The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

[Poohbah]

15 December 2010
11th Special Reconnassaince Squadron
Barzanian Air Force Base
Fort Stockton, TX

Chief Morton's voice thundered across the hangar. "SQUADRON, TEN-HUT!"

Everyone bolted from their chairs to attention.

Colonel Mantell stepped up to the podium and said, "Good afternoon. First order of business is to discuss the recent incident involving the whitetail deer. Now, after some thought, I decided to suspend the bust in this case, but the perpetrator is on restriction. Note that his reduction in rank is suspended, not cancelled. He has to stay out of trouble for a year, and I'm going to think very hard before recommending advancement to Senior Airman.

"Guns and alcohol do not mix, no matter what the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms may think. Any more dumbassery with firearms, I'm going to swing the hammer hard."

He turned and signalled to Jorgensen, who went to the door to the admin spaces and let in Major Ray, who marched to the podium and saluted Mantell. He returned the salute and said, "Welcome to the Blackhorse, ma'am."

Mantell then turned back to the podium and said, "AFSOC and JSOC jointly agreed that we need a Code of Conduct refresher lecture. They have tasked Major Kelly Ray, United States Air Force Reserve, to give a lecture based on her experiences as a POW.

"I am going to say one thing before Major Ray takes the podium. What she says here, stays here. Not just because some of the content is still classified, but because she's going to be talking about extremely personal things, things I've never heard from her, and I've known her as a friend for over 18 years--she works with my wife Debs in the Bannock County Sheriff's Office. So, in respect for her privacy, I ask you to forever hold your peace about whatever she says; take it to the grave unshared. After she's finished, I will have a few words for you. Seats, please."

Everyone sat down.

Mantell said, "Nowadays, Major Ray is an F-15E pilot in the Reserves, and a Deputy Sheriff in Bannock County, Idaho. Back in 1986, she was flying a Phantom out of Florida and got shot down over Cuba. She spent nearly four years in captivity. She assisted in the Open Water escape--and caught hell for it. Her valiant leadership and extraordinary courage in a hostile environment sustained and enhanced the finest traditions of the United States Air Force." He stepped away from the podium, turned to Ray, and ushered her forward.

* * *

As always, Ray felt every pair of eyes on her--and on the sky-blue ribbon at the top of her awards, indicating that she, like Mantell, had been awarded the Medal of Honor.

"Good afternoon. As Colonel Mantell has said, I spent nearly four years in captivity. I was shot down on May 5th 1986; I was released on March 4th, 1990." She paused, then said, "And in between was pure hell.

"I was shot down during a strike on Mariel and captured immediately. What followed was . . . awful. It started with beatings, torture cuffs, rope torture, and escalated to rape. My backseater was killed during one of those sessions.

"Eventually, I broke. That's the important lesson I have for you. If you're captured, you will eventually break. The thing to do is to bounce back. Regain your strength and your purpose, and make them have to do it all over again. Understand this: you are a valuable bargaining chip. Beyond a certain point of inflicting pain, they have to try to keep you alive. They screwed the pooch with Pat Arwood, my backseater, and we all caught some more hell, but even then there were limits being enforced.

"The enemy will seek information of military value; eventually, you'll give it up, but the longer you make them wait, the less valuable it will be for them. They will try to exploit you with the international press, and force you to make propganda statements. They'll have to clean you up and let you get some strength back to put you on display. That's when you refuse to be disloyal to America.

"You will catch hell for it. But, again, there are limits. And when they put you on display, they've admitted that they have you in custody. No matter what, at that point you're a known prisoner, and we will get you back . . .

* * *

" . . . Repatriation went through San Jose, Costa Rica. When I boarded the C-141--the Hanoi Taxi, USAF serial number 66-0177--there was an American flag hanging on a cargo support. And that's . . . "

Kelly felt herself choking up, and she worked to get her voice under control. The men and women in the audience waited, paying rapt attention.

