The dry hot wind swirled among the rocks, the sun beat down like a hammer upon the heads of the warriors who had not found a shady spot to rest in. The temperature here rose to a blistering 115 degrees. during the day, and it was currently high noon.

Marrik hopped up next to Major Hurvic on the ledge of the rock cropping they were encamped behind. His binoculars scanned the horizon for any sign of the enemy. Nothing. He looked over his shoulder and saw his command, "Marriks Maulers", close to 500 Marines going about their paces, preparing for the ambush. He saw Sergeant-Major M'Rask, bellowing orders to the marines, setting up overlapping fields of fire and positioning the remainder of the troops among the rocks; and 2 nd Lt. Mesket, his communications officer, freshly graduated from the officers academy, fine tuning the comm feeds between this and the other two units. They required extra attention from the young officer, the mono-filament line feeds were necessary to keep communications channels open, but secure, and undetectable. But the setup was time consuming.

This was the command section of the advanced force, Task Force Dagger. The other force, Task Force Sword, was by far larger and armed with heavier weapons and armor. Sword was to arrive soon, they were the assault force, coming to attack an enemy fortress. Dagger was here to prepare the way, and time was short.

Marrik was glad to be out here in the field, his recent ascent to the Line lordship of the Reshtarc Line, combined with his duties as Legion Marine Force Leader of the 4th Legion, left him little time for a field command. Out here he could forget all that, he was far away from Behacor Prime and the Legion Command Staff. The only reminder were the two Kelranni Warriors who served as his honor guard. They insisted on coming along, and short of killing them there was no other way around it. And killing them would be a waste of good warriors.

"Well, its good to see the troops still remember the drill. I was worried about the length of downtime since the last Cardiassian Campaign." said Marrik.

"These Marines are the best Colonel, answered Hurvic," you picked them".

"We will see soon enough wont we?"

A slight smile crossed the junior officers face, "Yes sir, I believe we will."

"Return to your troops Hurvic, and see to the rapid fire guns."

"Yes rawI' !"

Hurvic did a smart salute and hopped down , Marrik watched him run out of the outcropping to see to his marines. With a short signal to Mesket, Marrik hopped down and moved over to the communications setup. Mesket turned around the view screen and Marrik saw the screen split in half, each side with the image of the other force commanders.

"Report" ordered Marrik.

"may'qels Marauders ready!" Answered Lt. Colonel may'qel.

There was a slight pause before Lt. Colonel M'Tov's response, "M'Tov's Manglers in position!"

"Good, stated Marrik, "Observe your screens. According to 'Evil Eye' the enemy force consists of close to 2000 Cardassians Ground Troops with small number of Renegade Klingons from the IKS."

"Traitors!" spat may'qel.

"Yes, said Marrik, "but they are Klingon Marines just like us and have a similar training, and there will be plenty of them to receive your anger soon enough." may'qel was notorious for his rages and predictably rash actions, during, and before combat. M'Tov had yet to speak either way, he was by far the more level headed of the two, more of a schemer or plotter, a better defensive planner than an assault planner, but Marrik had use for both these officers today.

"The cardis are broken into an eschlelon right formation." A series of red triangles lit upon the screens. "Their transport was chased off by our navy, and they were left behind. They are now marching towards an underground IKS Fortification, located roughly 150 K's due south from our relative position." Marrik touched the bottom center of his screen and a small green dot appeared on the view screens of the others. "If they reach, it the IKS garrison there will have the ability to hold out for a much longer time with these fresh troops. Not to mention the time it will take us to clear 2000 more rats from their nest. We will remain hidden in this valley and ambush the cardis here." A series of blue squares appeared on the screens, denoting the positions of all three units. "The cardi's are going to move right through this area and the only way around it adds an additional 20 K's to their march, they are likely in a hurry to get into the cover of the base before some passing Imperial Navy ship decides to tune up his disruptor cannons by shooting at some ground pounders that cant shoot back." A short chuckle spurted from M'Tov and may'qel at the idea. "Alright, we have roughly 1000 Marines, and a support platoon with 20 Mortars and 25 rapid fire disruptors, we are outnumbered 2 to 1, my plan is to remain hidden until the enemy column in completely in the gorge, whereupon my troops will open fire with the mortars and rapid fire guns, then your two units will attack the tail end of the column and engage it in Close Quarters, bottle necking its rear element in the only egress of escape, leaving my troops to handle the main body of the column. Do you understand your parts?"

"As long as I get to use my axe on a few traitors!" exclaimed may'qel, a cruel smile darkening his features.

"A sound plan, but what if they detect us first rawI' ?" asked M'Tov. He wasn't critical of the plan, just spending too much time thinking over every little angle.

"These new sensor signal scramblers are experimental, but I have been assured by our Hurric friends that they worked for them better than expected, the cardis never detected them until they were on top of the Hurric Troops." answered Marrik.

"But what if they are using.."

"Enough Colonel, interrupted Marrik, "just see to your troops and leave those concerns to me. Dismissed!"

With a huff, he wiped off the sweat dripping into his eyes, and turned the screen away. Mesket deactivated it.

end of part 1.

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MOP-UP part 2.

The sun dipped below the horizon, and the temperature dropped even faster. There was no moon visible tonight, and within an hour the only sound heard from the ravine was the wind driven dust howling between the cracks in the rocks.

M'Tov was scanning the area to his immediate north, he had been for over two hours now. Faintly he could make out the advanced guard of the Cardassian Force. They had heavy scanners in their hands, attached to backpack control units. Scanning for enemies, mines, anything that could slow them down and keep them out here any longer than necessary. M'Tov could almost admire that after several days of forced marches and knowing that they have been abandoned, quite possibly permanently, they still kept to their standard drill and procedure.

He turned to his comm. officer. "Contact the others, tell him that the column is within the 10 K zone." -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The comm unit chimed quietly, its young operator froze at the betraying sound then started as a thrown blade flashed past his eyes and silenced the unit. "Morok", hissed may'qel "I ordered the comm unit set for silent mode only! Sound carries in atmosphere tadwI' have you forgotten your training?"

"No rawI' I..."

"Then you have committed a serious error. Report to your Sergeant for discipline when you go off duty."

M'Tov waited impatiently on screen for may'qel to finish then bruskly informed him that the enemy was in sensor range.

may'qel nodded. "M'Tov, I smell a trap within our trap!"

M'Tov looked startled, then demanded to know what may'qel was talking about.

"Its the traitors, many of them are veteran troops. They will look on this bottleneck just as we did and they will know in their hearts that trouble will hit them here if anywhere. They will not be surprised! The Commander's plan is good, but we need to assist him."

"And how shall we do that?" Sneered M'Tov.

may'qel grinned his most blood chilling grin. "Ah brother by thinking like M'Tov of course!" and he laughed out loud at M'Tov's perplexed look.

The command channel crackled with Marrik's voice. "May'qel enough of your humor, tell him!"

