The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

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Wolfman
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Wolfman »

Poohbah wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 4:03 pm
jemhouston wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 12:08 pm I can't worry about something is about to up end all this?
What can possibly go wrong with a second generation of AFSOC operators? :lol:
Thank you for invoking Murphy’s Law, Poohbah…
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by jemhouston »

Poohbah wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 4:03 pm
jemhouston wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2024 12:08 pm I can't worry about something is about to up end all this?
What can possibly go wrong with a second generation of AFSOC operators? :lol:
In order of likeliness, serious, or black swan event.

Don't forget Archangel is always hiring.
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Poohbah »

17 August 2010
10th Special Reconnaissance Squadron
Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM


Airman Katherine Mantell marched into the senior enlisted advisor's office and stopped precisely six inches from his desk, at the position of attention. "Airman Mantell reports as ordered!"

Chief Master Sergeant Basil Plumley looked at her for a moment, then said, "Stand at ease."

Mantell shifted to parade rest.

Plumley held up an official message. "This here tells me you're out of uniform, AIrman--or, more precisely, Senior Airman Mantell."

"Ah, Chief, I suspect there might be some kind of administrative error--"

"Negative. There are things going on that you've probably been too busy to read up on. Over the past year, the Air Force has badly mishandled Special Reconnaissance, which is why you didn't go Combat Controller as you initially requested. Essentially, Big Air Force told a bunch of people with highly marketable skills that they weren't getting reenlistment bonuses, and they could take it or leave it. Well, a great many decided that they could leave it, and out the door they went--and they're continuing to do so. We haven't had one single first term reenlistment in SR since June of last year. That means we're critically short of qualified operators--we've lost about 25% of them across the entire Air Force, and we've never had enough as it was. You're getting assigned to Special Reconnaissance Team IDAHO. Your team leader is Lieutenant Fowler, the deputy is Master Sergeant Barnes. Be advised, you're going to have to get up to speed very quickly; Staff Sergeant LaValley is 27 days from his release date."

Plumley picked up a large bundle of workbooks and passed them to her. "And here's your NCO Prep Course material. Get it finished ASAP."

"Yes, Chief!"

"Dismissed."

Mantell stood to attention, took one step backward, then executed an about face and marched out of Plumley's office.

* * *

Plumley knocked once on the door jamb of Colonel Barton's office.

"Enter!"

Barton waved Plumley to a seat, then asked, "So, what's your take on our newest Special Recon operator?"

Plumley was quiet for a moment, then said, "Sir, we're banking very heavily on that last name. Maybe too heavily. For God's sake, she's a rich man's daughter, I have to ask how committed she is."

Barton nodded. "Fair question. For what it's worth, I know her great-uncle. Michael Coldsmith Briggs III, also known as Archangel."

Plumley raised an eyebrow. "I've supported some of his ops over the years."

"I know. I went to him for a read on her. That young lady has been raised with the notion that her privileged birth lays some heavy obligations on her--both in terms of stewardship of the family's wealth, and in service to her community and America. And not the glad-handing 'service' you see bandied about by politicians, either, but the kind that offers blood, sweat, and tears. Her biological mother is a deputy sheriff. Not because she has to be--but because she firmly believes that Bannock County, Idaho is worth protecting. Her father sets a damn good example, of course. Another one of her mothers is the CO of First Squadron, 116th Cavalry Regiment--she received the Medal at Wichita. And her father's civilian boss is Colonel Lodge."

"Colonel Sophie Lodge, sir?"

Barton nodded. "Worth ten billion and change, and she's taking over the 731st Special Tactics Group at Klamath next year. SSo, leaving aside your concerns, let's focus just on your observations."

Plumley said, "Her military bearing and appearance are impeccable. She expressed surprise at her promotion--even suggested that there may have been a mistake. She took her NCO Prep Course materials with a good attitude; I suspect she's going to get a head start on it tonight. And her instructors were universally complimentary. She may make mistakes--but she only makes them once. Apparently, she grew up hunting, so her fieldcraft is outstanding. And she didn't piss and moan about getting shoved into SR like half of her classmates did, even though she wanted to be a Combat Controller."

