Promotion to Quasi-Scholar

Venice District, Pride of Boke, June 11, 2488.

Base of the 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 33rd Ground Assault Division, Terran Confederacy.

Several days had passed since August, for the first time, arrived in this city now reduced to ruins. Despite some setbacks, he and his comrades were, at the very least, still alive. Lieutenant Warfield had been sent to the Pride of Boke military hospital, and no further news had been received since.

The commander of the Imperial reconnaissance company that arrived to provide rescue was astonished. As a raw recruit with zero combat experience, August had somehow managed to lead a platoon of equally green soldiers to rout a Kel-Morian Assault Cavalry squad.

In that commander's eyes, the fact that these recruits hadn't collapsed or scattered on the spot when encountering the enemy without formal command was nothing short of a miracle.

The reconnaissance company commander spoke highly of August's ability to adapt to the situation on the fly, stating bluntly that he would report it truthfully, and that the Marine Corps Command would be more than happy to award him a Medal of Honor.

August's original recruit platoon was slated to be broken up by the Department of Military Administration and distributed among the various companies of the 5th Battalion. However, in the end, it was decided to keep the unit intact and assign it to the 3rd Platoon of Warfield's 1st Company, which had suffered the heaviest casualties, retaining its designation as the 1st Combat Squad.

His platoon leader was a young second lieutenant named Reagan Streicher, a lean, dark-haired man who was efficient and decisive, and a long-time subordinate of Warfield.

Years of continuous war had led to a severe shortage of non-commissioned officers with formal military education and professional training. Consequently, August, who had served as a recruit sergeant, remained the squad leader of the 1st Squad. A week later, Warfield would either reassign officers or promote a batch of privates directly to NCOs to lead these recruit squads.

Over the next few days, August was busy writing a report on his command of the recruit platoon against the assault cavalry. This combat report would eventually be submitted to a master sergeant in the 5th Battalion to flesh out his otherwise empty recruit service record.

His company remained at the base resting during this period, without executing any military missions. This time was very peaceful for the soldiers; aside from the occasional flight of Avengers and bomber squadrons passing high above the base toward the distance, one couldn't even hear gunfire near the encampment.

During this time, August and his comrades underwent training aimed at coordination and combat improvement under the guidance of 3rd Platoon leader Lieutenant Reagan. In the process, Lieutenant Reagan also recounted the history and glorious achievements of the 33rd Ground Assault Division to the recruits.

When Reagan praised their division commander, Arcturus Mengsk, with full reverence as an upright, selfless, and fearless outstanding commander and a strategic genius, August felt extremely awkward, regardless of which identity or perspective he viewed the matter from.

Overall, Reagan was actually easy to get along with. He was an excellent Marine officer who could execute superior orders meticulously and without slack, yet he was also humorous and approachable, capable of bonding with his subordinates.

August got along well with Reagan, and they soon became good friends. The only issue was that the lieutenant seemed quite fixated on his surname, Mengsk.

However, this comfortable life in the barracks for August changed on June 11, as Lieutenant Warfield had been discharged and returned to the chain of command.

That afternoon, Warfield called August into his company office and handed him a dark green military badge featuring three vertically aligned, inverted "V" symbols.

"Congratulations, you are now a corporal. Sergeant Mengsk, this is your new ID card." At the same time, Warfield handed August a bronze medal and a golden wheat-ear ribbon. The medal featured an exquisitely carved side profile of an eagle with sharp eyes, with the words "Medal of Honor" inscribed in small English letters.

In the Confederate military promotion system, this Medal of Honor was typically awarded to officers who had shown bravery in combat and were about to be promoted. In some cases, this medal could also substitute for the merit or examination points required for a promotion.

August noticed that the significant wound on Warfield's head had scabbed over, yet he remained high-spirited with eyes like torches. The lieutenant's desk didn't have many files; instead, it was covered in disassembled parts of pistols and rifles.

Standing behind Warfield was a young soldier carrying a slender rifle. He had striking golden hair, a narrow chin, thin lips, and eyes set slightly wider apart than average, which made his appearance look somewhat uncoordinated. Beyond that, the sniper badge on his chest and his sharp, eagle-like blue eyes were quite impressive.

"Lieutenant, I am relieved to see you safe and sound," August said with a few polite words as he accepted the rank insignia and the medal.

"Haha, thanks to you," Warfield said with a gratified smile, not sparing any praise: "Without your command, how could that bunch of greenhorns have turned into such vicious wolves? You saved me, and you saved everyone in the recruit platoon. This is a miracle; the General Staff has highly praised your heroic deeds!"

"For a newly graduated recruit, being able to organize a platoon in the absence of a commanding officer without letting them collapse, flee, or surrender collectively is already commendable. August Mengsk already possesses the most important qualities of a sergeant and even a commissioned officer."

"In the process of leading the 2nd Recruit Platoon to finally defeat the Kel-Morian Assault Cavalry squad, every one of his orders was never superfluous. August Mengsk's genius military talent and strategic foresight have already begun to show in this operation."

August could tell that this must have been the commentary from some Marine staff officer regarding his report and himself, and Warfield was simply reciting it directly.

"This is all you deserve," Warfield said, looking at August. "As for the batch of Ardien Crystals you captured, our supply sergeant is still appraising them. The bonus will be credited to the next month's pay for all the recruits in the platoon. The 33rd Ground Assault Division is different from other units; there will absolutely be no cases of officers lining their own pockets."

"I am grateful for everything you have done for me." Just as his expression revealed, August was indeed very happy. Originally, he had thought that under normal procedures, it would take at least three months for him to be promoted from private to private first class.

"By the way, your brother—I mean, Colonel Arcturus Mengsk—will arrive at Turaxis II next week," Warfield said to August, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

August had no reaction to this, merely nodding indifferently.

"And I would like to introduce you to a new member of your squad, Private Rick Kidd, a recruit from your same intake. In this batch, he is the most outstanding recruit sniper." Warfield looked at the recruit beside him at this moment.

"Take him and report to your superior."

"We are comrades now," August said, shaking hands with the approaching Rick Kidd.

On the way back to the 1st Squad barracks, Rick seemed somewhat reserved, appearing introverted and taciturn, only answering a word or two when August asked him questions.

August, meanwhile, was carefully reading Rick's recruit service record, the training camp instructor's recommendation letter, and a paper P-1 file.

These materials all pointed to the same point: although the recruit Rick had never touched a firearm before joining the army and had shown no sniper talent or aptitude in the first two weeks, after receiving such training, Rick had earned his sniper badge in just eight weeks at the recruit training camp.

Previously, only two people in the history of the recruit training camp had received such an honor, and both of them had graduated from the only sniper academy on Tarsonis.

Thanks to Osi, Dazhou Qiziche, En-e-a-ha-ha-xia, Elite Terran Soldier, Yixian-hao Book Friend, Law of Destruction, Dreams, Chenfeng, and zerostart for the monthly tickets; thanks to clement001, Rongrong Agent, Dreams, and Chenfeng for the tips; thanks for the investments and the recommendation votes!