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

by Hechtl, Chris

  “How'd he do that?” the Major demanded, turning to the gunny.

  “I'm not sure sir,” the gunny said rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “He's a sneak specialist. One of the assassins of the cat clan. All black panthers and some leopards and jaguars have this cloak ability to varying degree. The black panthers have the most effective ability though.”

  “I heard. His sire Jet has become a problem for security,” Firefly said. The holo replayed the exercise from various angles. Wind vectors and heat sources were plotted on the various views. Finally they came together into one large image.

  “I think I have it. He didn't come in with the others. He slipped in the back way.”

  “How? The DI's rigged it with a grenade?” the gunny said shaking his head.

  “The fox. He used a hook and fishing line to pull the safety and disable the tripwire. See here and here?” Firefly pointed out zooming in. They watched as the fox's hands played a line out of the air duct the hook pulled the wire close so he could clip it with a tiny pair of clippers.

  “Smart. I don't remember that in the kit,” the gunny said amused.

  “Improvise, adapt, and overcome. They'll do.” The Major chuckled. He nodded, fist under his chin as he watched the after image of the panther come in from above, clinging to the walls and door frame to avoid any possible sensor plates or traps on the floor.

  “This is what bothers me,” Firefly showed them a ghost image of Jethro. He stalked the loner from behind. His clawed hand was raised to strike before he shifted to a less lethal response. “Clearly he was going for the kill.”

  “Just as he should. Even if he hadn't been trained for it. He pulled it though. Are you concerned about his killer instincts?” the Major asked, looking over to the Avatar.

  “No, that he had hesitation is a good thing. But there is no sign of hesitation in his stalk at all. That means he's had some combat experience.”

  “Of course. He's from a corridor street gang. And his father is an assassin. It stands to reason he's been trained the same way. We'll just have to make sure we add honor and discipline to his training to keep his killer instincts in check.”

  “It is your command of course Major,” Firefly responded with a nod. “I understand two of your crop wishes flight training?”

  “Yes. Actually four. Two more crossed my desk this morning,” The gunny replied. “Including Hurranna,” he nodded to the lynx in the image.

  “Well, she can't exactly haul around a med pack or play tunnel rat in every scenario. She doesn't have the physical build to carry the weight of an injured team member,” he grimaced, mind boggling at the idea of the meter tall lynx trying to carry the four meter long four or five hundred kilogram white Liger. With implants she might be able to handle it, but it'd be one hell of a awkward load.

  “A point she brought up as well. She did ask if her augmentation would help in that regard. Unfortunately it will only mitigate the problem, not resolve it.”

  “Ah, wonder tech not living up to spec?” the Major asked amused.

  “No sir,” the gunny shook his head. “We're just realizing its limits.”

  “Good.”

  “What did you have in mind for a piloting position?” Firefly asked.

  “Ordinarily I'd say an assault or medevac shuttle slot. Or even a close support bomber or fighter. I think it depends on her temperament.”

  “She did reasonably well in the drop scenario. No sign of agoraphobia. Which by the way, should have been expected since most of the people here are from colonies. Most have never seen space beyond a few dozen meters,” the AI avatar looked at the gunny.

  “I... learned that the hard way,” the gunny said grimacing. He tried not to react to the AI pointing out the obvious once again.

  “Next time ask me. Or a med tech.”

  “I was wondering how they got there that fast,” the Major said giving the Avatar a look.

  The Avatar shrugged. “A missive.”

  “Glad you had it. Next time speak up though. We need to avoid things like that when and where ever possible.”

  “Noted.”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Sergei high fived Valenko as they piled into the bay twenty minutes later. Valenko's free hand was on Jethro's shoulder, slapping it. Jethro winced but gave a tight lipped grin with his ears perked. The team was in high spirits.

  “Damn did we really do that?” Hurranna asked eyes wide. She twitched as the others quieted and looked over to her.

  “What, you think that was an out of body experience?” Jethro asked amused.

  “No but I, mean I just realized something. Those DI's had augmentation.”

