From PANDJMENZ@aol.com Fri Jun 19 12:43:39 1998 Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 07:27:50 -0600 From: PANDJMENZ To: Dante Expeditionary Force List Serve Subject: [DANTEXF] SB ALIGHIERI (1/135th): The traps are laid DANTE Expeditionary Force Official E-mail BEGIN TRANSMISSION SD: 100521.1100 EST FMD: 3.1140 Scene: Hulad, 50 km from Ft. Necessity Michael and his AFV crew were situated on a bluff overlooking a set of caves that reportedly held a Kraggon contingent, how many was not known, but for the attack on Necessity just a few days ago meant that a boatload of Kraggons were hiding out there in those caves, somewhere. [Kilo 3-2 to Kilo-2-November] a call came over the radio, thankfully the subspace networks were very secure when dealing with the Kraggons. Kilo 3-2 was about 3 kilometers ahead of where the MXO's AFV was at, placing taps and transmitters on the landline communications their adversarys used. And to think that Torrgar was giving the Major's batallion free reins on flushing out their renegade bretheren. "Kilo-2-November" Michael replied. [Taps are in place, we're ready on this end, sir.] GySgt. Willem Franklin, leader of Kilo 3-2 and 2nd Platoon Sergeant, Company B, called in. [Kilo 1-4 Alpha, Go at this station] another call from another newly discovered cave system 20 klicks out came in. [Kilo 2-1 Tango, Go] the third from the Southern Continent. Soon, every tap was placed, booby traps set, and the platoons were in position for the ambush. "Kilo-1-Golf, this is Kilo-2-November. We're ready." Michael called his boss. [Sure hope to hell this works...] Colonel Greene replied. "Better than 440 years ago when my dad served." Michael answered back. His father had served with the famed 7th Cavalry Regiment during a war that nobody liked. [I'm not sure what that means, but let's get on with it.] "Aye, sir. Out." Michael closed the subspace connection. Turning to his COMM, "Alert the teams, Initiate Operation ROTO-ROOTER." Michael saw the display monitors on his track. The fake distress calls were transmitted, and the Kraggons took the bait, attempting to assist their "bretheren." Soon after, the traps that were laid in fromt of the access points of the caverns were set off, disrupting any exiting the Kraggon ground pounders had hoped for, then surrounded by the Marines. Seeing the futility of a counter attack, combined by the suprise that the attack on Ft. Necessity did not fare as hoped for, This group quickly surrendered, as well as other Kraggon units that were similary trapped elsewhere. FMD: 3.1815 Scene: Outer perimeter of Ft. Necessity ROTO-ROOTER kept up for more than seven hours, the platoons working to flush out the renegade Kraggons, who were being carted off by higher headquarters back to Dante IV, their homeworld of Torrgar. Still, Morat Ryshert, the self declared commander of the renegade "Kraggon Liberation Army", was still running around somewhere on Hulad, perhaps somewhere near the Fort. Ryshert's Brigade was smashed by a combined effort of the 1/135th, NAsW-716, and BATRON 2. From what intel reports the FO's provided, the KLA was now at 30% strength, from either the battle, the attacks on the Huladians, or ROTO-ROOTER. That was good news to both Major Kingston, Colonel Greene, and the staff at ALIGHIERI. [Kilo-1-Golf to Kilo-2-November] Greene called his XO. "This is Kilo-2-November, what'cha need, boss?" Michael replied. [Status report, Major] "Sir, the KLA's down to about 30%, and from what I know of the Kraggon delegation that was at ALIGHIERI this morning....the KLA's gonna be very sad. We should get the rest in about a day." the XO reported. The proximity lights went off as if someone stuck their finger in a light socket. "Sir, we may have Ryshert. HAV-4E bearing 0-1-1; 5 klicks; heading 1-8-0; speed roughly 60 kph. Hull markings are Ryshert himself." the gunner of Kingston's AFV called out. "Gotta go, Boss...one more fish to catch, and this is a big one!" a pause as Greene interpreted the 20th