Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) (30 page)

“
Interesting,”
the major nodded. The other sleds came together in a gaggle above the
colony. “What are they doing?”

“
It would seem
they are improvising,” Firefly reported. “I had thought
they were overloaded. Attempting to dock would use up a great deal of
their fuel. Too much to get back.”

“
But they have
something else in mind,” the Major said nodding. One of the
larger suits, most likely the Liger Sergei held a rifle. He put
something in the end then pointed it down to the rock below.

“
Interesting.
Calculating distance,” Firefly said. The view switched to the
Ligers. They watched as he carefully aimed. Lines appeared as the AI
measured the distance. “By my calculations they are fifty
meters too short for this to work.”

“
He doesn't
seem to think so,” the Major replied. They watched as the Liger
shot the piton. It flew out straight and true. The gaggle's sleds
adjusted for the recoil with a brief puff of RCS fire.

The line played out
and then the rifle jerked out the the Liger's hands. “Ah. I see
you're right.”

“
No, in this
case, I was mistaken,” the AI replied sounding amused.

“
What?”
the Major asked, brows knit. He took another look at the scene.

“
The line has
yet to go slack. Which it should have done. Ah. I see,” Firefly
said enigmatically. The AI highlighted a line playing out behind the
rifle. “He has attached his safety line to the rifle. And the
others have daisy chained theirs to his to make up the difference.
Interesting.”

“
And a good
adaptation,” the Major nodded. The piton hit the ground and
sank into the rock. The Liger reached down and clipped the end to the
sled and then used an improvised turnbuckle to keep the line taught.
“What are they doing now?”

“
Getting off.
The little motor in the rifle doesn't have the power to reel them
into the rock in the time needed. So it would seem they are going
down the hard way,” Firefly replied. Indeed, as they watched,
one by one the team got off, attached a gripper to the line and then
activated it's tiny motors and went down.

“
The Lynx
Hurranna is remaining behind to maintain station keeping,”
Firefly replied. The bear was overseeing the team as they off loaded
extra oxygen tanks, emergency life support bubbles, and spare
batteries.

“
It hardly
seems possible.”

“
An old
concept. A bean stalk I believe is the layman's term. As long as the
anchor keeps the line taught and they do not get a vibration they
should be all right.” They watched as Sergei got to the ground
and attached another line to the piton and then drove stakes into the
ground.

“
Safety
measure. Smart,” Firefly replied. “As you would say, they
have covered all the bases. They have this well in hand. I doubt the
riot will go over well.”

“
Somehow I do
too. Oh well. How is Delta doing?”

“
Bogging down.
The gunnery sergeant is simulating an artillery barrage. Something
they had not been prepared for and are not handling well.”

“
Oh, lovely,”
the Major scowled. “I'll have to have a chat with staff
sergeant Jacklynn about that in the next meeting.”

“
I would
advise it. It would seem gunnery sergeant Schultz's lesson plan is
the way to go. Although the material he had to work with may have
played a part in it's success.”

“
Possibly,”
the Major smiled as he watched Delta getting reamed. “Remind me
to have a go at Delta's training syllabus. I understand they couldn't
do the suit fitting or EVA courses. They should have had had time to
train for something like this. This is inexcusable.”

“
Yes Major.”

He winced when a
marine miss timed the end of a barrage and caught the edge of it and
was sent flying. Sickbay was going to have it's hands full with
Delta. “All right enough, I've got to get this report off. Let
me know when the exercises terminate.”

“
Yes Major.”

“
There is a
problem with the graduation ceremony?” Matilda asked, coming
into the wardroom. She nodded politely to Commander Logan and Vargess
and then took a seat. She gave a slight smile to the steward as he
put a cup of tea in front of her. She looked like she was finally
getting comfortable in her uniform.

“
In a word,
yes,” Vargess scowled, shaking his head.

“
We've got
three graduations. The marines, enlisted class, and a small group of
officers who have passed the accelerated OCS training.”

“
We've had
enlisted graduations before. Every two months. What's the problem
now?” Matilda asked, stirring the tea and then taking a sip.

“
Well, we
don't have the facilities anymore. Now that the crucible has been
completed the Anvil Parks department has asserted it's authority and
taken control of the park to clean it up.”

“
Which we were
planning on doing anyway,” the Major growled.

“
I saw the
schedule,” Matilda said nodding. She'd heard the scuttlebutt,
the Parks department had been more than a little put out over the
damage to the park. “And a boat bay is out of the question, too
many bodies?”

“
Well, we
might get away with that for the officers, but the enlisted and
marines are a different story. There are two hundred and ninety eight
graduating marines, and four hundred and sixty one graduating
enlisted.”

Matilda paused and
set her tea cup down. “That many?”

“
We've grown,”
Logan said shrugging. “We need the people. We're also running
some of our current people through noncom training to improve their
skills. And some of our junior enlisted as well.”

“
Those that
were taken in to man Firefly you mean.”

“
And the other
ships, San Diego, and the yard, yes.”

“
So? Can't
Lenny lend you another park? Or break the graduations down into
individual ones?” Matilda asked.

“
No. He was
pretty final about it as well. Mr. Cravix made it quite clear none
were available. Something about a planned concert event to take place
on every park at the same time... But the schedule states that it
isn't planned for another three weeks.”

