Private New Meat

[Dagmar Kortu]

Fort Skywalker a massive but hastily built base on New Jedha, the Galactic Alliance claimed that this base would be one of their most advanced military base they have ever constructed. Bold claim coming from an administration filled with broken promises. Dagmar was at one of the forts many spaceports leaning against the wall, he was waiting for the new recruit for the War Hogs. Some fresh faced private who is almost out of her teens, it was unusual that Traden Avarice would want a rookie to join the Warhogs. It's a unit filled with hardened vets from all branches of the military. The Warhogs take on missions that were perilous to the point where command would deem it suicidal. You needed people with experience not rookies who just graduated boot camp.

Dagmar did read her file though, the Private did look promising achieving extraordinary high marks during boot camp. Maybe there was some promise but all that training could go away the moment she sees somebody shooting at her. The Sniper smiled seeing the drop ship arriving from orbit. He noticed some of the hull were dotted with burns Starfighter must've gotten them during their ride. There were reports of a starfighter groups engaging the GA in space, fucking Brotherhood.... even in defeat, they remain a thorn in the GA's ass. Two AA turrets fired into the skies to fend off some of the Starfighters harassing it as the ship slowly descended onto the port.

"Time to meet the rook," Dagmar said.

Mela

 

[Mela]

In, out. In, out. ​

Mela steadied her breathing, focusing on it as her transport descended towards Fort Skywalker. It was her first deployment out of training, and she was nervous as hell. She wasn’t even being deployed with a ranger group, as she’d been expecting when she graduated that training program. Apparently she’d been scooped up by a commando squad the moment she finished training. She was to meet up with a member of this squad in the fort.

Though still green, she’d already become accustomed to the falling sensation of a rapidly descending drop ship. Evidently more than some other soldiers aboard the craft, who looked to be fresh out of basic. One looked to be on the verge of emptying his stomach. It was good the craft was well under capacity, a crowded ship was always worse. She braced herself in the seat as the ship landed roughly. Grabbing her pack, the fresh ranger stood quickly. Harsh sunlight flooded the dim interior of the transport as the doors opened.

Rather than rushing out as she’d been trained to do for rapid deployments, Mela waited, letting the other soldiers file out to be situated before approaching the logistics officer directing the new arrivals about. Now pointed towards the man she was looking for, Mela walked quickly.

“Excuse me sir, are you Dagmar Kortu?”

Dagmar Kortu

 

[Dagmar Kortu]

Dagmar stood straight, hands behind his back observing the many troopers and engineers filing out of the Dropship. They didn't appear rattled despite the dropship getting dinged up. It was pretty much routine until the GA can get rid of those Brotherhood remnants who were left behind to cause trouble after they lost. There were also fresh-faced recruits as well, rangers from the looks of them but they weren't as fresh as the small woman approaching Dagmar. He raised an eyebrow looking at her, such a short woman well below the height requirements for the GADF. Was the Galactic Alliance really bleeding out soldiers to the point that they were lowering the restrictions? Based on the fact that they were already in another war after they just ended one, it was probably the reason. The GA had suffered massive loss of life during the Stygan Campaign, they didn't even have time to breathe before going into another war.

The Sniper frowned when the Private called him by his full name. Not even a second in and she's acting like she was part of the group, normally Dag would be cordial, but this was under different circumstances. "Stand up straight private," Dagmar said shaking his head. "Did they teach you how to address your commanders? My name Sergeant Kortu: Second in command of the Warhogs."

He looked her straight in the eye. " From now on you will be called Meat! Do you understand?"

Dagmar didn't want to be hard on her, but the Warhogs were the best of the best. The risk of death is high and there can't be any weak links. Having a rookie was a ridiculous move by Traden Avarice but Dag will have to adapt. "If I feel that you've earned your strips, you can choose your nickname." Dagmar said. "But right now, you are starting from the bottom."

He stared at 16-wheeler behind them. "Come on kid," he said. "Let's get you on the field, we gotta toughen you up. Looking at you, you're like a baby face compared to all these soldiers here."

Mela

 

[Mela]

Mela silently cursed. Already she’d made half a dozen mistakes by her own count. Most severe of course, was the one her new commander was chewing her out for. Even as he spoke, she straightened her posture, perfecting an at-attention pose. She stood perfectly still after that, listening closely.

" From now on you will be called Meat! Do you understand?"

“Yes, Sir!” came the rapid, drilled response.

