Mission Two: Belly of the Beast (Part the Second)

[Jakob]

Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski

Jakob's eyes widened as the com closed, he looked at the Sergeant and he nodded, his had turned off as well. Jakob knew that was a team com, he quickly looked through and opened a channel with the Private.
"Look kid, I hate to say this but your Sergeant was just in tears about those men, TEARS, I just wana let you know if you get out of this alive you WILL be court marshaled, but I took a bullet for Admiral Ackerson a while back when I helped do some black ops, if you get marshaled I could probably risk myself and get you out of it, just wanna let you know, get back safe."
Jakob changed to public and looked at Aborn,
"Problems settled, get everyone ready, we are moving out."
Aborn held up a hand, he looked back up and slowly shook his head again,
"We just got a distress call from a fire team Fox Trot and they need help, I just traced there signal to a hallway not far."
Jakob nodded and opened a com with the Marines,
"Fire team Fox Trot this is Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski, this is your lucky day, me and my ODST's will be there soon over."
Aborn left to get the few men he still had left, it wasn't much, but it was all he had.

[hollowsaber]

Private Jake Furrow Fireteam Alpha; Nova Squad

Jake helped Rich with the last of the C-12, linking all of it to a single charge and priming everything. The explosives were good and set to blow. All they could to do now was hope for the best. Rich left and went back to the door, leaving Jake with the last fuse. He was linking it to the trigger when his Lieutenant came across his private COM channel. Jake usually kept the channel to himself, just so he could hum the songs his mother use to sing to him without anyone knowing. It made him jump when another voice came across it.


"Look kid, I hate to say this but your Sergeant was just in tears about those men, TEARS, I just wana let you know if you get out of this alive you WILL be court marshaled, but I took a bullet for Admiral Ackerson a while back when I helped do some black ops, if you get marshaled I could probably risk myself and get you out of it, just wanna let you know, get back safe."


Jake stared at the last fuse quietly, frozen as he listened. The sergeant? In tears? Looks like even the toughest are a little soft on the inside. Jake sighed and primed the last of the explosives. He stood and looked at all of the blinking red dots, warning signs to show that they are ready to blow. The room was littered with them and it looked like a light show almost. Jake held the charge in his hand and looked at his hand, remembering the last words of his Lieutenant.

“Get back safe.”

The words stuck in his head as he felt his stomach tighten. Though, a hard tug snapped Jake free of his thoughts. He turned to see Luther’s transparent visor. The man mouthed ‘danger close’ over and over while pointing to the other two troopers who were readying their guns. Jake got the message, Looks as if some Covenant wanted some ammo. Well, there would be plenty of it. Jake and Luther moved back to the door and hunkered down behind a wall of crates that they prepared to cover them from the explosion. They didn’t know if it would work, but they didn’t have a choice.

Jake armed the trigger and looked at the other three. Luther and Rich were aiming at the door. Gordan was counting down, estimating how long was left before those Covenant got to the door. 20 seconds… Not much time to really think over a situation. Jake sighed and began to tap on the floor to do his own count down.

5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Click…

The trigger snapped and gave off a high pitched beep in Jake’s helmet. A half-second later, the room erupted as the explosives went off. The shock wave sent Jake down to the ground and everything went black.

[SuperCommando]

SPARTAN-009 (Silas)

Inside Target Hades

En route to bridge

“Alright, looks like we’re heading the right way,” said Joe, checking Churchill’s schematic. Silas was appreciative for the intel, marveling at how the AI could deftly navigate the Covenant battlenet and withdraw useful information like magic. On the other hand, though, he had no way of telling what kind of side-effects swimming around in alien computer systems might have on Churchill, and as an extension, on Joe. For that he was secretly grateful the AI resided in his teammate’s head and not his own.

Just then, heralded by the corpse of a Marine falling from around the bend behind the group, came the wrath of yet another Covenant strike force. Joe pushed his brothers-in-arms to cover, and Silas stumbled behind a large overturned purple crate.

“Dammit, they found us already,” Silas heard Joe grunt as he took cover next to him.

While Joe worked with Churchill on an exit strategy, Silas got down on his stomach. He rolled sideways, a somewhat awkward maneuver due to having his shotgun on his back and his battle rifle hanging by its sling, but the Spartan managed to clatter into a position just poking out from the side of cover. Laying prone like that, he steadied his machine gun and laid down covering fire, showering Joe with spent casings – an unavoidable result of sharing the limited cover of the crate.

He had just gotten a good heavy spray going when, without warning, the very floor he was laying on rocked with a powerful and unannounced explosion. It was so strong that it actually caused Silas to bounce up a bit as the muffled detonation resounded through the eerie halls.

“What the hell…” he muttered, resuming his covering fire.

[Oresus]

The corridors in the vicinity of the command center were slightly better lit than those in the rest of the ship, but the lights still flickered and dimmed with every passing limit. Nha 'Chavamee and Taheri 'Mortumee crept along the wall on their left, so that it'd be a pain for humans doing the same to aim their weapons. The idea had been Jae's, yet another example of the Minor's tactical mind. Nha had left him under the temporary command of K'tas, whom Nha had asked to double back and flank the potential intruders.

