Theirs Not To Reason Why: A Soldier's Duty (12 page)
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Authors: Jean Johnson
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“According to your file, you apparently have an Afaso Mastery rank. Is that so?” Linley asked her.
“Sergeant, yes, Sergeant,” Ia agreed. She knew what the other woman wanted from her, and provided it. “This Recruit is an unvowed Full Master of the Afaso martial arts system, Sergeant.”
“Indeed. The Afaso,” Linley informed the others, “are a militant order, as well as a religious one. Having been founded shortly before Terrans reached out into the stars, the Afaso absorbed and amalgamated all known forms of martial arts into a single training system. After the Second Human Empire joined the Alliance, they further expanded and merged their knowledge of weaponless and archaic weaponry based combat systems. They are the
finest
warriors outside of an actual military organization, and you do
not
want to take them on in hand-to-hand combat if you yourself are not trained to a comparable level.
finest
warriors outside of an actual military organization, and you do
not
want to take them on in hand-to-hand combat if you yourself are not trained to a comparable level.
“In fact, we will be teaching you certain Afaso techniques for unarmed and edged weapons combat. As archaic as long blades might be in an era of stunners and lasers, you are
attempting
to become Marines, and in the tradition of Old Earth Marines, you will be learning sword fighting as well as knife fighting, ranged weaponry, personal artillery, and unarmed combat. However . . . as good as the Afaso are, the Marines are more dangerous than the Afaso. Recruit Ia, do you know
why
the Marines are better?” Linley challenged her.
attempting
to become Marines, and in the tradition of Old Earth Marines, you will be learning sword fighting as well as knife fighting, ranged weaponry, personal artillery, and unarmed combat. However . . . as good as the Afaso are, the Marines are more dangerous than the Afaso. Recruit Ia, do you know
why
the Marines are better?” Linley challenged her.
Ia met her skeptical brown gaze. “Sergeant, yes, Sergeant! This recruit does know why the Marines are more dangerous, Sergeant!”
That took the Regimen Trainer by surprise. Blinking, she quirked one of her brows. “Do you? Well, then, Recruit. Explain to all of us
why
you think the Marines are more dangerous than the Afaso.”
why
you think the Marines are more dangerous than the Afaso.”
“Sergeant, while the Afaso are trained thoroughly in how to
end
a fight, they are not trained in how to
start
a fight. The Afaso are also trained to avoid killing an opponent whenever possible,” Ia added, projecting her voice so that her fellow recruits could hear. “While it does take more skill to disable rather than destroy, and by that standard the vowed members of the Afaso Order are more
skilled
than the average Marine . . . they are
not
more deadly, Sergeant. Marines are trained to kill.”
end
a fight, they are not trained in how to
start
a fight. The Afaso are also trained to avoid killing an opponent whenever possible,” Ia added, projecting her voice so that her fellow recruits could hear. “While it does take more skill to disable rather than destroy, and by that standard the vowed members of the Afaso Order are more
skilled
than the average Marine . . . they are
not
more deadly, Sergeant. Marines are trained to kill.”
“Very good, Recruit. And very astute.” Sweeping her gaze over the others, Linley emphasized that point bluntly. “You are here to learn how to
kill
. Your psychological evaluations during your MATs suggested that you have the intestinal fortitude to follow through when given the command to ‘shoot to kill,’ without the danger of a predilection for
liking
it a little too much. The modern military does not have a place for homicidal maniacs.”
kill
. Your psychological evaluations during your MATs suggested that you have the intestinal fortitude to follow through when given the command to ‘shoot to kill,’ without the danger of a predilection for
liking
it a little too much. The modern military does not have a place for homicidal maniacs.”
Without warning, Linley struck at Ia. She jabbed, swept, and kicked, arms and legs moving swiftly. Ia managed to block the attacks effectively enough, though her weight suit did slow her reactions to the point where it took effort to meet each blow fast enough to deflect it. Despite her heavyworlder reflexes and precognitive forewarnings that it would happen, the Regimen Trainer managed to distract Ia long enough with a vicious jab to her throat with one hand. That allowed Linley to grapple Ia with the other and trip her to the ground.
