xXx
"Albarn are you mad?!" Clark screamed the argument has more than escalated in the last few minutes since the Brigadier General had hung up while Maka cleaned up the papers that had scattered all over the floor, she was shaking uncontrollably, she was attempting to keep her composure, especially in front of her father.
"Derrick you need to calm down, my intention was never to harm your precious little sniper." Albarn retorted, with a snide tone to his voice.
"We've nearly lost him once before father, it's not fair to those men to send them on such impossible missions with such high standards." Maka spoke up, she was now standing straight at Admiral Clark's side.
"Oh so now you're taking Clark's side too Maka?! Just fucking leave get out of my sight." Spirit slammed his clenched fists on his desk as the two walked out of his office. Maka threw the report at him as she slammed the door.
"You don't have to go against your father just because of my rank Maka." Clark looked down at the young girl.
"I'm not doing this out of rank, I'm doing this because he's lost his mind and Soul..Sullivan doesn't deserve to suffer this much for my father's stupidity." Maka stared straight ahead as they quickly walked down the long corridor towards the fresh sea air.
-Flashback-
"Petty Officer Evans, report!" Captain Albarn barked.
"Sir, heavy fire on the deck of the ship the crew is working to put it out right now." Soul reported.
"What of the pilot?" Albarn asked more sorrowfully.
"Dead Sir, it's a shame he had only received his wings a month ago." Soul said bowing his head, with a contorted grimace over his face.
"Go assist them in recovering the pilots body." Albarn directed as he walked back towards the bridge.
"Yes sir!" Soul yelled running off, towards the flaming wreckage.
Upon Soul's arrival he could see the large fire engulfing the FA-18 that had made a crash landing after taking heavy fire above the front lines after a routine bombing run. Soul ran in to the flames digging among the wreckage, and was able to find the pilots tags and his body, which was relatively intact. Soul began pulling the pilot's lifeless body from the wreckage when he heard a strange hissing coming from the plane.
"Get out of there it's going to blow!" Screamed a Master Chief Petty Officer. Right after that a deafening explosion rocks the ship. The lifeless pilot that he was carrying out was no where to be seen, he realized he was on the ground and all he could see was red. He looked down further and could see he was cut nearly clean in half by a piece of debris from the explosion blood pouring profusely from the gaping hole in his torso.
"We need the ship medic! Call the medic!" Soul could hear yells from his shipmates, he began fading out as he rubbed the tags that he clung to dear life for, he read the name of the pilot, Airman Hiro Arthur, 'he wasn't even from our crew' Soul chuckled to himself as he lost consciousness.
-Flashback End-
"Thank you for the quick lift Sid, we need to make it to Camp Stone as fast as you can fly us there." Admiral Clark sighed as he strapped himself down inside the helicopter.
"Anything for the Lord of Death, or now the honorable Admiral Clark." Sid smiled as he pulled up on the stick lifting the helicopter in to the air.
"So why are you so interested in my sniper, Maka?" The older man smiled down at the young blonde girl who was sitting nervously beside him.
"I..I've seen him hurt before and I just hate it that he has to suffer for the jobs that others aren't strong enough to do themselves." Maka held her fists balled up tightly trying not to show her weakness.
"I see, so you were there during that accident when he was on your father's ship." Death said looking somewhat gloomy now.
Not long after taking off they where over the dense Brazilian forests, Maka could see the war torn land various rebel camps through out the entire western side of the country with only three American bases on the western side of the front. She's never flown in a helicopter without having to man a gun or fly copilot, it was nice to take in the scenery for once even if it was war torn.
"Lieutenant Sid Barett, USAF, requesting to land at Camp Stone, carrying VIP." Sid confirmed.
"Permission granted." The same rough voice spoke through the headphones as did on the telephone not long before.
The helicopter began making its descent as the rotors began to slow down. Maka could clearly see on the ground there were three men waiting to greet them. Maka began to get an unsettling feeling as she looked down towards the ground, this would be the first time in three years she would be off of a Navy base or ship. The helicopter gently touched down on the helipad as the rotors began to wind down and came to a humming halt.
