Burning the Barn: The Wheel Turns

Posted on Mon Mar 9th, 2020 @ 2:28am by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Commander Wanahton & Jennifer Coulson & Company Sergeant Major Jeffery "The Mountain" Duval

Mission: Mission 74: The War Within, The War Without
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1400Hrs - April 8th, 2392

Sergeant Major Jeffery Duval was seated in the lounge, presently polishing glasses for the evenings dinner rush as one of his aides came over to him. "Sergeant Major... mail call for you." as the young woman handed him a PADD.

"Thanks Sera."

"Sure Sargent Major... I'd best get back to it." she indicated the rather large pile of cutlery that needed to be polished and sorted. "Dinner rush in ninety minutes.."

"Yeah. tell me about it." Duval answered in a cheery tone of voice as he tapped the PADD. It asked him for his passcode which he typed in, making sure he got it right as the display reset to black and it displayed a rather considerable amount of text. It was exactly what he had been expecting, his marching orders and he was to report to his new assignment as soon as possible."Its always as soon as possible." Duval commented as he placed the rag down on the desktop.

"Shit.." Duval muttered.

Jennifer Coulson was just passing by as he said that, she turned her head. "Whats up Sargent Major?"

"I'm being ordered out... My orders came through and I need to leave.." Duval growled ever so softly. "I'm being reassigned to the USS Lancaster as the sergeant major of the four forty seventh battalion.

"Oh... So you're heading out now?" Coulson responded quietly.

"Yeah... I know the guys will want to arrange a goodbye party for me. Let me know of the date and time and I'll be there." Duval sighed. "I'd stick around to say goodbye but my orders say 'immediate'." he shook his head.

"Lancaster isn't far.. is she?"

"No, she's assigned to the same element as Argonne, both are also assigned to the Roanoke's Squadron." and with that he rose to his feet. "I need to go." and with that he gently shook her hand before she gave him a hug. "Its been different working with you sergent major."

"Take care of our people Jennifer." Duval then quickly took his leave in silence, on his way through the kitchen, the chefs lined up to say goodbye to Duval. One by one their bid him farewell. Duval paused at his office which was now Jennifer Coulson's office as he drew his Kukri blade from the top drawer. "This belongs with the Chef." before he went over to the Chef. "This.. is for you."

"I'll look after it Sergent Major. Thank you.... Its been a privilege." Chef Keith Marcus said in a soft tone of voice.

"The honor was mine Chef. That knife should remain here as part of this restaurant."

"Aye Sergeant Major." and with that he threw it into the large target that had been set up for the purpose. "For the honor.."

"For the honor." and with that Duval smiled as he took his leave after saying goodbye to the assembled kitchen staff. Making his farewells he found took a lot longer then he had expected. Duval found he enjoyed letting these people show him how much they had come to respect his calming influence at the bar, his commanding presence on the line and the fact he almost never lost his temper at his staff, he also never raised his voice to them either, citing it as unseemly and not necessary to resolve problems.

However the time had come and he made his final departure quick, he returned to his quarters, he quickly picked up the two cases he had already packed and then he began cleaning out what was left of his time in his quarters, most of which he had either gotten rid of or sent off into storage.

Duval left his quarters aboard the USS Roanoke for the final time and he made his way to the transporter room. Waiting for him was Commander Tom Lasky. "Hey Sergeant Major."

"I was hoping to get by you quietly." Duval commented with a soft sigh.

"Thats.. not gonna happen sergeant major.... Ever." Lasky responded with a smile before her offered the larger man his hand. "Serving with you... has been an honor."

"The honor.." Duval commented as he grasped the Commander's hand with his own. "Was mine.." before he pulled Lasky to him, he embraced the smaller man. "Take care of yourself... and look after that son of yours.."

"I will.. You do the same sergeant major... "

"Count on it." and with that he let Lasky go before he stepped up onto the transporter pad. "Permission to disembark Commander.?"

"Permission granted." Lasky responded quietly and he knew that he didn't want to drag this out. "Energize Chief.." and with that Duval was beamed off of the Roanoke for the last time.

Lasky sighed. "Bon voyage old friend.." and with that Lasky turned and walked out of the transporter room. Meanwhile over on the Lancaster,
Commander Wanahton was waiting for him. "Sergeant Major Duval.?"

"I am he... yes... Permission to come aboard.?"

"Granted. Maybe you can help sort out some of the issues the marines aboard this ship are having.. Lieutenant Colonel Raskar Wuko is waiting to see you as soon as possible."

"Very well. I'll go find my quarters then go see him."

"Thank you Sergeant Major. I appreciate that. You'd best get going." and with that the Commander turned and walked out the door, Duval picked up his two cases and followed the man out the door. His first stop was the quartermaster's office for his new home away from home.

After doing that, he dropped off his two cases before he went to see his new boss to check in and let the Colonel know that he existed, ten minutes later he arrived at his destination. After knocking he was bade entry.

"Sergeant Major Jeff Duval reporting as ordered sir." Duval announced himself as soon as he was in the room then he came to attention. He had no idea of what sort of leader this new guy was going to be.

Both the Caitian Snow Leopard type Colonel Raskar Wuko and the Eiaouan XO Darktail where in the office when Duval arrived. Raskar looked up at the newcomer, saying. "Hey sergeant major, I take it you are the new sergeant major of our unit now."

"I am yes.." Duval smiled, he was dealing with a Caitian and he knew that very few were of the formal type. "What happened to the previous guy?" he inquired.

"Raggar Nask, He got into a fight with some random admiral's Aide," Darktail replied," Practically asked to be demoted afterwords, apparently he hated being a Sergent major even more than I hate being an XO."

Duval nodded, processing the details. "Raggar Nask... I used to serve with him..." he responded. "I'm not surprised his sins have caught up to him sooner or later... Do you have anything special you need me to look after for you?"

"Not much at the moment. I don't really have anything for you right now," Raskar replied.

"I understand..." Duval answered evenly. "Do you want me in the morning or no?" he inquired.

"Its probably a good idea to show up tomorrow," Raskar suggested.

"Alright." Duval answered before the rest of the meeting was simple shop talk and before long after everything was said. Duval was dismissed so he could go unpack and settle in.