Mercer stepped into the building through a large, garage-style overhead door that was open. She called out six names and Dean was glad to see that she didn't have to read them off a sheet of paper. She had taken the time to get to know the platoon, and he planned on doing the same. In fact, he expected to have files on all the members of his team by evening chow, but for now he would just get the measure of his men.
"Chavez! Butler! Green! Mason! Bennett! Adkins!" Mercer shouted.
It only took a moment for all six hulking members of the HA specialists to come out into the sunlight. Dean had forgotten what being around the massive soldiers felt like. He thought that in comparison he was almost invisible, but somehow Staff Sergeant Mercer looked at ease.
"Gentlemen," Dean said. "It's good to meet you. I'm Lieutenant Blaze. We'll be working together. I know Adkins from Coronado. I look forward to getting to know the rest of you."
"Sir? If I may?" asked one of the men. He had red hair and freckles across his massive shoulders that were revealed by the tiny straps of his tank top.
"Of course," Dean said.
"Adkins said he did field exercises with you at Coronado."
"That's correct."
"We have a little bet. Some of us think he's full of shit. Did you really use your shields to sled down the mountain?"
"Yes," Dean said looking over at Adkins who was staring straight ahead at perfect attention.
"And you completed the course with no casualties in just three days?"
"Yes again," Dean said.
"And is it further true that you took a rocket impact on a training shield and didn't falter?"
"Private Adkins has been busy," Dean said. "But he would know, he helped pull the plate off my back before we ran up the butte."
"Damn!" one of the other soldiers said, finally causing Adkins to smile.
"It's good to meet you all," Dean said. "I want you moving into barracks 8. Get your gear stowed and be ready for drills. I'll be by for inspection before evening chow."
"Yes, sir!" all six HA specialists said in unison.
The rest of the morning went just as well. Dean's Sniper was a woman who kept her head shaved completely bald. Her name was Buwana and she was originally from South Africa by way of Great Britain, which made her accent a little strange, but Dean thought it fit her. She had dark skin and large eyes, but it was her hands that caught his attention. She had thick palms and short fingers, her nails cut low, and a tattoo around her left ring finger. She was quiet and Dean didn't bother to ask about the tattoo in front of Mercer. If the information about her wasn't in the file, he would find the time to know what the tattoo meant.
The Demolition team was made up of two men, one was a massive man from Georgia with gray in his regulation mustache. He had a serious countenance, but there was mischief in his eyes. His name was Drevon Cox. The other man was from Canada, and was clearly of Asian heritage. He reminded Dean of Wong from the HA training, but his name was Troy Lee.
The Fast Attack Specialists were both women, which didn't really surprise Dean. Over half of the fast attack trainees at Coronado had been women. Makayla Ipsish had dark skin and spoke with an accent. Dean learned that she was from Morocco. Her partner was Hayleigh McCallister from Oklahoma.
After meeting the entire platoon Dean went to the officers’ mess and gave Mercer time to eat and get the platoon settled into their new barracks. After eating a sandwich Dean went to Major Hughes’ office, where he received personnel files on all twelve members of his platoon. He was also given a training schedule.
"The EsDef Valkyrie is set to leave the system in six weeks. I expect you to be ready and on board by then," Major Hughes said. "It's a cruiser class vessel and you'll be the only Force Recon platoon on board. It should be a good boat for your first tour."
"That sounds excellent, sir," Dean said.
"Good, push your people, make sure they're all up to the task, but if I may give you a little advice?"
"Of course, Major."
"Give them some time off too. Anyone going off world should have a chance to cut loose a little. I've seen a lot of newly commissioned lieutenants try to prove how tough they are by forcing their platoon to train right up to deployment. I don't think that's fair for anyone."
"I see your point, sir," Dean said. "Six weeks is more than enough time to drill and ensure that we are ready for whatever task we're given. I'll make sure everyone has liberty prior to deployment."
"Good," the major said. "Well, I'm here to help. If you need anything, Lieutenant, you let me know."
