The Last Deployment

[Zeline Koth]

Navy brats had warned Zeline about the cramped quarters en route to the deployment zone. Supposedly, it was even worse for the Army, the logic being that the soldiers weren’t in there long enough for it to matter. And, undoubtedly, it saved a ton of credits so the contractors could line their pockets.

Years of service made her wonder if the title “Petty Officer” carried more weight than intended. These hunks of metal were way better than barracks on the backside of some no-name planet! She even got her own hole in the wall due to her status in the platoon’s command instead of sharing it.

To make it a little more like home, she always made the effort of putting up her decorations. Most of them were posters of the best worlds the galaxy had to offer. Kuat depicted one of their acclaimed shipyards with a lithe woman in red dancing across it. Alderaan possessed a beauty perhaps too opulent. Coruscant reflected a reality she understood better. That didn’t mean that any of those, or the rest, wouldn’t do.

“Daydreaming again?” Lieutenant Korin asked. Though his deep voice lacked any urgency, she still hopped right up to stand at attention. “At ease.” A laugh escaped him, though a finger warned that she shouldn’t join him. “People could learn from you, starting with this lad here. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

“Lothar Gral, at your service.” The boy possessed that fresh look Zeline knew all too well. It was a good look on him. Even outside of uniform standards, he looked like he was so damn clean even as a preteen. “It’s my understanding you are assigned as my platoon’s combat field medic.”

“Guess I shouldn’t expect you to call me ‘Doc.’ Name’s Zeline Koth.” One more introduction this late wasn't typical; she had already met the others way before their deployment to the Outer Rim. Most likely, they had picked Private Gral up during a fuel stop. None of that bothered her, though that didn't mean she liked him quite yet. She stepped enough for him to have a clear view of her collection.

And her suspicions paid off. Private Gral marched up to the wall and said, “You should be careful grouping Corellia with Kuat.”

“I find it’s far worse to lecture the woman who’s supposed to patch you up.”

“Specialist Koth,” the Lieutenant warned. To his credit, he gave Private Gral a disparaging look too. Barring experience, it seemed like he would have been better as a Sergeant. Way worse pay table, though.

Regardless of rank, it was best for her to stay on his good side. Pretending to be disciplined a little longer helped with that. “What’s the big deal?” she asked, not bothering to sound enthusiastic at all.

“Kuat pretends that their greatest export is starships,” Private Gral said with the exact opposite of her energy. “In reality, they pollute the galaxy with imprudent nobles and their sycophants.” He tapped the dancing lady, looked for direction, then slinked back to the Lieutenant’s side.

If there wasn’t an officer present, then she would have loved to demolish his pride. He couldn’t hide his shame. The reason, though, she would probably hear some day. Soldiers loved to talk.

For now, all she said was, “I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Be sure to keep ‘Specialist Koth’ in mind,” Lieutenant Korin said. “Someone gets injured, you know who to call for.”

Zeline sighed. “Let’s keep heroics to a minimum. A well-trained unit will never struggle against the likes of bandits, so I’ve been told.” It wasn’t that she was afraid. She’d been able to treat over ninety-five percent of casualties. The rest, well, were locked behind her mental fortress.

“It’s good to have contingencies,” Lieutenant Korin said, flashing his perfect teeth. She always meant to ask how he got them so pearly white. “Come on, we shouldn’t keep your squad waiting.” He nodded at Zeline, initiating their odd ritual.

“Korin.”

“Koth.” And like that, both he and the new guy left her alone in her abode. Zeline couldn’t help but look back at her collection. If Corellia was full of stuck-up flyboy wannabes, then she’d cross it off the list. One person, one group even, wasn’t representative of an entire culture, though.

Especially not her.