In those days, the Imperial system had its active component and reserve component. The active component did nearly all functions of the Imperial economy and military and were nearly all proficient drones. Biological organisms of various alien races in the Galactic Federation were allowed to take on active-duty roles if they were competently comparable to these drones or had particular abilities, talents, and skill sets beyond drone capabilities. Humans were not particularly high in intelligence and physical ability and rarely were they allowed to serve in the active component.
Instead, Brainiac 5 encouraged humans to enter subjective fields like the arts, politics, education, religion, recreation, and tourism. As such, humans rarely served as soldiers, police, lawyers, scientists, engineers, aviators, medical, or information services in the active component. Instead, if humans wished to enter these professions anyway, they typically entered the reserve component where they could perform these duties without jeopardizing or hindering the overall economy or military structure. The reserve component kept humanity "busy" under Brainiac 5's supervision. In the active component, the few humans who did qualify for service were rarely if ever allowed to be officers whereas the vast majority of officers in the reserve component were human.
The resource quota or pay grades between active and reserve were considerably different to reflect the different levels of competence between them. Therefore, active enlisted were often equivalent to high-ranking reserve officers in resource quotas. The active component was harder work, and more difficult to promote, but it had the prestige of being "useful" to the Imperial system. The reserve component allowed humans to be officers and take command even if they were merely being "babysat" by Brainiac 5. The system was designed for maximum efficiency while still allowing humans to play a major part in their own planetary destiny. It balanced competence with social harmony.
At the Palace, Kara met with Alex about her future plans. "Like what I've done with the place?" Kara asked as there were Renaissance paintings of all of their friends and family on the walls, a library of actual books Kara had no intention of reading, an artificial fireplace, old-style furniture and coaches, and a large plasma-screen TV that was a little out of place.
"What is this about?" Alex asked impatiently.
"You read while I pour," Kara said and got herself a drink.
Alex looked over the datapad of her approval into the Space Marine active component. "If things work out, if you can go the distance, it will...still be a major pay cut from being a princess. Why the fuck do you want to do this?" Kara asked.
"To change official policy on human participation in the active component," Alex said simply.
"Why do you care, Alex? Did someone deny you the ability to be the best you can be because you're a girl or something? Did that piss you off?" Kara psychoanalyzed.
"It did," Alex confirmed.
The two sat down across from each other. "Do you have...a man at home?" Kara asked.
"What?" Alex thought she misheard.
"Steady beau? You know, some kind of solid heterosexual? I hate to ask but this could blow up in our faces if you're batting for the other side...the female side...is that our side?" Kara asked confused.
"Are you drunk?" Alex asked accusingly.
Kara simply gave her a blank look and blinked. "Yeah...I think I am," she realized. "I had to be to agree to this."
Alex talked it over with Kelly in the bathtub. The two were having a bubble bath together, naked. "I've done crazy shit at the DEO, my father, and Kara. I can take care of myself," Alex insisted. "If I'm successful, I could promote human rights, women's rights."
Kelly merely massaged her feet. "You have anything to say about this?" Alex asked.
"Not really," Kelly smiled.
"You know I'm faithful to you, Kelly. I'm not going to sleep with anyone during training," Alex assured her.
"Wow, I didn't even suggest...," Kelly said flabbergasted. "The system isn't going to want you there. To tell you the truth, I don't get it. You're a princess now, a mother now. Why do you want to go active duty?"
"You did active-duty army and deployed," Alex reminded her. "You got more ribbons than I do."
"That's only because J'onn never gave out ribbons...for anything anyone ever did. Did the DEO even have ribbons?" Kelly asked thoughtfully.
"I need operational experience. I need the thrill of battle, the excitement of it," Alex said passionately.
"Whoa, Alex, if you've already made up your mind, do it. You don't need my permission," Kelly encouraged.
Florida-Space Marine Academy
Alex proceeded to ditch Kelly and baby, Kelex, to try her hand at the Space Marine Academy in Florida. She met with Captain Salem, the Space Marine Academy Director. "Have a seat. Can I get you anything, tea, soda, coffee?" Captain Salem offered condescendingly.
"I'm good," Alex declined.
"We're all coming to terms with your unique situation, a homosexual female recruit," Captain Salem scoffed.
"I'm not looking for any special treatment," Alex assured him.
"We're not going to try to change your sexual orientation here. So, in the spirit of that, you'll bunk and share a bathroom with the other men," Captain Salme ordered. "If you have any special medical needs like premature menopause, inform the infirmary. If your classmates or superiors act in a harassing manner...or otherwise unbecoming manner, you are to snitch on them to me immediately."
"Sure," Alex played along.
"So that I can deal with it immediately," Captain Salem said with false sincerity. "The process may not be smooth, but I will make it as painless as possible."
"Thank you for your consideration, but I expect a certain level of pain," Alex said confidently.
"Any questions?" Captain Salem asked.
"Not at this time," Alex shook her head. "Look, I'm not here to make some kind of statement. I care about completing this training, getting operation experience, and earning my position within the active component just like everyone else here."
"Dismissed," Captain Salem agreed.
"Sir," Alex said respectfully and then left his office.
Alex brought her duffle bags to the barracks while the men hung out in the open gym. The bed and locker were fairly simple and standard. Word quickly spread that a woman had entered the Space Marine Academy and that it was Princess Alexandra, herself. There was instantly an atmosphere of incredulity and "we're fucked" among the men. Alex entered the cafeteria wearing a Space Marine t-shirt. No one dared to point or holler at her. Many suspected she was there as a not-so-uncover boss to bust them or maybe she was doing it for funsies. No one suspected she "slept" her way to getting in as she was already royalty. Instead, the men grumbled that they had to earn their spot whereas Alex had not.