Barton nodded. "Good indications. And, like you, I hope they're reliable. Because this Baja statehood mess has a good chance of turning into an absolute shit show come the New Year."
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Matt Wiser »

Baja coming up soon...
The difference between diplomacy and war is this: Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell so elegantly that they pack for the trip.
War is bringing hell down on that someone.
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Matryoshka »

[OOC: Basil Plumley, as in “Old Ironjaw” from LZ X-Ray? He was literally born on the first day of the 1920s, FCOL, and made all three combat landings with the 320th GIR/82nd Airborne during ‘Big Mistake II: German Boogaloo’. In 2010 he would be 90 years old and beat to shit! I know RD+20 runs on ‘Rule of Cool’ for some thing, so I could buy him getting back into the saddle during ‘Big Mistake III: WarPac Wipeout’ itself, but still in uniform and training troops in 2010?
[I’m sorry, but unless it’s the OG’s son, or another man of the same name from a younger generation, my Suspension of Disbelief just bottomed out and needs new shocks.]
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by jemhouston »

For Baja

Image

The image if it's missing is a Case Front End loader.
Last edited by jemhouston on Thu Feb 22, 2024 3:52 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Poohbah »

Matryoshka wrote: Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:02 am [OOC: Basil Plumley, as in “Old Ironjaw” from LZ X-Ray? He was literally born on the first day of the 1920s, FCOL, and made all three combat landings with the 320th GIR/82nd Airborne during ‘Big Mistake II: German Boogaloo’. In 2010 he would be 90 years old and beat to shit! I know RD+20 runs on ‘Rule of Cool’ for some thing, so I could buy him getting back into the saddle during ‘Big Mistake III: WarPac Wipeout’ itself, but still in uniform and training troops in 2010?
[I’m sorry, but unless it’s the OG’s son, or another man of the same name from a younger generation, my Suspension of Disbelief just bottomed out and needs new shocks.]
A namesake.
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Matryoshka »

[Fair enough to appease my OCD. One of the dangers of writing alt-history fiction like this can be keeping people around long after their reasonable shelf-lives; to a certain extent writers can get away with that when dealing with fictional characters or expies, but known historical figures can be a different matter. You’re usually pretty good about that in either case, but I just needed to be sure you hadn’t had a moment of cerebral flatulence. ;) ]
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Poohbah »

16 September 2010
10th Special Reconnaissance Squadron
Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM


Kathy Mantell stepped out of the training shop, where she'd just had an exam on the third module of the NCO Preparation Course.

It wasn't that hard.

Plumley's voice cut across her "Senior Airman Mantell! Just who I was looking for!"

Mantell jumped to attention and said, "Good Morning, Chief."

"Good morning. Walk with me, please."

Mantell followed in Plumley's wake, one step behind and to the left.

Plumley motioned her forward. "So, how are you fitting in?"

Mantell said, "I'm learning a lot. The biggest thing I've learned is that getting my 5-level was just the start."

Plumley nodded. "That it is. So, your impressions of Lieutenant Fowler and Master Sergeant Barnes?"

Mantell hesitated, and Plumley said, "Airman, understand that what you say to me gets discussed only with the CC, and only if I think it needs to be aired out there. I will never chew you out for an honest opinion, even if it's wrongheaded; I will correct you as necessary. But if I get the sense that you're holding out on me, I'm not going to be happy. That said . . . spit it out."

"Chief . . . I'm thinking that one or the other needs to be reassigned. Lieutenant Fowler has a very strong personality. Master Sergeant Barnes is . . . well, he's a lot quieter, and it feels like the Ell-Tee is walking all over him. And the Ell-Tee is definitely a big-picture leader."

Plumley said nothing, looked Mantell in the eye, and gave a minute nod. "I see. Break-break, Sergeant Jamison tells me you're almost done with the NCO Prep Course, one module left. That's good. It shows me you have your priorities lined up correctly. Now that Sergeant LaValley is gone, you're backfilling him until we get another Staff or Tech Sergeant in--and that's looking like it might be a good while. Keep developing yourself, keep one eye downrange and the other on what's in front of you. Any questions?"

"Not on the immediate subject, but I do have one that's been bugging me. Are you, by any chance, related to Sergeant Major Basil Plumley?"

