To Sail a Darkling Sea - eARC

by John Ringo

  “Thank you, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said.

  “But if I may so detail them, ma’am?” the Sergeant Major said. “That is, in fact, what I am for.”

  “So I should have said ‘tell Hill and Hadley to check topside?’ ” Sophia asked.

  “Ma’am, you can run things any way you please,” Barney said. “You are the away team commander. However, if you wish some guidance, ma’am, you can tell me ‘Get a team to check the topside’ and I shall be pleased to manage the rest. That is, in fact, my purpose in this great endeavor. To take your directions and expand upon them with it is to be hoped intelligence and wisdom. Ma’am.”

  “Well, here come Hill and Hadley,” Sophia said as the two walked up.

  “You wanted something?” Hill asked.

  “Sergeant Major?” Sophia said.

  “First, when reporting to an officer you salute, especially under arms,” the Sergeant Major said. “The correct method of reporting is ‘Reporting as ordered, ma’am.’ With a salute. So, try that once more, with feeling.”

  “Reporting as ordered… uh… ” Hill said as he and Hadley saluted then dropped them.

  “You do not drop the salute until the officer salutes in reply,” Barney said. “Ma’am, if you would hold off on that until I complete this training evolution, please?”

  “As you say, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said.

  “So, salute again,” Barney said. “Then repeat after me, ‘Reporting as ordered, ma’am.’ ”

  “Reporting as ordered, ma’am,” Hill said, saluting.

  “Do I salute?” Hadley asked.

  “Technically, no,” Barney said. “But there is rarely such a thing as too much saluting. Now, ma’am, if you would return the salute, please?”

  “Roger,” Sophia said, saluting.

  Hill dropped his salute.

  “And you don’t drop your hand, Hill, until the Lieutenant drops hers,” Barney said. “So… back to saluting and now, ma’am, if you would drop yours. Thank you.”

  “Is there really a point to this?” Hadley asked.

  “First, never ever question one of my orders when we are in the midst of an evolution,” Barney said. “Do you understand that, Seaman Recruit?”

  “Sure,” Hadley said.

  “Seaman Recruit, are you familiar with the term, ‘front leaning rest’ position?”

  “No,” Hadley said.

  “That is the push-up position,” Barney said. “Assume it. Arms extended.”

  “Seriously?” Hadley said.

  Barney darted forward, at an angle opposite the security specialist’s weapon barrel and shoved his face into Hadley’s.

  “GET DOWN ON YOUR FACE NOW, RECRUIT!” he screamed. “DOWN, DOWN, DOWN!”

  Hadley got down.

  “Repeat after me, Recruit,” Barney said, kneeling down so his face was by the recruit’s ear. “I WILL COMPLY WITH THE ORDERS GIVEN AND NOT ASK STUPID BLOODY QUESTIONS!”

  “I will comply with the orders given and not ask stupid questions!” Hadley said.

  “I’m a little deaf from years in Her Majesty’s Army,” Barney said. “SO I CAN’T SODDING HEAR YOU!”

  “I WILL COMPLY WITH… I WILL COMPLY WITH MY ORDERS AND NOT ASK STUPID QUESTIONS!”

  “Recover,” Barney said, straightening up. “That means get up, you stupid poofter. At attention, you too, Hill, side by side, arms cupped… ”

  When he’d gotten them to understand the position of attention, he started to circle them.

  “Yes, there is a point to not dropping your salute until an officer has returned it,” Barney said. “In the old days, and we seemed to be back to them, officers could not trust their enlisted men. Fragging as you Americans call it is a very old tradition. By forcing the enlisted to keep their salute until returned, especially and always under arms, it gave the officer a moment more to reach for his weapon in the event that the enlisted was likely to attempt to kill said officer.”

  “Seriously?” Sophia said, laughing. “I heard it was a gesture of respect between two warriors.”

