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.Captain Pendeckle, Ensign Blackberry, is still traumatized over losing his squad and me.Three of us are handling a 150 Marines on the ship, and we're losing the Ensign shortly.”“Sir, command redundancy?” Jethro asked.“If, spirit of space, anything happened to both of you.”“Then you'll carry the load as senior noncom.”“Me, sir?”“Yes, you.Since we can't get you to take a commission, you're it.”“Gee, thanks sir,” Jethro said, flicking his ears wryly.The bear snorted.“But, back to my original topic, we need bodies, and Major Forth is providing them.You'll have to keep a close eye on them.The squad will be my HQ squad for now, which means reserves.We're getting three bodies, one to replace Fonz and one for Kovu and Asazi.”Jethro's ears went flat.His eyes slitted.“Asazi will be back on her feet soon enough boss!” He protested in her defense.He didn't want someone coming in and taking her place.“She's going to be out a couple of weeks in Pyrax, and then therapy.” he stopped.Valenko nodded sagely.“Yes, but until then, we've got a hole to fill.She's staying behind in Pyrax to heal while we go on.I need a body and not just any body.The new recruits graduated from Schultz's school of hard knocks, top of the class.They went on to Marine Recon training and passed that as well.”“But they aren't us, not F platoon,” Jethro protested doggedly.He had no idea how these newcomers thought.He realized he was focusing on the squad instead of the bigger picture, but he had to make certain it was running smoothly before he turned his attention elsewhere.“No, but they'll do.They may not have been blooded.but I have a feeling that won't last long.” The bear turned to Jethro.“Any other thoughts or concerns, Sergeant?”Jethro stiffened, recognizing the tone.Valenko was done arguing about it.“No, sir.We'll make it work.Like you said, we'll make do.”Mild Ursine eyes studied the cat for a long moment.“Think you can handle the squad on your own? Plus the entire platoon? You'll have some noncom help, but most are learning the rating too.”“I'm not certain, sir,” Jethro said honestly.Valenko cocked his head.“What's holding you back?”“The.” Jethro hesitated.He wasn't certain how much he could tell the others in the room.“I've got some classified distractions sir, but I'll be squared away.We'll make it work.”Valenko's eyes locked his up in a challenge.“You'd better.”“Sir, yes, sir.We'll live and thrive.”“Oorah.”“Damn,” Sergei said mildly.“More babies to nursemaid.Joy.”“We're professionals, start acting like it Sergei,” Valenko said, eying the liger.Sergei stiffened to attention, eyes on the bulkhead.“Yes, sir.Sorry, sir.”“Dismissed.Get them settled and oriented fast.We're going to hit the deck running.First exercises tonight.Hot wash and then on to the next.We'll go with the introduction course we used for team building.Once we have them through initial orientation I'll pull back as op force commander.Jethro, you're going to carry the ball initially, but I want you to get the team working without you as well.”“Yes, sir,” Jethro flicked his ears.He knew his boss.The Lieutenant was saying easy, but he would no doubt throw a twist or two in to keep them on their toes and keep them from getting complacent.“I'll get the team sorted.”Valenko nodded as Jethro and Sergei snapped too and exited the compartment.---( | ) --- ( | )---Once the squads were settled in, Jethro broke them into teams and then ran them through an improvised obstacle course and then against each other in a light fight.The squads used the cargo bays, boat bays and any other space as training areas.Troops took lessons in quiet areas as well, including locks and even the showers on one occasion.They practiced hand signs and poured over plans until they thought their eyes would bleed.Each wolfed down meals like they were starving.Mornings had started as a listless affair the first few days as they got used to the routine, then they learned to move on the bounce or get left behind.They trained with the Navy personnel on familiarization of the ship, basic ship functions and the general layout.Sergeant Spitterman was still an issue.Major Pendeckle initially gave the Marine staff half of the squads to oversee.Spitterman had made it plain to Jethro to keep his hands to himself and keep an eye on his own people.Jethro had decided to let the good staff hang on his own then.Just before they jumped into hyper it was obvious Spitterman was in over his head and couldn't handle the job even with most of the corporals.“Hey, this isn't my fault!” he complained.“Give me a break! I've he'd never had to oversee so many people before!”“We're all learning.Get over it.Suck it up, Marine, no excuses,” Pendeckle growled.Fortunately, the whine had come out in a private meeting.“You've been a Sergeant longer than Jethro, and he's handling it just fine.Figure it out.”“Aye aye sir,” Spitterman replied, aware he'd stepped over the line and wasn't going to get any coddling or sympathy from the officer.That complaint didn't go over well with the officers, though the ensigns seemed sympathetic.They too were overwhelmed by the situation.The Major had them break it down into smaller and smaller tasks and compartmentalize each until things got back on track.Getting their people trained and up to speed to anticipate helped a lot and took some of the pressure off after a while.Jethro felt a ping.He checked his e-mail as his people moved on the simulated objective.He held up a closed fist indicating they halt in place.Then he checked.“Gunny, I'd like to see you at your earliest convenience,” was the gist of the blunt e-mail from the Major.Jethro nodded.He turned and pointed to PFC Presley.Elvin was good troop, quiet and a hell of a brawler in the bars.He was an old troop, a vet of the first Agnosta Expedition and damn proud of it.Jethro touched the human's right hand, initiating a link through their implants.“You've got the detail.I've got to report to the Major,” Jethro said through a text.The PFC nodded and then waved to the troops and then hand signed to move out.Jethro watched them go briefly and then nodded.Presley had kept a sharp eye on the situation, aware that leadership could drop on him at any time if Jethro was injured or killed.That was good.They were still drilling that into the other PFCs and even the noncoms.---( | ) --- ( | )---Jethro noted Spitterman exiting the Major's office but kept himself from reacting.He wasn't certain what was going on, but from the angry look in Spitterman's eye, it couldn't be all good.“Sir,” he said, knocking on the hatch combing.“Enter.Close the hatch,” the Major ordered.When Jethro complied he turned back and set his rifle on the deck and came to attention.“Care to share, Gunny?”“Sir?”“This pissing contest between you and Spitterman.It has to stop.I don't have time for chickenshit Jethro.”“Sir, I.” Jethro stopped himself and came to attention.“Aye aye sir.”“Better.But do explain [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]