DE Chpt 9

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==Chapter 9 - Danger Everywhere==
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11 June 3050
Star's End System
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At the last minute, Major William Mitchell had decided to wait until the next day to go on their hunt for Captain Curtis Randal. They had spent the night aboard their Dropships. As the group headed back towards the main settlement, no one said much on the short ride over. Major Mitchell had decided to take just the APCs loaded with Corporal James Patney and 2 platoons of infantry. He really didn't want to start a Mech battle inside that settlement and the APC's would be easier to move down the streets.
The first bar was the seediest place they had ever seen and the folks inside were the type you saw and shot on sight. But Major Mitchell waved the troops off. The second was full of passed out AFFC personnel but they struck pay-dirt on the third bar. Major Mitchell entered the bar with a single platoon of armed infantry. He kicked the sleeping Captain Randal off his chair and sent him sprawling on the floor.
"WHO THE HELL DID THAT??!!!" Captain Curtis Randal yelled as he staggered to his feet.
"Major William Mitchell, 2nd Oberon Guards. Your all under arrest for desertion in the face of the enemy. But you Captain Curtis Randal have an additional charge of rape and grievous bodily harm to answer for." He said calmly
Captain Curtis Randal tried to shake the fog from his brain as he processed what he had just heard. His hand slowly dropped towards his holstered pistol, but then his eyes focused on the barrel of a pistol in his face and he froze. "Move another milometer and I am going to carry out your execution right here." Even over the ruckus around them, he could clearly hear the words being said.
"A few just bolted out the backdoor, Major!!" Came a shout from the rear of the building.
Major Mitchell, still aiming his pistol at the face of Captain Randal lifted a hand communicator and said "Point Commander Trishia, execute Plan Bravo please."
<<"Aff, moving now.">> Came the reply.
"James. The Captain here is all yours."
Corporal James Patney disarmed Captain Randal of his still holstered pistol and looked the Captain square in the eyes. "You raped and branded my little sister five years ago. She was only 16 years old. Now you pay for that with your life." He hit Captain Randal with a haymaker of a right hook sending the Captain to the floor of the bar once again. As Captain Randal started to get to his feet Corporal Patney kicked the Captain square in the face knocking several teeth out. For five minutes Corporal Patney pounded Captain Randal without mercy, tears streaming down his face as his emotions took hold of him. Finally he rose from the unconscious Captain Randal and turned to Major Mitchell who had been standing close by the entire time. His revenge had been sated, his sister avenged.
"I'm done, sir." Corporal James Patney said as he looked at his swollen hands.
"Then I will finish it. If we find a way, we will go back and get your sister." Major Mitchell said
"No need, she committed suicide a year ago. I have no one else except the unit, sir." Corporal Patney said as he walked to the door.
"You two get that piece of filth and hang him from the lamp pole out side. Gather the rest and get them back to their Dropship." Major Mitchell ordered
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It only took an hour to get back to the Overlord Dropship hauling the surviving 3rd Oberon Guards. Captain Marcus Wright, in the lead APC was surprised to find everyone sitting on the dirty ground, several sporting bandages, on their arrival. Then, inside the open hatch of the Overlord, he saw one of the armored former Clan keeping silent watch whiel remaining mainly hidden. Once they had all dismounted, he walked over to Major Mitchell.
"What the hell, sir?" Captain Marcus Wright asked
"My plan B if any got away from us. No sense losing a Dropship in the process. I had them move out early this morning before sunrise." Major Mitchell replied with a smile. He raised his hand communicator "Point Commander Trishia, status?"
"Dropship secured. No fatalities as ordered. Thirteen wounded."
"Very well, excellent work." Major Mitchell said and then raised his voice "Lieutenant Langston, front and center!!" A figure stood slowly and made his way towards him. His face was swathed in bandages. "Jesus, Lieutenant, what happened?"
"I did not realize what I was attacking or I would have cut and run. That claw caught me and ripped my cheek open." Came the mumbled reply.
"That took guts. Now, spill your crimes to me. Most of the 3rd Guards were the lowest of the low. You get one chance to come clean with me." Major William Mitchell said
"None, sir, I was not part of the 3rd Oberon Guards. Me and my company were part of the Crellacor Guards Mechanized Infantry Battalion. When the collapse happened we hijacked a shuttle and headed for the jump point. Captain Randal and his ship were right behind us sir." Lieutenant Langston said slowly thru his bandages
"Gather your personnel and move them over to our right." Major Mitchell ordered
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It took several minutes as a few had to be carried. Finally, there were a total of 71 from the 3rd Oberon Guards in a group. Major William Mitchell walked until he was standing in front of them. He scanned the group and did not see a single bandage on any of them or obvious wounds. He spat on the ground before he said "SO, not a one of you fought to protect your Dropship. A Guards command. Though I am sure those that were here were support troops. Move over there with the Crellacor people. Dropship crew also."
Fifty two people stood and walked over to join the Crellacor troops leaving 19 plus the 17 pulled from the bar which were shoved into the group. They were a hostile and sullen group.
"Your Captain Randal is dead. Executed for rape and desertion. I am Major William Mitchell, 2nd Oberon Guards. Your all guilty of desertion. So you have one chance to confess your crimes to me and convince me your worth saving. Which I highly doubt you can because the 3rd Oberon is the bottom of the outhouse." He scanned the faces in front of him and grimaced. "You know what, I am not going to waste my time. Get up and start walking. Get out of my sight. MOVE!!!"
The group wasted no time in taking off at a full run, most heading for town, some for the hills in the distance. He turned to Captain Marcus Wright. "I will send a Company over to help secure this Dropship. Your in command here. Arm Lieutenant Langston and his people. Should be a couple platoons worth. There was always a rumor that some of the 3rd Oberon was working with pirates from Star's End. Real pirates, slavers, the absolute worst kind."
"Yes, sir. Think we are about to have trouble?" Captain Marcus Wright asked
"I would bet on it. Can you think of a pirate band that would turn down a Overlord Dropship?" Major Mitchell replied
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