Defend the Lines

Garet had just noticed the rogue Jem'Hadar moving when he and Damion started moving back to Beta team to give them the word. Damion and Garet were running full speed through the still darkened forest tripping over roots and stumps.

Garet felt a cold sweat run down his neck as he heaved himself through the brush, he was listening intently for any enemies following or Beta ahead. When he finally reached the group again he immediately sought out Corporal Hendricks.

"Hendricks, we got rogues coming this way, they showed up off the beach and started walking this way." Garet said.

"Whoa, slow down, are you positive they're coming this way ?" Corporal Hendricks replied.

"Yes I'm sure, they should be here in about thirty minutes at the pace they were just at."

"Alright then, Marines set up perimeter about two hundred yards back, there's a clearing there and we can hide on the other side of it. Private's Jax and Waynewright, you climb into those trees over there and take out as many rogues as you can. When they come within a good distance you get out of there. Let's not try anything stupid. Marines MOVE OUT!"

The rest of Beta team headed off backwards and with a quick nod to Damion, he and Garet split up a few yards and began climbing a slight distance into the trees. The bark was moist from the mist that was beginning to settle on the ground. Eventually he made it to a spot that suited his needs. From where Garet was stationed he could see about five hundred yards ahead of him.

While positioning himself in the tree, Garet began to run all the different possibilities and outcomes of the battle that was about to start. He thought of the number of Jem'Hadar, how close they might be before he ran and how many he might kill. He thought of everything that might happen, if things went according to plan.

Thirty minutes later, Garet saw the first glimpse through his scope. Slowly he followed the movement. He had his night vision still intact and was watching as his target unknowingly moved forward, not having a clue as to what was going on around him. Garet waited until he was positive it was a Jem'Hadar. Just as he was about to squeeze his trigger, a blast from somewhere to his right broke the silence and put down his target, obviously Damion was following the same guy. All at once there was an explosion of phaser fire from the rest of the rogues Jem'Hadar. It was still somewhat dark and Garet was sure the Jem'Hadar weren't expecting a confrontation till they were closer to the colony, so they seemed to all be in disarray.

Garet shot blast after blast, there were way more Jem'Hadar then he expected. A few phaser shots came close to his tree but nothing to serious to distract him. Damion off to his right was unloading shots almost as fast. The two shot off wave after wave of bullets until the rogues were about a hundred and fifty yards away, then Garet signalled to Damion that it was time. They both let off one more shot and then hurriedly left there posts.

It took a lot longer getting down the trees then either of them suspected, slipping every now and then and losing handgrips. Garet was pretty close to the bottom when he lost his grip and fell the rest of the way. Now the Jem'Hadar guessed that there weren't many firing so they charged forward straight towards their attackers.

Garet and Damion flew head-first through the forest, getting out of the trees had given the rogues plenty of time to catch up and were now firing right behind them. Garet could hear their footsteps just as well as their phaser shots. One blast hit a nearby tree, spraying debris and slightly impairing Garet's vision. Garet and Damion burst into the clearing neck-and-neck and heading for the other side, signalling to Ira that is was them. The blasts were now coming from both angles all around them, they were so close to the other side...so close.

Ten minutes later the firing stopped as the rogues turned and head back in retreat, obviously stunned and outnumbered. A few last victory blasts took place and a couple Marines chased after their scared foes. The Marines all celebrated, all except Garet.

He sat on the ground cradling Damion's dead body, the tears burned his eyes as he stared down at his friend. A few people tried comforting him but all he could do was stare at Damion and cry, as the marines gathered their things, Garet continued to sit down and say goodbye.

"We've got to get moving." Hendricks announced. "We can't let them get away. Jax…. Jax… Snap out of it."

Garet just looked down and Hendricks looked at the Private and his friend.

"Jax, Tyler. You two stay here and keep guard in case the Jem'Hadar double back." Hendricks ordered. "We'll join up with Lieutenant McQueen and chase them back to their shuttle."

Tyler was already busy treating the flesh wound on his leg that he had suffered during the attack. He would slow down the others anyway. The rest of the Marines left the same way the Jem'Hadar had, whilst Tyler and Garet carried the body into the trees beyond the clearing and then set themselves up to another attack, should it come.

An hour later, it was all over.

[Hendricks to Jax] Came the voice of the Corporal.

"Jax here Corporal." Garet replied.

[You can stand down.] Hendricks replied. [We are heading back to the colony, we'll send someone to meet with you and recover the body.]

"Understood. Jax out." Garet stated.

Ten minutes passed before two Marines arrived and placed the body of Waynewright in a body bag. An hour later, they arrived back at the colony to be greeted by the Marines, the Taurus crew and the colonists. Jax suddenly raised his rifle as he saw standing behind them a group of Jem'Hadar.

"Stand down Private." Hendricks ordered.