USCMRPG

2179 AD, 6th October
Location: Sol system, Gateway Station, USCM Quarters

9 days later...

Dugan limped through the air lock of the USS Fidanza and into the enormous Gateway station in orbit around earth. Two security guards with bored faces gave them a glance and then continued to watch the little flatscreen in front of them - These marines where not the first to pass through here obviously.

The marines filed out in succesion, carrying their duffel bags. Pvt Patch carried Dugans bag so he wouldn't strain his hurt leg more than necessery.

Dugan halted at the next window and looked down on the dazzling display of a sunrise behind the earth. It was painfully beautiful. The azure blue of the earth and the bright orange halo of the sun. He thought back of the mission. How they had entered the research facility. How they had went down with the elevator and fought one hell of a battle all the way back up to the dropship. How they had dropped all seven CN-20 nerve gas canisters into the colony through the thin dome roof, despite the protests from the corporates. Something that almost ended i disaster as the combat weary and adrenaline stung marines wanted to throw them down with the canisters.

Just to be sure they had also fired a nuclear warhead into the colony from orbit - Which lead to a whole new round of argumentation with the upset corporates. Threats of lawsuit and civil processes where ended with one thousand yard stare from one of the marines. The research site was now a 150 meter wide crater - oozing with radiation.

The corporates entered the air lock and shuffled past the marines who made no move of leaving them any space. They passed Dugan, giving him a glance that reeked with contempt - It was obvious they where heading for USCM HQ with all haste.

A coffin filed past the marines, pushed by yet one of the ignorant guards who seemed to be in abundant supply. It was Lt Andersons. They had lost a few really good marines and their CO back there. Not all of them had been brought back and that disturbed the marines - But going back to get them were never an option. Somehow it was comforting knowing that they had nuked the site - Their comrades wouldn't be eaten or what ever these disgusting creatures did with their captives.

>

Jacob walked up the corridor to meet Dugan, saluting lazily he extinguished the cigarette he'd been smoking.

Looking at Dugan's leg "Healing up?" he questioned.

Jacob made a point of not looking at the planet out the window...he didnt want to think about the deathtrap they'd been sent into, the people they'd lost or the scars that had been left...

Starting, he found his mind wandering over the topics he was trying to avoid.

"Where y'headed?" Then, looking at Patch "I'll carry the bag a while if you want a break..."

Lighting up another cigarette he held his hand out for the bag

Sixtus had a hell of a time stitching together Sergeant Dugan, but with the aid of Patch, he managed to save the sergeant's leg, along with his life. With Simovic stabilized, Quinn entered the APC to come upon the body of Lieutenant Anderson. Rent from end to end, the medic immediately started his work with a passion that only his fellow Marines saw when he tried to save the life of another with his deft hands.

Alas, he was too late as the spark faded from her eyes as she laid upon the cold hard deck of the APC, Quinn's hands covered in her blood. In his haste, he had forgotten to pull on a new pair when he discarded his other pair that was covered in Sergeant Dugan's. He made a grisly sight to the other Marines when he came out, his hands covered with blood and one of them clenched around something. He knelt to give Sergeant Dugan a set of dog tags that read as Lieutenant Anderson's.

"KIA sergeant. Operational command is now yours." he said quietly as he deposited the bloody tags into Dugan's hand.

Upon the ship, once he had completely patched up the Sergeant, the virus bombing was suggested as a way to sterilize the area. But it was Sixtus who quietly said "Nuke the site. Leave nothing behind."

It made a proper funeral pyre for the men they had left down there.

Back at the station, Sixtus was walking alongside the Sergeant to make sure he didn't tear his stitches, but otherwise didn't help him walk. He'd been in bed most of the journey, even as they manuvered into docking position when the medic replaced the stitches.

When they stopped at the window, Sixtus also looked at it, and then down at the planet itself. He'd left a lucrative life as a doctor to join the Corps. He didn't resent the decision one bit.

When the Lieutenant's casket floated by, Quinn's gaze followed it. His hand twitched towards it that only Patch and Dugan could see, still wanting to help those who had been injured. But Death, the medic's sworn enemy, had won this round.

Simovic limped along with the two medics still in a slight daze from the morphine, his mind regurgitating the events of the last few hours. He was only brought back to reality at the sound of Honeysett's voice.

Apachetear wrote:
Looking at Dugan's leg "Healing up?" he questioned.

"Where y'headed?" Then, looking at Patch "I'll carry the bag a while if you want a break..."

