The Calling – Chapter 13 – Drop Simulations

Yet those who wait for the LORD

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:31

The Classroom

The week leading up to the drop pod simulations was characterized by the usual pre-dawn torture sessions with Sergeant Schwarz. After breakfast, they gathered in the classroom, already drained from the morning’s physical training. In this state of exhaustion, they faced the challenge of tackling complex theories and systems. Staying awake was a struggle, let alone being sharp enough to solve intricate mathematical problems. These sessions tested every recruit’s mental acuity and intellectual stamina. In stark contrast to the physical rigors of the early morning, the classroom sessions immersed them in a world of complex calculations, intricate systems, and mind-bending theories.

Drop Sergeant Schwarz, now trading his drill sergeant persona for that of a stern professor, led them through the intricate mathematics of orbital mechanics and atmospheric reentry. Wade found himself grappling with differential equations and vector calculus, calculating trajectories and descent angles with a precision that could mean the difference between life and death in real-world scenarios.

Map reading took on a whole new dimension as they delved into advanced cartography and geospatial analysis. The recruits learned to interpret topographical data, plot landing zones, and factor in geological and atmospheric conditions that could affect their drops. The pod’s computer system could do all this in seconds but every student was required to know the “nug work” behind the machine.

The drop pod computer systems proved to be a labyrinth of software interfaces and hardware components. Wade and his fellow recruits spent hours memorizing command protocols, troubleshooting simulated system failures, and mastering the art of real-time data interpretation during simulated drops.

Flight dynamics introduced them to the complex interplay of forces acting on their pods during descent. They studied the effects of wind shear, atmospheric density variations, and the intricate dance of retro rockets that would guide them safely to the ground.

For Wade, who had prepared extensively for the intellectual rigors of the program, these sessions were both exhilarating and exhausting. He found himself drawing on knowledge from his pre-enlistment studies, grateful for the hours he’d spent poring over advanced physics and mathematics.

As the week progressed, the lines between physical and mental fatigue began to blur. The recruits pushed through, their minds as taxed as their bodies, driven by the knowledge that mastery of these complex systems was crucial to their survival and success as Rangers.

The Simulator

The transition from basic classroom instruction to simulated drop insertion marked a new phase in Wade and Jay’s journey. As they entered the high-tech simulation center, the recruits could feel the electric anticipation in the air. This was where theory met practice, they had learned to master the intricate systems on paper. Now it was time for some practical hands-on training.

Sergeant Schwarz stood before a row of sleek, metallic pods. “Listen up, Jellies,” he barked, his voice carrying the weight of hard-won experience. “These beauties here are your ticket to the fight. Drop pods. Get to know them, love them, because you’re going to get closer to them than a burrito and a foil wrapper.”

Wade and Jay exchanged glances and laughed, a mix of excitement and apprehension reflected in their eyes. They had heard whispers about the infamous “Crazy-D” drops, but Schwarz quickly dispelled those notions.

“We’re starting with standard 3000-foot drops today,” Schwarz announced. “You need to master the basics before we even think about low-altitude deployment. Now, gather ’round. Let’s go through the pre-drop checklist.”

The recruits huddled around one of the open pods as Schwarz began his demonstration. “First things first – always check your harness integrity,” he said, tugging firmly on the crash restraints. “A loose harness means a broken neck. Not the way you want to start your day.”

Wade watched intently as Schwarz moved to the pod’s onboard computer. “This is your lifeline, ladies and gentlemen. You need to know how to program this thing in your sleep.”

The instructor’s fingers flew over the touchscreen, bringing up a series of menus and readouts. “You’ll input your weight, adjust for any additional gear, and set your landing coordinates. The computer calculates wind speed, atmospheric conditions, and a host of other variables to ensure a safe landing. You can leave your stubby pencil in the classroom.”

Jay raised his hand. “Sir, what happens if the computer malfunctions?”

