Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Two: Moving Forward

Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Two: Moving Forward

Al Na'ir, October 15th, 3032

"Alright," Colonel, previously Major Katheryn Sandoval said as she slapped the holotable in front of her. "We got pushed and hit hard by the 8th and 15th Dieron Regulars, and they're going to be coming back for more." She paused for a minute as she looked at the people in front of her. "Your job, is to go and hit them where it hurts." She pointed at the location where the Scarborough Manufacturing plant was. "We need them unable to manufacture more of their hovercraft while we're here on this rock, and y'all are being voluntold." She glanced up before running through the actual mission.

"You're going to be boarding Maxims at dawn and taking the long route, we'll be making probing runs throughout the day in order to throw them off their game. You'll disembark short of their normal scouting runs, and make your way the last 50 klicks on foot." She then gestured towards Kent in order for him to take over from there.

"Our satellite passed over the manufacturing center a little over twelve hours ago." Kent said, "So we've got a decent view of the layout, but no certain ways of telling where the critical manufacturing areas are. That being said, we're bringing a hell of a lot of combat engineers, and every second man will be bringing a spare det pack." Kent shrugged, "I know that it's not our normal MO, but we're going to level the place if we have to." He then shut down the holotable for a second and had the lights brought back up to full. "Make sure to get some rack time, and pray that your battle buddy doesn't get carsick, you're going to be in for a hell of a long ride."

"You heard the man." Sandoval said as the briefing ended. "I wish that I was coming with you, but I'm going to be here dealing with my new paperwork and making sure that the 5th Avalon Hussars don't fuck us while we're here bailing them out."

The group of soldiers chuckled at that before they started to file out of the briefing room. "Kerensky, Kent, Stay behind a minute, I need to talk to the two of you." Colonel Sandoval said before the two men managed to leave."

There were some jeers and jokes thrown at David and Kent, but soon they had all filed out.

"You wanted to speak to us ma'am?" David asked as he took a seat at the front of the room, spinning his chair around so he could rest his hands on the back of it.

"Yeah, you and Kent are getting field promotions, along with a couple of other blokes." She said as she pulled a small box out from behind the holotable. "Enjoy your new rank pins Major." She tossed the new pins to Kent, and then turned to look at David. "You'll have to make do without the actual rank pins unless Kent here hands his over, but considering we don't wear them on campaign anyway they'd just sit here on the dropships."

"Congrats on getting away from the butterbars." Kent said with a chuckle before his face got a little serious. "You sure you want in on this op?" He asked while looking David in the eye. "I know you're down a ride right now, but this entire op could be blown and us all die in a split second."

"I'm sure." David said with a grin, clapping the other two officers on the back. "I'm a part of the 3rd Kentares Guard, we're going to pull this off and come back with big enough balls that the 1st and 2nd Kentares are going to be envious."

"Not the Ducal Guard?" Katheryn asked with a mischievous smile.

"Them?" David asked. "No way, My mom has stones like no one else."

"Not going to talk about the Duke?" Kent asked.

"He's got bigger stones than she does, he married her after all." David chuckled. "In all seriousness though, don't tell them I said that, I've still got bruises from the last time I talked trash to mom and a headache from the last time I did the same thing to dad."

"A headache?" Katheryn mouthed to Kent only to receive a shrug in response. "You're alright for a green kid, your secret is safe with us."

"Thanks." David replied as a weight seemingly lifted off of his shoulders. "I'm gonna go catch some rack time and make sure that my new Mithril suit's set up properly. See y'all tomorrow."

"They're insane." Katheryn said once David was out of earshot. "That family is full of crazy people."

"No," Kent shook his head. "They just deal in cold hard reality, and most people can't face too much of reality without a stiff drink before or afterwards."

October 16th, 3032

"Hey Vickers, you good man?" David asked the man who was doubled over against the off ramp of the Maxis.

"I'm good Captain," the man replied. "I'm normally on the outside of a 'mech when I do this, and the Maxim's make me a bit motion sick."

"Well, we can weaponize that vomit if need be, but I'd rather you keep your insides where they are." David joked as he pulled the man back into the Maxim. "We're about to be at the dropoff point and don't want you to miss out on all of the fun."

"Marching fifty klicks isn't my idea of fun Captain." The private moaned. "But I'll do it anyway."

"Alright, approaching the dropoff point in five Mikes." The Maxim driver's called out over the closed comms. "We'll hold here for refuel and for a quick rescue when you give us the signal."

"Hopefully we won't need it, but we'll keep you on speed dial." Kent replied over the comms. "Check your gear people, the last thing we need is for some of our explosives to go off before we want them to."

"Aye sir." David responded as he went over each of the individuals on his Maximand had the lieutenants from each of the platoons he was in charge of doing the same.

"We're here, now get off of my ride." David's Maxim driver said. "And give the Dracs hell for me."

"Will do." David replied. "Let's settle down here.We've got to wait until it's a helluva lot darker out before we start doing our jobs."

"Drink your water." A noncom called out. "We brought plenty, but you can still get dehydrated if you don't have enough, and I don't want one of you numbskulls passing out when we get there because you forgot to maintain hydration."

"Yes, First Sergeant!" The men responded.

"Music to my ears." The noncom said as the two companies settled in for the next few hours of waiting.