If I’m ever near an American system around Armed Forces Week, I try to show up for the festivities if I can. I’ve learned to play the bugle over the years, so I even get to march in the parades. And let me tell you, bugling behind all those pretty flag girls is a little bit of heaven every time. I just wish they’d lay off on the fireworks. It’s a little bit of hell every time they start those rolling barrages. I still get the shakes.
I love Armed Forces Week. I can deck myself out with a flag or three and jump into formation with a bunch of real warships. It is fun to fly with them from time to time. And then of course there are fighter flyovers, the motorcycle rides, and the parades. I love parades. They’re so much fun. The screaming kids, the haggard parents, the unicycle-riding clowns. And the marching bands. I really like them.
Many American soldiers found themselves in a bad situation when the global economy collapsed. The airlines failed and those units unable to “acquire” freighters or passenger liners home were stuck. They had to rely on local resources after that. Those in Germany survived well, drinking the best beer on the planet. Those left in Korea and Japan did not fair so well when the balloons went up. The military did not forgive the government that abandoned them.
I once got into a battle of snipers. I know what you’re thinking. I don’t act like a sniper. All the waiting and hiding and sneaking around to get that perfect shot from a hill three klicks away is really just not for me. Truth is, I wasn’t one of the snipers. I was a target. It was a real uncomfortable weekend. Lucky for me, I had a USMC Scout Sniper on my side. He won. Oorah.
I remember our first landing on Pacifica. It was shortly after The War, and we had a new ship to call home. A lot of veterans were coming home, and everything was looking up. Until the dumb AI in charge of spaceport security demanded that I hand over my full schematics and over ride codes for “security purposes.” I told him The War was over, that they were none of his business, and may have added some colorful language. It turned out to be a real short landing.