[ WP ] A man without hope is a man without fear .

The command staff was gathered around the holographic terrain board, the cool blues and greens detailing saltwater and rainforest respectively. Scattered throughout the forest were small tokens, a larger sum clustered around the major port on the map the icons listing the details of the forces. Hovering above the land was an egg shaped emblem representing a dropship, a list of names and numbers besides it. The men and women spoke quietly amongst themselves, going over noteputers and simulations with the calm dedication of those well versed in this art. 
 
 `` Officer on deck!'' Shouted the NCO stationed besides the hatch of the war room, saluting as he did so. The assembled officers and senior enlisted straightened and saluted as well as their commanding officer made his way to the holograph table, returning his subordinates' salutes. 
 
 `` At ease.'' The man said, a knowing certainty in his voice. 
 
 On each his shoulders were three gold bars, one half as wide as the others. His uniform was the same as the ones worn by the rest of his men and women, olive green pants tucked into brown leather ankle boots. A dark *flecktarn* camouflage jacket was worn over a tan shirt. A small row of awards was pinned to his left breast from prior service elsewhere. The most prominent was leaf shaped medal made of bronze, set with a single sapphire. 
 
 The officer looked out into the sea of faces, no fear or hesitation in their eyes, save one. 
 
 `` Corporal Langley.'' He said. 
 
 The gangly lad of eighteen took a half step forward. 
 
 `` M-me, sir?'' 
 
 `` Mhmm. What's eating at your mind? Is it the battle plans?'' 
 
 The very young, and very nervous youth nodded slightly too quickly, his worries clear to read. 
 
 `` Well... yes sir. We have a battalion, and from our best estimates, there's a least twice that number on planet.'' 
 
 `` If not more, Corporal. And what of it?'' 
 
 Their faces turned away from Langley, the boy could n't see the slight smirks on their lips; it was opportunities like this that their commander used to educate. Langley continued, his stutter finally coming under control. Major W. Tycho Novak smiled at his junior NCO, a look of pride on his face. 
 
 `` The attack plans have us landing on the shoreline, we'll be surrounded, unable to retreat. Should we be defeated, there's no place to go.'' 
 
 `` *Throw the troops into a position from which there is no escape, and even when faced with death they will not flee. `` * Major Novak quoted. `` What worked in pre-spaceflight Terra works in the year 3146. Yes, we'll be outnumbered two, maybe three to one, but each of us will fight with the strength of ten.'' 
 
 `` Well it's certainly is n't because our hearts are pure!'' Sergeant Major Uriel Farber said, getting a chorus of laughter from the assembled. He taught late 2nd millennia English Literature before he donned the uniform of a soldier for a second time. 
 
 Major W. Tycho Novak grinned, a dangerous thing, sometimes the last thing a man ever saw. `` Typhus'' Novak was about to go to war.
