Basic Training; being the second part of Rae's Story: a work of Battletech fan fiction by Dave "saganaki" Mooney
All setting elements are copyrights of Wizkids, LLC (http://www.wizkidsgames.com). This story takes place within the confines of the classic Battletech setting, as originally envisioned by the FASA corporation. If you'd like more information on the setting, I'd suggest checking out http://www.classicbattletech.com, as it is the official information site of the Classic Battletech universe. All characters are copyrights of myself. If you wish to use them in fan fiction works of your own, please email me at dave@fgc.every1.net
-Basic Training
The blaring of trumpets woke Rachel from her slumber. She checked the clock: 0500. Her day was beginning. She slipped from her bunk to the floor and quickly donned her training fatigues. She was in uniform with her bed made at 0510. She stood at attention, awaiting Masamune's arrival.
It had been three months since they had arrived on New Samarkand. For the most part, life in squad 3413 was difficult, but manageable. Most members of the squad were able to keep up with the pace set by their group leader, though even the few stragglers were not met with as much scorn from Masamune as Rachel and Yu, upon whom he heaped abuse. Both became very withdrawn, but they were also among the best in the squad.
Masamune Shunji arrived at precisely 0515, as the last of the hojuhei finished making their beds. He scanned the room with his usual self-satisfied smirk.
"Fifty," he commanded curtly. The group dropped to their stomachs. "Start." The pushups shook the last of the sleep from the squad, warming them up for a harsh day of training. Upon completion, they returned to attention.
"Fall in!" he barked. The twenty-eight did so, forming a human enclosure four wide and seven deep. He led them out of the building at a brisk jog. Rachel checked the clock as they left. 0530.
0730. The two hour march had brought them to the firing range. They were surrounded by the sounds of rifles, both ballistic and laser. Moving targets were popped from the ground and fired upon, only to bring about a new wave of targets. Rachel and Yu were given the unenviable position of the edges, ensuring that at least one would always have the longest shot.
0830. Shunji ordered the squad on the march again.
1000. The obstacle course. Each member of the squad was expected to run the obstacle course on base in under 10 minutes. Most managed as they had each day beforehand. Some faltered. The worst performances were treated as relatively minor compared to the smallest mistake made by Rachel or Yu.
1130. More marching.
1200. The hojuhei were allowed a half hour to eat lunch in the mess. Rachel and Yu shared a meal with two of the other hojuhei, Hiroji Shigemitsu and Katsunosuki Akita, the only two to have any sort of contact with the young women. Both were the sons of nobles in the Benjamin prefecture, whose intellectual bent alienated them from their contemporaries. Both claimed to prefer the company of Rachel and Yu to that of the other men of the unit, as either could actually maintain a conversation. Today's lunch was silent, permeated by a feel of overt anticipation all about them. The quartet were all nervous as they ate.
1230. Shunji gave the order to march again.
1330. The base's 19 squads assembled to recite a pledge of loyalty to the Dragon and to House Kurita. Pushups were performed for Kurosawa during the recitation.
1400. The order was once again given to march.
1500. The squad returned to the obstacle course. Each hojuhei was expected to run through the course twice over a fifteen minute period.
1800. The squad convened on the mess for their evening meal. The anticipation was almost suffocating. Neither Rachel, Yu, Katsunosuki, nor Hiroji attempted to start a conversation.
1845. Barracks maintenance. Rachel drew head duty alongside Katsunosuki and a third hojuhei, a brutish young man called Akira Shiratori.
1930. The hojuhei were granted free time to train however they pleased. Rachel, Yu, and Hiroji practised martial arts in the base's gymnasium. The feeling around them was enough to give both women pause. Both cut their evening's training short, that they could shower before...
2030. The hojuhei were to report to the barracks to shower and prepare from inspection. Rachel and Yu were both prepared to recieve inspection before the majority of their squad had even reached the showers.
2050. Inspection. Shunji's scrutiny was, of course, highest upon Rachel and Yu. Both passed with barely a snide grin from Shunji.
2100. Lights out. Rachel was more than ready to drift to sleep after a hard day's labour, though a vague sense of dread kept her awake.
The barracks were quiet. Rachel looked at the clock. 0130. Three and a half hours before the ordeal was to begin anew. One month longer before she reached the Academy itself. She sighed softly, rolling onto her back to sleep, when she heard a noise. She opened her eyes in time to see many other members of the squad approaching the bunk she shared with Yu, makeshift clubs made from soap and towels. She felt hands around her ankles and a strip of cloth in her mouth.
