RECRUIT BAY 40, BASIC COMBAT CENTER, RTC MORRE'AC, MIFAAL, 3644 BBY- WEEK 14, DAY 3, 2411 HOURS
"Dear Mom and Dad…
We're reaching the end of our training. It has been more than three months since I left Brentaal IV. It feels like three years. I've learned a lot here - how to fire a blaster, navigate on the ground without a machine, throw a grenade, treat a flesh wound, and a lot more… I've also made new friends here. Nothing bonds like shared difficulty.
I've been scared. I've cried myself to sleep some nights. I've also laughed... I've faced down some of my fears and I'm better for it. I hope I can make myself and you both proud. This will be my last mail before graduation. I hope to see you then. We have one last thing to do.
Wish us all luck. I miss you and I hope to see you soon.
With all my love,
Cathria"
"THE FORGE", BASIC COMBAT CENTER, RTC MORRE'AC, DAY 4, 0733 HOURS,
"Recruits! Gather around!"
The recruits gathered in formation around a first sergeant near a holotable.
"You have reached the final hurdle of your training. First of all, you will be going through a series of assessments to test your physical and mental strengths, teamwork and soldiering skills. You will then be put through "The Blaze" - a final combat test stretching across 3 days, or 72 hours," The holotable showed the terrain - roads snaking through hills, rivers, forests and urban emplacements. Details of the area were displayed next to the map.
Area - 600 square kilometers
Terrain - Temperate forests, hills, rivers, urban environments
Highest point - 250 meters above sea level
Lowest point - 50 meters above sea level
Kat could feel her stomach drop.
"This will test all the basics you have learned so far, from reacting to enemy fire, problem solving, first aid,basic land navigation, and more. Each platoon will be provided with three tasks that you are required to complete. Each platoon will also be accompanied by their drill instructors, who will assess you on-site. Further briefings for each platoon will be given by your instructors after this. Dismissed," They fell out and gathered near their instructors.
CSGT Ra'az yelled, "4/C/5! Gather around… You will be divided into 3 squads of 14. We'll give the squad lists after this briefing. 1st squad leader is Recruit Venn, 2nd is Recruit Jeruz, and 3rd is Recruit Hirashiy," Kat heard C'alee exhale loudly."
Kat saw her usual scowl turn into a smirk.
"Now,for the fun part… "The Blaze." Get your maps out!... We will be inserting on grid 070-512 at. Each squad will then split up and complete a series of objectives within 24 hours, then join the entire regiment at grid 175-600 within 36 hours of insertion… There will be enemy droid patrols throughout the Forge, as well as enemy emplacements. We mount up at 1200. Use whatever time you've got left to prepare yourself. We will be observing, but not helping. There will be no stupid questions after 1200 hours. Make of that, what you will… Dismissed,"
Kat fell out and opened her helmet and eyepro (eye protection/goggles) heads-up display. She took a look at the squad list.
I'm with Venn. Aikern is in 2SQ, C'alee's leading 3SQ. I'll be with strangers. Great.
She sat near her platoonmates, head low, trying to control her breathing, while thinking of every single thing that might help.
Finally, she went to the group of instructors gathering around the supply crates, sitting and discussing. Her squad leader, Venn, has just returned from asking questions about their missions ahead.
No stupid questions.
"Sirs?"
"Recruit Merrick," CSGT Luro replied.
"Sir, I have a lot of questions to ask about our mission ahead,sir!" she said, body tense at attention.
"Ask away, Recruit!"
"Estimated enemy strength?"
"We don't know - that's the Training and Doctrine brass' decision - all we can tell you, Recruit, is that patrols usually have a full squad ,and the emplacements and camps have a platoon at most… that's the way it's been for the past 6 decades, at least..."
"Thank you...Recommended equipment...sir?" "Standard loadout would be enough. The more important "loadout" is your brain. Use it to solve problems, and you'll make it through,"
"Acknowledged, sir,"
"Any other questions, recruit?"
She closed her eyes and thinked. "No at the moment, sir. I'll return if I have more. Permission to depart, sir,"
" made the initiative to come to us, even if you're not leading. Good job, Merrick...Dismissed,"
She snapped to attention, left and went back to her platoon. She looked at Venn starting to chart routes to their objectives, and started drawing up attack plans.
Finally, after half an hour, Venn yelled out, "Okay, guys, gather around! "
They started to gather around her. "Okay, first of all, we'll be squad 1/435. Remember that...also, I've asked our sergeants on how to approach this… Let's keep this simple - remember all that we've been taught, work with each other and don't try to be a hero... Let's all make it through this to the end,". The recruits of 1SQ listened intently.
"Okay, first of all, I think we all know enough to get through the initial assessments. That being said, don't be afraid to ask me or anyone else in the squad for help. Now, for "The Blaze" part... There will be three teams, Aurek, Besh and Cresh. Aurek, you're on suppression duty in case of engagements. I suggest you double your ammunition. Besh and Cresh Teams, you're on flanking duties. We'll do the standard pincer movement if we made contact at any moment. We'll follow along the main roads, not on them," She took a deep breath and looked at them.
"We'll go north from our insertion point, grid 070-512, towards our first objective. We'll stop 300 meters from our first target at 065-565, do some reconnaissance on the target, then egress without being spotted and move southeast towards the second objective at 072-540. There, again, we'll send out recon elements. We'll form our attack plan then,"
After we accomplish our objective we'll head to RV (rendezvous) with the regiment at 175-600. I'll be uploading our movement routes to your HUDs after we planned them. I suggest you ask our instructors if you have any more questions - they won't be taking any or help after we enter The Forge. Load up on ammo, equipment and rations - get as many as you can but don't overload yourself. Gather at the designated staging area at 1130 hours. Good luck,"
Kat went to the supply section and took out a medium sized container of liquified gas for her blasters from a crate- enough for 500 rounds, or 10 standard mags. She filled out 6 magazines and left the remainder for extras. I hope this is enough...