"That's when it became real, that I was going home. I came to attention and saluted the flag." She paused again. "I never try to dodge morning colors or retreat. If I'm outside . . . I salute with pride. I salute in honor of Captain Patrick Arwood's memory, and all of the other prisoners who never came home, and in honor of all that we went through."

She looked around agaim and said, "That concludes my lecture. Thank you for your time."

A stocky woman with Technical Sergeant stripes on her sleeves called, "SQUADRON, ATTENTION!"

Everyone stood to attention.

The woman then said, "PRE-SENT . . . ARMS!"

Over 200 officers and airmen fired their Number One salutes.

Kelly came to attention and returned the salute.

"ORDER . . . ARMS!"

Mantell came to the podium and said, "If everyone will resume their seats, I have a few words."

Everyone sat down, and Mantell was silent for a moment.

Finally, he said, "Remember that we carry a proud legacy as American airmen. We will honor that legacy if Mexico insists on going to war, and we will most especially honor the legacy of those airmen who were held prisoner and kept the faith.

"I'm going to tell you all something we said in the 26th Marines during the war. Out of ammo, become a pillbox. Out of fuel, become a roadblock."

He looked across his squadron.

"Out of hope . . . become a legend."

Kelly saw the impact of his words. Airmen's faces hardened with a new determination.

He looked across his squadron again. "If captured, you keep faith with God, America, and your fellow operators. You give the enemy name, rank, and serial number, you make them work their asses off for every scrap they get beyond that, and you take every viable option to escape. Make them understand that you're not locked in that POW camp with them; they're locked in there with you. Make it so that if you do escape, they pray that you stay gone."

"And remember that I will be the first operator off of the back ramp, leading the rescue force . . . and that I will be bringing Hell with me. ALLONS!"

The squadron stood to attention and roared, "ALLONS!"

Kelly felt a cold chill of fear go up her spine.

Dear God, I hope the Mexicans back off. The last thing I'd ever want is a pissed-off Josh Mantell looking for my scalp . . . except for an entire squadron of men and women he trained all looking for my scalp.

[Matt Wiser]

Kelly is seeing this side of Josh for the first time. She knows him as a fellow vet, a family man, but she's seen something new. Not only is he a trained killer, but he's leading a unit of people who are similarly trained, equipped, and dedicated to the mission.

[jemhouston]

Stars on the shoulder are intimidating; Medal of Honor means you stared at the abyss, gave it the finger, and made it blink

[Wolfman]

Stars on the shoulder are intimidating; Medal of Honor means you stared at the abyss, gave it the finger, and made it blink

And took its lunch money as well…

[Poohbah]

Stars on the shoulder are intimidating; Medal of Honor means you stared at the abyss, gave it the finger, and made it blink

And took its lunch money as well…

Gave it a wedgie and stuffed its head in the toilet, too

[Wolfman]

Stars on the shoulder are intimidating; Medal of Honor means you stared at the abyss, gave it the finger, and made it blink

And took its lunch money as well…

Gave it a wedgie and stuffed its head in the toilet, too

Then stuffed it in a locker for good measure…

[Poohbah]

16 December 2010
419th Fighter Wing
Hill Air Force Base

Wiser saw Major Ray sitting at her desk with a pensive expression.

He tapped on the door jamb of her office. "Want to talk?"

"Yeah, actually."

Wiser stepped in and closed the door.

"What's up?"

"Boss . . . you think you know someone . . . and then you see a side that he doesn't let the folks at home see."

Wiser said nothing, merely raised an eyebrow.

"Look, I know Josh Mantell as a family man. I've seen him with his wives and kids; he's a good father, and a loving husband. One of his kids wants to become a deputy like her Mama Debs. I've attended community organization breakfasts where he's spoken about things that need to happen in Portneuf Valley and Pocatello; he's an engaged citizen. And there's a YMCA in Pocatello named for his father, along with a library in Idaho Falls named for his mother. Husband, father, businessman, citizen, philanthropist. And, intellectually, yes, I know he's a trained killer."

