Breach II Federation Collection 4 - Death Before Dishonor

FEDERATION COLLECTION #4
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR

Storyline By: Steve Nolan
Scenarios By: Chuck Parrott
Edited By: Rob & Pam Ballantyne
Published By: Modern Day Publishing Co. Inc.
3223 Silver Pond Court
Charlotte, NC 28210

Prom the Author

     Death Before Dishonor marks the fourth disk of the seven disk Federation Collection. Death Before Dishonor is very special to me for several reasons. One, it marks a turning point for the Federation Collection as a whole, a 1. over the hump" triumph of sorts. Secondly, the storyline is truly beginning to unfold and start to take on a momentum effect of its own. As a writer, one can really appreciate this, it seems as though the story takes possession of my fingers as they dance across the keyboard. After playing Death Before Dishonor, you will begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. A prelude to war? A hint of an armed intervention? Will the Federation jump right in and squash the civil war? Will the Zollanti Empire intervene on behalf of the rebels? These and other questions can only be answered by playing the next disk of the Federation Collection, Winds of Steel

Kleptnir,

Steve Nolan
President and Executive Publisher
Modern Day Publishing Co. Inc.
1/2/90

PROLOGUE

     The garrison was alive with the sounds of men preparing to go to war. The nervous tension was as thick as whip cream. You swear you could reach out and just grab the tension as it starts to permeate your office. Reaching down you strap your knife sheath to your right bootleg. The sounds of running footsteps, the slamming of lockers, the echoing thuds of steel rifles slapping against the plastic-ablative exosuit armor reverberate all around you. Sergeant Farber stood on and overlooked the twenty marines as they assembled across the bay, in front of the transporter room. Each marine stood motionless, afraid to move. You walk out of your office and quickly walk by each marine, giving them a quick look over. Sergeant Farber is lazily leaning up against a locker, you quickly turn around and stare him hard in the eyes. Slowly his stupid grin begins to recede as he straightens his back and snaps to attention.

     "Sergeant assemble all Team Squad Leaders and have them report to me on the double!" you shout out and storm in the Operations Room. "Corporal Kranor, are the shuttles prepped and ready?"

     "Yes sir, they are getting refueled right now."

     "Thanks I want-" you look up at Sergeant Farber and the three other marines as they walk into Operations. You walk over to the communications officer and lean over his shoulder, "Have them report when they're ready as soon as each bird is topped off."

     You motion for the marines to walk over and position themselves in front of the holomap. Each marine stands at ease and places his helmet in their free hand. Sergeant Farber remains back a few feet and witnesses the prebreifing with doubtful eyes. You realize that your going to have to win their respect, but you have little time to worry about first impressions. You keep telling yourself that these guys are marines, and regardless of what or how they felt about you, they were each sworn to the Federation Oath of Duty, and would have to follow you to hell or back, regardless of how they liked you. What was important was to get Steiner and his men out of the plant and secure the Top Secret Data.

     You slowly turn to each of the Team Leaders. "Gentlemen, I realize that this mission has come up very unexpectedly, but by God we have finally located Steiner and his men. You reach over and pick up the holo remote control driver and punch in the terrain sector. The small one meter diameter machine hums to life as the projector kicks in, displaying the terrain in the air. Quickly you thumb the small joystick controls and give each man a panoramic view of your shuttle path from Freeport, across the jungle towards the plant.

     "We will come in low across the valley at subsonic speeds. Have each of your men strapped in tight, I've given instructions to the pilots to use auto-contour flight modes" You bear a couple of loud sighs and mutters of disbelief, but you ignore them and continue. "Its going to be a fast, roller coaster of a ride into the landing zones. As you can see, when we hit the marshlands, we will turn west and approach the abandoned processing plant with the setting sun at our backs." You stop the terrain flow and zoom in on the Processing plant. "Right here, next to the plant about 1 click to the west, there is a small rock build up, it almost looks like a rock quarry of sorts. Farber, you and Charlie Team will land in the marsh at the base of the mountain. Your job is to cross the marsh here and here, climb the mountain and hold it. If you notice closely, the peak of the mountain seems large enough to land a shuttle on it. This is going to be our Pick Up Zone. I will lead Bravo Team in a direct assault on the plant. First, with a demo, we will blast our way in through the side of the building. Each Team Leader of Bravo Group will have a crack unit. It is our responsibility to get the layout of the plant as soon as possible so we can get to Steiner. We lost radio contact with them only moments ago, so I suspect the rebels have cut power to his level and are beginning their final assault. Speed is essential to this mission. Any questions?"

