2320. The Marines at War. Book 3: Limbo and Holly

By Donald F. Todd Jr.

This is the continuation and final book of The Marines at War series.

Book 3 picks up and continues the stories, beginning with book 1 which runs through book 2. You will see the same characters developing over time. You will see human sides of Limbo, Andy, Walkabout, Biggs, and the Marines, some soldiers and sailors, as well as the women and the children which participate in these stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781098311865

Book preview

fleet.

Chapter 1 – Changes

Chapter 2 – Silent In – Silent Out

Chapter 3 – Reflecting on the Past While Looking Forward

Chapter 4 – Parting of the Ways

Chapter 5 – Change of Command

Chapter 6 – What is in a Name?

Chapter 7 – Bad News

Chapter 8 – The Crucible

Chapter 9 – A Vacation

Chapter 10 – Find Them for Us

Chapter 11 – The Battlegroup Coral Sea

Chapter 12 – What happened to Andy?

Chapter 13 - Hepburn

Chapter 14 - Vacation

Chapter 15 - Montezuma

Chapter 16 – Limbo

Chapter 17 – Win Some and Lose Some

Chapter 18 - Gulf Whiskey 8

Chapter 19 – Tasks

Chapter 20 –A Postcard from Foxtrot

Chapter 21 – The Foxtrot Reconnaissance

Chapter 22 – Epilog

Chapter 1 – Changes

March 13th, 2320 0930 hours at Tarawa

Dalton and Wilkins, with their crew chiefs Flynn and Johnston, are in the general’s conference room waiting.  The door opened, and the general came in, followed by Colonel Sebastian, Major Tradzuski, Lieutenant Suzuki who is the Tarawa Intelligence officer, and Mr. Biggs.  Dalton immediately called, Attention on deck and the four enlisted Marines stood to attention.

The general took his seat and said, At ease.  Please be seated.  I am convening this session of the Intelligence Committee.  We are operating under normal UCMJ and federal law considerations for highly-compartmentalized extremely secure data.  All persons in this meeting are subject to both the UCMJ and the federal law. The general paused and said, Ladies, are you here?

The speaker system came up and two responses were heard.  "Sir, Garland here, followed by Sir, Kerr here."

The general said, Ladies, how did you know to be here?

"Sir, Garland speaking for both of us.  Mr. Biggs told us that we are required to be present at the Intelligence briefing."

Very good.  Thank you both, and thank you, Mr. Biggs.  Now, lieutenant, what do you have for us?

"Sirs, Mr. Biggs, Marines and ladies, we did the downloads on Garland and Kerr and found the following.  Reconnaissance 28 found a flight of enemy warships in-bound toward Tarawa.  Seven of those warships broke off and took a position on the opposite side of the planet from the base. 

After several hours of very minimal movement, Lance Corporal Wilkins instructed Kerr to destroy those enemy warships.  She did.  Then Reconnaissance 28 came back to the front of the planet and found thirty-three of the enemies’ ships remaining from the original group confronting the base. 

Reconnaissance 28 was joined by Reconnaissance 27.  They had enough combined nuke remotes to destroy the enemy warships.  They collaborated, destroying the ships while maintaining a parity of remaining nuke remotes with each ship. They then made the decision to run a reconnaissance out to one AU from the base in all directions, splitting the area in half, checking for enemy ships.

Sirs, these teams destroyed a total of forty enemy ships and then worked to protect the base from any unknown enemy ships."

The general said, "Marines, you are part of an operation, Reconnaissance 3, which has been extremely successful.  By all appearances, you have earned your spurs. Well done.  I’ll send a note to that effect.  Major, please see that it is added to their service jackets.

Now, a separate question.  Major, we had some observation remotes which reported in to Tarawa.  Were those remotes replaced?"

Yes, sir. We got two of them out yesterday.

Understood.  Now, major, I’d like the site found by Walkabout reconnoitered as soon as possible.

Aye, sir.  I’ll have a reconnaissance team out by 1800 hours today if that is acceptable.

