The Brood War: Chapter 6: A Day of Rest, And A Day of Scars
The flag ship of the UED fleet, the DSS Aleksander, was like most Conqueror-class battlecruisers, it wasn't as graceful, nor as sleek as the Protoss fighters, or carriers. Large and blocky, its bridge fanned out in the classic hammerhead style that was so popular with both the Dominion, and Confederacy. But what it lacked in grace, it more then made up for in raw power. Powerful anti-ship and anti-ground laser batteries dotted the hull, but left the hammerhead bare for the massive energy based Yamato Cannon. Yes, it was a ship fit for the Fleet Admiral of the UED Expeditionary Force.
The Aleksander's officer's cabin was spacious and regally designed. The floor was of a dark red carpet, the walls were decorated with several oil paintings, of famous men and women. Hard wood furniture of oak, and maple, were arranged to provide the maximum amount of space. Several bookshelves, also of a dark wood, pushed up against some of the bare walls, their shelves filled with the leather bound book collection of Admiral DuGalle.
Gerard DuGalle, himself, stared down at the holographic chess board. Not glancing at his opponent in front of him, or listening to the old fashioned phonograph behind him, as it softly played Bach's Toccata in the background. He was playing badly, and he knew it. DuGalle just couldn't forget the last time he had played a match. It had been the day before DuGalle had ordered the capture of his friend Vice-Admiral Alexei Stukov. The Russian had beaten DuGalle soundly, as he almost always did.
Finally DuGalle made his move, as his knight took his opponent's rook; he glanced up to see the smirk of his one-eyed subordinate as she moved her queen to take his now undefended bishop.
"Check." Admiral Elizabeth 'Betty' Director clucked, as she put DuGalle's king into jeopardy.
"I must admit that Task Force Golf Juliett has passed its initial test with flying colours, but I do not understand, my dear Betty, why you decided to choose Lieutenant Stoppable to be in second in command of your new unit. The man's a traitor and a coward." DuGalle asked breaking the silence between the two, as he moved a pawn to defend his king.
He was actually quite interested in the motley crew of soldiers Betty had lined up for her Task Force GJ. Despite his predictions that TFGJ would be a colossal failure, they had proven themselves to be quite the exceptional combat unit.
"Simple, to counter, and balance the CO's gun-ho personality. Ghost Captain Possible is incredibly talented and knows it. She is confident almost to the point of obnoxiousness. But then again she has earned that confidence; I've seen reports of Possible doing things that seem impossible yet still coming out alive. But that confidence can, and will get her and the men into trouble.
"While Stoppable is more relaxed, and laid back, I'm not saying he's not a good soldier, he may not the best, but he won't go rushing in, putting his men at risk. It also won't hurt that he has something to motivate him, the Captain won't trust him, and he will have to prove himself worthy of that trust. We've both seen his scores, imagine what he could do if properly motivated."
Director paused, as she moved her remaining rook to take one of DuGalle's knights. Glancing her one eye up again as she continued. "Besides, we both know that Stoppable isn't a coward, and he did what was needed to be done at Bunker Ridge."
DuGalle gave no response. He did indeed know that Stoppable was no coward, but that didn't convince him that Stoppable wasn't a back-shooting traitor. The one thing that everyone knew DuGalle could not abide was a traitor.
As DuGalle moved his queen to take a pawn, putting Director's own king at risk, he puzzled over Possible and the other two Ghosts in her unit. They weren't not like the other Ghost Agents that the UED had brought with them, they were not the cold, calculating killers, DuGalle had come to expect. But fine officers, who generally cared for their men.
"How did Possible, and Mankey, manage to break out of their conditioning? I thought it was impossible especially with their memory suppressor chips."
Director frowned as she moved her king a square to the left, removing it from immediate danger. "It is impossible. I specifically ordered the Facility, not to break either Possible or Mankey, although they are both fitted with their memory chips."
This caused DuGalle to raise a silver eyebrow, as he pressed his advantage, using his remaining knight to capture a bishop.
"And why would that be? And what about Soruchi? As a Dominion Ghost, shouldn't she be on an inhibitor chip as well?"
Director smiled in satisfaction, DuGalle had fallen into her trap. Her queen blitzed across the board taking DuGalle's queen, ensuring the safety of her imperiled king.
