Free Captain (The United Federation Marine Corps Book 4) by Jonathan P. Brazee Page B

to a raised dais that had been erected in the back of the room, and people started to drift away from the food table to stand in front if the VIPs.
    Exactly at 5:00 PM, one of the battalion drummers marched into the room, pounding away on his side drum.  People parted for him as he marched through the crowd to the dais.  As always, Ryck felt a tingle of both pride and anticipation when he saw a drummer.  Each man in the corps of drums was a volunteer, and being accepted into the corps could be difficult.  Rank was not considered.  This drummer was Sergeant Horatio from Bravo Company, a squad leader by billet.  In his dressed blues, draped by a leopard skin and armed with a short sword, he presented an imposing figure.
    He marched to the front of the VIPs, and in very precise, almost mechanical movements, he performed an elaborate about face, his arm steadily pounding a slow beat.  His face like stone, he stood there, one arm in motion, the rest of him completely still.  The crowd quieted.
    The sergeant drew out the moment, and Ryck could almost see people lean forward in anticipation.  With a suddenly flurry, both of Sgt Horatio’s arms flew into a blur, beating out Present the Colors!
    “Color Guard, forward, march!” a voice rang out with authority from near the entrance as soon as the drummer fell back into a measured cadence.
    The crowd turned around, and with a little help from the duty sailors, a corridor was cleared leading up to the dais.  With the Federation flag in the middle and the Sierra Dorado flag to its left, the Marine Corps and Navy flags on the ends completed the color guard.
    Ryck joined all the military in coming to attention as the color guard made its way to the dais and did their reverse marching move to finish up facing the crowd.  The three subordinate flags were lowered to the Federation flag, and a small local band, accompanied by a young lady, broke out into the anthem.  The crowd broke into applause as the last strains died away and the color guard split to go around the dais and put their flags in holders on a raised platform in back of the VIPs.
    The first person to address the crowd was the Federation administrator.  Mercifully, he kept it short, and within a couple of minutes, relinquished the podium to the governor.
    “ Buenos tardes ,” the governor began, in an atrocious accent that even Ryck knew was so far removed from old Mexico as to beggar belief. 
    Evidently, Spanish was only a historical footnote on the planet.  Luckily, he switched right into Standard, welcomed the Marines and sailors, and recited a scripted list of how well the planet had been doing since he took office.  Ryck wondered if elections were coming up soon.
    The governor gave way to the mayor who gave way to the Inchon’s CO.  Finally, it was LtCol uKhiwa’s turn.  The crowd perked up.  This was Marine Day, after all, and the CO was the senior Marine present.
    “On September 13, 1847, Old Reckoning, forces from the United States of America, to include US Marines, stormed Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City.  Six young cadets:  Juan de la Barrera, Juan Escuita, Francisco Márquez, Agustín Melgar, Fernando Montes de Oca , and Vicente Suárez refused to surrender.  Juan Escutia, determined to keep the Mexican flag out of the hands of the Americans, wrapped himself in it and plunged off the walls and to his death.  Thus began the celebration of the Niños Héroes, which has been celebrated on every September 13 th since.
    “On February 18, 2029, Old Reckoning, the Mexican Coast Guard seized a Chinese long-line boat that had been shark fishing in Mexican waters. Shark-finning had been banned by an international treaty, and the Mexican Coast Guard was within its rights to seize the boat, which was towed to Isla Clarión where a small garrison of th e Fuerza de Infantería de Marina were stationed.  The 14 Marines, commanded by Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Michael Suarez, were given the task of