 
EAGLE HAMMER: AL-Khedda

by

Eric Johnson

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

PUBLISHED BY:

Eric Johnson on Smashwords

Eagle Hammer: Al-Khedda

Copyright © 2010 by Eric Johnson

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Grammar checking done by Kevin Rigsby: krigsby19@gmail.com

Al-Khedda (Operation Morning Crescent)

This is an adaptation of a well-orchestrated battle in Ralph Peters' "The Day after Armageddon." A personal note to those planning complex operations for stories: It took me a few days to work this one out, but in the end I'm glad how it turned out. It was the very first scenario that stuck in my head until I got the base story laid out.

"This, Karyn, is your trial run," General Van Der Kut said, sitting at the 39th Division TOC located in Moshtar. As accorded for a general he had his own office just kitty corner to the Division commander. Her unit was outside under careful watch from the attached Krass platoon but otherwise left alone. Even though they were cleared many times, some lingering doubt faced them since now that they were armed and for some looking to kill something. The time spent 'hanging out' left them lacking in the excitement part. He also managed to slide her into the slot of taking Al-Khedda, as he knew that he was throwing her to the wolves, but upon reviewing the whole recordings of New Hope and Kearse, they should be alright. "Right now, the eyes are on you and your Troop, so don't fuck me over on this okay? And yes, Karyn, I'm going to throw you to the wolves that are holding Al-Khedda."

Captain Juniper nodded, not particularly liking what she was hearing. "Yes sir."

"Okay, here's the area." General Van Der Kut initialized the holotank, displaying the 3D representation of Al-Khedda. "Here's what you're up against." Pointing to the town and the rubble surrounding it like a ring. "From previous engagements, the indigs use Falcon smart missiles. Light, portable, and very nasty." He 'drew' his hand around the rubbled area around the town. "The problem is that they fire, and move on and so far Intel thinks that there are tunnels around the circumference of the town. The Falcon is light enough to run a short distance, so when we hit a firing position with suppressive fire, another one comes at us from another direction. From the past attacks we've lost three tanks and they're quite expensive."

"So you really threw me to the wolves," Captain Juniper observed dryly as her mind reviewed the plan and what she faced. She stood there in in rapt attention, her arms crossed as she looked at the village. Large, with the area of the town three kilometers by two kilometers, and buildings arranged symmetrically with a mosque on the east side right in the middle. Not only was she thrown to the wolves, but also it was a defense in depth in the wolves' camp. She whistled softly as she realized that if she had a company of combat cars in support, she could take the town, or a platoon of panzers. Since they didn't exist on 'this side', she had to really push her Troop, and hard, given the strength of the defenses that she had to deal with.

General Van Der Kut smiled. "I wasn't lying was I?"

"No sir."

"The Falcon is also countermeasure resistant, so don't throw on the jammer as your first instinct. Because even if you blind its radar it'll switch to home mode, i.e. home on your jammer and you're screwed royally. Plus it's got thermal and optical tracking backed up by a rudimentary 'smart' computer. Not regarded as an AI yet but the sight mechanism is getting close with software updates being fielded as much as possible. With your software, the best advice of course is to leave your Vulcans on AAD mode, right?"

"Yes sir. As far as fielding how well is it here on Mashara?"

"It varies from what we've seen so far, so you can face anything where you go." General Van Der Kut nodded as his brain started putting the pieces together. Even after thirty years, the new technology had to force him to rethink tactics. Whoever said you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks didn't know anything about real life. Nor had they probably had to face a defense like this one. Pausing, he resumed his train of thought on the task at hand. "Okay, the next obstacle is the laser jammers, from what we can tell are mounted around the village. We can't airburst the railgun rounds right on top of the positions therefore ensuring we suppress or kill the Falcons."

"Laser jammers?" Captain Juniper never knew they really existed. To her, the world she came from was already highly advanced. Now, she realized that there was more to the universe and life than she had thought.

"It's a tripod mounted device that sends out an opposing laser beam that plays havoc with laser guided weapons, as well as normal laser rangefinders. And of course if you're using laser based communications it jams that as well. And it has three hundred and sixty degree coverage, which means it's out in the open, which will help for planning." Leaning back, he wished that the world he lived in was as simple as the one Captain Juniper came from.

Captain Juniper nodded. She wished she had those for her...tanks, would do nicely against a calliope, that was for sure. Looking around the area of the village, she noticed the ridgeline to the south. "What's this?" Captain Juniper said, pointing to the ridgeline.

"It's a ridgeline" General Van Der Kut said incredulously.

"I know sir, but this part of their defense?"

"No, most of the indigs keep to the village; we have artillery target areas setup when they do move. This brings me to another point, Karyn, as the indigs also have a multi-spectral jammer somewhere in the village for which the coverage extends to the ridge and around the village itself," he brought up the overlay of the jammer coverage, "at least according to Intel's estimation anyway."

"Multi-spectral jammers?" This universe was getting more technological by the minute...

"Indeed, it jams all known radio and also GPS frequencies, so your VFGMs will be useless until you disable the jammer." He paused. "But analyzing the missiles, it would be best to stick to the railguns until then. And also until we update the software." He paused. "I see where you're going with this, but unfortunately your missiles require GPS coordinates in order to be effective."

"But the south side of the ridge, clear comms sir?" she said, biting her lip in thought as she analyzed the terrain on the display. It wasn't like she wasn't paying attention just her mind was already churning on how to solve this problem. It wouldn't be an easy fight that was for sure as she started to figure out what to maybe do.

"Yeah." Normally General Van Der Kut would snap her head off for her apparent disinterest, but the steady look on her face told him that she was doing more than the regular officers were doing, rolling over so much data, but finding the points that she felt that would help her crack this problem.

"So..." Her mind was on a roll with a theory. "How far is the ridge from the village?"

"Four kilometers, give or take," he admitted figuring she had something in mind just from her look on her face. It was definite concentration that was for sure.

And that's when it hit her. If she... "We still have the same range capability with our sniper rifles, even though they've been re-barreled?"

"I would assume so; they're only lighter, probably, why?"

"So, why not put snipers on the ridgeline, and snipe the jammers. I would assume from a briefing I read somewhere that the laser jammers require them to be in the open, and therefore targetable by sharpshooters." She had two in mind already.

Figuring it out quickly, he nodded in thought. Good call "Why is that Captain?" He had to test her; old habits die hard of always questioning his junior officers. He knew it annoyed most of them to no end, but they couldn't develop themselves if they didn't think.

"Respectfully, your rifles only shoot what three, four kilometers? Therefore, you can't range the jammers to do that. I place snipers on the ridgeline, and pick the jammers off, and then assault."

"And I suppose you've had success in your past to know this works?" General Van Der Kut asked her testing her resolve. It wasn't that he doubted or questioned her; it was the fact that it was ingrained into him. So many officers that came out of the New Holland Military Academy didn't meet the same caliber of officer he needed and required for Kommando assignments. So in effect he was a babysitter in most cases for a while rather than a leader. Captain Mirabig himself was just leaving probation.

"When I was on Kearse, a sniper who died there, assassinated a man at five kilometers from the troop compartment of one of my vehicles, sir."

"Fair enough," he acquiesced. "You have that shot recorded?"

"It should be, since your Intel personnel have access to our holorecordings." Easily she remembered it as she still thought it was the best shot she had ever seen in her whole life.

Nodding thoughtfully, he'd have to see how that panned out, but from the way she talked, it sounded successful. "Most of the buildings are strong pointed with light railguns, easily able to detect the snipers and engage them. If you'd care Captain, I can take you to exhume the bodies." He countered. He felt it was going to be a test of wills, but he knew who would win.

She nodded submissively as another thought came to her mind. "But I can fly one of` my... tanks and we position them so they can get a shot, and then use the ridgeline as cover. If I understand you have small jeeps and they can do that instead of the tanks? They pick off the jammers, and we assault the town." She 'drew' the movement in the holo image.

General Van Der Kut nodded. "And you think the assault would be easy?"

"No, but this is also my first siege sir." Groenigan taught quite a bit on siege warfare and how to crack a fortress with the Plattner's world contract the most discussed of them all. Using that as her 'template' she figured that if she had artillery support it would be easy. The technology of shooting down artillery rounds to her seemed like a common sense idea but apparently on this 'side' it wasn't thought of. No doubt the technology was being implemented on the Dutch vehicles at least in the short term. Though, she mused, it was one worry at a time even though realistically she couldn't do anything about it as she looked at the holomap in front of her.

"I see, and you think you'll pull this off?"

"No sir, but I'll give it a shot anyways." She had to as with this she had no choice in the matter either. It wasn't like she could say 'no' and even then she didn't want to.

"I see, what's next?" Not too confident Karyn He thought, evaluating her still.

"For the assault? I'll be down one person in one squad due to the tasking for the sniper mission."

"How's that?"

"Sergeant Hernandez is in one squad while my other sniper, Brockman is in the HQ section."

"And how is a sniper there? Shouldn't he be in a squad?"

"He took a round on New Hope that shattered his calf. He has as cybernetic replacement but the nature of our work didn't allow us to use him due to the frailty of the replacement sir. This isn't physically intensive as long as he doesn't do anything stupid. So I can employ him for this mission."

"I see, and how good is he?" Arching an eyebrow in question hoping it was a good answer.

"I was doing an operation on a planet called Tehas, and he shot a person right next to me. I had blood on me, some bones I think, but he killed the man. And he's had plenty of experience on New Hope prior to the injury."

He couldn't argue with that confidence, and trust. "Okay, the assault. What's the sketch?"

She thought for a second biting her lip as she focused on the brief. "Well, the assault will have to be conducted after we suppress the strongpoints and Falcon positions."

"So you have a rough but not a full idea?"

"No sir," she admitted. This one was a bitch for sure. But she felt the General liked the plan so far, she could tell in his face. And, of course, all plans were subject to change based on enemy reaction, which she didn't know.

"Do you think the Micks will surrender?" He arched an eyebrow as he regarded her for her response and to see how she'd react.

"Micks, sir?"

"Slang for the Muslim Coalition," saying it to her like the student she was.

"I see sir; I'm not sure, will they?" Trying to fathom what point he was trying to make or if he was asking her a trick question. Her mind didn't want to do any heavy thinking as it was numb from the briefings she had to endure and the adjustment of sleep.

"Plan for a long fight Captain."

"Yes sir."

"I want to see an actionable plan by tomorrow morning, zero eight hundred, so I can brief General Thomsenn for the green light."

Captain Juniper nodded.

General Van Der Kut patted her on the shoulder. "Good plan I won't lie, but the rest has to be ironed out." He began to leave. "Carry on Captain." He said as he walked to his portion of the command center. Sitting down in his office, he booted up the computer, shaking his head. From the interrogation reports they mentioned a 'Hammer's Slammers', and he idly wondered just what kind of training they put their soldiers through. One thing for sure, compared to the officers he was briefed by, this plan seemed to be actually be workable. Only Fate would tell tomorrow when he approved the plan, or disapproved due to lack of finesse which was what war was, finesse in its own way. Deadly yes, but he didn't get his rank by sitting on his ass working by the book.

Roycewicz sat down at the table at the 1DEF chow hall, carefully setting down his tray. Unused to the culture, he sat by himself, not seeing anybody from the Troop. He watched a lot of clean-uniformed officers and enlisted walking around and a few cute girls as well as he got his food. Idly, he watched the show and was glad that they had some pretty good food to eat as well as some good drinks available for his consumption. Looking at his plate, he wondered how everybody ate well while the regular troops ate like shit. Then again he wasn't going to complain as he dug in his food, savoring the taste. Then he saw Captain Mirabig and his cronies across the table eating and joking amongst themselves making him feel alone as there weren't any other troopers around. He didn't know them so he ignored them as he munched on his food. Then one of them stood up, his name tape saying 'Krauslin'. Krauslin walked in front of him, and stared at him. Roycewicz stopped eating. "Yeah?"

"I am Sergeant Olaf Krauslin, 5th Kommando, you are a puny man," he said, quite proud, puffing his chest out, curling his arms. Olaf was well built, bulky from hard work operating here on Mashara. With a sunburnt and dirty face, he regarded Roycewicz.

"That's nice, thanks," Roycewicz said as he continued to eat, trying to ignore Sergeant Krauslin.

"You do not understand, I will crush you!" he said, a smile tugging at his lips.

Roycewicz looked at his buddies, trying not to choke on their food as they laughed at him. Fuck you assholes he thought as he ate some more. Did this guy think he was actually funny?

Sergeant Krauslin looked concerned as Roycewicz sat there, continuing to eat. Normally the regular infantry pukes would cower in fear, this one was trying to ignore him.

"Why do you continue to ignore me?"

"Because Sergeant, you're big and stupid, and I'll fuck you up," Rocyewicz said.

Sergeant Krauslin roared with laughter, along with his buddies to the left of him. When he finally recovered he shook his head, pointing to Roycewicz. "You're a funny man! I like you," he laughed some more "and why are you here anyways Funny Man? Hoping to get a Mick trophy?"

"Mick?" Roycewicz said. "My name is Chad."

Sergeant Krauslin chuckled. "My friend, 'Mick' is slang for the Muslim Coalition."