"Admiral Clark, nice to see you again sir." Mifune was the first to greet him "Likewise commander." Death shook his hand "Lieutenant Clark, Seaman Stern how are things?" he continued shaking both of their hands.
"We're okay just worried about Evans sir." The two said taking a step back behind their commander "He should pull through he's been injured worse than this." Death assured the men, although worried himself about the entire situation.
"He has?" The three said in unison, not intending to.
"He's never told you?" Death looked surprised, while Maka stepped out of the helicopter just in time.
"Chief Petty Officer Evans was injured on Vice Admiral Albarn's ship as a result of a poor order." Maka started "He received a twenty inch long diagonal scar across his torso from debris of a crashed FA-18." she continued "He was promoted from Petty Officer Third Class to his current rank during that accident where as Vice Admiral Albarn took a suspension for his irrational orders, Evans nearly lost his life due to a poor call of my father's." she finally finished.
"I see, so that's how you two know each other then is it." Mifune connected the dots, feeling dumb for not knowing the history of his team members.
"Yes, we served on my father's ship together for a year after he fully recovered from that he signed up with Admiral Clark to become a SEAL." Maka answered their questions.
"Ah Admiral Clark its so very nice to see you again!" Brigadier General Stein came trotting from his office to meet with the group.
"Yes it is Frank, we haven't worked together since I was in the field." Death stretched his arm out to shake the general's hand.
"and hello to you Miss Albarn." Stein turned his head towards Maka.
"Please General, I am an enlisted soldier treat me like one." Maka scoffed as a blonde woman wearing a bloody white coat came running out of the base hospital.
"General we finally gotten the SEAL stable again." the woman yelled running towards the general.
"Ah good, how is he?" Stein asked as he turned now towards the woman.
"He's still unconscious but his vitals are all good now, he came close to bleeding out but we managed to stop it, his old injuries really complicated the current one." the woman said "Oh by the way I am Camp Stone's medic Lieutenant Colonel Marie Stein." Marie smiled at the group "Please let him rest for a while before seeing him." her smile lessened but persisted.
"Yes Ma'am, thank you for saving my comrade." Mifune graciously thanked her.
"Wait oh my! Maka is that really you!" the blonde woman got overly excited running and grabbing the girl hugging her.
"Yes, yes it's me, now please put me down." the younger blonde groaned.
"Maka come with me." Marie pulled her.
"So tell me Mifune how did the mission go other than the unfortunate incident." Death asked now that they were sitting comfortably in Stein's office.
"It was much tougher than we were informed it would be just hours after landing we were ambushed and burned up quite a bit of our ammo. After moving to our original designated position we again hit heavy resistance burning through what little ammo we had left. So we had to move once again eventually we were able to get in to position clear enough for Soul to take the shot. Which was confirmed by Soul before we broke off and started heading towards Camp Stone." Mifune recalled most of the events.
"We then rendezvoused with Captain Nygus and we were brought immediately to General Stein where Soul had gotten his medical attention." Mifune recalled the last bit of information.
"Well I'm glad my old friend here could take care of you men." Death said as he thought of the plans that were given to him.
"What I don't understand is why was there so much resistance." he said scratching his chin.
"I'm not sure sir, we followed all the plans we were given by Vice Admiral Albarn; speaking of Albarn why is the Senior Chief Petty Officer with you sir? Mifune asked seriously pondering the situation.
"Hey there Sull, or do you still prefer Soul?" Maka walked into Soul's room.
"Which do you prefer?" Soul wheezed.
"I prefer Soul, so how are you?" Maka said walking over to his bed gently sitting down on it.
"Then Soul it is, and I feel like I just took a bullet to the stomach." Soul coughed while clutching at his side.
"So why are you here Maka? I thought your father would've kept you on base." Soul asked through painful sharp breaths.
"We had a falling out and Admiral Clark saved my ass, I heard you were hurt again and I just couldn't bear with the thought of not seeing you just in case." Maka whispered rubbing his hand.
"I like how you can be so damned strong when you're wearing that jacket of yours but as soon as it comes off your just sweet, innocent Maka." Soul smiled at Maka who was beginning to tear up.
