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FICTION
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"Together We Rise, Together we Prevail"
March 24 2526 - Hour 1232
GYSGT Logan 'Log' Sutton
Corbulo Academy for Military Science, Pompeius, Planet of Circinius IV
I could tell Alba was quite annoyed by how 'chill' this mission was, but she could also tell this calm was not going to last for long.
Cole had been quite blunt on the parameters for this situation: we were going to visit the Officer Candidate School with the official reason being to 'check the rookies'. The main goal was to speak in private with General Black and try to raise awareness for possible attacks. A Covenant Fleet has been spotted lurking this section of the galaxy, and it was clear they were eventually going to find this place. It was a strategic target, one that produced quality officers which would help keep the leadership clean and effective from the lower echelons up to the call-makers.
In OTL, the officers were meant to be a bit more clueless about the situation tied to this war, but due to the growing influence of my little 'patron', the UEG ultimately decided to go for a more 'active' approach. We were dealing with a new hostile faction, they knew their name, they knew that they weren't planning to listen to peace-talks and that we were facing them with our heads up and 'winning'. It was a bit of an overstatement, especially since what we were doing was only enduring the brunt of their attacks and letting them exhaust their offensive capability to the point we could attack them back.
Still, it was going to be an interesting visit to check and see what is the difference between the 'officer-centered training' presented by Corbulo and what the Marines were known to dispense in that regard. I was well-aware there was a difference in quality, but I wasn't sure how prissier the Academy's curriculum was compared to the more 'experience first, theory later' experience I had noticed during boot camp. The trip to reach our destination was smooth and uneventful. The Orbital Elevator had been reinforced with a bigger garrison, but I could tell that it wasn't going to matter much if the attackers decided to sneak in enough explosives to tear it apart.
Ah yes, what's the purpose of using garrisons if none of the ships had means to stop a powerful plasma blast to go and do the planned job? That's why there should have been defensive structures to prevent that. Not... removing firepower from the main fleets for this kind of duty. I was no one among admirals, but I wasn't exactly dumb enough on the matter to ignore how bad of a decision this one was. Should I mention it to Cole?
You shouldn't.
Oh yes, I had this conversation with Sif. Why wouldn't I? I needed to have a valid counter-point to what I felt on the matter, someone that knew what was up with that kind of decision and... the truth was that there wasn't exactly much that could deflect plasma. That was the only valid reason that put down any idea in that regard, for now, but it opened an interesting debate. Is the ruse of setting up ships in a defensive pattern better than just using orbital defenses? And the answer is, surprisingly enough, yes.
But only because those offered a blanket for plasma to not bypass and hit the main target. It was a simple logic, and yet it felt so foolish as it still wasn't a valid resolution. Which is why scientists were working to get around ways to do something about it and find a solution to this problem. Now, back to the Academy, I would dare to say that the welcome party was... modest. There was the General, one of his aides and... just two marines. Yep, that was it, but what was I expecting?
Less. Maybe just him and the aide.
"Gunnery Sergeant," General Daniel Black greeted with a solid handshake and a flat smile on his face. "I didn't expect for HIGHCOM to send your team here. Hopefully, this doesn't mean we will have trouble."
"Ah, I can't be the one saying. I've been a bit in trouble with Murphy, sir. Been a favorite to his wild mood swings," I replied jovially and a bit informal. He may be no-nonsense at times, but a bit of joking was fine from the way he cracked a more legitimate smile at that. "Still, I too have heard many high praises for Corbulo. Never thought I would be granted the chance to visit."
"Thank you, Gunnery Sergeant, but still... if we can discuss the reason for your visit," The top-brass hummed, and we were soon moving towards the academy. It was quite close, and I saw none of his personal warthog so I could tell it was going to be a planned 'long walk' to get some info pried off my hands. "Beyond the necessity of Admiral Cole to see the cadets' performance."