May'qel chuckled again "We need to set our trap within a trap. Instead of an all out attack I recommend we effect a slight change in our tactics."

"What change?" challenged M'Tov

"A moment said may'qel as he called up a tactical overlay onto the screen. We have established our forces to flank and contain the enemy within the valley. This is good, but we need to restrain ourselves when we close with them. Instead of committing all our troops we should leave a strong reserve available and he pointed to several places on the tactical screen "require these groups of sharpshooters to remain in cover and provide cover fire from behind and overhead until we are satisfied that we control the field. This way we will have enfilading fire to use even if we are beaten back and have to hold until Marrik can pound them into submission. What think you?"

M'Tov rubbed reflectively at his beard. "It is a good plan, rawI' do you agree?"

Marrik chuckled into the communicator. "What is this? Are you two changing skins on me? may'qel is my berserker and he counsels caution now? Detach 30 men each for a reserve. We can spare no more with out risking your chances of success on the field. M'Tov you will hold command of the reserve and fire teams in addition to your own men. "

may'qel broke in "rawI'!"

"WHAT! May'qel!" growled Marrik irritated at the interruption.

"Take care rawI' the back of my neck itches just like it did when I was ambushed by those Norsican pigs! I don't know why but I smell trouble that we do not see. Look at M'Tov!"

Startled Marrik looked at his subordinate commander. M'Tov was frozen with hand in mid stroke of his beard. Marrik laughed. "I take your point may'qel. M'Tov only pets his beard like that when a piece of the puzzle is missing! M'Tov scan those dogs as tightly as you can without alerting them. We will find the missing piece and fit it in place."

They nodded and turned to their tasks. Satisfied Marrik snapped off the communicator and smiled in anticipation of the upcoming battle.

end of part 2.

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MOP-UP part 3.

First Sergeant M'Garris looked back upon his troops. Marching two by two and raising clouds of dust with each step. They were dragging their feet again, but then again so was he. After nearly a week of forced marches his troops were tired, and there was yet some distance to travel. He opened his canteen and took a swig of less than fresh water, wiping it from his sun burnt and cracked lips, he offered it to the warrior walking to his right, who hardly seemed to notice. M'Garris looked his commanding officer over once, he looked worse for wear, dusty and tired, but there was more, he was angry, angry at the predicament they currently found themselves in.

Captain M'Kres noticed his subordinate watching him. "Problem Sergeant?" His voice was raspy and harsh, harsher than he would've liked.

"Water?" asked M'Garris.

The Captain took a deep drink of the warm liquid and cleared his throat. He felt somewhat better.

M'Garris took this as a good time to ask. "Something you'd like to talk about Captain?"

Captain M'Kres had gotten use to the older warrior picking up on his state of mind, it was the sign of a good non-commissioned officer. "I don't want to die out here, like this. Not from the elements. And surely not while under the command of some damn Cardassian Gul. I don't know what our commanders were thinking, joining the Dominion was a big mistake. It just not the warriors way dammit. We should have fought them like the Empire has done. Now we fight against our own people, allied with a horde of aliens, and we are not even calling the shots!" He angrily slapped his fist into his other hand to emphasize the statement.

"Learned a long time ago not to ask questions sir, just follow orders. Although I am not comfortable with the situation. It was one thing to fight against the Klingon Empire, but to subvert to the Dominion, its almost heresy." Sergeant M'Garris's eyes narrowed on the horizon, he brought his hand up to block the sun.

"What?" asked Captain M'Kres.

"Its that ravine you saw on the map, were approaching it."

The Captain squinted his eyes, and asked himself how M'Garris could see the ravine in the distance, there was a cloud of dust from the Cardassian troops marching in front of them that all but totally obscured his vision. "Communications!" he bellowed behind him.

A young marine began pushing through the troops in front of him. His name was Reddel. He was a lackluster marine, and only a passable communications trooper. But he carried his full gear load plus the subspace transceiver without complaint. He may not be bright, but he wasn't a quitter.

"Sir!" Reported Reddel.

M'Kres pointed to the transceiver. "That thing still working?"

"Yes sir. I have been keeping it clean." replied Reddel.

"Good. Raise that Gul on your communicator. Narrow band, no need to broadcast to every part of the system." The current alliance had proceeded far to fast for a proper communication network between the various troops in the Triangle, the transciever had become necessary for more than calling in orbital artillery.

"Got them Captain."

"This is Captain M'Kres, let me speak with Gul Darklet."

"Well, our Klingon allies cannot follow simple orders like radio silence. What do you want Captain.?" Asked the Cardassian sarcastically.

M'Kres wished the Gul was before him, he would choke the life out of the smug Cardassian. "Its the ravine up front. Its the obvious spot for an ambush. A small number of troops could cut us to pieces. Isn't there another way around?"

"Any other way could add days to our journey Captain. Besides, there are no enemy troops on this planet. Of that I can assure you. The enemy only had a few small scout ships in the area, just enough to disable our transport, and they left the system afterwards. I am more concerned with gaining entrance to our supply base on the other side of that ravine before another ship arrives and fires upon us from orbit."

"Gul Darklet, we cannot assume that there are no..."

"Enough Klingon paranoia!" Interrupted the Cardassian. "The discussion is over!" and disconnected the transmission.

The Klingon Commander stared at the communications system for a time, the anger in his eyes and posture kept all near him still.

Finally, and much to Reddel's relief, First Sergeant M'Garris dismissed him with a nod. He turned to his commander, who still stared at the spot where the comm marine once stood. "Captain?"

"This fool will kill us all sergeant." stated the exasperated Captain. "This fool will kill us all."

end of part 3.

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MOP-UP part 4.

From his hidden post, through his binoculars, M'Tov watched the lead element of the Cardassian column approach. They had twenty troops with tricorders spread out in front. They were scanning for anything out of ordinary, mine fields, hidden troops, etc. He secretly hoped that the Colonels faith in the Hurric Blind Screens was well placed, or else things would get ugly fast, and the Klingons would find themselves the ones trapped within the ravine, not the other way around.

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Marrik sat in a corner of the hastily set up command bunker, speaking quietly with several junior officers, these were the last minute orders for the coming ambush.

Across the room Lt.Mesket jumped to his feet and pointed to his communications gear. "Got you patahk'!"

Marrik, annoyed at the interruption, dismissed his subordinates and stormed over to the still excited young marine, "What is the reason for such an outburst Lieutenant?" Marrik demanded.

Mesket finally realized that he was standing and hollering, embarrassed, he returned to his seat and turned the screen in the direction of his commander. "rawI' , I hacked into the enemies communications net. Look here, the Gul and a Klingon Officer from the IKS, I will replay the transmission."

Marrik watched the replay, a smile slowly spread across his face. "The Cardassian Gul does not seem too concerned with the possibility if our presence does he Lieutenant?"

"No sir, but the Klingon Captain appears to feel out our ambush."

