[Location: Norris VIII-A]
[Time: 1330 hours, Federation Standard Time]
The glare of sunlight off the snow blanketing the ground caused the small group to close their eyes and glance downwards as they emerged from the relative darkness of the blown-out building; however, as they finally allowed their eyes to adjust to the external light and caught their first glances at the battlefield aboveground, all of them (save the Vulcan) could not help but smile.
About a hundred meters from the building that Lieutenant T'Shal and Sergeant Jalanak were carrying Captain Spiers out from rested a number of AC-808 Thumper transport vessels resting on the ground. Hundreds of Marines had already unloaded from the ships and were mobilizing to make a move against the Romulans besieging the communications tower. In the distance several transports could be seen on the roof of it as well.
"Captain Spiers!" called out an individual, moving through crowd towards the trio. He was half yelling out over the sound of the still active thrusters of the transports. "Major Frank Burns! I've got orders to get you and the rest of Easy Company out of here!"
Adjusting on the shoulders of his supporters, Spiers offered the man a nod, "You'll understand if I don't shake your hand, Major." Motioning his head towards the tower across the installation he asked, "What of First Platoon?"
Ushering the Marines towards the nearest Thumper, with the men and women of Second Platoon following behind, Burns answered, "They secured the objective, Captain! We've brought in First Battalion to relieve you all and secure this rock!"
A wave of relief washed through the Captain's body, grateful that something had gone right. The lives lost in the tunnels below had gone to accomplish a greater goal. Then it occurred to him what the Major had just said, "Wait! You brought in First Battalion?!"
While T'Shal and Jalanak lifted him up into the bay of the transport Burns replied, "Yes! There's more transports in orbit ready to bring the rest down as soon as we get you guys out! Major Lennox and his birds will be flying cover!"
Unable to resist while his Marine's moved him into a seat and strapped him in, Spiers sighed and shook his head. They sent one company to take the facility, and an entire battalion to hold it. There were just loads of common sense flowing down the chain of command these days. The strength of the entire Second Battalion could have made this invasion a great deal simpler, especially against the number of Romulan soldiers making up the resistance.
To his left and right he found the rest of Easy's Third Platoon, the group that had held the entrance while Spiers and Second Platoon had attacked (and destroyed) the installation's power generation station. They looked beat up and worn out, and several had wounds bleeding through their combat uniforms; however, as they sat there most of them looked satisfied, aware of a job well done. When they got back to wherever they were going the Captain would make sure to put them in for a commendation.
=/-\= End Log =/-\=
Marine Captain Ronald Spiers [NPC apb DK]
Company Commander, Easy Company
2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st MEF
