Turn 6: Promotions & Downtime

[Shadow]

Hayek was grinning, he would give his all tomorrow and do everything Johnson threw at him with perfection. He's the Platoon Sergeant for the Hell Hounds, one of the guys the boots fear, respect, and look up to. He had to look good tomorrow no matter what.

[Mr. Death]

"With all due respect sir, I don't think you have the option to refuse my request. I'll be there if I have to fist fight the guards to get there. You may be a higher rank, but these are my boys. I've been fighting to keep them alive this long, and I don't leave any of them to do their shit solo. Either you lock me in the brig until our next mission, or you'll be seeing me at 0400"

Elias wasn't going to take this new guy's bull shit. Yeah he was higher rank, yeah he was his superior, but Elias had a family bond with his platoon mates. They were like his little brothers, and he was the older brother who gave them a band aid and an ibuprofen when they tried to play football with him.

[Cartwright]

The next day, the Marines in the platoon PT'd while Shadow drilled, drilled, and drilled. By the time he was finished, he was sweating, though he had a rather large grin set upon his features. He had not fallen. It was harder to take him down than people thought.

All the Marines went to chow and ate more than they usually did. The mess hall bristled with life, from both Navy and Marine personnel. The Marines of the Hell Hounds wore their usual MCCUU trousers and boots accompanied by their T-Shirts. After chow, they headed to the main deck. The ship had come out of Hyper Space and was now racing towards Earth. Three squadrons of Series Five Sierra Attack Fighters flew by the ship, all showing off for the crew. Two were Navy squadrons and one Marine.

The Marines were looking forward for some R&R on Earth. Meanwhile, on the bridge, Captain Ewan Donaldson, the commander of the U.S.S. Normandy stared at the viewscreen before them. It looked as if the crew of the vessel would be denied R&R.

Priority Message: UAC Transport Requesting Protection
Sender: Johnathan Nordstrom, UAC Executive Science Department Official
To: U.S.S. Normandy, Space Navy & Marine Corps

Message:

Greetings,

This is Nordstrom of the Union Aerospace Corporation. I would like to request an Level Nine Classification in this file. All contents of this file are on a need to know basis. You may find the classified data within this message, attachment Alpha-01. I request that a platoon of Space Marines accompany one of our scientific vessels containing material listed in the classified data attachment to UAC Space Station Armageddon. This is a high priority mission.

Having worked previously with one of your platoon's, I personally request that the Hell Hounds be assigned to this mission. Please update their security clearance to general UAC access only. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dr. John Nordstrom
Science Division
Union Aerospace Corporation

//End Message//

The two captains read over this information several times. They reviewed the data inside a grimaced. This was definitely high priority. Though, they did not want to deny their crew the right to some rest and relaxation, this was too serious to disobey.

"Well, Major, inform the Hell Hounds to gear up. Not right now, though. I shall give the go ahead soon."

"Yes sir." Captain McCoy said, and then left the bridge.

Meanwhile, the members of the Hell Hounds stared out into the depths of space. They could not wait to be back on Earth, enjoying some real sunshine and interaction with normal people. However, as these thoughts ran through their mind, they felt an acceleration in the ship. The ship would not accelerate if it was heading to Earth. They began to notice a change in course. Something was up. Definitely. There was no denying this.

((OOC: A Marine Captain is an O-3 and a Navy Captain is an O-6, so, there can only be one captain aboard a ship. So, when a Marine captain is in the presence of a Navy captain, he is refered to as 'major' in this instance.))

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[Mr. Death]

"What the hell?" Elias asked himself out loud. Some of the boots were still joking around about how they were going to fuck the shit out of some Earth girls or something.
They noticed his grim mood.

"What's wrong Mr. Death? You don't like some good Earth pussy?" They laughed some more.

"Shut your mouth before you don't have one to shut boot. . .We're not going to Earth. . ."

[Shadow]

Hayek growled as the ship changed course and slammed his fist on the window. "Fuckers got us doing another damn mission! Better be good because this is started to really PISS ME OFF!" He had spent a day of nothing but drills, being denied the relaxation he's been working for a while now.

