The accompanying image of the M1096A2 Porcupine LDPWS is derived from holoimages that were among the personal effects of Lance Sergeant (LSgt) Pekka Oksanen, Imperial Marines. The account of the events in this description are derived from LSgt Oksanen’s personal journal, provided along with the holoimages by his sister, Sisko Oksanen.
Where possible, dates and events have been cross-checked with Imperial and public records, but not all events can be confirmed through other sources so this record should be viewed as primarily a personal recollection, not necessarily as historical fact.
Pekka Oksanen was born and raised on Aramis (Spinward Marches, 3110), the second of three children. His older brother followed his parent’s career path, operating a clothing retail business serving the Aramis starport. Pekka enlisted in the Imperial Marines in 1100, mostly because the family business failed to attract his interest. After his initial training, he was assigned to the 4203rd Fleet Marine Regiment (Rhylanor Subsector) and completed two shipboard assignments and a training mission. During this tour he was promoted twice, reaching the rank of Corporal (E3). He re-enlisted and was assigned to the 2140th Garrison Marine Regiment, which was also based in various locations in Rhylanor Subsector.
Posted to the Naval Base on Jae Tellona (Spinward Marches, 2814), his journal entries show that the tedium of garrison duties grated the young corporal. He found the desert environment of Jae Tellona fascinating, but missed the excitement of visiting many different worlds that he remembered from his assignment with the Fleet Marines. In his second year on Jae Tellona, his initial excitement on learning of an impending training mission was dampened when he learned that the mission would be to Yori (Spinward Marches, 2110), another desert world. Despite that, Corporal Oksanen’s performance was rewarded with a promotion to Lance Sergeant. Returning to Jae Tellona and the garrison routine made him wonder if he would ever see any of the action and excitement he hungered for. He wrote home to Sisko that he did not plan to re-enlist after his second term, and that he was looking into the possibilities offered by mercenary units. The onset of the Fifth Frontier War changed his plans.
The 2140th headquarters on Jae Tellona received an alert on 208-1107, ordering the formation of a Site Security Task Force (SSTF) to secure Imperial Research Station Beta on Yori. LSgt Oksanen’s unit (2nd battalion of the 2140th), having just trained for that specific mission, was quickly organized and embarked, reaching Yori on 236-1107. After the initial excitement of an actual wartime mission and the feverish construction of defensive positions had passed, the Marines of SSTF 21402 began to feel that the war was going to pass them by. Reports of the fighting against the Zhodani, Vargr, and Sword World forces caused many of the less combat-experienced Marines to feel at once sobered and somewhat envious. This resulted in some deterioration of discipline among the Marines. LSgt Oksanen and several others in his unit were reprimanded for decorating their vehicles with unauthorized markings. Luckily, LSgt Oksanen captured his artwork in several holoimages before he was ordered to remove the markings. When he later gave the holos to Sisko, LSgt Oksanen only regretted that they had neglected to re-paint their Imperial Marine starburst emblems - the desert sun on Yori has bleached the logo from Maroon to a faded red and Pekka thought it made the holos appear to depict “a bunch of joyriding scouts.”
On 033-1108 (according to LSgt Oksanen’s calculations, their 161st day on Yori), SSTF 21402 received the order to prepare Station Beta for relocation to Aramis. A week later an Imperial Navy Auxiliary cargo vessel arrived with escorts and, after the ordeal of loading and an uneventful transit, they reached Aramis on 098-1108. LSgt Oksanen was able to enjoy a brief leave at home with his family. While happy to be back in a familiar environment, he was surprised at how much he missed the desert environments of Jae Tellona. There, his frequent off-duty forays into the local wilderness areas had earned him the nickname “desert ox” and the similar environment on Yori he also found a constant source of wonder. He was also happy that he his enlistment had been extended due to the current emergency. Sisko was as saddened by his eagerness to return to the desert as she was at his eagerness to face what he explained as his duty to fight alongside his brother Marines.
LSgt Oksanen’s eagerness for combat was soon to be answered. The Marines of SSTF 21402 were ordered to depart Aramis only a month after arriving. Rather than reuniting with the rest of their regiment, the SSTF was assigned to reinforce the Imperial forces defending Efate (Spinward Marches, 1705) which was threatened with capture by the Zhodani. What happened to LSgt Oksanen and the other Marines of SSTF 21402 on Efate is not known to Sisko, as she received no further communication from her brother. Her only knowledge of his fate is derived from the notice delivered to her family on 362-1108, notifying them that he had been killed in action, and a later notice describing his actions that resulted in his posthumous award of the Medal for Conspicuous Gallantry. These documents and the personal effects he left behind on departing Aramis are now in the possession of Sisko Oksanen, who plans to enlist in the Imperial Navy when she turns eighteen.