"We're approaching the command center," informed Taheri, who knew the structure of an Assault Carrier a little better than his commander. The other Sangheili barely nodded and quickened his pace after the familiar sounds of close-quarters skirmishes came into earshot. "I sense that we'll be spilling more blood soon, brother," remarked the Major gleefully. The two warriors slowed down again when the sounds seemed to be close, and were like glue in their belly-to-wall strategy. Nha, who was in front, checked that the Needler he'd picked up was full, and Taheri reassured himself that the Plasma Rifle's charge was sufficient for another heavy battle.

Soon, all that separated the two Sangheili from an undoubtedly ferocious fight was one door, which glowed smugly red as it denied them entry. Nha and Taheri had encountered these obstacles several times on their journey, obviously unsuccessful security measures taken by Shri T'ova or someone else residing in the command center. Minor 'Mortumee pounded on the door with his Plasma Rifle in frustration. His comrade and friend looked around the circular junction and noted that two of the three doors were locked, leaving the way they'd come the only exit. He leaned against the central pillar with a sigh and tapped the Needler against the armor covering his thigh, deep in thought. An idea flew into the Sangheili's head, and he accessed the BattleNet, flipping to his lance's channel. "Dirapp," he exclaimed, "I'm in a junction with Taheri just outside the command center. Hasten to me and bring all the explosives you can."

Taheri looked at the Major quizzically. "Why don't we just try another route?" The other Sangheili shook his head decisively. "Dirapp's not far away, and by the time we do that the humans will have gained access to the command center." His companion nodded, but brought up another point. "You would harm this ship for the sake of a shortcut?"

"Look around you, Taheri. The Pious Charity is doomed anyway."

"What if we harm our own?"

When Nha's answer came, it was laced with an edge of determination. "We'll take the risk, and if such a thing happens may their souls be sped along the Path to salvation." Religious zeal shut Taheri up soon, and the two sat in silence before a shudder rolled throughout the ship. Both Sangheili were thrown to the ground violently.

"Curses and damnation, what was that?!"

[maxii1]

Captain Nigel Lennox
Gravity Lift Bay

As Lennox set about ordering men, and checking on the four team Spartan offensive, a communication came through;

“Nova Squad, Fireteam Alpha. Infiltrated Covenant Armory deep inside the ship. Setting up heavy explosives to cause a distraction. Will distract Covenant long enough for other teams to get to the package. Sending Coordinates of position. Pick us up only if you have time, do not risk anyone else. We will make our way out if we can. Godspeed.”


Lennox swore and rubbed his forehead “Who the FUCK ordered that team out there?” a quick glance on his PDA told him that the fireteam was under the command of Lt. Zaborowski. “Lieutenant, I command all forces up here, why didn’t you request my permission to start a covert mission?”

As he waited for an answer, Lennox realised that whilst another diversion was good, setting up explosives in the vicinity of multiple covenant weaponry would result in a serious catastrophic blast that might just trigger a tidal wave of destruction.

The captain awaited an answer, remembering that Hallam had given explosive devices to a few key men in the assault; those trusted with those devices included Murphy and the remnants of Gamma team.

[Jakob]

Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski

"My fire-team snuck off when we were preparing another assault sir! I have only a fire-team left now!" Jakob was still sprinting, waiting for responses from the Marines, his Private, and the Captain.
All of a sudden the ground shook slightly, not much, but he felt it.
"Sir! I think they just blew something up!"

[maxii1]

Captain Lennox
Gravity Lift Room


“Snuck off, Snuck off?” Lennox shook his head at this comment “Zaborowski, you’re their commanding officer, your in charge of them, I’m holding you accountable for their actions, now get your shit together and whatever’s left of your platoon and fall in with the assault on the double, do I make myself clear?”

Lennox realized he was shouting and took a deep breath. If only he had been the first one to use the gravity lift, in the ship at the beginning of the attack, as it was he had half of the first wave of fighters missing, dead or bloody running riot.

He was fuming at the actions of the soldiers of Zaborowski’s Platoon, they had become too keen to cause carnage and had hot-headedly charged into the enemy stronghold, kicking the hornets nest and indeed had put the lives of all in danger.

He had half a mind to demote the soldier right there and then, on the global communication channel, instead he would save it for afterwards, if that was, they got out alive of this hellhole. At least let the man die with rank, with dignity.

[Soulstep]

Corporal Andrew Deiran Indigo Squad Target Hades

The walls shook as the blast from Nova squad sent shockwaves throughout the ship. "Bugger!" Andrew swore, entering the first room of the many they would be running through.

"Captain!" he yelled over his shoulder, as Adam and Sarah got into covering positions on the next door. "We should get moving!"

Whatever the hell Nova squad had just done, Andrew hoped it worked. Every covie lance they ran into meant they would be seriously slowed down, and lowered their chances of getting close to the bridge without the whole carrier knowing they were there.

