Author's note: Hi, everyone! So, some explanations about this chapter and the ones that will follow. I did some research, of course, to be as realistic as possible, but unfortunately (or reather fortunately since it involves men risking their lives to protect our American friends) I couldn't find specific details about the Little Creek base or ths Seal training, so I made wild guesses. One thing is genuine though: the indoor obstacle course with the swimming pool, because I saw it in an impressive video.
Please enjoy and please, please, please leave a review!
Chapter 26
Briggs drove them to Little Creek in Virginia, as Kestrel's car was in the parking lot of Dulles airport in Washington since his trip to Boise. During the trip they mostly stayed silent, but talked a little about strategy. Kestrel would play the bad guy and attract attention, so Briggs would have a field day to spy the Seals and find who was with Mancini.
And when they arrived to the Little Creek base, Kestrel was ready to play his role. He got out of the car and spotted the NSA agent next to a black car, waiting for them. He and Briggs walked towards him, and the agent gave them their papers. Kestrel could see they were genuine, and a résumé of his fake life was attached. He saw that Slavek Yarmolenko was born in New York of Ukrainian parents, had served in the Navy for five years in submarines and was specialized in arms and electronics.
Then the two of them went to the gate, where Ensign Otis, a small black-haired woman, greeted them and led them to a nearby outbuilding. There two petty officers took their measurements and soon gave them their uniforms. Kestrel was surprised to see he even had some medals on his official uniform, and asked about them. Ensign Otis told him that Slavek Yarmolenko had received the Silver Lifesaving Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Navy Expert Rifleman Medal. Then his petty officer gave him the regulation haircut and told him to shave in the morning, but Kestrel wasn't going to obey.
The sun was almost set when they exited the outbuilding, and Kestrel and Briggs followed Ensign Otis to the barracks, where she gave them a small bedroom they would have to share. A lot of recruits were already there, looking curiously at them, so Kestrel started to play his role, frowning and keeping a grim face. He put down his bag in the locker and murmured to Briggs:
_ Now Slavek will be an utter bastard, мой друг (my friend).
_ Go on, Briggs whispered back. Don't worry about me. We have a job to do.
Kestrel nodded and said loudly:
_ So where do you come from?
_ Portland.
_ And on which boat were you assigned?
_ The USS Eisenhower.
_ Ha! I see.
_ Do you have a problem with that? Briggs asked disgruntedly, playing along.
_ No. Guess we won't be teammates, that's all. Just give me enough space to breathe.
And Kestrel strode out of the bedroom, poker-faced but feeling bad, but he had a job to do. Around him in the corridor, he saw puzzled looks and frowning expressions, and snapped:
_ What are you looking at? Clear off!
He took his best intimidating stare, and soon the soldiers looked away. He wanted to smile but forced it down. He was Slavek Yarmolenko, first-class jerk and unsmiling arms professional. He waited in the corridor like the other Navy soldiers, not really disturbed by his uniform, and ignored Briggs when he came out too.
Soon a barking chief warrant officer 4 ordered them to the mess, and Kestrel fell in line, concentrating on his pace. He had been in the Army, but it had been the Russian one, and the pace was not the same as in the US. But he soon caught the rythm and followed the other recruits. He was offered a small plate of pasta with meatballs and complained loudly about the quantity, and received another one. But he had caught the eye of the chief warrant officer who was frowning at him. And when he sat down at a table, alone, the officer marched to him and said, looking at his rank and name:
_ Petty Officer First Class Yarmolenko! Already making trouble?
_ No, sir!
Kestrel rose to his feet and looked at the officer in the eye. He was shorter than the chief warrant officer of about three inches but the guy wasn't threatening enough for him.
_ Why are you complaining? Hungry, are you?
_ Yes, sir!
_ Then eat, because tomorrow you'll regret it! And shave your beard!
_ No, sir!
The officer looked like he'd been slapped. He asked with a dangerous voice:
_ What did you just say, Yarmolenko?
_ I said "No, sir"! Kestrel said calmly, still locking eyes with the officer, named Norwood.
Every pair of eyes was fixed on the two of them, and the mess had gone silent. Norwood, obviously not used to being defied like that, looked thunderstruck, but after five seconds he regained composure and said menacingly:
_ Well, Yarmolenko, you don't start brilliantly. But tomorrow morning you'll have this beard shaved or I can guarantee you that you'll be very sorry indeed. Do I make myself clear?
_ Yes, sir!
The officer shot him a last angry look, then turned towards the other recruits. Kestrel sat down, ignoring the stares on him, and started to eat. Nobody came to his table, and that was fine by him. He was doing well enough. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Briggs, among five other recruits, starting to chat quietly, and he felt good about it. At least his friend wouldn't be alone.