She landed with a heavy, rolling
whump
on the mat. No Sanctuarian survived to adulthood without learning
how
to take a fall with minimum injury. Doing it in less than a third of the gravity gave Ia plenty of time to curve her body in preparation for the impact; however, the grid work of weight suit tiles weren’t normally a part of her practice for such things, making her grunt at the bruises caused by landing on the awkward things.
whump
on the mat. No Sanctuarian survived to adulthood without learning
how
to take a fall with minimum injury. Doing it in less than a third of the gravity gave Ia plenty of time to curve her body in preparation for the impact; however, the grid work of weight suit tiles weren’t normally a part of her practice for such things, making her grunt at the bruises caused by landing on the awkward things.
Linley gave her a few seconds to recover from her fall, then offered her hand. Ia accepted it, though it didn’t make much difference against the inertia of her augmented kilos. She had to twist onto her side just to regain her feet. Once up, she resumed her attentive stance, waiting for either a dismissal back to the rest of the group, or to be used again as an example. The staff sergeant did neither, instead turning back to the others to continue her lecture.
“As you can see, Recruit Ia does have a reasonable amount of training. However, she is
not
trained to kill, and therefore will not use potentially lethal maneuvers among her opening attacks, such as my attempted throat grab. By the end of her Basic Training,
if
she doesn’t wash out, this reflex will be retrained. While the majority of attack methods used by the SF-MC involve actual weaponry, you
will
learn how to kill with your bare hands. Resume your place, Recruit.”
not
trained to kill, and therefore will not use potentially lethal maneuvers among her opening attacks, such as my attempted throat grab. By the end of her Basic Training,
if
she doesn’t wash out, this reflex will be retrained. While the majority of attack methods used by the SF-MC involve actual weaponry, you
will
learn how to kill with your bare hands. Resume your place, Recruit.”
“Sergeant, yes, Sergeant!” Turning, Ia strode back to the others.
“Recruit Ia, weights off,” Sgt. Linley added, pointing with her baton. “Pile them off of the mat, over there.”
“Sergeant, yes, Sergeant!” Swerving around her fellow recruits, Ia did as she was bid.
“Recruits Ia, Arstoll, Shecklin, Tang, and Z’munbe all have high marks in various martial art skills, according to their files. The five of you will eventually assist the others in learning the basics as these lessons progress. You will do so when instructed to do so, and
only
when instructed to do so,” Linley warned them as Ia continued to unsnap the pieces of her harness. “Until such time as I have personally evaluated your skills, you will all undertake the same basic progression in lessons as the rest. Do
not
assume that a black belt on your hips or some tattoo on your arm qualifies you as an instructor. Not by SF-MC standards.
only
when instructed to do so,” Linley warned them as Ia continued to unsnap the pieces of her harness. “Until such time as I have personally evaluated your skills, you will all undertake the same basic progression in lessons as the rest. Do
not
assume that a black belt on your hips or some tattoo on your arm qualifies you as an instructor. Not by SF-MC standards.
“Now, we will begin by demonstrating several methods of escaping from being grabbed or confined by an enemy. Recruit Ia, when you’re ready?”
Ia winced and quickly pulled the last of the weights from her boots.
I was hoping she wouldn’t do that. Now I’ll have to carefully navigate the rougher waters just up ahead . . .
I was hoping she wouldn’t do that. Now I’ll have to carefully navigate the rougher waters just up ahead . . .
“Gods! I can’t believe you messed up that badly, Kaimong!” Stalking over to his locker, the member of E Squad speaking glared at his teammate. “Twenty sit-ups and push-ups,
and
we had to rerun the rope swing ten times to make sure we
all
got it right? Now we’ll barely have time to shower before the inspections for lunch!”
and
we had to rerun the rope swing ten times to make sure we
all
got it right? Now we’ll barely have time to shower before the inspections for lunch!”
“Slag off!” Kaimong retorted, returning his glare. “I’m doing what I can. That damned ‘confidence’ course ain’t fair. So just slag off!”