  “Which it is, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “But when two warriors meet, there is always tension. The reason that you do not ask questions, unless specifically told to ask questions, is that in many circumstances there is not time for questions or thought on your part. You do not know, now, enough about how to do your jobs to have any really useful input. You think you have useful input. You do not. Any idea you may have is more than likely idiotic. An example of that is Steinholtz attempting to hit an infected at four hundred meters on a rocking platform. And because of the narrowness of said platform, he was blocking everyone else from continuing the mission. Which I already explained to him. So you do not ask questions unless you are told you can ask questions. I do not want to hear the word ‘why’ come from your lips, again, ever, unless you are specifically told you may ask questions. Do you understand? The correct response is ‘Yes, Sergeant Major.’ ”

  “Yes, Sergeant Major,” they chorused.

  “You always salute an officer,” the Sergeant Major continued. “You do so because that officer can tell you to jump into that shark infested marina and if you do not do so when she orders it, I shall shoot you for failure to follow an order. I will not hesitate. And that officer always salutes back. Because that salute should remind them that they have the awful responsibility of giving orders that may lead to your deaths. This is not a bloody video game. There’s no… what’s that word? There is no respawn.

  “Yesterday, this officer gave an order that led to an unfortunate loss. It was the right order, there was nothing wrong with it. But she bears that responsibility for her life. You were not responsible. I was not responsible. If one of you dies, today, I am not responsible. I may or may not feel responsible, but I am not. You are not. That officer is. That is her burden. That is what you acknowledge with that salute. That you don’t have to think and worry and plan. That you don’t have to bear the responsibility for a mate’s death. That it’s on your officers. Your job is to follow her orders and keep your bloody mouths shut. She doesn’t need your input and it’s not going to help. All it will do is add to her stress load which she does not bloody well need. Is this all perfectly clear? Again, the correct response is ‘Yes, Sergeant Major.’ ”

  “Yes, Sergeant Major,” they chorused.

  “I can’t HEAR YOU!”

  “YES, SERGEANT MAJOR!”

  “Good,” Barney said, mildly. “Now that we’ve got that straight. The Lieutenant gave me an order to get the topside of the yachts cleared with a second security team. You are detailed. Moving carefully and covering each other, you shall clear the topside of the yachts. Is that clear?”

  “YES, SERGEANT MAJOR!”

  “Lieutenant, do you have any additional information for these two?”

  “Make noise before you board,” Sophia said. “We’ve got the area clear so don’t worry about drawing infecteds. One of you, Hill, have your weapon loaded and ready. Hadley, shout and yell to wake the dead. Then, if there’s no response, safe your weapon and board. Check for open doors. Do not go below. Topside only. Understood?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Hill said.

  “Together and the Lieutenant can’t HEAR YOU EITHER!”

  “YES, MA’AM!”

  “And I’d like a repeat back,” Sophia said. “From Hill. And not shouted.”

  “Check the topside, aye,” Hill said. “Uh… Hadley’s going to yell. I’ll cover. Don’t board until we’re sure there aren’t infected. Just check the topside. Uh… I want to ask a question… ”

  “Not yet,” Barney said.

  “Questions, comments, concerns?” Sophia asked.

  “What do we do if we find an open door, ma’am?” Hill asked.

  “Call it in,” Sophia said. “Otherwise, stay off your radios except to report the yacht clear. But do check the hatches just to see if they’re open.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Hill, you are in ch
arge of the team,” Barney said. “If you have further questions, and only if you have important and valid questions, ask for me on the radio and I will clarify. Understood?”

  “YES, SERGEANT MAJOR!”

  “Very good,” the Sergeant Major said. “Off you go, lads.”

  “Sorry,” Sophia said. “We’ve really never gotten into the whole discipline thing. Which I know is a bad thing.”

  “The Army and the Navy have very different approaches to, well, most things, ma’am,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “But discipline is important in both, ma’am.”

  “Am I really responsible for Anarchy’s death?” Sophia asked, quietly.