Schwarz nodded approvingly. “Good question. In case of a system failure, you’ve got manual override controls.” He pointed to a series of switches and levers. “These babies will fire your retro rockets if the computer decides to take a vacation. You ride this bucking bull to the ground and fire all-stop retros at treetop level. But let’s pray it doesn’t come to that because there ain’t no trees on most of these planets.”

The Sergeant then walked them through the pre-drop safety checks. “You’ll run a full system diagnostic before every drop. Check your oxygen levels, ensure your comm link is operational, and verify that your emergency beacon is active.”

Wade felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as he absorbed the information. This was real, well, a real simulation. One day they were actually going to be dropping from the sky in these metal coffins.

“Now,” Schwarz continued, “who wants to be our first volunteer for a simulated drop?”

Before he could stop himself, Wade’s hand shot up. “Oorah, sir!”

Jay looked at him, a mixture of pride and concern on his face.

Wade nodded at Jay, steeling himself. “Gotta start somewhere, right?”

As Wade approached the pod, Schwarz’s expression softened slightly. “Alright, Private Kovacs. Remember, this is just a simulation. But treat it like the real thing. Run through your checks, program the computer, and prepare for drop.”

Wade climbed into the pod, the crash restraints automatically securing him in place. He took a deep breath, focusing on the task at hand. His fingers moved across the touchscreen, inputting his data, and running through the pre-drop checklist.

“Harness secure… oxygen levels optimal… comm check… emergency beacon active…” Wade muttered to himself, methodically going through each step.

“Alright,” Schwarz’s voice came through the comm. “Now set your landing coordinates and prepare for drop simulation.”

Wade input the coordinates, double-checking his work. The guidance computer lit up, displaying a dizzying array of information – altitude, descent rate, wind speed, and more.

“Initiating drop sequence,” Schwarz’s voice crackled through the com system. “Good luck, Jelly.”

The world around Wade went dark, replaced by a hyper-realistic virtual landscape. He felt the sudden lurch as the pod was “ejected” from the simulated dropship. The G-forces pressed him back into his seat, but it was manageable – nothing like the brutal Crazy-D drops he’d heard about.

As the simulated ground rushed up to meet him, Wade focused on the computer readouts, watching for any anomalies. The pod’s systems worked flawlessly, firing retro rockets at precisely the right moments but a little longer than what they had seen in the training videos in the classroom.

With a firm but controlled impact, the pod struck the virtual ground. Wade’s hand moved to the release switch and activated it.

The pod’s front panel fell away, revealing the simulated drop zone beyond. Wade emerged, his legs steady and his mind clear. Had he successfully completed his first simulated drop?

As the simulation faded away, Wade found himself back in the training center, a thin sheen of sweat on his brow. Schwarz stood before him, a hint of approval that turned into a sly expression. Wade had seen that sadistic look before.

“Not bad, Kovacs,” the instructor said gruffly. “You kept your cool and followed procedure. But…your coordinates were off by one number and it happened to be a big number! Had the retros had enough fuel, you would have landed on the other side of the planet. You need to triple-check, no, quadruple-check your data. Why don’t you get on down and give me a hundred push-ups.” Turning to the other very amused Jellies, the Sergeant calmly said, “Now, who’s next?”

As Jay stepped up for his turn, Wade furiously knocked out a hundred push-ups. Attention to details, that was the name of the game here. No one wanted to wind up as their name sake…Jelly.

Humiliation

The days blurred together as Wade, Jay, and the other recruits cycled through an endless series of drop simulations. Sergeant Schwarz pushed them to their limits, introducing new variables and challenges with each run.

“You think the enemy’s going to give you a perfect day for insertion?” Schwarz barked as he adjusted the simulation parameters. “Today, you’re dropping through an ionic storm. Good luck with your nav systems, Jellies!”

Wade gritted his teeth as he entered the pod for his fifth run of the day. The simulated turbulence rattled him to his core as alarms blared, warning of system malfunctions. He fought to keep his focus, triple-checking every input and decision.

