Canterra - Operation Dust Bowl

Posted on 12 Nov 2019 @ 12:33am by Major Terrance West & Lieutenant Junior Grade Steven Bernard, Ph.D. & First Lieutenant Gregor Goss (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & First Lieutenant Eleanor Hargreaves (Dec-Jan 2389 - TRNSFR After Gorn War) & Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Isabella Kelly

Mission: Hahai i na pilikua nui - Hunting Monsters
Location: The Scythe
Timeline: T+3 - 1945 Zulu

[ON]

[Woodland - South East of Sophiaville]

The teams had split up into three groups, largely defined by team and then the partisans mixed in with the 3d & 4th MSOT. The last group was a command group that stuck with the Hilo to provide command and control with the operation, along with communication between the ground and Hawaii.

"Final check-in before operation start. Roll call," West directed.

Brooks had divided his fighters, himself and five with Hargreaves. Wells and the other five with Goss.

Hargreaves had done what she could with the looted Gorn weaponry and equipment, considering the task ahead. Knorr and Baranel, the two trained in heavy weapons, had taken the crown jewels of their stolen equipment. While she wasn't thrilled at the use of local partisans, this was the situation she had to deal with, and none of this was on her face as she stood at the head of her team and looked towards West. "Hillary set and ready for deployment," she reported crisply.

Jim Bob and Ed confirmed their readiness as well as him teammates.

Tevran Jinn the Chief of Intelligence officer of the Hawaii checked his equipment and acknowledged his readiness.

Bernard patted his pockets and slapped his pack. Then he checked his rifle's battery gauge, sights, and extra battery. Let's put someone in the ground. He smiled internally.

"Ensign Bernard, Ready and standing by," he said.

West glanced at Bernard who was standing next to him. After the discussion previously, the Ensign was to be glued to his hip. He could already understand the concern Hargreaves had about the monochromatic Ensign.

"3-MSOT standing by," Gregor reported, part of him given over to his pre combat ritual of regulating his breathing to center himself.

"Intel is ready to go." Cortez nodded, flexing her interlocked fingers and felt them crack with a smile.

As Isabella had checked her weapon once more before leaving the camp and once more on the safe side, including her own pack, she said," Senior chief Kelly ready to go," as now the final stage of this plan was ready. but she still harboured some doubts that this might work.

"Hilo and its pilot are ready to go." Spencer called out, organising himself for the fifth time. He had it all planned out his end.

West took a deep breath and came over the radio: "Execute Dust Bowl!"

At that command, the guard emplacement was breached by Hargreaves's team. The Gorn, caught by surprise, were stunned and immediately tied up.

Bernard stacked by the door, but waited to be told to stand guard or charge. It seemed that no one was being specific enough right now.

In a minute, it seemed that someone had telepathically told him to take out he launchers near by. He ran up under the launcher and looked for a panel in which to throw a grenade or cause a huge problem. He found it and opened the panel using a phaser blast. He looked at the mess of machinery on the inside and took his phaser to the wiring and computer boards. The smell of burning plastic and metal filled the air. He stepped back, still filling the thing with phaser bolts until it burst into flames on the inside. He ran from cover to cover until he got to the other launcher and did the same.

"Bernard, what are you doing? You're supposed to stay by the Major," the female Lieutenant questioned him as she fired her phaser at a Gorn to cover him.

"'Operation take back,'" Bernard repeated mechanically, "'Team 1 take out the left side launchers, Cassidy, Cortez, Bernard, CO.'" The black and white man said, not knowing where the instruction came from. He had followed that inkling, but now what?

"We won't have much time, breach the palace," West ordered.

"Breach, breach, breach," came the order from Goss.

The recon of the facility found an unguarded door. The partisans led the team. There was little Gorn resistance, yet West waited with internal trepidation.

"Hargreaves, leave a security detail and send the rest of your team as backup for Goss," West ordered.

"Wilco, sir," Hargreaves acknowledged. "We also have Bernard here."

West glanced around and realized Bernard indeed was absent.

"Copy, we'll deal with that later," West replied.

"Targets subdued, we have control," Goss reported.

West rubbed his chin. This seemed very unusual for the Gorn.

"I'm inbound," West told the group.


OFF:

Terrance "Terry" West, Maj, SFMC
CO, 3d MRBN

Gregor Goss, 1stLt, SFMC
3d MSOT/TL, 3d MRBN

Eleanor Hargreaves, 1stLt, SFMC
4th MSOT/TL, 3d MRBN

Jinn Tevran, LT, SF
INT

Eira Cortez, LTJG, SF
AINT

Steven Bernard, ENS, SF
TAO