Nightmares, Part 1

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Sherman's Planet

Contested between the Federation and Klingon Empire

15 years ago

 

“Gunny,” Ensign Wesley said, “I'm a fighter pilot, not a gropo.” She looked at the battledress, load bearing equipment and phaser carbine, as the R.L. Ermey entered orbit. The convoy had been heavily escorted; Intelligence indicated Klingon warbirds in the area.

“Ma'am,” Gunnery Sergeant Ed Swinten growled around the unlit cigar in his mouth, his Afrikaaner accent strong, “you're assigned to a Marine fighter squadron right?” He didn't wait until his platoon leader to reply, before continuing. “Ma'am, Marines are Marines, no matter what their MOS is. If that means a fighter pu...pilot commanding an infantry company, he'll do it.”

“Damnit, Gunny, I'm Starfleet, not Marines.”

“Doesn't matter, Ma'am, what you are when the metal meets the meat, everyone has to defend their position.”

The intercom chimed up. “All personnel, combat drops in 90 minutes. All officers report to the briefing room; I say again all officers report to the briefing room.”

“Gunny, I'll leave the disposition of the platoon up to you. You've got experience I don't.”

“Aye aye, Ma'am.”

 

-=-=-=-=-=-

 

2d Platoon (Reinforced), Bravo had been assigned to secure a ford, nowhere near the reported positions of the Klingons, but strategically important nonetheless. Colonel Patton had stressed the importance of the ford; it was the only one where wheeled and tracked traffic could cross the river for tens of kilometers around, and 200km to the platoon's rear was the brigade assembly area. The dirt trail crossed a sluggish river, out of flood and now little more than a stream, crawling along at the very bottom between steep banks. Audraya watched as the assault shuttle pull up out of the reddish haze and into the brilliant blue sky. Pulling her eyes back, Audraya looked at the terrain. Dense scrub followed the course of the river on the tops of the banks, washes had been cut where the river scoured away the landscape when in flood. Entrenching tools, pickaxes and Gunny Swinten's curses came from the bank; the headquarters squad had just finished the command fighting position and was busy erecting the sensor disrupting camouflage netting over the position. Gunny had another detail distributing power cells and rations to the various positons.

“Ma'am,” Gunny called as he came up, the setting sun behind him and the sounds of entrenching dying down. “Troops and supplies are disbursed. I've got a squad out 600 meters north of the drift, and another on Hill 200 behind us.”

“Very good Gunny,” she replied.

“Permission to speak candidly, Ensign?”

“Granted.”

“With all do respect, Ma'am, it feels like we're isolated, without mutual supporting forces. I know the spooks say the Klingons aren't anywhere near here, but I still don't like it.”

“I know...it doesn't take a Marine to see it, Gunny.”

 

-=-=-=-

 

The first probing attack came that night. The observation point (OP) on Hill 200 came under fire from the east...green disruptor fire, red phaser fire and the belch of a photon mortar shattering the stillness of the savannah before dying off, with the occasional cricket analogue chirping in the distance.

“Ma'am,” her radio operator called out, “Deer Tick 3 has reported contact. Sergeant Mauer believes it to be a reinforced squad. He's returning fire, and and the enemy is in retreat.”

“Understood Sparks. Forward the contact report. Gunny?”

“Ma'am, platoon's been stood up already. I'm going to keep them up for the next couple of hours, just in case.”

Audraya nodded, pleased that Gunny Swinten had taken care of those details. At least her NCOs could cover for the fact that she was an inexperienced Fleeter and fighter pilot, and the groundpounding was a new thing to her.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-

 

Audraya awoke with a start, sweat soaked and looking around as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. She was lying on a cot, in the quarantine quarters; the shapes of the other females stuck in quarantine near by. Wiping her face, and the sleep sand out of her eyes, she shivered. “Great,” she muttered in her native tongue. “They're back.”