by Kal Spriggs
***
“Attention on Deck!” Someone called out as Commander Troyer stepped into the engineering lab. He paused and looked around, almost as if expecting someone else to have walked in behind him. “Oh, right, at ease.” He had a slight drawl to his voice and while he wore the uniform well, he seemed ill at ease in it. I kept seeing him check his buttons and nametag, almost like he was trying to reassure himself that everything was in place where it should be.
“Welcome, everyone,” he looked around the room, his dark brown eyes almost seeming red against his pale skin. “I'm glad to be here, it's a pleasure to be able to teach students, especially someplace like the Academy.”
We all stayed silent at that.
“Now,” he went on, “Cadets have normally been given a brief familiarization with a lot of the mechanical and technical tracks: welding, machining, electronics, programming. I liked to say that they taught you all just enough to get you in trouble.”
I snorted at that and I wasn't the only one.
“There's not enough time in the Academy curriculum to give you more than that,” Commander Troyer went on. “Or at least, that's what everyone has said. I managed to convince Admiral Fischer to change that.”
I couldn't help but straighten a bit at that, almost like it was a criticism of my grandmother.
Commander Troyer didn't seem to notice, “Now, I've been teaching all those subjects at a variety of levels. What you're going to get in this first semester is a crash course on the mechanical aspects. We're going to teach you how to weld, how to machine equipment using both computer aided design equipment and by hand, and how to assemble and wire electronic components.
I couldn't help but raise my hand, “Sir, we've done a lot of that during repair scenarios, already.”
“That's emergency repair, sure enough,” Commander Troyer nodded. “But that's jury-rigging. What I'm going to teach you is not just how to do a good permanent weld or manufacture a replacement part, but it's also how to spot good work. When you're an officer out there, you're going to need to be able to tell when your people did things right. You'll also be inspecting maintenance and repairs done by contract work. Recognizing the signs of a bad weld at a glance is every bit as important as anything else you do... and preventing equipment from failing can save just as many lives as any tactical decision.”
I couldn't argue with him on that. It just seemed different. We'd been told that the enlisted and non-commissioned officers took care of that business. I suppose it doesn't hurt to know this stuff.
“Now, since this is a crash course, we're going to spend a lot of hours in the classroom learning the theory and then even more hours in the shop, making that theory reality,” Commander Troyer gave a half smile, “You'll be glad to know I'm a big fan of training to standard, not time. So as soon as you turn in an approved finished product from each lab, you're done with the lab section for the week.” From how he grinned under his mustache, I gathered that was going to be harder than we might expect.
“That said, we're going to start with machining first. I've sent out manuals and tutorial to all of you for the machining lathes and milling machines we'll be using. We'll get into the computer aided design section for them later, first I want all of you to learn how to make mechanical components by hand. The important things here are to know the materials you're working with and to know how to build the tools you need to make other components.”
“So this first week we'll begin by making the tools from stock...”
***
We all snapped to attention as Commander Drien stepped into the classroom. He walked to the central podium, leaving us at attention as he looked around the room. Sashi's uncle was short, not much taller than me, with fine, almost delicate features. His complexion was almost pale, with a slight caramel tint of his Second ancestry visible. His jet-black hair was just inside regulation cut, smoothed back with some kind of gel or something.
He held us at attention for a while as his gaze ranged over the group. I didn't miss how his eyes lingered on Sashi and then me. Nor did I miss how they also hovered on my boyfriend, Kyle Regan.
“At ease,” he said finally. He stood at parade rest, staring at all of us with hooded eyes as we took our seats. “I've spent the past few days reviewing this section's prior instruction. I can't help but notice you haven't had much continuity through your engineering classes.”
That was something of an understatement. My Plebe Year, our Engineering instructor had been psychotic and had tried to kill me. She'd died in the attempt. Last year we'd had Commander Weisfeldt, who'd been a good instructor, but he'd clearly rotated out when they'd replaced the Admiral. Someone had told me that he'd retired, which made me feel a little sad, actually.
“Hopefully I'll be here with you all for the next couple of years,” he said. “But I can't help but notice that there are some interesting gaps in your educations, particularly in the areas of weapons design and theory, which is normally a Plebe Year subject. It seems that Commander Scarpitti skipped over that area. There's some other engineering areas I'll review in this first week, then we'll go straight into the full curriculum.”
Weapons design and theory was supposed to be a four week section. I'd remembered skipping over it under Commander Scarpitti, she'd had us move straight into warp drive design. Great, now we're going to cover an entire subject in a week...
“I've no doubt all of you will be perfectly capable of learning the material, so lets go to page seven...”
***
“All right!” Commander Barber looked around at the section. He gave us a goofy grin as we all took our seats. “Now, I'm really glad to be teaching here, let me tell you all. I've been trying to get an assignment here for years, now. It's a pleasure to be able to shape and mold your outlooks on life in the service.” He rubbed his hands together as he said it, his stoop-shouldered appearance making him look like one of the vultures that preyed upon dying creatures out in the desert.
I stared at him, not sure if that was supposed to be a joke and we were supposed to laugh or what.