As the weeks progressed, the scenarios grew increasingly complex. The recruits faced simulated equipment failures, hostile ground fire, and extreme planetary conditions. Every detail mattered – a misread coordinate, a delayed reaction, or a skipped safety check could spell disaster.

One afternoon, as Wade prepared for yet another drop, Jay caught his arm. “You look beat, man. Stick to the script, bro”

Wade shook his head, adrenaline masking his fatigue. “I’ve got this. Watch me nail it.”

He climbed into the pod, cocky from a string of successful runs. As the simulation began, Wade’s overconfidence led him to rush through his pre-drop checklist. He missed a critical indicator light, signaling a problem with the pod’s stabilization system.

The simulated drop quickly spiraled out of control. Wade struggled to correct his trajectory, but his hasty preparations left him ill-equipped to handle the cascading failures. The pod spun wildly, alarms screaming as the ground approached at terrifying speed.

Just before impact, the simulation cut out. Wade sat in stunned silence, his heart racing. Sergeant Schwarz’s voice came through the comm, cold and deadly serious.

“Everybody gather ’round. Kovacs, get out here.”

As Wade emerged from the pod on shaky legs, he saw the grim faces of his fellow recruits. Schwarz stood before them, his expression stone-like.

“What you just witnessed,” Schwarz began, “was the kind of mistake that gets Rangers killed. Kovacs here decided that he knew better than protocol. He rushed his checks, missed critical warnings, and if this had been real, he’d be nothing but a red smear on some forlorn rock.”

Wade felt the weight of his mistake crushing down on him. The Sergeant continued, addressing the entire group.

“This program isn’t about being the fastest or the strongest. It’s about precision. It’s about discipline. Every. Single. Time. You cut corners, you die. You get cocky, you die. You forget for one second the importance of every detail, every check, every procedure – you die.”

Turning to Wade, Schwarz’s voice lowered. “You’ve got potential, Kovacs. But potential means nothing if you’re dead. Consider this your wake-up call. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sergeant,” Wade replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I can’t hear you, Jelly!”

“Yes, Sergeant!” Wade shouted, the full impact of his actions sinking in.

Schwarz nodded. “Good. Now, you’re going to run that simulation again. And again. And again. Until you can do it perfectly in your sleep. The rest of you – back to your pods. We’re not done here.”

As Wade climbed back into the simulator, he felt embarrassed that Swartz had called him out in front of the whole platoon. The wake-up call had been harsh, but necessary. He knew there’s no room for shortcuts or overconfidence. Every detail, every check, every procedure could mean the difference between life and death.

With a deep breath, he began his pre-drop checklist, meticulously going through each step. This time, he would get it right.

As Sunday dawned, Wade and Jay welcomed the respite from their grueling training schedule. The events of the past week, particularly Wade’s sobering simulation incident, weighed heavily on their minds as they made their way to the base chapel.

The modest chapel was already filled with a mix of recruits and base personnel when Wade and Jay slipped into a pew near the back. The familiar scent of old hymnals and polished wood brought a sense of calm, a stark contrast to the high-stress environment they’d been immersed in all week.

As the service began, the chaplain stepped up to the pulpit, his weathered face bearing a kind smile. “Today,” he began, “we’re going to look at a story from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 19, verses 1 through 10. It’s the story of a man named Zacchaeus.”

Wade listened intently as the chaplain recounted the tale. Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, was so eager to see Jesus that he climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view over the crowd. To everyone’s surprise, Jesus stopped at the tree and called Zacchaeus down, inviting Himself to the tax collector’s house.

“Now, imagine that,” the chaplain said, his voice carrying through the chapel. “Jesus, this revered teacher, inviting Himself to the home of someone society despised. But that’s the beauty of it – Jesus saw beyond Zacchaeus’ reputation, beyond his faults.”

The chaplain paused, letting his words sink in. “And what happens next is truly remarkable. Zacchaeus, faced with Jesus’ unexpected kindness, recognizes his own need for change. He declares, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.'”