     Farber immediately spoke up. "Yeah, why don't Charlie Team simply land at the top of the rock quarry instead of climbing the damn thing?"

     "For one, I don't want to give away the location of the pick up zone. You can see the top of the bill from just about every position around the plant. You and your team will stand a far better chance of holding that mountain if the rebels don't spot you. Secondly, I'm not sure the top of the quarry will be large enough to land a shuttle, if it isn't then you're gonna have to find a better sight, something closer to the plant. We may be extracting several wounded, and I don't want to go too far. Anybody else?" Each of the Squad Leaders shook their heads. They were ready. "Okay very well, assemble your teams in the shuttles. Farber, you and your team will be going in first. Take several fox hole diggers with you, in case you have to find a new Pick Up Zone, I want it capable of being defended."

     "How long do you expect us to defend the PZT'

     "You will hold that Pick-up Zone until I get back. Is that understood?"

     "And what if you don't make it back?"

     "Then you'll take charge and go in the plant and secure those tapes. The bottom line, is we got to resecure those data packs and stop them from getting into the wrong hands."

CHAPTER ONE

     You step outside of the garrison building, past the armory towards a series of small shuttle pads located in the courtyard. Four DV4 shuttles are parked on the pads with a score of techs running around conducting last minute checks. Both Bravo and Charlie teams are lined up next to the armory, standing at full attention. The men look ready, you think to yourself as you approach Sergeant Farber. He quickly snaps to attention and salutes.

     "Insertion Teams Bravo and Charlie are all accounted for and ready for departure, sir."

     You glance around and look across the line at the eighteen men. They are indeed ready. "Very good Sergeant. Move 'em out!"

     "You heard the Commander. Squad Leaders assemble the men and load them in... double time!" he shouts as he returns your salute.

     The sounds of two dozen men running across the concrete tarmac reverberate with a constant thud of their jack boots, and jostling of their heavy weighted rucksacks. The sounds of Squad Leaders calling out for the men to move out, quickly get drowned out by the turbo engines of the shuttles as the pilots crank up the heavy engines. Boarding your shuttle last, you nod to the technician to shut the bay door as you find your seat waiting for you. The high pitched whine of the shuttle engines roaring to life filled the bay with a powerful vengeance. You sit down by the jump door and strap yourself in. Inside the bay everyone is quite, each making a final peace with his maker, each going over their individual orders, making sure they haven't forgotten a thing. A sudden jolt shakes the shuttle as the pilot quickly lifts the bird from the ground. A moment later you feel the quick acceleration as the shuttle begins to tilt to the side as it enters a circling pattern waiting for the other half of Bravo Team to lift off. You can bear the sonic boom of two shuttles blasting away in the distance as Farber and Charlie Team bead off to their destination. A moment or two later, your own shuttle balances out and begins to accelerate. The entire bay slowly begins to shake and rattle. Each of the men's beads bob up and down with the growing speed. Suddenly the shuttle drops about twenty feet and levels off. The constant shaking builds with each counting moment as you race towards the landing zone.

     You try to relax and close your eyes, but that just makes it worse. Again the shuttle drops another ten feet then quickly lifts up, then drops once more. The motion in the bay quickly approaches the breaking limit. One of the marines struggles with his faceplate and leans over, vomiting his breakfast all over the leg of another. The erratic motion of the shuttle coupled with the foul stench of vomit forces another marine to lean over and add his contents to the shuttle floor. The green light in the back blinks two times. Two minutes to drop, thank God you mutter to yourself.

