"Final preparation for drop, Marines. Alpha Company, you all green?" The Company Commander inquired, checking to make sure his company of Third Battalion was ready.
"Raven Platoon, ready."
"Rough Neck Platoon, ready."
"Delta Dog Platoon, ready."
"Rhino Platoon, ready."
"Hell Hound Platoon is ready to go, sir." Lieutenant Johnson said.
Static blared over the communications as the company commander made note of this. He was pleased to see everyone was ready, especially the Hell Hounds. He knew they had been through a great ordeal. One he could not possibly fathom.
"Roger. Remember, we go by our nicknames when on communications. Command's call-sign is Charlie Oscar Mike. Do not use specific names. Ranks are fine, but not names. McCoy, out."
The Marines prepared to launch their pods. Everyone was psyched. The planet had patches of green and blue all over it, much like Earth. It was interesting to think about the Strogg actually being on a planet like this. Usually they destroy all life on the planet first and build industrial centers. This must have been one of their more recent outposts.
"All units, launch in three... two... one... MARK!" The command operator announced.
Thousands of pods jetisoned from the ship and began to pour into the atmosphere, descending down towards the planet. Corporal Godchild observed the view with little more than a sigh. The beauty of this planet was an illusion of something more ugly and sinister. Though, he shrugged the thought off and steered his drop-pod.
"Hell Hounds, form up. I want us to stick together on this op. Got it, mates?" The lieutenant inquired, watching the men form into a tight formation.
As they kept descending, a drop-pod that had been lagging behind picked up speed as it descended downwards toward the earth.
"YEE-HAW!" The Marine said over the communications.
Suddenly, Godchild felt his drop-pod shake. He looked directly up and saw the drop-pod of the new comer fly over him and his tail wing plummet towards the ground.
"SHIT! Charlie Oscar Mike, some cowboy just clipped my wing. Flight controls down to fifty percent. Over."
"Roger that. Continue on course and attempt to make flight corrections, Mr. Death."
"Mr. Death, this is Shadow. Think you can make it planet-side with us?" Hayek inquired, worry in his voice.
"Affirmative, Shadow. I'll get this piece of shit tin-can to get me down to the primary LZ. Stupid Suicide Suit. I'll kick his ass if I see him again."
The drop-pods continued downward. Suddenly, the communications filled with chatter. Most of it, disconcerting.
"Shit! Charlie Oscar Mike, we have Strogg Fliers inbound!"
"Fuck, they're all over me!"
"Hold on, FUNGUS! Get 'em off ya!"
"I can't shake 'em!"
"Command, we have just lost Rhino Platoon."
"Delta Dog's are KIA, command."
"FUCK! THEY JUST FIRED AN EMP! I HAVE LOST ALL CONTROLS... I AM GOING..." Static filled this Marine's communicator.
Mr. Death was lagging behind. He just cleared the cloud cover and could see an enormous cannon bigger than anything he had ever seen before. It must have been the EMP the Marine was talking about. Small anti-aircraft plasma turrets fired into the sky and Strogg Fliers lined the skies.
"Holy shit... getting clipped just saved your ass Marine. I've lost all signals with half of the company. Touch down at the primary LZ and regroup with your platoon.
Godchild looked down and passed over the LZ. He had missed it. Son of a bitch, he had missed it.
"God damn it! Command, I just overshot the LZ. I repeat, overshot the LZ."
The drop-pod began to head towards the southern structures in the area. He passed the enormous cannon. He realised what it was. It was a
second Big Gun. The drop-pod began to spin out of control. The pilot console was beeping maddly. He had lost flight controls.
"Command, I have lost all flight controls. I repeat, lost all flight controls. Do you copy?"
There was no answer. Nothing. Not even static. Something was off. This operation was FUBAR and he knew it. He did not even know if his platoon was alive or not. The unknowns were always something he feared the most, even if he did not admit it.
"Command, do you copy! I am going down! Crashing in the southern structure! Over!" Mr. Death said, then closed the channel.
The drop-pod spun out of control and slammed into the metallic wall. It punched through and then through several other walls. Eventually, he ran into a Strogg Grunt and totally ran it over. After several minutes, his pod came to a halt in a large room. He kicked the window of his drop-pod off and picked up his assault rifle and ran for cover. Three Strogg Soldiers ran up. He sprayed them with assault rifle fire, killing them easily. He had landed.
Meanwhile"Break! Break formation... NOW!" Lieutenant Johnson said, his drop-pod descending on the LZ.
The Hell Hounds broke formation. No one noticed the absense of Mr. Death.
"Shadow, Sourkraut, stay in tight formation. Sergeant, stay in close formation with me. The rest of you, pair up in twos. Over." The lieutenant said.
"Roger that, El-Tee." Shadow said over the communications, then cut off the channel.
Soon, they all slammed into the ground and kicked their way out of the drop-pods. They ran for cover, a Strogg bunker opening up on them. Machine gun fire pouring down on the Hell Hounds. Other platoons landed, some of course from their actual landing zone. They took cover.
"Whiskey-Delta One, requesting fire mission, over." Lieutenant Johnson said.
"This is Whiskey-Delta One, we copy. Where do ya want the ordance drop?"
The lieutenant looked up the location on his map. He grinned after acquiring the proper coordinates.
"Coordinates, Charlie-Tango-Kilo Three, over." The lieutenant said.
"Charlie-Tango-Kilo Three, roger. Bombing run commencing in three... two... one! DEATH FROM ABOVE, SQUIBS!" The Marine pilot said.
Bombs dropped on the bunker and it blew to pieces. The Marines cheered. Hordes of Strogg entered the area, attacking the Marines.
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