Chapter 5. When hard decisions are made
Note and disclaimer: I'm sorry peeps for the late posting of Chapter 5, but my Granny died suddently last Wednesday and I didn't have the mood to write. I'm sure you can understand this. Oh, and Carl Jenkins (sadly) and other Roughnecks charactes still don't belong to me, but the others are mine and are copyright!
And now: the new chapter! N-joy!
Two days have passed. There was no communication, they couldn't make contact with the Armstrong Base on the Moon's other side. Only the built – in batteries gave them oxygen and some electricity, but they were running out. The climate sunk so low, they had to wear their powersuits. They were all sleeping in the mess hall, 'cos their bunks were in the other part of the base. Nobody deared to open the door.
"Damn it! We only have enough food for 4 days!" Peterson exlaimed. He was the new cook. He did his best, but nothing from nothing…
Just then Lt. Twynce walked in.
"Attention Sierra squad! Come over hear!" He commanded.
"I was thinking about this since the…, since the attack and I finally made my decisions." His troopers looked at him in a confused way.
"I know, that 3 of my soldiers were left behind and they're probably dead now. I need a Sgt. a Cpl. and a medic. So, I decided to give battlefield promotion to Sparco and Bredston."
The others looked at them with a little smile on their faces. Amy looked over at Sparco and he glanced back.
"So, will you accept the promotion? Sparco, son, this is your big chance to become a Sgt. and Bredston, you'll be an excellent Cpl."
"Sir, I accept the promotion, and I'll do my best as a Cpl." - Amy spoke up.
She looked over at the other end of the room, where Carl was sitting. His powersuit, even without the helmet, made his figure bulky. But still, he looked very weak. Dr. da Ponte was speeking with him. Suddenly he glanced back at Amy, and then turned back to the doctor.
"She accepted the promotion, Helen. I believe, she'll be a very good Cpl."
"That's not what we were talking about, don't change the topic, Carl!"
Back at where Sierra squad was standing, Sparco made his decision to become a Sgt.
"But Sir, who'll be our medic?"
"Well, since only seven of us were left including Jenkins and Dr. da Ponte, I suggest, we should involve them too for the time we're here."
"Sir, are you sure to take in Jenkins too?"
"Peterson, it's my decision. He tried to save us, we weren't listening, it was our fault not his. By the way, he's psychic, he could be a big help. And don't forget, he's one of Intel's strongest telepaths, we can't leave him behind. So Peterson, I suggest, you should bond with him for this hopefully short time."
"Sir yes Sir!"
Then Lt. Twynce walked over to Helen and Carl.
"Sorry to disturb you, but I must speak with Dr. da Ponte."
"Wait for me Carl, we have to talk it over again."
"Not that I could go anywhere else." - He muttered to himself.
"Umm, Lt. Jenkins, Sir, I… I hope I'm not disturbing you, but I just… I just wanted to say, that…"
"That you're sorry for the things you said and thought before the attack, Peterson."
Carl turned around to face the trooper, who seemed very out-of-place.
"I accept your apologies, but what happened, happened. It's still a bit unusual, that you, who don't believe in my abilities,are here, still living."
"Sir, I realised that I had a wrong opinion about you."
"It's allright now, we all make mistakes. Even I do."
Peterson then saluted and went back to the others. He never felt so discomfortable in his life before.
Carl grinned, and then, without looking up, he started to talk to Helen, who just returned.
"So, you'll be our medic. I'm glad. Have you ever been part of a team like this? 'Cos I haven't."
"Carl, seven of us are left of 23. It was a massacre. And no, I never been in an MI team before, I don't even know how to get dressed in a powersuit by myself. You used to be a trooper, you have experience."
"Yeah, I have. We need to get out of here as soon as possible."
"Twynce decided to unlock the door. He doesn't know what to expect on the other side. But he decided to plan an escape through the communication tunnels. We can reach Armstron Base in 2 days."
"But Helen, didn't you forget something? The Bugs came from somewhere, am I right? They have their own tunnels and there's a Brain out there. It's planning something. I don't know what is it yet, but we must escape ASAP if we want to live."
Meanwhile at the Armstrong Base:
"No communication, no sign of life since 2 days, Ray. I believe they're all dead now."
"Quit it Parks! Jenkins is with them, he can't be dead!"
"Oh yes, our precius psychic weapon! We need to send over a squad to examine the Cassiopeia. We can't leave him there if he's alive!"
"IF he's alive Christalis! Anyway, get me Lt. Rico, Parks! Tell him, we have a mission for his squad."
The Intel officer stepped to the comm. panel. The Roughnecks were sent out on the recon. mission the next day.