"I chose not to break them, because both Mankey and Possible were showing early leadership skills, and natural talents as officers. Why deprive the UED of two fine officers in exchange for two ruthless killers? The UED is always in need of good officers, especially now, during such a long campaign. They are however still both implanted with neural inhibitor, and memory suppressor chips."
Director smiled as DuGalle moved a rook, trying to entice her into taking it. My dear Gerard you are as subtle as a painted whore in a nunnery when it comes to this game. Director thought to herself as she ignored the exposed rook, choosing to take one of his depleting pawns instead, as she continued.
"It's what I used to get them to join TFGJ. I pulled some strings with UED command to offer Possible and Mankey the chance to return to the citizenry after the campaign. If they survive of course. Soldiers always fight better when you give them proper motivation."
DuGalle's lips curled into a smirk of his own, as his knight took her queen. Subtly within blundering, few are able to expect such a trap. "That still does not explain Soruchi. Can we really allow her to run free like that?"
Director chewed her lip, as she planed out her next move. "Of course we can, she hates the Dominion for what they put Soruchi through. Besides Soruchi is from Yamanouchi, they pride themselves on a code of warrior honour. Because it was Captain Possible of the UED, that rescued her from the Dominion Ghost Academy, Soruchi is now in an honour debt to Possible, and the UED. You should know that the greatest weapon is something taken from the enemy and turned against them."
Finally making a decision, Director moved a knight capturing DuGalle's exposed rook. A moment later Director realized her mistake, as his bishop knocked her knight off its square.
"Check Mate, my dear Admiral, though well played." DuGalle congratulated her as he reached into his desk and pulled out a bottle of Grande Marnier. Pouring two small glasses of the fine liqueur, he handed one to Director.
"Now that the pass is clear we can begin our final push against the Overmind, and its defending Cerebrates." DuGalle raised his glass along with Director's. "To victory against the enemies of Earth and humanity!" DuGalle toasted with a clink of their glasses.
"I'll drink to that sir." Director replied as they both drained their glasses.
Ghost Captain Kim Possible was in deep thought, as she paced in her small tent. Task Force Golf Juliett had taken heavy causalities, but had won the day. Now in the aftermath, of their impressive victory, the Task Force had been withdrawn from the front lines, to rest, regroup, and repair. She was proud of her men, for how the had handled themselves, even Stoppable.
Maybe I had him all wrong. Part of her admitted.
What! How can you even think that! He's nothing but a back shooting coward! He abandoned his unit! Pride and anger argued against her reasoning.
How is that any different from what we did to Travenkov?
We had a mission to complete! That's how! We had no choice! We had to save the men in the canyon. If Stoppable would have stayed…
The whole company would have been wiped out, and we would not be having this conversation. He did the only thing he could. The Wraiths were not going to arrive in time to save the company.
Kim stopped pacing to rub her temples. Her internal argument was giving her such a headache. She looked towards the picture of Erik. Can I forgive him for killing you? Or would that be a betrayal of what you gave me? Kim asked him in her mind. Or was your decision to stand a betrayal of our trust in you? Sighing in frustration, Kim ground her palm into her forehead.
"Ma'am, can I come in?"
Stoppable's voice cut through her thoughts. Damn it! What's that fucker doing here? How dare he interrupt our thoughts! Send him away, with a bullet between the eyes. Her pride and anger screamed at her. She pushed those thoughts from her mind.
"Of course Lieutenant."
Ron Stoppable's large, armoured form pushed through the flaps of the tent. He stood to attention, trying to keep the weight off his wounded leg. Kim held back a gasp as she looked over his armour. Blood and gore was splattered all over his once grey armour, his face was tired and haggard, with streaks of sweat cutting through the soot, and ash.
"You look like shit, Stoppable."
Ron smiled. "I get that a lot ma'am. Though I have to admit that was probably the nicest thing you've said to me since I joined GJ." Ron's smile disappeared, as he pulled out a long sheet of paper. "I have the causality lists."
Kim nodded, as she closed her eyes.
"How many?"
"In total, Task Force GJ suffered one hundred and forty-three casualties. Of those, ninety-four were killed. Alpha Company suffered the most, with fifty-six killed and eighteen wounded, including me. Bravo Company suffered thirty-one dead and twenty-five wounded. Charlie and Delta Companies suffered the least, seven dead between the two of them, and six wounded."
