Retaliating the Battalion

Super Tom here. Anything involving the United States Navy is personal to me because I was once a Navy pilot. Thus, it was only natural that I was as angry as my best friend’s non-super counterpart, Leo the Patriotic Lion (whom Super Leo and I call Captain Leo, and likewise we call Tom the Patriotic Tiger Captain Tom), when the whole ruckus got out on the shooting that happened. It took place in the Naval Yard in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Six died, and three shooters were involved. It was so upsetting to the Navy and to all residents of our nation’s capital that they felt there was only one thing to do: call the G-52s and get them to investigate, or, more importantly from all those who remembered what was happening at the Baseball Hall of Fame, call Captain Leo, have him stare at the shooters, and possibly make them all wish they were dead. That’s a harsh thing to wish. The G-52s do not wish death on anybody if it is not absolutely necessary. But you know how the public thinks. They want revenge and retaliation.

We also heard rumors Bendraqi was planning a follow-up attack, so that’s really why we went to the naval yard where the shooting crime happened, but we went ahead and tried to investigate what we could about the shooting crisis.

Upon arriving at the yard, I was surprised but delighted to see my old boss, Admiral Miles Mathis (who is to the Navy what General Mike Morton, Super Slash’s old boss, is to the Army). “Always glad to see you again,” he smiled as he landed.

“You too, Admiral,” I smiled as we shook hands. “We didn’t come for a pleasure visit, though. We came to investigate the shooting crime.”

“What do you know about it?” Super C asked.

“All we know is that three were involved and six died. We haven’t learned their motive or anything. Aaron Alex, one of the shooters, is also dead; he killed a total of 12 including these six, and the police shot him in self-defense. He evidently had disciplinary issues but still got an honorable discharge when it should’ve been dishonorable to the utmost extreme. Now that doesn’t mean I am wishing death on the man because I’m not. I don’t know if they were after Congress or the President and his VP, but it’s a fuzzy story all around.”

“We’ll let the investigators figure it out based on what they know that we don’t,” Captain Leo replied. “Meanwhile, allow me to interrogate these dummies.”

“You’re not bellowing, are you?”

“No, sir. I’m under divine oath never to bellow again. I wouldn’t be surprised if they tell me to murder them, though; the other two shooters, that is.”

“Well, whatever works. Perhaps this will help.” Admiral Mathis held up a copy of the Chicago Tribune he had subscribed to, which read as follows:

WASHINGTON—Navy Yard shooting suspect Aaron Alexis received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy Reserve in 2011, even though he exhibited a pattern of misconduct during his career, officials said.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Alexis had a Navy record that included several unauthorized absences from duty, instances of insubordination and disorderly conduct, one instance of being absent without leave, and several failed inspections, according to a Navy official.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the current investigation, also said that in addition to his two previously known arrests in 2004 and 2010, Alexis had been arrested in DeKalb County, Ga., in 2008 on a disorderly conduct charge and held for two nights.

Initial reports indicated Alexis, a 34-year-old Navy contractor, had received a general discharge from the Reserve, a category that suggests an unsatisfactory record. But the Navy said Alexis had in fact applied for and received an honorable discharge.

The Texas man suspected of killing 12 people entered the Navy Yard on Monday morning and gained access to the secure Navy Sea Systems Command building, where he went on a shooting spree that spread panic at the base just a mile and a half from the U.S. Capitol. He was armed with an AR-15 military-style assault rifle, a double-barreled shotgun and a handgun, a law enforcement source said.

A military official said that before discharging Alexis honorably, the Navy had been pursuing a general discharge against him on a series of eight to 10 misconduct charges, ranging from traffic offenses to disorderly conduct.

However, when it became evident the case against Alexis would not support a general discharge, he was allowed to apply for an early discharge under what is known as the Early Enlisted Transition Program, which is only used for honorable discharges, the military official said.

Alexis had a spate of run-ins with both civilian and military authorities while he was in the Navy Reserve as full-time support employee. He was arrested in DeKalb County, Ga., in 2009 on a disorderly conduct charge, and was accused of discharging a firearm by authorities in Fort Worth, Texas.

He received non-judicial punishment from the military for both the military and civilian misconduct charges, said a Navy official, who did not know the exact punishment.

Alexis died Monday in a gun battle with police.

He had been hoping to get back into the Navy but was “experiencing problems” with officials at the Navy Yard and at his contracting firm, a federal official said. Alexis “didn’t take that very well,” said the official.

In addition, Alexis “went to the VA to talk to them about mental-health issues. He was trying to get help, we think,” the official said, referring to the government’s veteran services department.

Whatever mental-health problems Alexis faced, neither those nor his arrests in 2010 and 2004 for gun-related incidents prevented him from recently buying at least one weapon, a shotgun

He arrived in Washington about four months ago, friends said. He had worked recently for a defense contractor called The Experts, which is a subcontractor on an HP Enterprise Services contract to work on the Navy Marine Corps’s Intranet network, according to Hewlett-Packard spokesman Michael Thacker.

As a civilian information technology contractor, he worked on the Navy and Marine Corps intranet and was given a security clearance classified as “secret,” his company’s chief executive told Reuters.