Before the first soap club connected, she kicked hard, sending the men holding her ankles into her would-be assailants. In one smooth motion, she rolled backwards, pushing off the head rails of her top bunk and landing behind the man who had been gagging her. A swift punch to the back of his head slammed him into the bedframe and caused him to crumple, boneless, to the ground.
She turned to her astonished attackers. "Whoever is behind this," she said, "is an honourless cur should he not come to defend his honour in single combat against me."
One of the men tremblingly pointed at the man who had been gagging her. It was Shiratori. Blood was oozing from a deep gash in his forehead. Rachel smirked.
"I see that my point has been made," she said, turning to climb back to her bunk.
"Hold still, hojuhei Sakamoto," came the voice of Shunji. The lights flickered to life. "For this assault upon one of your fellow hojuhei, I could see you expelled." He grinned, looking at her as a cat eyes a mouse caught by the tail. "I am, however, a forgiving man at heart." He wanted to toy with her. "So, your punishment shall be solitary confinement, starting now and lasting until I decide to let you out." He took her by the arm and began to lead her out, before turning towards the ringleader. "See to it that he gets to the nurse as soon as possible, miss Hashirobei."
"Sir," Rachel began, "it's not Yu's fault. I -"
"Silence!" Shunji shouted, cutting Rachel's pleas short. He then returned his gaze to Yu. "Should you require aid, hojuhei Hashirobei and Akita will aid you. The rest of you should return to your bunks, for you have little more than three hours until your day begins." He left, his prisoner in tow.
Rachel was dragged in silence across the base to a block of small cells. Taking a moment to verify that it was empty, Shunji threw her roughly into one of these. The room stank of sweat and urine. A pallet to be found on the floor and a bowl that could only be called a latrine on a technicality were the only furnishings. Shunji smirked at her.
"Let us see how long you last in here, 'princess,'" he sneered as he slammed the door shut with a deafening clang, blocking all ambient light.
Rachel laid upon the pallet, staring at the featureless ceiling. Exhaustion eventually overcame her, and she sank into a dreamless sleep.
At 0500, the trumpets blared anew, jarring Rachel into wakefulness. No light from outdoors penetrated the boxy cell, though she heard the motions of a new day beginning beyond the door. She stood and closed her eyes, relying upon her memory of the room's shape to know her way around. Her morning was spent working upon her martial arts, the rhythmic movements allowing her to clear her mind.
As the day wore on, the heat inside the box grew. Sweat poured from Rachel's skin, soaking the shorts and t-shirt in which she had slept the night before. The temperature continued to rise, stopping her exercises. She instead chose to lie upon the pallet, staring into the darkness that surrounded her. She fought to stay awake, resisting the weariness that threatened to take her. She had to be prepared, should a superior come calling.
A rough sound of metal scraping metal and a blinding light broke Rachel's reverie. She leapt to her feet, ready to salute.
"Rachel?" The voice of Katsunosuki drifted in, nervously, "Is that you?"
"It is," she replied, "What are you doing here? You could get discharged for speaking with me."
"I doubt it," he said, "The sho-ko owes my father a favour or two, and either way, I'm technically here on duty." A tray of food slid through the light. "Hiroji, Yu, and I had to agree to half rations to convince Shunji to let us feed you this, so you'd better appreciate it, Rachel." A grin was apparent in his voice.
"I can't tell you how much, Katsunosuki," she said, "and call me Rae."
"Sure thing, Rae," he said, "I have to get back to the squad. Hiroji or Yu'll probably be here tonight with your supper. You'll probably be back in the barracks by lights out." The slot slid shut, plunging the cell into darkness once again.
Rachel groped through the darkness and found the tray. She made short work of the contents, trying her best to ensure that she would maintain a presentable appearance. With her appetite sated, she slid the tray to the corner of the room and returned to her pallet. She sat leaning against the wall, telling herself stories of her people's glorious past. She could not let herself fall asleep.
The heat was oppressive. Rachel felt unable to move, as the air had become thick with humidity. Still, she fought fatigue, steadfastly refusing to surrender to her body. Time had slowed to a crawl or sped to a jackrabbit's pace, she was unsure which.
"Everything is happening for the best," Rachel told herself softly, at least partially to hear a voice, "Everything will be fine."
"Perhaps it will, hojuhei," A familiar voice boomed through the room as the door opened. The combination of stimuli shocked her into stillness for the moment before she recognized the sho-ko's figure striding into her cell.
