Mission 7: Protector

[Cabel]

[Tranquilitas Beta: Planet Protector: Water Purification Plant: Alpha Company Command Post: Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th MEB: Captain Mark “Spade” Sorelson: Date: 1 January 2548]

“Tornado 1-2 to Tornado Actual, they‘re right on top of us. I don‘t know how long we can stay hidden, Sir,” he heard Sergeant Maximilian “Drake“ Fields of First Platoon‘s Second Squad say, filtered over his helmet‘s com-set quietly. Drake‘s squad had taken up position on the first perimeter behind the sandbags, and unfortunately were closer to the curious Drones including the larger leader. He‘d been about to dispatch orders to the young Sergeant when another voice filtered over his com-set on a second incoming encrypted frequency.

“Angel Four Actual to Tornado Actual, do you want any assistance? My men and I are feeling useless and I‘m sure that our help would be appreciated if a firefight starts, over,” the voice filtered over the helmet‘s com-set, and it took a moment for Mark to identify Callsign. First Lieutenant Alexei “Titan” Krevchenkov had been an ODST of the One-Fifty-Third, an ODST Company attached to the 7th MEB prompting Mark to realize that while he hadn’t expected to hear from any of the ODST’s dispatched to the surface the assistant would be appreciated in more ways than one.

“Tornado Actual to Angel Four Actual, your offer for assistance is accepted. We have not engaged the Covenant yet, but their Drone buddies became curious and are currently inside the Plant’s Main Pressure Door. They haven’t committed to any hostile actions yet, but the rest of their raiding party’s still outside. It is advised you take caution on approach, and keep your re-breathers on. On arrival, stay low. How you deploy your men is in your discretion. Tornado Actual, out,” Mark replied over the encrypted frequency, back to Angel Four Actual’s own location before switching over Tornado 1-2’s frequency. “Tornado Actual to Tornado 1-2,…” he began, thinking of a way to move either Sergeant Field’s marines out of there without alerting the Drones. He could order the defenders to open fire, but if they hadn’t timed it exactly right or discovered the Drones would have helped them their positions would be made along with the expended ammunition and lives. It had been a reality Mark had come to know, even accept over his years in the Corps that very rarely had an engagement taken a toll on marine lives. It had become a reality for him, almost as much as finding a middle-ground in any situation. The notion of finding allies had always been an extremely difficult task, more so when your enemy had been an alien coalition bent on destruction of both oneself and of the entire species. A thought crossed his mind, an epiphany or stroke of suicidal tendencies depending on how it was viewed by academics years or more down the road. Instead of moving vital defenders from other spots weakening their overall defense to assist Drake’s men even though the entire first perimeter had been covered by firing angles from machine guns to rifles, Mark had decided much as a madman to follow through with perhaps the dumbest plan that had come to him. “Get your men out of there. Fallback to the second perimeter. If one of those Drones so much dives or hocks a loogie on you, take it out. Tornado Actual, out,”

“Tornado Actual to all Callsigns, when second squad opens fire let it loose. I repeat; open fire when second squad does,” he ordered, relaying it through his helmet-com-set on hearing louder buzzing from beyond the walls of the Plant and the louder hum of another dropship. He’d been in the field long enough to know the Covenant raiders had called in for reinforcements of which were about to make the defense even more difficult. “We’ve got extra dinner guests about to drop by. They know this facility is vital, and they know we share the same sentiment. We won’t give those split-lips, methane breathers, avians and flying cicadas an inch. We’re about to have reinforcements of our own, but keep the partying down. Tornado Actual, out,”

“Tornado Actual to Angel Four Actual, double time it. The Alamo’s about to become a rather hot real-estate opportunity, as the Covenant have invited even more of their little pals. I’ve been able to make out the hum of another dropship, and its good bets there are more on the way. If you have any rocket launchers or grenade launchers, bring ‘em with you. If you can find vehicles, operational vehicles, it would be appreciated. Tornado Actual, out,” he whispered, on the same encrypted frequency back to First Lieutenant Alexei “Titan” Krevchenkov. If we make it out of this, I’ll put in a requisition form to Section Eight the guy responsible for the lack of air cover, he thought. Most of the worlds they had found themselves on in the last few months with some of them resulting in disaster had the knack of a lack of air cover. Perhaps his attempts to gain some much needed air support in the form of the disillusioned Drones had been a false hope, if any. Feeling the familiar grip of the MA5C Assault Rifle in his hand, he’d hoped he wouldn’t lose that one as so many in the past and knew his marines and the army troopers with the ODSTs help could hold this place. They had to, or the entire colony and the 7th MEB were lost.

[RiddL]

First Lieutenant Alexei -Titan- Krevchenkov
153rd ODST
Protector

Lock, Load and ready to rain Hell

Titan put a hand to his wounded leg and put a little pressure on it, checking to see if it was bleeding as badly as it was before, he walked over to one of the nearby Hogs and pulled out some Bio-Foam, immediately applying it to his leg and removing the makeshift bandages.

He heard footsteps thudding behind him and turned to see all of the ODSTs he had, minus Blacklock.

"Alright Hell jumpers, Scrounge at least 8 Combat effective hogs and a few transport hogs too. Any room in the Transports are to be taken up by heavy weaponry for the Marines waiting for us, I also want there to be a couple of HMGs that we can set up. I want to be ready to get to the Water Plant yesterday so move it Boys, lives depend on us." He said in a voice loud enough to be carried to every man he had.

The men dispersed and immediately started grabbing whatever heavy weapons they could find and started getting into a multitude of warthogs, he himself getting into the gunners position of a Gauss warthog, one of the few that they had, the others were all MG mounted.

Within ten minutes the ODSTs were all mounted up and in a convoy moving towards the water Plant.

"Angel 4 Actual to Tornado Actual, Hell on wheels inbound to your position. Any idea where I can sneak 10 Hogs in quietly? Over" he asked Captain Sorelson over the encrypted channels as the Warthogs neared the Water Plant.

The Convoy stopped and Titan stood, tense as he waited for a response.

[Guardian Cat of Yappa's]

Sergeant Maximilian Drake Fields

1/7, A Co, 1st Platoon, 2nd Squad

Water Purification Plant

Protector, Tranquilitas Beta System

All hell bout to break loose

 

In all the years that Drake had been serving for the UNSC, this was in his top ten for most tense and deadly moments. He could feel the sandbags beside him shift slightly as the bugger put pressure onto the stack, probably trying to climb over the dam thing. Any second now Drake would see the glow of that ugly S.O.B's eyes, and he would fill the area between them with enough lead to drop an elephant. Then the craziest set of orders slipped into his ear from his commanding officer, “Get your men out of there. Fallback to the second perimeter. If one of those Drones so much dives or hocks a loogie on you, take it out. Tornado Actual, out”
 


You got to be kidding me, was all Drake could think as he looked at his marines beside him, and the area around them. They had little to no cover to move, and this S.O.B was right on top of them. They had no way to move without someone getting shot, and the next order to come across the line only reinforced his beliefs. “Tornado Actual to all Callsigns, when second squad opens fire let it loose. I repeat; open fire when second squad does,”
 


Drake nodded towards the marines beside, and mouthed, "I got this one, shot the other S.O.B in the room." Drake took a deep breath, nodded towards his marines, and popped up right in the buggers face, and unloaded the magazine right between his eyes. All he could hear besides his own gun, was the guns of the rest of his men lighting up the other bugger. Drake reloaded his rifle as the bugger corpse toppled over, "2nd squad dig in, we got more incoming." Drake then opened a private line to the captain, he felt a need to explain why he straight out engaged the enemy.

"Tornado Actual, Tornado One-Two, the enemy was right on top of us, there was no way we could move what-so-ever, so I made a call and engaged the enemy, out." Drake stayed slightly popped up over the sandbags so he could engage any new buggers that were gonna fly in, he knew it was gonna be a long day.

[Huka]

Field Marshal Til ‘Muramai
Underneath the Lesser Dome’s Airstrip
Inevitable Escape

Til blinked in surprise of the Kig-yar’s way of saying thank you...more than a little surprise but he was outwardly stoic to keep appearances. He return, the Sangheili bowed his head with a slight tilt of his crested head in a show of proper respect of the T’vaoan’s title and status amongst her clan. Returning his posture, the Field Marshal allowed Kael to leave him be before her second-in-command whispered appreciation and he nodded, “Of course.”

Then a report came in through his comm in the rough harmonic tone of the Mgalekgolo, “We are a sheet away of breaking through, Unquestionable Master of the Field. The humans are vulnerable but so is the rocks that separate us. Combat is ill-advised...”

On that, Til certainly agree. He feel the talon-tips of Death rubbing at his skin for every distant crack of the earthly presence around them and the hard work that the Locusts are making, getting ever closer to freedom. They had to get out of here and soon.

“Agreed. Keep watch of the humans until I recall you back. The Locusts will be arriving shortly, I can feel their approach against the rock-face.” He ordered and finally got up himself to address his attentive troops.

“Warriors, prepare to move. Our salvation arrives!” And on that warning, the piercing heat of the digging Locusts’ focus cannons could be clearly heard with the grinding of their front locomotives but the action loosened a few thick rocks for a dangerous fall, provoking a few shouts of anger and near death experiences. “Thank the Gods!” A Jiralhanae cried out and the crackling of the battlenet finally lifted with a beautiful beam of amethyst speared through the collapsed lift entrances, everyone making several procautious steps back at grinded or molten rock rolled out with the slow appearance of the weaponized mining platforms like metallic four-limbed spiders. 

“WARRIORS OF THE COVENANT,  Til announced through all immediate frequencies, giving a moment to take in the opening door. "YOUR FIELD MARSHAL AND LOST SIBLINGS HAVE RETURNED.”

Spec-Ops Commander Praem ‘Nikuysee
Human Water Process Plant
Finally...distractions

Praem was on the verge of leaving the disobedient bugs and when he was about to give the command, one of his majors approached him. A warrior with a good head on his shoulders named Balak, veteran of a fine number of missions and it showed in the form of a missing upper jaw and scorched side of his face above it from a near miss from a human flamethrower. “Mighty commander, wait.” The white-armored leader allowed at least that as his hidden eyes fell upon the soldier immediately.

“What is it?” He demanded without snapping his voice. “We should give the Yanme’e some time...the reinforcements will be here soon and it will bolster our chance of completing our objective.” The wounded operator said carefully but fluid enough to hide the rounded caution of speaking to the Nikuys. “We can use the approaching phantoms’ firepower to hammer upon the humans’ defenses more proper and when they start hurling surface-to-air, ground troops will take care of it. In all, a fiery distraction for us to make a opportune move.”

Praem considered that and looked back at the swarm crawling and playing about without their master. It was amusing to watch but he wasn’t keen on sticking long in case of the human commanders decide to start to shoot around blindly for the Spirit’s dampened hum. “Very well...” He answered but immediately added when he caught Balak relaxing his shoulders, “But if this fails, another mandible will be missing.”

Balak instinctively clamped his mandibles tight and bowed his head in a sign of submissive respect, “As you decree.”

And so they waited in silence...while, almost silence with the annoying sound of the Unggoy having the notion to speak and jeer each other quietly before their commander rebuked otherwise. Praem, all the while, was very attentive and staring at the Yanme’e Ultra crawling through a broken window-a weak point-and just...chattering as if he didn’t just warn them about leaving.

More importantly, doing it in the open as if there weren't humans sulking around like diseased rats!

If he didn’t think that putting a carbine bolt through their heads would be a unnecessary waste of his own ammunition, the Commander would have done it the moment that the Ultra denied his explicit order. Alas, they weren’t his pets.

Thankfully, the warning of three phantoms and a banshee escort came...better than he could hope honestly. Praem walked towards Balak until they were side-to-side and whispered, “Seems your mercy was correct, Balak. You are taking command of this new force.” He said, clamping his jaws in a Sangheilian grin at the other’s tick of silence. “As you command, Commander.” The veteran replied before marching forward to prepare his elite troop.

“Warriors, we are about to disembark on my word.” The Special Operations major warned before trying to gain connection to the newly arrived forces’ officer frequency, “This is Special Operations Officer Balak ‘Gasmaee, do you read?”

“We read you, ‘Gasmaee. This is Ultra ‘Rasmulai of the Flustering Creche at your assistance. Seems quiet from the outside.” A gruff voice harsh from rotations of war-cries answered. “Don’t trust it, concentrate your phantoms’ fire upon the facility’s barricades and front door. When the humans make a defense, the rest is under your control.”

“Very well.” The Ultra growled in eagerness of a hopefully glorious battle to come in this dry icy north. On that word and making sure that his own attached yanme’e swarm wasn’t in the line of fire, the phantoms aimed their triple guns and fired away.

[Cabel]

[Tranquilitas Beta: Planet Protector: Water Purification Plant: Alpha Company Command Post: Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th MEB: Captain Mark “Spade” Sorelson: Date: 1 January 2548: Situation: Engaged]

The sounds of the forty-mike-mike autocannons firing on the Phantoms amid the din of every weapon in the Plant opening up on the Covenant the moment Drake‘s squad had opened fire on the Drones. The Main Pressure door melted from the barrage of the Phantoms Mark had been concerned about, though he hadn‘t expected them to open fire on their own troops. Damn their arrogance. The Covenant firing on their own troops…no wonder there‘s dissension in their ranks, he shouted mentally. The fact the Covenant would open fire on their own troops was beyond reason, and was proof the Elites were arrogant beyond a fault.

