Recruit by Jonathan Brazee (the best ebook reader for android .txt) 📕

no say in where the Navy would stick him next or what job he would have.

No, the Legion would be a better choice.  The Legion was only semi-official, not a true branch of the Federation government.  It was still technically sponsored by France, one of the last independent nations of old Earth, but everyone realized the Federation still helped support it.  While it could be hired out by planetary governments or corporations for missions, the Federation was not above using it for missions that it could not send the Navy or Marines on due to legal issues. 

Ryck made his way down to the Legion offices.  There were four other guys sitting in the line of chairs in the hallway in front of the recruiting office.  Ryck reported into the legionnaire sitting at the reception desk and was told to take a seat.  Where he waited.  And waited.  At 3:00, he went back up to the legionnaire.

“Sorry, but we’re running behind,” the soldier told him.  “You’ll just have to take a seat and wait.”

“I shoulda told ya,” the guy next to him said as Ryck sat back down.  “I be waitin’ since lunchtime.  Somtin’s goin’ on in dere, and we just be coolin’ our heels out here.”

Ryck had already noted the black trousers and dark blue shirt, the indication that his seat companion was probably a Torritite, but the accent was a dead giveaway.

“Ryck Lysander,” he told the guy, holding out his hand.  “My appointment was at 2:30.”

“Joshua Hope-of-Life,” the guy replied, taking Ryck’s hand in a surprisingly strong grip.

“So, you’re joining the Legion?” Ryck asked, a question evident in his voice.

The Torritites were a fundamentalist religious sect.  There weren’t any Torritite communities up near Ryck, but he knew there were several to the south of Williamson.  They generally kept to themselves in big combined families, running their farms as communal property.  It seemed odd to see a Torty there signing up for the military.

“Don’ ask.  I know what you question.  You Gentiles think we Brethren all be peace-lovin’ do-gooders.  We do believe in what the Good Book says about lovin’ your neighbor, but that only goes so far.  I be named for Joshua, and he was a soldier most ‘standing.  He took down Jericho’s walls, after all.”

Ryck leaned back.  He hadn’t wanted to piss the guy off.  He’d just been curious.

“I didn’t mean anything.  I just was surprised.  I thought you guys kept to yourself and all,” he stammered out.

Joshua raised his eyes and mouthed something silently before turning back to Ryck.  “Take my pardon, Ryck.  No offense takin’ or givin’.  It’s just here, in Williamson, with every soul lookin’ and gawkin’ at me, like they know me, well, forgive me for assumin’ anything about you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ryck said.  “I was just curious.  I thought you couldn’t fight or hit people back.”

“Well, we turn the other cheek, true, but that’s only afore we light the other guy up,” he said with a laugh.  “Truly, though, we always have men in the military, especially afta Sygylla.  Sometimes in the militia, but some of us, we go Navy, Marines, or Legion.  We even got an admiral now with the squids.”

“No grubbing shit?” Ryck asked.  “Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to curse like that.”

“Yeah, no grubbing mother grubber shit,” Joshua said with a laugh.  “We be religious and all, but don’t worry none about cursin’.  We don’ take the Lord’s name in vain, but everythin’ else be fair game.”

Ryck realized he liked Joshua.  He’d never had contact with a Torty before, and except for his way of speaking and his clothes, he could be anyone else Ryck had ever known.  Before too long, even the clothing difference would be gone when they were wearing the Legion kepi and 42’s.

They sat together, getting to know about each other as they waited for their interview.  Their daily lives were really not that much different beyond their family organization.  With Ryck, it had been their small five-member family, then eventually just Lysa and him. Joshua, though, lived in an extended family with nine mothers, twelve fathers, and thirty-six siblings.  Ryck couldn’t imagine living like that, but as far as the rest:  the farming, the schooling, the sports, the entertainment, the girl-chasing, they were surprisingly the same. 

“Ryck Lysander, what the hell are you doing here, aside from the obvious, I mean,” a voice called out.

Ryck looked up to see Proctor Miller standing there.  Proctor was from the next settlement to the north of his.  They attended different schools, but had competed against each other in lineball, b-ball, and they’d even wrestled each other.  They couldn’t really be called good friends, but they were at least friendly competitors.

Ryck jumped up to shake Proctor’s hand.

