"Bloody Americans"....[Jacka/Shirley]

[Mark Davies]

Location: 49th Infantry Division Base in Northern England
Time: 0930

Company Sergeant Major Mark Davies was in a a foul move as he made his way through the ugly corridor towards the 49th ID's main Briefing Room.

The building was nigh on unstable; ugly-looking, small, almost useless. Not unlike a couple of privates under his command, he thought to himself, an almost inconspicuous smile slipping past. The bloody Americans and their oh-so-precious 3rd Infantry Division were granted the large bases, the most men, the most firepower. The two divisions had worked closely in the past but the 3ID seemed to be taking over most of the Western Front's entire war effort and Davies was pissed off because of it. Two of the 3ID's most senior officers were British themselves; no alliegance, none at all.

A young American Sergeant had once questioned whether the Company Sergeant Major had an inferiority complex of sorts and was answered with a punch in the jaw. No, Davies did not like the Americans. In his opinion, they were only slightly less infuriating than the bloody Nazis.

Yet here he was, preparing to meet one of these bloody Americans. A young corporal being drafted into the division who Second Lieutenant Jacka was interested in meeting - and seemingly wanted Davies at his side as he did so. He was reportedly a good soldier but still...well...still a bloody American...

Davies pushed open the door and entered the room where Jacka had doubtless been sat at his desk for the past three quarters of an hour. He checked his watch and scowled; the American corporal was late...

[Ben Shirley]

"Just stay calm.... everything will go well..." Ben was getting nervous about his meeting with Mark Daives. He knows about Marks hatred toward Americans so Ben was trying to think of a plan to talk to Mark. His brothers were trying to calm with comments like, "Don't worry, you survived basic training, you can survive this too." Then they would start laughing at their remarks. As Joseph comes into the room he sees his brothers teasing Ben so he comes in the conversation and says, "Back off guys! how would you like it if me and Ben did that to you?!" After hearing this, Ben felt appreciated and then got more focused on the task at hand. He turned to Joseph and said "So, what time is it?" Looking at his watch that he got for his 6th birthday, Joseph says "its time to get your ass moving. Your late!

After realizing the time, Ben gets his stuff and then dashes through the door and straight down the hall, dodging any people in his way. Tripping over his shoe laces Ben lands face first in the ground with a nose bleed.

"Son of a...." whispers Ben as he gets up and ties his shoe and then ran through the ugly and small corridors. As he gets to the briefing room, Ben slows down his pace to a walk and goes to the bathroom to wash up.

Drying up his hands, Ben walks off into the hallways again and then goes to the door, and stops. He twitches his hands trying to get the courage to open the door. After a long pause Ben gets the courage and opens the door, saying "Sorry Sir for being so late, im Corporal Ben Shirley, Commander of Tynase Light Infantry Regiment."

[Lt. Aiden Jacka]

Lieutenant Jacka drummed his fingers repeatedly on the arm rests of his chair. he had done so for the past three quarters of an hour. He hoped the new Corporal would arrive soon he had planned on going out to buy a new hunting rifle after the meeting but the chances of that seemed to be decreasing by the minute.

Minutes later Company Sergeant Major Davies stepped into the room the expression on his face showed that he was pissed off. He didn't seem to like Americans. In fact he seemed to hate them. Aiden wasn't too keen on them but he would keep an open mind. He had seen great American soldiers in his time. one of them had deserted. He tapped his Webley revolver remembering the many deserters he had shot over the years.

He looked at his watch again contemplating leaving now. He thought the new soldier had probably forgotten to turn up. Maybe he had heard of what Davies thought of Americans. He chuckled to himself.

Suddenly the double doors swung open and Corporal Shirley burst into the briefing room. He seemed as if he'd been injured. Had someone taken a swing at his face?

"Sorry Sir for being so late, I'm Corporal Ben Shirley, Commander of Tynase Light Infantry Regiment" said the Corporal.

"As you probably already know I am Lieutenant Aiden Jacka and here is CSM Mark Davies. And you are in command of the Tyneside light infantry and not the Tynase." said Jacka

[Mark Davies]

Davies' eyes immediately darted to the newcomer. He looked like a good enough soldier but the Sergeant Major didn't appreciate lateness. He smirked briefly as Jacka chided him for mispronouncing the name of his own regiment but he decided that schoolboy bullying was beneath him. Childish. You didn't train men into being soldiers by pulling faces. You had to act.

