John Ringo - To Sail a Darkling Sea

“But its… ” The infected was still more than a hundred meters away but he was clearly unhappy getting near it.

“Cross the bridge, Steinholtz,” Barney said, giving him a light push. “We’re going to have a demonstration of why one doesn’t attempt to fire from a rocking platform if one has a solid platform available.”

He got the reluctant former security guard to cross the bridge then got him down in the prone position on the dirt road of the breakwater. The zombie had closed to maybe seventy-five yards and was starting to speed up with fresh meat so close.

“Now, take a deep breath and shoot the zombie in the chest, Steinholtz,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “One round only.”

Steinholtz fired. And missed.

“Oh, good Lord. You missed that shot? Try it again. You’re jerking your trigger. Slow squeeze, Steinholtz… ”

This time the Seaman Recruit managed to hit the infected. The zombie was nearly dead from dehydration and malnutrition and it dropped with one round.

“I got it!” Steinholtz said.

“At under fifty yards with a gun capable of aimed fire at four hundred,” the Sergeant Major said. “We’re clearly going to have to work on marksmanship.”

“I’m better with a pistol,” Steinholtz said, starting to stand up.

“I did not give you permission to get up , Seaman Recruit Steinholtz,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “While you’re down there, you can give me twenty push-ups for your inability to follow the simplest orders. And a one and a two… ”

“Having fun, Sergeant Major?” Sophia said. She’d brought her group up to the breakwater and was passing the Sergeant Major and the sweating Steinholtz.

“Just getting a few things clear, ma’am,” Barney said. “Seaman Recruit Bennett has already set up the Singer. If you could keep an eye on things for a moment that would be excellent. Be up there in a trice.

“I think I’ve got it under control, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said, grinning then keyed her radio. “Olga, what’s the status on the first yacht.”

“Door’s locked to below,” Olga said. “Topside is clear. Engineer is working on the lock now.”

“Can we spare some people, Sergeant Major?” Sophia asked.

“One two-man team,” the Sergeant Major said. “Hill and Hadley unless you object, ma’am.”

“That will do,” she said. “I’ll go get them.”

“If I may, ma’am,” Barney said. “Seaman Recruit, get up off your face and run down to the security team. Get Hill and Hadley. Have them report back to the Lieutenant. Do you understand those orders?”

“Yes, Sergeant Major,” Steinholtz said, getting to his feet.

“What were your orders, Seaman Recruit Steinholtz?” Barney asked.

“Go get Hill and Hadley?” Steinholtz said.

“If I may, Sergeant Major?” Sophia said. “The way we do that in the Navy is that the correct response to a direction such as that is ‘Go and get Hill and Hadley, aye, Sergeant Major.’ ”

“Really, ma’am?” Barney said.

“Yes, it’s called a repeat back,” Sophia said. “Makes sure they got the order that you gave instead of what they heard.”

“Well, in this case, that would make sense,” Sergeant Major Barney said. “Because what I told you to do was RUN and get Hill and Hadley, Seaman Recruit. So, here is the ‘direction.’ Run and get Hill and Hadley. Have them return to meet with the Lieutenant. Is that clear?”

“Now what you say,” Sophia said, “is ‘Run to get Hill and Hadley, aye. Have them return to meet the Lieutenant, aye.’ ”

“Run to get Hill and Hadley, aye,” Steinholtz said. “Have them return and meet you, aye.”

“Go,” Sergeant Major Barney said, pointing. As Steinholtz started to trot down the breakwater he shook his head. “WHAT IS IT ABOUT RUN THAT WAS UNCLEAR , SEAMAN RECRUIT? Shall we promenade, ma’am?”

“Oh, lets, Sergeant Major,” Sophia said.

“I’d say arm in arm, ma’am, but people might talk,” the Sergeant Major said, strolling down the avenue. “What was it you wished Hill and Hadley for if I may inquire, ma’am?”

“I thought they could check the boats topside while Olga and Yu wait on the mechanic,” Sophia said. “Then Olga and Yu can check below. When the doors are locked, there’s rarely an infected in the boat. At least, alive. Or survivors in a situation like this. But it’s a little less nerve wracking checking topside than below.”

“Thank you for the explanation, ma’am,” the Sergeant Major said. “It makes a great deal of sense.”

“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.