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Corpsman Dromah's Final Interview

Date: 1104-261

Contents
Pt1 - Event
Pt2 - Col Giirkaa
Pt3 - Adm Urimshik
Pt4 - Adm Darrashnu

Colonel Giirkaa: "Dromah, are you ever going to call me 'Sir'?"

"Not bloody likely, Colonel."

The Colonel could feel the shudder that wasn't visible. Lance Sergeant Mikhel Dromah reacted viscerally to the suggestion. He didn't show it, but the revulsion was deep. A surface reading of his thoughts didn't reveal bad thoughts, actually. The revulsion was complex. 'Sir' was a title of respect to everyone the Colonel knew, except this guy. And the revulsion was because Dromah just didn't want to associate that honorific with him, the Commandant of the 6982nd Imperial Marine Regiment. The Colonel could discern the respect and admiration the Lance Sergeant felt for him, so it wasn't lack of respect. Something had happened to the man that left an indelible mark on him that even 20 years in the Marines couldn't shake. And that was a problem that should have ruined this man's career.

The Colonel could see from the files, and from the actions of the man, that he was actually exemplary. He had saved so many lives in the 20 years he served on the front lines. And the missions behind the lines were astounding.

Colonel Giirkaa:"I've looked through your file. The postponement of our meeting was at my request, because I had to look into a few things I wanted to get straight in my mind. That required a few days to chase down. I don't do that normally, but your file was unusual."

"Yeah. Right!"

Colonel Giirkaa:"Tell me about Simok."

The deluge of emotions almost shattered the Colonel's composure. The Lance Sergeant frowned. And took a deep breath. The storm slowly reduced to a small black cloud.

"I don't think I want to talk about Simok. The job got done. The mission was a success."

Colonel Giirkaa:"But, you don't think that."

The emotions were strong, and black. This was a definite sore spot for the Lance Sergeant.

"We lost one of the best Marines I have ever met on that mission. Religion killed him, not the enemy. I couldn't save him because of what he believed. The Purists didn't deserve Lapa's faith. The report said that I messed that up. I was supposed to bring everyone back, and I lost one."

Colonel Giirkaa:"You are not responsible for someone's faith, Medic. And, you did what the person wanted. I don't call that a loss. Purists are hard in their faith, nothing much shakes them."

The Colonel could tell the words weren't sinking in. But, the file couldn't tell the story in the man. So, the Navy Doctor's note was right. Something happened, and Dromah should have been able to keep the Marine alive. The Colonel did recall a Purist that took a header off a hospital roof, though. That investigation was still haunting a lot of people. The Colonel was now looking at someone who had prevented a lot of head and heart aches, by taking it on his own shoulders. Sometimes the job really sucked.

Colonel Giirkaa:"Kydde. What was that all about?"

The emotional reaction was nearly hysterical. It was a bad mix, for many reasons. Panic, loss of team mates and friends. Not being good enough to save everyone at once. And the stories afterwards seemed to embarrass the man.

"Kydde was crazy. I was running on training and adrenaline. Fools call that 'Heroic'. F that. I was desperately trying to keep the company alive in a steel downpour. I got seriously lucky not to get my sorry ass blown up. Stars! I should have been blown up. That whole situation was just insane."

Colonel Giirkaa:"You were responsible for keeping Bravo Company effective. Consciously or not, that unit held, and took out a counter-attack that was supposed to punch through our lines. Tactically, Bravo Company should have been obliterated, and the battalion should have taken a hit from the rear. Not only did we not loose the whole company, the battalion cleaned up, instead of being pushed back in disarray. You may not know this, but Lieutenant Eneri Sharikara, the 2 I/C of the company, is my cousin. He's made a full recovery. They regrew his leg."

"Colonel, I'm glad to hear that Lieutenant Sharikara is doing well. He took a few bad hits. Artillery doesn't discriminate, and armor doesn't stop direct hits. We lost a very good medic when Master Corpsman Friedmann saved the Captain. That was a bad loss, as was the rest of the company that didn't make it that day."

Colonel Giirkaa now had a very good read on the Lance Sergeant. There were a few more questions, and hopefully they wouldn't be tough on both of them.

Colonel Giirkaa:"Do you have any complaints you'd like to air, before you leave? I'll listen."

"Colonel, I don't have anything specific you'd be able to fix. I am getting tired. I haven't been a good Marine, but I'd like to think I've been a good Medic. I've made my life difficult in this outfit, that isn't on anyone but me. But, my career has actually been pretty good. I got to save a lot of lives, and I was in the right place, with the right training, most times. Part of why I am getting tired is that I want to be a Medic, and this last promotion is showing me that my career is taking me in the wrong direction. I don't want to push paper, or operate a desk. I can't save lives that way. So, I think I need to change venues. I'm hoping I can save lives for better reasons on the outside. I have some regrets about not being out there for the Marines on the front line, but I've pushed my luck way too far."

