"Paperwork"

10/18/2011 - 16:55:39

Sgt. Ash Karmel

Defense Logistics Agency

Fort Belvoir - Fairfax County, Virginia US

"Sir, you can't be serious," Karmel whispered hysterically on the phone. She tried to hide the shocked tone on her voice from the rest of the office, covering her mouth with a cupped hand. After a moment of recuperation she questioned, "Why can't the Shadow Company suffice?"

"Not enough guts or experience. I need soldiers, the best soldiers in the world," the other end replied. A deep, rocky voice that seemed to vibrate the handheld phone. Sergeant Karmel held her tongue. She didn't mention that she already had built him an elite army and now he was asking for another. Despite all the turmoil inside, she gave in.

"Very well, I'll interview them myself," she said while groaning internally. In repercussion of her anger she furiously wrote down notes in a three ringed binder. This time her uncle had gone way too far in terms of asking favors. Granted, the loss of last year was devastating. Yet to continue to act on it so soon became a growing concern of hers. She had seen him stressed and overworked, but this was new. It was different. Nevertheless, saying no was not an option either. "Deadline?"

"ASAP," her uncle vaguely replied. To add salt to the wound it seemed. Well, she thought sarcastically, that certainly makes things easier. Once again she withheld her true thoughts and decided the sooner to start the better.

"I'll report back once I've secured a base. Any preference on where I should start?" It was more of a suggestion than a curious desire. She knew he had much more to think about.

"The SAS, they got hit hard by Zakhaev. And scarred vets are the most powerful of men."

"Yes sir," Karmel sharply ended before hearing the line go dead. It took a good minute to process what that ten minute call just did to her plans. Not even a year back into civilian life and she was thrown out of the frying pan and into the fire again. Taking one breath in and one out she focused, preparing to work. With that task now at the forefront of her mind she sat and researched for the remainder of her shift, having already completed what work she had that day. The SAS was indeed hit hard by the Russians, it seemed like their squads and informants were targeted specifically. Only a few members had survived. Probably the men her uncle had heard about.

Once looking through around a thousand other profiles she built an outline of the plan and printed it all. Placing it as a high priority on her desk she scrapped everything else since she wouldn't be working for the Defense Logistics Agency. But the burden of leaving didn't phase her at all. She then shuffled her immediate paperwork into her shoulder bag, took up her potted plant and exited her corner office. From there she made her way straight up to the second in command and turned in her resignation. The secretary gave her a funny look.

"Are you leaving already?" she asked. Karmel gave a slight smile.

"Seems like I can't get away from the field," she said. The secretary simply overlooked her paperwork once more. There was no intention of having a conversation.

"Reason?"

"Reassignment by General Shepherd regarding the development of a new unit focused on retaliating the recent threats in Russia and the Middle East," Karmel stated. The sooner she got out of here the sooner she would get to begin this new challenge before her. It would certainly be exciting if not for the underlying corruption of her uncle underneath it. Karmel winced at the thought, she should trust him. She always had.

After a few minutes of keys clicking and several signatures Sergeant Karmel was out of Fort Belvoir. There was no one to say goodbye to since she had only been there for three months. The sun had set hours ago, but her day was far from over. As she left the quaint, domestic looking building she knew it would be a while until she saw her office again.

"So much for paperwork," she said.