Fire for Effect by Kendall McKenna Page A

dust,” Ruhl said. “It gets picked up easy by the wind and gets into everything. We can’t keep anything clean for very long.”
    “Yeah, I remember,” Kellan replied. He was brushing that sand off and out of things for almost a year after he’d returned home.
    Reaching a large, neutral colored structure, Ruhl held the door open for Kellan and Jonah. Colonel Mills was a short, stout, graying man with a stern expression.
    “You’re here to speak with Gunnery Sergeant Galen Foster.” Mills didn’t make it a question.
    “That’s correct, Colonel,” Kellan replied, trying to get a quick read on Mills.
    “Foster is with Charlie Company, Third Battalion, Second Marines.” The Colonel pointed to a map hung on the wall behind his desk. “Charlie is currently staffing a combat operations post sixty klicks from here.”
    Kellan’s annoyance rose. He wondered if Foster had been assigned to the post before or after this trip had been approved. “That’s rather problematic.”
    “It would be, except for two things,” Mills said. “First, Top Carver functioning as your aide bolsters your personal security. Second, you aren’t the typical civilian. Golf Company is scheduled for a patrol tomorrow, and Charlie Company’s COP is on their list of contacts to make.”
    “That sounds fortuitous,” Kellan said noncommittally, just in case he was reading the Colonel wrong.
    Mills folded his arms over his chest and looked from Kellan to Jonah and back again. “If you’re up for it, I’m not opposed to letting you accompany Golf Company on their patrol. You can conduct your interview tomorrow and be on a plane back to Germany the day after.”
    Kellan was pleasantly surprised that the Colonel so easily facilitated his mission. Maybe it was more than just the enlisted ranks who were unhappy that Restrepo had twice been denied the MOH. “That is an acceptable plan, Colonel.”
    § § §
    To Kellan’s annoyance, he needed Jonah’s help with his MTV—modular tactical vest—just before they stepped off on patrol. It was different from the interceptor body armor that had been standard when Kellan had been an officer. Luckily, the Kevlar helmet hadn’t changed.
    As they approached the line of Humvees swarming with young Marines, the captain broke off from his men and approached Jonah and Kellan.
    “Captain, sir,” Jonah greeted, “First Sergeant Jonah Carver.”
    “Top.” The captain’s name patch read Miller.
    “May I introduce Kellan Reynolds?” Jonah gestured in Kellan’s direction.
    Captain Miller shook his hand briskly. “I’m honored to have you both with us today,” Miller said in a serious tone. “I don’t even mind that you’re both armed. At least I know neither of you will cause yourselves or one of my men harm with a negligent discharge.” His small grin took some of the edge from his words. “But if things go tits up, the two of you will take cover in the Humvee. How copy?”
    “Solid, sir,” Jonah replied, still standing stiffly, every inch the enlisted Marine.
    “Solid copy, Captain,” Kellan said emphatically. They’d proven themselves in combat enough to have lost count. He and Jonah wanted to make it out intact, they had no issue with taking cover and staying safe.
    “I know you’re both very capable, but you haven’t trained with the Marines in my company,” Miller continued. “They have a shorthand and a rhythm that you take the chance of disrupting.”
    “Absolutely understood, Captain Miller,” Kellan assured him. “I was a platoon commander, I clearly remember what it was like to have a cohesively functioning team. We’re armed for our own protection, not for the purposes of joining in combat.”
    “If one of you comes face to face with an insurgent, by all means, put a bullet in his brain,” the captain said. “Otherwise, stay behind cover and follow any and all directions my men give you.”
    “You have my word, Captain,” Kellan agreed. If Kellan was honest with