WCGW Chpt 34

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==Chapter 34 - What Could Go Wrong==
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28 June 3041
Inner End (Federated Commonwealth)
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At the Zenith Jump Point, Leftenant Colonel David Mitchell felt weird suited up in the Marine Combat Environment Suit. Master Sergeant Dickens triple checked the suit. "Master Sergeant, I already explained to you that I froze solid in the hatch the first time I was going to try and EVA."
"All fine and well, Sir, but you need to be in this suit for boarding and anti-boarding operations. If you know your going to be boarded, your best course of action is to depressurize the ship. Nothing worse than a sudden loss of atmosphere to cause chaos among the defenders. If everyone is suited up already, well the boarders have lost one of their advantages. Now these suits you guys have are a little different than the ones we use in the AFFS. Biggest difference is ours only hold 8 hours of air while these hold 12 hours of air. So, you folks already have one big advantage over any bad guys, you can outlast them in the battle of air."
"Now, you need to practice just moving around, get used to the suit. Spend the next 8 hours in this suit. The entire crew is wearing these suits for this evolution. We have already identified 4 of your grunts that suffer severe Claustrophobia wearing the suits and I highly recommend that those folks be transferred to your ground operation. No sense having them out here, too big a liability if the crap hits the fan. Not everyone can perform EVA operations, I have even seen Marines who have performed hundreds of EVA operations suddenly lock up tight on one. Those Marines are transferred to straight up defensive ship duty and not offensive EVA operations. It might even happen to me some day, though I doubt it, I love it out there too much".
"Since this is more of a crash course and you want to leave soon, I am having to condense the way we would normally do this. When you folks leave, I made arrangements with the Customs boys and their small Marine detachment to allow us to practice boarding operations against the station itself. It gives them vital practice to perform as a unit against unknowns instead of playing against each other all the time. Of course, YOU will have to pay for any and all repairs if we use any forced entry methods, which you folks need to practice also." Master Sergeant Dickens explained
"Your the expert here. If you ever want or need a job when you get out, look us up." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell said
Master Sergeant Dickens laughed out loud "To be honest, Sir, I am a lifer. I have 28 years in the Marines and they are going to have to force me out. I really do not see that happening, either me joining up with you or them forcing me out anytime soon. But, I damn sure can send you a steady flow of good Marines that are tired of the daily grind of the AFFS. If you want them. Your grunts might be decent once they get some experience at this, but they are not Marines. Do not get overly confident in your people's skill level. A freshly graduated Marine platoon will rip one of your Infantry companies apart out here in space in a boarding action. Whereas, on the ground, you would probably eat their lunch, it is a totally different environment." 
"Point taken Master Sergeant. If you recommend them, yes, I will gladly take a look at hiring any that are looking for a new life outside the AFFS." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell said
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1 July 3041
The arrival of a Jumpship was nothing new or exciting but when Leftenant Colonel Mitchell checked his private message board, he found a newly arrived message posted. It announced that the Monarch Dropship it was carrying was meant for him. With a broad smile he located Chief Zuniga "Chief, care to join me on checking out our new ride that just arrived?"
Two hours later, his excitement and glee had been doused with an ocean's worth of cold water. "What a damned dump? And what the hell is that foul smell, Chief?"
"No clue but it damned sure stinks to high heaven. You actually bought this bucket of crap?" Chief Zuniga asked seriously wishing he had worn a full environmental suit with self-contained air supply, no way was he plugging into the ships air supply.
"Not purchased so to speak, it was part of our payment." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell said
"Then you got hosed, good and proper sir. Next time, no ship buying or trading until I go look at it, okay?" Chief Zuniga replied
"Now I am afraid of what the other ships coming might look like." A waft of really foul odor hit him "That's it, get a ferry crew together, properly suited up and get this thing to the surface. No way we are riding this tub anywhere soon. Let's get out of here, I might puke." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell said at the hastily retreating Chief Zuniga's back as he headed for the exit.
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