  “Officially and legally, yes, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “That is the hard part of being an officer. Had he any family, it would be your job, not mine, to write them a letter telling them what happened, how he died. You have the authority to order them to perform actions which I do not have the authority to order. By the same token, you bear the responsibility of the result of those actions. From all I’ve gleaned, there was little that you could have done to prevent his death. You were under orders, yourself, to gather the boats. He died as the result of an accident while performing that mission. There will be more, ma’am. That is the nature of this profession and the sea, of itself, takes lives. It is one of the reasons that I am less than sure it is entirely wise placing a teenager in the position of an officer. That is a terrible burden to bear. By the same token, you do the job quite well.”

  “Thank you,” Sophia said, clearly thinking about it. She was watching Hill and Hadley tentatively board one of the yachts.

  “If I may add, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “The other problem of being in this position is that you have to set aside such thoughts. It is my job to watch the teams and ensure that everyone is doing their jobs and doing so in such a way that they, probably, are not going to kill themselves. Speaking of which, I need to get up to the defense team in a moment. However, your job, ma’am, is to put aside anything but anticipating future issues and plans. Let me handle this. You think about what is next. Because, among other things, I haven’t a clue about any of this and don’t know what is probably going to go wrong.”

  “Yacht’s clear. Dead batteries. Fuel. Some stores. No infected. Mechanic’s working on it. As usual, he’s afraid of the dark. What do you want us to do?”

  “Stand by,” Sophia said. “Division, can we get another repair crew? We’ve got four yachts. Topsides are clear on at least two so far. Doors are locked. They’re all going to need batteries. Over.”

  “Away Team, Division. Roger, we’ll scrounge up another mechanic.”

  “Have Hill and Hadley stop checking topsides,” Sophia said. “One of them can stand by and help the engineer on the first yacht then the other on the second.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “We need more than one frequency. Hill, Sergeant Major. Status.”

  “Topside is clear. Door’s locked.”

  “Send Hadley back to the first yacht. You stand by on the second, the one that you are on. Just wait there. Over.”

  “Ok… Roger, Sergeant Major.”

  “Uh… Sergeant Major, Rusty. We’ve got an infected coming down the way… ”

  “Gunboat,” Sophia said, looking through her binoculars. “That’s on me, I think.”

  “Very well, ma’am,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “but if I may… Singer Team. Stand by. Gunboat should take care of it. Do not fire unless ordered.”

  “Uh… Roger, Sergeant Major.”

  * * *

  “We’re Singer Team, right?” Rusty said.

  “Hell, I dunno… ”

  * * *

  “Guppy, Away Team, over.”

  “Away Team, Guppy. Yes, we can.”

  “If you would, please,” Sophia radioed. “Nuke ’em from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.”

  * * *

  “Aim,” Chief Schmidt growled, pointing at the oncoming infected. It was approaching more or less directly at the gunboat’s position. “If you cannot hit that target with your first burst, I will find a new gunner and you can just spend the rest of your career humping ammo.”

  “Yes, Chief,” the Seaman Recruit said, sweating.

  “One burst,” Schmidt said. “Take your time.”

  “Yes, Chief,” the gunner said.

  “Wait,” the Chief said. “Your sight’s off for this range.” He clicked the ladder sight. “You’d have fired over.”

  “Thanks,” the gunner said.

  “Fire.”

  The burst, fortunately for the gunner, hit the infected with one of its rounds.

  “And you get to keep your job,” Schmidt said, taking off his earmuffs. “For now.”

  “Thanks,” the gunner said.

  “That would be… what?”

  “Thank you, Chief,” the gunner said and gulped.

  “Better.”

  * * *

  “Okay,” Sophia said as the last yacht cleared the marina and joined the growing Flotilla. “Now we need wheels if we’re going to clear this town.”

  With the yachts cleared, the team had gathered at the point that the breakwater reached the shore for a little huddle.

  “Very well, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “If I may?”

  “On you, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said, nodding.

  “First, all but Zelenova Team and Singer Team, drop your magazines and clear your weapons.”

  “Sergeant Major?” Rusty said, raising his hand. He had the 240 slung.

  “You’re not in bloody primary school, Seaman Apprentice,” the Sergeant Major said. “Seaman Recruit Steinholtz, what is the proper way to ask a question?”

