Read Jethro 3: No Place Like Home for Free Online Page B

more because he had nearly pulled her career down with him had he gotten caught. She knew now he had acted in a calculated fashion to not only render justice that was obviously in short supply, but also cover the Navy from any repercussions should he be exposed. She still didn't have to like it though.
    “Ma'am, you can't blame the Sergeant in this instance; ma'am, he did his duty. Tech Miller obviously didn't. He didn't like getting caught. He still doesn't understand it wasn't so much the not doing the job that got him in trouble as it was lying about it and trying to cover it up afterwards.”
    “True.”
    Jethro was unsure what happened until he caught on that he'd accidentally caught someone out. He shrugged. “If he'd done his job in the first place...”
    “Right. But that's not going to buy you any favors with the crew so watch your tail.”
    “Right.”
    The engineering department was now a bit hostile and competitive with the jarheads, seeing them now as the enemy, a snitch. Some who had been coasting on high morale and had forgotten or glossed over harder chores now had to dig in and do them. Some resentment was formed there, even more so when the XO and Chief engineer insisted that experienced hands do the hard, dirty jobs before they shoved it off on a clueless recruit. That didn't go over well with the engineers.
    At the next morning staff meeting, the Captain asked if it was going to be a long-term problem.
    “I'll get a handle on it eventually, ma'am. They know better; they just don't want to admit it. Some of the chores are a bitch, and I for one don't want some greenhorn ham handed twit trying to do them. Not when my ass may be riding on the line if they get it wrong. It'll take a couple days, but I expect to drill that into some of the wiser heads shortly. The rest,” he shrugged helplessly. “They'll never learn,” Chief Chowler said. “For now though, waking them up and getting them back to work was a good thing. We've got way too many noobs and some coasters. You know I transferred some of my best people to man the ships we left behind in Antigua right?” He said. The Captain nodded. “Unfortunately, that left us with some borderline people. They aren't bad apples, but a few you have to keep on them to get the job done,” the Chief replied.
    “They lack initiative?” The Captain asked. She glanced at Shelby who nodded. “It's not just battle damage?”
    “I've been helping out in engineering, ma'am, giving the Chief some downtime or freeing him up for other projects. Some of the staff in the department know their stuff, but you have to be on them constantly to make sure it is done. They know they need to do it but always have an excuse. And if it is a hard or dirty job…,” she shook her head in disgust. “Yes, there are a lot of issues to fix though.”
    The Captain made a face. She should have known it wouldn't be so simple or easy a fix.
    “Lazy, pure cussed laziness. Pure and simple. They play dumb a lot and think they can get away with it. Some are just in the Navy for a job, meal and the perks. Most aren't above grade E-4. I'm tempted to bust the lot of them back to E-1.”
    Renee snorted. “I see. Join the Navy; see the universe. They probably have or think they have a sense of adventure. Girls like the uniform.”
    “Yeah, but they don't like the whole getting shot at and dying thing,” the XO said. “I've heard some grumbling.”
    Renee nodded but turned to the Chief. “Right. Well, Chief, get them off their asses and moving. And keep them moving.”
    “I'm working on it skipper. Unfortunately, I'm about out in noncoms though, to do that.”
    Renee nodded. “Good. Make a list with Firefly and the XO then. We'll employ a bit of carrot and stick. It's been a while since I've gotten to play the bitch,” she said grinning. The smile didn't touch her eyes. “Bread and water if we have to, though I don't expect it. Pick the best, and we'll promote them if you think it's