Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 04:56:58 -0800
From: black-gryphon@matnet.com
Subject: Loves and Pains of War 01-03 of ??

Loves and Pains of War (Chapters 01-03)

c 2002 - Christopher W Prahl  <Black-gryphon@matnet.com>

Permission  is  granted  for archival  in  Nifty  Archives  and  on
individual's  computer.  Posting to newsgroups or  other  websites,
either unedited or edited, is not authorized.  Individual my make a
printed copy for own use.

Author's  Note:   For  those  of you that  know,  most  people  are
addressed   by   their  last  names  in  the  military.    However,
considering the potential for mixing things up, I have,  in  nearly
all  situations, used first names. (It's especially easier to  come
up  with  generic first names, but much more difficult to use  last
names).

Secondly, some of the information used in this story comes from  my
actual  experiences while in the US Navy.  Those these  things  are
used,  I did take some liberties, considering the fact that I  have
been out of the Navy for over seven years and that I wanted to make
this  story  more relevant to things happening in the world  today.
(Example:  The ship I was on before the transfer was decommissioned
a  couple  years  after leaving the service.  I never  made  it  to
Bangor, WA and have no idea what the place looks like, nor  have  I
ever  been to Camp Pendleton, where this story will eventually  end
up and my time in Hawaii was limited to the docks when we pulled in
for a day.)

See Appendix A for real time line of the events that are real. (not
yet completed)

Also, the Marine (you'll know which one) is based on a real person,
one  who had offered to move to the west coast with me when  I  was
transferred  from  Charleston, SC.   That  is  his  real  name  and
unfortunately,   my   attempts  to  find  him   since   have   been
unsuccessful.  He left the MC somewhere between Aug-Oct of 1991.  I
was  the  Navy guy that drove him from Atlanta, GA to his  home  in
Merryville,  Mississippi.   If  anybody  knows  Darrel,   I   would
appreciate being put in touch with him.  I know this is very much a
long  shot,  but  I  have  never  forgotten  him  and  will  always
wonder.what  if.what if I had brought him with me, introducing  him
to  my  parents  on the way.  I have always dreamt that  we  stayed
together and remained happy with one another.

Black-gryphon@matnet.com

For  those military types or those that read stories like that:   I
never  had contact with the kind of people that I am writing about,
so  I am using some of the vague terminology I have heard in movies
and  read in some books.  This story is in no way meant to describe
actual  military tactics, terminology, or information.  If  however
you  can  refrain  from attacking and instead give me  constructive
input for increasing the realism, then please do.



Now.onto the story.


Joining the Team - Improving the Team

-------------------------------------------------------------------
{Chapter One - Preface}
-------------------------------------------------------------------

It  was  just yesterday that I decided to write down what happened,
in  the off chance that I might forget or that my memory may become
fuzzy with the passage of time.

Difficult  as  it may seem, it has only been seven weeks  since  my
life  took  a  strange turn.  Just six weeks since my life  took  a
radical  change,  going  off at a tangent compared  to  the  normal
world.   I  say  normal world, because what I have become  and  may
become, is no longer part of the normal, ordered part of the world.

It  is  said  that NAVY stands for Never Again Volunteer  Yourself.
Well,  I  was never one to follow along with a group, I always  did
what I wanted, even if it meant I was harassed, beat up or ignored.
Just because someone jumped off the bridge doesn't mean I was going
to as well.

Yes, I was getting ready to transfer, but looking back, that didn't
matter.    What   mattered  is  that  I  had   a   chance   to   do
something.though  it  will turn out to be something  real  big.   I
wanted.needed, to me more than I was and I wanted to  travel,  test
my skills, see if I really had the willpower I thought I did.

What  I got is nothing I had ever expected, not even in my wildest,
well  maybe wildest, but not ever in any normal dream.   Even  now,
the  doctors  and scientists have no idea the how or  why  of  what
happened  to me.  Suffice it to say, I have become a very important
part  of the military and intelligence organizations of the  United
States.along with my surviving teammates and the new ones I have or
will pick-up.

Now.let's go back in time to around January of this year.

Oh  yes, one more thing.this information is highly classified.   My
existence and that of my team is Highly Restricted: Secret  -  Need
to  Know.  Not to be disseminated to any non-born American  or  any
person  not  at  least a third generation American,  regardless  of
security clearance.


-------------------------------------------------------------------
{Chapter Two - Volunteering - Part 1}
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1230 hours - 13 January 2002

".very  good  sir.   Your personal property is in  good  hands  and
should arrive in Bremerton in about two weeks."

I  shook  the  hand of the shipping company's driver,  "Thank  you.
That  will  put it just a day or so before I plan on arriving,  and
should still give me sufficient time to find a place and move  into
it before I have to report for duty."

"Excellent, I'm glad the timing is working out for you," the driver
responded,  then  pointed  out something  on  the  receipt,  "right
there.that's  the number you can call when you get in  town.   From
there  you can make arrangement to have your belongings brought  to
you.  Once in situ, we have a one day turn around."

"Okay.again, thanks for making this so easy," I replied,  releasing
my  grip of the driver's hand and stepping back.  I stood there and
watched  as  he  swung close the trailer doors and locked  them  in
place.

Because  I was going home for my leave and didn't want to use  most
of  my  leave driving, I was having my truck and personal  property
shipped to my new duty station instead of doing it all my self.   I
would  have spent over half my leave just driving, going from  here
in San Diego up to Alaska, and then back down to Bremerton.

Six-and-a-half  years.it's  taken  me  this  long  to  finally  get
transferred  to where I wanted.  I was luck enough over  two  years
ago to have gotten a split-tour.  Instead of spending four years on
the  sub,  which is now a nuclear training platform,  I  spent  two
years,  went to the Navy's Radiological Controls Maintenance School
and got a billet on a Destroyer tender stationed out of San Diego.