Dean stood up and saluted. The major returned his salute and Dean left his superior's office. He had all afternoon to study the files on his new platoon and he was anxious to know who they were and what they could do.
Chapter 27
"Compass formation," Dean said, letting the comm link in the data carry his voice to the twelve members of his platoon. "Let's move!"
They left the parade ground where the platoon had been practicing the different deployment formations. Compass was one of two formations that was intended for platoon movements. Heavy Armor specialists Chavez and Butler took the lead. Behind them came Fast Attack Specialists Ipsish and McCallister. Dean was in the center of the column, with the rookie HA specialists Adkins and Bennett to his right and left. Behind him came Staff Sergeant CCS Mercer and their Sniper, Buwana. Behind them were the Demo team, Cox and Lee, followed by the final two HA specialists, Green and Mason.
The compass formation allowed the team to move into unknown territory prepared for an attack from any direction. At least as prepared as a platoon could be against an unknown assailant. Dean was pleased with his platoon, each specialist knew their jobs. The more experienced non-coms helped the newer members understand their place in each formation. The only problem so far seemed to be with HA Corporal Joaquin Chavez, who didn't try to hide his lack of respect for Dean, who was fresh out of officer training, and only eighteen years old. Chavez thought it didn't seem right for such a young officer to be leading more experienced men, some much older, like HA Sergeant Terry Butler and Demo Specialist Sergeant Drevon Cox. Dean guessed both men were at least fifteen years older than he was.
Dean understood Chavez’s issue, although he saw it from a different point of view. He didn't have the experience most of his platoon had, but he had the innate leadership skills required to make the decisions necessary to lead a platoon. Dean couldn't do their job better than the others, but he knew how to engage each specialty to have the most effect. He had the discipline to ensure that the mission succeeded, and the decisiveness necessary to be responsible for the entire platoon. He was confident that once they had worked together in the field, Chavez would come around.
They moved at a steady walk, which was standard operating procedure for a platoon moving through unknown territory. Some of his platoon may have hiked up into the hills around Bayview to conduct exercises and help other platoons drill. The specialists stationed at Bayview were waiting to be assigned to a platoon, and the senior NCOs often took the men and women in their specialty out to train. But Dean had never been in the mountains around the small base, and he wanted to take his time. There would be plenty of opportunities to exercise and Dean certainly wanted his platoon in fighting shape, but at the moment he was more concerned with getting to know each of his specialists. He wanted to know how they thought, how they worked together, and what their strengths and weaknesses were.
They crested the first ridge and looked on what was essentially a wide valley. Most of the pine, fir, and cedar trees had been cut down, leaving a broad swath of stumps. There was a tall wooden platform that could be used to observe field exercises. There were also pop-up targets that could be controlled by Dean's TCU for live fire exercises.
"Buwana," Dean said on the squad channel. "Get up in that crow's nest and cover the platoon."
"Yes, sir," the soft-spoken sniper said.
She slung her long rifle over her shoulder and began
climbing the rung ladder up to the top of the platform. She could have used her jet pack but chose the more physical option in order to save the jet pack's fuel. Dean was happy with her choice.
"Let's go Eagle, Pincer, Chevron, Pistol, Safety," Dean said, ordering his platoon in battle formation.
The HA specialists moved to the front, forming a V shape with their large shields, their utility cannons rising up over their left shoulders and aiming down into the valley. Dean was several paces behind the armored line, with Staff Sergeant Mercer close to his right, and the Demo team taking up defensive positions a few paces behind Dean. On either end of the HA line, the Fast Attack specialists took their spots, with their utility rifles held at the ready.
"Alright let’s move down the hill," Dean said. "Nice and slow."
He activated the live fire targets using an automated program so that he wouldn't know what was coming. He wanted to see how his people responded and just how vigilant they were.
"You have bogies at nine o'clock," Buwana's soft voice warned them.
"I see them, it's mud eaters," Chavez said. "We should toast them right now."
