Behind

Darkness was all that Nick could see, in front of him and all around him. And the only source of light that he had left was his weapon light. The juice to his night vision had died a couple of hours and by his best guess and yet there was still no end in sight, no way to know if he was getting to the end of the cave that he found himself in. When the Captain had said that this was supposed to be an easy mission, he was relying on week-old information. Hell, even Jacobs had suggested sending down a recon squad to make sure that there were not going to be any surprises during the mission. But true to form the CO said no that we were the systems alliance and that nobody in their right mind would want to pick a fight with us. Damn navy, true nobody wants to pick a fight with them up in space up down on the ground where us marines earned our living was a much different story. Mercs, slavers, and those damn Batarians sure as hell did not care what race or military you were from, they were going to try and protect their profits.

Two days earlier

"Yo, nick get your ass up we have a mission briefing in half an hour.

Thanks for reminding me you ass, not like I was trying to catch a quick nap before the navy nose dives us into a firefight.

Ahh is someone mad that they couldn't get any sleep like a wee little baby.

Fuck you jack your worse than me when it comes to messing with your sleep.

True, but I'm not the one trying to sleep right now so I get to mess with you for a change.

Well, I'm up now so might as well get to the briefing a little bit early, it'll allow me to make sure my team gets there on time. You better make sure your team is also there on time to jack, last time duce was fifteen minutes late and you got crewed out by master guns.

Yes, but to forget the most important part of why he was late.

And you are going to remind me, I'm sure.

Of course, I am. You see my dear old friend he was making sure that your team was in the back of the Kodiak that way my team got to get of the ship first.

Didn't you have him bribe the pilot what the first two Balsto movies?

Sure did, it pays to know what people like.

Good talk Jack, see you in the briefing room."

With that, Nick left the room, but not before he flashed jack a sly smile as the door was closing

"Oh, you son of a bit.."

Fifteen Minutes later SSV London briefing room

Private first-class Collens was rushing to get to the briefing room on time, Sargent Clark would have his head if he was late, He had only just made it to the unit in time for this deployment and he was going to make sure that he did not disappoint his team. He still remembered the conversation with the sergeant when he had been assigned to his team.

Three months earlier

"Private First Class Collins?

Here Sargent."

Nick looked up to see a redhead kid rushing up to him and standing at pared rest.

"At ease private, you are last name Collens first name Jason, correct?

Yes, sergeant.

Good, my name is Nick Clark, but you will refer to me as sergeant or sergeant Clark understood?

Yes, Sergeant.

Good, now that is out of the way we can get to the important stuff. Just so you are aware we are going on a Deployment on the SSV Londen in two weeks, and you are on my team. You're the new guy so just listen to what the other marines on the team say and you will do just fine. You see that women over there?"

Nick points at a woman who stands at 5'6 and just under 125lbs.

"That is corporal Wilson show will show you to where you will be staying for the next two weeks now get a move on."

Private Collins didn't even hear what sergeant Clark had said as he was still staring at the corporal.

Nick frowned at Collen's lack of movement and turned to see what the kid was staring at, see that he was gawking and Wilson nick just shook his head and snapped his fingers in the kid's face.

"Earth to Collens comeback Collins."

The snap in his face jarred him from his stare and he faced the sergeant.

"My bad sergeant I was lost in thought.

Sure, you were, now listen don't try anything with Wilson you here, she will break you. I mean that's why you are having to fill this spot on my team after all. She is just coming off of thirty days loss of pay from it. But if you do, don't say I didn't warn ya. Now get going.

Yes, Sargeant."

Nick watched as Collens gulped and moved out towards Wilson. He just shook his head and went back to read the deployment orders that they had got some months back. Thirty minutes Wilson walked up to him and spoke.

"What the hell did you say to that kid, he looked scared to be near me.

Oh, that, well he was staring at ya, and all I said was that you broke the last guy that tried to get with ya and that was the reason that he was replacing jack. "

She just smiled and shook her head and then looked at him with an amused look.

"I would never do that.

Yeah, but he doesn't need to know that, does he?

You're cruel.

I know, but I got to have fun from time to time. And the kid is not in any real harm. Just playing into it a little bit will, it'll be our little joke.

Sure, but once the rest of the team meets him, he'll know it's bullshit.

I know, but til then he won't know that. Alright then boss I'm going to head out for the day, if you need me, you know how to get in touch with me. Yeah, yeah going have fun out on the town. I'll See Ya tomorrow. "

Back In the Briefing Room.

"Collins get your damn head out of the clouds and get ready for the briefing. "

Collins shifted his head and saw that corporal Wilson was the one talking to him.

"What?

I said get your damn head out of the clouds and pay attention the CO is about to come in and brief us.

