Integration (Ghost Marines Book 1) by Jonathan Brazee

Author:Jonathan Brazee [Brazee, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Semper Fi Press
Published: 2018-04-25T06:00:00+00:00

BOOK 2

NORTHUMBRIA

Chapter 17

Leif was excited despite telling himself that this was just one more step in the journey, nothing extraordinary. But it was different. He was a fleet Marine now, done with training, and ready to start his service. After their initial check-in—where they’d drawn their fair share of stares from the other Marines, the nineteen of them were in a conference room, waiting for the sergeant major to officially welcome them aboard.

Of the nineteen, twelve of them were wyntonan. Instead of spread-loading them across the Corps, the powers that be decided that only four battalions would receive them. Ferron a’Silverton seemed to think this was a good idea, that in this way, they could “support” each other. One one hand, Leif liked that fact that he did have others of the People with him, but on the other hand, he was afraid that clumping them together would make them stand out, making them “others.” Leif didn’t think he understood humans well yet, but he’d seen enough so far to know that the human Marines placed their “Marineness” above everything else. That lesson had been drilled into him back on Iwo at the Oasis, where it had worked to his advantage, but now, grouping them together might only highlight that they were different.

He had a pretty good group, however, he had to admit as he looked at the other Marines. From the wyntonans, he was there with Jordan, Tessa, Johari, Moria, Dubois, Carlton, Lim, Katerina, Manuel, Ray, and Alim. Leif knew two of the humans well: Manu Savea, Zhen-man, and he knew Boise Portuno, who’d been in the trail series, but had been quite friendly and open at the School of Infantry. He’d gotten to know the other four during the transit, and they seemed OK. What would be more pertinent, however, was not his fellow newbies but rather the Marines he’d be serving with, from the fire team level on up.

“Attention on deck!” someone shouted, and the group shot to attention, recruit instincts still flowing through their veins.

“Sit down,” a gruff voice said as he entered the conference room.

Sergeant Major John Crawford looked every bit the Marine staff non-commissioned officer as he strode to the front, completely confident and in control of himself. His hair was the salt-and-pepper of going grey, something that could be easily controlled, but a full head of black hair was obviously not important to him. Leif was impressed before the human even spoke.

“I’m Sergeant Major Crawford,” he said, taking a moment to look each of them in the eye. “I’m here to welcome you to the Third Battalion, Sixth Marines. Lieutenant Colonel Jarvinkus is on leave, but she wanted me to give you her welcome as well.

“If you want to be on the cutting edge, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve just gone through workups, and after this final admin stand-down, we’re assuming the division’s alert battalion mission. That means, as of twenty-two days from today, we can get called out on a mission at a moment’s notice.

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