by JR Handley
When he reached the end of the line, and prepared to go back to his position in the middle of the front to oversee things, he saw a bright flare coming from the Dynia River. Those frakkers found our guys early, but hopefully the plan will still hold. I can’t stomach another year watching the graduating Cadets kill each other off. There has to be a better way than the Cull.
Realizing he needed to ensure the pressure stayed off the flank until they were ready, Mosi ordered every Mini to the line, and to start sending full volleys of rounds towards the enemy. He noticed this seemed to dishearten and confuse the enemy, if the shouts of their sergeants were any indication, because this style seemed so antithetical to what they were taught as crèchelings. They can’t figure out what we are gonna do, and that bugs them. This exercise always ends quickly, and our plan calls for waiting until close to the end of the event, and sneaking into their rear and flanks. It’s so simple and obvious, and yet it’s never been used. Hopefully their confusion will be enough to buy us the time to finish Scipio’s Operation Guinshrike. All the noise these Minis make should add to the confusion, be convincing and keep ’em guessing.
Given the heat of the day, and the number of rounds Mosi ordered poured into the 828th, the weapons quickly became overheated. Scanning the line, he saw smoke coming off some barrels; some had even turned bright red. We have to cool them off, we can’t have the most important flank of our strategy fall silent. Knowing that he couldn’t fix this, he quickly tracked down the three AuxTechs and asked what they recommended. Ever the motivator, he tried coaxing a solution out of them, having momentarily forgotten that they were just Auxies.
None of the AuxTechs knew what to say. However, they were clearly loving being treated as useful, so they began spitballing ideas and just as quickly turning them down. While they were discussing this, Mosi ordered his Cadets to seek cover and put the overheated Minis down. If we just stay out of sight, this could confuse them and give us time to get back into things. Staring down at the Mini he still had from his earlier trade with Cadet Platte, an idea struck him. He quickly dropped his pants to around his ankles, not bothering with modesty in his excitement at having a solution, and began peeing on his Mini. If we can cool it just enough, we can swap out our barrels and get back into it, he kept repeating to himself like some sort of holy mantra.
The rest of Whiskey Company’s Mini gunners, having seen what their sergeant had done, got behind the idea and up and down the line, Cadets were standing or squatting over their Minis and pissing on them. Upon seeing that the splashback was burning the legs of the female gunners, AuxTech Holly grabbed Sergeant Okeke’s helmet, and ran off to the small offshoot of the Dynia. She returned with a helmet full of water that she promptly dumped onto the first female Mini’s weapon she came too. Once the weapon was cool enough, she grabbed the insulated gloves from her pack and quickly swapped barrels.
As Mosi watched, he laughed to himself at how the Auxie scrunched her nose at the smell of burnt piss as she fixed the weapon. These kids have proven their worth. Why were they kicked out of the program to begin with? I think I’ll pull their files for a look-see when this exercise is over.
In the fifteen minutes after the weapons were all pissed on, the AuxTechs swapped out the barrels of all 32 Mini guns. Ten weapons fixed in ten minutes, that’s better than any Spacer I’ve floated with! Maybe the Marines need our own tech corps for those too smart to become cannon fodder, he mused before shaking his head and calling over the three technicians.
When the AuxTechs were squatting beside him along the front trench, Mosi began thanking them for their assistance. He knew that saving the 6907th from the Cull meant little to them – that was no longer their concern – so he made a point of thanking them individually. “Listen up, Auxies, I wanted you to know that I meant what I said earlier. We in Whiskey Company really do appreciate you and our thanks are sincere. While we wait, you guys should brainstorm anything you’d like to improve about the Mini or its support kit. Our after action review will probably have lots of eyes on it, so here’s a chance to shine. Oh, and when the signal comes and we charge those dung suckers, you can join us. You don’t have to, it’s outside of your mission parameters, but you could vent your rage at those fat Cadets over yonder. Shoot them, make them die for the sins of every Cadet who wronged you after you became an Aux. It would be an honor to have you with us, and if I cared what those buggers under my command thought, they’d agree too.”
