USF Progenitor & Crew: Adventures in Cosmos 01

[#76] All Clear

Maj. Orpheus Alexander and Sgt. Chris Zaffila sat together alone in the computer lab, the USF operatives from before having left to attend their duties or sign out for chow time.
"Chris, if you're concerned at all about the mission, check the intel. You'll be alright. I'm not sending you to your death, kiddo," Orpheus said.
Sgt. Chris had his head bowed down, his light-brown eyes scanning the scraggly patterns in desk. He imagined the cold and the weather patterns, then having to be responsible for his men.
"Chris, it's half a day from here. You and your squads are going to go in there, together, and figure out what all that nonsense is about," Orpheus eased.
Chris wasn't buying it, already on the fact that he knew Orpheus was lying. Driving onto the other side of Celium XIX, the squads' snow-pummeling vehicles would arrive in a day and a half to two days time, basically one entire natural day. He looked at Orpheus and said, "This feels like the only freedom you've really given me so far, yet I'm not terribly... excited to go." Chris laughed, hiding a pain in his chest that Orpheus was aware of.
Orpheus gave Chris a judgmental look and said, "Man up and go out there with your men. The Marine Corps. taught you everything you need to know should tacticals be a necessary step." He smiled confidently and said, "You have a gift, Chris, and you are better to use it this way than pitter pattering with all these goose eggs. Mother Mary, forgive them."
"Not looking forward to the constant night shift, but... but... with my squads, I agree, I think I'll be at peace," Chris returned with a sad look in his eyes.
Orpheus, growing bored of the exchange of words said, "I've got your documentation, all of it sent along with the briefing, mission status, action notice, and everything my CO's need to see that you are up to par with what we pay you for."
Chris knew that Orpheus had been foreshadowing. He looked at the computer screen, rubbed his chin, giving Orpheus a dead look, then questioned, "And we're obviously getting something out of this, aside from... an intelligence report, if I'm not mistaken, sir."
Orpheus said, "There are no spoils of war if there is no war. You should be thinking less about combat and more about what there is to learn beyond what our intel shows. Tell me why... the USF would avoid the dark side of a planet?"
Chris responded, "A lion has to graze, sir, and if we are not the lions, then someone else, maybe something else is, sir. There were some warning signs, that people there on that side are less than stable. Remember Reggie? And Mike? And that whole platoon of guys?"
"Very clearly," Orpheus replied. "Those guys were nuts from a squirrel's hiatus on a good fiscal year."
Chris and Orpheus chuckled. Chris said, "I can attest to that. You are correct, they were nuts, and that's my point."
"Well, you follow a squirrel back to its den and climb up its tree, then you report back to me whether or not deforestation has a green light," Orpheus ordered. "You find out what's happening at that outpost, Sergeant, and we will see what reward awaits you." Orpheus nodded, feeling Chris's warmth slip away with each word.
"Sergeant Chris! It's time you get going, don't you think?" Asked Col. Dark, walking in with his circle of captains. Col. Dark, knowing Sgt. Chris to be a special type of guy, allowed him some respite when he stood at attention to salute with the Major. The Colonel smirked at his circle of Captains, giving them the chuckles. "Major Alexander, please join me, now. Sgt. Chris, you take it up on yourself to get started out there, where we are counting on you. And be in contact with... who?" He directed the question at Orpheus, keeping his head low and his eyes straight ahead.
Orpheus coughed then leaned back in his chair. He said, "This is a special day, indeed!" Clapping his hands together then placing his hand gently on Chris's shoulder, he said to Col. Dark, "Lieutenant Volley is taking control from here, and he's going to use Sergeant Chris and Sergeant Rapolo to get this mission accomplished." He leaned forward again and began to lose his smirk, seeing that Col. Dark and his captains weren't responding to his enthusiasm.
"I'll get going," Chris said with a few quick nods, then scooted out and jolted upward quickly. He stood at attention, saluted, then scrambled to the living quarters and training grounds to collect his men.
"Sir, may I ask who I am to take with me, if not Sergeant Christopher?" Orpheus inquired loudly.
"We have someone else more elusive to defined laws and rules who requires your direct instruction," Col. Dark informed, sounding very strict and cold. It was almost as though Col. Dark had become the planet itself.
Chris gave the briefing and his speech to his men, "We are heading out at 1800 and arriving in 24 to 48 hours. Once we get on that side of the planet, we may be experiencing some difficulties communicating with base if the weather decides to change from its beautiful self to suddenly a... blizzard or snow storm. We don't want that, gentlemen. We want to come back home, you know..." All of his men laughed, including some stragglers from other groups. "And we want to enjoy the journey! Remember! It doesn't matter where we are! We have... ourselves, and we have our leadership, and we all love Major Alexander and Colonel Dark, give it up for them!" The men cheered and praised, vamping up the energy in the room.
Lt. Magistrate "Magi" Volley walked in and took his place next to Chris, smiling and quieting down the applause. Lt. Volley presented Chris with his PCD and continued the speech from where Chris left off with his black-flavored accent, "So, just so you all know this, that... the mission ain't... an ounce of fun that this guy makes it!" Lt. Volley pat Chris on the back, getting Chris and the USF operatives and Marines to laugh and boo playfully. He resumed, "No joke, this mission is gonna be a b$tch, but it ain't nothing we dealt with before. We gonna go in there and make sure we clear the air, making that place nice and boring." He gave an expression telling everyone to behave with a smirk, and they all laughed again. Going on, Lt. Magi explained and commanded, "We drive there together, squads led by Sergeant Chris and Sergeant Rapolo. Where is his a$$? Get up here, Sergeant! Come and get your accolades! Got some dudes booing in the back over there, gotta spread the wealth. Make room! Hey! So, all of us driving in there, the outpost got activity from multiple ships that ain't authorized, and we ain't authorized to knock them out the sky, but we can do... our part and show them what this is all about!"
Chris clapped his hands, smiling at the rowdy soldiers. Having read an addendum to the briefing, he felt more comfortable with what the situation would likely turn out to be. Knowing the intel alongside Lt. Magi, he was preparing to contact any nearby outposts that would help serve their goals. Chris felt purpose again, and that was all he wanted, and all he needed.