Plumley nodded. "Distantly. Very distantly at that. You watch the movie?"

"Not yet, but I'm currently reading the book."

"The book's better. It has good lessons on leadership and tactics. Keep at it. I may ask you questions about the material."

* * *

Barton sipped his coffee. "Yeah, I noticed that--you can't not notice that. It was remarked on by his instructors in the Special Tactics Officer course as well. 'Big-picture' is a very polite way of saying he doesn't pay too much attention to the details, and that's been noted as well. Unfortunately, I have two problems. First, AFSOC's personnel shop has been out to lunch since 2007, and we're all paying the price. Second, and more immediate, we also have four other guys just like him who are already using all of my first team senior NCO operators, with the exception of you, and I can't exactly have you playing second fiddle on Team IDAHO because I need you to help me run the whole squadron. And we're not getting any more senior NCOs."

Plumley said nothing.

Barton drummed his fingers on the desktop, then said, "Schedule yourself a talk with Barnes, and impress on him that he needs to be more assertive in handling Fowler."

Plumley said, "I'll see to it, sir."

Barton nodded. "It's up to him to make the right things happen, though, not you." He paused, then said, "AFPC told me that Mantell is Sergeant LaValley's replacement, end of discussion. Your thoughts?"

"Honestly? The team's better now that's left active duty. He was mentally checked out of the squadron and the Air Force for the past six months. Mantell is inexperienced, true, but she's all in on doing her job to the best of her ability, and she's stabilized through 2013."

"I'm going to group headquarters and recommending that she get slotted for her white star--and that she sews it on sooner, as opposed to later--once she completes the prep course. She's going to need actual authority."

Plumley said, "Your call, sir. But I agree, she's going to need that authority. Right now, she's not in the chain of command, and Barnes isn't as strong a link as I'd like. Airmen Pardo and Schettler are overtasked and underperforming--that team needs two more airmen to be at full strength, and I'd be a hell of a lot more comfortable with four newbies instead of two newbies and those two idiots. They haven't given her any grief just yet, but if she's still got that blue star and she has to start giving them orders, that might be a problem."

Barton nodded. "Let's say we get four complete newbies, and she gets her white star. What if we had to go to war right then and there?"

Plumley was silent for a long moment, then said, "Then we would be back to relying on that last name--and on her commitment. She'll either do the deed . . . or die trying."

Barton sighed. "We may be asking all of these kids to grow up a lot faster than they've planned."

"Way of the world, sir. We both had to grow up far faster than we'd planned on."

Barton nodded. "True enough."
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jemhouston
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by jemhouston »

Shooting wars are the ultimate sink / swim exercise.

If push comes to shove, she'll go down swinging. Hopefully the bad guys will run out of bodies before she runs out.
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Wolfman »

So the Baja War is coming…
“For a brick, he flew pretty good!” Sgt. Major A.J. Johnson, Halo 2

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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Poohbah »

16 September 2010
Mantell Family Residence
Portneuf, ID


Joshua Mantell looked down the dinner table and tried hard to not have a twinge of sadness.

And failed.

19 years of parenthood, and it's gradually coming to an end.

Kathy was at Cannon, Zach was beginning his second year at the Academy, Avery had just started at Norwich University, and Bobbi was a frosh architecture major at UC Irvine, much to the joy of both Roberta and Helen.

And she's probably breaking hearts, male and female alike, at Twain's Down Under, the Red Onion, the Alibi, and The Brass Rail.

His remaining eight children, ranging from 17 down to 12, were working together to set the table and lay out the food. Tonight was pork chops in a peach glaze, scalloped potatoes au gratin, steamed asparagus, with a mixed-berry cobbler for dessert.

Eventually, everyone was standing by their seats. Josh bowed his head and said, "Lord God, we thank You again for the bounty of this land, for the hands that harvested it and brought it to our table, and for our love of one another that brings us together. Grant that this meal may nourish our bodies, and bless our time together as a family with love and joy. Amen."

After the food was dished up and everyone had tucked in, Josh looked at his wives. Each nodded back at him.

"Everyone . . . with the situation being what it is, the squadron's getting called to active duty on the first of October."

His youngest child, Dana, said, "But they activated you for the Soviets coming apart! It's not fair!"

