Röt Hafen System
21 July, 2184, 1800 ship’s time

The Kohl’s last transit took her into the Röt Hafen system at the highest velocity she could safely make while entering warp. The jump was intended to put her almost one and a half million kilometers from the shuttle release point. It was the closest distance she could accurately warp herself without running the risk of damage from the planet’s gravitational field. Hauser was pleased that the required in system course correction was small, only 2.5 degrees. Kohl executed a fifteen-second burn, then went into cloaking mode. While cloaked, using the new Mk IX mod, she would be invisible to all active and passive sensor scans, or so the crew hoped. That was providing they made no further maneuver or main drive burns or attempted to power weapons or active sensors. The biggest difference with the Mk IX mod was that it allowed the Kohl to use her passive sensors while cloaked. While not invisible to he naked eye, the Kohl’s VSRLBF (Visual Scan Range Lightray Bending Field) ensured that one would need to be looking right at the Kohl at close range to see her. Of course, given the vast distances ships usually engaged themselves in combat, the Kohl could be lit up like a neon sign and still go unseen, provided she made no active emissions.

The insertion plan called for the Kohl to come in at a shallow trajectory, coasting past any Kra’Vak pickets. The trajectory would take her on a sling shot around Röt Hafen. In passing, Kohl would deploy two objects. One was the shuttle, which would skip into high altitude and deploy the Special Forces. The second object would be the surveillance and communications satellite.

Kohl had been in system just five days earlier observing the Kra’vak forces. Most of their ships had remained in orbit over the planet’s western hemisphere, where the main settlements were, or between Röt Hafen and its one moon. The Kra’vak had nuked any settlements elsewhere on the planet. Hauser hoped that any enemy ships which could observe the eastern hemisphere would actually be looking out into the direction of any incoming invaders than inward to the planet. That would make the insertion task infinitely easier.

It was a long eighteen-hour transit to the insertion point. Initial passive scans detected nothing in the vicinity. As Kohl approached her sensors began to pick out enemy ships and other emissions. Tension amongst the crew rose with each passing hour. Hauser knew he would need to make one final course correction to time his arrival correctly. The main computer calculated the heading, duration, and intensity of the burn. Hauser wanted to make the correction as far out a possible, and the computer determined this to be 5 light seconds out.

946 conducted their final mission prep. First, rucksacks were packed. Each man carried a personal hygiene kit, sleeping/shelter gear, four days rations, one IV admin set and 1000ml lactated ringers, two gallons of water and personal survival gear. Added to that were sufficient power cells for their undersuits and system electronics to last two weeks. Each man carried extra ammunition and APDs (Anti-pursuit devices). Then there was the team gear. Freeman and Miner handed out explosives to each man to ensure proper crossloading. Molitoris and Frament, carrying theirs M5 first aid bags, divvied up spare medical supplies and handed each man his own small kit which he called their “itchies and scratchies” bag. Brooks, carrying the primary SATCOM communications system, handed the secondary to Captain Gerard. Lawrence, Donner, and Miner each carried one MBE (Message Beacon, Emergency). The team also divvied up extra communications, electronic and ECM gear.

After rucksacks were packed, each man checked over his web gear, which carried water, combat knife, utility tool, ammunition, grenades spare power packs, personal survival kits and other equipment. The team packed in a three-tiered system, meaning that if they had to dump their rucksacks in an emergency, they could still carry on the mission with their web gear only. If hey had to dump their web gear, they could still survive on what they carried on their person.

For weapons, most of the team carried the L7A4. This was the cut-down SOFMOD kit (Special Operations Forces MODification) version of the NAC’s standard L7A3 assault rifle. The L7A4 was a bullpup- style weapon that fired 4mm tungsten-core projectiles from a binary liquid propellant mechanism. It carried a 100-round magazine, which also contained the binary liquid propellant supply, which was loaded behind the pistol grip. It was designed in an over under configuration with a 25mm rocket assisted HE grenade launcher loaded from a ten-round cassette. The SOFMOD kit grenades available included AP, HE (available in contact, timed detonation or airburst/proximity), opacity (smoke), flare, and anti-personnel flechette, all selectable by the firer. It had an integral laser-rangefinder/ aim point which fed into the firer’s heads-up display (HUD). The weapon was designed with minimal maintenance and high survivability in mind. The A4 version had a shorter overall length, slightly shorter effective range, and was lighter. It was also capable of accepting a number of special modifications. One in particular, was the laser designator mount. This included both the designator and encryption discriminator software needed to guide in close air support, PGMs (Precision Guided Munitions) and Ortillery. Another special modification was the IR aim point, which worked with the firer’s HUD in night vision mode without the signature of the standard laser sight. Each man also carried the 10mm Browning 227 sidearm.

946 carried two special weapons. Ken Mellor, the team’s sniper, carried an L9A3 sniper rifle (Gauss). This had been phased out of service by most of the NAC in favor of the newer L10A2 sniper rifle (Laser). 946 chose not to carry any power-weapons on the operation due to the scarcity and weight of power reloads. Their mission was reconnaissance, not combat, and they figured on replenishing 4mm ammo from local sources on the planet, if necessary.