Rachel leapt to her feet at attention. "Sho-ko Kurosawa, sir!" She spoke.
Kurosawa leveled his steely gaze upon Rachel, "Why are you here, hojuhei Sakamoto?"
"I acted rashly and attacked one of my fellow hojuhei, sir," Rachel said, meeting his eyes.
"Regrettable," the sho-ko said, balling his fist and punching Rachel in the stomach. She doubled over.
"Your squad commander, Masamune Shunji, told me of the altercation in the barracks last night," Kurosawa continued, "and your actions leave much to be desired. We do not tolerate such behaviour here at Sun Zhang" He kicked Rachel's feet from under her, sending her slamming to the hard floor of the cell. "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Rachel picked herself up to stand at attention, blood running from her nose and a split lip. Her head felt stuffed with cotton. "I am here to serve the Dragon, sir," she said, as evenly as possible, "I defended my body and my honour from fellow hojuhei who felt me beneath them. Hojuhei Shiratori is my equal, and I see him as such. Though I harmed him, it was to keep him from harming me. Bushido demanded my retaliation.
"As my superior, sir," Rachel continued, "you have every right to punish me for my transgressions. My honour has earned me these wounds, and I shall wear them with pride."
A faint trace of a smile played across the older man's lips. "You make your case well, hojuhei. You may return to your barracks and clean up. Your squad shall be at mess in about twenty-five minutes. I hope to see you there." He saluted, turned, and left.
Rachel returned the salute and watched him leave. She counted off a minute and made a dash for the barracks. Observing herself in the mirror, she realized that her wounds were more severe than she had noticed. Looking at her nose, she was surprised that it hadn't broken for the blood that continued to ooze from it. Her left eye was puffy, and her lower lip was swollen.
Rachel washed what she could before dashing to her bunk. As quickly as she was able to manage, she donned her fatigues. She checked her watch: 1755. She dashed headlong through the barracks to the mess, in time to see squad 3413 enter. Trying to hide her smile, she saluted Shunji and joined her friends.
***
A/N Thanks to The Nice Guy for his comments. I'll see what I can do to beef up chapter length. And yes, for those who may recognize the scene about halfway through, I did watch Full Metal Jacket recently.
All setting elements are copyrights of Wizkids, LLC (http://www.wizkidsgames.com). This story takes place within the confines of the classic Battletech setting, as originally envisioned by the FASA corporation. If you'd like more information on the setting, I'd suggest checking out http://www.classicbattletech.com, as it is the official information site of the Classic Battletech universe. All characters are copyrights of myself. If you wish to use them in fan fiction works of your own, please email me at dave@fgc.every1.net
-Basic Training
The blaring of trumpets woke Rachel from her slumber. She checked the clock: 0500. Her day was beginning. She slipped from her bunk to the floor and quickly donned her training fatigues. She was in uniform with her bed made at 0510. She stood at attention, awaiting Masamune's arrival.
It had been three months since they had arrived on New Samarkand. For the most part, life in squad 3413 was difficult, but manageable. Most members of the squad were able to keep up with the pace set by their group leader, though even the few stragglers were not met with as much scorn from Masamune as Rachel and Yu, upon whom he heaped abuse. Both became very withdrawn, but they were also among the best in the squad.
Masamune Shunji arrived at precisely 0515, as the last of the hojuhei finished making their beds. He scanned the room with his usual self-satisfied smirk.
"Fifty," he commanded curtly. The group dropped to their stomachs. "Start." The pushups shook the last of the sleep from the squad, warming them up for a harsh day of training. Upon completion, they returned to attention.
"Fall in!" he barked. The twenty-eight did so, forming a human enclosure four wide and seven deep. He led them out of the building at a brisk jog. Rachel checked the clock as they left. 0530.
0730. The two hour march had brought them to the firing range. They were surrounded by the sounds of rifles, both ballistic and laser. Moving targets were popped from the ground and fired upon, only to bring about a new wave of targets. Rachel and Yu were given the unenviable position of the edges, ensuring that at least one would always have the longest shot.
0830. Shunji ordered the squad on the march again.
1000. The obstacle course. Each member of the squad was expected to run the obstacle course on base in under 10 minutes. Most managed as they had each day beforehand. Some faltered. The worst performances were treated as relatively minor compared to the smallest mistake made by Rachel or Yu.
