Chapter 12
I had two good feelings about today. One I was finally going to start on my tank training with Cover girl and two Strike was suppose to let me know of my Liberty pass status to see if it got approved.
So first things first, tank training with Cover girl. At first I thought she was going to do like a run through with me on the various tanks and vehicles her at the machine shop. Yet when I got there at 1300 on the dot she had one those tanks out front near the motor pool.
My first instinct was the she was just going to do a bit of a demonstration in front of me giving me some pointers and what not. But no she had other plans in store for me.
"Right on time kid, I like that."" So where you able to read all of that book that I gave you last night?" "Well I got up to the point about the ATV."" Huh not bad kid so you where able to get thru practically all of the tank info then."
"Uh yes Cover girl, but I do have a question or two."" Ok sure kid shoot me one."" Uh what is flex fuel?" "Oh well it just means that the tanks can run on either gasoline or diesel if on hand."" It's actually really useful, in case we run into some type of fuel shortage."
"But none the less that's a really good question you got any more?"" Uh yeah one more it mentions here that when you start up a tank with die-sel that a warm up period is require for about five minutes before you start it."
"What is die sel kid?"" That's what it says right here.""Let me see that." I hand her the manual, as she started to examine it for a short moment. "That's not die sel kid it's pronounce dee sel."" I can see why you got confused on that one there kid."" In the word diesel, the I sounds is suppose to sound like an e."
"But to answer your question kid, diesel fuel starts up at a much cooler temperature."" When we use diesel on these tanks, they have what is called a glow plug that ignites the fuel which requires a warm up period of a few minutes."" Were as a gasoline engine uses spark plugs that just require a turn of the ignition instead."
"I know it sounds rather confusing and all, but I'll let both Foster and Phillips know that you want a better explanation."" So you got anymore questions then? "I just nodded no to her.
"Ok then hop on aboard kid." I was a little taken aback by what Cover girl had said. "Huh you want me to come aboard?"" How else am I going to teach you how to drive this crate, now move your ass ok?"
I did as Cover girl said and climb up on to the front of the tank, while she handed me a helmet to put it on." By the way kid do you know what the name of this tank is?"" Is it an M.B.T. Mauler?"" Very good kid now put on your helmet, oh by the way your radio com is also hooked up to that helmet so you can hear me."
I put on the helmet and tested the radio and gave the thumbs up to know I'm ok." Ok kid hang loose while I get this crate moving to a more safer area to practice." Soon enough in a couple of tics Cover girl had this tank moving.
For me it was loud with the engine blasting while it was bumpy as heck riding shot gun with Cover girl. From the look on her face I could tell that she really enjoyed doing this type of thing in driving tanks. In about ten minutes we reached to a very dry patch of dirt with small brushes, I guess it was plenty of room to drive around in this thing.
When we came to the clearing ahead, Cover girl just shut off the tank and started to get out of the driver seat. "Ok kid it's your turn now." I nervously got of my front seat to head over to the driver side. As I got in slowly the seat was like set in a lying down position almost. Then I saw the controls, I'm like holy shit there are some many buttons, knobs, gauges, and lights.
I'm like how the hell are you suppose to do this. "Ok kid you need to relax ok, I know it looks like a lot but really it's very easy ok."" I will walk you through it ok step by step." I just nod my head to her.
Basically before I could start driving this thing I had to do a start up check first, to make sure that the gauges where correct like fuel, oil, and hydraulic pressures where ok. Since it was loaded with diesel, I had to do that five minute warm up startup first.
The one cool thing that Cover girl told me was that the startup controls and features where practically the same for most of the tanks here at the pit. So if I learned how to drive this one, then rest should drive the same as well, of course with lots of practice.
So once I got this tank and started it up, I listen very carefully to what Cover girl told me about the controls to the gear shifts and stirring to this tank. Basically it's like riding bike I suppose, because the main controls to move forward, left, right, and reverse where on the handle bars. While the gear shifts where the levers on the bars themselves to make for easy shifting in gears especially if we are moving fast.
The one thing that Cover girl really stressed the most was the brake. Which was this very large pedal by my right foot on the left side. That when I was supposed to stop that I should just put a little bit of pressure to come at an easy stop.
