Orville: Phoenix

Chapter 10

**One Hour After Geth's Arrival**

Jessica stands in the middle of her small detachment, her troopers determined to protect her this time. Her HUD indicates they're right on schedule. The Pelican pilot shouts, "90 seconds till drop!"

"Get ready! Stand up!" Jessica commands on her channel. The troops grab their hooks and stand.

"Hook up! Equipment check!" she orders, as they attach themselves to a steel line above them. Varian checks Jessica's gear, and she in turn checks another trooper.

"Sound off equipment check!" One by one, the troopers confirm their gear is secure. Jessica feels the tension. Even though this is a simulation, her troops treat it with absolute seriousness.

On the Orville's bridge, Ed, Kelly, and Federal General Jane Shepard watch Jessica give her orders on the main screen. The Rules of Engagement are simple: anything not Federal is fair game. The Pelican pilot yells, "30 seconds!" The floor beneath them opens, and they dangle on their cords. As they approach the AO at the 15-second mark, the Pelican starts lowering them. Jessica gets the word that the Geth have landed right on top of the Moclan encampment, just as planned. At 0 seconds, the Pelican reaches the AO, and Moclan flak fills the air. This stage is the most dangerous; they're completely exposed to the flak. Jessica and most of her team have only done this a few times.

General Shepard watches from the bridge, stoic, as her youngest daughter leads her troops. The soldiers follow Jessica, their Field Marshal, without hesitation. Ed is nervous for his girlfriend, while Kelly shares his concern but hides it better. This joint operation between the Union and the Federation is crucial, even if the Federals are shouldering most of the burden.

As the Pelicans stop, the team swiftly descends to the ground. The Geth keep the Moclans busy and have already taken out many of their LMG emplacements. Jessica orders her team forward. With the Moclans preoccupied, they don't have to worry as much about the trenches that hadpreviously hindered them. But they're not out of danger—a Moclan sniper takes out one of her troopers. The team lands in a large trench.

"Geth detail, take out that sniper!" Jessica orders.

"Moving to engage now, Field Marshal," one of the Geth confirms. Shortly after, the Geth report the sniper is down. Jessica and her team climb out of the trench.

"All commands, SitRep now!" Jessica demands. All teams confirm enemy contact and that they are holding the line while securing the necessary data.

"All commands, prep to hold all AOs. We are making entry now. Captain, stay here with four of your troopers. The rest come with me," Jessica orders. The Geth Captain complies. A Geth engineer places a breaching charge on the door and, in a swift moment, blasts it open. The Geth enter first, with energy rounds from Moclan rifles deflecting off their hard shells.

Jessica soon follows the synthetics into the building. The Geth lead, while her organic team brings up the rear. They engage Moclan forces all the way to the data core. The Geth Engineer quickly opens the door, and the team moves in, taking up security positions as the Geth transfer the necessary data into their systems.

"This is Shepard! Hurry up! We're low on mags and not sure how long we can keep this up. Many of our troops have picked up Moclan rifles!" Jackie reports to Jessica.

"Major, you hold that line! I don't care what it takes or what it costs! That's an order!" Jessica commands as more Moclan troopers emerge and engage her team.

"Solid copy, Marshal," Jackie replies as they continue to hold the line.

"Varian, get a hold of the Orville and get the Pelicans back for egress!" Jessica orders the Turian.