Cortez was instantly pissed off. "Two years I petitioned to get into this program. Two years. Finally, I get here, and now it's co-ed? Such bullshit. Elite combat unit, my ass."
"All I'm saying is give me one good night with her, Lord, and I'll set her straight," Slovnik said inappropriately.
"Tone that down or we're all fucked," England scolded.
The first morning, a platoon-sized element was in formation before the instructors. They were all wearing purple Space Marine t-shirts. "Welcome to the Space Marine Academy. You have volunteered into the most intensive military training known to the human race. You are all proven operators within the spec ops community. In spite of your expertise, many of you will not successfully negotiate this program. However, those who can, will experience an operational tempo far exceeding the reserve component. You're here not for the glory of rank and command but to make a difference in the world, in the galaxy. That's all that can be said about that," Captain Salem said to them all.
"I now turn you over to my instructors," Captain Salem said and then walked off. Five instructors remained, one Ancient Sergeant and four Veteran Sergeants.
"The ebb and flow of the Atlantic tides, the drift of the continents, and the very position of the sun along its ecliptic are just some of the things I control in my world," Ancient Sergeant John James Jack said softly to them. "Get your boats...move."
The recruits immediately rushed to get some heavy rubber raft boats over their heads and move about the beach until they were exhausted. ASG Jack then had the recruits go to the beach and move some giant rubber rollers up and down the beach. They were then made to go to the beach and do push-ups in the water. There were already a few injuries. The instructors harassed the recruits as they were brought to their physical limits trying to get them to quit. The recruits were then brought back to the beach and made to do flutter-kicks and sit-ups.
"Pain is your ally. It tells you when you're hurt. It also tells you that you're not dead yet," ASG Jack said.
The recruits were then made to dig holes in the sand and then rushed their boats to the base for chow. The recruits were made to eat standing up and fighting over the food in a big mess. Throughout the rest of the day, the recruits continued to get "smoked" and play around on the beach with their boats. At night, everyone was in the weather gradually getting hypothermia until ASG Jack took them out.
At the end of the day, ASG Jack sent in human medics to examine and question the recruits. After the medics confirmed what ASG Jack already knew, he dismissed them away and had the recruits eat from plates inside trashcans.
"If you feel you cannot carry on, please let me know. The Space Marines is not for everyone. Not everyone needs to matter, to make a difference. The drones take care of all your needs, everything you want to buy, and everything you want to do in life. Your job as a species, according to them, is to simply live long lives and reproduce. You do not have to be here," ASG Jack reminded them all.
ASG Jack had them all lift the rubber rafts over their heads until one of them eventually gave up. A man with a lost look on his face finally resigned from the program. After receiving his first victim, ASG Jack moved them all into a classroom. "Tell me in five hundred words why you love the queen," he ordered. "There is no time limit."
ASG Jack played Italian Opera while the recruits attempted to write a coherent paper in a dark room. Many of the recruits were on the verge of falling asleep from fatigue. To make matters more fun, it began to rain inside the classroom. "Are you ready for the next task?" ASG Jack asked after an hour.
The recruits were made to rucksack in the rain, sling their weapons, and then high crawl under some barbed wire while being shot at with intense laser fire above them. They were then made to navigate a training ruin filled with fire and explosives going off around them. Sonic weapons were also used on them. They went through a tunnel, stormed a beach, and climbed a wall. As it happened, Alex was a good sport and helped her team get over the wall only to be betrayed. Alex climbed the wall, herself, and met up with the rest of her team in last place. As she did, she supposedly tripped a wire.
"Olsen just tripped a wire, she is responsible for killing the entire class," ASG Jack said and then hosed the recruits with more cold water.
The next morning, ASG Jack read out the recruit's time and ordered some of them to do the same course they did yesterday over again. This broke one recruit and he gave up. "Anyone else?" he asked. He then walked up to Cortez. "You will remember the value of teamwork," he scolded. "Two hours, be back here. If I were you, I'd get some sleep."
Alex wasn't too satisfied and demanded to speak with ASG Jack. "I didn't make time. Why didn't I fail the obstacle course?" Alex demanded.
"The female standard gives you plus thirty seconds which puts you under the wire," ASG Jack said simply.
"What other females?" Alex asked incredulously. "I was the only one. I should have a choice."
"Olsen, when I want your opinion, I'll ask it," ASG Jack shut her down.
Alex then obnoxiously appealed to Captain Salem over the issue. "I feel mistreated, Sir," Alex told him.
"What's your grievance?" Captain Salem humored her.
"It's you, all of you. It started the moment I got here. It's the double standard. How am I supposed to fit in when you've got me set up as an outsider, royalty, female? You've given me a different set of rules and standards," Alex protested.
"I think you're having a brain fart, so to speak," Captain Salem told her off.
"I think you resent me, Sir," Alex said honestly.
"What I resent is the Empress using my Space Marines as a test tube for her grand social experiment. Now, does that offend your fragile sensibilities?" Captain Salem asked.
"No, Sir," Alex said lamely.
Captain Salem smirked at her. "One standard. You're going to be treated the same as everyone else just as you want."
"Thank you, Sir," Alex said and then left his office.
Alex went to sleep with the men, literally, only to be immediately woken up by smoke grenades. "Grab your sacks, get in line! Move!" ASG Jack ordered them all.
"What the fuck? Why are you in here?" Slovnik protested.
"Spare me," Alex rolled her eyes as she got up.
"No, you can't stay here. You can't sleep next to me," Slovnik insisted.
"C.O. says I can so deal with it," Alex told him off.
"But...tampons...tampons!" Slovnik freaked out.
"Grow up," Alex scolded.
ASG Jack then entered the barracks. "One minute, outside," he barked.
