First to Fight (book)

infobox Book |
name = First to Fight
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Dan Cragg & David Sherman
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = StarFist
genre = Science fiction novel
publisher = Del Rey Books
release_date = 1997
media_type = Print Paperback
pages = 378 pp
isbn = ISBN 978-0-345-43654-2
preceded_by =
followed_by = School of Fire

First to Fight is the first book in the StarFist series, by David Sherman and Dan Cragg. The series is based on the experiences of Marines in the 24th century. The first book introduces three of the main characters, Gunnery Sergeant Charlie Bass and new Marine recruits Claypoole and Dean.

Plot summary

"First to Fight" has one main plot, the story of a platoon from the 34th Fleet Initial Strike Team (FIST) to the planet Elneal, interlaced with three subplots. The first subplot revolves around new Marine Joseph F. Dean as he experiences his first deployment. Another is that of Staff Sergeant Charlie Bass, recently demoted from Gunnery Sergeant and transferred to the 34th FIST for assaulting a civilian contractor after the in-combat failure of an electronic device the man was responsible for, which failure cost half the men of one of the companies of the 31st FIST. The third subplot is the sadistic dream of a tribal leader whose plan to achieve rule over Elneal is stymied by the presence of the Marines on Elneal.

The story begins with Joe Dean, just out of college, whose heart was set on service in the Army, like his father before him, but is inspired at the last moment to join the Confederation Marines when he sees the proud bearing and demeanor of the Marine recruiters as they pass by. In a few days he finds himself aboard a navy transport ship heading to the Confederation military training world of Arsenault.

After basic training, Dean and his friend McNeal are assigned to the third platoon of Company L, 34th FIST (Fleet Initial Strike Team) on Thorsfinni's World. Not long after arriving on the planet, the 34th FIST is assigned to a humanitarian relief effort on the backwater planet of Elneal. It is a planet that is completely useless except for its mineral deposits, which are being mined by Consolidated Enterprises, and is mostly populated by nomadic tribes who wage constant war amongst themselves but who have recently begun attacking people in the villages and cities.

Just prior to the arrival of the 34th FIST on Elneal, third platoon receives a new platoon leader, who privately sees the platoon as a bunch of worthless men in need of shaping up, even though the company commander claims third platoon is the best in the entire FIST.

After the FIST arrives on planet, it becomes clear that the tribes have formed an alliance to rid the planet of the Confederation and Consolidated Enterprises. Dean's platoon is stationed in an isolated village in order to defend it, retain order and deliver aid to the locals as originally planned before the Marines' arrival. But while things seem calm and peaceful, Staff Sergeant Bass has been in sticky situations before, and feels strongly that things won't remain that way. He tries to convince the platoon leader to take defensive measures before the situation deteriorates, but to no effect.

The lieutenant grows weary of listening to Bass's warnings, and to get him out of his hair orders him to take the platoon's new UPUD Mark Two device out to find any problems with it. Bass reluctantly takes a patrol a ways into the desert to test the device, but while testing it, they realize that the rest of the platoon is under attack back in the village. The small patrol is too far away to come help in good time.

After the mounted tribesmen break off their attack, the inexperienced lieutenant makes the assumption that the patrol sent out with the UPUD must have been wiped out, and, believing another full-out assault is in the works, orders a withdrawal to Company L headquarters in New Obbia. Stranded, Bass leads the patrol on foot 240 kilometers through the desert towards New Obbia, harassed by the rebel nomads the whole way.

External links

* [http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345436542 "StarFist: First to Fight"] Random House book listing.