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Chambers Company: Chapter One and Two
Posted By: AngryHorizon<rennerma@alltel.net>
Date: 7 January 2006, 6:55 am
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All of the men in my class signed up for the marines the day they graduated. They were all looking to get a piece of the covenant. I didn't want to be different, so I joined too. We had enough for a full company. The marines named our company Chambers Company, because that was the county in Texas where we came from.
I was looking to get away from Texas, but the marines saw fit to leave us there at Fort Hempstead, by Dallas. We were in for a shock in basic. We thought high school athletics was hard, no.
I went into training five feet ten inches tall, two hundred and fifteen pounds, with long black hair, and camp out of that camp five feet ten, one hundred seventy pounds, with short black hair. I had become a platoon leader, partly because I did so well in training, and partly because all my test scores were high. Apparently the marines like smart people.
My name is Joseph Madison, I am a 2nd Lieutenant in Chambers Company.
1209 hrs. September 19th 2552 (Military Calendar)/
In a Pelican dropship over Texas, USA
I try to keep an air of the friendship I once shared with my men, but at the same time not letting them be completely insubordinate. I have known many of these men since first grade, and we have lots of memories. I wonder if they realize that any, or all of us, could be dead in next few months.
"Hey, Lieutenant, remember the first football game we ever played. You were so nervous that you forgot the play by the time Johnny said hut. You ended going the opposite way of the blocks, and what was it three, or four people who nailed you," said Sergeant Yuani Rivers. He likes to talk about the good old days. Lately he has been talking about everything I did wrong in school. For the most part they were all funny.
"Yeah, it was five of those bastards," I corrected him with smile on my face, "My head still rings from the pop." I sat at the back of the pelican, so I could see the other two behind us. We were being shipped Houston so we could be sent of to Quadrant Five. They need some reinforcements, so they are sending us.
"I barely got the ball to you because of your screw up," said Sergeant Johnny Melanco laughing. "I thought maybe I did something wrong, and then you got hammered." He slapped his hand on his thigh trying to control his laughter. He was always more popular then me in school, but we were good friends.
I thought about what was to come. I had been to Houston several times in my life, considering how close I lived to it. It is home to one of the major ports in the UNSC. I saw ships coming and going all the time, I just never thought I would be on one of them.
"Well thats enough on the topic of that Privates," I said that to get them to stop about that embarrassing subject. Football had been what I lived for in high school. We were the first team to win a state championship at our school since its beginning in 1903. It's amazing really.
"Fifteen minuets," called the pilot. It would be a good thing to be so close to home again. But it was only for a moment, a very brief moment. Just long enough for us to board the Elanjar, a small frigate class warship. Home, I will forever miss it.
"Can you believe they got us traveling in the middle of the day on an empty stomach," whined Corporal Hector Lipton. For a tough guy he was one of the biggest whiners in the universe. On the last day of high school he benched five hundred and fifty pounds. He has a large build, like a lineman, which he was.
"Shut up, we all know that you can't survive without food every ten minutes, but you don't need to complain about it for the fourth freak'in time," said Private Bruce Rebel. He was on the high school line as well, not as good as Hector though. He could hit just about anything with his battle rifle.
I looked out the back again, and I saw ships. They were passing by their massive docks. Some were docking, while others were leaving. The port of Houston is an extremely large expanse of military operations now, but the civilians have also built up the city with their towering buildings.
I took off my helmet and saw my refection staring back at me. I almost didn't recognize it by the way it had changed so much since I had last taken a good look at it. My overall appearance was older then eighteen. My deep blue eyes showed a weariness from none stop working since boot camp. My facial hairs were clean shaved to show my angular face more clearly. My long hair was gone, and that opened up my face even more.
We continued to pass building of magnificent beauty and decoration. When our pelicans flew pass a building of glass I was able to see our reflection glide beside us. The sun reflected off of them creating a blinding glare, so I had to look away.
The pilots were slowing us down, and turning into one of the small pelican size docks. The two other pelicans behind us followed suit. "Hang on," called the pilot, "Were are docking in five." Everyone grasped was already strapped in with buckles secure, but they grasped the handrails that separated each seat.
The back wheels hit, creating a small shudder. Then the front wheels touched, and I leaned to the side as to not go forward. There were men waving us in, and then they waved for us to stop. The breaks squeaked into action, slowing the rolling wheels to a complete stop.
