Paige had another meeting with the Sergeant Major out at one of the ammo bunkers to ’countersign’ an on-hand ammunition inventory. They were fairly quiet on the way out there. Once inside, they were able to speak freely. Paige had pulled up the specifications on the bunker’s construction. Like most older ‘Cold War’ era structures, it was Tempest hardened. There could be no transmitters inside to leak their conversation.
“So Paige, what’s your update?”
“Sergeant Major, there are currently enough M4s for all the remaining personnel, plus some. The pistol situation is close. If we keep losing bodies at this rate, by your earlier deadline of post-Christmas, we will have enough pistols for everyone as well. I have the long range school plotted to take those assets. If we have more rifles there than remaining staff, I’ll pull the extras back to the overflow pool. This brings me to my next question. After the parting gifts are distributed, what do we do with what’s left?”
The Sergeant Major thought for a few minutes. He didn’t expect to have enough for everyone, much less excess when he and the Commander hatched this plan. Part of him was greedy and didn’t want the locals to get a thing, especially after some of the crap they were pulling lately once they found out the base was closing. A lot of anti-military resentment boiled to the surface recently.
“OK, Paige. First, how are we doing for shotguns?”
“We have a mixed bag of pump and semi. We could let the base security guys go with a patrol rifle and a shotgun as well as their pistols and still have some left over. What do you think?”
“Pull a set of semi-autos for us, then all the security personnel who want them, then any of the others who want one. Start with the semis, then move to the pumps. Those are the only weapons I am willing to turn over excess to the locals, and I figure to find the ones who are helping us and not screwing with us.”
“And the excess M4s and pistols?”
“I’ve been working on a plan with the camera guy over in the PA shop for a little subterfuge to make it look like we destroyed all the M4s. After we do that, we add a couple to our own stack and stash any excess for a rainy day. Oh, I also had an idea last night. Since the people who are staying are the over ten year people, they will be technically retired and subject to recall. I figure to do CIF hand receipts for the weapons to them. They will all be signed by Capt. Frickel, the temporary Central Supply Officer. With two different chains with conflicting info, it will muddy the waters on accountability even farther.”
“How do you want to split up the ammo?”
“If we have the ammo to do it, a double combat load of ammo for each weapon for all involved. You work the distro of any excess.”
Paige got quiet for a moment. The Sergeant Major saw the concern on her face.
“What is it, Paige?”
“You know, this is all great for a theoretical exercise, but it’s illegal as all hell!”
The Sergeant Major snapped back at her fast when she said it.
“What they are doing to them, us, is criminal. We all signed a contract, payable with up to our lives, and they can and do change their end of the contract all the time, but we can’t! They are pitching us all out on our ears, Paige! We’ve gone to war for them! Multiple times! Well this whole thing is coming apart faster and messier than a Hollywood marriage! Our retirements probably won’t be worth the paper their printed on in six months!”
Paige could see the Sergeant Major was spooled up on this. He continued, not letting her get a word in.
“The fat cats protect their positions at the cost of the troops really doing the mission! Well, the Commander and I are trying to do something for them instead of just a boot out the door. It’s becoming the Wild West out there again. I’m arming our guys instead of giving the precious few in local power here another windfall to maintain a stranglehold on the area! They can have the buildings only because I don’t want to waste the resources to destroy them! I have the couple of IT guys left pulling all the hard drives out of the computers being left behind and pitching them in a burn barrel. They also have instructions to cut all the cables in half. I had to watch this type of turnover in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve learned a few lessons. We are moving all the final assets to the clinic for use by the last people here providing support to the families of the TDY guys. Then the clinic is converting to a VA clinic so it will still be federal.”
The Sergeant Major kept ranting several minutes about some of the things he saw in those other turnovers. Paige could tell he was very passionate about what he saw was a systemic betrayal. He then talked about his father seeing the same thing happen in the hills of Laos when the US pulled out of Viet Nam. Finally, he slowed down some, then stopped.
“I’m sorry, Paige. You didn’t need to hear that tirade. I have a stack of paperwork I can have you sign making me solely responsible for all of this. I don’t want your conscious to be burdened by it. I just need you to know and believe me when I say it’s not primarily about personal gain. I’m not looking to sell it off or grab power with it. I truly want to do this to help my troops. If you want nothing to do with it, I can process your paperwork early and relieve you of the whole thing. Nothing has been given away at this point so everything is legal. Just give me the word and I will make it happen.” He stood there looking chastised, but sincere and passionate.
“No, Sergeant Major. I’m still in. I just needed to express my concerns and reservations. I’ll start packaging up the stuff right after Thanksgiving. Don’t forget to come early tomorrow.”
“Trust me, after Andrea talking up the Jambalaya, I won’t miss it for the world! Veronica and violet will be in later tonight. They are braving the trip down here for Thanksgiving at your place!”