Waiting  until  the truck disappeared around the corner,  I  walked
back  to my friend Ray's waiting car.  A real nice guy I met  while
here  in  San Diego, and though he is gay, his wife Wendy  is  much
more  than  a  convenience, a real nice lady who helps support  Ray
through his trials with being HIV+.

Anyway, we are on our way back to his condo on Coronado Island.

"Hey  Chris,  you've got a few hours before your  MAC  flight,  how
about a slight detour?"

"Sure, I don't see a problem.  What I left behind at your place  is
already packed and I am dressed for the flight."

"You don't have to be in uniform?"

"No.I'm  on leave and a uniform isn't required," I replied, adding,
"Good thing too.they are in the moving truck."

"Okay  then,"  He  says,  giving me a smile  before  returning  his
attention to the road.

I  sit  there wondering what he is up to.  Through all the traffic,
red  lights and finally onto the highway, he stays silent as to his
`detour'.  Finally we are crossing the Coronado Bridge;  it  is  as
much  a  piece  of artwork as it is functional.  Even  having  been
stationed in San Diego for two years now, the bridge still makes me
stare with awe.

Anyways, down the main drag through the city.my eyes are roving  up
and down the street.  Searching.seeking, and occasionally finding a
good-looking  guy,  out  and  about,  preferably  in  just  shorts.
However  my  reverie  is  short lived as I  hear  the  unmistakable
clicking of the turn signal.

Glancing at the dash, I see the blinking green light.Left.  Looking
up and out the window, Ray is turning into the base.

"Why are we coming here?"

"Well,"  he says, pausing long enough to show his ID to  the  gate-
guard  and driving through.  "One of my friends told me that  there
is  a  training exercise going on.it started about fifteen  minutes
ago."

"Training?  What kind of training?"

"You  know.the  normal  stuff,"  he  replied,  being  coy  and   as
postponing as possible, at which time he came to a stop.

"How's that?"

I  looked out the front window and about as fast as my jaw hits the
dash, and my dick was twitching in my pants.

Before my very eyes.every damn fine looking Navy and Marine must be
out  on  the  fields  right now.  Whole groups  of  them,  probably
fifteen  to  twenty  per group and there must be  at  least  twenty
groups, and each group doing some portion of the exercise drill.

"Oh My," I commented, "Look at all that fine male flesh," I said to
Ray, my eyes roaming over the field.

"Yeah.I  thought  this might give you something to fantasize  about
during your flight back to Alaska."

"I  think  it  might last longer than that," I said, giving  him  a
smile before returning my attention to the field of men.

Finally  finding a parking spot, I commented about how  perfect  it
was.couldn't have asked for a better spot.  Centered on  the  field
and within feet of the track that encircled the exercise field.  So
not  only did I get a nice few of them on the field, but also I got
a good look at them as each group ran by.

"I just love those flimsy running shorts the Marines have," I said,
nodding  my head towards the squad of them coming towards us  right
now.

"Oh," Ray sighed, "Oh my.and they're even shirtless."

Now  my  eyes were riveted, and I knew exactly what he was  getting
at.  It was a rarity to see the guys without shirts in a drill like
this.   The  Navy  says it is about safety, not wanting  government
`property' to get damaged by getting sunburn.  For some reason they
forget  to think about sunscreen and they don't want to acknowledge
the  vanity factor.every good looking guy wants a good tan and  out
exercising is a perfect way to do it.

Ray's  windows  and sunroof were open, so I was able  to  hear  the
Marine leaders voice as they approached.

"Fall in," he hollered and it must have covered the whole field.

The leaders back was towards me, but that meant the forming Marines
were facing me.  At that moment my heart stopped beating, I stopped
breathing and my mouth fell open.

"Oh  my  god," I moaned as I took in the sight of the most  perfect
looking guy I have ever seen.

"Which one?" Ray asked, curious as to what had my attention.

"Oh.front  row.second  from the right," I  said,  looking  straight
ahead.

Shorter than me, probably five-eight or five-ten, I looked over his
sweating  body, the sunlight shimmering off of the sweat  trickling
down across his smooth chest.

With  the  bright  overhead sun beating down on his  short  cropped
hair, it looked almost white, but I am sure out of the sun he would
be  a  sandy  or  ash blond.  Everything about him was  perfect.and
unlike a lot of Marines I have known, he wasn't over muscled.

No,  this  one.he  had more of the gymnast or swimmers  build.   He
isn't  soft  looking,  but  he doesn't have  the  hard,  stone-like
definition of the guys surrounding him.  For his height and  build,
the size of his arms, legs, even his chest, everything seems to  be
in  perfect proportion; no one thing looking over worked or out  of
balance.

I  watched  as he went through the ordered calisthenics,  and  even
though  he looked less powerful than the rest of the guys, he  kept
right up with them, moving through the routine as if it was second-
hand.   Compared to the guy in the original Soloflex  poster,  this
guy made him look second-rate, and I have drooled over that guy for
a  very long time.  Well that poster is going to lose a place on my
wall.instead it is going to be a mental image of this guy.

How  else  can  I  compare or describe him and without  a  picture?
Maybe  the guy from the Soloflex poster, mixed with a bit of  Alexi
Nemov (the Russian gymnast) and a bit of River Phoenix.

Back  to  the image of perfection, my eyes gazed down at  the  guys
crotch; instinct or reflex, I don't know; He is on the ground, legs
spread apart as they do stretches and my eyes bug out of my head  a
gain.the  liner to his shorts are either out of place  or  removed,
because I can see a bit of his scrotum, and I think it was the head
of his cock.

I  looked again, but it was too late, as he was getting up with the
rest of them.  Just as they were about to turn and commence running
again, he looked.looked right towards me, and.winked.

