Meeting the Darker Side

Posted on Sat Apr 28th, 2012 @ 1:51pm by Staff Sergeant Snow Hill & Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Gifford

Mission: The Mystery Men of Mira
Location: Marine Orderly Room

::On::

Major Gifford stepped from his office with a stack of endless daily reports and request that needed his attention. He observed a Marine Staff Sergeant standing by the Gunny's desk. Several Orderlies seemed to be processing his paperwork to the Battalion. Jon made it a point to know his senior NCO's well. After dumping his paperwork he approached the sergeant and held out his hand.

"John Gifford, Fourteenth Marines. Welcome to the battalion."

The marine stood to attention, very briefly before he received the handshake. Just another clean shaven marine in standard marine uniform, even if he did look a little like a Starling, what with the thin grey streaks running through his hair infrequently.

"Hill, sir. Most call me Winter. Thank you, glad to be here." The marine spoke in short, concise sentences without any elaborations or sense of familiarity, it seemed odd, for a Marine that was. The marine's blue eyes didn't shine brightly, instead they seemed to study and concentrate, focused on his target.

"If you have a few minutes Winter, and I do hate to drag you away from this most exciting in processing. I have a few things to run by you." Gifford smiled, and saw an opportunity with the Staff Sergeant that needed some attention.

"Come on in my office and hear me out."

Winter nodded curtly, a small smile it seemed and followed Gifford with a shortened step to keep his pace down. Whether he smiled out of relief or whether he smiled out of politeness was neither here nor there. Apparently not much of a talker and more of an observer as his eyes darted checking the surroundings.

As Gifford entered his office he waved the sergeant to the leather couch. "Take a load off Sarge. I'm new here myself and just getting settled. You have me at a disadvantage at the moment as I haven't received your file and looked over it." The expression on the marine didn't falter surprisingly even though his eyes lingered on Gifford just a little to long before he took his seat as Gifford carried on talking.

"However, it's obvious to me you have been around a bit and have quite a bit of experience or you would not have been sent here to us. The 14th Battalion has a very large and undefined mission at the moment. Fleet Marine command is only sending the best of what they have here to the station. I need experienced NCO's to assist some very green officers. So I'm glad your here."At least the marine appeared to be paying attention, having not taken his eyes off the senior officer, less could be said about other...greener recruits and he seemed to be allowing Gifford to take as many liberties as he wished as well.

"Thank you." Winter responded.

John Grabbed a coffee cup and took a quick drink of the cold brew.. "Winter, what's the best position we can get you at?"

"Sniper sir. I work best with either small specific team or alone. I am capable with large combat manoeuvres however they are not where my skills lie." Somewhere either very far back or very far ahead of the main team then. Of course, most starfleet marine operations were small elite teams, apparently then, didn't that mean he liked them even smaller? Every marine liked knowing exactly what they had to do and they liked having the flexibility to do whatever they liked to achieve it. Unfortunately the real world didn't operate that way.

Gifford nodded and tapped a few keys on his computer.

"Sniper, outstanding. Your going to be assigned to F Company. Currently your the acting first sergeant due to your rank. F company is a hybrid however and the only company assigned Snipers and scouts. I'm assigning a new company CO. Captain Morris has been selected due to her experience with small sections. I would like you to get settled in over there and find a good spotter. We have 1200 Marines here on the station so you should be able to find one. You, Winter happen to be the only sniper asset I have, I'll need you to find and train us a few more. I have a meeting with the Station CO in a few days and will certainly advise him the 14th has some new ability's to bring to the table."

Visibly paling the Marine didn't however show the slightest in facial movement or body language. Although perhaps he were thinking more about the work he was going to do after this meeting. Hard to tell with the quiet ones.

"Yes sir." Winter's gaze momentarily lost it's focus before coming back in line, "Is that all sir?"

"Yes, Welcome to the 14th. If you have any issues just let me or Gunny Dunmore know about it."

"Sir." The marine rose, stood briefly to attention and after a cursory short nod departed with a certain determination in his stride.

::End::


Major John Gifford
Marine CO, 14th Marine Battalion
SB 332

Staff Sergeant Snow Hill
Senior NCO, F Company, 14th Marine Battalion
SB332