“Good to see you!  I’m here just enlisting.  How about you?  You here for the Legion, too?”

“Legion?  No way.  I’ve already been accepted into the Marines.  I’m just here to get my ticket to report in.  The Marine’s are where it’s at, there, Ryck.  Not the fancy-ass Legion.  Oh, no offense intended,” he added, as two of the others waiting overheard him and started to get up.

“Really, Ryck.  Why do you want to join the Legion?  They’re mercenaries,” he asked in a subdued voice. 

“We all be mercenaries, Marines, Navy, or Legion.  Only the militias be true home fighters,” Joshua said, standing up beside Ryck.

“Oh, Proctor, this is Joshua Hope-is- . . . Joshua, what’s your last name again?”

“Hope-of-Life,” Joshua said, holding out his hand to Proctor.

“Good to meet you,” Proctor said.  “And there’s a lot of truth to what you just said.  But the militias and the planetary armies never leave their home planet, never go off-world.  I want to see our galaxy.  I want to go places.  I’m not cut out to be a sailor.  That leaves the Legion and the Marines, and at least the Marines don’t get hired out as mercenaries.  The Marines fight for a cause.”

“And you don’ think the Fed uses the Marines for its own purposes?  Things not for altruistic causes?” Joshua asked.

“Of course I know that,” Proctor conceded.  “But not as much as the Legion is used by whoever has the bigger bank account.”

“But I keep hearing about how the Marines have to take second-hand equipment.  Even some armies are better armed, and the Legion had all the newest gear,” Ryck said.

“True, but those armies don’t have the power of the Navy behind them, and when are we ever going to fight the Legion?  Besides, any Marine can kick any kepi-wearing froggie if it came to that.

“Easy does it, fellow.  You’re not even a legionnaire, yet, and I’m just trash-talking,” he said to one of the other waiting guys who had actually stood up upon overhearing Proctor’s boast.  “We love the Legion, and you guys are all superhuman soldiers,” he added.

“Just not as tough as Marines,” he whispered to Ryck and Joshua as the guy sat back down.

“Look, I’m going down to get my ticket out of here.  Why don’t you two come down with me?  It won’t hurt just to get some information, right?  Then you can come back down here if you still want to get in line for your kepi,” Proctor said.

“I don’t know,” Ryck said.  “I’ve got an appointment, and what if they call my name while I’m gone?”

“Hey, what time be your appointment?” Joshua asked the guy who was the one who had started to take offense at Proctor’s earlier words.

“Eleven,” the guy said, obviously still not completely mollified by Proctor’s apologies.

“See, they aren’t going to get to you for a long time.  Come on down with me,” Proctor said.

“I . . . well, I think the Legion gives more opportunities.  I can appreciate what you’re saying, but . . .” Ryck said before Joshua interrupted.

“I’ll do it.  Lead on.”

Ryck turned to stare at Joshua.

“You’re joining the Marines?  What about the Legion?” Ryck asked.

He’d only just met Joshua, but the thought of going to Camerone for recruit training with Joshua sounded a whole lot better than going without anyone he knew. 

“Not to join.  But to get information be the smart thing to do.  I considered the Marines, but my brother be a legionnaire, so I chose the Legion.  Our good friend here,” he said, indicating the guy with the eleven o’clock appointment, “still waits, so we have time.  I be tired of sittin’ here, so a walk will let me get off my grubbin’ ass and stretch my legs.”

“Well, just to get more information?” Ryck asked.

“Just info,” Proctor assured him.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt.  Maybe we can hit the snack bar and get something to eat, too,” Ryck told them.

Ryck and Joshua followed Proctor farther down the hallway while Proctor told them about his orders, about his departure in three days, about how his girlfriend had come with him and they were shacking up in the Holiday Inn until he left.  Proctor hadn’t even gotten warmed up when they reached the Marine recruiting station. 

Where the Navy office was opulent in a technically-advanced setting and the Legion’s office was understated, but classy, the Marine Corps recruiting station was Spartan.  There was a plastocrete desk serving for reception, and on a poster on the wall behind it was an image of a steely-eyed young man in the Marine Dress Blues staring at whoever would be standing in front of the desk.  His chest was adorned in ribbons.  Unlike at the Navy and Legion recruiting offices, there was no one waiting.  In fact, there was no one in the