The Raygin War

by Larry S. Gerovac

  The class groaned.

  Mac ran his hand across his mouth as if closing a zipper.

  Everyone understood the simple instruction and laughed.

  “It won’t be bad. You will learn at least one command each ship’s period. Who knows, one day it may save your life.” Mac continued the training session using holographic videos. They covered various communication systems they would be using while on colonist duty.

  At the first day’s end, the troopers felt exhausted, both in the physical sense and from the constant mental challenges. Mac’s training style wasn’t a data dump of information, he asked a lot of questions to force his troopers to think. When Mac dismissed the troops He recommended they get to know the ship, and spend some time getting to know each other.

  Mac’s eyes couldn’t help but follow Dreng Matilda, tattoo girl, as she left the classroom. Until now, Mac hadn’t thought about another woman since his brother and wife were killed during the mining wars. He couldn’t figure out what stirred his emotions. Was it her tattoo, big brown eyes, pretty face, long black hair, broad shoulders, or her perfect body? She could become a distraction. He needed to get her out of his head and stay focused on his responsibilities. He shied away from relationships because he didn’t ever want to experience losing someone close to him again.

  After everyone had left the classroom Tinker walked up to his old leader.

  “So, tell me, what are you doing here?” said Mac.

  “I heard rumors the Nomad got attacked in deep space. We lost the entire ship and everyone on it, including my uncle. I started calling around. I discovered UFC planned to refit the Argosy with some laser canons. It sounded pretty serious so I did some more digging. I found out several platoons of light armor infantry would be sent to Rayne. I was told they would ride with the colonists. I called the troop detailer and he told me off the record you took the lead enlisted assignment, so here I am.”

  “United Fleet Command,” said Mac, “doesn’t know what happened. They have been saturating unexplored areas of deep space with popper probes. A few of our probes from the same area of uncharted space have gone missing. One returning probe did detect the movement of a ship. It is not one of known design. A few of our battle cruisers have been fitted with the new singularity drive and will shadow us. Once we arrive the ships will search local space for anything unusual.”

  “So what’s up? You think it might be pirates, a rogue government, or one of the big companies?”

  “I don’t know, but anyone destroying probes is doing something they don’t want to get caught doing. I’m glad you’re here. Keep all this confidential. I’ll let the troops know before we land.”

  “Will do Mac. By the way, thanks for the nice write up you gave me. I got awarded a battle medal because of it.”

  When Mac wrote the letter he hoped Vice Admiral Farragut would give Tinker the medal he deserved. After all, heroes don’t always live to get them.

  “You earned it, Tinker. Now get out of here and have some fun.”

  After Tinker left the classroom, Mac gathered up his notes. He walked back to his quarters deep in thought. Colonist duty is a no brainer tour for a combat experienced ground pounder. This tour was different. He didn’t like deceiving people, but he had to for the mission’s sake. The troops needed to get in shape so they could ready no matter what the problem. He entered his modified quarters, grabbed some workout clothes from the closet and put them on.

  His workout hadn’t started yet and he realized he was sweating like a fat politician caught stealing. He looked at the environmental controls. “Fuck, it’s thirty-five degrees Celsius.” He took off his sweatshirt, called the maintenance department to report the problem. He opened his door to cool the room and started his work out. This little bit of heat wasn’t going to deter him.

  Mac started with slow moving stretches. He went through muscle resistance exercises and finished with a specific sequence of rolls, kicks, and punches. It took him years to master these exercises. Mac glanced at the door thinking he heard the maintenance crew.

  His body jerked and his eyes blinked in reflex. Standing there staring at him, was tattoo girl. She was looking at his war scared body through the open door. “What’s up Dreng? Can I help you with something?”

  “What were you doing?”

  “Exercising.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “I am not stupid Mac. I know you were exercising. Where did you learn to do those moves?”

  Wow, this girl had a big set of brass balls. She always seemed to say what she was thinking. He kind of liked it. Mac decided to turn the tables on her. “How long were you standing there watching me?” he asked.