“Tornado Actual to Angel Four Actual, use the lift shafts. The charges are triggered by remote. The situation is hostile. I repeat; hostile. Enemy engaged. They‘ve brought in their Phantoms. Assume heavy hitters have been brought with them. Get your men up here, Angel Four Actual. Tornado Actual; out,” he said, following the encrypted transmission from Angel Four Actual. “Tornado Actual to All Callsigns, keep up the fire. Snipers, when you have an opportunity take it. Don‘t let up,” he said, on a different encrypted frequency to the rest of the defenders in the Plant.

The M13A‘s armed with the Forty-Mike-Mike Autocannons opened fire at the Phantoms while rockets left contrails as they locked onto the nearest Phantoms their operators had aimed for while keeping their heads down. The Gauss hogs opened fire launching white hot bolts towards their targets ranging from Phantoms to Banshees and the Covenant troops that had somehow managed to make it to the surface while the triple-barreled M41 LAAGs kept up suppressive fire fulfilling their role as both anti-infantry and anti-armor batteries. The M247 machine guns to the M41 LAAGs, and others kept up suppressive fire from their concealed positions while Mark hoped they bought the ODSTs enough cover to reinforce their position and to slide into place. More than a few M319’s lobbed their fragmentation grenades into the Covenant lines while the mortar crews that Mark had been thankful for had angled their mortar-fire accurately enough through the windows surrounding the Main Pressure Door. “Tornado Actual to Guardian Actual, hostiles engaged. We have three, possibly four Phantoms with Banshees for escort opening fire. Request air cover in this vicinity. I repeat, air cover is requested,” he said, opting to keep that encrypted channel open too. Squeezing back on the trigger of the MA5C, he‘d take aim at the Covenant lines knowing every rifle had been needed.

[SuperCommando]

PVT Stephan Callaway – NPC

“Aye sir!” came the Private’s voice from through the rocks. At the same time, the man on the tablet’s screen smirked a little at Killinger’s remark.

“That may be true on paper Colonel, but let’s just say you and I both know it’s the Marines who actually get things done. Now, friendly service branch rivalries aside, what I need… is your help.” The man let his arms rest on the table and looked somberly at the camera. “My name is President Simon Cartwright, I’m the chairman of the Neo Haven board of directors. In this time of crisis, it is my number one priority to ensure the safety of our colony’s citizens. However, an emergency situation has come to my attention that is beyond my ability to resolve.”

He reached toward the screen and apparently hit a button, because two images then appeared in the corner. One was a satellite photo of a mountain range with the coordinates “330490” and a waypoint marker, while the second image was of bald older man with glasses.

“A large team of scientists from the Protector Geological Survey led by one Professor Wesley Powell was conducting a research expedition in the mountains north of Alpha Cluster prior to the Covenant invasion.” Cartwright explained. “Due to the recent earthquake, they have become trapped in an underground cave. Now, I know what you’re thinking Colonel. You’re thinking you have more important things to concern yourself with then rescuing a bunch of civvies, and I don’t doubt that. However, I must insist that you make this a priority. Neo Haven is a fledgling colony, with only one major population center so far. But despite the high cost of living people have been flocking here to this harsh, remote wasteland of a world because of what this colony represents. Safety, protection… hope. We cannot betray that ideal Colonel, we cannot abandon those people. Do you understand?”

“Uhhnn…” Private Callaway grunted as he helped one of the other Marines shift a final large chunk of debris clear of the tank’s hatch. Now they could finally get it open and extract the tank’s operator. She still remained limp and unresponsive, so the first thing the Private did was reach down and remove her helmet to check if she was okay. When he did so, he was surprised to find his heart suddenly aflutter.

“Wow…” he breathed as he saw her face. She had a peaceful expression, as if she was taking a pleasant nap. He was relieved to see she was still breathing. Despite generally being shy around girls, for some reason he found himself wishing she was awake so that he could talk to her.

When he realized he was staring, he hurried back to work.

The M808B Scorpion was designed for a single occupant, leaving little extra room inside to maneuver. The Private had to step through the hatch and place one leg on the armrest of Jenny’s seat so he could bend down to unfasten her safety harness. After that he tried to lift her out himself, awkwardly self-conscious about trying not to touch anywhere inappropriate by accident. Luckily, one of the other Marines reached down and grabbed one of Jenny’s arms, allowing him to take the other one and lift her out together. Once they got her out of the tank, he was able to slip his arms under her armpits and begin to carefully drag her back to the entrance of the hole.

Along the way, Private Callaway noticed something. He felt a certain satisfaction not quite like anything he felt before. He realized that in that moment, he was living every man’s dream. Here he was, a soldier on a distant planet far away from home, saving a pretty girl on a dangerous battlefield. He was finally a hero, just like he’d been daydreaming about for so long.

“Heh. If only mom could see me now…” he muttered dreamily to himself. Then he noticed the other Marine’s stare and realized he just said that out loud. The young Private winced and looked away, blushing.

As he did so, his gaze fell upon one of the large rocks claustrophobically surrounding them. There was a faint trickle of dust falling out from under it. Then as he looked more closely, he gasped in alarm. Ever so slowly, the rock was sliding out of place! It was about to collapse!

Callaway didn’t even think twice about what he did next.

Dropping Jenny, he rushed over to the rock just as it was about to fall. The thing was the size of a desk, so he pressed his body weight against it with more strength than his scrawny body appeared possible of. He jammed his left hand under it for leverage, but as the rock shifted it slid down onto his fingers and palm.

Private Callaway screamed. His loud, agonized shriek echoed throughout the hole as his eyes teared up from the unimaginable pain of having his hand crushed flat under the rock. But at least that pinned the massive object in place like a doorstop. He looked back over his shoulder at the unconscious Jenny. She was safe, but only for a few moments and he knew it.

One of the other Marines rushed over to help him.

“NO!” the young man cried. “I-I’m fine! Take her first! Hurry! Take her takeherTAKEHER!!!”

He could feel the unstoppable weight of the rock slowly overpowering him, but he resisted with all his remaining might, his body trembling with exertion as Jenny was quickly dragged away and out of the hole, watching her go out of the corner of his eye for as long as he could. When she was gone, he let out a long sigh of relief.

He was finally a hero, just like he’d been daydreaming about for so long.

The boulder slipped out from the wall of rock, collapsing on top of the Private’s upper body and a brief shower of smaller rocks came avalanching down after. A cloud of dust sprayed out the end of the hole.

Sticking out from under the large rock, Private Stephan Callaway’s legs quivered for a moment, and then were still.

TAG(S): MrKill, LaxKnight

[Faclan]

SSA-012 - Yanme'e Swarm.
The Northern water plant.
Dropping like fly's.

The ultra was pretty skeptical that the one that showed mercy to her swarm was here now, and although she trusted her Swarm completely she found it hard to believe that a cursed Human would show mercy to any Covenant species when they were helpless. But the Soldier standing with her kept saying it was the truth. But they looked back when the sound of Covenant vehicals and wings greeted them and another Ultra came down to join them. But the two SSA members didn't have time to say anything before they both just had time to see a group of sealed up Humans jump out from behind their cover and open fire. The two Yanme'e, Soldier and Ultra, killed almost instantly as the rest of the Swarm immediately went into high gear.

The ones examining the door flew away as fast as they could, carrying their sleeping comrade with them as they first and foremost flew for cover. This turned out to be a good call as fire erupted from all around them. They finally landed behind cover as they drew their weapons and waited for an opportunity. One of the soldiers screeching out at the other weapons of the Queen that their Ultra had been slain.

The ones on the roof meanwhile dropped to the ground as the shooting started, but after seeing that none of the fire was going at them they crawled to the edge ad started to throw grenades down onto the Humans they could see. But they let out angry cheeps ad hisses when they learned of their Ultras death.

(Ultra and two soldiers dead, one unconscious, eight still operational(five soldiers and three Engies).)


Kael Gel - T'vaoan Champion
Underground.
The glorious sun!

Watching the Lekgolo worms go at the rock was strangely beautiful, the mass of shifting and chewing orange going through the rock at quite a pace. But as more and more shifts we're head Kael left her watching of the hole and moved back to her file and the members of her Entourage that had survived. Tel passing her a spare breathing mask from one of the Kig-Yar that were crushed to death as she nodded and slipped it on her belt for later. They had also scavenged a radio before they sat back down to wait. Clicking it and nodding at the static Kael attached it to her chest rig as instead of pacing. Getting another Champion helmet would have to wait until they were off this planet.

She did feel a lot better after talking with Til, maybe she did just want to hear that it would be alright. But the good mood didn't have to last as the grinding and slicing of the Locusts soon brought them salvation. Kael just smiling as she slipped the mask on and got to her feet with her file, Tel handing over her broken focus rifle as she slipped it on her back as well and shielded her eyes a bit at the sun as it started to peak through. Patting the radio as she secured the mask the T'vaoan would wait until she had a clear signal before finding out what had happened to the stair team and Roh.

[BetaWülf]

Jiralhanae Chieftain Garatus the Deathless.


Garatus grimaced slightly when the Unggoy addressed him with such titles, it was uncomfortable for him to be viewed as anything more than he was. Just a Jiralhanae, that's all he wished to be. Though accustomed to being called Chieftain, and carrying the mantle of leadership admirably, he never truly felt like a particularly important person. Garatus's eyebrow raised slightly when the familiar Unggoy said he had something for him. A smile curves the corner of his mouth and a pleased rumble issued from him.

"Very good Warrior," Garatus said with a bit of pride at the Unggoy's accomplishments "You have done well" Garatus said as he gently took the offered weapon and patted the Unggoy lightly on the shoulder in approval. Garatus stroked his beard thoughtfully when the Unggoy stated that he had come for new orders. Garatus turned and faced his Uncle, pointing a claw at fiercely "That honor can be regained! Cad, he cannot be replaced so easily. His ignorance is no excuse for..." Garatus let out a rumbling sigh.

"I know it angers you deeply, it angers me as well. What he did was wrong, but I would not see him harmed for this pock mark to my honor, I am sure he would not have violated our traditions, our very way of life, if he had known any better. His ignorance is akin to that of a child, is it not better to show him what he did was wrong with so he knows not to do it again, than to hit him until he figures out why he is being punished?" Garatus placed his hand on his Uncles shoulder and rumbled, thumping the other one lightly. He listened to his Uncles whispers and nodded as he gently hefted Cad off the ground. "I think the Butcher would be best, given the fate the Ragnus Tribe will see" he whispered in return, "It would... please me if you would see to Cad's arm, I know it is not the most savory task for you after his actions... and my outburst" he said with a hint of remorse at his earlier aggression towards.

"Pack, we have extinguished the Ragnus filth here, we are victorious! And I, Garatus the Butcher, will see that they harm no more of our brothers, here, or anywhere!" Before he got too far a Jiralhanae Minor ran up to him, whispering in his Chieftains ear, Garatus let out a joyous howl and rose. "It seems our Locusts have broken through to our trapped comrades little brothers" he said to the Unggoy before the Field Marshal Til's own words came over the communications "Let us help our brothers from the holes that foolishly tried to consume them"

Garatus broke into a light jog as he headed for the openings, Garatus peered cautiously at the cooling rock and metal that had been destroyed and marred for the salvation of the trapped warriors. Barking Garatus turned to his nearest Pack members "Fetch some heavy chains from our supplies, so we may pull our kindred out" he commanded. Soon enough they returned with the heavy chains of Jiralhanae make.

Garatus made his way to the edge of the nearest lift, looking down the seared hole "Watch yourselves below, we're dropping some chains to haul you up!" he yelled, before lowering the greatest length they had down. "Grab onto the chain!" Garatus yelled to everyone behind him "we're pulling up our brothers now, slow and steady!" Garatus said as he held the chain, which grew taut behind him as others took hold.

Once there was tension from below as someone or something grabbed hold, Garatus said "Alright, start pulling!" and so the chain slowly started to rise from the depths.

[Samuel Murray]

UNSC Marine Corps, 7th Marines, First Battalion, Delta Company, Fourth Platoon, Bravo Squad, Fireteam Alpha, “Oden Four-Two-One” Private Samuel Murray.
Alpha Cluster-Protector 
Regrouping the Survivors 

"Wake up...Wake up..." a sudden jolt of pain and energy surged down the private's spine as his eyes shot open, "It seems we're making this a habit private," Sam glanced towards the aging face of Corporal Booker and shot a grim smirk as he gripped tightly on the corporal's hand-pulling him up. Samuel's eyes drooped into astonishment as he glanced towards the damage and chaos surrounding him. 

"What in the bloody hell happened here," he spat in his thick accent-as his eyes caught glimpse of the remains of what once was a towering skyscraper slowly tumble to the ground in a lethargic death. He pushed the dust off his uniform and grabbed his rifle from the ground. "Did the Covenant do this?"

Booker grunted and clasped onto the private's shoulder, "You took quite a fall-luckily your helmet saved you from anything too serious," Booker glanced towards a few troops in the distance, "A whole damn earthquake rocked this place down to our very own LPCs. We lost contact with the rest of fourth platoon, but we're trying to remake contact and rendezvous with any survivors we can find."

"Always something eh Corporal," Sam said as he tried to catch a glance of Veronica, but he didn't see her among the remaining squad members. "Did Anderson make it?" 

