Chapter 7: Imperial Frigate Windvane

“Normally, if you get a posting to a new battalion, you are sent to where they are,” Gunny informed the section drawn up in front of the major’s office. “Since your sorry lot are newly promoted PFCs, and since the Fifth Battalion operates as independent platoons, the frigate Windvane is coming here to see what is available before they will commit to any of you.”

The section consisted of Dane, Nick, and eight other PFCs, all of whom were part of Dane’s squad during specialist training, and four of the eight were members of Dane’s half-section on the Taygete. Dane was the only one in the top five, and the only one who jumped past PFC straight to the rank of Corporal. Gunny warned Dane that the platoon commander on the Windvane might refuse to take him if he didn’t agree with Dane’s promotion, but that the promotion was permanent since the marine command head office on Secundus already approved it. Now, five days after they completed their specialist training, the ten of them were packed and ready to leave. They were told to wait in front of the major’s office since the shuttle from the Windvane was already inbound.

They stood watching as the marine assault shuttle dropped like a rock out of the blue sky to suddenly slow down and then gently settle in front of them on the landing pad. The rear ramp opened and three marines, two officers and a sergeant, came walking out and then came towards them. The gunny walked towards them, saluted the two officers and then started talking to the sergeant as the two officers walked past them and into the building without looking at them.

Up till that moment, the section was in a row, standing at ease since they were under Gunny’s orders. As Gunny and the new sergeant turned and came towards them, Dane hissed a quiet but urgent ‘Attention on Deck’. All ten of them came to attention and then stood staring into the distance as the sergeant started inspecting them.

“Where did you get us a corporal?” the sergeant asked Gunny.

“He is kind of unusual,” Gunny said with a shrug. “He finished top in both boot camp and specialist class. The major decided to make him a corporal.”

“Do you agree with that, gunny?” the sergeant asked with a frown. “That is kind of unusual,”

“Read his file before you decide,” Gunny said with a shrug.

A few minutes later the captain and lieutenant came back outside. The lieutenant was holding a tablet and was reading something on it. The sergeant joined them as all three started checking the content of the tablet. Dane could not hear anything they said. Even Gunny, who was standing a short distance away, just looked at them with no expression on his face.

“The nine PFC’s are fine, especially this one,” the lieutenant said as he pointed at Nick. “We need to go over the corporal’s file in more detail.”

“Use the conference room, captain,” Gunny said.

“Corporal, stand fast,” the captain said. “The rest of you, take your kit and get onto the shuttle.” As the nine PFCs jogged towards the shuttle, Gunny waved the three visitors into the building. Dane thought they were going to leave him standing there, but then the captain called him to bring his kit and follow them.

“I can see why you suggest I read his file first,” the sergeant said to Gunny as they sat around the table. Dane was standing at ease at the other side of the table, making as if he was a stone pillar. “Quite unusual.”

“He should be on his way to Officers’ Training School,” the captain said. “Ranger high altitude insertion certification? Advanced vacuum certification? Marksmanship certification? Bladed weapons expert? Is that just for the spike?”

“Saber as well, Captain,” Gunny said. “If you want to know what is really going on here, read the addendum in his file.”

“I asked the corporal about his personal background, but since it involved a case of his word against that of a nobleman, I decided not to push beyond what the corporal was willing to reveal,” the major said as he came walking in and joined the visitors.

“I can see that if the exile is warranted, he will not get his commission,” the captain said. Then he placed the tablet on the table and looked at Dane without saying anything for a while. “We will take him,” he finally said. “Corporal, grab your kit and get onto the shuttle.”