PARADE DECK 10, MARINE CORPS BASE VALTO, NABOO - DAY 300, 21, 409 YEARS SINCE THE FOUNDING/3644 BBY, 1744 HOURS LOCAL TIME


"...We will be going on a deployment soon, so pre-deployment training starts next week. Take it seriously - lives depend on it. And finally, Captain Vlogel asks to not forget to regularly check your assigned channels on MariNet for any updates and assignments. Anyone else?" 2LT Fion Cavell asked.

The new lieutenant and platoon leader was fresh out of Officer's Training Corps, and his words carried both hesitation and motivation at the same time. He turned towards the Gunnery Sergeant beside him, rubbing his hand on his rough stubble.

"Deployment." Kat realized that they might be going to war soon. An expedition is for a non-combat tour, patrolling around the galaxy. A deployment is for one where they might get into combat operations.

He nodded and stepped forward.

"BOOTS! Gather around me!"

The new arrivals to Third Platoon, Fox Company did so as soon as the morning formation. Kat tried to get as close to her as possible.

"My name is Del Broug. I'm the Third Platoon Sergeant. Anything you need regarding this platoon, you'll either see me or Lt. Fion Cavell. Now for your assignments…"

Del Broug on the other hand, sounded disgruntled. The Zabrak had a face marked with wrinkles on his forehead and a not-too-small scar on his lower right jaw. Some said it was from an Imp mortar during the last days of the last war, some others said it was from a cantina fight some weeks after. No one had dared to ask which one.

In either case, the platoon perked up their ears.

"Private First Class Govf, you're with First Squad under CSGT Eizer. PFC Traddaur, you're also with First Squad as well. Rounding out 1st Squad arrivals is PFC Opru. PFC Wen - Second Squad under CSGT Luke Massen, LCPL Kahu - Second Squad, PFC Raiona - Second Squad, PFC Ekari - Third Squad under SGT Hank Lovell. Private…?"

Kat silently sighed. It was her.

Can't wait to get promoted...

"Private… Merrick, Third Squad. Alright, that's it, fall out to your squads, move it!"

They all hurriedly moved to their squads.

Kat walked alongside PFC Ekari. "Xand Ekari," "Kat Merrick," They shook hands.

"Sorry to ask, your accent… Mygeetan?" "Aye, yer not wrong… Where you from?" "Brentaal IV," "Nice place?" "Yeah," "What's it like?" "Lots of cities, mountains… it's pretty cold," "Mine too! It's basically freezing back home…"

"Alright! Gather around… school circle!"

Hank Lovell was a sharp-jawed man, with light brown eyes and blond-blue streaked hair. He stood firm as he was made of stone as he looked up and down the squad.

"First of all, my name is Command Sergeant Hank Lovell, your squad leader. Welcome to the squad. Now I know you boots think you're hot stuff, and I'm here to tell you - stow it! There will be a lot of things you'll have to unlearn from bootcamp and the Academy, and much more new things to learn from us. You know your place and don't screw up, and you'll be fine. Now… who's my new breacher?"

"Me, Command Sergeant!"

"Private...?"

Kat held herself back from rolling her eyes.

"Merrick, Command Sergeant!"

"Alright, Merrick...Which Infantry Academy did you go to?"

"Corulag, sir,"

"You got lots of training with thermite charges? Breaching rockets?"

"Mostly with detonite, CSGT, but I'm competent with both,"

"Outstanding, but we need more than competent! Scuttlebutt is that we are going to a low kinetic deployment - densely populated planet. Lots of civvies. Check in on MariNet and sign up for extra thermite range time. Inform me so I can let you off. Just make sure it doesn't clash with any of our field time,"

"Aye-aye, CSGT,"

"Next up is PFC… Ekari? You my new rifleman?"

"Aye, CSGT,"

"You're replacing our ammo bearer on weapons team. Hope you enjoy back workouts,"

"Raar, CSGT!"

"Outstanding! Now it's time for some work!"


BARRACKS ROOM, 1810 HOURS

Kat took off her uniform jacket before sitting down on the desk.

"Hey boot, clean my stuff," "My apologies, Lance Corporal. I have work to do," "Surely it can't be that important…"

"Company-wide orders, LCPL,"

"Hmmph. Take care of your 'work' then,"

Kat scowled to herself as she filled out the thermite training forms.