Lighting up another cigarette he held his hand out for the bag

He replied his voice feint due to blood loss and weariness “I guess so, I reckon it’ll be a few weeks before the meds get it back to any descent working order though.  Jacob you know it was a fuck up down on that planet.... Those corporate idiots weren’t straight with us and now its cost the lives of four good marines. They knew what we were walking into but they withheld the intel, I’m going to go and crack some heads with command, get some answers, your welcome to come alongâ€

[quote="Dugan"]

He replied his voice feint due to blood loss and weariness “I guess so, I reckon it’ll be a few weeks before the meds get it back to any descent working order though.  Jacob you know it was a fuck up down on that planet.... Those corporate idiots weren’t straight with us and now its cost the lives of four good marines. They knew what we were walking into but they withheld the intel, I’m going to go and crack some heads with command, get some answers, your welcome to come alongâ€

Following in the platoons wake as they passed through the airlock that officially marked the beginnings of Gateway Station, Obi stayed close to the remainder of Third Squad.  As the marines lined up to pass through the checkpoint that was manned by civilian rent-a-cops with bored expressions. O'Brien looked around at the faces before him.  Death was what he was looking at, the marines, old hands and new hands all had the same hard, sunken, gaunt expression.  A flag drapped casket passed by, some of the platoon looking at it, others finding things on the stations bulkhead very interesting as it moved past.  O'Brien snapped to attention and saluted as it moved past him. Closing his eyes, Obi realised at what it represented.  It is a reminder, death came calling, reaching out very closly to touch us.  Its dark cold hand closing around to take our very existance, a soldiers constant companion. Obi thought and shuddered as he vividly remembered when one of those things latched on and tried to pull him down the lift shaft.  Shaking it off he moved up beside CPL Ishizawa and PVT Johnson, once green like Obi, now bloodied.

"Hey lads, up for getting some grub an downing a lot of coldies and once we get cut loose?"

Morse walked his way into the hallway behind all the others. He hadn't contemplated what had happened much, as he had never been one much for reflection on the past. The only thing that had bothered him even slightly is that they had already confiscated BOTH of his samples. He thought he had done a pretty good job of concealing the fact that he had removed 2 fingers from the creature, but apparently they still knew that he had them.

Morse reached into his pocket grabbed his flask which he had recently refilled with more of his family's famous "homebrew." He took a slow slug off of it. He felt it hit his stomach instantly, but it didn't bother him at all. He passed one of the guards of the station and tilted his head in an upward nod with his mouth still full of liquid. "How ya doin asshole." Morse said simply and not even stopping to see the guards response. He just wanted to get to doin somethin else he didn't care what it was. He wasn't one who suffered from boredom because he always kept himself occupied.

patch was walking with quinn and the sarge when jacob offered to take simmovics bag. "sure man..knock yourself out" he responded and passed the bag.

he looked out the window as the walked passed, earth, hole of a place, friends he didn't want family he didn't give a shit about, he'd joined the corp to get away from this place....why they always seem to rotate back here...?

" fuck it...least were alive..if only just...USCM and fuck the rest of ya!!" it wasn't a statement at anyone..just the last of pent up aggression and annoyance at bloody civilian's screwing with Intel that they had no right to mess with.

" i agree we need answers sarge but u watch that leg or Quinn will kill ya!" said patch only half joking.

" i'm heading to the barracks, and then the mess hall i need food and a drink...first rounds on me!

(roll pafo stat)...how much it takes for me to get  Pissed and Fall Over

OOC:

(roll pafo stat)...how much it takes for me to get  Pissed and Fall Over

 

((gotta be your dump stat Patch.  ))

Quinn smiled at Patch threatening the Sergeant with Sixtus's wrath. "I'd do it too, Sergeant. Just be careful with the alcohol, it'll mess you up with the painkillers and anti-biotics in your system already." and looked back out the window down at the Earth.

"Hey Sergeant, we gonna get some leave while we're here? Haven't been home in a few years." Quinn asked.

<tag Dugan and

Erik followed behind Morse quietly. More as an animatron, still strung out from all that had happened. He thought he'd go get a good meal, a hot shower and some more rest. Although he'd probabily be hunted in his dreams.

Dirk watched as Lt Anderson's coffin filed past. He snapped to attention and slowly saluted as it passed him. He hadn't know the Lt, but it really didn't matter. A Marine is a Marine.

Once it was out of sight he slowly lowered his salute. Then lighting a cigaret, he walked over to Erik and Morse.

"So what do you guys have planed?"

Morse saw Dirk and turned to face him. It wasn't any surprise that he'd walked out of that giant bug hill alive, he was just one of those people.

"Well I don't know yet. Don't really care, food'd be good i figure." Morse said still holding his flask.

< Tag Dirk

He was happy to off duty for a single reason, he was aloud to drink again.

Yeah, food would be good and a real bed if I can get some sleep. Morse, you got anything in your med-pack for sleep disorders?

"Hey lads, up for getting some grub an downing a lot of coldies and once we get cut loose?"

"I heard that, especially after losing the L.T.. This mission was fucked from the get-go." He shook his head and looked at the acid burned Marines. "Crooked ass Corporates. Always sacrificing Marines for shit that they have no control over."