Sigma
Inactive Member
YE 36
Following their initial role in the War Games, the Marines from 4th Fleet were disbanded. There were no more 4th Fleet Marines. There would only be 4th Marine Shaik. Most of the squads were simply sent to the Shaik to fill small holes still remaining. Several, however, were shunted for special training. It was part of a project that Commandant Shang had proposed to Admiral Ironside, who agreed to provide the pilot personnel.
In essence, Shang wanted to supplement the existing IPG Commando ranks with Marine veterans who could, in theory, perform similar roles to the IPG Commandos. Given the length and intensity of the full IPG Commando training course and the immediate need for highly trained special forces, it was decided to simply make it a simpler conversion course that took up a fraction of the time. The Marines would remain Marines but they would also earn the right to wear the black Commando shoulder patch, access to some IPG weapons and be at the beck and call of the IPG for clandestine operations.
The Marines from the Cavaliers, reduced in number to those who had been considered skilled enough for IPG Commando conversion, and Hardman's Hammers were the only ones who were taking part. Each squad drilled separately since the IPG instructors could see that the two units had different issues that needed work. Chief Santiago was also part of the program but he was not present in any of the Marines' training, having been shunted off somewhere else for entirely different training.
They now consisted of Phaedra, Laura, Bernhard, Epic Sequence, Talbain, Henry Morris, Wulfe Stones, Stan Brandt, Bastilen Wreno and a new guy named Delmar.
"Your problem is that you lot don't know how to work together! It's like we put a bunch of juvie gangers and told them what we want to happen. Well guess what, Marines, to be a Commando, you gotta be a team and an individual! To work within the group to accomplish a greater objective and to be smart enough, brave enough, and gutsy enough to do whatever needs to be done for Nepleslia. So, we are gonna work on your communications just as much as we are gonna break your balls!"
For the next five months, the Cavaliers followed the same regimen without stop. In the morning, they would stress their bodies to the limits. Different standards were applied to different species. They would get twenty minutes for food and then off to their courses designed specifically for them. Then they would do unit maneuvers in the evening before being allowed to crash at 11pm. The cycle would continue the next day at 6am.
Every third week, the squad was taken out for a weeklong exercise. Sometimes it was in Power Armor, some times it wasn't. Each time, they ran different situations that they would expect to be in from covert insertions that required them to find their own means of extraction to squad level Commando raids.
Most of the Marines' special courses helped them improve their existing skills or taught them new skills. The point was to train them up so that any of them could do the others' jobs. If the squad leader went down, everyone else could still function without going to pieces.
As much as the NSMC strived for that goal, the chain of command was still present and its sudden loss often disrupted operations. That could not happen to Commandos, who needed to be able to instinctively respond to any sudden action.
At the end of the five months, both the Cavaliers and the Hammers finished their training. Their graduation ceremony was muted and indoors. There was no fanfare, no crowds to cheer them. Just their instructors and the Commandant. In fact, it was held in one of the cafeterias that the Marines normally ate in.
"Welcome, Marines, to the world of shadows and deceit. Even in these times of 'peace,' our enemies are always out there. Waiting, lurking, planning. We will find them out. You will kill them for us. I wish you well, for God knows, we need Commandos. For now, your new unit is Marine Commando Unit 1. It is composed of the two squads you see before you. More may join you after we see what kind of successes you have in the field. Your commanding officer is Master Chief Santiago. Above all, remember this - Nepleslia expects great things from you."
With that the Commandant surrendered the spotlight to Chief Santiago.
"A boring speech," Laura whispered to Bernhard. "These guys volunteered to be the coldest killers in the galaxy, Laura. They don't need or want speeches to boost them," he replied.
"The Commandant has it right, people. We are now fighting in a new way. Our upcoming actions will be veiled in secrecy and deniability. No one will read about your exploits until your grandchildren are adults. For all intents and purposes, anything we undertake as Commandos is something that will never be known to the public. Look at this graduation ceremony. All we get is a buffet table. But, to make up for it, we also get some cool new toys, a shining black patch, higher pay, and three weeks leave starting tomorrow! So why am I wasting your time? Attack the buffet table and get your gear packed!"
