Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale) (31 page)

“
Hell, I hate
having my picture taken,” she grimaced again and then bit her
lip. “And you're not the only one uncomfortable wearing a
suit.” She shook her head. She looked at the white cap under
his arm. “Wait... crap, now what did I do with mine?” She
turned around in a circle and then left in a rush. He snorted.

“
Recruit
Jethro we're ready for you,” the photographer said patiently.
He grimaced, put his cover on, adjusted it and then came to
attention. “This way please,” the civilian said, waving
to the room they were using as a studio.

“
Good, the
sooner I get out of this, the better,” he growled. A big hulk
came out of the doorway.

“
You and me
both. Talk about an extra large,” Valenko said, shaking his
ursine head.

“
Ah, come on,
it looks good on you!” Jethro teased, trying to get past the
bear. He zigged right but the bear blocked him. He went the other way
and so did the bear. He laughed, standing back and flattening himself
against the wall.

“
Better,”
Valenko mock growled as he passed, making sure to bump Jethro's cover
off. Jethro laughed, picked it up and dusted it off and then put it
back on.

Most of the platoon
were a bit nervous, checking and rechecking their uniforms as they
impatiently waited for the families to come. It had been nearly six
months since some had seen their loved ones. Many were eager. Some
were more then a little nervous.

“
I'd better
not see any of my marines crying or you're all going to be in hack,”
Corporal Jefferson growled. Corporal Brenet crossed his arms by the
door, trying to keep from looking amused but mostly failing.

“
Family day is
a traditional time for marines to decompress a little and meet their
families. That way there aren't any disruptions at the ceremony.
There had better not be at any rate!” the DI growled. Jethro
flicked his ears to the others in mute amusement.

“
Keep it
clean. I better not catch any of you making out or heaven forbid
doing nooky in a supply closet. There'll be time for that later.
You've got six hours with your family and then we've got an
inspection and then lights out. We've got two rehearsals tomorrow for
graduation at oh eight hundred. Make sure you give your families the
tickets.”

Jethro looked around
and then smiled as he caught a few ear flicks and sniffs from the
other cats. They were nervous but in good spirits. He scented the air
and then turned, ears perked at the familiar scent.

He thought he lost
her when the throng of people entered the room. He couldn't see her
in the sudden crush of bodies. With all the back slapping and happy
cries it was hard to make her voice out.

She moved from one
to another, hugging them, rubbing cheeks and telling them how proud
she was of each of them. Then she stepped aside for any surviving
parents or family to take over so she could move on to the next.

She found Jethro at
the end and smiled, taking his hands in hers and then enfolding him
in a hug. “I'm so proud of you godson.”

“
Thank you,”
he said, stroking her back while he closed his eyes. She rubbed his
cheek with hers as he opened his eyes once more. Grass green eyes met
his. The Matriarch looked around then back to him. “It is
disappointing that your dame didn't live to see this,” the
Matriarch sighed.

“
Yes,”
he nodded, trying not to see the others.

“
Well, at
least you've got family here with you. Your cousin did well here
alongside you. Together you will go far.” She indicated the
leopard Letanga.

Jethro blinked and
then looked down as she tucked herself into his side. “My...”

“
Cousin,”
she purred a laugh. She led him over to Letanga. “I think
Jethro didn't know M'wbekii.” She said with an ear flick.

“
No surprise
there,” the old leopardess said with a purring chuckle of her
own. “I just told Letanga here. It seems we neglected to tell
them.” The leopard turned, looking as stunned as Jethro was.

“
You're my
aunt?” he asked still feeling a little numb. Why hadn't they
told him earlier?

“
See? Even he
can figure things out if you beat him over the head long enough with
enough clues,” M'wvekii laughed. “Yes Jethro, I'm your
mother's sister. Panthers preferred leopards as mates if another
panther wasn't available.”

“
Um...”

“
You'll get
used to it. Now come here.” She enfolded him in a hug. “Your
mother would be so proud of you both.” She pulled her son to
her and hugged them. “I know I am,” she murmured for
them.

“
Now you have
another reason to watch each other’s backs,” the
Matriarch rumbled affectionately.

Her mate beamed with
pride, arms crossed. “I'm proud of you. He was feeling very
alone. You have a big heart,” the Matriarch said from behind
him.

The leopard nodded.
“Thanks to your shining example we all do,” he murmured.

...*...*...*...*...

“
Bored,”
Sergei sighed over the HUD. Most of the crew were passing E-notes or
instant messages back and forth while standing in review. A few were
playing games on their HUDs. It was a long wait. They had just
endured a rather lengthy speech from a blow hard who had been
introduced as the Pyrax Lieutenant Governor. Enrique something or
other.

Most of the grunts
had started to complain over the net about how he was all wind and
piss. Finally he had wound down to a smattering of applause and then
handed the podium over to Commander Logan.

They had marched
back and forth in review for the crowds and journalists sitting in
attendance. The bands had played, banners were waved. It was a nice
day all in all. At least they had programmed the weather system to
simulate a nice day. Though more than one person would probably shit
a brick if some hacker had toyed with the system. He tried not to
smile at the thought.

This was okay, all
things considered. Better than running the jogging track. The atrium
was nice, they even had the holographic sky working, it was a nice
blue with distant clouds. A nice touch.

The OCS graduation
had been handled earlier in the morning just before lunch. Now it was
their turn. Well, them and the swabbies.

“
Zip it,”
the gunny growled over the link. “Eyes front.”

