Hard Lesson

January 28, 2008

Xenet 71.43.1 System Msg

TTY31201.01.28

Network Connection Enabled
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There's no such thing as R'n'R on the front lines. I'd been discharged from the field hospital, but was still feeling pretty roughed up from the res sickness, so i thought I'd find a nice quiet corner in the LZ to clean my weapons and clear my head. I was dreaming of home when the damn klaxons started wailing. Troops were rushing every which way to man the defenses. Bessie was still laying next to me in pieces; I'd dozed off before I'd finished cleaning her. I cursed and rushed to put her back together and get her loaded before the place was crawling with crusties, and I was without my favorite weapon.

I rushed through the shield barrier, and no sooner had i picked a position at the sandbags, the sky went dark with dropships.

"INCOMING!"

Almost instantly its Crusties everywhere. I emptied a full clip into the oncoming mass, and reloaded. I squeezed the trigger but Bessie jammed up on me badly. Damn it all! As I struggled to unjam her, a massive shadow fell over me and I found myself staring at the knees of a massive Kael. I barely had time to jump out of the way of its huge fists. Holy hell, those things can move! It had me pinned until a few chaingunners drove it back. A high pitched scream became a roar as FAR support soared overhead. Somebody had called in an airstrike, and high explosives tore the Bane apart. From there it was just cleanup.

I learned today that a soldier's closest friend is his weapon. Treat her with respect, and she'll look after you. Neglect her, and she'll abandon you when you need her most. I won't be forgetting that ever again.

Carter Mannon
AFS Soldier