The men rushed to get dressed, pick up their boats, and jog around on the beach with them. As it happened, Daily Planet reporters took pictures of Alex during her training creating a small controversy.
Metropolis
Kara held a party at the palace for her Space Marine Primarchs (O-6), all eighteen of them. They were all of different alien races: Kryptonian, Jin-Saiyan, Homo Sapiens, Martians, Titans, Coluans, Braalians, Winathians, Imks, Rimbors, Orandos, Naltorians, Zuunians, Bgztlians, Xanathuans, Taloks, Durlans, and Troms. The Space Marines would be segregated by alien race and have their own unique ranking system and organization. They would be the "living" army of the Imperial military separate from the Imperial Navy, the drone army, and the Vindicators.
The Space Marines were an active component. Each active-duty rank was equivalent to two reserve ranks. For example, an E-3 Active would be equivalent in resource allocation to an E-6 in the Reserves, and an O4 Active would be equivalent to an O8 in the Reserves. For this reason, the highest-ranking Space Marine was an O6 Primarch. To be a successful Space Marine, one often needed to take a cocktail of exotic drugs, surgeries, gene therapy, and cybernetics. Not all Space Marine legions were equal. A well-trained human had a power level of 100, most aliens ranged between 50-200, a typical Brainiac 5 drone was 1000, a typical Insane was 2000, a Kryptonian exposed to yellow sunlight for a few days was 50 million, Mon's Super Insane 5 recorded at 80 billion, and Kara's Prime 5 was calculated to be around 10 quadrillion.
"That's bullshit," Mon complained.
"What is?" Kara asked impatiently.
"Changing all the ships from a 'she' to an 'it'," Mon explained.
"Well, it doesn't make sense to name a female ship the USS Lex," Kara pointed out.
"Both carriers are named after Luthors? Did they write you a check or did you sleep with them," Mon mocked.
"Yes," Kara mocked back.
"Ahem," Brainiac 5 interrupted.
"Yes, we need Space Marines because I will not be the queen of the ashes by simply using orbital bombardment to erase a planet's surface. We also need Space Marines to unify the galaxy. If drones do all the work, we become lazy and...unpatriotic," Kara said. "Each of you will provide me a legion of your best troops and then rank them according to how badass they are. This isn't one of those military branches where people good at paperwork rise to the top. I want the best of the best to be your officers. I also don't give a shit how they become badass either. Use whatever methods necessary so long as the Space Marine voluntarily consents and has full knowledge of the risks."
"The legions will not be equal in ability or firepower. The Supreme Leader's own adopted human sister is trying out for the human legion," Jorus, Sons of Jorus, Jin-Saiyan Primarch said rudely.
"A Titan legion would cripple the Jin-Saiyan with our telepathic abilities as soon as you set foot on the surface," Tagnus, Thousand Sons, Titan Primarch said confidently.
"A Durlan legion can transform into all sorts of creatures immune to your telepathy yet lethal as fuck nonetheless," Sulkan, Salamanders, Durlan Primarch pointed out.
"The Naltorian legion would defeat you both as we can see into the future your every move," Norvus, Raven Guard, Naltorian Primarch said smugly.
"It doesn't matter what you can see whether it is the future or not, it can all be manipulated by us," Orgar, Word Bearer, Orando Primarch scoffed.
"You won't be able to see at all with us," Tonrad, Night Lords, Talok Primarch smirked.
"Our biological and chemical weaponry don't need to see to kill all of you," Jortarian, Death Guard, Primarch said obviously.
"We are so small at the subatomic level that your biological and chemical weaponry has no effect. Then, we will strike at the speed of atomic expansion," Ipharius, Alpha Legion, Imsk Primarch.
"Nothing is faster than the speed of light which we will provide in our lightning strike attacks," Waghatai, White Scar, Winathian Primarch declared.
Kara suddenly clapped her hands silencing them. "As much as I love this pissing contest...and I do, we have more important matters to discuss." She then turned to the Daily Planet Editor in the room. "I ordered that this test case with Princess Alexandra be discreet. That was the agreement. Instead, it's looking like you're milking this cow on all four tits."
"Yeah...our bad...our bad," the Daily Planet Editor said sheepishly.
Kara gave him a look that could kill. "Where is she in her training?" she asked Hulgrim, Children of the Empress, Homo Sapien Primarch.
"She just finished the PT phase of her training. She made it through hell week," Hulgrim reported.
"Won't last one week is what you told me," Kara said annoyed.
"Weak as fuck, humans," Jorus mocked. The other Primarchs pounded the table in agreement.
"Okay, knock that shit off. The purpose of you guys is to show fanatical loyalty to me and to the empire. You're the best of the best your worlds have to offer and when the people see that the best of the best are loyal to their empress, they won't dare to fuck with me. Now, occasionally, I'll send you guys on missions to increase your glory and prestige with your respective worlds, but the main army of drones is to do the majority of the fighting," Kara scolded them.
She turned to Hulgrim. "I want a briefing on Princess Alexandra's progress every day."
Sons of Jorus: Jin-Saiyan
Thousand Sons: Titans
Salamanders: Durlans
Emperor's Children: Humans
Space Wolves: Zuunian
Night Lords: Talok
Ultramarines: Kryptonians
World Eaters: Rimbors
Word Bearers: Orandos
Alpha Legion: Imsk
Raven Guard: Naltorians
White Scars: Winathians
Death Guard: Troms
Iron Warriors: Coluans
Dark Angels: Bgztlians
Blood Angels: Martians
Imperial Fists: Xanathu
Iron Hands: Braalian
Primarch Hulgrim called up Captain Salem to chew him out. "Are you of the habit of allowing reporters to traipse around your base snapping their fill? What the fuck is wrong with you, captain?"
