Published: 9 Sep 2019
Part VII Crisis and Resolution
“Captain Kevin Eck, this Board of Inquiry has been convened to review the action involving your company and an enemy force on September 18, 2025, in and around the Uzbekistan city of Sariasaya. During that engagement you suffered losses of 28 percent—”
“No sir,” Kevin interrupts. “Respectfully, sir, sixty-two soldiers. Sixty-two individual soldiers. Each one had a name. Neither their mates nor I will allow them to be reduced to a percentage, to a statistic. Sir.”
“Very well, Captain.” The Board President’s voice is icy. “Sixty-two soldiers. May I continue?” The question is rhetorical, but Kevin nods, anyway.
“You called for an air strike on a building you knew, or should have known, to be a mosque. You knew, or should have known that the day was Friday. You knew or should have known, that on Friday mosques are likely to be filled with civilian worshipers. Our forensic team identified parts of nearly 500 bodies, some of them children as young as six years old. The incident has been reported in the world press and has resulted in near universal condemnation of America. Four terrorist strikes against American forces and installations abroad have resulted in 27 casualties and in the destruction of more than $6 million in real property.”
“General Knightly!” It is Arthur’s voice from the audience. Arthur had argued, unsuccessfully, that he, rather than Kevin, be the subject of the inquiry. I was in command. Whatever happened to Truman’s notion that ‘the buck stops here’? I know why. It’s because I’m their damn poster boy for the baby brigade. We used to ridicule the Mujahedeen for using 12-year-olds as soldiers and suicide bombers. But we lowered the draft age to 12.
“Colonel Andrus, you’re out of order,” the Board President said.
“Sir, the Manual of Doctrine, Article 187, Paragraph 10b, Subparagraph iii reads: ‘No soldier is ever alone. The “Army of One,” while an effective recruiting tool, is a discredited notion. Wherever there is one soldier, there are his mates, nor shall a soldier be denied the company of his mates.’ Those are the words that stripped solitary confinement from the UCMJ. That’s a powerful precedent. I see in front of you a soldier sitting alone in judgment. I construe that to be a violation of the Manual of Doctrine. I ask to be seated at his side.”
General Knightly looks at the other members of the board, but finds no reassurance in their faces. “This board is in recess until 1100 hours.”
Arthur sits beside Kevin at the table before the now empty bench. “Arthur, you can’t—” Kevin begins, but Arthur interrupts.
“Kevin, we have less than 30 minutes. There’s something very wrong, here. A Board of Inquiry has three members; they have seven. That’s the number for a Court Martial. I think that as soon as they have you in their sights, they’ll turn themselves into a Court Martial. There are too many odd coincidences, like your father and General Martin being called to some top secret meeting at some top secret location. And they classified all the battle computer data. Even I can’t get to it, and that’s wrong – and it’s a violation of doctrine.”
Arthur pauses and looks hard at Kevin. “You are entitled to an opening statement. Keep it short and sweet: ‘I acted in accordance with doctrine, the rules of engagement, available intelligence, and my assessment of the situation as it unfolded.’ Then, you respectfully request that the Board President – don’t call him by name – the Board President’s remarks about world press coverage and the alleged resulting terrorist strikes be removed from the record both because they are irrelevant and because they are prejudicial. Then you sit down. Okay?”
“I’m not going to let you get involved in this,” Kevin protests.
“Kevin, I love you and I will not abandon you to these jackals.”
Arthur is still seated at Kevin’s side when the Board returns. Nothing is said about his presence. Kevin’s request that General Knightly’s remarks be removed from the record is denied, and the first witness was called. Because this is still a Board of Inquiry, Kevin isn’t allowed to cross-examine. He and Arthur sit silently as the case against Kevin grows stronger and stronger.
Arthur and Kevin walk into the room after lunch on the second day. Kevin’s eyes widen. Ricky Santos sits in the audience. Kevin’s shoulders sag; he really doesn’t want Ricky seeing him being pilloried, humiliated. There is a captain beside Ricky. He wears Signal Corps insignia, and looks familiar, but Kevin can’t place him. Kevin dismisses the thoughts. Arthur looks at Santos, and gets the signal he wants. A slight nod. Arthur’s PDA vibrates. The screen reads, “1300.” Arthur sighs with relief. He takes Kevin’s hand briefly. “It’s time to kick butt.”
At 1300 hours, sharp, General Knightly raps his gavel to resume, and then looks at his PDA. What he sees upsets him. He looked up. “Is Captain Sumpter present?”
The Signal Corps captain stands.
General Knightly clears his throat. “Captain Sumpter, I have been ordered to allow you to testify. This is highly irregular.”
“Not nearly as irregular as what we uncovered, sir.”
