The Order of the Blue Nose

Posted on 14 Aug 2022 @ 11:44 by Lieutenant Commander Ciara Mcclellandi & Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Watts & Lieutenant Ronnie Broward & Lieutenant Isabel Castillo & Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kemo Paahao & Command Master Chief Petty Officer Hector Gonzales & Chief Petty Officer Samantha Gibbons & Petty Officer First Class Rebecca Robinson & Petty Officer Second Class Tyler Hoff & Commander Nathan Lewes & Senior Chief Petty Officer Franklin Dover & Senior Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Adler & Petty Officer First Class Caleb Doyle

Episode: E1: A Historic Voyage
Location: USS Arizona, Bridge
Timeline: Date 2025-04-27 at 1100

This was one of those strange traditions of Naval service; today was the introduction to being Blue Noses, those who had gone up to the arctic. It wasn't a long ceremony, but it was steeped in tradition, if not changed from its initial form. The ship was on the surface, and they had rigged safety rails to prevent anyone from falling overboard, along with a standing watch, just in case someone did, which in this water would be fatal very quickly.

The Chief of the Boat was acting as Polaris, he had dressed in a blue overthrow and his face painted blue with a paper crown that actually came from a Burger King near the base, the overall master of ceremonies for the event, and the person who would assign tasks, usually a song, the inductee had to sing for Polaris' amusement, then get the tip of their nose painted blue, followed by warming drinks in the mess hall.

Of course, the kicker is, you had to be outside in your PT gear so that it would be, to quote her brother, 'Bloody damned cold' Ciara was standing with the senior staff and a small section of those who had gone through the ceremony, who were not standing watch, so this would be the first shift of Blue noses with others coming through as they went off watch and had changed.

As was a tradition, the Captain acted as the initial master of ceremonies since it was his vessel, then the Chief of the Boat, as Polaris would take over. The Corpsman was standing nearby to monitor for any signs of frostbite or hypothermia.

The ceremony would be brief, and it started, without a long discussion one of the junior officers was ushered on deck in his PT gear; the first thing he felt was the needles of the cold air hitting his bare legs and arms; they felt like hundreds of wasps stinging him as he stood before the now seated Master Chief.

"To enter the domain of Polaris, you must be tested. To be tested you must embrace the cold. Are you ready?"

"I am."

"Very well, sing Popeye the Sailor man."

There was a pause but the JO, to his credit lept in to it.

"I'm Popeye the Sailor man, I'm Popeye the Sailor man, I'm strong to the finish because I eat my spinach, I'm Popeye, the sailor man." He got bonus points for even doing the 'toot toot' complete with arm movements.

Once done he was dismissed, then his nose was painted with blue poster paint and ushered into the mess hall.

Rebecca had been waiting for this moment as she had never gone through this ceremony. She had dreaded being out on the deck in the Artic because of the cold. She quickly got dressed and made her way to the deck. As she entered the regular atmosphere away from the submarine she could feel the biting cold on her body. She stood in the line with the group wondering what her task would be.

The group didn't linger, since people had watches to stand and it was freezing, out there so the line was quick, the tasks was varied from a little song to some small dance. Finally Rebecca was up.

Sam stood next to the others as each person went up. This was her first crossing of the arctic circle. It was definitely cold. Even colder than the time she had spent in Alaska.

Hector, or Polaris, sat in his chair and rocked as he felt the cold sting his face. He didn't show emotion though as he saw the next inductee appear from the hatch and walk towards him. He noticed that it was Petty Officer Robinson, and he smiled slightly as she neared the mark on the deck. "Halt," he called out as she stopped at the mark. "To enter the domain of Polaris, you must be tested. To be tested, you must embrace the cold," he said repeating the same lines as before, "Are you ready?"

She stood straight and spoke with determination “I am!”

"Very well," Hector said before deciding on her challenge, "Recite... the Sailor's creed."

Rebecca thought for a split second as the request threw her off. She thought it was going to be something silly, but it was something she knew. The cold was not fun, but she pressed on with the determination she was known for and began.

“I am a United States Sailor.

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America
and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me.

I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me
to defend freedom and democracy around the world.

I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment.

I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.”

After reciting the creed she had learned in basic she was dismissed with her nose painted blue and led to the mess hall where warm drinks awaited.

Isa found herself at the end of the line of inductees. It was an interesting thing as an officer and department head to be following the line with the small handful of other officers and enlisted submariners across the spectrum of ratings. It was a good reminder that even though they each had their place in the hierarchy that made the workings of the Arizona possible, in the end they were all a part of the Navy, working off the same orders, serving the same country. She glanced behind her spying the tall nuke that that led the reactor lab team and gave him a small smile.

Ben didn't know the CHOP well. Sure, he knew who she was, but it had actually taken him a moment to place her in her PT gear with no visible rank to draw on. He caught her smile a bit slowly and gave her a slightly awkward half smile back before his eyes darted elsewhere. He'd done ceremonies like this before. The crossing of the equator, for example, was a popular one. It was a matter of pride, but truth be told he much preferred the innards of the submarine to her exterior and was going to be more than happy to get back inside to the cup of coffee that awaited once this was done.

