Academy (Pilot) - Chapter 3

Timothy Morris
April 2011

Academy (Pilot) – Chapter 3

Gearing Up

Thursday, September 1^st, 2016 – 1815 Local Time

Freshmen Initiation Day

United Federation Army Officer’s Academy, Carbon Province, United Federation

            “What the hell was that all about?” Myers picked up his drenched olive drab ACU off of the floor and began pulling the Velcro patches off of its shoulders and front. His hair was still wet from the shower he had taken in order to get the sticky fruit juice off of him. He now sat on a chair in his dorm room with the door to the hallway wide open. He quickly finished transferring the appropriate patches onto the khaki ACU he now wore, unzipped and unbelted.

            “I thought college wouldn’t have any of that high-school bully BS. Guess I was wrong…” Myers threw the sticky uniform into a hamper that rested in the corner next to a pile of unpacked belongings. He pulled his belt off of the back of his chair, stood up and began to fasten it around himself.

The contents of his rucksack were spread out across his bed; Myers reached over and pulled the “Rules of Engagement” packet from the pile. He then turned around and stepped out of his room, proceeding down the dorm’s short hallway, past the bathroom and into the common room. He could see across to the doors labeled “Macintosh” and “Ji-Hwan”, Lance’s dorm being where the bathroom was on Meyers’ side, mirrored.

            Myers looked to his left where sliding glass and screen doors opened to a small deck outside. “Tempting… But I think I’ll take the couch.” He flopped down on the three cushion sofa, putting his bare feet up on the arm rest while holding the packet in front of him to read. Before Myers even had time to read a word, knocking rattled the main door.
            “Zaaaaaccckkk…” Aurora called into the door. “Open up Zack.”
            Myers sat up straight and swung his feet back upright. “It’s unlocked.”

            “Is he in there?” Max’s muffled voice could be heard from behind the door.
            “I think it’s locked.” Aurora knocked again. “Zack, are you in there?”

            “Guys, it’s unlocked.” Meyers stood up.

            “Doesn’t matter, I have the key.” Lance could now be heard as part of the group.

            “Oh, that’s right.” Max and the others shuffled about.

            “Is it even locked?” Lance’s keys scraped against the door.

            “Just open it.” Myers put his packet down on a table in the middle of the room.

            The door busted open and Myers watched as the group of three piled into the doorway.

            “Zack, dude. Get your boots on and come to the firing range with us.” Max slid further into the room.

            “I don’t know. I figured I’d stay inside for the rest of the night…” Myers shrugged.

            “Come on, man! It’s an open range. The rest of the squad is there now, the Captain said we should get in some last minute practice, he’s down there too.” Lance tried convincing him.

            “I don’t feel like dealing with a packed shooting range right now.”

            “There’s like, no one there, seriously. It’ll pretty much be just our squad.”

            Myers took a deep breath. “OK, fine. Let me get my boots on…”

            “Be quick.” Aurora hurried Myers along.
            The range’s massive stadium style lights turned on with a loud “KA-CHUNK” from behind the firing line as the sun began to go down, lighting up the firing range as bright as day.

            “Just when my eyes were getting used to the light.” Bridget flicked the safety on the AR-15 she was aiming as she laid prone in one of the out-door range’s many firing lanes. She ceased attempting to aim as she rubbed her eyes. The rest of the firing line grew silent as most of the other cadets did the same.
            “We’re keeping it open late just for you guys.” COL Clark called over from an open counter window by the range’s small arsenal shack. “In honor of Captain Houston here actually almost out shooting me today.”

            “Almost? You’re words are generous, sir.” CPT Houston called back from near the firing line where Echo Squad’s cadets were spread out.

            “I take it the Colonel’s a good shot?” Hanks asked aloud as he cracked off another few rounds from his rifle.

            “You could say that.” Houston answered then turned back to the Colonel and yelled. “Sir, do you want to show the cadets?”

            “I suppose I could. Just, give me a minute here.” COL Clark called back.

Houston smirked and turned back to the firing line of cadets that now once again popped with rifle fire. “You know I’m really surprised. Most of you have proper form and everything. With my first cadet class you would have thought they were making a concentrated effort to cause an accident.”

            “Which end do the bullets come out of, again?” Hanks jested.

            Houston shook his head. “You can make me eat my words as long as no one eats a bullet, yourself included.”

            “It’s safe to try and clean these when they’re loaded, right?” Hanks smirked at his own humor.

            “The sad part is that you wouldn’t be the first cadet I’ve seen try.” Houston huffed.

            “Well I’m done…” Gemma flicked the safety on her rifle, slid the magazine out and pulled its charging handle clearing the chamber, which was empty.

            “You fired all your ammo already?” Bridget was in the lane next to her and watched as Gemma got on her knees from the prone position she was lying in, using the back of her rifle as a prop.

            “No, I’m just done.” Gemma picked up the box of 5.56x45mm ammunition to her left and placed it down to her right, closer to Bridget. “Here, take the rest…” She slid the box towards Bridget.

Further down the right side of the firing line, CDT Myers took aim with his rifle.

“A full sized AR fifteen makes it almost too easy.” To Myers’ left, CDT Ji-Hwan kneeled as he took shots, sinking them into a paper target already riddled with holes 50 meters away. “So we figured out why those Alpha guys were giving you a hard time earlier.”

            Myers ceased fire and looked to Ryu at his left. “Yeah, and why’s that, Ji?” He flicked the safety on his rifle and got up from lying prone and now took up a crouching firing position. “It just seems like everywhere I go I have a huge target on me just asking for douche bags like that to screw with me. I must just have that look…” Myers flicked the safety off, aimed and fired another shot down range.

            “No, man. Don’t say that, it’s not what you think.” Ryu turned his rifle’s fire mode selector to safe and looked over to Myers. “For one thing that Kyle kid was chosen as Alpha Squad’s leader, so he seems to think he’s hot-shit now.”

“Well that figures. Although he probably thought he was hot-shit before.” Myers cracked a few more rounds down range.

