Captain Anderson's 30-man Company was moving out towards the Quartermaster's office which was on the northwest side of the city. The Marines moved in a standard patrol pattern. Anderson was in the rear due to the fact he was the highest ranking officer in the unit and could direct the movements and relay the orders faster this way.
Most of the city was hit by the bombing from Major Thomas Boyle's squadron. It was hard to hit the buildings that needed to be hit and not hit those neighboring it. So the men passed huge piles of debris and ruble. Some buildings had fires still burning. As the Company moved towards the northern area of the city, the damage wasn't that bad.
Captain Anderson stopped his company and told them to hunch down behind a wall and watch the two buildings -- one in front of them and one to the rear -- for snipers. Anderson did a low walk up to Corporal Peckner, who was on point.
"Peckner, let me see your combat tricorder," John ordered giving a lower whisper so not to give away his position if someone was listening or near.
The readings showed that the Quartermaster's building was behind the building dead ahead. It also picked up 18 enemy life signs. John wiped the sweat off his brow and then turned around to look at his men.
"Sergeant Hicks, 5 men and go around the left of the building. Draw their attention and fire. We'll go around the right." Hicks took his men and moved up to the building that blocked the view of the Quartermaster's office.
"Colonel Tarik. Come in."
[Tarik here.]
"Captain Anderson here. We are moving on in to take the office."
[Roger that. Good luck.]
Anderson made a motion to the rest of the company to run the building that was cover. It took a few seconds to get there. Anderson looked at Hicks and gave the go ahead.
Hicks moved around to the side of the building and saw a wall that served as some sort of a dike, that would make perfect cover. Hicks team did the hunch walk but were seen by the enemy.
The Mullurans opened fire at Hicks' squad. The firing was intense and tough. Hicks' men made the 12 meter dash in a few seconds. Hicks looked up and could see firing from every possible vantage point on the building. His men fired back to cause the enemy to duck but the firing didn't slacken any.
Upon hearing the intense firing John knew it was time for him to do his part in the attack. He turned his head around to see small landing platform that must of been used to land shuttles or cargo ships. It was about 15 meters from the building.
"Ok boys, lets go stop and take cover behind that landing platform." John started to do the dash as did 15 others. He and the first 15 made it unnoticed. As the other ten started to make the dash. Three were cut down as the enemy saw the real intention of the fight. 7 were able to make it to cover.
John rolled over on his stomach and looked up and saw where the enemy was firing from he took aim and fired three shots and then rolled over to talk to Hicks.
"Sergeant come in."
[Yeah Captain?]
"I want you to move forward to that little guard shack 5 meters from your current position."
[Yeah right sir. We move from here were good as dead.]
"Trust me. When you hear a big explosion move forward. Anderson out." John looked at one of his young marines. Private Rikal. Rikal was a grenadier armed with a photon grenade launcher. Also Lance Corporal Wilson was a grenadier.
"Wilson, Rikal. Fire one round each into the second story." Anderson pointed as a phaser shot landed near his foot.
The two Marines loaded their weapon and took a deep breath and then stood up and fired their weapons into the second story of the building. The launchers hit their mark making a loud and deafening explosion as fire erupted out the windows and breaking class.
Hicks moved his people forward as the Mulluran forces were distracted. They fired at three Mulluran guards killing all three. Captain Anderson turned around and saw the building burning through the second story. The building wouldn't completely burn due to the fact it was made of a concrete type of building material.
Anderson looked around to see a few defenders left mainly on the outside of the building around a sand bag bunker and trench. The defenders were about 65 meters away. The firing was still heavy. Anderson ordered his men to move out and draw their fire while the grenadiers prepare to fire another volley.
As Anderson pulled out his tricorder to get an accurate reading herd a humming and clanking. He looked at the readings and saw something he hoped that the fighter pilots would of taken out in there pre-bombardment. Anderson quickly tapped his comm badge but was already hailed by the comm channel as he was about ready to tap his badge.
[Captain, this is Major Boyle. You have 4 tanks moving in at about 25 kilometers an hour with about 45 infantry as support. Were going to try and see what we can do.] John began to sweat and get uneasy as he heard the fighters coming in low only 68 meters or so.
"Alright Major. Be aware I have men out here about 12 meters from the landing pad and behind the guard building."
[Roger that.]
The fighters came in low as the ground fire that was aimed at the grunts was now aimed at the aircraft. John rolled over to see the three fighters strafe the area to left of the building. He couldn't see much, just explosions and dust flying up his comm badge beeped.
[Be advised, tanks have shields. Ground support is taking cover in the buildings. Get out of there fast Captain. ]
Damn, Anderson thought as he heard the tanks getting closer.
