been Patton’s used car lot. Finally the gunny pointed at something that looked like what you’d get if a five-ton mated with a tank.
“That is a M . . . whatchamacallit?” Faith asked, looking up at what was basically a massive armored truck.
“Mine-resistant, ambush-protected, all-terrain vehicle, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said. “M-ATV. Armored. Pintle mount accepts M2, M240 or Mark 19. TOW for that matter, not that we’re going to need those. Also has a very nice climate control system. Stereo was an option the Corps in its infinite wisdom did not choose to purchase. Last but not least, change the oil and fuel, change the battery and I’d bet my life it just cranks up and goes.”
“Tires are sort of flat,” Faith said, kicking same.
“They have a central inflation system, ma’am,” Januscheitis said.
“But not amphibious,” Faith said.
“No, ma’am,” the gunny replied. “But you can use this to clear the civilian side while Staff Sergeant Decker, Lance Corporal Condrey and Sergeant Hocieniec’s team get five AAVs functioning.”
“Five,” Faith said.
“Enough for one per team and plenty of room for survivors if we have to pick them up that way, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said.
“Do I even have a job here?” Faith said. “I was sure it was thinking ahead to the future of operations so as to be prepared to give orders about them. I know I read that in one of them manual thingies. But it seems my gunny has that well in hand.”
“Somebody has to sign for them, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said. “They’re very expensive. Above my paygrade, ma’am.”
“I knew there would be paperwork,” Faith said, shaking her head. “Gunnery Sergeant!”
“Ma’am!”
“We’re going to need some sort of vehicle for ground clearance on the civilian side,” Faith barked. “I have selected the Mat . . . the . . . the Matathingy as the optimum vehicle. You’ll have three up and running by zero eight hundred tomorrow!”
“Aye, aye, ma’am!” the gunnery sergeant replied.
“In addition, it may be necessary to do an amphibious assault on Mayport,” Faith said. “The optimum vehicle for that I have determined to be the amphibious assault vehicle. We will need five of those when the time comes. You are to detail such personnel as necessary to get five of them up and running. We’ll determine the schedule on that at a later date.”
“Aye, aye, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said.
“I’m going to go see the colonel about the paperwork necessary to draw these from stocks,” Faith said.
“Aye, aye, ma’am,” the gunny said, saluting. “We’ll get started on that right away, ma’am.”
“Carry on,” Faith said, returning the salute, then walking away.
* * *
“Staff Sergeant Decker,” Gunny Sands said as soon as Faith was out of sight and earshot.
“Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!” Decker barked.
“Building Fourteen is the tank repair depot. There are four M1A1 main battle tanks in Building Fourteen in covered ‘hurricane prep’ condition and in apparent good order. In addition to your other duties, you, Lance Corporal Condrey, Sergeant Hocieniec and Staff Sergeant Januscheitis shall get one M1A1 into operation suitable for mobility only prior to the nineteenth of this month.”
“Aye, aye, Gunnery Sergeant!” Decker said.
“I will get with Sierra and Sierra on location of additional parts, tools and supplies,” Gunny Sands said, referring to Survey and Salvage. “That is in addition to getting five AAVs up and running as well as three M-ATVs. That will be an all-hands evolution. However, only you, Lance Corporal Condrey, Staff Sergeant Januscheitis and Sergeant Hocieniec will work on the tank. Nor do I think that mission needs to be discussed with, by or around higher including specifically the lieutenant. Is that understood?”
“Aye, aye, Gunnery Sergeant,” Decker replied.
“Permission to speak, Gunnery Sergeant,” Januscheitis said.
“The nineteenth is the lieutenant’s
“That is a M . . . whatchamacallit?” Faith asked, looking up at what was basically a massive armored truck.
“Mine-resistant, ambush-protected, all-terrain vehicle, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said. “M-ATV. Armored. Pintle mount accepts M2, M240 or Mark 19. TOW for that matter, not that we’re going to need those. Also has a very nice climate control system. Stereo was an option the Corps in its infinite wisdom did not choose to purchase. Last but not least, change the oil and fuel, change the battery and I’d bet my life it just cranks up and goes.”
“Tires are sort of flat,” Faith said, kicking same.
“They have a central inflation system, ma’am,” Januscheitis said.
“But not amphibious,” Faith said.
“No, ma’am,” the gunny replied. “But you can use this to clear the civilian side while Staff Sergeant Decker, Lance Corporal Condrey and Sergeant Hocieniec’s team get five AAVs functioning.”
“Five,” Faith said.
“Enough for one per team and plenty of room for survivors if we have to pick them up that way, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said.
“Do I even have a job here?” Faith said. “I was sure it was thinking ahead to the future of operations so as to be prepared to give orders about them. I know I read that in one of them manual thingies. But it seems my gunny has that well in hand.”
“Somebody has to sign for them, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said. “They’re very expensive. Above my paygrade, ma’am.”
“I knew there would be paperwork,” Faith said, shaking her head. “Gunnery Sergeant!”
“Ma’am!”
“We’re going to need some sort of vehicle for ground clearance on the civilian side,” Faith barked. “I have selected the Mat . . . the . . . the Matathingy as the optimum vehicle. You’ll have three up and running by zero eight hundred tomorrow!”
“Aye, aye, ma’am!” the gunnery sergeant replied.
“In addition, it may be necessary to do an amphibious assault on Mayport,” Faith said. “The optimum vehicle for that I have determined to be the amphibious assault vehicle. We will need five of those when the time comes. You are to detail such personnel as necessary to get five of them up and running. We’ll determine the schedule on that at a later date.”
“Aye, aye, ma’am,” Gunny Sands said.
“I’m going to go see the colonel about the paperwork necessary to draw these from stocks,” Faith said.
“Aye, aye, ma’am,” the gunny said, saluting. “We’ll get started on that right away, ma’am.”
“Carry on,” Faith said, returning the salute, then walking away.
* * *
“Staff Sergeant Decker,” Gunny Sands said as soon as Faith was out of sight and earshot.
“Yes, Gunnery Sergeant!” Decker barked.
“Building Fourteen is the tank repair depot. There are four M1A1 main battle tanks in Building Fourteen in covered ‘hurricane prep’ condition and in apparent good order. In addition to your other duties, you, Lance Corporal Condrey, Sergeant Hocieniec and Staff Sergeant Januscheitis shall get one M1A1 into operation suitable for mobility only prior to the nineteenth of this month.”
“Aye, aye, Gunnery Sergeant!” Decker said.
“I will get with Sierra and Sierra on location of additional parts, tools and supplies,” Gunny Sands said, referring to Survey and Salvage. “That is in addition to getting five AAVs up and running as well as three M-ATVs. That will be an all-hands evolution. However, only you, Lance Corporal Condrey, Staff Sergeant Januscheitis and Sergeant Hocieniec will work on the tank. Nor do I think that mission needs to be discussed with, by or around higher including specifically the lieutenant. Is that understood?”
“Aye, aye, Gunnery Sergeant,” Decker replied.
“Permission to speak, Gunnery Sergeant,” Januscheitis said.
“The nineteenth is the lieutenant’s
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