Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) (16 page)

“
Yes. You do
realize you're learning as much as them? Your training is more
haphazard. F platoon is getting more training than Delta or hell, any
of the others.”

“
All the more
reason to get this right. I put most of the special cases in F to
keep an eye on them and give them a consistent experience.”

“
But at times
you seem to make it up as you go along,” Firefly responded.
That drop scenario for example,” the gunny frowned. The damn AI
would bring that up again. “I would suggest sticking to the
approved syllabus from now on Gunnery Sergeant.”

“
Noted sir,”
Schultz growled trying hard not to clench his jaw.

“
Though I
would also suggest you tap their knowledge database as well. It seems
you have as much to learn from them as they do from you. This recruit
Jethro's database for example. And recruit Valenko's training.”

“
Valenko has a
few things going for him. Command experience he picked up as a post
commander for the Anvil guard,” the gunny replied. “I did
check his record. I believe he was in charge of an entire deck at one
point. He shows leadership potential in every exercise.”

“
Yes. I
checked his record. He was a good leader. Until he ran afoul of
Mendela and a crony of the port admiral that is,” Smithy
responded. The gunny turned to the AI avatar. “I remember the
incident now. Valenko ended up a target of old prejudice against
neo’s. He was lucky to be demoted to guarding the garbage
recycling,” Smithy shook his head. “The XO managed to
intercede his influence and keep him from being spaced.”

“
This database
of recruit Jethro's... I don't suppose it's in your files...”

“
Unfortunately
no. It's a hard copy on an isolated system. Most likely because of
the viruses I was plagued with during the last administration's
tenure.”

The gunny grunted at
that. He thought for a moment. “The clan Matriarch, is she
still on the station?” he asked as he turned back to Smithy.

“
Yes. She is.
She is scheduled for another round of medical procedures this morning
in fact. If you'd like to speak with her I can ask the doctor to
delay...”

“
No. When will
she be done?”

“
In two
hours.”

“
Okay. I'll
go. Can you keep an eye on them sir?” He turned to Firefly's
holo projection.

“
With proper
medical back up, of course. So far only recruits Hurranna, Valenko,
Deja, and Jethro have gotten beyond the basic course and into the net
proper.”

“
Interesting.
But expected. All have some computer experience.” Smithy
observed looking over to the organics. “Is it true the Selkie
Déjà refused a hyper-navigator slot?”

“
If it's in
his file then yes,” the gunny said nodding, not sure where this
was going. “Why?”

“
Pineped's are
marginally better than humans for hyper navigation. Actually about
twenty percent better. Not as good as a cetacean or a Ssislli but
enough that we need every one. There is unfortunately a limited
number available.”

“
Because he
was taken as a captive of the pirates. He opted to remain here,”
Firefly responded. “He was forced to act as a hyper-navigator
during his indenture to the pirates so he now has a psychological
block towards that career path.”

“
Stubborn,”
the gunny shook his head. “Which is unusual in a selkie. They
are usually adaptive. He's a bit more introspective than I expected
as well. Aren't they normally playful?”

“
He is out of
his element,” Firefly responded. “I believe he will come
to terms with that and his aversion soon enough. The dry air alone
will drive him mad with a dry itchy epidermis.”

“
epi... skin?”
the gunny asked blinking as his thesaurus kicked in a translation.

“
Exactly. He
is a marine mammal Gunnery Sergeant, and his skin requires the
occasional exposure to water. Preferably salt water.”

“
Which
explains why he takes his time in the showers,” the gunny
replied, shaking his head remembering that it had gotten the platoon
into hack a few times. “All right, I'll try to keep that in
mind. Perhaps we can steer his career path back to piloting. He shows
an aptitude and an interest in it.”

“
That would be
advisable,” Firefly nodded.

“
Though I'd
hate to lose him. We've invested a lot of time and effort into
training him,” the gunny scowled. He rubbed the side of his
muzzle. He blinked, realizing he was using his new hand to do it and
then stopped. Doc was right. It seemed when he didn't think about it
and just used it, he was all right. The longer he had it, the more
natural it became.

“
Perhaps your
investment will be paid off in his passing on some of his experience
to his team. In the interim, we were going over the other academy
classes and we have a conflict over the usage of park deck. Also
several filed protests from the park workers over the obstacle
course.”

The gunny grunted.
“I'd expected as much. They were fully approved.”

“
As long as
you put things back the way they were before you came,” Smithy
responded. “Your contract for usage of the space is limited and
will expire when this class graduates. Unfortunately I've been over
ridden and the space has been leased to another company.”

The gunny grimaced
and then growled softly. “Okay, that well and truly sucks,”
he said exasperated. He shook his head. “Any idea when we can
get our own space? Permanent facilities?” he asked, looking at
Firefly hopefully but knowing the answer.

“
San Diego
base will take a few years to come on line, but we've run into
engineering snags with it so that is now up in the air. The only
possibility we have left is either building an academy station or
building domes on a large body. Such as an asteroid, moon, or planet.
Unfortunately most of the prime real estate within reasonable
distance of Anvil has been staked out.”

“
That...
sucks,” the gunny sighed. “We need a permanent facility.”