Because these brakes where very sensitive. So If I slam on the brakes everyone not including myself will literally rock forward slamming their faces into metal or bulk heads.
"Ok kid now take it slow ok, so you can get a feel for."" Yes Cover girl," I responded nervously. I did as she said driving around while she watched what I was doing as well as where I was going. When she felt satisfied with me driving, she told me to stop while she got out.
I'm not sure for what, but it became clear soon enough. "Ok kid close your cover hatch." I did as she said closing my hatch. Man it's like staring into a small box with very limited visibility." Ok kid next I want you to switch on your perimeter sensors."
"Those sensors you just switched on also have tiny cameras attached to them so that you can see to your sides, the front, and as well as the rear."" They are for your eyes only, however I will be giving you commands as to where to go and when to turn."
"I know in a way it seems rather annoying and strange to do this, but when we are under heavy fire your cover hatch will be closed while giving you very limited visibility."" Therefore I will be yours eyes while you drive this tank."
"All I ask of you is to keep your coms clear and listen very carefully to my instructions."" What it comes down to kid, is that it's a trust thing."" You have to trust me into giving you good directions, while I have to trust you to follow them."
"Yes Specialist I'll do my very best to follow your instructions."" Now that's the spirit kid."" OK now let's get started." So for the next hour and half I was driving with limited visibility while Cover girl gave me instruction on where to go and how to get there.
These sensors and cameras did help for little bit but not much. But it was better than nothing. Next thing I know Cover girl was giving me some very careful instructions on where to drive next. As I checked my speed gauge I was only going like maybe five miles or less.
I was instructed to make very slow turns to the left and the right while braking in between. When I reached my destination she just told me to shut off the engine and wait for her.
Next thing I know, I could hear the latch cover knobs starting to come undone near the top of my head. I looked up to see a Cover girl giving off a nice smile to me. So I started to poke my head out, only to see that now I was in the machine shop.
"Whoa I'm the machine shop, how did I get here?" Cover girl just smiled and giggled a bit to the kid as to see him how astonishing it was to him that they are in the machine shop.
"Well kid you got here by listening to my careful instructions."" You did everything that I asked of you so good job kid."" Not bad for your first day."" As I can see it's getting close to 1500 hours almost time for your next lesson with Sergeant Low-Light."
"Oh yeah you're right, I got to get going soon, wait do I do anything else like put up stuff or sign something?"" Nope not at all kid."" So since its Wednesday today I'll see you again on Friday." So I went about the rest of my day with training with Low-Light and having dinner as well.
Yet when it came to Strike's lesson today, she told me to take the day off from her. She told me that she had some other pressing matters to attend to. So for the next couple of hours or so I went to recreation room and sat down on one of the many empty sofas and started to watch some TV.
I guess it was just me since most of these Joe's and green shirts don't really do the relaxing thing other than me. Hell I was like the only one in here in the recreation room watching TV. I didn't really mind it much sense I could pretty much just sit here and maybe doze off or just sit here and watch a movie or something.
Soon enough I was watching a typical action movie with lots of cheesy one liners, explosions, and fire fights. After for about an hour into this movie it turned out to Rambo first blood part 2. I wonder for a second if any of those weapons from the movie actually exist in real life.
Especially that bow and arrow thing with the explosions. Then out of nowhere Strike came from behind me and jumped on the sofa landing on her ass." There you are kid, I was wondering where you where?" "Oh hey Strike did you take of that thing that you where worrying about?"
"Uh yeah I took care of some much needed paper work, if that's what you're asking."" Anyways what are you watching? ""Just a typical action movie called Rambo. ""Yeah I've seen it about a dozen times myself. "
"Hey Strike can I ask you question? ""Sure kid go on and shoot me one."" Hey do weapons like this from the movie actually exist, like that bow and arrow with explosives?"" I really don't know kid I guess so I suppose."" The only person I would know if such a weapon exists would be Scarlett."
"Anyways kid your Liberty pass has been approved by the way."" So you'll have about a six hour excursion to do what you want on Liberty."" Well that's good news then."" So your liberty pass is good for this coming Saturday in the evening."" So before you take off be sure to come by and see me. ""I will most likely be in my dorm during the afternoon."