Disapproval
"He calls you lot 'test-tube soldiers'."
Captain Kase looked up from his datapad to consider Blazer Corps quartermaster.
"Who are you referring to, Quartermaster Braxx?"
The great Besalisk rolled his broad shoulders. On his portly body, the grey naval uniform appeared ungainly and slightly disproportionate, denting outwards at the belly and straining to cover the muscular arms. "Captain Slayke," Pershing Braxx explained. "The man we're bounding off to rescue. He says clones are nothing more than test-tube soldiers."
Kase considered this new piece of information for a moment, then shook his head, turning his attention back to the company inventory. "The captain is mistaken. We are grown in gestation vats, not test tubes."
Braxx stared at Kase, blinking his large eyes once...twice. The large wattle at his neck quivered slightly and his flabby lips twitched, as if he were unsure how to react to this matter-of-fact statement. Finally, Braxx settled for a non-commital shrug. "Good to know."
Kase's mind was already on other, more important, matters. "According to the reports we have received, Captain Slayke and his forces have suffered substantial damage over Diado. We will have to ensure that our supplies can cover the additional strain."
The quartermaster grunted. "We'll manage, but rations might be tricky." The Besalisk waved one of his four meaty hands down the endless rows of equipment and supplies. "Slayke's is a mixed bunch. The MREs we've got stocked aren't meant for eating by Mon Calamari or Parwan."
The clone captain nodded and made the necessary notation on his datapad. "Lieutenant Wess has expressed an interest in procuring bota for the medbay."
"Bota?" Braxx snorted. "You'd have better luck requisitioning grade-A spice for morale purposes, than bota for the medbay." The Besalisk's broad face went through a series of convulsions that might have been disgust or amusement. "Bota's too valuable to be used on the troops that need it most."
Kase studied Braxx' face for a moment, then lowered his eyes to his 'pad once more. "I'll take that to mean the request has been denied," he said, canceling Wess' requisition order.
Braxx snorted again.
"What is the status on our spare astromechs?"
"Eh..." Braxx glanced between the two datapads he held in his upper left and lower right hand, respectively, scratching the top of his head with his upper right hand. Due to the large crest that Besalisk males sported, Braxx was exempted from the necessity of wearing the cap with the rest of his uniform. "Haven't gotten around to that section yet," he admitted. "Manifest says we received a new shipment of spare parts, but they haven't been added to the inventory yet."
"Understood." Uncompleted tasks were not a source of joy to Captain Kase, but it was not within his rights to reprimand the quartermaster or dictate how he was to perform his duties. As a staff sergeant, Braxx served the entire corps and not a single company and therefore fell under the direct authority of General Arhen and Marshal Commander O'sic. "I will see to the matter myself."
Braxx gave another of his signature shrugs. "Suit yourself. Storage bay D, aisle 134." He pointed one blunt finger down the corridor that wound its way through the maze of shelves, past the weapon storage and towards where the newer equipment was stored. The Besalisk gave Kase a two-fingered salute before making his lumbering way back to the main requisition desk - his personal kingdom. Watching him go, Kase had to wonder how the GAR justified employing a man of Braxx' bulk. The Besalisk was tall as well as broad, forced to duck to clear most doorways and walk sideways to sidle through narrow corridors.
But Braxx was allowed to serve, which meant that the issue had been considered and declared as acceptable by their superiors. It was, therefore, not an issue for Kase to question.
The captain made his own way through the shelves, heading in the opposite direction of Braxx.
It didn't take him long to find storage bay D, but he frowned when he heard muffled voices coming through the storage door. The motion detectors noticed his approach and opened the door with a small hiss of hydraulics.
Storage bay D was one of the smaller storage areas in the requisition section. Astromechs - various models and all off-line - were racked against the wall along with bins and crates of spare parts for the droids. Six troopers had moved several of these crates into a loose circle, using them as seats and an improvised table as they talked and played cards.
The frown deepened when he recognized two of the troopers were men from Elix Company.
"I bet three days of KP duty," Carry said, throwing a piece of flimsi onto a small pile of similar flimsies, stacked neatly in the middle of the crate acting as a card table.
A corporal from Nek's Battle Dogs sighed. "Too onerous for my tastes. I fold."
"I'll see your KP duty and raise four days of garbage chute inspections."
A round of groans answered that bet.
"Forget it." A private with Prosper Company's insignia on his left bicep threw down his cards. "I fold." He nudged the trooper sitting next to him. "Gos?"
The pilot looked up from studying his cards and as he did so, caught sight of his captain.
Gos reacted with the exceptional reflexes of a combat pilot. As soon as he saw Kase standing in the doorway, Gos dropped his cards and shot to his feet, falling into a parade-rest as he saluted. "Captain Kase."
As if the name had been a signal, the other five troopers turned and - seeing that there was indeed an officer in the storage bay with them - rose and saluted. "Sir."
Kase swept them all with a narrow-eyed gaze, his eyes darting from one misdemeanor to the next. "At ease."
The men locked their hands behind their backs, the dignity of some ruined by the sabacc cards still in their hands.
"Appropriating requisite storage space for the purpose of gambling." Kase moved towards the men, his sharp eyes scrutinizing each one by one, noting boots in need of polishing and crooked lapels. "Misusage of valuable equipment," he pointed at the crates of spare parts that had served as furniture, "gambling aboard a GAR military vessel and participating in the illegal trade of assigned duties." Kase stopped right in front of Carry, who swallowed hard. "Attempting to shirk punishment detail, issued by your commanding officer."
