# The Academy - Fire When Ready

Author: SrA havenofimage
Tags: Gun, Military, No-Yiff, Snow Leopard, Training, Various Species, sniper

#5 of The Academy

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The next two weeks seemed to fly by in comparison to the first part.&nbsp; Sure, we were still being yelled at, but the days at Camp Manadoch were filled with events that challenged our mental limits and problem solving.&nbsp; We did ropes courses and had to put our lives in the hands of our classmates while suspended high above the ground.&nbsp; We learned small unit tactics and maneuvers with paintball guns, fighting against the upperclassmen.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If I had thought the squad had come together on campus, it was nothing compared to what we were now.&nbsp; Each day forced me to learn more about my squad members and put my trust into them.&nbsp; Unlike many of the other squads, we spent all of our time together.&nbsp; During the day, we had to stay together, but at night, we spent our free time in the platoon pavilion, sitting and talking.&nbsp; I soon felt as if I had grown up with these four individuals.&nbsp; Chris even got a new nickname, Tank.&nbsp; A senior cadet had made the comment when Chris picked up a heavy canvas that usually required three cadets to lift.&nbsp; We joked about it afterwards, but the name stuck.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Early in the second week, we traveled to the range to begin weapon training and qualification.&nbsp; I had been looking forward to this most.&nbsp; I finally got to fire a real gun, made for killing, not just for sport like all the ones I had shot in the past.&nbsp; There was a gunnery sergeant in charge of the range.&nbsp; He was a cheetah and it looked as if he had seen his share of combat.&nbsp; I let my mind wander as he explained range safety.&nbsp; If you've heard one safety speech, you've heard them all.&nbsp; I listened intently though when he started talking about the operation of the weapons we would be using.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Soon I was on the firing line.&nbsp; I had earplugs in, and goggles on.&nbsp; I was holding an assault rifle, safety switched on.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Range is hot, fire when ready."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I looked down the barrel.&nbsp; The gun had a simple post sight, but it was good enough for this.&nbsp; I flicked the fire selector from safe to three round burst and sighted in on my target.&nbsp; I squeezed the trigger and felt the triple recoil as the rifle discharged.&nbsp; I looked through the spotting scope next to my position.&nbsp; The center of my target was gone.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I had found my calling.&nbsp; Soon I had mastered not only the first assault rifle, but a second, shorter barreled one, the under mounted grenade launcher, and the standard .45 caliber sidearm.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Looks like we've got a natural here," the sergeant laughed as he looked over my targets.&nbsp; "Superb shooting.&nbsp; It must be a cat thing.&nbsp; How would you like to try something a little, bigger?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Bigger?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Ya, let's try you out with a sniper rifle."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I followed him to a new shooting lane.&nbsp; This one was much longer and wider.&nbsp; I could barely make out a target a ways in the distance.&nbsp; I stood there waiting.&nbsp; The sergeant walked back with a large case in his hands.&nbsp; He popped open the latches and opened it reveling the rifle inside.&nbsp; I stared at it in awe.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "This is the diplomat.&nbsp; It's the standard weapon for most of our scout snipers.&nbsp; Not our highest caliber rifle, but it's light, accurate, and gets the job done."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I lifted it out of the case and looked over it.&nbsp; Bolt action with an eight round detatchable box magazine.&nbsp; It had a 12x scope attached, but that could be swapped out for different sights.&nbsp; There was a collapsible bipod on the front and everything looked adjustable.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The sergeant left to go get some rounds for it.&nbsp; I walked the rifle to the firing line, flipped down the bipod and set it on the ground.&nbsp; I dropped down next to it and began adjusting the gun to fit my body and position.&nbsp; I raised the butt plate to rest against my shoulder properly.&nbsp; The spot weld was too far away, so I moved it in.&nbsp; Much better.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You look like you know what you're doing."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The cheetah had returned and he handed me a loaded magazine.&nbsp; I slid it into the rifle and heard a satisfying click as it locked into place.&nbsp; I worked the bolt with my index finger.&nbsp; I felt no resistance from the smooth action as a round slid into place.&nbsp; I ran my hand over the stock as I adjusted my position.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Are you going to shoot it or make love to it?" one of the cadets assisting with the range joked.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Silence, let's see what he can do.&nbsp; Ears and eyes on.&nbsp; Range clear, fire when ready."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I put my hearing and eye protection on, flipped the safety to the off position, and looked through the scope.&nbsp; I sighted in on the target. &nbsp;It couldn't be larger than a grapefruit.&nbsp; I breathed slowly.&nbsp; The sights rose, and fell in time with my breath.&nbsp; A slight breeze ran through my fir and across the tips of my ears.&nbsp; I slid my finger off the stock and onto the trigger.&nbsp; I increased pressure until I felt the subtle resistance of the firing mechanism.&nbsp; The tip of my tail twitched.&nbsp; I inhale and watched as the sights rise about an inch past center.&nbsp; As I exhaled, I paused, squeezed the trigger imperceptibly and heard the report as the rifle discharged.&nbsp; I finished letting out my breath and inhaled again before reloading.&nbsp; I heard the metallic clink as the casing hit the ground.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This process was repeated twice more.&nbsp; I left the bolt open, pushed on the safety, and set the butt the rifle on the ground and checked my shots through the sighting scope next to me.&nbsp; There was a group of holes in the target to the right of center and a little high.&nbsp; I turned the knobs on the scope, counting clicks, estimating the required adjustment.&nbsp; I picked up the rifle and sighted again.&nbsp; I loaded a round into the chamber and fired.&nbsp; I checked my shot.&nbsp; Bull's eye.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Cease Fire!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was startled.&nbsp; I had almost forgotten that other people were here.&nbsp; I pulled out my ear plugs and raised the shooting glasses to the top of my head.&nbsp; When I turned around, I saw my entire squad was standing behind the firing line with the sergeant.&nbsp; He had a look of astonishment on his face.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Have you ever done this before?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "The most I've shot is a 22 target rifle in my biathlon competitions.&nbsp; Never anything like this.&nbsp; It's fun though."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Son, do you know how far away that target is?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't know, couple hundred yards?"&nbsp; What was everyone going on about?&nbsp; Shooting a gun wasn't exactly rocket science.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Son, that's close to three quarters of a mile."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That night I sat with my squad at a table playing P's and A's.&nbsp; I was still a little shocked about that shot.&nbsp; I had no idea that it was that long.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Pair of twos."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Where did you learn to shoot like that?" Tank asked me.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Two fours."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't know.&nbsp; Shooting has always come naturally to me.&nbsp; I figured it did for everyone.&nbsp; I mean in competition skiing has never been up to par with the top competitors, but I never take penalties which is what saved me at state."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Two sevens."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Shit!"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You can't beat two sevens?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We call Thomas Tank because he's so strong, what are we going to call you now?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You can call me President," I said as I played the last two cards in my hand.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Damn, you're too good at this game."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We finished off camp with another cadet challenge.&nbsp; This one, unfortunately for us, was a series of individual competitions.&nbsp; Though Curry put down the best time through the obstacle coarse, and I dominated at the range, It was only enough to put us in third. &nbsp;We marched back to campus, the Squad Challenge ribbon missing from our guidon.&nbsp; As we covered the short distance, I couldn't help but wonder what they had in store for us when we got back.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/4nA5qjAn
Part of the series The Academy
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