Walker Brigade - Book of Incidents

"Major Latham, Becky, Phinn. What can I do for you?"

"Phinn, how is Max doing, sir?"

"He's fine. He came through surgery just fine. He is hooked up to the regen equipment and resting comfortably."

"Thanks, Phinn. That's a relief to know. I'll let the squad know."

"Becky, I'm glad I could give you good news. There is a cute little firecracker here waiting to talk to you. All right here you can talk to her..." There was noise as the handset was handed to Chelle.

"Becky, Max will be just fine. It will be a while before he's up and running, but he will be his old self in next to no time, I promise."

"Chelle thanks. I need you down here now. Any chance you can catch a ride down?"

"Sure, hun, Captain Phinn has put his lander at my disposal. Be down in about an hour." She giggled as she said that. Looked like her and Phinn were getting along.

"All right, Chelle, see you in an hour. Have fun."

"Yes, ma'am." With that, the com unit went dead.

* * * Jolene Akers

As I left the command bunker, I ran into the Lieutenant we had thrown out. He was standing talking to the Marine with his back to the bunker door. As I hit him, he went flying face first into the dirt. The Marine guard was trying to stifle a laugh as he helped the Lieutenant to his feet.

"Sorry, Lieutenant. Who's in charge here, Lieutenant?"

"That would be Captain Norske, ma'am."

"And where would I be able to find him?"

"He's in the chow wagon, ma'am."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." I was off to see the Captain.

On the way to the chow wagon, I picked up several of our squad mates. I had them follow me since I would need them when we covered the Marine walkers. Entering the chow wagon, I saw a Captain and two Lieutenants sitting at a table talking.

"Captain, I need to speak with you." I paused, waiting for him to acknowledge me.

"What the hell do you want..." He stopped mid-sentence as he took in the group behind him.

"Captain, Colonel Stewart is sending the Marine Walker Battalion down here and we need to provide cover for their arrival. So with your permission, Major," I emphasized her rank, "Latham would like to deploy your security detachment with our walkers and Marine infantry."

"What! We can't...we don't...I told him that we...we weren't ready for a large...scale deployment of troops to this area." He was looking bewildered as he stuttered his objections. A roar was heard from overhead. The Captain shot out of his chair and headed for the door in time to see our shuttle along with a supply transport start their landing procedure into Zone Green South.

"Well, it looks as if the Colonel thinks you are ready, Captain." Our shuttle set down first, its doors opened. The Captain looked as if he was expecting someone or something to come stomping out by the look on his face. The shuttle just sat there. The transport slipped in beside the shuttle, and when its doors opened a hoard of Marines poured out pushing equipment and shouting orders. A Major came running up to our group.

"Captain Norske, I relieve you of command. See to it that the walkers get whatever they need." He turned and was off before the Captain could answer.

"Deploy what you want, Captain Akers. It would appear I have lost control of my base, as it is," he said as he turned and walked back into the chow wagon.

"Sam, Ernie, Simon," I said turning to the squad, "get everyone together and suited up. We deploy in ten minutes."

"Aye, Second," Sam answered for all of them as they went off in different directions. Turning, I headed back to the command bunker to rejoin Becky. As I arrived, she was coming out.

"How's Max?" I asked. She was smiling so I knew he was ok.

"He's fine. Chelle says he'll make a full recovery and be his ornery old self in a matter of no time. She'll be here in about an hour. Captain Hansen is sending her down in his lander."

"Then why is it going to take them an hour?" My voice trailed off as Becky raised one of her eyebrows in mock surprise. "Who?" Her look to me was all I needed.

"Okay. I have the squad mounting up. We have permission to use the base security forces however, we wish. We had better get ready for the arrival of the Marine Walkers."

We both started to where our walkers were parked. Simon was warming up Chelle's walker in anticipation of her arrival. Sam and Chuck were warming up ours while we slipped into our armor. Becky snagged one of the Marines assigned to guard our walkers and ordered him to have his commander report to her. Within minutes there was a young Lieutenant standing in front of her.

"That's Major, Lieutenant. Now get your butt in gear, and get your men ready to move out within ten minutes, or you won't be a Lieutenant anymore. Clear?" Becky was standing with her hands on her hips as she stared the young Lieutenant down.

"Crystal, Ma'am!" He turned and was off. Within ten minutes, he was back with the company of Marines assigned to the base as security. We were now mounted and ready to deploy.

