TOMMY: CHAPTER 15: The 10th Legion
"I remember when I was a Firefly, I was a legionary." Tommy began. "When we fought we won. I saw most of bravest men and women die, but the blood of legionaries, death. We stood our ground, we never gave up."
"Unlike FEDRA, they couldn't guess where we came from. The hunters stood no chance against the mighty 10th Legion. We were under the command of Alex Johnson, yet I despised him. I left, I got tired of following pointless orders, it seemed like we got further away from finding a cure."
It was the day before the attack. In the middle was a fire, surrounded by logs, with Austin 2 sitting on them, and Tommy telling them a story. It was a chilly night.
"Sir, you where apart of the 10th Legion?" Allen asked.
"Yes I was" Tommy said. "We have much to do, the communications link is almost complete, and the barracks is finished." Tommy said.
"Sir, whatever happened to that bandit that we arrested the other day?" Captain Pineda asked.
"He told us the reason why the group of bandits had been around Jackson. The Fireflies have been taking territory for themselves. With the fear of the Fireflies, they left. And that's it, now go get some sleep."
Austin 2 went to the back towards the military barracks. Tommy walked in the other direction, a masked Texan Tactical soldier (it was the same one who had been Tommy's guard) was running at the General. He spoke in a deep voice. "Sir! The recon squads located an encampment of Fireflies about 3 miles southwest of our positon," the soldier said.
"What? Fortify Jackson, evacuate the people the dam. And get the engineers to work double time." Tommy ordered.
"Yes Sir!" the soldier said and ran the direction he came from.
Weapons were taken from the barracks and given to soldier. Many former militiamen wanted to help defend their town; but Tommy told them to get to the dam, for safety reasons. They quickly understood. Machine guns were mounted on the towers near the wall. Some were even mounted house balconies.
In under an hour majority of the Jackson was evacuated to the dam. The town's people met at the community center as if it were a bus station. The Humvees road over the old road, that hadn't been used for years. Soldiers stood there giving instructions to the people waiting. Maria tried to convince Tommy to stay.
"Maria, I have to stay, this time, I can't be abandoning anyone this time."
"Fine," she said, "but I don't won't to come back finding out I'm a widow."
She then gave Tommy a kiss on the cheek. Maria turned around, a masked Support soldier then explained where she needed to go "This way ma'am". The soldier closed the door.
Both Maria and Tommy looked at each other, wondering if it would be the last time they would see each other. The Humvee slowly accelerated and left the back gate.
It is a couple of minutes later, Tommy has rallied the officers at his own home. About 10 officers stood around the kitchen table, including Captain Pineda, Cruz, Allen, Mason, and that masked Tactical soldier that people have been seeing. It turns out that the masked Tactical was a Lieutenant. It was found after many saw the Lieutenant insignia on his left shoulder.
Captain Pineda was the highest ranking officer of the 10. A map of Jackson was placed on the table, labeled with defense perimeters and notices.
"We're going to assume they brought APCs and Humvees. So Mason give your guys some RPGs. We're going to need them." Tommy said pointing to gate of Jackson on the map.
"What if they break through?" Mason asked.
"We shouldn't be asking that question, Mason, but we got to be prepared, just in case. If they do, you haul ass and find some cover and defend your position. We'll send reinforcements to assist. Listen People! The 10th Legion won't stop, until they get what they want." Tommy said.
"What do they want?" an officer blurted out.
"They want the immune."
A huge argument began because of what Tommy said. Mainly because Ellie isn't even here. "She ain't even here" one said.
"Can't we work something out, instead of starting a war over it?!" another officer said.
"They won't just…" Tommy tried to say, but the argument devoured his words, so no one could hear him.
"Sir, you were a Firefly can't you work something out?" Captain Pineda asked.
Tommy became frustrated from the arguments that the officers were having with each other. It was only a matter of time for him to tick. He finally slammed the table with his fist. "Enough!" Tommy began, "I can't resolve anything with them, and I know their general. He will think I'm lying! He'll probably kill me on sight! Now all we can do is defend. For the Republic that now stands. Texas would want us to defend."
"We can't let this end like the Alamo! This will be the second Battle of the Alamo. This will be our redemption. So I need you to listen and fall in line" Tommy said finally finishing his mini speech.
This speech inspired everyone in that room. Every officer saluted their general. "For the Republic." Captain Pineda said, in a matter of seconds the rest of the officers repeated that phrase.
"For the Republic!"
Tommy respected what they did, "At ease" he said.
"Let's get back to the plan" he said. Tommy got closer to the map, and everyone leaned in to get a better look. "Alright, Alpha squad will make sure the back entrance isn't located by the Fireflies, Austin 2 I need you to patrol the area…"
It is an hour later, still expecting the Fireflies to attack. It seemed that they were ready. With no civilians to interfere, the fight could go on without worrying about them. Tommy had changed into combat gear. Now he looks a little like a Texan soldier without a helmet though.
He's still in his house with some guards outside waiting for the fight. Tommy went upstairs looking for his rifle, not the hunting rifle, his scoped semi-auto rifle (M14 with semi range scope) used when he was a Firefly.
He went to his bed, above the bed was a family picture (of Joel, Sarah, and himself). He lifted the photo frame. Under was a fake wall that could be slid to the right. Tommy revealed the wall, he slid it to the right. There stood his rifle. He grabbed the stock of the rifle. A memory flooded back.
Tommy stood behind cover with a boonie hat, with his rifle in his hand. He could remember the gunfire everywhere. He remembered that they were fighting for the Dubois QZ.
"MEDIC!" a Firefly Legionary yelled, he was attempting CPR on a wounded Firefly.
Not only did the stench of gunfire fill the air, along with it death.
The fight for the QZ would be tough. FEDRA had their hands on some mortars, and they used them to their advantage. They had been blind firing them, but unlucky for Tommy one mortar would land right behind him. BOOM!
The explosion brought him back to reality, when he came back his rifle was already in his hands.
Enough of this. He thought. He soon left his house and off he went to give orders. He walked around to make everything was going well, but it was hard to see with the darkness everywhere, sure they had some lights in houses, and some lamppost, but not even that was enough to light up the whole town.
Gunfire was heard from the gate. Tommy just stood there wondering maybe someone just pulled the trigger on accident. Nope that wasn't the case, because right after more gunfire was heard. He could hear the machine guns on the towers firing.
"Fireflies!" a soldier yelled from the gate. Soldiers ran past Tommy to reinforce the gate.
"The 10th Legion" he said with a terrified voice.