"I see," Roycewicz said, twirling the noodles in front of him, wishing he could be left alone. "We're supposed to be assaulting some place called Al-Khedda, the CO is working on the plans, if my squad leader knows what she's talking about." Shrugging he kept on eating his food. Knowing the significance of the operation, but not really grasping the size and scope of the whole thing he ate his food.

That revelation of Al-Khedda slightly sobered everybody up. Even the mere mention of the town put a slight fear into their hearts as they regarded Roycewicz's apparent flippant attitude towards the mission. They had lost good men and women there, along with a few Kess, so he stopped for a second. Regarding the young man in front of him, he shook his head in sorrow and remembrance. "Well then I will leave you, but leave a note where I can bury your body, if your friends recover it," Sergeant Krauslin said grimly, but also half-heartedly. "And the Micks can have their own trophy."

"Well, when I get back I'll tell you what it's like," Roycewicz said, standing up, and taking his tray away. He may not be in the Slammers, but he knew the CO would do it right, because he hated eating his own words.

"You still Funny Man, I will think that you will see that only we survive with less casualties, but whatever puny man, we will show you one day how 5th Kommando handles them!" Sergeant Krauslin beat his chest, laughed, and sat down.

"Whatever," Roycewicz said, walking away, wondering just how serious the situation really was. Were they walking into the Gates of Hell?

"Okay, we have everybody?" Captain Juniper asked her Troop, looking around the room intently. All the major players were there, and all of her squad leaders gave her a thumbs up. Nodding, she cleared her throat, initializing the holotank to show Al-Khedda. General Van Der Kut was standing in the back, monitoring but staying out of her briefing. "For months now, the Dutch Army has been trying to lay siege to this town. The main reason, strategically, is that it is one of the major bastions of resistance from the Muslim Coalition on the planet." She walked to the holotank. "The town is defended by a series of railgun positions on the corners of the town." Typing a few commands, the mentioned buildings were highlighted in red. "They maintain overwatch of the village, able to swivel to engage most threats at range." The display showed the arcs of fire, which rotated to a top down view. "Next is the outer ring of rubble that surrounds the town. Amongst the rubble are Falcon anti-tank missiles. These are light, portable, and can destroy or severely damage any vehicle we throw against it." The display showed the plotted positions.

Grimacing, Lt. Hoff remembered he'd lost a few tanks to missileers wielding those weapons and it never was a pretty sight having to pull out a fellow soldier whose tank had been hit by one. As he stood there watching, he remembered the acrid smell of burning flesh and a burning vehicle. He shook his head to clear his mind.

"Backing these up are numerous machinegun positions in the buildings as well as a multi-spectral jammer, and laser jammers." The view showed the assumed positions of the laser jammers, and no jammer location. "Expect medium to heavy dismounted contact as well when we enter the village. Remember the 1st Battalion Jaegers have assaulted this position, and have gotten nowhere."

Captain Richts inwardly cringed, he'd been on the last assault and it wasn't too pretty, with him losing a platoon just to the missiles alone. The Jaegers weren't anything to laugh at. They were tough, hardened veterans having been deployed here longer than most units in the Dutch Army.

"Jules, make sure you bring bomb sniffers with you, the Micks are a suicidal bunch," General Van Der Kut interjected, making sure that area was covered. "Sorry, go ahead Captain Juniper."

"Yes sir. Medical, Staff Sergeant Schweitzer, you'll be staged with the sniper element when we 'go over' the ridge. The casualty collection point, until otherwise directed, will stay at that point. If we take casualties I'll direct you on a case by case basis, but remain ready to roll when and if we have to call you forward. If comms are good, coordinate with the sector vehicle leader and go from there. Also, Master Sergeant Magnusson you'll be with them to help take care of the admin portion."

"No problem ma'am." MSG Magnusson liked that for once, he stuck his ass in enough firefights, and to sit this one out didn't bother his conscience at all. Even though a twinge of annoyance hit him as he realized he probably would be better off, starting a new life in a new dimension wasn't a bad idea, though it may get him killed...

"Yes ma'am," Staff Sergeant Schweitzer said softly. Inwardly she wanted to prove herself as she was the new kid on the block, even after a few months with the unit she still hadn't made her mark with them. They were a step up from the Texians, but she wasn't totally sold on the troop yet. Of course, it seemed that Staff Sergeant Tennenbaum always had something against her. Why, she couldn't figure out yet but she realized that over time it would come to her and she'd deal with it then.

"Sir... er ma'am, where is the multispectral jammer?" Staff Sergeant Wittman asked, raising his hand.

"I don't know, and neither does Intel other than somewhere in the town," shrugging Captain Juniper said flatly glancing towards Captain Hyngard. If she knew she would have briefed it, right? "The plan of attack is a tiered assault. Sergeant Hernandez, along with Brockman, is going to find and engage the laser jammers from the ridgeline, using it as cover. And here's what it looks like." Typing in a few commands a circular device on a tripod rotated slowly. Then it returned back to the view of Al-Khedda. "Brockman, you're Anvil Sniper Alpha, and Sergeant Hernandez Anvil Sniper Bravo. Top, we'll need two jeeps and drivers, preferably headquarters personnel."

"No problem ma'am," MSG Magnusson said, leaning in slightly to get a better look at the terrain. He evaluated like an infantryman, and he didn't like the answer.

Captain Juniper was starting to like MSG Magnusson. The simple fact he did his job as the senior enlisted man she sometimes wished Prowler could be. Though she was glad she didn't have to deal with the 'drama' of past sexual congress with each other. "Once the laser jammers are disabled, the tanks from Lt. Hoff's platoon will engage the railgun positions, while my vehicles will engage the Falcon positions with airburst railgun rounds. I have planned for artillery, but due to the rules of engagement, it will be on standby, and not used unless necessary," Captain Juniper said, to the assembled commanders, so if she was investigated, she knew she made it clear that she wasn't going to level the town. She wanted to, but she had enough civilian deaths on her kill count. "Our vehicles will all be staged south of the ridge, and once the strongpoints are destroyed, the Leopards will advance, and deploy the four infantry squads and directly assault the town, supported by my Leopards. And for additional support, I will bring in my snipers for overwatch, allowing the squads overhead support, while Lt. Jones, your Leopard and my Leopard will be configured with two machineguns on the doors, as we had in Kearse. MSG Magnusson, select four gunners that can do the job from Headquarters. It will not affect squad integrity as I have assigned personnel who can operate the weapons while only one squad will be one man short. And that would be yours Staff Sergeant Grayson." She looked at Staff Sergeant Grayson with a question mark on her face, and then she looked at MSG Magnusson. "Is there a way to fill in that last slot?"

"I'll see what I can do," he said confidently as he had an inkling that he should go, at least for now but he was a bit old too...

"Roger Sergeant," Grayson said.

"Once we secure the town, Captain Richts and the Kommando unit will secure the town, and begin searching the buildings for holdouts and cache sites." She paused. "On order we may have to bring his Company in if it gets too heavy." Pausing again as she mulled over anything she may have missed. There was something she felt that was unasked but asking for questions would help. "Any questions so far?"

"So we're just the assault?" Sergeant Tennenbaum queried.

"Yes, we're not there to hold the town, we're to clear it so Captain Richts can do what he does, as well as the Kommando unit."

"You sure you don't need my team to help?" Captain Tyr Mirabig asked, his annoying grin on his face. Just to pour salt in the wound in his mind he winked.

Funny you should ask when you failed just as much as the regulars "We can handle it," Captain Juniper said matter of factly. She really wasn't in the mood to deal with an idiot today. Rolling her eyes to herself she moved on to her next portion. "When our Leopards drop the infantry squads off, I need the vehicle crews to provide overwatch. The lanes of fire are being loaded into the DJINNs in your tanks, so control your fires that way. Since they're control measures, jamming won't affect your DJINN systems. Your task is to overwatch your squads as best as possible while vehicle commanders maintain appropriate distance to allow maximum overwatch. Lt. Jones and I will support as necessary, as once you drop off the squads, we will swing around to the east and west respectively, and assist in overwatch." She typed a few more commands and the 'lanes' along with squad designators showed their areas of responsibility.

Staff Sergeant Grayson cursed. Somebody just didn't like her, she got the most buildings to clear, but she relaxed a little when she saw the CO would help her engage targets. Still she could use an extra body for that missing slot.

"Lt. Hoff, once we begin the squad assault, I need you to pair up and engage other targets of opportunity around the town. The main emphasis being the Falcon lines on the north, west and east sides of the village."

Lt. Hoff nodded. "Yes ma'am. And if I have a clear shot before the assault?"

"Smoke them," Captain Juniper said.

Lt. Hoff nodded again, a wry smile on his face, admiring her style of handling business.

And if the jamming gets too bad to coordinate movement?"

"If the jamming gets too bad, then execute on your own initiative, but make sure you and your gunners verify targets before firing."

"Yes ma'am."

Rocyewicz raised his hand. "Ma'am, why can't we use the 'rods of death' on them?"

A few people chuckled, and a smile cracked on Captain Juniper's face. Sergeant Tennenbaum gave Roycewicz a nasty glare.

Clearing her throat and mind at the same time, she still had a thin smile on her face. "Rules of engagement, thanks Roy." Pausing, she collected her thoughts, remembering about the established rules of engagement on the planet. "As it stands, we are not to engage civilians, much like when we were on Kearse." She stared at him to drive home the point. He didn't kill any civvies, but she wasn't going to continue on that trend or make a start.

Staff Sergeant Grayson raised a hand. "Twelves or forty-twos?"

"Twelves, we're dealing with urban combat, they worked in Kearse, they'll work here." Captain Juniper looked at MSG Magnusson. "The gunners on mine and the XO's vehicles, forty-twos."

MSG Magnusson nodded, taking notes. Though he was quite sure that the squad leaders knew the score, but he needed to know it as well having only started an actual operation with them. So far they seemed to know how to plan one but it was just the execution phase that he was leery about. He just hoped the stories were true about Frisians executing set piece battles held with this bunch but he instinctively knew he was with a good unit.

"Thank you ma'am," Grayson said, relieved at some silver lining to the cloud.

"When does the party start?" Sergeant Nicholson asked as he adjusted his sitting posture as the bench was getting annoying.

"Zero seven hundred and we leave here at zero six-thirty. It takes a half hour from here to stage, and then after that it's show time. Anything else?"

"Ma'am, once we are done and you are assaulting the positions, wouldn't it be a good idea to move us up and support as well?" Sergeant Hernandez asked, the idea hitting him full force. It would be logical.

"We can do that, good call," Captain Juniper said, forgetting about that. She thought of anything else she may not have covered, drawing a blank. "Any more questions?" Captain Juniper asked, feeling she covered all the bases. She waited for a few minutes and none were offered. "Okay that concludes my briefing. Remember, we leave here zero six-thirty. Squad leaders, ensure your troopers are ready." Reminding them and remembering something further about equipment and the assault, "Oh yeah, from now on, tank crews wear full gear. We're in a new place so take out the combat gear, dust it off and get used to wearing it just in case we get shot down, don't need to be running around underequipped." She looked at the vehicle crew section. They all nodded to her, and she smiled as she would be just as uncomfortable, but that was the breaks of being who they were.

She was nervous because it really was her first briefing that she was doing with so many people. Then again, she never had a General at her briefing either, which she wasn't used to working with yet. She watched her Troop leave, feeling the butterflies of a new op, in a new universe, and she hoped that General Van Der Kut would leave her alone. He did, after winking to her and walking out of the briefing room. Captain Mirabig gave her a stupid look, but she ignored that and looked back at the holotable. Lt. Jones walked up to her smiling.

"One of your better ones ma'am," he said.

"Thanks, you liking being the XO now?"

Lt. Jones shrugged. "I guess it's a promotion, as long as James holds up," he said, watching Lt. Hannah walk out.

She shook her head, smiling. "Every time I see him, I think of 'Dudley Do-Right."

"Who?"

"When Monica would come over, she always watched some ancient Terran cartoons. I thought it was stupid, but she loved them all. James just makes me think of that every time I see him," she said, remembering 'the good old days' when life was actually a lot simpler. While that occurred to her she realized that the hard part was actually over as she hated giving briefings, pulling trigger was a lot easier.

Staff Sergeant Schweitzer stood patiently outside in the hallway outside of the briefing room. Expectantly she waited for him to walk out and once she saw him she motioned to get his attention. "Master Sergeant Magnusson, can I have a word?"

"Yeah, what's up?" He stopped while in the hallway as he looked to see if anybody was coming out of the room behind him. Seeing there was nobody he turned back to her.

"If you don't mind, I can go with Staff Sergeant Grayson."

"You have any combat experience?" he said, raising an eye. Yet his instincts told him she seemed to be able to handle the rigors, and therefore should be a good choice. Pondering some more on that issue, he did remember her datafile that she was with the Texians, offhand as he stood there. Some scuttlebutt he heard between the troopers suggested they worked with her, but so far nothing concrete. Then again he was also the cherry in the unit as well so who was he to judge? "Yeah, go report to Staff Sergeant Grayson, and I'll let the CO know, I can handle the medical tasks and if it comes down to it, or I'll scoop you up when necessary and if possible." He knew that in the way things were setup, it wasn't going to be too convenient but the CO did need a person to slide in with third squad.