"Private Major?" Booker smirked, "He's alright, still thinks he's two ranks higher than he really is, so that didn't change..." His voice trailed away as they began to limp towards the remnants of Bravo Squad. Samuel pushed ahead and glanced towards his comrades with a sense of urgency.

"Where is Sanders?" 

Anderson crossed his arms, "She took a tumble we found her down within a crevice in the road," he paused glancing towards Samuel with a bit of pleasure, "She's combat ineffective and she's not conscious." 

Samuel's face fell numb and his legs limp-his hands shaking, he was going to fall to the ground, but he kept himself strong. "We gotta call a CASEVAC and get the wounded out of here, Sanders included." 

"That's a negative Murray," Private Anderson boomed as he glanced up towards the sky, "No way in hell they're going to risk any birds out here; even if it was for your girlfriend." 

Samuel felt a jolt of pain rush through his veins, Veronica was a squadmate and Anderson simply wanted to leave her and others behind, "You Ate-Up piece of shit," he swung towards the man's face-impacting straight into his nose. Anderson took stepped back dazed for a few moments and pushed the blood away and quickly tackled Samuel into the dirt and began to brawl. 

"Get your shit squared away," Sergeant Jensen growled as he pulled Anderson by the collar, "You fucking shit for brains, have you both gone FUBAR? The Covenant are in the AO and we need to ass up and move out. Collect your shit and help the wounded." He glanced towards Samuel, "Private Murray you got Sanders."

Samuel gave a determined nod-taking one last glance towards Anderson before making his way towards Veronica-he wasn't going to leave her behind. 

[Huka]

Special Operations Commander Praem 'Nikuysee
Aboard the Field Marshal's Stealth Spirit The Harbinger
The Imps in the Fire

Standing in the cockpit, Praem and his assigned pilot watched the battle unfold between factions. The commander's advanced HUD flipped between visions and marked out the humans that he could see, the loudmakers had some potent weapons for their lesser technology. Like Jiralhanae, their weapons were generally ballastic and heavy-pounded with fine variety that gave more than a little annoyance to any commander on the battlefield. To plan his next moves with require precision and a bit of Faith.

One of the phantoms sputtered in the air from a heavy hit to its turrets and thick hull, making it tilt to one side before 'Gasmaee gave the command for it get out of firing range before it end up a useless pile of bodies and scrap while ordering the phantoms' heavy weapons to aim for the warthogs. All the while, the creche was unleashed groundside and sadly, the banshees didn't quite last as long as Praem hoped.

"Pilot, get us over the deceased Yanme'e Ultra's position." The commander finally ordered with the following addition, indifferent to a insubordinate's death, "Blast everything under its deathbed."

"As you command." The pilot answered before immediately warning the sentient insects to get back aboard or lose their lives. The rippling form of the camouflaged Spirit becomes more noticeable under the lifting smoke with its turret aimed for the kill.

[Guardian Cat of Yappa's]

Sergeant Maximilian Drake Fields

1/7, A Co, 1st Platoon, 2nd Squad 

Water Purification Plant  

Protector, Tranquilitas Beta System 

Hell on earth

Things in the plant had gone from bad to real bad, to FUBAR, to a stinking hell hole in a matter of minutes. After they had blasted the two buggers, more of the bugs had appeared along with a air fleet of reinforcements. Luckily though, the hogs were able to tear apart the banshee escorts, but the phantoms were giving them hell and marine positions were getting bombed by plasma grenades by buggers up top. One of his marines had almost gotten one stucked to him, luckily it landed on a cone and they threw it away to where it couldn't hurt anyone.


"Second squad, aim high, take out the buggers up high." Drake called out before aiming high himself and unloading at a bugger that was peeping at them. He hoped that putting lead towards the bugs would scare them off and get them to leave. The front line was getting hit hard though, Three phantoms were pounding their position and Covvie forces were touching down. They were also dropping troops in, which meant that things were gonna get really hot. Drake didn't realize how hot it was gonna get though, until a spirit appeared out of thing air, lowering down, right above them. Then the gun started to light their position up, the first round smacking into the chest of a private that had been shooting at a bugger.

"Belay that order second squad fall back to secondary positions. Double time!"

Drake grabbed his rifle like it was a stick, along with the still living members of second squad, and bolted towards the secondary position as the plasma cannon on the spirit continued to open up on other positions. "Tornado Actual, Tornado 1-2, Primary position has been lost over, falling back to secondary line." he cried out over comms before diving into cover himself, fixing his rifle before firing a burst off at incoming covvie forces.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Seventh Marines
Kristopher Airfield

The man on the tactical pad explained his reasoning for contacting the veteran Marine officer, but John wasn't buying any of it, until he mentioned trapped civilians. Heavily sighing, mentally of course, John realized that the man - this 'President' - was correct. The Marines, nor the Army, could leave civilians caved in while they fought to keep them alive at the same time. If John didn't act he was playing judge, jury and executioner with their lives, and that wasn't okay.

"I'll see what I can do, sir." John replied sternly. "But right now I've got my own Marines trapped underneath rocks and cave ins much like your scientists, and unfortunately for them and you, I care more about them at this particular time." He added. Despite the harsh and cold reply it was the honest truth. John wasn't a monster, he would send someone to help them... hopefully before they died. The Veteran Officer also realized that once he was outside and free of this rubble he'd have to reorganize the Marines. The Covenant were still out there.

His gaze was torn from the screen towards the sound of shouting, the Marine Private screamed "Go!" and a moment later the two female Marines, with Jenny in tow, rushed through the hole. Seconds later, not even enough time to check if his daughter was okay, he was covered in smoke as rubble gave way on the other side of the hole.

"Private!" John called through the dust, immediately using his authorization to access the young Marines health monitors provided by his neural lace. "Do you here me, Marine?" He added, peering into the hole in an attempt to get a better picture. He realized that, by the time what dust was left had ceased, so had the private's bio signs. The Marine struck the rubble with his fists a handful of times in rage, before stumbling back a bit.

He dropped the tactical pad without thinking, the device bouncing off the rubble and breaking, but it however remained operational. While Marines carried dog tags the neural lace provided more in depth information about a soldiers service record. John found the youngsters service number and saved it to his personal files while approaching his resting daughter. He'd be investigated for a posthumous medal, John certainly believed he'd earned on in his books.

"There's still some more Marines around here," John said in a weavering tone. "Let's try to dig up some more before we have to go."

The Marines scooted away, one of them beginning reveal a flatbed Warthog painted in the UNSC Army's colors, including their insignia. John gave an approved nod towards the Marine digging it out. John didn't get sentimental that his daughter had survived but did wipe the dust that had formed on her forehead away to see her face. With a smile that she was breathing he gently lifted her up onto one of the more stable piles of debris so she wasn't laying too uncomfortably.

"Sir, I've got an alive one over here! He's out cold!" A Marine reported.

"Dig him up, but be careful to avoid shifts in the rubble. We have enough dead heroes already." John sternly reminded.

"Yes sir!" The Marine replied.

Once John knew his daughter was okay he returned to the pad, winched at the broken screen off camera and realized he had let the heat of the moment dictate his actions. He should have been in more control of his emotions instead of forgetting about a problem he was about to commit to temporarily. Mistake that he'd probably make again no doubt.

"You'll get them back, sir." John said. "Anything I should know about the layout of the facility? Defenses, if any? Security protocols?" John asked, hoping the man could answer those questions.

[Llau]

First Lieutenant Alex Bishop
1 / 7, Alpha Company, Third Platoon
Airfield, Protector
Gotta Find A Way...There Always A Way, Right?


He coughed a few times, looking around with his flashlight. Glancing over at the private again, he moved over to her, crouching low so he wouldn't hit his head. He patted her firmly on the shoulder to get her to stop looking for her gun.

“We need to find a way out of here before the debris ends up smashing us,” He said, “Worry about your weapon later. If you have one...you should have one...get your flashlight out and use it to help me.”

Pausing, he continued scanning his eyes around, using the beam of the flashlight to look for a way out. When he noticed a hole, he glanced back at her.

“Hey, follow me, Elms.”

He headed over, and stopped by the hole that was created by the fallen bits of concrete near the front of the Warthog, and crouched in front of it. Peering inside the dark hole, he shined the flashlight into it. He glanced up at her and then back into the hole.

“Looks like it's about the width of the vehicle,” he explained, “I won't be able to crawl through, but you can...if you think you can do it. Just have to be careful of rebar, remesh, and the sharp ends of the concrete blocks.” He gazed up at her again, with a serious expression. “If you do, and are able to make it above the debris, you can get help. Take your time and don't rush through it.”

He tilted his head a little to the side, while adding, “I won't think of you any differently if you decline. Crawling through that hole is just as dangerous with the threat of it collapsing, but we can't stay under here forever...we have to try.”

Tag(s): @tracker



ONI Section III Field Operator, Lieutenant Michelangelo Moretti
Operation Lead
Alpha Cluster // Factory Basement // Protector
Time to escape...or survive a damn earthquake...
( Faclan and BetaWülf:  If you two still want to do that one idea, we can do it now. I'll have the escaping through the tunnels after the earthquake bit in my next post. :3) 

After the RATS handcuffed and escorted him out of Metro Station 9 due to his cheekiness, they had practically threw him inside the back of an awaiting, unmarked van. While he was inside with some of them, one of the RATS blind-folded him, and then gagged him with a roll of duct tape as he laid on his stomach in the middle of the floor of the van. He had to chuckle at the irony of them using a roll of duct tape to silence him, considering he has used his own roll of silencing tape on a number of Innies during his past operations before this.

Maybe these guys have 'RATS' printed on the tape, like ONI does on theirs, Moretti mused. If he could grin, he would.

He snickered a little at the thought, which earned him a hard slap in the back of his head by one of the armed “cops”. He grunted, wincing somewhat, and tried to turn over, but the one who slapped him had the bottom of his boot pressed against the middle of the Section Three operator's back to keep him down. He breathed out a sigh through his nostrils, and laid still as the vehicle started to move.

The ride to their destination took longer than he first thought as he studied the map uploaded to his Command Neural Interface to try and figure out where they were taking him. The ride took a good fifteen minutes or so, but after studying the map of the streets, it was obvious to him that they had no intention of bringing him to the police station – though, he figured they wouldn't, seeing as after the explosion at the metro station, the RATS were there rather too quickly...like they knew. If they were the real police, then it would have taken them around ten minutes after the explosion to arrive, and then minutes more to set everything up to assist ONI personnel with the situation. But nope, they didn't do any of that.

The van suddenly stopped somewhere, on the outskirts where some of the Alpha Cluster's factories were located. He heard the driver and passenger side door open and then slam shut after the two RATS climbed out of the vehicle, followed by the back of the van's double doors opening to let the other men out. There was a pause as the four men jumped out of the back, and then the fifth one who was holding him down with his boot moved his foot away to stand up. He then felt two hands wrap around his ankle of his right leg, and dragged him out of the van. When Moretti slid out as the man roughly pulled on his ankle, he fell on the ground on his back with a thud on sharp gravel, but also slammed the back of his head against the end of the van's floor, and then the back bumper.

He cringed. “Uhn!” Groaning, he moved to his side after the man released his hold around his ankle and gathered around with the other RATS to quietly discuss what to do next.

“The boss wants to interrogate him,” said one, “Take him to the basement and set him up.”

“Yes, sir.” A couple of them replied in unison.

Moretti glanced up toward the sound of the two men approaching him, and then the last thing he remembered was one of them kicking him hard in the head; knocking him unconscious. He must have been out for a while, but long enough for them to drag him down to the basement of the factory, and set him up in an empty room. He found that they removed his blindfold and the tape that kept him from talking during the ride over. They cuffed his hands to two thick, heavy-duty chains that were hanging from the ceiling, forming a Y with his arms. He was hanging low enough that he was in a kneeling position – although, his knees were barely touching the ground.

He groaned lightly, his eyes flickering open, and he stared in a daze down at the cement floor for a long moment. The first thing he noticed, other than the fact that he was chained, was the small puddle of dried blood, which was from his nose after being kicked in the face by one of them. He winced, gazing down at his gray ONI shirt he had worn underneath his ONI jumpsuit, which they happened to strip the upper part off of him, but also had taken his boots and socks off as well. He wondered why they had to take his boots and socks off, and frowned slightly with annoyance filling his face.

So, Mike. How are you going to get yourself out of this one, huh? He thought to himself with another soft groan escaping from his lips.

He grunted when one of the men snatched him by a clump of his short hair and pulled his head back to make the agent look up at him. He pulled a little farther back until he heard the ONI spook groan in pain. The man leaned closer to speak to him when the field agent finally parted his eyelids. His brown eyes locked on a pair of malevolent hazel eyes.

“We know you're not a part of a maintenance crew, seeing as we found that gun hidden on your person, and that TAC-PAD on your arm,” The man said, “Which...we can't seem to gain access too. How peculiar, hm?”

The field operator glared up at him, still smirking somewhat. “Huh,” Moretti scoffed, “That's too bad.”

“Too bad?”

When the Insurrectionist let out a hateful laugh, Moretti licked his dry lips, as if he were about to speak again, but gathered enough saliva and spat a wad of it over the man's cheek. He smiled defiantly up at him. The man frowned, roughly letting go of his hair to step back.

“Yeah,” said the agent, “Good luck trying to gain access to it. You can't and you won't. So, don't even bother trying. It's way out of your league.” He muttered breathlessly.