"Primarch, they stand out on a public highway using telephoto lenses. What the fuck am I supposed to do about that? Unless you want me to infringe upon their constitutional right to live which I will gladly do. Fuck the Constitution. Just give me the word, Primarch," Captain Salem challenged.
"Did you just mouth off to a Space Marine Primarch?" Primarch Hulgrim raged.
"Maybe I did. You, going to come down here and give me a glorious death? It beats having to babysit a bunch of aspirants," Captain Salem said.
"I give you points for style even if you're dumb as fuck. You're to coordinate all press relations through my office," Primarch Hulgrin ordered. "I'll handle the Daily Planet."
"I'll be sure to pass down your command to my non-existent staff since we don't do staff in the Space Marines," Captain Salem mocked.
"Good, now how's my girl?" Primarch Hulgrim asked curiously.
ASG Jack put the entire class through various enhanced interrogation techniques and then weapons training. Although Alex was more accustomed to projectile bullet firearms, she was able to quickly figure out the plasma rifle. Still, Cortez beat her every time. Alex went to the medic routinely for various conditions. "Abrasions on your back, tendinitis on your right leg, and jungle rot on your left foot. You're kind of fucked up."
"Just fix me up," Alex said impatiently.
The medic used some non-surgical scanning devices to fix the damaged tissue within minutes. Good as new, Alex was back to training. She eventually beat Cortez in the dissembling and reassembling of the plasma rifle. As the platoon got thinner due to dropouts, ASG Jack intensified the training. Alex was made to conduct sling-load operations, rappel from helicopters, parachute out of an airplane, and operate a helicopter landing zone. In the water, Alex went Scuba and snorkeling training. When she had trouble getting into the boat, she was left behind. Then, her team was pushed out of the boats and left to swim back.
"Well...this is bullshit," Cortez complained.
"You know, my grandfather wanted to serve on one of those big battleships and fire the big guns. The navy wouldn't let him. They said all he could was cook. And you know why? Because he was blind," McCool said reflectively.
"Holy shit," the others said of the story.
"And that was less than a century ago. You see, Olsen. I know where you're coming from," McCool said sympathetically.
"Thanks, man," Alex said, giving him an odd look.
"I have to ask...are you blind, too?" Cortez asked concernedly.
Alex eventually returned to the barracks and hit the showers alone. ASG Jack was instantly on the spot. "The Israelis tried it, women in combat. At first, the men were a bit unnerved about women getting blown the fuck up gutted, and with limbs thrown about. They'd linger over the wounded females, trying to save those who could not be saved often to the detriment of the mission. However, it didn't take long for them to change. All chivalry was gone, everyone was equal on the battlefield, and both men and women were killing machines," ASG Jack said conversationally.
"Is there a point to this?" Alex asked awkwardly.
"While the Israeli military became the top fighting force in the world with the most progressive gender attitude, the fertility rate dropped dramatically. Men and women hooked up, but they didn't get married, didn't have children, and their population dropped. Over the course of a few centuries, Israel was no more. It was swamped by Arab immigration, interbreeding, and then eventual genocide. Palestine won not through force of arms but a demographic inevitability the same way the Kingdom of Jerusalem fell during the Crusades. As an Imperial Princess, you should be mindful of what kind of leader you want to be and what example you set," ASG Jack said.
Alex considered that briefly while under the shower, still naked under ASG Jack's watchful eyes. "I know my place and it's not politics," Alex said finally.
"Do you know how I got the Kara's Cross?" ASG Jack asked rhetorically. "I got it for saving a tank from a man on fire. I dragged his ass out of the tank, while he was still on fire, and put out the fire inside the tank to keep it functional."
Alex gave him a WTF look but quickly recovered. "So, if a man saves a woman, he's gone soft. If he doesn't, he's lost all chivalry resulting in demographic suicide? What's the answer?"
"The answer is not even to think about the woman and put the mission first. You couldn't even haul your own bodyweight onto the boat. I'd call that a fail," ASG Jack chided.
"Permission to get dressed," Alex said as she assertively walked up to him.
"I'm putting England on another squad and making you Team #6 leader," ASG Jack informed her.
"Why not McCool?" Alex questioned.
"You're older," ASG Jack mocked. "Remember, there are no bad squads, just bad leaders."
Metropolis-Palace
"She's receiving better marks than most...academically. Plus, she's outlasted forty percent of her peers," Primarch Hulgrim briefed Kara in her office.
"With double standards?" Kara asked.
"No, she's gone head-to-head with the men for some time now," Primarch Hulgrim reported. "She's lasted eight weeks. Joan of Arc meets Supergirl (Actual line)."
"I want more detailed reports," Kara ordered.
"Ammunition to get her canned, absolutely," Primarch Hulgrim readily agreed.
"Don't read too much into my intentions. Not even I know what they are," Kara warned. She looked out the window. "She's up against human males that have been genetically modified over the last thousand years, who are younger than she is, and she's still pulling even with them. How the fuck is that possible?" she asked turning to Brainiac 5.
"Her drug tests are clean," he replied.
Kara gave him a haunted look and then turned to Primarch Hulgrim. "Tread carefully with her and continue to brief me on her progress."
At sunset, Alex and the rest of Team #6 were in a military aircraft at high altitude. They all wore black suits with helmets. Inside the helmets were electronic screens to help them navigate. "Make sure your oxygen works. There's no atmosphere at this altitude. If you black out, you die. If you die, you fail," ASG Jack told them. "Your headset has a full guidance system. Follow it to the target and open your chute when the system tells you to, not before, definitely not after, or the last thing you'll feel is your kneecaps shattering. Am I clear?"
"Yes, Ancient Sergeant!" they all said.