"Thanks Sergeant," Staff Sergeant Schweitzer said, walking to go find Staff Sergeant Grayson. She honestly had to make her mark in this unit somehow and while suicidal, it was her only option she had at the time. A lot of them seemed a bit stuck up or proud of whatever they did prior, so she wasn't going to hold it against them. However, she did notice a look of disgust on Tennenbaum's face every time she was around but she didn't want to waste her time trying to figure it out either. If she didn't like her, so be it.

"Think she can handle it?" MSG Magnusson asked as he pulled Captain Juniper aside.

In all honesty she didn't know, but she had to give the newbie a chance. If she was with them on Kearse, then she had to have been out in the shit a few times. She nodded. "I personally didn't work with her on Kearse, but she looks like she can handle herself, I say fine."

"Okay ma'am." MSG Magnusson walked off.

"What are you doing?" Roycewicz looked at Carter, who was sitting on the ledge of the troop compartment, just before they were leaving. He put his small 'tactical rosary' he brought with him in his special pocket. Looking at Roycewicz with annoyance written over his face, he quietly put his rosary in the special pocket. "I'm praying we have a successful mission," he said, standing up, and began to check his weapon and gear.

Roycewicz shrugged. "I hope so man as I'm not having a good feeling about this mission anyways."

"Maybe you should have joined me," Carter said, checking the battery of his carbine. It was good to go as he stood up slowly.

"No thanks man, I'm praying the zombies don't attack us during the fight, we'll have enough to worry about." Knowing that always annoyed Carter, he let a smile slip out in jest as he too checked his gear before entering the tank.

Carter rolled his eyes. "Weird man, there aren't any zombies man."

"You never know," Roycewicz said still smiling at Carter's annoyance. "It's a new universe, who knows what kind of evil will come around?"

Carter just concentrated on checking his own gear, ignoring Roycewicz. Some people just never learned no matter where they were.

Staff Sergeant Tennenbaum double-checked her squad and vehicle, giving it the customary onceover. Normally she'd be inside with the troopers, but she had an errant Lieutenant that needed in her mind a good slap upside the head. Lt. Jones had been more than adequate to do his job as a Platoon Leader but Lt. Hannah? He needed work and energy, but not energy she wanted to expend on him. Lt. Hannah was taking his sweet time in eating breakfast that was for sure. Didn't he know that they were leaving in ten minutes? Wait he gave the briefing she remembered as she impatiently looked around to see him. Seeing him finally walk up with his gear in shambles, she watched him try and straighten it out. Inwardly cursing at the luck she had of having him in the unit, she waited with a poker face for him to enter.

Not being her first unit, she knew the flux of officers. Some good, excellent, and some okay, while some were just shitty. A good friend in another company before joining this unit he had a word and it was 'shatty', which rated just below 'shitty'. Most of the time she usually defaulted on 'shatty', but he had some time to learn though so she wasn't being too critical of him just yet. Seeing Staff Sergeant Schweitzer walk past her, she shook her head to herself. Pretentious little girl she thought of her as she walked to Grayson's tank. "Don't break a nail girl," Staff Sergeant Tennenbaum said under her breath as she continued on to her tank.

Sergeant Hernandez sat on the seat of the jeep, while Sergeant Kingmeyer piloted the light grav jeep to the designated firing position. The air had a slight chill but nothing his uniform couldn't handle. If he wasn't perched as he was, he might even admit liking how the morning started out.

Sergeant Kingmayer had taken to the jeeps like fish to water. The other grav jeep was further west, with Brockman and King. Raising the grav jeep slowly, she waited for the clenched fist from Hernandez. When she saw it, she stopped and adjusted her carbine next to her as it was pressing against her leg. Concerned more for the ability to use it quickly, she lay it on her lap, barrel pointed outwards. Never knew what to expect from the defenders or from this planet either.

Sergeant Hernandez didn't really like where he had to fire from, but then again, did he have any choice? He splayed his legs, with his left foot on the jeep, and his right leg on his seat. He was uncomfortable, but he had no real choice. He looked to his right, and saw the line of tanks that were waiting on him and Brockman to start the show. He moved the rifle, laying the folded bipod on his knee joint, and adjusted himself. The good thing about the Morary was it had no recoil, but still he could fire from a better position. Once he stabilized the weapon, he started from no zoom to mid-range, in order to get his bearings. He scanned the village, hazy in the morning light. The sun went from south to north, so the sun would be in their eyes, not his. He scanned the rooftops based on the imagery that he got before he left, and studied it during the movement to the staging point. Slowly scanning, he increased the zoom and there it was, right on top of the roof, a black can on a tripod. He steadied himself. "Anvil Six, Anvil Sniper Bravo, confirmed targets, green light?"

"Six, standby Sniper Bravo."

"Roger." He cradled the rifle as best as possible, while he kept it on target, the jeep still in the air as he waited. Expecting the Micks to shoot his head, off he waited impatiently for the green light to shoot.

In her tank, Captain Juniper felt the 'will this work?' butterflies in her stomach, time to make things happen. "Snipers, Six, Engage at will."

"Anvil Snipers acknowledged," Sergeant Kingmeyer said.

Setting the round to delay, Sergeant Hernandez clicked off the safety and pulled the trigger. Staring at the jammer he waited to see the rounds effect. Thirty seconds later a hole appeared, and the jammer started to short out. One down. He scanned for more, before the move to the other firing point began. "Target hit," he told the radio, and Sergeant Kingmeyer shifted the vehicle east, lowering altitude, and sliding above the concealed tanks.

Sergeant Kingmayer stopped the vehicle, double-checking to make sure that she wasn't in front of one of the Leopards or Krass tanks. Sergeant Hernandez held on to the jeep carefully as he still cradled the rifle.

Sergeant Hernandez reset himself, and scanned some more. What's that? Another jammer was there, and he put a round in that one as well, watching it short out in a shower of sparks. According to the imagery, there were four on his side. Brockman had a further four himself to engage. Eight in all and his half were engaged and destroyed.

"Sniper Alpha, Sniper Bravo, confirm you engaged all targets."

"Confirmed," Brockman's voice said confidently.

"Confirmed," Sergeant Hernandez said.

"All Anvil and Hustler elements, execute," Captain Juniper said over the comms.

Sergeant Kingmeyer moved the jeep down to the ground slowly, allowing Sergeant Hernandez to sit down inside without throwing him out. Behind them, the Leopards and Krass tanks rose up, and with help from pre-programmed targeting coordinates from DJINN, began to fire their main weapons at the strongpoints. Sergeant Hernandez noted a sense of beauty as the line of tanks started firing. The cracks of the rounds, a welcome sound as the jeep settled on the ground next to the medic Wolverine APC. Watching the bellies of the tanks he couldn't help but smile as it was a nice morning indeed...

Captain Juniper lased the rubble, and she raised the barrel up slowly, selecting airburst. "DJINN airburst two meters above designated point." Glad the engineers were able to solve the depression issue with the main guns, much better engagement envelope at this distance. After verifying the range she pulled the trigger, the compression of the main gun reverberated slightly on the hatch above her. As she watched, she saw a Falcon launch. Looking up at the AAD switch, she slapped it quickly resuming her watch on the rubble. The display showed the Vulcan was firing, the heat scale rose slightly but nothing serious so far. The pale beams exploded the missile, a slight puff in front of her as she scanned and zoomed out slightly. Her round exploded in the air throwing up dust, and then some sparks flew up making her smile. DJINN displayed a laser warning and she adjusted her main gun on the target. Selecting delay, she fired one round and watched intently. The round impacted the building, the explosion exited out of the window, along with a body. Readjusting herself on the seat, she zoomed out slightly and searched for more targets. While she scanned, she saw her other elements tearing up the main defensive line around the village.

"Anvil Six, Hustler Three-Four, strongpoints destroyed."

"Anvil Six roger, break. All Anvil elements advance." She switched to the internal comms. "Okay Baines, slow crawl forward."

"Roger," he said, and the Leopard rose slightly to clear the ridge. While her other tanks moved she overwatched, observing another Falcon missile launch, and engaged the position with another airburst around. The Vulcan swatted it down easily as she kept her eyes and sensors peeled for more launches. Apparently the Micks didn't know that the Frisians were coming to stop by, not the usual Dutch Army variety. She was calm and collected as she shot, the adrenaline pumping through her body, but she was focused with the concentration and the worry that this assault would be repulsed. Another laser warning flashed on the screen, and she engaged again with a delay round. The building exploded, sending a few bodies out of the windows. Zooming out more, she watched as the puffs of the supporting Krass tank rounds exploded above the Falcon positions. No more missiles flew from the rubble, yet anyways. More buildings exploded.

"Hustler Three-Four, Anvil Six, concentrate your fires on the east and west Falcon lines."

"Hustler Three-Four, roger."

"Six, One-One, nearing assault point."

"Six roger," she said, firing at another laser warning. They sure had a lot of ordnance! DJINN reported jamming, dark green right now, but since it was set to tight-burst, the comms were working so far... A few minutes later DJINN put a yellow gumball as she slowly advanced, shooting another laser warning. She watched her Leopard tanks land, disgorging their squads. At least it was going well so far. Once the squads were out, each tank individually lifted off the ground. She watched her crosshairs to ensure that she wasn't pointing at them.

"Six, Anvil Two-Six, on the ground."

"Six roger," she typed the programmed path and sent it to Baines, ignoring Lt. Hannah. He knew the mission and should be able to execute without her guidance. "Follow the track."

"Yes... ma'am."

Captain Juniper smiled as she scanned. She'd have to get used to it too. As the vehicle moved, she kept the barrel pointing towards the town, scanning as the vehicle slowly traveled. DJINN highlighted another machinegun position on her screen. Quietly she aimed, fired another delay round, watched the explosion, and the weapon silenced by it.

"Move move!" Lt. Hannah yelled over the bark of the machinegun fire. The Micks were laying down a healthy dose of suppressive fire with divots appearing on the ground as the rounds tried to hammer them. "Yen! Get those machineguns!" The squad was pinned down, trying to fire back over the concentrated positions. An explosion shook the ground near them with the fire stopping, at least in their area. They were in a slight depression, but it was saving them from taking rounds as Yen aimed, firing at a building to suppress it. Another explosion in the building and more machinegun fire stopped.

Yen flopped down, careful not to have any fragments pepper him. If it damaged his weapon he could live with that more than disfigurement. While he truly wasn't the one to pick up the ladies all the time, he held his own when it came down to it. However, he wasn't going to charge anything with a popgun, first he'd have to secure one of the enemy's weapons. It was the only thing to do in this situation.

Lt. Hannah noticed as he looked back it was Sergeant Kiels, overwatching them. Saying a prayer of thanks for saving his ass, he concentrated back on the fight, wishing that he wasn't here as the heat of the sun beat down on him, along with the hammer of the battle. This was pretty intense!

Snorting to himself as he lay there with the squad, Yen scanned his sector for any dismounts. No heroics for him as they were right out in the open. When the machineguns were killed by Kiels, he set his weapon on its bipod, scanning for more targets. No sense in getting killed when you had excellent overwatch. Smiling as he saw Roy and Carter peck at some dismounts, dropping them to the ground. From his time with the two, he realized they were great in a fight, and the two die-hard opposites were the best teammates he'd ever known. Of course, if Roy just shut up sometimes...

"Six, One-One, engaging machinegun positions, lower levels."

"Six roger," Captain Juniper adjusted her crosshairs, and used the thermals to find targets. She saw another machinegun open up, and she sent a delay round in response. The round silenced the weapon quickly, spitting out the dead gunner in her screen along with destroying the building in the immediate vicinity. It left her to wonder just how incompetent the Dutch Army really was, and if President Hammer was here, what would he say to this? She noticed that her squads were getting close to the Falcon line as she continued to scan for more targets. DJINN was busily highlighting them as quickly as she could shoot them so she kept searching for the most likely threat to her squads as they advanced slowly. Another target appeared and she aimed and fired at that one, destroying yet another part of the building.

"All Anvil tank elements, lift fire at this time, I say again lift fire." After receiving the acknowledgements, she saw the puffs dissipate, and now the attacks were on machinegun and other positions, with a few more buildings exploding. "Two-Six, Six, fire lifted, advance." She could use a drink right now. Her throat was dry and she wanted to find her drink tube of her camelback but was too entranced with the mission to bother looking for it at this time. Scanning, she hoped that King would be able to cover Two-Three.

"Six, Two-Six, set on building at this time!" Lt. Hannah said as his squad hugged the closest building. Staff Sergeant Kiels had pulled back further south, in order to open up her engagement area he saw. She was firing the Vulcan at building to his east, the pale streams of light chattering away. Wondering why he didn't get a response, he looked around wildly at the carnage erupting around him. For his first time on a real mission, it sure was crazy!

"Hustler Three-Four, Anvil Six, circle the town, and engage any other targets."

"Hustler Three-Four, roger." More static, they were getting close to the jammer alright, with it starting to burn through their counter-jamming. So you're just going to let your tank platoon shoot everything up? No Captain Juniper replied to the instructor on the other side of the universe DJINN reports the location of all friendlies, as long as it's operating. The tankers were properly briefed Col Borque, go harass Lt. Jones. She couldn't believe it; she was in the middle of a fight, and arguing with herself. The universe was going mad. She was going mad... and in that regards she might as well call herself 'Ranson', though she wasn't that crazy...