Following their initial role in the War Games, the Marines from 4th Fleet were disbanded. There were no more 4th Fleet Marines. There would only be 4th Marine Shaik. Most of the squads were simply sent to the Shaik to fill small holes still remaining. Several, however, were shunted for special training. It was part of a project that Commandant Shang had proposed to Admiral Ironside, who agreed to provide the pilot personnel.
In essence, Shang wanted to supplement the existing IPG Commando ranks with Marine veterans who could, in theory, perform similar roles to the IPG Commandos. Given the length and intensity of the full IPG Commando training course and the immediate need for highly trained special forces, it was decided to simply make it a simpler conversion course that took up a fraction of the time. The Marines would remain Marines but they would also earn the right to wear the black Commando shoulder patch, access to some IPG weapons and be at the beck and call of the IPG for clandestine operations.
The Marines from the Cavaliers, reduced in number to those who had been considered skilled enough for IPG Commando conversion, and Hardman's Hammers were the only ones who were taking part. Each squad drilled separately since the IPG instructors could see that the two units had different issues that needed work. Chief Santiago was also part of the program but he was not present in any of the Marines' training, having been shunted off somewhere else for entirely different training.
They now consisted of Phaedra, Laura, Bernhard, Epic Sequence, Talbain, Henry Morris, Wulfe Stones, Stan Brandt, Bastilen Wreno and a new guy named Delmar.
"Your problem is that you lot don't know how to work together! It's like we put a bunch of juvie gangers and told them what we want to happen. Well guess what, Marines, to be a Commando, you gotta be a team and an individual! To work within the group to accomplish a greater objective and to be smart enough, brave enough, and gutsy enough to do whatever needs to be done for Nepleslia. So, we are gonna work on your communications just as much as we are gonna break your balls!"
For the next five months, the Cavaliers followed the same regimen without stop. In the morning, they would stress their bodies to the limits. Different standards were applied to different species. They would get twenty minutes for food and then off to their courses designed specifically for them. Then they would do unit maneuvers in the evening before being allowed to crash at 11pm. The cycle would continue the next day at 6am.
Every third week, the squad was taken out for a weeklong exercise. Sometimes it was in Power Armor, some times it wasn't. Each time, they ran different situations that they would expect to be in from covert insertions that required them to find their own means of extraction to squad level Commando raids.
Most of the Marines' special courses helped them improve their existing skills or taught them new skills. The point was to train them up so that any of them could do the others' jobs. If the squad leader went down, everyone else could still function without going to pieces.
As much as the NSMC strived for that goal, the chain of command was still present and its sudden loss often disrupted operations. That could not happen to Commandos, who needed to be able to instinctively respond to any sudden action.
At the end of the five months, both the Cavaliers and the Hammers finished their training. Their graduation ceremony was muted and indoors. There was no fanfare, no crowds to cheer them. Just their instructors and the Commandant. In fact, it was held in one of the cafeterias that the Marines normally ate in.
"Welcome, Marines, to the world of shadows and deceit. Even in these times of 'peace,' our enemies are always out there. Waiting, lurking, planning. We will find them out. You will kill them for us. I wish you well, for God knows, we need Commandos. For now, your new unit is Marine Commando Unit 1. It is composed of the two squads you see before you. More may join you after we see what kind of successes you have in the field. Your commanding officer is Master Chief Santiago. Above all, remember this - Nepleslia expects great things from you."
With that the Commandant surrendered the spotlight to Chief Santiago.
"A boring speech," Laura whispered to Bernhard. "These guys volunteered to be the coldest killers in the galaxy, Laura. They don't need or want speeches to boost them," he replied.
"The Commandant has it right, people. We are now fighting in a new way. Our upcoming actions will be veiled in secrecy and deniability. No one will read about your exploits until your grandchildren are adults. For all intents and purposes, anything we undertake as Commandos is something that will never be known to the public. Look at this graduation ceremony. All we get is a buffet table. But, to make up for it, we also get some cool new toys, a shining black patch, higher pay, and three weeks leave starting tomorrow! So why am I wasting your time? Attack the buffet table and get your gear packed!"
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