Stacie paused outside the Jungle, listening to the dull roar of voices behind the door. The night before a mission was always rowdy, filled with good natured teasing and boasting as if they could stave off the darkness with their bravado. The lanky brunette pushed open the door to find Jessica wrestling with Ashley while the others catcalled. The combatants broke apart laughing when they heard Stacie enter.
Cynthia Rose was the first to speak, "Yo Stace, did you get the goods?"
Stacie shook her head, "No, they were acting a little weird." Groans were heard from the other women.
Fat Amy, one of the Intel Officers was lounging on a rack in the back and called out, "What you couldn't get Posen to sing? Losing your touch there Angel?" Denise threw a pillow at her.
Stacie shook her head again, "No way was I trying that again. Besides, the last time I pissed Aubrey off before a mission, she made me collect those samples from that swamp on Garrick 7, remember?"
The other women laughed and Ashley said, "Oh man I was your backseat that time, I thought I was going to die from the smell."
Jessica turned to Fat Amy, "Hey, you're the Intel weenie, how come you don't know what they were talking about with the Skipper?"
"Ummmm…ahhhhhhhh…mmmmmmm." Fat Amy mumbled out.
Stacie moved to her rack, stretching out her long frame. C. R. moved Stacie's legs and sat at the end. "How are you holding up? You know we'll get shawty back right?"
Jessica moved over to stand next to C.R. and Stacie, "We'll get them all back."
C.R. looked over at Jessica nodding, "Jackal's right Stacie. I can't wait to see the look on Beca's face when we rescue her midget ass." Stacie snorted and then looked over as Lily, a slim Asian woman entered the room carrying a small duffel bag that clinked as she sat it on the table. The other women crowded around as she opened the bag.
Ashley said, "Did you get the stuff Ghost?" Lily smiled and opened the bag wider to show shot glasses and two bottles of whiskey.
C.R. whistled low, "One of these days you'll have to tell us how you do it girl." Stacie started helping Lily pass out the glasses. Fat Amy looked around in surprise.
"Don't you twig bitches have a big mission tomorrow? I mean not that I am a prude or anything, there was that time back on New Tasmania that I got wasted and tried to ride that cow."
Ashley just stated matter-of-factly, "It's tradition." C.R. finished pouring a healthy shot for each of them and nodded to Amy to pick up a glass.
Stacie straightened and held her glass up, watching as the women around her mirrored her action and then she solemnly said,
"Here's to cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking.
If you cheat, may you cheat death,
If you steal, may you steal victory from defeat,
If you fight, may you fight for each other,
And if you drink, may you drink with me."
A chorus of "Hoorah" sounded and each downed their shot and slammed the glass down on the table.
Fat Amy looked around sensing the change in her friends, they seemed more determined. Suddenly feeling a little out of place, she made for the door.
"Alright you layabouts, I'll be back tomorrow to celebrate and show you how drinking is done!"
The rest called out their good-byes and then headed for their racks.
Stacie climbed into her rack and C.R. walked over to the brunette, putting her hand on the edge before questioning softly, "You sure you're okay?"
Stacie rolled on her side facing the black woman, "Yeah, just hoping Beca and the others are okay." The brunette paused for a moment before continuing, "I can't shake the feeling that the Skipper and XO left a lot out of that briefing."
C.R. frowned a bit, "I know, I feel it too. But I trust Aubrey and Chloe. If we needed to know they would have told us."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Stacie smiled a bit and then mumbled a "good night" before rolling over.
0730 – Hangar Bay
Aubrey stood in front of her Squadron with the clipboard barking out last minute instructions. Everyone was kitted out in full battle gear and waiting to board the Badgers, a squat heavily armored troop transport.
Bumper approached her with his own clipboard. Aubrey was proud that she restrained herself from smacking his smug face, but she still put some bite into her words. "What do you want?"
Bumper merely smiled in the face or her hostility. "I want to trade Rooster for Jackal." Aubrey's brows knit in confusion.
"Why, Denise is just as good as Jessica?"
"Come on, you know Denise hates me." Bumper whined. Aubrey grinned.
"Bumper, everyone hates you. Now shut up or I'll give you Lily." Bumper's face reddened and he walked off mumbling. Aubrey turned back to the squad.
