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Surprisingly only one person was sick on landing but they reserved that urge till off the craft; collapsing to their knees as whatever stomach content from earlier in the day spilled out onto the dusty dirt ground.

It gained a jeer as the marines tried to find their footing, others seemed to give a comedic stretches as if they wanted to suggest the flight was no trouble.

They steadily organized themselves just outside the craft, General Ovex was waiting though he seemed somewhat accepting of their malinger as if he apricated the roughness of the flight. Kong broke away from the group as he went to the meet him.

Roland just absently rubbed at her abdomen as she came to the line, trying her best to stifle the hungry sounds of her empty stomach… She may have spared herself not being sick, though this was the outcome of the alternative.

“It's a pleasure to be able to help General" Kong said as he came forward putting his hand out as he waited for the General to receive it.

The man just stood there, his tired eyes staring at the hand before they came up to meet the Doberman. Kong felt a slight twinge of awkwardness; Ovex just looked tired, like a standing corpse with his five – o – clock shadow that suggested his self-care had went to the side-lines amongst other things. Kong was sure the man wasn't as old as he seemed but from looking at him right now; he looked like he was sixty.

The General finally came back, “yes… Your troops will be a great help, were you also able to bring the replacement armour?" Ovex's eyes seemed to light up just slightly, though he was still flat in how he spoke.

“Yes General; fresh tanks were dropped at the depot by a separate craft… I can bet those tankers will be happy to see it"

The General seemed to crack the smallest of smiles, “oh they'll be more than happy… Guess we won't be having to send them out on foot with the infantry"…

Kong didn't like that comment; he would have assumed it a joke, but Ovex said it with such a flat tone. Or maybe his humour was of the dry sort (the extremely dry sort)… He just moved forward with no further comment on that, “come now Major, will discuss the operational layout of this and hopefully will have this done by the end of next week".

Kong just nodded his head as he followed behind the General.

…………………

The marines' formation wasn't given much attention and with Kong taken away and no clear orders they just bumbled about waiting.

A single army officer then came along, dressed in a dirty – uniform crusted over with mud and dust that seemed to hide the rain – drop camo while his cap was crunched and tucked into a shoulder strap. He had tired, red eyes, with a half smoked cig hanging from his mouth as his SCR – L1 hung about lazily in his left hand.

He seemed to run completely counter to the marines in their clean uniforms; with its awkward blue digital camo, bullpup F1G2 rifles and their relatively well slept eyes… That would change quickly.

The officer did not seem too impressed; though he did come a little closer, mimicking the marines with his own at attention stance before relaxing again (seemingly he was just joking about). He just snickered to himself before finally talking “if you want some fresh goods before heading to the front the commissary is still operating and actually stocked… Or if you want that other type of courage just knock on the backdoor of the officer's club, everybody does it" he seemed just about willing to go off on that but quickly made a final comment “I mean… folks might be pissed to have spacers to share with" his words trailed off “but – eh – fuck'em, welcome to Joplin"

#################################

The room was oddly quiet, uncomfortably so as officers stood about and observed the map of the current situation.

It was a large map that covered a whole table while accompanying documents and figures were placed to the side on other tables. A telex machine sat silently to the side but quiet static whines sounded from, near unheard but there in the back of your head.

A dozen younger officers occupied the area around the map quietly commentating over plans and suggestions as they pushed small blocks about, sometimes in contrast to the wants of others, like petulant children with their toys as they were put back and then put somewhere else on the map to only near silent whispers.

Ovex just stared at them, his tired face only crumbling further as he watched these young up starts trying to put their academic knowledge to use; with little real experience to support it.

“As useful as a bag of stones" the human muttered before bringing his attention to the Doberman. Kong just looked about slightly lost to the current situation; he was used to hi – tech navy displays and simulations; a canvas map and blocks for units was something he only experienced once during training.

