Change is never easy.

Posted on Tue Jul 14th, 2020 @ 9:35am by
Edited on on Tue Jul 14th, 2020 @ 9:36am

538 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Under A Glassy Surface, Where We Don't Belong...
Location: MCO's Office

Change comes with the uniform, its expected, it happens. We adapt and move on as we continue to carry out the duties and tasks we are trained for. Sam had served under Jack for many years and in those years they had gone through some difficult and challenging times so it made it hard to understand why he decided to step down, maybe it was for family, maybe he'd burned out, maybe he'd seen and done enough that he couldn't do any more. It was a common thing with combat veterans that they having seen and done so much that they couldn't cope with anymore.

Sam didn't see this coming, Jack had never said anything to her about thinking of standing down and yet here she sat in his office, in his shoes and he was gone.

It felt strange for Sam to sit in the office that Jack had even if this was a new ship the office was always Jack's but now that had all changed. Pacing along the one way window Sam thought deeply and considered her options as now she would need an Exec. On her desk sat a pile of potentials, SFMC had sent candidates to for this prestigious position of MXO of the largest ship in the fleet. It was a unique opportunity and one Sam hoped would be enticing enough to get some really good candidates.

Her assistant came in with a fresh Coffee knowing the routine that Sam had and catching the Major pacing proved her suspicion right. "Do you require any assistance Major?" She asked handing over the Coffee.

"How am I supposed to choose an Exec?" Sam asked. "A squad is different than choosing an Exec for the entire department." Plonking herself in a chair nursing the Coffee with both hands. "The position is potentially a career maker, especially this one. The amount of marines they would be in charge of would assure them Major, maybe even more in time."

The assistant stood and listened, taking in what was said. "You have been in the position, you know first hand the kinds of things you had to do and what was expected of you. You have a different style to the Colonel sure, but the expectations remain the same."

"This would be my first command decision and I want it to be a good one." Sam spoke sipping her Coffee.

"You could speak to the Captain, get his input." Came the suggestion. "He's in charge of an entire starship with many departments and he's no doubt made this kind of choice many times. There is nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it, it only becomes wrong if you do nothing and don't ask."

"Yeah, I've been meaning to meet with the Captain since the change over, it might be a good opportunity." Sam replied considering the option presented to her. "I should also probably address the troops at some point and let them know the changes before rumour mills start churning."

"Couldn't hurt, loose lips and all." The assistant spoke before she walked towards the door again. "Try not to beat yourself up too much, its early days and Rome was not built in one."

RSS Feed