Play DBD 01 (Linked with 1 other scenario)
(Use Squad Leader Farber for this mission)

CHAPTER TWO

     "Two minutes People. Two minutes... Lock and Load!" you shout, trying to breathe out of your mouth. The awful stench of the bay hits you in waves as you desperately try to hold back the urge to throw up your innards. The autocontour mode was surely the safest and most direct way of coming into a potential hot landing zone. It enabled the Terrain/Navigational computer to take control of flying. At speeds of over eight hundred kilometers an hour, the reflexes of a human would not be capable of flying a vehicle two meters from the tops of the trees. The fact that they were traveling faster than the speed of sound would also give them a second or two of surprise before the roar of the sonic boom caught up to them. Looking up you count down the seconds. The green light flashes one time and turns red. "Okay men, unstrap and prepare for jump!"

     Slowly the shuttle levels out slightly as you struggle to regain your balance on the slippery deck. "Unlock weapons..." you shout. You can hardly wait to step on dry ground and get out of this metal crate.

     "Ready on my count... One ..." you grab hold of the quick release latch, "Two looking back over your shoulder you stare at the red flashing light. Suddenly it turns green as the shuttle switches gears to hover mode. "Three go!" you shout out as you tug on the latch. Quickly the heavy steel door drops down as you count off, "Go... Go... Go..." looking up across the marsh you can see your other shuttle break into hover mode and the faint images of men jumping down to the ground are shiloutted against the moonlight. You take a quick glance around the bay making sure all of your men have jumped, then you lean over the doorway and jump out.

     Somehow you managed to get turned sideways when you leapt from the bay. You grit your teeth as you expect a heavy thud into the ground, but instead you are shocked when you emerge into waist high water! Struggling to regain your footing you resubmerge yourself and stand up. Half of your visor faceplate is drenched in the muddy water of the marsh. Your helmet's defoggers kick in and begin to dry off the water, leaving a muddy red tint to your faceplate. You realize that you didn't take in account for the low and high tides that effected the marsh and your landing zone. "Well, " you mutter aloud, "no time to worry about it now."

     You reach down and take hold of a nearby marine and pull him up to his feet as the shuttle above you lurches up into the air. Suddenly, several heatseeking rockets race up from the darkness and smash into its armored bottom. The shock waves of the explosion sends you to your knees as the echoing blast fills the night. Instantly you are showered with sparks of fiery metal shrapnel. Somehow the pilot manages to keep the Assault Craft in the air. You quickly stand up and shout out to your men.

     "Move out. Baker and Nimmo cover the left flank! Mahairais and Phifer get the right! Jennings and Groves lay down a suppressing fire towards those rocket launchers!" You steal one more glance up into the night time air to see the Assault Craft circle around the landing zone and kick in the afterburners, leaving the area in one hell of a hurry.

     It only took a matter of minutes before your team encountered heavy fire power from the edge of the swamp. Half of your men were instantly pinned down. You can pick up a half of dozen crazed conversations as each of your men shout out in the confusion and panic. You realize that you have to get them out of the marsh towards the plant before the rebels manage to get organized and send more men out. Running at full steam you begin to worry if Charlie Team was able to secure a landing zone. If they encountered the same sort of resistance, you might not have a way out of here. Making your way up to the front, you spot Nimmo and Mahairas firing their heavy laser rifles off in the distance. You got to get your men out of the marsh!

Play DBD 02 (Linked with 1 other scenarios)
(Use your own Squad Leader for this mission)

CHAPTER THREE

     The sounds of distant gun fire echoed its way up the rock quarry as the remaining marines began to set up defenses. Sergeant Farber and Corporal Hazard crawled their way to the edge of the bill and peered down. The constant chatter of laser rifles and bright flashes lit up the valley below. In the distance lay the plant. Out side they could see dozens of men scurrying around setting up defenses.

