Rifle Range [Open]

[1st Sgt. Michael Hobbar]

Location: Shooting range -- 3ID
Country: France
Time: 1105 Hours
Weather: Bright, Sunny day with a brisk wind

First Sergeant Hobbar looked out of the barracks, the sun was almost highest. Hobbar took a quick glance at his wrist watch, 1105 already!?! Hobbar thought to himself. “You gotta be shitting me…” Hobbar stepped off his rack and pulled up his trousers. They were a bit dusty, but it was alright… there was a war going on. Michael slipped on his boots, they were snug, but at least they were semi comfortable. “Damn I slept in late.

Michael could hear troops moving out all around the base, the sound of engines roaring boots marching and wheels rolling made Michael smile, it reminded him of home where his dad was a mechanic, fixing up cars day in and day out. Michael finished dressing and pulled on his combat gear. He tugged on the ‘Y’ Strap harness securely over his shoulder and headed out towards the ranges. He held his M1 tightly in his hands, always on the alert.

Michael made it to an area in the base, he looked at the sign; it read: Rifle Range Michael walked to an empty area and stood there. He debated firing with or without his combat gear, then decided to keep his equipment on; simulate being in the field a little bit.

Michael pulled back on the cocking lever on his M1 and unclipped one of the few bandolier slots on his cartridge belt. He drew a fresh clip and pressed it into his M1 rifle. The rounds clicked in and Hobbar slapped the cocking lever forward.

Michael raised his rifle up and pressed it against his shoulder and laid his head against the buttstock. The warm wood felt good against Hobbar’s cheek. Hobbar closed his left eyes and took a deep breath. He puffed up his mouth, holding in air, and slowly squeezed the trigger.

Crack! The rifle sounded, Hobbar was rocked by the recoil, his shoulder pushed back an inch or two. He adjusted his aim and fired two more round down range.
Crack!
Crack!
“Looks pretty good.” Hobbar said, he looked at the bullet impacts on the target, a right grouping of 3 shots. “Getting better at this shooting thing” Hobbar grinned as he raised his rifle again. He fired the rest of his magazine down range. As he finished his first magazine, it popped out, PING! Hobbar took a second careful look at his target, the original grouping of 3, a new group of 3 and two scattered shots. “Not bad at all…

[Mac Bargett]

Staff Sergeant Bargett stuck his head into one of the barracks of Echo Company and tried not to wake the few lazy heads that somehow were still sleeping in the middle of the day as he called out for the new 1st Sergeant. A few people said he wasn’t in, and a couple soldiers who were distracted with a comic book or shining their boots or something, pointed to his empty bunk. With no help from anyone in the barracks in finding out where the new guy was, Mac shut door and started off to find the mysterious First Sergeant.

It wasn’t that he needed the new superior for anything, this was going to be more of a social visit. Help him get used to his new surroundings. Be a friendly face in a strange place. And of course, it never hurt to suck up to your higher-ups.

After he checked the other barracks, incase the 1st Sergeant was visiting someone, Mac rushed to the mess tent to check there. Although it wasn’t Echo company’s time to get some chow, he could still be there, chatting with some old friend he enlisted with. Still, as Mac passed the lines of hungry soldiers and searched among the tables, he didn’t see anyone who fit the bill, all those NCOs looked too familiar to be the new guy. He would have to look someplace else. But where? The showers hr would save for the end, Mac really didn’t want to go there. Maybe the training area. It wouldn’t be too odd for a new man to work out in the gym or field to make sure he would keep stride with the veterans under his command. Or he could be doing the same thing at the firing range. It was a soldier favorite, there was simple fun in firing your weapons at targets that didn’t fight back, or placing bets on other shooters. Really, Mac should have checked there first.

