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

by Hechtl, Chris

  “I kinda figured that,” Senjix replied after a moment. Hurranna cursed softly and then grunted a roger.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Two hours later Ox reported Firefly's shuttle was inbound to the LZ. “Roger that. Leave a repeater pack and get here as fast as you can.”

  “I thought you'd forgotten about me,” Ox grunted. He threw his line out and then tested it. “On my way.” He started down the line.

  “Bodies are out. Even the halflings,” Sergei grunted. He was panting heavily. That had been a lot of weight to haul, despite the low gravity. They had shut off the force emitters but it was still a pain getting it done.

  “We're here,” the heavy worlder grunted, holding up the group. He snapped stretcher poles off his ruck and then assembled them around a body. “All injured are at the LZ.”

  “Just got the dead then,” Valenko grunted. He finished topping his suit off. “Each of you top off here. Sergei, you can break it down since you thoughtfully left your ruck at the LZ.”

  “Right.”

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Jethro's eyes watered as he watched the inbound shuttle maneuver. He turned away from the blast of dust to see the dead. There were a lot of them. Too many. He grimaced.

  The craft settled into the rocks and then the side door opened. The crew chief jumped out. “Come a cropper huh? Typical grunts. Can't find your ass with a map and a compass. Oh well, the navy's here to save the day.”

  A second shuttle started in on its final approach behind them. Sergei looked up to the shuttle and then turned to the chief. “Save it. We've had a long day,” he snarled.

  The chief leaned backwards and then fell on his ass at the show of teeth. “Yeah, yeah sure,” he stuttered, hand going up to protect himself.

  “Save it Sergei,” Valenko said, slapping his arm. “Wounded first people. The rest ride in the back up van.” He waved to the other shuttle.

  “Right,” Jethro nodded. “Lets move people, You heard the bear,” he said tiredly.

  “Hey wait, you’re supposed to separate by platoon...” the crew chief said, clearly confused.

  “Shove it swabbie. Where the sun don't shine. We're marines. We take care of our own,” Hurranna growled. She helped a wounded woman onto the shuttle.

  Jethro waited with the sober crew chief of boat 2 as Valenko oversaw the loading of the wounded. He turned but Jethro and the others had already loaded the dead onto bird 2.

  “We're full boss. Go.” Jethro waved. The bear waved back and then walked up the ramp. Jethro went inside and then stood near the back. The seats were full. He grabbed a strap near the door and stepped aside to let the crew chief in.

  “Everyone's in. Let’s go,” the chief reported over the ship net as the door closed. After a moment they could feel motion. Tired, Jethro closed his eyes.

  Chapter 10

  “For courage and initiative in saving the survivors of Alpha platoon; Platoon F is to be commended. A commendation is here by added to your files. Good work ladies and gentlemen,” the Major said, standing at attention. Valenko and Jethro kept at parade attention as the Major sat on the edge of his desk. “Your troop is good. Very good. You've proven yourselves. Well, almost,” he smiled.

  “Sir?”

  “There is some... discussion about canceling your classes crucible exercise due to the massive casualties. Alpha platoon was practically wiped out after all. And you've proven you can handle a crisis.”

  “Sir I'd like to take the crucible test. If that is possible,” Valenko said, still staring at the bulkhead slightly above the Federation crest behind the Major's head.

  “You would?” The gunny asked, surprised. Jethro tried not to smirk at gunny Thompskin’s surprise. Gunny Schultz snorted.

  “They are marines. Of course they want to fight,” he said chuckling. “I say give them their shot. They earned it.” He nodded to the Major.

  “All right,” the Major said slowly. “You can have your shot. It's brutal though. Land, space, and ship exercises.”

  “Yes sir. We're up for it sir.”

  “You are going to have the course to yourselves, and most of the military will be watching.”

  “Wouldn't have it any other way sir,” Jethro growled.

  “Cute. Dismissed.” They saluted, turned smartly, and started for the hatch. “And gentlemen,” they turned, “good work. Now go shower. You need it,” he grimaced.

  “Sir yes sir.” They each nodded and then moved out. The Major waited for them to leave then sighed, sitting back in his chair. “Twenty dead, nineteen wounded. Hell of an exercise. Right up there with that cluster fuck in the history books. The creek one back in the twentieth century Earth. The one in the United States.”

  “Yes sir,” both Gunnery sergeants replied.

  “You were right though, they did shine when left to their own devices. Hell of a way for it to happen though,” he grimaced. “I think from now on exercises of that nature will be supervised more closely. With DI and medics on hand. Even if they are only observers.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Seen the wounded yet?”

  “No sir. Sickbay is off limits currently. The nineteen are stable however.”

  “That's something,” the Major sighed. He shifted back and forth in his chair.

  “Sir, any chance we ah, can reform alpha...” Schultz asked.

  “No. Regen tanks will help, but it'll be a mess putting those marines back together in time for their scheduled graduation. And I'll bet a few will have psych crawling all over them,” the Major grimaced.

  “My boys and girls are tougher than that sir, they'll pull through given time,” Thompskin said.

  “I'm sure they will. But not in time to face the crucible. Not with their leadership in the morgue.”

  “Yes sir,” Thompskin looked annoyed, then crestfallen.

  “Dismissed. We've... I've got a lot of letters to write,” he grimaced once more. He wasn't looking forward to that at all. It was a duty that had to be done though.

  “Yes sir,” the noncoms replied in unison. They saluted smartly, turned and walked stiffly out.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  “You had a chance to pass on the crucible and you demanded we take it? Are you nuts?” Hurranna demanded in the troop bay. A few in earshot started to grumble at that news.

  “Seems like it now, but you'll thank me later,” Valenko said with a shrug at all the disbelieving stares.

  “Thank you? THANK YOU??!!” She shook her head. “You must have hit your head Valenko. Hard.”

  “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 fu
n 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.

  “It was you,” Sergei growled. He rolled his right shoulder. He had a hell of a sore spot there from a nasty roll. A rock or something had dug in.