=/-\= Begin Log =/-\=
Location: Norris VIII-A
Time: 0945 Hours, Federation Standard Time
It had taken less than an hour for the three platoons to get positioned for their assault on the snowbound compound on the sole moon of Norris VIII. Team one, consisting of Platoons Two and Three, was set to take a small building on the outskirts of the installation, hoping to cause enough trouble to distract any Romulan defense units while finding and disrupting the base's subterranean power network. Team two, consisting solely of Dick Winter's First Platoon, was ready to make an assault on the seven-story communications building as soon as the diversion was set off.
Huddling there in the snow, gripping his pulse rifle tight against his body while attempting to fight off the bitter cold eating at his fingertips, Dick waited. This was the worst part of any operation, he had very quickly learned in training. You knew the moment was coming, and you expected that all-too-familiar rush of adrenaline to wash through your system, but you never knew exactly when it would happen. It was like standing on the brink of a great chasm, waiting for gravity to slowly pull you over the edge.
I just wish it would hurry up and happen, the Lieutenant thought to himself as he watched the compound before him. At least the adrenaline would help keep me warm.
Starfleet had obviously spent a great deal of time designing cold weather gear that was compact enough to keep from inhibiting any range of motion, which was critical in combat situations. The one thing they had never accurately designed were gloves that could be worn with the gear that did not get in the way of the trigger. So all they had were very thin pieces of cloth covering their hands, which in this weather sort of climate was tantamount to having nothing on at all.
Then it happened. A low rumble shook the ground as a large jet of fire and debris shot up from the ground on the far side of the Romulan complex, followed a moment later by a loud, pulsing siren sounding out through the ice-blown wind. Within minutes several large groups of armed guards, numbering in the dozens Dick would have guessed, appeared from several buildings and moved in the direction of the explosion.
"Alright," he said, pushing up from his prone position to rest on his knee. Behind him the members of first platoon did the same, ready to bolt at a moment's notice. As soon as another contingent of guards appeared from the target building, also moving away towards second and third platoons, the Lieutenant pushed off the ground and began running down the side of the hill, "Let's go!"
The three dozen soldiers raced towards the relative safety of the compound; despite their cold weather gear being white in color, they were in wide open space as they sprinted forward. Wide open was the last place any soldier wanted to be.
And they were nearly there before the first green-hued disruptor bold passed through the air in their direction. The distraction had been mostly successful, thank whatever fates had been watching over the Marines. As they finally reached the outer-most buildings they pushed themselves up against them, with Dick at the far end of one column, and Randleman across the small alley against the neighboring building. Peering around the corner towards the target, a dozen Romulans were making thier way in first platoons direction. They were only a few dozen meters away when the alleyway was filled with superheated red-tinted energy beams.
Still posted at the top of the ridge with thier fully automatic pulse phasers, the members of fourth platoon assigned to cover first had opened up fire on the defenders, expiring over half of the Romulans in the first volley.
"Third squad, circle around!" he called out behind him before popping out from his cover to squeeze off a couple shots, neither of them connecting with an enemy. "Flank them, and pepare for cover fire!" Twelve of the men took off around the far side of the building as Winters looked across at Randleman, making several motions with his hand. The Gunny nodded and turned to his men, motioning towards the far end of their own cover. A moment later they had gone around its corner.
After another moment the barrage from the hillside ceased, and Dick jumped out into the alley, charging down towards the base of the communications station. Behind him the men of first squad followed him towards the objective...
=/-\= To Be Continued =/-\=
Second Lieutenant Richard Winters
Platoon Leader, First Platoon, E "Easy" Company
2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st MEF
