Free Troy Rising 3 - The Hot Gate by John Ringo Page A

“We’ll sort this out in a moment, gentlemen.”
     
    * * *
     
    It was more than a moment and Dana was getting decidedly nervous when the hatch dialed open.
    “What the hell is going on in here?”
    The speaker was a BM1, American to Dana’s covert relief.
    “Bosun’s Mate, wish to report violation of Article 91, to whit disrespect to an NCO or Warrant as well as multiple EEOC violations,” Dana said, tightly. “I tried to dial it back but apparently the personnel remain unaware, despite input, that plants translate anything they say.”
    “Bullshit,” CM2 Benito said. “We didn’t say a thing that was out of line, CM.”
    “Oh, really,” Dana said, squirting a video of the part she’d recorded to the BM1. “Prior to that SN Reyes first described me as a whore loudly enough for the whole room to hear. Then when I pointed out, by com so it would not embarrass him, that the plants translate everything, he repeated the insult. At which point I started to record. When I told him to lock it up, CM2 Benito became involved.”
    “This is just so much lying bullshit, BM,” Benito swore. “She’s just trying to get us in trouble like the 142nd is always doing. We never called her a whore!”
    “Hang on a second,” BM1 Steve Persing said, consulting his plants. “Shit. Okay, Pedro…CM2 Parker, outside.”
    When they were out in the corridor Persing started swearing under his breath.
    “Okay, Parker, first of all you’re not supposed to even be in this gym,” Persing said. “There’s a reason we have an in-brief for all new personnel. Which you get at 0900. You’re not part of this unit, yet, so you’re not supposed to be using the gym.”
    “That’s it, BM?” Dana said, her eyes widening. “I’m not supposed to be in the gym so some unwashed deck monkey can call a CM2 a whore?”
    “No,” Persing said, grinding his teeth. “And that is right on the edge of insubordination, CM.”
    “Aye, aye, BM1,” Dana said, coldly. “Noted. According to my orders, as of my arrival on station and check-in, which was performed at 1732 last evening, I was officially assigned to the 143rd boat squadron, BM. This is the 143rd designated fitness facility. My mistake.”
    “You’re officially part of the unit, Parker,” Persing said, sighing. “But you, clearly, needed the in-brief.”
    “Duly noted, BM,” Dana said. “Would you care at this time to note just what portion of that would have applied in this situation?”
    “You’ll get that at the brief, CM,” Persing said, turning to the Hispanic CM. “Benito, this was unnecessary and unwise. It’s the job of an NCO to dial down something like this, not make it worse.”
    “I tried,” Benito said. “But she just kept making these crazy accusations. You know how they are.”
    “BM,” Dana said, tightly. “If this continues, I’m going to make a formal EEOC complaint. I’ve never made one in my life. I try like hell to be one of the guys. But this is just bullshit.”
    “Okay, clearly we need to get you two separated,” Persing said. “Pedro, you need to counsel Spaceman Reyes on proper respect due and NCO as well as com and implant protocol. Parker, I’ll see you at the in-brief.”
    “BM, a moment of your time,” Dana said as Benito entered the gym.
    “Yes, CM?” Persing said, tightly.
    “If that is the entirety of this incident, you will face a formal complaint, BM,” Dana said. “I’m assigned to this unit. If I can be treated as ‘just another whore’ then to say the least that undermines my ability to act as an NCO.”
    “We’ll deal with this, CM,” Persing said. “In the meantime, keep your ass out of sight until we’ve got this situation you created under control.”
     
    * * *
     
    Dana flopped back down on the rack and shook her head.
    “What the hell?”
    She wasn’t used to this. She’d dealt with some jack-asses that took her at face value, blonde Barbie one each, a couple of times. But not this bad. And the