"Sir, reporting as ordered. I've brought Echo squad's tags as well." Shaking
hands moved from a salute to pull the five cog tags from his neck. He then
laid them on the desk in front of the Colonel.
"Good man, Frost. I know you▓re still upset by the deaths of your brothers,
but I need you back in the fight. So I'm sending you to fill in with Delta
squad."
A brow raised under the helmet, as if questioning the sanity of the Colonel:
not that Hoffman could see it. Frost was starting to think the Colonel was
trying to get him killed quickly. "Ummm, sir┘Delta? You mean under the
command of Sergeant Fenix?"
"Yes Frost. No one else but you can be sent: they're down one man as it is
thanks to what happened to Private Carmine a few weeks ago. They should be out
near the ridge taking down any Locust stragglers coming from the Hollow. Damn
things are like roaches, they live through anything. Anyway, I'll radio Fenix,
let him know to be expecting you. You'll catch the next King Raven out of
here."
The private nodded, having heard all kinds of things about Delta. The leader a man that scared the poor rook to death after hearing stories of just how crazy and determined Fenix was. But what was done was done. Turning to leave the rook was stopped again by the gruff voice of Hoffman. "Frost, stop moping around like some damn punk kid! You▓re not in COG kindergarten anymore, understand? You'll be in good hands with Delta." "Yessir, I'll do my best not to let anyone down, sir."
"Good man. I need you there ASAP, so grab your gear and get your ass on that Raven." Hoffman clicked on his tac/com as the rook left, and then spoke in a gruff voice. "Fenix, you there?"
An even gruffer voice answered after a few minutes. "Fenix here. Where▓s
the support you said Delta was getting, sir?"
"I'm sending it out now. You▓re getting a new man Fenix: make sure Private
Frost lasts you longer and doesn't meet the same demise Private Carmine did.
I'm running short of people to send out."
"What the hell? You▓re sending me another rook? I don't have time to mollycoddle these damn kids, I've seen enough of them die! Send him to someone else!"
"Afraid I can't do that Fenix. You▓re getting the kid, so shut yer trap and finish your mission. Or would you like to find yourself back in that damn prison?"
"Fine. But I won't be held responsible if he dies. Fenix out."
A few hours later, Xander sat yet again with all the gear one needed to
survive in the field. He checked the Lancer and Boltok pistol again to make
sure both were in prime working condition, not wanting either to seize up at
the wrong moment. He then slung them back over the COG suit to their holders.
Xander made ready to exit the Raven as soon as it made its descent to Delta.
Marcus Fenix sat in a foxhole with the rest of his squad. Dom was sitting to
his left, Cole was flanking behind him, and Baird was to his right. He watched
silently for the sign of the Raven, making sure none of the Locust stragglers
shot it down before they could get their new member.
"So, uh, Marcus, did Hoffman say what the kid was like or anything?" Baird
questioned.
"Hell no, and I don't fucking care. Rather not have another kid under me.
It▓s gonna be nothing but babysitting and I don't like it at all."
"C▓mon, Marcus, it▓s not the kid's fault. We were all rooks at one time
or another, remember?" Dom patted his friend on the back.
Marcus rolled his eyes before clicking the tac/com in his ear. "Control, how
much longer before that Raven gets here?"
A very feminine voice answered the gruff one back quickly. "Anytime now, you
should be getting a visual soon."
"Anya, you have any information on Private Frost?" Marcus asked.
Anya was quiet moment before she pulled up what small bit of information she
could find on the rook. "Not much here, Marcus. Full name is Xander Frost, age
twenty-five, only child of Sergeant Gerald Frost, mother was civilian Tammy
Frost, and both parents are deceased.■ There was a pause. "Hmm┘"
"What is it, Anya?"
She smiled to herself, looking over the bit of information she found amusing.
She was about to tell Marcus something interesting about his new rook when she
felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Colonel Hoffman.
"No need to tell him everything Stroud. That information is on a need to know
basis."
"Yessir Colonel." She clicked back to Marcus. "It▓s nothing Marcus. I have
conformation the King Raven should be over you right now."
Marcus saw the bird coming. He also knew Anya was trying to distract him from
whatever she'd found out. He'd press it later, hoping he wasn't getting some
fucked in the head kid. "Yeah, Anya, I see it. Fenix out"
"Alright kid, there's your squad. Out you go."
"Yeah, thanks┘I think," he said, jumping from the Raven as it hit the
ground. Frost sighed as he fell knees first from the jolt, looking rather
foolish and green to the rest of the team. Getting back up he quickly saluted
Marcus as he made his way over. Frost knew this man automatically: there was
no denying that this was Marcus Fenix. "Hello sir, Private Xander Frost
reporting as ordered."
Marcus sized the kid up then and there┘damn green ass rook. Get himself
killed before the day was out, and like Carmine wore that helmet. They all
usually did, till they out grew being afraid and grew a set of balls.. "Cut
the formalities kid, you▓re in the field now. Let▓s get one thing
straight: do as I say and you'll live though the fucking day, understand? If
you don't you▓re Grub food."
"Um yes sir┘um, Sergeant." A held breath escaped from the Private▓s lip
and the saluting hand drew back down to his side. This man was going to be a
real hard ass.
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I wanna take this time to thank Insane Anarchist-aka Allie for being my beta ^^ this is an updated version..