"Can that chatter, Chavez!" Mercer threatened.
"I want to get to that cluster of stumps near the bottom before we engage," Dean said. "Those creatures may not be all we're up against here."
Chavez's insolent huff was clearly heard on the squad comm link. Dean chose to ignore it. There would be a time and a place to deal with Chavez, but it wouldn't be on their first live fire exercise.
"Stinger, Eye, Duo, Support," Dean ordered. "Buwana, poke the bear."
Almost immediately a shot rang out from the tower and one of the pop-up aliens was knocked back to the ground, the large bullet from the sniper rifle pinged against the metal for a kill shot.
"Rifles only," Dean said. "Go hot."
The HA line was split into two groups. Three men on the right, with both FA specialists and one Demo in support. The group on the left had Dean, Mercer, and the other Demolition specialist. Everyone took aim and fired at what looked like a herd of worm creatures, with thick, tubular bodies and long, articulated legs. But while they fired their weapons at what looked to Dean like unarmed alien animals, Dean scanned the hills for other threats. He had a feeling the mud eaters, as Chavez had called them, were only a distraction.
"Fast-moving targets," Dean said, trying to sound urgent but not panicky. "Platoon Eagle, Port, Static Pistol, Support!"
With a command on his TCU, Dean designated the enemies who were coming across the hilltop on his left side. The HA specialists formed a wall between Dean and the targets, which were still over a hundred yards out, but moving quickly across hidden tracks in the hillside. There were eight long, skinny, canine creatures, with thick shoulders and narrow hindquarters. Their heads were reptilian but they had a thick mane around their shoulders, and short hair over the rest of their bodies.
Another shot rang out from overhead and one of the targets fell. It took a moment longer than it should have for the platoon to transition from shooting at the first group of targets to the second, with different specialists getting in the way of one another as they scrambled to set up the line.
"Go hot on the AAVs," Dean ordered. "I want HA cannons on those creatures as soon as they come within range."
The Fast Attack flying drones took off, racing up the hill toward the threats. Their flight paths did not look steady and Dean could tell that the uneven terrain was throwing his FA specialists for a loop. McCal kept having to increase her altitude in jerky motions, first going too high, then overcompensating and almost crashing into the stumps. Ipsish was doing better, and her first concussion bomb was right on target, but the soil and wood from the blast that was thrown into the air blocked McCal's approach, forcing her to fly high up over the debris. Her own bombing run was not as successful. Dean noted that Ipsish hit three of four targets, while McCal, attacking from higher up, missed all her shots.
"Come on you four-legged bastards!" Chavez shouted. "Come get some!"
Dean glanced at the distance between the targets and his position just behind the line of Heavy Armor specialists just as Chavez fired a long burst of flechettes from his utility cannon. The blast was overkill at full auto. What was needed were precision shots with short bursts, but the issue was moot because the targets weren't even in range yet.
"Hold your fire!" Dean barked. "I want clear shots at a controlled rate, HA. Talon, Beak, Static, Venom, Engine! Designate targets before engaging."
Once more Dean observed his platoon. Mercer, Butler, and Cox were the first to designate targets, each corresponding to the remaining targets approaching their position. The other specialists struggled to designate, almost like children playing musical chairs scrambling to find a seat.
Dean spun his camera around to watch Buwana descend from the tower. There was no time to climb down, she held the long rifle across her chest and jumped from the tower. The jet pack engaged almost instantly as gravity jerked her down, slowing her fall just inside the safe range before her feet touched the ground. She sprinted down the hill toward them. If Dean hadn't been watching his Sniper he wouldn't have seen the large creature that was moving quietly out of the trees on the ridge they had hiked over. It was moving to cut Buwana off from the platoon.
"Cox, Lee, get me RPGs on new target Delta!" Dean said, designating the much larger beast on his TCU so that the entire squad could see what Dean was referring to.
It wasn't real, but it looked real. The creature looked almost like a dragon, but without wings and it had a flat snout like a pig. Dean raised his utility rifle, flipping off the safety and taking a knee as he brought the stock to his shoulder.