Carry tried his best not to look at Kase without breaking formal protocol; an exercise in futility and it made him nearly go cross-eyed. Kase had been the one to assign Carry those three days of KP duty.
"Gentlemen," Kase broke eye-contact with Carry to sweep the assembled troopers with a cool gaze, "what we have here are several infractions of GAR rules and regulations. One by one you will step forward and give me your name and designation. You will then return to your assigned quarters and remain there until otherwise informed and/or issued the proper reprimand and punishment by your commanding officer. Let me inform you now that such behavior will not be tolerated in the future and that this incident will be recorded on your personal files..."
Gos' eyes flickered to stare at something over Kase's shoulder.
The captain turned about, to see Clone Marshal Commander O'sic, a mug of steaming caf in one hand, standing behind him. It was impossible to tell just how long the commander had been watching, but upon being recognized by Kase, O'sic straightened from where he'd been leaning against the doorframe. "Captain Kase." O'sic waved his mug at the other troopers. "Is there a problem?"
Kase's brows lowered in consternation. Surely the commander could see the infractions with his own eyes? "There is indeed, Commander. These men stand accused of having violated paragraphs 4 through 7 on proper conduct becoming a soldier of the Grand Army, as well as twelve other GAR regulations pertaining to equipment management and usage."
O'sic was nodding along with Kase's words, which was not unexpected. When it came to rules and regulations, Kase was never wrong.
What was utterly unexpected, however, was the commander's reply. "I am aware of that, Captain, which is why I gave the men permission to use the space in the first place."
Kase stared, then had to blink rapidly as he processed the words.
O'sic used this moment of confusion to step past the captain and towards the ring of troopers. He settled on an empty crate and picked up a stack of cards with the hand not holding the mug. "You are free to join us if you like, Captain," O'sic said, making a sweeping gesture at the table. "Gentlemen." And the commander looked pointedly from the six troopers to the abandoned sabacc game. "Shall we continue?"
The troopers - caught between a captain and a commander - exchanged confused and surprised looks. Several, including Gos, reseated themselves hesitantly, but Carry and the corporal - Sim, as Kase recalled - remained standing, glancing from Kase to O'sic as if wondering if the ambush would come from the back or the front.
"Sir," Kase straightened his shoulders, deciding to approach the situation from another angle. He had dealt with officers who were lax about the rules before. His own commander had a distressing tendency towards the same trend, though Gaff at least had the courtesy to discuss the issue beforehand with his captain. If O'sic, in his capacity as marshal commander, decided to hand down permission to break the rules, then that was within his right. There were, however, certain regulations that even a marshal commander could not ignore. "I regret to inform you that under Section 49 of the Officer's Handbook, officers are prohibited from fraternizing with all NCOs." And he really did regret having to point this fact out. Kase personally expected more decorum on the side of his commanding officers.
O'sic looked up from his intense study of the sabacc cards in his hand. He tapped the edge of the cards against the crate in thought, his scarred cheek twitching once before he folded the cards together with a snap.
"You're right, Captain, it is against protocol for an officer to interact in such a manner with his subordinates. Gentlemen," and he nodded towards the other players, "I fold." He pushed the cards away and rose to his feet, walking briskly towards Kase.
He actually startled Kase, by throwing one arm around the captain's shoulders. "I believe it is time that the officers of Blazer Corps begin their own, private, sabacc round," O'sic said, raising his mug to his lips so that Kase could not discern his facial expression. His tone, at least, suggested that the commander was quite serious.
"Sir," Kase tried to step away from the commander, without appearing disrespectful, "that is..."
"...An excellent idea," O'sic finished for him. "It will foster both cooperation between the different officers, as well as provide a relaxed and non-confrontational atmosphere for debriefs, updates and the exchange of ideas." O'sic talked as he walked out of the storage bay. Kase, still with the commander's arm over his shoulders, was forced to follow. "I'm certain General Arhen will approve of the idea when you present it to him."
Kase opened his mouth, but for the first time in his memory, he was at a loss as to what to say. There were no regulations pertaining to this situation. "Me, sir?" He was finally reduced to asking.
"Of course." O'sic gave the captain a look that suggested - mildly - that this should have been obvious to Kase. "You are, after all, the inspiration behind the idea, as well as the expert on GAR rules. There is no one better to compile a succinct and accurate presentation for the general, outlining the advantages of hosting...say...a weekly sabacc game for the officers."
Commander O'sic removed his arm from Kase's shoulders and lifted his mug at the captain. "I expect a copy of the report on my desk in an hour, Captain. And I suggest you brush up on your sabacc rule book."
O'sic continued on his way, weaving through the racks of supplies, while leaving Kase rooted to the spot.
The captain watched his superior leave, stony faced. It was only after Commander O'sic was well out of sight that Kase followed, his back stiff with disapproval.
It would seem that he had a presentation to prepare.
Back in storage bay D, Carry glanced around their makeshift sabacc round. Most of the troopers returned his puzzled gaze with bewildered looks of their own. The sabacc cards lay forgotten and scattered across the crate. "So," Carry finally asked the others, "are we still in trouble?"