When he was done, Mosi simply nodded and went back to scanning the lines in front of him, searching for the signals that violence of action was needed. AuxTech Holly was the first to speak up, with the other two murmuring their assent, assuring Mosi that they’d gladly charge into the fray with their new family. In the moments that followed, while they made small talk, Mosi made a startling observation. Bugger, we’re talking just like old battle buddies. It’s almost as if they’re real Marines!
Shaking his head at how much he’d changed since Scipio had joined the company, Mosi told the Auxies to relax while they could, and only half-listened while they griped at the weeks’ worth of work these Minis would need to get back to their prime condition. Mosi couldn’t let that go, he quietly raised a hand to halt the conversation. “You’re here as technicians. You fix the broken, improve their lethality and teach the Cadets how to care for them properly. You do not, let me repeat, you do not clean the rifle of any Marine in my company. If any of those shits asked you to, you report to me regardless of the hour. Is that clear?”
The AuxTechs were clearly taken aback, they’d been cleaning rifles for the Cadets since they reported in to their new roles. When he saw that on their faces, Mosi nodded and told them they wouldn’t be doing that anymore if they wanted to stay in his company. “Every Marine cares for his own rifle, or he’s not a Marine in my Corps. It’s that simple, and it’s not your fault, but no more. If they ask, you send them my way. Now, I need you each to go up and down the line and remind them that when they hear Captain Grigonna’s Fermi Cannon going off in the mountains, they need to be ready for my signal to charge.”
— Chapter 35 —
Front Lines, Chaos Company
The temperature continued to rise as Captain Arahi prowled up and down the line, urging his Cadets to stay vigilant. His usually formal and disdainful manner was subdued as the clock for the training exercised counted down. Victory for Chaos Company is inevitable, he smirked to himself as he trooped his front line. Have to be here and be ready, this is where the action’s going to happen, he mused, wiping sweat from his furry brow.
As Arahi turned, preparing to check that his Cadets had properly sighted in on the various craters that he suspected the enemy would use to hide their advance, he noticed one of his Cadets running towards him. He was about to demand to know why he wasn’t at his post with his squad when the Cadet saluted him and reported in. “Sir, Cadet Deegan Wolsey, reporting in to the captain as ordered, sir! Sir, Sergeant Hiecht respectfully sends his regards, and wishes you to know that the main assault has begun along the Dynia River, sir. It’s extremely well organized and strong enough that we’ve already lost 16% of our squad, sir. Sergeant Hiecht respectfully requests that you send reinforcements immediately so we can stabilize the new front, before they’re able to breach our lines sir!”
When the Cadet finished his report, Arahi returned his salute and fumed. How dare that incompetent dolt try to second guess my commands! After a few calming breaths, he considered his reply for a second before he answered. “Cadet, I regret that this conversation is necessary. I strive to never speak ill of a subordinate to their subordinate, but the poor leadership of your squad leader has made this necessary. Report back to Sergeant Hiecht and tell him to cease panicking and start acting like a Marine. A failure to immediately counter-attack and disperse this enemy feint will result in his immediate demotion. No more excuses! Now go, deliver my mission!”
After the unlucky Cadet ran off, back towards the flank where he came from, Ar
ahi redoubled his conviction that the enemy would assault from the front. He continued to pace the lines, encouraging Chaos Company to stand strong. “The event is almost over, and while this victory against such a weak foe will be hollow, we will celebrate it nonetheless! If they want any chance of winning, the enemy attack must come soon, so expect the unexpected at any moment.”