"Take a seat, corporal," he said stiffly, rising to his feet and gesturing for the NCO to sit down. He scratched the back of his neck but chose to stand. It was all about psychology, he knew that much. If he wanted to mould someone into a soldier, then respect would be mandatory. Better to give him someone to hate, he guess, than someone to love. He often played good cop, bad cop alongside Lieutenant Jacka when the new arrivals made their presence known. Davies tended to be saddled with bad cop most of the time - but then again, he wasn't complaining.

"So, tell me, Ben," he said falsely, using the man's first name to again assert his superiority. "What's your history on the battlefield? I don't want some nancy-boy leading my men."

He was giving the corporal a chance to impress him. If he didn't grab that chance with both hands, then the two men would be unlikely to get off on the right foot...

[Ben Shirley]

"As you probably already know I am Lieutenant Aiden Jacka and here is CSM Mark Davies. And you are in command of the Tyneside light infantry and not the Tynase." said Jacka

"What's your history on the battlefield? I don't want some nancy-boy leading my men."

When Ben heard this he felt kind of insulted thinking that his CSM thought he was a nancy-boy. So Ben replied, "First of all, I'm not no nancy-boy. I am a Corporal with trustworthy men who are my family. Second, My history in the battlefield I cant explain. I would rather prefer to show you my skills in battle. If you see fit let me take up the Observation post in Africa. I would surely defend that area with my men ready for the victory feast. Anymore questions Mark Daives?

[S.SGT David Bevan]

Jacka listened as the new Corporal replied to sergeant Major Davies. It wasn't the kind of answer he expected. He hadn't yet met any NCO who could not explain his Combat experience. He knew Davies was probably not impressed.

"I'm not sure that's Necessary Corporal. But maybe you can tell us which battles you fought in and your role in these battles. Anything of your combat experience."

Aiden looked at his watch. He only had ten minuets left. The corporal had better start answering with more detail. He wondered whether American commanders would personally go and watch their soldiers fighting from an observation post. It seemed unlikely to him. he'd rather fight alongside his men than watch them risk their lives.

[Ben Shirley]

Heh, since you asked, I shall tell you of my battle experiences even though I distastefully hate to tell them. First of all, I am a skilled commander and i have very trustful who most are from my family. Second, I have been in mostly desert terrain battles, but I have more experience in Woodland areas since my role in my battles required lots of cover and stealth. Thirdly, my roles in my battles were constantly changed. The role I was most used to was being a sniper. One shot, One kill is my motto for killing those wretched Nazi scum. For every shot I throw, 1 bad soul is removed from this world. I work alone and only alone, my words are always clear and my heart is pure. Before this cursed war is over, I will make sure to kill one Nazi Officer, or General. Remember this, God is my shepherd, My bullets are my cleanser, and my gun is my purifier. God gives me strength to "cleanse" the Nazis. My men are my trustful followers and family. I hope I answered your question to your satisfaction?

Ben looked at Mark's face as he remembered all the faces of the Nazis he has killed in his lifetime. He remembers his British uncles house go into flames from the Nazi raid. Ben remembers the long run toward the woods then even a longer run towards the orphanage 5 miles away from home. The memories of his childhood was like scars from Nazi bullets. He hated the Nazis as much as he hates the war. Ben looked at Mark's face one more time as he waits for a respond.

[Mark Davies]

OOC: Umm, guys, slow down a bit, feels like you're edging me out of this a bit. Remember, we post in order. Also, Ben, remember to write in the past tense. Example: Ben looked at Davies, not Ben looks at Davies.

Davies rolled his eyes as the corporal began to talk of his "military experience". A speech best reserved for novels and motion pictures, he decided. The man also seemed to put his trust in...what was it? God? God would be a lot more help if he could wield a machine gun, the Englishman mused.

