Read Online Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) by Chris Hechtl - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Chris Hechtl
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I could.”
“ It seems you
all have,” Schultz's single eye cut to Jethro then back to the
platoon. “Very well. You’re doing a simulated orbital
drop. Planet is a hostile M class. Standard oxy atmo mix. Jungle
terrain. You’re dropping near or on top of a battle. Turbulent
atmo. We'll see how it goes from there.”
Jethro tried not to
swear softly. Orbital drops were hell he had heard. Pulling this on
raw recruits not even through their first form of basic though? That
was asking for trouble.
“ Something on
your mind recruit?” the DI snarled to Jethro.
“ Sir no sir.”
“ Out with it,”
The gunny snarled.
“ Sir, it's
just, orbital drops are usually secondary training objectives. Hell
jumping isn't for greenhorns.”
“ Curiouser and
curiouser. I wonder where you get these odd notions of yours
recruit.”
“ Sir. Family
journal sir,” Jethro admitted.
“ Ah,”
the gunny nodded. “Got it handy?”
“ No sir. It's
ah, with the clan.”
“ Too bad,”
the gunny snorted. “But for you I guess it's a good thing. Had
you had it I would have pissed all over it and then made you eat it.
Raw,” he snarled. “You don't know shit recruit! Get it
through your head and stow the attitude! This is a different time and
place!”
“ Sir yes sir!”
Jethro said standing stock still. His fur rose and then went flat.
“ All right,”
Schultz turned to see the Major nearby. “Jefferson, get them
set up and squared away asap,” he called and then walked off
toward the Major.
...*...*...*...*...
“ You’re
running them pretty hard,” The Major said nodding.
“ That's the
idea sir.”
“ That cat is
right. I know this drop sim wasn't in the syllabus.”
“ No sir. Last
minute addition to test their confidence.”
“ Or break it.
Your job is to shepherd them through boot. Make marines out of them
gradually Schultz, not break them.”
“ To mold them
you have to break them sir. Only then will the cream rise to the
top.”
“ Bullshit.
Tell me, how many times have you done a drop sim?”
“ Sir?”
“ Answer the
question gunny.”
“ Ah... None
sir.”
“ Well, you get
to demonstrate some leadership right here gunny. You and your DI's,”
The Major eyed the gunny. “You get to jack in and run the
show.”
“ Ah sir, I was
ah, going to grade their performance,” Schultz felt a sinking
sensation.
“ I've got
nothing better to do for the next couple of hours. I'll take care of
that little chore,” the Major smiled. “Unless you don't
think either one of us can hack it.”
The gunny knew the
only path to the right answer. The Major was right, don't ask your
troops to do something you aren't willing and able to do yourself. He
cleared his throat. “No sir. Just trying not to get egg on my
face in front of the recruits sir.”
“ Too late for
that gunny. Next time don't put your trainees through something you
yourself haven't experienced. I seem to recall you pointed that out a
time or two remember? So you are going to put your credits where your
mouth is. Got me?” the Major growled. The gunny came to
attention and saluted.
“ Aye aye sir.”
“ Good. Move
out,” the Major growled gruffly as he returned the salute and
then watched with cold eyes as the gunny moved off stiffly.
“ That was
cruel,” Firefly said over his wireless link. He looked up to
the ceiling.
“ What? Sending
shave tail recruits through hell jumper 101 with a ten second brief
or making the gunny go along with them?”
“ Both. But you
are right, making him go through it with them should make things
interesting. Lead from the front as it is usually called. I think
he'll think twice about these little brain farts after this.”
“ Good. I
couldn't undermine his authority by canceling it once he'd announced
it. That wouldn't work.”
“ Of course
not. But now you're stuck with the situation.”
“ And I'll try
to make the best of it,” the Major said shaking his head. “He
is right, we do
“ It seems you
all have,” Schultz's single eye cut to Jethro then back to the
platoon. “Very well. You’re doing a simulated orbital
drop. Planet is a hostile M class. Standard oxy atmo mix. Jungle
terrain. You’re dropping near or on top of a battle. Turbulent
atmo. We'll see how it goes from there.”
Jethro tried not to
swear softly. Orbital drops were hell he had heard. Pulling this on
raw recruits not even through their first form of basic though? That
was asking for trouble.
“ Something on
your mind recruit?” the DI snarled to Jethro.
“ Sir no sir.”
“ Out with it,”
The gunny snarled.
“ Sir, it's
just, orbital drops are usually secondary training objectives. Hell
jumping isn't for greenhorns.”
“ Curiouser and
curiouser. I wonder where you get these odd notions of yours
recruit.”
“ Sir. Family
journal sir,” Jethro admitted.
“ Ah,”
the gunny nodded. “Got it handy?”
“ No sir. It's
ah, with the clan.”
“ Too bad,”
the gunny snorted. “But for you I guess it's a good thing. Had
you had it I would have pissed all over it and then made you eat it.
Raw,” he snarled. “You don't know shit recruit! Get it
through your head and stow the attitude! This is a different time and
place!”
“ Sir yes sir!”
Jethro said standing stock still. His fur rose and then went flat.
“ All right,”
Schultz turned to see the Major nearby. “Jefferson, get them
set up and squared away asap,” he called and then walked off
toward the Major.
...*...*...*...*...
“ You’re
running them pretty hard,” The Major said nodding.
“ That's the
idea sir.”
“ That cat is
right. I know this drop sim wasn't in the syllabus.”
“ No sir. Last
minute addition to test their confidence.”
“ Or break it.
Your job is to shepherd them through boot. Make marines out of them
gradually Schultz, not break them.”
“ To mold them
you have to break them sir. Only then will the cream rise to the
top.”
“ Bullshit.
Tell me, how many times have you done a drop sim?”
“ Sir?”
“ Answer the
question gunny.”
“ Ah... None
sir.”
“ Well, you get
to demonstrate some leadership right here gunny. You and your DI's,”
The Major eyed the gunny. “You get to jack in and run the
show.”
“ Ah sir, I was
ah, going to grade their performance,” Schultz felt a sinking
sensation.
“ I've got
nothing better to do for the next couple of hours. I'll take care of
that little chore,” the Major smiled. “Unless you don't
think either one of us can hack it.”
The gunny knew the
only path to the right answer. The Major was right, don't ask your
troops to do something you aren't willing and able to do yourself. He
cleared his throat. “No sir. Just trying not to get egg on my
face in front of the recruits sir.”
“ Too late for
that gunny. Next time don't put your trainees through something you
yourself haven't experienced. I seem to recall you pointed that out a
time or two remember? So you are going to put your credits where your
mouth is. Got me?” the Major growled. The gunny came to
attention and saluted.
“ Aye aye sir.”
“ Good. Move
out,” the Major growled gruffly as he returned the salute and
then watched with cold eyes as the gunny moved off stiffly.
“ That was
cruel,” Firefly said over his wireless link. He looked up to
the ceiling.
“ What? Sending
shave tail recruits through hell jumper 101 with a ten second brief
or making the gunny go along with them?”
“ Both. But you
are right, making him go through it with them should make things
interesting. Lead from the front as it is usually called. I think
he'll think twice about these little brain farts after this.”
“ Good. I
couldn't undermine his authority by canceling it once he'd announced
it. That wouldn't work.”
“ Of course
not. But now you're stuck with the situation.”
“ And I'll try
to make the best of it,” the Major said shaking his head. “He
is right, we do
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