#sniper school

Next installment of the  Giorraíonn beirt bóthar series

Summary: Leaving Ireland and the Tenth Street Reds behind him, Caleb Shepard finds a new life in the Alliance military.  Presented with a chance to fulfill one of his dreams, sniper school, he thinks nothing can stand in his way.  Until he meets his roommate, an unexpected rival and a man who can jeopardize everything he’s worked towards so far in his career…

Coats drops onto his bunk, relaxing back against the pillow.  “So, what’s a Paddy like you doing in the Alliance?”

Caleb swallows tightly.  Only his bed, about three additional feet between them, and his ability to keep his temper in check separate him from the Englishman. Silently, he debates whether or not he can make the distance in one leap.  Ideally, he wants to yank the man’s tongue out so he can’t speak; instead, a tight smile forms at his lips but doesn’t quite reach his eyes as he sacrifices that whim to keep his dream alive.  For now.  “Same as anyone else, I expect …”

Chapter: Battle Buddies

Chapter Summary: When the walls come tumbling down...   aka: The proverbial shit hits the fan.

Characters:  Caleb Shepard, (Ryan) Coats

Tags: angst, military backstory, Earthborn background, sniper school/training, military training, Irish vs. English, national pride, Irish language, pub brawl

Author’s Note: HUGE thanks to @nightmarestudio606​ and @mallaidhsomo​ for their betaing skills and suggestions! (and especially for pushing me hard on this chapter when I resisted!)

Excerpt:

...

A couple of miles from the target, they pause to reassess the area.  Coats surveys the terrain with a pair of binoculars; he is spotter for this test.  “There,” he murmurs, pointing slightly to the west.  “Elevation isn’t too bad, decent cover, enough space to zig zag our way in.”  He hands the viewfinder over to Caleb.  “What d’you think?”

Caleb nods his agreement after making his own assessment.  “Aye, sounds like a plan.”

They take their time moving forward.  The trick is to get in, hit the target, and get out without detection.  No hint of movement.  No sign of their presence.  They’re dressed in their field gear and have taken all basic precautions they can, but Caleb still has a few tricks up his sleeve from his Reds days they can put to use. 

“What’s this?” Coats asks as Caleb hands over a tube-shaped piece of metal.

Caleb huffs and reaches back for it.  “If you’re so thick you can’t recognize a sniper rifle suppressor…”

Coats’ eyes narrow and he yanks his hand back.  “Didn’t say I didn’t recognize it, did I?  What’s wrong with the ones we were issued?”

Caleb shrugs, a simple yet subtle motion.  “This one is improved, shall we say?”  Tapping on his omni-tool, he waves it over Coats left arm.  “This’ll help too, give us a bit longer with our tac cloaks.”  Before he moves away, he gives Coats a long, hard look straight in the eyes.  “There’s a few tricks the Greystones never caught onto that we can use to our advantage this time out…”