MARINE TRAINING CENTER CEEL, NABOO - DAY 321, 1138 HOURS

WEEK 3 OF THE PRE-DEPLOYMENT CYCLE

Kat turned on the ear protection mode on her helmet as soon as she sat in the dropship.

Ekari sat three seats away opposite her. She could barely see her, as her face is covered with black and grey camouflage paint, breaking up its shape.

Kat and the rest of Third Platoon wore their desert uniforms and armor as they headed towards the arid mountains of the Ceel Range, a 12-hour speeder trip from MCB Valto. The dropship did so in 40 minutes.

2LT Cavell spoke from another ship through the squad comm channel. "Let's go over this again! We are to raid the target house and search for a high value target - a male Twi'lek with red skin, purple eyes and a neck tattoo. There will be 'non-combatants'' so check your fire and no tossing in any kind of detonators or grenades - even non lethal!"

This sounds too real.

Kat tried to recall the briefing details - the movement plans, the building schematics, the holo of the "enemy" target, emergency extraction points. Everything mattered.

"Don't forget to search through every nook and cranny for high value materials : Intel indicates that there's possible materials for improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. You've seen them in briefings - wires, odd smelling or looking powders, incendiaries - keep an eye out for those. First squad will go up and left, second squad will go right and down, third and weapons platoons will provide the security cordon 've got minimal air support from our transport gunships here for cover. When we've got everything, we'll exfil via our planned LZ. Any questions?"

Silence filled the dropship's compartment.

"Let's do this!" he roared.

The dropships went into hover mode as its doors opened and its rope holders deployed.

"Go, GO…!"

Kat took a deep breath, grabbed the rope as best she could, and started to rope down.


3/F COMPANY PLATOON ROOM, MCB VALTO, NABOO - Day 322, 2000 HOURS

WEEK 3 OF THE PRE-DEPLOYMENT CYCLE

"Alright, everyone, settle the hell down. Take a seat, and let's get this Post Action Review done quick," said GYSGT Broug.

A Post Action Review is a must after almost everything, even something as routine as a training mission, and that's why every (enlisted) Marine found themselves in the platoon room that night. The almost-too-small room contained a holoprojector in the front and rows of chairs and small tables throughout. Marine Corps posters and maps of Naboo and its system decorated the side walls. A cabinet sat in the corner.

Kat took a seat near her squadmates. She is next to CPL Rorry Wolverton, the rifleman from 3rd squad's 2nd fireteam. He had a datapad in hand, ready to punch in any information. She thought she heard him swore in his native Vorzydian. His blue and green eyes were weighed down with black eyebags.

"You better listen carefully to everything, boot," he said with scorn.

"Aye, Corporal,"

At this point, Kat refused to even think of his tone - it was the natural way of things : the seniors will always rag on their subordinates, until they finally earned their salt. Whether that could be via a promotion, an expeditionary tour, or even possibly a combat deployment, Kat left it to the Marine Corps to decide.

All she could do, is to do her job and avoid being the object of scorn and resentment until it happens.

GYSGT Broug entered the room, as a Marine sounded off, "Ten-shun! Gunnery Sar'nt on deck!" She recognized the voice - SGT Scowth Mackall from 1st Squad.

"As you were...let's start as quickly as possible - I have to get my kid from my ex, and I'm not having him chew me out again!" Kat had questions, but she knew that it's best if she never asked them… ever. Especially not to him.

"Now, let's start this - we are supposed to hold a Post Action Review for our last training exercise - can anyone tell me what are we supposed to do?"

The room was silent. "Anybody?"

A Cathar shot up from his seat. "Gunnery Sergeant! On Day 321 at 0800 hours, we recieved orders to conduct an air assault at coordinates 'ML 15-64' to capture a high value target and secure valuable materials, GYSGT!"

Kat recognized her as a fellow boot from 2nd squad. She heard groans and whispers of "boot" throughout the room. "Oooo...kay, thank you, Private First Class Cuull. Let's talk about what actually happened, anyone wanna talk about it?" The room is now alive with hushed words. Suddenly a female human with short brown hair spoke up. "The damn pilots for our ship couldn't hold it steady! Our boot fell a couple of meters from the ground and sprained his ankle!" "And the bird dropped us off too far from the objective! We got into our position too late! " shouted CPL Wolverton.

The gunny sighed. "Anything happening while we're actually raiding the house?"