  “So?” Sergei growled.

  “She's right. It does make for an interesting tid bit most people overlooked. We've all thought of augmentation as the end. The next step to godhood. Obviously they are mortal just like the rest of us, they, hell we can be taken down if we get overconfident,” Valenko rumbled, rubbing his chin.

  The others eyed the squad leader. Sergei nodded slowly. “I was wondering why it went so easy.”

  “You did have surprise on your side,” the opposition force DI said dryly. The recruits stiffened to attention. “At ease. Just this once,” the DI said, shaking his head as he led the gunny and lance corporal Brenet in.

  The team fell into parade rest, hands or hand claws behind their backs. The gunny noted it with quiet pride.

  “You’re good, I'll give you that. That wall trick... we didn't see it coming. I will admit we did see you through the walls with our sensors, but I honestly thought you were piling up to charge the front door,” the noncom opposition leader said wryly. He'd just been handed his head by rookies but was brutally honest about the situation. “I will so pin your ears back next time though.”

  “Live and learn,” the gunny said nodding. He was pretty sure Valenko would make damn sure the sergeant never got the chance, implants or no implants. “I was wondering where you got that idea from?” he asked. He turned to Valenko. Valenko's eyes cut to Jethro. The gunny's single eye turned to the stealth expert. “Care to share?” he asked dryly.

  “Sir. I got the idea from the family archive.”

  “The same one you mentioned before?”

  “Sir yes sir.”

  “Good to know. Perhaps I was hasty in judging it. Bring it by sometime. Perhaps we can put it to use. All of you are to be commended. The Major wants a hot wash on this exercise by nineteen hundred and then you are all getting some rack time. No celebratory meal tonight.”

  The group looked a little surprised at that. He snorted. “Oh five hundred tomorrow you are all getting your implants. So get as much down time as you can. You've got about ten to twelve days of recovery time after that. Then a week of rehab. You're getting the full package in one shot. Lucky you. When you’re back on your feet I'm going to run you till you drop for being so lazy.”

  “SIR YES SIR!” the group barked. The gunny's lip quivered in a partial smile.

  “Carry on,” he said. He nodded to the DI opposition leader as he walked out. Brenet gave him a look, glanced at the group then followed in his wake.

  Firefly's avatar appeared in the bay. They came to attention once more. “Ready for your debrief?” the AI asked, sounding amused.

  “Sir, Yes sir!” the squad answered.

  Chapter 5

  Jethro's eyelids flickered as he heard and smelled the hospital bay around him. Consciousness swam into being and he gradually opened his eyes. He immediately regretted it, snapping them shut with a groan.

  “Ah, awake I see,” the orderly said smiling. By the scent it was a human. Female. Close to ovulation. He grimaced. “Pain?” she asked.

  “The mother of all hang over’s,” he croaked. He hadn't had something this bad since he'd had that hooch and supposedly fresh catnip years ago. “I feel like I had a double hooch weekend bender.”

  “Oh,” she said softly. She touched a control. Coolness descended on his senses. “Bet
ter?” she asked, trying to modulate her voice.

  “Yes. You’re loud though,” he grimaced.

  “That's the, hmmm. No the sensory augmentation is offline at the moment. Doc.” She turned to Doctor Thornby. Doctor Thornby looked up from Hurranna and nodded. She motioned for the nurse to go to lynx.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked, resting a hand on the edge of the bed.

  “Like crap ma'am,” Jethro sighed. He wiggled a little. “Light and sound sensitive, and I've got the nastiest taste in my mouth,” he grimaced trying not to hack a cough. “What did you make these sheets out of burlap?”

  “No... Hmmm... You’re a panther, let’s see, neo panther. Ah, enhanced senses, cloaking ability. Interesting. You may have some sensitivity since your nerve endings were worked on and the surrounding tissue is swollen. It should fade as you adapt and the swelling abates. We're giving you some meds to help. Rest now,” she said. Her eyes scanned the data and then she nodded. She touched a control and he felt a cool mist then a drifting sensation.