Staff Sergeant Tennenbaum was on point as they jogged to the next building, weapon up and scanning, along with her eyes. Sweat poured down her face as a Mick turned the corner, raising his rifle. Stopping, she aimed and put a burst in his chest, watching as he flopped to the ground. Panting she took a knee on the corner and scanned. Another Mick came around and she shot him too. Yen fired a burst in the same direction, hoping to suppress the area. Scanning north, she saw a Mick lean out. She fired, missing him and she continued to scan, thankful for bringing her red dot. The Mick leaned out more, hoping to chop them down but she was quicker, chopping him down with a well-aimed burst.

"Anvil Sniper Alpha and Bravo, need you to head north and overwatch for the squads," Captain Juniper said, scanning the buildings. A Mick was on the roof, sighting in a buzzbomb. Taking the Vulcan off air defense, she quickly maneuvered the pipper onto the buzzbomb gunner, spraying the area. Noting that the laser was just as accurate though not as satisfying as a powergun bolt, it killed the gunner, as the Mick crumpled as he died, burned nearly to a crisp from the laser beams. A minute later she spotted a squad of Micks coming at Two-Three, but a well-aimed airburst above the formation ended that charge, throwing up body parts as some managed to survive while Grayson's squad chewed up the rest with their weapons. Maybe she didn't need the Mech infantry Company after all, as it seemed that the disparity in skill was quite evident. DJINN or one of her squad leaders didn't even report a casualty yet. Then again, with the jamming around it was still impossible to get a clear idea at the moment.

"Anvil Six, Pegasus Six, requesting sitrep."

"Pegasus Six, Anvil Six, currently engaging dismounts and positions at this time." A quick look at DJINN, no colors except for green. "No casualties at this time, over."

"Roger, keep on hammering them, Pegasus Six out."

DJINN was starting to slide from yellow to red. She had to knock out that jammer!

"Anvil Sniper Alpha and Bravo, Six, need you to start searching for antennas, the jammer is your top priority, acknowledge."

"Anvil Sniper Alpha...static."

"Anvil Sniper Bravo...static... ro... static ... ger!" DJINN reported red now. Great.

Baines, hold up, jamming is becoming unbearable." She maintained regular electronic vision for now, zooming out to encompass most of the town. Still she scanned, any movement inviting death and destruction, and yet no civilian presence noted. Either there was none or they wisely stayed inside. Not that it would stop a main gun round, but she had no control over the defenses. If she did, then she sure wouldn't be conducting an assault like this.

Sergeant Hernandez scanned the area intently with the scope. Thankfully the jammer didn't affect his scope as he swept it over from his overwatch position, near the CO's tank. He saw a couple antennas and shot them expertly.

Jenkins swept the urban canyon with her PK12, chewing up a few Micks in the process. Smiling tightly as the carbines chattered as well, she kept on scanning for more targets. They were slowed down but were steadily moving forward, using the buildings as cover as they advanced on their position. They could fight that was for sure! Compared to the Skinnies on Kearse these soldiers were a step up from those drugged out gang members... Sweeping the holosight she saw another Mick run towards her, without a weapon. She shot him anyways, since he was down the road a hundred meters or so, and he exploded. Great, now suicide bombers She thought as she stood up, slowly scanning. As she advanced, she saw the machinegun to her upper right open up and she hit the dirt as bullets hit right above her. She heard Michaels curse, and then she was being drug behind the corner.

Scan, fire, repeat. That was the mantra of Platoon Sergeant Hyat who engaged the western Falcon lines as Mestern kept the vehicle parallel with the city. It was slow enough to allow well-aimed fire while giving some lead for the Falcon. The Falcon could easily maneuver on them but so far, with the rounds exploding, they'd be hard pressed to engage. From what he understood the Cav vehicles had some fancy software that they didn't have so he had to kill them as fast as possible, along with Three-Two, who was travelling behind him. Aiming at another Falcon position, he smiled slightly as he watched the gunner lay flat from the projectile impacts. Having the common sense to know that his revenge wouldn't bring back the dead he relished in the fact that he could deal some kind of revenge to somebody.

Staff Sergeant Wittern noticed the machinegun position above where Jenkins nearly got chopped to shreds, aimed, and fired a delay round into the building. The machinegun and gunner flew out of the open window. DJINN was still red. He had to really be careful as this was his second major battle, wondering idly just what kind of sense it all made right now, as he continued to scan. Seeing another building open up with machinegun fire, he fired a delay round in the building. It exploded, but the machinegun chattered. Adjusting his aim he fired again, this time silencing the weapon.

"Get up!" Sergeant Nicholson yelled when the round went off and he checked the next corner, shooting a Mick in the chest as he tried to line up on them. There was weapons chatter to his left and below and when he looked to his left, another Mick fell down dead. He motioned with his hand to go to the corner of the next building. A couple Micks popped out of the window, and while running, fired a few bursts to get their heads down as their rounds chewed up the ground. Sweating, he hit the corner and fired another burst so the rest of his team could get into position. Once Jenkins was set, he motioned towards her. "Fuck up the side of the building!" Yelling as he aimed and killed one, while Jenkins lit up the building. Instinctively, he knew that the barrel would be near melted by now; guess that new metal was what the advertisers claimed... Still, Jenkins kept it to bursts, but she was definitely firing more than usual as the building erupted with pockmarks from her rounds. A scream and she stopped firing. Two down. Where were the buzzbombs? Panting slightly he looked around the corner. Forward ye must go as he looked around he saw Staff Sergeant Pryce shake his head giving him a thumbs up. Not liking it much either, it forced him to smile despite the sound of weapons fire and explosions.

Captain Juniper still scanned with the camera system pointed at her elements advancing towards the center of the city. Maybe resistance was lighter than expected as they moved around and past corners. It was a smooth motion but a well-coordinated dance of move, fire, and then move again towards the objective. She didn't know the true status of them; the jammer indicator was still red on her EW display. It was slowly turning yellow as Sergeant Hernandez, or other weapons fire was steadily reducing its strength. Adjusting herself with the combat gear she was wearing, she scanned intently.

Staff Sergeant Schweitzer knew one thing for sure, that these troopers, unlike the Texians didn't necessarily play around as she overwatched Staff Sergeant Grayson and she bounded forward. Since Hernandez was a team leader, it meant that she had to direct more than her fair share of responsibilities. Directing best as she could, she ignored some of the other looks that some of the troopers gave her as she yelled out commands. The last thing in combat she needed were nasty looks. Still, she seemed to be doing alright as they were paying attention to her and despite some still overt resignation, they executed flawlessly in her mind. Though she didn't have much experience save for Kearse, she felt that they were good troopers. It wasn't as if she didn't have enough to worry about as she was even getting used to the carbine compared to what she normally carried when she was with the Texians. It was lighter, and a lot better to shoot as she, along with the rest of the squad, shot up the whole area as they slowly advanced through the town. Panting from the exertion and heat, she scanned with the red dot scope at a corner, not seeing any movement or weapons fire, good. And while her job was to save lives, she had to admit that taking them was also beneficial to her own survival. Vowing not to be a killer like the rest of them, she had to do what she had to do as she saw a few hostiles approaching. Groaning, she aimed and fired again, and was joined by her fireteam. It was good to know that they had her back as she dropped one, and continued to scan.

"Hell of a battle going on," MSG Magnusson remarked as they sat there at the staging point. His adrenaline was pumping and ever since the first round was fired and he inwardly regretted not going along on the assault. Scuffing his boot on the floor of the APC, he should have been that eighth man instead of sending Schweitzer. But in the end, he was still getting too old for this, no matter which universe he happened to be in. As if to remind him his left knee sent a sharp pain as his foot caught on a rung on the door.

"You think they'll take the town?" the driver asked, bored himself as he stared at the control panel for the APC. While he was attached for this mission he still didn't like sitting there as the rest assaulted the town. Since he was a medic he also wasn't always able to go on the patrols that the regular infantry or tankers were. Sighing, he stared at the control panel in boredom but then again he reasoned that at least he got to participate in an assault in some fashion.

MSG Magnusson shrugged. "I'm sure they will, this is my first time out with them myself, so we'll see how it goes."

The driver looked at MSG Magnusson boredom written all over his face and looking to start a conversation. "How long you've been in the military?" The driver, being young didn't understand the concept of moving among units. Nor did he understand the rumors that they used to be mercenaries from small talk heard amongst them.

"Quite a while, quite a while." Kicking some sand he still wished he had gone on the assault. And in his mind he never considered Fasolini's a true military unit, just a bunch of people who liked to shoot at things and make them dead. But like this one when the shit went down they didn't waste time with theatrics. Get the job done and go home, but now he knew his home was here, wherever it may be. That's what he did like about being a mercenary as you didn't always have the stringent rules with which national militaries seemed to be hampered. And now he was part of a national military. Though the jury was still out about the Kommando, so far it seemed the General wasn't going to stick his nose in their business too much and it was good that Captain Juniper was beginning to come around.

Sergeant Hernandez was scanning until he settled the sight on the mosque. A couple antennas stuck out from the east side, poking the early morning sky. Steadying himself, he aimed and shot one antenna. The round hit true, snapping it in half. Smiling, he shifted to the next antenna, pulling the trigger and watching the antenna snap in two. This was only too easy.

Instantly, the gumball went to a dark yellow on Captain Juniper's screen. A wry smile appeared on her face. She heard the muffled chatter from her left side. As the door gunners hammered at Mick dismounts and positions, she continued to scan and engage targets.

Light Yellow DJINN reported on the comms status window on the Tactical Screen. Static and transmissions came through the comms much clearer than before, but nothing she'd step in on. Better to get the air clear so she could get a clear picture of the situation before opening her mouth. From what she could observe however, things were going smoothly. DJINN updated the unit locations as best as possible, showing the locations were inaccurate and considered unreliable, she did however take them with a grain of salt, as currently it was the only reporting she had. Planning makes perfect She thought as she scanned the rooftops. Another buzzbomb gunner had appeared, instead using the main gun to airburst a round right above the gunner. Crumpling as the fragments tore into him, the buzzbomb gunner died instantly.

PFC King was literally having a blast, as he sat on the left side of Captain Juniper's tank, his scope zoomed all the way out, and he lit up the area with no regard for any real targeting. He saw a group of Micks running around the building, and he fired, walking the burst around them. A couple fell, but he was inexperienced, his first time in combat threw off his aim considerably, but he was suppressing them, but he was no Morales that was for sure. Smiling thinly, he swept the area some more, firing a long burst. He paid scant attention to the heat scale as he was told to do, but he was told that the new barrel allowed him more rounds to be fired, so he took advantage of it. In all sense of the word, he was testing the limits by holding down the trigger, and sent another long burst into the buildings.

Mills on the other hand, sat in her seat, bored as she scanned her side, listening to King yell and scream. She just hoped for something to shoot at. Then she could say she did something worthwhile other than look at another expanse of sand. Idly, she thought she saw something but it was just some sand blowing.

The beauty of DJINN, like Booster, was the ability to select the various camera systems of the vehicles. So in essence, General Van Der Kut didn't have to bother a company or Troop commander with the incessant details of always knowing what was going on, he merely watched. He watched intently along with the rest of the occupants in the command APC he used often when conducting major operations. His only problem was figuring out which vehicle was doing the most damage, as he couldn't figure that out yet. Recording the whole event, the others in the APC stared at the carnage as it continued. They knew the gun camera recordings from the tanks would be more impressive but they hadn't seen such ferocity for a tank unit in a long time. They hadn't seen this much skill either as they systematically tore everything up, and with such degraded communications that no Dutch unit would dare fight. During one particular exercise a Company commander literally stopped and asked the controller if he could have the jamming stopped. Last he heard that same Company commander lost it during a raid in Mala. Sometimes even his Kommando units, well particularly the more inexperienced team members, would hesitate as they seemed to have done this before.

Staff Sergeant Kiels saw the building with more than just the nominal one machinegun. She also saw a buzzbomb appear in the window, the large rocket muzzle pointing outward, and point towards one of the squads. Which one, she couldn't tell. It didn't matter what universe she was in, a buzzbomb was a buzzbomb and had to be killed. Depressing the main gun, she fired one round at one corner, traversed slowly, and fired another round at the other corner. Watching the rounds explode she saw the machineguns go silent. Then a minute later the whole building exploded in one large fireball. She whistled softly to herself as the concussion rolled over the village. Two shots, one building, they must have had a lot stored in there. She continued to scan though as the explosion formed into a mushroom cloud. Another machinegun opened up, and she traversed and elevated the turret, sending another delay round into it. This time the building didn't explode, but the machinegun stopped firing.

Staff Sergeant Tennenbaum managed to throw herself around the corner as the explosion sent dust and fragments everywhere along with the accompanying heat wave. Then there was silence, she looked up to see Lt. Hannah yelling at her. She couldn't comprehend him over the ringing of the blast, and when it slowly cleared she heard him asking her if she was alright. Giving a thumbs up, she nodded and stood up slowly, shaking herself off as her mind and ears cleared. Spitting some dust out of her mouth she sighed as she wondered idly why she chose this job instead of any other in the galaxy as she peered around the corner for any incoming.