Wiser nodded. "I hear a 'but' coming."

Kelly sighed, then nodded.

"I gave my speech, and everyone was paying rapt attention. When I finished, there was this Tech Sergeant, a really stocky woman. She called the squadron to attention, then called present arms. The entire squadron gave me their Number One salute--they view me as one of their family of warriors. After that, Mantell spoke to them. And I realized that what other people call Hell . . . part of him calls home. He quoted something that the members of the Fifth Marine Division said to each other: 'Out of ammo, become a pillbox. Out of gas, become a roadblock. Out of hope . . . become a legend.' And they lapped it up. They'll do it. Whatever needs to be done. He told them that if they were captured, to keep faith with America and each other . . . and that he'd be the first one jumping off the ramp to rescue them, and that he'd be bringing Hell with him."

Guru nodded. "A good commander."

"Guru, I just watched the video of him in Philadelphia, when he was shooting it out with those neo-Nazis. What I saw was a man who doesn't have doubts and fears like us mere mortals do. In some ways . . . it was beautiful. He was handling a medium machinegun like it was an assault rifle, and he was covering Roberta while she rendered the truck bomb safe, and neither of them had any idea how long they had left on the clock.

"He's had two years to make those men and women in his squadron into his own deadly image, and those men and women are just like him where it counts. And part of me is thinking like a deputy sheriff: what if one of these people shows up in my county and blows a fuse? What if it's Josh? We had an incident a few years back where a guy went berserk in the ER, and Josh's wife Debs had to mag-dump him to put him down."

"Worry about that if it happens, and not before."

"Yeah, I understand. Look, it just . . . rattled me. So much that I forgot to mention to him that Debs is really preoccupied with something."

"That's probably for the best; he's got a lot on his plate right now."

Kelly nodded. "Yeah, you're right."

Guru got up and walked to Kelly's office window. He looked out to the flight line.

He asked, "How many combat vets are in this Wing, and I'm not talking enlisted or CSPs?"

"No idea."

"I'll tell you: three. You, the XO, and me. None among the WSOs-and what happend with that missile convoy doesn't count. I mean real SAMs, real flak, and real MiGs out there."

"Guru...Josh trained them. And he's got two years of combat with the Marines. And for a man like him... everything is a weapon. Even his good manners. During the coup attempt, he very politely asked his captors for some extra mayonaisse for his ham sandwich, and they said sure, no problem."

Guru asked, "What'd he do with it?"

"Greased his way out of the cuffs. Then killed the two guards they sent to get rid of him." She paused, then said, "As in, he killed them with his bare hands."

Guru nodded, watching an F-24 from the 388th taxiing past the 419th's flight line. "I'm more concerned with this wing. We need to rein in any fire-eaters--the stupid, like the poor, will always be with us, unfortunately--and get with the fact we are likely to deploy. LeMay AFB outside La Paz is where we're going. Well within strike range of most of Mexico. Including the Dee-Eff."

Kelly blinked. "We're going?"

"My heart tells me that folks like you, me, and Goalie have seen and done enough. My head is telling me 'You've got one more coming, fella.' Yeah, we're almost certainly going, and so's Goalie's wing. Because I'm convinced that the people calling the shots in Mexico City have no idea what people like Joshua Mantell and his band of merry men and women are capable of. Yeah, he hid all that from you, and from the rest of good folk of the Portneuf Valley, because normal people get really scared by that sort of thing. If he didn't . . . we'd have to keep him in a special container marked 'BREAK GLASS IN CASE OF WAR.' Not fair to him . . . and not fair to his family." He sighed. "Growing up, after I'd decided to study history and go into the Air Force, I asked some of the older men about World War II, because I really wanted to understand the sacrifices they'd made. Not many were willing to talk; most of them wanted it to just stay in the past. Josh wants it away from his family . . . and yet, he's got a kid at the Air Force Academy, another at Norwich, his eldest daughter is an active duty Special Recon Operator . . . and you know something? On some level, that's actually good news."