"Alright, listen up Marines. Force recon is joining us for this. Rider, Angel, Wizard and myself will be going on Badger 2 with Ghost and Jackal. The rest of you are with Bumper. Trips and Rooster will be flying your bird. We are radio silent until we touch down." The blonde Captain paused a moment before continuing.
"Any questions?" Aubrey scanned the determined faces of the pilots in front of her locking eyes for a moment with Chloe, then Stacie. A voice ringing out behind her made her jump slightly.
"Mind if the Skipper and I tag along?" Lt Col Abernathy was suited up and carrying her flight helmet along with Lt Col Smith. She smiled at the surprised faces of their pilots and continued, "Come on now, you didn't think we'd let you have all the fun?"
The Squadron cheered back at them and even Aubrey managed a smile. The CO continued on to start checking out his Hellcat while the XO remained.
"The CO and I are going to help out with air support while you guys are ground side. Bring our people home!" She smiled at them before heading for her Hellcat.
Aubrey turned around and shouted, "You heard the XO! Fall out!"
2 hours later
Aubrey stood in the doorway to the cockpit looking over Ghost and Jackal's shoulders at the moon growing larger in the viewport.
Jackal turned to the Captain, "Twenty mikes out Valkyrie, and no sign of the Gaks. We aren't reading any weapons placements either." The Captain continued to stare at the moon for a beat longer before saying,
"It is too quiet. Stay alert." Both of the pilots acknowledged and Lily tightened her grip on the controls.
Jackal pointed to the installation. "We're going to approach and lock down on that eastern wing. Hopefully our intel is right and that is close enough to the detention area."
The blonde Captain turned and went back into the hold to brief the team. Everyone was strapped into jumpseats except for one of the Force Recon Captains who was leaning into Chloe's space with Chloe leaning as far back in her seat as possible. Narrowing her eyes Aubrey pushed the other Marine back none too gently. He stumbled and caught himself.
"Hey!" His brown eyes flashing he took a step towards her.
Aubrey folded her arms and glared.
"Problem Captain Beckett?" She bit out.
Chloe cut him off from answering, "No, Tom was just leaving." The man looked between Chloe and Aubrey before sighing and walking off to the back of the hold where the rest of his team was.
Aubrey turned her gaze to Chloe, "Problem Rider?"
Chloe looked a little peeved at Aubrey's tone but shook her head. Aubrey turned to the rest of the Marines who were looking everywhere but at the blonde Captain. Well, everyone except for Stacie who was staring at like Aubrey like she was naked. Aubrey scoffed to herself, Stacie always looked at her that way lately. Benji who went by the callsign of Wizard, another of the squadron's 2nd Lt.'s looked between the two before noticing the brunette's leer and elbowed Stacie, snapping her out of it.
Aubrey consulted her chronometer then barked out, "Ten minutes! Suit up!" The Marines started putting on the rest of their gear, including their Oxygen Rebreathers in case the environment was hostile. The sound of weapons powering up could be heard through the confined space which always made Aubrey's blood quicken. She saw the same anticipation in her fellow Marines. They edged forward on their seats and their eyes hardened as gloved hands tightened on the rifle stocks.
Aubrey went and stood next to Benji. "Remember team, we don't know where our people are. We expect resistance on the ground, but watch your fire, we don't want to take down any friendlies by accident."
The Transport jolted as it entered the moon's thin atmosphere before decelerating. In moments the noise of the thrusters firing thundered through the hold. Finally the craft contacted the outer shell of the installation and a metallic clanking rattled as the magnetic lock sealed the transport to the structure.
Aubrey motioned Captain Beckett forward. He and another marine held a heavy circular metal hoop between them that was almost as tall as they were.
Aubrey waited for the green light to show a lock on the hatch at her feet and then pressed a button opening it. The other Marines fitted the circular hoop to the opening in the hatch. Tom made sure it fit and pulled a red handle, yelling out: "FIRE IN THE HOLE!"
The Marines averted their eyes as the hoop descended rapidly followed by a flash and a small explosion as the hoop cut through the outer wall of the installation. Captain Tom Beckett was the first through the hole followed by his second in command. As soon as their boots touched the ground laser fire echoed through the passageway.
Tom's voice could be heard crackling through the radio, "Alpha advance! Bravo suppressing fire!"
Aubrey waited for a break in the fire and then signaled for the next group of Marines to go. Soon, the entire Force Recon was through, leaving just her team. Chloe was next to her at the top of the hatch and the two shared a determined look before dropping through the hole and into the fire fight.