The leader wiped the spit off of his cheek with his sleeve of his shirt, glaring down at him. The two Insurrectionists who were with him looked on in shock while they waited for their orders. His expression grew cold as he stepped forward again, but this time, he swung a hard backhand at the side of Moretti's face. Moretti shouted in agony. The impact sent his head jerking to one side, his vision blurred, and before he could recover from the blow, he was struck again on the opposite side of his face. He repeated a couple more times before stopping for a moment to watch the agent with a growing personal hatred. He didn't like those who disrespected him, and spitting was the most disrespectful personal attack on him – his dignity.

Sneering, he brought a strong front kick to the main's abdominal region. The ONI agent doubled over, screaming out in excruciating pain, but the restraints kept him from moving. The pain was so severe to him, his face turned red and blood veins popped out of his neck and forehead. Perspiration collected even more upon his skin as he struggled to breathe. He gasped repeatedly, cursing at the man through grit teeth. He barely writhed around, the pain causing his body to unable to move. Instead, he leaned over as far as his restraints would allow, gasping for air for several long moments after the air was knocked out of his lungs from the hard kick that struck his diaphragm. His eyes widen as he was kicked again at the same area, which caused him to vomit his stomach content onto the cracked, cement floor beneath him.

After he was finished puking, the Insurrectionist leaned down, grasped his head roughly to crane it back to stare into his eyes. He smiled wickedly at him.

“I'll teach you to respect me while we get you to talk, Spook,” he mentioned harshly. “Then, maybe we'll kill you. Maybe not.” He then added in a whisper, “You'll want us to kill you.”

Panting and groaning, Moretti managed to speak up, despite the amount of pain he was in. “Go to hell, asshole.” He responded, still defiant, as he glared up at him.

///

That was several days ago, maybe five, or at least, he thought it was. Time in a barren room, and being tortured and interrogated off an on in different ways becomes funny after a while. Torture that ranged from being beaten, to breaking a couple of fingers, seeing how long he could hold his breath underwater, and then forcing him to stand in one place for many hours. The last thing they did to him was giving him some unwanted shock therapy, but the worse of all was enduring being slowly cut by a sharp knife all over his back, shoulders, and upper arms, and a a couple along his forearms. Some felt like paper cuts, while others ended up being minor gashes. At least now, he was out of the restraints, with his shirt back on, and just sitting awkwardly against the corner of the room across from the door with his legs sprawled out, and his arms resting limply over his thighs. His hair was in disarray, covered in a mixture of sweat, dirt, and dried patches of dry blood. He had a gash along the side of his head, which was dried with blood and hastily fixed up by one of the Insurrectionists with medical tape after using vodka to disinfect the wound. His face was bruised in a number of places, including a black eye, with small cuts along his cheek, above his eyebrow, and his lower and upper-lip from the beatings he endured a few days ago. His nose was also slightly broken from being kicked and punched there since they captured him, but at least the bleeding stopped.

His shirt was stained with blood splatters all over, and then a streak of it that tapered off in drops near his mid-section. His eyes were gazing down at before glancing at his two broken fingers of his left hand. They were still sore, and he couldn't move them all that much, but he still managed to hold something weakly inside his hand. His eyes gazed intently at the broken chain of his dog tags, where the other necklace of the fox pendant that used to belong to his late fiancee was surprisingly, still attached. One of the Insurrectionists had ripped the dog tags off of his neck and carelessly threw it to the ground during one of his beatings, but didn't seem to notice it, let alone cared, about it afterward. Moretti managed to crawl over to it earlier to take it when they couldn't be bothered to restrain him again.

He figured they didn't bother because he didn't bother fighting against them after they hooked him up to electrodes and shocked him repeatedly until he passed out because he still didn't give them the information they wanted – well, the correct information since they didn't specify what they truly wanted from him. So, he mused himself by giving them bogus intelligence to throw them off, but it equally pissed them off so much. Every time he didn't respond to the leader's question, the higher they went on the amount of electricity he received when he was chained there. He must have lost consciousness when his heart stopped from the last volt they gave him. He must have also been dead for a few minutes, while they unchained him to resuscitate him, which means that they still wanted him alive. Who knows. He just knew that he was exhausted, hungry, thirsty, and wanted a clean pair of clothes.

Sighing through parted lips, he dozed off a little, but not completely. Hard to sleep when he overheard one of the guards standing outside his door talking to another about Covenant drop ships, and how the UNSC were here to fight them with Protector's own military personnel. They were talking about other important topics, but he couldn't tell exactly what they were saying since it was all hush-hush. Or, was it because he was suddenly fighting to stay awake. He really didn't want to stay in here longer than he was, and now that he wasn't in any restraints...he had to use that to his advantage. He only had one shot at escaping. He sat there for another minute or two, taking slow deep breaths as he willed himself to move. Every movement he took was more painful than the other, but he was a persistent little bugger. Cringing, he managed to stand up, but a wave of dizziness caused him to support himself against the wall.

“Uhh...ugh...uhn...”

He moaned quietly, covering his face with a hand while he waited for the dizziness spell to leave. Once it left, he practically dragged his feet toward the door, albeit slowly.

I feel like a toilet during shore leave...he thought.

There was another wave of dizziness, and he staggered to the wall, where he ended up puking whatever was left inside his stomach. He fought off the feeling of passing out, and slid along the wall as he walked to the end of it. He stood in the corner, pressing his forehead against the cold cement block for a few minutes as he waited for one of the guards to leave. He would have been fine if both of them left, but that was wishful thinking. If he wasn't in such a state, he could take both of them on, but he knew he couldn't. He figured he could only manage to handle one of the guards right now, take their weapons, and then find his way out of there, contact the Prowler, and get the hell off of this planet at a rendezvous point.

Easier said than done.

Frowning as he held in the painful groans, he peered over at the door, while he leaned against the wall. It was several minutes before the guard was now alone on the other side of the door. When he heard an order being barked by the leader to the guard on the radio, he gradually pressed his back against the wall next to the door.

“Check on the Spook.”

“Okay, sir,” replied the guard, “If he's dead?”

“Then I have no other use if he's a corpse,” The leader said, “If he's dead, see about taking that neural interface out of his skull, then get rid of the body.”

“Yes, sir. Over.”

Moretti heard the locks along the door unlock, and his body tensed up when the door finally started to open. He glared in determination as the guard stepped in; the guard's attention was where they last left him at over in the middle of the room. Of course, that was before the whole ground started to gradually tremble and pick up in intensity; interrupting the guard as he tried to speak into the radio to report back his findings, and interrupting the agent's plans to take the man out and take his gun. 

What the fu-?! Moretti thought, staggering around before ending up standing in the doorway, where he held on to dear life as everything started crashing down above him, and the floor started to rip open.

He cringed, shutting his eyelids tightly. "Figlio di Troia! Cazzo!" He cursed under his breath, but then automatically began praying when the earthquake continued getting worse and felt like it was taking forever.

Soon enough, it finished, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself somewhere on the floor, near the doorway, with a heavy steel beam leaning against other fallen debris a few inches above him. The lights were out, and he could hear the faint sounds of alarms going off, and other inaudible noises that sounded like distant cries from a few survivors, as well as other sounds he couldn't quite make them out. He looked around, and at first, his eyes weren't focusing in the dark, but at least it wasn't pitch dark. As soon as he could see a little better, especially when the dust settled, he could see that the room he was in had suffered a full collapse of the ceiling, which had fallen on top of the helpless guard. He managed to carefully crawl through, ignoring the sharp bits and pieces of broken concrete ceiling and parts of the walls that caved in, and found the leg of the guard that wasn't covered by debris. Thankfully, the guard had a combat knife strapped to his boot, and the agent took it. He placed the sheathed weapon to his belt, before crawling back toward the door. 

This is going to be interesting...He thought, frowning, as he peeked out into the hallway that was littered with debris - broken concrete and parts of steel beams, but he had to worry about the severed electrical wiring swinging along in puddles of water that were leaking here and there from the broken sprinkler system. Glancing down at his bare feet, he silently wished the guard's other foot was sticking out from under the pile of debris. He would've taken them so he could at least have some protection on his feet, and it wouldn't matter to him if they were too big or small for him either. 

Sighing, he slowly shook his head, winced, and cautiously headed out into the hallway, where he made his way halfway down, but couldn't go any further since the end of the hallway was blocked.

"Damn it..." He whispered. 

Glancing around, he noticed there was another corridor, and carefully headed down it...which would eventually take him down to the sub-basement that would lead him to the underground tunnels that was beneath the whole city. 

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel.
Down, down, down to Human Town.

Roh had skulked down the stairs, pulling off his mask shortly after Eal did, shaking his red feathers out. Roh nodded at Eal's response, even if it was just family to Roh, he couldn't ignore or be oblivious about the fact he was the son of two powerful people, which was impressive in and of itself. He just felt lucky nobody had tried to abduct him for ransom yet, though he imagined they'd regret it pretty soon after, if not for the threat of Gel and Hul the sheer amount of lip they'd get from him would be maddening.

When Roh finished his tale, he looked up at Eal when the elder T'vaoan placed a hand on the youths shoulder. Roh smiled back at him, and followed him down onto the tracks, followed by shortly thereafter by Talz. Roh stiffened slightly at the mention of his Mother, but nodded at Eal's words, "Aye, I've considered it before. I may add that later, though I've mostly tried to stay out of sight as I hadn't wanted to alienate my fellows" he said with a bit of a chuckle.

Feeling a bit of tension from Eal after he mentioned Kael, Roh decided to say something about it. "I... you don't have to worry about mentioning her around me, I... I'm not going to backhand you or knife you, or order you executed for speaking. I'm not... like that" Roh sighed with a grimace. "I respect you Eal, just 'cause you mention my ma, even if we've got some fierce grudges between us, doesn't mean I'll whip out my station in Kig-yar society on you. We've got a job to do, so mentioning our superior officer doesn't bother me any" he concluded.

[Faclan]

(NPC)Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo.
Underground and scouting.
Yer a good kid.

Relaxing a little and smiling as Roh explained that he wasn't one of those spoiled Royals, though being Gel that should have been a give away, Eal nodded and started off down the tracks into the darkness. Well Darkness for Humans at least for Kigs after some time to adjust it was decently easy to see what was what. "Glad to hear it Roh, you're a good Kig ya know - keep that attitude and as long as you have the combat skills when needed you'll easily be able to get a following yourself when the time arrives." He said as the three of them entered the tunnels proper rather than just the subway station.

It was a tad dusty down here but Eal was actually pretty surprised that it was as good as it was. But the low hum and woosh of a lot of air scrubbers down here made it evident that the Humans cared a lot about these passages. Humming a little as he considered some reasons why Eal shielded his dark adjusted eyes a bit from a red emergency light as they passed a small maintenance room with a few tools in it. "A lot of redundancies and safeties down here. My guess," he mused out loud. "Is that they built these first before making their fancy domes so they would have a way to get from place to place. I bet that was an annoying build." He chuckled a bit before looking back at Talz spoke up, the female having been holding the radio to her ear for a little as she clicked to get the two T'voans attentions.

"Mistress Kael is alive, and wishes us success in our scouting."

(Soon the fun shall begin :3)


Eugenius - Jiralhanae Advisor.
On the broken surface.
Grumbling and moving Cad back to medical.

Standing square, his arms crossed and staff held in his good hand, as his Nephew retorted that the foolish Kig-Yar was worth saving Eugine just listened for now. His expression didn't change at all during it until Garatus placed his hand on his uncles shoulder, which made the stony expression finally lax a little. He nodded at the fate of the Ragnus tribe and, after some mumbles, nodding that he would bring Cad - Garatus's little pet - to get some medical attention.

"Very well...I'll bring the incompetent (Yey Tartar-sauce) fool to the medical outpost to get his broken arm tended to. But you should take some time to give your muscles a rest Nephew, there has been a lot of exertion lately. And when this accursed mission is finished we will explain to...Cad, what he did and why it was wrong if he doesn't guess it from his arm when he awakens."

Crouching down Eugine slipped his good hand under Cad and then stood up while turning the Kig-Yar over so Cads hands and legs hung down, tongue flopping out of his beak a little as well, as Eugine started to move off. The Kig-Yar held like Eugine would carry an ale-barrel back home, under the arm and weighing almost nothing even to the Elder as he moved back to where Cad had staggered from in the first place.


Kael Gel - T'vaoan Champion
Underground
Slowly ascending.

Thankfully able to leap aside as the massive chains slammed into the ground Kael raised an eye ridge at them before just shrugging and starting to direct the force she commanded that still lived and most of the Kig-Yar to start getting out of this death trap. She had the first one that went up tell the Jiralhanae to not pull up the chain they came up as the Kig-Yar could climb it and get them out faster. The Sangheili however likely had to be pulled up as they weren't the best at climbing and especially not chain with their large toes. Getting the Golo's up would be hard however...while the chains were certainly strong enough if a few were used she wondered if the worms could hold on enough to pull themselves out. After getting a order down and the Kig-Yar and T'vaoan pulling themselves up the large chain ladders she moved over to Til, as she and he we're likely going to be the last ones up besides the Worms.