Kelly asked, "How's that?"

Guru smiled. "If any of us get shot down . . . those rough men and women he trained will jump straight into Hell itself to get us out. That's awfully comforting, really."

Kelly nodded. "When you put it that way . . . yeah, it is."

* * *

16 December 2010
10th Special Reconnaissance Squadron
Holloman AFB

" . . . and that concludes our weather briefing. Are there any questions?"

Fowler asked, "Airman Pardo, you said that you're not comfortable making any forecasts for New Year's, could you explain why?"

"Yes, sir. Five-day forecasts are good 90% of the time, and seven-day forecasts are about 80% reliable. But the best 10-day forecasts are a coin toss. Beyond that, I'm more likely to be wrong than right, and you're asking for 16 days in the future, sir."

Fowler nodded. "Thank you. Point taken." He looked at Barnes. "Any observations?"

"Schettler, your favorite word seems to be 'um.' Relax; you really do know the material better than you think you do. Be conscious of what you're saying. If you need a few seconds to think, take them."

"Yes, Master Sergeant!"

"Other than that, the format is solid, and you've obviously bore down hard on weather analysis and forecasting. Good brief."

Pardo and Schettler took their cue and left.

Barnes turned to Kathy Mantell.

"You got them spun up in less than three months. Outstanding work, Sergeant."

"Thanks, Master Sergeant."

Fowler nodded. "Very well done, Sergeant." He paused, then asked, "How's your life overall?"

"Good, sir. I'm learning about being the dorm floor NCO, and the personal side is going very nicely."

Fowler said, "Are you planning to bring your girlfriend to the holiday party Saturday?"

Mantell nodded. "Yes, sir."

Fowler smiled. "I will be on my best behavior, then."

* * *

16 December 2010
HQ, Combat Aviation Brigade
4th Armored Division
Presidio, TX

"Colonel Mantell? Colonel Ricetti will see you now."

Mantell stood up and marched into the commander's office.

Colonel Gina Ricetti came to attention and saluted. Mantell returned the salute.

"Welcome the the 4th Armored's Aviation Brigade, Colonel. It's a privilege to meet you."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"So, what brings you here today?"

"An ounce of advanced planning, ma'am."

Ricetti nodded. "Saves everyone a metric fuckton of panicked running around when things go to hell."

They discussed Mantell's deployment plan for his teams in the 4th Armored Division's AOR, and Ricetti took notes. After about fifteen minutes of discussion, they had a draft concept of operations document that could be built into a proper contingency plan.

"I'll have my ops shop link up with your Major Watanabe and iron out the final details."

"Thank you again, ma'am." He paused, then asked, "How are the locals handling the situation?"

"My daddy was a swabbie, and he'd describe their activities as "battening down the hatches and securing for heavy rolls." There's daily convoys of trucks carrying plywood to the Tractor Supply Company store, and they're getting bought up as soon as they get onto the shelves." She sighed. "Colonel . . . none of this makes any sense. Everyone has to know that the Mexicans are going to get beaten like they're the red-headed stepchild of a rented mule . . . but they're acting like they think they're going to win."

Mantell nodded. "It's been noticed here and there."

"That said, my people are ready to fight."

Mantell said, "Same here."

Ricetti nodded. "Y'know, when I pinned on my warrant bars in '86, the WOCS commandant told my class, 'there's no such thing as bad troops. Your troops will live up to--or down to--the example you set.' And I'm hoping I've set a good example."

"The people on guard duty look alert and intelligent, and from what I saw, the guys and gals turning wrenches are conscientous and hard-working. I think your people are going to make you proud, ma'am."

"From your lips to God's ear."