Sam stood next. The cold biting at her bare legs and arms. So this was definitely colder than Alaska, but it was also refreshing to get fresh air after being in recycled air since leaving Port.

Kemo stood in Poseidon's retinue, his cold weather gear camouflaged with white and green 100mph tape strips and wearing a white balaclava bearing an strategically placed blue hand print over the face and shells and corral beads sewn to the crown. When he had told Lizzy and the twins about the Blue Nose, they'd wanted to help him make a costume. The spring wind was starting to pick up as the ceremony continued and he was glad they had at least some sun to warm the air.

Sam stepped up to hear her fate. She shivered with the cold wind, thoughts of a warm beverage keeping her going.

"Halt," Hector called again as Chief Gibbons stepped forward. He knew her as one of the chief cooks aboard, and he was glad another of the chief's mess would be joining the Order. "To enter the domain of Polaris, you must be tested. To be tested, you must embrace the cold. Are you ready?"

Sam smiled "I am" She stood there in shorts and t-shirt shivering slightly as she waited to learn what her test was.

Hector looked over at his retinue, a slight smile coming across his face, "This one is not like the others. She calls herself 'Chief'. Tradition states she be given a special test, do you agree?"

"A chief you say," Kemo asked cocking his head toward Hector, "A rare breed. Supposed to be fonts of knowledge and wisdom. Tell us Gibbons, who famously said "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead?"

Sam smiled "Admiral David Farragut at the Battle of Mobile Bay. He was the first Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral and Admiral of the Navy. He served during the Civil War."

"The challenge has been answered, step forward and be welcomed to the domain of Polaris," Hector said with an approving nod as he beckoned her forward. "Receive the mark of the Blue Nose," he said as Sam's nose was painted blue and she was ushered below.

The yeoman waiting patiently for this moment to come wanting to put another mark in his list of career landmarks. He approached Polaris a slight shiver a gust of wind came over the submarine spraying a light mist of sea air amongst the crew topside.

"Halt," Hector called recognizing the young yeoman, ""To enter the domain of Polaris, you must be tested. To be tested, you must embrace the cold. Are you ready?"

"I am prepared mighty polaris," he said, with a slight bow.

Hector nodded before settling on a challenge, "As one called 'Yeoman", you are privy to much information. Therefore, sing 'What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor."

Hoff stood there for a moment and shivered as he thought over the words to the song. He finally began to sing the song as loudly as he could in a terrible singing voice that maybe not even his mother could love. Finally he stopped and stood there waiting for the reaction of Polaris hoping that he did well enough to earn his certificate, his blue nose, and the hot chocolate awaiting him in the mess.

Hector nodded and smiled as the young man was ushered below before turning his gaze to the next inductee. He could feel the cold making his own face go numb, but he would not show it was bothering him. He recognized the CHOP as she stepped forward.

Isa couldn't help taking a moment to glance around her. It wasn't as if she had never been on the deck, but here, in this moment, she wanted to take it in. The bite of the cold felt like needles on her bare skin and she was tempted to cross ber arma over her chest, but when she stopped in front of the COB she was wearing a wild grin, arma held carefully at her side.

"Halt," Hector called before continuing, ""To enter the domain of Polaris, you must be tested. To be tested, you must embrace the cold. Are you ready?"

"I am!" Isabel yelled, barking the words like an order and grinning as they were all but ripped from her lips by the arctic breeze.

Hector looked towards Kemo in his retinue, "This one is also different, for they call this one 'ma'am'. It is said she holds rank amongst the few, an Officer wishing to join our domain. She deserves a special test." He gave Kemo a wide grin before turning his gaze back to the CHOP. This was one of the few ceremonies where enlisted crew could poke some fun at officers.

Kemo glanced over the assembled and straightened as his gaze fell upon Isabel. "An officer you say," he said trying to deepen his voice. "They are supposed to be fonts of wisdom and knowledge. For all to lean upon in times of crisis. Like why is the Rum always Gone?" Grinning widely, he asked, "So tell us then: In the cinematic masterpiece Down Periscope, who played the Commanding Officer of the Stingray?"

The CHOP's lips twitched with amusement before she called out, "Commander Tom Dodge was played by the delightfully talented Kelsey Grammar." She threw her voice as she said it, determined to be heard over the wind.

"The challenge has been answered, step forward and be welcomed to the domain of Polaris," Hector said with a smile as he beckoned her forward. "Receive the mark of the Blue Nose," he said as the CHOP was marked with the paint. She was beaming wildly as she was lead down the open hatch. Seeing there were no other candidates, Hector looked at his Retinue before raising his makeshift trident. "The sacred ritual for the Order of Polaris has concluded. We welcome those who have joined our retinue with open arms. They have embraced the cold and received the mark. Let it be known henceforth that Polaris reigns supreme!"