It is.

Chapter 2 – Silent In – Silent Out

March 15th, 2320 0653 hours on Garland

Garland arrived an AU out from the enemy location marked between Gulf Mike Sectors 9 and 10 and commenced searching using passive sensors.  She began her sweep in a circular motion which would take her toward Gulf Mike 9 before the circle aimed her in the direction of Gulf Mike 10.  She was running at about normal speed for a reconnaissance mission, attempting to discover if the MAD component of her sensors would pick up anything. And she let Dalton sleep.

March 15th, 2320 0800 hours on Garland

The smell of food arrived at Dalton’s nose and he woke up.  "Garland, what time is it?"

"It is 0800 hours by my clock.  You might want to dip your coffee while the water is hot.  We arrived near the location indicated by Walkabout and O’Hara slightly over one hour ago.  I began a circular search one AU out from the indicated site.  We’ll be closest to Gulf Mike 9 in about ninety minutes and closest to Gulf Mike 10 in about twelve and a half hours. I haven’t identified anything with my passive sensors at current speed."

"Understood.  Garland, thank you for breakfast."

My pleasure.

Please open a window for me.  We’ll watch together.

March 15th, 2320 0900 hours on Kerr

"Kerr, a coffee please."

The team continued its search from the fourth AU out moving in toward Tarawa.  Kerr recorded everything that her active sensors found.  They were identifying the reconnaissance remotes by radio signal as part of their assignment.  No emissions were being identified.  No albedos.  No minor electrical hit on Kerr’s systems.  No obvious ships in the vicinity.

March 15th, 2320 0936 hours on Hepburn

Hepburn said, Andy, Pete, Tarawa is still under Marine control.  We’ll be down in about twenty minutes.

March 15th, 2320 1002 hours on Hepburn

Hepburn settled into her cradle and opened a door for her Marines.  Andy gestured to his crew chief who stepped out first and then Andy followed, carrying his weapons. They both stepped aside as the Intelligence team came to download the data collected by Hepburn.

Pete, I’ll see you later.

"Okay.  When the Intelligence people are done, I’ll clean Hepburn up and send in a requisition.  So far as I can tell, we’ll replenish water, coffee, and whatever food we consumed."

Andy nodded his head, turned to toward the Armory and began walking.

March 15th, 2320 1027 hours on Holly

Holly said, Gents, there is some physical damage here at Tarawa.  It does not appear to be anything critical, but some things have exploded or crashed while we were out.  She then taxied, settled into her cradle and made a door.  Bill Hayes stepped out and saw an Intelligence team arrive with a download unit.  He looked back in Holly and said, Limbo, I’ll stick around for a bit.  When the Intelligence download is complete, I’ll clean our lady up and order a restock.

Good.  I’ll see you.  Then Limbo stepped out of Holly and turned toward the Armory.

Over the next hour Watson, Monroe, Loren and Reed returned with their Marines.  The first two were met by Intelligence download teams.  The last two ladies had to wait for the Intelligence download while the information from the first three ladies was downloaded from the Intelligence equipment.  All the ladies were cleaned and reloaded before Intelligence was able to complete the intelligence downloads.

March 15th, 2320 1401 hours on the hangar floor

Flynn and Johnston joined the other crew chiefs. Three-M said, First, congratulations!  You two made crew chief.  Mr. Biggs said it was coming and now it is here.  And I heard that your recon teams destroyed forty enemy ships. 

Flynn replied, Yes.  They had been taught to work together in reconnaissance ship training. They talked to each other, the targets were divided so they’d each have nuke remotes left over, and they ended up saving Tarawa.  Whatever Limbo and Andy had done with the teams they worked with on a previous combat tour was written up, made it to the school, and was taught to the new guys.

Three-M said, I wonder what other surprises are coming up?

March 17th, 2320 1000 hours in a conference room near Major Tradzuski’s office

Present are all the reconnaissance Marines except Dalton, all the crew chiefs and the two remaining technicians on Mr. Biggs’ staff as well as the ladies, except for Garland.  The major walked in the door, followed by an unknown captain, Lieutenant Suzuki, and Mr. Biggs.