1130. More marching.
1200. The hojuhei were allowed a half hour to eat lunch in the mess. Rachel and Yu shared a meal with two of the other hojuhei, Hiroji Shigemitsu and Katsunosuki Akita, the only two to have any sort of contact with the young women. Both were the sons of nobles in the Benjamin prefecture, whose intellectual bent alienated them from their contemporaries. Both claimed to prefer the company of Rachel and Yu to that of the other men of the unit, as either could actually maintain a conversation. Today's lunch was silent, permeated by a feel of overt anticipation all about them. The quartet were all nervous as they ate.
1230. Shunji gave the order to march again.
1330. The base's 19 squads assembled to recite a pledge of loyalty to the Dragon and to House Kurita. Pushups were performed for Kurosawa during the recitation.
1400. The order was once again given to march.
1500. The squad returned to the obstacle course. Each hojuhei was expected to run through the course twice over a fifteen minute period.
1800. The squad convened on the mess for their evening meal. The anticipation was almost suffocating. Neither Rachel, Yu, Katsunosuki, nor Hiroji attempted to start a conversation.
1845. Barracks maintenance. Rachel drew head duty alongside Katsunosuki and a third hojuhei, a brutish young man called Akira Shiratori.
1930. The hojuhei were granted free time to train however they pleased. Rachel, Yu, and Hiroji practised martial arts in the base's gymnasium. The feeling around them was enough to give both women pause. Both cut their evening's training short, that they could shower before...
2030. The hojuhei were to report to the barracks to shower and prepare from inspection. Rachel and Yu were both prepared to recieve inspection before the majority of their squad had even reached the showers.
2050. Inspection. Shunji's scrutiny was, of course, highest upon Rachel and Yu. Both passed with barely a snide grin from Shunji.
2100. Lights out. Rachel was more than ready to drift to sleep after a hard day's labour, though a vague sense of dread kept her awake.
The barracks were quiet. Rachel looked at the clock. 0130. Three and a half hours before the ordeal was to begin anew. One month longer before she reached the Academy itself. She sighed softly, rolling onto her back to sleep, when she heard a noise. She opened her eyes in time to see many other members of the squad approaching the bunk she shared with Yu, makeshift clubs made from soap and towels. She felt hands around her ankles and a strip of cloth in her mouth.
Before the first soap club connected, she kicked hard, sending the men holding her ankles into her would-be assailants. In one smooth motion, she rolled backwards, pushing off the head rails of her top bunk and landing behind the man who had been gagging her. A swift punch to the back of his head slammed him into the bedframe and caused him to crumple, boneless, to the ground.
She turned to her astonished attackers. "Whoever is behind this," she said, "is an honourless cur should he not come to defend his honour in single combat against me."
One of the men tremblingly pointed at the man who had been gagging her. It was Shiratori. Blood was oozing from a deep gash in his forehead. Rachel smirked.
"I see that my point has been made," she said, turning to climb back to her bunk.
"Hold still, hojuhei Sakamoto," came the voice of Shunji. The lights flickered to life. "For this assault upon one of your fellow hojuhei, I could see you expelled." He grinned, looking at her as a cat eyes a mouse caught by the tail. "I am, however, a forgiving man at heart." He wanted to toy with her. "So, your punishment shall be solitary confinement, starting now and lasting until I decide to let you out." He took her by the arm and began to lead her out, before turning towards the ringleader. "See to it that he gets to the nurse as soon as possible, miss Hashirobei."
"Sir," Rachel began, "it's not Yu's fault. I -"
"Silence!" Shunji shouted, cutting Rachel's pleas short. He then returned his gaze to Yu. "Should you require aid, hojuhei Hashirobei and Akita will aid you. The rest of you should return to your bunks, for you have little more than three hours until your day begins." He left, his prisoner in tow.
Rachel was dragged in silence across the base to a block of small cells. Taking a moment to verify that it was empty, Shunji threw her roughly into one of these. The room stank of sweat and urine. A pallet to be found on the floor and a bowl that could only be called a latrine on a technicality were the only furnishings. Shunji smirked at her.
"Let us see how long you last in here, 'princess,'" he sneered as he slammed the door shut with a deafening clang, blocking all ambient light.
Rachel laid upon the pallet, staring at the featureless ceiling. Exhaustion eventually overcame her, and she sank into a dreamless sleep.