After returning to the barracks to grab his trusty Thompson, Bargett hoped the man he was looking for was there as he walked towards the Rifle Range. He stopped for a moment near by the sign describing the purpose for the shooting gallery and checked out the few soldiers standing in a row, a few hundred yards in front of the paper targets downrange. Besides the regular gang that hung the gallery, trying to get simpleminded privates to challenge them to a some small stakes shooting contest, there was also a squad or do having official training together, and then the few common lone wolves, probably imaging themselves as an elite marksman, carefully taking every shot like each one got Hitler right in the moustache.

There was one lone wolf, firing his M1 in bursts like it should be, who was clad in full combat gear and had the proper chevrons for a 1st Sarge, and Mac had never seen him around before, so he was probably the guy. With his Thompson slung over his shoulder, Mac started walking towards him, but only stepped up beside him once he stopped firing.

“Nice precision,” Mac mentioned to try and break the ice before turning to his supierour, “You wouldn’t happen to be Echo Company’s new First Sergeant, would you, sir?”

[1st Sgt. Michael Hobbar]

“Nice precision,”

Hobbar stopped shooting when he heard the comment. He turned around expecting his new CO, but instead found just a Staff Sergeant.

“You wouldn’t happen to be Echo Company’s new First Sergeant, would you, sir?”

Sir... Hobbar thought, he was thinking of his pass up as a Lieutenant, and the privileges of being called sir.If only i was given that commission... Hobbar lowered his rifle and slung it around his back. "Yes i would be. Hobbar raised his helmet an inch, "I'm First Sergeant Hobbar, Michael Hobbar. Hobbar was still a bit shocked that an experienced NCO would make the naive mistake of addressing him as Sir. Hobbar didn't mind it much however, he wasn't a stickler for the regs or rules, especially something as little as the proper addressing.

Hobbar's shoulder was getting bugged by the leather strap of his M1, so his unslung it and placed it on the deck and held the rifle by its forward receiver. Hobbar held his hand out and said, "Nice to meet you Staff Sergeant..." He calmly waited for a response.

[Mac Bargett]

"Nice to meet you Staff Sergeant..."
“Nice to meet you too, First Sergeant,” Mac replied as he grabbed his superior’s waiting hand and shook it firmly, “I’m Staff Sergeant Bargett, Mac Bargett. And I‘ve just come by to see if you want any help with settling in, Top Hat. If you need directions to any place, or want to know about any of the men in our unit, like Captain Patterson, I‘ll be happy to help. For instance, if I was you, I would go down and try and see if I was able to replace that M1 of yours for one of these babies.”

Mac slipped his M1A1 Thompson off his right shoulder and held it up for 1st Sergeant to see and examine, then continued, “I used to have one of those M1s, but I prefer the suppressive capabilities of the classic Thompson sub-machinegun. Plus if the battle’s really frantic and there’s no time to check ranks, soldiers naturally follow the man with the Tommygun.”

After giving his sales pitch, Mac realized that the NCO’s first impression of the lowly Staff Seargent shouldn’t be that pushy, and so he added, “But if you like range over rounds per minute, the Garands good too. Is there anything you might need that I can help you with?

[1st Sgt. Michael Hobbar]

“I’m Staff Sergeant Bargett, Mac Bargett. And I‘ve just come by to see if you want any help with settling in, Top Hat.

"Alright Bargett." Hobbar responded shaking the Staff Sergeant's hand. Good to meet some new people, soldiers who'll have my back in the shit.

If you need directions to any place, or want to know about any of the men in our unit, like Captain Patterson, I‘ll be happy to help.

Hobbar nodded, it would be nice to have someone familiar to the Captain to come down with Michael when he goes and talks to the CO. Whats more awkward than the new guy talking to the company commander. Hobbar loked at Bargett who wasn't quite finished with his talk;

"For instance, if I was you, I would go down and try and see if I was able to replace that M1 of yours for one of these babies.”

Staff Sergeant Bargett slipped his Thompson off his right shoulder and held it up for Hobbar to see and examine.

Mhmmm Hobbar thought, That there is a fine weapon, I could use one of those.