"The boot here..." snarled a female Kaleesh from 1st squad, followed by a muffled kick, "... Hesitated to fire at the escaping target because "there were 'non-combatants' in the way,"

"Hey! The rules of engagement is to not shoot unless you've got a clear shot THAT WOULDN'T HARM NON-COMBS!" shot back the 1SQ boot. "Hey! You wanna talk like that to me again? You think I'm your drinking buddy? Know your place, boot!"

"CPL Jarr'ka'klu, PFC Harrlon, can it or I'll have you on police call duty on the weekends!...Back to our PAR…" he howled before returning to his datapad. Kat didn't envy his job of trying to record everything down about this PAR while controlling 59 unruly Marines.

"Gunny?" It was CPL Wolverton. " The escaping target here didn't get away very far because…" Kat felt a hand pull her shoulder. "...Private Merrick here, who was near the door when we did the security cordon, managed to incapacitate the target before he could escape," "Ah, I see. Good job, PVT Merrick. Keep it up," Kat suddenly felt uncomfortable. "Errrr…. Thank you, Gunnery Sergeant,"

He acknowledged with a grunt before continuing. "Good. Third Squad gets the HVT… Next is the target materials…" Wolverton whispered into her ear, "Keep this up, and we might even be friends," She replied with a "Aye, CPL," before he took his hands off her shoulder.

"I had to put down an uncooperative civilian, Gunny," said CPL Blydd from 2nd squad. "He didn't appreciate us rummaging through the house,"

"Did you do the next steps to deescalate before firing the stun round?" "Aye, Gunny - he was reaching for my rifle," he replied.

"Well, you should've tried harder- I could hear the civvies inside the house screaming after your shot. You do that during actual ops, you'll get yourself a major incident,"

Blydd retreated himself, fuming with resentment.

"Next?" "The security cordon started taking light sniper fire, Gunny, but the troopship gunners managed to drive them off," Kat finally found her courage to speak. "Come on, now…" "I think that's it, Gunny," said CSGT Eizer from 1SQ. "We managed to move to the extraction with the HVT and HVM without any further incident,"

"Roger that. Any other suggestions you would like to make before we end this?"

The room was silent again.

"No? Let's wrap this up, then… I want all the boots to stay for a while after this. Rest of you are dismissed. I want you all to rest and refit - we have a company-wide exercise tomorrow," "Aye, Gunnery Sergeant!" The Marines replied.

"Dismissed," He waved as the seniors fell out back of the room. "Come up front, Marines," The boots of 3rd platoon filled the front rows.

"How would you like it if the Marine Corps gives you a great opportunity for a skill that, I bet you, you must want?"

"Aye-aye, Gunny!" replied the boots with motivation and excitement, Kat included. "Outstanding! Now, does anyone here have a vehicle license? Speeder? Ship? Anything?" Three Marines held up their hands.

"Good! But it doesn't matter, I've volunteered all of you to…"

"Volunteered? But I haven't even said yes! At least...we are getting free speeder training?" Kat thought. "I wouldn't mind… It's a great way to get one… for free!"

Kat tuned in intently to the Gunnery Sergeant's words.


MOTOR TRANSPORT CENTER, MCB VALTO - DAY 330, 1351 HOURS

WEEK 4 OF THE PRE-DEPLOYMENT CYCLE

Kat's face slammed into the dashboard - hard.

The "Lynx" Light Multipurpose Vehicle she drove usually carried six, but that day it was only her and a training gunnery sergeant. The already small windscreen and windows are thick to see out of, and the outsider cameras aren't of much help either to her. "Dammit, Private, stop swervin' 'round an' crashin' 'to things!" swore the heavily accented training sergeant. "Sorry, Gunnery Sergeant! It's just too difficult to see out of these things!"

"S'that an excuse ah hear? Muh-reens don' make skuusez, they overcome! Try 'gain or I'll have you on this road 'til next week!"

Kat swore under her breath as she tried to reverse.


ARTILLERY RANGE 5, FIRE SUPPORT TRAINING CENTER, MCB VALTO - DAY 351 HOURS

WEEK 7 OF THE PRE-DEPLOYMENT CYCLE

"Metal 1-Concord, this is Fox 5-3 ...Adjust fire at grid… Hyper Magma 118… 450, over," Kat hesitantly called into her commlink.

"This is Metal 1-1, grid 118-450, out," said the Marine on the Fire Direction Center.