“Yeah but here’s the thing, you’re our squad leader.” Ryu sat up from being prone. “He must have recognized your name from the list and tried to pick a fight.”

Myers put his gun back into safe mode, lowered the weapon and paused to think. “Squad leader? Another thing for me to screw up...”

“You hear me, man? Don’t like that?” Ryu questioned Myers’ silence.

“Wait, this is cool, this is good, right?” Myers blinked and broke his silence. “No, I just hope I can live up to the squad’s expectations.”

“Expectations? Are you kidding me, man? Pretty much just don’t be an asshole. That’s about the extent of our expectations.” Ryu smiled.

Lance, to Myers right, spoke up. “Hey, I’m glad it’s you.”

Myers turned to Lance. “And why’s that?”

Lance smirked. “Because then I don’t have to do it.”

“That’s real encouraging, Lance.” Myers’ sarcastic tone was mild and Ryu laughed a bit.

            “OK cadets, clear the line. Put your weapons on safe and step away for a second.” Houston called across the firing line to the cadets.

            COL Clark walked up beside Houston who stood in the middle of the line. “Is everyone ready, Captain?” He handed Houston a loaded M-1911 magazine. “Figured you’d want to put a few rounds down range too.”

            Houston nodded. “Cadet Hikari, we’re going to borrow your lane for a minute.”

            Aurora picked up her rifle and stepped back out of her lane behind the two officers. “OK, sir.”

            The Colonel took control. “OK, everybody take a few steps back.” Echo’s cadets moved away from the line. “That’s it, that’s it. Captain, if you could take the lane?”

            Houston stepped forward and loaded his engraved M-1911 pistol, putting the old magazine in his pocket and sliding in the new one. He cocked it, placed the handgun back in its holster and stood akimbo, at the ready.

            COL Clark called behind him to the arsenal shack. “Sergeant Ramsey, if you could please set up six targets at twenty meters?”

            The Sergeant’s voice bellowed back. “Yes, sir.”

            Six automated targets flipped up right at 20 meters, two to Houston’s left, one in the middle and three to the right.

            “And when he’s ready Captain Houston is going to rapidly put six rounds down range and attempt to hit all six targets.” The Colonel announced to the cadets who watched anxiously. “When you’re ready, George.”

            Houston shook his wrist out a bit, took a deep breath and quickly scanned his targets with his eyes. “OK, nice and calm…” After a brief pause Houston drew his pistol and snapped it up, firing immediately after acquiring the first target to the left. 5 more cracks followed as he rapidly switched targets. The Colt’s slide locked after the sixth shot and Houston lowered the handgun. “I think number four there went low.” Houston stepped back out of the lane with a look of slight disappointment on his face.

            “You shot better earlier, Captain?” The Colonel shrugged his shoulders and gestured with his hands. “All well, point is cadets that, that took him about four, maybe five seconds?”

            COL Clark replaced Houston in the lane. The cadets looked curiously as the Colonel took up a strange, leaned back posture with his hands at the ready above his side slung revolver.

            “I don’t think that stance is in the Army training manual, sir.” Hanks raised his eyebrow and tilted his head.

            “Well, this isn’t either, cadet.” The Colonel paused for a moment. Then in an instant, he drew his weapon and fired. Using a technique called fanning, where the shooter uses his non-trigger hand to cock the revolver’s hammer with a fast up and down motion, COL Clark followed up immediately with another seemingly instant five shots spread out amongst the remaining targets.

            “Holy shit.” Myers, Gemma and Bridget thought the same thing.

            The cadets let out gasps of amazement and began clapping.

            “Now I know no one was timing me, but I assure you that was in under a second and a half.” The Colonel spun his pistol around his finger and re-holstered it with a leathery swoosh.

            “Now my question is: Why is that not in the Army training manual?” The amazement in Hank’s voice matched his facial expression.

            COL Clark turned to face the cadets and put his hand on his revolver. “Ladies and gentlemen I present to you the Colt Single Action Army. This is the greatest handgun ever made.”

            The cadets looked onward, still in shock.

            “Someone I knew said that once, I think?” The Colonel continued as he walked out of the firing lane.

            “Sir, how fast was that draw?” Lance asked.

            “A little over two tenths of a second, and believe it or not I’m not the quickest out there.”

            “What? I didn’t even see you draw. It was just like, BOOM you were shooting, I can’t even…” Lance shook his head in amazement.

            “That was ninja-fast, sir.” Max added in.

            “Don’t you mean cowboy-fast?” Gemma corrected him.

            “Fine, cowboy-ninja-fast.” Max changed his definition.

            The Colonel laughed. “If that’s what you kids want to call it.”

            Houston was smiling as he reloaded his M-1911 with its original magazine. “I think we’ve coined a new term.” The slide on his handgun sprung forward with a solid clunk.

The lamp on Bridget’s desk came crashing to the ground, her tossing and turning in the night had flopped her pillow off of her bed, onto her desk and ultimately into the lamp. “Dang-it…” She sat up reluctantly on her bed and untwisted the covers from her body. After taking a deep breath, she slid off of the mattress and put her feet down on the ground. She walked over to the room’s light switch, barely able to see, and flicked it on. After rubbing her eyes she bent down to pick up the lamp. “Please don’t be broken.” It was undamaged and Bridget placed it back onto her desk. “Why can’t I sleep?” She looked over to her digital alarm clock which read “2:07am”.

“Maybe I’ll sit on the deck for a little while.” Bridget quietly crept open her room’s door and made her way down the hallway, past Gemma’s room and into the common area. She could immediately see light shining in from the deck doors. Curiously, Bridge tip-toed over to investigate. Through the screen she could see Gemma leaning back in a chair with her feet up on a small table, sketching away at a drawing pad in her lap. Bridget slid open the door and stepped outside onto the deck. “Hey, you’re up too?”

Gemma jolted a bit at the noise and turned around. “Ugh, you scared me.”

“Sorry.” Bridget slid the door shut quietly behind her and took a seat next to Gemma. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Me neither, so I came out here to listen to the ocean. It’s calm tonight…” Gemma paused and looked outward. “…and really dark.”