That voice; the accent; I’ve heard it, before. A light goes on in Kevin’s head. Sumpter is the name of the sniper who watched him and Arthur having sex when they were umpires at the war games. “Billy?” he blurts.
Sumpter winks. He steps to the witness stand. “For the record, sir, I am Captain Billy Sumpter, Intelligence Officer on the staff of General Davis Williams, Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army. I am here at General Williams’s orders to see that justice is served, and that a situation that could do irreparable damage to America and its Army is dealt with.”
The story that unfolds is as complicated as it is dirty. There was a gross failure of intelligence. Neither Arthur nor Kevin had received accurate information. In fact, they’d received wrong and misleading information. It was initially simply a mistake, but one that was compounded when a senior officer orchestrated a cover-up, a cover-up in which Kevin became the victim. The data Captain Sumpter presents to the board is incontrovertible.
“The situation snow-balled,” Captain Sumpter concludes. “Captain Eck became the victim. You gentlemen of the Board were victims, as well. General Williams asks that you carry overtly or covertly no prejudice towards Captain Eck or Colonel Andrus.” The officers of the court express agreement.
“Captain Sumpter,” General Knightly says. “No one likes being played for a fool. I think I speak for the entire board when I say that you are to be commended for your work in uncovering this. And, that Captain Eck deserves a commendation, as well. Given our new understanding of the circumstances…” The general’s voice trails off.
“The cover-up will not be covered up,” Captain Sumpter says. “The execution by firing squad of General Hampton Clarke, who bore both proximate and personal responsibility, will be reported tonight.” Arthur thought he saw at least two members of the court blanch.
“Captain Eck deserves a medal for his action. He won’t get one, because that would piss off too many Mujahedeen.” Captain Sumpter turns to Kevin. “General Williams said to thank you. I know that’s not enough, but it’s all I can offer.”
“I understand,” Kevin says.
The Board of Inquiry finds that Lieutenant Eck acted correctly and properly under the circumstances, and that his actions were consistent with doctrine: no place from which an attack comes or in which the enemy takes refuge is exempt from attack.
“Arthur?” Captain Ricky Santos asks. He, Captain Billy Sumpter, Captain Kevin Eck, and Colonel Arthur Andrus sit in a corner of the bar at the Officers’ Club. Arthur makes it clear this is an informal gathering.
“Ricky. You’re about to ask me a hard question, aren’t you?”
It is too dark to see Santos blush, but he does. “Yes, sir. Billy and I … we worked pretty close together finding all the info that General Williams used. We’re, kinda, well, we’re not in love yet, but I really think we’re going to be. Please, Arthur, will you give me a transfer to Fort Huachuca and the Signal Corps? Please?”
“Ricky, I’m very happy for you. Of course I’ll sign a request for transfer. I take it that Billy’s boss has agreed?”
“Uh, huh,” Billy says. “I dropped your name. He said anyone you had trained would always be welcome.”
“But did Billy tell you about when he first met us?” Kevin asks Ricky.
Ricky looks puzzled. “Huh? No … he never even said you knew him.”
“Um, hmm,” Arthur says. He chuckles. “You want to tell him, Billy?”
“You’ve become too successful, Arthur,” Lieutenant General Eck chuckles at the expression on Arthur’s face. Kevin knows what his father means, and his face falls. The three sit in the general’s den. It is the same room in which Arthur had first met Kevin – and had sex with him – some six years ago. Since then, Arthur served four tours in battle zones. The rest of his time was spent at Fort Riley, Kansas, supervising the training of thousands of increasingly younger soldiers. Kevin served three combat tours as a Company Commander in Arthur’s regiment.
“Your orders came in from the Pentagon this morning. You have been assigned to the War College. You’ll be a student, and then split your time between teaching and being on the staff of the Training and Doctrine Command. I’m afraid the war is over for you.”
Arthur understands what the general means, but the expression on his face is indecipherable. Disappointment? Yes, that is there. Arthur knows he is a good combat commander – the best, in fact. Without him in command, more children would die than otherwise. Relief? Arthur acknowledges that feeling, as well. He would no longer be under fire; more importantly, he’d not have to look in the dead glazed eyes of American boys and girls or their counterparts among the enemy. Elation? No, not that, but certainly a degree of happiness and pride. At TRADOC perhaps he could make a difference. Maybe they’d seriously consider some of his ideas – the ideas he’d successfully implemented in training and in combat, the ideas that saved lives.
Then, Arthur looks at Kevin, and his heart nearly stops. They will be separated; Kevin will be going into combat under the command of someone with less skill than Arthur. The boys and girls under Arthur’s command had a 92% survival rate in their first year. The next best was less than 75%. The numbers are classified, but Arthur had been told. He’s also received three silver stars and a distinguished service cross in recognition of his leadership and as an acknowledgement of the lives he had saved.