[Matt Wiser]

This timeline, Guru knows that he and his Wing are going to war.

One thing about having a MOH is that the holder of that award is saluted first. Even by flag officers.

[jemhouston]

I'm a little surprise the good residents of Presidio, TX didn't have precut plywood ready to go incase Mexico got froggy. Then again, during one runup to a hurricane a friend said he need to get plywood. When I asked him why he didn't have it cut already he told me he used it to make a doghouse.

[Wolfman]

5th MarDiv sounds almost Klingon there:

ghoSlaHbe’chugh Duj may’ yaH ylchenmoH (If the ship cannot proceed, create a battle station.)

HoS Hutlchugh nlSwl’mey qach QaD ylchenmoh (If the disruptors lack energy, create a protected structure.)

jagh DajeylaHbe’chugh batlh ylHegh (If you cannot defeat the enemy, die honorably.)

[Belushi TD]

I'm a little surprise the good residents of Presidio, TX didn't have precut plywood ready to go incase Mexico got froggy. Then again, during one runup to a hurricane a friend said he need to get plywood. When I asked him why he didn't have it cut already he told me he used it to make a doghouse.

I can see wanting your dog to be safe during a hurricane.

That being said, poor planning.

Belushi TD

[jemhouston]

5th MarDiv sounds almost Klingon there:

ghoSlaHbe’chugh Duj may’ yaH ylchenmoH (If the ship cannot proceed, create a battle station.)

HoS Hutlchugh nlSwl’mey qach QaD ylchenmoh (If the disruptors lack energy, create a protected structure.)

jagh DajeylaHbe’chugh batlh ylHegh (If you cannot defeat the enemy, die honorably.)

The Klingons once fought the Federation 5th Marine Division (linage US 5th Marine / UK Royal Marine Commandos). After the battle, which they captured the Klingon Divisions flags and honors, the Klingons sent them a battle pendant to add to their honors.

[Poohbah]

5th MarDiv sounds almost Klingon there:

ghoSlaHbe’chugh Duj may’ yaH ylchenmoH (If the ship cannot proceed, create a battle station.)

HoS Hutlchugh nlSwl’mey qach QaD ylchenmoh (If the disruptors lack energy, create a protected structure.)

jagh DajeylaHbe’chugh batlh ylHegh (If you cannot defeat the enemy, die honorably.)

The Klingons once fought the Federation 5th Marine Division (linage US 5th Marine / UK Royal Marine Commandos). After the battle, which they captured the Klingon Divisions flags and honors, the Klingons sent them a battle pendant to add to their honors.

Remember, the Fifth Marine Division raised the flag on Mount Suribachi.

The Klingon Opera of their battle with the Federation 5th Marine Division ends with the chorus solemnly singing "From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli," and woebetide the choral master if they don't get it dead on, despite it being in English and an utterly different register from Klingon music.

[Wolfman]

5th MarDiv sounds almost Klingon there:

ghoSlaHbe’chugh Duj may’ yaH ylchenmoH (If the ship cannot proceed, create a battle station.)

HoS Hutlchugh nlSwl’mey qach QaD ylchenmoh (If the disruptors lack energy, create a protected structure.)

jagh DajeylaHbe’chugh batlh ylHegh (If you cannot defeat the enemy, die honorably.)

The Klingons once fought the Federation 5th Marine Division (linage US 5th Marine / UK Royal Marine Commandos). After the battle, which they captured the Klingon Divisions flags and honors, the Klingons sent them a battle pendant to add to their honors.

Remember, the Fifth Marine Division raised the flag on Mount Suribachi.

The Klingon Opera of their battle with the Federation 5th Marine Division ends with the chorus solemnly singing "From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli," and woebetide the choral master if they don't get it dead on, despite it being in English and an utterly different register from Klingon music.