“So just a bit of background on me,” his smile congealed a bit as no one laughed. “I've been at Nelson's University for over a decade, now, teaching their military history classes. Now, I know that things are a little different teaching those to civilians compared to here, but I think you'll all enjoy things quite a bit. I just find history so fascinating, you know?”
No one answered. Commander Bonnadonna had taught military ethics and history. The indomitable officer had been big on getting us to discuss things, but so far Commander Barber seemed to like to talk.
“Well,” Commander Barber went on, “so I haven't had a chance to review everyone's papers, just yet, but I can't help but notice the writing style is rather rigid. I realize you all have been using the military template for your papers, but in the future, I'd like you to adopt a more open format. I'll send out some sample papers from my students last year. Use them as guidelines, don't feel constrained.”
We were all staring at him now. We'd had to produce a ten page paper every week for the past two years under Commander Bonnadonna. In that situation, following a template had been tremendously useful, we could focus on the topic and insert points and arguments where they belonged and get the points across quickly.
For that matter, Commander Bonnadonna had read everyone's papers and provided discussion throughout the classes based off what he'd read.
“I also think that papers aren't the best method to deliver your learning, so we'll be moving to weekly presentations, with papers only due as extra credit,” Commander Barber went on. “Now, don't worry too much about standing up and presenting. These will be group presentations, so your speaking time will be limited for those of you with a fear of public speaking.”
My eyes went wide at the very thought of anyone in the Academy having a fear of public speaking. We had to give briefings all the time. As a cadet I'd briefed anywhere from a half-dozen to forty
or more other cadets and even officers on a variety of topics. And as for group presentations...
I looked around at the others in my section. Kyle had a resigned expression. Sashi was looking around like me, as if wondering if this was a joke. Bolander, from Ogre Company looked confused, her heavy brow furrowed and her lips pressed together in a frown of concentration. Next to her, Thorpe was grinning, almost as if he thought this was a joke.
Hodges, from Viper Company, had a glazed expression on his face. He was a setback, and I wasn't exactly thrilled that he was in our section, especially with how he and Kyle had clashed last year during Indoctrination, when they'd been in charge of rival sections of Cadet Candidates.
“Now, I'll begin the week's instruction. Your other classes look like they were focused mostly on the principles of military tactics and historical examples. We're going to look a bit more at the doctrine of space combat, since you are all space track...”
***
I came through the door into my room and promptly flopped into my chair.
“Hey, Jiden,” Ashiri poked her head around my door frame, “How's it going?”
I blinked at her, “Hey, I didn't see you.” I thought for a moment, “Did I... did I walk right past you a moment ago?”
“Yeah,” Ashiri smirked, “but I could tell you were off in Biohazard land.”
“Thanks,” I rolled my eyes at that. I'd finished the day's classes and the changes had just been too much. I'd found myself flashing back to the door slamming open on my house, to the look of anguish on my mom's face. It was the last time I had seen my mother. It was the last time I would ever see my mother.
“You okay?” Ashiri seemed to sense my mood. She came inside the room as I considered how to respond.
“I'm not,” I answered. I seemed to be having this conversation a lot of late. “I'll be okay.”
“I'm here if you want to talk,” Ashiri said.
I felt suddenly and irrationally angry. I didn't want to talk. I didn't want to think about any of this. I didn't want to close my eyes and see the face of my mom, to relive that moment of realization I'd had when I'd suddenly known that my father was dead and that my mother was about to die.
I didn't want to see myself kicking out the support struts and the look of determination on Will's face as he fought... to know that I killed my little brother to save myself.
“Just...” My words of anger, my instant demand that she leave me alone stalled in my throat. It would have been horrible of me to tell her that when she wanted to help. Worse... I was terrified that she would walk away, that she would leave me alone. Then I'd have nothing, no one, but the thoughts running through my head. I sighed and closed my eyes, “Thank you, Ash. I just, I don't know if I--”
“I understand, Jiden,” my best friend said softly. I opened my eyes and stared at her. She quirked a sad smile, “Maybe not exactly what you're going through, but some of it.”
I thought about how she'd been tortured by Doctor Aisling, how she and her gestalt had been mentally dissected and reassembled over and over again. Yeah, if anyone here would understand, it would be her... But that didn't sit right. Ashiri didn't have reason to blame herself. I did. What had happened to my parents, to everyone at Black Mesa Outpost, came back to me. I hadn't just killed my little brother, I'd gotten everyone killed. In fact--
“Hey,” Ashiri interrupted my thoughts, “It's not your fault, Jiden.”
My face went blank as I realized that she'd practically read my thoughts. “Don't try to--”
“It's not your fault,” Ashiri insisted.
I almost felt panic as she said that to me. I knew it wasn't true. If I'd been smarter, faster, if I'd at least thought to pick up a weapon... “You don't know--”
“Even if you told me everything, I'd still know it wasn't your fault,” Ashiri shook her head and crossed her arms stubbornly.
I gritted my teeth, “How many times are you going to say that?”
She met my demand with a stubborn smirk, “Until you start listening and believing me, Biohazard.”
Despite myself, I snorted in laughter. “God, you're impossible.”
“You're one to talk,” Ashiri sniffed.
