A Question or Two

Posted on Tue Jul 12th, 2016 @ 4:37am by Colonel Jason "Jack" Frost
Edited on on Tue Jul 12th, 2016 @ 4:37am

822 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: New Faces and Terror Beyond
Location: MCO's Office

MCO's Office

Having heard that his orders were actioned with the new assignements Jack retreated to his own office which was eagerly vacated by the Major, who was nowhere to be seen. The office though, was exactly how he left it which made him wondering which had a knock on effect of making him think if he was spending too much time in here and becoming a hermit. Bar the typical evaluation and performance reviews from the team leaders there was very little needing his attention.

Hmmm, I could get used to this...

His moment of peace though was broken when his computer sprung to life unexpectedly. It was a good thing he was well seated otherwise he might have leapt from his seat. He pressed the button and the computer actived.

"Colonel, am I interupting?" Samantha asked, the look on the Colonel's face was different than usual.

"No Major, I was just reading some reports." A small white lie, sort of.

"I was hoping to meet with you, I need to talk to you about something?" S'iraa ordered.

"Sure, when ever you like, I'm in my office right now." Wondering what this development might be.

"Thanks, I'll be right there." Sam then closed the link and made way to Jack. She was nervous as she didn't know how Jack would react to the offer once she explained it to him. She was happy here on the Dreadnought and hoped that Jack knew that, but a MCO himself she wanted to get an insiders view of the role and what it was like when he had to give up who and what he knew for a new command.

When Sam arrived she pressed the door chime.

"It's open." Jack spoke walking back to the desk from his window. "So...what's this talk you wanted about?" Jack with his arm out offering one of the chairs in front of his desk.

Honesty was the best policy here Sam thought considering she was initially intending to remain here. She explained the offer that was made to here and gave over all the information that she herself was provided. She was nervous at what Jack's reaction would be, but was prepared for it.

"Well, ultimatly it is your career we are talking about here so obviously the final call is yours to make. That said though dont put all your eggs in the basket handed to you. Sure the Captain said 'with the intention' that you take over but we all know how long term plans pan out when time passes by." Jack spoke. "That said though, not going to lie, the feel of command is amazing."

"When you were MXO to Colonel Bawden, how much of a difference was it when you took over from him?" Sam asked.

"Well initially for the most part there was not much real change, I was a known element to the men, I'd served along side them. Mark was kind enough to tie up loose ends before I took over so I pretty much had a clean slate to start from." Jack ran his fingers through his hair as he sat back. "It didn't set in at first but after a while the dawning reality that I was the one responsible for the growth, development and progression of nearly 300 marines, that was a bit of a shock."

"Do you miss being a MXO?" Sam asked.

"Not really, the way it panned out for me was that there was really not much change persay in what I was to when I took over because of what Bawden did." Jack answered her. "Now obviously I can't say that will be the same for you should you take the offer, but you would be in command, on your way to a Bird (Colonel rank) that is yours. You also have the perk of it being a marine base, not like here where we serve on a starship."

"I'm not sure if I'm ready though." Sam spoke up.

"Sam your a good leader and a fine marine, but I can't tell you if you are ready or not. Only you can. What I can say is that if you feel you are not ready then dont take it because if you do with the wrong mindset then you will set yourself up to fail." Jack paused, he was not trying to sound harsh. "Start like you mean to continue and mental attitude is part of that."

"But this could be my only chance!"

"I doubt it, positions and rank changes are happening daily. Might be a year or two but this wont be the only shot your given." Jack tried to reassure her.

"I know." Sam replied though she still had a lot of thinking to do. "I think I just need some time to think it through."

"You know where I am if you need to talk."

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