MARINE INFANTRY ACADEMY, OUTSIDE OF CAVEKC CITY, CORULAG, DAY 181, 3644 BBY/10 ATC, 0555 HOURS
Kat's flight was long, with multiple delays.
So when she arrived 20 hours before first formation to the Marine Infantry Academy, she quickly reported in with the grumpy Lieutenant, and went into her designated barracks room. Since she was the first to arrive, she picked the bottom bunk. She was pleasantly surprised. Unlike the forty-something large platoon bays in boot camp, this was a four-person room, with two double bunk beds, and much more storage space, with each trooper having a large locker, an-underbed storage, and even a mini-fridge for each room. A fresher flanks both sides of the room.
But then she checked out her living space. The locker and bed was rickety, so she made a mental note to never fall too hard on it. The fridge was less cold than she expected it to be.
Oh well. Still an improvement…
After unpacking her clothing and tidying her space, she checked her orders. She, along with her future platoon, will draw their training gear out from the armory tomorrow. So, nothing to do for now. She wondered if she could get out into town before the day ends. She changed into a set of red civilian clothing she had bought along, and started her way towards the entrance.
She asked the fresh- but bored looking guard - whom she realised is also a private like her - "Hey, can we go out?" "You got a pass?" "No, I don't," "Sorry, I can't let you," "Dammit. You know where I can get things and supplies?" "Yeah, Marine Post Exchange - go straight forward," He pointed out back where she came from. "Then turn left at the instructors' quarters, then go straight again until you see the Marine Post Exchange sign on the right hand side. If you somehow get lost, find a route sign," "Alright… I see… Thanks, Private," "No problem, Private. Happy to help,"
Kat started to jog towards the MPX. Let's burn this fat off. She looked around. It was considered a weekend planetside, so there weren't a lot of people in uniform. Some were in their PT gear, exercising, but others were either walking about to destinations unknown to her. Some others , also out of uniform, were also with their families - wives, husbands, children. She looked at the guard towers. The beings on duty all looked miserable to varying degrees.
Corulag's flora was mostly made out of fast-growing bamboo trees, and there seemed to be walls of them outside the base perimeter. Inside however, was mostly made up of meticulously cared grass, which she noticed no one walked on. No one dares to… Unless they wanted to be yelled at by a staff non-commissioned officer that seems to always materialise out of nowhere, no matter what part of the base.
Kat would rather jog twice the distance rather than take that risk. She saw the neon sign. Marine Post Exchange - Infantry Academy Corulag. She slowed herself down bit by bit and walked into the two storey building.
It was like a shopping mall inside. Just like home. She walked around the aisles. There were frozen food, fresh ingredients, snacks, drinks, fruits and vegetables from the entire Bormea sector, civilian clothing, computer parts and all kinds of items. She picked out some smoked meat jerky and isotonic drinks of various flavours to put in her pack during training. Then she noticed the "Military Personnel Only" sign above a row of turbolifts. She went in before she noticed she had to swipe her ID card.
She did so and the lift shot up. The second floor was full of military equipment - helmet covers, uniforms, patches, hydration systems, and various gear such as backpacks, goggles and gloves. Kat was impressed. Then there is another subsection behind a gate, with a pair of droids guarding the entrance. "WEAPONS, PARTS AND ACCESSORIES - INFANTRY TRAINEES NOT ALLOWED". Kat sighed and continued looking around for the
She was on that floor for an hour. She felt an overwhelming urge to acquire every piece of military gear available there, credits be damned...
Then she remembered her 150 remaining credits. Not a lot. She resisted her urges and only bought a three-litre valve bottle, just in case her issued canteen tasted of tobacco and unwashed plastic, like in boot camp. She paid for the bottle, and exited back down to the grocery store. Looking at her wrist chrono, she decided to head back as soon as possible to the barracks. She paid for her items, and started walking back.
Corulag's got nice sunset skies. The streaks of purple, pink, blue and orange were a sight to behold. She felt grateful that she could see such natural beauty. Remembering how she couldn't take the scenery in back at boot camp, she relaxed herself.
Take your time, Kat… Take your time.
Kat arrived in her barracks room. As the door hissed open, she saw three figures - a male human, a female Cathar, and a male Mon Calamari, they're either sitting or lying on their bunks, and they turned themselves towards the door.
Kat suddenly felt nervous for no reason. She sheepishly smiled and whispered "Hello," before she slunk into her bottom bunk, below the Cathar. She stored away her drink packs and most of her meat jerky, before she silently gave a jerky pack to each of them. "Hey, uh, thanks...What's your name?" the Cathar said. "Kat. Kat Merrick. You?" "Jorvy Lyr'udd. Nice to meet you, Kat," and the two shook hands.
