Sergeant Major Wayne Sneeden had fought in numerous combat operations, suffered mutilple wounds, and nearly died a few dozen times in his military service. He would go through all of that again, if it meant avoiding the present duty he was about to commit. A personal interview with the media powerhouse of the west coast Cat Grant.
Beachhead just hated the sound of it, he was a friggin GI JOE, not a lousy celebrity. Yet here he was dressed in his dark green dress uniform, red beret, and unmasked alone inside an elevator heading closer and closer to the destination. No matter how much Beach wanted to drop this crap, he had to deal with it, being the GI JOE liaison to National City. That meant juggling with the goal of rooting out Cobra elements inside the city along handling a PR campaign.
Another reminder that this was a punishment assignment in every sense. Still he was a ranger and an Joe, that meant adapt and fight through this mess...somehow. He took a deep breath and released it."Damn, I feel like ten years old again, going for a check-up with the dentist."
The army ranger remarked to himself when the elevator stopped and it's door opened. He walked out, as the busy workplace of the media staff went on without interruption, despite his arrival. That was actually a comfort to Beach, he hated dressing up in public, wasn't his style. He walked his way through with military stride, until he stopped and reached Cat Grant's office.
"Come in." She actually stood. Cat Grant would do a lot of things, but being disrespectful to the military wasn't among them.
"Please, take a seat. Now... I want you to know that I am, have been, and always will be the staunchest supporter of the armed forces and the job they do for this country."
Once he came in, she'd take a seat. "Don't think for a moment though that will make me soft on the questions I ask you. They will be harsh, and I am not known for my ability to soften my words in the name of political correctness or trigger warnings or microagressions - so many excuses for being weak, in my opinion. But you... you're not weak. You're a soldier, with a long and... decorated record. So I think you can handle what I'll ask. Do we have an understanding?"
Kara needed a break or more like something to keep her mind off that little meetup. Maybe by some mystical means, or more likely just a force of habit, she found herself walking through the halls of work, automatically making her way to her desk. People were still here, bustling about and working past their time. Not something new since a lot of people were rushing to meet their deadlines.
She glanced at Cat's office to the woman herself welcoming a man wearing a dark green suit and beret. Military judging by how decorated his suit was.The weirdest thing was Cat had personally stood up to greet him. Kara had never seen Cat Grant do that in the entire time she was working here! She wondered if that 'mystical means' was an actual thing.
Kara raised her eyebrows, curious as to why a military personnel would be here. She slipped into her seat, pretending to work while listening in on their conversation with her super hearing.
Needless to say Beachhead was surprised at the courtesy being given but he kept his demeanor professional, while nodding in gratitude. After sitting down he listen to Cat Grant's explanation of how this interview will be. Go figures, he thought, never expecting this to be a easy task..
If I wanted the easy way I would've never joined the military in the first place. Beach reminded himself. So Miss Grant had a point, he can take it. Hopefully he can answer enough of these upcoming questions without comprising classified information.
"Fair enough Miss Grant. What is your first question?" Wayne Sneeden replied calmly, with his southern drawl evident.
"Were you personally present when the fighting between the GI Joes engaged - that's the right word isn't it? - engaged the terrorists?" Cat opened with, leaning forward with interest, feigned or not.
"Yes I was there as a matter of fact." Beachhead answered carefully.
Kara raised an eyebrow; So he was one of the soldiers who were involved in that terrorist incident. That explains why he was here then.
"But according to the police reports, you were not seen engaging the mercenary known as Crossbones until a full twenty minutes had passed since the first shots were fired. Is where you were for that twenty minutes classified Sergeant Major?" Cat turned her monitor around showing the recorded news footage from the evening where a police car had gotten riddled with shotgun shells before Beach was able to engage Crossbones.
Beach watched the footage and then answered without missing a beat. It is best to not show hesitation he thought. "I was at a different location when the incident started. Upon receiving word of the shooting, I got there as soon able."
"So, you weren't there when the first shots were fired, but you did authorize your team to engage? I'm just trying to find the facts here." Cat tapped her pen on the pad in front of her a few times to emphasize.
Crossbones? Who is Crossbones? Kara quickly peeked through the window wall of Cat's office to see a picture of what looked like a man wearing full body armor complete wth a full-faced metallic hockey mask. Pretending to follow up the motion with rolling her head side to side, she rested her cheek on the palm of her hand.
"The hostiles fired first and pinned down some of our squad mates. We had to save them." The sergeant major meant every word of it.
"So you're telling me there was no way to have delayed the engagement until either a proper evacuation could have been effected or until they were in an area with less possibility of civilian casualties?" She wasn't even looking at Wayne for this question, she was looking at the notepad she was writing in - in shorthand. Something she picked up years a go as a gossip columnist for the
Planet.
This is why Beach hated interviews like this one.
"It was greatly unfortunate Miss Grant it that happen, believe me I wished we could've avoided it. We hoped to draw the terrorists away from the city. Yet the ambush of the team tracking them forced our hand. We lost eight operatives during the fighting, half of them from the trapped team, all were good people... GI JOE by extension of SHIELD will do our upmost best to avoid or contain similar incidents in the future. Innocent lives matter to us."
