Showing First to Fight by David Sherman

Stranded in a hellish alien desert, stripped of their strategic systems, quick reaction force and supporting arms, and carrying only a day's water ration, Marine Staff Sergeant Charlie Bass and his seven-man team faced a grim future 75 light-years from home. The only thing between his Marines and safety was 85 miles of uncharted, waterless terrain and 2,000 bloodthirsty savages with state-of-the-art weapons in their hands and murder on their minds.

But the enemy didn't reckon on the warrior cunning of Marines' Marine Charlie Bass and the courage of a few good men who would follow him anywhere - even to death...