USCMRPG

The Marines carefully moved forward and processed the prisoners. Five were awake and surrendering and the Marines cuffed them without resistance. Another six were down, three dead and three tranquilized. The dead resembled modern art more than they resembled human bodies. Three of the prisoners were gabbling over each other in what must be Chinese.

The passive voice of the Marine synthetic was heard through their earpieces. “This is Charlie Actual. I can understand what they’re saying, let them talk.” After another minute, she told them her summary. “They claim that they are pilots and flight crew that landed here yesterday. They were told to deliver supplies and prisoners to this location. They claim that the Jingti-Long operatives here have defected from the corporation and are operating as a splinter cell. One of them is talking about disturbing and deadly experiments being done on the prisoners that they delivered. Apparently, these men threatened to report the misconduct to higher-ups in the company and the splinter-cell turned on them and tried to imprison them. In response, they detonated an EMP which allowed them to escape the laboratory and dig in at the freight terminal where you are now.”

Lieutenant Harper cut in on the mic, “Right, we’re bringing the APC in to pick up the prisoners. We will keep an eye on them and take them back to the ship. I want you to move west to the personnel terminal and link up with the rest of the Devil Dawgs. Leave two or three behind to watch the prisoners. Charlie Actual, out.” It was quickly agreed that PFC. McMagnus and PFC. Funker would stay behind to watch them.

The seven remaining Marines moved out down the tunnel that connected the freight terminal and the personnel terminal.

The firefight was over, an easily executed ambush. A successful flank always left one feeling satisfied. They went quickly and left the enemy completed dazed and overwhelmed. And the circumstances were less important then what Morse was willing to consider. Were these actual adversaries? Is this the right thing to do? The order was the order, and if you had the chance to remove potential opposition without any damage to friendlies, it had to be taken. No one ever remembered, knew, or truly cared about the actions of the Colonial Marines short of actual war. Civilians simply thanked them for their service, considered the honor of being a warrior and what it would be like, and then moved on with their day.

Morse was skeptical about their prisoners. He did not believe them really at all, even if the robot was translating. There were a lot of variables, and they seemed to know quite a lot for pilots and a flight crew. Pilots tended to know even less about operations then those on the ground, and in Morse's experience the Devil Dawgs were never sent to places with unknown allies... and even when they had allies on the ground, they were rarely of any real use.

Morse suspected foul play, but kept that to himself.

"Sam, you n' two are on point." Morse directed when they were shifting forward. "Them's knows were here now, so eyes hard on. Not sayin' open fire on movement, but you suspect somethin' you call a stop n' take cover to assess." Morse was speak to Sam, but his eyes moved to the rest of first and second squad. Some of them were new and maybe did not know Morse's history with violent action, or what may happen if something was not called up immediately.

"Good copy, Ma'am. 1st n' 2nd on the move." Morse then looked back at the two that were staying behind.

"Do not take chances with there asses." Morse looked at the prisoners. "They start doin' weird shit, and I mean any kinda weird shit, you stay back n' call it up. Don't touch em, don't go near em. Keep weapons at the ready." Morse directed to McMagnus and Funker. It was illegal to shit prisoners, but it was also illegal to fane injury to escape. The rules of warfare had always been screwy at best, and Morse preferred to remain cautious and at a distance from any potential violation. Ignorance tended to help with that.

<Tag 1st and 2nd Squad

"Understood, Staff Sarn't. We won't get anywhere near 'em," replied PFC McMagnus.

Henniger had finished processing the prisoners and lit a cigarette. Some of the EPWs looked longingly at him as he smoked but he ignored them. After receiving their marching orders he closed up on Paulson.

"Watch that tracker bro." He lowered his voice. "It's way too standard so far." His mind threw images of black, chitinous killing machines coming from the walls of the space station where he'd seen the true enemy of humanity.
He shook his head to clear it. His lobster plates on his helmet clanging softly against his torso armor. He wrapped his fingers around the mic protruding from his earpiece.
"Just keep an eye out mate."
He felt absurd for a moment before the reality of the situation sank in.

<tag Paulson>
<roll awareness>

"Watch that tracker bro."

Henniger said Paulson nodded in responce and brought up his motion detector and began running a sweep, "all ways better safe than sorry" He replied
tag Henniger>
<roll motion detector -expert>
as the two squads proceeded down a corridor Paulson kept the motion detector running the whole time, the low light reflecting up from its tiny screen and its sounds on ear pieces only, this was as quiet as it could run.

Sam nodded and replied to Morse’s orders with a time honored “Aye Aye”. She then turned to the three Marines remaining in her squad and spoke up....

“Doc, you stick with Morse and stay frosty. She smiled at the Corpsman and added “Don’t mind his hick accent and rough ways, he’s sharper den he looks.” Her look got serious again and she added “You done real good so far, keep up de good work and listen to de Sarge, he’s a survivor”. With a final nod, she turned to the other two marines standing nearby.....

“Okay, we got point so look sharp and heads on de swivel. Carlson, you’re in the center with dat monster sweeping left and right”, nodding to his smart gun, “I’ll be on de right, Dmitri on de left. Let’s move 2nd squad”, she finishes as she strides into position and keeps a sharp eye and ear out.....

<tag 2nd squad>

Henniger nodded and tightened up on Paulson. Watching the tracker like he was he'd need a bit of extra security as they moved. Sweat beaded on his upper lip as they followed 2nd Squad down the corridor. Last Op he'd run point a fair amount, now the capable Sgt. Hall had the duty with her Marines.
He tried to ignore the silently thrumming screen of Paulson's motion detector as his eyes swept with the barrel of his carbine. SOP. Marines had been doing the same since Tun Tavern and Tripoli.
<Tag Paulson>

He thought about what the synthetic had said on coms. Experiments. The skin around the nape of his neck tightened. He knew what was coming. He steeled himself to protect his platoon.

He glanced over at the new 1st Squad bandaid bandit Davros. He attempted to make eye contact and give what he hoped was a reassuring smile to the corpsman. So far 1st hadn't needed any patching up, but he intimately knew how quickly that could change.
<Tag Davros>