"Getting your tanks up is going to be arduous Til. Well...if they left the armor behind they could probably just climb the elevator shaft in a wave and be out faster than we could...but you would know better than I if they could hang onto the chains to be pulled up." Shrugging a little she watched as the injured Kig-Yar hung onto the chains for all they could as they were pulled up before it would be lowered down for herself and Til. Her Commandos having been some of the first to pull themselves up so they could get a situation report for her.

Kael shrugging a little as she started to slip the breathing mask over her beak to prepare for the climb back to the glorious surface. But she looked down at her shoulder as the radio crackled into life. Nodding at Til she turned away a little and listened to Tel explain what had happened to the stair team, that Roh was alive, and he had left with Eal to do some scouting. Letting out a long relieved sigh she whispered happily that her chick was alive, so Til would know as well, before sending a text message - as she wouldn't be able to get a voice message out likely, to let Roh and Eal know that she was alive as well and that she wished them well. She wanted to say more to Roh...but he likely didn't want to hear it from her now and had a mission to accomplish. A good Entourage test, she decided for herself, before nodding at Til and grabbing the Kig chain before starting to climb. But going slow in case the Field Marshal called for her help with something.

(Hopefully not too fast Huka.)


SSA-012 - Yanme'e Swarm (Ultra-less).
The Northern water plant.
Flee! Egress!

With no Ultra clicking commands for them the Swarm just took things one step at a time. The ones on the roof throwing grenades, ducking back behind the roof when fired upon, and then back to tossing when the fire slackened a little. But they were being hit and didn't know what to do as they had no idea what the other forces were doing. Just that there seemed to be fire everywhere. The ones on the ground meanwhile just tried to rouse their sleeping comrade and stay behind cover to keep them all safe. But they were losing morale quickly when two of the roof were shot down and the rest pinned down bad.

So this time when the order came to fall back they did so almost immediately and without any back-talk this time. All of them turning tail and flying back toward the Phantom to try and be safe and get out of the way so the heavy weapons could move into attack. The Humans had some, so they needed to get out of the way and let the Covenant get in with theirs. The fleeing wasn't without loss though and one Engineer fell on the retreat. But they finally landed...just six strong with one unconscious. The Swarm completely silent as they slumped in the troop bay of the Sangheili Phantom, deflated.

(Ultra, one Engineer, four soldiers dead, one soldier unconscious - five still operational (three soldiers and two Engies))


Chris Hyde - ONI Section 1 Agent
UNSC zone.
Well...this got more complicated...

The operation had gone south. South so bad and so fast that ONI had actually pulled them off the planet completely. It had been a combination of the Innies bomb attack and Mike, their Operation Lead, being captured by those same Innies. But the higher ups had called their supposed stealth missing a flop and pulled the ones they could still reach out. Chris didn't know until they were off planet that Mike wasn't with them. The ONI team had then been briefed that Mike was still alive, as they were still getting a signal from his neural lace, but it would be very hard to get him out even if they sent in an ODST team as the Innies could easily see them coming and just kill Mike or move him.

So that plan was out the window, and they had to think of another rescue plan. Days passed as they worked and tried to find a way to do it. But eventually the ONI team was sent back down to the planet, one at a time to try and avoid detection, with a basic plan of trying to find possible ways to get to where Mike was being held and ways to then leave. The details would have to be worked out on site as they were down.

But then days passed as the agents carefully tried to find solutions without arousing any suspicion at all, Chris still wondering why he - a scientist - was here when he wasn't trained to do this kind of thing. It was also a very specific set of skills that would finger him out as an ONI agent when he was down here. So he mainly stayed hidden and tried to tap into radio frequencies to relay to his fellow agents all the intel he learned about the situation. It was a slow process but they were finally getting a proper plan together. And then the Covenant showed up. AND THEN the earthquake happened.

Chris had been equal parts scared and excited when the Covenant showed up. A dangerous vice but one he couldn't help since he was so interested in the aliens and their cultures. But he had been mostly safe inside the dome underground when they landed and the UNSC arriving as well. But the earthquake threw that all in a tissy and all the plans out the window.

Thankfully he wasn't that buried as he got out of the dangerous buildings and moved to get a handle on what was happening. Happening to Mikes signal, the UNSC, and the Covenant after the earthquake. But the tiny holes in the dome didn't bode well...

(Had to leave so its bad sorry D: .)

[BetaWülf]

Jiralhanae Chieftain Garatus.
Chicken Train....

Garatus and the others who were helping pull the chain had barely pulled up on it before a Kig-yar came scrabbling over the edge. Garatus eyed it as it approached him, nodding he barked to the others to stop pulling the chain but keep a strong hold on it so the Kig-yar could climb it. The chain wobbled and swayed as the smaller reptiles made their ascent, their combined weight being manageable for the Jiralhanae(and Sangheili, Unggoy and Kig-yar who endeavored to help.)

Soon enough, more Kig-yar and T'vaoan started to scrabble onto solid ground and away from the gap in the ground. Garatus waited for what appeared to be all the Kig-yar and T'vaoan to make their way up, waiting for a new and heavier feel of Sangheili, before barking for them to pull the chains up now. This task was more... arduous, to say the least. The Sangheili were lighter than Jiralhanae, but still, there were quite a few of them latched onto the great length of chain. Hand over hand, Garatus thought to himself.

[Huka]

Field Marshal Til ‘Muramai
Under the Lesser Airstrip
Retreat upwards

When the Jiralhanae-forged chain dropped into the hole, infront of each Locust, Til quickly directed the Kig-yar to go first while the Jiralhanae and Sangheili come after to provide cover if the Humans discovered of their recent escape method. Keeping watch of the assigned moving according, the Field Marshal looked down at his co-commander on her concern on the Mgalekgolo. His brows reactively furrowed under his mask to being called just ‘Til’ instead of his rank but the empathetic Sangheili knew it was just a Kig-yar sign of trust on either parties that he allowed such in this critical time.

“The Jiralhanae’s indomitable strength will certainly help.” He said in some thought, this planet’s somewhat lighter gravity will certainly help in the effort. “Head on up, Kael.”

With a gesture of his head for the chains, the Sangheili leader returned a respectful nod to the champion before greeting the lance leader of their savior, who spoke through the speakers of the mining platform. “I praise the Gods of your survival, Field Marshal. Your end would have been a tragic loss to the Empire’s war effort.” The Major greeted with his vehicle’s head making an animated tilt.

“And I praise for your timely arrival, Major. You serve them well in your efficiency.” Til remarked back with a slight flex of his finger. Before the Locust bowed its lower legs, “I serve them and the beautiful brotherhood of the Covenant, Excellency.”

With a slight twitch of his mandibles, the Zealot looked back to his precious titans and spoke out, “Keep ready for any Human intrusion and kill them if they dare to draw near the tunnel.” He ordered before holding a hand immediately to his accompanying war priest, who halted his splayed mandibles. “Save the holy sermons and praise for now, baptized speaker. We will sing the love to our Gods when we are free of this damning tomb-to-be.” He instructed before edging his head up at a slight quake as if the planet was threatening them. Til wasn’t afraid.

Bowing his head with a flamboyant spread of his arms, the gilded war priest spoke, “As your wisdom decree, Field Marshal.” With that, he led the next waves’ departure, starting with Sangheili in either end lifts while the Jiralhanae took single-file in the center. Til saw the underlying message in the arrangement but kept silent for now as he looked at the cut tunnel in the thick wall of stone personally, ordering one bond pair at a time to take their places.

Special Operations Commander Praem ‘Nikuysee
Human Water Purification Plant

Praem watched the Yanme’e finally obey a order correctly for one of the more safe phantoms with a slight sneer before pointing at another Spec Ops officer named Ordo ‘Cavasee, “Clear the humans.” He ordered with the coldest edge of bloodthirst as if already tasting vaporized human blood on his tongue. The invisible phantom of a black-armored warrior nodded swiftly before making a quick-march towards the opening hatch, the sounds of war more welcoming and the smell of plasma-destroyed human infrastructure and bodies hitting his full mask. With a quick glance on his HUD’s tracker for the enemy below, his body lept over the edge for a straight descent to the gaping hole over the planet from the Spirit’s assault with a softened land of his attached thruster pack.

With his plasma rifle in one hand, the officer kept himself low and fired manageable bursts at the retreating humans to keep his stealth cloak as veiling as possible. Managing to clip a few and felt the presence of most of his lance around his flank to join in the clearing while a couple invisible Sangheili landed on the top of the building to keep a higher-presence in the firefight and the creche troop marched towards the melted front door and gaping entry with the dropships' plasma raining upon the humans' heavy firepower. Despite the grizzly deaths of Unggoy forward ranks from body-tearing ammunition and a few Sangheili from snipers, they kept marching in firm discipline by the Ultra's direction and returned fire to claim the entry of the human plant. Most importantly for Praem's strategy, keep the humans' attention splayed and disarrayed.

[LaxKnight]

HN1 Martha Pellagrino - NPC 

Attached to 7th Marines 

Kristopher Airfield 

*Sigh* Well, Shit 

Underneath the Army Warthog a head poked out. It was hard to tell who it was but the camo on the helmet revealed that it wasn’t army. “We got a live one!” one of the Marines called out as he went over to try and get the warrior out.



“Don’t touch me! I’m fine! Get these guys though,” a female voice called out. With some struggle she managed to get out from under vehicle. While she wore Marine camo, her rank signified she was Navy. Her suit was banged up a bit and dusty but otherwise okay. She got up and dusted herself off a bit before reaching to make sure her pistol was still on her. She reached back under the vehicle and pulled out a large bag with a red cross on it. She swung it onto her back with some zip then waved for some of the Marines over. “Come on, get them out of there!” she ordered.



Two Marines came and they would find three of their comrades and an Army driver in various forms of injury ranging from unconsciousness to broken bones. Various bandages and patches were on them along with improvised splints from rebar and other rubble. There were various marks on their helmets telling of what medicines she administered them. She spent no time talking to anyone. She had work to do, people to save, she had no time to talk to anyone. The first thing she attended to was the woman in a tanker suit being carried by two others to someplace for her to lay down. “Outta my way!” she barked as she slung her bag off and kneeled next to her new patient, “How did you find her?”



“Uh...she was in a tank and we got her out. She wasn’t awake when we got her,” one of them said. Martha nodded in acknowledgement as she pulled out a light and shined it first around her armor then at the visor. She reached a hand and felt around the neck to make sure it wasn’t broken before moving it. She looked around the helmet then nodded when she found something.



“Yeah. Figured,” Martha said as she dug into her bag then pulled out some sort of packet. Opening it revealed some sort of patch. She turned it to reveal a crack on the back of it. She slapped the patch and gave it few taps. “There we go. All better,” she said before turning to one of the Marines, “She most definitely has a concussion. Her suit was cracked so she either fell unconscious because of the light air or from a concussion she sustained though I’m thinking air because some people don’t wake up from sleeping with a concussion and I like to think positive. Make sure her suit stays sealed so the filters can give her some air because that’s the most important factor in her waking up. She should be okay to move but don’t do it unless she has to. If something weird happens shout for the Doc.”



With that she moved on to the next patient, a man with a rebar bar sticking through his stomach. “Oh I have something special for you!” she said with a sly smile.

[Llau]

First Lieutenant Alex Bishop
1 / 7, Alpha Company, Third Platoon
Airfield, Protector
An Uneasy Wait

He studied Elms' face with the help from the flashlight as he waited for her to make her decision, and noticed the uncertainty and the fear being expressed over her face. During those few minutes of her thinking about what to do, he also thought about what he asked her to do, and what she was about to do if she decided to agree to crawl through that hole, and hopefully be able to ask for help. He sighed quietly, rubbing his stubble-covered chin, and started to say something to her, but stopped when he heard her decision.

He inhaled a breath as well, gazing at her in concern, but also in relief at her willingness to try. He nodded.

“Okay, private,” He said.

He watched as she started to crawl through the tunnel, and looked at her when she looked back at him. He nodded again.

“All right, and if you don't think you can get through all the way, or if something doesn't feel right, stay calm and deep breaths...and get back here. We'll think of another plan then.”


ONI Section III Field Operator, Lieutenant Michelangelo Moretti
Operation Lead
Protector // Alpha Cluster // Factory Sub-basement and tunnels
And down I go...


Going down the corridor was a slow and careful five minute process of moving through debris, while making sure he didn't get electrocuted by live wire that was hanging around above the ceiling and along the floor that was exposed and severed by the fallen ceiling. A few times, he had to crawl over the debris to avoid the water puddles if a wire was in it, but eventually, he was at the end of the corridor. At the end, he peeked around a doorway to find a small room that was like a security check-point, but long since abandoned it seemed. On the left side were two turrets, which weren't working, lucky for him. He sighed, relieved they weren't and continued to head to the right into the adjacent hallway, where he was led down a concrete stairwell, that was partially destroyed by the earthquake. The bottom of the stairs were covered in six inches of water, as he found out about when he arrived, and in front of him, was an opened gate, where on the other side were a pile of wooden crates, barrels, and a coupe of discarded desks. He took a few moments to push or throw the stuff out of his way, since they were blocking his way, and then moved through the ankle-deep water, and found himself in the room with running water that had created a waterfall into a large, man-made hole in the ground.

A mine-shaft? He wondered, as he cautiously leaned over to peer down the hole. Or the tunnel system this place has...?

He took a few minutes to study the map that was uploaded to his CNI before he was captured by the Innies, and started to expand his plan on how he was going to get out of there.

“Huh...” He gazed over at the ladder, which extended upward and downward.

