Bellicose (Postal Marine Series Book 1) by Ben Wilson

Author:Ben Wilson [Wilson, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Merovex Press
Published: 2022-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 4

BOPHENDZE - CRUISER KRACHAGIO

Several days passed before Bophendze started relaxing after beating Sablaroki. Every day, he expected the provost to arrest him. Fear kept him from sleeping well at night, made it difficult to eat, and made it difficult to focus on even the menial jobs they gave him each day.

Finally, at the beginning of another watch, he overheard a couple of officers talking about some imbroglio with the Navy. The Krachagio had left Guna and had already completed a few other jumps. They were heading for some place called Moyaba, or Miyra, or something like that. Most of the time, he was satisfied going through his day not having a scintilla of outside news. But the frequent system jumps raised his concerns about whether the Krachagio would ghost.

As he went through his routine, he could feel his fear loosening its grip, not only of ghosting, but of repercussions for beating Sablaroki. He had no control over ghosting. He was progressively further from punishment on Guna. Can I really get into a fight and not be punished? Can it be that simple?

As a boy, Bophendze got into his share of fights. Regardless of the outcome, somebody always reported him to the headmaster. What filled him with dread each time was not the caning he received at school. The headmaster told his mother, who in her own motherly way knew how to make Bophendze’s punishment stick. He feared his mother’s anger more than losing a fight or being caned by the headmaster.

He thought back on his time as a marine. The shooting incident that occurred when he first boarded the Krachagio went without report. Now he managed not to get in trouble after severely beating a man in a random bar fight. Are we expected to resolve our problems by fighting?

Smee had offered little solace. He stopped talking not long after the fight and had not said a word since. As much of a pain as it could be, Bophendze realized he was becoming comfortable with Smee. The regret he felt for installing Smee eased with his fear.

Bophendze had grown accustomed to Smee’s chiming in, and the silence was a little disturbing. What would you say about what I’m going through? You’d say I’m ‘a marine. My entire career is a framework for solving controversy through the application of violence.’ Why else would they put me in body armor, give me a gun, and pay me to lift weights?

“Then why do I dread doing my part?” he said to nobody.

Is that why they ordered me to work out in the gym? We’re going into a fight? It would be nice if they let up on some of the petty duties. It would be nicer still if I could get some information.

As he walked into the gym, he was greeted with the isolation he rarely felt anywhere else on the ship. The only time he had to lift was when most other infantry marines were in their racks, sleeping. The ship’s crew rarely went to the gym, though occasionally he’d see one or two.

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