After about half an hour, Gunny Taylor got a call over his headset. He talked quietly for a second, then swore and excused himself. He told us to carry on the exercise, leaving Sabatini and me in charge.
We kept on assaulting the cargo containers. As time went by, we made adjustments and criticisms of the teams. Bauer seemed to lose his enthusiasm when the gunny left. Sabatini had to correct him after every maneuver. At first, it looked almost genuine. The TAR is heavier than the ACRs the rest of us carried, and it simply follows that an automatic weapon requires more ammo, so he had the added weight of ammunition to contend with.
After a short while, I could see what was happening. He was testing, seeing how much slack he could get from the new team leader. I tried to restrain myself from butting in. It was her team, she had to learn to command it.
“Bauer!” she snapped in exasperation. “For the millionth time, when Li drops behind cover and snaps in on the target, you flank to starboard while we cover you. What the fuck is so difficult?”
“I’m gettin’ tired of this bullshit exercise.”
“I don’t remember asking if you were,” she said. “You don’t think you’re gonna get tired in combat? Now get your ass back in position and let’s try it again.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Don’t be an asshole, Marine,” she said reasonably. “We’re all sick of this shit. The sooner we get it right, the sooner we get out of here.”
I tensed watching the exchange. She had done the right thing, trying a reasonable tone of voice. If it worked, we were out of the woods. If it didn’t…
“I told you, I’m not moving. What the fuck is your problem? That time of the month?”
I started to step forward, when I heard O’Rourke’s whisper over my headset. “Mick.”
I turned. He shook his head slowly. I grudgingly nodded. She did have to solve this one herself. But just wait until I get you alone, Bauer.
Sabatini smiled her sweetest smile. “If it were, you’d already be coughing up your nuts. Now, for the last time, get the fuck back to your starting position.”
“Or what?”
The smile never wavered. “PFC Li!” She held her rifle out to the side. Li took it. She then removed her helmet, pulled the chevrons off her uniform collar, tossed them in the helmet and handed it over. “Thanks, Marine.”
Bauer looked a little concerned. He hadn’t expected this from an attractive young woman. Any other NCO in the platoon would have beaten him senseless by now, but he somehow didn’t think she had it in her. He looked at me, got no guidance, and set down his TAR and helmet.
“Whenever you’re ready,” said Sabatini.
Bauer circled uncertainly. He wasn’t happy with this, but he’d backed himself into a corner. He didn’t want to be brought up for striking a superior. By removing her rank, she had symbolically told him that wasn’t an issue, there would be no repercussions. I still planned to knock out a few of his teeth in the shower, but neither of them knew that.
She waited for him to move. When he did, she snapped out a lightning kick to his knee. If it weren’t for the armored shin guards, his kneecap would’ve been dislocated. He stumbled but recovered and threw a punch which she dodged. They circled for a few seconds.
Sabatini was clearly too quick for Bauer, so he decided to close and use his size to advantage. He grabbed at her wrist and surprised me by catching it.
I shouldn’t have been surprised. It was a setup. Sabatini grasped his sleeve and spun away, pulling him off balance. She swung her right foot around to hook him behind the knee. He stumbled forward, fell to his knees, then caught a boot to the chest that put him on his back. Still holding his right sleeve, she dropped her knee on his chest, then rolled it gently forward onto his windpipe. The threat was obvious: if she felt like it, he’d have a crushed trachea.
“Are we done?” she asked sweetly.
“Yeah,” he croaked.
She stood and even helped him up.
I let out the breath I didn’t remember holding. I felt pretty sure she could control the team.
The whole squad’s performance improved considerably after that display. After an hour, we were satisfied with the results of the training and dismissed the teams. As we did, I heard a summons from Gunny Taylor.
“On my way, Gunny. You got the squad, Killer,” I told Sabatini. “His Exalted Highness requires my presence.”
The hatch to Gunny Taylor’s office slid open at my knock. He waved me in.