Limbo called out, Attention on deck and all the enlisted Marines came to attention.

The major stood behind the chair he would occupy and said, At ease.  Please be seated.

The enlisted Marines relaxed and sat down. The major remained standing and said, "We have a lot of items to cover so, I’d appreciate it if you’d hold questions until I call for them.

First, I’d like to introduce Captain Aren Anderson, whose callsign is ‘Eagle.’  And, yes, Eagle is a nickname and a callsign.  Your incoming CO is an experienced reconnaissance ship Marine.  Captain Anderson will be replacing me in slightly over two weeks.

I have been bumped up to take Colonel Conway’s slot as the CO of Fourth Squadron, Ship.  What you might not know is that Fourth Squadron includes the training command for reconnaissance ship training.  I’ll have that billet as part of my new command.  More about that shortly.

Before I go, I have some privileges to attend to.  While most of you were out performing reconnaissance for the Navy, Walkabout Truman and O’Hara, his new ship, came by and dropped off a lot of intelligence.  During an attack on Earth, Walkabout and O’Hara had attached themselves to an enemy warship and rode that ship to an enemy site unrelated to any planetary system.  It was out in some of the empty space between Gulf Mike Sectors 9 and 10.  Walkabout came here first because his lady had identified Tarawa as the closest Earth Alliance base to the enemy location.  He had the impression, and upon examination we agreed with him, that an attack on this base was likely.

The general put us on an alert basis, and we went forward from there.  One of Mr. Biggs’ ideas was used and proved quite workable, setting up remotes for observation. 

Of note to you, of the few thousand civilians and dependents that were here, only a few hundred remain.  The rest were shipped off to Earth or other major EA planets where it was thought that they might be safer.  The base is still on an alert status.  We believe another attack will be occurring.  If the enemy does not take Tarawa, this base will represent an EA foothold in this sector which the enemy cannot ignore.

While you were working with the Navy, R3 gained two reconnaissance Marines and their ships.  Present is Lance Corporal Wilkins, and pointing to Wilkins to stand, whose ship is Kerr, and whose designation is Reconnaissance 28.  Signaled to do so, Wilkins sat. Absent is Corporal Dalton, whose lady is Garland, and whose designation is Reconnaissance 27.  Recon 27 is performing a silent in silent out on the location identified by Walkabout. They will be out for at least two more weeks, and they have permission to ride an enemy ship once their reconnaissance is complete, should that possibility become available. They will send a remote with their information if they are engaged in a continuing reconnoiter.

Importantly both teams had been here for less than a day when they found the enemy flotilla approaching Tarawa.  They gave themselves an assignment to perform a defensive reconnoiter on the enemy.  Tarawa had a battle and Colonel Sebastian’s ground-to-orbit anti-ship artillery had taken a large bite out of the enemy ships, destroyed several enemy missiles and some items hurled at Tarawa by mass drivers.  That is when Reconnaissance 27 and 28 arrived.  Operating singly, and then collaboratively, they destroyed forty enemy ships.  Between the colonel’s anti-ship artillery and Reconnaissance 27 and 28, nothing was left to report back to the Alpha command.

A review after the fact revealed that the material provided to me by Limbo and Andy is now being presented in reconnaissance ship training.  The instructors had no personal experience in multi-ship reconnaissance operations, but they were able to train their charges in using the ideas that Limbo and Andy presented.

In about two weeks, Gunnery Sergeant Limbaugh and Staff Sergeant Amos will be transferred.  Limbo will be assigned to a joint EA-Sadler operation at a Sadler training location, working with Sadler reconnaissance sailors.  Yes, you understand it correctly.  The Sadlers have reconnaissance ships. 