            Bridget took a deep breath. “That’s because there’s no moon tonight...”

            “That means tomorrow night is going to be dark too, maybe a little brighter if there’s a sliver of the moon out…” Gemma went back to sketching.

            Bridget leaned over to look at what Gemma was doing. “What are you drawing?”

            Gemma put down her pencil. “Nothing really… A cowboy-ninja.” She held up her silly, yet well crafted rendition of a cowboy-ninja to Bridget.

            Bridget smiled and laughed. “Oh, that’s awesome.”

            Gemma smiled as she placed the pad on the table in front of her, putting her feet back down. “Come on, let’s go for a walk.”

            “Out there? It’s so dark.”

            “Yeah and there’s MPs driving around everywhere, I’ve been watching them do circles for hours.” Gemma stood up. “Come on, adventure time.”

            “This is a bad idea.”

            As the two cadets walked down the academy’s main road which was lit up by street lamps, a Carbon E7 Military Police cruiser drove past them.

            Bridget turned to Gemma, concerned. “There’s not a curfew, is there?”

            “Not that I’m aware of. Come on, we’re adults now. Nineteen year-olds don’t have to deal with those kinds of restrictions.” Gemma reassured Bridget.

            “Yeah but this is basically a military base, I’m pretty sure they can set whatever rules they want.” Bridget was not convinced.
            Gemma shook her head. “That cop who drove by looked right at us. If there was a problem he would have stopped.”

            Bridget took a deep breath. “OK, OK, you’re right. But it is scary dark out here.”

            “Heh, well, we’ll stick to the road. Not to mention I don’t know this campus too well and don’t want to get lost… In the middle of the night…” Gemma looked around her, checking her bearings.

            “That would be bad.” Bridget laughed a bit then stopped. “Wait, what’s that?”

            A shadowy figure was visible off the side of the road at the inside edge of the wide sidewalk.

            “That’s a bench.” Gemma looked at the shadowy object before them but kept walking towards it.

            “I know that’s a bench but who’s on the bench?” Bridget put her hand up to her brow, trying to reduce the glare from the street lamps.

            “There’s nothing there… No wait… Is there?” Gemma did the same.

            A familiar quiet voice answered back. “It’s me…”

            “See I told you!” Bridget moved towards the voice.

            “Zack?” Gemma followed.

            “Yeah, it’s Zack. What are you guys doing out here?”

            “Couldn’t sleep. What are you doing out here?” Bridget could now clearly see Myers on the bench.

            “Couldn’t sleep.” Myers softly answered.

            The three conversed and spread out along the bench.
            “So what brings you here.” Bridget directed her question towards Myers.

            “Here? As in to the academy, here?”

            “Yeah.”

            Myers leaned back. “Oh… I don’t know. I’ve just always felt like the military was something I was obligated to do. My grades were apparently good enough and I had the fortune of getting picked. I didn’t even do JROTC in high-school. I just enrolled in a summer program.”

            “Really?” Bridget looked to Myers. “You shot pretty good today, I would have thought you had at least a few years of rifle training.”

            “Nope. Just a steady trigger finger, I suppose. Give Playstaion the credit.” Myers smiled a bit. “So what about you? Why are you here?”

            “Well…” Bridget leaned forward. “I want to be a federal agent, or Secret Service, or some kind of special police. I don’t know. Something cool like that. I know that if you want to be on the SWAT team or anything like that they really like it if you have military service. So I figured if I got into the academy, that would be the fastest path to a job I really want, you know? Even though I have to serve for four years.”

            “So why the Army in particular?” Gemma turned to Bridget.

            “I don’t know. Seemed the simplest.” Bridget looked over to Gemma. “Then what about you, why are you here?”

            Gemma leaned back and stretched. “A nice place to live and guarantee that I’ll have a job to pay back my college loans? Count me in.”

            Myers looked behind Bridget to Gemma. “But you don’t really have any interest in the military, do you?”

            “I could care less.” Gemma gave a sarcastic smile.

            The deep rumble of a muscle car’s engine beckoned down the dark road as it approached. The three cadets sat up to look.

            “That sounds like the Captain’s car.” Bridget squinted her eyes from the vehicle’s bright headlights and watched as the Mustang rolled to a smooth stop up to the curb in front of them.

            The car shifted gears into park and the driver’s side door swung open. Houston turned the vehicle off and the key warning began to beep. He pulled the key out of the ignition, placed his hat on his head, stepped out of the car and peered over the roof at the cadets. “Hey, what are you cadets doing up this late?” Houston made his way around the front of the Mustang and walked up to them.

            Bridget and Myers jumped up and saluted, Gemma followed slowly behind them only half-heartedly tapping her brow.

            “Unable to sleep, sir.” Bridget held her salute.

            “At ease, please.” Houston quickly returned the salute allowing the cadets do drop theirs. “Unable to sleep? You’ve got a long couple days ahead of you and a zero nine-hundred report time tomorrow.” Houston checked his watch. “Or I should say, today.”

            “Sorry, sir.” Bridget looked down.

            “Well, what were you doing out here anyway?” Houston scanned the cadets.

            “Just talking, sir.” Myers spoke up.

            “Talking about what? Planning for tomorrow?” Houston questioned them.

            “No, sir. Random stuff. Like why we’re here.” Bridget looked back up.

            Houston smiled. “One of life’s great mysteries…”

            “No, sir. Like here in the Army.” Myers smirked.

            “Oh, I see.” Houston nodded.

            “What about you, sir? Why are you in the Army?” Gemma asked almost antagonistically.

            “Me? Well.” Houston smiled even bigger as he though up a smart remark. “The Army has helicopters, helicopters with guns. I like helicopters with guns.”

            “I like helicopters with guns…” Bridget whispered to herself.

            “That can’t be the only reason, sir. I always figured it’s deeper than that for a career man.” Myers scratched his head.

            “Well, to be honest I’ve always wanted to fly but still wasn’t sure what to do with my life. Got accepted into the Academy, figured I’d learn how to be a chopper pilot. Then when I was done, become an aerial surveyor for a private company or something like that. Or maybe one of those pilots who work on the nature documentaries, like you see on the Discovery Channel, you know?” Houston thought about his answer. “Something like that…”

            “Why did you stay?” Gemma continued at Houston.

