Sergeant (The United Federation Marine Corps Book 2) by Jonathan P. Brazee Page A

thinking. About life, you know. I had my tour with 1stMarDiv as a grunt, then re-upped and went to the drill field. Never saw any action, though, not like you. I don’t know how I would have reacted,” Joshua said matter-of-factly.
    “You would have been fine, kicking ass and taking names,” Ryck assured him.
    “Maybe, but I was single then. Now, I’m gonna have me a wife and kid, and they’re gonna need me.”
    “No hurry on the kid, there, big boy. Take it a step at a time,” Ryck told him.
    “Already took that step,” Joshua admitted.
    “You mean you knocked her up,” Ryck asked, surprised.
    “You’ll see in about seven-and-a-half months,” Joshua told him. “Hope came out to visit me on Tarawa, and well, you know how that goes.”
    “Yeah, I guess I do now!” Ryck exclaimed.
    “So, what I mean is, I still gotta prove myself in combat. You’ve been there. You’ve proven the temper of your steel. We’ve never talked about it, but I gotta know if I can do the same. But now, I’m going to be a husband and a father. Hope thinks she’s gonna like the military life, but only if I redesignate into a pogue billet.”
    “You want to do that?” Ryck asked his friend.
    “Fuck no. I need to prove myself first. Maybe after, but not now.”
    “Well, you’re just going to have to tell her,” Ryck said.
    “Hey, you two done making out in there? They’re calling for the groom!” a voice shouted out accompanied by a pounding on the door.
    “Just a freaking minute!” Joshua shouted back.
    “Hey, don’t stress out now. This is your happy day. We’ll talk later, OK?” Ryck said.
    “OK, OK. We’ll talk,” Joshua said, taking a deep breath. “Thanks, bro, though, for coming.”
    “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. And I am honored to be your best man. Surprised, though. Your brother is out in the next room, and you’ve got your Camp Charles buds.”
    “What, Ezekiel? Nope. He’s married, and Kellen, he’s married, too. According to tradition, a best man has to be single. The other guys, I just needed eight for the sword arch.”
    “So I’m your third choice? Suddenly, I’m not feeling so honored,” Ryck said with a chuckle.
    “Hey, at least you made the list, bro!”
    “Before we go, here,” Joshua said, taking a slim package from his trouser pocket. “I think it’s traditional, right, for the Best Man?”
    Ryck took it, admiring the clean packing for a moment, then tried to slide off the ribbon without breaking it.”
    “For goodness sakes, just open the grubbing thing!”
    Ryck broke the ribbon and slit the paper. His heart caught when he saw the name on the box. He opened it, and yes, there was a Rolex Adventurer, shiny and beckoning.
    “Shit, Joshua, that’s amazing, but it’s what, a month’s pay?”
    “A month-and-a-half, but who’s counting?”
    “I can’t take this!” Ryck protested.
    “Yeah, you can. This is from me to you, brother.”
    “I don’t know what to say.”
    “You can say thanks. And you can make sure I don’t grubbing faint out there. No viral vids making the circuit of me passing out, OK?”
    “Sure thing, and well, thanks. I think your blushing bride is waiting for her prince.” Ryck told him.
    They hugged one more time before opening the door and stepping out to where the others were waiting.
    “Enjoy your last few minutes of freedom, there, Sergeant of Marines. Let’s go get this thing done,” Ryck said as he escorted his friend to change his life.

Pannington
     
    Chapter 6
     
    The Stork flared above the LZ, the ramp coming down to half a meter above the grass. Ryck was up as the light turned green, pushing forward to debark and deploy into a defensive position.
    Ryck was nervous despite his previous combat experience. Over the last five years, he’d gotten used to his PICS. He hadn’t gone into a hot zone in skins and bones since Atacama, his very first operation. Still, he was a Marine, and every Marine was a rifleman. It was the man