Quote:
Originally Posted by johndallman
I can see why Archie doesn't feel like going out with him for the evening.
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Sir Archibald is not alone in his view there, but Col. Irmintraut could not care less. He never experiences the slightest desire to attend social functions for
fun, anyway. He will only take time out from his work schedule to socialise if the function has a clear purpose that relates to his current mission, somehow.
In the case of going out to a bar with his new team, he was able to observe their behaviour in a non-work environment, which allows him to more efficiently command, coordinate and motivate them. He can also estimate their familiarity with the local culture, ability to converse with strangers of various ethnicities and screen them for any signs of adverse political views.
So far, oddly, he has taken a liking to the outspoken Australian. Yes, his political views are a muddled mess and he wears his bleeding heart on his sleeve, but Irmintraut immediately sensed that Mr. Walker had a gift for 'people stuff'. In fact, he seems to positively revel in the company of others, quickly ingratiating himself into their confidence until they almost believe he's an old friend.
As Col. Irmintraut is aware of his own lack of
innate ability in this area, for all that he has mastered the academic side of what makes people tick, he is pleased to discover that one of his team can handle all that messy stuff, leaving him free to concentrate on the important business of the mission. Granted, Mr. Walker will need careful managing, but he
is just an enlisted man, surely he can't give a full-bird Colonel of the United States Army too much trouble.
SSG Nassir appears to be a clear example of what these people can achieve, given proper motivation and an American upbringing. A solid, salt-of-the-earth enlisted man, patriotic, simple and willing. Good bearing, clean-cut, no apparent vices, always quick to jump to obey an order. Of course, with his clearence, the Colonel knows that he's Delta, and he's checked his service files, which back up his view entirely. Not a flaw anywhere; SSG Nassir is a credit to his race and worthy of his adopted country. Almost enough to bring a tear to Col. Irmintraut's eye, it is. Gunga Din and all that.
Sameer Gupta Singh, despite the name, is not a better man. He appears to lack all the simple boyish virtues that a proper native* enlisted** man ought to have. Of course, his college education is to be commended and it is wonderful to see how good he is at intricate technical tasks like setting up team communications, but he'll need a firm hand if he's to grow into any sort of soldier. He's already getting chubby from his indifferent diet, which is a sure sign of lack of self-displine, and he's worryingly diffident and shy.
Lieutenant Book of the Detroit Police Service is an enigma to the Colonel so far, however. Irmintraut gets the impression that he is intelligent, and his resume and list of publications certainly back that up, but whether he is a reliable subordinate is not clear. Colonel Irmintraut has a firm view of the qualities necessary in a subordinate and one of the most important ones is the absolute conviction that whatever the Colonel says, goes. He fears that Lt. Book might not be the right sort of subordinate.
Sir Archibald Forsyth-Sykes seems to be a typically effete time-serving British Civil Servant. At least he's good at his job, it appears, and it is to his credit that he evidently does not approve of strong drink and going to bars during deployment. Of course, the use of aristocratic titles is the worst sort of barbarity and his strange insistence on being addressed as Sir Archibald is hideously vain, but these Brits cannot help themselves, they didn't have the wit to chuck their King back in the day.
*Sammy, of course, would be fairly mystified as to what that meant, as he was born in LA.
**Sammy is about as likely to consider a career in the armed forces as he is to become a Catholic nun. And he's an atheist who is really attached to those body parts which he'd have to shed for such a career change.