He wolfed down his two plates, but was still hungry. However Norwood was still eyeing him nastily, so he decided against asking for another plate. He would stuff himself the following morning. After dinner, Norwood and another officer called Rojas gathered up the recruits and ushered them into their barracks, telling them to sleep while they still can. Kestrel and Briggs obeyed at once, the day had been very long, and in no time they drifted into sleep.
Kestrel awoke at five, hearing discreet footsteps in the corridor. He immediately got up and put on his fatigues, and shook Briggs' shoulder. He knew his teammate was a heavy sleeper and would have trouble with the wake-up call, and he couldn't let him have a cardiac arrest. Briggs opened his eyes, so when the bugle suddenly resonated in the corridor, he didn't jump too hard and was already half-dressed.
The two of them hastily made their beds, Briggs showing him the good way of doing it, and five minutes later they were in the corridor, the first ones out. Kestrel could see Norwood and Rojas at the end of the corridor, and Norwood frowned when he saw Kestrel. The beard will serve your purposes well, мой друг, he thought dimly. Soon all the doors opened and all the recruits were waiting next to their door, about a hundred men and six women. Norwood barked an order, and all recruits stood at attention.
_ Right! the officer yelled. Hell starts right now for you! Now get out!
Rojas led the way to the outside, then they gathered in a large area for training. The two officers made the recruits form ranks, with space between every line, and Kestrel guessed the weak-gutted would soon spit them, as Sam had warned them. And when Norwood reached him, he braced himself.
_ Yarmolenko! You still have the beard?
_ Yes, sir! he said loudly, his stare fixed on the American flag thirty meters away.
_ Haven't I told you yesterday to shave it?
_ Yes, sir!
_ Then why haven't you done it?
_ Because I can't, sir!
Norwood masked his surprise, and his eyes narrowed.
_ And why is that, Yarmolenko?
_ I made a vow, sir!
_ Did you now? the officer smirked in triumph. Well, then, you'll have to understand something here, Yarmolenko. Only qualified Seals can wear the beard, and you're not a qualified Seal. So you'll prove me you can become one, and then I'll think about letting you keep it.
_ Yes, sir!
_ Okay! Norwood shouted, addressing the recruits. Push-ups for everyone! On the ground!
Kestrel crouched and positioned himself on the grass, ready. Briggs was four men away on his right, and he hoped he would bear the pressure and efforts. Then Norwood positioned himself too and Rojas started to count quite fast:
_ One! Two! Three!...
Kestrel was steadily pushing on his arms, focused on the movements of his body, at ease. Around fifty the first recruits started to fall, and at one hundred only two dozen men were still doing push-ups with Norwood. Kestrel saw that Briggs was one of them, and he suppressed a smile. His teammate was tougher than he was letting on.
At two hundred only Kestrel and Norwood were still pushing on their arms, but Kestrel felt great. All the recruits had risen and were surrounding them in a wide circle, sensing that it was more a challenge than a simple training. And Kestrel couldn't crack first. So he went on, Rojas still counting loudly, and emptied his mind. At three hundred, he saw Norwood starting to falter, sweating heavily, but the Seal had strength and guts. And Kestrel had to wait four hundred and five to see the chief warrant officer putting a knee on the ground. He himself did ten more push-ups before Rojas told him to stop, and he rose, only sweating lightly.
Norwood, breathing heavily, went right in front of him, and said reluctantly:
_ You're quite strong, Yarmolenko. You can keep your beard for now. But later today the Devgru will be back, so don't be surprised if you'll have to prove yourself to them another time.
_ Yes, sir! Kestrel said, smiling a little.
_ Okay, recruits! Rojas shouted. Now the real show begins! For now you're just wimps, but you'll soon see of what stuff Seals are made! Form ranks!
Kestrel resumed his place among the recruits who were shooting him admirative looks, and they followed the two officers to a nearby building. And when they entered, a collective gasp echoed in the vast room. They were standing in front of one of the toughest indoor obstacle courses in the world. Ropes, nets and monkey bars were crisscrossing above a swimming pool in a nightmarish water version of the hardest course Kestrel had ever seen. Rojas smiled evilly and said:
_ For now you'll do the course like you are, but after breakfast you'll have full backpacks, helmets and rifles on, so enjoy!
_ Yarmolenko! Norwood called out with a smirk. Time to show us your strength again! After you!
Fine, Kestrel thought. Without hesitating he ran to the first rope and suspended himself, swinging it towards a great net hanging five meters above the water. Then he let go of the rope and caught the net, swiftly climbing it and going to the other side. After that he had to jump in the water to reach the next hoops, so he let go and plunged into the freezing water. He swam to the hoops, which were rising steadily to a set of monkey bars, and grabbed them. Soon he hoisted himself up to the bars and used his arms to advance to another rope.