  “Permission to speak, Sergeant Major,” Steinholtz said.

  “So, Seaman Apprentice,” the Sergeant Major said. “Try it again.”

  “Permission to speak, Sergeant Major?” Rusty said.

  “Permission granted, Seaman Apprentice,” Barney said.

  “Uh… ” Rusty said. “I forgot what I was gonna ask… ”

  Sophia turned around and covered her mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. She coughed instead.

  “Bloody hell… ” Sergeant Major Barney said, just getting warmed up.

  “Sergeant Major!” the assistant gunner said, quickly raising his hand. “Permission to speak, Sergeant Major!”

  “Permission bloody granted,” Barney said. “And it had better be bloody important!”

  “Are we Singer Team, Sergeant Major?” the AG asked.

  “Oh, yeah,” Rusty said. “That was it… ”

  “Yes,” Sergeant Major Barney said, nodding. “You and Seaman Apprentice Bennett are Singer Team. That was my mistake. Singer is British Army slang for a machine gun. Now, everyone but the machine-gun team and Olga’s team, clear your weapons. And don’t bloody ask why. You know why. Right. Hadley, carry the jumper cables. Steinholtz, carry the battery. Zelenova team has point. Then the Lieutenant, Singer Team, Hadley and Steinholtz, myself and Hill. Is that clear?”

  “Clear Sergeant Major,” Olga said.

  “There’s gates on this marina,” Sophia said. “Get them closed so we have a secure fallback point.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Barney said. “SR Zelenova, move out.”

  The reason the infected had only been trickling in to the marina was clear when they got to the gate. There were two. The larger rolling gate was locked. The smaller swing gate was jammed by a small car that had hit the partially open gate and rolled over, blocking the entrance. The passenger side window had been smashed out.

  “Yu,” Barney said. “Climb up on the car and see what the other side looks like.”

  “Nothing, Sergeant Major,” Yu said, looking around. “Some cars scattered around. I don’t see any infected.”

  “Orders, ma’am?” Barney asked. “Do we clear the gate or try to get the other open?”

  “Can we clear it?” Sophia asked.

  �
��Oh, yes, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said.

  “Clear the gate, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said, stepping back.

  “Singer team, drop your Singer,” the Sergeant Major said. “Jumper team, drop your gear. Over there to the side you bloody idiots, not in the bloody way. Zelenova team, outside and keep an eye both directions. Hill team, that’s Hadley and Hill, over the car to the far side. Singer Team, take the bonnet side. Steinholtz, that side, I’ve got this. Now, the trick is for everyone to lift on command, with your knees… The command will be a two part, prepare to lift and lift. Team, prepare to lift… Lift! Walk it to the water… careful… ”

  The Fiat 500 only weighed 2400 pounds. Six reasonably in shape guys could lift it easily. Once it was out of the gate, they set it down.

  “Keys are in it, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “Tip it upright and try to get it started?”

  “We’re going to need cars that are a bit bigger,” Sophia said. “But might as well just to get it out of the way.”

  “Right, and here’s how you do that… ”

  * * *

  After several months upside down the Fiat wouldn’t start but there were plenty of cars abandoned outside the gates.

  “Orders, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said as the abandoned small SUV finally caught.

  “The way the Marines usually do this is two-man teams,” Sophia said. “I don’t think we should split up, though. Find a car with a sunroof. Put the Singer up there. Put that in the lead. I’ll take that one. Then the rest of the teams, two to a car. Wait… ” She stopped and thought. “Standby. Division, Away Team.”

  “Away team, Division.”

  “We can secure this marina. There are gates and we can get them closed. Request additional support for hand-off of refugees at the marina gate. We’ll handle the town. Over.”

  “Roger, away team, we’re observing that. We’ll unload the security element from the Guppy to hold the gate, over. Also going to check on the fuel situation. One of these yachts is nearly dry.”

  “Thanks, Division. Seawolf out. Okay, that’s got us a secure point to fall back on. We’ll go as a group forward. If we find refugees, we’ll send them back with a two-man security team. Does that sound like a plan?”