            Houston took a breath and thought some more. “Heh, about a year after the Seven Months War I got an offer to teach here, and still not sure what to do with myself, I took the offer.”

            “And you’re still here?” Gemma fiddled with her night shirt.

            “It’s a great job.” Houston answered.

            “What about that big medal you had on? Did that have something to do with why you stayed?” Bridget spoke up.

            “That? No, not directly anyway. That’s from the ECR. Their Navy gave that to me and my co-pilot for extracting some of their guys who were in a jam. Some people think it was a big deal, I guess.” Houston blushed a bit.

            “Wait a minute.” Myers raised his eyebrow. “I knew I recognized you! I saw a special on the Military Channel. You had rescued some SEALs and shot down an enemy attack helicopter without using guns. I remember you from the interviews.”

            “Yeah, that would be me.” Houston shrugged his shoulders and nodded. “That was from over five years ago, I’m surprise any of you new cadets would even remember that.”

            “They re-ran it a few weeks ago. Part of their ‘Seven Days of the Seven Months’ week long special.” Myers’ eyes lit up.

            “Well, there you go.” Houston gestured with his hands. “Just do me a favor and keep that quiet, I don’t want another hundred cadets bugging me. If you saw the documentary then you know what happened. But it wasn’t that dramatic, I assure you.”

            “OK, I’ll keep it to myself.” Myers looked down and nodded.

            Gemma looked puzzled. “Shot down without guns? What? How?”

            Houston took another deep breath. “Think of it like sticking a pipe in the spokes of a moving bicycle. I’m sure Cadet Myers can explain it to you.”

            Myers looked to Gemma. “Do you want me to ex...?”

            “No.” Gemma cut him off.

            Myers looked away and down.

            Houston looked at his watch again. “Alright cadets, it’s late and I need to get some sleep too. I’m only up this late because I was double checking your and Charlie Squad’s gear.” Houston began to make his way back to the parked Mustang. “You’re all dismissed. Now go get some sleep.”

            “Yes, sir.” Bridget called back.

            Houston got back into his car and started the engine. “Probably shouldn’t tell them that I didn’t sleep my first night either.” Houston pulled the driver’s door shut, fastened his seatbelt and sped away down the road, his tires screeching a bit as Mustang’s massive torque spun them in place for a brief moment.

            Friday, September 2^nd, 2016 – 0857 Local Time

Day 1 of Training Exercise: Operation Blood Gulch

United Federation Army Officer’s Academy, Carbon Province, United Federation

            Gemma watches as a massive eight wheeled M-1126 Stryker came to a screeching halt near the firing range’s entrance.

            “What the hell are you doing!?” An Army Captain dressed in digital universal camouflaged screamed at the Stryker. “Damnit Corporal, slow down! This isn’t a God damned stock car race!”

            “Sorry, sir.” The driver popped out of the front hatch and called back.

            “Jesus Christ. We’re supposed to be setting an example here and you’re driving a seventeen ton vehicle like it’s a friggin’ go-cart.”  The Captain hustled over to the front of the Stryker. “Turn it off, Corporal.”

            The Stryker shut off and Gemma watched as the Captain continued to ream out the driver. “I think I’d drive that thing really fast too.”

            “Hey, Gemma.” Aurora voice called as she came up behind Gemma.

            Gemma turned around. “Oh, hey.”

            Aurora walked past her and waved onward. “Come on, the meeting starts in like, two minutes.”

            Both cadets entered the firing range joined the large mob of others chattering about behind the firing lanes.

            Myers stood with a group of camouflaged freshmen from Echo and Charlie Squads.

            Max asked him. “Have you met those guys from Delta?”

            “No, haven’t gotten a chance to speak with them.” Myers looked over to the group of Delta cadets who were huddled in a tight group talking amongst themselves.

            Miller from Charlie Squad gestured. “Real high-speed.”

            Monty agreed. “Yeah, real high-speed. That’s a crack group right there.”

            Ryu added. “JROTC Ranger Challenge champs, a few have awards for excellence in marksmanship, PT aces. They got really lucky to be paired up in a group.”

            Myers continued to look at the Delta members. “Heh, we keep our heads, we can beat ‘em.”

            Ryu shook his head. “Yeah, whatever you say, Squad Leader.” The others had looks of disapproval.

            “I say we just avoid them out there.” Max looked unsure.

            Myers looked back at the cadets in his group. “That’s the plan. Scoring is objective based so we’ll just avoid engaging them whenever possible.” Myers reassured his teammates. “Actually, I figured we’d just avoid most engagements altogether.”

            “Retreat as a tactic?” Miller criticized.

            Myers looked straight back at him. “I didn’t say we would be running from any firefights. I just want to make sure we out number our opponent when the battle counts.”

            “A-TEN-TION!” FSG Smith yelled loudly over the chattering cadets who immediately stopped what they were doing and faced forward at attention. “SA-LUTE UP!” The Sergeant faced off to the side where the Colonel stood.

            COL Clark then stepped out in front of the group and walked across the firing lanes until he stood in the middle. He returned the salute and the Sergeant and cadets dropped theirs. “At ease.”

            The cadets stood at ease, legs shoulder width apart, hands behind their backs. They began shifting positions to see him. The Colonel was wearing a black tactical vest on top of his crisp woodland patterned uniform as well as a pair of tactical goggles. A 92FS handgun was holstered at his side in place of the Colt revolver he had the day prior. He pulled out the handgun and held it sideways to the cadets. “I present to you the nine millimeter Beretta; one of the many weapons many of you will be using over the next few days.”

            The cadets nodded and looked curiously at the gun.