Andy will be assigned duty on the Earth, to train students at Reconnaissance Ship School at Marine Base Montezuma.  There is a history for this kind of endeavor.  Back in the twentieth century, the Marine Corps took experienced officers and NCOs to train Marines into their military occupational specialties. Both Limbo and Andy have been through everything and were always teaching their juniors here.  Having them impart this experience, Limbo with the Sadlers and Andy at the school, should benefit both the Sadlers and the Marines going through reconnaissance training.

The next item is that both Limbo and Andy will take their crew chiefs with them.  Mr. Biggs requested an audience with me.  He recommended that the crew chiefs train technicians into the maintenance of the ladies concurrent with the training of new reconnaissance ship Marines.  You’ve all noticed how capable our technicians and crew chiefs have become in working with the ladies, and in training reconnaissance in using the features and capabilities we’ve been developing.  Upon graduation from Montezuma, each recon team will include the recon Marine, the crew chief, and the lady.  That has been a hit or miss function up to now.  We’ve seen teams coming in with crew chiefs, and teams arriving without crew chiefs.  We want these people to know each other, and if there is some shorthand that they learn to use in working with one another, that is fine.

As a modification to the training regimen, some portions of the training modules will take place with both the reconnaissance and the technical Marines present.  It is another well thought out idea.

When I depart for the commanding officer slot, I am taking Mr. Biggs with me.  Fourth Squadron, Ship headquarters is at Marine Base Montezuma, which is also home to Reconnaissance 1, which is where Walkabout is.  When I was being interviewed for the position, I requested and was granted permission to build a Marine Reconnaissance Technical function around Mr. Biggs, who will be promoted to Warrant Officer Two within days after we arrive at Montezuma.  Congratulations Mr. Biggs.  You’ve earned everything that is coming your way.  Mr. Biggs will also have the responsibility for the training of the reconnaissance Marines, the crew chiefs, and the technicians working on reconnaissance ships.  Andy, who knows about reconnaissance and training new reconnaissance Marines, will be working for Mr. Biggs.

Why transfer Mr. Biggs?  We want the training organization training to the most recent features and capabilities as soon as they become available. Then, as those new crews disperse throughout the fleet’s Marine reconnaissance groups, their crew chiefs can train their peer crew chiefs and the recon group’s technicians; and then those crew chiefs can train their reconnaissance counterparts.

Mr. Biggs will have access to Reconnaissance 1 and to the reconnaissance school trainees and ladies to prove his ideas, even as he has had Reconnaissance 3 to test things here."

The major looked away and then looked back at Biggs.  You do realize that you aren’t finished yet?

Biggs smiled and said, Yes, sir.  I do realize that there are several pending projects, including a request you made recently.

Good.  Now Mr. Biggs, I believe that you had some pending items?

Yes, sir, and thank you.

Biggs stood up and said, Lance Corporal Flynn and PFC Johnston, front and center.

The two crew chiefs stepped forward and came to attention, standing a few feet from Mr. Biggs with their eyes locked forward. 

At ease.  Lance Corporal Flynn, you are promoted to the rank of corporal.  Biggs and Flynn shook hands and Biggs extended a small box to Flynn.  Corporal, hold this.  Biggs reached Flynn’s collar and removed the lance corporal chevrons.  He then opened the box in Flynn’s hand, removed the corporal chevrons and attached one to each side of Flynn’s collar, before dropping the old chevrons into the box.

Then he turned to Johnston and said, PFC Johnston, you are promoted to the rank of lance corporal.  Biggs and Johnston shook hands, and Biggs extended a small box to Johnston, saying Lance corporal, hold this.  Biggs reached Johnston’s collar and removed the PFC chevrons.  He opened the box in Johnston’s hand, took out the lance corporal chevrons, dropped the PFC chevrons into the box, and attached the lance corporal chevrons to Johnston’s collar.

Marines have your dress uniforms updated with your new ranks. Both said Aye, sir and, when acknowledged, returned to their seats.  Biggs then looked at the major and said, Sir, thank you.

The major replied, Thank you, Mr. Biggs, and congratulations on your promotions, Marines.  Now, we’ll be getting together again before I leave but I will suggest that Captain Anderson might want to see you, so please make yourself available if he comes calling. Marines dismissed.