Josh glanced at Roberta, who nodded fractionally. Dana had been thoroughly frightened out of her wits by the close brush with thermonuclear war. Sometimes police sirens or severe thunderstorm alerts on her phone could trigger a panic attack.

Josh said, "No, it isn't, Dana. Not at all. Not my idea of what I wanted to do next month. I seem to recall planning to take you deer hunting. Looks like I'm going to have to move that up. How about this weekend?"

Dana was wide-eyed with surprise.

Jeanna said, "Just listen to your Dad and we'll have grilled venison tenderloin with my lime crema sauce."

Dana laughed. "You're bribing me."

Roberta said, "She's bribing me, too. I would do some seriously sketchy stuff for that."

There was general laughter around the table.

* * *

Josh sipped wine on the balcony outside his bedroom, watching dusk fall across the Portneuf Valley. In the distance, the lights came on in Pocatello.

Jeanna stepped onto the balcony, followed by Debs, each carrying a glass of wine.

Jeanna said, "Thought you'd like to know that Roberta and Helen are doing an AMA with Dana, talking about their war experience."

Josh nodded. "I need to do that as well. Maybe on the trip this weekend."

The two women sat down on either side of Josh.

Jeanna sighed. "I worry about Dana a bit."

Josh sighed. "Me, too. I can't imagine being woken up by air raid sirens as an 11-year-old kid."

The three were quiet for a long moment, watching the lights of Pocatello twinkle. Josh, as a Special Reconnaissance Officer, could describe the atmospheric effects that caused the twinkling, but he was content to simply enjoy the beauty.

Josh finally asked Debs, "How's things at work?"

"Had to write Susan Lodge a speeding ticket. Sophie grounded her for a week, and she has to make up for her share of the increased insurance costs."

Josh nodded. "Sophie's a good mother. Almost the equal of any of my wives."

Debs chuckled. "You, sir, are a shameless flatterer."

Josh noticed Jeanna's expression shift.

"What's troubling you?"

Jeanna sipped her wine, then said, "I love being a mother. Our whole idea was to raise our children by you in one family, for us to be mothers to all of our children . . . and it worked. And I've said 'good-bye' to four kids, and the remaining eight are racing towards adulthood. Barbara, Paul, and Elizabeth are graduating in June, and they're planning their futures confidently . . . it just seems like yesterday that I was mopping Roberta's forehead while she gave birth to Barbara, and now she's on her way to valedictorian, and Liz wants to follow her Mama Debs into law enforcement."

Debs said, "We're all time travelers, moving forward at one second per second. Time reminds us that the journey is precious."

Josh held up his glass. "I'll drink to that."

They clinked their glasses lightly and sipped again.

Jeanna said, "But the house is gradually emptying out. And I miss how it was when it was at its most rambunctious."

Debs said, "I think I'm hearing a request for more shenanigans." She laughed. "God, I hope this place never gets dull."

* * *

17 September 2010
10th Special Reconnaissance Squadron
Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM


Barnes asked, "You wanted to see me, Chief?"

Plumley nodded. "Come on in and shut the door, please."

Barnes did so, and Plumley waved him to a seat.

"All right, I've noticed that Lieutenant Fowler's a pretty assertive guy. That's not a bad thing in itself, except he's barely five months out of the Special Tactics Officer course. You've got a wealth of experience, and you need to get Fowler to listen to you."

Barnes blinked. "You want me to push back on the Ell-Tee?"

Plumley said, "It's part of being a senior NCO. You need to be a mentor for the new people, officer and enlisted alike. Speaking of which, I want you to put more work onto Senior Airman Mantell. And we're going to get your team up to full strength with the next round of guys from the schoolhouse. But I need you to damp down Fowler a notch or two so Mantell can build herself and help you build the rest of the team."

* * *

Senior Airman Kathy Mantell looked at AIrman James Pardo and said, "Could you please repeat what you just said, please?"

Pardo said, "I don't really know weather stuff, Senior Airman Mantell."

Kathy looked at Airman Gerald Schettler. "How about you?"

Schettler sighed. "Same here."

"How'd you guys make it through Eglin and get your 5-level without learning meteorology?"

Pardo said, "They never taught it. Said we'd pick it up at squadron."