I stood at attention before the desk. “Good afternoon, Gun—”
“Stow it!” he snapped. He glared at me a long moment. “I was watching the exercise. You want to explain why you did what you did?”
“I thought the fight was better than the alternative, so—”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it,” he growled. “You started to step in. Fortunately your team has more brains than you do. Not that that’s real tough. You do that, it looks like you’re playing favorites and that she can’t handle the team without help. You know better than that.”
“Sorry, Gunny.”
“Don’t give me sorry. Why the fuck did you do it? I’m hoping it was because she’s a new team leader and you stupidly thought you should help. My only other theory is you two have a thing going. I hope you can tell me I’m wrong.”
I froze up. In twelve years, nothing had made me freeze like that. Not being shot at, not having a man in my sights, not hand-to-hand combat, not having two stripes torn off, not even the first time I had to try to hold a bandage on a wounded Marine’s severed artery and watch him die. This time, I didn’t know what to say or do.
I couldn’t lie to Gunny Taylor. This surprised me. I’d lied to my parents, teachers, nuns, priests, Mary Kate O’Brien’s dad when he asked about my intentions toward his daughter, and a long series of officers. It was a survival trait in the military. And Catholic school.
Anyway, I just stood there like an idiot.
“Oh, Christ,” he said as the truth sank in. “Look, I see your point. She’s good-looking and she’s a Marine. She’s probably great in the rack. But you gotta break it off. It’s gonna fuck up the platoon.”
He waited for a moment. I still couldn’t think of anything to say. I was going to disobey an order. I knew it, but I didn’t want to take that step over the brink. I wanted to explain, but couldn’t force the words past the lump in my throat.
“You didn’t say ‘aye aye, Gunny’, did you?”His voice was almost pleading.
“No, Gunny. I didn’t.” My voice was almost a whisper. Gunny Taylor was the last man on Earth or off it, I guess, that I wanted to disappoint.
“Oh, Christ.” He put his head in his hands. “Why? The sex can’t be that good. You’re trashing two careers here.”
“I’m sorry, Gunny.” I summoned my courage for the battle I didn’t want. “I can’t leave her. I’m in love.”
My own words took me by surprise but there was no point in denying it: for some time now I’d been getting a warm, soft glow in my chest when I thought of her. I’d begun to notice that even her little tics and quirks made me inexplicably happy. What might have begun as lust and circumstance had got a deep hold on my emotions above my navel.
He groaned. “Collins, you’ll get over it. You’ve had girls before. You’re one of my best corporals. You’re on your way to fucking sergeant. Tell her it’s been fun, but it ain’t gonna work out.”
“I can’t use her and toss her aside,” I said earnestly. “For Christ’s sake, Gunny, she’s a fucking Marine! I can’t treat a Marine like that.”
He stopped. I’d scored with that one. If it had been a civilian or a woman in another service he’d have told me how stupid I was to throw away my career. He’d ask if the silly skirt was more important than the Corps. But now it hit him. She was a Marine as much as I was. He couldn’t attack her character. She was one of his Marines. He’d die for her as quick as I would.
He stared at the overhead fo
r a long time. He knew it was hopeless, but he was not used to defeat. It hurt me to win as much as it hurt him to lose this one, and he knew that too. I looked at Gunny Taylor like a father, and I loved the Marine Corps. Only now I loved Angelina Sabatini more. If they were going to force me to choose...
“OK,” he whispered hoarsely, “I can’t get through that thick Irish skull of yours. If she’s as bull-headed as you, the only way I can stop you is to toss you both in the brig. I sure as hell can’t do that. I need you both, something big is coming up.”
He leaned forward aggressively, stabbing the desk with a finger. “You listen up, Marine. I don’t give a rat’s ass what you do on leave, but you will maintain professional distance on this ship. You two will act like team leaders and nothing else. After this cruise, if you want to get together, knock yourself out. I’m not gonna rat you out, but if I catch you doing anything you wouldn’t do with O’Rourke, I’ll knock your fucking heads together. You read me, Marine?”