            “Only there’s a catch. Now I’m assuming that ALL of you read the rules of engagement and that all of you know that the weapons are electronically regulated. Meaning this is no ordinary handgun.” The Colonel turned to his side, his right facing downrange. “For one thing, it fires paint rounds.” He flicked the safety off, pulled the slide, raised the weapon and shot off three rounds downrange single handed. He flicked its safety back on then lowered it. “Now the only reason I can do that is because this vest I’m wearing says I can.” He turned back to face the cadets. “It acts as an enabler. Using an electronic signal transmitted through the salts in my body, the mechanism inside this handgun knows that I have permission to fire this weapon.” The Colonel looked off to the side where a group of other officers were standing. “Captain Houston, if you could come here.”

            Captain Houston jogged over to the Colonel who handed him the Beretta by the pistol grip.

            The Colonel spoke loudly so all the cadets could hear. “If you could please attempt to fire a few rounds from this pistol downrange.”

            “Yes, sir.” Houston faced downrange, flicked the gun’s safety off, raised the handgun and pulled the trigger. The trigger clicked but the weapon did not fire. Houston pulled slide back, ejecting the unused round in the chamber then pulled the trigger a few more times to demonstrate.

            “That’s good Captain.” The Colonel reached back out for the weapon.

            Houston flicked the safety back on, turned to face the Colonel and handed him the gun back.

            “In addition you should know that the weapons you will be using will not fire live ammunition. Even if I were to put a live round in this weapon right now and attempt to fire it, it would not work.” The Colonel nodded. “An extra safety precaution we’ve taken.”

            The cadets began to clamor in interest.

            “Quiet soldiers.” FSG Smith ordered to them and the cadets once again fell silent.

            The Colonel turned back to the group of officers. “If Lieutenant Bright could come up here.”

            The young Lieutenant scampered up to where COL Clark and CPT Houston were standing. He wore a digital pantera woodland patterned ACU as well as a tactical vest and goggles like the Colonel’s.

Houston watched as LT Bright slid in next to him, tightly gripping a FAMAS-G2 bullpup assault rifle.

            “Good. Now in the event that a user takes a paint round, electro-chemicals inside the paint send out an impact signal detectable by the vest. Again, through the salts in your body, so it doesn’t matter where you get hit, the vest can detect it.” COL Clark took a few steps away from Houston and LT Bright. “When that happens, the vest disables the user’s ability to fire weapons. Get it? That means you’d be hard pressed to find a way to cheat.”

            The cadets clamored some more.

            “That’s pretty cool…” Bridget whispered to Gemma.

            “If it actually works the way it’s supposed to, then I’ll give you that.” Gemma whispered back.

            COL Clark spoke loudly over the group to get their attention back. “Now Lieutenant Bright here will demonstrate.” The Colonel put his hands at his side and looked at LT Bright. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

            LT Bright was taken back; he gripped his FAMAS tightly and lowered it further. “Uh, sir. I’m supposed to demonstrate an assault rifle.”

            The Colonel provoked him. “Then demonstrate.”

            The group erupted in murmurs of curiosity.

            “He’s not gonna?...” Bridget whispered again to Gemma.

            “Oh, I think he is…” Gemma smirked.

            “Any day now Lieutenant. Here…” The Colonel drew the 92FS back out again and pointed it haphazardly towards LT Bright. “I’m armed, if it makes you feel any better.

            Bright looked to Houston baffled. “Uh?”

            “Go on. Do it.” Houston egged him on.

            Bright took a deep breath. “OK, if you’re sure, sir.” He raised his FAMAS, flicked the fire more selector and took careful aim at the Colonel’s center mass.

            The Colonel persisted “We don’t have all da-”

            A three round burst of fire cracked from the FAMAS hitting the Colonel twice in the chest and once in the face. Immediately the Colonels vest let off an audible beep and a red LED light turned on near his upper left shoulder.

            The cadets gasped.

            “Oooohh-shit.” Hanks leaned back.

            “Pft-Haha!” Ryu began laughing.

            “Oh my god.” Lance put his hand on his head.

            “Oh no, oh no.” Bridget covered her mouth and tried to hold back laughing.

            Gemma shook her head and smirked. “Well, he did ask for it.”

            LT Bright turned beet red. He quickly lowered the FAMAS and put it on safe. “Oh no! I’m sorry sir it thought it was on semi.” His words tripped over each other.

            Houston was laughing and the line of other officers were cracking up as well.

            COL Clark wiped the sliver paint off of his face and looked angrily at LT Bright.

            LT Bright stared back at him, mortified.

            The Colonel’s bluff broke, he began smiling and chuckled. “And that’s how it’s done, cadets. Two in the chest, one in the head. You’d think he was trained or something?” The Colonel took a few steps towards LT Bright, looked at the cadets and smiled.

            The cadets and officers were still laughing.

            “OK, listen up, here’s the important part.” COL Clark tried to get the group’s attention again. “Because even if I wanted to retaliate…” The Colonel flicked the safety off of the Beretta he was holding and raised up to LT Bright’s head.

            The Lieutenant flinched. “Augh!”

            The Colonel pulled the trigger, it clicked and as expected and nothing happened. He lowered the gun. “I can’t, the vest has knocked me out of the simulation.” The Colonel stepped towards the cadets. “Makes sense, right?” He nodded and looked around to the cadets who mostly nodded back. “And if I find out that anyone shot someone point blank during the exercise like I just pretended to, your ass is going to be disciplined.” The Colonel applied the safety and re-holstered his handgun. “These things do hurt you know.” He pointed over to the group of other officers. “Now if you could please give your attention to Captain Portrova?”

            Kristina stepped out from the group of officers and moved close to the center of the firing lanes. “Thank you, sir.” She turned to the cadets. “You will be using three different calibers of ammunition for this simulation. Nine millimeter, standard five-five-six and twelve gauge buckshot, all Simunition Three grade of course...”

            “Shotguns? Oh hell-yes!” Bridget got excited as she thought to herself.

            Kristina paced in front of the group. “Every squad will have different weapons from different manufactures but for this first exercise all the assault rifles used will be taking AR-fifteen style magazines. Likewise, all submachineguns will take MP-five style stick mags.” The Captain looked about the crowd. “Your weapon packages have been randomized and we took the extra liberty of loading your armories last night. You’ll arm up after we’re done here.”

