First to fight is the first book in the StarFist series, by David Sherman and Dan Cragg. The series is based upon the experiences of 25th century Marines. The first book in the series introduces three of the main characters, Gunnery Sergeant Charlie Bass and new Marine recruits Claypoole and Dean.
The main plot in First to Flight is the story of a platoon from the 34th Fleet Initial Strike Team or FIST to the planet Elneal. There are three subplots that go throughout the whole story; the first subplot revolves around Marine Joseph F. Dean while he experiences his first deployment. Second is that of Staff Sergeant Charlie Bass, who recently was 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. Lastly, is the subplot of the sadistic dream of a tribal leader whose plan to achieve rule over Elneal is obstructed by the presence of the Marines on Elneal.
Dean and his friend Neal are assigned to the third platoon of Company L, 34th FIST on Thorsfinni’s World. While the 34th FIST is assigned to a humanitarian relief effort on the backwater planet of Elneal. This is a planet that is completely useless except for its deposits, which are mined by Consolidated Enterprises, and different nomadic tribes mostly populate this location. The 3rd platoon receives a new platoon leader, who privately sees the platoon as a bunch of worthless men in need of shaping up, even thought the company commander claims 3rd platoon is the best in the FIST. It then becomes clear that the nomadic tribes have formed an alliance to rid this planet of the Confederation and Consolidated Enterprises. Dean’s platoon is stationed in an isolated village in order to defend, retain order, and deliver aid to the locals as originally planned before the Marines’ arrival. While things seem...