"Get the fuck off my airplane," ASG Jack ordered.
The team walked out of the airplane's ramp and leaped off. Alex suddenly felt a rush as she was free-falling into a lightning storm. "Holy shit," she realized as lightning flashed around her. "Everyone, stay close," she ordered the rest of her team.
"What's the matter, afraid of a little lightning?" Slovnik mocked. He was suddenly hit by a lightning strike that short-circuited his suit and knocked him out cold.
"Slovnik!" Alex called out as she recovered from the near hit.
The team fell below the clouds at this point. Alex turned upside down to look for Slovnik. She finally found him to her side still passed out. Alex glided her way over to him and missed him entirely. She worked her way back and grabbed his legs. The two immediately went into a spin. Alex called out Slovnik's name repeatedly with no answer. His oxygen tube had been disconnected in the strike. Alex kept a firm grip on him, detached her own oxygen tube, and gave it to him. She then deployed his chute at the right moment causing him to rip out of her hands as he floated above her. Alex then deployed her own chute at the last moment, slowed down a bit, got her chute tangled in a tree, and slammed her back up against a tree.
Annoyed, Alex detached her chute and landed on the ground. Moving about the forest, Alex found her team in the dense vegetation. "Slovnik, you, alive?" Alex asked him.
"Yeah, thanks, I nearly died...," Slovnik said stunned.
Alex ignored him as she pulled out a map and got her heading. "Switch to channel 5 for tactical communication. Move out."
In the alligator-infested swamps of Florida, the team made their way to the target, a shack on a lakeshore with a floating platform with an animal skull on a pole. While still in the wood line, the team scoped the place out. "Listen up, record weapons, and vehicles, count bad guys, get ranks, if visible," Alex ordered. "Slov, Cortez, check the antenna for comms capability," she ordered.
"Nothing there, Olsen. No prisoners, no guards, nobody there," McCool reported.
Alex gave him an odd look wondering if he might actually be blind. Instead of following orders, Cortez went into the lake, made his way over to the platform, and got the animal skull. "Nice souvenir," Cortez said of the skull.
"Cortez, what the fuck are you doing? Get back to your position right now," Alex barked.
Immediately, there was gunfire all around them. A net went up trapping Cortez. "Blessed is he who has nothing for he shall not be disappointed!" ASG Jack said using the intercom speakers.
"Fall back to the rendezvous point," Alex ordered her team having lost the element of surprise.
In the panicked confusion, a trainee fell into a ditch and broke his leg. "Oh, fuck!" he cried out.
"Let me see it," Alex said going into doctor mode. She used a knife to open his pants and saw the broken leg. A bag was suddenly placed over the trainee's head and then Alex's before they could react.
Team #6 was dragged into small wooden cells near the shack. Every so often, Space Marines would drag out a prisoner, beat the shit out of them, question them, and then bring them back to the cage. It also rained on everyone. "You know, I once had an apartment this size," Wickwire joked.
"You're going to make it, Wick, this time. Wait...what happened last time?" Alex asked.
"I had an issue with small spaces," Wickwire admitted.
"Don't let them use me against you, no matter what. I'm not a damsel in distress, I'm not a princess, alright," Alex told him.
"I wasn't going to anyway but sure," Wickwire agreed.
In the shack, the trainee who broke his leg was getting tortured on that leg. "You hurt or injured? You tell me you injured, you'll get medical treatment, but you'll never see your team again," the Space Marines taunted.
The next day, Alex was splashed with water and taken to the shack. "What is your father's name?" the Space Marine interrogator asked. "It's a simple question. No need not to answer. If you don't answer, I'll make you bleed."
"Dad," Alex mocked.
"Any brothers or sisters?" he continued.
"Pain in my ass," Alex rolled her eyes.
"You, hungry, Olsen? Maybe we can get you something to eat, honey," he mocked.
"Green eggs and ham," Alex mocked back.
"I actually got that reference," ASG Jack said as he entered the shack. He smacked her to the back of the head. "Why didn't you carry out your wounded? Was he too heavy or were you too chicken shit?"
"You're not getting anything out of me. Might as well put me back in the cage," Alex told him off. ASG Jack gave Alex a good beating inside the shack and then dunked her head into the water. "Two fire teams are still in the woods. Anyone can stop this. Just give me a good piece of intel," he said to all the prisoners watching. He then grabbed Alex out of the water and pushed her up against the cages.
"Anyone?" ASG Jack asked them.
"Don't do it," Alex told them.
ASG Jack dragged Alex over to a table and bent her over. "Ever wonder what happens when you're captured, princess?" he mocked as he sliced her belt off.
"Been there, done that," Alex shot back.
"We practice this, so you know what to expect," ASG Jack said. "Any of you going to be chivalrous and put a stop to this?"
"Don't tell them shit!" Alex shouted at them.
ASG Jack looked to almost be on the verge of raping Alex when she suddenly tripped him up, head-butted him, and kicked him to the ground. With her hands tied behind her back, Alex kicked ASG Jack several times to the gut and groin. She kicked him to the face only for him to catch her foot with his chin and send her to the ground. The two then got back to their feet. "You're looking pretty," Alex glared.
"Don't start something you can't finish," ASG Jack warned her.
He kicked her hard, took her by the throat, and punched her to the head stunning her. Alex had never felt such blows from a human before. It was like he was super-human. Despite all the blows she had given him, ASG Jack also appeared only slightly ruffled. Alex fell to the ground nearly knocked out. The prisoners, disgusted with what was happening, turned their backs on ASG Jack.
"I'm saving all of your lives including hers. Her presence makes us all vulnerable. A female Space Marine...is heresy. I don't want you to learn this unfortunate fact under fire," ASG Jack told them all.