Ovex finally walked forward and on that Kong followed behind him as he finally got a better look at the contents of the map:

It was some type of topographical with the city of Mara at the centre of it; it was a clear breakdown of the roads and paths into the city and notes had been scrawled across it, while pins were pushed into what Kong assumed was points of interest.

An open field to the side of the city had been crossed out with a set of lines: [MINEFIELD]

The officers finally parted as the general looked upon the map, his eyes critically inspecting it though he only bobbed side to side as he finally asked, “what have you lot done?"

Seemingly on those words the whole gaggle of officers seemed to try and speak; a human was able to speak up the most amongst them and upon the general giving his attention to him the rest went quiet.

The officer took a stick as he began to point firstly at the front row of buildings noted as; flats/defences.

“We have taken assurance that the saturation shelling has softened the frontline shelters"

Ovex didn't speak just gesturing a hand to have the officer keep talking.

“The next stage will be to use IR smoke to cover the front row and upon doing that we will advance the 1st, 3rd and 4th infantry Co. 2nd and 5th will stay in reserve… I would advise 1st armour Co. goes with the initial force to support them; they may be lacking armour but the extra manpower would be-"

“We've got replacement armour" Ovex said, as he continued to study the map, the young officers weren't completely stupid, but they were slow to stay up – to – date with the live situation.

The man's face went blank for just a moment as he quickly attempted to reassess what the new information would mean … Kong could only flick his eyes about confused, this ain't nothing like the navy

“We also have marines" Ovex continued.

There was a momentary shock with the news but quickly that turned to happy nods and agreeable mumbles “wonderful news" one officer said while another reached to the side table and placed a new marker down for the CMC units.

The officer finally corrected himself after a minute of static, “well the re – supplied armour will support the infantry and we can send the CMC with the first wave; they should be able to part through the first set of blocks and then we can consider more pressing objectives"

First wave… Ovex just hated that, “Well what do you intend when we breach the city?" it was Kong who spoke up “I'd like to know my marines are being sent with some clearer instructions".

The officers only looked about themselves with a small element of disgust, “we will see how the situation develops" a vulpine spoke up in the back and to that the other officers mumbled in agreement, “we have the situation in hand Major; isn't that right General?"

Ovex gave no opinion, just standing with that blank, tired look. He finally nodded his head to satisfy the rabble before turning back and leaving the situation room as the officers came back to the table.

Kong was quick to follow.

“Aren't you the General?" the dog tried to not to sound too accusing but as he watched the man sit upon a rock and light up his pipe he came to the feeling he was preaching to the quire.

“They're beyond my control; less I arrest and execute my whole cadre" he mumble to himself as he puffed away. “So self-assured; I don't know what they teach them anymore" he went very quiet “and it'll be me who'll pay if we lose".

Kong just shook his head, “can't you do anything?"

Ovex just smiled “I try to keep them informed, but they're not willing to accept my authority; they think am indecisive, slow, too cautious… High Command doesn't even want to hear from me… They just want victory"

…

“So we're going to lose?" Kong asked under the dawning fear of what was to come, but Ovex just looked at him with a melancholy smile.

“No… We'll likely win… But am not looking forward to causality reports"

#################################

Given a small moment of quiet Roland put herself to the side to finally satisfy her hunger with least part of her ration pack. It was funny, being hungry could actually make the contents a lot more enjoyable even if the clay texture of the ration bar was a work on the jaw.

“Small one ain't you"

She jumped slightly, not really expecting anyone and thus nearly chocking on her food… Luckily she didn't, holding herself though an absent dribble slid down her maw. Roland quickly looked to her side taking note of the two arctics who came along. Having them loom only gave Roland the quickest flash to unpleasant memory; training… It made her torn ear twitch nervously.

“One of those marines aren't you; that blue camo ain't army standard"

The second spoke up and it seemed the two of them spoke quite pleasantly though Roland couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling.

“Damn, a quiet one too"

The first one spoke up again, though despite how the commented sounded he spoke quite softly, “we ain't going to hurt you pet".

