Here's a brief story about the Dark Angel infantry before Battlesuits.  Hope you enjoy.  Be gentle.  ;D<br/><br/>_____________________________________<br/><br/>February 10, 3066<br/>Undisclosed Location<br/><br/>He stood in the briefing room with his team, watching as the four other individuals checked and rechecked their gear.<br/><br/>This contract had been hard on everyone.  Now was the time to end it though.<br/><br/>He wrapped the web belt around his waist, the sound of the clips making a dull click.  He clipped his pistol holster to his left thigh before shrugging his ballistic jacket on.  He zipped it up and, laying over the excess fabric and clipping it down.  The clips where made of black matte plastic and would give off no reflection, and the extra fabric would keep the zipper from getting snagged and it also kept the sunlight or moonlight from reflecting off the metal.  Next he jammed extra ammunition into the appropiate pouches, as well as the grenades, charges and other demolitions equipment.<br/><br/>Next was the the communications equipment. He placed the earbud into his right ear and the two sensors on either side of his throat.  This would allow him to communicate though the lowest whisper, even though he did have the mouthpiece in front of his lips for more conventional use.<br/><br/>Then the weapons.  He placed a magazine into his heavy pistol and let a round slide into the chamber before placing it in his thigh holster.  He loaded up his compact assault rifle.  The configuration of this rifle was a bullpup design with a scope and silencer.  His last weapon was the knife that he place across his chest for easy access.  One of his infantry men ask him once if he got that from the Stealthy Fox.  He remembered telling the kid "How do you know they didn't get it from me."  He kid smiled until he figured out that his CO wasn't joking.<br/><br/>He performed a final equipment check and everyone was give rations and water, which were put into cargo pockets.  After the application of camoflague, his team moved out into the night.<br/><br/>***<br/><br/>February 13, 3066<br/>Undisclosed Location<br/><br/>He lay there in the prone position, looking through his optics at the site down below.  It was definately a command camp, complete with the trailer.  Inside were the officers of the unit, drawing up battle plans and whatever else they decided to do.<br/><br/>"Raven One to Ravens.  Check."<br/><br/>"Raven Two."<br/><br/>"Raven Three."<br/><br/>"Eagle One."<br/><br/>"Eagle Two."<br/><br/>He almost allowed himself a smile.  Eagle One and Eagle Two were his teams snipers.  They were both about a mile away, perched on high ground with their Zeus rifles.<br/><br/>It had taken the Ravens three days to get into position, moving slowly through the thick jungle, making sure they were not being seen.  When they arrived at the camp site it was completely dark with almost zero ambient light.  Everything was perfect.<br/><br/>"Raven Two and Raven Three. Perimeter check."<br/><br/>Slowly they would low crawl the perimeter of the camp, looking at patrols, times, locations of booby traps and even Mechs.  They were targeting the enemy commander, after all.<br/><br/>***<br/><br/>February 14, 3066<br/>Undisclosed Location<br/><br/>It was close to two o'clock in the morning before the Ravens finished their sweep.  Everything was normal.  No one expected infantry to attack a command site anymore.  Not since the BattleMech became king of the battlefield.<br/><br/>"Alright Ravens.  Now we wait."<br/><br/>It was almost dusk.  Michael watched as the guards yawned.  They were tired and rain had started about three hours prior.  That coupled with the long shift made the men tired, softer targets.  It was almost enough for Michael to offer a prayer to whichever deity would listen to it.<br/><br/>Almost.<br/><br/>"Raven Two and Raven Three.  Time to work."<br/><br/>Three shapes masked by the night slipped through shadows, going about their business.  They were silent and efficient, often times coming close enough to tap a guard on a shoulder.  A few short minutes and the retreated back into the jungle.<br/><br/>***<br/><br/>"Raven One.  Eagle One.  I have movement at the trailer."<br/><br/>Michael rose his rifle to shoulder and peered through the scope just as the door opened.  Out stepped a middle aged man that bore the took of a soldier.  He was still strong though his face for hard lines and his hair was graying.<br/><br/>"Eagle One.  Raven One.  I want confirmation of the target."<br/><br/>"Eagle One confirms, Raven One."<br/><br/>"Eagle Two also confirms."<br/><br/>Michael lay there quietly, whispering just enough to move his vocal chords.<br/><br/>"Eagle One.  Raven One.  Go."<br/><br/>He no sooner got the word out before the enemy commander's head jerked back and fell down the stair of the command trailer.  Guards were still trying to figure out what happened when the report of the rifle cracked the silence.<br/><br/>The campsite errupted as officers spilled out of the trailer, shouting orders, wanting to know what was going on.  The third man out stiffened and fell, the report of another rifle echoing through the early morning.<br/><br/>"Eagle One.  Raven One.  Confirm termination of the target."  He only had to wait two heartbeats.<br/><br/>"Eagle One confirms, Raven One."<br/><br/>"Eagle Two confirms as well."<br/><br/>He sat and waited, watching as the MechWarriors ran out of the trailer in their cooling vests and shorts, making a mad dash for their Mechs.<br/><br/>Then the explosions began.<br/><br/>One by one the planted charges went off, dropping each of the four Mechs in the lance, knee actuators destroyed.<br/><br/>From out of the jungle Michael popped up, along with Raven Two and Raven Three.  He double tapped the first guard in face with his rifle, the silenced weapon barely making a sound.  There was the occasion roar of the Zeus rifles after someone dropped, Eagle One and Eagle Two providing cover fire.  The three Ravens on the ground dropped each guard as they came to them, double tapping the guards in the face before making it to the door of the command trailer.<br/><br/>Plucking a Willy Pete, better known as a flash bang, from his ballistic vest, Michael gave a nod and Raven Two opened the door.  Michael tossed the Willy Pete and moved over to the side of the now opened door.  There was a pop and a flash then smoke spilling out of the door.  After a few seconds Michael gave the nod and Raven Two entered the door followed by Michael, leaving Raven Three to guard the door, dropping just inside the doorway and taking cover behind the wall, still watching the jungle.<br/><br/>Michael walked in and those that resisted were shot, those that we laying on the ground were quickly zip tied and disarmed, their personnal items emptied from their pockets.  Michael rummaged through the message traffic briefly before finding enemy maneuvers and callsigns.<br/><br/>Stuffing the folder inside his ballistic jacket, all the survivors were then dragged out of the trailer and into the rain.  They were all lined up and laid out on their bellies.  Michael removed a controller and toggled the button, wincing slightly as the trailer went up in flames.  There was just one thing left to do.<br/><br/>"All Ravens.  Raven One.  Fade."<br/><br/>With that, the three Ravens backed into the jungle and faded away as if they were never there, taking a weapon that would make the Angels Mech compliment much more dangerous.