Mantell sighed. "OK, I think we can fix this."

Schettler said, "I don't see how."

"Well, we learn by doing. So I'm going to give you a chance to do it. Let's get it straight: you're going to screw up. Let's get that out of the way early."

* * *

Mantell said, "All right. As you can see here on this slide, weather operations start with collecting data--basic observations of temperature, wind direction and strength, humidity, barometric pressure, et cetera. We then take this data and analyze it, and use it to predict what's going to happen in the coming hours and days . . . "

* * *

They'd hit a stopping point. "All right, let's get lunch. We need to talk some more."

At the dining facility, they all grabbed burgers and fries, then adjourned to a table off in the corner.

Mantell said, "You're probably wondering what I'm doing here."

Pardo said, "The thought did occur to me. I heard a rumor you're from serious money."

"I am. And Dad is married to four different women at the same time. So I have Dad, I have my birth mother, and three sister-mothers. The family has crazy money, what they call 'fuck you money' in Silicon Valley."

Pardo and Schettler looked at each other. Schettler asked, "What's 'fuck you' money?"

Mantell grinned. "That's when you have enough money that you can say 'fuck you' before you hang up the phone."

The two men shared a laugh.

"Let's be blunt: I'm a fortunate daughter. I was raised to understand I have to pay for that good fortune with service. Service to the family, to those who work in the family's businesses, to the community I live in . . . ultimately, to America. And loyalty goes up and down.

"The Air Force screwed you over. It happens. They didn't train you properly, and then the Air Force handed you to an NCO that didn't give a jolly damn because his brain was out the door long before his body was. That changes today. I'm going to figure out how to undo those screw-up, because I owe you that loyalty. You two are my responsibility as your element leader. I'm responsible for your welfare, and the most important part of that is making sure you get the best possible training, to give you the best chances of staying alive if we go to war. But I need loyalty in return, and you two have got to clean up your act and start being worthy of the tan beret."

Pardo and Schettler exchanged looks, then Pardo said, "I'm not arguing with you. I'm in. You're right, I need to do a lot better, and I will. I'm just asking, what's the rush? It's not just you and your sense of duty driving this. Team MINNESOTA and Team GEORGIA are going through a shakeup, and I heard that the CC of the Brave Rifles down at LeMay AFB just got shitcanned, and they're activating the Blackhorse Squadron."

Mantell raised an eyebrow at the last item, then nodded. "Fair question, one that deserves an honest answer. You guys follow the news much?"

Both men shook their heads.

"We're about to make Baja the 51st state. And Mexico City isn't particularly happy about that."

Schettler said, "Only an idiot would throw down with America."

Mantell nodded. "Now I'm going to ask if you guys read much history."

Again, both men shook their heads.

Mantell sighed. "What do you guys do besides drink really bad beer and chase meh-looking strippers?"

Schettler started to answer, and Mantell held up her hand. "Rhetorical question. Look, you read the history of WW2 in the Pacific, and you realize that the Japanese were stupid and crazy. They went to war with a country that had vastly more industrial power than they did. Making it worse, Admiral Yamamoto had been a naval attache in the United States. He'd seen America close up. Visited factories, attended Harvard . . . met lots of Americans. We're probably the most open of books as a people, what you see is what you get--we expect fair play and honesty. So, Yamamoto threw away a sort-of workable war plan and instead staked everything on sucker-punching us hard enough to make us give up right there. Well, we all know how that worked out. It was stupid. It was crazy. The senior Japanese leaders who had even an inkling of how America worked and how Americans thought knew it was stupid and crazy. And they went ahead and did it anyway."

Pardo asked, "Why? We practically flattened their country, and you're saying that they had to know it was coming."

Mantell nodded.

"Misplaced pride can make people do stupid things. And there were practical reasons, too. The people running Japan couldn't afford to back down. If they did, someone would kill them--their Army in China routinely did whatever the heck they wanted, and told Tokyo where to put their orders. I get the sense that Mexico's kind of the same. January 1st is coming. Mexico might do stupid and crazy. Our job is to be the Air Component Commander's eyes and ears on the ground, conducting multi-domain reconnaissance operations, and performing long-range precision engagement. We could be at war in 105 days. That's not a lot of time to get ready."