Watching the building explode, Captain Juniper shook her head in awe as the foundation and construction arced upwards over the village. Clearing her head, she hoped that none of her squads were injured or killed. Hopefully, not as she scanned the area for any possible threats or casualties as the unit's luck had been good so far. Five minutes later, DJINN reported a green gumball, and over an open frequency, she heard:

"We surrender! We surrender! In the name of Allah we surrender!"

"Speaker, this is Anvil Six, cease all firing!"

"We will! Stop!"

"Well when my troopers report no more fire, we'll stop firing." She aimed and fired at another machinegun position, the delay round ejecting yet another Mick violently onto the ground.

"Six, Anvil Two-Two, we got Micks surrendering now."

"Six roger." Relaxing slightly she put the main gun on safe then exhaled. This better be for real... Since DJINN cleared up, she saw the Hustler elements to her north, chewing up buildings as they fired their lasers and railguns at targets. The puffs from the airbursts and buildings exploding showed that even they were affected. "All Anvil and Hustler elements! Cease fire!"

A few more puffs and Hustler Three-Four came over the net as the last puffs exploded over the Falcon positions. "Hustler Three-Four, ceasing fire."

"Person surrendering, state your name," Captain Juniper said, safing her weapons. She kept on scanning however, just in case of any treachery on the enemy's part. "Baines, slow it down some more, slow crawl," She said, switching back to the Troop frequency. "Hustler Three-Four, establish a perimeter at all four corners."

"Hustler Three-Four, roger."

"I am Malik bin-Khedda, we agree to a ceasefire!"

I heard you the first time! "Roger. Have your elements move to the north of the town, no weapons, understood?"

"Yes, yes!" Malik said, relief on his voice.

Captain Juniper looked at the time. Twenty minutes, twenty minutes of pure violence, it sure didn't seem like that at all as the compartment noticeably got hotter. But it was what it was. "Pegasus Six, Anvil Six." Looking at the Tactical Screen she noted how far her squads got, which was nearly halfway through just near the center by the mosque. Not bad for their first assault in this new world, and for the unit as a whole compared to Kearse or even New Hope. Then again, Kearse was a good exercise in doing that. But this? This was totally different she thought as she looked at some Micks exiting a building with no weapons, their hands up.

"Go ahead Anvil."

"Pegasus Six, Anvil Six, all elements no casualties, town is surrendering at this time."

"That's good, find the leader and secure him; I'll be inbound with the Angel elements to help secure the area."

"Anvil Six acknowledged."

"Good job, Pegasus Six out."

Thanks "Anvil Sniper Alpha and Bravo, Six, I'm heading to the mosque. Overwatch the squads as they root out any holdouts. Break. Anvil Medic, need you at the mosque." Pausing, she had to talk to Lt. Hannah. "Two-Six, Six, get a report on your platoon's status, I'm heading to the mosque to affect the surrender." She switched to internal realizing she said a white lie about her unit status. "Okay Baines, park it on the west side of the mosque." She remembered her medic... "Anvil Medic, or Anvil Seven, I need you at the mosque, we have the village under control."

"This is Seven, we're en route."

"This is Two-Six, you sure you don't need me there?"

Annoyance threatening to break her calm, she shook her head. "Negative, get the status on your troopers, and report it to Five when complete. Six out." Dudley Do-Right indeed... Via DJINN, she sent a message to Lt. Jones to keep Lt. Hannah gainfully employed by making sure that the prisoners were being secured at the north of the town. His reply as a smiley face told her that he felt the same way. Then again she was like that when she was Private Juniper years ago. That didn't mean she was giving him any slack. She also remembered she put Schweitzer in a squad too.

"Seven, Six."

"Seven."

"Roger, once you get to the mosque, I have Anvil Medic en route and will have her go over casualties and the like."

"Seven, on the way."

"Six out."

Standing up, MSG Magnusson brushed off his uniform, glad it wasn't too bad. Getting too old he thought as he walked up the ramp inside the APC. "Hey! Fire it up as we're going to the center of the village."

The driver looked back at the large man inside. "They secured it?"

"Of course!" Struggling into the TC hatch he stood up on the seat, sticking his head out as he smiled in pride. "Yes indeed."

Under the watchful eye of the tanks and the squads, building after building disgorged one or two of the Muslim Coalition uniformed soldiers, with no weapons, hands in the air and walking slowly. However, her problem was also the logistics of the situation and not the tactical portion, which was taken care of in her mind at least. So much to think of, nothing like Kearse or New Hope as there they didn't have to worry about prisoner control. Well, at least on this level. Taking no prisoners was one of the best options she knew, as they drained on resources that could be used elsewhere, but then again she had Captain Richts to worry about that issue.

"Anvil Two-Two, Six."

"Six, Two-Two."

"I need you and your vehicle to setup a 'holding area' until the infantry company arrives, and I'll get them to relieve you."

"Six, Two-Two, understood."

"Six, out." Captain Juniper had landed her tank by the mosque, and after careful searching they found the jammer, disabled by simply pulling the plug on it. Nobody knew how it operated but usually the simplest approach was the best one at the time. Striding confidently, she walked with Sergeant Grayson's team into the mosque entrance. After letting Grayson's team go in to clear it, she walked inside the cool, a marked contrast to the outside heat. It was air-conditioned and well-decorated with Islamic inscriptions and other items scattered on the walls depicting various religious personalities. Scanning the lobby, she saw an old man standing in robes. He didn't look too well, sweaty even in the air-conditioning. As she stood there the wave of her body cooling down hit her, making her slightly drowsy.

"Malik bin-Khedda I presume?"

"Yes, I am the emir of this village," Malik bin-Khedda said, still having some pride left over even though he was ashamed at allowing the infidels to take it from him.

Looking around, it was not a bad place to live and work in. "Good, I assume all of your fighters are out of their buildings?" Focusing but not staring at him as the man in front of her stood there, defeat written over his face.

"They will be shortly yes." Malik said, eyeing the female in front of her. "I assume you are an emissary for the local commander?"

"I'm the commander of the assault force, if it means anything to you," Captain Juniper said, still looking around, only looking at bin-Khedda when she was talking to him.

Malik bin-Khedda was stunned. A female! How could this be?

"Something wrong?" Captain Juniper said, looking at him. He had a look of pain on his face. Maybe he didn't expect something like this to happen as she'd never dealt with many Muslim people.

"I didn't expect a female to be able to do this."

"Well, I did, now my commander will be here to formally accept your surrender. But don't worry men also killed your fighters so you are not shamed too much." Why she said that, she didn't know, but whatever. It didn't matter who or what they believed in; they tried to kill her troopers, that's what really mattered to her. It's twice already males cared that a woman defeated them. This time she didn't need to be told thanks either. "Two-Three Six, the building is secure at this time. Will be in here with Bravo until he shows up."

"Two-Three roger." Grayson shrugged. Okay, thanks for telling me.

Malik bin-Khedda knew that his ace in the hole would work. He would get the infidels anyways. All he had to do was 'surrender' and then his fighters in the bunker would retake this town from the lazy Dutchmen. And hopefully they'd take this woman with them when they went to Paradise. Of all the things! He could stomach a male besting him but this was too much for him to believe!

Staff Sergeant Walkerman eyed the prisoners just as warily as they were warily looking at her. They didn't like the fact that a woman was guarding them, giving her nasty looks every time she gave them an order. There was a slight breeze but the heat still assaulted her as she strode amongst them. Her lips started to dry but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. Kearse was worse but this wasn't any better she felt as she licked her lips, more to moisten them rather than the males lined up. But then again it didn't seem to matter who was guarding them, as she saw some directed towards Hammond and the rest of her squad. As she walked past them she almost tripped as the ground sunk in slightly. Recoiling she prevented herself from falling into the new hole in the ground. "Hammond! Winters! Come here!" she yelled waving her free hand in her direction. With a team and Pryce watching them, she waved them over. What is going on here? "Dig around this area, carefully."

"No problem Sergeant." Hammond bent down, slowly and with Winter's help, uncovered a small hole. Hammond, unslinging his carbine, turned on his weapon mounted flashlight, lay down on the ground, and peered slowly inside using his weapon as his 'eyes'. A tunnel. From the looks of it, it ran due north, to that small mountain range if it did. "Sergeant, we got a tunnel," he said, still looking. He didn't know how far it went but it didn't look like it was stopping anytime soon.

The Wolverine APC flared slightly, and settled on the ground. When the ramp dropped, the infantry squad disgorged and General Van Der Kut wearing body armor and field kit strode to the mosque. A Cheshire grin on his face, he entered the mosque as his small security detachment eyed the indigs nervously. He carried a rifle like them slung across his chest but he let his hands stay off the grip as he strode purposefully into the mosque. "Ahh Captain Juniper, how are you today?" he said, looking around the inside of the mosque while his security detachment took their positions inside.

"I'm good sir," she said, calmly observing his approach, while Malik seemed to tense up visibly.

"Well well, Malik bin-Khedda, I thought you were just a lowly Imam," he said as his voice took a harsher tone as he regarded him. Intel had pegged him as a sympathizer and in some cases the local commander, and seeing him now it was confirmed. After spending a minute glaring at him, he looked to Captain Juniper. "He call surrender?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, we can arrest him." He waved to his detachment. "Zip strip him. With me Captain," General Van Der Kut said, as he walked away from the small altercation outside of the mosque. His security detail, hand-picked from the fighting here, expertly zip stripped the old man despite his protests. Putting his hands on his weapon he walked north towards where the prisoners were being gathered together.

"We will strike you down you murderous pigs!" Malik yelled as he was forced on his knees weapons pointed at him as the soldiers applied the strips forcefully despite his attempt at resistance.

"So, you finished yet Karyn?" He said looking at her while he turned to walk north of the village. Most of the hard work had to be done, now for the cleanup. He knew just what to do but he had to make sure as a defense this in-depth required more work than just the assault.

"No sir, still have to search the buildings to make sure." Following in step with him, she idly scanned the area still for more holdouts. She wondered if they had any K3 gas as an 'incentive' to get more out in case they resisted and attacked while they consolidated their gains. Sure it was 'safe', but she should never break a habit that could keep her alive.

"You surprise me every time Karyn. I half expect you to give something to make me happy and you disappoint."

"How's that sir?" she said as she matched his stride and noticed that they were walking north. It was just the two of them as well. The infantry Company was beginning their more thorough search of the area. Turning her head back, she saw the expanse of the desert that bordered the village. They were in the middle of nowhere and that fact hit her as they continued to walk.

"Well, I expected you to falter somehow. Maybe it's just me used to the 'caliber' of officers that I dealt with before you showed up. How do you do it?"

"I was at New Hope fighting in the mountains and in Kearse against insurgents fighting in buildings like this." She motioned with her free hand and she noticed that the Alpha Company soldiers were dismounting and beginning to setup security. Then another anti-grav vehicle approached, another Wolverine. Who was that?

"Special forces from First Kommando Karyn. They are better at finding shit than those monkeys." General Van Der Kut motioned to the Alpha Company soldiers. "Besides, they'll be pissed you took Al-Khedda rather than them. General Coort will be trying to grab you but I'll keep her off your back."

"Thank you sir." She noted that they were walking near the rubble. General Van Der Kut slowly climbed the rubble, careful not to step on the trashed Falcon launcher. She followed.

"If I may ask sir why are we walking this way?"

"Anvil Six, Anvil Two-Two."

"One second sir." She stopped, emotionally cutting him off as she focused on the comms. "Six go ahead."

"Roger, we found a tunnel, leading north, distance unknown."

"Six roger out." She turned to General Van Der Kut. "Sir, they found a tunnel." She accessed DJINN, and found Two-Two's position. "This way sir."

General Van Der Kut smiled as he was just about to ask where it was. Nodding, he walked with Captain Juniper to Anvil Two-Two's position, adjusting his rifle on its sling. Upon walking up, he smiled. "I figured as much."

"Send troopers in?" Captain Juniper asked, unsure as she surveyed the entrance, drawing a blank. They use nerve gas in the Dutch Army? She remembered that they didn't have any K3 to ferret them out to make the job easier. She got lucky with no casualties in the assault but she wasn't also going to take her chances now that things seemed to be 'calming down' now. Putting the drink tube for her camelback in her mouth she rotated the lever and gulped down the cool liquid, lukewarm from the heat of the vehicle. Her right hand still was on the pistol grip of the carbine though her trigger finger was extended and resting on the side of the weapon.

"No, they are known to booby-trap them. You send troopers in there you'll be filling body bags." He peered into the opening as Hammond was still trying to find something. "Of course when you dig them out of the sand... Did you see any explosives?" he asked Hammond.

"No..." Hammond looked up not sure how to answer that. "Sir."

General Van Der Kut nodded sympathetically as they wouldn't unless they walked the whole length of the tunnel and he wasn't going to expend his new assets. "Move the hostages a few hundred meters that way," he said, pointing northeast. "They like to do that, booby-trap the tunnels just in case we sent soldiers in to investigate. I was on Kush and they'd surrender, and then when you get all setup, and complacent in your perimeter, they'll use these tunnels which usually leads to a building, and attack from the inside. Nasty as I watched a CP blow up near me in front of my eyes." He marked the location via DJINN, to make sure for his next trick.

