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Karo Veras

Leadership

Major Akio Haruto sat there at his desk, taking in what Karo had just said to him. The Private's eyes were fixated on him, emotionless, yet contemplative. If Karo had any fears or doubts, he certainly was doing a good job of hiding it. The Major finally broke the gaze, looking down at his desk at the PADD in front of him.

 

"Well, HQ picked a hell of a time to rotate platoon personnel don't you think?" the Major said, his tone fairly light considering the circumstances. "Slick and Will are gone, as is 85% of the recon team as it was 2 weeks ago." The Major looked up with a grin "You're the longest standing member of the Platoon, now Kid."

 

"Aside from you Major, of course." Karo chimed in.

 

The Major held his hand up as if to correct him "I'm Company level, Kid. Just a pencil pusher now." he said, triggering a nod of acknowledgment from the Private. "Needless to say, its decision time for you now, Kid. I'm giving you the chance to choose your team" he told him. "Normally, I'd assign you three blokes and tell you to make due and get to know each other, but given that we're already lead time away from this Op, its best you choose the three people you think would best be suited for the job." He slid the PADD across the desk to Karo. "This PADD has the 9 new platoon members on it. All enlisted, and their rates are across the board, from Lance Corporal to Staff Sergeant."

 

The Major watched as Karo took the PADD and studied it. "No need to decide right now," he assured the Private. "Take an evening to really look it over, talk to some of the guys and gals you haven't talked to yet."

 

Karo nodded in response. "I'll do that, sir." he said, his eyes still fixated on the PADD. It was then the Major caught the first flicker of emotion from Karo, as if he was coming to the realization that he was potentially choosing which Marines to send to their deaths. The Major knew the thoughts running through Karo's head. He had experienced them himself. Most every Marine officer did.

 

"Kid" he said, attracting the Private's gaze from the PADD to his own. The Major kept his eyes stern, yet understanding. "They're all Marines, like you," He said, "Some signed up for the danger, others signed up despite the danger. Nonetheless, they all are cognizant of it." The major let his words hang for a moment before speaking again. "These are all people ready and willing to sacrifice it all for the cause, much like you. They will follow you and die next to you with no questions asked, no regrets, and no animosity towards you."

 

The Major watched as Karo took a deep breath and nodded, understanding his point. Haruto knew his words wouldn't make his decision easier, but it didn't make it any less necessary. Akio knew and trusted Karo. He had tremendous talent as a Recon Marine, and the ability to be an excellent leader. But now, it was time to prove it, and he wouldn't have assigned Karo as leader of the platoon if he believed there was even the slighted chance he wouldn't succeed.

 

 

"You've got some planning to do with the squids." He told the Private. "Dismissed"

 

 

* * * *

 

Karo snapped a salute and headed out of the Major's office. He looked at the PADD again, studying the names on the list. He had met all of them, most just enough to make first impressions. As the longest standing Marine on Agincourt who didn't yet have their own office, Karo had become the de facto "Mayor of NNC". He showed the new arrivals the around, told them the rules and what to expect. He instituted, with approval, a mandatory Boilermaker run for all new arrivals from that point forward, and claimed the couch near the entrance to the gym to be his. Everyone, from Sergeant or Lance Corporal seemed to accept his "leadership". Yet, he didn't "know" any of them yet.

 

He took a seat on the couch, pouring over the PADD. Less than a month ago, given this decision, it would have been easy. Gus, Rocky, and the Gunny. . .Simple as that. Those were the guys he knew, and those were the guys he trusted. But those guys were long gone. The Gunny had retired, as had Gus. Rocky was promoted to Staff Sergeant and took a position in Training Command. Leaving him the only member of the team left on the Agincourt.

 

He looked at the nine names on the list:

 

Staff Sergeant Balthazar "Czar" Okur

 

Sergeant Anton "Adder" Koenig

 

Sergeant Sean "Snapper" Park

 

Sergeant Louis "Rider" Williamson

 

Corporal "Dash" D'Shar

 

Corporal Declan "Red" Johnson

 

Corporal Tuki "Head" Savos

 

Corporal Jean "Catch" Donovan

 

Lance Corporal "Duece" Rel

 

Right now, names were all they were, names and faces. And now bios. From that, Karo had to pick three of them and mold them into a team. A cohesive unit. Karo didn't doubt their ability to gel, they were all recon Marines, they were trained to do that. But there was a difference between working well with someone, and absolutely trusting someone.

 

There were two names that Karo immediately crossed off his list; Corporals Johnson and Savos. "Red", as they called him, had what Karo liked to call the "Hero Factor" about him. His demeanor, his gait, his falling off the squid during his boilermaker run. He was too impatient. He wanted to do something great. It was something Karo thought he could control given time, but they didn't have much.

 

Tuki "Head" Savos, a fellow Bajoran, seemed to be Johnson's "other half". The two knew each other from both Basic and Recon training, and were reunited here on the Agincourt after pulling separate assignments right out of the gate. The two would make a great team, but not with Karo.

 

The two names that shot out at Karo as possibilities were Staff Sergeant Okur and Corporal Donovan. Staff Sergeant Balthazar "Czar" Okur had spent some time with the 3/8th Charlies on Penthara IV, where Karo had spent his training assignment, so he had pulled these types of raids before. Plus, it was under a command style that Karo was familiar with and respected.

 

Corporal Donovan was handpicked by Master Sergeant "Paris" Ennios for Recon Training, much like Karo himself was. That meant she had what it took, because the MSgt did not handpick just anyone for training.

 

Karo marked both of them on his PADD, making a note to talk to both of them before the day was out. Just simple chat, he wanted to get a feel for them, in order to see if his initial gut instinct was right. However, there was still one more slot to fill, if those two fit in. But that decision was for later. Right now, it was time to catch back up with Caine. They had some planning to do.

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