Behind on Their Shots
Posted on Mon Oct 13, 2025 @ 5:18pm by Senior Chief Petty Officer Alexander Rylan & Colonel Nicholas Means III & Sergeant Major Arcenio Velez & Gunnery Sergeant Terry Henderson & Corporal Annemieke Rademaker
1,240 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Time After Time
Location: Marine Deck
Timeline: Before Chicken Run MD1
ON
In addition to Sick Call duty in the various sick bays on DS5, Senior Chief Hopsital Corpsman (HMCS) Alex Rylan had the responsibility of supervising corpsman taking care of the Marine contingent, and sometimes head into Marine country and make sure the job at hand got done himself. That's what he was doing today.
The FMC Infantry was made up of some serious badasses... many of whom were scared to death of that most monstrous of medical devices... THE HYPOSPRAY!!! As such, it wasn't unusual to find that many were behind on their vaccines. There were a few optional vaccines, but not many, and the ones Alex was here about today were absolutely mandatory.
With Alex was another IDC and Alex's assistant leader of the bases Hospital Corpsman. Chief Hospital Corpsman (HMC) Babatunde Oladele was a member of the Yoruba tribe, and hailed from Nigeria on Earth's African continent. He was tall and handsome and built a bit like Alex: big and strong. He was smart and extremely capable.He could be a gentle giant or an imposing figure, depending on what the situation he was in called for. "Baba" as the people he worked with tended to call him ("Father") was there to help Alex make sure all of the IDCs and regular Corpsmen do what needed doing, and to deal with difficult patients. Like Alex, Baba had served with FMC Infantry and later with the Raiders, and therefore were not as likely to be intimidated by marines, combat hardened or otherwise.
When they arrived in Marine country and gained access, Alex asked Chief Oladele to wait with the other corpsmen while he talked to the CO of the Marines. He asked where to find the man and then proceeded to his office, where he knocked on the door.
[Colonel's Office]
Means, K'Doc, Velez, were discussing the disciplinary action to be taken on the four Marines that had decided to get into a fight during the festivities on the surface. Unfortunately none of them were drunk so they didn't have that as an excuse, not that that was an excuse. During all the discussions Corp. Rademaker patiently took notes on the meeting.
Alex had expected the door to be locked so he was startled when it opened as he was rapping his knuckles on it. "Excuse me, sir," Alex said. "Sorry for the intrusion. I'm Senior Chief Alex Rylan. I'm the new IDC up in Sick Bay and it seems I'm going to be keeping an eye on your lot as well. Could I have a minute of your time?"
Mean's nodded from behind his desk waving the Chief in. "Come on in Chief. What can we do for ya?"
"Well, Colonel," Alex said. "Some of your Marines appear to be afraid of that most deadly of enemies: The Hypospray. Joking aside, a bunch of your grunts are behind on some of their vaccines. I brought another IDC and some regular corpsmen to help me clear that up. I was hoping for some help to get that set up. If I gave a list of Marines that needed their shots to your Sergeant Major, they might be able to get that organized for me? Or maybe you have a senior medic that can move this along?"
Means looked to Velez and Rademaker then back to the Senior Chief. "I think we can work something into the schedule. When would you like to do this?"
Rademaker nodded and began taking notes.
"Soon as," Alex said. "Technically, if you can rustle up some of the people on my list, I can get them out of the way while I'm down here now. Brought a few corpsmen with me. We can do a run and gun through everyone. Well... run and spray. we can make a plan for the rest. Otherwise, you let me know and we'll make the time. In shifts or all at once. Whatever works best for you, Colonel. Might want to make it sooner than later, though. Some of these folks are behind on their... ah... social disease vaccinations."
He raised an eyebrow at the colorful description as well as the disruption to their plan for the day...even if a minor one. "Very well. Sergeant Major, set the Chief up in the assembly area and have those on his lit report for med check. Were they can get their shot or officially refuse treatment."
Rising as he grabbed his coffee, "Roger that sir."
"Thank you, Colonel," Alex said. "Here's the list, Sergeant Major," with a flick of his finger, Alex electronically sent the list from the PaDD he was using to the one the Sergeant Major was using. "Just let me know where you want us to set up."
Leaving the office, Velez led the way to the hanger that was used for the MEU's assembly area and would soon hold the unit's fighters and other vehicles. "Here you go. As you can see you'll have plenty of space. How long will it take you to set up?"
Alex looked over at Chief Oladele. The Nigerian IDC held up a hand with five fingers extended. "Looks like we can be ready in five minutes, so we'll be ready when your guys get here."
Merging the medics list with the current duty roster, "Some of these are Gamma shift so I will have their duty officer send them to sickbay. As to the others, "After initiating a hail he read off the list,"...report to the main assembly area. Move it Marines. Out."
Those on the farthest areas of the station beamed in while those in the immediate area began trickling in.
Alex saw that all of the corpsmen were set up. "Sergeant Major," he said. "Have the marines pick a corpsman and get in line and we'll get them all caught up or on record refusing."
Velez turned to the growing clusters of Marines as the grouped together with those they knew and wait to find out what was going on. In true Sergeant Major fashion bellowed to the those present. "ALL RIGHT YOU APES! GET THOSE TOPS OFF, PICK A CORPSMAN, AND LINES UP. THE THE CORPSMAN WHO YOU ARE, THEY'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED. EITHER TAKE YOUR SHOTS OR REFUSE THEN GET BACK TO WORK...NOW MOVE!! WE AIN'T GOT ALL DAY."
"Alright Sergeant Major," Alex said. "We're all set. Thanks for your help."
"Let me know if anyone give you any problems."
Alex and Babatunde got to work giving vaccines or not, and documenting whichever path was taken. After what seemed like an eternity, they finished their work.
"Okay," Alex said. "That's it. Let's wrap it up." Alex and Babatunde and the other corpsmen packed up all of their gear. When they were almost done, Alex left Baba to finish up and found the Sergeant Major. "Well," he said. "It took a while, but most everyone is now protected from something that translates roughly as 'Garnalian Hell Urine' to the good old fashioned 'Intersteller Creeping Crud.' Thanks for your assistance."
Velez nodded as he saw the Corpsman's people packed and beginning to depart. "No problem Chief. Adapting to overcome is what we do."
Colonel Nicholas Means III
CO - 21st MEU
Sgt Major Arcenio Velex
21st MEU
Corporal Annemieke Rademaker
Colonel Means Adjutant
Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Alex Rylan
Independent Duty Corpsman
Chief Hospital Corpsman Babatunde Oladele
Independent Duty Corpsman
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