What had she gotten herself into? Barely even two minutes into her first deployment, and already being ordered into a mission. Of course, she should have expected that, when the request came through for her to join an elite unit.

“Yes, sir,” Meat waited till Sergeant Kortu turned and began walking to move.

As they began to move towards the massive transport, a gust of wind whipped up the sun-backed sand. It lasted only a moment, but it caught the fresh soldier by surprise. Sand bit at her face and eyes, and she made the mistake of taking a shocked breath. Instantly her throat dried, and she nearly began coughing. Continuing to push through, Mela kept her reaction silent, though tears were already forming to get the grains of sand out.

This was military life, she supposed.

Dagmar Kortu

 

[Dagmar Kortu]

The kid managed to adjust quickly: Good. The Warhogs may be a laid-back squad compared to the rest of the GADF but they are a well-organized and coordinated group. Mela on the other hand is an unproven recruit who was fast tracked to the big leagues. She hasn't even fought her first battle yet! "I don't know why the Major is interested in you Meat," Dagmar said looking over the small woman. "You're fresh faced, never seen live combat, haven't experienced the taste of killing a person."

Dagmar frowned "but all that is gonna change today." he said turning around and began to enter the walker. "I'll be your teacher Meat," Dagmar continued nodding at the engineers who were being stationed at Fort Skywalker. "Listen to what I say, and you might make it to in the Warhogs."

Mela needed to learn and learn fast, the Brotherhood were relentless and even after losing Jedha were already moving into the core worlds. Dagmar slumped on the seat banging on the wall. "All right Langsteen." Dagmar yelled looking at the blast door. "Get us out of here!"

"Right away Sarge!" The door behind Dagmar began to close and the walker began to move out from the spaceport the thunderous thumps from its hooves gently shook the place bringing a smile to Dagmar's face. "There's nothing like the feeling of driving a walker through a live combat zone." Dagmar said smiling. "So tell me all about yourself Meat. Read your files, you've set GADF records for your marksmanship during basic training though PT scores are barely average. But I want to know the individual, the woman behind the soldier. Where you from? Why did you join GADF? Fighting for your family? For a Boyfriend back home? What?"

Mela

 

[Mela]

The Sergeant’s analysis was accurate. She wasn’t sure how she’d wound up being sent to the Warthogs either. She was greener than a tree, and though she’d seen death and fights back home, she’d never killed anyone. Something she’d have to do a lot in the future.

Silently following her superior into the walker, Mela took a seat. Still listening, and thinking about how quickly the sergeant’s attitude had changed once she acted the part of a soldier, she rocked slightly as the walker began to move.

She’d worked hard in training just to qualify for service, on account of physical requirements. Even though she’d been only average, and low average at that, she swallowed her pride in that achievement.

“Well, sir, I’m from Metellos. It was a real mess of a slumworld for most of my childhood, and my family was in one of the poorer areas at that.” Mela’s cheek burned where she’d been cut in a fight years ago. Still maintaining proper form for addressing a superior, she continued. “Things got a lot better when the Alliance came. Got me out of a tough situation, and I guess I felt an obligation to serve in some way or another. Plus, it was the fastest way off Metellos." Her voice quieted a little. "Lucky for me that they lowered height requirements, I guess.”

She sat silently for a few moments, focusing on the rocking of the walker’s gait.

“Sir, may I ask where we’re going?”


Dagmar Kortu

 

[Dagmar Kortu]

Metallos.... Dagmar's Dad had some major businesses there regarding meat and produce, and their reputation was less than stellar. Though Dagmar's Dad denied the accusations, there was litany of lawsuits thrown at him and his business partners over the years for mistreatment of workers, unsafe environmental hazards. Dagmar could hardly believe them though, if there was on that his Dad wasn't it was a liar. He was a hard man who expected the world out of his children especially Dagmar since he was the oldest. However, his Dad believed in honesty and instilled that into his children. If anything, Dagmar didn't trust are his business partners who had a reputation of being corrupt.

"It sucks to know that the home you're trying to defend is a literal warzone," Dagmar said crossing his leg and leaning against the chair. In many ways, he was lucky that he didn't grow up in a tough environment like Mela did. The complete opposite in fact, Dagmar lived on the best planets, had the best education, been around affluent people and seen the Inner Core Worlds. The Sniper had never seen poverty, violence, and never knew what it was like to go hungry. Yet here he was a noble who was an enlisted man sneaking around bloody battlefields.