At 0500, the trumpets blared anew, jarring Rachel into wakefulness. No light from outdoors penetrated the boxy cell, though she heard the motions of a new day beginning beyond the door. She stood and closed her eyes, relying upon her memory of the room's shape to know her way around. Her morning was spent working upon her martial arts, the rhythmic movements allowing her to clear her mind.
As the day wore on, the heat inside the box grew. Sweat poured from Rachel's skin, soaking the shorts and t-shirt in which she had slept the night before. The temperature continued to rise, stopping her exercises. She instead chose to lie upon the pallet, staring into the darkness that surrounded her. She fought to stay awake, resisting the weariness that threatened to take her. She had to be prepared, should a superior come calling.
A rough sound of metal scraping metal and a blinding light broke Rachel's reverie. She leapt to her feet, ready to salute.
"Rachel?" The voice of Katsunosuki drifted in, nervously, "Is that you?"
"It is," she replied, "What are you doing here? You could get discharged for speaking with me."
"I doubt it," he said, "The sho-ko owes my father a favour or two, and either way, I'm technically here on duty." A tray of food slid through the light. "Hiroji, Yu, and I had to agree to half rations to convince Shunji to let us feed you this, so you'd better appreciate it, Rachel." A grin was apparent in his voice.
"I can't tell you how much, Katsunosuki," she said, "and call me Rae."
"Sure thing, Rae," he said, "I have to get back to the squad. Hiroji or Yu'll probably be here tonight with your supper. You'll probably be back in the barracks by lights out." The slot slid shut, plunging the cell into darkness once again.
Rachel groped through the darkness and found the tray. She made short work of the contents, trying her best to ensure that she would maintain a presentable appearance. With her appetite sated, she slid the tray to the corner of the room and returned to her pallet. She sat leaning against the wall, telling herself stories of her people's glorious past. She could not let herself fall asleep.
The heat was oppressive. Rachel felt unable to move, as the air had become thick with humidity. Still, she fought fatigue, steadfastly refusing to surrender to her body. Time had slowed to a crawl or sped to a jackrabbit's pace, she was unsure which.
"Everything is happening for the best," Rachel told herself softly, at least partially to hear a voice, "Everything will be fine."
"Perhaps it will, hojuhei," A familiar voice boomed through the room as the door opened. The combination of stimuli shocked her into stillness for the moment before she recognized the sho-ko's figure striding into her cell.
Rachel leapt to her feet at attention. "Sho-ko Kurosawa, sir!" She spoke.
Kurosawa leveled his steely gaze upon Rachel, "Why are you here, hojuhei Sakamoto?"
"I acted rashly and attacked one of my fellow hojuhei, sir," Rachel said, meeting his eyes.
"Regrettable," the sho-ko said, balling his fist and punching Rachel in the stomach. She doubled over.
"Your squad commander, Masamune Shunji, told me of the altercation in the barracks last night," Kurosawa continued, "and your actions leave much to be desired. We do not tolerate such behaviour here at Sun Zhang" He kicked Rachel's feet from under her, sending her slamming to the hard floor of the cell. "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Rachel picked herself up to stand at attention, blood running from her nose and a split lip. Her head felt stuffed with cotton. "I am here to serve the Dragon, sir," she said, as evenly as possible, "I defended my body and my honour from fellow hojuhei who felt me beneath them. Hojuhei Shiratori is my equal, and I see him as such. Though I harmed him, it was to keep him from harming me. Bushido demanded my retaliation.
"As my superior, sir," Rachel continued, "you have every right to punish me for my transgressions. My honour has earned me these wounds, and I shall wear them with pride."
A faint trace of a smile played across the older man's lips. "You make your case well, hojuhei. You may return to your barracks and clean up. Your squad shall be at mess in about twenty-five minutes. I hope to see you there." He saluted, turned, and left.
Rachel returned the salute and watched him leave. She counted off a minute and made a dash for the barracks. Observing herself in the mirror, she realized that her wounds were more severe than she had noticed. Looking at her nose, she was surprised that it hadn't broken for the blood that continued to ooze from it. Her left eye was puffy, and her lower lip was swollen.
Rachel washed what she could before dashing to her bunk. As quickly as she was able to manage, she donned her fatigues. She checked her watch: 1755. She dashed headlong through the barracks to the mess, in time to see squad 3413 enter. Trying to hide her smile, she saluted Shunji and joined her friends.
***
A/N Thanks to The Nice Guy for his comments. I'll see what I can do to beef up chapter length. And yes, for those who may recognize the scene about halfway through, I did watch Full Metal Jacket recently.