Alex got back to her feet actually amazing ASG Jack. "Hey, Ancient Sergeant...no touching...without consent."
"What the fuck?" ASG Jack wondered.
"No consent! No consent! No consent!" the prisoners shouted and rattled their cages.
ASG Jack eyed the prisoners, his own frowning Space Marines, and Alex's resolve. He finally ended the exercise.
Alex and her team were given a short recovery time period to chill until their next training. They went to the beach, had some beers, and enjoyed the Florida weather. As it happened, the scene was photographed by a Daily Planet reporter. Soon thereafter, Alex's SCUBA training was interrupted as she was hauled before Captain Salem, Chapter Master Gallow, and Imperial Princess Mara-El.
"Claims have been put forth that you were fraternizing with the opposite sex suggesting heresy unbecoming a Space Marine," Captain Salem said as she handed her a folder of the pictures.
"Sir, are you suggesting I'm straight?" Alex asked incredulously.
"We're not asking, and you don't have to tell us," Chapter Master Gallows said carefully. "This is merely an informal inquiry."
"Where did you get these?" Alex asked dismayed.
"Daily Planet reporter," Chapter Master Gallows replied.
"This charge is groundless. I engaged in normal team-building recreation with my team, but nothing else. I mean, I figured you would be happy to hear about this," Alex said outraged to Mara.
"If the fraternization charge is true, it means adultery which is heresy," Mara said softly.
"So, you'll use my homosexual marriage against me when it suits you?" Alex asked outraged.
"I find this just as distasteful as you," Mara said with false sincerity. "You will be required to cooperate with the Inquisition."
"Naturally, you will be given a desk pending the outcome," Chapter Master Gallows said.
"A desk? This is sabotaging my training!" Alex said pissed off.
"You may repeat your training when cleared at a later date," Captain Salem assured her.
"I can't repeat this shit again!" Alex said standing up to them.
"It's really not that bad," Captain Salem said dismissively.
"Sir, I would choose not to repeat the training, nor do I care to drive a desk pending the outcome of these malicious allegations. Now, I respectfully request that you take me back to my team or send me packing back to my wife and kid," Alex said angrily.
"Oh, snap, that sounded dangerously close to an ultimatum," Captain Salem warned.
"Take it as you will, Sir," Alex stood her ground and then left the room.
Captain Salem and Chapter Master Gallows turned to Mara for guidance. "The Supreme Leader needed someone to give her cover to remove Princess Alexandra from the program. I was all too happy to oblige," Mara revealed.
Midvale
Alex quit the Space Marine program on the spot and drove to Midvale. There, she found Kelly with a wrench in her hand. "I couldn't get the water back on. Turns out that having a man in the house is essential," Kelly said dryly.
"I imagine you've heard," Alex said subdued.
"Yeah, it's all over the news," Kelly winced. She gave Alex a warm hug. "There was a moment when I wanted you to fail so you would be with me and safe, but this was your dream. I'm so sorry."
"I love you," Alex said as she kissed her.
On the front porch, Alex relaxed for a moment with a glass of wine. She stared off into space reflecting on the extreme training she had undergone and what she had lost. She blamed Kara for the whole fiasco but then realized she would never have joined the Space Marines in the first place if not for her. A part of her thought she was being selfish to join a dangerous time-consuming military unit while married with a kid.
"How important is it to be a Space Marine, Alex? I mean, really?" Kelly asked sympathetically.
"I need to have a chat with Kara," Alex decided.
Metropolis-Capitol Building
In the capitol building, Kara addressed royalist legislators in her party meeting. She couldn't help but notice Alex enter the building. She quickly dismissed her party leaders and met up with Alex in the hall. "I heard what happened to you. Fucked up if you ask me. I will get to the bottom of this. We should talk in private some other time," Kara said with false sincerity
"You ordered those pictures be taken," Alex accused.
"Yes, I ordered photos be taken for publicity purposes, of course. But...not the ones that got you into trouble. I had nothing to do with that," Kara lied.
"So, how did the Daily Planet take pictures of me and hand them over to the Space Marines without you knowing?" Alex asked.
"You'll have to ask them," Kara shrugged.
"Or, maybe I should do an exclusive with the Daily Planet for the whole world to see," Alex threatened.
Kara took Alex aside as legislators and staff were all around them. They entered a Senate hearing room. "Leave us," Kara ordered everyone out. She waited for everyone to scurry out. "Alex, every day, I make decisions that would have Solomon shitting golf balls. I don't even know what that means."
"Why did you do it?" Alex asked angrily.
"To keep you alive, Alex. This whole controversy will wash over, and you'll be back to being a princess again, with me, in Metropolis. Oh, come on, don't tell me you really want the life of a Space Marine. Those guys are crazy as fuck. They're likely to get you killed more than the enemy," Kara cringed.
"I wanted the choice. That's how it's supposed to be," Alex told her off.
"This world is not ready for a lesbian Space Marine," Kara said obviously.
"What is this, the nineties? You're responsible for why this world isn't ready for me. This is your fucking fault the world is this way. I want to be able to prove to the world that someone like me can hack it," Alex said resolved.
"People like you are special and should be untouched by war. You're like a pure gleaming diamond. I must protect people like you," Kara said condescendingly.
"How many lives is one gay woman's life?" Alex asked incredulously.
"Seven," Kara said instantly. "To know if any lesbian enlisted into any military for that matter and put their life in harm's way, it would break my heart. I love the gays too much."
"You're so full of shit," Alex detected.
"Look, Alex, I've seen a lot of weird shit in this galaxy, in this time. Your fragile psyche shouldn't have to endure that carnage," Kara said wide-eyed. "Your pure mind should be preoccupied with woman-on-woman romance with your wife."