Sneeden paused a moment then continued. "Now let me ask you a question, ma'am. You think terrorists like those of Cobra will be as...considerate of avoiding a fight in an major population center, given their track record?"
Cat just smirked. "You're a smart man. Smarter than I had you pegged for when they announced you as their PR person on this. Nice redirect. Trust me, I'm not Jameson. I'm not out to paint GI Joe in a bad light. Just reveal the truth. We both know the answer to your question, sir so I'm just going to leave that unspoken as I don't serve up the pablum that the extremists on either side of the political spectrum want me to."
"Now... off to something of...personal interest to me. Reports were that you had aid from a costumed woman that evening, and that she singlehandedly captured Bullseye, a mercenary that Cobra allegedly hired to support their attack. What do you know of this woman?" The executive redirected, leaning forward and steepling her hands.
You and me both. Beach thought when Cat Grant commented about his PR position. The Media Queen was quite perceptive to know the likely answer to her own question. Yet she was gracious to leave it be, Wayne counted his blessings for it.
Then the next question was directed toward a subject he was more comfortable with. Beachhead gladly answered. "It was the super heroine called Squirrel Girl. Yes she was the one who took down Bullseye, along with her furry friends, believe it or not."
"Squirrel Girl." Cat had the flattest tone imaginable with those two words. She looked incredulous, then tapped it into an internet search. "Well. That's... different."
Beachhead knew that it sounded funny saying that but he didn't care. Then with a smile he added."According to the reports I read, the assassin has developed an extreme case of phobia for squirrels since then." It gave the sergeant major great pleasure to mention that last bit. Bullseye more than deserved to have his humiliation known.
At the mention of a costumed woman also on the scene, Kara immediately thought of Heron, but then the sergeant major identified the woman as someone by the name of Squirrel Girl. Kara wrinkled her nose; Squirrel Girl? What kind of name is that? And . . . furry friends? Phobia for squirrels? What the heck?! If one were to look at Kara, they would be able to see weird contortions on her face as she wrote on the paper in front of her.
"I normally would say I don't even want to know, but, this girl, with a tail and an ability to control squirrels, took out an infamous assassin?" She snorted then continued. "Finally, a use for those rodents. My last question is... when can you get me an interview with this... Squirrel Girl?"
Beachhead considered that last question before answering."That would depend on whether she wants to or not. I'll see what I can do and will message you back about it." Inwardly, Wayne Sneeden wondered if Doreen and Cat Grant would actually be prepared for such an encounter with one another.
Then an idea occurred to him, which cause him to add. "In exchange for this favor would your office be willing to contact Supergirl? If so let her know that I would like to speak with her, regarding National City's safety."
Same, Cat, same, Kara thought. She was curious as to who Squirrel Girl really is and if she could actually control squirrels, as freaky as it sounded.
The sergeant then made his own request: to meet Supergirl. Kara's knee banged against her desk, sending it about a foot in the air before landing with a loud boom. "Sorry, sorry!" she repeated, fidgeting with her stuff and trying to reorganize everything. "Legs are falling asleep here, so, uh, just thought I'd knock 'em awake!" Kara said, trying to laugh it off and get everyone near her to stop staring.
"You must have followed that interview I had with her." Cat tapped her pen on the desk a few times, as if debating, then was distracted by the noise. "Kira! Careful with the furniture. I doubt you'd like to pay for yet another broken desk."
Surprised, Wayne turned and noticed the secretary, who seemed to be quite nervous. While still confused, the sergeant shrugged it off just some weird accident. He instead focused on Grant's respond and nodded in acknowledgment.
Cat sighed and muttered, "I swear that girl is one of the most accident prone women on the planet." Before recovering her composure and responding to Sneeden.
"Deal. Once you get me the Squirrel Girl interview and not a moment before. I'm not a messenger girl. I have people for that. Have a pleasant day, Sergeant Major."
"You as well Miss Grant." He answered before getting up and leaving the office.
"One of us has to.." Cat added quietly after Wayne had left.
Just as he was about to head out, Beachhead turned toward Kara's direction with brown sympathetic eyes and nodded again. This time with an expression that would basically tell the young woman just hang in there, with that he made for the exit. He can take a very good guess that isn't easy to work for a boss like Cat Grant. Though she didn't turned as bad he thought and proved to be a respectful host. Now it was time to get back to the other half of his job.
The sergeant and Cat decided then to conclude the interview. He left her office, giving Kara a sympathetic look as he passed by her desk.
"Have a good day, sir," she said politely, putting on her best smile.
Once he was gone, Kara bit her lip. In probably a matter of days, Supergirl would meet with the sergeant who stopped a terrorist attack in National City. Thinking about it, she should expect these things would pop up. He's a hero, she's a hero. Heroes get together to talk and do hero stuff. That's basically how the Avengers and the Justice League were formed. Plus she's met with military figures before so it's not like this would be the first time she's in their presence.
Maybe meeting the sergeant wouldn't be too bad.
@Yuuki_Tatsunohi @Nomad-22