Freeman carried the team’s one heavy weapon, an L5A4 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). The A4 was the lighter and shorter than the standard A1, but still required a gyromount harness to carry it. Normally, 946 wouldn’t carry a heavy weapon on a mission like this, but given that they would be on their own on Röt Hafen, Lawrence opted to take the SAW. Besides, Freeman was a young buck.

All equipment was rigged with H-harnesses and attaching rings for he drop. Loose straps and bits were duct-taped down, or dummy corded. Sensitive electronic gear received extra padding.

With equipment rigged, checked and double-checked, the team began suiting up for the drop. First on was the enviro-undersuit. This was a light-weight undergarment interwoven with a capillary-fed heating and cooling system run form a lightweight circulator pump. Attached to the suit was a health monitoring kit, which could be read by Molitoris by activating a chest mounted control panel. Morphine, stimulants, and antibiotics could also be administered from the panel. Over that went the ballistic cloth SOFMOD battlesuit, also known as the stealthsuit or chameleonsuit. This garment was an active-camouflage battledress, which changed pigment depending on the immediate surroundings. The suit was treated to dampen heat signature. It gave the team an odd mottled look as they suited up. Molitoris had modified the suit further, after learning of the Kra’vak ability to se deep into the UV spectrum. Working with NSL technicians, he had put together an Aerosol UV-dampening spray with which he treated the team’s equipment.

Over the suit went shin/knee, arm and chest flexible poly-armor. Often, 946 left the armor behind, but they opted to take it this time. They could always leave it in their patrol base during their recon patrols. It remained to be seen whether the armor would be effective against Kra’Vak rail systems. Finally, they wore new SOFMOD 2189-pattern combat helmet. It was lighter and less bulky than the standard infantry combat helmet, a feature that was always a necessity for heavily-laden SOF units, which often found themselves travelling great distances on foot. The helmet’s electronics included a voice-activated three-channel low power communications system, which could be set to work on either HF or IR mode. This comm system could also interface into the team’s long range communications. The helmet incorporated flip down light amplification and IR goggles as well as 4x10 image enhancement. Targeting data for the soldier’s weapons system were fed right into the helmet’s HUD system. Also incorporated into the helmet’s microcomputer were IFF, GPS and navigational systems.

After suiting up, Mellor and Lawrence, working with Waldek, conducted a jumpmaster inspection of the small shuttle. All the seats had been removed to make room for the team and their gear. Once the shuttle was pronounced jump worthy, they conducted the final pre-jump briefing for the team, which covered actions on the shuttle and all jump the performance measures. Waldek, who had perhaps the most dangerous task given the insertion profile, attended the briefing since she would be wearing a parachute also. Once completed, Lawrence had the team gather around.

Captain Gerard had a few words: “Remember guys, accurate reporting down there is paramount. We’ll be feeding this data back to the fleet, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what’s coming next, even if they haven’t come out and told us. Everyone on Röt Hafen is relying on us doing our job. I’m sure you guys will do fine.”

Lawrence spoke: “All right you guys, it’s that time of the month. Everyone knows what to do, where to go, and what to do if something shits the bed. And we all know that something always shits the bed in this business, don’t we? Once we’re dirtside, it’s just us, so use the buddy system. One other thing. I noticed that everyone’s been a little edgy about dealing with these Kra’Vak.” Lawrence activated the holoprojector, which displayed the image of the Kra’Vak carcass taken from the briefing. “These things are not invincible. This one as killed in battle, by a slug just like ours. So stop worrying about what they’re going to do to you and start figuring what you’re going to do to them. You guys got that?”

There were murmurs of approval.

“I don’t say this too much because it’ll go to your fat heads, but you guys are the balls. Every one of you is a bad motherfucker. Together as a team there’s nothing we can’t accomplish. Now lets rig up and get the fuck off this tin can and into our element.”

They turned to the huge pile of team gear. Its size made them wonder if they were pack mules or commandos. Mellor and Lawrence supervised as the men donned their para-rigs. The Mk VII high altitude low opening parachute, consisted of an initial drag chute which slow them in the initial phase of their decent. A main chute opening at 1500 meters would follow. The pack also incorporated an emergency reserve. The L7A4s were attached through the main lift web of the parachute harness. Eveb if they had to jettison their rucksacks, each man would have his web gear and weapon. Next would be the altimeter automated opening and oxygen regulator unit, which snapped onto a chest mount. This would track their altitude, keep oxygen flow regulated at the right pressure, and automatically open the chutes at the pre-programmed time. The data was fed through a cable to the helmet HUD. The panel interfaced with an O2 bottle, which fed a mask, (this would be donned later), that sealed against the combat helmet. Thus kitted, each man’s combat suit served as an effective vacc suit in low-pressure environments.