A slow nod ensued. "Let's just say that there's been a bit of buzzing in the area near Circinius IV, and Cole wishes to see readiness picking up to a notch. I'm aware that ONI has yet to release an academy-standard program to allow simulations to handle... unfriendly folks."
The general gritted his teeth at this. "That would be correct."
"Which is why I was given permission to do this," I hummed, holding my right palm upward so Sif could manifest her avatar and speak for herself.
"Admiral Cole has allowed me to provide a rudimentary program which I personally styled, General. I wouldn't say it's as exhaustive as other parts of the curriculum, but should grant the cadets the means to be able to discern flaws to exploit against our enemies through tactical solutions," The AI explained, the General nodding as his aide was quickly writing some notes down to his holopad. "Alas, Team Sutton will act both as supplementary educators in case teachers within the Academy feel the need to require further assistance in handling this part of the curriculum. It's not an order."
"I'm glad to hear that much," Black hummed quietly. "Still, what are we to expect in case of attacks?"
"Covenant squads normally attack in large groups, but can be overwhelmed with ease once their officers are killed off," I warned calmly. "And those generally require extreme lethality due to shields or natural resilience to damage."
A nod, the general was soon inquiring some more about the Covenant. The guy definitely itched to fight them, but he was conscious enough to study the overall situation before thinking back of his glorious days as a marine. I think that's where I got to know him better and make a good impression with the rest of our team. He was part of the Marines, we were too. And we had the chance to speak with the cadets around to test their current skills. As expected, I was given a look at the Hastati Squad.
Cadet Orenski and Cadet Vickers took it upon themselves to be quite formal and take on the qualities and flaws of her team (mostly Orenski since Vickers was a bit too 'dense' into trying to appear 'cool' in front of us), and yet the general saw a purpose on still berating one of the team members. Thomas Lasky was... well, far from what Captain Lasky became. I wouldn't exactly 'blame' him for it, but I definitely blame him for not reacting to it. He was hesitant to defend himself during the lash out, which was quite cringey if I had to be honest, and he looked absolutely pathetic when he tried to get some 'support' by looking at Cadet Silva.
"General, I wish to speak with Cadet Lasky in private."
The request came out of the blue for many of the listeners in the training field. General Black looked surprised for a moment, but allowed me this circumstance as I decided to nip the bud at once before it became a problem in the future. Lasky looked upset, and I couldn't blame him. I bet he expected more lecturing from a superior, more verbal lynching, more getting punched down by someone with a higher rank. But that wasn't the plan.
"Tell me, Lasky. Why did you join the Marines?"
The young man looked surprised, and yet he managed to blurt out an answer. "M-My mother and-"
"Oh yes, relatives in the military," I hummed flatly, interrupting him. "Then tell me why anyone should give you any reprieve from the constant reprimands you are getting."
"I-"
"Spare me this, Cadet. I'm not here to listen to some shy reasoning behind your 'unplanned' recruitment. I want to know why 'you' joined the marine. Not why the others forced you to."
There was a lengthy pause at that and he sighed.
"I don't know."
I blinked. "You don't? You wield weapons and other deadly equipment, but you don't know why?"
Thomas looked down and I could only groan at the display of self-pity.
"Stop with the self-hating, you incoherent fool," I remarked dryly, his gaze back up to me. "You think your last name is going to win you any favor here? That when you will find yourself in danger, your mother or your brother will waltz in and save the day."
"No, sir."
"Hmm, and yet you are not training to protect yourself. Why?"
"I'm training, sir," He pressed and I scoffed.
"Are you? Do you think doing the minimum gives you the edge? Do you feel you are some sort of novel's protagonist with so-called plot armor?" I inquired, the questions stabbing deep on the cadet.
"N-No, but-"
"I was in Harvest when they attacked. The fucking squid-faces, the ape monsters- heck, even the little turds that loves to go out with two plasma grenades when shit hits the fan for them. I was there and it sucked balls. My team died, we were decimated and I almost died. Do you know what saved me, Cadet?"