Captain Juniper nodded. Definitely near the caliber of the insurgents on New Hope, not quite so much on Kearse, as she knew the Skinnies were too drugged up to think up something this complex.

"Also Karyn, make sure that none of your elements are in the tunnels," General Van Der Kut said, looking north, guesstimating that the mountain hold was the cache/staging area.

"Yes sir. Anvil Five, Six."

"Six, Five."

"If anybody has found any tunnels, make sure that they are out of them."

"Five roger. Break. Nobody has reported any tunnels so far."

"None reported sir." Captain Juniper looked towards General Van Der Kut, wondering what was going on.

General Van Der Kut nodded, looking around. "Good, ensure that they are a few hundred meters from the tunnels."

"Yes sir." She switched back to the tactical comms. "Also Five, ensure that if anybody is near the rubble, that they are a few hundred meters away." She started to walk when General Van Der Kut was walking to the prisoners being herded away from the tunnels. Noting some nasty looks from them she ignored them as she looked around for a possible ambush.

"Five roger." She could detect the questioning tone, but she knew he'd execute. He could always ask later.

Ten minutes later, standing with the prisoners, Captain Juniper was still wondering what was going on. "All troopers and soldiers clear from the rubble, sir."

Nodding General Van Der Kut switched his comms to Space. "Shiva, Pegasus Six."

"Pegasus Six, Shiva."

"I need a SLKKW from my DJINN mark, designated A1, sending now." General Van Der Kut sent the data via DJINN. "Initials AVDK."

"Received coordinates, standby."

"Directly north of that position is a mountain range. From the southern edge of the range should be a large mountain."

"Confirmed."

"That's my target. One SLKKW."

"What are you doing sir?" Captain Juniper said, the lack of information annoying her.

"Patience, we're taking care of the rat problem," he said, smiling and giving her a wink.

Captain Juniper remembered the briefing from Diemos, her eyes widened. Indeed.

"Tactical Fire Mission Request!" the Ground Warfare Officer yelled to Captain Rory.

"Where?"

"Two thousand meters north from Pegasus Six's mark," the GWO said, showing him the display and request for one SLKKW, with coordinates already displayed. It had General Van Der Kut's initials. Fine by him if the ground pounders wanted another one. He was only glad to send one. He noted it was near Al-Khedda... What was going on? He checked the EW display, green. Well that was a first.

"Tactical?!"

"Green!"

"Air?!"

"Yellow!"

"We in the launch window?"

"Yes sir," the GWO said.

"Helm, maintain position!"

"Yes sir!" Helm acknowledged.

"Fire when green Mister Moore," Captain Rory said. He walked over to the Air station.

What's the situation?"

"Shuttle, en route to the Krieg sir," the Tactical Air Coordinator said. She watched the shuttle head to one of the battleships floating in the 'black sky' above Mashara.

"Fuck." He walked to his command chair. "Pegasus Six, standby, we have a yellow on air, once it's green we'll fire."

Roycewicz sat on the wall of the captured mosque with the rest of his squad. Taking his helmet off, he saw Sergeant Krauslin walk out of the newly arrived APC. Smiling to himself he figured he may as well welcome them to their new village. "Hey Sergeant Krauslin! Good thing we took care of your problem!" He gave the Sergeant a thumbs up and shit eating grin. About time he got to rub it in and get away with it.

The looks of Sergeant Krauslin and his cronies were priceless, making Roycewicz's day.

Carter looked at Roycewicz, and shook his head. "You just never stop do you?"

Still wearing his grin, he watched the Kommando team walk into the mosque. Looking at Carter, he chuckled. "Man, sometimes you need to just pull that stick out of your ass and enjoy the moment. Look at it this way; at least we didn't die here did we? Be glad for that."

Shaking his head he had to admit that even Roycewicz can be right. "Amen to that."

"Pegasus Six roger, got it Shiva." General Van Der Kut cursed; even General's bars couldn't make time go faster. Of course, it took him that long to realize it as he glanced northward towards his target. Looking at Captain Juniper he sighed in duress. "Karyn, you know why I like doing this stuff?"

Idly scanning the horizon for anything to come and counter-attack, she looked at him with focused eyes. "No sir, you never told me." Letting her weapon hang on its strap, she pulled up her body armor, just to relieve the pressure off the shoulders a bit. They thanked her, as she looked around the area some more. Looking back at Al-Khedda, the targeted buildings smoking from the attack earlier, she couldn't believe she did it as she listened to General Van Der Kut.

"Well." General Van Der Kut adjusted his rifle on its sling, again looking at the mountain range he targeted. "When you get to be my age and rank, you obviously see and experience a lot in life." Taking a sip of his canteen, he stared at it in reflection. "And this means you deal with politicians more than the soldiers you're commanding, and lose touch of reality."

She stood there, silent.

"But the real reason why I like coming out here is because you know who the real enemy is. True, he or she may be hiding and may need some effort to dig out, but you know he or she is out there." Sighing, this really was his only time of 'peace' too. "Because when you're dealing with politics and politicians, you don't know from what direction and who your real enemy is. Life is s simple on the ground."

She nodded, agreeing with what he said. At least she would have a long time to worry about that, but she couldn't see herself making General.

"Pegasus Six, Shiva, weapons away in ten seconds."

He breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God. "Pegasus Six roger."

"Weapon away."

"Watch Karyn," he said, pointing to the small mountain. Thirty seconds later the SLKKW impacted against the mountain, raising a cone of rock as the energy released sent the mountain into the air, the contrail still in the air from the rod's passing. A minute later, a rumbling could be heard and the side of the mountain caved in. Then the rumbling continued, increasing in volume as the tunnel explosives detonated sympathetically, until it reached near them and went around the town.

She could only stare at, not only the impact, but the effect. They were truly in a new universe and where she fit in, she could only guess.

Malik bin-Khedda watched in horror as his planned trap blew up around the town, knowing that he lost and that the cursed invaders now had the advantage and what the real intent that Al-Khedda was. It was to keep the Dutch focused mainly on the village, in order to allow the Muslim Coalition to have a rallying cry for their fighters. With each rumble, he knew that his fight had been finished and he would spend some time in Moshtar's jail.

"Fuck you," General Van Der Kut said to the shocked Muslim Coalition prisoners. Readjusting his rifle, he turned around and began walking back to the destroyed village. "With me Captain."

Sweating profusely Staff Sergeant Schweitzer sat down on the lip of the tank she rode in before the assault, listening to the rumble from the SLKKW strike. As her fellow troopers walked up, she nodded to them. This wasn't her normal sort of business and training but she survived, hoping that some of the squad members would find her acceptable as she had to prove herself and she hoped she had. Panting slightly, she took a long drink of the water bottle. It was slightly cool but that was good enough for now.

"Hey Schweitzer," Staff Sergeant Grayson said as she strode up, also wanting to take a break. Seeing her drink out of the water, she sat down besides her, pausing for a minute to catch her breath then reached over for a water bottle. "Good job, if you need to come work with Third squad I have no problem."

Thankful at that she raised her water bottle in salute as she caught her breath. Hopefully, this won't be the 'standard' that is Mashara.

"So what do you think of her?" Staff Sergeant Tennenbaum asked as she undressed to take a shower. It had been a long day just getting back doing After Action Review briefings, and accounting for her squad and equipment. Same responsibilities but then again more pay, which so far since they were just starting out was enough to pay the rent. Enough to live off of as well, which wasn't too bad either she reflected as she finished taking her clothes off glad to be rid of the sweaty clothes and underwear. But like every soldier in existence, it still wasn't enough and she could always use more as she stepped inside the small shower stall. Remembering that it wasn't a bathtub, she quickly hopped out reaching for the water knob.

"Who?" Staff Sergeant Grayson said, about to brush her teeth looking at Tennenbaum through the mirror.

"Schweitzer."

Shrugging she turned back to the mirror still brushing her teeth slowly. "Not too bad really, she didn't hang up if that's what you're asking."

"Yeah." Turning on the water, first the cold and she slowly adjusted the hot water until it was just right. Satisfied, she stepped in, reaching for the washcloth and soap. "So you'd give her a thumbs up?"

Shrugging, she spat out the foam from the toothpaste and rinsed her mouth out quickly.

You can't judge her by one firefight, but I'd say she'd be alright, if not a bit pretentious."

Tennenbaum smiled as she cleaned herself off. "That's true, but as long as you give her a thumbs up that's good too." Continuing to clean herself, she reflected who Schweitzer was to the Troop. In a way she felt she was an enigma to her, wondering where she really fit in. But then again, she didn't fit in, at least not for now. The CO of course liked her, but that was also probably more personal than professional. Still, she didn't act the way she did to that S2 ell-tee on Kearse. At least she had some chances of surviving in this new world and the unit, and whatever future they had as well. But if Grayson said she was okay, she'd give the new girl a little more slack, but she still had her reservations. The only question was who was she really loyal to?

"Did they display any signs of wanting to defect to the Muslim Coalition side?"

"No sir."

"I see, where were you positioned?"

"I was positioned in the medic Wolverine, and mainly sat there during the engagement sir."

"You drove it?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, who was with you?"

"Master Sergeant Magnusson."

"Anybody else?"

"No sir."

"Did you feel that they had any intention of mutiny or otherwise?"

"If I may ask-"

"No you cannot, answer the question Lieutenant."

"No sir."

"I see. So did you feel in any way threatened, did they make any threats to harm you due to the fact that you were attached to the unit for the operation? Or did they display signs of treason?"

"No sir."

"So if you were told to report to the unit afterwards do you think they would be suspicious of their intentions?"

"No sir."

"Good, your flight is scheduled for nineteen hundred tonight, ensure you make it."

"Will do sir."

"Good, Thank you Lieutenant."

Lieutenant Hawthorne stood up at attention, rendering a near-perfect salute. Acting took a bit being a counter-intelligence officer but this time it was real.

Lt. Jones fidgeted with the dress uniform collar as he stood there amongst the Troop. After returning from Mashara from their success at Al-Khedda, the President wanted to give them all awards for their actions. Striking him as odd as they were the only ones lined up in the Royal Palace hallway to receive their awards. Captain Juniper strode amongst them, fidgeting as well in her new dress uniform. Standing naturally at the head of the formation, she looked around at everybody, and everybody looked back at her. For everybody standing, it was first odd that they were in dress uniform, and second, odd that they were at the Royal Palace to receive an award from the President. They didn't even practice beforehand and that was what really made him nervous. Groenigan of course taught them how to be formal to possible employers, mainly how royalty acted, in order for the new and cherry Lieutenants to understand basic psychology when going on his or her first contract, and had the evil task of being the point of contact. The instructors always said the highest ranking person took care of that, but the only certainty in this galaxy was death. Fidgeting some more, he watched as Captain Juniper abruptly walked off. She stopped, turning towards him.

"Lt. Jones, hold the fort while I go talk to General Van Der Kut." Without waiting for a reply, she walked off.

"No problem," he said to the air.

Ten minutes later the sounds of trumpets filled the hallway as President Tromp, with Captain Juniper walking beside him, strode into the hallway. Bodyguards flanked the pair, but otherwise were vigilant as they walked. President Tromp stood, with an aide holding a large wooden box. Pulling out an award, he handed it to Captain Juniper.

Silently accepting the award, she pivoted, turning towards Lt. Jones. "Thank you." Pinning the award on his left chest, she smiled warmly, shaking his hand. After that was done, she turned and walked down the line until her whole unit was finished. When she was done, she stood in the center of the formation, at attention.

"I President Tromp, leader of these planets, do humbly thank you all for your dedication and service for the crown." Securing the last award, he pinned it on Captain Juniper's chest, stepping away after shaking her hand. Nodding, he strode away purposefully, his bodyguards in tow. As soon as he was gone, she turned around. "Dismissed." Nothing else was planned except for tomorrow, so why not let them enjoy a day off?

"You ready Karyn?" Jessica asked as she finished touching up her face. General Van Der Kut invited the officers of the Troop, as well as other officers that he knew personally to his little get together. It wasn't mandatory, but he made it a strong reminder that he did ask. However, the officers attending, at least the combat officers, had to be in dress uniform. The others had the luxury of formal dress.

Karyn adjusted her uniform slightly, unused to the material. It was a finer cut compared to what she wore while in the NFDF. It was nicer, and less constricting. After Al-Khedda, the Dutch Army managed to work out equivalent medals, which wasn't much, her only gripe that her service on Thessolinka couldn't be documented even though MSG Magnusson, in his wisdom, brought along the datafiles on everybody. It would have looked bad to the Greeks since Thessolinka existed here and it was felt that it would cause an uproar somehow since the Greek colony in the ESU was actually named 'Thessolinka', and had been relatively peaceful since its start—unlike back then, when it was shared by the Turks and Greeks, whose animosity was still legendary.

