Gunny stares down at Louie's lifeless body.

He wasn't surprised the 1st sergeant hadn't survived the fight. Louie didn't strike him as someone that could easily maintain their nerves. Always toting military discipline and rules, but when he was expected to perform, he broke down.

Gunny hears Kell's voice in the distance, and turns around to see who he was talking to.

"How bad is it?" I ask, turning my head side to side for Tura to analyze my face.

"It's going to show," She says.

I turn away, feeling blood pool in my mouth and the back of my throat, and spit it out into the muddy water.

"Nice," She comments, clearly disgusted.

"Next time, you can take the face hits," I joke with her.

"Aw, but you can't let someone hit your girlfriend," she says, putting her arms around my shoulders, pulling me close, kissing my bloody lips.

I let go of Tura, and look around. "I need to go get this stitched up."

She steps aside, and I walk back towards where Tanner and Bork were normally stationed. I walk through the trench, stepping over bodies, until I see Tanner, his back facing me.

I walk up next to Tanner, and put my left arm around him, while I reach into my pocket, palming the dog tags in my pocket.

"We lost Dave," I tell him, staring ahead.

"That's not all we lost," Tanner says.

I look down to see what he is looking at.

Bork was lying face down in the trench, the water around him a mixture of blood, mud, and rain water. His shoulders and upper chest were shredded to pieces, likely from a grenade.

I walk forward, and kneel down beside Bork, grabbing the dogtags around his neck, and rip them off. I stare at the dog tags, not even able to read them. They were peppered and damaged from the grenade.

I stand back up, and stare down at Bork. "May you find peace and harmony," I whisper, and step back.

I turn to see Tanner was already walking away.

I look back down at Bork. Two friends dead in the first battle.

I pocket his dogtags, and head for the field hospital. After I got stitched up, I would get a drink.

"I told you to find me after you got stitched up," Gunny says, grabbing my shoulder as he takes the bar stool next to me.

"Yea, well…I wanted to be alone," I tell him.

"You lose someone today?"

"Two," I tell him.

"I'm sorry. I know it's painful," Gunny says, squeezing my shoulder. "What are you drinking by the way?"

"I don't remember," I tell him. "It tastes like shit."

"Big surprise. They have more important things to spend money on," Gunny explains.

"How did you deal with losing friends at my age?"

"When I was 25, I was used to losing friends," Gunny says.

25…I forgot about that. I wonder if Tura knows I'm not 25. Hell, she is older than I am. Hell, when I am actually 25, how many more friends will I have lost? Will I even see 25?

"So how did we do?" I ask him.

"Will you even remember if I tell you?" Gunny asks.

"Probably not," I admit.

"I'll tell you in the morning then."

11 hours later

I am awakened when I feel cold water hit my face, and sit up in bed, panicking.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING?!"

I look to see Gunny holding an empty glass, and could infer what happened.

"Well, you're finally awake," Gunny says, sitting down on his bed.

I rub my eyes, feeling a massive headache. Whether that was from the head-butt I received the day earlier, or the alcohol, I didn't know.

"So what did you want?" I ask, looking away from him and the light in the barracks.

"To discuss current leadership changes," Gunny says, grabbing a datapad on his nightstand.

"who did we lose?" I ask.

"Louie, both the lieutenants, the captain survived, but our major is dead. So you know, a lot of people," Gunny tells me.

"Shit," I curse, rubbing my eyes. "What about the squad?"

"A third is dead."

I shake my head, and sigh.

"So what are the changes?" I ask.

"I'm taking over the lieutenant's spot, so I am getting a big bump," Gunny says. "And you'll stay as my XO."

"Thanks," I tell him. I doubt Gunny knew how grateful I really was. I couldn't go into battle without him. He probably saved my life twice yesterday.

"And that comes with a promotion," Gunny says, tossing me a new arm badge.

I pick it up, seeing it had the three sergeant stripes, with three rockers underneath it. "So that makes me what? A second like you were" I ask.

"Master Sergeant," Gunny corrects me. "Rank below."

"How many jumps up is that?"

"Well, normally it's sergeant, staff sergeant, gunnery, then master, so three?"

"Well…Thanks again, you know…for everything," I tell him.

Gunny looks at me, then leans forward, motioning for me to do the same.

"You never went through basic, did you?" He whispers.

I look around making sure no one was listening. When I felt safe, I look at the floor, cupping my hands, and admit "No."

"So what happened?" He asks.

"I crashed on Liana, put on a sergeant's uniform, and didn't tell anyone," I whisper.