  This time Dreng showed surprise as her face turned red, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snoop. I was walking the passageways trying to learn the ship layout when I saw the open door. I looked in and was surprised to see you exercising. The moves, they made sense to me, a pattern with a purpose. I did not watch you. I watched the way your body moved.”

  “Now I’m disappointed.”

  She turned red again and looked at the ground.

  Mac let her off the hook. “I learned the moves from a Tao monk on Helleron.”

  “Taoist fighting monks, a philosophical order originating in Old Earth China. Taoists believe there is a force linking the entire universe. The Yin and Yang represents the balance of life.”

  “Yeah, you’re right, very good. I see you are familiar with them.”

  “I have never met one, but I know to learn their fighting style you must be in their order. Are you a monk?”

  Mac burst out in a laugh. Dreng tilted her head in puzzlement as she watched him laugh.

  “No, I’m not a monk. I saved a Monk. He wouldn’t leave me alone. He followed me like a little puppy for months. He told me until he saved my life, his life would be out of balance. He offered to give me something of value instead of saving my life. When I told him I didn’t want anything, he started to follow me, waiting for an opportunity to save me. It was getting to be embarrassing having a little guy in orange robes following me around all day. I relented and told him if he would train me for the three years left on my tour, I would consider the debt paid. He saw the wisdom in the offer and agreed to the deal.”

  “Will you teach me the Tao style of fighting?”

  Mac started to laugh again. “It took me three years and I’m a professional soldier.”

  “Perfect. I have conscripted for four years.”

  “Whoa there. I didn’t agree to train you.”

  Mac was trying to read Dreng’s face when she batted her beautiful amber eyes at him.

  She’s a minx, I better be careful. “I’ll consider it. But for now, concentrate on learning the basics.”

  “You will find me quick to learn.”

  Confident too, I hope she’s not too self-assured. It could be fatal. “I’ll tell you what. Stay in the top three percent and I’ll teach you the Tao fighting style once we’re on Rayne.”

  “You’re saying I have to be either the number one or two student?”

  “Yep.”

  She smiled. “I guess I’ll be learning your Tao fighting style.” Dreng looked down at Mac’s crotch. “You must be enjoying my company.”

  Mac realized he missed the environmental controls kicking in. The body sweat, cold air, adrenalin from the work out, and the company of a pretty girl. It all caused his sweat pants to create a bit of a pup tent at his crotch. He spun around, grabbed his sweat top, and tied it across his waist. By the time he turned around, Dreng was gone. He looked down at his crotch to see the pup tent was also gone. He shrugged his shoulders, she’s right I did enjoy her company.

  Mac took a warm steam shower, kicked back on the couch, grabbed his holographic computer link, and planned out the next few weeks of training. He thought about Dreng’s dark amber eyes, the cute way she tilted her head. He took a deep breath in and smiled as he recalled her smell. She must have been looking at his
crotch and not his eyes when they were talking. Otherwise she wouldn’t have seen his body’s reaction to her nearness. Is it wrong to feel good about a female in the springtime of her youth being interested in me?

  Am I a fool? She’s so young. How could she want someone like me? She wants special training and knows how to play an old fart to get it. Yet, I know I felt something. Yeah stupid, it was some kind of maternal instinct. Look at you, arguing with yourself, get it together Mac. He brought up her record up on the holograph.

  Dreng Matilda, born to colonist parents. Damn, I knew it. Twenty-five true years old. Schooled by parents. Not unusual for colonist children. Holy crap, those results are not normal. She scored a near perfect 1350 on the Fleet Standardized Test. She received an official offer to FOCS. What? She rejected it. No one ever turns down Fleet Officer Candidate School! Let’s see, yep, there it is. She requested military conscript duty on Rayne. A four-year contract approved. Something is not right here. Dreng is up to something, but what?

