Gannalon Sugg reclined on the plastic form fit crate that contained the two 
ZK-21 auto-cannons that were standard Legion issue.  Id had just opened it and 
inventoried them for the Centurion.  The long black cylinders and the weighted 
swing arms were well cared for - both appeared almost new.
     Talking to Centurion Vit'Atik was a waste of time.  The Vrusk was concerned 
only with the task at hand.  Right now, that was counting boxes and pods of 9 
Troop's supplies.  Earlier the two had suited up and assisted a cargo handler 
team bring in two more large equipment pods that arrived from Devereaux with the 
Legion troops.  They had inventoried that first and it was not disappointing.  
     While going through the pods, Lt Birrkh had come down and looked into the 
storage and handling of the new equipment.  There was not much space, so the Lt 
was eager to consolidate supplies.
     Gannalon noted that not a single KNEIS-ENAU crewman, except the 
Master-Chief-of-the-Ship, had come down to what he was beginning to call "Legion 
Territory"; that had its advantages, Id guessed.
     The last pod that Gannalon had gone through contained equipment for the 
dropship.  Ten Vid-guided "TAMARAK" multi-purpose missiles were well secured 
in shockproof static-less containers.  Hundreds of 20mm tirillium-tipped auto 
cannon ammunition rounds were strategically placed around the pod.  A multitude of 
spare parts, circuitry boards, and cleaning/lubrication gear filled sealed bins and 
containers so that every square inch of the pod was full.  There were even extra 
flight helmets for each troop member.
     Of all the Legionaires, Gannalon alone had a feel for exactly how much 
firepower the small troop could bring to bear if necessary.  While not an army, 
it was very significant.  Id warmed himself in the glow of pride felt as Id 
thought about Id's new unit and its future successes.  "Just like before..." 
Id thought.             
              
                                        *****

     "Echo/Kilo, Echo/Kilo, this is Tango/Tango! Do you copy?, Over!"
     [KA-BAAMM!  KA-BA, KA-BA, KA-BAAMM!!]
     "Sir, we are gettin' our asses kicked out here!  Streel's artillery is too 
close to this position and they have a fix.  We gotta pull chocks!"  The sergeant 
looked back at the remainder of his unit.  Good, tough beings.  Man..., were we 
takin' it in the shorts or what, he thought.
      [VEEERRRRRRRRRRRRR.........................]
     
      "Incoming!......."[KA-BAAMM! KA-BA, KA-BA, KA-BAAMMM!]

     That sweet smell of sod, Gannalon found, was native to most every world id 
was ever on.  Id didn't know, maybe it was just that the dirt was always saving 
id's ass.  That my be why id loved it so much....
     "Lieutenant, we have to get off this hill.  The position isn't [thunk-thunk-
thunk]... The three gyrojet rounds smacked into the Sgt in rapid succession.  
His body was lifted three feet and the muffled explosions ripped his head and 
upper torso to bloody shreds.
     Gannalon got a really good splash of Sgt Jersey's blood and brain matter. 
Id recoiled, but continued to fire at the elusive Streel combatants.
     "Oh man!  Shit!  Did you see that!  Oh, Ma....[thunk]"
     "Echo/Kilo, Echo/Kilo, this is Tango/Tango! Do you copy?  Over!"  Shouted 
the Lieutenant into his wrist comm.
     Gannalon felt it before Id really saw what was happening.  A movement and 
a small firefight here, there....  No artillery on the sides, but a lot in front 
and back... the platoon was being flanked.  He had been with Merc Co long enough 
to recognize it.
     The small hastily dug out position on hill W-161 amid small hovels (mud 
building with no roof structure now) had seen very heavy fighting.  Until now, 
it seemed as if things were going their (and PGCs) way.  Streel had been on the 
run, fighting a slow withdrawal.
     [KACK! KACK-KACK-KACK-KACK!  KACK! KACK!]
     "[SHOOOSH], that WAS close!" Id said.
      Then it happened.  It was too quick to really get a hold of; much too quick.  
The unit's left flank collapsed and began retreating into the hardend mud structures.  
The right flank was crushed with another artillery barage apparently directed by the 
two light hover tanks sweeping forward.  At the same moment, the lieutenant took a 
gyrojet round through his wrist, through the comm unit, and through his mouth with 
nasty results.
     Gannalon found Idself alone in the small position, Id's mates either dead or 
dying.  Moving back to the mud structures, Id's confidence was really shaken as Id 
took stock of the surviviors of Id's unit.  Of the forty-three mates in Id's Merc 
Co platoon, thirteen (including Idself) were here and six of these were badly wounded.
     [KA-BAAMM!  KA-BAAMM!  KA-BAAMM!]
     Gannalon was blown to the ground.  One of the mud structures collapsed onto him, 
completely covering and trapping him.  Before losing consciousness, Id saw the light 
tank, STREEL 2F13  stencilled  on the bubble turret, come into the area spitting fire 
and destruction.  More of Id's mates were dying.  Losing consciousness as their 
screams echoed in Id's mind......
     Gannalon jolted back to the present when Centurion Vit'Atik rounded the entrance 
to the pod and caught sight of him slackin' off.  In a blur of speed, the Vrusk 
crossed the space between the two and snatched Id up off the crates.
     "What in Ayal's eye do you think you are a up too?!" shouted the Centurion.  
With a lightning quick open-handed smack, the Vrusk hollared "Hop to, you lazy boyo! 
You better have the count done in the next hour or your ass is mine!" 
   "YES, SIR!" Sugg bellows at top volume (nearly blowing the Vrusk back a step...)
    With that, the bug disappears almost as quickly as it appeared.
     Id turns to another of the unopened boxes and reads  - "anti-personnel mines, 
GALLAHAD MK-II"
     "Hmmm.  Better BE careful with these.  Id could BLOW the damn bulkhead and 
CRUSH the ship with this."

_____________________________


These are some of the things you have seen so far.

   20  GALLAHAD anti-personnel mines
   10  TAMARAK missiles
 2000  20mm rounds
   10  Flight helmets
    -    A suit of combat armor per Legionaire
    -    An enertia screen for each Legionaire
    -    Lots of tools and spare parts/cleaning equipment
    -    Supplies for the QUICKDEATH (lubricants, etc)
    -    A large fuel bladder for he dropship
    -    Multiple para-batteries
    1  Auto-targetter for 20mm gun
    1  Replacement 20mm gun
    -    A programming pack for the QUICKDEATH 
    4  Ammo load extension boxes for 20mm guns

     You have also seen all of 9 Troops weapons and have seen the access code to 
open the racks on them.  All are in fine shape. 

     What do you do now?