Chapter 2- War Pigs

Planet: Vale, in orbit
Date: 30JUN2260
Zulu Time: 0530

"Hey, Steiner, how you feeling bro? You look like shit."

"And you look like the piss boy, turn the lights out, I've been run over by a Mack truck." I croaked as I rolled over to go back to sleep. Timmy had other ideas.

"What the-?!" *WHAM*. Yep, I'm going to kill that boy after I get off the floor. "You do know, even hung over, I can still beat yo scrawny ass?"

"You gotta catch me first, Ditter. And I can run faster scared than you can angry. Besides, Top wants everyone in the cargo bay for a quick WARNO. So throw yo boots on and let's go."

After putting on my britches, boots, and an undershirt I took some meds, guzzled some water, and headed out the door of the Sleeping Quarters. "So Tim, what system we in? I know we ain't there yet. Avalon is a two jump journey."

"We're waiting on the Dread, TRS Trepidation, she supposed to screen for us while the Lady Antebellum and the Mad Dawg enter atmosphere and drop us and the Jarheads off."

"So, standard insertion for us?" I pondered.

"Yup. Anyways, we're here Ditter. Top'll fill you in."

3 hours later, 0830 Zulu

"WARNO my ass. That was a full blown OPORD. And a jungle planet, woot. I just fucking love jungle planets. Did I mention I fucking love jungle planets?"

"Yep" Timmy said while cleaning his rifle and looking over his kit.

"And full rattle, too. It's gonna be 110-goddamn-degrees and this new cherry LT wants us all in full Chicken suits. I'm gonna frag his ass the moment he goes full retard. Damn, I'm a peach when I'm sober, aint I?"

"Yep" Ladies and gentlemen, I present the nonchalant Timmy.

"Meh, I'm outta steam."

"Yep. What? Oh, you're done. I'll be back in a minute, I gotta make a Boom-boom. I'll let you monologue to yerself for a bit. M-kay?" Gotta love that boy, he knows to just sit their and listen while I vent. Hell, I don't even care if he listens, just him being there and not interrupting me when I'm on a roll works fine for me.

But yeah, this mission is going to suck. The Marines are hot dropping in via Individual Orbital Delivery System, otherwise called Drop Pods, or Satellite Coffins. They call themselves Hell Divers, we call them fucking crazy. Us Rangers use a far more sane method of entry, we load up on Pegasus VTOLs and HALO jump. And they call us fucking crazy for using parachutes. But hey, tomato/tomahto. Right? Right.

Anyways, the Marines are diving straight into the Coventry's muff to get their attention so the Rangers can insert stealthily and maintain a typical three week guerrilla presence to kill, steal, pillage, destroy, and rape. (Ok, I jest on the rape part, I'm messed up. But not THAT messed up.) Then after three weeks of being yard apes, we get evacuated out by Naval Blockade Runners.

It's time to hibernate before going in since the Trepidation will be another 36 hours before arrival and their Jumpdrives are charged for the second jump.

28 hours later, 1246 Zulu 01JUL2260

Warning: all hands to battlestations. Warning: all hands to battlestations. IOD Marines: report to Orbital Insertion Bay. Assigned Marines: report to Armory for additional orders.

"The fuck was that? Oh shit! Malarkey! Get up! Wake the fuck up!"

"Way ahead of ya, boss!" Good, Malarkey is already halfway buttoned up. Time for me to don my own shit on and grab my rifle and to go to Loading Bay 1-Alpha to link up with the rest of the Platoon and load up in the Pegasi.

*WHAM

"Malarkey! Let's go before we get rocked like that again!"

"You ain't gotta tell me twice!"

Attention: this is the Lt. Commander speaking. All IOD Marines prepare to board Delivery System; all assigned Marines to guard stations, any Rangers still on board make your way to the Orbital Insertion Bay and prepare for emergency jump.

"Nononono.... the fuck is going on?!"

"Hey Ditter, man, I'm scared... I don't wanna die up here..." Tim managed to choke out, tears in his eyes as he realized most of the Platoon, hell, probably the entire Company, was probably floating through space now. I closed his visor; it was easier to look at the infamous red monocle of the Ranger helmet than my friends teary eyes. I also want to keep him safe, he's only 21. But that fear in his eyes, it's the same fear I had in my own eyes as well as every other ranger still on board had. A Ranger's worst nightmare was never making it dirt side, we were helpless in space.

"Hey," I said trying calm the young Ranger, "follow me. I'll get us outta here."

"Yo! Rangers! In here!" A Marine shouted as he waved us down. "I'm going to get you two saddled up, there any more of you guys?"

"I was... I was hoping you could tell me, Gunny." I gotta keep it together, for the kid at least.

"Negative, you're the only Rangers to make it to this side. I'm not sure about the other launch racks. Now get in a coffin. The moment we come out of Jump the Antebellum is going to bee line to the nearest habitable planet and launch us and jettison all munitions and sustainment for us. It's a total of two months supplies if we get it all, but those pods should land not far from the troop pods. There are MREs, weapons, and ammo in each coffin too. So get cozy, we got an ETA of 180 seconds til Diving. And don't worry, you're just along for the ride!"

"Well Tommy," I said, man hugging the boy, "I better see your ass dirt side, you still owe me. Heh."

"Don't worry boss, I ain't gonna miss seein' you piss yerself. As they say back home, 'hold ma beer-' "

" '-an watch this."

Attention: Marines, Rangers, and all hands abandon ship and make course for the current planet. Sadly our blind jump took us to an unknown system and the Coventry destroyer In Angst has jumped with us. I will stay aboard with the automated weaponry and fight to allow as many life craft and Hell Divers to reach the planet. Godspeed and good luck.

Author's Note

I wonder what unknown planet that is!?