Jethro sighed as he
tried to relax while standing “At ease.” Like many of his
group he was learning to get as much relaxation whenever he could.
You never knew when something would happen. At least they were in
their Marine BDU's, he would have been in another kind of hell if
they had been forced to stand in their dress uniforms like the
officers had been forced to endure.

Commander Logan was
just about finished with the Navy enlisted class. They were about
four hundred strong. He turned and stepped aside to allow the Major
to start on the Marines.

One by one the Major
called people up. He would award them for various things. Jethro felt
a flash of amused tolerance. Most of the awards were for
marksmanship. Really, that was all that anyone could earn this early
in their hitch. Oh a few had honors, but not many. He ran through the
first three platoons then started on F.

“
Now things
get interesting,” someone said over the e-link.

“
Abraham,
Lois,” Major Forth called. A heavy worlder came forward.

“
For saving
the life of another recruit the Silver life saving medal. For
successfully completing EVA training the EVA training award. For
Marksmanship above basic standard, the Expert Marksmanship award.”
He pinned each onto the marine and then exchanged salutes when he was
finished.

One by one he called
the others of the platoon up. Jethro was a little amused that his
platoon was the only marine platoon other than the survivors of Alpha
to receive EVA training. Hurranna and Senjix were the only two to get
Gold life saving medal awards instead of silver. They both deserved
it, they had gone into that crack after all.

When he got to
Jethro the panther smartly walked up the rows of marines, turned and
then marched across the review stand, climbed the stairs to present
himself.

“
For saving
the lives of the recruits of Alpha platoon, the silver Life Saving
medal. For successfully completing EVA training, The EVA training
Award. For basic Marksmanship, the Marksmanship award. For graduating
Honors in your class, the Honor award.” Jethro blinked at that
but remained at attention.

One by one the
awards were pinned onto his chest and then they exchanged salutes.
“Good work son, you earned it,” the Major said softly.
Jethro turned smartly and walked back to his place. Honors! He hadn't
expected that! Wow.

When Valenko was
called the Bear was awarded many of the same awards as the others.
Expert marksmanship, EVA, Silver life saving, and Honor graduate. But
the final medal made everyone go wide eyed and makes more than one
person break protocol and murmur.

“
There is one
more medal,” the Major said turning to The Commander. Logan got
up and came over to them smartly.

“
For showing
initiative and leadership in extreme conditions during the incident
on asteroid four five two recruit Valenko is hereby given the
Distinguished Leadership Medal. Wear it in good health.” The
commander placed the medal on the stunned bear's chest. Valenko
saluted each of the officers and then returned to his seat. There was
a smattering of applause and murmurs from the audience.

“
Please keep
it down ladies and gentlemen. We are almost finished,” the
Major said. The auditorium quieted. He finished the last ten
graduates and then turned. “Ladies and gentlemen may I present
to you the first graduating classes of Navy and Marine Enlisted. May
they serve the Federation honorably in peace or in war. Semper
fidelis, Calm space and smooth sailing.”

The audience began
to cheer. “Go ahead, cheer,” the gunny said over the
shared link. Like a ripple out from around him Marines began to
cheer, throwing their covers into the air. It spread throughout the
platoons and then to the navy side.

The bear was being
pummeled on all sides. Quite a few were from what was left of Alpha
platoon. He seemed to bear it in good grace.

...*...*...*...*...

Jethro turned at a
familiar scent and practically ran into Hrris after the graduation.
He was surprised he could find the lion, there were quite a few
people wandering around. The lion's scent had been particularly easy
to ferret out however. Most likely because he smelled of machinery
and food.

“
Thanks for
the invite man,” Hrris said, pumping his hand. The Neo lion was
beginning to fill out, his mane was still a bit ratty, but fuller
than the last time they had crossed paths. He was wearing a suit, but
Jethro had to hide an amused ear flick at the sight of a stain on one
lapel.

“
No problem,”
the panther said with a nod. “How's life?” he asked,
wincing only a little as the lion slapped him on the shoulder. At
least he pulled his claws.

“
Dude, wish
you were into engineering! I've got my own section now! I just made
section shift super for deck seventy! Which is cool!” Hrris
grinned in triumph. “Looks like we're both coming up in the
world!”

“
Or down in
the station,” Jethro chuckled. “I guess it all depends on
your point of view. “Seventy huh?”

“
Yeah, the
industrial sector. Well one of them anyway. Most of what I have are
offices and break rooms. I'm hoping to become a deck super or get
into one of the busier decks once I get things squared away and
running like clockwork. It's taken some doing, we're just restoring
that deck.”

“
Cool,”
the panther nodded.

“
Yeah. The
real thing though are the vats,” the lion grinned a little.
“It's so cool. I got a tour man. Neo beef in freezers are one
thing, but we can clone tissue now. They are cloning some of the
tissue and growing vats of beef and meat now. Soon we'll all be
eating high off the hog!” He slapped Jethro on the back again.
“Literally!” Jethro snorted a laugh.

“
Well, I
wouldn't mind a good steak. Even one of your protein steaks you did
back when we were kids.”

“
Wouldn't
dream of it. You drop by sometime and I'll take you out to Gorgon's
palace. Beef and beer,” Hrris rolled his eyes and licked his
chops. “They've even got a stuffed pork chop if you can believe
it! With blue cheese! Wicked flavor. They cook it to perfection.
Rare, just the way we Neo's like it.” He rubbed his growing
belly. “Dude, food is soo much better now. Give me a ring and
I'll set you up.”