"Ah, yes," he said boredly. "The famous Shirley brothers. Your mother must have been quite the tart, Corporal. Now, listen to me, if you take that arrogant tone with me again, you will regret it, understand? But, admittedly, your file does say that you have some skill when it comes to sniping. Maybe one day you can be a renegade lone wolf and send the bastards to hell one shot at a time. There's no reason why that can't happen. But before that, you need to learn how to be a soldier. Nothing glorious, nothing honourable. Just a soldier. If you can prove yourself to us on the battlefield, then maybe I'll view you in a brand new light. Maybe you can even be one of the division's snipers - I believe Staff Sergeant Bevan also has one under his command - but until you can prove yourself absolutely...you are nothing to me."

He ran a hand through his thinning hair and thought for a moment. Orders had been drafted through not long ago, he remembered that much. Orders to send a small squad to Africa to bolster the British Forces there. He turned back to Shirley and smiled wryly.

"Looks like you've got a chance to prove yourself, Corporal Shirley," he said. "You're going on holiday. To Africa."

He glanced over at Jacka. If the boy did well - by which he meant didn't get shot to death for his own stupidity - then maybe he could be sitting in the Lieutenant's chair before the war was over. Davies chuckled to himself silently. He wouldn't be holding his breath.

[S.SGT David Bevan]

Aiden listened intently as the Corporal told him about his military experience. He seemed to be a successful soldier and new snipers were always welcome. The 49th division needed as many as they could get. Aiden thought that maybe he would get Shirley some formal sniper training. He could become a certified Marksman.

"It seems you have some experience and skill when it comes to soldiering. Though I fail to see how you can be a skilled commander when you say you work alone and only alone. Soldiers need to be team players. Even a good sniper is far deadlier with the expertise of a trustworthy spotter at his side."replied David to what the Corporal had said.

Aiden agreed with what Davies had said. In war you could not trust God to keep you alive. The only people you could trust for that are your fellow soldiers who will watch your back.

David lay back in his chair and grinned as he thought about Davies giving the Corporal a row for his "arrogant tone". It seemed a little harsh although the speech would have suited a movie or book better than a review of military experience.

Aiden remembered how he had been the same when he joined up. Boasting about his experience at hunting. Maybe after the war he could return to Canada and go hunting Buffalo like he used to.

[Mark Davies]

"So, we're decided," said Davies boredly. "You can bugger off to Africa and try not to get shot. I'll send a recommendation to Colonel Bennett. There's a vulnerable spot near Bir Hacheim; you can be stationed there. It's not a pretty place, but I'm sure you'll manage. We'll be counting on you," he added stiffly, holding out a hand for the Corporal to shake. He turned back to Jacka.

"Sir," he said, nodding with respect. "If you'll excuse me, I have a platoon of conscripts that need toughening up waiting for me," he smiled dangerously, thinking of what exactly he had in store for the twenty odd recruits, men who jumped at their own shadows.

Without another word, he exited the room. He decided he disliked the Corporal; he was confident of himself, too confident. Confidence was a skill, of course, if you weren't confident, you weren't a soldier but Shirley...well...if he didn't cool down a bit then perhaps he'd find himself with a bullet in his skull before the month was over.

Perhaps Benjamin Shirley would never leave Africa.

[Ben Shirley]

"Well, thanks for the position. I will return with a victory for the Allies. Don't miss the party. LT.Aiden, May I dismiss myself? I have something to do with my brothers and I need to do it now. It is very important.

Saluting Lt.Aiden once more, Ben opened the door and walked toward the ugly hallways once more, thinking his opinion of LT. Aiden and David Bevans. "Hmm.... I must conclude that... David is one annoying bastard. His attitude just makes me want to punch him. Note to self: Remember not to snipe David down. But, LT. Aiden isn't a bad fellow and so I shall conclude for him that... I like him to a extent. Note to Self: Do not forget to make LT. Aiden your trustworthy friend.

Ben walked at a more slow pace since he was thinking more throughly and complex. I need some friends in this damned place.... lets try out the new Warrant Officer... his name is Logan D. something, forgot his last name. Anyway, let me hurry up to finish our preparations for Africa. It is going to be hot as hell.

[Daniel Brennan]

Mod-Post

Hmm, a few posts under the limit here.

CP:
Davies: 0CP GOD BLESS AMERICA! 5CP

Ben: 4CP

Aiden: 4CP


~Dan