After getting their bunks made and getting themselves dressed, the recruits reported outside as ordered and sat themselves in a row of bleachers. Admiral Stone paced back and forth in silence while fixing them with a VERY uncomfortable stare. After an intense couple of minutes he finally he spoke up.
“Do any of you people know who Charles Whitman was?”
All of the recruits stayed silent.
“None of you dumb motherfuckers knows? Private Cowboy?”
“Sir, he was that guy who shot all those people from that tower in Austin, Texas, Sir.”
“That is affirmative. Charles Whitman killed twelve people from a 28 story observation tower at the University of Texas. From distances up to 400 yards. Anybody know who Lee Harvey Oswald was?”
Private Dickweed immediately raised his hand.
“Private Dickweed?”
“Sir, he shot Kennedy, Sir.”
“That is right, and do you know how far away he was?”
“Sir, it was pretty far. From that book "suppository" building, Sir.”
The last comment earned a quiet snicker from the rest of the recruits, including Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
“All right, knock it off. 250 feet. He was 250 feet away and shooting at a moving target. Oswald got off three rounds with an old Italian bolt action rifle in only six seconds and scored two hits, including a head shot. Do any of you people know where these individuals learned to shoot?”
Private Pussypuffs immediately raised his hand.
“Private Pussypuffs?”
“Sir, in the Marines, Sir.”
“In the Marines, outstanding! Those individuals showed what one motivated marine and his rifle can do. And before you ladies leave my island, you will all be able to do the same thing! Now, unfortunately. I was watching the early morning news a little while ago. And found out that our OWN people were attacked on our OWN soil! By another one of our own American citizens! This was at a concert in Las Vegas where one confirmed gunman and a second suspected gunman fired into the crowd! At this point in time there are fifty-eight confirmed casualties, with another five-hundred and thirty injured! These two gunmen are a disgrace to the United States of America, and a disgrace to humanity! The confirmed gunman has been shot dead. The other is being hunted down as we speak! THAT is the true definition of a terrorist! Our job is to go around the world and stop people like that from repeating attacks on this great nation on multiple occasions!”
Rainbow Dash visibly tensed up with anger at the news. Applejack noticed and placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. Rainbow took a deep breath and sighed.
“Private Dash! Do you have something you'd like to say to the rest of the recruits?!”
Rainbow Dash gave Admiral Stone a soft glare before standing up straight.
“Sir, I was just thinking to myself that it's a shame one of our own people would kill so many others without a second thought, Sir! And that the men responsible should rot in the depths of Hell, Sir! I just wish I had been the one to put a bullet in him, Sir!”
“Is that all, Private?”
“Sir, yes, Sir!”
Admiral Stone nodded and she sat back down.
“I hope all of you heard that! THAT is exactly what patriotism is! Putting ones life at risk in order to protect other fellow Americans and to protect our freedom! You all could learn something from Private Dash here!”
Rainbow Dash smiled a bit, earning a pat on the back from Applejack.
“Alright! Now that that's all taken care of, you turds will start with standard pull-ups for today's exercise! GO! GO! GO!”
Everyone took off in a dead sprint until they made it to the pull-up bar.
“Quickly, ladies! Assholes and elbows! Move it out, get up there, move it, move it, move it, move it! Quickly, m'kay, get up there, hurry up, move it up, move it up! One for the Commander.”
Another private stepped up to the pull up bar. They did two pull ups before dropping to the ground and going to the back of the line. Private Pussypuffs grabbed the bar and pulled up.
“One for the Corps, get up there, pull!... I guess the Corps do not get theirs... Get up there, Tardo! Pull, pull, Tardo, pull. One pull-up, Tardo! Come on, pull! You gotta be shittin' me, Tardo! Get your ass up there! Do you mean to tell me that you cannot do one single pull-up?! You are a worthless piece of shit, Tardo. Get out of my face!... Get up there, Dickweed!
Private Dickweed stepped up and did a few pull ups before dropping to his feet. Rainbow Dash stepped up and grabbed the pull up bar. She took a deep breath and pulled herself up over the bar. She successfully did thirty five pull ups before she dropped to her feet, drenched in sweat and gulping in deep gasps of air.
“OUT-FUCKING-STANDING PRIVATE DASH! PRIVATE APPLE!! YOU'RE UP!!”
Applejack stepped up to the bar and started pulling her body up and over the bar. She started struggling when she got to thirty two. Thirty three...thirty....four....th-thirty....five.....t-t-thirty...s....s-six! After the thirty sixth pull up she dropped to her feet gasping for air and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“WELL DONE PRIVATE APPLE!! NEXT!!”
Applejack walks to the back of the line and smirks triumphantly at Rainbow Dash, who gave her an annoyed glare. After what felt like an eternity Admiral Stone yelled.
“ALRIGHT THATS ENOUGH! Call it a day! Go get some water and hit the bunks!
“Sir, yes, sir!”
“At ease, Privates! Dismissed!”
All of the recruits immediately walked away. Rainbow Dash stretched her limbs, groaning a bit as her joints popped, relieving the stress. The sound made Applejack cringe slightly.
“Ya gonna make it partner?”
“I'll live...”
“Ya did mighty good out there today...”
“Not good enough...you did more than me.”
Applejack rolled her eyes.
“Dash...not everythin' is a competition. Ya don't gotta be good at EVERYTHIN' ya do...”
“Speak for yourself...”
“Oh come on, Dash...jes' cuz ah did more pull ups than ya don't make ya a loser. Yer all different kinds of awesome!”
Rainbow Dash smiled.
“Thanks AJ.”
Applejack smiled and silently followed Rainbow to the barracks. After a few minutes of walking they made it to their bunks. Both girls settled into their respective bunks and slowly drifted off to sleep.