     "Bravo Team has their work cut out for them."

     "You think they can make it?"

     "Don't know, that hot shot CO is from a special forces unit, if anybody could get Bravo Team to that plant, he can."

     "I thought you didn't like him?"

     "I don't. But if he doesn't get those tapes out, we got to. That's why I'm hoping he can do the job."

     Suddenly another marine ran over to the two prone NCO's. Farber immediately sensed the standing marine, rolled over, and quickly snatched the standing marine by the arm, yanking him down to the ground.

     "Damn it Nelson, why don't you just standup in the moonlight and announce to all the freakin' rebels that we're up here?!?"

     "Doesn't matter Sarge, they already know!"

     Farber instantly sat up. "Say what?"

     "Liles spotted two large groups approaching from the east!" he exclaimed pointing to the opposite direction.

     Farber stood up and pointed down to Hazard. "Listen Hazard, take four, no take three men and find a quick way down off this rockpile and find us a new pickup zone. When you find it reach me on the Comlink and we'll come down. Until then we'll put up a small defense with what we got and buy you some time. Now move!"

Play DBD 03
(Use Squad Leader Sergeant Farber for this mission)

CHAPTER FOUR

     "Did you hear that?" asked Kim as he turned around to one of the shattered windows.

     "Yeah it sounds like a piss load of angry rebels outside figurin' out how they gonna break in and kick our sorry little butts." remarked Blaine as he retied the bandage around his leg.

     "No man I'm serious!" he said standing up on his toes trying to get a better view out the window. "Sounded like a couple of Assault Crafts!"

     "You can't be serious!"

     "No look, there's a fire fight going on down there to the west, towards the marsh!"

     Blaine bobbled up to the window and looked out. "I think you're right my little oriental friend! Hey Top come here!"

     Sergeant Kurt Steiner made his way to the others and looked out. For an instant the two marines swore be bad cracked a smile. "They're here. And not a moment too soon." Steiner ran over to the center of the room towards the small map of the area and called to Staff Sergeant Krantz to come over.

     "This is what it looks like to me. The CO probably set down here in this small clearing in the marsh and is trying to make his way over here to us at the back entrance here."

     "Okay." replied the Staff Sergeant. Sergeant Krantz, a young marine of twenty two was busily studying the map. "The question is Top, how are we going to get some of our men down there and give his team some more firepower?"

     "I think you ought to send Kim and Blaine down, they can use the back entrance and take the downshafts to the bottom level and come out here. If they hustle fast enough, and don't encounter too many rebels on these lower levels, then they should be able to link up with the Commander before they enter the plant. We can't afford to have our relief force get lost or tangled up with the rebels that are all ready inside the plant."

     "Right," he said putting on his heavy rucksack. "I'm gonna lead this one. Blaine's leg is pretty sore and he'll just slow down Kim." grabbing a nearby laser rifle he turns back to Steiner, "You know it too."

     Steiner was going to argue, then smiled and patted his second in command on the shoulder, he was right. "Okay just watch your ass. I don't want to have to come down there and look for you myself. Is that understood Sergeant."

     Krantz simply smiled and called out to Kim. "Okay Mother, we'll be careful. Corporal Kim... saddle up, you and I are moving out!"

Play DBD 04
(Use Squad Leader Krantz for this mission)

After winning scenario DBD 04, play scenario DBD 05, using your own
Squad Leader.

CHAPTER FIVE

     The rebels had sent at least sixty men up the quarry trying to force the marines off. Each time the Federation Marines either cut them down with powerful fields of fire, or simply let grenades roll down the slope exploding on the charging rebels. Farber knew that they couldn't hold for much longer, they were all ready out of grenades, and all that remained were a couple of proximity charges. The colored Gunnery Sergeant leaned over the edge of his forward foxhole and fired six or seven three round bursts down the blackened hill. The rebels were half way up! Where in the hell is Hazard and his men? Maybe they didn't make it.

