Walker Brigade - Book of Incidents

"Now, on my mark, 'MARK', let's get this operation underway." I started forward as the line of Marine and Army walkers surged north. A small contingent of walkers started south. There was barely any chatter as we started.

Fifteen minutes into the operation, the left flank came into contact with a platoon size force of insurgents. They were quickly subdued and rounded up by the accompanying infantry. They were now behind us under guard, marching along with us to LZ Green.

Forty minutes into the operation, we were just coming up to One-Hundred-Second Street when all hell broke loose. Heavy weapons fire was pouring in on three sides. It was ineffective since we were behind the shield as we advanced. As the shield moved forward over the gun emplacement, the walkers easily took them out. Plasma bolts to each emplacement turned the sites to slag. Any ground troops we gathered up and transported to LZ Green.

The operation lasted a total of fifty minutes, not including the sweeps inside our perimeter. All other shields had been dropped and interior sweeps underway. I made my way back to LZ Green and Colonel Stewart.

"Jolene, you have the squad. Colonel Stewart, Central Park is now ours."

"Roger, Major Latham. Well done."

"Thank you, sir."

"Major, coordinate random sweeps through the park for any stragglers."

"Already in progress, sir."

"Well, then, you and your walker squad can stand down and report to LZ Green."

"Aye, sir. Jolene, you heard the man, get 'em to LZ Green."

"Aye, ma'am. Echo Squad, formation Bravo. Move out."

We walked slowly back to LZ Green. No chatter, no further orders given. We were all wondering about the Chief.

* * * Jolene Akers

As we headed back to LZ Green at a slow walk, our shuttle roared into the sky. We all stopped wondering what was going on. We watched while the shuttle did a ditto turn and tail down roared into LZ Green. Our home would now be waiting for us when we got to LZ Green.

"Alright, quit gawking, move out!" I yelled on all-com.

The squad moved. We arrived at LZ Green five minutes later. Everyone was quiet, no chatter, no joking around, as we entered the Walker Bay on the shuttle. I backed my walker into its slot. The sign overhead said 'Latham' as I was in Becky's walker as acting second. As I powered down and started to disconnect, the overhead started to squawk.

"Attention, attention, will Major Latham please report to CINC."

I hustled out of my armor rushing over to help Becky out of hers. We both ran to our quarters to change out of our dirty combat fatigues and into clean combat fatigues. Once we were changed, we both hustled over to the CINC trailer that was set up in the trees just to the west of our shuttle. As we entered, Colonel Stewart bent over a situation table issuing orders to the Marines in the park. Gil was there from Delta Squad, along with his Second.

"Major Latham, reporting as ordered." She stood at attention, as did I, waiting for the Colonel to answer.

"Very good, Wolf Three. Ah, Major Latham. Captain Akers. I have orders here for you. You are to lift immediately and dock with the Nightengale. The Nightengale will then proceed to Pacifica once the Med-ship Betty arrives on station. You're dismissed."

"Aye, sir!" we said in unison.

"Good luck, Becky, and give the Chief our best," Gil said as we relaxed.

"Give him ours too, Becky," the Colonel told her as we turned to leave.

"I will, sir, Gil."

Once out of the CINC trailer, we sprinted to the shuttle. The rest of the squad was all buckled up waiting our arrival. The lift-off klaxon brayed as we buckled up. The ride up to the Nightingale was uneventful. Once docking maneuvers were complete, the all clear sounded. Becky was out of her seat before anyone else.

"Listen up! Michelle, Jo and I will go see how the Chief is doing. If it's okay with Michelle, then you can each spend a few minutes with him. Is that clear?"

"Aye," the squad bay echoed.

"Thank you all. Michelle, Jo." She turned and headed for the hatch with Michelle and me close behind.

* * * Becky Latham

As I opened the hatch, a Midshipman with a security armband greeted me.

"Sorry, ma'am but you can't leave the shuttle yet." I was ready to explode and take his head off. Michelle pulled me back and stepped forward.

"Sonny, I have been rushed up here to be with one of my patients who is aboard this ship. If you don't get out of my way, you may be the cause of at least one death maybe two."

The kid looked confused as he digested what Michelle had just told him.

"Two?"

"Yes, two: my patient and yours," Michelle said smiling all the while. It was a smile that sent a chill down my spine, a smile that caused Jo to mutter an 'Oh, no.' under her breath.