Kim sighed heavily. "Better make that one hundred and fifty-five, with a hundred and six dead. Travenkov and his twelve men didn't survive either."
Ron's face grew solemn. Kim was surprised to notice how much the expression didn't fit him. His face was meant for a smile, not this grim expression. "I'm sorry Stoppable. I know that you knew him."
Ron nodded. "I did. We were both wounded at Braxis, fighting the Dominion. As we were evacuated from the front, a Zerg attack surprised us. Without really thinking I just grabbed the fifty cal. and poured fire on those bugs. Next thing I know Travenkov was beside me, reloading the weapon so I can keep shooting." Ron smiled as he remembered the attack, and his comrade in arms. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here, and a lot of good men would have been slaughtered."
The two officers fell into silence, remembering the brave man, who had sacrificed himself to save his men, his friends, his brothers. As the seconds ticked by, Kim slowly finally realized that she had been wrong about Ron. He wasn't a man who would cut and run from his friends, Ron was a man who would stand by them to the very end, no matter what they thought of him.
"Stop… Ron, I'm not good at admitting that I was wrong. I'm not the best at apologizing, but I was wrong. I was wrong about you. You didn't abandon Kilo, you tried to save it. I'm sorry."
Ron stared at his commanding officer for a moment, his face blank of any expression. The moments ticked by, dragging out the silence between the two soldiers. Then Ron's face cracked into the large, goofy, kind smile, he was known for.
"No need to be sorry there ma'… Kim. If you had done that too me, I probably would still be pissed off at you, and contemplating justifiable homicide." Ron's smile grew wider, "hey I remembered a school word!"
Kim stared at her subordinate, her face a mixture of surprise, confusion, and amusement, before she began chuckling. "You sound surprised at that, what five years away from school and you forget everything?"
Ron chuckled along with her. "No, it's just that I really didn't have much to work with up here." He jabbed an armoured finger at the side of his head, "part of the reason why I joined the UED Marines. You don't need a lot of brainage to figure out rule three: Remember when using the Gauss rifle, just point the barrel at whatever you want to die and squeeze the trigger. Boom! Instant corpse."
Kim chuckled at the cynical Marine rule; she had heard all sixty-three of them on numerous occasions. She smiled at the armoured and limping Lieutenant as she held out her hand. Ron smiled as his large, power-gauntleted hand, carefully grabbed hers, as they shook.
"The men are proud to serve under you Kim. As am I. You're a fine officer and you do the UED proud."
As they let go of each other's hand, Kim watched as Ron winced slightly, as he shifted his weight from his injured leg. Fiery lances of pain shot through his wound and up his spine. Kim shook her head at her XO.
"Ron, you need to get that leg checked out. I don't need you applying for an early discharge because you lost your leg to an infection."
"It's alright Kim; I just need to keep the weight off of it."
"Ron…" Kim's tone was disapproving.
"No really it's alright. I'm fine Kim."
Kim sighed; she had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but Kim knew she was going to have to use it. Slowly she tilted her head to the side, and protruded her lower lip. Her green eyes became large, and wet. The Puppy-Dog-Pout, her most dreaded weapons, was now in effect. Both Josh and Erik and several others had fallen before it. Now it would claim another victim.
Ron's eyes widened in horror, as he stared at the Captain. "My God! What the hell is that!? Ah! It's too cute! My eyes! It burns! It burns!" Quickly he covered his eyes, but the damage had been done. "Alright I'll go; I'll go, just stop the cuteness, just stop!" Ron pleaded.
Kim watched in satisfaction as Ron limped out of her tent towards the medical tent as fast as a he could. Well that's that. He really is not that bad of a guy now is he? Well he is kind of wierd, but I like him.
"What did I tell you about CCBM, hmmm?" Chief Medical Officer Monique Jenkins scolded as she recognized the nervous form of the limping Lieutenant.
"How can I know what you told me, when I don't even know what the hell CCBM means?" Ron defended himself.
Monique rolled her eyes, as she sighed. "Come crying back to me."
"Oh, well I wasn't going to but the Captain made me; she did something, with her face that just made me. The horrible cuteness of it." Ron shuddered as he remembered the Captains weapon.
"That girl hit you with the PDP, didn't she?" Noticing the confused look from Ron she added, "Puppy-Dog-Pout, and don't worry, stronger men before you have fallen victim to its power. Now let's check out that leg of yours."