“I used to have one of those M1s, but I prefer the suppressive capabilities of the classic Thompson sub-machinegun. Plus if the battle’s really frantic and there’s no time to check ranks, soldiers naturally follow the man with the Tommygun.”

Hobbar just listened to the Staff Sergeant give his pitch, nodding and listening to every word. What the Staff Sergeant was saying did make sense, the sub machine gun did instill a sort of leadership weapon, Hobbar didn't know what it was, but it just felt like the leader's weapon. Hobbar was about to say something, but Bargett kept talking, Hobbar could wait, he was in no rush to speak.

“But if you like range over rounds per minute, the Garands good too."

Hobbar grinned, seemed like Bargett was sucking up after his little spleal, it was fine, Hobbar didn't mind, he wasn't one of those hard-core NCOs that were tough as nails and by the book, he was more relaxed, just wanted to have fun, and when necessary, have the good respect of the men, rather than their fear.

"Is there anything you might need that I can help you with?"

Finally, Hobbar thought, He's letting me talk. "Actually, yeah. Hobbar started, "I can go snag me one of them Thompsons now. That there looks like a fine weapon, a leadership weapon, I think that I rate one of them."

[Mac Bargett]

"Actually, yeah.” The 1st Sergeant answered, "I can go snag me one of them Thompsons now. That there looks like a fine weapon, a leadership weapon, I think that I rate one of them."

“Well, you can go down and request one now, but as long as we’re on the firing range…” Mac’s voice trailed off as he sidestepped into the next firing lane. “Watch your ears.” Mac finished as he pulled back the Thompson’s bolt with his right hand then took off the safety with his left. Grabbing a tight hold of the sub-machinegun’s grips and digging the stock into his shoulder, he prepared to fire down the range and tilted his head to aim through the sights. It took just a moment of an instant to line up the shot, to get the front pole sight to rest within the V-notch of the rear sight, and get both of them in front of the direct center of the target. The Staff Sergeant quickly fired off a short 3 round burst, and as the gas from each shot forced the bullet down the barrel the recoil jerked the gun up, but Mac’s muscles were trained for it and they held firm. These highly trained reflexes allowed Bargett to quickly acquire the next target and send some more .45 caliber lead straight into it before doing it another 3 times, each target a few more yards away then the last.

With the row of targets finished, Mac twisted the safety back on and lowered the Thompson before inspecting the targets. The sheets of paper had been set up for M1 rifles, and Mac’s sub-machinegun certainly did not match the Garand’s range, so while the nearer targets were hit with nice accuracy and percision in the middle with all three shots, the last few only had one or two bullets graze the empty border, at best.

“So, do you want to have a go?” Mac asked the nameless 1st Sergeant as he walked back to his superior’s slot to hand his piece over, “The safety is on the left, it’s the right knob and the left one is to select the fire mode. If you keep it on full auto just remember it’s not like your Garand, watch out for the recoil and make sure to take your finger off the trigger, or else you will use up all the bullets on one target.”

[1st Sgt. Michael Hobbar]

The staff sergeant started firing his Thompson, Hobbar admired that machine, it sounded and looked perfect, the way the weapon fired, the way it moved, it just made Hobbar fall in love with it. “I definitely need to get my hands on one of those babies.” Hobbar smiled.

“So, do you want to have a go?”

Holy frickin crap!? Michael though to himself, Me shoot one of those? Oh hell yeah. Michael nodded and responded, “Oh yes please.” The Staff Sergeant handed Michael the weapon, he grabbed the wooden forward grip and placed his hands on the back pistol grip. “Feels good, feels empowering.”

“The safety is on the left, it’s the right knob and the left one is to select the fire mode. If you keep it on full auto just remember it’s not like your Garand, watch out for the recoil and make sure to take your finger off the trigger, or else you will use up all the bullets on one target.”

Hobbar nodded his head, “Roger that Staff Sergeant.” Hobbar took the Staff Sergeant’s advice and took it to mind. Hobbar raised the weapon up and pressed it against his sholder, the weapon was lighter than his M1, but felt better for some odd reason.