[Matt]

"What the fuck is this shit?" Meyen thought. The Ship was going much faster, and it changed direction. Meyen knew somehing was up, and that they were'nt going to Earth, but somewhere else. Meyen frowned.

[Cartwright]

"Staff Sergeant, at 1900 today, round up the platoon in the briefing room. We have a mission. Captain just informed me, though he did not give any details. Looks like we'll be getting the details at the briefing." The lieutenant said, then walked away.

[Shadow]

"GREAT!" He yelled then hit the comm and yelled into it as well. "HELL HOUNDS! REPORT TO THE BRIEFING ROOM AT 1900 today!" Then walked back to the gym to take his frustration and anger out on anyone in his way.

[Cartwright]

The Marines of the Hell Hounds at four hours left to relax before heading to the briefing room. Curiousity and frustration was ripe within the air. They all wanted to know why they were denied a much needed amount of rest and relaxation.

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[Matt]

'Fuck' Meyen thought. He knew that they were going to do a mission, but he didnt get his hopes up earlier. This kind of stuff happens, unexpected shit. Meyen was used to it, but he was still a little angry and wanted to go back to Earth. But the Corporal sighned up for the Marines for a reason, to get the job done and 'Kill'.

[Mr. Death]

Elias shook his head and lit up a cigarette. He slowly made his way to the briefing room. This bullshit always happened to him. It was bullshit.

"Well. . . More meat for the blender I guess" He said bitterly under his breath.

He arrived late as usual, after smoking three cigarettes, then took his spot with the platoon, listening.

[Matt]

"Godchild, were definaelty stocking up on cigs, bud. Last time i ran out, and this time im not."Meyen laughed.

[Mr. Death]

Godchild was not amused, not this time. He shrugged
"Yeah. . .I almost did" He felt the crumpled package with that one cigarette, his lucky pack he called it.

This was bullshit to the max. They had just spilled so much blood, lost a handful of good soldiers, and now this. Someone was going to die on this mission, Elias could tell, but who would it be. . .?

[Shadow]

Hayek looked about to explode as he glared at the door through which the LT. and Captain would enter through it was almost like he was staring through the door and at them...

[Cartwright]

The Marines stood up and saluted as the captain and lieutenant entered the room. Though they were not pleased with this new development, they were curious.

"As you were." Captain McCoy said, then sat down with the Marines.

The Marines sat in their seats and awaited to be briefed. The awaited the spiel from the lieutenant. They all knew it was time to find out what their new mission was.

"Hell Hounds, I know you're short on men. Luckily, this mission will be an easy one. You are to board and provide security for a Union Aerospace Corporation scientific vessel. A UT-700 frigate. It is carrying a classified cargo payload to the UAC Space Station Armageddon. You are to ensure its safety. Usually, we would send in some Marine Corps Security Guards who work with the UAC, but a Doctor Nordstrom requested you personally. You must have made a good impression on him."

"All information on their cargo is on a need to know basis, as in, you do not need to know. It is above your paygrades. Just protect the ship until it reaches the space station, then a SMC transport will pick you up and you will regroup with the Normandy in less than an hour later."

The Marines took in the information. It did not entirely seem like that important of a mission, but if the UAC vessel carried something so important the Hell Hounds needed to protect, the mission must have been dangerous. They would definitely be giving their all in this, even if they did screw around half of the mission.

"Listen up, I want this mission to go by the numbers. We will board the ship by drop-ship. The drop-ship will take off after we have been greeted by the UAC personnel. Stay in line, don't destroy any UAC property, and keep your mouth shut about anything related to the classified cargo. It's above MY paygrade even. So, don't ask them, 'cuz they will tell you mates the same thing."

"Just do your job and we will all come home." Lieutenant Johnson said.

The Marines nodded and arose from their seats. They formed up into a large group, preparing to leave the briefing room.

"Gear up, we leave the ship is thirty mikes." The lieutenant ordered.

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