That was the Battle of Axanar… and the Klingons have operas for every time they fought the Federation Marine Corps. In most of them, the Klingons were the winners because they held the blood-soaked ground. They never broke a Federation Marine Division, beat them, yes, but never broke them…

[Johnnie Lyle]

This timeline, Guru knows that he and his Wing are going to war.

One thing about having a MOH is that the holder of that award is saluted first. Even by flag officers.

Because people with the MoH have seen the shitstorm you haven’t in your worst nightmares - and lived to tell about it.

Sane people don’t ever want MoH circumstances to drop on them; they just pray they rise to the occasion if it does.

[Johnnie Lyle]

The Klingons once fought the Federation 5th Marine Division (linage US 5th Marine / UK Royal Marine Commandos). After the battle, which they captured the Klingon Divisions flags and honors, the Klingons sent them a battle pendant to add to their honors.

Remember, the Fifth Marine Division raised the flag on Mount Suribachi.

The Klingon Opera of their battle with the Federation 5th Marine Division ends with the chorus solemnly singing "From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli," and woebetide the choral master if they don't get it dead on, despite it being in English and an utterly different register from Klingon music.

That was the Battle of Axanar… and the Klingons have operas for every time they fought the Federation Marine Corps. In most of them, the Klingons were the winners because they held the blood-soaked ground. They never broke a Federation Marine Division, beat them, yes, but never broke them…

Humans scare the shit out of the Klingons.

The know and have read our history. While the hussars and joyful warriors are kindred spirits, they also note the quiet men who yearn for peace - and fight ruthlessly and unscrupulously to ensure their children have it.

[Wolfman]

Correction: they scare the shit out of 24th Century Klingons, their ancestors in the 23rd Century (I’m looking at you, Kor) had to learn that fear the hard way… anyway, the ground portion of the Battle of Axanar came down to cold, hard steel, Mameluke sword and officer’s sword and bayonet vs. Bat’leth…

[jemhouston]

I thought this going to be too over the top, now I'm thinking it's understated.

During the Battle of Axanar, a young staff sergeant was separated from his unit. He saw something that looked important. It was, the was the part of the HQ that held the unit's battle honors and flags. Guarding it was a unit of veterans, think older John Wicks. The warriors that killed the Klingon Gods would have been this group.

When the rest of the Marines showed up, the staff sergeant was the only person (barely) alive. Reinforcement arrived and they destroyed the HQ and captured the battle honors and flags. About that time a cease fire was called. Commanders from both sides toured the battle

The Klingon Honor Guard was found to have gone down swinging. Most of their hands still had weapons in or near their hands. How many of those hands were still attached to the body is in dispute. The Marine couldn't get his K-Bar out of one Klingon so he picked up a Bat’leth. When that broke, he got another one. The Marine commander said, "They died well and fought like Marines. They should be legends."

Normally, when a Klingon unit loses the battle honors and flags, the unit is disestablished and, in the histories, the name is replaced with Unit ## dishonored. They division was reestablished, but without the Guards designation it had. They got it back during the Dominion war when with the 5th MarDiv recaptured Betazed.

A year after the battle, the Klingons sent a pendant designating the 5th MarDiv as a Guards unit. Every anniversary of the battle, the 5th MarDiv drink a Blood Wine toast to the battle.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Correction: they scare the shit out of 24th Century Klingons, their ancestors in the 23rd Century (I’m looking at you, Kor) had to learn that fear the hard way… anyway, the ground portion of the Battle of Axanar came down to cold, hard steel, Mameluke sword and officer’s sword and bayonet vs. Bat’leth…

I dunno. Peace takes two, but war only takes one - and the Klingons were very determined to keep a cold war or a hot peace with the Federation from the 2260s to at least 2293. That suggests they were very understanding of just how out of control the pink skins will get when pushed to the thin ice, as the Andorians phrased it - and did not want to risk it.

[Wolfman]

Axanar was in 2245…

Do you think we should make a thread for this discussion?