Wade felt a twinge of recognition. Hadn’t he, too, recently faced a moment of reckoning? His overconfidence in the simulator could have had dire consequences in a real-world scenario. Like Zacchaeus, he’d been confronted with his own shortcomings and the need for change.

The chaplain continued, “Jesus responds to Zacchaeus’ declaration of repentance with these powerful words: ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.'”

Looking out over the congregation, the chaplain’s voice softened. “This story reminds us that no one is beyond redemption. Jesus actively sought out Zacchaeus, despite his reputation. And when Zacchaeus recognized his need for change, Jesus declared his salvation.”

As the sermon concluded, Wade found himself deep in thought. The parallels to his own recent experiences were striking. Just as Jesus had seen potential in Zacchaeus, Sergeant Schwarz had recognized Wade’s potential despite his mistake. And like Zacchaeus, Wade had been given an opportunity to recognize his faults and commit to change.

After the service, as Wade and Jay made their way out of the chapel, Jay nudged his friend. “That hit pretty close to home, huh?”

Wade nodded, a small smile on his face. “Yeah, it really did. I guess we all need a wake-up call sometimes.”

As they walked back to the barracks, Wade felt a renewed sense of purpose. The story of Zacchaeus had reinforced the lessons of the past week. He was determined to approach his training with a new level of humility and dedication, recognizing that every detail, every procedure was an opportunity for growth and improvement.

The day of rest had provided more than just physical recuperation. It had offered Wade a chance for reflection and spiritual renewal, preparing him for the challenges that lay ahead.

Fitness Assessment

The individual fitness assessment was a grueling affair, designed to push each recruit to their absolute limits. Wade had just completed a punishing series of exercises, his muscles burning and lungs heaving as he stood at attention before Sergeant Schwarz.

The sergeant’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Wade, jotting notes on his clipboard. After a moment of tense silence, he spoke, his voice gruff but lacking its usual edge.

“Kovacs, I’ve been watching you closely these past few weeks,” Schwarz began. “There’s been a noticeable change in your performance, and more importantly, in your attitude.”

Wade stood straighter, unsure whether to brace for criticism or hope for praise.

Schwarz continued, “You’re not as cocky as you were when you first arrived. Your focus has improved, and you’re paying attention to details I wouldn’t have thought you’d notice before.” He paused, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “Care to explain what’s behind this transformation?”

Taking a deep breath, Wade decided to be straightforward. “Well, Sergeant, to be honest, I’ve been making some changes in my life. I’ve realized I had a lot of growing up to do, and… well, Jesus has been helping me work on that.”

Schwarz’s eyebrows shot up, clearly not expecting this response. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words, an unusual state for the normally verbose sergeant.

“Jesus, huh?” Schwarz finally said, his tone a mix of surprise and something that might have been respect. “Well, I’ll be. I had a whole mission planned out to burn that arrogance right out of you, Kovacs. Looks like someone beat me to it.”

Wade couldn’t help but smile slightly. “Yes, Sergeant. I guess you could say that.”

Schwarz shook his head, a wry grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Well, whatever and whoever is making these changes, tell Him you beat me to it and keep it up. It’s making you a better soldier, and that’s what matters here.”

For a brief moment, a rare smile of approval crossed the sergeant’s face. It was gone in an instant, but Wade caught it, feeling a surge of pride and motivation.

“Don’t think this means I’m going to go easy on you, Kovacs,” Schwarz added, his gruff demeanor returning. “If anything, I expect even more from you now. You’ve shown you have the potential to be one of the best. Now prove it.”

Wade nodded firmly. “Yes, Sergeant. I won’t let you down.”

As Schwarz dismissed him, Wade felt a renewed sense of purpose. The sergeant’s grudging approval meant more than he’d expected, and it reinforced his commitment to continue growing, both as a Marine and as a person.

Walking away from the assessment, Wade silently thanked God for the changes in his life. He realized that his faith wasn’t just making him a better person, but a better Marine too. With this newfound balance of humility and determination, Wade felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in his training and beyond.