The kid's eyes got wide, but I give him credit, he didn't back down. He was saved from great bodily harm by the appearance of Phinn.

"Midshipman, stand down."

"Aye, sir," the kid said, snapping to attention as he moved aside. Michelle jumped through the hatch and into Phinn's arms. The kid's eyes got wide enough that I thought they were going to pop out of his head.

"How's my patient doing, Captain?" Michelle asked Phinn as she slid out of his grasp.

"He's resting comfortably from what the doctors tell me."

"I bet. Now take us to him if you don't mind, please," Michelle demanded.

"That's why I'm here, sweetie...I mean, Doctor." Michelle smiled at him, a smile that I had seen just once before on her face.

Phinn turned and headed back up the passageway with us in tow. Michelle dropped back alongside me and held my hand as we walked.

"Now, when you see him, don't go all cry-baby on him. He's going to look a mess with all the regen equipment hooked up to him. Just smile and say hello. Give him a kiss if you want. And whatever you do, don't touch him below the neck, although the sterile field should protect him, there's no sense in taking chances."

"I won't." I had no idea what she had said to me.

As we approached the med-ward where the Chief was, my stomach started to do flip-flops, my knees felt like rubber and my head started to throb. When I saw my darling hooked up to all manner of strange apparatus, I wanted to run away. As Michelle led me up to the side of his bed, his eyes flickered open. He caught sight of me and a smile spread across his face. At that instant, I knew he was going to be okay. I knew, deep down in my gut, he would recover and be his old cranky self again. I leaned down and kissed his smiling lips. He kissed me back.

I leaned in and whispered in his ear, "I love you."

His smile got bigger as he whispered back to me, "I love you, too."

I began to cry tears of joy, as he said those words to me. I knew we would be okay, I knew we would be together for a long, long time.

9.15.0093/9

* * * Max Jones

I woke remembering the last thing I saw, Becky's beautiful face smiling down at me. Opening my eyes, I beheld another vision of beauty, Michelle.

"Finally decided to wake up, did you?" she asked, smiling at me. She wore a white lab coat over dark blue scrubs, with a stethoscope hanging around her neck.

"Have you finally decided to leave my squad?" She turned red with embarrassment, which made her all the more beautiful.

"No. This outfit is their idea. They said, and I quote, 'If you want to stick your nose in our business while he's here, then you'd better dress the part.' Why the clothes make any difference is beyond me."

"So, you're here just visiting?"

"You could say that."

"She hasn't left the hospital since we arrived here." That was my Becky. Turning my head to the other side of the bed, I could see her. She took my breath away as I gazed into her eyes. "How are you feeling, my love?"

"Fine, now." I did feel better knowing that she was at my side.

"Good. It won't be long before you're up and around, kicking ass again," Becky smiled, winking at me.

Michelle picked up my right hand, checking my pulse as she watched her chronometer on her wrist.

"You know, she has been with you almost the whole time. From shortly after you were hit until now, except for the short time I needed her back on Earth to clear out Central Park," Becky told me as I looked at Michelle. She was counting silently to herself, even though there were all manner of machines to which I was hooked up to that would give her any and all the information on how I was doing.

"Really? And how did New York go? Did we lose?" Becky threw her head back and laughed at my last question.

"No, dear, we didn't lose," she chuckled to herself. "Gill and the Marines are mopping up the last of the gang members as we speak. Once we cleared Central Park, the rest was fairly simple. The regular citizens from the Island started pouring into the park. Four more transports filled with chow wagons showed up and the gangs lost their advantage. There are pockets of them still out there on the Island, but the Marines will be sticking around to ensure everyone's safety."

"Good. Good." I was suddenly very tired.

"He'll sleep now" I heard Michelle tell Becky. "We can go get something to eat and be back before he wa..."

* * * Becky Latham

Every day now for two weeks, I've been sitting by Max's bed, watching and waiting. His father came by several times. Each time he sat and talked with me, telling me about Max's escapades as a little boy. The second time he came; he brought Max's mother, then left quickly. She sat with me, holding my hand as she told me how proud Max Senior was of his son. She, on the other hand, was just glad he was alive and would recover. She was proud of him too; she had hoped he would choose a different path than his father, something like his brother, who was an agronomist on Kappa Fermi I. I didn't even know Max had a brother.

