Free Recruit by Jonathan P. Brazee

laughter breaking out in the classroom, “and you need them to tell you how to fart,” as even louder laughter broke out.  “But this is your heritage.  This is what makes you what you are.  I’m not going to be ratting out any of you if you fall asleep, but I hope you have the pride and discipline to listen and learn.”
    The “falling asleep” comment hit home.  Ryck had it in the back of his mind to do just that if he could get away with it.  But Dr. Berber’s comment and appeal to their own sense of discipline instilled something more in him.  He was going to be a Marine, and he should know its history, what would soon be his history. 
    “Settle back and relax.  I will let you know,” Dr. Berber said, stomping his foot in an exaggerated manner, “what you will have to know for the test.  What you think the Corps doesn’t test everything here at Camp Charles?” he said to the groans that had come at the word “test.”  “The Corps tests everything, so get used to it.  Anyway, I’ll let you know what will be tested,” he said, once again making the exaggerated stomp.  “But what I want you to absorb is the makings of the Marines and how our own culture has been developed.  We work closely with the Navy, but we are different animals. 
    “ Over our twenty classes together, we will examine the birth of dedicated naval infantry units, of the proliferation and periodic demise of marine units, of the 43 national and three planetary Marine Corps that were combined to form the Federation Marines, and of our own Federation Marine Corps history, our greatest battles and heroes.  Much of this will directly affect you, from why we celebrate both February 27 and November 10 as our Marine Corps birthday, why NCOs wear the red stripe on their blues, and why a drummer in the Marine band wears a leopard skin over his uniform.
    “Today, we will go over the foundation of how naval infantry was developed.”
    A vid of some sort of war gallery appeared over his arena.
    “I won’t be foot-stomping anything during this class.  There won’t be anything on the test from today, so just listen and let it sink in. 
    “ The first recorded naval battle was the Battle of the Delta, between the Egyptians under Ramses III and a group known as the Sea Peoples.  In this battle, which took place around 1175 BC, the ships were used as platforms from which archers could fire towards shore-based troops, so in a way, the naval infantry preceded the use of a navy ship as a weapon in and of itself.  Ships continued to be more of floating transports, and it wasn’t until the rise of the Greeks and Phoenicians around 1000 BC that the war galley was developed.  This is what is called a triaconter , or ‘thirty-oared ship.’  Not only could it transport troops, but also it could attack and destroy other ships, quite often through ramming” he said, pointing to the image above his desk arena.  Another image of a galley appeared, and the first one turned to face it before oars started it forward towards the new ship.
    Ryck leaned forward in his seat.  He had a feeling that the 20 hours he was scheduled to be in class with the good doctor were going to be interesting.

Chapter 6
     
     
    Rec ruit Squad Leader Ryck Lysander took a few steps to his left and yelled “Hodges, get your grubbing team up in position!”
    This was the first training evolution in his new recruit billet, and he was bound and determined to keep it all the way through graduation.  He didn’t need Hodges to get him fired before he’ d even had a chance to show the DIs what he was capable of.
    They were outside the camp walls, in TA103, “Training Area 103,” a good-sized expanse of open ground.  It wasn’t as clear as a parade deck, but it was as close to being clear as any other training area.  There were a few gentles rises and one gully, but a DI could pretty much view the entire area.  Ryck couldn’t afford to focus on any of the other