The general sees the anguish in the faces of the two boys. Strike that. The two young men. It was not so long ago they were boys. Now, they’re men. “You two … you need some time. Kevin, take the Hummer. I guess your grades have been good enough.” It is an old joke, but Kevin and Arthur both laugh, more in relief than in humor.
Arthur and Kevin’s relationship has survived the stress of combat and the greater stress of keeping it an absolute secret from everyone. Well, everyone but Kevin’s parents, Ricky Santos, and Billy Sumpter. They can’t fraternize at the Officers’ Club; Arthur has to limit his visits to General Eck’s home. So it is a real treat to drive off post to a restaurant on the strip. It advertises fresh sea food in a neon sign that predates the turn of the century, and is certainly not accurate. After dinner, they drive back to Arthur’s quarters. As an O-6, he rates a bedroom and sitting room, and a private bathroom. Kevin’s quarters are in an adjacent building; he shares quarters with another major.
“Kevin? Do you still have a bottle of the Sterling merlot? The ’17?” Arthur asks.
“Sure … I’ll get it.” Kevin heads toward his room; Arthur hurries to his. I’ll have just enough time, he thinks.
The first time Arthur and Kevin met, Kevin desperately stripped Arthur’s clothes from him. Later, Arthur was equally desperate to undress Kevin. Whenever possible, they undressed one another. Tonight, however, there is a difference. Kevin gasps when he pulls down Arthur’s trousers. Rather than his customary camo skivvies, Arthur wears a pair of low-cut, black, skin-tight boxer briefs. He kicks off his trousers, and stands before Kevin. “Turn around,” Kevin whispers, hoarsely. Arthur turns. The briefs reveal an inch of the lower curve of his bottom. Kevin gently runs his fingers over the exposed flesh, and then tugs on Arthur’s arm. Arthur turns. Kevin embraces him. There are tears in Kevin’s eyes. “You remembered…”
“I remember every word we said that night,” Arthur says. “I want to see you wake up beside me in the morning, instead of having to leave tonight. I want to see you sleeping beside me every night, instead of just an occasional weekend. Not just today, not just tonight, but for always.
“Kevin, will you… will you…” Arthur’s voice breaks.
Kevin pulls Arthur tight to him, and kisses the tears from his cheeks. “Yes, I will, Arthur; I will be with you for always.”
General and Mrs. Eck sit comfortably in the den. “They’re going to get married, aren’t they.” she says. There is no doubt in her voice.
“More than likely,” the general replies.
“Then Kevin can get a join-spouse assignment … he can be stationed with Arthur at Carlisle Barracks? He won’t have to go into combat?”
“That could be,” her husband answers. “But it’s not automatic. He’d have to ask, and he is a soldier.”
“Hmm,” Beth Eck says. She looks at her husband of 37 years. “I’ll need a new dress, of course.”
The End
Glossary
Battle rattle: (1) the total accumulation of armor, weapons, and other gear a soldier wears and carries into battle; (2) obsolete, and from the mid 20th century, “combat fatigue” or nervousness before battle
Bravo Zulu: Originally US Navy slang for “well done”; later adopted more widely
CO: Commanding Officer
CP: Command Post
Ghillie suit: wearable camouflage
GPS: Global Positioning System
LED: Light-emitting diode
Locum: Short for “locum tenens,” meaning “to hold the place of.” A locum as used here is a doctor on call for another doctor.
MRE: Meal, Ready to Eat (field rations)
MWR: Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (an agency of the US Army)
NCO: Non-commissioned officer
O Club: Officers’ Club
O-6: colonel (“full colonel” or “bird colonel”)
OBE: Overcome (Overtaken) By Events
PDA: Personal Defense Assistant. Small computer, phone, and global positioning system device
ROTC: Reserve Officers Training Corps
TO: Table of Organization
UAV: Urban Assault Vehicle
UCMJ: Uniform Code of Military Justice (the book of military law and punishment)
USB: Universal Serial Bus (computer connection)
USO: United Services Organization (charitable organization that provides morale, welfare, and recreation activities for soldiers)
Spam is a trademark for a processed meat product that contributed more to the American and Allied victory in World War II than has ever been acknowledged. The Woodford, Aqua Velva, Hummer, Opal, and Fiat trademarks are the property of the respective companies.Speculative Fiction is not exactly Sci-Fi. But such stories tell the tale of our world from a “What If” viewpoint. Did you spot them all? Let David know: David dot McLeod at CastleRoland dot net. He deserves your feedback.
10,686 views