"Move out." Becky headed for the north end of the base.

* * * Michelle Santos-Tomas

It had taken four hours of intense medical procedures to get the Chief to where he would have a chance of a full recovery. After leaving surgery, I ran to the head and puked my guts out again. See, I had a serious problem with doing what I had trained to do. While I was doing it, I was fine. It was only afterward that the magnitude of what I had accomplished or what I hadn't accomplished hit me. It would wash over me like a tidal wave causing, me to become physically ill, so I had never taken my board certs and instead had become a walker trooper. Yes, I was hiding. I was a damn good doctor. I was also a damn good walker trooper. Being a walker trooper was a lot less stressful to me than being a doctor.

After yakking my guts out, I went into the observation room to watch as the techs hooked Max up to the regen unit. Captain Hansen was there watching the procedure. I snapped to attention.

"Now, don't you go all military on me, Doc." I relaxed, stepping up next to him to watch Max. The Captain put his arm around my shoulders, giving me a little squeeze. I leaned into him as I watched with a critical eye what the techs were doing to Max. I put my arm around the Captains back and held him to me as we both watched.

"Phinn, he's going to be all right," I said to him. We were longtime friends. I doubt anyone in my squad or on his ship knew how close we were once. It had been a long time since we had been together.

"I know, Chelle, I watched you work. You're a talented physician and surgeon. Why you gave up such a brilliant career is beyond me."

"You know why, Phinn. You know why." I sighed as I saw that the techs were finished with Max, and were wheeling him out of the OR to ICU. Turning to Phinn, I let him take me in his arms as our lips met in a tender kiss.

"I know, Chelle, I know," he whispered against my lips.

Phinn was lying next to me when the com-unit buzzed on the bedside table. As Phinn was busy, I reached out and picked up the receiver. Phinn snatched it out of my hand before I could say anything.

"Captain here," he paused while someone on the other end said something. I thought I heard Becky's name, but I couldn't be sure. "Put her on."

"Major Latham, Becky, Phinn. What can I do for you?" It was Becky!

"He's fine. He came through surgery just fine. He is hooked up to the regen equipment and resting comfortably." I was now making swipes at the receiver; I had to talk to Becky.

"Becky, I'm glad I could give you good news. There is a cute little firecracker here waiting to talk to you. All right, here, you can talk to her." I grabbed the receiver from Phinn as he moved next to me.

"Becky, Max will be just fine," I told her. "It will be a while before he's up and running, but he will be his old self in next to no time I promise."

"Chelle thanks. I need you down here now. Any chance you can catch a ride down?" I put my hand over the receiver.

"Phinn, any chance I can get a ride dirt side with one of your ambulances?"

"You kidding? You'll have to use my gig to get down. That ok?"

"Sure is." I kissed him.

"Sure, hun, Captain Phinn has put his lander at my disposal. Be down in about an hour." I couldn't stifle the giggle as Phinn tickled me.

"All right Chelle, see you in an hour. Have fun," Becky said as I slapped Phinn on his cute ass.

"Yes, ma'am," I said, as I flicked the disconnect.

Phinn took the com-unit and pressed a couple of buttons.

"Have my lander ready to launch in ten minutes."

We were down in the launch bay in eight minutes. The lander was ready with all lights green as we boarded. Fifteen minutes later, we were touching down in the middle of Zone Green South right next to the squad's transport.

* * * Becky Latham

I was climbing into my walker when a roar from overhead alerted me. A lander was touching down next to our shuttle. The ramp was down before the lander's gear had touched down. Two figures came running out of the lander's bay, stopping at the foot to embrace and kiss. One figure ran to Chelle's walker and started to don her armor. The other figure was the Captain of the Nightengale. I smiled to myself and shook my head in wonder.

I finished my onboard checks and started to move to the rally point just inside the shield at Zone Green South. Chelle was finally mounted and caught up with me as the lander jumped into the air and was gone.

"Who was flying that thing, Chelle?"

"Phinn."

"I didn't know he was a pilot."

"There are probably a lot of things you don't know about that man." She grinned at me as she gave me the thumbs up sign.

I was laughing as we arrived at the rally point. Three gunships appeared overhead as I was briefing the troops. They hovered above our position while I finished up. A small shuttle appeared out of the growing dusk and landed just to the south of our position. Ten M'roby came pelting down the ramp up to my position.