"Uh, hey," Kat said while handing the jerky to both the Calamari and the man sitting opposite her. "Thank you… Kat, isn't it?" The man said as he unwrapped the jerky bar. Yes. And you?" "Beeral Madar. Nice to meet you. Where are you from?" "Brentaal IV-" The man leapt toward her. "Hey we're practically neighbours! I'm from Chandrila-" the human held his hand out for a shake. Kat took it. "Name's Izzac Mulahck," his blue-pink eyes accentuating his wide smile and blue-streaked black hair. "I see… Nice to… meet you…" Kat said as she backed away into her bunk.
"Come sit with us! We haven't gotten to know you yet…There won't be much time for us to do that once training starts tomorrow..." said Beeral. Kat sighed silently before picking up an isotonic bottle and sat with them. "So, uh… you all are breachers?" "Sure as hell!" Jorvy exclaimed. "Wow… I know you're from Chandrila, Izzac, but what about you two?"
"Raaltiir," Jorvy replied.
"Rich kid, huh?" "I wish, Kat. Father's upper middle management, not a company owner," "Still better than a lot of people that come through here. What made you choose the Marines, and become a breacher on top of that?" "I was bored after university. I didn't want to work in the corporate sector yet, so I saw this triathlon arranged by the Republic Armed Forces on Republic Day. It sucked, but I managed to get through. It was exhilarating and I liked it so much, I went to the recruiters office to find out more. After a few weeks of back and forth, I decided to join the Marines as an officer. I told my parents - they weren't too pleased. They told me to join the AeroSpace Forces or quit enlisting So I changed it… I joined as an enlisted instead to spite them," she said with her devilish feline grin. They all started to snicker.
"Impressive! I'm lucky that my parents were okay with my decision - I can't imagine doing that to them," Kat said, amazed. "Life leads to you strange places, but I'm liking it so far," beamed Jorvy.
"What about you, Beeral? Mon Cala?" "Not exactly, my family is, but we moved out to Corellia when my father's company sent him to help the Corellians build ships there," "You miss Mon Cala much?" "I was eight standard years old at the time, so sometimes. But we go back often, at least. Since I left for the Marines, I find myself missing my parents and siblings on Corellia more," "I feel you, Beeral. You'll see them after this course is over," Kat soothed him. "You miss your family a lot, Kat?" "Yeah, but I was always a loner type, so I get used to it quickly. Even still, I get that feeling sometimes. You'll be OK, Bee..." "Thanks, Kat,"
They stayed silent for a minute. Izzac broke it with a "Why did you join the Marines, Kat?" "I just didn't know exactly what to do after school, and my parents couldn't pay for me to go for my tertiaries, so I was stuck for a while. I've always felt a pull toward the military - all those military books and holofilms I consumed when I was younger might've helped, you know?. One day, coming back from a part-time job, I saw a recruiting booth near where I worked. I never knew they had offices in my city, so I went in. The Marines seemed the coolest, so after I talked things out, I enlisted, hoping to find out if this is "the thing" for me... That's the story,"
"You're one of those 'high-speed' moto-types, huh, Merrick?" "I… What?" "My sister talked about it with me before I joined - There are people who join up all motivated from watching films and expect themselves to be the best and better than everyone else. When they end up joining their outfit, they'll end up as two types - either they end up being these toxic and bitter servicemembers, or they fly leagues above all else," "I… I don't intend on being the first type, thank you... I'm here to do my job. If Marine Corps life meets my expectations, I'll stay in and do the best I can. If it doesn't… I'll still do my best but I'll eject myself so hard and fast as I can the moment my contract's up, don't you worry… And what's with the chip on your shoulder?"
"Just making sure you're not a dungbag, Merrick. My sister got out from the Navy because of types like that. I'm just making sure everyone I meet tries to not become one," "We're still trainees, Izzac, don't go all holy on me. You're just as much worth to the Marines as I am. Let's go through some challenges and see how I work before making assumptions about me," "HEY! HEY! If you want to fight each other, the training can give you an opportunity, ah? Go the kriff back to sleep, we have formation at 0500 tomorrow!" yelled Beeral while getting between the both.
Kat got up and went to her bunk. "What is wrong with him? He seemed alright, then suddenly..." She mulled over Izzac's action while taking out possible useful gear for tomorrow's training. She checked her percomm device. The message read -
"PLATOON 11-OSK, BATTALION 5/1110 -
PRIORITY MESSAGE TO ALL TRAINERS -
FORMATION AT 0500 HOURS
UNIFORM - WOODLAND UTILITY UNIFORM
PACKING LIST ARE AS FOLLOWS -
….."
She packed as best she could, sneaking in an extra drink bottle and a few packs of snacks, just in case. She then showered, and slept in her PT gear. Her roommates are doing the same.
"Dammit." "Another night at the barracks..." She thought before she drifted off into sleep.
Ahhhhhh finally, another chapter! It's been a rough past two months but I'll try to update more often!