Normally the cheering that followed would have irked him, such ill-disciplined behavior was why humanity served below the Jotun, but today he let his Cadets have their moment. As he was about to pace the lines again, he heard another loud volley from those infernal guns in front of them. Chaos Company had already learned not to show itself to the guns, though, and nobody was bothered as the rounds passed harmlessly overhead. As suddenly as it began, the firing stopped, leaving Arahi wondering if this was in preparation for the ultimate assault. When minutes passed, with no change, he briefly wondered if Sergeant Hiecht was right. He didn’t even have to convince himself to dismiss that thought, because the resumption of the firing along their front did that in a matter of moments.
— Chapter 36 —
Sergeant Hiecht, Chaos Company Mobile Reserve
The situation was getting grim as Hiecht trooped his line, trying to regain some order from the chaos and confusion his soon to be replaced section leader left him. The entire mobile reserve had joined him, in addition to the troops from the Akoni Mountain and rear flanks. He took some comfort that he knew his squad well enough to head off disaster before it occurred. At least we’ve gotten a few of those bastards, he thought grimly. Why couldn’t they have hit on any of my other flanks?
While the fire fight raged around him, ebbing and flowing like the tidal shifting of Tranquility-4’s oceans, Hiecht continued to have his squad dig in under fire. The snipers in the trees had taken out 5 more of his Cadets, leaving him with 26 Cadets to hold off what appeared to be their entire company. Cursing his oversight, he turned to his assistant squad leader and ordered him to strip any useful equipment off the downed Cadets.
After further thought, Hiecht crawled over to his Fermi Cannon gunner, Cadet Crispin Pauker, and ordered him to grab the closest Cadet he could find to be his assistant gunner and set up on the roof of one of the buildings. That cannon was his best chance at any kind of point defense. While it was normally capable of altering the laws of physics in a localized area, today it merely fired non-lethal simulation rounds, preferably with the gunners avoiding headshots. Even in training scenarios, a head shot could still be deadly. While this weapon was normally particularly effective against electronic attacks, protecting the unit from mechanized foes, today he hoped to use it against the new technology employed by the 6907th. He couldn’t help but smirk as he thought about how the Fermi Cannon might ruin the fancy new gear.
Akoni City might’ve been picked clean of anything useful, but Hiecht knew it could still provide the elevation to increase the effectiveness of the cannon. I really should send the missile launcher too. Without even fully processing that thought, he yelled for Cadet Killian MacIntoshm, the Cadet manning the missile launcher, to follow Pauker to the roofs. I can’t be in two places at once. Can’t let this flank fall. I’m gonna have to trust these jackals to site their weapon in the most effective manner possible. Least I didn’t inherit them like I did that idiot Vavara.
During the brief time it took to get his big guns onto higher ground, the enemy had sniped three more of Hiecht’s Cadets. Enough’s enough, already! Roaring in frustration, he ordered his two best shots onto the roof to serve as counter-marksmen, hoping to get some of the enemy out of the trees. Those bastards need to pay, at least then headquarters will see that we played our part, any fault lay with the captain and his battleplan. I really have to figure out how they are getting their grenades and shooters to work together so well…. Those boys might be onto something. I wonder if Captain Arahi would let me experiment with new tactics like that?
When his Cadets took off towards Akoni City to man the roofs, Hiecht went back to watching his line and extolling his Cadets to hold the front, reminding them that reinforcements were coming. He’d just finished that claim when a visibly exhausted Cadet Wolsey ran towards him, tripping on the prostrate body of one of his fellow Cadets. Without bothering with the formalities, or with moving from the prone position, he told Hiecht that the captain had denied his request and ordered him to charge the enemy feint, lest he be demoted upon his return.
While Cadet Wolsey was reporting to him, Hiecht watch the enemy troops in front, gleefully noting a few more had dropped and the judges in their battle armor were walking among them to certify their status. “By my count, that’s at least two more we took out. Those numbers hardly stack up, but at least we fought, instead of sitting there waiting,” he muttered to himself.
Sighing, Hiecht knew he couldn’t ignore the lawful orders of Captain Arahi, even the bad ones. He was going to have to charge out of his defensive lines, and into the meat grinder they’d created to defend theirs. All we have to do is hold for 15 hours, half a day, and victory is ours. Why leave our lines and let them mow us down when they drew the assault role? Damn, I’ve never wanted to shoot my commander before, but this isn’t right. I think I’ll request a transfer after this exercise.
