Lieutenant Colonel (The United Federation Marine Corps Book 6) by Jonathan P. Brazee Page B

himself.
    “Thanks, Jorge.  I guess this brings back memories for you, huh?” Ryck said.
    “I only had one birthday celebration with the Fuzos, but yes, it does,” Jorge said.
    “Well, do you know my XO?  This is Major Liam Stilicho.  Liam, this is Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Simone.  We were classmates at NOTC, ” Ryck said, introducing the two men.
    “Stilicho?  Ah, Vandalii antes portas , Major,” Jorge said, taking the XO’s hand.
    “Correct sir, and I will do my best to keep Rome safe,” the XO said.
    What the . . ?
    “Uh, if you don’t mind, what the heck are you two talking about?” Ryck asked.
    “My name, sir,” the XO said.
    “Liam?”
    “No, sir, Stilicho.  As in Flavius Stilicho, the great half-Vandal, half-Roman general and regent for the emperor,” the XO explained.  “He was referencing the ‘barbarians at the gates.’”
    “He was half-Vandal, but he kept Alaric, the Vandal leader, out of Rome until political backstabbing resulted in his execution.  Two years later, Rome was sacked.  The barbarians were not just at the gates, but through them.  Stilicho was the last of the great Roman generals, and when he fell, that was the beginning of the end for the empire,” Jorge told him.
    “You really need to keep up on your history,” Jorge added light-heartedly.  “Those who fail to learn their history—”
    “Are doomed to repeat it, I know,” Ryck cut in.
    Ryck thought he was pretty well-versed in history, but maybe that was more about how it pertained to various marine corps and their battles.  He knew there was much more to history than that, but that had never interested him as much. And now Jorge comes along and makes a quick comment about the XO’s name, using Latin, of all things, and the XO understood him.  Ryck knew the mottos of all the Marine Corps battalions, and many of them were in Latin, but really?  These two were conversing in it?  Ryck suddenly felt out of his league.
    “Well, then, don’t get yourself executed, Liam.  We don’t need barbarians at our gates,” Ryck said, trying to interject a little humor to deflect the conversation.
    He was saved from more when Hannah came out of the woman’s head.
    “Jorge, this is my wife, Hannah,” he said as she joined them.
    “Yes, of course, we know each other well.  We’ve worked together on a number of projects,” Jorge said, kissing Hannah on the cheek.
    “Jorge is one of the up-and-coming stars, Ryck,” Hannah told him. 
    “You compliment me, ma’am, undeservedly,” Jorge said, but without conviction.
    They know each other?  How do I not know that?
    “Well, honey, I think we need to get back to the main table.  They’re going to be serving in a few minutes,” Ryck said.  “We have to make nice with the deputy prime minister, after all.”
    Ryck was more interested in what the CG and the new regimental CO thought than the deputy prime minister, but that wasn’t the type of thing that a Marine admitted in public.
    “Oh, he be a sweet man,” Hannah said, taking Ryck by the arm.  “You should talk to him.  You’ll be seeing him at the Military Outlook and Beyond Conference in Lisbon, after all.”
    As the commanding officer of the battalion, Ryck had a standing invitation to the annual MOBC conference, which was hosted by Portugal at the Z Resort and Casino complex in Lisbon’s ever-so-trendy Bairro Alto district.  If the battalion wasn’t otherwise deployed, the Marines usually sent the current CO to attend.  With Ryck’s service in the Raiders and now with the assault battalion concept, his attendance would actually make sense and not just be a formality.
    “Better you than me,” Jorge said with a laugh.
    “Colonel, my wife pulled out with a migraine, so there’s an empty seat at my table.  If you want to switch and join me there, I’ll introduce you to our staff, and we can discuss Rome or anything else,” the XO said.  “As you might guess, Rome is somewhat of a hobby