century vernacular. [Understood, reel him in! Out.] "Let's move!" Kingston called. Within a few minutes, the AFV met up with Ryshert's HAV, with the latter not detecting the former. It was as if Ryshert ignored the Marine AFV, or they just did not notice the AFV come right behind the Kraggon track, target the aft quarter, and fire a rocket right up the tailpipe...knocking out the engines and rendering the HAV useless. Kingston dismounted the AFV and climbed on top of the HAV, pulling out the wounded Kraggon crew, finally pulling out Ryshert and dragging him to safety as the HAV exploded. Michael took his 9 mil pistol from its holster and pointed it at Ryshert's head. "How ya' doin' *jackass!* I'm Major Michael Kingston, 1/135th Marines, and you are my prisoner." Ryshert looked the worse for wear... Blood was trickling from his forehead and legs."I do not understand. Why did you save my life? Are we not enemies?" the former commander of the Kraggon Liberation Army asked. "All life is important to the Federation, even those of our adversaries, Commander. And even those who attack defenseless cites without provocation." Michael answered, signaling to a Medevac crew to take Ryshert to ALIGHIERI for treatment and subsequent extradition to Torrgar. Scene: Bn CO's Office FMD: 3.2120 "So how'd it go, X?" Greene placed the PADD with the After Action Report, or AAR, on his desk. "Well, sir, we did lose a few vehicles, but fortunately, there was no loss of life. We managed to slash the strength of the Kraggon presence to about 10 percent of what it was before. We'll have them, Boss." Michael reported. "Good, I like an XO who gets the job done. I just got a call from Commander Yssar and Commodore Mirtox. They're calling a meeting at 0900 tomorrow." Greene briefed his XO, then leaned down on his desk. "What do you know of the Dalriada, Major?" That question brought back memories. "I tangled with them about a year ago, with the 4th of the 105, USS PROMETHEUS. Almost lost my Batallion CO then. They're ruthless, sir, stopping at nothing to conquer a system..." "And they're here." Michael's jaw dropped. "In Dante?" Greene nodded. "ALIGHIERI may need some reinforcements to their security teams, it's your call if we can do it." "The Kraggon threat is all but gone, sir. I think we can send Delta company to help out up there." "Very well, I want you, Major Evanston, Major Sanok and First Sergeant Chistiansen at the meeting first thing tomorrow." "Aye, sir." FMD: 4.0900 Scene: Briefing Room, SB ALIGHIERI Michael and the Command group of D Company, Lieutenant Major Sanok and First Sergenat Lisa Christiansen arrived at the briefing that Commodore Mirtox and Commander Yssar had called. The meeting went on about the missile status, flight reports and what not. Yssar then turned to the Marines that were assembled. "What's the situation on Hulad, Major?" Yssar asked. "Sir, the Kraggon threat is all but over with. But I don't think that's why I'm here, though." Michael reported. "The Dalriada are here, Major, and there is the threat of a possible invasion of the station." The Caitian Commander continued. "Colonel Greene and I have come to that conclusion as well, sir. We're still spread out rather thin, though, but we can send D company up to assist in any way possible." Michael answered. "The company is ready for any situation possible, Commander." Major Sanok concurred. "Agreed." Yssar replied. ------------------ 3.1140 Marines "flush out" the Kraggons 3.1815 Ryshert is captured 3.2120 Word of the meeting 4.0900 D Company is tasked for duty on ALIGHIERI NRPG: David: You got one Company of Marines at your disposal, commanded by LTM Sanok of Vulcan and 1SGT Lisa Christiansen. Submitted, Paul V. Menz LTM Michael W. Kingston XO, 1/135th Marines, Ft. Necessity INDIGO FLEET LT Pavel M. Borodin TAC, USS NOVA (NCC-1776-A) INDIGO FLEET This message sent by an official member of the Dante Expeditionary Force Are you also posting your messages to the newsgroup?!!! END TRANSMISSION