“Five by five.”
“Now get out. Send Corporal Sabatini in.”
“Aye, Gunny.” I paused at the hatch. “I’m sorry, Gunny.”
“Me too.”
As I stepped out, he called me back. “Collins!”
“Gunny?”
“I guess if you’re determined to fuck up your career, she’s a good choice,” he said with a pained smile.
“Thank you, Gunny.”
As I walked back to the squadbay, I felt the knot in my stomach loosen just a bit.
Chapter 22
19 DEC 2075
USS TRIPOLI/MARS STATION
We set a course for Mars, the headquarters for the planetary fleet. We were scheduled to receive replacements, supplies, and new orders. Our prisoners would be handed over to Higher Authority, and we would be sent back to the vast bleakness with a pat on the back and instructions to go get some more.
In truth, great and momentous forces were at work, which would have far-reaching consequences for us personally, the Corps as a whole, the government and intelligence community, and the spacefaring population at large. In our position at the bottom of the information food chain, we were largely ignorant of these developments.
We were just pissed off.
Lt Mitchell was angry and frustrated because his injury prevented him from fully resuming his duties. He spent a good deal of his time at war with the Navy medical staff, attempting to win his freedom.
Lt Evers smoothly took over the duties of temporary platoon leader, but was experiencing some difficulty as intelligence officer. Being Lt Evers, he bore his suffering in silence, so none of us knew what the problem was, only that there was something unusual going on at the Battalion or Regimental level.
Sgt McCray was abnormally surly after being told that he would have to undergo extensive therapy for his shoulder before the docs would even consider returning him to combat-ready status.
Gunny Taylor was displeased with me and Sabatini. We had thrown the mother of all monkey wrenches into his neat and orderly concept of rifle platoon personnel dynamics. He had little patience for social complications. He was the kind of career NCO who honestly believed that if the Marine Corps wanted you to have a wife, they’d issue you one. I thought of pointing out that the Corps had seen fit to put Sabatini in my fire team, but I honestly believe he’d have killed me.
To be fair, I was no bargain to work with myself. We had a short squad, a new corporal, and a very demanding gunnery sergeant as squad leader. I had to adapt my team tactics to a three-man configuration and be ready to help Sabatini out when she ran into a situation that was new to her. And I had to do it without igniting either my own lustful impulses or Gunny Taylor’s suspicions. We were both abiding by the gunny’s edict banning any inappropriate conduct while on board the ship, but it was a serious strain. So, to sum up, I was overworked, understaffed, closely watched by my exacting superiors, and horny as hell. All in all, not a pleasant mix.
On the plus side of the ledger, Sabatini also defied the order to break up. That meant more to me than I can express. The fact that she must have been feeling some of the same emotions as I was, was like coming in from the cold to a warm, familiar home.
I have to give credit to Johnson and O’Rourke. They took all the extra duty with less bitching than normal, and were more patient with me than I was with them. They sensed that something was bothering me and adjusted to my temper to help me out. They were a good team, looking out for me when I needed it. I hoped to God they didn’t guess the whole situation.
The ray of light at the end of the tunnel was the anticipated landing on Mars. The platoon would get replacements which would alleviate the short-handedness, we would be relieved of the prisoners, and thus spared extra guard duty, and we would get some R&R.
Marines always view approaching R&R with feverish anticipation, but I was looking forward to it like a man dying in the desert sighting an oasis.
I had never been this hot for any woman. Part of it, I will admit, was the situation. The fact that we had only just made our leap so shortly before the gunny slammed the door. It was like discovering booze the day before prohibition.
She was doing well as a team leader. Bauer, having tested the limits of insubordination, resumed his duties with his usual diligence. Li had somewhat recovered from Cpl Chan’s death, performing unimpeded by grief, but there was a hard look to his face now. He wanted to take out the pain of his loss on some pirates. Revenge might be a poor motivation, but it worked. I won’t make any judgment on it. We needed Li to do his job, his anger helped him do it, so it was a good thing. I don’t know what a psychologist would think of it, but stubborn pride and anger got me through some tight spots where higher sentiments might not have served.