     Suddenly two fiery trails of smoke streaked up towards the top of the quarry. Farber barely had enough time to duck as the two rockets slammed into the lip of the hill. Corporal Mitchell was unlucky. He tried to cover himself but the rocket was a split second faster and erupted just a meter from his foxhole. The force of the explosion threw his limp body several meters backwards.

     "Mitchell's down!" shouted another marine. "Doc... Mitch is down. Get him a medic!"

     Farber shook his head trying to regain his wits, when all of a sudden Corporal Hazzard's voice sounded off on the comlink. "Sarge this is Hazzard, PZ secure, come on down. I will turn on homing beacon. Can you hear me over?" Farber immediately stood up and fired a full load down the hill killing three rebels. "Okay people lets pull out. Simpson set up those proximity and remote charges. Kramer help me with Mitchell, we got to carry him down. Okay people move your lazy asses! Assholes and elbows... move out!"

Play DBD 06
(Use Squad Leader Farber for this mission)

CHAPTER FIVE

     The inside of the plant was in ruins. Each laser ridden wall was a testimony to Steiner and his men as they tried to hold out inside. Corporal Kim took point as he led your men through the debris covered building.

     Sergeant Krantz turned back and spoke. "You don't know how glad Sergeant Steiner is going to be to see you."

     "Oh I can imagine he'll be rather happy." you reply. "I think we will all be rather happy to-" suddenly you stop in mid-sentence at the sight of Corporal Kim running back down the hallway, his free hand waving everyone back. You frantically look around for some cover, as Sergeant Krantz finds an unlocked door. Corporal Kim appears around the corner and immediately slides on the floor, coming to a screeching halt.

     "We got problems. The rebels have surrounded the liftshafts!"

     Sergeant Krantz begins to motion for everyone to enter the room. "Have they spotted-"

     Suddenly a hail of laser light comes from the hallway. Three bolts strike a Marine as she was about to enter the room. The entire side of her helmet exploded as two laser beams struck simultaneously, spraying the nearby wall with dripping blood and bone. The lifeless body of Private Groves fell to the ground like a sack of rocks. Her hands and feet kicked uncontrollably as if her body refused to yield to death's warm embrace. Both you and Corporal Kim immediately drop to your knees and begin to fire back down the hallway.

     If you decide to rush the shaft play DBD 07 (linked with 1 other scenario) (Use your own Squad Leader for this mission), then continue your reading with Chapter Seven. If you decide not to rush the liftshafts and enter the room that Sergeant Krantz found, continue your reading with Chapter Six.

CHAPTER SIX

     "In here! Everyone in here on the double!" shouted Krantz.

     You fire two more rounds down the hall and take down another rebel. Dozens of rebels begin to charge down the corridor, their weapons blazing. Ducking several shots you turn back to your men. Many of which are still in the hall firing back at the onslaught of rebels.

     Private Jennings leapt to his feet, and fired several wild shots down the hall as he ran towards the open door. At about the same time as the private was about to enter the safety of the room, a hailstorm of laser light peppered the side of the doorway sending metal fragments into the air. Jennings immediately fell to his knees. Corporal Kim fired back taking two rebels out as he reached over and began to drag Jennings into the room. You immediately stand up and give him a hand. As the two of you drag him across the hallway into the room, you notice a large gash in the soldier's faceplate. As soon as you're inside, Krantz shuts and locks the heavy steel door as the last of your men follow suit and enter the room.

     Jennings body was cold to the touch. You roll him over on his back and almost vomit. Your stomach twists into large knots as you force back the painful dry heaves. Several large pieces of metal are grotesquely sticking out of his forehead. His eyes are wide open as his distant stare looks up into the ceiling.

     You stand up and turn towards the others. "He's dead. How about Groves?"

     Kim looks up and speaks, "She didn't make it either. Two shots to the head."

     The heavy sounds of rifle butts smashing into the steel door reverberate loudly in the room. You look over at the steel door and realize that it will not hold forever.

     "Sergeant Krantz, find us a way out of here." you order as you desperately search the room.

