ON: [[Betazed, 2375]]

Official Starfleet Marine Post-Battle Report on the Loss of the 30th Marines:

30th Marines were assigned the task of securing jem'hadar base 295. With moderate casualties, they secured that objective and held the base with the support of the 41st and 98th Marine battalions. With most elements of the 30th inside the base and the 41st on the east flank and the 98th on the west flank, the Dominion troops pushed back the 98th and 41st, leaving the base and the 30th in a dangerous salient.

The commander of the 30th was twice ordered to withdraw his troops from the base, but for reasons that are disputed, he did not execute that withdrawal. During that night, the Dominion managed to manipulate signals intelligence and reconnaisance and withdraw the bulk of their forces from the 41st's area unnoticed and use them to attack the 98th with overwhelming numbers in a pre-dawn assault. The attack bypassed the base containing the 30th entirely. The 98th was overrun in surprisingly short order and they withdrew in disorder towards the 41st.

Before adequate command and control could be re-established, the 41st found itself heavily engaged from the rear and was pushed back several kilometers. The Dominion troops then invested the base and assaulted it the next morning. Efforts to relieve the siege were unsuccessful. Upon the base being overrun and within minutes of his own command post being overrun, the marine commander inside detonated several explosive charges, bringing the base down on all within.

Debate continues to rage over the disputed order to withdraw from the base. The commander claimed to have been told to hold his position, but eye-witness accounts from the headquarters unit and communication logs show clearly that the retreat command was issued and acknowledged by someone within the base. There were very few survivors from inside the base, and the commander himself was the only survivor from the headquarters area. He was subsequently court-martialled and demoted to captain. The official finding was that the most serious charge, willful disobedience of a direct order in a time of war, was not able to be conclusively proved by the evidence, but he was found guilty of dereliction of duty. Due to injuries sustained in the battle, the commander is currently in a coma and doctors remain unsure if he will ever regain consciousness.

ON: [[Betazed, 2375]]

Day 1 (0800):
Dropped in before dawn, rallied the at specified coordinates. Looks like the landings were good to us, only lost two in the landing, scouts securing the area. Looks to be friendly fire, but can't be sure. Everyone's jumpy. Haven't sighted Dominion troops yet, but they've got to be around here somewhere.

Day 1 (1200):
Outward scouts report contact with Jem'hadar. Report's garbled, still trying to figure out if it's a skirmish or an actual assault. Sent Yevetts and a company to figure it out. Expect report soon.

Day 1 (2200):
I believe we are now repelling a substantial Jem'hadar assault. They began to engage in earnest after dusk. I don't know that they can see in the dark better than us, but they sure seem to think so.

Day 2 (0400):
Repelled the assault. We gave better than we got. Don't know if that was intended to press us or keep us off balance.

Day 2 (0700):
They're back and in greater number this time. I believe that the goal of last night's raid was to soften us and probe our defenses. They've significantly invested the surrounding hills. HQ tells me that our flanks are solid, but they've been making probes through the outlying area. We've repulsed the attacks so far, but casualties have been higher than expected.

Day 2 (1300):
The assault seems to have subsided for now. Not sure if they're regrouping or calling it off. One of the advanced posts thought they saw a Vorta out there directing the assault, but I can't confirm that.

Day 2 (1600):
Casualty reports from the battle are in. Looks like we came in better than I thought. I was expecting worse. I've been informed that we'll be advancing tomorrow morning.

Day 3 (0100):
Dominion has been harassing our lines with skirmishers supported by suborbital craft for the last several hours. I don't think that Jem'hadar need to sleep. Planning our advance now. We're expected to cover six kilometers over the next two days. The goal is a staging base where the Jem'hadar get their Ketracel White. Command believes that to be the only source of the stuff in the area.

Day 3 (0600):
Moving out now. We're to be the spearhead of the assault. HQ says that we should be able to capture it in 48 hours. Battle's raging around the planet too. Get a flash of light, sometimes. I think it's a ship burning up in the atmosphere.