"Listen up. Lets pull back," Anderson said as he got to his knees to he heard and saw an explosion that made it's mark on the guard shack. The 2 marines were horribly injured, 3 were killed. John then saw the ground support moving in and firing. He took aim and fired five shots hitting two enemy troops. Anderson and his team made a mad dash for cover behind a building as another shot was fired.
The shot landed 15 meters in front of Anderson's company knocking them to the ground. Dust and debris was making it hard to breath and see. It took a few seconds for the Marines to get their bearing. Most of them shook it off and headed out again. The battle was getting more intense as they pulled back.
When the Marines stopped and took cover behind a three story building Captain Anderson tapped his comm badge. "Colonel, we were forced to pull out."
Sergeant Becker then gave a yell and pointed at a piece of ruble 25 meters to the left. Anderson looked and saw 16 Mulluran infantry. All the Marines opened fire hitting with deadly accuracy the enemy soldiers. Dust clouds of blood were seen clear. As the men reloaded Anderson heard the clink again. Over the same area the enemy was a tank popped up to a 90 degree angle. This tank had a combination of tracks and thrusters underneath the hull.
"Bekal, take that launcher and fire a shot at that thing." Anderson ordered as he reloaded his phaser rifle's power pack.
Bekal fired a shot at the tank. However it only made a blue explosion as it hit the shields. The tank then in turn aimed it's powerful cannon that fired torpedoes at the building that the Marines had taken cover behind.
"Move it!!!!" Anderson yelled as the gun fired a shot.
[This is Colonel Tarik, all troops pull back to the airfield. The Mullurans just landed 85 replacements and 10 tanks.]
John and his Marines were stuck in a pickle, they had taken cover in a bomb crater and were in a fierce fire fight. Deep down John knew that someone had to sacrifice themselves to save the good of the unit. His once 30 man company had been reduced in the past hour to 17.
"Sergeant Bailey. Come here." Anderson yelled as he noticed he had been wounded in the side.
"Yeah Captain," Bailey said as he made his way over to the Captain.
"Listen, we have to get out of here. I'll provide cover fire for the others to escape. I want 8 to pull back at a time," Anderson said taking his tunic off and putting a field dressing on his wound.
"Sir, what about you?" Bailey said as an explosion landed into the building in front of them.
"Don't worry. Leave me a launcher with the last four rounds, 2 power packs and 8 photon grenades."
"Sir, we won't leave you," Bailey said grabbing Anderson's collar.
"That's an order for Pete's sake! Now give the launcher to me," Anderson said as he was handed the launcher.
Anderson loaded it and peeked to see 10 Mullurans to the right and 11 to the left flank. He took aim and fired the launcher. The round made it's mark. John could see 5 Mullurans fly through the air and land into some of the building's remaining glass doors. As ordered, 8 Marines took off.
Anderson began to shake as he reloaded the second round into the launcher. He then took aim at the right flank and fired. The remaining 8 Marines took off. John then ducked into the crater as Mullurans arrived to deliver more fire into his position. John fired the last remaining rounds at the enemy and saw that he was indeed now surrounded.
John threw hand grenades at the enemy position with deadly accuracy. He then fired his remaining power packs killing and wounding several dozen. The enemy then pulled back for a brief stint thinking that Anderson wasn't alone. John pulled out the last power pack and shook as he placed into the phaser rifle.
[Captain Anderson, we've called for reinforcements. They'll be here in about 8 hours. Your Marines are here. Where the hell are you?]
"I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place." A phaser shot then struck John in the right shoulder causing him to drop his rifle. Quickly thinking, Anderson pulled out his hand phaser and fired a shot at the Mulluran standing only 8 meters from him. The Mulluran was then vaporized.
[John, you have over 29 Enemy around you. What are you planning to do?]
John looked down at his side and saw he was still bleeding and the blood was almost black. The pain was intense, he came to realize his chance of survival wasn't that good. He tapped his commbadge.
"Hammerhead 2-6 this 1-6 come in."
[2-6 here. What is your status?] Anderson looked down and saw the blood running down his leg. " I need an air strike where my comm signal is coming from. Can you read me?"
[ I can't read you. You want me to drop my ordnance on your position? Over.]
"Yes Major. I am crawling with the enemy. I'm busted up. Don't let them take me!" Anderson began to feel tears roll down his cheek.
[Major, this Colonel Tarik. Belay that strike order.]
"Boyle, I'd do it for you!" Anderson laid back and could feel himself getting light headed.
[No!!!] Tarik yelled.
Boyle's fighter raced overhead and dropped three quantum missiles causing a huge explosion. The last thing Anderson saw was the plane overhead and the missiles being released.