Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) (28 page)

“
If I did so
did Jethro over there,” the bear waved a paw in the direction
of the panther. He looked up from cleaning his kit and snorted.

“
It's a rite
of passage. One we will pass,” Jethro said smiling grimly.
“Right?”

“
You're both
nuts,” Hurranna growled.

“
Hurranna, if
we had passed it up we would have been second rate. Others after us
would have gone through it, but we didn't. We'd get the sidelong
looks, the ones that say that you could have done your best but
chickened out. Hell with that. Out of our entire class we know, not
think,
know
we are the best.
Does anyone think we can't handle whatever is dished out?”
Valenko asked the group.

“
Marines!”
Zebo said thrusting a closed fist into the air. Others cheered at
that.

“
Semper fi.
Now, we've got some planning to do. The bosses let drop what we're up
against. We're going to need a copy of that fire ship's blueprints,
the one the Navy has been using as a training ship. Hurranna, get on
that asap. Now, I've got some ideas to bounce off of you...”

The others gathered
close as they began to plan.

...*...*...*...*...

Jethro tried not to
grimace as he entered the wardroom an hour later. He didn't belong
here, he knew it. Officer's country wasn't somewhere he was
comfortable with. But, he went where he was told to go. He was
ordered to be here so here he was, even though he'd much rather be
planning with the troop right now. Or racked out.

He noted the AI
avatar Firefly and an unknown noncom Marine. From the look of his
chevrons he was a staff.

“
Sir,”
he said. He saluted the AI. The AI returned the salute.

“
At ease
recruit. This is a debriefing session,” the staff said. Jethro
nodded, going to parade rest.

“
Sit. This
will take a while,” the staff said, indicating a seat. Jethro
nodded and sat mechanically.

“
Are you aware
of the reasons for a debrief recruit?”

“
Sir yes sir,”
Jethro answered.

“
All of them?”
the AI asked.

“
Yes sir, four
that I remember anyway.”

“
Describe them
please.”

“
The first
reason is to go over what happened in an event for a formal copy of
the record in case of inquiry,” The staff nodded. “The
second is to correlate view points to see what worked and didn't work
in the op plan and team,” he said and then paused.

“
Correct,”
the staff said nodding. “But you said there were four.”

“
Sir yes sir,”
Jethro nodded. “Third is to tease any relevant data from the
debriefed personnel. Intelligence, and perceptions can lead to
unexpected things. An insight into an enemy that would generally be
overlooked.”

“
Fourth...”
Jethro paused and then shrugged mentally. “Fourth is
psychological. It is a detriment for a combat veteran to not talk
about a stressful and traumatic situation. By sharing it with others,
either in a debrief or in a blow out party they can release the
stress in a controlled environment.” He cocked his head a
little. “Which helps keep the person's mental health and
perspective normal. Or as close as a marine can get.”

“
It is
interesting that you know this,” the staff said surprised. He
sat back.

“
Recruit
Jethro has a background with the corps. One we are exploring in a
long term effort. But that is not the topic of today's conversation.
Each of the team members are being debriefed. Please start when you
are ready recruit,” Firefly said.

“
Yes sir,”
Jethro nodded to the avatar. “We had a normal insertion. Team
leader Valenko started us on the march. We redistributed gear in case
of accident in the first hour.”

“
Why was
that?” the Staff asked surprised.

“
In case one
person is injured or cut off. That way he or she didn't have
something mission critical. By distributing the backups to others we
increased the survival of the unit and its chances to successfully
complete the mission.”

“
Interesting.
Alpha didn't do that,” the staff said. He nodded, making a note
on his tablet. “Please continue.”

“
Yes sir. As I
was saying we did a normal column march two on two to the base of the
cliffs, scouts out and ahead....”

...*...*...*...*...

Hurranna grimaced as
a body was blasted into space screaming and tumbling. “Crap,”
She muttered opening her eyes and closing the feed.

“
Nightmare?”

“
Something
like that. More like the latest news feed,” she growled, teeth
bared in a grimace. Jethro looked up.

“
How'd you get
that?” Valenko asked, sitting up on his bunk.

“
Back door.
Squid left it open as a favor.”

“
Oh. What was
the news feed about? More crap about the Admiral?” Jethro asked
as he cleaned his rifle. By now they'd heard most of the scuttlebutt
going around and were thoroughly sick and tired of it.

“
No. Us. Word
got out about the training exercise. Disaster for marines.” She
shook her head leaping to the floor. She turned and made her bed with
practiced ease.

“
Bad?”

“
Yeah. Someone
got a copy of the vid feed from one of Rigatoni's crew.”

“
Can't blame
us for that. Maybe one of the suit techs or Rigatoni's merry crew,
what's left of it. Someone will be in hack though.”

“
I doubt it.
Well maybe,” Hurranna grimaced again. “The Major is doing
spin control now. He called a press conference and is going to
explain.”

“
Bet they call
for his resignation.”

“
They can try.
He won’t. It was a clean op. Not his fault. No one expected
it,” Jethro growled as he shrugged. “Sometimes shit
happens and you just gotta wade through it. Grin and bear it.”

“
Cute,”
Valenko growled. He sat up. “That won't hold up with
politicians, their minds are a bog and they live in their own little
universe filled with backstabbing and cutthroat tactics. If he's
someone's obstacle he's in for a major headache. No pun intended,”
he shook his head for a moment. “They say why we were there?”