"I'm not surprised," Dagmar said. "The Galactic Alliance has been taking a beating over the last couple of years. We've lost a lot of good soldiers during the Stygnan Campaign. Recruiters had no choice but to ease off the restrictions, but there is opportunity though.... But Meat as I said you need to earn your keep. Just because you took advantage of an opportunity doesn't mean I'll any easier on you."

He sighed looking at the other passengers, mostly young engineers some GADF some contractors heading to Fort Skywalker to help with the defense grid. "We're taking out Brotherhood Remnants," he said. "Even though we've won Jedha, the Brotherhood had left some token soldiers to make settling here a living hell. I trust you experienced the rocky ride in space? We're heading to Fort Skywalker to get briefed on the remnants activities. From there, we can devise a plan to get rid of these bastards once and for all."

Mela

 

[Mela]

The Brotherhood. Mela didn’t know much about them. She’d seen news reports, propaganda, and what she’d been told about the Mawites in training. But She’d never bothered to learn much about the genocidal faction the Alliance was fighting. Something she wouldn’t mention to her commanding officer. Likely, she’d learn plenty over the next few months.

Time passed as the lumbering walker continued it’s journey across the sands. Unbeknownst to those within, a group of figures waited on a ridge, directly along the route of the mechanical transport. One raised a missile launcher, aiming carefully at one of the supporting legs. Just as the heavy foot landed, the missile fired.

Mela’s shoulder slammed into the metal wall as the entire vehicle shook. She could tell that others were shouting, but the ringing in her ears drowned out their voices. The walker swayed uneasily, then violently fell as another missile slammed into its side.

Mela desperately tried to orient herself within the suddenly darkened interior of the wrecked transport. The ringing in her ears had gotten worse with the fall, and pain wracked her body. It took her several shocked moments to realize what was happening. Pinging noises outside all came from one direction, as though the wreckage was under heavy blaster fire. It took her a bit longer to remember she’d been the closest to one of the exit hatches.

Frantically moving around, her hand caught the release to the hatch. Pushing hard against it, the door only slightly budged. Trying again, Mela shifted to kick the hatch open. One kick, then another. A final kick finally opened the hatch, and sand and light came pouring in.

Crawling out, Mela spat out sand she struggled to a crouch. A blaster bolt flying several feet over her head sent her back to the ground, huddling close against the knocked over transport, tightly clutching her rifle like a child holding a stuffed animal after a nightmare.

Dagmar Kortu

 

[Dagmar Kortu]

Dagmar was thrown off of his seat as well as the other engineers, as the walker violently shook from the blast. Alarms were blaring out and Dagmar landed head first onto the metal floor. "Meat!" Dagmar shouted frantically looking for the young woman in the blaring, blinking room. "Are you okay?!"

"CODE RED!" Langsteen shouted frantically pressing buttons on the control panel attempting to maintain control of the Walker. "WE'VE BEEN STRUCK BY AN AP MISSLE! LAUNCHED SOMEWHERE IN THE VILLAGE WE JUST PASSED! REQUES-"

Langsteen was cut off by another explosion as Dagmar was thrown around like a ragdoll all over the room. "Corporal Langsteen!" Dagmar shouted. "Do you copy?!"


Dagmar struggled to get up and limped towards the door. "Langsteen!" Dagmar pounded on the metal door trying to listen on the other side but all he heard was the sound fire and electrical wires sparking. "Damn it," Dagmar shook his head coming to the realization of the Corporal's death. "Poor kid."

Langsteen was only two years older than Mela, Dagmar remembered briefly talking to him on his way to pick up the kid and Langsteen said that he planned on using the benefits upon retirement to open up a burger shop having grown up in Dantooine. "Fuck....."

But there was no time to dwell on his death, the engineers and Mela need a leader. "Hey!" Dagmar yelled. "We need this Walker back up and running!"

"There's some small arms fire coming from outside sir!" One of the engineers shouted. "We're surrounded!"

Dagmar pulled out his Sniper Rifle. "Leave that to us!" Dagmar said looking at Mela climbing out of the walker. "Just get it in working condition!"

The Sniper climbed out of the Walker alongside with Mela as he was greeted with a shower of blaster bolts. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Mela paralyzed fear clutching her Blaster Rifle like a child clutching a stuffed Rancor. "Shake it off Meat!" Dagmar yelled firing his sniper rifle and shooting one of the assailants in the head. "We're the desperate measures! Move!"

Dagmar jumped off the downed Walker quick scoping another Mawite in the head and then another before pinning himself against a boulder. "Come on Meat!" Dagamar shouted. "Get down! You're too exposed!"