            Houston stood next to CPT Portrova. “If you have a mechanical malfunction or something breaks in the field, cease using it. Sit it off the side and return it to us for repairs at the end of the exercise. Or better yet, load up that kind of equipment on any of your teammates who get knocked out and have to leave the battlefield anyway.”

            Kristina continued. “Don’t lose equipment either; we expect everything you take into the field to come back. If you are unable to carry something, just leave it in your base and you’ll recover it after the training exercise.”

            “Don’t drop any guns in the woods. Common sense. This equipment isn’t free.” Houston warned.

            Both captains looked at each other. Kristina nodded. “From when you leave this range now, until the exercise, you must wear your eye gear at all times. Other than that, I think that about raps everything up.”

            Houston beckoned to the group. “We roll out at twelve-hundred. Colonel?” He turned COL Clark who nodded in approval.

            “OK cadets. To the vault.” The Colonel pointed towards the Brass Hutch.

            “HOOAH!” The crowd called back.

            Myers stood against the wall in the busy concrete tunnel just outside Echo’s armory as he adjusted his new electronic tactical vest so that it would fit properly. He pulled the straps on the back and tucked the excess into elastic loops that were attached to the vest’s main body. He kept it nice and loose, his broad shoulders acting as the perfect hanger for the unit. On the front, he tightened a handgun holster in the lower left quarter and double checked the three rifle magazine slots to its right.

            “One, two, three, four-five-six… one in the gun… That’s seven pistol mags…” Myers whispered to himself as he counted the handgun magazine slots on the top left, bottom strap and pistol holster. “One-two-three…” Myers bent down a bit and strapped an additional two rifle magazine holsters to his right leg, they had been dangling by a buckle that was loosely connected to his pants belt. “…four-five… And a duel mag in the rifle… That’s seven… I hope it’s enough…”  Myers kneeled down all the way and retied his boot, tucking the laces in.

            “Hey, Myers…” A young girl’s familiar voice asked just next to him.

            Myers looked up from where he crouched, he could see the girl’s tan boots in front of him. She hunched over him very close. “Uh, yeah?” Myers moved his eyes up her Jietai camouflaged pants legs; a pistol holster was strapped to her upper right leg, where Myers had just attached extra magazines. He continued up to her half-unzipped black vest that was twin stacked with rifle magazine slots on the upper right and lower left. She had an additional pistol slot strapped onto the lower right, opposite where Myers had strapped his. The nametape over her upper right pouch read, “Toyama.” Myers broke from his trance, snapped his head up and gazed through her tactical goggles and into her big green eyes.

            She grinned at him through a thin bit of her black bangs that hung down beside her face. “Zack?”

            “Bah, uh, I was-I wasn’t…” Myers’ face went pale. “Why do you have two handgun holsters?”

            Kai stood upright. “Why not?”

            Myers abruptly stood up and took a step back from her. “Uh… What was it that you needed?”

            “Can you help me adjust these straps? It needs to be looser on top and tighter in the middle. I’m having trouble.” She reached her arms behind her and pulled at the straps unevenly.

            “Oh, OK. Yeah, no problem” Myers took a breath. “Um… uh… turn around…” Myers took a step towards her.

            Kai about faced, she smirked tauntingly as she looked back over her shoulder at Myers. “Go ahead, I’ll tell you when.”

            Myers cautiously loosened the top straps on her vest. “So… Uh… What weapons packages did your squad get?” He swallowed nervously.

            “Howa, IWI, so type-eight nines and Tavors. We also got a pair of Remington eight seventy shotguns and some Glocks. What did Echo get?” Kai looked forward and slowly zipped up the rest of the vest over her ACU. “OK, that’s good for the top.”

Myers moved his hands down and began adjusting the mid-straps, he took another mildly deep breath. “HK four sixteens and M-sixteen variants from Colt. Other than the MP-fives I’m assuming everyone got, some Mossberg five ninety shotguns, Glock seventeens and Berettas for handguns…” Myers’ voice softly trailed off with little confidence.

The two fell silent for a moment.

“Are you feeling better today?” She asked.

Myers paused for a moment. “… Uh… Yeah… Of course. I was just tired yesterday, that’s all.” He tightened the straps further.

“You do seem much better, did you get a good night’s sleep?” She pulled on the bottom of her vest to straighten it out further.

“Not really, but I’ll be fine…” Myers evened out the straps.

            “That’s tight enough; could you put them in the loops?” Kai leaned forward a bit.

            “Sure.” Myers stepped a bit to the side and began folding the excess strap tails into the vest’s elastic loops. His hands began to quiver slightly. “Come on, man. Think of a question, a complement… Something…”

            CPT Houston cut down the hallway, dodging cadets moving about while he held a handful of hats. He saw Myers assisting Toyama and moved their way. “Hey, squad leaders.”

            Both cadets turned to Houston. “Sir?” – “Sir?”

            “Two things.” Houston handed multi-cam and Jietai patterned boonies and baseball caps to Myers and Kai respectively. “Here’s some hats, you two don’t have to bring your Kevlar helmets out into the field if you don’t want to. Give the other hat to someone else on your squad if they want it.”

            Myers looked at Kai who put the baseball cap onto her head. It had a Velcro drabbed out United Federation flag stuck onto the front. Myers stood there awkwardly.

            Houston continued. “…and Toyama, your squad’s arguing about the weapons so you’d better get in there right now and resolve it. Tell them I gave you the authority to decide what they carry.”

            “OK, sir.” Kai nodded and began quickly walking towards Charlie’s armory door.

            Myers watched as she walked away and disappeared into the doorway labeled “Charlie.”

            Houston looked at Myers who continued to watch the armory doorway. “Did I just spoil something, cadet?” He smiled.

            Myers quickly turned back around. “No, sir.”

            “Whatever you say, son.” Houston shook his head and stepped past Myers as he continued down the hall way.

            Myers turned back around and glanced back at Charlie’s doorway. He sighed and began to turn away when he noticed CPT Houston stop.

            Houston turned around. “Her name’s Katsumi, by the way.”

            Myers thought for a second. “I thought she said her name was Kai?”