“No,
you
slag off!” one of his other squad mates argued, moving up in his face. “Or rather,
slack
off. How in a K’kattan hell did you pass your MATs for the
Marines
, anyway? You should’ve been sent to the Army—where the
losers
go!”
you
slag off!” one of his other squad mates argued, moving up in his face. “Or rather,
slack
off. How in a K’kattan hell did you pass your MATs for the
Marines
, anyway? You should’ve been sent to the Army—where the
losers
go!”
Ia, still wrapped in a towel from her shower, hurried out of the doorway to the latrines. She didn’t get there in time to stop Kaimong from shoving the second man, nor from him shoving back, but she did manage to shoulder herself between the two before their flat, pushing hands could be curled into tight, punching fists.
“Break it up!” she ordered. It was a good guess that it was the heat and high humidity that was making everyone cranky and easily irritated by each other, but there wasn’t anything she could do about the summer thunderstorms plaguing the northern end of the continent. Except maybe enjoy the touch of home in the air, in those rare moments when her attention wasn’t needed elsewhere. Like right now. Unfortunately, the only thing she could do was physically stop them by placing herself between the pair. “No fighting in the barracks!”
“Oh, like
you’re
so superior!” Arstoll snapped from his bunk halfway across the locker room, surprising her. Jumping down, boots still unlaced, he stalked toward her as she pushed Kaimong and the other recruit apart. “Ooh, look, I’m Recruit Ia! I’m so
special
, I get picked to be first at everything. Like you’re some sort of big damn hero-in-training!”
you’re
so superior!” Arstoll snapped from his bunk halfway across the locker room, surprising her. Jumping down, boots still unlaced, he stalked toward her as she pushed Kaimong and the other recruit apart. “Ooh, look, I’m Recruit Ia! I’m so
special
, I get picked to be first at everything. Like you’re some sort of big damn hero-in-training!”
That hit a little too close to home. Hands going to her hips, making sure she stood sideways to the other two so that they were separated further by the span of her elbows, Ia met his glare. “And
you
are missing the point of
all
of this, Arstoll. Just like Kaimong and the rest of E Squad. They’re not singling me out because I’m ‘special,’ they’re singling me out—and Kaimong, and several of the rest of you—to
beat us down
. They’re deliberately picking on us so they can find our weakest spots.”
you
are missing the point of
all
of this, Arstoll. Just like Kaimong and the rest of E Squad. They’re not singling me out because I’m ‘special,’ they’re singling me out—and Kaimong, and several of the rest of you—to
beat us down
. They’re deliberately picking on us so they can find our weakest spots.”
“Oh, really?” Arstoll challenged her, hands going to his own hips.
“What do you think the military is about?” Ia asked him. “We are
all
still civilians. We don’t have the
mind-set
and the
willpower
to survive combat—do you think the Salik, if they ever broke out, would invite us over for tea and crumpets and a discussion of who’s going to sleep with whom on the latest vidsoap? We’d
be
the crumpets! And you can bet as sure as hellfire and damnation that they wouldn’t be
nice
to us while they’re interrogating us, one tasty slice at a time! It is our instructors’
job
to be nasty to us as recruits, in the hopes of toughening us up!”
all
still civilians. We don’t have the
mind-set
and the
willpower
to survive combat—do you think the Salik, if they ever broke out, would invite us over for tea and crumpets and a discussion of who’s going to sleep with whom on the latest vidsoap? We’d
be
the crumpets! And you can bet as sure as hellfire and damnation that they wouldn’t be
nice
to us while they’re interrogating us, one tasty slice at a time! It is our instructors’
job
to be nasty to us as recruits, in the hopes of toughening us up!”
“Oh, really? Well, maybe I don’t
want
to be constantly compared to some backwater heavyworlder
nobody
,” Arstoll shot back, stepping forward. “The men and women on
both
side of my family have served in one Branch or another of the Space Force since the first twenty years of its inception. I may not have the muscles or the reflexes of a heavyworlder, but
I
am tough enough for the Marines
without
heavyworlder advantages.