"I won' t be enough to save them. Send the transmission to M'Tov and may'qel, and tell them to expect the IKS troops to leave at least a squad, maybe an entire platoon, as a rear guard. We don't need them trapping our rear force, they already will have their hands full."

"And Mesket, "

"rawI' ?" Mesket braced himself, when ordered to be silent in an ambush, his outburst earlier was uncalled for, and he knew it.

Marrik grinned evilly at the obvious discomfort of his communications officer. "Good work Marine!" was the only reply.

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"'obmaQ la'" The communications tech called softly.

may'qel dropped down from his vantage point and crossed swiftly to the tech's side. The tech pointed to the scrolling screen. Silently they watched the traitor argue with the Cardassian Gul. may'qel bared his teeth in a terrible smile, and buffeted the tech on his shoulder "Good work, alert the unit commanders down the line that the traitors aren't completely fooled. They must show the hunter's patience so we are not spied out to soon. Soon we will make the Gul pay for his insolence."

may'qel resumed his place in the rocks. He watched closely as the leading elements of the force began to cross the first line of fire, the tricorder bearers gave no sign of detecting the danger they passed through. "Time for me to go," may'qel thought and slid down the rock face silently signaling the troopers with him to close up. They moved off at a trot and headed for their rally point. may'qel was well contented, the troops with him moved with no more disturbance then a light wind. Well trained and ready for the battle. He could feel the battle lust rise up in his blood, surely it must burst forth as flame soon! He breathed deeply calming himself and banking the fire for the moment, it wouldn't do to let the flame loose too soon, spoiling their well laid ambush.

The group closed to their assigned station. Below, the mixed force of traitors and Cardassians continued to file past. Now all they could do was wait to close the gates of the trap on these fools, thought may'qel. He flashed the hand signal to disperse to his men and they went to ground. may'qel sat down on a hump of earth and began to whet the edge of his already razor sharp ax. The soft rhythmic susurrations of stone on steel caused his men to grin to themselves. This was a sound they had grown to know lovingly on campaign with this Reshtarc madman. As aggressive as his name implied, they had already followed him into several kinds of hell. They could almost see the battle heat shimmering above his shoulders. And each of them turned to making sure his own weapons were ready for the conflagration they would temper themselves in once again.

end of part 4.

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MOP-UP part 5.

His chronometer read 0324, Marrik watched the main column of the enemy reach the appointed target zone, the air in the ravine was still and silent, save for the dust swirls from the rustling boots of the Cardassian troops. He pulled his command monocular over his left eye, and it showed blue lights from all the Marine Units. "Good" he thought, everyone is in position, like a great coiled serpent waiting for the enemy to walk by, until it struck without mercy. Unfortunately, there was not enough of the new monoculars to go around, only senior unit commanders were issued the new technology. Normally everyone from squad leader to force commander would be in possession of one. They were used to give orders in the thick of combat to commanders, basic information only, but enough information for a force leader to move troops into new strategies over the din of combat.

The enemy was in position, and apparently unaware of the Imperial Marines waiting to attack. Marrik reached down to the data panel recessed into his right gauntlet and tapped a few buttons, his eyepiece showed the artillery units icons turn from blue to red, signifying the were attacking. Marrik smiled and moved back to his viewing position, this was going to be a good show.

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Gul Darklet more felt it than heard it, the sudden over pressure. He was simultaneously blinded and deafened by the blast of dust, noise and light that swirled all around him. He was also vaguely aware of the sounds of rapid fire weapons and the screams of the dead and dying. "This can't be happening" he thought to himself. Something hit the Cardassian in the chest and knocked him to the ground, he forced the amorphous shape from his body, then he realized it was what remained of his adjutant, Masak. As he stared into the lifeless eyes of his compatriot his senses began to clear, he bellowed out orders to fall back, and called for a rear guard from his allies.

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Marrik watched the carnage below him with bemused satisfaction. The mortar shells exploding within the midst of the Cardassians threw up masses of dust, rocks and the dismembered limbs of dead enemy soldiers. His gunners were pouring fire down upon those that the shells didn't kill on impact, playing a macabre light show on the walls of the darkened canyon. They seemed to attempt a rally, but it turned into more of a rout. Those survivors from the front ranks ran through the troops in the rear and caused mass chaos and panic.

"This is going only too well" thought Marrik, his hand playing out the orders for the killing blow on his command pad.

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M'Tov's eyepiece border changed from blue to red, he signaled on his wrist pad that he was attacking. His troops lurched forward, charging from their hidden foxholes like an army of angry insects whose nest was stepped upon. His voice joined with others as a battle cry echoed from the warriors racing to be the first to reach the enemy.

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Captain M'Kres didn't need to see the Cardassian Troops running back towards him, or to hear the sounds of the exploding mortar shells echoing through the canyon, to know that the fool of a Gul had led them right into an ambush. He had expected it, and his troops were ready. And he left two squads behind to cover his troops in case they needed to fall back.

"Marines! Prepare for attack!" he yelled over the sounds already filling his ears. The IKS Marines grabbed their close combat weapons, a look of grim determination upon the faces of all in the company, today is a good day to die.

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may'qel signaled the troops to move. The two groups came together behind the dust cloud of the enemies passing and began to move steadily forward. He let the monocle drop back into position momentarily, all red the attack was beginning. He snapped the damnable thing back away from his eye. Shaking his already aching head. The air suddenly came alive with the scream of the incoming mortar shells. may'qel froze, something wasn't right, the hair along his spinal crest began to stir. Damn what had they missed? He dropped his hand to the command gauntlet and signaled the flankers to begin their fire. M'Tov's troops were screaming towards the enemy, in a moment the barrage would be stilled as the troops began to intermingle.

may'qel angrily shook his aching head, even the Death team transports didn't make his head ache like this Kahless cursed monocle did. He shoved it back into position and once again it told him that everything was proceeding perfectly. He began to pound the command pad, signaling M'Tov his concern. Too perfect, too easy! The curt response to do his part flashed back from M'Tov. may'qel snarled deep in his chest and several of the troops nearby drew back a pace. A killing rage engulfed the commander, and his body began to pulse with tremors as he contained it.

The traitors forces began to hammer at may'qels troops. He shook himself free of the rage and signaled his men forward. Three steps, ten, they were running and screaming at their foes now. Weapons began to snarl, pulses of light speared between the massed groups, deceptive bursts of color that shattered into prismatic suns, on personal shielding. And threw the unwary screaming to the Black Fleet. Both groups were in motion now as the IKS Marines could contain themselves no longer and the surging heat of their Klingon blood drove them into their foes.

Like two tidal surges of superheated lava the Marines of both sides crashed into each other. Too close now for techno war they met in the straining of sinew and the crash of steel! Teeth closed upon flesh and rent life from an unwary throat. Blades flashed. Klingon blood spurted into the air. The lines melted in the heat of the battle and it became each warrior for himself now.