            “That’s her middle name, cadet.” Houston smirked and began to turn back down the hallway. “Now thank me by getting in there and organizing your squad.”

            Bridget adjusted her boonie hat and looked to Myers who sat across from her in the back of a Stryker as it rolled down the road. The cadets sat with their rucksacks in front of them and were each individually armed to the teeth. Nonetheless, without windows, they couldn’t see where the Stryker was exactly taking them. Myers pulled the charging handle on his M-4A1 carbine and ejected the magazine. He then flipped the magazine around, inputting the second magazine he had duck taped upside down on other side of it.

            Max, to Myers’ right, questioned him. “You really think that extra round in the chamber will make a difference?”

            Myers shrugged. “I’d rather find out that it did or didn’t, than that it could have.”

            Max leaned back in his seat. “You’ve played too many video games, dude. No one does that shit in real life.”

            Myers defended himself. “I read it in a book.”

            Max rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

            Bridget watched as Ramirez pulled the charging handle on his Picatinny rail ridden M-16A4 and did the same as Myers.

            Bridget looked down at her M-16A2. She took a breath, pulled the charging handle and followed suit with the magazines she had also taped together.

            Max shook his head. “You people are killing me.”

            Hanks lightly punched Max, who sat next to him. “Hey, our squad leader needs to look like he knows what he’s doing, right?”

            Max nudged him back. “I don’t care what he does, I’m ready to kick some ass and I don’t need thirty one rounds to do it.”

            “You really think any of us will last until Sunday?” Gemma, sitting at Bridget’s left, asked with great antagonism.

            “Sure, why not?” Hanks nodded.

            “We’re out numbered seven to one.” Gemma huffed. “And honestly, who wants to be out there for that long anyway?” Gemma looked around the back of the cramped Stryker.

            “Think of it like a camping trip.” Ryu, to Bridget’s right, near the door, spoke from behind a large riot shield he held in front of him.

            “Camping sucks.” Gemma smiled.

            Hanks laughed. “How did YOU end up in the Army?”

            Gemma shrugged.

            Hanks turned his attention to Ryu and his riot shield. “And I can’t believe you brought THAT thing.”

            “Close quarters combat bitches. You’re all just jealous.” Ryu joked.

            Max leaned in. “Yeah, if we were Spartans. I mean, come on, you’ve got a face shield on your helmet too, you look like a damn riot-cop.”

            “You do realize you’re going to have to carry that through the woods.” Hanks continued harping on Ryu.

            “That’s why I got an MP-five K, light weight, baby.” Ryu played along and raised his MP-5K snub-nosed submachinegun up with one hand.

            “It doesn’t matter. You still have to carry that damn riot shield.” Max shook his head.

            Hanks laughed some more. “You’re like a guy who buys something that he doesn’t need just because it’s on sale.”

            Ryu smiled. “Fine, then you two aren’t allowed to hide behind me if we get caught out in the open. I’m gonna be the one laughing when you get your asses shot up.”

            “I’ve got my full sized four-sixteen. Don’t need nothin’ else.” Max tapped the side of his HK-416 equip with a holographic sight on its top rail.

            “I see you didn’t even bring a side arm?” Hanks turned his head towards Max.

            “Why do that when I can just carry more ammo for this beauty?” Max shook his head.

            “Maybe because there are certain situations where a handgun is more useful than a long-rifle.” Ryu spoke with a great matter-of-fact tone.

            “Yeah like when?” Max rolled his eyes.

            “Like clearing a tight building.” Ryu rolled his eyes back.

            “Bull-shit.” Max leaned back.

            Myers spoke up again. “Don’t forget that if you get in a jam, drawing your handgun is going to be much faster than reloading your primary.”

            “There’s that video game crap again.” Max huffed.

            Hanks shrugged. “Yeah, but he’s right you know?”

            Max looked down at the Mossberg 590 tactical shotgun Bridget had strapped to the top of her rucksack laterally. “All you people have these silly ideas in your heads. Like, that pump action shotgun…” He looked up at Bridget.

            She smirked. “What about it?”

            Max shook his head. “I can put twenty rounds down range before you can pump that thing even once. When do you plan on using it?”

            Bridget laughed a bit. “When do I NOT plan on using this thing? Shotguns are totally bad-ass.”

            Ryu and Hanks began laughing and Myers smiled.

            Max put his hand on his head. “I can’t believe you people. Well at least you have some sensible head gear on.” Max looked at Bridget’s boonie as he popped off his patrol cap and ran his hand through his short hair. He then looked at Myers. “I have to admit, I like the ball cap…” He then looked to Aurora who sat two seats to the left of Gemma. “And you…” He flicked his chin to her. “HK four-sixteen carbine and a patrol cap, you’ve got the right idea.” He looked back around the Stryker. “I don’t understand why the rest of yous wore your kevlars when the Captain told us we didn’t have to bring ‘em.”

            Gemma tapped on the advanced combat helmet fastened to her head. “Because if I get shot in the head, it’s not going to hurt.”

            “Learn how to duck, then you won’t get shot in the head.” Max took a bit of a sharp tone.

            Gemma gripped the barrel of her MP-5N submachine gun strapped to her and rolled her eyes.

            Max peered past Myers to his left at Ramirez who sat quietly listening to the conversation.

            “And you? You’ve got that balaclava on along with the tinted goggle inserts, are you afraid of getting shot in the face or something? That thin cloth won’t make a damn bit of difference for you.”

            Ramirez shrugged.

            Gemma leaned back and looked across to Max. “You have no idea how glad I am that you’re not the squad leader.”

            Max looked up at the center of the wall behind where the driver sat. There was a combat tomahawk mounted there.  “You’re all gonna realize that all this extra crap you’re bringing along is like that axe there. Sure it looks cool but it’s not going to do you any good once you get in the field.”

            The army captain who sat in the Stryker’s command and control seat turned around upon hearing this. The navigation screen glared brightly behind him. “What’s your name kid?” He directed his question at Max.

            A bit intimidated, Max answered. “Ackerman, sir.”