* * *

17 September 2010
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Idaho


They'd eaten dinner and were now enjoying some s'mores.

Dana finally asked, "Dad . . . why do you do it?"

"The reserve thing?"

Dana nodded. "The reserve thing."

"Because it needs to be done, and because I'm the one that can do it."

"How can you be so brave, Dad? I . . . I peed my pants the last time the severe weather alert went off on my phone. You're not scared of anything."

Josh chuckled softly. "Oh, sweetie. Being brave isn't a matter of not being scared. It's being scared, admitting you're scared, and then moving on ahead anyway. You know what kind of person wasn't scared that night?"

Dana shook her head.

"Someone who was too stupid to know how dangerous it was. I was scared for you and the rest of the family, I was scared that I'd come up short and not be able to stop the bad guys . . . but I kept moving forward, because that was the only way anything good would happen. And I've peed my pants, too, sweetie."

"When?"

"This was about 25 years ago. I was a Marine then, training to be an aerial gunner. The pilot rolled the bird too hard, and I didn't have a firm grasp on something that wouldn't move. I ended up going out the window. For a second, I couldn't remember if my belt was hooked. It was, but I peed and pooped right there in my flight suit."

Dana's eyes were wide.

"And that night . . . I was dating Mama Roberta then. I knew Mama Helen--she and Mama Roberta had been an item before I bounced back into Mama Roberta's life, and they were still roommates. That night, I was a fool. I laughed it off . . . because I had no idea how to tell Mama Roberta that I'd been so scared that I'd peed and pooped my pants. I thought it made me look weak. Really, all it meant was that I was human. But Mama Roberta was scared that maybe I was a little too crazy to hang around with her."

* * *

26 September 2010
10th Special Reconnaissance Squadron
Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM


Plumley smoothly intercepted Mantell on her way to the paraloft.

"A moment of your time, please, Senior Airman."

"A moment's just about all I've got, we're jumping today, Chief, brief's in five at the paraloft."

"All right. How did you get Pardo and Schettler to buckle down?"

"I'm fixing the shortfalls in their training. Turns out the schoolhouse didn't crank anything on weather until the class before mine, so we're spending afternoons at the tower with Pardo and Schettler learning the meteorology piece." She paused, then said, "Loyalty up and down, Chief. I explained that to them, and told them they needed to step it up . . . and they have."

* * *

Colonel Barton stood in front of the 27th Special Tactics Group commander, Brigadier General George Colby.

"Sir, she's taking charge of her people, and they're responding to her leadership. She's ready."

Colby nodded. "Completed the NCO course, including a damn good paper on leadership, in just over a month, and got two of your problem children back onto the right path? She sews it on effective October 2nd."
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Matt Wiser »

And soon, the Baja War/Second Mexican War (depending on who you talk to) will be going...
The difference between diplomacy and war is this: Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell so elegantly that they pack for the trip.
War is bringing hell down on that someone.
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Lordroel »

Matt Wiser wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 7:34 am And soon, the Baja War/Second Mexican War (depending on who you talk to) will be going...
Wait, i always assume it was the Third Mexican War, with the Second Mexican War being a front/campaign of World War III.
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by jemhouston »

Maybe more

1. Texas Independence / Border Conflict post-Independence (not sure if this counts)

2. US / Mexico War 1846 to 1848

3. United States occupation of Veracruz 1914

4. "Pancho" Villa pursuit

5. WW3
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Wolfman »

Nicely done, Poohbah. I just have one timeline quibble: the RUSSR doesn’t fall until after Baja…
“For a brick, he flew pretty good!” Sgt. Major A.J. Johnson, Halo 2

To err is human; to forgive is not SAC policy.

“This is Raven 2-5. This is my sandbox. You will not drop, acknowledge.” David Flanagan, former Raven FAC
Poohbah
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Poohbah »

Wolfman wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 4:05 pm Nicely done, Poohbah. I just have one timeline quibble: the RUSSR doesn’t fall until after Baja…
Different timeline. Baja statehood got delayed a year because of mumble mumble political horsetrading mumble mumble...
Wolfman
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Wolfman »

I see…
“For a brick, he flew pretty good!” Sgt. Major A.J. Johnson, Halo 2

To err is human; to forgive is not SAC policy.