Bending down she removed the metal covering protecting Ron's leg. A putrid smell hit her nose, as she glanced down. The wound had become infected. Greenish, yellow puss leaked from the pores, mixing with the crimson flow of blood. The flesh around the wound had turned a sickening greenish colour, adding to the disgusting image in front of her.
"Well how is it Doc?" Her patient asked.
Monique scrunched up her nose in disgust. "The wounds become infected. Bacteria from the Hydralisk's mouth I think. Don't worry; I have a nice booster shot right here that will CTU." Ron looked down at her,
"Clear that up." Monique answered his questioning look, "But before I administer it I need to know if you've taken any stim-packs lately?"
"No, I don't use stims."
"Alright then." With that she stabbed Ron's leg with a CO2 MDS, there was a small hiss, as the small looking gun with four sharp needles, injected the anti-bacterial into Ron's blood stream.
"There you go boy, all finished. DDTA." Monique rolled her eyes again at Ron's confused and lost look, as she reattached the gore-splattered armour. "Don't do that again."
"Yeah, getting hit by another Hydralisk spine is real high on my things to do before I die list. Thanks again Doc."
Monique watched with interest, and curiosity as the Lieutenant walked out of her tent. Yesterday, his eyes had been cold, and broken. His face grim and his shoulders slouched as though he carried a heavy burden. But now, his eyes were warm, and friendly, his face held a large smile, and although he still walked with a slouch, it seemed to be natural, as if he just chose to walk like that. Shaking her head in wonder, Monique turned away from the Lieutenant's back, and to the wounded men, who crowded her medical facility.
Click, Click, Click
With practiced ease, Ghost Lieutenant Joshua Mankey, flicked the gold, platted lighter open and closed, as he stared out into the ash covered plains of Char. He stared almost dispassionately at the flashes of distant artillery, as the men of the UED advanced into hell.
Click, Click, Click
He never lit the lighter. He would just continue to flick it open and closed, as he went into deep thought, or when he would dwell on a memory. He didn't know his mother or his father, all he really knew was the Facility, and those were times better forgotten. The only good memory he had of that place was the relationship he had built with Kim.
Click, Click, Click
So deep was he into his thoughts, he didn't notice that Stoppable had sat down beside him, until the Lieutenant spoke up.
"Hey, can you spare a light?"
Josh didn't straight away; he just continued to stare out into the wastelands of the plains of Char.
Finally, just as Ron was about to ask again, Josh answered. "Sorry sir, I don't have a light."
"What's that then?" Ron asked, his unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth as he pointed to the lighter Josh held in his hands.
"A memory and a lesson." Josh replied cryptically, before lapsing once again into silence, save for the sound of the lighter clicking open and closed.
The two officers stared into the distance, taking the sights. The ash swept, rocky plains, the inactivity of what should have been a bustling camp. They watched as men moved about with no real purpose. Some 'enjoyed' their nutrient stuffed, flash frozen meal bars, while others dealt cards, or shot dice, gambling with what little money they had, while others wrote letters, or recorded vids for loved ones back home. Goliath pilots and siege tank drivers worked on their beloved machines. Save for the distant sound of artillery, the squadrons of Wraiths flying over head, towards their targets, and the sight of drop ships returning with the wounded, the camp seemed almost peaceful.
A passing Firebat solved Ron's cigarette problem. Grabbing the man's hand, Ron lifted the foul smelling chemical-dispensing gauntlet towards his face, and stuck the end of his cig into the pilot light. A puff later, Ron dropped the Firebat's hand with a nod of thanks.
"You know, those things are going to kill you one of these days." Josh broke their previous silence, not even looking at his superior.
"So will a Zerg, or a Protoss, or some Dominion mother-fucker, and you don't see me not fighting them. Besides do you know what the life expectancy of a Marine is, once we hit the ground, and jump into the shit?"
Josh shook his head.
Ron smirked as he remembered his first day in basic, when the battle scarred Drill Sergeant, had gone on a rant about how worthless they were, how he didn't expect any of them to make it past the average life expectancy.
Ron took a long drag on his cig before answering. "A UED Marine is expected to only last several seconds when he first hits the ground. If we're properly back-upped with Goliaths, siege tanks, Firebats, and medics, then we have a slightly better chance of survival. Around two-to-five minutes."
Josh was surprised by the flatness of the statement. "Really? Huh… I just thought that you Marines believed smoking made you look cool."
