Chapters from the life of John Vero

[Vero]

Chapter 3 - Breakfast


Vero lay on his bunk staring up at the ceiling in the near darkness of his sleeping quarters. It was his second night at West Point Academy and he had been unable to sleep for most of the night. Thoughts of all he had learned during orientation the day before swam through his head, threatening to become a confused jumble.

He shifted to reposition the sheet beneath him.

Crumb! it was an old expletive substitute hed picked up from his mother-in-law, of all places. It was much cleaner than what hed like to have used. Where in Sirius do they get these mattresses? he grumbled to himself.
The mattress surface seemed to be a woven textile of natural fibers from some plant Vero remembered seeing on an educational holo back in grade school. The holo had described natives of some Asian regions on old Earth as having woven their own very comfortable mattresses from the Jute plant or some such. Right now Vero wished it had been a lost art when the sleeper ships had left Sol.
After a pair of LSF issue boxer shorts and a tee shirt, the sheet, though heavily starched, provided his second line of defense against the rough surface. Hed considered placing the one standard issue heavy blanket beneath him as well, but the temperature controls in the bunk rooms seemed to have a wicked sense of humor. The climate had shifted wildly between too warm and too cold through the long night and Vero found himself alternately throwing the blanket off and pulling it back on through these fluctuations.

Finally, unable to find comfort enough to return to sleep, he arose and made his way to the showers. Once finished there he returned to his bunkroom and dressed in the fatigues he had been issued. A standard light flight suit in grey. It identified him as one of the few LSF Cadets on station. West Point Academy was built for, and run by, the Liberty Navy. Navy Cadets wore similar flight suits, but theirs were blue rather than the grey assigned to LSF Cadets.
Oddly enough the official uniforms of both Navy and LSF officers were blue, and most civilians could not discern the difference between them on first glance.

LSF recruits had a bit more freedom than Navy Cadets on station. Whereas the Navy Cadets had seemingly every minute planned and controlled by drill instructors; the LSF Cadets had a class and training schedule posted in their ready room that left some room for flexibility in their day.
Vero left his bunkroom and headed for the mess hall. He figured getting there a few minutes before the Navy Cadets might be a good idea and since he still wasnt 100% sure of the stations layout yet the extra time he had would leave room for a wrong turn or two.

Arriving without much trouble Vero spotted two of his LSF classmates Cadet Victory and Cadet Walker already seated and eating. He went through the food line quickly and with his tray laden with Synth proteins, carbs, and some bona fide fruit he made his way over to join them.

Vero had learned during the orientation day that Walker was Bretonian born and raised. He was a tech specialist and recent graduate of University of New London. With a strong analytical mind and an athletic build, Vero expected Walker would be one of the top Cadets in this class once things got rolling.
Cadet Victory seemed to be a drill instructors dream soldier. A recent Officer Training Program graduate from his local community college. Yes sir seemed to be on the tip of Victorys tongue at every instant. He volunteered for every task offered and finished each task exactly by the book. Vero wondered why he hadnt gone into the Navy instead of joining the LSF.
Vero was ten or more years older than each of them and he wondered if hed be able to keep up with them once the physical training started.

So looks like well be assigned our Cadet Defenders today, Vero commented as he sat down.

Vessel orientation begins at 1400, Victory responded between bites.

Vero and Walker made eye contact and there seemed to be some amusement in Walkers eye at Victorys response.

Either of you ever piloted one? asked Vero, trying to keep the conversation alive.

I have 6.2 hours on the BDR-337 class, Victorys response was delivered again between bites of food. Previous to that 4.5 hours on CTE-1270AV trainers.

All my flight experience has been in the Starflier, Cavalier, and one flight in a Crusader, explained Walker.

Vero listened to their responses while he took a few bites of his food.

What about you, Vero? Walker questioned. Have you had any previous flight experience?

Vero swallowed while he nodded his head, I was LPI before coming here. Mostly footwork, but Ive flown somewhere in the neighborhood of five hundred patrols in a Patriot.

Victorys eyes lit up in response. Any combat situations?

A few, Vero replied. Mostly Liberty Rogues in Bloodhounds. With a bit of luck Ive survived each encounter.

Confirmed kills? Victory again.

Yes, forty three confirmed solo. Around ninety assists.

Victory sighed heavily and his eyes became unfocused for a moment.

What about the others? Either of you know if they have previous flight time? asked Walker.

Vero responded, I hear Hughes was a Liberty Navy fighter jock for two years. I dont know if he has any actual combat experience though.

Storm was Bretonia Police Authority before, but she worked a desk job, said Victory. Somebody said Defiant and Diaz were both freelancers out in the border worlds for a while. Theyd have to have combat experience if thats true. Raven is right out of school and probably has less flight time than I do. I have no idea about the background of the last Cadet whos coming in today.

Rambo, is his name, Walker informed them. Theres a rumor he was a top bounty hunter out in the Taus. Hes supposedly got thousands of kills hunting Outcasts. The rumors say he joined LSF as part of a Liberty relocation program after testifying in some big trial. Hell be an interesting study if thats all true.

The three Cadets finished their breakfasts in silence. Each one lost in his own thoughts.
Finally, Walker said Oh seven thirty, class in half and hour. Might be time to head towards the ready room.
The others nodded in agreement and after dropping their trays on the moving belt that lead to the kitchen washroom they headed for the LSF Cadet Ready Room.