I  just  held my breath as I smiled back and watched him  take  off
with  the rest of his squad. They went around the track three  more
times  before  exiting the field.  Yet each time he passed  us,  he
looked my way and either smiled or winked.

Everybody  talks about the `Gaydar', but I have never been  one  to
believe  in or should I say adhere to the belief.  Yes, I can  look
at a guy, observe for a few minutes and come so some decision as to
his  orientation.  But I have never acted on it for fear  of  being
wrong, especially with military guys.

Hell,  why would I?  I had been working at a gay bar for two  weeks
when  they  asked me if I was straight.  How does that  measure  up
`Gaydar'?  If I can pass as straight in a bar of gay guys, and have
passed through detection for seven years in the navy, I would  have
to assume that other military guys are just as good and I am.

Yet  even with those reservations.I think, no.I know, I would  find
an opportunity to come up to that guy.

"Damn  it," I yelled, looking at Ray, "Why does this always  happen
to me?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Why is it that when I am in the process of being transferred to  I
find somebody that I might be compatible with?"

"Whoa.you mean.he was a Marine."

"Yeah.and your point?  How many marines have you been with?   There
was  something  there Ray.I felt it.  It is only something  I  have
felt  two  other times.  Both of those times I had a chance  to  at
least  to  know the person, there was instant rapport.   Only  each
time, it was within two or three weeks of my or his transfer.  This
time.I won't even get a chance to know him."

 "Damn.you are serious.aren't you?"

"Yes.  Didn't you see him Ray?  Even before he winked at me."

"He  winked  at  you?"  Ray asked, he voice full of  curiosity  and
mirth.

"Yes.just  before they started running again and  twice  more  when
they passed by, not to mention a couple of smiles."

"Oh.I didn't know."

"As I was saying though.even before he winked at me, there was eye-
contact."

"Oh.oh." Ray said, "I know you and your eye contact.and that it  is
the  reason you look very few guys in the eyes.  You are afraid  of
something.you've never said what, but I have known."

"I  am not about to tell you now either.  Now I will never know.I'm
off to Alaska for a month before going on to Bremerton.  I'll never
have a chance to see him.damn.it's just fucking not fair."

"I'm sorry."

"No,"  I  replied, calming down, "It's alright and  I'm  sorry  for
getting  upset.  You know.I really do love my job, but I  hate  the
secrecy  I have to keep.  Hell, even if I did get to meet  the  guy
and if we got together, we might both lose our jobs."

"Well,  maybe  you will get lucky and meet someone in  Washington,"
Ray  replied, giving me a pat on the back, "now lets get you to  my
place to gather your bags and get you to the MAC terminal."


-------------------------------------------------------------------
{Chapter Two - Volunteering - Part 2}
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1547 hours - 13 January 2002

I shook hands with Ray and hugged Wendy just before walking through
the security gate.  We had waited for twenty minutes just to see if
there  was going to be room for me to make the flight.  Even though
I was `pre-approved', changes in orders could always force me to be
bumped off.  Luckily I made the flight.

Getting  my  bags  in the overhead, I grabbed my  window  seat  and
opened up my magazine.  It turned out to be a full flight and I got
one  of  the very few seats available.  It was at this time that  I
found  out that the flight I am on is not going to Alameda  as  was
previously informed.

Instead  this one is being used to go over to Afghanistan, after  a
layover  in Honolulu, which is about all I was told.  The  tone  in
the  person's voice (I won't call him a steward, as he  is  in  the
Navy,  but the position is the same) alluded to the fact that there
was much more going on and that he either couldn't talk about it or
didn't know.  I leaned towards "didn't know" side.

About  halfway through my magazine, I stopped to look at my  watch.
Not  engrossed in my reading now, I overheard my seatmate  talking,
who  just happened to be a Marine Captain, and heard a bit  of  his
conversation.

".short.  We are missing out radiation expert."

I  listened a bit closer and after a few minutes, I determined that
he  is part of the group on their way to Afghanistan and their rad-
man  is missing, something about being in the hospital or something
to that effect.

I thought about it for a moment, probably not long enough, but when
the opportunity presented itself, I addressed the officer.

Waiting  until  his  conversation with the other  officer  stopped,
"Excuse me sir?"

Leaving  the  page  displayed  on his laptop,  the  officer  looked
towards me, "Yes, can I help you?"

I  stopped for a moment, because for being a marine captain, I  was
surprised  at  how young the man was.  Except for the  Navy,  where
advancement is the fasted of any of the branches, it usually  takes
a good six to ten years to make O-3.  Put that on top of four years
of  college  and you have got somebody that is between twenty-eight
and thirty-two; this guy is maybe twenty-five.

"Sorry.I  couldn't  help but overhear part  of  your  conversation.
Wasn't  doing it on purpose, but I do listen to and watch  what  is
going  on  around  me," I said, not wanting  him  to  think  I  was
eavesdropping or something.

"Anyway.I seem to understand that you are missing a member of  your
team.someone that is versed in radiation and such?"

He looked at me, thinking for a moment, before making some apparent
assumption, "Not that it is of any concern of yours, but yes.   You
think you could take his place or something?  Not likely!"

"No,  I am not saying I could replace somebody from your team  that
you  have  trained  with and trust," I replied  and  still  without
thinking  it  through any further, went on, "  but  I  gather  your
timetable is leaving you without a chance to replace him.  Well,  I
am versed in radioactive sources."

Something changed then, not sure what or why, but his tone of voice
changed a bit.

"Navy?"

"Yes sir."

"What is your rank and designation?"

"First Class Petty Officer, Machinist's Mate, Radiological Controls
Maintenance Supervisor, and Engineering Laboratory Technician."

"Really.so, where are you headed now?"

"Right now I am on leave before reporting to my new duty station at
Bremerton, Washington.  I am to report in by February first, to the
Radiological Repair Facility."

"On  leave.what other skills do you have?  I don't suppose you know
anything about disarming bombs too?"