  “Thanks doctor,” he mumbled. His tongue came out. He heard her order more anti inflammatory meds and a fifteen minute check on him and then drifted back into sleep.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “Is he ever going to wake up?” Hurranna asked, sitting up in the bed. She was sitting across from Jethro, watching him twitch.

  “Eventually,” a familiar voice said from the other side of the curtain. She stiffened as she recognized the voice.

  “Gunny?” she asked. She clutched her arms to her body. She wasn't sure she was ready to go back to boot just yet. They had only awakened two days before.

  “You were expecting the tooth fairy?” the gunny said dryly as the curtain was pulled back. Her eyes went wide as she noted the gunny in a hospital gown bandaged and in bed.

  “You’re ah...”

  “Finally getting my replacement parts,” he admitted. His left hand pointed to his bandaged eye and right arm. “The commander managed to time it so your squad would be down the same time I am.”

  “Oh,” she blinked. “Sir.”

  “Can that crap. Sickbay is informal,” Doctor Thornby said coming around the gunny's bed to stand between them.

  “Aye aye commander. It's your command.”

  “You better believe it,” Thornby growled. She gave the gunny a quelling look.

  “You’re a commander ma'am?” Hurranna asked surprised.

  “Naval reserve. Lieutenant commander actually,” she admitted and then shrugged as if it didn't mean anything. “It's more of a headache than it's worth sometimes.”

  “Ah, yes ma'am,” Hurranna said and then shook her head.

  “I heard you're going for med tech or pilot training?”

  Hurranna glanced at the gunny. “Well ma'am, usually the corpsman in the squad is a navy person so that's out. Besides, the pack load is a bit more than my frame can handle comfortably.”

  “True,” Thornby nodded, eying the one meter tall neo. “Lynx and bobcat?”

  “Yes ma'am. We've interbred so much over the centuries only a scientist could pick out what part is which.”

  “Odd that it's like that with you and not with the others,” the doctor mussed. She waved her hand to the rest of the squad.

  “I think it's because the others are genetically dominant. Like the gunny. At least that's what the Matriarch said. I'm not sure,” Hurranna grimaced. “Are the others going to be okay?”

  “We will be if you keep it down,” Jethro sighed from his bed. His arm went up to cover his eyes. Thornby went over to check him.

  “Still sensitive?”

  “Yes. Spirit of space yes,” he groaned, trying to keep a whine out of his voice. The female's voices grated on his sensitive ears.

  She frowned. “Your nerve endings must... hmmm...” She pulled a scope up and jacked into it. “Yes I see, there is still quite a bit of inflammation despite... hmmm.”

  “I don't like the sounds of the hmms,” Jethro growled. “Can I have some water?”

  “Ah?” Thornby nodded looking up to a nearby orderly. The orderly nodded and went and got a paper cup. She came back with it and gave it to the cat. He brought it to his mouth and then his tongue came out and lapped the water from the cup ignoring the straw.

  “Here let me get that,” she said, dabbing at his mouth with a washcloth. “First time you've been ill?”

  “No, I had the flu a few times, and feline mumps when I was eight.”

  “Mumps?” Thornby asked.

  “Yes ma'am. I got the injection at your clinic,” he answered, eyes still slitted.

  “You did? Hmmm,” she said looking at him again. She cocked her head. “I don't remember you, but okay.” She shrugged.

  “Is he going to be okay commander?” the gunny asked.

  “Sensory overload due to tissue inflammation and over stimulation. We're treating it. We thought it would be licked when he was in the regen tank but no such luck. It's more pronounced in him because of his augmentation,” she replied looking at the noncom. She shook her head.

  “Inbreeding,” Hurranna said with a sniff. “I knew it'd come back and bite us in the ass sometime. Hopefully you are not rejecting the implants.” Jethro felt a pang of fear over that.

  “Inbreeding?” The doctor asked giving her a look. “It's not tissue rejection I checked for that.”