As planned the wings of the batleth shaped assault closed first with the enemy. Giving may'qel a hearts beat of time to measure how they would impact. Even odds, he half stepped long enough to tap the information into his command unit. Then he swung his great ax in a blurring circle as he to closed with the enemy. In scant moments the great blade was notched as it shattered a batleth in mid stroke. may'qel wove a tow handed figure eight before him as he advanced. The screaming blade seemed to slide effortlessly through his opponents. And at first he appeared to be an unstoppable force as he moved deeper into the press of enemies. A handful of troopers pressed themselves to the limit to stay with him. Shielding his back and flanks they battled the IKS Marines that seemed to press them on every side.

"may'qel!" the voice screamed in his ear, at first in his headlong rush to drink at the font of his enemies blood may'qel did not heed the ceaseless voice of the comm link. But suddenly he realized Marrik was shouting into the link at him! He ceased his headlong rush and allowed his troopers to close in around him. "Interdiction circle" he rasped from his bone dry throat, and the lead sergeant and troopers closed around him to allow him to communicate with his commander.

"Ra'wI'?" he questioned as he dropped the monocle over his eye to see Marrik's wrath filled face staring at him. "Kahless Testicles!" swore Marrik. "Your in too deep! The flankers can't get a clean shot anymore! Repair your lines now! And as suddenly the tactical overlay was back in place in may'qel's mind. He realized that his center was nearly a half kellicam past its assigned position. And he quickly signaled his men to begin a controlled withdrawal back to the line.

The troopers around him began to pull back but the fighting going out of the hornets nest was even more intense then that on the way in. The IKS Marines sensed that the Imperials were pulling back and thought they didn't know why they weren't about to let them escape unscathed. By the time they regained their assigned position may'qels troops were only three quarters of what they had been. And the remnant bore the marks of their brief journey into the hornets nest. may'qel had not dropped out of the command channel a step of the way back as he forced his reluctant commanders to join him in the withdrawal. It was a measure of their respect for him that they obeyed at all with the heat of battle surging through their veins. But their discipline held and slowly they moved back to rejoin their commander. may'qel leaned on the shaft of his notched and bloody ax. He studied the battle as it lay in his minds eye. Something about the enemies troop emplacements rang false. And he called to M'Tov.

end of part 5.

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MOP-UP part 6.

"Something is wrong rawI' ! I am getting no signal from the communication land lines." stated a concerned Lt.Mesket.

"What now." Marrik replied angrily as he turned from his vantage point and began to run over to his communications officer. Marrik felt a warm splash hit his face. Before he even realized he was being attacked, Marrik drew his d'k'tagh and drove it up through the neck and into the head of the Jem'Haddar Warrior, sending the foul beast flying backward and watched as it hit the floor and began to twitch violently as its life left its body. Marrik wiped the gore of his former officer from his eyes and turned to see one other dead Jem'Haddar, and his Kelranni guards finishing off another.

"Lord is well?" the Kelranni Sergeant asked.

Marrik waved his hand in their direction, and returned to his viewing position. His bunkers were being overrun, a number of Jem'Haddar had remained cloaked and were covering the retreat of the Cardassians, they were decloaking as they charged into the fixed positions, using surprise to overwhelm the Imperial Marines inside. Marrik slammed his fist onto the rock beside him and uttered a curse on the Dominion and their genetic abominations. His fury welling, he angrily tapped a few commands into his wrist pad and watched as the Klingons began to fall back to their secondary positions, while those already there gave covering fire. The enemy would overwhelm his force if they were allowed to use their total numbers against his marines. Marrik knew that he needed to maintain some distance to allow the mortars and rapid fire disruptors to do their job and to keep the tide of battle in his favor.

The Marine Force Leader turned and moved to the exit at double time, he slapped the shoulder pad of the nearer Kelranni, and looked the creature in the eyes, "We are falling back to secondary positions, move!"

The two Kelranni grunted in response and fell into line behind their lord.

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M'Kres looked delightedly at the scant company of Imperials who appeared on his flanks and rear. Fools to try his strength in this way. And more the damned fool the Gul who ignored his warnings.

M'Kres turned his troops and began to hastily engage the Imperial Marines who couldn't restrain themselves any longer and crashed against his veterans. The fighting was hand to hand in seconds and the line flexed and twisted like a serpent worm on a hot plate. One of his non coms screamed that traps were spring open all over the valley floor and more Imperials spilled from them. "Leave them to the Cardassians! M'Kres ordered, we have enough bastards here to kill." For a minute it looked as if he was over confident as the Imperials penetrated his hastily thrown out lines with ease. But the fighting began to stall, the melee as always taking on a life of its own beyond anyone's ability to command. And then, as if switched off, the Imperials began to withdraw! He quickly set his men to exploiting the situation by shoring up their badly punctured lines and finding cover from the incessant sniper fire that poured down on them. He grabbed his communicator and angrily demanded the Gul...

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may'qel had no more begun to try and point out the strange troop dispositions of their foe to M'Tov when the command channel fuzzed and spat its way into silence. Before he could reactivate his monocle he heard "Commander'" shouted by the Sergeant Major.

"What?" demanded may'qel.

"The IKS are behind us!"

"Good, at least something is falling into place! OK odd numbers to the rear, even numbers to face the valley. Sergeant Major take the valley side. I'll check the rear." may'qel swung down the path quickly to join the Lieutenant who was controlling the fire that held the IKS rear guard in place.

"How many" snapped may'qel

"At least two companies, possibly reinforced!" gasped the Lieutenant. may'qel irritably batted at the monocle that continued to plague his aching head. "Alert the troops on the heights that we have IKS scum coming up they may try to penetrate the flanks, and you spread your men out... may'qel pulled his blade out and quickly scratched a set of positions in the dirt for the young lieutenant, set the troops like this and we should be able to enfilade the approach and keep them out of our hair."

"Yes sir" the Lieutenant saluted and rushed away.

may'qel turned to his fire team and nodded back in the direction of the main body. "Lets go men...but no sooner was the last word out of his mouth when the air suddenly was filled with dopplered light as a squad of Jem' Haddar decloaked in the midst of the path. Weapons fire burst in every direction as Imperials and Jem'Hadar fired on each other. may'qel caught a blast as he spun towards his foe that momentarily cut his legs out from under him. He bounced into a combat roll that finished in a viscous kick shattering the chest of the closest enemy. Before he could gain his feet the brief fire fight was over. His fire team and their ambushers lay dead around him. Ten feet up the trail the young lieutenant lay in a smoldering heap, blasted from behind by one of the genetic soldiers. "Kahless Hand!" may'qel cursed softly as he realized he couldn't make his left leg work. The blast had broken the lower bones and temporarily stunned the muscles. "Damn damn damn! He cursed as he finally made his way upright leaning on the shaft of his axe. He stumbled to the Communicator and called for reinforcements to complete the arrangements he had sent the unlucky young lieutenant to set in motion. Then he tried vainly to signal Marrik of the Cardassian's wild card.