“
And access to
the Anvil College. Yes I know. As does Commander Logan and the Major.
We are trying to work on a solution. Unfortunately building resources
are currently saturated so we do not have the ability to build a
station or add onto the existing shipyard. Her power reserves are
already nearly saturated. Even an inflatable habitat has been
considered and rejected.”

“
Okay, That
well and truly sucks,” the gunny sighed again, sitting back as
Firefly showed him the files. He waved them away. “So what
then?”

“
The ROTC
classes will continue of course. Despite the protests and bidding to
preempt their facilities, those are in the college charter and
therefore sacrosanct. The OTC and boot facilities are not however.”

“
Can we sublet
the lease from this company?” the gunny asked.

“
Already
rejected. And they have made it clear they want you out on the date
specified.”

“
Okay,”
the gunny said with a scowl, rubbing his brow. “Decisions above
my pay grade obviously.”

“
Possibly. But
they must be considered carefully by all those involved. You are one
of the senior trainers and non commissioned officers so your ideas
bear weight,” Smithy responded. Firefly nodded.

“
Okay, I'll
float an idea to the Major that we send this class on training
exercises in the system and possibly on the next boat out to another
system. Maybe we can send a delegation and set up alternative
facilities on another planet. Agnosta for one.”

“
That would
make it almost impossible to use the college facilities and staff,”
Firefly responded. “As well as the medical staff on the
station.”
“We can copy the database. That's easy... As
far as the staff...” the gunny shrugged. “We can tap our
own people to train the basics, and use canned lectures. We're doing
that already. The facilities can be basic... If let's say a ground
facility we can start with the boot camp we're using now.”

“
Which would
neatly cover the loss of facilities here, and even give your staff
and students a more proper environment to train in. At least for
ground side ops. It also reduces the power demands on a planet,”
Firefly responded sounding thoughtful as the AI gamed the scenario
out. “But you will still need an on hand medical staff for
injuries. And the augmentation...”

“
That's the
sticky point. We can have corpsman on hand to handle emergencies and
accidents. The sickbay can grow off of that. We might even use that
as a trade item, build a base and allow access to the modern medical
facilities to the surrounding population as a trade incentive.”

“
Inspired
thought,” Smithy said nodding. “Access to modern medicine
and education will be a large incentive to any colony.”

“
Exactly. And
having a military base in the area will add some sense of security as
well. We could also throw in that we'd help during emergencies.
Respond during a major storm or other such natural or man made
disaster,” the gunny added, remembering that little detail from
snippets he had picked up in researching the history of the corps.

“
I see where
this is going. And the engineering staffs can be trained on the
planet, and even be used to build or in some cases rebuild roads and
planetary infrastructure. Another incentive to sweeten the pot. I've
logged this conversation and will bring it up with the commander and
the major at the next meeting tomorrow.”

Schultz opened his
eyes in surprise and then closed his mouth with a soft clop. “I
ah... was just brainstorming sir.”

“
And the fresh
perspective was good Gunnery Sergeant Schultz. Perhaps what we needed
to get this knot unraveled. There will be a transitional problem and
teething issues during set up and early implementation.”

“
Which can be
dealt with or just ridden out. Things will get better over time. They
already have here,” the gunny said standing and smoothing his
uniform. “You said the Matriarch will be in sickbay?”

“
Shortly. She
is in transit now,” Smithy responded.

“
All right,
I'll go talk with her. In the mean time, keep an eye on them. And
Firefly, if you could maybe throw an aptitude test at Déjà
and Hurranna...”

“
Flight test?”

“
If possible.
I did note a possible fear of heights in both of them. Keep that in
mind.”

“
Understandable
organic phobia. With your limited view point it is also a factor to
consider, as is possible agoraphobia for some of your troops. We will
have to see how they respond when they are given exterior training.”

“
You mean
space walks?” Schultz froze. “Hell, I forgot about that,”
he grimaced.

“
Yes. And you
will be training for it as well. Starting in three days actually
gunnery sergeant. Check your schedule. You will need to stay ahead of
the training curve so you can pass the skills on to the recruits.”

“
And not look
like a total ass in front of them,” Schultz grimaced. “All
right, I'll remember,” he said gruffly. He shook his head as he
walked out.

“
Did you get
what you wanted?” the Major asked as the gunny came into the
wardroom. The gunny stiffened and then shrugged.

“
If you mean
the information from the clan Matriarch yes sir. She gave me the
originals. I made copies and gave it back to her. I'm going over them
now.”

“
Ah. Valenko
uploaded the biography of Chester Puller onto the net. I had heard of
him but had forgotten. He's in the Galactic encyclopedia by the way.
I did a search and found him when I found out the recruits were
watching his bio.”

“
It's a video
sir?” the gunny asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

“
Yes, several
versions actually. There is an E-book as well if you'd prefer that.
The video is typically over hyped Hollywood nonsense. But it has a
grain of truth to it so I'm allowing it. They also did a good job
immortalizing the corps and the general so it may be for the good in
the long run,” Major Forth said, feeling relief that the kids
had stumbled onto something worthwhile.

“
Yes sir,”
Schultz said, stirring his coffee. He put a straw in it and then sat
down.