Still, the black top and khaki bottoms just didn't match in her opinion. Someone didn't have a good fashion sense when he or she came up with the design but that was okay for now. Plus, she thought she left the khakis behind when she 'crossed over' into this dimension. Sighing, she knew she was wrong as she adjusted the belt still looking at how she looked in the mirror. She hated dressing up in uniform and the number that Jessica was wearing was much more preferable, both in looks and practicality. In a small sense of the word she could be considered a 'date' tonight, even though they still were distant from each other. "Yeah I'm ready," she said, checking her pockets. Regulations didn't allow purses and again, it seemed tacky in uniform anyways. The save was no retarded cap but she did tuck in her tassel as best as possible, tying the back of her hair in a bun. After checking herself again she smiled, feeling good tonight. Her mind had another plan, as she hadn't had any alcohol in a very long time. Plus she was getting tired of lying beside a beautiful woman and not doing anything with it... Brushing her thoughts away she focused back on the situation at hand, which was a dress up function. Despite the colors, she did look sharp.

"Okay." Jessica stepped out, gorgeous in her slinky white dress, made of the finest silk on the planet. It highlighted all the curves that needed to be highlighted, and didn't make her look trashy, though definitely classy.

Admiring the woman more than the dress, Karyn nodded in agreement. "You look nice."

"Thanks," Jessica said, and they both silently walked out to the car. Noiselessly, they both smoothly sat down, adjusting the belts across their chests. Smoothly pulling out, they headed to General Van Der Kut's mansion not saying a word. Naturally, the tension inside could have been cut with a sharp knife, but even the most skilled wielder would have had trouble.

During the drive to the General's house it was quiet between the both of them; the professed space they both created made it also tense. They both wondered when either of them was going to finally make the first move. Two months already, and they were both climbing at the walls at each other's reluctance to go further though they didn't openly admit it between them.

talemate they called it though torture was what both women called it.

Jessica pulled up to the gate. "Captain Hyngard and Captain Juniper."

The gate guard ran the ID checker, and, opening the gate, he motioned them in.

Jessica pressed the accelerator on the car, smoothly driving down the driveway.

One thing that Karyn liked about Jessica was that she had a ground car; she flew enough as it was. Still, the tension...

They pulled up to the front doors, massive as was the castle that General Van Der Kut lived in. It was slightly imposing with the lights playing over it as they both stepped out into the cool night air. There was a touch of humidity in the air, but she felt it more on her exposed arms and face than anywhere else. Of course she was less covered than her... date? Roommate?

Karyn stepped out as well, looking around, awed slightly by the area, and followed Jessica into the castle doors.

The massive doors opened into a large lobby. It had a well decorated foyer and was large, easily dwarfing them with the high ceiling. A butler stood in the center of the foyer watching the two women walk in. "May I help you?" he asked gently. Wearing a well-cut tuxedo, the butler exuded calmness as he regarded them.

Jessica shook her head. "No thanks, we know where to go," she said curtly tugging Karyn's arm to follow. Well, at least one of them knew anyways. They both walked to the main hall, where a lot of officers, male and female were standing, chatting amongst their groups.

"Look at that," Jessica said, pointing at the ceiling.

"What? Oh," Karyn said, watching the chandelier rotate on the ceiling. It had a secondary one that bounced up and down. It was studded with diamonds, probably real with the light shining off of it. It was beautiful and they both stared at it as it moved across the ceiling.

"He's got taste that's for sure," Jessica said, still watching it.

"This your first time too?" Karyn asked, looking at Jessica, admiring the view.

"Yes." Jessica looked back, noticed Karyn staring, and looked back, feeling a slight jolt.

Karyn did too, and looked away just as quickly as Jessica did. Spotting Tennant and James she saw they were chatting amongst what she could guess were either infantry or armor officers. She still hadn't taken the time to read all of them anyways as she was still trying to get used to the whole new world in which she was living. Still her experienced eye could pick out the experienced from the inexperienced. Well, there were precious few versus the other officers that saw actual combat. A few ribbons, the two Valorous Unit Citations adorning her chest, along with an impromptu Officers Academy and Distinguished Unit, and Mashara Campaign ribbon, and The Order of Valor for Al-Khedda. She was told it was the third highest award for the nation and she luckily was able to persuade General Van Der Kut to award it to all the participants.

That's all that mattered to her as the award was just a decoration in her mind. Being a mercenary was one thing but being a part of a national military would require some adjustment. How that would work out, she didn't know but that was something for the future she mused as she looked Then again with her six years so far she never had gotten an award from either the Greeks or the Brazilians on New Hope. She was just glad that she survived Kearse after that fiasco with General Malik. Though she did, deep down, appreciate the time she did have with Colonel Knight despite the constant quips about drinking coffee.

Her eyes drifted to the awards that 'transferred' over on her chest. New Hope and Kearse couldn't be awarded since those planets didn't exist 'here'. Sighing, she wondered if they would get lucky and go 'home' where they belonged, not drifters in a new world. Well, she earned it she guessed, though some of the inexperienced looking ones had more than her. She felt deep down, that she did more than them. How, she really didn't know but the feeling was there.

"Captain!" James yelled out. Some eyes turned towards her and she ignored them as she walked towards him. Jessica walked off, waving slightly as she joined her little clique of friends or co-workers. Karyn glanced back at her and turned to James.

Karyn waved at him smiling politically. She still didn't think the guy had all his chops together yet especially after what Lt. Jones went through. General Van Der Kut was making hints about him getting his Captain and she agreed profusely, earning an odd look from him, but in the end, she and he were keeping it a secret. She had spent two contracts with him, and he was always on top of it. When James was more skilled, then she could think about rotating another PL in. The benefit back then was that they were experimental, so rank progression was pretty much at the whim of Colonel Brown. The fact she was still a national officer meant now the system would suck her up and send her to some shitty unit. Oh how the serfs were treated, even if she was better paid than most. Or in this case better treated; from what she was hearing from Jessica, Al-Khedda set them apart instantly from all the other units.

She talked for a few minutes with her own Troop officers, but she had to mingle and get something to eat. Excusing herself, she walked to the table, adorned with all manner of food, even real fruit she surmised. Oh how the rich live, and the General didn't skimp either. Looking at the food, she accidentally bumped into a male officer. Armor tags. It wasn't Lt. Hoff though, she liked how he worked, and if she had the chance, she'd work with his platoon again. A "Dale" was on his right breast, and he was busily scooping up food. He was well built, as far as she could tell with the dress uniform on.

"Hi." He angled his head to catch the rank. "Ma'am, I'll be done in just a second."

"Okay," she said, not quite in a rush and staying out of his way as best as possible. It wasn't like she was expecting the table to fly away or a famine strike to happen suddenly. Crossing her arms she waited while he loaded the plate down with an assortment of food. "Quite a bit of food."

"Yeah, some of the food I take home and use for work, every time," Lt. Dale said, finishing. He turned and eyed her lustfully. "Though would you like to come to my house and help me eat it?"

Mentally estimating from his hopeful look that he thought he would sway her, she shook her head unapologetically. "Sorry I have enough to eat already." Which in truth she had enough food, just other items were missing from her diet and she wasn't craving sausage either.

Lt. Dale looked like he was going to cry, why she didn't know but she had to prevent him from killing himself while at the buffet table. Quietly she stroked the side of his face. "Sorry, I'm going through a patch right now, and just not interested." That would at least buoy his spirits, and then later on she'd have to crush him with the fact that men weren't on her plate anyways. A certain Intel officer... she shook her head, clearing her thoughts. Not now girl, get some food and let the night play out!

Lt. Dale's spirit did buoy, and he smiled slightly. "Thanks for the honesty, ma'am." He walked off with his full plate.

Karyn rolled her eyes to herself. If he couldn't take rejection then he sure wasn't ready for combat. Glancing over his uniform she saw he didn't have the 'combat' decorations anyways. She was good even though she really didn't look at him.

Filling her plate halfway, she walked away from her officers and decided to mingle by herself while she watched everybody else fall into their own cliques. She saw them enough and needed some space to just think. As she was looking out into nothingness, another Captain this time, infantry tabs on his shoulders walked up to her. Then a couple more Lieutenants walked up, both infantry one male, one female. Her gaydar was pinging negative from her posture, and she stopped looking at her. Instead, she concentrated on her food, ignoring them as best as she could. Not able to stand Frisian infantrymen, she continued to munch on the food as she looked around the room.

"Hi," the Captain... Rorg the nameplate said. The male and female officers joined them.

Karyn finished chewing her food and looked towards him with some regard. "Hi."

"I'm Captain Timothy Rorg, pleased to meet you...?"

"Captain Karyn Juniper," she said, extending her hand and a light smile. Figuring she had to start mingling with the other officers sometime soon, this seemed like the best time to do it. Timothy had a passable handshake, though she got a better handshake with a little girl. It must be the eyes she thought as she took another bite of her food. We going to talk? Or you going to pretend you're not ogling me?

As if her mind echoed in his. "Sorry was just admiring you, that's all."

Karyn sank inside herself. If this is how the men were, then getting a woman was going to be so easy, way too easy. She had more difficulty at Mary's on a busy night than this! "So you're Infantry?" Boy I'm going to fuck with this twit She thought, throwing the 'little girl eyes' at him. He melted, forcing a smile on her face as she calculated an easy conversation kill was going to happen.

"S-So you like infantrymen?" he said, brightening as he thought he was going somewhere. "They're the greatest thing known to man. My Company is the best in the whole Dutch Army. We kill Micks every time we go out." He puffed his chest proudly.

Ahh ha! No wait until I set you up dumbass She thought how she was going to play this, licking her thumb, 'little girl eyes' still in effect. Hating it when people acted like they 'did so much', she nodded, still remembering Tehas. He was hook, line, and sinker. She saw him look at her medals, though realistically he was probably looking at her chest, something he wasn't getting to play with tonight. Hopefully Jessica was though... as she sure wanted to play with hers.

"You run a Company yourself Karyn?" Timothy said, now running his eyes over the medals as well as her chest. "I see you've been to Mashara, how was it?"

She shrugged. "It wasn't too bad, though I wasn't there long."

"I see, well," Captain Rorg said, shaking his head.

In her mind she saw the tough guy act coming. Her dumbassdar pinging positive, she noticed the two Lieutenants posturing. They both stood facing her, like two chained attack dogs, sneers on their face as the Alpha male stood there and postured. Maybe she'd screw the girl just to send a message to him that she wasn't fucking around either. There was too much sausage in the immediate vicinity anyways. "How long were you there?"

"I've been there for half a year." He wiped his forehead as if he was back on the planet.

Then she knew most of it was an act. You can look at Roycewicz or Boyington for that matter, and tell they've been through some shit. These jokes looked like they did see combat, though not much. "How was it?"

Still the tough guy act. "It was rough, real rough; those Muslim Coalition soldiers know how to put up a fight." He wiped his forehead again. "Though I don't suppose you know what it's like to fight a well-entrenched enemy. Men like me do," Captain Rorg said, puffing his chest.

Fighting the very strong urge to roll her eyes publicly Yeah, New Hope and Kearse were just walkovers She thought, eating some more of her food, wiping her mouth of some crumbs. Slowly, she was losing interest in the whole conversation.

Finished posturing he looked at her. "How long and where were you at?"

Putting the math together, it was less than a week? She shrugged more to herself than to him as she let her mind be made up. "Less than a week I guess."

Laughing softly he regarded her with condescending eyes. "That's it?! You don't even deserve to wear that! Would you look at that?" He showed another Captain. The other Captain looked, and turned back to her conversation without even bothering to care.

Karyn stood there, her mood changing from having a good time to embarrassment. Fuck these assholes.

Throwing up his hands in disbelief at how this Captain can claim those medals and only been there a week! "And where pray tell 'Captain', did you earn that at?"

"Al-Khedda," she said, standing her ground as she let the look of dawning wash over him.

He stood there stunned as his mind tried to say something but nothing was registering, only the shock of the revelation. His lackeys were wide-eyed as well.

"Excuse me," Karyn said, needing to find a better spot to eat. There was definitely too much sausage around and his unit was definitely not the best in the Dutch Army. Although, she wouldn't mind if the female joined her.

"I see you're causing trouble already," General Van Der Kut said, walking up to Karyn as she stood there, sipping on a glass of fine wine.

It was white wine, and better than she ever drank back... on Nieuw Friesland. She smiled, though she didn't know what he was exactly referencing with that comment. "I'm not sure I follow sir."

"Back there, with Captain Rorg, you seemed to shut him up pretty good back there, care to tell me why?"

"Oh... he was giving me the tough guy act, and I had to bring him down to the ground."

General Van Der Kut smiled. "You sure did, he's walking around, like he saw a ghost. What did you say to him?"

"Al-Khedda, sir."

He understood that one alright. She had the rights, along with Lt. Hoff, for that on their 'belt'. "True, and we're glad you helped, but don't get too high in the air, you'll get knocked down harder." General Van Der Kut winked knowing from personal experience. "Let's go outside though, I'd like to talk to you."

"You going to drop another 'rod of death' sir?"

"No Captain," he said slightly with a touch of sternness. "I've dropped a few, and I read your data, I could drop a million and you wouldn't even get a touch of lust. No, let's just talk business Karyn." He shepherded her out. Stopping by the ledge, he leaned forward on the railing, looking around, at the darkness, his eyes not adjusted yet to the dark. He sighed. "Al-Khedda proved your loyalty, and your resourcefulness. After the ceremony, Princess Van Der Koot signed your exoneration papers, verifying that you are indeed trustworthy to us and the ESU."