  “Yeah, we, ah, the clan that is tried to keep good records, but with our limited numbers we know things got mixed up a time or two,” Hurranna explained.

  “I'm not sure that has anything to do with this actually. Genetics are a possibility, but I think it is unique physical adaptation that is the root cause. We'll get it sorted out.”

  “Hopefully soon,” Jethro ground out. He hated feeling like crap. Helpless. It just wasn't his style. She patted his sheet covered foot and then walked to the center of the bay. She looked around, noting the others were awake and watching her.

  “Okay, by now, you've all noticed you’re not feeling any different yet right?” she said turning around to look at them. They nodded. “And no special sight, or anything. That's because for now your implants are locked down as they integrate with your body and your body adjusts to them. That way the swelling will go down before we start rehabilitation.”

  “Which will be fun,” the gunny snarled. “At least for me.”

  “Most definitely for you. And you better not be a cantankerous patient. I can have an enema nurse come by every couple hours if you try my patience gunny,” she said giving him a reproving look.

  “Wouldn't dream of it doc,” he said and then sat back as the recruits stared and then chuckled softly. “Not in a million years while I'm under your thumb.”

  “Boo hoo,” she said smiling. “I think nurse Joy was looking forward to it.” She smirked at him. He gave an involuntary shiver and then glared. “Well, if you change your mind, let me know,” she said as he opened his mouth. He closed it with a clop firmly. She smiled sweetly at him. She turned back to the group who were trying hard not to snicker. “Tonight you'll get your first sleep session. It'll be basic and brief, but repeat a few times. Each night you'll get more info that will build off the first. The faster you process and absorb the information, the faster you'll get out of here. So sleep. That's an order,” she said. She looked around smiling.

  “Can't you just induce us? With a somatic neuralizer or something?” Valenko asked.

  “No, that would interfere with your sleep teaching. Besides, no doctor likes to over medicate when they don't have to. And right now, I don't have to. You are soldiers. By now you've learned to sleep whenever you can, however you can right?” she asked, eyebrow raised.

  “Yes ma'am,” the gunny said one arm behind his head. He closed his good eye.

  “Then get to work. Or in this case sleep,” she smiled as she walked out and the lights dimmed.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “How is the eye doing?” Thornby asked the gunny as she came into his bay are
a.

  “Better Commander,” he answered looking over to her.

  She sighed and shook her head in resignation as he said that. “Will you soldiers stop... oh hell; it's like talking to a wall. Never mind.” She sat on the edge of the bed. “Any problems?”

  “No. I'm adjusting to having depth perception again.”

  “Good. Clarity is okay?” She took a pen light out and pointed it at his eye. She moved it around then stopped. “Follow the light. With your eyes.” He did so.

  “Good. The muscles have adapted well. Luckily the scarring wasn't too intensive.” She nodded making a note on her padd.

  “The eye is easy,” he said and then shrugged.

  “Well, I did offer you a prosthetic for it if you remember?”

  “No thanks doc. Having a camera would have been hard to swallow. Besides, it would have meant going through this rigamarole twice.”

  “Already tired of hospital food?” she teased, then smiled, looking up from studying his notes. He shrugged.

  “Just eager to get back to work.”

  “You'll be snarling at the recruits in no time gunny,” she smiled again, patting his foot. “The arm will take longer to get used to. You’re in for a lot of rehab. Are you sure you can balance duty and rehab?”

  “I've made it this far ma'am,” he shrugged.

  “Good attitude,” she nodded. She got up. “You've got a therapist coming in an hour to work you over now that the swelling is down and your tissues have integrated.”

  “Doc?” he asked. She paused at the door.

  “Yes?”

  “Thanks.”

  She smiled. “You're welcome. gunny.” She cocked her head to him in a slight bow, and then used the padd to give him a jaunty salute. She turned, put her free hand in her pocket and left.

  “Humans,” the gunny sighed. The doctor obviously didn't understand military protocol. He tried to flex his right hand. It was still bound up in the cast. Not for much longer though. He was eager to give it a shot.

  ...*...*...*...*...