Postal Marine 1: Bellicose by Ben Wilson Page A

looked like they broke a nail.”
    “I couldn't. As soon as the sack was over my head the beating started. It's nice to know the entire cadre want me gone. Maybe I could get a transfer.”
    “To get a transfer, you'd have to prove deliberate, continuous aggression against you. If you're right and Chrachen 's in on it, I don't think they're going to allow your to prove that.”
    “Having my face beat in is not deliberate aggression?”
    “You have a lot to learn about the Marines. On ship, the captain is like a god. You can lay odds that he let you get beaten to prove a point. He's not pressing the investigation, just the same as Chrachen is covering it up. It's not hard to cover up something like this. Marines get into fights all the time.”
    “Then why didn't they just kill me?”
    “To be honest, I don't know. Maybe they're hoping you'd do them the favor. They're anthorph s, so it's hard to figure them out sometimes.”
    “I've heard that term before. What is an anthorph?”
    “Genetically enhanced humans, except they've bred themselves into a bona fide species. They get recruited into various militaries because they tend to be stronger, faster and more aggressive than normal humans. I'm surprised you've never heard of them before.”
    “That makes two of us.” His vision improved. The light overhead steadily brightened, hurting his eyes. He tried to lift his arm to block the light, but the arm could not reach that far.
    “The light's too bright.”
    Angel stepped away, then returned. “I'm putting this cloth over your eyes. These are the combat night lights. There's nothing dimmer short of turning them all off. As much as I know my bird, I can't get around in the shuttle with the lights completely out. Like I said, we're still a few cycles out. There's a surgeon at the orbital, he should be able to get you back to normal. The good news is you'll be off the Spaka for a few months to recuperate. You know, I thought it was a light-hearted joke that they started calling you Scitan after the hangar shooting.”
    “Why? What's it mean?”
    “It means dung-eater on Johor .”
    “I feel like I have been singled out since I got to the Spaka .”
    “Maybe so. Sometimes the infantry picks a runt out of the litter to torment. Just rest.” Angel walked away.
    Bophendze closed his eyes, but could not go to sleep right away.
I wonder if the surgeon will be Ramford?
“ Angel , did they at least change me out of my greasy uniform?”
    Angel yelled back, “No. Stuff stinks and the scrubbers couldn't purge the smell. I'm going to have to air out the shuttle for a week just to get rid of it.”
    Bophendze sighed.
That means I should have both the implant and the quid chit. If Bingaffles Ramford is the surgeon, maybe I can persuade him to do the operation. Then maybe I can get some payback.
Finally relaxed, he fell to sleep.
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Smee - The Manticore Trial - 110 years ago

    Maijoi, Sirom N.M.L. Sirom was asked two months after his meeting with Bowdoin, Dorsey Lord Dorsey Bowdoin for the simulation data for the Trial. Over the next year, he fumed as the Manticore -Class Trial was delayed. Even during the journey to Ŝipfarejio (The Barns) the Imperial Navy's Headquarters, Sirom was beside himself with anger. Finally, a year after Sirom's last meeting with Bowdoin, the trial was about to be underway.
    Lord Bowdoin was the Trial's judge. Sirom suspected Bowdoin supported the Cel-Tainu design, despite a lifetime of friendship with Microdyn. He tossed aside the loyalty and friendship of Microdyn to join who he thought would be the winning team. Sirom had long wondered what the price of honor was, but knew better than to confront Bowdoin. The entire process was stacked against Organization!Macrodyn Tectronics Universal Microdyn. Sirom did his best not to pace the conference room waiting for the Cel-Tainu representative. Bowdoin would even allow Cel-Tainu to disgrace him by arriving late.
    A cycle later, Ryante, Bertin Ryante