Philips aimlessly stirred at the contents of the bowl in front of him. Every once in a while, he'd lift the spoon
out of the yellowish slop and watch it through tired eyes as it dripped back down into the bowl.
"What is this? Crap?"
"No, we're not that unlucky," someone answered from down the table, "but hey man, it might as well be."
A chorus of agreement sounded from up and down the cafeteria. Philips remained silent. Blinking and groggily
rubbing his face with his free hand, he began to lift the spoon to his mouth.
"Hey, Philips, you got a message in the coms."
"Thanks, Garet," Philips muttered, grateful for a reason to put the spoon back into the bowl.
He stood and turned to walk out the door. "No one touch my food."
Garet smiled as Philips walked out. Pulling up a chair to the table, Garet reached over and grabbed Philips'
bowl. As he helped himself, he smiled between mouthfuls, muttering "It's not like he was going to eat it."
Murphy looked at Garet with an amused stare as Collins laughed.
----
Please enter your authorization code. . .
Philips typed it in as the chair swung him around to face the computer screen.
Greetings. . . Philips, Henry M. You have one unread secure message. . . Do you wish to view it. . .
Philips typed 'Yes'
One moment. . . displaying message now. . .
The screen flashed as text suddenly filled the screen.
Directive dated December 21, 2041 recieved 1500 hours
That was two days ago. It was Christmas now.
Company directive ordered Weyland Yutani. . . Diversion from course requested. . .
App. 12.2.41. . . The freighter Maximus recieved orders to set down on. . . GT- 54. . .
E.T.A. touchdown App. 0300 hours 12.5.41. . . Lost contact 0300 hours 12.5.41. . .
The frieghter Maximus recieved orders from the Company to set down on some uncharted planetiod
approximately three weeks ago. They were never heard from again, the usual sob story...
USCM squad 161st to follow course 70œ 40Æ and investigate. . .
The 161st is to follow in their wake and report what they find... This was starting to sound like a scifi movie...
Attached program cycle. . . Do you wish to view. . .
'Yes'
Read out from navigation. . .
10101010101
Course as of 1700 hours 12.21.41. . . 90œ 60Æ
01010101010
Present course as of 0800 hours 12.25.41. . . 70œ 40Æ
- - End Program Cycle - -
Please refer to directive 1/12/9/5/14
Philips sighed as he logged out... another mission, for way too little pay.. the boys won't like this...
He was about to hit the terminate switch on the console when a beep sounded from the screen. He looked up.
Philips, Henry M. . . . You have one unread secure message. . . Do you wish to view it. . .
This was interesting, it must have just come in.
'Yes'
One moment. . .
The screen flashed and text scrolled down the screen.
Directive dated December 25, 2041. . . recieved 0800 hours. . .
Yes, it had just come in to Father.
For the eyes of Philips, Henry M. only. . . Please enter code. . .
Sighing, Philips entered his code again.
This is a secure transmission, Mr. Philips. . .
I have a been notified of your current change in directive, and have a proposition that may prove to be beneficial. . .
----
"What's the word?"
"We've had a change in directives. We have a mission... Approximately three weeks ago, the freighter
Maximus was directed to make planetfall on an uncharted planetiod, labeled GT- 54. We've been diverted from
our course home and set on a path following it."
"So that's why I don't see any of familiar planet's out there," Garet muttered as he peered out of the
cafeteria's viewport.
Murphy, who seemed to find his slop immensly interesting, didn't even look up as he muttered, "Everyone,
give a point to captain obvious!"
Garet turned, a smile playing across his face. "Hey, Murphy, screw you man... screw you."
Murphy looked up, looked at Garet, than at Philips, than back at Garet. "Garet ate your slop."
Collins started laughing. Philips looked down at the empty bowl before him.
"Garet, you STUPID sonofa...."
Garet glared at Murphy. "Hey, up yours, Murphy."
----
Collins lay staring at the bulkhead. Well, not at the bulkhead, but the picture on the bulkhead.
"Hey man, do you have to do that? It's sorta pathetic, that you stare at that girl for hours on end," Garet
said as he popped his head up over the edge of the bunk.
"Garet, I like it, and if I'm going to risk my life on every mission, I'm going to do as I please when I'm not on
a mission."
"Whatever, man," Garet shrugged as he walked off, snapping on his armor. "Get geared up, we're loading
the Drop in a half an hour."
Collins rolled over onto his elbow, nodding at Garet.
"We make planetfall in four hours."
"I'm ready for it."
"Get geared then."
----
"Clear Behind!"
With each footstep echoing across the bay, the power loader slowly backed up. Swinging around, Murphy
picked up yet another missle to load as another member of the squad rolled a cart of them towards the ship.
"Here's more," the soldier yelled, before ducking uder the wing and running off to do another job.
"Rookie," Murphy muttered as the final missle was loaded into the dropship. The extra cart the soldier had
just brought stood un-used to the side.
"Now what am I supposed to do with all these freaking missles?!"
----
Three and a half hours later, Collins paced up and down the isle of the cramped dropship, checking straps,
yelling war cries, and generally being an ass.
"Collins! sit down before I get up!"
Garet's threat went ignored.
The next time Collins paced past, Garet stuck out his booted foot, and rammed it upward. With a yelp,
Collins' knee buckled and sent him clattering to the floor.
Murphy smirked silently, while Philips' laughter rang through out the cabin. Collins pushed himself upright,
readjusting his body armor, and glaring death at Garet. Garet grinned right back at him.
"Sit down, little boy. That's right, you sit right there. Check you strap. Good job. Soon, you'll be house
trained well enough for me to respect."
"Hey, Garet, f*ck off!"
Philips was out of his seat in an instant, breathing flames and hollaring in Collins face.
"SON! YOU BEST LEARN REAL QUICK THAT YOU ARE SCUM! YOU TALK TO A SUPERIOR
OFFICER LIKE THAT AGAIN AND YOU'LL LEARN IT THE HARD WAY!"
Collins tried to sputter a response, but Philips was already returning to his seat.
Garet smirked into his chest plate, waiting til Philips was past him to say "Thank you, mommy!"
"GARET!"
"Sir?"
----
"Boys and Girls, Marine's of all sizes and shapes, hold tight, we're out of here." The voice piping through
the intercom made it all sound so easy.
Then Murphy felt the ground drop out below him, and his stomach was up in his throat as Garet started
to yell at the top of his lungs. He hated the drops, they always made him want to be sick.
The worse part was that he had a feeling that the worst part of this mission wouldn't be the drop.