"Come on now Soul I've never been sweet or innocent..." Maka stared at him seriously, but held back a smile instead..
"You were when we were younger you know." Soul chuckled lightly up at the now pouting girl, not long after there was a knock on the door.
"Chief Petty Officer Evans may I come in." Death said from the other side of the closed door.
"Of course sir." Soul wheezed, finding it difficult to speak or do much of anything in his current state.
"Vice Admiral Albarn is being court martialed for misuse of special forces units." Death broke the ice between himself and Soul.
"You can't be serious." Soul looked outraged.
"He can't be punished for my mess up!" Soul yelled straining himself.
"He's not being punished for your mistake, he's being punished for sending my men into a suicide mission." Death corrected Soul harshly.
"and you Soul, you and your team are receiving field promotions." Death continued "so congratulations on finally making it to the big ranks Ensign Evans." Death saluted him before walking away.
Soul was stuck in his bed for over three weeks while his SEAL team remained on base, as well as Maka who had stayed very faithful to him, but not because of rank she continued to assure him. Mifune was now Captain Leon, Derrick Clark, Kid, was now Lieutenant Commander Clark, and Black Star was now First Class Petty Officer Stern. In the mean time Vice Admiral appeared in court under his court martial of misuse of a special forces unit. His punishment was thirty days in confinement and a seven rank demotion, which dropped him to a Lieutenant Junior Grade. His court martial case was presided over by Justin "The Law" Law and Kami Albarn, his ex-wife.
Soul was finally able to get back on his feet after twenty-three days of bed rest, he was supported by his faithful helper who was now Master Chief Petty Officer Albarn, she had also been promoted for attending to Soul. During Soul's downtime as well Admiral Clark was given the wartime promotion of Fleet Admiral until our war with Brazil was over. Soul walked out of the hospital on his crutch, Maka. He began to make the long walk towards the General's office. Brigadier General Stein was very hospitable during this very long month of recovery. Lieutenant Colonel Marie Stein was very nice as well, without her Soul wouldn't be here, she also managed to leave little to no scar where his wound was.
"General Stein, Ensign Sullivan Evans reporting in." Soul saluted Stein who was standing behind his desk.
"At ease Evans, since you've recovered some it's time for your group to leave my base, you navy guys have been tainting my men." Stein laughed as he came around the desk to pat Soul's shoulder.
"Thank you sir for the help over this last month if you ever need our help we'll be at the tip of your fingers, just ask." Soul saluted and stepped out.
Soul and Maka continued to walk, they walked towards the helipad where they could see Sid Barett's helicopter waiting in idle for them. Everyone was ready to get back to the Naval Base.
"Hey Barett, you ready to get out of this hell hole?" Soul hollered as they closed in on the helicopter.
"Hell yeah I am we're all getting leave once we make it back to the base." Sid said eagerly.
"Oh that's right, oh hey Brandon you finally got your eagle huh?" Soul laughed
"Shut up Soul I'm just ready to get back so we can go back to the states." Black Star hissed.
They boarded the helicopter and buckled themselves down as it slowly lurched into motion and began to lift off the ground. The sight of the war torn forest was amazing what was just one month ago dense forest was now barren wasteland, void of all wildlife. The sea was visible over the horizon it was a nice view compared to the torn apart land they were over.
"You've all served the United States Navy very well men." Fleet Admiral Clark addressed the four men as they stood in front of the gates to the Naval Base all five men saluting.
"Thank you sir, without your confidence in us we would've never made it this far." Soul spoke as he slung his duffel bag over his shoulder, wincing slightly from the still recovering injury.
"When will you want us back then sir?" Mifune asked, remaining cautious as always.
"This is your new assignment men, we'll call it Operation Vacation." Death said as he turned his back to the four men before they could ask anymore questions and began to walk back towards the main buildings.
AN: Well here is the second chapter, I've still very open to reviews. Please tell me what you think or things that I could perhaps improve on. Thanks so much for the positive support so far! More great things to follow!
Thanks!
-Jett