Knowing that delaying wouldn’t help, Hiecht passed word up and down the line to prepare to charge across the river in sixty seconds. When the timer in his head told him it was go time, he grabbed his rifle and jumped over the wall they’d just built and screamed at his squad. “Follow me!!” he bellowed as he charged forward towards the enemy situated in the woodline just across the river. He briefly stumbled, falling before he felt the pain from the training rounds that had hit him in his gut. Struggling to remain conscious, he was able to see his squad charging ahead, right into a wall of fire that was extremely effective. As he tried to sit back up, desperately clutching his rifle, an armored Marine judge walked up to him, laughing. Without missing a beat, the Marine pulled his pistol and shot Hiecht in the head.
— Chapter 37 —
Mayer Assault Force
1st Section, 4th Squad, Whiskey Company
After a quick count of her detachment, Isabella realized that of the six Cadets she’d started the day with, only four were left standing and one of those had an injured leg. No sooner had she done the math, and figured out her odds of overrunning her opponents, then the enemy received reinforcements. It looks like an entire squad now, so we have one fourth of their unit pinned down. Not bad for twelve Cadets and two sergeants, she mused. Luckily, they don’t seem to have hit 3rd Squad as hard. If we can consolidate on him, we’ll be a tougher nut to crack. Should we leave now, set up the grenades on trip wires and make them pay for their victory? Do we hold a thin skirmish line, knowing they’ll continue to whittle down our numbers?
While Isabella contemplated the situation, seeking the solution which would best accomplish the company’s objectives, the fight raged on, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Cadet Abbot drop to the ground, twitching. Least her injury won’t slow us down anymore, she thought. Damn, so if I count myself, I only have a fire team at my disposal. As the armored judge moved in and out of their ranks, she realized he was giving away the positioning of her troops. As she tried to decide her best course of action, she continued to fire at the enemy from her perch, feeling satisfaction as she saw a few more of them dropping. As one enemy Cadet ran out to retrieve his stricken buddy’s equipment, she shot him and laughed to herself at the Cadet’s insane interpretation of what was likely a generic request to salvage what they could. I guess some things are universal, she thought. Cadets are stupid.
As the fighting continued and the bullets from across the river continued to whiz by Isabella’s head, she suddenly realized where these reinforcements came from. They’ve pulled their Akoni Mountain flank and their rear guard! We did it, we kept them from watching the mountain! Before she was able to mentally celebrate, she saw their sergeant send his Fermi Cannon and missile launchers to
the roofs of Akoni City for a better vantage point. Damn, if this guy had planned their defenses we’d be in a little more trouble. Man, I wish he was on our side! Oh well, at least we did our part, she thought, having decided that they were about to lose and be unconscious for a few hours.
Isabella had just told her three Cadets to be ready for anything when she was suddenly overly curious about how Conteh was doing. Beyond just wondering at how many combat-ready Cadets he had left, she wondered about him personally. She was just about to send a runner to 3rd Squad to plan for their final stand, hoping to get a higher body count to assure their good standing at the end of the event, and satisfy her curiosity, when the unthinkable happened. The enemy sergeant stood up and charged them with his squad. He left a defensible position to charge across an open space against unknown odds, when his entire mission was defensive in nature. What kind of crappy command decision was that? Whoever made that call should be relieved before they get people killed.
When the entire front rose up as one to follow Sergeant Hiecht, Isabella made the decision to shoot the NCO so they could use the command confusion to buy themselves some time. As the sergeant fell to the ground, she turned her attention to the rest of the Cadets and quickly used her heightened vantage point to get the exact number she was facing. Only 20 left from what was probably a standard squad of 38. Good thing they didn’t get a chance to use that Fermi or we’d be toast already!
