Free The Conscripts: Fight or Die (Blood War Book 3) by Rod Carstens Page A

The penal battalions are no picnic. You may have to do something similar one day just to survive. We have trained you to survive, and that is what you will do. Do not give up. There is a chance for you to escape all of this, but I cannot explain it now.”
    Sergeant Mati returned to her position next to the three and said, “Forward march.”
    Dieter, for the first time since he had started boot camp, could not sleep that night. What had happened and what Sergeant Mati had said kept rolling around in his head, keeping him awake.
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    The last days were much like the days before, only they were polishing their skills instead of learning them. One day after evening chow, Sergeant Ura called for school circle in the barracks. All three drill instructors were in the barracks that night, which was not normal. When the platoon was seated in front of Ura, he nodded to the other drill instructors. They each went to a door and began to look out, as if to keep watch. Ura waited until they both nodded before he started to speak.
    “Some of you might have figured out that our reason for becoming part of the penal battalions seemed lame. You were right. We were not sent here to help a few random prisoners survive the coming combat. We are part of the Legion’s underground, as we call it. Many of us, as we told you, had a choice of prison or the Legion. The Legion saved us. All three of us had that choice, but you had no choice. You were sent here for no reason other than that you were poor and some rich corporate type wanted to get out of serving the Confederation. Each of you was chosen carefully before you were assigned to our platoon. Your crime was being poor and being able-bodied. You see, if someone washes out of boot camp, all the corporate type has to do is pay for another body. So you were carefully vetted according to age and physical abilities before you were charged. Your only crime was being poor and in shape.”
    Ura stopped as he let what he had just said sink in to each and every one of them. Dieter looked at Ardan and Minga. He wondered if he wore as surprised a look as they did.
    “Well, as veterans we are voting citizens of the Confederation. Given we are so few compared to the rich, we are unable to change the laws. So we are doing what all good Legionnaires do. We adapt. There are members of this underground spread throughout the penal battalion system. There are other platoons like this one. Not as many as we would like, but it is a start. We have trained you as if you had entered the Legion. Those of you who sit in front of me are Legionnaires. You would have passed selection had you enlisted. Never forget that.”
    Dieter was stunned to think of himself as being as tough and competent as a Legionnaire. He had never thought of himself as tough. Now he was being told that not only was he tough, but tough enough to be considered part of one of the most elite military organizations ever to take the field.
    “We did not spend our time and effort and risk prison just to make sure you were well trained. Tomorrow you will receive your Von Fleet tracking tattoo, but tonight you will receive a tattoo that will mark you as one of us. This tattoo will let every other former Legionnaire know that you are one of us. When it is scanned, it will show our Legion names, ranks, and serial numbers. It is our stamp of approval. The reason for the tattoo is that the word has gone out that you are worthy and should be taken care of by other Legionnaires. What does this mean? Under certain conditions your sentence can be commuted and you will be allowed to join the Marines. You would then have your record expunged and you would be serving with the best new organization. What are these conditions? They are simple. Excel in combat. You will excel in combat because you are trained to do so, unlike the other penal platoons. So your jobs are simple. Survive and show the tattoo you are about to receive to the first Legionnaire you can find.