Dauntless: Reaking Havoc

August 10, 2010 a.t.b.

Pacific Ocean, Japanese Waters

9th Company, first wave, Brittannian Marine Corps

Brittannian Marine Corps Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) "Sheila"

A young man, one that looked like he was still in school, sat with his head down as he checked his gear for what was probably the thirteenth time. He checked the straps of his armor, the straps of his bandolier, his ammo pouches, his knife, his pistol. As it was thirty seconds ago when he last checked it, everything was spot on. It did little to calm his nerves.

"2nd, 5th, and 13th are hitting Tenjin Beach with us. 1st, 3rd, and 7th are parachuting in two miles inland and securing LZs for the new Knightmare Frames." Lieutenant Spencer Alldrose briefed. Lieutenant Alldrose was a noble who, quite frankly, belonged behind a desk somewhere. Not leading an infantry brigade. Everyone knew who really ran the squad, and that was the Sergeant.

"Lucky bastards." The young trooper heard from somewhere else in the AAV.

"Hey LT, are we sure these new tin cans are gonna work? I mean they said we'd have combat platforms from last generation frames." Another marine, Corporal Grant questioned.

"If command says they're gonna work, they're gonna work, Corporal." The Sergeant stated.

"Thirty seconds!" They heard their driver yell.

The young man jumped at his voice and went to check his gear again.

"Rookie. Hey! Connor!" The marine to his left said, slapping his shoulder plate to get his attention.

He turned his head to face her. Specialist Katherine Willis, a very pretty, very funny, very welcoming woman whom had been one of the few of Connor's squad to not be initially hostile to him when he had first received his first orders to the unit.

"Rookie. You'll be fine okay. Japs ain't got nothing we can't dish back out." She said with a smile. Connor, very shakily, smiled back.

"That's what I wanna see. That million dollar smile Rookie-"

Whatever she was about to say was interrupted when the landing door of their AAV opened and the first five marines were cut down by the gunfire. Machine gun fire from up the beach erupted and bullets ripped through his comrades.

"Over the sides! Jump over the sides!" Someone, Connor couldn't tell shouted.

"Go Rookie! Jump!"

Connor hauled himself over the side of the AAV, (an impressive feat considering his small stature and the amount of stuff he was carrying). He let himself fall over the edge and as he impacted the water, a panicked thought exploded in his head. He didn't know how to swim.

He flailed in the water, trying to stay afloat. The armor and weaponry that was supposed to keep him alive now weighed him down. "Help! Sergeant! Katey! Somebody!" He coughed before his arm strength was not enough to hold him above water.

The water wasn't cold. In fact it was quite warm. Though to be fair it had a whole summer to warm up. It did little to calm Connor as he sunk further down. He was going to die. He was going to die without doing anything. Worst, he was going to die doing nothing, by drowning. He flailed and twisted in an effort to get back above water. Darkness started swimming in his vision. His lungs emptied the CO2 they had stored. Water seeped down his windpipe.

Suddenly he shot upward breaching the surface of the ocean. Before he could register how, he was thrown forward, landing in shallower water. As he was about to start coughing up the water down his throat, he was hauled and thrown again, this time hitting sand.

He was then roughly turned over to see his sergeant, who was probably the one who had just saved his scrawny ass, slam his fist down on Connor's chest, causing water to shoot up his throat, and sputter out his mouth.

"Goddamn you little shithead! You think you get to die before you do your fuckin' duty! Get your ass up Marine!"

"I…I can't move Sergeant. Sergeant Harken I can't move." Connor coughed.

"The hell you can't!" He yelled as hauled him to his feet. "Get your ass up that beach, or I will fuckin' kill you myself Private!" He practically threw Connor forward in the direction of the machine gun fire.

Connor picked up his assault rifle and ran. He kept his head down, staring at the sand, and occasionally looked up the beach to see where he was going. But never did he actually look all the way up (he didn't want to catch a bullet to his face).

Around him was chaos. The sand and water ran red with the gallons of blood pouring into it. Comrades around him blown to pieces by mortars or bullets. Screams of pain and anguish heard just above the gun fire. He heard more than one cry for a mother.

The ground erupted from underneath him, and for a second he saw the sky, then the beach below, then nothing.

He felt vaguely aware that someone was pulling him as he started to come to. He thought he heard his name. He tried opening his eyes, only managing a small crack. He felt something warm rush from his face to the rest of his body, originating from his lips. Something was touching his lips. His eyes shot open as he saw Katherine's retreating face, her pursed lips growing into a smile.

"I knew that would work. Nothing better to get a man to his feet. C'mon Rookie. Up!"