            The Captain stood up and held onto a ceiling mounted grip bar as he hunched over, his Second Stryker Brigade patch visible on the shoulder of his universal digital camouflage uniform. Despite being clean shaven, he still managed to have a gruff look about him. “Well Cadet Ackerman, you might want to be aware that when I was with this brigade during the Seven Month War, every time we went to clear a house in any one of that hell hole’s tight quartered, rundown shanty-towns, the point man went in with that there tomahawk right at his side.”

            Max sat up right. “Yeah, but all they did was carry it, I assume?”

            The Captain smirked and turned his head slowly back to where the tomahawk was mounted. “It splits a skull nicely at close range. The enemy rarely wore helmets.”

            Bridget giggled as she watched the smart look on Max’s face dissolve.

            The Captain looked back to Max. “I didn’t even swing that hard.”

            Most of the other cadets tried to hold in their laughter.

            Gemma grinned. “I don’t even care if you’re telling the truth. That may have just made my life.”

            The Captain looked to Gemma and sighed. “In a lot of ways I wish I wasn’t…” He reached back to the small command desk and pulled off a pile of folded papers. “We’re almost at the insertion point so I’d better give you these.” He handed the papers to Hanks and Aurora who sat at the ends closest to him. “Pass ‘em down. They’re maps, marked on there for you is the insertion point and the location of your first objective. Use your compasses and I hope you remember your land-nav training. If you ask over the radio for navigation assistance you will be denied. We banned you from bringing cell phones so you can’t use the GPS from there either. If you don’t know how to read a map, I suggest you learn fast.”

            Lance, who sat in-between Aurora and Gemma, raised his hand and spoke up. “Sir, what exactly is our first objective?”

            “I was getting to that, cadet.” The Captain switched his grip on the ceiling. “Your fist objective is to find and secure your squad’s base of operations. At the base, like promised, will be MREs, a clean water source, bathroom excreta.” The Caption spoke slower to make himself extra clear. “You may only take control of your base. Inside your base there will be a written codeword and number sequence on the wall in big letters, you can’t miss it. Use your radios to call in the codeword and number sequence to your commander; this will complete your first objective.”

            Echo’s cadets nodded. Myers leaned into the middle to better see and hear the Captain’s instructions. “Codeword-number sequence. Inside wall. Got it.”

            The Captain continued. “If you try doing that at a base that isn’t the one marked on your maps, it doesn’t count so don’t bother trying it.” The Captain pointed at Hanks’ map. “Got that?”

            Myers, Hanks and Lance answered. “Yessir.” – “Yes, sir.” – “Rodger.”

            The Captain nodded. “Good. Now if you complete that objective two things will happen. First, one of the reward boxes inside your base will open. You’ll be awarded vital tools to assist you in your mission.”

            “More ammo?” Ryu raised and lowered his hand.

            “Yeah, probably. Stuff like that.” The Captain confirmed Ryu’s thought. “Next, you’ll be given permission to request and pursue your next objective. Finding that base is paramount.” He tilted his head back and forth. “…and really not that hard.”

            “Will that be our base of operations for the remainder of the simulation?” Myers questioned.

            “That’s right.” The Captain nodded in approval. “It’s also where I recommend you sleep at night. I mean, you can sleep outside if you want but the bases are probably a better option.”

            “Will there be sleeping mats?” Gemma sat up straight.

“Yes, or they would have had you pack them.” The Captain looked down at his watch. He turned around to the drive. “It’s twelve-thirty, where are we, Corporal?”

            The Stryker came to a smooth stop and the driver answered back. “We’re here, sir.”

            “Good.” The Captain turned back to Echo Squad. “OK, I know there’s overcast and it’s a lot cooler today than it was yesterday but stay hydrated out there. If you’re not fighting, drink water.”

            Echo’s cadets nodded.

            “…and if you’re fighting for a long time, drink water while fighting. The simunition won’t kill you but dehydration will. Understand?” The Captain turned his head and looked over his shoulder to the driver. “Drop the door, Corporal.”

            The Stryker’s massive back door slammed down like a draw bridge.

            The Captain now spoke with more vigor. “OK cadets, move it, move it! Get your asses out that door.”

            Echo’s cadets poured out the back off the Stryker, dragging their rucksacks behind them.

            Myers dropped his ruck down in the grass and aimed his M-4 dead ahead. “This is a bad spot.” He swiveled his head around, they were in a grass clearing. A large open fence was behind them where the Stryker had driven through. A few dozen meters in front of Myers lied a thick forest of trees. “Status report. Team leaders, everyone off load?”

            Bridget called back to him. “Yeah, uh, Able team’s up.”

            Lance also responded. “Baker team’s all here.”

            Gemma shook her head. “Dude, just turn around and look…”

Myers lowered his M-4 and faced the group. He watched as the Styker’s massive rear door slowly shut. He could see the Captain hunched over inside the vehicle.

            The Captain popped open one of the Stryker’s top hatches and poked his head and shoulders through. “Welcome to the Academy’s Iron Sights Outdoor Infantry Training Simulation Facility. How’s that for a mouthful? Heh, stay safe and good luck.” He yelled as the Stryker began to pull away.

            “Thank you, sir.” Hanks saluted.

            The Captain brought his arm up vertically through the hatch, quickly saluted back in a karate chop motion and then descended into the Stryker, pulling the hatch closed behind him.

            Aurora put her rucksack on her back, held the shoulder straps and let her assault carbine dangle from its strap before her. She turned to Myers who was once again looking around in a circle. “So what now, Squad Leader?”

            Myers kneeled down to pick up his rucksack. He looked back at Aurora. “First, we get the hell out of the open.” Myers stood up and yelled to the squad. “OK, listen up! We need to move into the woods, now. We’ll figure out where we’re going from there.”

            Bridget stood up with her rucksack on her back. She gestured with her M-16. “You heard the man, let’s go find some cover, hooah?”

            The squad echoed back “hooah” with varied levels of enthusiasm.

            Myers looked at Bridget and nodded to thank her. “Echo Squad…” Myers took a fast step towards the trees. “Follow me!”