“This is Raven 2-5. This is my sandbox. You will not drop, acknowledge.” David Flanagan, former Raven FAC
User avatar
jemhouston
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by jemhouston »

Poohbah wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 4:32 pm
Wolfman wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 4:05 pm Nicely done, Poohbah. I just have one timeline quibble: the RUSSR doesn’t fall until after Baja…
Different timeline. Baja statehood got delayed a year because of mumble mumble political horsetrading mumble mumble...
Gives you an extra for stockpiling supplies and getting people spun up.

Not to mention various explosions that happened in Mexico.
Poohbah
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Re: The Vaults of Heaven (AU)

Post by Poohbah »

1 October 2010
11th Special Reconnaissance Squadron "Blackhorse"
Hill Air Force Base
Ogden, UT


Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Mantell stepped into the personnel office, and was greeted by 30 officers and airmen standing to attention.

Major Clarissa Jorgensen fired her Number 1 salute, which Mantell returned.

Jorgensen said, "Good morning, sir. Welcome back!"

"Good to be back, Major." Mantell shook his executive officer's hand. "At ease, back to work, people."

Jorgensen followed him to his office. She asked quietly, "How did your boss take the activation notice?"

"Got one of her own. She's flying down to LeMay as we speak, to assume permanent command of the Brave Rifles." 3rd Special Reconnaissance Squadron down in Cabo San Lucas had just gone through a doozy of a fraternization scandal.

Jorgensen rolled her eyes. "For God's sake, you'd think a full bird in the Air Force would be able to keep it in his pants. And particularly avoid knocking up a Airman First Class."

Mantell nodded as he worked the coffeemaker. "You would think. Problem is, too many men--even full birds in the AIr Force--think with their little head and not the big one."

Jorgensen chuckled.

"How have you been?"

"I'm good, sir."

Something in Jorgensen's tone told Josh, something's bothering her.

"Shut the door and have a seat, Clare."

She did so, and Josh plopped down in his chair. "All right, what's bothering you?"

Jorgensen said, "I met someone."

Josh raised an eyebrow. Jorgensen had met her husband during the war, married as soon as they'd both FIGMO'd in 1990, and they'd had a happy marriage for sixteen years until he'd collapsed and died during his morning run.

Jorgensen was intently examining the edge of Josh's desk.

Josh spoke quietly. "Clare."

She looked up, then said, "Ah . . . I met . . . her . . . at the gym. She's the same age as me, she was a supply clerk during the war, she's now a freight broker." She sighed. "Damn it, I'm 41 years old. I'm a successful financial advisor, a Special Tactics Officer, a single mother to two wonderful girls, I even sing in the church choir, and all this time I thought I was resolutely heterosexual. Last night . . . last night, after I dropped the kids off at their grandparents' house for the duration . . . she told me she loved me, that she was scared for me, I told her I loved her . . . next thing I know, we're naked in bed and it seemed every bit as natural as breathing." She sighed again. "I love her. I truly do. It's not just the fireworks in bed."

Josh said, "Clare, I'm going to tell you something my father told me before he passed on, something I'm profoundly grateful that he did. He said, 'Love is blind, stupid, and crazy.' Now, I'm going to give you some advice: call her tonight and let her know you've arrived safe and sound, share some time together, and just be at ease."

"What do I tell my daughters?"

"Tell them you've fallen in love."

Jorgensen said, "Just like that."

"Just like that. I suspect your daughters will be extremely happy for you. And I know you--you're a good judge of people. She's probably good for you. Now quit moping, we have a squadron to get up and running."

8 October 2010
10th Special Reconnaissance Squadron
Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis NM


Kathy Mantell was cleaning her rifle, along with Pardo and Schettler.

She asked, "Was anything missing from the jump brief this morning?"

Pardo said, "Unless I slept through it, I don't remember anything about weather."

"Give that man a cookie. Exactly."

Schettler said, "That seems like an awfully big oversight."

Pardo said, "Well, the weather was pretty good. But then my brain interjects Sergeant Mantell telling me that building and practicing good habits are really important."