Mela

 

[Mela]

Breathe in, breathe out​

That was the first thing she always did to calm her mind, even in bad situations. Steadying her breath, Mela began to calm her racing mind. She was in danger, but not about to die. Not if she did what her Sergeant said, and remembered her training. She’d been in worse situations before, if she made it out of those she could make it out of this.

In training, it’d been drilled into her to keep enemy forces suppressed when moving. In theory, it seemed easy, and even in mock combat it was relatively simple. However, this was nothing like that. The sand, the noise, the confusion. Worse, she and Sergeant Kortu were outnumbered heavily. Any sort of covering fire would be coming form herself.

Firing wildly in the general direction of the Mawites, Mela began sprinting towards her commander, diving behind a boulder nearby him. The brotherhood forces seemed to at least have the sense to duck, as her wild firing, though inaccurate, kept them from aiming well.

Kneeling against the rock, Mela kept her rifle ready. Breathing heavily, she searched for any sign of Mawite forces in position to make her cover useless. Luckily, none popped up. Pressing herself against the rock, the rookie shouted to her commander.

“Sir! Orders?”

Dagmar Kortu

 

[Dagmar Kortu]

Dagmar breathed a small sigh of relief when Mela managed to get to his position in one piece. Now to handle these stragglers, going out of cover Dagmar looked through his scope and saw about 6 stragglers firing wildly on the Walker, he fired back shooting one Mawite in the head. Now five more. The bastards were spread out though trying to shoot the hull of the walker. The damn Mawites shouldn't have access to missile launches, they'll tear up every convoy that passes through here!

"All right!" Dagmar yelled to Mela through the blaster fire rifling through his belt for a Flashbang grenade. "As soon as they're stunned, we'll take them all down with one blast!"

The Sniper tossed the flashbang over the rock, it bounced off the ground and exploded in a bright flash of light stunning the Mawites. "NOW!" Dagmar slipped out of cover firing with his SMG killing 3 Mawites on his flank. Hopefully Mela, can finish the rest.

Mela

 

[Mela]

Mela nodded to her commander as the Sergeant finished speaking. As he prepared to throw, she adjusted her position to stand and fire quickly. Another set of deep breaths.

In​

Dagmar threw.

Out. ​

A bright light and loud bang marked the detonation. Mela stood, turning her rifle on the stunned Mawites. Aiming in a heartbeat, her finger squeezed down on the trigger, sending streams of blasterfire downrange. One Mawite took two of her shots square in the chest, while the final one closest to her took three, center mass. Both dropped. The other three had already fallen by the time Mela finished off her second. Well-trained instinct kicked in and the young soldier dropped to her knees, once again behind cover.

Her chest rose and fell in sharp but controlled breaths. She’d just killed for the first time, presuming the two hadn’t survived. It felt far less personal than any knife fight she’d been in, even the rare pistol fight in the cramped streets of home. Less real, like she had less adrenaline in her veins. More…detached.

She didn’t speak, waiting for her Sergeant and mentor to speak first.


Dagmar Kortu

 

[Dagmar Kortu]

Dagmar took a deep breath surveying the corpses around he and Mela, it went better than he thought he would. He turned to Mela who was staring at the two men she killed her eyes glossed over as if she was lost in thought. Dagmar knew the feeling; it was the stare of a person who had killed for the first time in their lives. Their minds scrambling trying to digest the situation, the moral barriers that they've built around them came crumbling down with a pull of the trigger. No doubt Mela was trying to rationalize what happened but there was no going back from this. "You'll always remember your first kill." Dagmar thought.

"Hey Meat," Dagmar slowly approached her smiling as he did so. "You did good, I know you feel a little shaken up at what you did. Everyone sick when it's the first time they've killed. Unfortunately killing is something that gets easier as you go on."

Dagmar scanned the war-torn area sighing just a few weeks ago, a bloody battle ensued between the GA and Brotherhood. So much destruction and death. He saw the worn out faces of refugees as they walked through the ruins of what was once their home. Yet there was still hope in their eyes, hope that things will get better in the end. "This is isn't basic training anymore Meat," Dagmar said. "In a war a person's worst traits will be laid bare in front of you and all notions of morality will be thrown out leaving with two choices: Kill or be killed. It's easy to forget what a sin is once you started to taste battle."

He placed his hand on the small woman's shoulder. "But you'll be fine Meat," he said. "Take a deep breath because we got to take of those RPGs."

Mela