Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) (56 page)

“
Yes sir,”
Jethro growled softly.

“
Don't mention
it. Ever.”

“
Sir yes sir,”
he stiffened at the bite of command in the AI's voice.

“
Carry on.”
The holo flickered out.

...*...*...*...*...

“
What the hell
do we do now?” Logan said throwing the tablet he had been
holding down onto his desk in disgust. He rubbed his forehead, trying
to clear his mind.

“
It's not all
doom and gloom sir,” Firefly reported.

“
Oh?” He
looked over to the avatar. “Where is the silver lining in that
mess?” he demanded pushing the offending device on the desk.

“
Fleet Admiral
Irons isn't one to be taken down so easily sir,” Fuentes said
next to Firefly. “And with Sprite his chances of survival are
above eighty nine point four five percent.”

“
That's if the
virus didn't do enough damage to the ship's critical systems before
they found it.”

“
That is
debatable sir. We unfortunately lack data on that. However, even if
the ship's systems did take a hit, I don't doubt that the Admiral
could repair the damage.”

“
Only if he
had the tools to do it with. Which he doesn't,” Firefly
reported. Fuentes looked over to the other AI. “I believe intel
has found some of the replicators and parts meant for Destiny. Which
means they were not on board. Extending that line of logic...”

“
And he may
have been left high and dry,” Logan finished.

“
Possible,”
Fuentes said nodding.

“
But I
wouldn't count the Fleet Admiral and his trio out just yet,”
the Major said with a head shake. “The man's too good to die.
We've just got to have faith.”

“
And we need
to get that back up ship to Agnosta yesterday. We need to see if he
got there. Then we'll have answers,” Shelby growled.

“
Agreed,”
Mayweather said with a nod. She looked at the Commander.

“
Agreed
agreed. Expedite the expedition,” he said. “They are
supposed to leave in three and a half months? Let's cut that down to
a month. Dismissed,” he waved.

“
They look
nervous. Don't they look nervous to you?” Captain jg, now
honorary Major Pendeckle said giving the lounging troops a nervous
look. The first Agnosta Marine expeditionary recon force. Quite a
mouthful some smuck had dreamed up. Three squads of Marines and a
dozen or so diplomats. Since it was his first field command he was
nervous about things going off without a hitch.

“
Actually sir,
they look bored,” gunny Schultz said as the troops sprang to
attention. “Of course we can't have that can we?” he
asked.

“
No, no, we'll
figure something out. It is after all, a two month trip to Agnosta,”
the junior grade captain, now frocked Major said giving the troops a
long look.

“
Six weeks
actually sir. In Alpha band. For some reason the engineers can't
figure out how to get this tub up to Beta. I think they said they can
get to the sweet band in Alpha what ever that is.”

“
Not our
problem,” the acting major said with a shake of his head. He
cleared his throat. The bay quieted and turned it's attention on him.

“
Welcome to
the First Agnosta Marine expeditionary recon force. For those of you
who don't know me, my name is Captain jg Pendeckle. Right now I have
been temporarily frocked to Major while on ship.” He looked
around. “To my right is first Lieutenant Dana Harely. To my
left is Ensign Valenko Kodiak.” He turned slightly to look at
the bear. “Behind me is gunny Schultz and Petty officers Lewis,
Rogers, and Gusterson.”

He came further into
the bay and then turned. “We're breaking down into three teams.
I've got HQ squad which will be third.” He nodded to Lieutenant
Harley. “Harley has second and Ensign Valenko has first. Your
team assignments should be on your HUD. Check them out in a moment.”

“
We are a
diplomatic fact finding mission ladies and gentlemen. We are the
face, the new face of the corps. First impressions count so let’s
make it a good one. That's all carry on.”

He walked to the
door then paused. “Oh, third squad report to my ready room in
an hour. Dismissed.” He turned and left.

“
Interesting,”
Sergei said as the squads broke from standing at attention. Jethro
had a faraway look. “Let me guess we're on different squads?”
he asked.

“
No,”
Hurranna said. “More's the pity. I still gotta put up with your
fat ass. At least I can hide behind it if the shit falls in the pot.”

“
Cute,”
the Liger growled. Hurranna grinned and then licked her shoulder.

“
I try to be.”

“
I requested
you three,” the gunny said coming over. They stiffened. “At
ease. Bracing is for boots and when officers are around,”
Schultz said. “I'm backstopping Valenko here since he's a
cherry like the rest of you. But it's hands off unless he goes down.”

“
Ah,”
Hurranna glanced at the others and then nodded for them. Behind her
the sniper leopard Letanga, Veraxin Chirby, Tauren Ox, and greyhound
petty officer Gusterson came over.

“
This it?”
Chirby asked. “Band of merry men?” He glanced at
Hurranna. “Oh sorry. And women?”

“
Not quite.”
Valenko said coming over with the heavy worlders Miles and Asazi in
tow. “Now we're it,” he nodded.

“
Ah.”
Miles looked around and then shrugged. He smiled at the bear.
“Congrats by the way,” he said sketching a salute to the
bear.  The grizzly nodded.

“
We're the
recon team. We're going out to first test the equipment, and second
to recon sites command thinks may make great training bases. Second
is going to show the flag in port, test the vehicles, and help with
the natives. They'll also be our back up in case we need it,”
the bear said.

