The Wilted Planet

Chapter Three: Moving Out

"Jones! Gray! And lets see.. Grinder!" The three stood at attention. "Yes Serge?" They said respectfully. He pulled out a cigar from his ammo pocket and tapped it once. "You three are under Smith's command clear?" William smirked at them as they nodded. "Yes sir!" They said in unison. Serge lit his cigar and moved down the line.

"Man oh man it feels good to be in charge." William said with a chuckle. Dean groaned and buried his face in Caleb's shoulder. "Why him? He's never even seen combat." He sobbed dramatically. William and Flint chuckled. "Neither have you. You'll get over it." Flint said encouragingly. Dean groaned again and started to make crying sounds. Caleb laughed and moved letting his head drop off his shoulder.

"But yeah I'll try to be nice guys. But if it's politeness or life. I'm gonna choose life." William said honestly. Caleb and the others laughed. "But really this is exciting. We're actually doing something." Flint said echoing their words from before. Serge called out, thick sarcasm lacing his words. "Don't forget to check your supplies ladies we won't be back for an unknown amount of time! I don't want to hear any crying later about 'oh no I lost my gun'!"

"Yes sir!" The marines responded. Caleb nudged Dean to get his attention. "I'm gonna go through my stuff over there. Be back in a sec." He said seeing Dean nod with a curious look. Caleb moved away from the others to the spot he'd shown Dean. He set his standard assault rifle against a wall and took off his pack, checking to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything.

His eyes wandered over to his friends who were checking their own bags. Dean nodded slowly to something William was saying and Flint seemed to be listening as well. They all glanced his way every once in a while. Making him wonder if they were talking about him. And if so, what about.

Caleb sighed and went back to checking his supplies. His ammo pouch was full almost overflowing, along with his first aid kit and dehydrated food packets, his bag was nearly filled to the brim. He started to get up when suddenly his ammo pouch burst open, spilling its contents everywhere.

"Well that's just great." Caleb muttered to himself and frantically picked up the bullet clips as fast as he could. "Jones. You alright son?" A voice said behind him. Caleb glanced over his shoulder and gulped, it was Serge. "Y..yes sir. I just dropped some ammo sir." He replied shaking as he grabbed the last few clips shoving them into his pouch.

Serge took out his cigar and blew some smoke into the air. "You don't seem to be alright. But take some advice from an old soldier." He said placing a hand on Caleb's shoulder he pointed to the buldging ammo pouch with his cigar. "It's not about the quantity of ammunition that makes a soldier strong." He said and stuck the cigar back in his mouth sucking in a draft of smoke.

"It's his willingness to act. To do what is necessary. No matter the cost to himself." Caleb looked up at him and smiled sheepishly. "So basically you're saying I should put some of this back huh?" He asked flashing his thumb towards his overflowing ammo pouch. Serge chuckled and shook his head. "Oh no take it son. Some of your less.. competent comrades may find a need for it." He said flashing a wink.

Caleb laughed and grabbed his pouch securing it as Serge moved away. "Yes sir." He said cheerfully his earlier worries forgotten again, replaced with fresh excitement. Caleb slipped on his bag and grabbed his assault rifle. One last check for his pistol strapped on his leg and he was set. He walked back over to his friends who had finished checking their own supplies moments before him.

"Hey Cal you okay? What did Serge need?" Dean asked, his brow furrowed with worry. Caleb briefly laughed and shook his head. "Ah he was just telling me some top secret stuff. Nothing lowly gents such as yourselves need worry over." He said teasingly. Dean frowned as William and Flint grilled Caleb for details.

"Seriously Caleb what did Serge want?" William asked. "Yeah kiddo you gotta tell us. We're your squad now." Flint said leaning against his battle rifle. Hopefully not loaded yet. Caleb laughed again. "No seriously guys he didn't really say anything.. well.. besides that you guys might be a bit dim in the bulbs if you get my meaning." He said with a snicker.

