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    quokka
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Firestorm - 30. FS Chapter 30

“I hope you don’t mind, but they arrived yesterday, so I invited them to attend, as they need to speak to you once this ceremony has concluded” Lt Colonel Harding said to me quietly. I had no idea why I was being asked to speak to the Brigadier, until I saw the badge on his arm, the badge of Special Operations Command, and I realised that this was the same Brigadier that I spoke to last week, during the intrusion at Bindoon.

The ceremony went smoothly, and Angela looked stunning in her dress, as the chaplain pronounced us Wife and Husband, knowing that it was Angela who had proposed to me, and I smiled broadly, as I kissed my wife for the first time and everyone cheered and applauded. This is when the Brigadier stepped forward, to make an unexpected announcement.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sorry to intrude on this special event, but I have limited time available to me before I fly back to Sydney, my name is Brigadier Murdoch from Special Operations Command in Sydney” the Brigadier began, as I held tight to my wife’s hand, unsure what was about to happen.

“Unfortunately, you are not in uniform, but considering the circumstances, that is allowed, Staff Sergeant Benning, front and centre” the Brigadier ordered, and I looked at Lt Colonel Harding for a moment, before facing forward again, before releasing my hold on Angela and snapping to attention, before I marched over to where the Brigadier stood. “Staff Sergeant Benning, I was planning to give you a promotion to Warrant Officer, but I have been informed your CO, that you have refused a previous promotion.

So, in replacement for the promotion, I am awarding you the highest bravery award, the Cross of Valour, for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. Along with that I am awarding you the Conspicuous Service Cross, for outstanding devotion to duty and outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgement and dedication in a non-war-like situation. Congratulations” the Brigadier said as he handed me two cases, that had the awards in them, and I shook his hand and saluted, as everyone else applauded.

Once the Brigadier and his aide had left, we all headed to the yacht club to enjoy lunch, with our family and colleagues. Tom was fascinated by the awards that I had received, and kept on asking me to have a look at them every twenty minutes or so, while we ate lunch. As we neared the end of lunch, Lt Colonel Harding stood up to make a speech. “To the Bride and Groom, I wish you all the very best for the future, and as a gift from the Army, I wish to present to you this” the CO said as he handed over a large yellow envelope, which had Special Operations Command stamped on it.

“(Former) Staff Sergeant Mitchell Benning, you have been promoted to Warrant Officer, and are hereby ordered to prepare for travel to your new posting – as part of an Officer Exchange Programme. Your family will be permitted to travel with you for this two-year term exchange. Your posting is to the British Infantry Training Centre at Catterick, North Yorkshire, UK, were you will be a firearms instructor. Information on where to go, your transport to get there and accommodation details of the private house rental at nearby village of Scotton are enclosed. Good Luck, signed Brigadier Murdoch”.

“Bloody hell” I exclaimed after reading the letter a second time, before handing it to Angela for her to read, and I saw wide grins on the faces of the CO and WO Owens, who obviously were aware of the orders. “Bloody hell” Angela said, echoing my comment. “Mum? Dad? What is it?” Tom asked us, and it took me a moment to realised that Tom had called me dad, which made me smile. “Tom, I have been transferred to an overseas exchange posting, to England, and you and your mum are coming with me” I announced, “Wow, awesome” Tom replied.

 

 

Copyright July 2017 Preston Wigglesworth All Rights Reserved
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Congratulations on the completion of another great story. This, as usual, was well written and kept the readers interest through all 30 chapters. I look forward to your future writings.

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A nice ending to this story, kept you gripped all the way through. I hope we get to here more about Mitch, Angela and Tom.

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I loved the way you did this last chapter. I hope you do a second story about Mitch, Angela, and Tom and their great adventure in the United Kingdom. I'm happy for Mitch and the family, and I'm not surprised that Mitch got the promotion to Warrant Officer and the awards he received from the Brigadier. I hope that Mitch, Angela & Tom are able to start their new lives in the UK without any problems with other contacts Dean Linton might have.  When Mitch goes to the new posting what happens with his dreams of going to the fire training Academy? 

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Preston, I am thinking that you are based in SA  or WA given the story lines of your different stories, especially the one that you lost on your memory stick . Keep up the good writing, give us another story later on Mitch, Angela & Tom. I would love to hear from you re new stories coming soon.

John D

Sydney/Australia

trainman1@tpg.com.au

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B).................. Nice story, hopefully you will have a sequel planned for his continued journey in England.

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Great story, can't wait for your next one ,yes I am reading Frontier and NB. Your writing kept me entertained and impatiently waiting for the next chapter👍👍👍

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