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Marrik ran back to the artilleries position, soldiers ran back and forth along the battery, carrying ammo and assistance to any team that needed it . The mortar teams were still pouring on the heat against the Cardassians. The Marines didn't even notice Marrik and the two Kelranni as they ran past towards the artillery command post.

"Hurvic!" Marrik yelled.

"What happened to the comm net? I can't reach the rear units to supply cover fire!" Hurvic hollered back.

"Cut and jammed." Marrik pointed to the map set on the table in front of Hurvic, "Lay in a full barrage here and here," Marriks hand skipped to two different points on the map, "our troops are here and here. After you let loose begin to walk your fire up the ravine, I'll see to it that may'qel and M'Tov are clear. Wait for my signal" Marrik turned and ran off, his Kelranni in pursuit.

Major Hurvic watched his commander leave, mystified at the sight of the commander running about with some Kel's. He called for his adjutant and set to plot his new fire mission.

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Gul Darklet was caught in the mad rush to get clear of the mortars, his allies had provided some moving time, but the artillery was slowly regaining its strength, he needed to straddle the enemy, render their firepower useless. "Cardassians!" He called over the earth shaking sounds of the mortar shells. "Hear me! We are Cardassians...and we will not die like scared children," he drew his sword for emphasis, "we will attack, and we will defeat our enemy!" The Gul circled his sword over his head, "Charge!" he called with a downward sweep of his sword, and the rout was over, a war cry emanating from the lips of the Cardassians.

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"What the hell happened to Marrik?" M'Tov asked as he grabbed may'qel by the arm and hefted him along.

"We are cut off, I hope your sharpshooters are still alive and firing, my weapons team is gone." may'qel responded with a snarl.

M'Tov had run the length of the battlefield when he saw may'qel's troops engage the Jem'Haddar sneak attack, and was dragging his compatriot back to the battle. He called to a nearby sergeant and told the veteran to send a some runners back to the command post and give Force Leader Marrik or whomever was in charge a status report.

"Its not over just yet brother!" M'Tov said to may'qel with more confidence than he actually felt. He left his fellow marine with his command sergeant ran back to his own troops.

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"I don't care if you are under attack lieutenant, move your troops up here NOW!" M'Kres shouted into his communicator. The damn rookie was going to miss his window of he didn't haul ass soon.

"Reddel!" called M'Kres, "are you still managing to jam their communications?"

The scrawny young Klingon looked up from his equipment and replied with a thumbs up.

The Klingon Commander began to feel the tide turning in his favor, he looked down and saw the dead form of First Sergeant M'Garris, cut down by a mad Imperial Officer wielding an axe, he would be avenged if he had to track the enemy commander across the entire field himself.

end of part 6.

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MOP-UP part 7.

Marrik was moving through the second line positions, occasionally a stray shot would zip past him, twice Cardassians managed to mass enough men to penetrate and twice they were repelled, he had to pick the bat'leth off a dead marine to protect himself after losing his d'k'tagh in the neck of a Jem'Haddar earlier. The last cost the life of one of his Kelranni, although the monster managed to take four of the Cardi's with it. Marrik hopped into a foxhole with a rapid fire disruptor team, they barely managed to notice the intruders, and likely would not have if one was not a Kel. The marines were mowing down another mass charge of the enemy, the bodies of Klingons and Cardassians were stacked across the field of fire, one on top of the other, and the ground was now running red with the blood of the fallen.

Reaching into his cloak, Marrik produced a flare gun, he pointed it up and over the advancing Cardassians, and fired.

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Gul Darklet was rallying his men for another assault when he spotted something in the corner of his eye. He watched the green flare arch over his head and knew it was not a good sign. "Time is running out...charge!" His sword before him Gul Darklet led this charge himself, this was do or die.

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M'Tov called to his sharpshooters to change direction, and pointed to a mass of IKS Klingons approaching from the desert end of the ravine. They took aim and fired, dropping several with their initial bursts, but the enemy kept advancing.

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M'Tov's men were firing a withering fire unto the IKS traitors, thought may'qel. But it wasn't going to be enough. "Sergeant Major!" he bellowed.

The worthy veteran turned and sprinted to his Commanders side.

"Status! commanded may'qel. "Good sir, we've taken very few casualties, and since the Jem'Hadar attack we still have over half our strength and our lines in both directions are holding."

"Excellent, have every third fire team on this line rally to me at the double. may'qel pointed to the advancing IKS before them. These traitors need another taste of Imperial values!"

"At once commander!"

"Now warriors!" cried may'qel, "we will move down this dry stream bed to flank the IKS. Keep low and no noise!" With that he turned and lumbered off down the stream bed his splinted leg giving him a strange gait that never the less had many of his troops panting to keep up with. They quickly reached the point he had marked in his mind as flanking the traitors. And he signaled a stop, may'qel turned to the troops around him and pointed to a warrior and indicated he wanted a boost up the side of the shallow gully. It took two troopers to shove him to the crest. Perfect! they were slightly behind and on the flank of the inexorable IKS advance. may'qel grabbed the top of the rim and levered himself over the edge, rolling to cover where he could take the necessary time to get upright as his men followed.

They waited till the last Imperial joined the group then with quick hand signals may'qel indicated where he wanted them to strike the foe. They rose as a group and ran towards the unsuspecting IKS troops.

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IKS Sergeant M'rok caught the glint of steel from the corner of his eye and turned to see the counterattack plunging like a dagger at his men. He screamed his defiance as the Imperials were upon them, and was the first to die in the furious clash of arms. The Imperials rolled up the surprised troops like a worn carpet. Staggering them into their fellows and bringing the IKS attack to a screeching halt as the main body found itself attacked from the right and rear flanks. The left flank continued to advance alone and M'Tov seized the opportunity to mass his fire on the unsupported men. Bringing them to a staggering halt as they began to fall over the bodies of the front rank. The withering fire intensified and the IKS troopers began to scramble for cover behind their fallen fellows.

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This time may'qel held his battle lust in check as they attacked! And after only a few moments of carnage signaled the withdrawal of his men. He fought his flanking group back to the edge of the gully and there they held and provided covering fire for the remnants of the group who had hamstrung the enemies advance. And as quickly as they were regrouped they sprinted off down the gully to rejoin their own lines. Half way back may'qel instructed a fire team to drop off and leave some nasty surprises in the gully in case the IKS tried to reverse their ploy. Then he and his relatively unscathed group rejoined the rest of his command. As he ran up to the Sergeant Major the sound of the Imperial mortar bombardment began to change and the pattern of explosions on the battle ground shifted.

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Marrik turned and heard the distinctive thoomping of the firing mortars, he placed his hands to his ears and motioned for the two gunners in the hole to duck.