A few targets moved into place in front of the First Sergeant, they were a line of targets with German soldier silhouettes. A line of 5 targets were sitting, ready to be shot at.

Hobbar looked at the Staff Sergeant, “I think I need a fresh magazine.” The Staff Sergeant nodded and handed Hobbar a new, fresh, 20 round magazine. Hobbar slipped the magazine into its slot on the underside of the weapon. The magazine snapped in snuggly. Hobbar closed his left eyes and took a deep breath. He puffed up his mouth, holding in air, and slowly squeezed the trigger. A single round exited the barrel of the Thompson.

“Feels good semi, I’m going to try full auto now.” Hobbar switched the weapon to full auto. “Now,” Hobbar began, “Lets see what this feels like… Hobbar squeezed the trigger once more. The weapon pushed Hobbar’s shoulder back, felt strong, felt deady, Hobbar liked it. A burst of rounds zipped towards the targets, ripping them apart. “Nice.” Hobbar finished the magazine with quick bursts of 4 to 5 shots. Hobbar finished the magazine in no time. "Now, that's what i call firepower." Hobbar grinned and handed the weapon back to the Staff Sergeant. "Lets go to the armory and see if we can snag me one eh?"

[Mac Bargett]

“Nice.” exclaimed the 1st Sergeant as his bullets filled the targets with holes. He was clearly impressed by the Sub-machinegun’s capabilities and also added, "Now, that's what I call firepower. Lets go to the armory and see if we can snag me one eh?" before handing the Thompson over to Mac, who checked the safety and replaced the magazine with a full one before slinging it back over his shoulder. He then started to talk as the two NCOs walked towards the building nearest to the rifle range, “If you feel like that, I know this armorer, and if ole Sgt. Magnum’s the range master, he’d know if they have any Thompsons around, and I’ve won enough crap games with him that I should be able to get you your own baby without going through the paperwork, training, and all that jazz you would normally need to do. So come on, let‘s see what he has.”

The man sitting inside the sturdy shack that held the ammo for the firing range recognized Mac even before he reached the hut, but still the Sergeant didn’t put down his comic book until Mac and the 1st Sergeant reached his window.
“Hello! Maccy Baby!”
Mac frowned at the introduction, “It’s Staff Sergeant Bargett to you, Sgt. Magnum,” but he let a small smile and placed the two empty Thompson magazines through the window, “at least until you pay me back that 50 dollars.”
With a stupid smirk on his face, Sgt. Magnum put the mags away, “Hey now, we all can’t get combat pay.”
“Well, there is an easier way for you to pay me back. I want to know if there’s any Thompsons that….” The sergeant didn’t even let Mac finish before spewing out accusation, “No! No Mac, I’ve told you before. It’s impossible. You try and go to battle with a Thompson for each shoulder and the first officer who sees you will order you to go for a Section 8 eval before you have a chance to use them.”
Mac glared right back, “First off, it’s a good idea. Second, it’s not for me. it’s for…” and he suddenly realized he did not know his superior’s name, “Top Hat here. He’s seen the power of the M1A1 Thompson, and he wants one as soon as possible.”
“Well…” Sgt. Magnum took a moment to think before answering, “No, I’m sorry, unless we just got a shipment and I didn’t hear about it, they’ve all already been procured for specific people and companies, they’ve been flying out of the crates as if every time to fire it Adolf gets a free kick in the ass. Sorry again Mac, but after I get off this guard duty I start the procedures to order you one.”

Mac nodded and turned to the 1st Sergeant, “Well Top Hat, that’s the way it goes. I guess you’re gonna have to go through channels and wait like a normal people. Who knows when you’ll get it.”

[1st Sgt. Michael Hobbar]

“Nice.” exclaimed the 1st Sergeant as his bullets filled the targets with holes.