She then took two flash grenades and two EMP detonators. Next, she took a box of batteries for her multiple-optical devices (MODs) and helmet displays. Finally, she went to the rations section of the staging area and took 3-days worth of ration cubes and a day-ration - real food sealed up in a bag. It was heavier, but she wanted to have actual food sometime in the next few days.
She shoved everything into her pack and headed off towards her squadmates. She wasn't that close with any of them… except for one.
Lufay Plorr.
She was a Zuxen from the planet of the same name,a couple of systems over. The near-human species had a silver skin, with red-haired, though her short and straight hair was more maroon. There weren't a lot of them, so she stood out to Kat, especially after one land navigation class where she helped her team finish over hers. Kat wasn't as close to her as with C'alee or Aikern, but they have been paired up in the same training units during classes.
All she knew is that her mother served a 5-year term in the Republic Aerospace Forces, which was her reason for joining the service. Kat was glad that she's in her team, at least.
She approached Plorr and Venn, who were still trying to plan out details of their mission.
"Venn, Plorr, how's it going?"
Plorr sighed frustratingly. "We're trying to find the best route. We talked to the instructors just now. They said that any main roads are more likely to have regular enemy patrols on them, so we think that going off-path is the best route. Problem is, it'll make our marches to the objectives a lot longer. There's also the terrain problem. We got the hilly part of The Forge, and there's a river heading northeast between our second objective and the RV point,"
"Damn it,"
"Damn it all. I think it's best we cut down on our sleeping time, move around at night a bit more," said Venn. "We have around… fifty plus kilometers of ground between all our objectives,"
"Should I bring more gear?"
"No, Merrick! The weight's going to slow you down. Bring a couple of magazines extra if you must, but again, don't over encumber yourself,"
"Aye,Venn. Got it… anything else?"
"Nah, get your gear and get ready,"
"Already did,"
"Good,"
She left and walked over to the rest of her squadmates. Mivaya, Rews, Laf'idi, Xard, Tuqr, Letami, Or'lcu, Jar'an and Pells. Good recruits. I hope we all make it through.
"'Ey, Kat-ee!" Tuqr called out. The Gungan was cleaning his weapon.
"Tuqr! You've geared up?"
"You'sa bet mesa did!" Kat used to be irritated by his speech patterns during the first weeks.
No time for such pettiness now… We only have each other;
"You scared, Merrick?" called out Rews, packing up his equipment. The Bothan was the highest scoring shooter during weapon quallies.
"Hell yes! I can't wait to get this over with!" "You'll be fine! You're not bad at this Marine stuff! Not as good as me, though!" he smirked.
"Oh, shut up Rews!" she sat down amongst her squadmates, rearranged her gear, and cleaned her weapon. Then, a thought ran through her mind.
"Hey, where's the other squads?"
"I don't know, Kat? Must be nearby, I guess…" Mivaya said before she placed her helmet back on her face, trying to catch some winks before The Forge begins.
Kat looked around the staging area. The place was alive with activity. Recruits were walking urgently, trying to get more gear and equipment, gathering around to chat,sleeping on their packs or trying to exercise
Some instructors were gathering around a roofed gazebo-like structure, possibly discussing the recruits.
She found the recruits of 2SQ, and among them, Aikern Zee. He is reading through a field manual, trying to prepare for the mission ahead. She realised that his legs were shaking.
It made her realise that she's not alone in her fear and nervousness - they all have it. And they need each other to get through it.
"Hey, Zee… you OK?" "...Yeah, I'm scared to the five hells, but kind of OK," "Hey, you'll make it, I'm sure... What are your objectives?"
"First is to attack some checkpoint somewhere, then destroy some equipment, then go to the RV,"
"Really? Good luck… We all need it,"
"Hells yeah we do, I'm shaking! See you around, Kat…"
Kat waved him goodbye before searching for 3SQ. Then she found C'alee squeezing his temples while going over a map. He isn't taking this well…
"'You doing good, C'alee?"
"Of course not! I'm not ready to lead!"
She was taken aback, but then she realised it's nothing personal.
"C'alee… I don't know what I can to do make you feel better, but if you need help, I can try. You can ask the sergeants for help, too. Go while you can,"
C'alee took in three deep breaths before closing his map, got up and walked towards the instructors. He stopped beside Kat and put his hand on her shoulder. "Thanks, Kat. I don't know how, but I'll try," and walked off.
Kat returned to her squad and set down her gear. She checked her chrono.
1045 hours.
She decided to lie down and take a short nap while she still can.
Kat was awakened to the sound of troop transports arriving. A long stream of double-turreted, repulsorlift-powered vehicles came in and parked in a grid position beside the staging area.
The recruits got up and donned their gear. Kat opened her helmet heads-up display (HUD) that showed which transport should she and her platoon take. A ramp opened from the back. She ducked to enter the vehicle… only to have her chest rig snag on the many protruding parts near the entrance. "Damn it!"
She got free and sat down, snuggling her rifle and pack between her legs to fit on the narrow seating row. The rest of her squad and two of their DIs went in - the vehicle could fit 16 fully-equipped troops.
The ramp closed, and Kat checked her chrono again. 1158 hours.
We're on time. Let's do this.