The explosive shells hit like a violent thunderstorm, the concussive blast and heat forced the Klingons to seek cover in the floors of their trenches and the mortars exploded withing spitting distance of the Klingon lines. The charging Cardassian's didn't stand a chance, fiery death fell about their heads and they fell like stalks of grain during harvest, their gore mixing with those that fell before them. Several shells fell short however, into the trenches of the Klingons, their lives lost before they could counter-attack. A foxhole to the left of Marrik exploded in a ball of fire, sending the body of one of its former inhabitants onto one of the marine gunners, he tried to move the corpse of the fallen from his, but his arm was broken from the impact, and Marrik helped lift the body off. The Marine uttered a guttural cry to clear his head of the pain, and returned to his weapon, his limp arm flailing, firing one handed.

There was a brief pause in the firing as the artillerists reset their weapons, but before the smoke cleared, Marrik was on his feet and running, he had to reach the other end of the battle and warn may'qel and M'Tov before the artillery hit them.

end of part 7.

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MOP-UP part 8.

Lt. L'errin watched the mortars slowly creep forward into the retreating Cardassians, the mass of tangled corpses and shell craters left in its wake were horrible and awe inspiring to the young officer at the same time. "No simulated artillery barrage can properly do this justice", he thought to himself. He stood up in the trench and raised his arms and gave a war cry that was joined in by the others, Sergeant-Major M'Rask was at his side and nodded that all were ready. RawI' Marrik had told him that he had total confidence L'errin could lead this counter attack, and he wasn't going to let either the Empire or his commander down.

"On your feet...skirmish line!" L'errin called out, and the marines rose from their trenches and formed a rough, spread out line across the front of the trenches, L'errin waved his hand and they slowly moved forward, keeping some distance between themselves and the creeping artillery fire. The marines walked onto the battle field, only stopping to slay Cardassian stragglers and to finish off those too wounded to run away. L'errin stopped by the body of one Cardassian, and picked up the dead man's sword. "A good gift for our commander eh?" he asked M'Rask.

"This fight isn't over yet tadwI'!" replied Sergeant-Major M'Rask.

L'errin didn't like M'Rask's tone, he felt like he was still in basic training, and he might have had it out with the older marine right then and there, but someone with more combat experiences than he had years of life, can get a few allowances.

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M'Tov's troopers kept pouring on the fire into the ranks of the IKS warriors. Their lines were beginning to thin and their momentum was slowing as more and more of the troops sought cover and attempted to return fire against M'Tov's sharpshooters hidden among the rock face.

"Any word from those runners?" M'Tov asked no one in particular.

"Nothing as yet." an unknown voice replied.

The Klingon leader slapped the rocks and sent a small lizard, whose appetite got the better of its sense of preservation, scurrying for cover. He popped his head up and took a look down on the battle scene. may'qel was flanking the IKS Marines, keeping them held down, and M'Tov was managing to keep the enemy reinforcements at bay and out of the fight. He picked up a disruptor rifle, took aim at an IKS officer, only a lieutenant, but he would do. M'Tov squeezed off a shot and sent it straight into the chest of the enemy officer who would be long remembered for his inability to find decent cover.

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Marrik was running at full speed. He managed to grab himself a sniper rifle, and ordered two heavy weapons teams to follow him. They were barely managing to keep up lugging the heavy support weapon, and he almost ordered the marines to let his Kelranni guard carry them, but didn't have time to argue about it.

Three time they had to stop and fight some Cardassian stragglers who ran and climbed the cliff face when the mortars began to fall. They were haggard, scared and backed into a corner, which makes anyone dangerous. They even slew a lone Jem'Haddar who was looking to outflank and attack a mortar team.

Marrik had been going for over 72 hours, between initial deployment call up and the battle, and the mental and physical fatigue was beginning to tell, as he turned a corner among the rocks, a Cardassian cut out with his dagger and cut Marrik deeply into his side. After firing point blank into the belly of his attacker, Marrik sent the weapons team on to help may'qel and M'Tov and quickly applied a plasti-suture from his personal med-kit to stop the blood flowing from his wound, and slapped a stim-patch to his skin. The stimulants kicked in immediately, his senses cleared and the pain in his muscles and head was manageable. He got to his feet and continued on, he had to reach to others.

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Captain M'Kres was ordering his troops to keep his lines stable until his reserve troops could break through the Imperial Lines, he was being out flanked and didn't want it to happen again. "Sergeant!" he called out, "Gather three squads and meet me over there in 5 minutes. We are going to take the attack to the enemy!".

Minutes later M'Kres was leading his troops around and up onto the rock face in an effort to counter flank the Imperials. His movements were double time and his battle weary troops struggled to keep up with him. His mind boiled with rage, and his heart cried for vengeance. He would kill the limping enemy commander, that he vowed, unto death.

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may'qel nodded to the senior sergeant who turned and proceeded down the line dressing the troops and pulling every fourth man out of the line and sending them back deeper into the rocks where may'qel soon joined them.

"The traitors may be allied with dogs and genetic trash but their still Marines! he growled harshly. "They have to be screaming with anger over being caught unawares just now, so we need to prepare for a counter attack in force on these slopes and soon! So here's the order of battle..."

may'qel limped back to the front line and took a comfortable seat on a rock to see if his guess was correct. To bide his time he took out his stone and began to soothe the edge of his ax. The heat from his heart told him he'd soon need its edge again.

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The IKS troops used every bit of skill and craft as they made their way towards the hated foe. The skirmish line was nearing the foot of the hill when they encountered the first set of "surprises" may'qels men had left for them. M'Kres howled with rage as the bits of his men rained down around him. Sweep the slope with level three fire he shouted and waited as the ranks reformed and they began to blast the traps from their path, all hope of surprise lost to them now and M'Kres's anger burning like a nova in his chest.

Sporadic fire from the Imperials plagued his troops as they stubbornly fought their way up the slope from one piece of cover to the next. Their veteran wiles stood them in good stead as they steadily advanced with minimal losses. Soon thought M'Kres, soon I'll have your throat in my teeth you Imperial bastard! Shaking sweat from his brow and concentrating his will on moving his men faster into the enemies positions.

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M'Tov stood at the edge of his troop and damned his inability to send more men across to may'qel. It was obvious to him that the IKS was launching a counter attack on that weakly held portion of the line. The majority of the traitors still tried to advance on him though and he could not let his fire waver even to help a brother without endangering the entire battle. And even as his valor burned with in him to help he could not.

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may'qel watched from the corner of his eye as the IKS troops pressed closer to the line, His whole attention seemed to be rapt in the edge of his blade, and he carefully sharpened its gleaming curve as he continued to await the inevitable meeting of the forces. The veterans in his command whispered to those who didn't yet know their commander. All the while continuing to pour a withering fire down onto the advancing Marines.

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Lt. L'errin's men moved quickly from crater hole to crater hole. Mopping up any Cardassians that were left behind or too wounded to fight. The entire field was a mass of mortar induced shell holes and dismembered corpses. The grisly scene played over and over again, it seemed to continue as far as the eye can see, at least up into where the shells were currently landing. L'errin lost a few troops here and there to scattered pockets of resistance, but things were moving better then he had hoped. The Cardassians kept withdrawing before the mortars and his men were finishing off whatever they did not.

end of part 8.

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MOP-UP part 9.

