Bad News

Posted on Mon Apr 29th, 2019 @ 11:36am by Brigadier General David Hurd Sr & Major General Thomas Jackson

696 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Episode 98 - A Raid on Peace
Location: Marine Division Executive Officer's Office
Timeline: Current

After the briefing, Hurd stopped off at his office to grab his equipment and weapons. As he was rummaging around, a orderly cameand in, saluted, handed him a PADD, and left. As his read it, his eyes started tearing up. This message had informed him that his sister's and cousins had died in a shuttle accident. He now had no family left at all. As the tears began taking freely and with anguish in his voice, he hit his combadge and said, " General Jackson, Freya, could you please cone to my office". He closed the channel and began freely bawling.

Freya was making last minute checks when Hurd's voice came over the comms. "On my way Sir." It didn't take her long to reach the office. She pressed the chime and waited for permission to enter.

Through tear chocked eyes and with anguish in his voice, he yelled, "Enter".

Walking inside Freya offered the usual stand to attention and salute. "Reporting as requested Sir." She looked at Hurd understandingly. "I can see how upset you are Sir, what happened?"

Handling her the PADD with shaking hand, Hurd said with a sad, strained voice, "My family is dead".

Freya took the PADD and read what it had to say before placing it down on the desk. "I am so sorry! Do you have any other family or anyone to help you through this?"

At this point, Jackson walked in. He immediately knew something was wrong, but did not interrupt Freya or David.

Freya turned to look at Jackson, passing him the PADD Hurd had shown her. "At the very least you have your marine family, as I was always reminded during my training marines are a family in themselves. We look out for each other and we're there for each other when needed."

Jackson read it. "My gods!" Jackson knew that David has been through the ringer these past couple of years. "David, do you need to take a leave? I would totally understand."

Shaking a little he replied, "Freya, my ex-wife took my kids and left so the Marines are my only family now". Wiping the tears from his his eyes, yet more still fell. Looking at Jackson he replied, "No sir I don't need leave, I want to fight".

"Are you sure you're up for that Sir?" Freya looked at Hurd. "As a Counsellor I'm all for working things out in your own way but after such a shock are you truly going to be fit to be out in the field?" She wished she could sense his emotions but his implant made that impossible.

But Thomas has seen situation like this in his career. Sometimes, work is the best therapy. "Okay David. But if you run into any problems in your thought process, should the crisis escalate, you know what to do. Understood?"

"Yes sir I do, and at the first indication of trouble I will relieve myself of command".

Freya looked between the two, before settling back on Hurd. "I'm really starting to hate that implant of yours Sir." She offered a brief smile. "I'm happy for you to work if you're up to it but you know where to find me if you need to talk."

"Thank you Freya, I'll take you up on that", Hurd said.

Freya smiled and nodded. "Sirs...before I go, what I said at the meeting about bring useful with my abilities....there's only so much I can do to warn those around me I'm not going to be able to do that much alone."

"I am sure you will do what you can. A small early warning device is better than none." Jackson said.

“That’s true” Freya smiled and nodded.

Jackson watched Hurd for another minute, to ensure he was okay. One he determined that he would be fine, "Okay, we have a mission to conduct, so y'all better get onboard the Kearsarge. Good luck to both of you."

“Thank you Sir!” Freya stood to attention and saluted before turning to leave.

Nodding, Hurd said, "Freya report to the ship, I will be along shortly".

“Aye Sir.” With that she headed on her way.
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