Hobbar nodded, “Thanks Staff Sergeant, it felt really good.” Hobbar smiled, “To me, shooting comes natural, not that I come from a military family or anything, because I really don’t.” Hobbar thought back of home, “My parents hate the military, and did not support me at all. I actually signed up in ROTC without their permission or knowledge, it was only after graduation did they find out.” The two walked to a building nearby, it seemed to be an armory of some sort, and Staff Sergeant Bargett seemed to know the man.

“If you feel like that, I know this armorer, and if ole Sgt. Magnum’s the range master, he’d know if they have any Thompsons around, and I’ve won enough crap games with him that I should be able to get you your own baby without going through the paperwork, training, and all that jazz you would normally need to do. So come on, let‘s see what he has.”

Hobbar smiled, That’s good, paperwork was always a bitch, and being Company First Sergeant, he had stacks of paper work all the time. The two walked towards the armory to see if they could snag a new Thompson SMG for Hobbar. They reached just a little bit before the entrance when the man inside rose up and greeted the Staff Sergeant.

Hello! Maccy baby!”

“It’s Staff Sergeant Bargett to you, Sgt. Magnum,” “It’s Staff Sergeant Bargett to you, Sgt. Magnum,”

Hobbar grinned, he’d never seen a Staff Sergeant demand to be addressed as such, most Sergeants in the army; that is, Sergeants, Staff Sergeants, Master Sergeants, and so on so forth were fine with the casual Sergeant or Sarge. Hobbar personally didn’t mind being called Sergeant or Sarge, or even the occasional sir that was thrown his way, he was a pretty chill guy. The Staff Sergeant and the armory Sergeant were talking about something, Hobbar didn’t really pay attention, he was just thinking about how good one of those Thompsons would be in his arms. That firepower, that speed… Oh yeah, that’s the shit! All of that was good for combat, especially if they ended up in the city and had to fight an urban battle.

“Well, there is an easier way for you to pay me back. I want to know if there’s any Thompsons that….”

Hobbar smiled, It’s good to know people, especially subordinates who liked to impress their bosses. Hobbar was anticipating getting his new toy, but almost as soon as Bargett started speaking, the armorer interrupted.

“No! No Mac, I’ve told you before. It’s impossible. You try and go to battle with a Thompson for each shoulder and the first officer who sees you will order you to go for a Section 8 eval before you have a chance to use them.”

About now, Hobbar burst out in laughter, the thought of an NCO hard charging into the field wielding not one, but two SMGs one around both arms just made Hobbar laught.

“First off, it’s a good idea. Second, it’s not for me. it’s for…Top Hat here. He’s seen the power of the M1A1 Thompson, and he wants one as soon as possible.”

Hobbar nodded in response, he would’ve indeed liked to get his hands on that marvelous weapon as soon as fricken possible, he couldn’t wait, he just had the urge to hold that weapon!

“Well…” Sgt. Magnum took a moment to think before answering, “No, I’m sorry, unless we just got a shipment and I didn’t hear about it, they’ve all already been procured for specific people and companies, they’ve been flying out of the crates as if every time to fire it Adolf gets a free kick in the ass. Sorry again Mac, but after I get off this guard duty I start the procedures to order you one.”

Hobbar’s heart almost stopped, almost like loosing a girl, but not quite as bad. Hobbar looked at Bargett, “Boy that sucks.” He looked at the armorer, “You sure that they’re not any in the back or something? I really want one of those…”

“Sorry First Sergeant, there’s none in storage and we don’t have any to spare.”

Mac nodded and turned to the 1st Sergeant, “Well Top Hat, that’s the way it goes. I guess you’re gonna have to go through channels and wait like a normal people. Who knows when you’ll get it.”

Hobbar nodded in acknowledgement, “Alright then. I guess I can make due with this M1 Garand, it’s a mighty fine weapon, don’t get me wrong, just after firing that M1A1, oh boy. Ohh well, sometimes its just how things happen right?”

[Edward"Butcher"McMillan]

STOP...Moneytime

Hobbar - 8

Bargett - 6

-JT