"You've done pretty good for someone with no training what so ever," Gunny complements me.

"Thanks."

"Just remember, listen to me, do what I tell you to do, and you'll make it."

17 days later

I stare at the night sky, feeling the cool air on my face. My left cheek had finally healed, so cold air didn't bite at my cut.

It was hard to believe how much my life had changed in a matter of months. My biggest concern this time last year was how to pay for dates.

I wonder if mom would be proud of me for what I've done. I doubt it. I doubt she would support my joining of any military organization. She wouldn't want her sons getting shot at it, or killing people, or doing any of the other things I've done.

What about dad? We fought so much, but maybe he would be proud to see me as a soldier. A second sergeant at…

Wait!

I was 20!

I completely forgot about my birthday! I had turned 20 and missed it! I didn't even remember which day it was. Or what I was doing that day.

Well, a second sergeant at the age of 20. Would he be proud, or still just disappointed in me? I never could make him happy. We could only yell, and hate each other. Hell, Gunny is a better father than my old man was.

I turn to see Tura walking up next to me. She wraps her arm around me, asking "What are you thinking about?"

"It's difficult to explain," I tell her.

"Is it the Cathar and Dave?" she asks.

"Yea," I lie. "You ever loose anyone?"

"I was drafted, so my family is still out there, somewhere," she says, staring dreamily at the night sky. "Speaking of which, you've always been secretive about where you're from. And your family."

I bite my tongue, angry at myself. I should have known better than to ask a question that could be turned around on me like that. "My family is dead, I am the only survivor. That I know of," I tell her, leaving out where I was from.

If she knew I was from Corsin, she might figure out that I also didn't go through basic.

"I'm sorry," she says, hugging me close to her.

We say nothing for a few minutes, until Tura decides to break the silence. "You ever think of running away. And just try to escape this war?"

I stare at Tura, her words reminding me of my promise with Heather. The night before the Mandalorians destroyed my life.

"No," I tell her. "I have nothing left except this."

"Tanner, everything all right?" I ask Tanner over dinner.

"Just…tired is all," he says.

I stare at Tanner, and could tell he was lying. We had known each other too long for me to be fooled by this. "You upset about Bork's death?" I ask.

"I yelled grenade, he was the one who jumped on it," Tanner murmurs.

"You know, he gave his life to make sure you survived," I tell him. "He would hate to know you took his sacrifice, and had a pity party for yourself."

"What?! Now you're the happy one!?" Tanner demands, slamming his utensil down next to him.

"That's not what I-"

"No, I'm….I'm sorry. You're right," Tanner admits. "Just…it isn't easy is all."

"I know. And I don't think it is going to get easier," I tell him.

I rub my eyes and yawn as I stare at the same damn field I had been staring at for the past 7 months. I had been stationed on this miserable planet for the better part of a year now, and when it wasn't raining and depressing, it was exploding.

"If you need nap, do it now," I hear someone say behind me.

I turn to see the Mandalorian that wore grey armor standing behind me. "Why is that?" I ask him.

"Attack tonight," he says blandly.

"How do you know?" I ask him.

"Mandalorians know Mandalorians," is all he answers.

"How thought provoking," I tell him.

"Name Burn," he says, putting his hand on my shoulder.

I brush it off, and ask "Why are you telling me this?"

"Heavy attack here. Worst attack here. I like knowing names of comrades I fight with. Comrades I kill with. Comrades I die with," Burn says.

"Kell," I tell him. "I was the first soldier you met when you came off that transport," I remind him.

"I remember," he says.

"So any advice for tonight?" I ask him.

"Take them with you, or get out," Burn says. "No other choice with Mandalorians."

I see Gunny sitting down in the trench, staring at something in his lap.

I walk over and sit down next to him. "Burn says they'll attack tonight."

"Who is Burn?"

"Some Mando I met," I tell him.

"well that's just perfect freaking timing," Gunny comments.

"Huh?"

"I just got this," Gunny adds, lifting a strange looking pistol. "Flare gun, given only to colonels and commanders. You shoot it off in a losing battle, and a transport is going to land near you."

"How'd you get that?"

"You don't want to know," Gunny tells me.

I stare at the gun, noting its odd shape, then ask "Won't firing it make you a target,?"

"Yea, but you'll have a chance to get out," he counters.

"Good point," I admit. I turn and look around, seeing little activity and no officers, so I ask "Mind if I catch a nap?"

Gunny looks around, saying "Go ahead. But if an officer catches you, I didn't give you the Ok."