“
Huh.”

“
I believe Mr.
Cravix isn't happy about the damage to the park deck the marines
used. There are considerable fines imposed,” Firefly reported.

“
Fines?”

“
Yes well,
explosion damage, fire, water...” Firefly shrugged.

Matilda turned to
the Major with a raised eyebrow. “Had a bit of a wild party?”

“
Not exactly,”
Forth replied. The Major squirmed a little. “It was the
crucible. We needed to simulate a real combat environment. As close
as we can get to it.” He was not amused by all the bad press
the Parks department was laying at his feet. They were laying it on
pretty thick. Knox was taking a light hand to it, but some of the
other news agencies were eating it up.

“
I'd say from
the blistering e-mails about the deck being a war zone and the ten
instructors and twenty one recruits in sickbay for various injuries
you succeeded Major,” Firefly said dryly.

“
So he's in a
huff,” Matilda shook her head. “Did you try going over
his head?”

“
Tried. Didn't
get anywhere but run around in circles,” Firefly shook his
head. “He even tried the musical department gag. Ever so
politely making you wait for hours and then telling you to go to
someone else.”

“
Oh you did?”
She asked and then took another sip of tea. “Well, I suppose
the college can donate the facilities. The atrium should do,”
she said and then took a sip of tea.

“
What?”
Vargess asked, looking at her in surprise. “Don't you need
approval for that?”

“
I just did,”
she smiled. “I'm not just a reservist commander, I'm also the
dean. It pays to have friends in the right places,” she said
sweetly.

“
Thank you,”
Logan said with some relief. She rested a hand on his.

“
No problem
Horatio. Those kids deserve their day in the spotlight,” she
smiled. “Besides, sticking it in the eye of Cravix and whoever
is pulling the strings is worth it,” she grinned and then
paused. Cravix had been after her to turn over control of the atrium
and college park and stadium to his control for some time. She'd made
it clear they were not going to do so. This should sink the point
home to him.

“
One thing,”
she said cautiously. She held up a finger.

“
No wild
parties,” the Major said, sitting back with a laugh. “Or
explosives.”

“
Got it in
one. Good boy,” she smiled. “I think the sports
department would be a little put out if you're tore up their nice
neat atrium before they did.”

“
Yes ma'am.
Clean ceremony. Marching drills is about all we're going to do.”

“
Good,”
she nodded. “Open to the public?”

“
Well, it is
invitation only. Friends and family, members of the armed forces, and
prominent politicians who show interest.”

“
You mean
those you want to butter up,” Matilda replied with a straight
face. Logan smiled and shrugged.

“
Something
like that,” Firefly responded. “After that the college or
general public can fill any remaining seats until capacity is
reached. We will be showing the graduations on the military broadcast
channel and Mr. Knox will be airing segments on his broadcast network
news.”

“
Good to hear.
As long as it doesn't interrupt my soap,” Matilda said,
smiling.

“
Can we use
the Multi Purpose Room as well?” The Major asked.

“
The MPR? What
for?” Matilda asked.

“
The party,”
he answered. He shrugged at her inquiring look. “It's
traditional to have a celebration for the students. They get a party
with their dates.”

“
Oh,”
Matilda looked thoughtful. “Band, catered, mess dress?”

“
The works,”
the Major sighed. “Officers usually get a ball.”

She grinned. “I've
always loved a good party. You’re on,” she nodded, making
a note. “If only to see all of you put in an appearance in mess
dress,” she said maliciously. She grinned as the Major
fidgeted.

“
I'd rather
get shot at,” he muttered.

“
Probably,”
Vargess laughed. Mayweather smiled sweetly at Vargess. He caught her
look and then gulped. “Oh hell. So I'm not getting out of this
either?” he asked, having a sinking sensation of his own. Her
smile turned to a broad grin. The others laughed.

 ...*...*...*...*...

“
We're going
to work on polishing your marching skills. To that end we're going to
have a little fun,” Jefferson said, walking up and down the
ranks. Jethro tried not to roll his eyes to Sergei. Fun from a sadist
like the DI's had ominous tones.

They started off
with a normal march. But when Jefferson started the cadence Jethro
nearly died laughing. He got back into the rhythm after a moment.
“...buys it in the final scene. Drinks a glass of funky wine,
now she's Satan’s valentine. Sound off, one two, three four!”

He shakes his head
and keeps moving. “At least it's not Kipling.”

 ...*...*...*...*...

“
Gah, monkey
suit. Joy,” Jethro grumbled, trying not to claw at his stiff
collar. The Federation Marines had taken its cue from the American
Marines it had supplanted centuries ago. Many of the traditions had
translated over to the new institution. Most were based on common
sense. But mess dress uniforms were just annoying. Which was probably
someone's twisted point that had also been carried over through the
ages.

Damned if he knew
why it was. Maybe make a soldier so uncomfortable they would rather
be in combat? Somehow that sounded right and wrong at the same time.

“
Speak for
yourself pussycat,” Betty grimaced a simian grin. He turned to
her.

“
Nervous?”
Jethro asked. Simians like other Neo's didn't get into displaying
teeth unless they were nervous or wanted to make a threat display.
Betty's fur, what you could see of it was fluffed.