Glancing up, he frowned as he noticed the upper part had been blocked. “I really don't want to go down, but...” He muttered, running a hand through his hair. He sighed in annoyance. “Shit...”

Shaking his head, he stared at the locked gate that was preventing him from using the ladder. He stepped over, taking a closer look at the lock as he went to hold it in his hand for a moment, and frowned. He let the heavy lock drop back against the gate with a clank, and looked around.

His eyes caught something in the corner, and then, he smiled. Sitting in the corner was one of the Innies, but dead. He approached the lifeless young man sitting there, and had to chuckle in amusement. He crouched in front of the dead body, and peered at the face, where the eye was missing and blood had been running out. On the Innie's wrist was something he thought he lost forever. His TAC-PAD.

“I see you eyed my PAD a little too close there, buddy...” A chuckle. Oh the puns he could come up with.

He smiled again. The Innie must have been playing around with it when the earthquake hit, jolting the hidden knife from the bottom compartment into the man's eye socket and into the brain, killing him.

“Sorry...” He looked on apologetically, but couldn't help but grin still. “I don't think you have an eye for this kind of thing.”

He laughed, almost hysterically, but quickly calmed down. He can laugh about this later. He searched the body, finding a handgun, a couple of extra clips for the handgun, a flashlight, and found that the young man's boots were his size.

Good. After putting the boots on over his bear feet that were already cut up practically all over – he refused to put the man's socks on, he strapped the gun to him and clipped the flashlight into his belt, and then gazed at his TAC-PAD that was still strapped on the Innie's arm.

“Must be my lucky day...hopefully it'll last...” He murmured, reaching over to unstrap his TAC-PAD the young man took from him, and strapped it over his arm.

He smiled, patting the screen lightly, and booting it up. He knew he wouldn't be able to use it for now for the most part, but he was glad that he had it back. “Welcome back...”

He did send a quick message to the Prowler above Protector, informing them that he was alive and well, and currently in the process of escaping through the tunnel system since he couldn't escape any other way. He requested the quickest way through the tunnels and designated a rendezvous point with whatever agent(s) they'd send down to help him with gear and a clean uniform. He also asked if his main mission was still in effect, and whoever it was on the other side responding to him, said yes.

“Great...” He sighed, cracking his neck. Once he's topside, he'll have to go to the coordinates to take what he needed to retrieve and get off of the planet.

He stood up, putting the two clips in a pouch along his belt, and pulled out the gun from the holster. He carefully aimed it at the lock, and fired; breaking the lock. He opened the gate, and started to climb down the ladder. It was a long way down. Glad I'm not afraid of heights...santo cazzo Madre di Cristo...

Down, down, and down he went, but then realized a little too late that the rest of the ladder near the bottom was missing, and the rest of it that he was able to use was rusted and very weak to hold his weight.

“What the fu-?!”

It creaked, and then gave out. He gasped, and found himself free-falling the rest of the way.

“Cazzo!”

Famous last words, right? Well, this place would have been his grave, if the bottom wasn't filled with water. Lots of water. He fell in with a heavy splash, sinking some before finally recovering to swim back up to the surface for air. He gasped, taking a gulp of air, flailed his arms a little, and then looked around.

“Ah...uh...refreshing...” God, it was cold. He swam around, looking for a way out while shining the flashlight around as he held it tightly in his hand now. He inhaled deeply to hold his breath, and went underwater, and searched. There was a large hole that he swam into, which led him to the other side, and then resurfaced. He swam across a large area, and thirty feet in, was dry ground. He climbed out of the water, shivering a little, but kept going until he reached what was the actual tunnel system.

He peered down into the tunnel, biting his lower lip, and then moved on in after clipping the flashlight back on his belt with it still on. He hoped the batteries lasted long, otherwise...well...

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel.

Roh followed Eal down the tracks, deeper into the darkness. Roh was glad Eal seemed relieved, he was worried he might not believe it, even if Gel was known for being level headed and not ones to coddle. Luckily the increase in darkness wasn't much of a problem for them, nice and visible still for their Saurian eyes. Roh grinned at Eal's words, he was glad someone at least thought he had what it takes to make it. Roh hissed slightly at the dust about, even if the rest of the place was fairly decent. Roh glared suspiciously at the red emergency light, he knew its meaning and wondered if the Humans were watching them on their blasted cameras.

Roh looked up when Eal spoke, nodding in agreement. "I imagine so, too bad for the apes their playthings broke when put to the test" Roh said with a chuckle. His attention immediately went to Talz, listening intently. Roh sighed heavily in relief at hearing his Ma was alright, not caring who heard. He may have had bitterness in his heart, but even bad men lover their Mama's. "Oh thank Aecor" Roh whispered to himself with a small smile.

[Faclan]

(NPC)Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo.
Underground and scouting.
Some daring dinner plans.

"Good to know She didn't let herself be crushed by a few rocks," Eal added to Roh's relief as he smiled to. He respected Kael to be sure, but having this as his job was also something he loved and her still being alive meant he still had his job. (Such a pragmatic Kig). Smiling at the news he stretched a bit and chuckled at Rohs earlier statement and nodded. "It seemed to, but lets hope it can hold up a little longer since we're inside their creation no....Shush!" Holding up a claw for silence Eal tilted his head deeper down the tunnel and listened.

After a few seconds of silence, as well as the very distant sound of what soon reverberated to sound like a loud sharp bang Eal hummed a little before nodding. "Gunshot, Human. At least that's what I would guess. Thoughts Roh and Talz?" As he waited for their response he started back down the tunnel again toward the sound - but now he had his pistol out in case they ran into Humans.

There wasn't any other loud sound as they went, until they exited the single tunnel and entered into a large room with a lot of tracks criss crossing across each other and many other tunnel entrances on each side of the room. Eal had told them to be silent as they had walked the past few minutes so the Kig cell could listen out for any more sounds. But then quiet splashing could be heard toward the left side of the room. Nodding at it the Kigs moved at a slow jog toward it, soon finding that instead of the wall here there was a large split in the wall. Likely from the earthquake. Through the crack was the smell followed by the sight of a small body of water. Eal hummed quietly as he looked around this new room, wondering if the splashes had just been rocks.

But muffled Human shouting...shouting a word he had never heard before, came at them from the water. Ducking down lower so they were just peaking around the split the Kigs watched the water ripple and shift before a Human head broke the surface after a minute. The head was accompanied by a flashlight that scanned around untill it pointed at them. But thankfully Eal had already motioned for them to get down so they wouldn't be seen as Eal nodded at the others.

"Its just one Human...we need to talk to them about this tunnel system but if we are aggressive they will just scream and I suspect this one is armed. If there is one here there is likely more. We need him to be quiet....I have an idea." He whispered very quietly before nodding a little and holstering his pistol and pulling out...his canteen and ration pack? "Stay hidden, shoot to wound if the Human attacks. Lets see if its hungry."

Taking a quick breath Eal waited until the Humans footsteps were close before cheeping out to get the Humans attention. With the footsteps halted he stuck out his empty hand slowly, before the ration and canteen one. With both arms out he stood up and moved to the middle of the split door-way. Doing his best to smile at the Human, and squinting if the light was on him, the armored, un-helmeted, armed - but currently not holding a weapon - Murmillo held out the food and water to this wet and likely spooked...Spook.

(Hope that makes sense both and not too powerplay-y D: Feel free to have Mike interact with Eal/Roh/Talz Llau as I trust you'll not murder all three :> - but you may want to wait till she posts BetaWülf for a Roh one responding to all this.)


Kael Gel - T'vaoan Champion
Finally above ground
Work's never done.

The climb up the chain, just like the Kig-Yar of old would do on their ships with the rigging - just a bit harder than rope, was a fairly quick one for Kael as she was thankfully major injury free. Just missing her helmet and long-arm. She was fairly impressed that Tel had made it up by himself with a broken hand, and would congratulate him on his climb when she made it. Then she would have to get her force grouped up to get an injury count to find out who hadn't made it so she could send a letter back to Eyan and the asteroids to get replacements.

She paused however on the chains as she thought about sending a message back to Eyan...Possibly a message back to her Ma. Roh seemed to be following the proper Gel way of life and they could talk when this mission was over about their grievances. Maybe it was time to try and work over the animosity between herself and her Ma? Glancing up at the bright light at the top of the elevator, squinting a bit, Kael shook her head and resumed her climb. That would be decided on after the mission. She still had a force to command and they still had a mission here. Even if it was to fall back and get extracted so they could try orbital bombardment again.

Finally reaching the top and pulling herself back onto solid ground Kael rolled up and lay on her back for a moment - giving a quick thank to Aecor that that hadn't been her tomb. Before she kicked our her legs and got back on her feet. Turning to her Commandos and the few of her Entourage that were around she began delegating some work.

"You lot help with getting the rest of the force up, you can help with the pulling and share the load," she said to some of her lower soldiers before nodding at the few Murmillos around. "I want a damage report on the Entourage and the force at large." Finally turning to her Commandos she adjusted the mask around her beak a bit, not liking it at all compared to her Champion helmet before nodding. "Good work on getting up with one hand Tel, but get it properly seen to then report back. Pela and Vesa, go and get eyes on those domes and the ground between it and us. Don't expose yourselves too much but lets see how they fared. Use scopes." Her troops bowed their heads with an 'affirmative Champion' or 'Yes Mistress' before leaving off on their assigned tasks.

Nodding a little Kael let out a sigh before running a hand over her skull before shrugging and moving over to the chain line to help too. The Champion grabbing the length of chain near the Jiralhanae Chieftain and helping to pull up the Sangheili after nodding to the large ape. At least it was something to distract her from Roh and her Mama.

(How friendly of her >.> .)


Chris Hyde - ONI Section 1 Agent
UNSC zone.
Gatherin' ta team.

Running his hands through his hair constantly as he tried to relax Chris couldn't help but look at those holes and cracks in the domes surface. He had nothing to do until he heard back from the ONI command about what the plan was with the Covenant baring down on them, the domes damaged, and the UNSC likely in disarray. They just had to hope that the Covenant we're in as much trouble as the UNSC so those who needed to be extracted would be extracted. But then again he was ONI, so he fully expected to be ordered to head down to the ONI facility and get all the data either purged or sent away while the doors were being melted through. He was a scientist for crying out loud!

Thankfully he was saved from his anguish, slightly, with a message from...MIKE?! Quickly reading it over he watched as the message was replied to. So it was to the overseer on the Prowler and to Mike. But at least this meant that Mike was alive! He hadn't been killed by the Innies after all. They had suspected they wouldn't as it was rare they would get a higher up ONI agent like that in their clutches but it was still always good to know one of your friends we're alive. But then he saw that the mission was still on for go....fantastic.

Doing a bit of messaging on his own he was told that, surprise surprise, by combination of being the Agent currently on the message line and because he was the geographically closest Agent to Mikes general location that he was going to be part of the team that would be going to get him from the underground and bring him back to UNSC territory.

He would need a team for this...

He quickly sent out a series of messages, letting Agent Mays know that Mike was still alive and he had been tasked with going to get him from the underground - she was more than welcome to come along - and then messaging the local UNSC force to get at least some security for Chris or the two Agents if Mays showed up. He knew they weren't likely to get very many troops if they got any at all with the Covenant on planet but they would have to at least give him something so he wouldn't be going it alone.

Letting his tac-pad fall back down to his side Chris went back to running his hands through his hair before he nodded. It was mission time and he needed to get suited up for it. Jogging back to his temporary base he went to work getting his armor and weapon on. It was likely that there would be Innies or maybe even Covenant down in the underground and he wanted to be as prepared as he could be for that. The helmet would also help him see down there without having an easy to see projected light which would be a big plus...just the issue of getting all the armor on by himself. A trivial matter...so easy.

Finally finished and geared up Chris waited at the location he had told his comrades about. Near the top of the stairs heading down into the subway station and the tunnels they would be using to get to Mike. Chris currently sitting on the railing by the stairs, Recon helmet stuck on the end of the railing, as he looked over a map of the tunnels and tried to figure out the best way to get to Mike.

(Feel free to join up @tracker and our favorite ODST friend LaxKnight before we head into the underground to try and find Mike :> )

(The remains of SSA are just cowering in the Phantom and Eugine is still dealing with Cad in Medical P: .)

[Llau]

First Lieutenant Alex Bishop
1 / 7, Alpha Company, Third Platoon
Airfield, Protector
Left Behind To Only Wait For Help...


He silently watched as Private Elms continued to crawl further away from his flashlight he was shining into the tunnel. His eyebrows creased with worry, but at the same time, he hoped she was able to make it through alive. That's really all he cared about. Although, he liked living, he would rather know that someone made it out of this possible death trap above him, than to know that he could have prevented it if he didn't ask her to crawl through to find help. He wouldn't wanted that on his conscious, just as much as if Elms ended up getting killed trying to escape, if he died. While he waited patiently, he realized he was panting a little quicker than normal. Was it nerves, or was it because of the thin atmosphere? Probably both, but, he had faith in Elms. She was rather green, but he knew that sometimes something bad had to happen to reveal someone's potential. He just hoped she had faith in herself.

Tag(s): @tracker



ONI Section III Field Operator, Lieutenant Michelangelo Moretti
Operation Lead
Protector // Alpha Cluster // Alpha Cluster Tunnel System
Wait, what...?


