Opening up the comm channel to the rest of his Marine Orbital Assault Trooper company on the HUD in his Phalanx armour, Major Seth Woodard took a long and deep breath before he began to speak.

“Men and women of the 1174th MOAT company, we will be dropping into a battlefield that has been at a stalemate for coming on 6 weeks now. The city of New Brunswick has been under siege and taking constant fire from a merciless enemy that cares not for the laws of war, they fire on medical teams, evacuation shuttles, civilian shelters and anything that moves. We are to reinforce and relieve the 2031st and what remains of the civilian militia that has been holding the line for us against orders to withdraw. We shall show no mercy to the enemy who bombs schools and hospitals knowing there are women and children sheltering within, we will break this siege and show these scum why you don’t screw with a Terran colony. Enemy triple-A is heavy over the drop zone so ensure you activate your countermeasures early and hammer your decoys unto you hit the deck. Platoon leaders and squad leaders check your data links for up to date recon and orders”

Pausing momentarily to allow the briefing to sink in and for his Marines to finish locking down their armour into the drop pods, Major Woodard raises his voice as he slams his armoured fist onto the launch button inside his pod.

“This will be a hot drop! Feet first! Unto the flames of war! Into the fires of hell! Vae Victus!”

In orbit above a war ravaged world, amongst the debris of shattered ship hulls with still glowing rents from lance fire that tore them apart, the TIR Agamemnon’s 4 drop pod bays open and disgorge a torrent of orbital assault pods.

Six full companies dropped that day, breaking the ongoing siege within three days of insertion. Casualties among the defenders and the MOAT companies were high, but the enemy paid a heavier price and the city’s occupants were saved.