"Disarming.no.  But I have built them before.  No.not what you  may
be  thinking.   I made a couple training devices for  my  last  two
Captains.   In  each case, the only thing that made it  a  training
device is that I used a combination of a recording and firecrackers
instead of an actual explosive.  Had I used a detonator and C-4, it
would have been the real thing."

"Yeah.and  how  long did it take the EOD team  to  disarm  it,"  He
asked, the superiority tone back in his voice.

"Actually.I blew up a total of eight teams, four for each bomb.  In
the  end,  they  asked  to use my bomb and designs  for  their  own
training.  You can check with either Charleston Naval Ship Yard  or
the Captain from the USS Samuel Gompers."

Another change in attitude.again for the better.

"Well.that surprises me.you being a squid and all that."  He pauses
for a moment, "Sorry about that.habit."

"No  problem  Sir.  I've been called worse and I am  sure  it  will
happen  again; besides, we in the Navy still call marine  jarheads.
Anyways,  I  also have two Navy achievement medals,  earned  Expert
Rifle  and Expert Pistol Shot Ribbons, and one Good Conduct  Award.
I have hazardous material training and experience."

"Now you really surprise me.. what's your name sailor?"

"Chris Weston sir."

"No.you're an okay guy and you're on leave," he says and sticks out
his hand, "I'm Jacob Penland, go ahead and drop the sir bit."

"Yes sir.I mean Jacob.  How have I surprised you?"

"First,  you  are a quick thinker.where I called you a  squid,  you
didn't  retort  by calling me a jarhead.  Secondly,  you  obviously
have some experience with tactics, since you `blew up' so many  EOD
teams, and you have weapons skills.  Just where are you from?"

"Alaska.   I  was returning for a few weeks, flying up  instead  of
driving."

"Well,  that would explain the weapons proficiency.  If  you  don't
mind  me  asking.what  guns  are you  good  at  and  what  is  your
preference?"

"I qualified for my Expert Rifle Ribbon with the 30-06, M-14 and M-
16 rifles, the latter two in automatic or semi-automatic modes.   I
qualified  for  the  Pistol  on  the  standard  issue  45,  but  my
preference is the Glock 45.of which I own three."

"Wow.I  mean  okay.   I almost hate asking, but  any  other  weapon
skills?"

"I  dabble with the compound-bow and cross-bow, swords and throwing
knives."

"Dabble?" Jacob says, cocking an eyebrow.

"Alright.I came in second place in the last tournament I was in for
the  bows.  My sword use was only from a high school friend you was
learning sword fighting and so I helped him practice."

"How could you help him with sword practice if he was the one being
trained?"

"Because  I have a sort of natural instinct.I guess, when it  comes
to  the  martial  arts.  I've had no formal  training,  but  I  can
usually give as good as I get.especially when I feel threatened."

"Threatened.how so?"

"I  found out when I was twelve.  A guy from school came over to my
house, sort of a friend.  Well, he tried something, pissed me right
off.   The next thing I knew, he was flying through my living  room
and  slamming  against the wall before landing  on  the  couch.   I
didn't  seriously  hurt him, but I was scared shitless  by  it.   I
learnt  then  that I half to control my reactions or I  might  hurt
somebody who doesn't deserve it."

"Okay  Chris,  I'll be upfront with you.  My team is  in  route  to
Afghanistan  and we are short a body, and right now, you  seem  the
best  equipped to take it.  Are you sure you want to do  this?   We
maybe only doing `clean up', but I won't kid you, it is dangerous."

I  sat there for only a brief moment before replying, "Yes, I think
I do.  I know it is dangerous, but it also sounds exciting, and."

"And," Jacobs questions.

"It  may  sound crazy.but it `feels' right.  Besides,  it  will  be
better than basically doing nothing back home.  No matter how  much
I like my job, sitting in a lab or cooking in a cramped ship is not
exactly exciting."

Jacob removes his seatbelt and stand up, "Follow me Chris."

I  remove my own seatbelt and follow Jacob as he moves towards  the
back  of  the plane.  Passing through a doorway, we enter a  larger
room.  A bank of tables line either side of the plane, all equipped
with computer terminals and phones.  It also contains several other
officers and enlisted personnel.

Walking up to a Marine sitting at a terminal, "Frank.contact BUPERS
concerning Christopher Weston, social security number."

I spit my number out, Frank typing it into the machine.

"Get his file, contact the Colonel and let him know that we have  a
possible  replacement and to see if we can get him released  to  my
team temporarily."

I  then  proceeded to give Frank the names of my previous commands,
immediate  supervisors.  I also gave him  a  copy  of  my  official
orders.

"Okay Chris, lets go meet some of the team and see how they take to
you.   That  will  give Frank the time he needs  to  make  all  the
connections  to see if we can even have you.  I can't  promise  you
anything.and I'll be honest.  Even if command says it is  okay,  it
depends  on  how the rest of the team feels.  If they don't  `feel'
right about you, it won't happen."

"I  understand  Captain.it would be hard to accept  a  new  person,
especially  going  into  a  combat situation  if  you  didn't  have
confidence in your teammates."

"You do understand," he commented, giving me a pat on the back, "So
lets get moving."

Back  beyond  the room I was currently in, is another large  space,
and  in  here  is  where  most of the team sits.   I  look  around,
surprised to see both Navy and Marine uniforms, having though  that
they did their missions separately.

"Okay men.let me have your attention."

They  put  down  whatever  it was they were  doing,  most  of  them
cleaning their guns, and gave their attention to the Captain.  That
is when I saw him.

Even  in cameos he looked good.it was the marine I saw on the field
earlier  in the day.  Looking past the Captain, he looked right  at
me.

He  must  have read it from my face, for I read it from his.instant
recognition.  I held in my breath again, blinking several times  to
see  if  it  was  just a dream, but he still sat  there.   Then  he
winked, just before returning his attention to the Captain.