The company had been dragged out to the artillery range to train (and retrain) everyone how to call for fire support, as well as proper application of radio communication during combat. Today, they got to call in artillery, or "shells of death" on some fake targets.

Kat took a deep breath. "This is Fox 5-3, enemy foot platoon stationary in the open, 1 round frag when ready, over,"

Shortly, she could feel a symphony of five rumbles from far away. "Shot, over," said the FDC. "Shot out," she replied. Then she heard the whine of the explosive shells flying over the platoon. They looked up towards the sky.

"Splash, over," "Splash, out," replied Kat as she took a knee.

The first shell fell short and deviated too far right of the target with a loud boom, sending snow upwards but not hitting anything else. She adjusted again. She wracked her brain for the calculations. She was never good at mathematics.

"...Adjusting fire - Add one hundred, left 20, over,"

Another five shells screamed overhead. She took out her macrobinoculars. The shells still hit the far right of the target group.

"Something's off…" She zoomed with her macrobinoculars. Her suspicions were right. She saw large holes in some of the targets, but too many others were left untouched. "Dammit."

"Seems like you need to adjust your fire again, Merrick," said 1LT Cal Fletcher from his observation position.

Like Kat, the Fox Company executive officer (XO) had red hair and blue eyes, but unlike her, the Coruscanti native had midlength, slicked hair and a bushy beard, which he seemed to always keep in immaculate condition, even during field ops.

Kat felt like going over to him and pull his beard, but instead she made some calculations again. After what seemed to be an eternity, she finally activated her commlink again. "... Left 50 meters, fire for effect, over,"

She heard five more rumbles. This time, she looked through binocs as the shells slammed near the target. This time, she was right on. Some of the targets disappeared in the explosion, while others were ripped into shreds or had holes of various sizes.

She commed the artillery unit, this time with a sigh of relief. "Metal 1-Concord, this is Fox 5-3… End of mission, enemy platoon is incapacitated - estimated 25 casualties, over,"

"Fox 5-3, this is Metal 1-Concord,we copy all, out,"

Kat got down from the targeting booth. She was the last boot to be trained in Fox Company that day. Xand Ekari slapped her shoulder with a "Woo!" as she regrouped with her platoon.

"You did a decent job, Private, but let's hope you won't have to call in arty anytime soon, eh? Leave it to the experienced. And read up more on radio procedures… Don't worry, You'll get it soon," said 2LT Cavell. "Thank you, sir."

"OK, let's gather 'round!" yelled CPT Erran Vlogel, the company CO. It was for yet another post training review. CPT Vlogel is pale, dark haired and had a high voice that both is hilarious and terrifying to those who listened to it.

Kat speed-walked as fast she could - she didn't want to be late.


3/F PLATOON ROOM, DAY 367 - 1000 HOURS

She opened the door saw the rest of Third Platoon sitting and chatting in the squad room.

Today was a special day for her - she is about to be promoted to Private First Class. It is long overdue, and when she saw it on MariNet while her datapad, she cheered loudly to the annoyance of her roommate.

"Hey boot, when you're done with the ceremony, don't take the pins off too fast, okay?" said LCPL Ioper'tamle Ceanlabeag, as he flashed a smirk at her.

"Why the weird grin?" She thought as she replied with a "Yes, LCPL!"

She is the only one to be promoted today, and she felt nervous. She had trained herself by practicing a little bit of drill while in her room last night.

"Attention, officer on deck!" someone called out 2LT Cavell and GYSGT Broug entered. "Fall into formation!" yelled the platoon sergeant.

After they all got into position, he yelled again, "Marines to be promoted, front and center!"

Kat stepped out, the lone Marine to do so.

"Today, we're here to promote a Marine after she had demonstrated much resolve…"

"Is that code for 'me managing to bounce back from my foul-up'? Weird."

It was an open secret that she was still a private before due to a fight, but she wondered how many in the company knew the details.

Gunny Broug opened her promotion warrant and started reading.

"To all that shall see these presents, greeting… Know that by reposing special trust and confidence in the abilities and fidelities of Private Cathria Merrick, the Galactic Republic Marine Corps hereby appoints this Marine to the rank of Private First Class..."

It's happening!

She tuned out the rest of the warrant reading. Nothing else mattered. Gunny Broug reached up to her collar and removed her rank, as 2LT Cavell put the new rank on. She heard the slight snap and pop of her new rank as it was pinned onto her desert utilities. "Thank you, sir!"