Day 3 (1200):
Making good progress. We've only encountered light resistance. I received word that the Jem'hadar are falling back. I don't for a minute think we've beaten them.

Day 3 (1400):
Found out why they've been falling back. They're on the other side of the river and, as expected, are heavily contesting the crossing. Engineers are fabricating a bridge now, hope to be able to cross within the hour.

Day 3 (1700):
We have a foothold secured on the opposite side of the river. Heavier than expected casualties to cross. I believe they mean to wear us down so that we will not have the strength to assault that base.

Day 3 (2300):
Stopped for the night. I expect harassing attacks. Got a confirmed sighting of a Vorta out there. Little bastard's probably directing this whole delaying action. Thought they were acting smarter than Jem'hadar usually do.

Day 4 (0600):
Moving out again. Couldn't sleep. Too much happening. I'll get some shuteye tonight.

Day 4 (0800):
Within sight of the outpost. Nasty looking thing up on a prominent outcropping. No way to sneak up on it. Going to have to do this tough.

Day 4 (2200):
We're taking it just before dawn tomorrow. Sent Jenkins around the back to see if she can assault the base from another angle. Should get a report soon.

Day 4 (2400):
Jenkins says that she thinks she's found a back way into the base, but that it's a tough climb. I sent a squad with her to see what she can do. I'm going to kill that Vorta tomorrow.

Day 5 (0900):
Assault is bogged down. With the element of surprise, we got the front gate down, but we can't move past it and we can't fall back.

Day 5 (1100):
Jenkins managed to infiltrate their base. Caused enough confusion that we managed to make some headway. I hope she survives, I want to thank her.

Day 5 (2100):
We've captured the base, mostly. Some minor clearing remains, plus all the traps they've left, but it is ours. Vorta's not here though. Little bastard managed to slip out somehow.

Day 6 (0900):
Dominion counterattacked during the night. We've kept them off the base so far. Thomas managed to repair the gate, so we're secure here for now. HQ says that the 41st and the 98th have our flanks, so we're solid. Maybe I'll actually get a night's sleep.

Day 6 (2100):
I'm convinced that this isn't just a localized counterattack. I believe we're seeing the beginning of a major push. Had Thomas plant explosives on the approaches and around the base. If we have to leave, all they'll get is a smoking crater for their troubles.

Day 7 (5:00):
Received word that the 98th is retreating and that the 41st is hard pressed. HQ says to hold position.

Day 7 (1500):
I am positive the Vorta means to bypass us and put us to siege. 98th managed to rally last though. They're holding for now. HQ never should have trusted a green regiment with that position.

Day 7 (2300):
We're in a salient now, no doubt about it. The 41st and the 98th have been pushed back, meter by meter. Requested clarification of orders from HQ. They say to hold. HQ says to hold, so we hold.

Day 8 (0800):
That Vorta's a sneaky bastard. He drew his strength off the 41st and hit the 98th with all his Jem'hadar after dusk yesterday. They rolled the 98th up and hit the 41st from the rear. We're surrounded now.

Day 8 (1900):
HQ denied my request for a breakout attempt. They've reinforced the 41st and they're coming to relieve us.

Day 9 (1000):
The 41st is over two kilometers out and not making progress. Dominion have local air superiority too. No hope of being relieved before the Jem'hadar assault. Scans show they're massing out there, where we can't hit them. Probably going to come tonight.

Day 9 (2100):
Jem'hadar have the outer walls and are coming after us soon. They're going to pay for every meter of ground they take. I hear that Vorta's in the compound now too. Good. Thomas gave me a remote detonator. Says there's no way they'll find all the explosives he's stashed. That bastard Vorta's going to die, one way or another.

Day 10 (0400):
They're outside the command center now. I can hear them cutting in. No communication with other units from the 30th. Assuming them to be dead or captured. I'm going to bring the place down on us before they slaughter us all. Hope Thomas wired this right. Hail the victorious 30th.