The others looked at eachother in disbelief. "Serge..called us stupid?" Dean asked rhetorically. William and Flint nodded. Caleb facepalmed seeing Serge might not be far off from the truth. "Is that all he said Cal?" Dean asked after a moment. Caleb thought about what Serge had said and nodded. He should keep what Serge said to himself. "Yeah that was pretty much it." He said avoiding his friends' gazes.

Dean looked like he was about to grill him for the truth but was cut off by Serge shouting. "It's oh seven hundred ladies! Let's move out I want to get to Outpost Delta by tomorrow! Not next week!" The marines responded in kind and started to leave. A few shutting down different lights and equipment. Caleb, Dean, William and Flint moved to the front of the marching marines having been assigned as squad A.

Once the group was a few meters out Caleb looked back at the base and turned away deep in thought. "How many of us have seen Beta Base for the last time?" He whispered with sadness. Dean shot a quick glance at him. "What do you mean? This isn't a big deal man. Delta's comms are probably down and the repair guys are just being lazy." He said reassuringly.

Caleb smiled slightly at him and nodded as they marched. "Yeah you're probably right." He said trying to sound convincing. But all his mind could see was Serge's worried expression. The look of confusion and uncertainty in his eyes that he hid behind his usually gruff exterior. None of Caleb's companions had seemed to notice. So why had he?

"I wish we could've gotten the hogs we were promised. Then we could have driven down rather than march all day and night." Dean commented in a matter of fact tone. Caleb laughed and shifted his rifle to rest on his shoulder. "Yeah that would've been sweet except for one thing." Dean frowned in confusion. "And what's the one thing?" He asked.

Caleb looked at his feet as they marched in step. "We'd have to go back to base and go patrolling all the sooner. This way we get a day or two more out if this mission." Caleb thought for a second then added. "Plus let's be honest. We're all getting a bit too soft about our jobs. We're marines for crying out loud." Dean nodded slowly and gazed at his own feet.

"Yeah I guess you're right." He said softly. The two walked in silence for a few minutes before Dean broke the silence. "But Cal we could totally be driving right now." He complained. Caleb groaned and pulled his helmet down more over the ear Dean was closest to trying to block him. "No. Stop." He begged. But Dean continued his complaints about not having proper transportation.

A few hours later the marines took a resting period and Dean dragged William and Flint into his complaining. The four had just sat down drinking water and resting their burning calves when Dean had started again on his rant. "Like why couldn't they send at least one hog? Then maybe we could risk sending only a few of us to check on Delta post."

Caleb shook his head and stared at his friend as he went on about command being selfish for holding back on their promises. William and Flint simply listening to his complaints as if he were making valid points. Caleb took off his helmet and cursed planet Sansar for it's oppressive heat. Finally Serge told everyone to pack up and get moving again. Caleb was not only more than eager to see some more ground covered, but to get to their destination all the sooner.

Someone tapped his shoulder from behind and Caleb turned to see an unfamiliar face. "Umm hi." He said. The other marine grinned wide showing a gold tooth. "Hi. Sorry to bother you. I just wanted to give you this before we start moving again. Easier to catch you that way." He handed him a m.r.e marked with a scratched out food name.

Caleb took it and looked at the marine in confusion. The marine laughed heartily showing his gold tooth again. "Just something I like to do. It adds mystery to every meal. If you get something gross let me know next stop and I'll switch it out." He said nicely. Caleb smiled and nodded to him stuffing it in his bag. "Thanks a lot."

The marine shrugged off his thanks. "No problem. See you around Jones." He said with a small wave as he walked back to his squad. Caleb slung his bag onto his shoulders grabbing in assault rifle soon after. Dean and the others followed suit and the group of marines began to march again. Caleb chuckled a little at the unknown marine's actions. His mind already wondering what his next meal would be. Caleb hoped it would be a good one.