Colonel Giirkaa's impression was mostly favourable. There were sore spots that flashed up in the Medic's words. Some were for the men, some were for A-holes he'd encountered. The Colonel thought perhaps a really good look at the Commanding Officer of the Nekrino Officer School might be a favourable thing for the long-term good of the Regiment. The Lance Sergeant's focus had always been on the welfare of others. He took a lot of pride in doing a really good job, despite a few Pains-In-The-Ass he'd had to deal with. And he wasn't looking forward to going up in the ranks, and having to deal with more PITAs in the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers' Mess.

Colonel Giirkaa:"Thank you for your service, Lance Sergeant. Thank you for saving those lives, and saving the faith of a few special Marines. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for saving my cousin. I am personally sorry to see you go, but I truly believe you will do great things out on the civilian side. I wish you all success, and hope you can find a way to keep helping people the way you helped so many Marines."

The Colonel stood up and offered Mikhel his hand.

Standing up, he took the Colonel's hand, "Colonel, thank you for your kind words and well wishes. I hope I can find a place that will take an old medic and make use of the skills."

As Mikhel turned to go, the Colonel said his name. Mikhel turned, and the Colonel stood to attention and saluted the Lance Sergeant. Mikhel, in shock, reacted automatically, and stood to attention and returned the salute.

Colonel Giirkaa:"Make us proud, Mikhel. You will be missed."

Mikhel mumbled a 'Thank you, Colonel' and left the Commandant's office with a lump in his throat.

1104-274

Formal letter from Col Giirkaa to Marine HQ Tobia concerning an injustice to Corpsman Dromah

Link to Message Center

Notes:

Colonel Kaias Giirkaa (Contacts), Commanding Officer, 6982nd Imperial Marine Regiment, attached to the 204th Subsector Fleet of Tobia.

Vice Admiral (O8b) Sir Adkhar Urimshik (Contacts), Lead Naval Attache to Tlaiowaha Aslan Clan Diplomatic Mission in the Tlaiowaha subsector

Possible connection: Sir Lieutenant Gopal Sultana may have met Count Adkhar passing through Tobia. Could have met at a fencing competition? 1091-077

Rear Admiral(O8c) Countess Nashu Darrashnu (Contacts), Supporting Naval Attache to Tlaiowaha Aslan Clan Diplomatic Mission in the Tlaiowaha subsector

Update: Male as Envoy in Aslan culture, female as Advisor ane Technical Support.

Possible connection: Bravo Company Lieutenant Eneri Sharikara, injured in battle on Kydde/Pax Rulin. Cousin to Regimental CO Giirkaa (Above). Life and limb saved by direct actions of Corpsman Dromah - 1104-240.
Possible connection: Reth Runebreaker may have met Nashu Darrashnu during his career. Could have met gambling (1094)?

NPC Overviews

Vice Admiral Sir Adkhar Urimshik, originally from Trin/Trin's Veil
Count of Intelia, newly granted [Intelia/Tobia (Trojan Reach 2612]
6th Term, 40-ish years old currently

ENDING STATS

Start term latest 1080
Athletics (Str) 1, Gunner (Turret), Gun Cbt (Engy) 1, Mechanic, Pilot (Spacecraft) 1, Vacc Suit
1080-84: 18 - Wide-ranging recognition in Acad, Grad +1 EDU, Commision Ensign, Melee (Blade)1
1084-88: 22 - Advanced Training Psych 1
1088-92: 26 - Aide de Camp of Military Attache to Tlaiowaha Diplomatic Mission
1092-96: 30 - Special Assignment +1 Benefit
1096-00: 34 - Diplomatic Mission
1100-04: 38 - Diplomatic Mission

Admin 1
Diplomat 3
Gun Combat (Energy) 2
Melee (Blade) 2
Language (Vilani) 0
Leadership 1
Pilot (Spacecraft) 3
Science (Psychology) 1
Tactics (Naval) 1

Rear Admiral Nashu Darrashnu, originally from Glisten/Glisten
Countess of Strouden [Strouden/Lunion (Spinward Marches 2327)]
6th Term 40-ish years old currently

ENDING STATS

Start term latest 1080
Athletics (Str) 1, Gunner (Turret), Gun Cbt (Engy) 1, Mechanic, Pilot (Spacecraft) 1, Vacc Suit
1080-84: 18 - Political Movement in Acad, Grad +1 EDU, Commision Ensign, Melee (Blade)1
1084-88: 22 - Travel - Aide de Camp of Military Attache to Tlaiowaha Diplomatic Mission
1088-92: 26 - Notable Military Engagement - Vorito/Tlaiowaha (Trojan Reach 2329)
1092-96: 30 - CO takes interest
1096-00: 34 - Gambling circle Gambler1
1100-04: 38 - Adv Trg Lead-3 Now in the 6th Term, somewhere. Promoted within the first two years?

Elec(Comp) 1
GunCbt(Egy) 2
Leadership 3 (Note: Leadership 2 with Adv Trg in Diplomat 1)
Melee(Bld) 3
Pilot 3
Tactics(Naval) 2