Battle Plan

The tall Marine rose from his seat and headed for the viewscreen in the briefing room. As he did so, Lieutenant Kahfre and the Jem'Hadar Goran'Agar both sat down.

"We've already started to form a plan of attack on the Jem'Hadar forces on the ground." Phanan started his briefing. "We're looking at a three pronged attack. The main group will use the pair of Scorpion battle tanks we have onboard to attack the base's perimeter, whilst a smaller group will take two of the Warthogs and head off towards the scanning party. Our main obstacle will be the two cannons that the Jem'Hadar have defending their base, but hopefully the Scorpions can deal with them. If we had the Devastator, I'd attack the cannons from the air, but the small shuttles we have in the Auxiliary hanger are not upto the job. Instead we're going to use some of them as troop transports, landing as soon as the base defences are down."

"How long do you think this attack will take ?" J'ross asked. "And what assessment of casualties do you expect ?"

"We're looking at thirty percent killed or severely injured." The Marine admitted. "We just don't have enough men to cover all the bases, which means we'll be spread thin, which leaves us vulnerable. We've also detected what appeared to be an old mine-field which limits our options on approaching the base undetected."

"Colonel, Commander." Goran said, looking first at the Marine and then at J'ross. "If you would allow my people to join you, I am sure that together we can fill in the gaps."

J'ross was quiet for a moment, thinking about the proposal just made by the Jem'Hadar.

"Colonel, what about it ?" J'ross said. "Would another fifty or so extra soldiers come in handy."

"They would certainly allow us to be more secure." Phanan announced. "Casualties would be reduced and the attack could be more powerful. However, I'm still not convinced that any Jem'Hadar can be trusted."

"Fortunately that's not you're call." J'ross announced. "If I accept your offer Goran, how well will your people fight."

"To the end and beyond." Goran replied.

"Then we do it." J'ross stated. "Colonel, make the necessary adjustments to your battle plans."

"Yes Commander." Phanan replied.

"What's the status of the Jem'Hadar transports ?" J'ross asked.

"The two vessels are making a spiral approach into the system from the far side. Their approach will be hidden by the sun, no one on the ground will detect their arrival." Lieutenant Reegan Riggins announced. "They'll be in orbit in about an hour."

"Then we have about an hour to prepare." J'ross announced. "Send a message to the transports that they are to land at the designated co-ordinates and await further instructions."

"Yes Commander." Riggins replied.

With that the briefing was over and the crew left, most heading back to the Bridge.

As the doors to the Briefing room opened and M'eko stepped back onto the Bridge herself, she noticed the Ensign at the Helm appear to come out of some kind of day-dream. He glanced across towards Lieutenant Commander J'Ross, who stepped down and took the Command chair. The Ensign appeared to have expected to be relieved, after all he was not assigned to the Bridge crew and appeared very surprised by the Commander's next orders.

"All hands, Blue Alert." J'ross announced. "Helm, take us down to the surface, grid Sierra Seven Five Alpha Two Nine Four."

For a moment, the Ensign appeared to have frozen at the Helm, but then regained his composure. On the viewscreen, the image of the planet's surface grew larger. The Bridge crew continued to watch the viewscreen as they drew closer to the ground.

Within half an hour, they were moments from the planet surface. At the last moment, the landing sequence was activated and the four landing feet were lowered and touched the ground with a slight bump. The thrusters and the anti-grav engines both fell silent, sending the Bridge into a dull hush.

"All landing stations report secure." The young Ensign announced from the Helm position.

"Well done Ensign….." J'ross said, trying to remember his name.

"….Razak, Marc Razak Commander." Marc stated.