soldier'. so far the only personnel in this squad who hasn't challenged or threatened a senior officer is myself and Cannons. even though we are probably the two most qualified personnel to end a fight, he knew when to disengage and I didn't feel the need to react just now to the veiled threats even though there were a hundred reactions that went through my mind."

"is that how we get things done? the way I was trained was that it's the enlisted who rely on the officers to make the right decisions and get them home in one piece. someone saving another's life is exclusive of rank. those roles could just as easily be reversed, and more likely will be all of us depending on you, depending on the discipline maintained, but I won't hold my breath with half a squad of loose cannons. their lack of discipline could just as easily compromise our mission and get one, if not all of us, killed." with that, Thorne goes back to securing himself and his gear for arrival at the DZ / LZ and departure from the chopper.

(ooc: a little confused. is it a DZ (drop zone) or LZ (landing zone)? in other words, are we deploying from a static line hot-drop rappelling to the ground from a hovering chopper or will we deploy from the ground with the chopper landing?)

[Mierin]

Sam's eyes narrow as she says to Cabal in an icy voice. "Excuse me, I didn't dismiss you." Walking up to him, she says coldly "You who complains about how there is no discipline blatantly ignores his commanding officer when he was not given an order."

Sam shakes her head. "And a man who lectures his team and only claims to want to give orders and not listen to his team IS only concerned with his ego. I've seen it before. And if that's your attitude, then you will not last long on a team like this." Sam looks him in the eye and says "NOW you are dismissed." Sam then heads back to her seat and secures herself quietly.

[dakota]

Dec 27, 2008 15:02:25 GMT -5 chromalfean said:

(ooc: a little confused. is it a DZ (drop zone) or LZ (landing zone)? in other words, are we deploying from a static line hot-drop rappelling to the ground from a hovering chopper or will we deploy from the ground with the chopper landing?)

[ LZ, touch and go bail out]


Shep couldn't help but smirk," There's that family temper coming out." He retook his seat next to Cannons, leaning against the door sill. " Nothing personal Lt. Thorne, but it's a long story that we don't have time for before this bird bounces us out. I've been on your side of the line and didn't care for it despite a General's prompting. It's why you've got a warrant officer in the field in the first place."

[chromalfean]

Cabal pulled on his helmet, bowed his head and closed his eyes wanting to purge and purify the toxic rage that flowed through his veins, but there wasn't time and he'd need it once they hit the deck. he hated this part of himself, the cold calculating part that acted and made every move with the analytical precision of a surgeon. he wanted to cage the beast, tame the monster, but that wasn't part of the plan. he couldn't even tell anyone what the plan was. he hoped they didn't mistake his backing down for a sign of weakness. it was a tactical decision to disengage from a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent. his time would have been better served and spent running a tactical analysis of their objective to mark points of interest, ingress, egress and likely spots for enemy activity, but that was now time wasted on a futile ménage à trois resulting from him simply trying to ask for a little respect.

since it wasn't going to be given freely, it would have to be earned in the field. he could have simply taken it by showing them what he really was. what kind of monster they had created. he could have been like Shep. who was he kidding? no he couldn't. he envied Shep, but pitied him as well. Shep thought he was alone so he was free to make his own decisions. the decision to quit even though he had all the qualities of a born, natural leader was such a waste. Cabal had his duty, his clan, his pack, his family and a sense of duty to each. he couldn't just quit so he simply played the hand he was dealt. Shep had a family too. his squad, but he seemed to be missing the big picture that they needed him. Cabal was engineered to fight for the humans, to protect them and if that meant a better life for his family, then it was a burden he would gladly carry.

he was their secret weapon undergoing field-testing. in an ongoing war against demons, monsters and supernatural horrors, they needed a monster of their own. the individual technologies had always been there, but it took a single man of vision to synergistically merge them into what they wanted. Cabal had been groomed and trained for this since he was nine when he entered psi-bat's psychic recruiting program. the training they provided helped hone his psychic abilities into a "nullifier" as they called him, a psychic who was resistant to the magic and psychic abilities of the enemy. one of their secret weapons, but that wasn't enough. they needed a weapon that could go toe-to-toe and not only survive, but win, an augmented soldier.

out of the humans and psi-stalkers that developed the specific abilities they wanted, only the psi-stalkers could be further augmented without losing their entire psychic potential. they subjected him to a top-secret augmentation process called the "psycho-stalker" juicer conversion and made him into a magically and psychically unstoppable killing machine with assassination training to hone his hunting and killing instincts to a razor edge. so here he was, their monster, the secret weapon that nobody was supposed to know about because he wasn't supposed to exist. half his young life had been spent serving them. now all he had left to do was give them two more years as their tool of retribution for all the pain and suffering that had been visited upon them and laid at their doorstep, and he could have his life back with his family.

[Marcethus]

Rhys doesn't say anything more and finishes his preps for the drop-off securing himself and his gear and remaining silent until drop off, or (depending on whom) if someone talks to him.