Jack Forge, Lost Marine Boxed Set by James David Victor

Author:James David Victor [Victor, James David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fairfield Publishing
Published: 2020-03-16T22:00:00+00:00

8

The Marine deck of the Scorpio was a hive of activity as Jack strode in. The tac boats were receiving final prep. A group of engineers were replacing access panels to some tac boats, having given the various systems a hasty yet much needed servicing.

Alongside Jack stood Sam, both in their tactical suits with their helmets under their arms. Both were armed with the Fleet Marine pulse pistol. This was a reconnaissance mission, and Jack hoped there would be no contact with the enemy, so sidearms were preferred to the rifle.

The final adjustments were made to the waiting tac boats, and the maintenance crew moved off. This left only a small group of handpicked Marines to accompany Jack into Skalidion space. Sam was the first name on Jack’s team sheet. Second was Commander Osho. Jack had served with Osho, trained and fought with the young woman, and she had been in command of the Scorpio Battalion during Jack’s absence. She was a great choice for Jack’s team.

The others were suggested by Osho and picked by Jack. All had seen combat in either the Chitin War or against the Devex. All had superior ratings on tac boats. This was the best group of Marine pilots on the Scorpio, if not in the fleet.

“Fall in, Sam,” Jack said quietly to his old friend. Sam marched to the end of the line of Marines and turned on his heel, coming to attention with the rest.

“At ease,” Jack said, and the group adjusted their posture. All were ready for action, equipped with a tactical suit and a pulse pistol on their hip, with some having a second pistol attached to their chest holster. All had a steely look of fierce determination in their eyes.

“This is a surveillance operation only. We don’t know much about the Skalidion except they are extremely dangerous and have been pushing into Devex territory at will. We will find a weakness in their formation and bring back the information so the fleet can exploit it and escape this region.

“Our mission will be for nothing if we cannot get this information back to the fleet, so watch your boats carefully. We are going in dark. Make sure we all stay that way. We have a full ordnance load, but if you open fire, you will make your position known to the Skalidion, and they will attack. Be in no doubt, this is as dangerous as it gets, Marines.

“We get in. We go deep. We scan and map and get out clean. If you have to engage, be advised you will be on our own. We are under strict orders not to offer assistance. Our priority is to gather information. Don’t get itchy trigger fingers. Get the information back to the fleet.”

Jack looked at the Marines. This was a volunteer-only mission, and they all knew the danger. Jack nodded in satisfaction that they all understood their jobs.

As a last-minute duty, Jack contacted the command deck of the Scepter on his wrist-mounted holostage. Group Captain Tanaka’s image appeared.

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