They are in the best position with the best chance of success.  It’s time to put the plan into action... 

~~~~~

Read Entire Chapter on AO3  // Read from the Beginning // Read the Rest of the Series

Next installment of the  Giorraíonn beirt bóthar series

Summary: Leaving Ireland and the Tenth Street Reds behind him, Caleb Shepard finds a new life in the Alliance military.  Presented with a chance to fulfill one of his dreams, sniper school, he thinks nothing can stand in his way.  Until he meets his roommate, an unexpected rival and a man who can jeopardize everything he’s worked towards so far in his career…

Coats drops onto his bunk, relaxing back against the pillow.  “So, what’s a Paddy like you doing in the Alliance?”

Caleb swallows tightly.  Only his bed, about three additional feet between them, and his ability to keep his temper in check separate him from the Englishman. Silently, he debates whether or not he can make the distance in one leap.  Ideally, he wants to yank the man’s tongue out so he can’t speak; instead, a tight smile forms at his lips but doesn’t quite reach his eyes as he sacrifices that whim to keep his dream alive.  For now.  “Same as anyone else, I expect …”

Chapter: Keep the Dream Alive

Chapter Summary: New assignment.  New people.  Old experiences.  aka:  An Irishman and an Englishman walk into a pub ... and a brawl ensues.

Characters:  Caleb Shepard, (Ryan) Coats, David Anderson

Tags: angst, military backstory, Earthborn background, sniper school/training, military training, Irish vs. English, national pride, Irish language, pub brawl

Author’s Note: HUGE thanks to @nightmarestudio606​ and @mallaidhsomo​ for their betaing skills and suggestions!

Excerpt:

Tonight, Caleb heads for a small table against the far wall he tends to occupy whenever he visits; out of sight, out of mind, he hopes. He has no interest in being poked fun at, but neither is he willing to walk away from an opportunity to relax after a long day of training.  He’s got his right to it just as readily as the others, even if he prefers to indulge in a quieter manner.

Unfortunately, tonight appears to be the one night the rest of the pub cares less about his wants and desires than their own.  

It begins innocently enough.  As he’s done each visit over the past three weeks since arriving, Caleb waits until Coats and company head over, gives himself an extra half hour, then follows.  

The barman, an older woman by name of Ellen tonight, pulls him a pint – they have Guinness on tap tonight, as it turns out – and he heads for his usual table.  It only seats two, so chances are it’s free since most people here come in groups of four or more.  But as he rounds the end of the bar, one of the locals – a young man, large and burly, mop of curly dark hair and a hint of drunken mischief in his brown eyes – knocks into Caleb’s shoulder jerking it to his right and spilling half the contents. Caleb tries to catch himself and the pint, or at the very least avoid the table nearby, but with no such luck. Some unfortunate sod gets drenched.

That sod just happens to be his roommate. Accident or not doesn’t matter; Coats is on his feet and in Caleb’s face in less time than it takes to blink.  Caleb has a couple of inches on the Englishman, but Coats is broader in the shoulders.  

“How’d a blind Mick like you make it this far bein’ so clumsy?” Coats challenges as he shakes the beer out of his hair and off his shoulders. 

~~~~~

Next installment of the  Giorraíonn beirt bóthar series

Summary: Leaving Ireland and the Tenth Street Reds behind him, Caleb Shepard finds a new life in the Alliance military.  Presented with a chance to fulfill one of his dreams, sniper school, he thinks nothing can stand in his way.  Until he meets his roommate, an unexpected rival and a man who can jeopardize everything he’s worked towards so far in his career…

Coats drops onto his bunk, relaxing back against the pillow.  “So, what’s a Paddy like you doing in the Alliance?”

Caleb swallows tightly.  Only his bed, about three additional feet between them, and his ability to keep his temper in check separate him from the Englishman. Silently, he debates whether or not he can make the distance in one leap.  Ideally, he wants to yank the man’s tongue out so he can’t speak; instead, a tight smile forms at his lips but doesn’t quite reach his eyes as he sacrifices that whim to keep his dream alive.  For now.  “Same as anyone else, I expect …”

Chapter: Prologue

Characters:  Caleb Shepard, (Ryan) Coats, David Anderson

Tags: angst, military backstory, Earthborn background, sniper school/training, military training, Irish vs. English, national pride, Irish language

Author’s Note: HUGE thanks to @potionsmaster​ and @mallaidhsomo​ for their betaing skills and suggestions!

Excerpt:

Life in the Systems Alliance, Shepard discovers, is never a dull moment and always challenging.  Every day is the same yet different, and he’s more than tired more by the time he hits his bunk.  Exhausted doesn’t begin to cover the deep-seated drain and mind-numbing emptiness of the current eighteen-hour duty day.  

That’s what you get when you have your squad in the wrong place at the wrong time and Sergeant Givens decides every assault rifle on base needs to be stripped, cleaned and reassembled.  

It isn’t like he and his squad can walk away from a direct order, either.  Well, they could, but he’s found a place in the Alliance, one worth keeping, and he isn’t about to lose that simply because Givens doesn’t like him. And if there’s one thing Shepard has figured out, it’s that the sergeant does not like him.  The man is careful, though.  Nothing explicitly said, no overt actions.  Shepard knows not all English hate the Irish these days; in fact, he’s met several during Basic and AIT who have been rather decent.  Still, there are some, like Sergeant Givens, whose main goal seems to be making Shepard’s life, and by association his squad’s, a living hell.