"This  here is Petty Officer First Class Christopher Weston.  There
is a chance that he may be able to fill the hole created when Cisco
went into the hospital.  I still need to get authorization from DC,
test his skills and such, but I also need you input."

"What's  the  squid going to do over there.there isn't  a  ship  to
row,"  a  marine said from the sidelines, while a navy guy replied,
"hey, watch it there jarhead."

Jacob  looked at me, "as you can see, even though we  are  a  mixed
branch team, have been for a while, there is still the inter-branch
taunts."

"Listen up now.  Though he may not have the experience of Cisco,  I
believe  his  knowledge, experience and skills will  be  more  than
adequate.   Besides, I have the feeling that he can out-shoot  most
of you here."

That  last  comment got a lot of boos and hisses  from  the  crowd,
which  Jacob  turned  to  silence when he  told  them  of  my  arms
qualifications and ribbons.

"Now I am going to leave him here and you can all talk with and ask
him  questions.  Make sure you feel comfortable with his abilities,
even  take the time to explain what Cisco did and begin giving  him
the information he may not know."

"Yes sir," they said in unison, all giving him a snappy salute.

"Okay  Chris," He told me, "If you can impress them  even  half  as
much as you did me, then this hurdle will be over."

Jacob  then  turned and left the room, leaving me  alone  with  all
these fine specimens of male flesh.


Over  the  next  eighty  or ninety minutes, I  got  bombarded  with
questions form all sides.

I got the questions concerning my experience with CBR, letting them
know  I  was mostly acquainted with the radiological part, and  had
just  cursory knowledge of the Chemical and biological  aspects  of
warfare.   Mostly  what  you  get from indoctrination  courses  and
books.

I  seemed to have impressed them with my weapons skills and whether
I  had the chance to join the team or not, there were several offer
made  to  challenge  me on the firing range.   In  the  process  of
weaponry  questions, they had me breakdown, inspect and  reassemble
one  of their M-16 rifles.  I didn't do it as fast as they did, but
I was through and complete; which gave me another brownie point.

What  really  surprised me though are the questions  concerning  my
physical abilities.  It seemed that my weapons and CBR skills  took
second place to my physical ability.  Would I be able to physically
keep up with them, especially when the going got tough?

"No,  I  probably can't physically keep up with you.  Unfortunately
in my field, physical abilities come second to mental abilities.  I
don't  workout and exercise everyday, not because I don't want  to,
but  because there usually isn't enough time.  But I will tell  you
this.I am very stubborn and don't give up easily."

Then  I  added, "You can ask Team Blue.it is an Alaska  survivalist
group.  I was in a paint-ball war game with them last year, on  the
opposing  team.   Almost  all  of my  teammates  were  captured  or
`killed'.   It  came down to me against thirteen of  them.  I  left
three alive, but I also captured their command flag."

"Hey.aren't  they  the team that won first place  in  the  national
contest last month," one of the guys asked.

"Yes.   Believe  it or not, they called me to find  out  if  I  was
available to participate on their team."

"Like  I  said.I don't give up easily." I got interrupted before  I
could say more.

"Okay guys," Jacob said, showing off a couple pieces of paper,  "It
is authorized."

Then  looking at me, "Both your new command and BUPERS  have  given
their authorization for you to be assigned to our team, pending  of
course the teams acceptance of you.  Secondly though.I also got the
results of a board hearing."

"Board?" I asked, not sure what he was talking about.

"You  not  only passed your Chief's board, but you made  the  first
cut.   You can officially wear the rank of Chief Petty Officer  and
it  will be about three months before you started getting paid  for
it."

"No.you're kidding," I said, "It's not possible."  It was possible,
but  highly  unlikely.   I had just barely  met  the  minimum  time
requirements and there were so few slots for early advances.

"Right here," he said, pushing the piece of paper into my hand.

"I  actually  talked to one of the board members.  No  other  early
candidate for Chief scored as high as you did.  There was also  the
chance,  until  this came up, that you would never have  gotten  to
Bremerton anyways.  They were getting ready to transfer  you  to  a
Nuclear   Inspection  team.they  were  that  impressed  with   your
background.   You  didn't  tell me your were  also  qualified  both
submarines and surface?"

"Sorry sir.I didn't think it was relevant."

"Excuse me sir."

I looked up and it was him.

"Yes Sergeant Jason Phoenix?"

"I.I mean we, the team.we've decided.  He can join the squad."

Jacob looked at Jason for a moment, cocked his head then looked  at
the other marines and Navy personnel, "Is that right?"

"Yes sir.  We got a chance to talk with him, question his knowledge
and  such.   We think he will be a fine addition and asset  to  the
squad."

"Very  well  then.I'll get a message off to command  and  let  them
know."

"Hey Captain.how long before landing?"

"We  should be touching down in about forty minutes," Jacob replied
before turning around and leaving once more."

"Why  don't  you come over and join me Chris while I my  own  rifle
back  together," Jason said, leading me towards his seat,  only  to
turn around and stick his hand out, "Welcome to the team."

I  shook  his  hand and before I knew it, everybody  else  was  up,
clapping  me  on the back, shaking my hand, introducing themselves,
and  welcoming  me  to their team.  There is a  total  of  fourteen
enlisted members, plus the Captain and the First Lieutenant, who we
will be meeting in Honolulu.

After  all  the introductions and a few inquiries about  Alaska,  I
finally  got to sit next to Jason.  As I watched him put his  rifle
back  together and chatted about inconsequential things, I had  the
distinct impression that we were slowly getting closer together.

