What it means to serve (Pt.2)

Posted on Tue Nov 7th, 2023 @ 8:32am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Starfleet Marine Academy; 2382
923 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Naxea slumped back onto her bunk, letting out a sigh. First year exams were done. "Captain Majors hates us," Naxea muttered.

"No, he hates you, not us, you, Azhul," Cadet Chen replied from the bunk above Naxea as she leaned down to look at Naxea with a grin.

"Don't worry. I heard Captain Majors is hard on everyone," another cadet replied as he walked by.

"Yeah, right," Naxea replied, sitting up on her bunk. "He hasn't singled you out at every opportunity to publicly share my mistakes. I hate Xenobiology. I don't know why we're even required to even take it."

"So you know when you're shooting at an alien, if it's their eye or their asshole," Chen replied causing Naxea and several other cadets to burst out laughing.

"Three weeks off for the summer. I can't wait," a cadet stated, walking past Naxea's bunk. "I'm going to visit the Starfleet Museum. I especially want to tour the Enterprise-D."

"Nerd!" Chen teased. "I'm going to visit the Bahamas. Wanna come, Nax? You can even bring that hot Andorian boyfriend of yours from the Fleet Academy."

Naxea blushed slightly as she glanced at the holo-picture of Arev in his Starfleet Cadet Uniform on the small personal space board in her bunk that cadets were allowed. "Thanks, but we still have Final Drill and Inspection to do before break."

"Yeah, Instructor Teral will find something wrong with each of us. I just know it," Chen sighed. "But hey, next year we get actual dormitory rooms!"

"Hell yeah, I can't wait!" another cadet agreed.

"Get on the line!" came the bellowing voice of Ssgt. Teral as she marched into the platoon bay.

NAxea sn the other cadets got onto the red line running up and down both sides of the bay in front of the bunks. "Aye, ma'am!"

"You all have come far this year! But you still have a hell of a long way to go before you can even think of calling yourselves Officers and Starfleet Marines!" Teral came to a halt in the middle of the bay, taking time to look down each line of cadets. "Tomorrow is your Final Drill and Inspection. Then afterwards, we will go on a semester ending trail run of 10 kilometers! Failure to complete the run will result in remedial PT! Now get in formation for chow!"

"Aye, ma'am!" the cadets sounded off in unison before exiting the bay and getting into formation. Naxea was glad the year was at its end. Next year would be more relaxed in terms of schedule. The first year had mostly been learning the basics of Starfleet History, military rank and courtesies, drill, and building up their physical fitness levels.



The cadets stood in formation in their dress uniforms as Ssgt. Teral moved from one cadet to the other, closely inspecting their uniforms and Starfleet Marine knowledge. She stepped in front of Naxea. "Cadet Azhul. What is Starfleet General Order 13?"

Naxea hesitated as she tried to recall the order. "Starfleet's Thirteenth General Order...is the evacuation order for any Starfleet vessel, ma'am!"

"You don't sound too sure, Azhul. Are you certain?" Teral questioned as she looked over Naxea's dress uniform.

"Yes, ma'am!" Naxea replied.

"Correct. Next time be sure of your answer, even if you are wrong. It is always important to sound certain when making a decision. You second guess and those under you will lose confidence in you."

"Aye, ma'am!"

Teral plucked a loose Irish pennant from the bottom edge of Naxea's uniform. "And next time, be more thorough, Azhul," she said holding up the piece of thread for Naxea to see.

'What the hell?' Naxea thought as she looked at the Irish pennant. "Aye ma'am!" she replied simply.

Two hours later, Naxea and her fellow cadets were running through a trail in the woods. The terrain was uneven, and the cadets had to watch out for tree roots sticking up through the ground. Naxea was pushing herself as she normally did when she heard a yell behind her. Looking back, she saw Cadet Chen lying on the ground, grabbing her ankle. Naxea paused and turned back. "Chen! Are you alright?"

"I don't think so!" she replied through gritted teeth as she grabbed her ankle. "Damn root!"

Naxea looked at Chen's ankle which was already beginning to swell. "I'll get you a medic," Naxea said as she began to turn and run off.

"No! You heard Instructor Teral. If we fail to complete this run, I'll be put on remedial PT. I can't have that on my record. Help me up! I'm finishing this damn run," Chen said, looking up at Naxea as a cadet passed them.

Naxea reached her hand put and helped pull Chen to her feet and helped support Chen. "Come on!"


The two cadets slowly jogged, limped their way down the trail.

--------

At the finish line, the rest of the cadet platoon were waiting for Azhul and Chen to cross as Chen fought back tears.

As they crossed the finish line, Chen nearly collapsed as Naxea immediately shifted her grip to hold onto Chen. "Medic!"

Teral approached the two, kneeling down next to Chen. "About time, Chen, Azhul. But good work, Cadet Azhul. You went back for a fellow cadet. Marines never leave their own."

A medic rushed to Chen's side, scanning the swollen ankle. "You're lucky it's only a bad sprain and not broken," the medic stated as he opened his medical kit and began to heal the ankle.

TBC...

 

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