March 17th, 2320 1520 hours on Tarawa

Limbo and Andy are in the barracks having a conversation.  Andy, if the bulk of the dependents are gone, I wonder if the steakhouse is still open? 

Let’s take a walk and find out.

March 18th, 2320 1000 hours in Major Tradzuski’s office

Limbo, Andy, what can I do for you?

Limbo said, "Sir, we checked on the steakhouse yesterday. We were told that enough staff exist to handle the dinner traffic.  What we want to do is take you, the new captain, Mr. Suzuki, doc, Mr. Biggs, all the reconnaissance Marines and all the technical staff to dinner. And, we’ll take the general if he is able to join us.

We want to get the hellos, the congratulations and the goodbyes out of the way.  Andy and I will pay for the dinners, the drinks, the desserts and handle the tip."

Limbo, there are more than twenty people involved.  Are you sure you want to do this?

Yes, sir.  We do.  The money is not an issue.  What we don’t know is how we can work this out logistically.  We are going to assume that some sort of patrol activity needs to be maintained.

Sir, Andy said, I’ll take Joe to dinner.  Then I’ll take one of the reconnaissance flights and I’ll ask Joe to take the other one.  I think, since Cary is going to be one of the senior guys here, he needs to be here for the big dinner, if that is good with you, sir.

The major looked at Limbo and said, Is this good with you?

He looked up and said, Sir, we are a reconnaissance organization.  It is our job.  Whether it is Andy or me, one of us should be out and about.  If it is Andy, I’ll owe him one.

Understood.  I’ll assign Andy and Joe to any reconnaissance that needs to occur at the time of the dinner.  And, Marines, thank you.  Thank you for continuing to pull this group together as a team.  Is there anything else?

Limbo and Andy looked at each other and shook their heads no, then looked back to the major who said, Dismissed.

March 18th, 2320 1046 hours in the barracks

Andy found a letter waiting.

March 11th, 2320

Dear Andy,

I hope this finds you well. 

Your visit was a springboard for us.  I think my anxiety was having as bad an effect on my children as it was on me.  I think they felt my worries although they probably did not know how to express those concerns.  After you came, a specific concern dropped off me.  I am not worried about money.  What you did for us was more than enough.  The bills are paid and there is always some money left over at the end of the month.  I took the kids out shopping and got them some new clothes, clothes that fit them.  To be sure, some of Sam’s clothes fit Bobby, but I always get Bobby something new anyway.  I don’t want him to think he has been lost in the shuffle between his older brother and his younger siblings.

The older boys, who look at their gloves the way I thought boys should look at girls, are set up to play city league baseball, on different teams.  (There is an upfront cost associated with putting a boy on a team, which I could afford.  Thank you again.)  Their ages make a difference according to the city, so I am trying to make sure that if I see one of Sam’s games, the next game is Bobby’s.  They are both attuned to that consideration.  When they can, they attend each other’s games and cheer each other on.

The older boys have been very good about spending time with William.  It does not always involve playing ball, but he does get a minimum of fifteen minutes, and often more time with one of them, daily.  He looks forward to it, and if I am reading his older brothers correctly, so do they.  The three of them display some warmth and consideration for each other, and for their little sister.

The boys said to tell you that the ‘Joe’ associated with Monroe was a baseball player named DiMaggio, who was famous some centuries ago for a major league hitting streak.

Our girl has graduated from crawling and holding onto the furniture to walking.  Her walk has become steady, but she isn’t quite ready to run yet.

Jennifer told me to tell you that Walkabout returned safely.  She said that ‘safely’ would be important for you to read.

A battle was on display in the night sky recently.  I don’t believe that anything bad reached the earth, but it appeared that new stars were popping up and, nearly as quickly, disappearing.  Temporary stars.  Jennifer said that it was warships being hit by nuclear rockets. She said that a lack of atmosphere was the reason that they disappeared so quickly.  Any flammable atmosphere would burn right then.  Once it burned, no fuel to continue the fire.