  Mac reviewed the records of all 60 of his people. Per fleet regulations each conscript took the Fleet Standardized Test. Scores averaged in the norm falling between 600-700. Some conscripts had no skills, no job, and no hope of getting one soon. It wasn’t unusual for young people to refuse to commit to a life in the military. So instead they often signed a short-term contract. Everyone wanted to get away from something or learn skills they could use in the civilian job market.

  Hours of reading records made Mac drowsy. He decided to get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow’s physical training would be even more difficult than today’s. Mac pushed each person to his or her limit. He wanted them to undergo the best physical and mental conditioning possible. He had three months to get them into fighting condition.

  As the students arrived in the classroom they found Mac standing in front of them. He looked ready to step onto a battlefield. He was dressed in his black, lightweight, body armor, and had a knife strapped to his calf. Everyone else wore the old enlisted field uniform. Mac wanted his troops to use the new battle gear. He watched as some experienced troops laughed at him. It was unheard of… wearing battle armor while training on a colonist ship!

  When everyone took a seat, Mac began to talk about the design of battle gear and weapons over the ages. He discussed the development of various uniforms. The students learned how the poor design of shoes had caused an army to lose a war. Soldiers wearing the wrong color uniform allowed the enemy to locate their positions. An all out attack with inferior weapons against a superior force was a death wish.

  One of the students raised her hand. Mac nodded at her.

  “Mac, were dying in here. It’s hotter than hell, can you do something about the heat?”

  The students had begun to sweat through their uniforms. “I thought you’d never ask. Tinker, can you open the boxes stacked in the back. Hand out the lightweight body armor to the appropriate trooper.”

  “You’ve got it Mac.”

  “Did anyone notice I’m not sweating in the body armor?” said Mac.

  “Asshole,” said someone.

  Mac laughed. He couldn’t tell who said it.

  All the troops received their new battle gear. It’s lesson time, thought Mac. He asked Dwain, one of the experienced troopers who laughed at him, to come forward. Mac reached down and pulled his razor sharp knife out of its sheath. He held the knife by the blade and handed it to Dwain and said, “Take my knife and stab me in the chest.”

  Dwain’s eyes opened wide. In mock shock, he turned his head, looked at the class, and shrugged his shoulders. He planted his feet, and with lightning quick reflexes, using both hands, stabbed Mac in the heart. The force from the blow knocked Mac over. The troops screamed. Several of them raced out of their seats to help Mac. Dwain stood there with a smirk on his face.

  While on his back, Mac shook the cobwebs out of his head, took an extended hand from a student, and stood back up. “Everyone, take your seats. Thank you. Dwain, you can sit down too. Let me make a few things clear about this training demonstration.” Mac smiled at the class. “First, don’t ask a fourth level trained martial artist to stab you unless you have a good reason.” The class laughed. “What I wanted you to learn is the suit may protect you from a weapon like the blade of a knife. But remember, a weapon like a knife has momentum. The suit will never protect you from the impact force of what hits you.”

  “What about laser or plasma fire?” asked a trooper.

  Now they want the body armor. Mac smiled to himself. Self-preservation was a wonderful motivator. “It will protect you from most known chemicals and glancing laser fire. It will repel a weakened plasma stream if delivered from a distance. It will stop projectiles, shrapnel, and knives. What won’t it do?”

  In unison the class shouted, “Stop the momentum.”

  “Good. It makes temperature extremes survivable. Its nanotechnology can make the suit blend into the background. Take thirty minutes, get into your suits and meet back here.” Mac smiled at the troops. “I have a surprise for you.”

  Everyone groaned.

  Thirty minutes later Mac escorted the students to a holographic deck. This one was special because it included environmental elements. He couldn’t wait to use it. Damn, he looked at Dreng as he walked behind several students. Requisitions must have taken the wrong fitting measurements for Her. The battle suit was way too tight. “Dreng, come here. I’d like a word with you.”

  When she spun around, it was all Mac could do not to stare at her perfect body. “Your battle suit is too tight. I’ll order some more, but it will be months before I can replace the ones you have.”

  “Don’t bother ordering new ones. I like a tight fit.”