"Major Latham, Second Lieutenant Jim, reporting as ordered." He saluted as he stopped in front of me.

"Lieutenant, get your men and equipment into our shuttle. When I get back, sometime within the hour, we'll talk."

"Aye, Ma'am." He saluted smartly, turned and left, his men and equipment following.

The gunships were now taking fire from north of our position. They returned fire as quick as it appeared; it diminished to sporadic pot shots within seconds. We could now hear a running firefight coming from the north. The Marines were on their way.

"Delta One to Echo Two."

"Echo Two, go." Delta squad was going to stay at LZ Green during the operation.

"The Marines are on their way. Delta will escort them to Seventy-Sixth Street. Meet you there."

"Roger, Delta One. Echo Two to all Echo units...move out." I started forward to meet Delta Squad and the Marines.

For the first four hundred meters, all was quiet, then we started taking fire from our right flank. A gunship zipped over and blasted the position where the fire was coming from. At five hundred meters, we were at Seventy-Sixth Street and there was no sign of the Marines or Delta Squad, although we could hear them coming. As I called a halt, thirty or so rebels popped out of a drainage culvert right in front of us. They were looking the other way as I called for all guns to fire.

"All Echo Units, fire at will." I started firing my rail guns. Within seconds there were only bodies strewn upon the ground. "Cease fire!"

As I started forward to access the damage, the lead elements of the Marine Walkers broke through the trees. As they passed my position, their battalion commander broke formation and came straight to me.

"Captain J. H. Evans reporting as ordered, Ma'am."

"Very good, Captain, get your men to Zone Green South as fast as you can. The way between here and the LZ should be clear. The gunship's and Echo squad will take care of any rebel forces along the way."

"Aye, Ma'am." He turned and left, racing to catch up with the lead element of his unit.

"Echo Squad, move out!" I called over all-com. "Delta Squad, Echo One, we have them now, thanks for the help!"

"Delta One, roger. Take care, Becky."

"Thanks, Gil," I called back as I moved out alongside the Marines.

The way back to Zone Green South was uneventful. All hands made it back without injury. It was quite a while before I was able to climb into bed.

* * * Jolene Akers

When we arrived back at Zone Green South, Becky assigned me the job of getting the Marines bedded down for the night. It actually took the whole squad to make it happen. We finished up about twenty-two-hundred hours. I got the squad squared away and bedded down, and then joined Becky in the wardroom. She, Jim, Christine, and two other M'roby were huddled over some maps and charts. As I entered, Becky waved me over.

"Jim and his mates are explaining some variations on their shield technology. So far, we found that they can make it any shape they want, which is perfect for what we need to do," Becky told me.

"I was wondering how we were going to accomplish your little plan."

"Jim, how many generators would you need to encompass the entire park?" Becky asked Jim.

"One. Why would you think we would need more than that?"

"Humph. So one shield, one generator?"

"Yes."

"Does it need to be in the middle of the field it generates?"

"No."

"Perfect. Ok, Jim, here is what you need to do tomorrow..." As Becky started to tell him the plan, Chelle tapped me on the shoulder.

"What?" I whispered to her as we walked to the other side of the wardroom.

"Has Becky had time to talk to anyone about the Chief?"

"No, not really, and from the looks of it, she won't for some time."

"She really needs to." Chelle looked at me strangely. "So do you."

"What? Me?"

"Yes. You."

I looked over at Becky and it looked as if she and Jim were wrapping up the details. She smiled when she saw Chelle and came bouncing over to us. Jim and his mates left the wardroom along with Christine.

"Hi, Chelle," she said hugging her.

"Hi, yourself," Chelle said, hugging her back.

"Let's have a drink before we hit the sack," Chelle suggested, walking over to the bar. She took down the scotch from the shelf and poured three healthy shots. We all threw them back and Chelle poured three more. These we sipped while just leaning against the bar. A hush settled over all of us as that first shot started to course through our veins.

"Damn, that's good," said Becky.

Chelle reached across the bar and caressed her cheek, running her thumb across her lips. Becky kissed Chelle's thumb. I slugged back my second shot and set my glass down on the bar.

"Well, I guess I'll go to bed." Chelle shook her head, grabbing my arm to keep me from leaving.

"Sounds like a plan," Becky said throwing back the rest of her shot.