I’ll look forward to hearing from you. 

If you are here, come and see us.

Linda

Chapter 3 – Reflecting on the Past While Looking Forward

March 18th, 2320 1903 hours in the Tarawa Reconnaissance barracks

All the available reconnaissance Marines were present in the game room in the reconnaissance section of the barracks.  Limbo looked at Joe and said, You called this meeting, and everyone but Dalton is here.  What do you want to discuss?

Naming.  I want to talk about naming.

Several of the faces scanned their peers and they all turned back to Joe.  He started.  When I got here, I was met by Limbo, Andy and Walkabout.  The three of you had nicknames which were used as callsigns.  No problem.  We examined my first name Andrew and discovered that using ‘Andy’ lacked some subtlety; and beside that it was already in use by someone with absolutely no relationship to the name Andrew. Joe looked at Andy who, grinning, looked back at Joe.  Joe continued, "No problem.  I was given a nickname which, if I understand it, relates to Monroe.  Understood.  I am now and will always be ‘Joe’ where reconnaissance is involved.

When we gave names to Ron, Cary, and George, each of those names had an association with their ladies. I understood that.  And now we have two more reconnaissance Marines who need, and have earned, nicknames which are also callsigns. Before I go further, Lance Corporal Wilkins, do you have a nickname?"

Wilkins looked up and said, I probably should not ask, but isn’t ‘Bob’ a nickname?

Joe looked at Wilkins, looked down and then back at Wilkins, and said, Not here.  Now, the rest of us are going to have a discussion.  You don’t yet have a name, so you can stay here but you cannot speak.  We need to give you a name before you speak.

Wilkins looked at Joe and nodded his head.

Joe continued, "We’ve had people arrive here with names and those were acceptable.  We’ve given people arriving here names and those have been acceptable.  When we returned from duty with the fleet, my crew chief told me about two new reconnaissance Marines who had destroyed forty enemy ships when those ships were attacking Tarawa.  It was then that I discovered an itch.  I wanted to find out if anything quite like this had happened in the history of the Marine Corps.  It had. There have been three pilots, driving old piston-engine aircraft, who had at least twenty kills each.

I’d like to open the floor to everyone here with a reconnaissance nickname to see if it is acceptable to use the name of a heroic Marine for a nickname and callsign."

Andy spoke, Joe, we will have this discussion, but I’d like to know which names you’d like to use.

Joe looked at his sleeve and replied, For Corporal Dalton, if he does not have a nickname, the Marine Joseph Jacob Foss who had twenty-six kills.  Dalton would be known as ‘Foss.’  And Wilkins would be ‘Aldrich,’ after Marine Donald N. Aldrich who had twenty kills.  I picked those two names because our newbies have proven so proficient in decimating the enemy.

Limbo said, The floor is open to everyone but Wilkins, who doesn’t yet have a name.

The discussion took about eight minutes.  It was decided that using existing nicknames was acceptable, noting that Limbo, Andy, Walkabout and the new captain had arrived with acceptable nicknames.  It was recognized that there might be a good reason to pick a name associated with the name of the reconnaissance ship, which now had a history as Joe, Ron, Cary, and George’s callsigns could attest.  It was acceptable to recognize a current success with a previous Marine Corps’ success and bestow the name of a heroic Marine as a nickname.

Joe looked at Wilkins and said, Your reconnaissance name is Aldrich.  From now on, pointing to Wilkins, you are Aldrich. Pointing to all the other reconnaissance Marines present, he said, "You are Aldrich to us, to our officers, to our crew chiefs and the technicians.  You are Aldrich to Kerr and the other ladies.  When you land at any Marine or Naval base which hosts reconnaissance ships, you are Aldrich.  Any questions?"

No.  No questions but an observation: I am honored to be named after a very successful Marine who flew in the past.  Thank you, all of you, for this honor.

Joe looked at Aldrich and said, "You earned it.  You upheld the honor of R3/4S when you took out those enemy ships.  You won’t always have to do that kind of work, but it’s good to know that you and Kerr are able to do it when you need to."