Captain Juniper merely sipped on her wine, staring out at the darkness as well. She could faintly see the lights of New Aachen from here.

"Before we begin, I do have a burning question."

"Yes sir?"

"Have you done anything like Al-Khedda before?"

"No sir. We've trained but never really done that sort of thing. One of the key tenets that I at least learned was flexibility. We performed missions that the average Frisian trooper routinely doesn't. It's mainly conventional work, though at a time the progenitor unit, 'Hammer's Slammers' had a company that did the clandestine work. We're like that but we have a more conventional role, only we've been saddled with counter-insurgency work prior."

"I see." Letting that sink in he also stared out at the cityscape. His Kommando was the unit of flexibility and innovative battlefield tactics, not the line units, so hearing that made the deal he had been given much sweeter. Definitely an asset he can figure out how to play with. Just how he had to work them he had no clue at the moment as he switched to more professional matters on his mind. "What is going to go down is that you are going to be part of the Special Operations branch. Your records and interviews show that you do more than just roll around in flying armored vehicles. Charbourg, Tehas, et cetera, and the information that was given is classified for now while we go over it for anything useful. Though honestly your unit has not done as much as me, but whatever." Dismissing that sentence with a wave, he adjusted himself and he continued. "But, that doesn't mean you do that always. The line units as you saw, need some help in training and some assistance with dealing with both Mashara and Kush. Unlike the Kommando, you're basic role to the Dutch Army, when deployed, is an Operational Maneuver Group."

"What's that sir?"

"It's an old Soviet concept back on Terra, before we moved to the stars. It's a task specific unit designed to punch a hole in the enemy's lines at the right moment. These days, the firepower on your vehicles... isn't much, but." He paused, watching a meteorite fall in the sky not wishing for anything. When he was a young boy he believed in making a wish but he realized, after all, the only way to get your wish was to make the effort to get it. "But mainly for missions like Mashara and Kush, where your expertise in counter-insurgency warfare can help, plus other missions. And then some additional stuff that we can flex you for depending what we have on our plate. But you're honestly nowhere the caliber Mirabig and the Kommando is at. They've been doing it longer." He shrugged. "Which is fine, because I can't employ you like a regular Kommando team, but I can have you under my wing for placement due to your unit's 'special' situation? So I won't ask you to insert via space shuttle or the like, but you'll be tasked out to assist other line units as I deem appropriate."

Captain Juniper couldn't say no to that. She didn't like the idea working with Tyr though.

"And while you and Tyr have differences, you'll have to set them aside for the greater mission. And your Area of Operations is the ESU, and of course whatever interests the Dutch Parliament has as well." Sighing, he leaned forward looking at the cityscape. "Which is branched out in four regions, using the old style cardinal directions, north, west, east, and south areas of operations."

Captain Juniper nodded. "Yes sir. As far as movement within the military?"

"Right now you will be setup for a four year contract, along with your Troop. Mirabig has signed on for the rest of his life, he's gung ho that way." General Van Der Kut winked. "But you'll retain command of your unit, but I will be honest in saying that you will lose it in a heartbeat if you waste any of yours or my assets," he added the edge for emphasis. "So unless there is a reason to move you out of it, short of promotion you're still remaining in command." Shrugging he said, "Though in all honesty I'd like to put on you on a team but you'll need more time before I consider that. Even Mirabig took a few years as a Platoon Leader to get his position."

Captain Juniper nodded. "Yes sir." She took another sip of her wine.

"But if you choose to move on, provided you survive those four years, that's yours and your unit's call, but I hope you stay on. There's precious few of your caliber, and I don't mind high caliber people. Again, Mirabig has an attitude, but he does get the job done, don't forget that either." Feeling he was finished for now, he turned away from Captain Juniper. "Monday you will sign the contracts, and we go from there. But just so you're aware, your unit is getting a small 'breather' for two weeks, and unless the Princess changes her mind, you're back to Mashara for a while. The Muslim Coalition as a whole suffered a large blow when Al-Khedda fell, so we'll have to develop the situation but keep in mind that you and your Troop are on immediate recall, which I'm sure you may be used to when you were mercenaries." He sighed, wanting to get back to his own party. He also didn't want to tell her that while the unit was officially cleared, Princess Van Der Koot wanted them under supervision. His branch could do it, considering the quality was much better than the line officers. His men and women were less likely to let them slip away. "But that should be enough for now, go and enjoy yourself Captain, you earned it." He patted Captain Juniper on the shoulder. "Good night Karyn."

"Good night sir," Captain Juniper said, taking another sip of her wine, swirling the fluid along with her thoughts. Time to go find Jessica and work on something else besides the wine and the food.

"One last thing," he said turning back to her. "How?"

"How what sir?"

"Do you know so much?"

"Sleep learning sir, in the Groenigan Academy it was highly advised to use sleep learning programs to study for our courses. It takes a year to graduate the course and the curriculum is vast and varied, allowing a junior lieutenant to encompass centuries of warfare where in an equivalent school it would take perhaps a few years."

"So all of your officers are tactical geniuses?"

Never considering herself just that she smiled thinly remembering the illustrious Lt. Hannah as she stood there, trying to place it into words. "No sir, it depends on the study habits and focus. Officers like Lt. Hannah are small exceptions to the rule, but most of the time yes. We, well I in my old way of life had to confront a lot of tough, smart enemies, and since we were mercenaries we couldn't be dumb hirelings."

Nodding as he chewed on that information. "Thanks." Walking away, he had to see if he could exploit that though realistically it wasn't that the officer and enlisted ranks were stupid, it was just that they were inexperienced.

Karyn stepped out onto the balcony, seeing Jessica sitting there alone by herself. Just like Monica, wanted to be with the life of the party, but not always in the life of the party. She walked slowly and quietly, wineglass in her hand as she sat silently next to Jessica on the stone bench. "Hi."

"Hi," Jessica said curtly turning her head to Karyn. She was sad right now, not getting what she wanted out of the party.

Taking a sip of the wine, Karyn savored the taste as she sat there, looking out into the darkness. "You doing alright?"

"I guess," Jessica said, also staring out into the darkness. A lot of emotions were boiling through her with the wine not helping her work out what she was feeling. Loneliness was the most common one when she attended parties.

Karyn crossed her legs, and sat there, slowly drinking the wine as she looked. For some reason the next words were a surprise to even her. "When I lost Monica, I didn't know what to do. I'm afraid of losing somebody again like I did."

Turning to Karyn wondering why she said it, but she understood. "When Michelle died, I thought so too." She smiled slightly. It was the wine that she drank earlier loosening her up. The dress wasn't helping her in that regards. "Sometimes I'm not sure if I can move on you know? Just the same old thing, fall in love, lose girlfriend. Once already."

"Twice," Karyn said. She licked her lips, the urge was growing, and she wasn't blaming it on the wine, though she would say it was helping it along. Setting the wine glass on the stone walkway, she looked at Jessica solemnly. "And hurt both times."

"Yeah," Jessica said, still looking out towards the dark. "When you lay in bed with me I thought things were improving between the two of us, you know, I thought you came to your senses."

"I'm slow sometimes, it took me two years to get over Tania and allow Monica into my heart. Then I end up here, so it hurts a lot."

Jessica nodded knowingly. "Would you go back to her if you ever went back to your world?"

"Yes." No doubt in her mind. "If Michelle was still alive, would you go back to her?"

"Yes. You'd be just another hot chick," Jessica said, laughing silently. It really wasn't funny, but she had to appreciate the honesty. "But since both our loves will never come back, what will you do?"

"I don't know. What do you want to do?" Slow down girl, slow down... She raised her hand, and started to stroke Jessica's hair. It was definitely the wine. The pull was terrible, right here right now, she would just lay her out and...

Jessica moved her head to accommodate Karyn. "That feels nice."

"Thanks..." Letting her heart take her while moving Jessica's head she planted a soft kiss on her lips letting it go further, letting her hormones take her away. After finishing and gulping in some air, she smiled still stroking Jessica's hair. "How was that?"

"Ask me tomorrow morning..." Jessica said, leaning into Karyn.

With a slight hangover Karyn woke up, with Jessica resting on her left side. Groaning, she slowly slid out from underneath, relieving herself and cleaning herself off. Jessica groaned but she was still asleep. Finished, she slowly slid back into bed, moving Jessica nearly back in the same position. Feeling much better in her mind, not only she relieved herself, because she finally succumbed to her desires and quite honestly had one of the best nights in bed she ever had. Then again she chalked it up to tension and mental distress as she lay there, looking at the sleeping form of her new lover. She didn't say she loved Jessica, but hopefully it would work out better than Monica. Not that she was giving up hope, but at least for now she had something to live for besides nothing but a paycheck and guaranteed violence.

Captain Juniper strode into the briefing room purposefully with the hardcopy orders in hand. As soon as her troopers noticed her walk in, they started to quiet themselves. General Van Der Kut and Captain Hyngard stood off to the side, talking to themselves ignoring her and the troopers. Captain Brenner was in the back, minding his own business, and apparently the only one from the Infinity. Regardless, she had a mission on her mind. Walking up to the dias that was in front of the room, she set the hardcopies down, and tapped on the embedded microphone. "Good Afternoon," she said, and the whole room quieted. "Thanks. As you know we've done what we always do, and that is kick some ass." She smiled as some of the troopers cheered. Nothing wrong with pride as most of them had been through the shared pain from the beginning. "But as you may have heard, we're going back to Mashara." She heard the quietness get deeper.

"I know some of us are new to the unit, and have gotten their baptism by fire." She looked at Lt. Hannah, MSG Magnusson and Staff Sergeant Schweitzer, along with Sergeant Hernandez, and Corporal Shandek, giving each a nod. She turned to General Van Der Kut and Captain Hyngard.

Sir, may I speak to my unit alone?"

General Van Der Kut paused, thought it better to give time to her troopers. What she did earned her that right. "Granted, Jessica?"

"Following sir," she said, glancing back to Karyn, giving a secretive wink as she followed General Van Der Kut out of the room.

Karyn merely nodded, secretly winking back. Once both were out of the room she relaxed. Makinig sure the door was closed, she let her mouth go. "Where are we?" she said, and noticed the blank stares of wonderment of where their CO was going with this. "We're somewhere where we shouldn't be right?" She looked again, seeing more comprehension as the seconds passed. "So what does that mean for us? We're on our own for the most part, that's what I feel every day. Sure we've started to get used to this new world, universe, whatever you want to call it, but is this our future? Apparently so and I need an assurance from you."

"What kind sir?" Lt. Jones said.

She let that slide, old habits returned now that they were 'alone'. "The kind that you all have my back, while I think, or like to think I have yours." She addressed the unit with her eyes. The nods confirmed her opinion.

"I can't speak for all of them sir, but I believe your troopers do," MSG Magnusson said confidently. He'd seen how they executed their mission, with Al-Khedda on their belts. While he may not have actively participated, he saw the determination and loyalty she earned from them. And she wasn't the best commander he had ever seen, but he knew deep down she wasn't just a pretty model wasting the air. All of them were topnotch in his book.

"Is he right?" Captain Juniper nodded to MSG Magnusson thanks for his vote of confidence.

"Yes sir!" Carter said with two thumbs up.

"Yeah what he said," Roycewicz said.

Captain Juniper smiled, and the rest of them looked like they couldn't say anything else. "Good, I'm glad I'm doing my job, or at least close to it." Pausing as she choked her emotions she felt her eyes watering in happiness, or maybe it was just her own personal pride. "That's good. However, I do have to let you know that we are all on a four year contract as it stands. So for now, in our old speak, they are now our employers. If after these four years you wish to get out, then that is your choice and your own lives to live." Looking around, she made sure that everybody was paying attention. "And I'm sure everybody understands the length of the year versus the Frisian year?" Letting her eyes glide over the faces, again to make sure, and was relieved to see a majority of nods. "Just to make sure you understand, the Dutch year is three hundred and fifty-five days, not eighty, so we're all tracking." She saw more nods and that relieved her more. "Good, now that means we're under the umbrella of the Special Forces section and under the normal Army chain of command. As explained to me by General Van Der Kut, we're an Army unit and will perform normal tank and infantry missions, which is no change from New Hope and Kearse. The term was 'Operational Maneuver Group', where we can maybe perform more tank-style missions. However, I've briefed him on what else we have done, and he mentioned about tasking us out in lieu of the Kommando on missions, so we can expect missions like we performed on Charbourg and Tehas, along with whatever he has in store for us." Pausing, she focused on what else to say. "As it stands we'll be in AO East going back to Mashara. Apparently we, like in the old days are to bolster the capabilities of the Dutch Army unit there."

So there's nothing new we haven't done, just a new universe to explore, and as usual, kill them at the quickest chance yet." Feeling she was done she stifled a yawn and said, "And I want to thank you for Al-Khedda as we proved who we are and what we can do. So you're dismissed until further notice, XO, Master Sergeant, and squad leaders stay behind as I have further information to put out. Dismissed."

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Any questions, comments, can be sent to me, Eric Johnson

Email address: flanker56@hotmail.com

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