It  was as he picked up and looked down the barrel of his rifle.his
leg  was  pressing  against  mine,  and  it  definitely  wasn't  by
accident.  I say that because I offered a bit of resistance and  he
pressed  a  bit more.  Needless to say, I was fully  hard  by  now.
Even though I was excited by the obvious signals and felt some loss
when he got up to stow his rifle, there is some reservation; I  did
not  want anything to be seen by the others, especially my  aroused
state, and to ruin my chances here.

The  voice  boomed  over the idle chatter  and  the  noise  of  the
engines,  "Attention men."  Jacob walked into  the  center  of  the
group, all of us now standing straight up.

"First,  I  would like it to be known that it is official.   Chief
Weston is a member of our little family and he now has the right to
call me Jake."

There was another round of applause at the announcement, which  was
brought to a halt by Jake speaking up again.

"We  land  in  ten  minutes.  Make sure everything  is  stowed  for
landing.  The only thing you need to take with you is your day-gear
packs.   Berthing  arrangements have been  made  and  we  have  the
exercise  field, rifle range and VRT reserved for our use  for  the
three days we will be on the island."

"NOW GET MOVING."

With  that  last  order, everybody broke apart  and  quickly  began
putting things away.

"Excuse me sir," I said, walking towards Jake.

"Yes Chris.and when in private or around team members, you can call
me Jake.  What is it?"

"A question.how much pull do you have?"

"A bit vague.could you be a bit more specific?"

"If  it  is  possible, I could have my father get my personal  gear
together,  my special ammo and have it to Elmendorf Air Force  base
in  a  couple hours.  If there is a way he could hand it over to  a
person waiting for him and it could get out on an immediate flight,
it could be here in time for training tomorrow."

"You mean.your gear is not on the way to Bremerton now?"

"No  sir.I had it shipped up to my dad about a month ago.  I wasn't
about  to ship it via the movers and I knew I wouldn't be  able  to
take it with me on this flight."

"Give me an idea of what you would have sent."

"My  modified M-16, three modified Glock 45s, some special  ammo  I
have made, and probably my custom body armor."

"You've got your own M-16?"  Jake asked, louder than I had expected
and  full of surprise.  It even got the attention of the other guys
and they stopped what they were doing to move in closer and listen.

"Yes.   I have a federal license to own automatic weapons, plus  my
federal firearms license, States of Alaska and California Concealed
Weapons permits."

After making that declaration, I heard a lot of mumbles and chatter
in  the  background.  Obviously it bumped me up in their  level  of
respect.

"Fuck.if  you've got those things, I'm not even going to ask  about
the  weapons.  You make the call to your dad and I'll make the call
to  the base.  I am doing this not only because I prefer my men  to
be  comfortable with their weapons, but I am curious as  hell  what
your modifications are."

Jake led me back into the communications room and got me hooked  up
with a connection.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey dad, it's me.  First, I won't be coming up for my vacation  as
planned.   There has been a radical shift in plans and  orders,  of
which I can't be more specific, but I need you to do something  for
me."

"Go to the vault and put together a pack for me.  Put in the M,  my
three Glocks and all the special clips; Toss in the silencing  kits
too.   Next.put in my special armor.  While you're at it,  toss  in
the  slayer, it just might come in handy.  Lastly, though it  won't
fit  in  the  pack, bring the mini-artillery case.  It  is  already
packed with exactly what I want."

"No.I can't tell you.  Sorry, I won't tell you not to worry, but  I
am doing this because of a feeling.  Yes I volunteered, not that it
would  have made a difference.  It seems I passed my Chiefs'  board
and  my orders to Bremerton were going to be canceled anyways.   It
seems   they   wanted  me  on  the  Operation  reactors  Safeguards
Examination team.  Now I am not doing any of that.just a moment."

I put a hand over the mike, "Yes Sir?"

"Tell your father to use the Boniface gate.  There will be a Marine
guard waiting for him.  He will be able to give your things to  him
and they will be on a flight in about twenty to thirty minutes."

"Okay,  I'm back.  Use the Boniface gate.  There will be  a  Marine
guard  there to accept my stuff.  No, there won't be any inspection
and  you won't have to declare the contents.  He will seal the  bag
and box and they will be out on a secure flight before you even get
home."

"Yes.I  love you too, tell mom Love.I will call you when  I  get  a
chance.bye."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"All done sir.he will be at the gate in about two to two-and-a-half
hours."

"Excellent, and that's for keeping quiet about what you  are  doing
and where you are going.  I am impressed."

We  walked  back  into the room, finding that  everybody  was  just
wrapping up.

"Okay.sometime tomorrow, we will get you your new uniforms.  Do you
have any work-out gear?"

"Yes.I  have  a pair of running shorts and a couple t-shirts,  plus
the shoes I have on."

"Good.  Now I need to mention something else.  With your promotion,
this  will  make you nearly the most senior person in  the  family,
with  the  exception  of myself, the first, and  Gunny  of  course.
However,  you are also the most junior member of the team and  have
never had any combat experience, so until you do, you will need  to
follow the lead of the other guys."

"No.I  understand Jake.  I am quite familiar with  the  concept  of
positional authority.  At my last command, though I was just a PO1,
I  had  authority of chiefs and even some officers.  I also presume
that your men are also fair and don't abuse that, as I didn't."

"No  they won't.and if I find out that they have.well don't  worry,
I'll  take care of it if it does happen.  Now why don't you go  get
your carry on and come on back here.  Jason will show you where you
can stow it and you can get belted in for landing.

"Yes sir," I replied, taking off.


-------------------------------------------------------------------
{Chapter Three - First Engagement}
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1900 hours - 13 January 2002

"Okay,"  Jake said, addressing us at the table after finishing  our
dinner, "I've got your room assignments.  If it wasn't for the fact
that  it  has  been a long day and we need to get  an  early  start
tomorrow, I would let you guys go out on the town.  This mission is
important  and I want to make sure you are all rested, trained  and
hale.   So  get to your assigned spaces, relax, watch a bit  of  TV
then off to bed."