After another net and some tricky plank with holes, there were more ropes and monkey bars, then he reached the finish line, which was in the pool. So he jumped another time and swam to the edge of the pool, where Norwood was waiting for him. He got out of the water and the officer stared at him with an appraising look, but this time didn't comment. Kestrel knew the Seal was impressed, and he forced down his smile. His harsh training with Voron and Sam hadn't been for nothing.
A few meters away, Rojas said:
_ You saw the way, now all in!
Kestrel watched the other recruits on the course, and saw that Briggs was doing well, although his hands slipped on the plank and he fell in the water. But a lot of recruits weren't even up the hoops, and Kestrel knew that the dream of being a Seal would soon end for them. After about an hour, Norwood and Rojas gathered the recruits and led them back to the barracks, where they had five minutes to change into their spare fatigues and make the ones they had on drying, before going to the mess for breakfast.
Kestrel piled his plate with eggs and sausages, bread and bagels, a mug of coffee and apple juice, and sat at his table. Some guys tried to sit with him, but he told them with an evil glare:
_ I eat alone.
So they went to a nearby table, obviously seeing his anger. He quickly ate all his food, he knew they wouldn't have much time. And sure enough, ten minutes later Rojas rose and shouted:
_ Out!
All the recruits ran outside, back in the training area, where they would do combat training with the Seal Team 2. Norwood, still smiling, told them that they would have to make their sparring partner fall on the ground to pass the test. So Kestrel faced a master chief petty officer built like a tank, and at Rojas' whistle attacked.
He soon saw that the guy, although taller than him by half a foot and heavier by around fifty pounds, was no match for him, and he pinned him down in less than a minute by giving him an uppercut straight on the chin. His opponent's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed like a wooden plank on the grass. Norwood ran to them at once and checked on the guy, but he was passed out cold. He scowled at Kestrel and said:
_ Take him to the side of the area, Yarmolenko.
So Kestrel hoisted the guy on his shoulders and brought him where two male nurses were waiting, ready to treat the wounded. He laid down his opponent who was immediately taken care of, and advanced towards Norwood who was gesturing at him to come closer. The chief warrant officer said:
_ Impressive, Yarmolenko. But do not get a big head, this is only the beginning.
_ Yes, sir! Kestrel said calmly.
_ Off you go!
Kestrel marched to the other side of the area, where the men having won their fight were waiting. He saw Briggs was still fighting, and his friend gave his opponent a good high kick, winning his fight. He suppressed his smile and stopped a few meters away from the men and women waiting. A big guy named Forrester said loudly:
_ Hey, Yarmolenko! Good fight!
_ Thanks, Kestrel said absent-mindedly.
_ Wanna come with us?
Kestrel turned his gaze towards the man and his group, where two African American men and a woman were clustered, and, forcing his self-disgust down, said with a sneer:
_ No, thanks. I don't have much taste for the company you seek.
Outraged hisses resonated around him, and Forrester said angrily:
_ What did you just say? Do you have a problem, asshole?
_ None, Kestrel said firmly, poker-faced but with his cold stare on. Just stay away from me.
_ You too if you don't want to be smashed to a pulp! the black-skinned guy next to Forrester said indignantly.
Kestrel snorted in mockery, inwardly wanting to throw up at his attitude, but kept his cool. Fortunately the fighting ended, and he saw that Briggs was all right. Rojas and Norwood led them back to the obstacle course, but they made a detour in a nearby outbuilding first, where they were given a heavy backpack, a helmet and an assault rifle. The gear was weighing about forty pounds, Kestrel thought dimly, that would complicate things.
And when they were told to do the course again, this time Kestrel knew that some recruits would crack and quit. He went first and did the course quite easily, but behind him some recruits were having real trouble with their heavy load. He even was the first taking off his gear in haste and diving into the pool to keep a panic-stricken recruit afloat and bring him back to the edge, where Rojas and Norwood hoisted the trembling and screaming man out of the water. Then he got out too and watched as Briggs was halfway through the course. His teammate was clearly struggling under the weight of his gear, but he succeeded in finishing the course, and Kestrel softly sighed in relief.
Two of the six women and a dozen men gave up, and they were ordered back to the barracks, where they would gather their things and leave the Seal training. Kestrel could see their sadness and rage, but he knew that only a few people around him would reach the end of the harsh training. Then the officers ushered them to the barracks too to have a shower and put on their drying fatigues, and they would have lunch.
Kestrel was starving, but he was quite happy to have a two-minute shower. The he dressed up and asked Briggs in a murmur:
_ Okay, мой друг?
_ I'm gonna die before the four days, mate, Briggs said in a whisper, putting on his fatigues. I won't be able to stand it.
Kestrel strode towards him and put a hand on his shoulder. Briggs looked up and locked eyes with him, clearly reading the unspoken message Kestrel was sending him. Then he nodded and said:
_ I'll hold on, mate.
Kestrel nodded, then exited the room. He was ready to resume his play as the Yarmolenko jerk.