Chapter 13
Lt. Jacob McFea /// Alliance Marine Command Center
Despite the news cycle currently focusing on the “terrorist actions of the Wraiths Lt. McFea was still getting an official reprimand from his superiors. He knew it was coming he did open fire breaking ROE by the time the 5th officer had come around to demote him and give him the full roll out of “official punishments” he had already lost any stress or anxiety over the event.
“The cost of damages to the highway alone is gonna cost us a fucking corvette, and you better damn well believe your gonna be working for the rest of your worthless fucking life paying that shit off. Now before i get to the punishment LT. i have to know how do you fuck up this bad”
This tirade had been going on for more than 20 minutes at this point and McFea was no longer letting it take up any space in his cognition.
“ARE YOU HEARING ME LT?!?”
“Sir yes sir”
His acknowledgement seemed to only reignite the partially dimming flame in his CO’s veins
McFea took notice of everything directly in front of his line of sight simply to ignore the screaming CO attempting to intimidate him. So far McFea counted almost a dozen what he could only assume were pencil puncture holes behind the CO’s desk probably put there when the CO received some rather upsetting news. McFea could just picture him slamming pencil after pencil into the wall so he didn't stab his receptionist outside. Especially with what has transpired today.
Thankfully it was about this point that the CO seemed to pause breathing heavily to catch his breath. McFea was impressed by almost 30 minutes of straight yelling that took serious lung capacity. Keeping his gaze mostly averted forwards and just past his CO’s silhouette. The CO looked towards his desk picked up a mug and took a swig of whatever swill had been sitting there. He breathed for a moment before turning back to McFea, looking him in the face and asking “seriously do you even consider how badly you fucked up?”
“Sir, this marine did sir, but in that moment it was the right call sir.” McFea responded to the point and direct, no point in dancing around it.
The CO looked shocked for a moment, before his awe turned to rage slowly turning over in the back of his mind. McFea could see his only slightly dimmed skin beginning to reignite as the blood flow increased with his rage. It looked like the CO was about to get rolling out a new tirade when a knock rang out like a gunshot.
The cpl at the door poked through and after a moment of taking in the scene laid out in the office the CO growing impatient asked “yes cpl?”
“Oh apologies sir, we need you outside… theres someone here to see you.” said the young marine
“Ill be out in a moment.” the CO said coldly.
“uh … its a code gold sir.” at that the CO seemed to straighten to almost inhuman levels and trotted outside quickly.
A few seconds passed, then a few minutes. It seems whatever a code “gold” isMcFea had no doubts it would be bad, even if it bought McFea a few moments of relative peace. Breathing and thinking back on the incident, McFea had no doubts that he had made the right move, and had resigned himself to take disciplinary action. He just wishes they would give him the final tally and let him get back to it. Wasn't like they were gonna court martial him so why not let him get back to work. He followed this train of thoughts for a few minutes before the silence was shattered by the sound of a door knob turning, turning and beginning to salute the CO as he reentered. A heartbeat later shock ran through his system as a second figure walked in.
What strode in was a Sub-Admiral, adorned in all the dressing befitting such a rank. The man in question was gaunt, and harrowed in appearance. He even had a certain amount of aging to him, probably fought in the fall, if that was the case he should be almost crippled, but holding himself together seemingly only by sheer will. If someone like this wanted to sit in on disciplinary proceedings it wither means an amazing promotion or a court marshaling. McFea was guessign the latter.
“Lt. McFea, this is Sub Admiral Koval he has requested to sit in on these… proceedings.” the CO said his anger was lost in his uncertainty.
Now McFea knew he was about to be court marshaled.
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“Not exactly, more like hijack them.” the admiral responded
“Sir?” asked his CO
“Oh thats alright Pearson, go get yourself another what is it you drink black straight from that little corner caffe. Well be gone by the time you get back.”
“I dont think thats all that appropriate sir.”
McFea wished for both parties to just get on with it and not keep him in imminent suspense. It seemed tha the Sub admiral wanted to take his pound of flesh in private so it may be more a matter of a literal pound of flesh.
“No its not, but to be frank, its above your paygrade… now leave unless you want me to call Karen about Liza.” the Sub admiral looked almost like a serpent reeling back to strike with that and the CO’s color faded from his face before his eyes bulged in anger, but silently he turned and slammed the door shut. Admiral Koval seemed to delight in the sudden vacuum, while McFea felt much like a mouse getting put in an arena with its predator. After letting the calm simmer, Koval turned and faced McFea, with a half grin adorning his face.