"Why the fuck did you even let me try out?" Alex asked frustrated.
"Honestly, I didn't think you'd get passed two weeks. You were supposed to do your best, ring out, and then do an exclusive with the Daily Planet on how awesome our Space Marines are. You know, royalty stuff," Kara said nonchalantly.
"I'll go to Mon. I'll join the Sons of Jorus Space Marines. He'll let me try out just to fuck with you," Alex threatened.
Kara froze at that. "Don't think you can play family politics with me."
"And don't think I'll stand idly by while anyone smears my good name. Now, you get those charges voided and you do it today," Alex demanded.
"Or what?" Kara stared her down.
"I ask Barney to take us back to the past," Alex said simply.
"I'll order him not to," Kara said quickly.
"So, your promise to allow me to go back whenever I ask for it was a lie," Alex realized.
Kara looked away completely caught. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Alex? I make you a princess and give you everything you could possibly want. I give your family everything they could want. And, still, you want to throw your life away playing soldier?"
"I need this," Alex said forcefully.
"Okay, I'll do it. I'll get you back in. And then...my Space Marines will beat the soldier out of you," Kara agreed.
Florida-Space Marine Academy
Alex arrived by helicopter back to the academy with her gear. "Olsen, come here," ASG Jack ordered over and then made her stand before him in the rain as he casually ate chow. "I don't know how you got back here. Quite frankly, I don't give a shit."
"Good to see you, too, Ancient Sergeant," Alex smirked.
"Ready for round two?" ASG Jack asked.
"Oorah," Alex nodded.
Arakiss
ASG Jack, Alex, and the rest of the Space Marine trainees were placed on a Poseidon-class sub and made their way to the desert Titan colonial world of Arakiss for more training missions. Navy Lieutenant Commander Harper briefed ASG Jack on a new development. "Titan satellite dropped out of orbit. Normally, no one would give a shit, but it dropped down near the Fremen settlements. Thousand Sons are already en route to the strike zone, but they have no exit plan. It's a suicide mission, basically."
"So...fuck'em," ASG Jack said unconcernedly.
"We have an opportunity here to make a name for ourselves. Every race in the galaxy considers us a laughingstock and especially mocks the Empress's Children Space Marines. Your job is to facilitate the extraction. Can your Space Marines handle it?" Lt. CDR Harper asked.
"We'll be fine, Sir," ASG Jack said confidently
In the briefing room, Lt. CDR Harper briefed the Space Marine trainees. "At present, we're three million miles away from Arakiss. Carrier support will remain within striking distance. Your unit is to land here, link up with the Thousand Sons, and escort them out without being detected."
"Have the Thousand Sons recovered the device yet?" ASG Jack asked.
"Yes, and they're humping it out as we speak," Harper confirmed. "The Fremen cannot be allowed to get their hands on the satellite's power source: plutonium fuel cells."
"Who's not ready?" ASG Jack asked rhetorically.
The Space Marines put on their aspirant armor for battle. It was composed of boots, combat pants, chest armor, a rocket pack, an ammunition belt, and a large rifle. This was the combat armor of an aspirant, not nearly as fancy as those worn by Battle Brothers and up. In contrast, ASG Jack's armor was a heavy mech suit that allowed him to carry a ridiculously large load of ammunition, life support systems, and super-human abilities. ASG Jack's armor covered his entire body in thick purple armor. The Empress's Children's Space Marine armor was less about being tactical and more about being cool as was the case with all other legions.
The Space Marines were placed in a crowded tube and fired down to Arakiss like a torpedo. After experiencing high G-forces, they finally landed on the surface with a thud. Exiting the tube, the Space Marines took control of a primitive outpost building. "McCool, set up comms, Olsen, come with me. We're going to go find them," ASG Jack ordered.
ASG Jack and Alex ran across the desert and took cover positions. ASG Jack perched himself into a sniper position on a rock formation while Alex stayed on the ground near a water collection point. Two heavily armed Fremen patrols met up. "I got twenty-five, maybe thirty, with mixed weapons, projectile rifles, and RPGs," Alex reported up.
The two attempted to get a hold of Wickwire and the rest of the team without success. They were on their own. "Take cover and freeze," ASG Jack ordered as a Fremen approached Alex's position. "He's a big boy. You'll have to take him from behind."
Alex took out a knife and stayed out of sight. The Fremen seemed to notice Alex's presence and slowly moved toward her. "I'm taking him," ASG Jack said.
"No," Alex shook her head.
ASG Jack took the shot anyway blasting out the back of the Fremen's head. "Move back to the rendezvous point," he ordered Alex as her position was compromised. Alex took off running while ASG Jack sniped some more Fremen like a boss.
Alex arrived at the rendezvous point and met up with the rest of the team. "The fuck is wrong with our comms?" she said irritably and took the mic. "Hostile activity, this location. I say again, this location is too hot. Request you advise new coordinates for extraction. Also, requesting gunship support for extraction. Location to follow."
"Roger, that. Standby," Brainiac 5 said from the USS Lena.
Oblivious to Alex's panicked request, ASG Jack was having the time of his life sniping more Fremen and evading their counter-fire. Alex made the bold prediction that ASG Jack wouldn't move back toward the team as it would compromise them. Alex then calculated where ASG Jack would likely move on the map. "If we're here, and he's here, I think he will move southwest here. We can intercept him there if we hump it."
"I don't know. That sounds like bullshit," Veteran Sergeant Newberry doubted.
"It's what I would do," Alex argued.
"Fuck it," VSG Newberry shrugged.
The team made their way to the middle of nowhere in the hot desert. "Here?" VSG asked Alex.
"It's perfect for a parallel ambush, it will suck them right in," Alex said referring to the Fremen.
