OS24: Heeding the Call - Army fiction

[Munro Burton]

9 ~ Jansen
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The freshly promoted Lieutenant Burton led his troops down the ramp of the Assault Transport. He had finally jumped to commissioned rank with the command of Dragon Company and this was Dragon's first deployment under his command. The Company had fought its way into the hangar and secured the area.

Now they would look for the prisoners which weren't on that forest planet. He had heard that the attacking Imperial force had suffered... losses. Presumably, it had been a trap - when air support had been called in, the anti-air defenses had torn them down.

Burton hoped this platform wasn't a trap. The ease with which the Nemesis and Zeta Squadron had disabled the platform was disturbing. He shook himself out of his reverie when he noticed his men awaiting orders.

"Secure the power plants and anywhere else that self-destruct charges could be installed. If you find them, call for the bomb-disposal squad. If the prisoners are found, leave them where they are. They're secure there." ordered Burton, snapping a fresh power pack into his rifle.

====

The fighting didn't last for long. The few Rebels they ran into fought hard, but there were too few of them. Several of the troops ventured that it "Must be what Hoth was like, except warmer."

Dragon Company quickly secured the vital sections of the platform and went to work clearing out the Rebel vermin. During their search, they discovered the prisoners. To be specific, PFC Rymeetego found the prisoners.

"Uh oh." he remarked. "The brass won't be too pleased."

====

The news wasn't good. Well, there was a bit of good news, but the overall picture was bad. Dragon Company had found out why the platform was so easily defeated by Nemesis and Zeta Squadron. It was operating on a skeleton crew which had basically set up a rudimentary defense program. Highly ineffective, to say the least.

"I am Lieutenant Burton, commanding officer of Dragon Company. You're all going home." Burton announced to the gathered assembly of liberated prisoners. All seventeen of them. "Please follow Lance Corporal Shisky. He'll take you to the transport."

Sighing and turning away from the prisoners eager to return to the Empire, the Lieutenant reached for his comlink and opened a transmission to the Nemesis by using the Assault Transport's communication system as a relay.

"Nemesis, this is Lieutenant Burton. Platform is secured and prisoners are boarding the transport. However..."

====

Line Captain Wedge glanced at Admiral Fel unhappily. "Only seventeen prisoners, guarded by a skeleton crew."

"It would appear that they have scattered th-" Fel was interrupted by alarms. A Rebel cruiser had just exited hyperspace. The Admiral swore, then issued orders. "Launch fighters! Hold them off and get that transport back aboard immediately!"

Just then, the MC80 started launching fighters, consisting of A-wings and X-wings. Presumably, any bombers it had in stock were arming now. Zeta Squadron should be able to hold them off long enough for the Assault Transport to dock with Nemesis.