Oh, yea will do."

From what nick could see both squads were in the room. Four teams. His and jacks team made up First squad. Jacobs and Jackson's teams made up second squad.

Ten minutes later.

Nick looked over the room Jack was talking to duce from his team, wondering what those two were up to.

Looking over he looked at his team. Collins, Wilson, Jenson, Winslow, and Ngo made up his team overall a good group up people. Hell, his and Jack's team had been fighting over the first spot in the combat sims. Neither team seemed to stay on top for long before the other would come and take it from them.

Shifting his gaze, he so the CO walk in.

"Attention on deck

At ease and relax marines, and take your seats.

As you all should know we are in the hades gamma cluster in the Antaeus system on Ploba because we got a report of pirate activity from a passing merchant ship just over a week ago, we got some images of a base when we got into the system three days got. From what we can tell there should not be much in trouble when y'all get down there. Any questions?

Yes Sir."

Nick looked to see that Jacobs was the one who spoke.

"Yes, sergeant what is it?

Sir with respect but that info is over a week old and the image is three days old, I Feel like it would make tactical sense to send down a recon team to make sure there are no surprises on the ground when the rest of us go down there, sir.

Normally you would be right sergeant but I Fell like sense these are only pirates that we the twenty of you and be down with it and get back to our patrol. I don't think they have anything down there that would be able to compete with us so that is going to be the course of action that we take. Any further questions?"

From nick's view, no one else was going to speak and try to test the CO. Even if the plan was not to their liking.

"Very well your all-dismissed meet in the hanger bay in two hours for the Kodiaks to take you down there."

The CO left then the rest of the marines left beside the NCOs from the teams and the squad leader.

From his left to right were Jack Staff sergeant Clarkson, Jacobs, Jackson, and Staff sergeant Hours. Jacobs was the first to speak up.

"I don't like this one bit; no recon and the CO is happy to send us in blind. Don't sound right to me."

Jackson just put his hand on his friend's shoulder and spoke.

"Well brother what do you expect from a navy guy? The only people you need to trust right now are the marines in this room and our teams.

I would usually call you out on that Jackson but I agree with you."

Nick looked at Staff Sergeant Hours as he talked.

"I have been in long enough to see when a ship's captain is trying to reach the next rank. That's just how it goes and this one is doing just that. He wants to get back to the patrol so that when we get back, he can make the next rank. But for the time being let's take care of each other and our teams and make sure that all of us come back in one peace.

Rah staff sergeant."

With that, they all left to get ready for the drop.

Two hours later

Nick had his team ready for the drop. They all had on issued Alliance marine amour on with some personal and-on here and there. His was that his helmet had the ability to use night vision. Wilson had a visor add-on that she could flip down here to aid her with threat assessment, Jenson and extra breaching in webbing on his chest, Ngo had extra medical gear around his waist and side, and Collins had nothing cus they didn't have time to get him anything before they had left. Collins, Ngo, and him and M-8 Avengers, Jenson had a Katana shotgun and Wilson had an Avenger Sniper Rifle. He also carried several grenades, flashbangs, and med-gel. And a Brawler Pistol as well. The rest of the team carried about the same except Jenson who carried more grenades and flashbangs and Ngo who carried more med-gel.

Nick Turned to see Staff sergeant Clarkson walking up with Jack and his team.

"Your team ready sergeant Clark?

Yes, Staff sergeant.

Good then let's get this monkey fuck on the road then." With that Jack and his team filled the back of the Kodiak with Staff sergeant Clarkson's next and finally Nick and his team. Nick looked to the back and flashed Jack and smile which he in turn flipped him the bird. Clarkson just shook his head at the antics of his two team leads and hoped that they lead their teams well today.

With that, the Kodiak took off with another one holding Hours squad. After twenty minutes of flying the Kodiak started to shake letting the marines in the back know that they had hit the atmosphere of the planet. Then ten minutes later a different type of shaking.

Looking out the window nick saw a bright orange flash.

"The hell?"

Then all of a sudden, the ship yanked hard to the right.

Clarkson moved to the cockpit to talk to the pilots as the rest of them got back up into their seats after falling out. Nick could hear him yelling with the pilots and he was still seeing bright flashes outside the window. Suddenly something hit the side of the Kodiak. He turned his head to see Clarkson turning around and moving back to his and before yelling something at the rest of them.

"Make sure you guys strap in, we're going down.

What? What do you mean that we're going down "Said corporal Jenson "

We are going to be crash landing, those damn pirates have AA, fuck we should have sent down a recon team, now get strapped in marine."

Nick looked back at jack and saw the look on his face then all of a sudden everything turned to blackness.