When Mrs. Jones, found out that Michelle was actually one of Max's troopers she raised a stink with the hospital administration. Once they told her that Michelle had saved his life and that she was a doctor by training, his mother was all smiles and pleasantries. I never told her who I actually was for all I knew she thought I was someone hired by her husband to sit at his son's side, to let him know how Max was doing. She was actually very pleasant and obviously loved her son very much. Michelle took everything Mrs. Jones did in stride with little comments about her to me when she was gone. She only visited that once, but Michelle received requests for updates from her every other day like clockwork.

Today they were going to let him wake up for a little while. Five minutes, Michelle said. It came and went so fast. At the end of the five minutes, Michelle had led Max to believe that he would be awake very soon. We both knew they wouldn't let him wake again for five days, but it was better to keep him asleep while undergoing regen than to load him up with pain inhibitors, which could become addictive. If done properly, the patient wouldn't know that days had passed between awakenings.

After Max went back to sleep, Michelle and I left to get something to eat. Jolene was waiting in the hallway for us as we left the room. She didn't say a word, just fell into step with us on our way to the commissary. As we entered the food court, some bozo tried to stop Jolene and me from entering. What did these pip-squeak officials have against Army Green? Michelle pushed his ass against the wall and read him the riot act. His ears were burning from her description of his character. He allowed us entry, but an admin type approached us while we were eating.

"Who are you, people?" He stood with his hands on his hips, staring down at us as if we were bugs.

"They are my guests," a gruff voice filled with authority boomed.

The admin turned and we were all surprised to see Admiral Jones standing there. Michelle, Jolene and I snapped to attention as he approached.

"At ease, troopers, now...what is your name?"

"Hendricks, Admiral. Lenny Hendricks."

"Mr. Hendricks, Lenny, these people are my guests, and by extension, anyone that accompanies them are MY guests. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Now, you go make sure they are never bothered again by anyone in this hospital. Move!"

Mr. Hendricks turned a deep red, then walked away. The Admiral smiled at us, pulled out a chair, and sat.

"Well, ladies, how is he doing?"

* * * Michelle Santos-Tomas

Admiral Jones had put the question as if he was asking any of us three, but I knew he was expecting an answer from me. I placed my hand on Becky's to stop her as she started to speak and shook my head slightly.

"He's doing as well as can be expected, sir."

"That's not an answer, young lady." He smiled at me when he said that. There was no anger in his voice or his eyes as he looked at me.

"You're right, it's not. But that's the only answer I have to give you, sir. Max is doing fine. He's exceeding the healing curves and will most likely be fully recovered ahead of our planned schedule, barring any setbacks."

"I see. So, keep the old man away from him and he'll be happy as a clam and heal up quicker?"

"No, that's not what I meant, sir. And you know it." Becky kicked me under the table.

The Admiral laughed, "I appreciate your candor, Michelle." I didn't even know he knew my first name.

"Thank you, sir."

"Now, on to other things, I would like Echo squad to join the Academy training staff again while you are here on Pacifica. I know, you three want to be here for Max, but you also know if you sit around on your duffs you'll grow soft and sloppy. There's nothing like keeping a bunch of cadets on their toes to get back in shape, right?"

"Affirmative, sir," Becky answered.

"You will be given the days off when he is to be awakened. You will also be allowed, you, Michelle, Becky, and Jolene, to stay after visiting hours." He handed Becky an envelope. "In there are orders from me allowing you to be in this hospital anytime you wish. There are three sets, one for each of you.

"Michelle, I have had you permanently placed on staff here at the hospital, with full privileges and authority. As of this minute, when in this hospital, you are a Colonel in the Stellar Army. Don't abuse the staff here too much, please.

"As for you, Second Latham, you are advanced in rank to Chief Warrant Officer. Congratulations." He stuck his hand out to Becky. She hesitated for only an instant before taking his offered hand.

"Thank you, Admiral. Max will be coming back to the squad, won't he, sir?"

"Yes, no worries there. But you will be acting squad leader while he's in the hospital, so why not enjoy the authority along with the responsibility?"

"Thank you, sir."

"Jolene Akers, you are promoted to the rank of Squad Second First Class. Congratulations." His hand came out again. Jo took it immediately.

"Thank you, Admiral."

"It was nice seeing you ladies again. I must be going. My aid over there is having a fit of some kind, so I must return to work. Good luck to you all." He took two steps, then turned back to us. "Almost forgot, here are your orders posting you to the Academy. You report on Monday, oh-seven-hundred," he said as he handed Becky our orders. He was gone in an instant.