“
Um, quick
question, ah, what are the chances of combat?” Chirby asked
raising a pincered primary hand claw.

“
No idea,”
Valenko said with a shrug. “But we're going to carry just in
case. I'd rather be tired and sore than full of holes.”

“
Point.”

“
Third squad
is headquarters squad. They'll go with the Major and provide him and
the delegation with security where ever he goes.”

“
Your orders
sir?” Jethro asked, having a hard time not smiling at his boot
camp friend.

“
Check to make
sure the gear is stowed. I'll see if I can get my hands on a couple
sets of VR glasses so we can train in sims. It's going to be a long
flight folks.”

“
Someone break
out the spade deck!” Sergei called out smiling.

...*...*...*...*...

The captain came
into the squad bay. He paused, looking around. The gunny was in a
rack, motioning into the air. His head turned side to side
occasionally. “What the?” the captain asked. He came over
to the rack. He looked around the bay. His own troops were either
lounging around or sleeping. Second and third squad were using VR
goggles.

“
Gunny,”
he said tapping the noncom on the arm.

“
Sir?”
Schultz cleared the VR and took them off. He rubbed his temple and
then opened his eyes to see the Captain.

“
Major sir.”
He shot out of the rack and then teetered before coming to attention.

“
You okay
gunny?”

“
I will be
sir. VR shock.”

“
Oh,”
the captain nodded. “Training or personal?” he asked.

“
Training sir.
Grudge match, first against second.”

“
Oh?”
the captain asked hands behind his back.

“
Yes sir.
Lieutenant Harley insisted after first won the last three sets.”

“
Huh.”
The captain rubbed his chin. “Valenko's that good?”

“
First is
sir,” the gunny smiled. “Of course I put a hell of a lot
of effort to make sure they get that way. Lance Corporal Jethro is
one heck of an asset as well. It also helps that first has two heavy
weapons and two snipers. Second only has one each.”

“
Ah.”
The captain nodded. “You've been doing this daily?”

“
Six to eight
hours a day. Hot wash on the exercise. Then off duty a shift then we
start all over. We do this six out of seven days a week. We try to
alternate squads to allow everyone a chance to use them. Also I'd
like to get the squads going in the gym. They are getting...”
He sniffed disdainfully. “Flabby in my opinion.”

Pendeckle hid a
smirk. “Well, we can't have that. I'll see if we can get some
time in the ship's gym. It's heavily scheduled however so you may
need to improvise.” He'd actually been trying to get gym time
for the past three weeks they'd been in transit.

“
Yes sir. I'll
set up some additional calisthenics and see if one of the team can
rig some weights to lift. Perhaps someone from engineering could come
by and set up some bars for us to do pull ups on sir? They could tack
weld them over there sir.” He pointed to a corner of the bay.

“
Huh? Oh
right.” The captain nodded touching his own waist. “You
do calisthenics already?”

“
Yes sir.
Twenty minute warm up and a four kilometer jog. Every morning.”

“
Ah.”
The captain nodded. “Where may I ask? I haven't seen you in the
ship.”

“
Around the
bay sir.” The gunny pointed to the outer edge of the bay. There
was a narrow strip going around the bay. “We've got three
people to a rack in some areas so that gives us a little extra room.
Though Ensign Valenko and corporals Sergei and Ox tend to eat those
savings up.”

“
Oh? Oh yes.”
The captain nodded looking around the bay. A few more troopers were
coming out of VR. Some looked annoyed. One or two were looking
sheepish. It took him a moment to realize most were second squad.

“
They won
again?” the captain asked. The nearest trooper had a sour look.
He nodded and got to his feet. “Officer on the deck!” The
other troopers out of VR came to attention. A few of third squad woke
and shoot to their feet.

“
At ease,”
the captain said. He shook his head. “Gunny a word.” He
led the gunny off to one side. “I was wondering about the VR
goggles.”

“
Sir?”

“
There have
been complaints about the troops having them.”

“
Sir. We can't
use the gym, and rec deck. The purser made it clear we should remain
in the bay at all times. We're doing that.”

“
I know that,”
the captain sighed.

“
The VR gear
is military issue sir. You signed off on it.”

“
I did?”
the captain asked surprised.

“
Yes sir. Last
minute requisition by the Lieutenants and myself.”

“
Ah,”
the captain nodded suddenly understanding. “Still the power and
computer time...”

“
Negligible
sir. Power demand is for recharging only. There isn't any computer
use sir. Not the ship's mainframe. We've got an independent server
right there.” The gunny pointed to a small box.

“
Huh. That
wasn't what I was told. All right. Thank you gunny for an informative
discussion. Carry on.”

The gunny popped to
attention and saluted. The captain returned the salute.

“
Oh and
gunny...”

“
Next time
third is up I want in. Don't leave me out from now on.”

“
Sir?”
the gunny asked.

“
You heard me.
You’re not the only one going stir crazy doing make work. We're
two and a half weeks out and we've got another four to go. I've had
it with the bar and officers club. Count me in.”

The gunny nodded.
“Yes sir. It'll be a pleasure sir. Third is playing the winner
after lunch.”

“
All right.
I'll see you then.”

...*...*...*...*...

“
You notice
that the humans stuck with mammals right?” Jethro said
patiently. They were in a bull session, off duty and relaxing with
beers and time to spare.