Ron grinned with another puff of smoke. "So what's the story behind that lighter?" He asked with a gesture.
Josh grimaced at the unwelcome memory of only a few weeks prior, as he looked down to the gold lighter he held in his hand. "It belonged to Vice-Admiral Stukov." Josh whispered sadly, "he gave it to me the day he die… no, the day he was murdered by that traitorous bastard Duran."
Ron was taken aback by the look of hatred that crossed Josh's calm features. He had heard rumors that Stukov had been killed in an assault on a Zerg position, a couple of days before the nuclear strike, but he hadn't heard this.
"What happened?"
Click, Click, Click
Josh flicked the lighter open and closed again, as he fell into silence. Ron waited patiently, not sure if Josh would tell his story. Then too his surprise, Josh spoke up, his blue eyes never leaving the thermal wind swept plains, as though he could see something far off in the distance. Ron knew that look, he had seen it a dozen times in the faces of other soldiers, who had experienced horrors they would never forget.
"Stukov had preserved a weapon known as the Psi-disruptor…"
"Is that a word I should know?" Ron interrupted.
Josh looked at him in annoyance. "It's a device designed to interrupt the connection between Cerebrates and their broods."
"Oh."
"Anyway, DuGalle, under the advice of Lieutenant Duran, and despite protest from Stukov, ordered the Disruptor destroyed when it was discovered on Tarsonis. Stukov seeking to preserve the weapon dispatched me and a small squad of Ghosts to oversee the 'destruction' of the device. Duran bought it and moved his forces on. We then activated the weapon and saw the broods come apart at the very seems. That's when we knew it was our only chance at defeating the Overmind.
"After Aiur however, DuGalle discovered that the Disruptor was still intact, again under advice from Duran, he dispatched a commando unit to capture and terminate Stukov's command."
Ghost Lieutenant Josh Mankey ran down the well lit, cement hall. The strikes of his boots against the cold floor were barley heard over the sound of the alarms.
So it's true. Josh thought to himself, DuGalle has found us. I hope Stukov can make DuGalle see the truth. He just has to listen to Stukov, he just has to.
Throughout the base, sporadic small arms, and heavy weapons fire could be heard. Josh's fire teams were calling in trying to request reinforcements, before their transmissions were cut off.
I got to find the Vice-Admiral, he can't stay here. DuGalle is sure to kill him!
Disobeying an order was treason. Every soldier in the UED knew that treason was a capital offence. Stukov and his men had committed treason. They all knew what punishment awaited them, if they were caught.
Josh had left his men behind, to clear a path for their commander, while he went ahead to grab him. Monitors and computers, flashed by as Josh raced up the hall, never slowing down for an instant. Finally after several, minutes of flat out running, Josh had reached Stukov's command centre.
Josh's relieve disappeared as he pressed the open button. The large steel doors were locked tight. In rage he slammed the butt of his rifle against the immovable doors. Two voices drifted through the doors as Josh planted an ear against them, hoping against hope, that Stukov was managing to convince DuGalle, of the necessity of his plan.
His hopes were dashed however, when he heard Stukov's voice through the door.
"Lieutenant Duran." Stukov's voice was thick with contempt for his fellow officer. "I'm not surprised. We both know exactly what it is you're here to terminate. Get on with it."
Josh's moth dropped open with horror, as he continued to pound his weapon on the security access panel.
"Say goodnight Stukov." Duran's voice was filled with sadistic pleasure.
Come on open! Open God damn it! A large crack reverberated in the hall as the panel finally gave way to the unending beating.
"Yes!" Josh exclaimed as the doors lowered.
"To hell with yo..." A shot drowned out the rest of Stukov's curse. Josh watched in horror as the door had lowered just enough, to watch his mentor, commander, his friend, fall to the ground, clutching at the bullet wound in his chest.
"NOOOOO!" Josh screamed as he watched Stukov's murderer disappear from sight. With out even thinking of the grey-armoured commando squad standing in surprise, at the sight of the dying Admiral, Josh rushed up, to comfort the dying man.
As he cradled the older man, Josh felt something pressed into his hand. Stukov spoke in gasps, as crimson blood stained his uniform.
"Remember, Wendellovich what I have taught you… Remember above all else, that it was pride that killed me… an officer must be above such things or else… he will lead his men into destruction. Now, Wendellovich, put me through to Gerard… I will not have my death mean nothing!"