Roland just spurred a soft nod of the head as she looked between the two wolves; she was finally taking note of the short fur they had. It wasn't uncommon for them to cut their fur back, they'd be dying on heat exhaustion if they didn't… They weren't bald; but you'd have to be blind to not notice the difference between long furs and short furs.

The first one spoke up again, maybe believing formal introductions might have smoothed the conversation.

“I'm Aeon" the younger looking one said with a smile before pointing to his friend who seemed older, “this is Vox". On that Vox smiled as he raised his hand before Aeon finally asked the expectant question “and you are?"

On that question Roland found herself backed into a linguistic corner… Well she couldn't be rude. On that she brought her food down and now became aware to the little dribble on her chin; she quickly wicked it off before finally speaking, “I'm – uh – Roland… And yes am with the marines, I'd guess you two are with the army?"

The two arctics looked between themselves with a smile, maybe taking a little endearment to the polite voice and the seeming meekness of it.

“Army? – kind of, we get to operate the big guns so we're more support" Aeon said smiling again as he pointed over his shoulder pointing toward the sound of artillery fire; it seemed on Aeon's comments another salvo went off.

Roland found it slightly strange; while arctics in the rear wasn't unheard of, it wasn't common.

Though as she focused her eyes she seemed to make out the reason for the twos reserve status; Aeon's lower jaw was a complete reconstruction and while the artificial rebuild's composition was close to real flesh and muscle it couldn't grow hair or fur and it always had a sickly white or grey colour to it… Though on the short furred arctic it was a little hard to make out.

It was at that point Roland realized she was starting, though Aeon didn't seemed to mind.

“we're a little second – hand" Vox commented and thus gained Roland attention though unlike Aeon his face seemed fine; his wounds must have been covered though the replacement hand poked out of his jacket sleeve.

“I mean you ain't in much of a new condition yourself" Aeon joked while gesturing to Roland's injured ears and facial scares, he clearly meant the comment in jest though Roland seemed slightly self – conscious.

“S – Sorry…You folks are always a sight – I mean…" Roland let her words trail off not really sure what she was meaning to say. The two seemed to take the yammering as a compliment.

“Oh I get it, never get us helping up there" Aeon pointed to the sky though he was quick to let out a snicker “I mean, I wouldn't want to; those ship corridors are always far too small… Probably a hell to fight in". The arctic seemed to pause, thinking for a moment before softly shaking his head to lose them, “never mind that; will be out of this mess soon enough"…

“HEY!" The bark of orders had Roland snap up from her small break, as the comparably pint – sized Cu stormed her way over, “making yourself comfortable?".

Both Aeon and Vox gave a small tilted glance as they sized the lieutenant up, “she's just having a nice chat, and I thought cross – branch cooperation was a good thing?" Aeon said.

Cu just snuffed him “I ain't talking to you grunt".

Aeon only gave a small smile; he was always impressed by that attitude. The power one could get out of rank… She was very lucky he respected that. Though she would be smart to know her attitude would only get her so far with the army or him for that matter.

The vixen seemed quick to pick up on that, cutting her pestering on whatever it was Roland was doing and going to the matter at hand. “We're moving up to the frontline" Cu was curt with her words, no semblance of anxiety nor concern in her tone.

Roland made no comment knowing well it would serve her no good and in turn she got up, drawing her MG over her shoulder, “aye lieutenant". That was all Cu would wanted to hear and that was all Roland gave her. The vulpine gave a silent nod of the head.

With that Cu started walking as Roland follow behind; thought just for a moment she turned back around to look back to Aeon and Vox as she caught the two arctics giving her one last small but supportive wave.

Roland couldn't help but wave back with a little smile; the kind gesturing being one of those few beams of lights parting through the dark clouds and with Cu to the front she thought the vulpine unlikely to catch her small parting gesture…

But Cu did catch the act; yet she let it slide…Why ruin such a small act… Things were only going to get worse from here.