I
intend to get a Field Commission,” he boasted, jerking his thumb at his chest. “Unlike
you
, I’ve studied tactics and strategies for years. I’m ready for battle!”
want
to be constantly compared to some backwater heavyworlder
nobody
,” Arstoll shot back, stepping forward. “The men and women on
both
side of my family have served in one Branch or another of the Space Force since the first twenty years of its inception. I may not have the muscles or the reflexes of a heavyworlder, but
I
am tough enough for the Marines
without
heavyworlder advantages.
I
intend to get a Field Commission,” he boasted, jerking his thumb at his chest. “Unlike
you
, I’ve studied tactics and strategies for years. I’m ready for battle!”
“I wish I could believe you,” Ia stated flatly. Their own fight had diffused the tensions between Kaimong and the others, but now she had to pick her words carefully. Very carefully. Her statement caused her squad mate to bristle, but she continued briskly. Implacably. “If you
had
taken your lessons in tactics and strategies to heart, you would realize just how
foolish
it is to antagonize someone you
know
is supposed to watch your back in the future. Military forces which are torn apart by internal antagonism are as weak as a cheap plexi net. The holes caused by internecine strife make it that much easier for the enemy to tear through them on the way to their goal.
had
taken your lessons in tactics and strategies to heart, you would realize just how
foolish
it is to antagonize someone you
know
is supposed to watch your back in the future. Military forces which are torn apart by internal antagonism are as weak as a cheap plexi net. The holes caused by internecine strife make it that much easier for the enemy to tear through them on the way to their goal.
“What you
should
be doing is seeking ways to
help
each other. To turn your fellow soldiers into a solid shield wall.” She glanced to either side, taking in Kaimong and his teammates. Returning her gaze to Arstoll, who was sneering, she lifted one of her brows in return. “If you want that Field Commission, Arstoll, you’re going to have to
prove
you can lead. Not just boast about it. Family connections only gave you certain opportunities to learn whatever and how much of it that you studied. Whether or not you
comprehend
it is another matter.
should
be doing is seeking ways to
help
each other. To turn your fellow soldiers into a solid shield wall.” She glanced to either side, taking in Kaimong and his teammates. Returning her gaze to Arstoll, who was sneering, she lifted one of her brows in return. “If you want that Field Commission, Arstoll, you’re going to have to
prove
you can lead. Not just boast about it. Family connections only gave you certain opportunities to learn whatever and how much of it that you studied. Whether or not you
comprehend
it is another matter.
“And, for the record, you do not know
my
background and education level, Arstoll. Nor do I know yours. I, however, will give
you
the benefit of the doubt.” Tightening her towel, she moved past him. “Prove, or disprove, that you have what it takes to lead. Don’t just boast. Do.”
my
background and education level, Arstoll. Nor do I know yours. I, however, will give
you
the benefit of the doubt.” Tightening her towel, she moved past him. “Prove, or disprove, that you have what it takes to lead. Don’t just boast. Do.”
“What, like
you
can?” Arstoll countered, sneering at her. “Just because you have boot chevrons—”
you
can?” Arstoll countered, sneering at her. “Just because you have boot chevrons—”
Whirling to face him, Ia cut him off. “
That
is a discussion which will have to wait until lunch. Right now,
you
are wasting everyone’s time. We have six minutes left before our prelunch inspection, and
some
of us haven’t showered yet.” Turning around, she gave everyone pointed looks. “Well? Move! Unless you all
want
more demerits . . . ?”
That
is a discussion which will have to wait until lunch. Right now,
you
are wasting everyone’s time. We have six minutes left before our prelunch inspection, and
some
of us haven’t showered yet.” Turning around, she gave everyone pointed looks. “Well? Move! Unless you all
want
more demerits . . . ?”
They moved. So did she. Returning to her bunk and locker, Ia exchanged the towel for fresh clothes. Between the humidity and the heat, all of their outdoor activities, which took place until noon, left each of them drenched in sweat. From lunch to supper, they spent their time indoors in training classrooms, learning about the rules, regulations, history, and organization of the Space Force and its four Branches. That meant being clean and presentable so that forty-five sweat-soaked bodies didn’t stink up the place.
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