Mantell chuckled. "Exactly. It's like the prop arcs on the 130. If you always avoid prop arcs, even when they're not turning, you'll never walk through one when it IS turning. All right, Schettler, we're free-falling and we hit severe clear air turbulence, what do you do?"

Schettler continued scrubbing the bolt face and said, "Arms all the way in, legs spread until I'm head down, then tuck the legs in to fall as rapidly as I can through the turbulent zone, then resume box position once the buffeting stops."

"Good answer. Pardo, what are the signs of possible lightning activity?"

"Signs of lightning activity include actual lightning--duh--but also things such as corona discharges on metal components of other jumpers, which probably would only be visible at at night, plus increasing static on the radio, and my own hair trying to stand on end."

Mantell nodded as she scrubbed the gas tube of her rifle. "Very good. What's the corrective action?"

"Ideally, avoid jumping within thirty miles of a known lightning storm."

Mantell shook her head. "Schettler, what did Pardo get wrong there?"

"Ah . . . that's prevention, not correction?"

Mantell chuckled. "You asking me or telling me?"

"Both, I guess. I'm not one hundred percent sure."

Mantell nodded. "Fair enough. Pardo, you gave me the preventive step: don't jump in or next to lightning storms--the bigger the storm, the further away we need to be; intense lightning activity causes charge imbalances in the air that spread downwind, causing blue sky lightning. And an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But, that might not be possible . . . or we might simply not know the score. One of our important jobs pre-jump is to know the weather conditions and be prepared for foreseeable problems."

Schettler nodded. "Understood, Sergeant. What if we screw up and we end up jumping danger close to a lightning storm?"

"If you start sensing lightning as Pardo described, the move is the same as for clear air turbulence: get out of the dangerous air as fast as you can."

* * *

Mantell climbed out of the cab and paid the driver, then walked into Cue Beats. The bouncer checked her ID, handed her a green wristband (indicating she could drink beer and wine, but no spirits), then tipped his cowboy hat to her. She smiled at him.

The place consisted of a bar, some chairs and tables, half a dozen pool tables, a dance floor, and a small stage where a DJ was setting up.

The vibe was . . . ordinary. Lots of young people from the five-year-old NMSU campus nearby, young adults working in various businesses, light manufacturing places and construction, and a smattering of divorced cougars looking for young men to boff. No hipsters or fruit-flavored beer; it was a place to meet ordinary people, play pool, listen to music, and dance.

It wasn't a military hangout, and Kathy thanked God for that.

Friday night on a three-day weekend. Time to cut loose a bit.

She grabbed a glass of wine and eyed the patrons. If asked, she'd candidly admit that she had a thing for tall, dark, handsome guys, and for feminine women with the right amount of curves.

Or both at once, if everyone's agreeable.

One problem she had was that being six foot one in bare feet tended to scare guys off. Two-inch heels just made it worse. Another problem was that being extremely fit scared off the remaining guys and a good chunk of the women.

A tall, fit redhead--not as muscular as she was, but very nicely packaged--stepped up to Kathy.

"You up for a game?"

Kathy smiled. "Friendly?"

The readhead smiled. "I can be very friendly. But a modest wager makes it interesting. How about if I win, we dance and I lead, and if you win, we dance and you lead?"

Kathy felt her smile widening. "Sounds good. Fight's on! I'm Kathy Mantell."

"Rebecca Patterson. You can call me Becky. Or anything you want, as long as it's not late for supper."

Becky racked up the balls, and Kathy did the break.

Over the next 20 minutes, Kathy realized that she was getting hustled.

Becky sank the 8-ball, and Kathy smiled. "I guess you're leading."

They danced to Last of the Runaways, Only the Young, and Hungry for Heaven, and then the came Wildest Dreams, still a fast song, but definitely more romantic.

And then came Laura Branigan's 1984 cover of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?, which had jumped onto the Top 40 the past summer from the soundtrack of 19 Candles, John Westum's coming-of-age film set against the backdrop of ADVENT CROWN and the battle of Phase Line PATRIOT.

They danced slowly to the song, and Kathy savored not having to be in charge, the smell of Becky's hair, the feel of Becky's body against her own, and the rhythm of the music.

After the song ended, Becky nodded toward the exit.

Kathy took Becky's hand and said, "Yes."
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