Action Is More Than Words (Part 1)

Posted on Mon Apr 22nd, 2024 @ 11:41pm by Colonel Jason "Jack" Frost & Lieutenant Commander Ferrand Beaulieu & Major Samantha Snyder
Edited on on Mon Apr 22nd, 2024 @ 11:42pm

1,427 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Ethics, Morals & The Prime Directive.
Location: Colony Surface
Timeline: 02:00hrs, Colony Time.

The air held a chill to it that was almost a surprise as it was welcome, kept on board a starship for so long something was refreshing about breathing in proper actual atmosphere and not the kind generated by life support systems. To feel actual grass and dirty under the feet, that slight drag as foot waded through long grass or the snags on twigs and thorns alike on the uniform. With these little delights came the ever present threat of danger and risk knowing that the marines of the U.S.S. Dreadnought were the 'away team' on the colony's home field.

Sam, clad in urban camouflage pattern material with a face and hair to mask and hide her bright blonde hair from the faint moonlight light night sky. Around her, her team crouched ready, poised for action against the colony that lay before them. The faint shimmer of the shield could be seen due to the wind, debris caught in it touching the shield facing with an almost blue hue to it.

What came next was not only awe-inspiring but encouraging as the Dreadnought in orbit laid down a calculated barrage of fire that collapsed the colony shield swiftly and effectively. Only two shots impacted the ground and those were both well clear of the colony buildings some 300 meters away. There was a mild form of amusement as the colony defence platform opened fire but everyone knew that was an act of despiration, like a rock against water it stood no chance. With the shield down the teams were on the move, each with a section of the colony to take....surprise would only last so long before chaos replaced it.

Jack was prone looking through his scope at the buildings in front of him, 6 habitation blocks where most of the civilian population was housed. He could see lights were on, slight motions of movements as shadows cross window netting and curtians, someone was home, good. As the teams moved in things would go to plan only briefly before things hit the fan.

There was a slight exhilaration as the team slowly made its way towards the colony, slow was the progress that would otherwise be prompt if walking at a normal pace but that was impossible right at this moment as they tried to remain covert for as long as possible. There came little surprise when roaming patrols were spotted, swiftly dispatched because they were hardly paying attention and too busy chatting and laughing. So far their cover was intact but that wouldn't last all night.

For Jack he was doing what he was trained to do and it felt good to be actually able to get off ship and phsyically do it, not leading from the back, not coordinating from the safety of a forward point or the comforts of an orbiting ship. He was down here with the others because he believed that he shouldnt ask others to do what he himself was not prepared to, he was very prepared to do this.

Through the otherwise silence of the night came the sounds of weapons fire, the gig was up, surprise was done and now it was all in. When that happened Jack knew the mission had taken on a whole new level of danger and seriousness. From initial reports 37 armed suspects had been detailed and secured at the gathering point but the gloves were well and truly off now. Jack and his team quickly moved to the closest building and entered with his team splitting up with some going upstairs while the other half reamined downstairs. It came as no shock at all as screams could be heard, shock and awe were powerful tools when it came to quickly gaining the upper hand.

It was never pleasant causing fear into innocent people but the information given to them in the briefing said that hostiles may linger within innocent individuals so the marines were taking no chances with this. Soon though small skirmishes were taking place across the colony as scattered engagements, building to building battles waged. This was hardly ideal but the shield was down, they had the numbers but Jack wasn't prepared to be wreckless with that advantage.

Using the secure communications with the ship Jack made a call. =^= Frost to Command, request air units to commence fly over and SAR for downed personnel. We have detainees needing a ride to the barn. =^=

The way Jack saw it was the fewer people in play, the few people that he had to consider and with a whole team of 800 marines he was confident they had the training, control and the respect for each other to do the right thing, at the right moment with respect to life.

Sam had finished clearing the first building, 9 occupants, all detained with no fuss. It seemed by how they acted they were all innocent but Sam was going to chance it, secure them, get them out of the AO (Area of Operations) and then move onto the next building. The next building though is where things got worse, Sam and three other marines entered a premisis where it appeared a family was restrained, face down on the floor in what appeared to be a living room, the sounds of battle had clearly startled whoever was guarding them as just as Sam had taken in the scene five men charged the group of marines. Two from ahead, the other from the side.

Sam couldn't avert her attention to anywhere but forward, Sam knew that a rifle was a poor choice of weapon within a closed space but it could act as a deflecting object and blunt force weapon when the need arose, like now. By the time the scuffle was done, 4 were dead including one marine, the rest detained and in somewhat worse for wear. Sam was winded from the effort with blood streaming down her face from a blow to the nose. It would stop....eventually but Sam knew that this one dead marine wouldn't be the only one this morning and that was a tough pill to swallow.

All over the coloney battles, close quarter combat or outright threat elimination via non letal means were carried out and while that was not always possible, it would turn to save more lives then it lost. Sam and other wounded marines were taken outside and assessed by medical staff, Sam was sure that bruise would look lovely later, at least till Bianca dealt with it, after grilling her for getting hurt.

The scramble flight from the Dreadnought knifed its way through stars and atmosphere to get to the colony, with shields raised in case they were fired upon they would repeatedly fly over the colony acting as early warning and relaying mission critical information to the ground teams. A select few had linked sensors to the displays the teams had so that they could identify friend from foe, unfortunately that for also included civilians and innocent people until later determined.

The pilots tasked with acting and sensor information relays took that responcibility very seriously, while they were combat pilots each of them many had specialisations, talents and skills that when the need came up they were the ones called upon.

Things had kicked off, and it was only 02:39am at this point...with a long way to go yet.

=^= Snyder, Frost. Report =^=

Sam had just finished twisting her mask in her hands letting the dried blood flake off and taken by the gentle wind when the call came in. "Snyder here, we have secured multiple hostiles and Non Coms, some injuries including myself, one friendly fatality. They are being escorted to evac now."

"Still able?" Jack asked wanting to know if his Exec was still combat capable.

"Confirmed, we are moving to secure the Administration building. We already have eyes one and sensor information from eyes in the sky." Sam replied feeling the throb of her nose pulsing what felt like across her entire face.

"Watch out, we have had reports of shots fired from that building at random, multiple windows, multiple levels." Jack advised since one of those shots nearly took out one of his Corporals.

"I think I have an idea on how to deal with that but I'll need to coordinate with eyes above for that. Let me advise and get back to you." Sam replied, the idea taking shape and tactically it was a solid one. It would take time, coordination was key as was timing, but it was a good plan.

RSS Feed