  “It’s so tight you look naked.”

  Dreng looked at Mac, smiled, and said, “I move better when I’m naked.”

  She turned around and sashayed back to her friends. Mac couldn’t help but watch her hips sway back and forth. He hoped no one heard what she told him. He pictured her naked as she walked away. Mac felt confused as old dormant feelings were beginning to stir.

  The troopers saw the heavy backpacks. They were sitting near the entrance to the holographic deck.

  “Pick up your backpack. In it you will find a helmet. Put it on, step into the chamber, and wait for me,” said Mac. After all the students entered, he walked up to the controls and typed in Mac.mil/storm/5/Ochi. Today the troops would experience a level five storm on the wet planet of Ochi. He stepped into the chamber with his helmet and backpack on.

  “Everyone who hears me raise their hand.” Mac verified the troops could hear him. “When the program starts, we are going to be moving through several storms on the planet Ochi. You will follow me in single file. If you feel you can go no further, call out your name and you will see a green path appear. Follow it to the exit. Go back to the classroom and wait for the rest of us. All I ask is you give me your best.”

  A storm started and it was a bad one. Lightning flashed, wind blew, and rain pounded. A forest with a path materialized right in front of them. Mac started running and the troops followed. After twenty minutes of hard running Mac heard, “Anderson”. Twenty seconds later, “Findley”. When their numbers dropped to ten, Mac picked up the pace. Five minutes later, five troopers were left.

  “Quit it.” Said a voice in Mac’s helmet. The voice was female. He was sure it was Dreng.

  A few seconds later he heard, “Ughh. Stupid bitch.” It sounded like Dwain. Mac knew whatever happened had already played out. If he interfered without being asked to get involved he would be showing favoritism. If Dreng had a problem she couldn’t resolve, he hoped she would say something.

  Tinker, Dwain, Dreng, and Fishman completed the entire run. Back in the classroom, Mac told the students the uniform of the day would be their battle armor. Everyone’s suits were already dry. Mac brought out a new Orion laser rifle. A few troopers familiar with weapons whistled in awe.

  “Why are you showing us weapons we’ll ne
ver be able to use? This high tech equipment is for Tactical Assault Commandos. It’s not for standard issue,” said Dwain.

  “Now it’s for TAC and my three light armor platoons,” said Mac as he looked at Dwain. “By the way, the body armor is so new, even TAC doesn’t have it.” Mac thought he could see the beginning of a bruise starting to form on Dwain’s face. Yep, something happened.

  Mac demonstrated weapon safety. He showed the students basic field cleaning and minor repairs for the rifle. He asked Tinker, Dwain, and Fishman to hand out the replica simulator weapons.

  Mac said, “These training rifles are the same as a real Orion laser rifle. The single internal difference is the laser is non-lethal ultraviolet with a power supply of 1.6 milliamps.”

  For two hours the class did nothing but disassemble and reassemble the rifle. Mac showed the troops how the gun broke down into eight sections for ease of field cleaning. The components popped out and back in again for quick repair. He stressed the need to align the pins on the components with great care. Losing the use of your rifle during a firefight could cost you your life. By the session’s end, they were ready for field training with the new weapon.

  Another long day ended. Mac dismissed the troops and walked back to his quarters. Upon entering his room, he heard a chime on the holographic communications system. He scanned his right hand. An interactive holograph popped up indicating a secure message from the UFC. United Fleet Command, this couldn’t be good. He must have received the message as they passed near Imperial Station. He hit play. Sitting in front of him was Michael Farragut, the Vice Admiral himself.

  “Mac, I wanted to warn you of some troubling information we received. Our probes have found several more war ships in uncharted space. They are not ours. Since we continue to lose probes in nearby areas, we have to assume the unknown ships are not our friends. Nomad is still missing. The planetary President is aware of the situation. He wishes to continue with colonization. Warhammer and the Dagger will follow you to Rayne, they still are not aware you are on the Nomad. Colonists’ safety remains the number one concern.”