USF Progenitor & Crew: Adventures in Cosmos 01

[#80] The Inside Factor

The teched up marine-carrier vehicles with dual mounted gauss turrets, Everest-IV All-Terrain IFVs AKA Snow Eaters, in the command of Lt. Magistrate "Magi", flowed forth directly heading North to the pole. They sped through the snow, plowing it away at 90mph, projected to hit their target destination at 1800 PMTL and no later than.
Sgt. Chris Zaffila was sitting next to his men, his Snow Eater alone occupied by 11 soldiers. Sgt. Chris pulled himself together from his lone existential crisis and became a wolf again, ready to strike as was necessary. The ride for him and them was bumpy, the smoothness of the ride beginning to turn rough from the icy debris and mounds of tundra beneath the snow.
The inside of each vehicle was brightly lit with red lights lining the ceilings near the windows on both sides. The floors, walls, and ceilings of the vehicle were constructed with a heavy metal that could withstand conventional IEDs and VBIEDs, sacrificing individual comfort for soldier safety and security.
Sgt. Chris yelled to the driver, "Don't slow down! Full speed ahead!" Chris was able to avoid receiving punishment and detention from Major Alexander by going on the real voyage away from the monotony of outpost maintenance. It was one of the rewards of being brave, almost a mirror of being braver. With that, there was the reward of taking back to HQ with them a supply of unreported goods that went unaccounted for.
"Sir, can we look at that map again?" Cpl. Diedrick Tanner asked, holding onto the ceiling safety harnesses and crouch-walking over to Sgt. Chris.
Sgt. Chris pulled up a large digital form in the shape of a square from his backpack that sat in front of him, presenting it to the Corporal. The form, looking similar to a holographic cloth, was the map itself, lit up and easy to see. He zoomed in and out on the map by pinching his fingers on it, and moved the map using two fingers, swiping in any direction. While he was adjusting the map to show where their location was and where they were going, Cpl. Seth Tyson moved aside for Cpl. Tanner to sit next to Sgt. Chris. PFC Randle Millard leaned in with Cpl. Tanner to read the map and see what Sgt. Chris was trying to do.
The vehicle bounced a few times and made a wheezing sound, then a high-pitched whine as it balanced out on its large tires.
Sgt. Chris declared, "So, we left here. That's HQ. We went up North and we've been on course for the past 10 hours. It's currently 1600, give or take. We should be there, this spot-," Sgt. Chris pointed and touched the digital fabric firmly, then continued, "At 1800. The outpost is surrounded by snow, unsurprisingly, and then at around 1,000 meters out, there are more outposts. Many of them are Indian, intel shows, so I hope you're good with tech support."
Half of the marines laughed while the other marines were busy thinking to themselves.
Sgt. Chris moved on, "There's a hell there, between these points, I imagine. The Indians have a line of skirmish drawn here-," Chris swiped one finger down with some scraggly patterns as the Snow Eater jiggled from the rough road. "What that indicates is a line between themselves and the two governments that sit there-," Chris pointed, zoomed out and resumed, "And there."
PFC Ernesto Bartholomew told them, "That's where the Russians are, supposedly."
"That's exactly where they are," Sgt. Chris continued. "Remember that they aren't hostile to us, neither are the Indians. The Indians are usually the first to step in and complain because they actually want to take the whole pie."
"Sir, if I may impose, the Russians are here for the same thing, though," PFC Bartholomew debated. "That's what Desoto here seems to think."
PFC Brandon Desoto said in his twanged American accent, "They were teaching us that back at the compound, that the dark side of the planet-."
Sgt. Chris held up his hand to stop him then tapped his finger on the map, saying, "There's no promise that these are government outposts. I'm telling you guys this, now, because by the time we return to HQ, we might have had to put down some rowdy, mercenary assailant mother f$ckers. Okay? They're not all official there. You need to think in terms of hostile and non-violent and let me, Sgt. Rapolo, and Lt. Magi to be the ones to tell you what's next."
"Hey Sergeant Chris! Sir! Sorry, speaking of that, Lieutenant got a hold of Sergeant Rapolo and they're talking up on comms-," the driver, Cpl. Joseph 'Saint Jo' Hougheller informed.
Sgt. Chris handed the map to Cpl. Tyson and struggling his way closer to the front of the Snow Eater. Chris shouted, "Turn it up-? Corporal, turn-."
Cpl. Saint Jo turned up the volume on general comms. Lt. Magi was going back and forth with Sgt. Rapolo.