     "That's the only way out." he says pointing to the door.

     "Then blast us a new way out. You better think fast, that door ain't gonna hold for ever."

Play DBD 08 (Linked with 1 other scenario)
(Use your own Squad Leader for this mission)

CHAPTER SEVEN

     The sounds of heavy breathing mixed in with the moans of the wounded, filled the hallway as the rag tag group of Federation marines came to a halt, just outside the front entrance of the plant. They had some how managed to slip by the rebels and get to the exit. All that remained now was to somehow reach Sergeant Farber and find out where he had established a pick up zone and call in the Assault Crafts. You turn around and look outside the corner of the building. In the distance looms the large rock quarry.

     "Charlie Team come in, this is Bravo Leader over... Charlie Team come in, this Bravo Leader over."

     "Comlinks don't work when you are this close to the plant. Don't ask me why, but there is some sort of interference inside the building." replies Steiner.

     "I guess then we better send a team out to the rock pile and climb that hill to see if Farber and Charlie Team are still in place."

     "Right," spoke up Steiner. "Krantz, you and Kim take two men from the Commander's team up that mountain and make contact with Charlie Team. We will wait at the base of the hill." The four men separated from the main group and headed towards the rockpile.

Play DBD 09
(Use Squad Leader Sergeant Krantz for this mission)

CHAPTER EIGHT

     Sergeant Farber checked his chronometer. Bravo Team should have been out by now. What could be taking them so much time? His mind began to think out all the possibilities. Perhaps they didn't make it? Maybe they were trapped inside? He began to sort out his own plan of attack. He had to rescue those tapes. That's when it bit him like a ton of bricks. Maybe Bravo Team did make it out, and now they were lost in the jungleside trying to find him. After all, they had to leave the rockpile, it was up to him to find a new PZ, the CO never did discuss if that happened, how he would lead Bravo team to find the new PZ.

     "Shit, we got three minutes until the Assault Crafts come in." he spoke aloud. "Hazard, come here!"

     The short stocky kid from Vromus Prime appeared from out of nowhere. "What's up Gunny?"

     ""You still have those rocket flares on you

     "Yeah right here." he said holding up three small cylinders.

     Gunnery Sergeant Farber immediately snatched the rockets and aimed them towards the heavens and pulled the small tubes apart. Several red colored flares streaked up into the darken sky lighting up the jungle.

     "Okay men, look alive we just might have some friendlies coming towards us. Hazard try to reach the Assault Crafts and identify our flare colors!"

     Top Sergeant Steiner was the first to notice the flares as they streaked up to the night time sky. As if it was a chained reaction, everyone looked up. Cheers and laughter broke out amongst the men as they jumped in joy. Moments later the group was running full speed through the jungle towards the small clearing. Eventually Bravo and Charlie Team linked up, each man, Special Forces and Regular Marine patted each other on the back as if they had known each other for years.

     It was only a matter of seconds before the first of the four Assault Crafts began to land. First the dead were loaded, then the wounded. Finally all the marines had been safely airlifted out of the depth of the jungle. They were all home bound. You sit back exhausted in your small aluminum jump seat and momentarily think about strapping yourself in, then decide against it. It would only be a matter of minutes before the Assault Crafts would land and you would be standing under a hot shower. Lieutenant Kreiger's men bad fought hard, they had performed well under combat. The mission was a total success. You immediately remembered about the data packs!

     "Top you got those tapes don't you?"

     "What tapes?"

     "The data packs from base!"

     "Oh those, no I don't."

     "What?!?"

     "Corporal Simms does," he said with devilish grin. "don't you worry Skipper, we'd never let you down."

     You reach over and smack him softly on his beard stubbled face. "It's a good thing you didn't, the day you do, I'd find me a new Sergeant."

     His small grin broke into a large smile as be leaned back against the Assault Craft's steel bulkhead. They had made it. He didn't know how, but somehow through all the confusion, exhaustion and death, his men had made it.

TO BE CONTINUED...