Every fucking last assault rifle on the base, Corporal Shepard.  

Sweet Jesus, Mary and Joseph; how can one base have so damned many?  

~~~~~

Next installment of the  Giorraíonn beirt bóthar series

Summary: Leaving Ireland and the Tenth Street Reds behind him, Caleb Shepard finds a new life in the Alliance military.  Presented with a chance to fulfill one of his dreams, sniper school, he thinks nothing can stand in his way.  Until he meets his roommate, an unexpected rival and a man who can jeopardize everything he’s worked towards so far in his career…

Coats drops onto his bunk, relaxing back against the pillow.  “So, what’s a Paddy like you doing in the Alliance?”

Caleb swallows tightly.  Only his bed, about three additional feet between them, and his ability to keep his temper in check separate him from the Englishman. Silently, he debates whether or not he can make the distance in one leap.  Ideally, he wants to yank the man’s tongue out so he can’t speak; instead, a tight smile forms at his lips but doesn’t quite reach his eyes as he sacrifices that whim to keep his dream alive.  For now.  “Same as anyone else, I expect …”

Chapter: Teammates

Chapter Summary: When the past comes back to haunt

Characters:  Caleb Shepard, (Ryan) Coats

Tags: angst, military backstory, Earthborn background, sniper school/training, military training, Irish vs. English, national pride, Irish language, pub brawl

Author’s Note: HUGE thanks to @nightmarestudio606​ and @mallaidhsomo​ for their betaing skills and suggestions!

Excerpt:

He comes back to himself with a start, his breath heaving in sharply, painfully in his lungs, and it takes him a minute to realize he is no longer alone.  A sound to his right, the slightest hint of steel scraping against the tiled flooring, has him spinning toward it.  He has no weapon ready – the sniper rifle is only half reassembled at this point – but his fists clench tightly.  Fueled by anger, they’re as effective a weapon as any.

Laughter greets him.  “Wondered when you’d realize I was here,” Coats says, cocky slant to his lips.  “Must’ve been some memory to pull you that far away.”

Caleb’s lips open; he draws in another breath, unable to respond at first.  Finally, he croaks out, “Aye.”  Blinking, his gaze lifts.  “Thought you were headed to the pub?”

“Changed my mind,” the man replies, smirk broadening. “If we’re going to defeat the lads out in the field, figured you and I needed to talk some.”

Caleb cocks his head slightly to his left, reassessing the man.  “Aye,” he agrees at length, “that we do.”

Coats grabs his chair and turns it so he can rest his arms across the top while resting his chin on them.  “Got something special in mind?”

Caleb’s lips slowly curve upward at the corners. “A thing or two, perhaps.” 

~~~~~

Next installment of the  Giorraíonn beirt bóthar series

Summary: Leaving Ireland and the Tenth Street Reds behind him, Caleb Shepard finds a new life in the Alliance military.  Presented with a chance to fulfill one of his dreams, sniper school, he thinks nothing can stand in his way.  Until he meets his roommate, an unexpected rival and a man who can jeopardize everything he’s worked towards so far in his career…

Coats drops onto his bunk, relaxing back against the pillow.  “So, what’s a Paddy like you doing in the Alliance?”

Caleb swallows tightly.  Only his bed, about three additional feet between them, and his ability to keep his temper in check separate him from the Englishman. Silently, he debates whether or not he can make the distance in one leap.  Ideally, he wants to yank the man’s tongue out so he can’t speak; instead, a tight smile forms at his lips but doesn’t quite reach his eyes as he sacrifices that whim to keep his dream alive.  For now.  “Same as anyone else, I expect …”

Chapter: One Hell of a Kick

Chapter Summary: Getting down to business.  aka: Just a ‘friendly’ game of darts.

Characters:  Caleb Shepard, (Ryan) Coats

Tags: angst, military backstory, Earthborn background, sniper school/training, military training, Irish vs. English, national pride, Irish language, pub brawl, darts

Author’s Note: HUGE thanks to @nightmarestudio606​ and @mallaidhsomo​ for their betaing skills and suggestions!

Excerpt:

“Shannon!”