"Yes, it does," added Chelle coming around to the front of the bar.

As she passed Becky, she took her hand and pulled her along with her. She crooked her finger at me, indicating I should follow. Becky giggled as she followed Chelle. We wound up in Becky's quarters, with the door shut and locked behind us. Chelle took Becky's face in her hands and kissed her. Becky kissed Michelle back, wrapping her arms around her. I stood there watching, wishing Chelle would do that to me.

* * * Michelle Santos-Tomas

As I kissed Jolene, I could feel her relax into my arms. I could hear Becky's soft breathing. I could feel the love and passion I felt for these two women, friends, comrades in arms. I knew in my heart that the sex we just had was, would be, good for them. Now we all needed some sleep because tomorrow would be another long day

"Help me get Becky situated, then it's off to sleepy land for us."

"Sure thing, Doc."

Jo helped me shift Becky around in bed and get the covers straightened out. Becky roused, pulling me then Jolene down to her for a passionate kiss. We finally got her calmed down again and laying the right way on the bed all covered up and sleeping. Then Jo and I lay next to her. I wrapped my arms around Jo as we cuddled.

"The Chief is going to be alright, I guarantee it," I whispered in Jo's ear.

"I know, Chelle, he had the best Doctor in the known universe and the sexiest, too."

"You know flattery will get you pinched. Now, go to sleep, it's going to be a long day tomorrow, today, whatever. Go to sleep."

"' Night, Chelle."

"'Night, Jo."

I lay there smiling inside at how much I loved these two; almost as much as I loved Phinn and the Chief. I thought back over everything that I had done for the Chief in the operating theater. I watched myself perform each and every step of the procedures that I needed to do to save his life. I then went over every move the regen techs had made to ensure that they did everything right.

I must have drifted off to sleep, since the next thing I knew I was being kissed on the cheek. Opening my eyes, I saw Becky smiling down at me.

9.07.0093/6

* * * Becky Latham

The alarm in my head went off at oh-four-hundred a scant four hours after I went to bed. I had been up all night, first with the M'roby and then with Jolene and Chelle. Even though I had not slept for very long, I felt refreshed. As I rolled over, I bumped into Michelle. Propping myself up on my elbow, I looked over Michelle to find Jolene softly snoring.

Leaning down over Michelle, I kissed her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, looking at me hovering over her. She smiled, then gave me a quick peck on the lips. She reached over and gave Jolene a quick little shake.

"What the..." Jolene shot to a sitting position looking around confused.

"You alright there, Second?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Jolene said out of habit. She then shook her head and giggled as she leaned over and kissed me good morning.

"Well, I can't get out of bed until you two do," said Michelle lying between us. Jolene and I smiled and each kissed a cheek. We all laughed as Jolene and I rolled out of bed. We were all naked, our clothes were strewn about the room.

"Today is D day. I want to wrap this up as quickly as possible. I want to get up to orbit with the Nightingale to see Max. You got that, ladies?"

"Yes, Ma'am," they both shouted as we finished dressing. All three of us entered the squad bay to a beehive of activity. The troops were up and getting ready for battle. The three of us marched down the squad bay to the exit of the shuttle, down the ramp and over to the chow wagon. We ate in silence as the other troops and Marines came and went.

We could hear the activity pick up as more and more Marines started to get ready for the coming operation. When Jolene, Michelle and I were finished eating we returned to the shuttle to finish getting ready ourselves. When we were finished powering up our walkers, we headed to the jump off point. Jim and his fellow M'roby were already working on the shield generator.

"Major Latham, I am pleased to report that the shield is ready to go," Jim saluted as he reported to me.

"Very well, marine. Jo, all com please." I heard the click that would give me a frequency to address all the troops and Marines participating. "Attention, all hands. This is Major Latham; I just want to wish you all good luck. On my mark, group Bravo will head south, group Alpha will proceed north. Group Bravo's objective is Central Park South. Once achieved, they will start sweeps within the field to pick up any stragglers. Group Alpha's objective is Central Park North. Once achieved, they too will start sweeps to the south. Any personnel not attached to our battalion will be detained and transported to LZ Green.

"The M'roby Marines present here will remain here as the security forces for the shield generators, because once the field is established over the whole park any insurgents will be able to attack the generator. All other shield generators will be shut down in a coordinated process.