March 18th, 2320 2000 hours outside the barracks

Limbo looked at Andy and said, I think we just saw Joe step up and exercise some authority.  I was wondering how it would happen.  I was pleased that he wasn’t afraid to speak up and lead.

Andy replied, Yes.  He did not look to either of us to exert that authority.  I think that his peers will listen when he speaks.  It did not hurt that he added to the names we can bestow on Marines who have earned the right to be named.  His reasoning was well thought out.

Chapter 4 – Parting of the Ways

April 1st, 2320 0830 hours on Hepburn

Hepburn said, Andy, Pete, we are cleared to depart.

Andy and Pete looked out the window.  Most of their peers were there.  The goodbyes had all been said, yet there was a wistfulness about departing from Tarawa and their friends. Tarawa had been their duty station for roughly three years.

Limbo, Bill and Holly were expected to depart before 0900 hours from Tarawa.

April 3rd, 2320 1123 hours at Marine Base Montezuma

Hepburn settled into the cradle she was assigned and opened a door for Andy and Pete.  They climbed out, moved to the side and watched an Intelligence team arrive and plug into Hepburn.  A Navy lieutenant walked up.  Andy and Pete came to attention.  The lieutenant said, At ease.  I am Lieutenant Wallace and I work in Intelligence.  Is there anything of note that happened on your way here?

Andy said, "No, sir.  Except for jump, Hepburn’s active sensors were operating during the trip from Tarawa to Earth, but she did not alert us to anything."

Understood.  I will have my people go through it anyway.  We need to practice our craft.  And Marines, welcome to Montezuma.

Both Marines thanked the lieutenant and Andy asked him, Sir, two questions.  First, which way to the Armory, and second, which way to the Reconnaissance Office? 

The lieutenant pointed to a corridor and said, When you reach that hallway, turn right.  The Armory is down that hall, second from the last door on the left. The Reconnaissance Office is the opposite direction, out that door marked with the Exit sign.  Cross the street and enter that building.  The entry desk can direct you to Reconnaissance.

Thank you, sir.

The lieutenant turned away.

"Pete let’s go and turn in our orders.  When we have dorm rooms, I’m going to find lunch and then the gym. Hepburn, I’ll get my weapons later."

They grabbed their sea bags out of Hepburn and turned toward the Exit sign when Walkabout arrived, with a big grin pasted across his face. "Welcome to Montezuma.  Gents, it is good to see you both.  I’ll walk to the Reconnaissance Office with you, then get you to the barracks and the mess hall.  But before we go, hello Hepburn.  Good to see you again."

Hello, Walkabout.  Good to see you.  Who is your ship?

"O’Hara.  She is parked two spaces to your right."  Facing Hepburn, he pointed with his left hand.  Then he led his friends out the Exit door.

Walking out the door, Andy said, Walkabout, have you heard what is happening?

No.  What?

"Major Tradzuski is about to become the squadron commanding officer.  He is replacing the colonel who is moving to a staff position. The major will be here at Tarawa and own both the reconnaissance squadron and the training organization including technical development.

Mr. Biggs will arrive here to take control of development for the ladies and technical, crew chief and reconnaissance Marine training will be performed under him.  Some of that training will be performed in concert with both the technical and reconnaissance personnel.  The plan is that when people graduate from reconnaissance and technical training, both the reconnaissance guy and the crew chief will depart in the same lady. They will have grown familiar with everything at the same time, serving together. 

The expectation is that the newly minted technical guy will be responsible for training the tech shop personnel at other Marine sites on the upgrades, and the existing crew chiefs and technicians will train the recon guys, like what Mr. Biggs has been doing at Tarawa.  It has been working well.  Our crew chiefs and technicians have been able to train us, and on occasion the Navy, on the features coming out of the tech shop.

Remind me to tell you about Limbo and his assignment."

The three Marines entered the building indicated by the lieutenant and Walkabout led them to the Reconnaissance office. 

April 4th,