Hauling himself up, he saw that several of his squad mates were there to. They were at the foot of some concrete building. …The bunker. They had made it to the foot of the bunker. Somehow they had made it. Pulling his unconscious form all the way.

"This is fucking bullshit. Command said the Flyboys had kicked the crap out of Japan's outer defenses." One of them said.

"Yeah? Guess they missed some." Katherine said humorlessly.

"When does the second wave hit?"

"Not until we secure the bunker, and keep them from shooting up any other poor fucks that try to make it up here." Harken growled. "Those nobles are to piss-pants about showing some actual courage in battle for once."

"Where's the Lieutenant?" Connor asked, just noticing he wasn't there.

"The dumb bitch is dead. Caught a round to his face." Harken responded. "Okay. Willis, you get a grenade up in the machine gun hole. Private dumbass," he said, looking at Connor "You have sniper training correct?"

"Yessir. I was to be tasked to a unit as a sniper once we had foothold sir."

"Well get your rifle out son. We got a nest around the corner. They're makin' sure we don't flank the bunker. I need you to take them out so we can do just that."

"Roger Sergeant."

" 'Nade out!" Katherine yelled.

Connor put his assault rifle down and brought up his M14. Peeking around the corner of the bunker. Through the scope he got eyes on the machine gun nest. He tried to calm his heart. His first kills as a Brittannian marine. His first kills as a sniper. He breathed in, laid his finger on the trigger, right before the nest exploded.

"Whoah! Shit!" Connor swore as he rolled back behind the corner. An AH-10 Warthog flew over their heads, heading further inland.

Katherine chuckled. "Well shit. I guess the Flyboys were embarrassed they missed some."

"Let's move. We still have to secure this bunker." Harken stated as he led the team up and around the fortified structure. Reaching the back (and by default, the top of the hill) they came under fire from Japanese soldiers.

Spreading out, the squad returned fire, their assault rifles barking out retaliation bullets. "Willis! Take somebody and clear out the bunker!" harken yelled over the gunfight.

"Copy sir! Rookie, you're with me."

"Roger!"

The two stacked up against the side of the doorway. Katherine unclipped another grenade and tossed it in the door.

"Kuso ā! Shuryūdan!" BOOM! The bunker shook from the grenade.

"Go." Katherine ordered before she turned into the bunker. Connor followed behind her. "Remember Rookie, check your corners."

Katherine turned a corner, and Conner opened a door. It looked like the ammo room. He slowly, and very carefully stepped into the room. Checkking the corners, he was about to yell out clear when he turned back to the door and was tackled to the ground.

A burned and bleeding Japanese officer was on top of him. "Inbēdā o shinu!" He shouted, unsheathing his katana. Connor pushed off, kicking the officer off of him, and standing in time to block the sword strike with his rifle.

The officer slashed sideways, knocking the gun from Connor's hands. Connor drew his pistol, but the officer kicked it away before he could bring it to bear. The officer swung the sword up, but Connor, his training kicking in, rushed him and tackled the officer. Unsheathing his knife, Connor tried to stab downwards, but received a punch to his face, before being shoved off. He returned to his feet just as the Japanese officer did. Bringing his knife up, Connor tried to look as intimidating as possible.

The officer screamed a battle cry and charged with the katana. Connor brought his forearm up to block. He felt the impact of the sword, he even felt it pierce his skin, but the armor had done its job and the blade had barely breached his skin. Connor swung down the knife, but the officer let go with one of his hands and grabbed Connor's wrist, stopping his strike.

Connor then let the knife in his hand slip through his fingers as he eased his grip. He caught it with his left hand, and stabbed down into the Japanese's knee. Said Japanese soldier howled in pain as Connor, in the few seconds of free time, grabbed the katana and just swung.

Katherine ran in, seconds later. Her assault rifle up. Connor stood frozen in his finished swing, the bloody katana in his hands, and a headless Japanese officer lying at his feet.

Katherine slowly and gently took the sword. "Good kill. You did well, Private Connor Havoc. You aren't a rookie anymore.

000

Connor awoke with a start. He sighed, closing his eyes and letting his head back down. He hadn't dreamed about the invasion in a while. 'Seven years of counter terrorism would help with that I guess.'

"Havoc!" Someone shouted through the barracks. "Anyone seen Sergeant Havoc?"

"I'm in here."

Some Corporal he didn't know walked into the room. "Sorry sir. You're needed outside. The Viceroy is about to start."

'Oh yeah. The Viceroy supposed to talk about this new task force he's forming today. Gotta admit, never thought I'd be under the command of the Wolf of Brittannai.'