Kelly Blake 3: Where the Stars Are Few and Far Between Read Online Free
Author: Rodney Smith
worlds. You two get your staffs together and get me a plan by next Friday. Andrea, get me an appointment with Tom Craddock. There’s an idea he threw at me once that I want to talk to him about.”
* * * * *
Major Mary Chen, all 1.7 meters of her, had four much taller company commanders with their heels firmly locked in rigid attention. “I gave you until 1200 to get your vehicles ready for inspection, then I find two or more major deficiencies per vehicle. I conducted the inspection at 1200 because you asked me to do it early so the Marines who worked so hard on the vehicles could be released for the weekend. If that’s how you want to play this game, you can stand the inspection again on my schedule. I’ll be back here at 2400 to re-inspect the vehicles. You can explain to your Marines why they’re working late on a Friday!”
She stomped back to the battalion HQ, making no effort to keep to herself the fact that she was pissed. Her boss, Lieutenant Colonel Frank McGuire, called her into his office.
“What’s up, XO? I guess the inspection didn’t go all that well.”
She took a slow, deep breath and began reading down her list of deficiencies. He stopped her after the fifth vehicle.
“How many vehicles had deficiencies and are those typical?”
“All of them, sir, and these are typical. I didn’t nit pick. I focused on major deficiencies that could cause casualties in combat. How are they going to do when we start combat loading these vehicles?”
“What are you doing about it?”
“I’m re-inspecting them at 2400. I’d like the Sergeant Major to drop by. Some of this is poor NCO leadership. He might want to weigh in.”
“Okay, XO, this is your show. Tell the Sergeant Major I said okay. He’d do it anyway. Let me know how it comes out.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
Mary left the CO’s office and wondered why she ever left Special Ops.
* * * * *
Major Angie Shappelle, XO of the 35th Fighter Squadron, the Daredevils, popped the hatch on her F-53 and taxied into position according to her crew chief’s directions. His arms crossed and she locked the brakes and parked. As she waited for the boarding ladder, she unbuckled her harness, pulled off her helmet, and stuffed it into her helmet bag. Her tech sergeant helped her out and stayed behind. Angie moved out smartly to work out the kinks in her legs. She stopped in flight equipment to shuck out of her flight gear and her survival vest, and walked to the squadron HQ, as she had been directed on approach.
She knocked on the squadron commander’s door and was told to enter and close the door behind her.
He pointed at a chair and said, “Sit down, Angie.”
Angie, instantly suspicious, said, “What’s up, sir?”
“So many times in this job I have to give people bad news, this is one time I get to tell someone some good news.”
“What is it, sir?”
“Angie, you’ll get the official notification tomorrow and the General will want to see you later, but he’s authorized me to inform you that you've been selected below the zone for Lieutenant Colonel. In addition, you have been selected for the command list. You’ll be promoted in three months and the next F-53 squadron that comes open is yours. That will probably be the 68th when Joe Banks leaves for the Fleet War College. By June, you’ll be in command. Congratulations!”
Angie sat stunned as the CO came around his desk to shake her hand. She couldn’t believe it, promotion, command – and of the Fighting 68th. She wondered if they still had that ugly red hat.
* * * * *
Major Mary Chen’s 2400 hours inspection went much better than her earlier inspection. She had the company commanders’ attention now. She found a large number of vehicles with no major or minor deficiencies. She was happy. The Marines weren’t. She called them all together after her inspection and addressed them.
“Listen up! A number of you are wondering why this was necessary. Why are
* * * * *
Major Mary Chen, all 1.7 meters of her, had four much taller company commanders with their heels firmly locked in rigid attention. “I gave you until 1200 to get your vehicles ready for inspection, then I find two or more major deficiencies per vehicle. I conducted the inspection at 1200 because you asked me to do it early so the Marines who worked so hard on the vehicles could be released for the weekend. If that’s how you want to play this game, you can stand the inspection again on my schedule. I’ll be back here at 2400 to re-inspect the vehicles. You can explain to your Marines why they’re working late on a Friday!”
She stomped back to the battalion HQ, making no effort to keep to herself the fact that she was pissed. Her boss, Lieutenant Colonel Frank McGuire, called her into his office.
“What’s up, XO? I guess the inspection didn’t go all that well.”
She took a slow, deep breath and began reading down her list of deficiencies. He stopped her after the fifth vehicle.
“How many vehicles had deficiencies and are those typical?”
“All of them, sir, and these are typical. I didn’t nit pick. I focused on major deficiencies that could cause casualties in combat. How are they going to do when we start combat loading these vehicles?”
“What are you doing about it?”
“I’m re-inspecting them at 2400. I’d like the Sergeant Major to drop by. Some of this is poor NCO leadership. He might want to weigh in.”
“Okay, XO, this is your show. Tell the Sergeant Major I said okay. He’d do it anyway. Let me know how it comes out.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
Mary left the CO’s office and wondered why she ever left Special Ops.
* * * * *
Major Angie Shappelle, XO of the 35th Fighter Squadron, the Daredevils, popped the hatch on her F-53 and taxied into position according to her crew chief’s directions. His arms crossed and she locked the brakes and parked. As she waited for the boarding ladder, she unbuckled her harness, pulled off her helmet, and stuffed it into her helmet bag. Her tech sergeant helped her out and stayed behind. Angie moved out smartly to work out the kinks in her legs. She stopped in flight equipment to shuck out of her flight gear and her survival vest, and walked to the squadron HQ, as she had been directed on approach.
She knocked on the squadron commander’s door and was told to enter and close the door behind her.
He pointed at a chair and said, “Sit down, Angie.”
Angie, instantly suspicious, said, “What’s up, sir?”
“So many times in this job I have to give people bad news, this is one time I get to tell someone some good news.”
“What is it, sir?”
“Angie, you’ll get the official notification tomorrow and the General will want to see you later, but he’s authorized me to inform you that you've been selected below the zone for Lieutenant Colonel. In addition, you have been selected for the command list. You’ll be promoted in three months and the next F-53 squadron that comes open is yours. That will probably be the 68th when Joe Banks leaves for the Fleet War College. By June, you’ll be in command. Congratulations!”
Angie sat stunned as the CO came around his desk to shake her hand. She couldn’t believe it, promotion, command – and of the Fighting 68th. She wondered if they still had that ugly red hat.
* * * * *
Major Mary Chen’s 2400 hours inspection went much better than her earlier inspection. She had the company commanders’ attention now. She found a large number of vehicles with no major or minor deficiencies. She was happy. The Marines weren’t. She called them all together after her inspection and addressed them.
“Listen up! A number of you are wondering why this was necessary. Why are
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