I   hadn't   known  what  to  expect,  so  I  wasn't  disappointed.
Surprisingly, neither were any of the others.  So as we gathered up
our  trays, we grabbed room assignments from Jake and we  made  our
way to the barracks.

Things just keep getting more and more.surprising.  It seems  Jason
and  I have the same two-man room.  Matter-of-fact, we all got two-
man  rooms, all in the same wing and on the same floor.not that the
latter is too unusual.  It is common for transient barracks to keep
groups of rooms open for such occasions as this.  Kind of like when
the  gold  crew  I was on was flown over to Scotland  to  meet  the
submarine and the entire crew got the same wing, though spread over
two floors.

All going off to our rooms, I shut the door after Jason entered the
room.  I picked the bed and dresser on the right, while he took the
left side.  Quite impressed I was.the barracks we were assigned too
are set up more like a hotel, even the rooms remind me of a hotel.

"I don't know about you, but I'm taking a shower," Jason announced.

The  next thing I know, clothes are landing on his bed and I am try
not  to  stare as he bares his body before my very eyes.  Before  I
was  thirty or so feet away. I'm just a few steps away now.  I have
to stifle a rapid intake of air as he lowers his briefs.

Everything  is perfect.the glow of the overhead light,  accentuates
his  lithe form, without being overpowering like the sun  was  this
afternoon.  I couldn't tell before, but with the shorts out of  the
way, he is nicely tanned.shaped just like the running shorts he was
wearing earlier.

Chest  is completely smooth; arms mostly covered with light,  peach
fuzz-like  hair, legs covered in a light covering of  blonde  hair,
sun-bleached nearly invisible.  Then there is his groin.darker than
the blond hair on his head, a nicely trimmed patch of hair is above
his  dangling cock, and without out being obvious, it almost  looks
like his balls are smooth.

"I'll  try  not to use all the hot water," Jason says, breaking  me
out of my reverie as he slaps my ass as he walks past, entering the
bathroom.

Passing me, I turn and catch a glimpse of his ass.smooth and nicely
rounded, forming dimples in his cheeks as he walks.god I love that.
he  doesn't  even  bother closing the door and  I  hear  the  water
running, shortly followed by the curtain closing.

Dropping  onto  the bed, I close my eyes and listen  as  the  water
splashed against his body and I try to imagine what he looks  like,
body all glistening from the water on his smooth flesh.


"Hey.wake up," I hear, followed by a snap of the towel, "you  going
to take one?"

Snapping  my  head  around, my eyes fluttering open,  "Uh.yeah,"  I
stammer, not having realized I fantasized the whole time he was  in
the shower.

It was then that I became aware of the stress of my jeans.I have  a
raging hard-on and now I've committed to taking a shower.  No  real
good  way  for backing out now, I kept my back towards Jason  as  I
undressed,  trying to will my dick soft and managing  horribly.   I
think I made it to the bathroom without being `caught.'

Quickly  getting the water flowing, I immediately stepped into  the
water  spray,  letting out a slight yelp as the cold water  hit  my
skin.

"Did I use all the cold water," Jason asked from the other room.

"No.I.I just haven't gotten it adjusted yet.it's.it's fine now,"  I
answered back.

It  wasn't the truth.I still had the cold water spraying against me
and  it took longer than expected, but it worked.  Soon my cock was
deflating and I looked a bit more respectable now and felt safe  in
turning up the temperature.of the water.

It didn't take long to relax.the water is nice and hot and there is
lots of pressure.exactly the way I like it.

"Mind if I help?"

My  head must have hit the ceiling when I heard the voice, followed
by  the shower curtain opening.  Dropping the bar of soap, my  feet
landed  back in the tub and my hands pressed against the  wall.   I
stayed still as a statue as he continued.

"Here.let me get that."

Next  thing I know, I feel the bar of soap sliding up my right leg,
over  my thigh.past my waist.  I was trembling slightly as  I  felt
his hand move the soap towards my stomach.only to slowly move down.

"I hope I'm not intruding," the soft alluring voice asked.

"I...I   can't.can't  believe  this,"  I  stammered.    It   wasn't
possible.only in my wildest fantasies could this happen.

"You  want me to stop," he asked, and I felt his other hand sliding
around and joining the one already resting in my groin.

 "I.I," and I finally blurted it out, "no!"

I  couldn't  help  it.letting out a moan as  he  pressed  his  body
against  mine.   His wet chest pressing against  my  back,  feeling
hotter  than the water spraying down on the two of us.  The bar  of
soap dropped and fingers feeling my stiffening member.

Moaning again.not from his manipulation of my hard cock and  balls,
but  from  the feel of his own cock, hardening between my legs  and
lifting up against my ass and balls.  It was the most erotic  thing
I had ever felt.at least up to now.

Whispering he asked "You're not upset," following it up with a blow
to  my ear. Eliciting another moan and making me squirm against his
body.   "I'll  take that as a no," he replies, blowing  in  my  ear
again as he nibbles on it.

"Oh.god.I never dreamed this was possible," I moaned, succumbing to
the  feeling  and hoping that it never ends. I finally  managed  to
ask, my voice labored, "How?"

"You need to ask that after everything I did?"

"Yes.no.I mean.ohhhh."

I  moaned  in delight as he pulled back and I felt his  stiff  cock
slide up between my ass cheeks.  More moans as I pressed backwards,
feeling his cock work its way in deeper.

"I.I never.never thought I would."

"See  me  again  after seeing me on the field  this  afternoon.   I
know.I felt it too, and I thought the same thing," Jason said.

Thrusting against me again and hugging our bodies closer, "you have
no  idea  how surprised I was to see the Captain bring you back  to
us.even  more  so  when it looked like you might  join  out  little
family."

His  cock twitched against my ass and I felt him thrust again, "May
I?"

