'Twas the night before battle

      by J. Michael Tisdel

      'Twas the night before battle,
      on the old Battle Barge.
      And not a Marine was sleeping,
      except for Ol' Sarge.

      The bolters were slung
      by the armor with care
      But Sarge had kept his
      his bed it would share.

      The Marines were all nestled
      snug in their beds,
      But wide awake they were,
      for the mission ahead.

      Reports had come in
      of a terrible plight,
      The planet Ichar IV
      was now a battle site.

      The Tyranids had come,
      to strip it all bare,
      And the Marines were going
      to spice up the affair.

      The PDF defenders
      of that little mud ball
      Were no match for the 'Nids,
      Not a match at all.

      So the Marines were called
      to come even the fight,
      And save Ichar IV
      from the Tyranid Blight.

      Now of all the Marines
      bourne on this battle barge
      Only one had faced 'Nids
      and that was Ol' Sarge.

      While the others would tell
      rumors of fright,
      Ol' Sarge just laughed
      and slept through the night.

      "You pups," he would say,
      "you won't be alone"
      "I'll be there with you,
      You trust Sergeant Jones"

      "I've fought 'em before,
      These big nasty bugs,
      They're tough, mind you,
      but they're still just slugs"

      "Just keep your bolter handy,
      And trust in Him,
      Who sleeps in the Throne
      Of Gold so dim"

      And with these words,
      he laughed most gamely
      But everyone said
      "Jones is acting strangely..."

      End.

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