"Fuck yeah," VSG Newberry agreed.
The team got busy putting all sorts of explosives underneath the sand and then took cover positions. As it happened, ASG Jack ran right toward the team as Alex had predicted. He had a platoon of pissed-off Fremen right behind him. ASG Jack was taking heavy fire as laser beams penetrated his armor and started to wound him. The team revealed themselves and fired on the Fremen from their ambush positions but couldn't detonate the explosives with ASG Jack in the middle of it.
"I got him, cover me," Alex said to the others.
Alex engaged the Fremen and got over to ASG Jack. "The fuck are you doing?" he demanded of her. Alex ignored him and somehow dragged him out of range of the explosives. The explosives then went off blasting the entire valley full of Fremen fighters. Still, more pissed-off Fremen arrived on the scene. The Space Marines fell back to the extraction point.
Multi-winged helicopters arrived on the scene and fired relentless laser and missile fire on the Fremen to keep them at bay. The Thousand Sons team placed the plutonium fuel cells into one of the helicopters and took off. The Empress' Children moved to the helicopters under heavy fire. With everyone accounted for, the helicopters made their way back into space as they switched to rocket engines.
Inside one of the helicopters, Alex did first-aid on ASG Jack to stop the bleeding and give him an IV. "Olsen, I'd go to war with you any day," VSG Newberry said impressed.
"I'll never live this down," ASG Jack shook his head dismayed.
Earth-Florida-Space Marine Academy
In a small ceremony, the remaining aspirants who had survived the training were given a promotion ceremony. ASG Jack gave them all pins symbolizing they were now official Space Marines. "Welcome aboard," he said to all of them including Alex, albeit reluctantly.
They were now promoted to E-2 Neophyte and their training would continue. While at nearly the lowest rank within the system, they now had the honor of being an official Space Marine, and their adventures had just begun.
Virtual World
In a much larger ceremony, one hundred ten thousand Empress' Children Space Marines were in formation in uniform including Alex. The lowest ranked were in the back of the formations but since everyone was virtual and translucent everyone was able to see to the front. Making up ten thousand were the aspirant trainees (E-1) and neophyte graduates (E-2) wearing typical combat uniforms. From there, the armor became more and more elaborate, the Space Marines got progressively taller and more muscular, and fanatical to the Empress. With each rank, it became obvious they were using drug enhancements, cybernetics, and gene manipulation to get to their level of strength, speed, and power. The next rank was the Battle-Brother, the next phase in Alex's training where she would specialize as an infantryman, medic, technician, librarian, communications, explosives, chaplain assistant, etc. After them were the Veteran Marines (E-4), Standard Bearers, Radio Tech Operators, and the Company Champions who were supposedly subject matter experts in their fields. In front of every company formation was one of these Standard Bearers. These two ranks made up another thirty-five thousand.
The next ranks were non-commissioned officers, Sergeant (E-5), Veteran Sergeant (E6), Honor Guard Sergeant (E6), and Ancient Sergeant (E7) and they made up forty thousand. The Honor Guard Sergeant carried the chapter's banner into combat as their primary task. Unlike ordinary militaries, a Space Marine was only promoted from Ancient Sergeant to Lieutenant (O1). Every officer in the Space Marines had significant enlisted experience and overall time in service. After the Lieutenant was Captain(O3), then Masters (O4), then Chapter Masters (O5), and then the single Primarch (O6). Officers were not promoted by how many degrees, schools attended, or management statistics but by how badass they were on the battlefield. The officers numbered the remaining twenty-five thousand.
On a virtual stage was Kara on her throne. With her on the stage were Mon, Kon, and Mara. Kara looked over the large sea of purple in front of her, the color of the Empress's Children, the color of royalty. Upon inspecting the virtual unit, Kara stood up and addressed the Primarch. "Address your Legion," she ordered.
Primarch Hulgrim nodded and then turned to the entire Legion to make a speech. "You will be the unconquerable, never succeeding to mediocrity. You are the hope of Holy Earth, the hope of every planet in the empire. I see the strength in your mind, the uncompromising warrior. Uphold the honor of God's Empress for we are the most loyal of her legions. To be in our legion is the highest of honors. We accept any challenge. You have the toolset. You have the skillset. And you have the mindset. We will sharpen those skills and push you beyond your comprehension. Others will die in this process. Those who can't handle the pain will give up but that will not be you. You will flourish. You will embrace change. You embrace the pain of existence. You have a vision. You have a goal. Without vision, without your goal, you will dip into the chaos. Your mind must be sharpened, free from worldly distractions that inhibit your goals. You must break free of the comfort and embrace the strength you have within. Will you maximize your life, your very existence? If you were to die, what visions, what goals, what destiny would die with you? Now is the time to break free from your restraints. Your shackles must be broken. To serve in God's Empress's legion is the highest honor any man can achieve. Time will not be wasted, opportunity awaits you."
"Oorah! Oorah! Oorah!" the Space Marines chanted.
Author's Notes: GI Jane is considered by many within the SEAL community to be an abomination in every way. It was also hard watching Aragorn sexually assault Demi Moore and Jesus making lame misogynistic jokes like an idiot. Still, it allowed me to promote the Space Marines and Alex within them. Throughout, AOS it has blurred the lines of Alex being addicted to excitement like a drug and simply being heroic. It's a mockery of her life being in constant danger within the episodic nature of CW Supergirl. To be fair, this was also true of all other CW superhero shows including Smallville. The moment someone realizes they should get a "real job" and have a family; they're kicked off the show. I will not be merging Warhammer 40K with AOS here, just bits and pieces. The Space Marines will be largely ceremonial, dysfunctional, and internally bickering amongst each other on accusations of heresy.