Josh complied with his mentor's last order. Glancing down into his palm, he saw what Stukov had given him. Stukov's gold plated light rested in Josh's gloved palm.
"After that it got blurry. I could remember only bits and pieces. Duran had started a self-destruct sequence, and allowed a brood of Zerg to enter the facility."
Josh leveled his rifle, and fired. The slug ripped through the exoskeleton of a Hydralisk, showering, its brood members in blood and gore. Righteous furry burned through the veins of Stukov's men, as they advanced through the now darkened halls.
Slugs tore out chunks of walls, and destroyed, valuable computers and equipment, but the men pressed on, heedless of the cost. Marine Gauss Rifles, cut down Zerglings, while the heavy caliber auto-cannons of Goliaths, ripped apart Hydralisks, and infested Terrans.
The men pushed on, often stepping over their own dead, as they cut through the Zerg. At one point, the UED troops had to fix their bayonets, and engage in bloody hand-to-hand combat. Causalities were astounding, but the men pressed on.
Finally after valuable minutes of desperate fighting, they had reached the core. The dozen survivors of the attack quickly cleared the room with well placed shots, as Josh raced up the stairs, and manually shut off the self-destruct sequence.
The UED had saved the disruptor, but at a great cost.
"I swore that day, that I would hunt down that mother fucker Duran and make him pay, no matter what. Even if it costs me my life."
Ron nodded in agreement. He could understand. If he was in Josh's position he too would hunt down the traitor and make his ending as painful as possible.
"This is why I defended you sir." Josh held up the lighter, "I took Stukov's lesson to heart. I wouldn't allow my pride to get in the way of my judgment, and I wouldn't allow my pride to judge you either."
Ron was quite for a moment as he soaked up the story. In truth he really didn't care what people had thought of him. He had done what needed to be done, and he wasn't sorry for it. The only thing he was sorry for was that he had failed so many of his men. But he wasn't about to tell Josh that.
"Thanks Josh. I appreciate it."
Ron's radio suddenly cracked to life, startling the two men. Ron shrugged apologetically as he sealed his visor. Wade's image snapped to life in the lower corner of his HUD.
"Sorry to disturb you Stoppable, but Captain Possible wants you to meet her in the command tent. New orders."
"Awww man, this was supposed to be a day to relax."
Wade shrugged. "Welcome to the army soldier. Now get a move on." With that, Wade shut off the feed.
Sighing, Ron climbed to his feet, nodded to Josh, who had returned back to flipping Stukov's lesson open and closed.
Men in the camp continued lazing about. Some waved to Ron as he passed, others threw salutes, while others shouted their thanks. In their eyes, Ron had proved himself by saving their asses. And they were grateful. All talk of him being a coward, was gone, all looks of contempt were replaced with looks of gratefulness, and admiration. Ron was one of them now.
Ron pushed the tent flaps open, and instantly came to attention. Kim was discussing the new orders with a holographic image of Fleet-Admiral DuGalle stood in the middle of the cramped tent.
"Ah excellent, now that Lieutenant Stoppable is here we can get right into business." DuGalle's commanding voice, caused all thoughts of interruption to flee Ron's mind.
"A platoon from the 23rd armoured division, as well as six siege tanks have gone missing. We don't know if they've gone AWOL, or if something has happened to them. This is where you come in. I want Task Force GJ to rendezvous with several Ghost agents, and investigate. If something has happened to them, I want you to investigate."
Kim interrupted the Admiral. "And if they have gone AWOL sir?"
DuGalle's eyes became rock hard as he turned his attention to her. "Then I want you to deal with them in any way you see fit. DuGalle out."
With that the holo-image flickered and went dead. Leaving the CO and her XO staring at each other.
Kim shrugged. "Well so much for a day of rest. Ron gather Delta Company and tell them to get suited up. We're headed back into the shit."
Chapter 6 is finally done. Now that my other project has been caught up I will be alternating between these two stories until they are both complete. I hope this lives up to your expectations. So read enjoy, and be sure to leave a review. By the way I'm thinking of a colab, details are on my bio page if you're interested. Don't forget to vote for yours truly in the Fannies, I need all the votes I can get. By the way I'm having a UED Marine Rule Contest, just send me a one liner rule, and if its good I'll use it in my story.