John Ringo - To Sail a Darkling Sea

“You’ve got an M4, right?” Steve said. “And I’ve got a pistol. That should be enough. As I said, we need to chat.”

They walked back into the bowels of the ship and Steve opened up one of the hatches. The smell of rot was strong.

“Been back here?” Steve asked, stepping over a bloating body. “Keep the hatch open. Decay uses up oxygen.”

“Yes, sir,” Wilkes said.

“But I think this is far enough,” Steve said. “I understand Faith had an incident last night?”

“I thought it might be about that, sir,” Wilkes said. “I take it she complained to you?”

“No,” Steve said. “Nor the Gunny nor any of the Marines. They know, even if Faith doesn’t, about not jumping the chain of command. On the other hand, we’re a mix of civilian and military. And while the military personnel have, in general, not spoken to me of it, I’ve been getting an earful from the civilian side. I was even told there was some sort of message from this Zumwald character. And since I had a previously scheduled meeting with her, I counseled her on this indiscretion as well. Would you care to give me your version?”

“Lieutenant Smith was asked by Mister Zumwald to get him a drink,” Wilkes said. “She responded with physical violence. I counseled her on conduct unbecoming of an officer and, when she reacted with foul language, on disrespect to a superior officer, sir, and I’ll stand by that position. Sir.”

“I agree that her actions were unbecoming, Captain,” Steve said, mildly. “She really should have resolved it with less force. Which I told her as well as a strong lecture on respect to a superior officer. On the other hand, Captain, Mister Zumwald physically accosted her, grabbing her arm and, when she protested, called her a bitch. Were you aware of that, Captain?”

“She did say something about it, sir,” Wilkes said. “However… ”

“I also understand that you spent some time with Mister Zumwald afterwards,” Steve said. “Rather late. Did you at any time express to Mister Zumwald that accosting any woman, much less an officer of… what was it? ‘The United States Naval services’ was unacceptable behavior, Captain?”

“Sir,” Wilkes said. “Mister Zumwald is a major Hollywood executive… ”

“Was,” Steve said.

“Excuse me, sir?” Wilkes said.

“ Was a major Hollywood executive,” Steve said. “Right now, Ernest Zumwald, Captain, is a fucking refugee off a fucking lifeboat. Period fucking dot. He’s given a few days grace, like most refugees, to get his headspace and timing back, then he can decide if he wants to help out or go in with the sick, lame and lazy. And in this case he’s a fucking refugee who thinks it’s acceptable to accost some unknown chick and tell him to get him a fucking drink. Grab her by the arm and, when she tells him to let go, become verbally abusive.

“What makes the situation worse, Captain, is that the person he accosted was not just any passing young hotty but a Marine officer . He did not know that at the time; the Marine officer was dressed much like other women in the compartment. However, he does not have the right to grab any woman in my care by the fucking arm and order them to get him a fucking drink , Captain! Then, to make matters worse , following the incident, Captain, you spent the entire fucking evening getting drunk with a fucktard who had physically and verbally assaulted a female Marine officer ! You dumbshit .”

“Sir, I… ” Wilkes said, paling.

“And not just any Marine officer, oh, no,” Steve said. “Forget that it was the daughter of the Acting LANTFLEET. Forget that it was the daughter of your fucking rating officer, you retard. I’m professional enough to overlook that. I really am. There’s personal and professional, and I do actually know the line. Except that it was, professionally , a disgraceful action on your part, Captain. But not just any Marine officer, Captain. No, this was a Marine officer that, unlike you, is fucking worshipped by your Marines, Captain. This is a Marine officer that the acting Commandant thinks only uses boats so her boots don’t get wet walking from ship to ship. This is a Marine officer who is the only fucking light in the darkness to the entire Squadron, you dumbfuck!

“I’d already gotten the scuttlebutt that you were a palace prince pogue who was a cowardly disgrace to the Marine uniform, Captain. I was willing to let that slide because maybe you could run the fucking clearance from the fucking door. But you just pissed off every fucking Marine we’ve got , you idiot . You incredible dumbfuck, moron!

“In case you hadn’t noticed, you are getting cold-shouldered by everyone you work with while you were brown-nosing some fucking useless POS who used to ‘be somebody.’ ‘Your’ Marines are spitting on your shadow and that includes your fucking Gunnery Sergeant ! Captain, am I getting through to you? Are you even vaguely recognizing how badly you fucked up? Professionally, politically, personally ?”

“Sir… I stand by my statement that Lieutenant Smith’s conduct was unbecoming and… ”

“Already agreed, Captain,” Steve said. “And if you can get your head out of your fourth point of contact, in general, I’d appreciate you taking her under your wing and giving her some actual guidance on how to act like a Marine officer. Assuming you know. Because this is my official verbal counseling statement, Captain.

“You failed to stand up for a fellow Marine. And a Marine officer ! So you could shove your nose up the ass of some dork who used to make movies and listen to him ramble on about stars! Your failure to protect the reputation and person of a fellow Marine officer over a ‘major Hollywood executive’ has reduced what little trust your subordinates have in you and has raised questions as to your conduct and honor as a Marine officer. Not just in the mind of a jumped-up Naval Captain. The incident, which I had investigated by several sources, was discussed with higher level command, and Colonel Ellington and General Brice are in agreement that it has raised questions as to your value as an asset in this operation. Furthermore, your failure to move forward to observe operations as well as your near inability to step into this compartment has raised and continues to raise questions as to your personal courage, which is an absolute requirement of a Marine officer.”

“Sir, I formally protest any questions about my courage, sir!” Wilkes said, hotly.

“Then take your fucking Barbie gun forward ,” Steve said. “And, Captain, that’s not a request, that’s a fucking order . The specific order is, you, Captain Wilkes, will spend the rest of the day under the direction, not command but direction, of Lieutenant Smith , who will instruct you in the methods and means of infected clearance. Because, Captain, she is your number one expert at heavy clearance.”

“Sir… ” Wilkes said.

“Again, not a request, Captain,” Steve said. “She trained the fucking Gunny at how to do clearance, Captain. You can God damned well listen to her. You’ve been telling people they should move faster. Possibly that’s the case. But you don’t really know what’s happening up front, do you? Because you’ve been staying as far away from zombies as you can get . Well, you’re done staying away from zombies, Captain. Gunny Sands can manage the flow of material. Lieutenant Fontana will manage personnel distribution. You will go fight zombies. As of now . Is that understood?”