IKS Sergeant M'Rok was reinforcing his lines with the staggering remnants of the retreating Cardassians. Most were too shell shocked and panicked to do much good, but maybe they would take a shot meant for a Klingon who would be able to fight. They were flooding into this end of the ravine and chocking the entrance. Not a good sign, especially since he could here the sounds of the mortars getting closer.

They needed a break through soon, or it was all over. Hopefully the captain knew what he was doing.

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Major Hurvic's mortars were reaching the end of their useful range, the canyon walls kept him limited to severe oblique attack angles, and he reached the range limit.

"All odd numbered teams!" he called over the intense noise, "pick up and move forward!" Hurvic pointed and gestured to get his point across. The squad leaders seemed to get his point and began to break down their weapons. Not quite as smooth as in training, but the mortars were hot from firing and the marines were tired, but they were doing their duty good enough for him.

"I wonder if that new lieutenant will know to stop until I can move up my mortars?" he thought to himself. He ran over to another artillery team, "Fire off a green smoke round corporal!" Hurvic ordered. "I hope he gets the message."

Hurvic left the team to their work and hustled back to oversee the repositioning of the mortar teams.

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Marrik was trying to catch up to the weapons teams, the Kelranni Warrior was doing his best to keep his Lord from being attacked again, but its own wounds were beginning to take their toll.

The Force Leader was coming around a rock outcropping when he spotted a figure hunched down among a ring of boulders. Marrik brought the butt of his rifle up to his cheek, and zoomed in the snipers scope. It was an IKS Marine, fiddling with some sort of communications gear. "Ah, so this is the source of our communications troubles." Marrik mused to himself.

The Force Leader zeroed in on the back of the IKS Marines' head, he recalculated his range once more, took aim, and slowly pressed the thumb trigger.

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L'errin stopped abruptly, "What in the name of Kahless?" he asked aloud. The intensity of the mortar assault had dropped off, and now a cloud of green smoke plumbed up in within the center of the blast zone.

Sergeant-Major M'Rask gave the troops the signal to halt, and it was passed across the line to all the troopers. "They are trying to tell us something I would imagine."

"Tell the men to take cover in the crater holes, we will hold here and see what happens." L'errin hopped into a nearby hole and hoped that he wasn't making a mistake.

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"DOUBLE TIME MARINES!" screamed Major Hurvic "Get those mortars firing!" He almost had the men in position and ready to continue firing. Soon he could bring up the other half of the artillery battery and get the show back on the road, before things started to fall apart.

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At last and with a gentleness that belied its ferocity the two lines of Marines came together. This time M'Kres could see he out numbered the dogs and knew his vengeance was at hand when he saw the Marine Commander so close at hand. Screaming obscenities in vulgar Klingon M'Kres began to press forward shoving his own men aside in his eagerness to reach the Imperial dog!

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Lt. L'errin saw the last mortar shell hit and then the light show was over, the explosions ceased. He ordered the marines on their feet and got them moving again.

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may'qel flashed a hand signal and the Imperial troops began to fall back a few yards at a time. Suddenly one of the younger teams broke and charged the IKS troops their battle lust over coming their training and once again a fierce hand to hand melee raged on the blood soaked slopes of the valley. This! This was what they lived for as Klingons! The swirling battle spread across the slope as firing died to an occasional flicker as Marine came upon Marine and it became a contest of blade and sinew. Heart and will. The senior sergeants dropped back to cover their wounded commander and hold till his plan could be brought into play.

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Private Reddel kept fine tuning his jamming equipment, always expecting the enemy to attempt to counter his work. There hadn't been anything for some time now, but he wasn't about to be caught off guard. However, his attention was split between his duty and his desire to join his comrades fighting the Imperial troops just a short distance away. "Damn if I had to become a communications specialist!" he cursed silently to himself.

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Scarcely noticed in the clang of blade on blade and the harsh cries of dieing warriors the ominous rumble of the mortars slackened and changed its pitch and direction out in the valley. Across the way M'Tov noticed but did not care as he held against yet another charge from the IKS main body and watched desperately to see who was winning on the opposite slope.

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M'Kres battered his way across the slope slipping on the loose stone and blood smeared rock. His fire team clung to him like an enraged shadow killing anything that thought of interfering with their Captain's mad rush. And suddenly they were through the line and into the Imperial Commanders group. He stood before them like a mad man. Negligently swinging the gory notched ax before him. He gestured to his men and they stepped back and away forming a loose semi circle, the IKS Marines impelled by their surging Klingon blood did the same.

The taller M'Kres looked on his opponent with undisguised delight. "Not only an Imperial dog but a Reshtarc!" he snarled. "Taking your head will honor my dead!" He cast his rifle to one of his men and the ring of his unsheathed swords echoed across the rock face. M'Kres began to circle may'qel.

The speed of the circling ax seemed to increase slightly and the air began to stir. The two officers continued to face one another M'Kres working his way closer with care for the lousy footing the slope afforded. may'qel did not advance nor retreat but only kept his circling blade between himself and the foe. M'Kres feinted with the long blade and tried to close the distance between them, but the flashing ax blade seemed to be everywhere weaving a shield for its wielder that the long blade failed to penetrate. For these two the battle had narrowed to this place and time.

The contest for the hill continued unabated around them but they neither heard its clash nor saw its flame. The ax licked out suddenly to be parried by the short sword. They continued to circle feinting and testing each others resolve. may'qel began to smile more widely now, causing M'Kres to wonder. The ax snapped out once again. A shallow cut scored the IKS Captains arm and began to weaken his grip on his shorter blade. He feinted again with his long blade but this time followed with a lightning strike of the shorter blade that may'qel could not completely avoid. The short blade bit deep into may'qels side and he twisted away from its force to reveal a crescent of blood and the whiteness of rib along his side.

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The gun jerked slightly, a bolt of death erupted from the barrel and sped on to its target. It appeared to Marrik to be moving in slow motion, too slow, slow enough for his target to duck. The receiving end barely reacted as its head exploded into a bloody ball of grey matter and gore, and a second shot from the rifle caused the communications gear to explode into a ball of fire.

Marriks commanders eyepiece lit once again, showing the positions of all friendly units, and his earpiece crackled to life.

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"FIRE!" Hurvic commanded. He watched the shells being dropped into the launch tubes, and saw the firing charges go off.

"Hurxxxxxxceasxxxirexxxxxdiatly!"

Hurvic shoved the earpiece deeper into his ear, he almost thought he was hearing things, until the message repeated.

"Hurvic...cease fire immediately! may'qel's troops are still in the drop area!" It was Colonel Marriks voice. Hurvic ran in front of his battery yelling for them to cease fire, but several teams got their rounds off before he could get to them.

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"Well played traitor!" spat may'qel.