“
Oh the indies
claim it was a waste of time, pointless chest beating, but Knox
rolled out that we were there to catalog a crashed ship for future
reference,” Hurranna shrugged.

“
Think it will
blow over?”

“
Yeah.
Something else will happen soon. Gossip programs are already off on
some ball or party going on at Vesta.”

“
Lovely,”
Jethro grimaced. “We've got a day until we're back at Anvil.
Any idea about the syllabus?”

“
You mean if
we're still doing the crucible?” Hurranna shook her head.
“Yeah, and guess what, since Alpha was pretty much wiped out
and you two geniuses volunteered us we get their slot and are first
up. Lucky us. I bet they do it with the camera's rolling so the
public will eat it up.”

“
Which means
we better not screw the pooch or we are well and truly up a creek,”
Zebo responded. The entire bay groaned at that. “What?”

“
Terrible,
just terrible,” Jethro sighed, racking his rifle. “Any
ideas on what we're in for?”

“
I'm betting a
full spread. The whole kit and caboodle,” Valenko said
thoughtfully, sitting up. “I'm betting a full combat ground op,
or at least the best we can do on a station to sim it. Then maybe an
outside op and a boarding action for dessert.”

“
Okay. Those
in favor of a blanket party for our would be hero's for getting us
into this mess?” Sergei asked raising a hand paw. Valenko
glared as the others raised theirs. He growled menacingly. Some of
the hands were snatched down. A few didn't. The growl got lower and
uglier until they all put their hands down sheepishly.

“
Jeeze, can't
take a joke can you,” Sergei said. Jethro chuckled. “What?”

“
If you can't
take a joke you shouldn't have joined.” He shook his head.
“It's right up there with never volunteer, and never serve in a
land war in Asia.”

“
Sure you can
spout it but when it comes time to NOT volunteer you forget that?”
Sergei growled. Jethro shrugged. “It seemed like a good idea at
the time. Think of it as just a little blood sweat and tears. Those
you've got in plenty.”

“
Yeah well,
it's the lack of sleep and pain that's bothering me.”

“
Sleep when
you’re dead,” Jethro said with an ear flick.

Hurranna glared and
then her mock glower turned into a sniff of disdain. “Pitiful,”
she said with an ear flick of her own. He shrugged.

“
I strongly
suggest we get our kit ship shape and then eat light and rack out as
much as possible folks,” Jethro said standing. He looked
around. “Traditionally we get an IG inspection during the
crucible. I'm not looking forward to it and don't want to get caught
with my pants down.”

“
Ah,”
Valenko nodded. “A good thing. Get with it people,” he
said looking around the bay.

“
Oh,”
Jethro looked around the bay. “Another thing. Beware any
parties in our honor before or after the crucible. Don't over indulge
or you WILL regret it. This I promise you. A really nasty trick DI's
and officers pull is to stuff you full of food and liquor then when
you're bloated and hung over run you through a ringer. A nice fun run
from hell.”

“
The more you
sweat the less you bleed?”

“
More like
um.. the best way to get rid of a hangover is to sweat it out.”

Some of the bay
nodded at this. “Stealing my fun?” the gunny asked amused
as he paused coming into the bay. The troop fell in fast.

“
Sir just
trying to stay ahead of the game sir!” Jethro responded.

“
Next time
keep some things to yourself. After all, forewarned is forearmed...
and if you know about it, what's the fun of doing it?” the
gunny grinned. Jethro felt a sense of dread. “After all, now
we'll have to think of something twice as nasty to do.”

A few in the bay
shot him dirty looks. He grimaced but stayed at parade rest. “All
right IG inspection in thirty minutes. That's thirty, not thirty one.
Get your acts together and get ready to rumble. We're hitting Anvil
running. The Crucible starts in twenty nine and a half minutes
people. That's sixty hours of hell for each and every one of you.
MOVE IT! MOVE IT!”

...*...*...*...*...

“
Now listen
up. You are being graded on a curve for each of the exercises. There
is a mix of sims and full court press so don't run yourself ragged.
Don't get too bent out of shape if you get KIA'd in an op. As long as
you do well over all and you live through at least one op you will
graduate. Your rank at graduation is also determined by this so do
your best,” the lieutenant said. “That is all. Good luck,
goddess speed.”

“
Wonder what
she meant by that?” Jethro said, putting his helmet on.

“
What the rank
thing? Who cares. That's then, this is now. Get our game face on,”
Valenko said slamming one fist into the other hand. “Okay
people, let’s show them how F platoon kicks ass!”

“
HORRAH!”

“
Semper FI
move out!”

...*...*...*...*...

“
We having fun
yet?” Sergei yelled at Jethro, one arm on the panther's
shoulder. “I and just about everyone here hate your guts you
know that right?”

“
You wouldn't
miss it for the world and you know it!” Jethro replied ducking
as an explosion went off to their right.

“
Damn
straight!” Sergei said gruffly hefting his rifle as the
simulated shelling ended. “Now let’s kick some DI ass!”

 ...*...*...*...*...

“
Was it me or
was that stupid easy?” Jethro asked, jerking his thumb back
they way they had come. They'd just finished the course in what
sounded like record time. They'd rolled right through the op, soaking
up damage sometimes, but getting the job done. They'd made it look
easy. The umpires had been left scratching their heads and asses
trying to figure out what to do with them when they finished.