“Well McFea as it turns out your insubordination may have its applications if youre interested.”
“Sir?”
“I dont like games, or politics McFea, so ill get to the point. Im puting together a hunting party for the wraiths and you're recent stunt has at the very least made you a celebrity, so congratulations LT. im giving you a way out of the political hell that would normally befall a independent soldier like yourself, and witrh it a glowing path to ascension and redemption.”
McFea’s instincts were telling him to run, but he already knew that it was to late. McFeas mind raced with possible dark holes he was about to end up and he had too try and get out.
“Sir im currently assigned to border control who will…?” a desperate plan that he felt had failed before it even began.
“Dont worry about it McFea head back to barracks collects some men you can trust and then wait outside, ill send a HMVEE to collect you.” Koval said the half grin never disappearing from his face.
“Wait sir , you want a squad as well? McFea knew these types of ops, it rarely went well. Whoever came along with him, if they didn't end up dead, were never going to return to normal service.
“Indeed McFea.” Koval said as he snapped a salute and opened the door for McFea to leave.
Shit shit shit shit was all that could run through McFeas mind as he made his way to the Barracks.
In D Barracks
No one was in the barracks when McFea returned, his one mercy for the day it seemed. He sighed, knowing his situation was the type with no easy way out, knowing it was probably a one way trip. His mind raced as he made his way to his bunk packing his personal items into his ruck, he had made calls hes regretted before, hes lost brothers before, but signing men up for a suicide mission, that was a new one for him. It stuck to his mind and heart like a coating of oil, sickeningly thick and congealed, choking all other things out. He was reserved to be demoted, or receive any other punishment the brass had in mind to deal out, he still is, but he wasn't taking anyone who would trust him enough to follow him along for the ride. With this he would have to.
“no “ he thought he wasn't doing this, his brothers will be spared for his choice.
He finishes packing up his ruck and stands looking around the barracks once more. Memories of good news and bad flashed back into his mind. The hard days when brothers supported each other, and the easy days when they celebrated with their family. The dumb fucking jokes that always got taken to far, the conflicting tastes in musics, hell even the deranged deviant interests with anything even remotely sexual. McFea laughed amidst the silence, before walking resolute, outside to his fate.
As he stood outside his Barracks, he saw as promised, a HMVEE rolling up. McFea lowered his gaze as it approached and walked forwards. As it pulled to a stop all 4 doors swung open Koval himself appeared at the driver side with that same half grin.
“Ah… Lt McFea, couldnt find anyone?” asked Koval shouting out across the short distance
McFea shook his head and responded “no sir, no one would join me after the stunt i pulled…” McFeas eyes landed on the personal getting out of the back of the HUMVEE Lccpl Heilds, Pvt Arthurs, Pvt Ramos, and Sgt Colbert. McFea’s mind was filled with two thoughts, first FUCK, and second he was going to kill Koval, not today but someday he was gonna kill that fucking asshole for this.
“That's alright McFea, these men all volunteered when i informed them of your transfer.”
“Yea what the fuck LT, you know im ride or die” Ramos said as he jogged past McFea into the barracks.
“Could have asked me, been a while since i got to fuck anything up, need to stretch the old war horse” Colbert said as he saluted McFea as he passed by as well.
Hields and Arthur just nodded towards the LT as they passed, to collect their stuff as well. McFea turned back and focused on the final figure striding towards McFea a petite 5’ nothing man, who looked like his clothes were 4 sizes too big on him, but moved with an intensity of only the hardest killers.
“Thats Specialist Chitavake Khan, one of mine, hell be accompanying you and yours LT.” shouted Koval
“Sir, its a pleasure” Khan said
“Same, sure well get plenty of time to get to know each other, but if your under my command, anything ai should know outright?” McFea asked having to put on airs of civility
“I have a unique skillset for infiltration and exfiltration, and i was a detective for 6 years before enlisting, went through Blackbird special forces training, and am adept at information gathering and intelligence working.” replied spc Khan there was no inflections with his words almost like a machine responding and informing in the least amount of effort possible.
“Understood Khan, well I'm sure youll be a great addition.” McFea said nodding, before turning back to Koval, and making his way to the HUMVEE with “well we aint got all day”