The men around me unbuckled and rose. I did the same. We got off the craft, and stepped onto the solid ground. I looked at my surroundings, and everything looked like it was chaos. I was certain though that all of this was planned, and anticipated. My men from the other pelicans came to me, and fell into line.
Our entire company was organized in a matter of minutes as we waited on our next set of orders. The company leader was pacing in front of the line, glancing at his watch. He itched his head, which was covered in short blonde hair. He was our valedictorian, our class leader, not by any official business, but now it was official that he was leading the men in our class.
T he doors in front of the pelicans opened and some more marines walked out, with a Captain leading them. He no doubt was bringing us our orders to board the Elanjar.
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Chapter 2
It was very strange that I was able to climb rank so fast. I most likely would not have if the Marines had not been so short handed do to the war. I actually might not even be in the Marines right now if there wasn't a war.
I have two squads under me, barely enough to make a platoon, but our group barely had enough to make a company. The was Sergeant Melanco in charge of alpha, and Sergeant Rivers in charge of bravo. We were a tight group of friends all our lives, and I might be sending these men, my friends, to their deaths in combat.
0659 hrs. September 21st 2552 (Military Calendar)/
Fort Erickson, On the planet Yerszan in Quadrant Five
We were getting settled in our barracks after the reached orbit. The ride here was smooth, and relaxing. I was almost done when Johnny pulled out a MA5B Assault Rifle. The gun is retired.
"Where in the hell did you get that," I asked unbelievingly at what my eyes were capturing.
"My cousin, he has been in the service way longer than us. He had one, he let me have it because it saved his life, and he hoped it would do the same for me," answered the Sergeant proud of his weapon. He lay it down on his bed.
"Do you even have ammo for the thing," asked Private First Class Wes Rimmington. Rimmington has always rationalized things, and takes everything literal. He is content to just quit if he thinks a job is not possible.
"One hundred clips. Full and ready to go," responded Melanco.
"That must have been heavy to carry with you," I pointed out while making the final touches in my area.
"Sure as heck was," he said laughing. We continued to talk until we were all squared away. The officers in our company had to meet with command for our briefing on our stay in Fort Erickson.
Our company was stationed in the northern most facility in the complex. We had the Navy and Airforce flyers to the west of us, and to the south one of three supply depots in the base. There are only seven complexes like ours on the bases, and none of them were full. Most had several buildings in each with holes in it from the resent bombardments.
As I rode in a transport hog over to command I thought about what I had heard about Reach, and the Spartan-II's only a day earlier. Reach was destroyed, and the last Spartan fled on the UNSC cruiser the Pillar of Autumn. Does that meant that covenant are going to stop bombarding this place? I wondered senselessly to myself.
This base has been under constant attack for the past few weeks, and it is running low on forces, even with Chambers Company coming in. Although at seems of late that all bases, and branches of the military are running low. That draft will be forced soon. We passed the ODST, or Helljumpers, camp on the way to the command. They only had a lesser company on this planet.
The highest-ranking officer was waiting outside command to bring us in. We stepped off of the 'hog and saluted.
"At ease men," said the Brigadier General returning the salute. We enter a large black dome with wings on either side of it. We stepped out of the brilliant sunset, and chilly winter air.
We walked down a hall, past several doors, and finally entered a room with a long pure oak table, and leather chairs surrounding it. Some of the chairs were already inhabited. They rose, and saluted the General. We were all seated, and the General started the briefing.
"As I am sure you have all heard by now Reach has fallen. The Spartans fell there, all but one. He is an unknown sector engaged with the covenant. That is of no matter to us however. Our goal is to defend this base, because it is going to be re-outfitted into a major military base. We just have to hold it long enough for more men to get here. With the arrival of Chambers Company, you have boasted our numbers to a mid-size brigade, not including the men and women in the command.
"Now, Captain Summers, you will deploy your men in sector one of the base. You will have Dog Company to aid you. Speak with Captian Miller to find out were you are needed. He will fill you in on what sector one covers. Your company is now part of 32nd Brigade.
"The covenant may not attack for a while and the next arrival of men is in two weeks, a full battalion will be arriving, as well as a brigade of engineers."
There were few questions asked by the officers when the general asked for questions.
The men rose saluted, marched out
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