=/\= Anaxis =/\=
Falling.
There was nothing like it.
The feeling of being free of all gravity and space and time… it was magical. Had this been a pleasurable activity, Richard might’ve taken the time to smell the roses. As it was, he was 35km above a hostile planet, about to deploy his canopy along with everyone else in his stick.
At the correct moment, he popped his chute and his head snapped back with a jolt, feeling the sudden arrest of motion as he glided gracefully to the ground. He hit hard, but not too hard, falling over with a jolt. He quickly retracted his chute back into his pack, and discarded the pack, drawing his M16A2 out, and holding it in the prone position as he waited for confirmation that the rest of the stick had landed safely.
He didn’t have to wait long, as Harper came creeping up behind him, crouching down and whispering in Richard’s ear that everyone had landed safely and were grouped up behind a rock formation. It was night on the planet, and the area they’d dropped was pitch black. Not even the moon was giving off any light. There was a still silence, and Richard indicated that the platoon was to form up on him.
They softly and carefully made their way over to the General, who looked at the assembled troops. He held a hushed whispered conversation with them:
“Okay.” He breathed carefully. “We are 4 clicks from our objective. We need to make our way there, as quietly as possible, and take out the orbital command facility within the next three hours.”
The men of 1PL Easy Co nodded to the General, not wishing to show apprehension at being lead into combat by a 2 star, or fear that the plan might go wrong.
“Lieutenant Winters, take point.” Richard said. “Everyone else, lets move.”
They made their way across the dusty, rocky flat at a careful advance pace, trying not to alert any wildlife, sensor probe or patrol that they were there. Truth be told, they’d planned the drop for this date and time, as it would be the time when the garrison would be at their least attentive, as they were due for replacement in a day’s time. It meant they were weary and homesick, looking forward to being relieved. It could be relied upon for Sergeants to shirk their duty somewhat in regards to constant patrols or junior officers to oversee it.
Sure as the plan, they arrived at their objective with 20 minutes in hand to take the tower. Once the tower was taken, they could begin the landings of the support infantry from 3rd Battalion, as well as the armor. The barracks would be secured in little under an hour from now, meaning that the tanks could advance on the colony in the morning mist, and take the garrison almost unprepared.
Easy Company regrouped just south of the tower, where Richard took the platoon leaders and the platoon sergeants to one side, to explain his plan of action.
“I want second to go up the left flank, third on the right, first will go up the middle, with fourth in reserve to lay down suppressing fire.” He said. “Leave your heavy weapon squads here to support fourth, and we’ll go in under the guns.”
It was a textbook advance, straight from the field manual. Richard wanted to keep it simple, so that the junior officers could use their discretion but know the overall plan.
“Assuming we meet little to no resistance, 1st platoon will go in and secure the control tower, whilst 2nd and 3rd will secure the perimeter. If all goes well, this should be a simple in and out job, and then the tech boys can play with the control tower.” Richard said, watching the grins break out on the young officer’s faces.
“Winters, you’re with me, lets go. Everyone else, to your positions.” Richard said. “You advance on the whistle.”
Making their way back to 1st Platoon, Richard nodded to everyone. “Take off any unnecessary equipment here. Weapons and ammo only.” He said, removing his own back pack, and checking his webbing. “Sergeant Harper, I want you staying with 4th to provide covering fire.” This was because the Sergeant Major was carrying, by himself, a Type-IV SAPR heavy suppression pulse phaser, with tri-pod.
Richard pulled back the loading pin on his M16A2, checked there was a grenade in the A2 part of his rifle, and nodded to Winters, who nodded back. Richard produced a whistle from somewhere, and blew on it hard. At once, three platoons of marines leapt up from the glaciers and ran towards the tower. Romulan guards appeared, but were quickly felled by the advanced party of the attack.
Defenders put up sporadic fire, but had clearly been taken by surprise. Richard skidded to the ground, got in the prone position, and opened fire on the Romulan guards on the first floor balcony of the tower. He popped off a grenade round into the balcony, destroying it. The rest of 1st Platoon burst through the front door, and began fighting in the building, up the stairway towards the control tower.
Within moments, they were outside the control tower, and soon were inside it, firmly and taking it without a single casualty. Richard wondered whether it was the sheer surprise of the plan, the unpreparedness of the Romulan guards, or some divine protection, but he was glad none the less. The only person who complained was Sergeant Randleman, who had caught a disruptor blast on the rebound, which had burnt a hole in the seat of his pants. This earned him a laugh from the rest of the platoon.
Richard got onto the radio. “Eagle’s nest, this is Bravo one, objective alpha secured. I say again, objective alpha secured. Moving onto RV point echo.”
“Roger Bravo one.” Came the response from command, and at that, Richard tossed the mouthpiece back to the radio operator, and grinned at him. So far, so good.
=/\= End Log =/\=
Major General Richard Sharpe
CO
1st MEF