Two grenades went flying toward the beast, one hitting the ground just in front of it, and the other hitting a massive foreleg. The creature reared and gave a bellowing roar. Dean knew the sound wasn't from the target, but rather a reaction set off by the target and transmitted through his battle helmet, but it was impressive just the same.
"Starboard, Stinger Strong, Convex, Saber, Hot!" Dean said.
The FA specialists moved to Dean's right side, just as Buwana arrived and joined them, turning her long rifle toward the monstrous target that was once again approaching the platoon. The Demo specialists stayed behind Dean, reloading their shoulder-mounted rockets, while the HA line formed a semi-circle behind them.
Staff Sergeant Mercer moved into position on Dean's right side and gave him a quick glance. Dean saw the look but he couldn't see the expression on her face. He hoped she approved, but he couldn't worry about that yet. Once the targets were neutralized he could let his decisions be scrutinized, but only after they were no longer in danger.
"HA, keep watch," Dean said. "Everyone else take out that bogie."
Flechettes and bullets poured into the target. Dean's audio dampened with every shot from Buwana's .50 caliber rifle. The smaller arms halted the creature's progress but it was the RPGs from Cox and Lee that brought it down. Dean was pleased that the second round from the Demo team was fired almost simultaneously. Both Cox and Lee were good at their jobs.
"Threat level?" Dean said.
"All sectors clear," Butler said.
"All clear," Mercer agreed.
"Good work, platoon," Dean said. "Form up endcaps. Let's go home."
They formed another marching column. This time there were three HA specialists at the front and three at the rear. Dean walked in the center again, but with no defenders on either side. They moved back up the hill and down the winding path that led to the parade ground behind the barracks. Dean could see the lake, its deep blue waters seemed clam and inviting, exactly the opposite of his nerves, which were beginning to flare up like sparklers on the Fourth of July.
Had he done well enough on his first training exercise as a lieutenant? They had destroyed all the targets, but that's all they were, moving targets. He had taken his squad into the worst possible position geographically, but it was the authorized fighting
position in the center of the target field. He couldn't shake the doubts he felt as they crossed the parade ground.
"Butler, Mercer, Cox, with me," Dean said. "The rest of you see to your weapons. Good job today, platoon."
There were happy exclamations from the youngest soldiers who were happy with the field exercise. Dean understood the appeal, he liked blowing things up as much as the next guy. Buwana seemed completely unmoved by their performance, as if it were just another day at the office. McCallister seemed deflated. She had let her nerves get the best of her and she was understandably disappointed. But it was Chavez that bothered Dean most. He was sullen, his body tense. It was almost as if he was angry that Dean hadn't cracked under pressure.
Of course the headstrong HA specialist had been careless. Perhaps, Dean thought, overzealous was a better description. He had wasted ammunition, which wasn't a problem on the firing range, or in a controlled field exercise, but it was deadly in a real fight where running out of ammunition could spell the difference between victory and defeat.
Dean led his senior NCOs to the small debriefing room in the barracks and pulled off his helmet. The others did likewise before taking seats at the round table. Dean ran his hands through his short hair and looked at the soldiers staring at him.
"We have a lot of work to do."
Chapter 28
Four weeks of hard work had Dean's platoon as sharp as they were likely to get. He had taken Major Hughes’ advice and given the soldiers time off every weekend, which gave Dean time to study his leadership of the platoon with Major Gheridelli. The one issue that still remained was Corporal Joaquin Chavez, whose belligerent attitude had grown more pronounced and more irksome to Dean. With only two weeks of training before they were scheduled to deploy on the EsDef Valkyrie, Dean was beginning to have doubts about taking the troublesome HA specialist on his first tour off world. It was the recurring topic of discussion between the recently commissioned lieutenant and the tactics and strategy expert who had become his unofficial mentor.
We Are The Wolf: Wolfpack Book 1 Page 14