The Wilted Planet

Chapter 2: The Briefing

When they got there the other marines watched them walk in late. Their friend William beamed as he waved them over. His dark skin making his teeth almost seem to glow. "Hey guys why are you both late?"  He asked curiously. Caleb and Dean glanced at eachother.

"We uh.." Dean started, but Caleb cut him off. "We were fixing ourselves up. We weren't feeling great." William nodded and motioned behind him at the others who stood in formation. "Well glad you're here now. Apparently something big has happened. Serge is about to brief us. Better file up." He suggested running back to his own position.

Caleb and Dean lined up in their respective places just as the door to the Serge's room opened.  Sergeant Major Newman stepped out and shut the door behind him. He turned to the men who raised their hands in salute as was trained into their very nature. Newman stepped forward until he was standing in front of his men before sighing.

"At ease." He commanded sternly. The marines dropping their hands in unison. Sergeant Newman cleared his throat readying himself to give the briefing. Caleb studied the Serge and frowned. His eyes had dark rings beneath them. Like he hadn't slept so well himself. "This can't be good." Caleb whispered. The marine next to him raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"Today we're not doing our normal patrols gentlemen." Serge said. The marines glanced at eachother without turning their attention away from him. "I have recently received word that outpost Delta has not been responding to any communication from command." Serge paused letting the information sink in before continuing.

"We're the closest military units to outpost Delta. Therefore it is our responsibility to investigate what has occurred there. And to why they are not responding to coms." Serge paused again for a moment. "Now are there any questions?" Caleb raised his hand. Serge eyed him and nodded. "Yes Jones?" He said.

"What do you think has happend sir?" Caleb asked. Serge shook his head. "I haven't got a clue son. That's why we're all heading out." That set the marines into shock. The questions came in a series of repeating voices. "Wait we're all going?" "What information do we have?" "Are we leaving the base unmanned?"

Serge waited patiently for the questions to stop before replying to any of them. "Yes we are all going. I don't know what to expect out there. And I'm not going to take any chances. We have little to no information on the situation hence my caution in this regard. And yes. We are indeed leaving the base unmanned." He explained.

Caleb's mind raced with excitement and curiosity. We're finally going to do something! Not just sit around base this is great! He thought eagerly. Many of the others seemed to share his mindset. Including Dean and William. Serge watched them all catching Caleb's eye for a moment. A unfamiliar look of worry written on his face before the utter calm returned.

Caleb frowned slightly. Anything that scared the Serge couldn't be good. What was he not telling them? Serge quieted them all down with some effort. Once they all were silent he finished the briefing. "We're heading out at oh seven hundred. I expect you all to be suited up and ready by then. You are all dismissed." He said gruffly before heading back to his quarters.

As soon as he shut his door the marines broke formation. "Cal we've got a mission!" Dean exclaimed as he walked over to him. Caleb smiled pushing his thoughts aside for later. "Yeah isn't this exciting? We never get missions." He replied with a laugh. "You've got that right." William chimed in joining them.

"I've actually never been on a mission before now that I think about it." He added rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Yeah same here. I was posted here because of my age.  They didn't want a 'kid' on the battlefield." Caleb said. William looked at him curiously. "Really? How old are you Caleb?" He asked.