When he heard the cheep from Eal Tas, his heart skipped a beat for a moment before he could feel it pounding hard within his chest as his adrenaline kicked in. His brown eyes looked like saucers as he quickly darted his attention over to where the sound came from; shining the flashlight that he held underneath his gun hand to act as a way to keep his aim still, while aiming it at Tas. He gazed at the T'vaoan's face, and Moretti's eyebrows creased slightly as he stared in confusion.

Was the alien...smiling? Was it actually smiling?

“Wha...what is this...?” He thought in a low whisper, while continued to stare at Tas. "What?"

He was completely flabbergasted when he noticed that the Murmillo was offering him something that looked like a canteen and a ration pack. He shifted around a little, eyes darting from the food and water, to Tas, and then back at the food and water. His stomach growled, but painfully. It's been a while since he ate, and the only thing he remembered eating, was when he was waiting in Metro Station 9 before his whole week went to complete and utter shit. He was also feeling thirsty, but not so much, since the Insurrectionists did give him water; although, very little during his time being held in that empty cell.

He quickly snapped his attention back on Tas, still with a confused look, but then he slowly shook his head in disbelief as he smiled. He laughed, nearly sounding like he lost his marbles, but it was a brief fit of laughter.

“What the hell is this...? First I get captured by a group of psychopathic Innies, who blew up a Metro Station, murdering a lot of innocent people...and then I escape after being tortured for WHO KNOWS HOW MANY DAYS...almost fell to my death, but didn't because - “ He paused, pointing at his wet self and went on, “-Water! And now I run into one of you...probably...more of you...” His eyes darted around, but he did manage to spot the others who were hiding with his flashlight.

“Oh...surprise, surprise. There's more of you. There's always more.” He chuckled, albeit nervously.

He aimed back at Tas when he thought he saw movement out the corner of his eye, but the alien was still holding the canteen and the food rations, and not a gun.

“And...and...you want me to take what you're offering to me...? What do I look like?” He asked, not even caring if they didn't understand him or not. He just wanted to make it topside. “Huh? What do I look like to you?” A pause as he licked his chapped, sore, and cut lips.

“I'm sorry, but give me a reason not to kill you, because I don't trust you or anyone not ONI or the UNSC right now...”

Tag(s): Faclan , BetaWülf

[Cabel]

[Tranquilitas Beta: Planet Protector: Water Purification Plant: Alpha Company Command Post: Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th MEB: Captain Mark “Spade” Sorelson: Date: 1 January 2548: Situation: Engaged]

“Tornado Actual, Tornado 1-2. Primary position has been lost, over. Falling back to secondary line,” he heard over the helmet‘s mic, over the encrypted frequency the defenders of the Plant used.

“Tornado Actual to Tornado 1-2, transmission acknowledged. Keep up the fire, and keep your boys safe,” Mark replied over the encrypted frequency. The heavy forty-mike-mike autocannons on the M13A‘s kept up a tumultuous rate of fire pounding both Covenant lines, the Phantoms which resulted in more than a few unfortunate methane tanks exploding backwards out beyond the Plant‘s melted main pressure door. The M41 LAAGs kept up an unrelenting field of fire, while the white-hot bolts of plasma from the Gauss Hogs left an all-too-real taste of burned ozone which thankfully to the re-breathers the marines and troopers hadn‘t been able to smell. Marksmen equipped with M392 DMRs opened fire, alongside the triple burst BR55 Heavy Barreled rifles at the Covenant lines and the snipers given shots of opportunity opened fire on the troops disgorged from the Phantom that had been rendered cloaked only moments ago. The M41 LAAG mounted on his own command warthog kept up a steady rate of fire while Mark quickly replaced the spent magazine of his own rifle with a fresh one.

“Tornado Actual to Sniper teams, get a bead on the split lips and other troops from the Phantom that decided to drop right onto the first perimeter. The party favors from that dropship are starting to move on the flanks. MG crews, keep up that rate of fire,” Spade relayed through his helmet-mic to the specific defender teams over the encrypted frequency.

Reaching down quickly to his belt, he‘d unclip a fragmentation grenade. Pressing the switch down, he‘d count a few seconds before tossing it over the lines of the defenders into the mass of the Covenant. Following a rather pleasing, if you could call it that, explosion which sent a few Grunts and Jackals flying he‘d level the MAC5 before resuming fire in controlled bursts.

“Tornado Actual to Angel Four Actual, your help would greatly be appreciated. If you haven’t heard yet, this place has ignited like a bunch of campers at a chili-cook-off on the Fourth of July,” he’d said over the encrypted channel to Angel Four Actual.

“Tornado Actual to all vehicles, if you feel the heat coming in your direction is getting too intense or will be intense move to better positions and better cover. Keep an open angle of fire. We can’t lose you to these Covenant party-crashers. That goes for all Callsigns,”

While losing any inch of the Water Plant hadn‘t been ideal, Mark had realized the majority and most crucial of the Plant‘s workings including the distillery machinery had been well behind them had meant that the entry foyer could have been lost. It hadn‘t been a notion Mark had been all-too-willing to consider, but as the Covenant hadn‘t realized there had been two pressure doors they could seal the second door when the rest of the first perimeter defenders had fallen back.

The tactic would have at least bought them precious minutes in order to prepare some real nasty surprises, but as Mark had been a lifer in the Corps and if there had been one constant lesson the Corps taught it had been to retake ground ceded to the enemy whomever or whatever they might have been. He knew Angel Four Actual had managed to gather at least a dozen warthogs and probably some heavy weaponry, but if luck had been on their side even though marines had an odd tendency to make their own luck or if in failing that to scare the crap out of bad kharma then they would have found some heavy armor. As the saying went, Marines were lent to Hell and Hell had found the devil-dogs so unrelenting they spat them back out. If Angel Four Actual had managed to liberate or find a few more APCs or even a Scorpion tank or two while stretching it, they‘d have enough firepower to manpower and armor to retake even the Gates of Hell…which given the nature of the Planet would have been a better paradise.

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel.
Damnable Primates....

Roh paused when Eal's fist rose. He quietly unslung his R-4 as they listened, weapons fire could be heard further down the way. Roh looked over at Eal when asked their opinions, humming a little in thought. "Sounds like it to me, not enough follow up noise for it to have been Jiralhanae, and didn't sound like one of ours. It was brief too, like an assassinatio..." he concluded as a thought came to mind.

Roh flushed with anger, thinking of his Mother and her quest... and what she was hunting. Human assassins, ONI. He knew enough about the events surrounding his older sisters death, and was told who was thought to have done it. All he knew was it was a Human stealth vessel, and the Human stealth Warriors were ONI. He followed Eal as he went further into the tunnels, stopping and ducking down when signaled to.

"Cant scream without a tongue..." Roh griped as Eal stepped out talk to it. Roh stayed crouched down, his weapon ready for whatever happened. Unfortunately, it was not long into the back and forth between Eal and the Human before the Human discovered Roh and Talz. Roh cursed under his breath but remained where he was.

“And...and...you want me to take what you're offering to me...? What do I look like?” the Human said. "Like a stupid Ape to me" Roh interjected almost quietly in English. Roh sighed and stood, stepping out with his R-4 lowered towards the ground and away to the side in one hand with the other open and in the air. "You don't shoot, 'cause that's stupid. Take food an' eat food or don't, we want to talk peace like wit' you" Roh said, before whirling as heavy footsteps were heard.

"Shit, fu-shoot 'em!" one of the things said, now obviously a Human, another yelled "ONI Pig!" whilst another jabbed "we're havin' Chicken for dinner!" before they opened fire. Roh ducked down and returned fire, turning ones brains to a mist out the back of their skull.

[Faclan]

(NPC)Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo.
Underground and scouting.
Good Humans...Bad Humans...Hopefully not all bad.

Tilting his head to the side a little as this Human started to laugh Eal stayed where he was as the Human had his little moment. He was mostly focused on the fact that as he had hoped the Human hadn't fired at him yet. That was a good point to think about. But with how...odd he was acting it may not be long till the pistol fired. He just hoped that he would survive the first shot so he could get behind cover and let his small file take down the Human. There was also the issue that this odd Human could know nothing at all about this underground place. And finally the largest issue that Eal wasn't catching all the words currently being shouted at him. Maybe one in every three or so since the Human was shouting and shouting fast.

There was something about what this was, and how he had been taken into the inside of something? An explosion at the tunnel station, held and...something at this inside - then falling into water and then himself. Turning his head back to see the two beaks of his fellows peaking around the cracks in the door Eal rolled his eyes a bit and looked back at their Human friend, still keeping his hands free of weapons as he mmmed quietly and thought of how best to convey that they didn't mean any harm. He really hadn't thought this plan through.

Thankfully it turned out that Roh seemed to understand the Human a lot better than he was. Rohs little statement making Eal turn sideways as he looked back at him. But before he could really say anything Roh stepped out and started to talk in the Human language to the Human. News to him but that solved one problem at least - and Eal was confident that Roh was saying good things to the Human that they weren't here to kill him or whatever. Not shooting and eating food and peace were heard by the Murmillo so so far so good. Smiling again Eal bobbed his beak a bit at Roh as he started to turn back to the Human.

"Thanks Roh, let me know his response." He cheeped in Kig - but then all of the Kigs looked over at footsteps, the Human hearing them shortly afterward, and more Humans showed up. It was apparent that they weren't here for talking, and although Eal didn't understand much he did understand 'chicken'. The Murmillos expression quickly darkening after that was shouted out as he shifted his shoulders to slide his Needle rifle off his back and into his arms as he started to move to the side of the split for some cover. Eal hated that word more than anything else about the Humans. A insult on so many levels, about your physical body, social standing, and place in the universe that Eal would never let slide...Roh's R-4 awarded him the first blood like a true Gel as Eal took aim with his rifle after setting the rations down by his feet. But the Humans were quick to fire back and Eal screeched in pain as one of their rounds sliced through his right hand. Glancing down at his limp claws as he hissed in pain Eal didn't second guess himself as he set the Needle rifle down on the ground and slid it over to the wet Human before drawing out his Dart pistol and firing back at the enemies. He wouldn't be able to accurately direct the Needles with one hand and the Human could do with a better weapon.

Talz had thankfully leapt behind some cover as well and was blind firing her plasma pistol around it to hopefully distract and suppress the bad Humans so her allies and new auxiliary could take them out - so far the female was free of damage unlike Eal.

(Hopefully Mike always wanted one P: )

[LaxKnight]

CPL Toby ‘Mick’ McMillian Jr.
153rd ODST Co.
En Route to Rendezvous Point
Fucking Rookie!

There was a bump in the road but luckily the Warthog’s shocks absorbed it all. Two of the vehicles drove through the busted road as they made their way to the point where they were supposed to meet their contact. A scientist named Hyde, if Mick remembered right. Scratch that, ONI scientist. Originally Mick and his team were to go with all of the other ODSTs but command received a message and decided that him, having experience dealing with ONI, should be sent to help. The details weren’t very clear but from what he can tell they were to search and rescue another ONI operative and to meet at a certain location.

His team managed to secure these two ‘Hogs in case they weren’t the only ones on this mission. He took the gun of the lead vehicle while the a rookie named PVT Maria Connelly took the wheel with music blaring from the speakers. The fact they haven’t been ambushed is amazing in itself. She was the temporary replacement for PFC Ortiz after she suffered a shot to the arm from a Beam Rifle in the last big mission. Not wanting to wait to get back in the fight, Angela opted to get a robotic prosthetic instead of wait for a flash cloned limb but she still had to go through some physical therapy, all bumped she missed this mission. Mick and the team were just glad she was okay. Now they got this new redhead, not even out of Boot for a month, placed on their team until Angela gets back. Or at least Mick hopes so.

Mick wasn’t quite sure what to think of the newbie. It was hard sifting through what was her personality and was simply ignorance for being a rookie. All he knew was that before becoming an ODST she was part of Motor T, driving around Warthogs, Mongooses, and other UNSC vehicles. Sure Mick was loud but she was obnoxious, way too chatty, and the fact that every other sentence ended with Corporal was really getting on his nerves. He didn’t mind music and he liked to keep things chill but playing it in the middle of a combat mission? And all she seemed to play was Irish music and singing along with it. He guessed they overlooked the fact that he now had a total noob on his team when they picked him for an ONI mission. Shit like this won’t fly with the Spook Squad.

“Hey Rook!” he yelled, “Turn it off at 25 yards!”

“Aye aye, Corporal!” was the reply.

Too fucking motivated, he thought. That was the problem with all rookies. “For the last fucking time, stop calling me Corporal! Only in front of important people,” he yelled then said, “You got some big shoes to fill, Rook, and it’s my job to make sure you live through today until I get her back. Being an ODST ain’t like shooting shit in a ‘Hog! Especially with ONI. It’s always dangerous and shady shit. Just let me do the talking and since our point girl is out, stay behind me. Stay alert and stay behind me and you should make it through today. You get it?”

“Yes Corporal!”

That made him fume. Fuck the Covies, save her from me, he thought with poison, Who did I piss off to get this bitch?

He then noticed the music turned off. They must be getting close. “Remember, let me do the talking,” he said to the whole team over the com.

He watched on his HUD as they neared the waypoint then the skidded to a stop near the entrance to a subway. There a man in what he recognized as ONI Recon armor waited for them. They skidded to a stop a few feet away and then he signaled for the team to dismount. He got off first, getting his LMG in his hands as he approached the scientist. “Mr. Hyde?” he said as he depolarized his visor so his face can be seen, “Cpl. Mick McMillian. 153rd ODST, Fireteam Chuck. We’re the back up you called for.”

