"Man Down"
(previous post "Complexaties")
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Stardate: 60325.1335
Setting: SURIAL III
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The Marines hit the ground hard and in the middle of heavy fire. Fortunately they managed to get away from the SPHINX without any casualties. The two teams each went in opposite directions, heading straight at the defense batteries. Knowing that there was no way they were going to over take the cannons without injury, Pravat ordered his men to do what they were trained to do, regardless of the risk.
"Follow me!" he yelled as he ran toward the dunes that gave the enemy weapons cover. There was a small ridge of sand that would afford them some cover and allow them to get a better look at what they were up against.
As Prav took account of who had made it to the ridge, those who had made it were quickly donning masks and goggles to fight the sand that was being kicked up by the weapons fire. Looking back toward the SPHINX, Prav could see at least 3 bodies in the sand.
"We've lost 3 and Taylor took a hard shot to his leg," Corporal Cardin, the platoon's medic reported.
"I'm fine LT," Taylor shouted from the far edge of the ridge. "I can keep going."
Prav looked over at the battle hardened man who had a makeshift bandage on his leg and then looked back to Cardin. "Get him back to the SPHINX as soon as you can," he told the young medic and then stopped him before he could protest. "Just do it, and when it's clear, pick up Michaels, Case, and Arrigo. As soon as we clear these cannons, then you can come patch the rest of us up."
The young man nodded and slowly made his way over to Taylor; keeping his head down the entire time to avoid the weapons fire.
Prav turned to another of his men. "So tell me we can stop these things quickly and easily?" he said to Yang, who had been studying the cannons.
"I have good news and bad news," she said.
"Give me the bad news first," Prav told her, keeping an eye at the weapons fire coming over the ridge.
"If we can within 50 meters of the cannons, it shouldn't be difficult at all to take them out," the young Chinese corporal explained.
"It’s just going to be getting with in 50 meters without getting killed that's going to be the trick," he said, looking over the ridge at the cannons.
"That’s about it," she said, looking to her commanding officer for his solution.
"What we need is a distraction," he said, mulling over ideas in his head. The obvious one is to create a rabbit and hope the fox goes after it. "We need a rabbit," he said as the marines around him listened, waiting to see who was going to go on the suicide mission. "And I'm feeling hungry for some carrots right about now," he said, a grin on his face.
"Sir," Yang said, not quite sure how she wanted to word her objection but before she could say anymore a mechanical sound filled the air.
Looking up, the marines saw the probes that had been sent out earlier coming at the cannons. "Looks like we have a whole family of rabbits," Prav said as the cannon fire raised up to target the probes. "Looks like we have our distraction!" he shouted as he jumped up. "Let's go, up and over!"
The marines swarmed over the ridge and headed toward the cannons that were now firing far above their heads. As they got closer they all saw what Yang had seen, a completely unprotected command panel. As his men fired on the cannons disabling them, he got on the comm. to see if Tes had found the same poor design.
Knowing that the other platoon was in the process of disabling the cannons on their side of the SPHINX, Prav and his men moved forward looking for an entrance to the underground complex.
"Lt. Pravat to Serrena," Prav said into his communicator.
=/\= Are all the cannons disabled?=/\= she asked, glad to hear his voice.
"Yes, Lieutenant Tes'Karka is bringing her men to provide support for us as we penetrate the complex."
=/\= Very good. Keep us advised of your progress. =/\=
"Sir, I found it," one of the marines shouted.
Prav rushed over to where the man was standing over a hatch that had been buried under the sand. "Let's get it open," Prav ordered.
Several marines descended on the hatch and began cutting it open with their weapons. Pravat stood over it, weapon drawn, waiting for it to be removed. A few seconds later and the hatch was ready to open. Two marines pried it off as the others held their weapons at the ready.
As the hatch was pulled off weapons fire flew out. It was met with an overwhelming response as 15 marines filled the space with fire. When they stopped, they could see a body at the bottom of the ladder leading down. The marines turned to their commanding officer for orders but instead of finding him ready to go down, he was laying flat on his back, part of his chest and his shoulder ripped open by the surprise attack.
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Matt Kelly {downwitmal@yahoo.com} 2005 post #350
Writing for:
2nd Lt. Pravat
MCO
USS ANUBIS
