The company commanders of the 1-16 (1st infantry division, 16th battalion) stood around a rather large holo-display used specifically for detailed topographical maps. It was a briefing given by the battalion executive officer, but this time the captains were equipped with standard marine combat suits because the launch time was nearing.

Major Stine was frantically pointing all over the map with his laser light and talking about a thousand words per minute. Deckard was paying little attention and nothing the XO had said in the past five minutes had registered with him. He knows if the Easies aren't mentioned specifically, none of what is being said applies to Echo Company. Deckard, not having slept much within the past few days, struggled to keep his eyes open.

"…and that's where the Easies come in. Captain Deckard, are we a little tired?" Stine asked.

"No, sir," Deckard replied straightening up. Stine then proceeded to march towards Deckard until he was right in front of him. "Just resting my eyes for a second, XO… been staring at displays all day long."

"Let me guess, the news archive? You were warned to use it with discretion and you are this close of having your rank stripped from you, we clear on that?" The closeness was indicated by Stine's fingers. "I will not stand for incompetence among my officers."

"Yes, Sir."

"Now where was I? Ah, yes, the Easies." Stine continued his briefing without moving back to his original spot. "Echo Company will occupy the firebases at point H and that'll complete an airtight surrounding of the landing zone."

Point H was tactically the worse place to be. Out of all the different structures built around a large hill, point H were the only ones built on the base with no height advantage. It appeared that the terrain on that part of the hill was too rough for anything to be built on but still needed to be defended. There was also what looked like a refinery in the adjacent grid sector overlooking point H. Who knew what kind of artillery could be stuffed in there. What exactly the hill fortifications were defending remained a mystery.

Stine continued droning on with his briefing and Deckard continued not paying attention.

Well, at least I know why they want the Easies down there: to fill up space.

(For your duration)

What?

(Your duration until doom)

Okay…

Just great, he said to himself, I'm hearing voices now. Deckard pondered the idea of checking himself in to PsyOps. Not exactly a clinic but PsyOps had the only psychologists in the fleet from the Science Vessel Darwin. But then he could be branded as a loon and/or quarantined for study. Only thing worse then being the commander of Easy is being booted off as the commander of Easy.

"Any questions or concerns?" asked Stine while putting his cap on. "Best to spill it out now, we aren't talking again once I leave this quarter."

"Sir, just out of curiosity," said Card. Stine looked ready to bolt out the door but just stared at Card, face blank. Curiosity was not a favored word. "What's with all the rush when the Colonel said himself there wasn't any immediate Terran or Zerg presence on Moria? I thought rapid deployment procedures were for emergencies."

Stine paused for a moment then looked at Deckard. "Consider it a drill for Easy." Stine swiftly walked out of door to Deckard's left. Speed walking seemed to be a sport going up the chain of command lately. The captains started clanking their way out of the door to Deckard's right.

"Bullshit," softly said Clarke.

Upon the right door sliding open, the noisy sounds from the docking bay rushed into the room. The docking bay had dropships being prepped for launch along with nearly a thousand marines, all part of 1-16 Battalion, also prepping themselves. Deckard was following the rest out the right door until someone's head popped out the left door.

"Deckard!" yelled Stine over the bay noises.

"Sir!"

Stine motioned with his finger for Deckard to follow. Stine went back to swiftly walking down the hallway, followed by a rapid clanking noise.

"There was something I almost forgot, Captain." Stine pulled out a palm size card-like object out of his jumpsuit pocket. "I've got orders from the Colonel for you to keep it."

The object looked much smaller in Deckard's hand and upon closer inspection; it looked like some sort of an archaic computer chip. "What is it?"

"I haven't got a clue… to anything. The orders specifically said you and you alone. I was pretty curious myself but I'd rather not ask Napoleon."

"What is it?" Clavell asked as he carefully handled the chip between his thumb and index finger. First Lieutenant Clavell was Deckard's right hand man. He also happened to be a savant with anything computer related.

"I was hoping you could tell me", Deckard replied, "XO gave it to me after briefing, he said it was from the Colonel but doesn't know what it is or why I'm getting it."

"Well… it looks like a key." Clavell examined it close to his helmet. It was impossible to see anything with the inside of the dropship completely masked with a red light.

"A key?" Deckard asked.

"Yeah, like a key card. The transistor here at the end looks like it's supposed to attach to something. That reminds me, take a look at this." Clavell handed Deckard back the chip and took out a small video display out of his suit compartment. As he turned it on, Deckard noticed a lot of red dots. "You're looking at the entire 1-16", bolstered Clavell with a smirk, "I took the vidphone out of my wall and modified it to receive vital sign transponders. It's red on black now but if I did everything right, it should show a terrain background using comsat once we're down there."

Whoever assigned him as a marine made a big mistake, Deckard thought. "You're insane. These groups of red dots must be the adjacent dropships."

"Yeah"

"And these cluster-fucks down here must be…"

"Yeah"

Deckard let out a sigh. "When is everyone supposed to be boarded?"

"Like ten minutes ago." Clavell replied.

Deckard quickly set his suits comlink so he'd be communicating with his platoon leaders. "Listen up: Easy needs to be on those dropships, now."

"Sir," A voice responded, "third platoon isn't ready gearing up yet."

"Neither is second," said another.

The audacity, thought Deckard. He took his safety harness off and walked towards the dropships cargo entrance. "No, listen: every other company is going to be launched and well on their way while Private Pyles is still trying to figure out how to strap on his perditions. They can finish their shit on the way down so start kicking their rear ends until they're on those ships. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir," all four platoon leaders replied.

The red light changed to a green light and the door started coming down. Immediately, Deckard had a view of the Easies, the only ones left on the bay. Moments later, they started filing into their dropships, some still hugging their equipment.