Tag(s): Faclan

[SuperCommando]

President Simon Cartwright - NPC

President Cartwright nodded in patient acknowledgement to John through the cracked screen of the tacpad. He didn’t ask what the commotion was all about or why the screen got broken. He knew it wasn’t his place to pry.

“I’ll leave that to the good professor himself, Colonel. One moment please.” the suited executive replied. He reached forward to hit another button. The on-screen visuals he put up in the corner before now disappeared, and the screen divided in half. The president remained on one side of the split-screen, and the other showed the same man from the photograph. His face and glasses were covered in dirt and he was wearing a hard hat, and the background behind him appeared to be a dark brown rock wall.

“Hello, Wes? Are we coming through okay?” Cartwright asked.

There appeared to be some interference or lag from the professor’s signal and when he spoke his voice was laced with mild static, but the man was understandable as he responded. “Yes yes Mr. Cartwright, thank goodness you’ve managed to contact the military! We’re really in quite a bit of trouble down here…”

“About that,” said Cartwright, “Professor, this is Colonel Johnathan Killinger of the UNSC Marines. He’s going to help. Can you provide him with a status report please?”

“Ah, but of course.” The other man said, directing his attention to Killinger as he stroked his prodigious mustache. “An honor to make your acquaintance, Colonel. Such a shame it wasn’t under better circumstances, yes? Alas, I must confess, I must trouble you to go out of your way for us. As I assume you’ve been told, my colleagues and I of the Protector Geological Survey have found ourselves unequivocally trapped here at our research site in the East Haven mountains as a result of that dreadful earthquake. Around twenty of us fled into the mountain caves when our base camp was destroyed in the alien invasion, retreating deep underground using an elevator shaft we constructed specifically to access the lower levels of the planet’s crust. You see, months ago we discovered a curious network of subterranean tunnels and were working to explore them. However, the earthquake cut us off from the elevator and has prevented us from returning to the surface. When you arrive, be prepared for a bit of spelunking and climbing to reach us, as well as possible cave-ins. Oh, and uhm… that’s not all. Do come armed. You very well might encounter… oh how do you say… certain large, deadly ant-creatures.”

“Wait… what?” asked Cartwright.

“Yes, I might have neglected to mention that part earlier. Quite sorry.”

“There are deadly ant-creatures living underground? I thought there was supposed to be no life on this planet!”

“As did we, I assure you. However, evidence to the contrary is currently trying to eat us. Even as we speak, they are burrowing through the barricades we erected to block entry into the cave we’re sheltering in. See?”

Professor Powell must have been holding his own tablet as well, for he turned it away from himself and pointed the camera at a spot nearby where men in hard hats were tossing rocks onto a pile in a hole in the ground. From below, the rocks were shifting as an unmistakable grinding kind of noise could be heard.

“My god Wes!” exclaimed the President. “Why didn’t you mention this earlier!?”

“In truth, it’s because the creatures only started showing up after the earthquake, after I already reached out to you for aid. Imagine our surprise when the first of them appeared! They’re most fascinating I must say, albeit more than a little aggressive to say the least. Under other circumstances I’d love the opportunity to study them more in-depth, but at present they have already killed three people and are pushing us further and further into the tunnels. I fear if your Marines do not arrive soon Colonel, we may be driven so deep we may become unrecoverable. In fact I’m not entirely sure where we even are right now…”

“Well…” Cartwright exhaled, clearly surprised by this new turn of events. “Just hang in there professor. We’ll get you out of there.”

“Please, please do.” Professor Powell urged. “Alas, I apologize but I really must be going for a moment. Colonel, feel free to call me again if you need anything. In the meantime, I bid you all adieu.”

With that, the professor’s transmission ended and the split-screen dissolved, leaving only the president remaining on the screen.

“Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you, Colonel.” he said. “I sure as hell don’t envy you. But please, do everything you can to get those men out. Wes, Professor Powell, he’s an old friend of mine. We’ve been through a lot together, I’d hate for it to end like this. Oh, and Colonel, there’s one more thing…”

He stopped there for emphasis, making sure he had Killinger’s attention before allowing the officer to disconnect.

TAG(S): MrKill, UNSC Players

UNSC EMERGENCY OBJECTIVE:
RESCUE THE SCIENTISTS

[Llau]

ONI Section III Field Operator, Lieutenant Michelangelo Moretti
Operation Lead
Protector // Alpha Cluster // Alpha Cluster Tunnel System
Actually fighting with aliens...? Not against?



The field operator's eyes darted from Tas to the other T'vaoan who said something in English, that sounded like the alien was insulting him. He frowned, eyebrows burrowed as he squinted his eyes for a moment. Instead of saying something back, he decided to listen instead when Roh Gel lowered his weapon and raised his other hand as he spoke to him in English. Although, Moretti didn't lower his guard down completely, he lowered his own weapon down a little too.

"You don't shoot, 'cause that's stupid. Take food an' eat food or don't, we want to talk peace like wit' you.”

Moretti looked back at Tas, and then again at Gel before heavy footsteps from what sounded like more than a dozen people suddenly appeared from another tunnel. He quickly looked, aiming his handgun and flashlight toward them, but then when they shouted “ONI pig!” at him, he knew who they were. He quickly ducked rolled out of the way, hiding behind a pillar on the right side of the tunnel when they started firing their automatic weapons at him, and toward the friendly group of aliens he just met.

He smirked, stifling a chuckle when he heard one of the Insurrectionists say something about having chicken for dinner tonight. He shook his head, rolling his eyes at that.

“Well, I wouldn't call them that...” He said loudly, but then muttered under his breath, “Well...not to their faces at least.”

His eyes quickly shifted over to where the aliens were taking cover across from him, when he heard one of them screech in pain. It was the one who offered him the water and food. He noticed Tas was hit in the hand, and couldn't use the Needle Rifle anymore. While Moretti was able to fire several shots back at the insurrectionists, and managing to shoot one in the head, he heard something slide over to him. He returned behind the cover, and tensed up as his eyes glanced down at the ground to see what it was.

The Needle Rifle?

He blinked, staring at the weapon for a long moment, and then looked back up at Tas, who was busy firing at their attackers with his Dart pistol.

The Lieutenant scratched at his scalp, for a moment, unsure what to think of this. He looked around, hesitating, but then holstered his handgun, and quickly grabbed the Needle rifle up off the ground, and held it firmly in both hands. He gazed at it, smirking a little.

“Happy birthday to me...” He whispered to himself.

He inhaled a deep breath, shaking his head. He then gazed over at Tas and the others, before using the rifle to fire every-now-and-again at the Insurrectionists. He quickly counted how many enemy combatants were firing at him and his...allies? At first, when the hostile humans arrived, he counted a little more than a dozen, but it seemed like more showed up. Like cockroaches. Unless he didn't count right, it felt like more reinforcements arrived.

He sighed, but grinned at that.

He called out to the insurrectionists. “Four against...what? A couple dozen or so of you? What's wrong? You assholes need that many people to take on four? Can't say I'm surprised.”

“Shut the hell up, ONI pig!”

He smiled.

“ONI pig, huh? Wow...such a great comeback, kid,” he continued to taunt whoever was there hearing him. “And you came up with that one all by yourself! I'm both shocked and amazed! Must be beginner's luck for you!”

“I said, shut the fuck up!”

“No...no. You said shut the hell up. Not shut the fuck up!” He grinned, hiding behind cover.

“Oh, fuck off, ONI piece of shit!”

The same one shouted back angrily, and stood up to fire, but Moretti aimed at him just as the young-looking Insurrectionist stood up without thinking of the consequences, and the agent fired a few times. He shot the needles twice in the chest, and once in the head. He then returned to hide behind the cover as the other Innies fired back on his position. But he gasped and winced in pain when he felt a bullet hit him in the arm, but looked down to see that his upper arm had been grazed. It bled, but not that bad. Wincing, he cursed under his breath, and tightly grasped the Needle Rifle as tightly as he could. He had worse, much worse, but he couldn't stand the burning sensation it left. He growled in pain, crouching behind the pillar this time, as the upper part of the thick concrete pillar was breaking up from the bullets that were impacting against it ever since the firefight started, but it was already slightly ruined by the earthquake, just like everything else down here that was damaged – more or less.

While he kept in a crouched position, he quickly ripped some of his dirty, wet shirt to use it as a temporarily gauze to wrap it around his arm to stop it from bleeding. He tied it around tightly, and then continued to fire back. Hiding again, he frowned a little. They couldn't fire back at them forever. They had to do something. He glanced around, and then eventually darted from cover, firing back at the hostiles. He rolled behind the cover Tas and the others were using, and crouched behind them. He lightly tapped Gel on the back.

“Hey, if any of you have any explosives,” he stated, pointing up toward a pillar behind a ground of Insurrectionists. “A well-placed one would bring that pillar down on top of most of them.” A pause. "Unless you have a better idea..."


Tag(s): Faclan , BetaWülf

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel.

Roh stayed crouched down by Eal and Talz, firing periodically at the Humans. It was a shame they opened fire, he'd known some Human freedom fighters from visits to seedier Asteroid colonies. To be honest, he rather liked Humans, cutthroat bastards were swell and knew how to party. What a shame, Roh thought to himself as he fired, hitting one in the arm.

He took a moment behind cover to ready himself for another go, when Eal got hit in the hand. Roh wasn't so sure about arming the Human with the Needler Rifle, but Eal probably knew better so Roh resigned himself to it. Wasn't like he could walk over and ask for it back at the moment. Exhaling, Roh brought himself up and took aim, squeezing off a round he put a hole in ones chest.

"Well Eal, he's debating the meaning of his words with our enemies at the moment, just a little update on what the crazy ape is jabbering about" Roh said in his native Kig-yar dialect to Eal.

Going to poke out the side of their cover, Roh hissed when a bullet grazed his thigh. He quickly ducked back into safety, hissing and cursing as blood ran down his leg. Before long the allied Human was behind the Kig-yar cover too. Not long after that, the Human lightly tapped his back(much to his displeasure). Listening to the Human, Roh nodded.

"I got dis" he said.

Roh quickly retrieved a Plasma grenade from his belt, looking momentarily at his Human ally, he grinned ear hole to ear hole. Activating the Plasma grenade, Roh chucked it at the ground just before the base of the pillar(taking into account the possibility of it bouncing). The grenade exploded, breaking the bottom of the pillar out and causing it to collapse onto some unfortunate Human Rebels.

[MrKill]

Colonel Johnathon B'Sheau Killinger
Seventh Marines
Kristopher Airfield

Marines had uncovered a Warthog with a flat bed and time had run out to search for more Marines by the time the scientist had started explaining the situation. A handful of Marines had been uncovered during the process but thankfully only two of them were dead. When the scientist explained that there were 'deadly ant-creatures' John's reaction was similar to that of the Presidents, but he held in the surprise and allowed the civilians to exchange a conversation. John muted his end of the microphone for a brief moment.

"Okay, let's get on this 'Hog and get out of here. Once we're topside I'll call in a priority airstrike followed by CASEVAC for the wounded." John said. He switched to Bishops command frequency. "Lieutenant, how are you doing?" He said through his microphone. Hopefully the junior officer picked up the transmission but with literal tons of rubble potentially between them even the advanced technological communication devices were bound to prove futile against thick debris walls, so John was left doubting he'd get a reply.

"We're ready to go, sir!" A Marine reported. The Warthogs suspension looked destroyed on the forward left side as the vehicle rested at an awkward angle. The Marine Officer went prone for a second to look under the vehicle and sure enough an axle was protruding from the left wheel housing. With a grunt the Colonel returned to his feet and allowed everyone to enter the Warthog. There wasn't enough room for him which left John walking behind the slowly moving, grinding Warthog as it pulled its way out of the rubble.

The sad part was John was quicker than the weighted vehicle and the other Marines recognized that, jumped off and joined John on foot. The vehicle picked up slight speed as only the dead, unconscious and too wounded to walk remained on the lightly armored vehicle. It still kept pace with the foot-mobile Marines, however, rather than them over taking the vehicles pace considerably.

Once the two on the tactical pad were finished talking, and John had caught a glimpse of the rubble pile they were using to keep the 'creatures' from consuming them, he knew that he'd need something bigger than a standard Marine. Something like a SPARTAN... perhaps. It was the only thing he could think of that both had the strength and intelligence to push past the pile of rubble and save the scientists before time ran out.

A crackle came through his communication unit.

"Guardian Actual, do you copy?"

John replied immediately, "This is Guardian Actual, I read you."

"Guardian Actual this is Kilo Five. We feared you were killed in the Earthquake. I have a critical sitrep for you."

"Send it."

"Copy that. The water plant is under assault from Covenant Forces and the BETA domes are being invaded with civilians still present. Be advised: Insurrectionist activity has been reported in both Alpha and Beta clusters. They have engaged both Covenant and UNSC personnel. How copy?"

Well... that puts another cork in my plan. This operation is FUBAR! John though. "Solid copy Kilo Five."

John had to focus his attention on two things now. The scientists and the insurrection spotting.

John switched to Alpha Airfields command frequency but realized that, being so close to the airfield and Covenant ships, it was nearly impossible to get an extraction... this was going to be a tight situation to navigate out of.