In the midst of all this, Sabatini and I received a summons to Lt Evers’ office.
I felt my stomach sink at the news. I noticed her face go a little paler than usual. The squad raised a few eyebrows when the announcement was made. Both corporals getting called before the acting platoon leader did not bode well.
I put my cards down and heaved myself to my feet. “Away all boats! C’mon Marine, ya wanna live forever?”
“I wouldn’t mind,” she smirked and rose to follow me.
We entered the office and halted the regulation two paces from the lieutenant’s desk. When he returned our greeting and told us to stand at ease, I noticed he was smiling. This was a good sign. He was a cold-blooded son of a bitch, but not a sadist. If he were going to tear off stripes left and right, he’d have been unhappy about it. I had no doubt that he’d shoot us dead for the good of the Corps, but he’d do it with stern-faced regret.
“I called you in here for a couple of reasons. First, you two are doing an outstanding job with your teams. Third squad is coming together real well, especially considering you are the most short-handed. Corporal Sabatini, you are doing a fine job working with a new team, and a short one. You’re adapting real well. I’m going to recommend your promotion be permanent. Collins, you’re still doing a decent job despite having a rookie and O’Rourke in your team.”
That’s the thing about Terry. Officers can’t stand him, sergeants tolerate him because his abilities outweigh his insubordination, but if you have to share a fighting hole with him, you love him.
“I don’t know if you had your heart set on it,” he continued, “but you aren’t getting the promotion to squad leader. It’s got nothing to do with your abilities, it’s just that we are expecting something big and I want you where you’re doing the most good. When we get our replacements and reorganize, Corporal LeBlanc from Sergeant Pilsudski’s squad will come over and replace Sergeant McCray. Hope you don’t take it personally.”
Hell no. I was expecting to be punished. A lack of promotion was hardly something to cry about. “I’ll get over it, sir,” I smiled.
“The good news is that third squad is getting the first shore leave. We’ll be on Mars a few days, and everybody will get 48 hours leave. Your Mar
ines will get it before the bartenders raise the price of drinks, the security doubles the patrols and the whole planet hides the booze and hookers.”
I smiled at this news. There was a certain amount of truth to it. The platoon’s arrival would be greeted first with greedy anticipation by the bars, shops, hotels and brothels that inevitably fill a port city, be it for ocean or spacegoing vessels. Their tune would change quickly. A few days in port after so long out in space would be an opportunity for us to indulge all the vices we had spared for the voyage. Our intent was to cram as much into 48 hours as possible. This might have to last us six months.
The squad was thrilled with the news. Anxious not to lose their privilege of first squad out, they were picture perfect Marines for the next five days. Johnson had just turned twenty and was howling to get near some female company. I noticed Terry spending some extra time in front of the mirror himself. I even caught Li smiling a few times.
After we docked and before we boarded the shuttle to the surface, Gunny Taylor pulled me aside. “Take care of my Marines on this trip, Collins.”
“You’re not coming, Gunny?”
He shook his head. “Too much to do.”
I very reluctantly asked, “You sure you don’t need a hand?”
He gave me a sour smile. “I ain’t that big an asshole. You and her have both been good since I chewed you out. Go enjoy the next forty-eight hours. Get it out of your systems for a while. Me and the lieutenants got stuff to consider. You just make sure you don’t lose half the squad.”
“Aye aye, Gunny.”
“Now get outta here before I decide I do need your help.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. Ma Collins didn’t raise any real stupid kids.
We hauled out our dress uniforms. Terry looked at his new Purple Heart and smiled. That should be good for a few free brews or an extra dance. Sabatini had sewn her corporal chevrons on her blue jacket and the red “blood stripe” of an NCO down the sides of her skirt. I wasn’t used to seeing her in a skirt. The combat uniform was no different for men or women, but the dress uniforms retained the old styles. I think she looked sexy in blues, but I may be biased.
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