The Breaking of Burgoyne - Part One

Posted on Wed Mar 11th, 2020 @ 3:19am by Lieutenant Colonel John "Hammer" Burgoyne

Mission: Mission 84: The Ghastly Echoes of Vietnam
Location: Halan'goren City - Western Outskirts
Timeline: 0900Hrs - May 1st, 2392

Lt Colonel John Burgoyne watched as a large force of Klingon shock troops attacked the force he was presently deployed with as he lifted his rifle and opened fire in response to the Klingon's attack before he moved over to the left behind a small outcropping of rubble as a disruptor blast narrowly missed his legs.

Burgoyne sighed. "Shit," he muttered as he lifted his rifle and began shooting at the enemy that was missing for their attack.

‘‘INCOMING!’’ a Federation marine with a thick Yugoslavian accent screamed as he ducked for cover.

‘‘Get some fucking anti-tank fire on that bitch.’’ A Federation marine with a Norwegian accent yelled out as he pointed to the target. Suddenly a volley of missiles flew over their position and hit the Klingon tank and destroyed it in a flash of light. What was left of the Klingon tank and its crew rained down on them in a mist of heated flesh and metal?

"Fuck yeah!. Let’s finish off the rest of these fuckers." A Federation marine with a British accent shouted while firing his rifle on the retreating enemy. He managed to hit a few before they ran out of range. The impact of his projectiles tearing through their armor and feeling them on the ground.

"Colonel. We're taking heavy fire. This must be the sixth damn attack today." A Swedish corporal told another Marine as Burgoyne overhead.

"Good idea corporal I'll radio him," John said while he reloaded his empty power cell for his rifle before he slipped a new one in its place. He swung the rifle on his back and spoke into his headset. "Major, this is Sergeant Karlsson at trench 641 we just hit the advancing enemy. It looks like they're retreating for now with large casualties inflicted. Ourselves?. Only four troops ... Yes, sir understood, thank you, sir.’’

"What did he say?" the Bosnian asked.

"He said that we are doing an amazing job holding the enemy off and that the lines are holding everywhere. And get this, he is giving us a day’s leave."

"No way, really?" the Norwegian soldier asked.

"Yes, as soon as the other relief unit arrives you are free to do whatever you want. I suggest that you get some sleep that’s what I’m going to do." the female Norwegian added.

Burgoyne smiled. "I'll believe it when I see it." meanwhile there was a loud screaming sound that suddenly rose in volume. "INCOMING!" he screamed.

"Get to the west flank." Corporal Strömfeldt yelled out to a bunch of his soldiers.

"Colonel. We got three Klingon tanks heading this way and we are out of anti-tank missiles.’’ A soldier shouted as bullets whizzed past him.

"Radio for some artillery strikes," Burgoyne screamed back while he blasted a Klingon warrior who was rushing towards him.

"Radio is all busted, shot to pieces." The soldier replied as he swore in his native tongue.

Burgoyne desperately looked around for something he could use against the tanks that were crossing no man's line. Burgoyne spotted a cluster of grenades on a dead Marine and snatched them up. "Corporal cover me while I blow those tanks up," he shouted to the marines nearby.

Corporal Moa nodded and started to shot at the enemy tanks with her phaser rifle and the other soldiers did the same. Burgoyne jumped up onto no man's land and started to run towards the tanks while at the same time trying to dodge the incoming ordinance. He reached the first tank and took a grenade and threw it underneath the tank where the armor was weakest. When it exploded the tank's turret flew high into the air and came crashing down upon a few Klingon infantrymen, killing them and the pilot. He did the same to another tank which moved into the path of the remaining tank. The last tank distracted by incoming fire from the bunker ran over the second tank and crashed landed hard into the mud, this crippled the tank itself.

The pilot ejected from the walker and was greeted by Burgoyne and his sidearm. Burgoyne shot the pilot twice, as he turned before trying to scramble back into the relative safety of Trench two ninety-one.

Burgoyne was half way there when he was hit in the back by a disruptor blast and fell to the ground. He sighed as he looked up into the eyes of the man who was about to kill him. "Damm... Calliope.. I'm sorry." he whispered aloud, this caused the Klingon to hesitate as three various other marines began to fill the Klingon standing over Burgoyne with phaser fire, this effect disintegrated him.

Corporal Moa Strömfeldt rushed out from behind cover. "Covering fire!" she screamed as she physically lifted Colonel Burgoyne in her arms before she carried him back to the relative safety of Federation alliance lines.

Strömfeldt placed him with the other wounded who were being casualty evacuated to the various Federation starships in orbit.