“He did have a secret clearance. And he did have a CAC (common access card),” said Thomas Hoshko, CEO of The Experts.

U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus on Tuesday ordered a review of physical security at all Navy and Marine Corps installations in the wake of Monday’s shootings.

The official said the Navy would first take a “quick look” at installations to make ensure existing physical security standards are being met. The second review will be larger and more in-depth, the official said.

A ‘sweet and intelligent guy’

“Sweet and intelligent, my striped butt!” Cripto exclaimed. “He killed the guy! He is going to get what he deserves; I don’t care what defense you’re using!”

“So you don’t believe in the Twinkie Defense either?” Admiral Mathis asked.

“Absolutely not,” Cripto replied, “and apologies for the outburst.”

“Autism kicking in again?” Super C asked sympathetically.

“I think so. I didn’t mean to shout, but that’s always been my attitude. Someone’s bound to slam me for it if I don’t stop preaching it or change it.”

“Sounds like me,” Captain Leo commented. “We do have the most in common, except there is autism in you and there isn’t in me. It’s what makes you who you are. Still, we must talk to these other two criminals provided we can find where they’re at.”

Our radars led us all to discover there was a maximum-security prison holding the other two crooks. The authorities confirmed it was us coming down here to get more information, and they led us to the prison cell the other two crooks were in. When the other crooks saw us, naturally, as expected, they panicked. “Uh-oh!” they screamed. “It’s him! It’s that lion! We know what you’re going to say, so say it! Go ahead and say it! Say we shall die! Say it! Say it!”

“Pipe down or I’ll throw you in solitary!” the guard yelled.

“There’s no need for anyone to shout,” Captain Leo replied. “You’re a prison guard. You know better than that. And as for you two, you’re quite mistaken. You two are going to get just what you deserve, but the decision is not mine as to whether you continue to rot in this cell or die and go to hell. Hey. That rhymes. I’m a natural poet. Anyways, I think you get the point.” The crooks just stared, shivered, and sweat bullets. “I hope I haven’t said anything too cross,” Leo worryingly said to us. “They’re so paranoid just like the rest of the world—and that’s literally speaking—that they can’t speak. Literally can’t speak.”

“This is proof,” Super C sighed. “The world fears you. It will probably stand forever. Parents are probably teaching their children to be scared of you.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. The rest of my everlasting life is going to be a never-ending battle not only against evil, but against all the stereotypes of me that are false.”

“Don’t think about that. Let’s go.” We walked out of the prison section and out of the prison, and were heading back over to the naval yard when another shooting began. The public was expecting this one, though: it was Bendraqi trying to blow up the yard. Thus, it was only natural that Super C, Super Leo, and I formed a triple threat in fighting back against the beams aimed at the yard, whilst Cripto put up a shield around the yard to protect. Super Slash had the liberty of acting as Admiral Mathis’s bodyguard, and Thunder Fox and Thunderstorm Sam joined him. Meanwhile, F.C., H.H., and C.C. (the Crimson Caracal) demonstrated their supersonic speed abilities by circling the yard, and directing the trails behind them so that when all three made a spectacular high jump, the beam bounced off it and hit Bendraqi, giving him a taste of his own medicine. Instead of spreading propaganda about himself being ruler, however, he kept saying that the dead crook should have been defended with the insanity defense commonly known as the “Twinkie Defense,” and that the other two crooks should have been let out because they were only guilty by association. Of course, the public wouldn’t believe a word he said.

A massive triple knockout punch from the three of us airborne at the moment is what sent old nutso fatso back to Alcatraz, and when we brought our feet back to solid ground, we noticed the crowd cheering for us. Even the U.S. Navy Band was playing stirring tunes, and what a sight it was, as the public waved American flags vigorously.

While it is true that the trial had yet to happen, and we were going to let the judges and jurors decide the fate of the other two crooks, the citizens of Washington, D.C. seemed more worried about Bendraqi because he was a far bigger threat than these two ever would be. We still don’t know all the details, but just seeing Leo’s face was punishment enough in my book. The rest shall come naturally.

While we didn’t see the President, his VP, or any Congressman or Senator, the public living in Washington didn’t mind us being there. “Amazing,” Captain Leo observed. “They don’t seem to mind me being here, in spite of others advising me not to come.”

“I think they’ve been anticipating your return all along,” Admiral Mathis replied. “They remember you being here when you toured as an angry public speaker—no offense—and because you always offered hope and told them how to achieve it, that’s the real reason they admire you. I admire you for that.”

“Why, thank you, Admiral,” Captain Leo smiled. “And no offense taken.” The two exchanged salutes.

Any civilians talking to us asked us, “Will you please come back? We’d love to have you back!”

“Of course we will, whenever we get the time,” Super C replied. “A superhero’s work is never done, of course, but we had this a long time coming.” We smiled and continue to acknowledge the crowds, and later, we found a Maximum Mighty Melt to eat lunch at when all was said and done.

THE END

---

Written as a request for  human72 based on a topical event. The news article was taken from the online edition of the Chicago Tribune.