9.18.0093/10

* * * Becky Latham

"Hit the guys to the north, hard."

"Aye, Echo Three out," Jolene answered. In my heads up, I could see her team moving to intercept the platoon of cadets trying to outflank us. I could also see the other three platoons reforming for another assault on our front.

"Echo Two, Echo One, here they come again." Pulse after pulse of low energy plasma burst forth from my cannon. The railgun ammo had been replaced with thin copper-jacketed gel. It could knock an armored man down with no permanent damage. The low energy pulses would also knock them off their feet; letting them know they had been hit and would be dead in a real combat situation. Our particle beam projectors were offline for this exercise.

"Echo One, Echo Two, two squads are trying to do an end around on our right flank. Moving to intercept."

"Confirmed, Echo Two." One walker moved to intercept the two squads of cadets. While I watched in my HUD, twenty-four red dots turned to twenty-four yellow dots.

"Echo One, Echo Eleven, threat eliminated."

"Confirmed, Echo Eleven."

For the next twenty minutes, the com was quiet. I watched red dots turn yellow on my HUD. Only one blue dot turn yellow, and that was the new guy that was assigned to us temporarily to bring us up to full complement. He was fresh out of the Academy a nice enough trooper but so green.

"Meds, check on Echo Fourteen." We followed standard procedure even if it was an exercise.

"Aye, Chief." So far, only Michelle felt comfortable calling me that.

Jolene had mopped up the cadets on our left flank and was reforming to swing around and hit the other platoons on their flank. All along their flank, red dots turned yellow. Suddenly, the remaining red dots turned pink, indicating their surrender.

"All units cease-fire, all units cease-fire. The enemy has surrendered. Keep on your toes and mop up. Go."

All the pink dots stood still while the yellow dots wandered over to where the pink dots were waiting. I guessed it was time to accept their surrender. The past week had been a series of exercises on tactics, as much training for us as for them. A numerically greater force when facing a small, superior armed force, can with the right tactics, defeat the smaller, heavily armed force. That's what we were here to help teach the cadets. At least that was the theory.

"Echo Three, Echo One, you pick up their surrender. You're closer than I am."

"Aye, One."

I watched in my HUD as Jolene and her team approached the cadets. All the pink dots turned back to red as she came within range of their weapons.

"Echo Three, retreat. Echo One to all Echo units, open fire." I put my pulse cannon on automatic and watched as red dot after red dot turned yellow.

"Echo One, Savoy One, we claim victory as you are now dead." Cadet Larson, the cadet company leader called over the comm.

"Savoy One, Echo One, that was my number two you got, not me," I told him as I saw the last red dot turn to yellow.

"Attention, Echo team, and Savoy team. The exercise is now terminated. Repeat, the exercise is now terminated. All units report to base." The Cadet Instructor told us.

"Hey, they didn't say who won. They always tell us who won."

"Echo One, to all units; cut the chatter and report to base. Echo squad, form up on me. Savoy One, have your company form up to our rear."

"Savoy One, aye." Was that disgust I heard in his voice?

* * * Jolene Akers

When we got back to base, we all had orders to report to the command conference room. Becky didn't speculate about the reason, but I think she knew. The cadets had tried to pull a fast one on her, but the rules of engagement forbade the use of a false surrender to bait your opponent into a trap, not that we couldn't do it in the field if it was deemed necessary, but it flew in the face of tradition. In all the years that the Stellar Army has been in existence, not once has a unit or even any single trooper ever surrendered. They have been captured by having their means of fighting removed, but they have never given up, nor has anyone ever been left behind. Tradition.

Becky sat at attention, as did the rest of the squad. The cadets sat at ease talking and speculating about why they were here. As the door to the room opened, Becky jumped to her feet, followed so closely by the rest of the squad that it looked like we all stood at the same time.

"Attention!" Becky shouted.

The cadets all snapped to attention with such a clatter that the school commandant stopped halfway to the table. As the noise settled down, he looked around the room. There weren't enough seats at the table. Cadets were standing behind their side of the table. The commandant walked to the head of the table, then looked at Becky, smiled and nodded. She stiffly nodded back to him. His smile turned to a frown as he looked at the cadets. The commandant sat leaving the rest of us at attention. The cadet leader sat also.