M'Kres responded with a flurry of blows that slowly drove may'qel back a step at a time. Till suddenly he planted the ax head in the ground before him and spun his body across its pivot, slamming his splinted leg into M'Kres's gut and driving the Marine back with an explosive grunt! may'qel did not waste the opening, and his ax began to whistle a figure eight pattern as he advanced upon his foe. M'Kres thrust and parried with all his might, but continued to give ground. The ax sung to him like a damned spirit! The flame burning in the other Marines eyes now was as cold as space itself and yet it burned M'Kres's spirit and he faltered. may'qel pressed harder, knowing he had to finish the Marine before his rapidly bleeding away strength gave out. Suddenly like a beacon the monocle he had forgotten he was still wearing spluttered into life!

Momentarily blinding him before he could snatch it off! M'Kres attacked the opening, his long blade licking out and nearly taking may'qels head before he batted it away with his open hand. may'qel called forth all of his spirit now, and slowly forced the Captain back towards the ring of his men. The steel of their blades screamed out in anguish as they met, and this time the long sword could not hold but shattered in its masters hand!

For a brief second M'Kres stared at his blade in shock, that faded a heart beat later when the flashing ax blade buried itself in his chest.

may'qel eased his foe to the ground then clumsily knelt down and began the death howl for this Klingon warrior.

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Marrik was running as fast as he could, yelling into his mic. "may'qel.....may'qel respond! M'Tov! Anyone!" But there was no answer. He tapped some buttons on his wrist control pad, cursing aloud to himself.

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M'Tov's noticed his eyepiece was lit and moved it back over his eye, "Withdraw." he read aloud to himself. He quickly ran down to the Imperial Lines and found a Senior NCO.

"We are ordered to pull back! Move these marines at once, double quick sergeant!"

"Yessir!" the NCO quickly replied, and set to work pulling the troops out of their positions.

M'Tov put the earpiece back into his ear and heard Marrik calling. "RawI'! We're here and pulling back!"

"Good. Where is may'qel?" Marrik asked.

"Unknown, he's not responding. Want me to find him?"

"No, see to the troops, I'll find him! Marrik out."

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IKS Sergeant M'Rok saw the Imperials falling back, "the Captain must have succeeded." he thought. A cheer of victory rang up from the IKS positions, as they watched the enemy pull out in a mad rush.

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L'errin could almost see the thick barrage of mortar shells zip by overhead, the sound they made as they passed, filled him with a sense of relief, that they weren't hitting him, and dread at the same time. Was the rear guard defeated? Is that why the artillery was redirected? Should he secure a position here in case the enemy turns to attack again? L'errin didn't know, and Sergeant-Major M'Rask wasn't offering advice at the moment, a nearly dead Cardassian had managed to jab his blade into M'Rask's thigh, and severed his leg tendon completely. The old warrior told L'errin to leave him and continue on with the mission. Now he wished the Sergeant-Major was here second guessing him again.

end of part 9.

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MOP-UP part 10.

may'qel looked over the rise into the valley below. He saw his troops and those of M'Tov falling back. "We've nearly broken them!" may'qel spat, "Why is he retreating?" He turned and saw his own troops finishing off the remaining IKS soldiers left from their failed sneak attack.

Suddenly he remembered his comm link opened in the middle of his single combat with the enemy commander. He placed the earpiece back inside his ear and reset the eyepiece. "Fall Back Now" was all it said.

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Sergeant M'Rok was still worried about any surprises that the Imperials may have in store. The IKS Marines were giving victory howl's and celebrating their apparent victory, even the surviving Cardassians seemed to be in better spirits. Then he heard it, more felt, than heard. The sound of his death screaming in his ears, filling his mind and reaching into his soul like an icy finger of doom. He sat down on a rock, and made peace with his life, the others barely even noticed him in their revelry.

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Marrik charged over the rise and onto the small plain that the rear guard still fought the surviving IKS flanking force upon. He swung the butt of his rifle in an arc and hammered it into the face of an enemy trooper who spun and attempted to fight. A wet crack and pop was the only sound as the rifle broke the IKS Marines face open, killing him. He saw may'qel looking at him, somewhat in disbelief, as if to ask why Marrik was all the way on this end of the battle.

"Fall back now!" Marrik hollered. He turned to smash another of the enemy, this time breaking the rifle over the head of an IKS non-com, he saw the Kelranni grab two marines and smash their bodies into the cliff wall, leaving a smear of blood to mark the spot where they died.

may'qel didn't need any explanation, he spun his arm and bellowed a short command and his marines began to withdraw quickly, leaving the stunned IKS Troops to their own fates.

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Private Skork was shouting at the top of his lungs, today was his first time in combat and it was glorious! A victory! He imagined his victory cheer stabbed into the hearts of the Imperial Troops like a cold steel dagger. He ears were filled with the rest of his comrades doing much the same, but not enough that he could not hear the explosion behind him. He spun as something flew past him, a body, the air was soon filled with smoke and he lost his bearings as the cheers of victory turned into the sounds of panic, a running Cardassian bumped into him, knocking him off his feet, there were explosions coming from all around him now, he didn't know what he should do, he couldn't even see, couldn't hear for the ringing in his ears.

Then the stabbing pain as his eyes clouded over and all turned black.

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M'Tov saw the artillery hit and was thankful that he was warned in time, those traitor bastards counted their victory before the end of the battle, fools. A smile crept into his features as he imagined the enemy being ripped limb from limb.

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Marrik had may'qel by the arm and was almost dragging him along, may'qels splint had broken and dropped him to the ground, but now he was moving again. The initial volley of shells had claimed some of the slower members of may'qel's Marauders but they were clear of immediate danger now.

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Lt. Lerrin's men waited for the all clear from Major Hurvic and charged the stunned and nearly defeated enemy, they managed to put up a short, but violent fight.

Soon it was over, Lerrin stood among the dismembered mass of Klingon and Cardassian corpses, Klingons of the Empire and the IKS. He lifted his eyes to the sky, the sun beginning its daily appearance, clouding over the night sky and changing it to day, he let out a low growl, gradually letting his pitch and volume rise, he was joined by the others, but he did not care, he warned the Black Fleet, expect the Klingon Marines!

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It was high noon, the sun was high and burned down on the Imperials like sho'tuk under a magnifying glass. The marines grabbed whatever shade they could find. may'qel was still uttering curses at what he felt to be the incompetence of his medic, Lt. Colonel M'Tov and Lt. Lerrin were placing the survivors into a defensive ring around the ravine, and Major Hurvic had his mortar section ready to support them.

"There!" Sergeant-Major M'Rask exclaimed, pointing to the southern sky.

"That's them alright." answered Marrik. He saw the green bolts of energy shooting through the atmosphere towards the ground. "The soft-up before they land the troops. Looks like Task Force Sword has arrived." You could almost feel the ground vibrate as the barrage hit its mark. He looked at his communications display, reading the combat displays from Task Force Sword.

"Well, its over for us it seems." said may'qel, then threw a rock at his medic, who was trying to repair his impatient commanders leg.

"This battle. The fighting isn't over in the triangle, there will be more, you can almost feel it." replied Marrik.