Coats lands in the empty seat across from him sometime later, his glass hitting the table with a loud thunk as some of the ale sloshes over the brim and dribbles slowly down the sides.  Caleb manages a wry smile even as he replies dryly, “You found me.”

Amused, Coats downs half his glass in one swallow.  “That I did,” he agrees with a chuckle.  “So, what’re your thoughts on the Naginata?”

Caleb’s brow lifts, arching in suspicion.  They’re coming due for qualification testing soon; he’s not about to give anything away that might give the man an edge over him. He shrugs noncommittally.  “Better than what we had in Basic and AIT.”

Coats’ laughter is still present, though more rueful as he rubs his shoulder.  “It’s got one hell of a kick, though.”

Caleb can’t resist a smug grin.  “That it does,” he agrees.  Lifting his pint, he murmurs with only a hint of irony, “Sláinte.”

“Cheers.”  After downing another quarter of the glass, he gestures towards the darts and asks, “Fancy a game?”

The unexpected request sets alarms screaming in Caleb’s head. “Are you serious or looking for another reason to brawl?”

Coats’ chuckle evolves into a full out belly laugh.  “Ah, Shannon, that was just a misunderstanding.”.... 

~~~~~

Read Entire Chapter on AO3  // Read from the Beginning // Read the Rest of the Series

Next installment of the  Giorraíonn beirt bóthar series

Summary: Leaving Ireland and the Tenth Street Reds behind him, Caleb Shepard finds a new life in the Alliance military.  Presented with a chance to fulfill one of his dreams, sniper school, he thinks nothing can stand in his way.  Until he meets his roommate, an unexpected rival and a man who can jeopardize everything he’s worked towards so far in his career…

Coats drops onto his bunk, relaxing back against the pillow.  “So, what’s a Paddy like you doing in the Alliance?”

Caleb swallows tightly.  Only his bed, about three additional feet between them, and his ability to keep his temper in check separate him from the Englishman. Silently, he debates whether or not he can make the distance in one leap.  Ideally, he wants to yank the man’s tongue out so he can’t speak; instead, a tight smile forms at his lips but doesn’t quite reach his eyes as he sacrifices that whim to keep his dream alive.  For now.  “Same as anyone else, I expect …”

Chapter: Down to the Wire

Chapter Summary: New assignment.  New people.  Old experiences.  aka:  An Irishman and an Englishman walk into a pub ... and a brawl ensues.

Characters:  Caleb Shepard, (Ryan) Coats, David Anderson

Tags: angst, military backstory, Earthborn background, sniper school/training, military training, Irish vs. English, national pride, Irish language, pub brawl, blood mention

Author’s Note: HUGE thanks to @nightmarestudio606​ and @mallaidhsomo​ for their betaing skills and suggestions!

Excerpt:

“Fucking bastards!”  Coats mutters as he gingerly sets Caleb down on the ground and rises to his feet.  

It’s only then that Caleb realizes they are back within the wooded area.  Memories return slowly; drifting, lingering, clinging like the fog around them.  He rolls his head to his right side so he can see Coats now standing some distance away, binoculars up and searching. “Coats …?”

“Belt up!” he hisses a second time over his shoulder.

Fighting against a wave of pain and accompanying dizziness, Caleb pushes upwards with his left arm.  He makes it to his elbow before he can go no further. 

After several more minutes looking, Coats lowers the binoculars and returns to his side.  “Looks clear from what I can see,” he says.  “But we can’t tell for sure, can we?”

“Go,” Caleb tells him, pain roughening his voice. Shit, this hurts!  Another look at the bandaged area concerns him even more as he notices the first streaks of blood starting to seep through. They’re fucked – he’s fucked – no matter what they do.  “You go on.”

“Oh no, Irish, we stick together,” Coats insists. He drops to a knee to slip a shoulder under Caleb’s left arm and slowly helps him up to his feet.  “C’mon.  We’ll have you back in hospital with all the pretty nurses fluttering around you in no time.”

The laugh comes unbidden, and Caleb can’t stop a low groan.  “D-don’t!”

Coats grins at him when he’s upright.  “Ahh, but you love my sense of humor, don’t you, Shannon?  Hmm?”

~~~~~