She saluted the lieutenant. Gunny Broug yelled out "Riiiiigghhtttt… Face! Fo-wurrdddd… March!" She marched back to her position as the 2LT gave one of his usual talks.

He told them to brush up on their combat skills, and acquire new ones when possible. "... And don't forget to tell me if you are going to a school or training… We don't want any accidental unauthorized absences like last month. Next up is…"

After it ended, LCPL Ceanlabeag called her over again. " I would like to say…" he said softly as he put his hand on her right shoulder.

He suddenly slammed his left fist onto her collar rank insignia with a "Congratulations, Pee-Eff-Cee Boot!"

Kat yelled out in pain as the metal pin pierced her skin.


BARRACKS ROOM, DAY 368 - 2000 HOURS

Kat got out of the shower, put on her civillian clothes and exited the refresher room. Then she realized something - she forgot to put on a plaster patch between her collarbone and neck, which has healed a little but is still red from the promotion ceremony.

She put them on, got a small sling bag that she brought from home, and started heading out the door when she noticed her roommate is up and about, packing bags. It was the first time she'd seen him not drunk in his bed. "Hey boot! You leaving?" "Yes, for liberty, CPL," He grunted back in acknowledgement as he continued to pack his things.

She then headed to PFC Ekari's room. They had planned to go out for liberty together.

Every Marine, provided that they weren't on restrictions and had passed inspections for that month, will go on a 2-day liberty every week. Kat and Xand intended to spend a night there and get back before first morning formations.

For Marines on Naboo, that meant taking a speeder or ship to the nearest city, Valtos - only half an hour away. There, they could drink, eat, cajole, dance, watch, sing, shop or do anything they desired. Tallus was a mixture of a military city by virtue of having about 500,000 Soldiers, Marines and Spacers, Sailors stationed within 80 miles of it, and also one of the planet's minor technological and financial hubs.

She buzzed the door. Ekari stepped out in a red-grey outfit. "Looking good, Xand!" "Thanks, Kat - not too bad yourself! You should see what I have in the back!" and she turned around to reveal a large skull superimposed over the Marine Corps logo - above it, read "First to Fight," and "Last to Leave!" below it, emblazoned in a striking art style.

Kat was suddenly reminded of the recruiting posters she saw before she joined, but on that t-shirt, it looked somewhat tacky. She decided not to tell her. At least, not now.

Kat tried to change the topic. "Let's go! We're going to miss the shuttle!"


TALLUS CITY, NABOO - 2055 HOURS

The pair exited the shuttle ship and walked through the spaceport. The terminals were filled with people, with the occasional staff trying to scan passengers and Kat noticed there is an abnormal amount of people in their dress and service uniforms, possibly trying to impress lookers, or even pick up a date or two.

They exited the spaceport. Most buildings were at most 10 stories tall, and are made of brick, unlike most other places in the galaxy where it was a mix of ferrocrate, duracrete and durasteel. Filamented lights rounded out the vintage feel the city gave. It was different from Brentaal IV in a lot of ways, and Kat loved it.

"Hey Kat, you've got any place you feel like going to?" Xand said as she interrupted Kat's reverie. "I… I don't know what's here..." "Let's go get a drink…! Celebrate your promotion and all…" "We usually only drink for special occasions, anyway-" "Great! Let's go!"

Kat sat down and observed from the slightly darkened cantina booth. The house band played a groovy fink cover of The Coruscant Kings' "My Heart Beats at Lightspeed For You". The dance floor was filled with beings of various skills, skillfully or failing to dance to the beat. Neon lights gave the dance floor a fluorescent quality. Bits of conversation filled whatever aural space is left.

"I swear, if I could punch my LT in the face…"

"My boss gave me a promotion after I fixed the network system! It's about time!"

"Hey there, gorgeous. Do you know that you're shinier than everything in this place…?"

She tried to soak the atmosphere in. Brentaalians don't usually spend time in cantinas, but when they do, it tends to be a riot. Kat is looking forward to that.

She saw Xand carry two large glasses of the house special liquor and set them down on the table. She sat opposite her as Kat took her glass and held it up. "To the Marine Corps, my promotion… and my friend," she said. "To me!" Xand said, before she let out a hearty laugh.

Kat downed the beer with gusto. It burned her throat, but it's the best drink she's had in her life so far.


AUTHOR'S NOTES

Well... This took a while. And it's my longest chapter, too...