Drop Tank

Private Jack Rider was sat in the Scorpion battle tank designated Sierra-Alpha. With him was John Stiller, the gunner of the tank. Parked next to Sierra-Alpha was the Leviathan-B's second Scorpion Sierra-Beta, driven by Jack's friend Paul Brisco. The third tank was sat silent at the rear of the bay, most of it's amour removed to facilitate an overhaul.

[Sierra-Alpha, Sierra-Beta.] A voice announced over the intercom. [Prepare for mission deployment.]

Jack started to activate the tank's systems one by one.

"Primary power systems are coming online." He announced. "Fusion cell's one and two are at ninety-five percent of full power."

Over the comm channel, Jack could hear Paul announcing the same situation.

[Primary weapons systems are green.] John announced over the channel. [Secondary weapon and smoke generators also green.]

"All drive systems are green." Jack reported. "Marine Command, we are green to go."

[Marine Command, Sierra-Beta shows all systems green.] Paul Brisco's voice announced. [We're ready to kick some Dominion butts.]

Jack smiled at his friend's sense of humour, but they both knew that there was a high risk one or both of them would not come back.

[Sierra-Alpha, prepare for drop.] The voice in the Marine Command centre announced. [In five, four, three…]

*Two, one.* Jack thought. He always hated the drop simulations, of which he had done over twelve. He'd preferred to have driven down a ramp or even been deployed from a carrier, but the Leviathan had neither ability. This would be his first live drop.

He suddenly felt the tank move as the floor beneath the tank was pulled back, opening the bay to the planet's surface. He then felt the jolt as the clamps that had been holding the tank above the drop were released, quickly followed by the feeling of weightlessness as the tank fell out of the bay.

The drop was only about twenty feet and the high-density gas system kicked in to break the tank's fall, but it still rocked as the tracks hit the ground and Jack's internal organs caught up.

"Initiating drive systems." Jack stated, starting the tanks two drive motors and slowly pulling away from the Saucer section. He watched the viewscreen in front of him, as the second tank dropped down onto the planet's surface. Within a minute, Sierra-Beta had caught up with Jack and they were proceeding on course towards the Dominion base.

[Initiating data uplink with satellite.] Jack stated over the comm. [Uplink established, checking all channels.]

"Telemetry is coming in." Jack confirmed. "Locating target and setting co-ordinates."

On the scanners, Jack could pick up the signals of the two Warthog heading away from the Saucer. They were heading towards the Jem'Hadar scouting party the Leviathan had picked up from orbit. He also saw the four shuttles that were hovering a couple of kilometres behind the tanks.

The plan was that the tanks would go in fast and hard, taking out the two ion cannons and any other heavy defences, before the shuttles, filled with Marines and Jem'Hadar loyal to Goran'Agar came in and cleaned up.

"Distance to target twenty kilometres." Jack announced from his position. "ETA to firing range, thirty minutes."