[b]NTRS Charleston, in geosynchronous orbit over new Terra.[/b] Commander Pavel Volkov stroked his chin, looking at a holomap of the once proud capital of the NTR. Completely destroyed by rogue AIs and an unknown faction. Once it was the home to millions of souls, now it was home to insurrectionists and rebels. But this operation would change that, the NTRA and NTRMC were working together to plan an attack. It would begin with airstrikes and ODSTs dropping in. Then Pelicans would take down the rest of the marines and soldiers. A number of naval personnel were going with, to supplement the combat strength. Volkov was considering going with. Olivia, his A.I. Appeared next to him. "I know that look, that's your 'I'm about to do something stupid look.' He chuckled and turned towards her. "Really and just what am I going to do?" She smirked, and waved her hand at the holomap, it changed to a specific landing zone. "If you insist on us going into combat, drop zone delta is a good choice." "Who said anything about we?" "Where you go I go, protocol with double agents running around, besides a girl has to have her fun too." He shook his head and laughed, closing the holoscreen and heading to the armory. There he checked out three weapons in addition to a deplorable turret and his armor. He shouldered his battle rifle and looked down the sights while he waited for the pelican to spin up. He loaded a magazine into the receiver and shouldered it, putting it next to his sniper rifle. He checked his pistol and holstered that as well. "You know, it's weird seeing you nervous like this." Olivia overlaid her image in the bottom left corner of his HUD. "Not nervous, just bored. The drops begin?" "As we speak." True enough as the two spoke the ODSTs were inserting from the small flotilla of ships in orbit. They rained down from the heavens like great balls of fire. The pods popped their chutes and slowed slightly, just enough to not break apart on impact. They hit the ground and their occupants blasted the doors off, exiting guns blazing. The insurrectionists were caught off guard, and took several moments to realize what was happening. Several moments too long, as the Pelicans lifted off the decks and descended to earth, and Longsword fighter bombers dropped munitions. The pelican Volkov was on was flying with one other. The two ships flew over the city, heading for their destination, yet fate would intervene. A lucky rocket struck the other pelican and sent it crashing into Volkov's, which crashed into a courtyard of the mandalore city technology institute for higher education. Volkov slowly regained consciousness, hanging upside down in his seat, his harness barely holding him in. As he slowly blinked he could hear Olivia speaking faintly. "Huh?" A small electric shock, drove away his grogginess and he slowly regained his ability to hear. "Sorry skipper, had to use your shields to wake you, hostiles are closing in." He had to cut the straps holding him in, as he slowly stood after hitting the roof he could hear people approaching. He readied his weapon and exited. He saw three of them, all with assault rifles approaching quickly. He took an knee and fired off a burst, catching one of the men in his head, killing him instantly. The other two dived to cover. They exchanged shots for a few moments before Volkov deployed his turret, using it as covering fire he flanked the two men and opened fire killing one right away, and the other was killed when he stood to fire by the turret. Collecting the turret Volkov took dog tags from his dead comrades, and ammo. Before looking for an exit. [spoiler]open[/spoiler]