"Yes," I moaned, and then added, "Please.slowly."

I  wasn't  sure  how big he was or how much lather  remained.but  I
wanted him like I've never wanted anyone.

A  hand  pulled away from my leaking cock and I felt  his  hardness
vacate  my  crack  and I moaned from the loss of  the  contact.   A
couple seconds later I felt something.

"Ohhhh.yesss," I cried as I felt his fingers probing  at  my  hole.
It  became  obvious that he came prepared; for that  was  lube  his
expert fingers are working into my tight ass.

Vacancy.followed  by a hot touch.hand returning  to  my  waist  and
sliding into my groin.

"Oh Jason.let me.I need to.want to feel you inside."

I'm  always super tight when I haven't been fucked in more  than  a
week,  and  I  relax as much as possible when I felt him  begin  to
press his hardness into my ass.

"Damn you're tight," Jason said, still pressing into me.

"Oh.ohhhh," I cried, as my ass yielded to his cock and  I  felt  it
close around the penetrating head.

"Oh  yes.so  wonderfullyyyy tighttt."  Jason's cried moans  joining
mine as he slowly pushed.

I  had  always  read about it, seen it in porn flicks  and  dreamed
several times this happening, but all that is no comparison to  the
real  thing.   Leaning against the shower wall and getting  my  ass
filled  with  another  guy's cock.. and I  reach  a  new  level  of
eroticism.

With slow perseverance, I feel his cock slide deeper inside my ass.
I push back, wanting more of him and am rewarded by his own thrust.

"Oh  god,"  I cry as I feel the last of his cock enter me,  feeling
his crotch pressing against my cheeks.

With  just  the occasional moan from the two of us, the only  other
sound is the continuous spray of hot water against our bodies,  and
Jason  begins to slowly thrust his cock in and out of my tight  and
hungry ass.

At first I just stand there, slight leaning forward, my hands still
pressed  against the shower wall.  I am content to  just  feel  him
sliding, pumping deep inside. I thrill to the sensation of his cock
sliding  inside, watching as my own cock bounces with  each  inward
thrust of his own.

Yet  it  isn't  enough and I push back against  him,  impaling  him
deeper  until I am able to bend over farther, letting my hands  now
rest against the tubs' faucet.

Soon I am swept up in another intense wave of erotic pleasure as  I
feel his hands sliding up my back.  His body bends over mine and as
hands grasp my shoulders, I feel his body being pulled into mine.

Cock slides deep inside and his chest presses against my back,  our
bodies  more or less spooned together.  Maintaining our  closeness,
Jason only makes little micro-thrusts, yet each one makes his  cock
press against my prostate, eliciting louder cried of pleasure  each
time he does.

Letting  up on his hold a bit, he begins taking longer thrusts.   I
nearly  squeal each time he pulls back enough so that the  head  of
his  throbbing member is at the point of nearly popping out  of  my
ass; only to moan when I feel him plunge back inside.

Before long his thrusts become a bit less long, but he makes up for
it  with increased rapidity.  Now I can hear his breathing, getting
faster  and shallower as he rapidly plunges his cock in and out  of
my ass.he must be getting close.

One.two.three more minutes pass, "Stand up," Jason cries out.

Releasing  my hold on the faucet, I stand up straight, feeling  his
hands  slide  downwards.  Across my sides and under my arms,  hands
soon against my pecs, and I feel it as he pulls up and into me.

"Oh.its.its.commmminnnnggg," Jason moans.

Swelling.getting  harder.his cock presses against  my  button.   My
whole  body shakes as I am overcome by an awe-inspiring orgasm  and
for  the first time.I truly see fireworks.  I can't see it,  but  I
can feel my balls pulling up into my groin as my own cock swells.

Balls overflowing, muscles tensed, my ass tightening around Jason's
swelling cock, I feel the cum flooding up my shaft, exploding  from
my cock.surely striking near the ceiling, it feels that powerful.

"Ahhhh," Jason screams.

I  feel  his  body  spasm, his cock swelling  and  bursting  forth.
Intense heat.flooding my ass. flowing outwards, seeming to fill  my
entire body as I feel the pleasure and passion consume me.  Jerking
accompanied  my moans of pleasure; I feel pulse after pulse  as  he
shoots deep inside, filling me with his lust.

  Recovered enough, I bend over a bit and put my hands against  the
wall  once more, allowing Jason a more comfortable position so that
he  can stay inside me.  He takes the offering in silence, only the
sound  of  his breathing do I hear as I feel his chest  once  again
pressing against my back.

I  luxuriate in the feeling of not just his body against mine,  but
in  feeling  his cock soften while still buried inside.   It  is  a
wonderful  feeling and one that I don't often  get  to  enjoy.   We
stand  there  in silence for a couple minutes, as we  both  recover
from our orgasms' and let our breathing return to normal.

Finally, as the saying goes, all things must end.  I moan  my  loss
as  I  feel Jason pull out, immediately feeling the vacancy of  his
presence, only to smile when I feel his body pressing against mine.

As  much as we want to, we are both too tired to really enjoy it as
we  haphazardly lather each other up and rinse off the remnants  of
our endeavors.  None too soon, for as we finishing rinsing the soap
away, the water begins to cool off.

Grabbing  one  of  the thick terry cloth towels, I  reach  out  and
gently begin drying him off, while Jason does the same to me.   Our
exhaustion  is  quite apparent, for even the tender  lovingness  of
this fails to regenerate our ardor.

Hair short enough that we don't have to bother messing with it,  we
toss our wet towels over the curtain rod and head for the door.when
I see a smile on Jason's face.

"What?"

As we enter the room, I look up and see twelve smiling guys in just
their briefs, and they begin clapping.

"Welcome  to the family," Jason tells me, placing his smiling  lips
against my stunned lips.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Wait now for the next Chapter: {Chapter Four - Family}