Her words hadn't really fixed anything, but they'd made me feel better. I suppose that was the important thing. I didn't know what I would have done without her or Sashi or Kyle or Karmazin. Thank God for good friends...
“Well,” I sighed, “I've got a study session I need to get to... care to join me?”
Ashiri gestured at the door, “Love to.”
We started to step out in the corridor when we heard shouting from down near the Plebe section of rooms. Ashiri and I shot looks at each other and then ran that way.
I came around the corner to find four of Sand Dragon's Plebes doing pushups while Cadet Second Class Hodges shouted at them. “I told you to be at my drill rehearsal thirty minutes ago, Plebes! You wasted my time and now I'm going to waste your time!” I recognized the setback from Viper Company, but I had no idea what he was doing in our barracks, much less disciplining our plebes.
“What's going on here?” I demanded.
Hodges looked over sharply, “This is none of your business, Armstrong.”
“They're Sand Dragon,” I snapped. “That makes it our business.” More upperclassmen had come down the corridor from the other direction and I saw other Plebes sticking their heads out of their rooms to see what was going on.
“Huggins, Kleve, Smith, and Retu didn't show up to my drill rehearsal,” Hodges bit off. “They're assigned to my squad. They blew me off, so I'm punishing them.”
“Corrective training would be the appropriate response,” Ashiri noted dryly. “Punishment implies command authority... you don't have that, do you, Hodges?”
The corridor had gone still, except for the grunting of the four Plebes who hadn't paused in their pushups.
Hodges' face turned red and he started to open his mouth to snap back at Ashiri.
“Cadet Hodges,” I interrupted him. “This is the designated study hours here at Sand Dragon Company. So, rather than making more of a scene, how about we step around the corner to the Company Commander's office and deal with this there?”
His mouth snapped shut and he shot me an almost thankful glance. “Yes. Let’s do that.” He looked down at the four Plebes. “Recover.”
“Recover, Aye, Aye!” The four of them snapped to their feet.
“This way, all of you,” I jerked my head and I felt a little absurd with the parade of people behind me as I came to the Company Commander's office. Cadet Commander Woods had been in the doorway, clearly about to come down and see what was going on. The big, serious-faced Cadet First Class looked imposing.
“Sir,” I announced, “Cadet Second Class Hodges along with Plebes Huggins, Kleve, Smith, and Retu.” I cleared my throat, “Apparently they had a misunderstanding and our Plebes didn't show up at their appointed drill rehearsal.”
“Drill rehearsal?” Cadet Commander Woods asked, raising one eyebrow as he looked at Hodges. He managed to make even that imposing, and I saw a nervous sweat break out on the Viper Company cadet's forehead.
Hodges flushed darkly, “My Company Commander was told to conduct additional drill practice for this coming week's drill event. I sent out messages to my entire squad that I wanted them there this afternoon to conduct the practice. Your Company's four Plebes didn't show, sir.”
“Interesting,” Cadet Commander Woods looked at the four Plebes. “I assume that you four didn't attend because of our Company Training Officer's marksmanship refresher?”
“Yes, sir,” Huggins spoke up, his voice level, “We asked him which one had priority and he told us that he wanted our marksmanship certified before we went to any other companies.”
“Did you message Cadet Second Class Hodges that you were unable to attend his training?” Cadet Commander Woods looked like he wanted to rub his temples in frustration.
“No, sir,” Huggins an
swered. The others shook their heads as well.
Normally, they wouldn't have had to do that. Everyone in the company got the company training schedule, so we knew not to plan any kind of training up against company events like the marksmanship training.
But Hodges was from Viper Company. He wouldn't receive our company training schedule. In fact, with all the mixed squads and teams around the Academy, this was going to be a problem across all the Companies.
“Cadet Second Class Hodges,” Woods said formally, “I apologize, we had a mandatory company level event that these Plebes were required to attend, so that we could certify them as meeting basic standards. I'll make an official notification to all our personnel that they should report any further scheduling conflicts through both chains of command.”
“Thank you, sir,” Hodges seemed to take the apology well. “I probably should have come to you in the first place.”
“Plebes,” Cadet Commander Woods snapped, “dismissed.”
They scurried away, clearly eager to get out of the line of fire. Woods' blue eyes locked on Hodges. “Yes, Cadet Second Class, you should have. You came over here to make an example of four of my Plebes. What you did wasn't corrective training, it was a vindictive and petty thing to do.”
Hodges' face darkened in anger. “Sir--”
“I understand how valuable your time is, Cadet,” Woods bit out. “Imagine how valuable my time is, in turn, and that you just necessitated that I go talk to your Company Commander to address hurt feelings on both sides of this. Jumping across the chain of command like you did is totally unacceptable. It undercuts their faith in their leadership and it creates problems between companies. In the future, when you have issues with one of my Plebes, you come to me, first, do you understand?”
Hodges scowled, “They're assigned to my squad--”
“During the exercise, yes, they're in your squad. But I have administrative and command authority over them. They're my responsibility, Hodges. You just walked into my company and showed you had no respect for me. Now, how about you go back to your company and tell your Commander I'll be by later tonight, probably before the study group I have with her?”