He was silent, and kind of flinched when I reached out and tapped his forehead with my knuckles. "That thing. Not just the brain, but also the mindset."
"Sir?"
"Cadet Lasky, you've been berated and pushed down many times. When will you finally say 'fuck this, I am going to prove 'em wrong?'" I elaborated. "When will you accept the fact that, regardless what other thinks of you, what expectations they have on you- fucking hell, Lasky, grow a spine and tell them to fuck off. That, of course, after you get your mind in the game."
"I... I can do it."
"Can you?" I pressed strongly. "Can you pull it, Cadet? Can you finally show you can hold a gun and use it accordingly to how the Marines do?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are you going to allow them to use you as a doormat? I heard you are some pacifist, but let me ask you this, does that make you a restrained wimp or what?"
"N-No, sir."
"Tell me, Lasky, what happens if someone is unwilling to grant you peace? What if all they want is your death, the death of those you care for, what happens if one of your teammates dies? What if it's Cadet Silva?"
...
"You want to know how to avoid that question popping up, Cadet? You fucking train. Like everyone should. And no, this isn't an issue you alone have," I pointed out sternly. "The rest of your team has their own flaws. Those that stand out the most? They will falter during combat. Yet you, I can tell, you have a chance. A chance to be a guy with a good mindset and a right approach to the right situation. Do you get this, Cadet?"
"Yes sir," He replied somberly.
"Tell me, Lasky. How do you feel to test out this resolution of yours?"
The cadet nodded and it didn't take long for us to be back to the rest of the group and for me to provide Lasky the challenge he now wanted to use to show off his current understanding.
"What is the highest grade of threat the team has put the team through?" I asked Orenski, and the young woman paused before offering a quick answer.
"Grade 7, sir."
I nodded thankfully, then turned to General Black. "If it isn't asking too much, I wish to put through that exercise."
"Only Lasky?"
I nodded, and I saw some skepticism. So, I decided to go the extra mile.
"I'll be in charge of giving him orders and leading him around, but he will be alone in the field."
Approval was granted and soon the exercise started with Zuma Squad being put against the lone cadet. He was unsure he could do it, but he still went through it, remembering what I had told him. The first thing I noticed during the session was that Lasky wasn't bad. He wasn't the best being still a cadet, but he managed to hold his nerves before the heat of the moment. And he listened to orders. He was a bit on the defensive early on, clearly unnerved by the large contingent we were facing, but starting to 'loosen up', when we began removing foes with precise shots.
My loud voice seemed to shake him from hesitation, with his still-trembling aim still getting some of the shots through in due time. I was the one doing the most due to my awareness of the circumstance and the fact I was giving him orders through my 'eyes from above' situation. Lasky was provided with a metaphorical 'UAV' on where the enemy was, and all that he had to do was plan out how to take them out. He managed to do a lot in little time, but he failed to get the exercise won. Still, he got seven out of the nine cadets he was fighting against, and... the result was nothing to scoff at. Even General Black looked taken aback by the result and quickly asked about it.
"Gunnery Sergeant, how did you do this?!"
"Lasky is a marine, sir, but not all marines are the same. One just needs to know where his guts are and force them out so he can act without hesitation. I would dare to say he is going to make himself a name if he is granted some proper tough-lovin'," I replied confidently. "In fact, I'm surprised Corbulo lacks the 'rinse n' repeat' method of the boot camp."
"More theory-based lessons," the General lamented. "I'm trying to get this fixed but-"
"People whine a lot. I know, sir."
He chuckled at that, but by the end of the day, I could tell that this school needed a proper shake up. And since we were going to be around until the possibility of an attack was dealt with, I was definitely going to help in that regard. And I knew that this... this was going to be a fun experience alright.
Not gonna lie, I'm looking forward to pulling the finest Drill Sergeant act I could muster to get those morons up to shape.
AN
Next time, some action and... Corbulo stands stronger than in canon. But will it be enough?