The door hissed open, and Sarah and Adam swept into the room, Tom covering them. They had had to rethink their room clearing procedure due to Ben's death, and though they could still perform well without him, an Assault Rifle was no match for an SMG at point blank.

"Room clear!" Sarah reported over the squad COM.

Andrew got up, and ran to rejoin his squad.

[hollowsaber]

Private Jake Furrow Fireteam Alpha; Nova Squad

Jake was laying in the middle of a bright white room, laying with his chest pointed at the blank sky as he finally reopened. His body was in agony, he didn’t remember what happened, all he knew was that he closed his eyes, the reopened them here. Everything was white for as far as the eye, except for him and his torn, black armor on the ground. In the distance of the sky, he could see his family looking down at him. Was he hallucinating? Or was this just a dream? Or did he die? His mom reached down from the clouds and gently shook him, whispering ‘Jake?’, very quietly.

Over and over she asked for him to answer, but he couldn’t. His mouth wouldn’t move no matter how much he wanted to scream. The room started to darken and his mother started to fade, but his name kept getting louder and louder, ‘Jake?!, Jake?!, JAKE?!’. As his name got louder, he began to hear gunfire and explosions, a man asking for another clip and another cursing. Suddenly, Jake’s eyes finally shot open, and his hearing became keen once again. The sound of three battle rifles echoed in the room on his sides with the sounds of plasma fire behind him. Gordan saw Jake starting to look around and shook him hard.

“Get up you idiot! We got trouble! Lots of Covenant!” Gordan yelled, hoping to wake Jake up.

Gordan’s chest and left arm was filled with biofoam, not a good sign. His helmet visor was cracked a little, but not enough to shatter, but it was good enough to show he was tossed hard. His armor was torn and a few places were sliced open. Gordan was either lucky to be shooting, or his adrenaline caught him before he died. As Jake went to turn and look at the other side of him where Rich and Luther were, he saw what the explosives had done. The wall that separated them from the other room, and the other floors, was gone. Jake could clearly see at least one floor up and down along with the room that was across the hole, which had a few elites dead on the floor. The rip brought a smile to Jake’s face, if that didn’t get the Covenant‘s attention, he didn’t know what would.

Jake finally turned his head to his right to see Rich and Luther. Rich was leaning to his side and his leg was full of foam. His leg must have finally broke or something, that wound he had from another fight in which he was hit in the femur. The bullet was dislodged, but the fracture was small so the doctors had just left him with the splint, but the crack didn’t heal correctly. The wounded leg wouldn’t last an explosion like that, and it apparently didn‘t. Luther was safe, he had a few bumps and rips in his armor but seemed to be fine, looks like he found a comfortable spot to slam into.

Once they were all fine, now he had to worry about himself. As Jake looked down, he was surprised at what he saw. His armor on the lower part of his right arm had been ripped off and he could see some burns on it. All over the rest of his body, his armor was all messed up; missing armor on his right leg, almost all of it gone on his left, his chest half had several holes while tears all in between. His gloves, weakened from his rock climbing, were ripped up and seemed to be hanging on by a few threads on his hands. Blood stained the gloves and his hands under them. Even his helmet wasn’t safe. When he took a slow feel over it, he felt several bumps and dents in a few places, thankfully his ventilation mask was fine and still attached. Yet, a hot feeling of blood showed that even with the helmet, his head must’ve taken a hit as well.

Jake groaned and looked up at Gordan who was flipping someone off as he fired at them. The team was in pieces, but still were fighting. Even with the explosion shaking everything, it didn’t shake their goal. They needed to draw as much Covenant to them as possible, and it seemed to be working. A hail of plasma fire was raining over the crates and small pieces of cover that were all piled together in front of the door… Well, what use to be the door.

Jake slowly rolled over, groaning in pain as he got to a knee. If he was going to survive, he would need a miracle. Hopefully the others were already at the package or somewhere close. If not, they would have a straight shot. When Jake looked down the hall, the floor of the hallway was filled to the door with Grunts, Jackals, Elites, and a few Brutes here and there but not many. At the end of the hall, he could see a large hoard just moving around and returning their fire.

“They think we are a larger force then we are. Got a lot of Elites down there. I’ve seen a few Majors here and there in the fray. They tried to rush us a few times, but the C-4 we placed still works and we’ve made good use of it. They usually send the Grunts in as fodder every now and then, hoping to wear us down but I brought a whole sack of ammo and I hid some in your bag as well before we left the Fenix, just incase.. We should be fine as long as the others get the objective. I don’t know about us getting out though.” Goardan said, popping in another magazine into his battle rifle as he finished.

Jake watched as the long hallway seemed to be their only saving grace. If it had been any shorter or longer, the Covenant would easily be able to overrun their position. But it seemed to be just perfect, giving them enough reach with their battle rifles to take pots shots and take down anyone who wasn’t lucky enough to be paying attention. Gordan was right though, Jake zoomed in, using his visor, and could see a few Red figures ordering soldiers around in the shadows. He even saw one in the massive dead-pile in the hall. Not a good idea to lead a charge now is it?

Jake suddenly felt empty, why was he not shooting at them? He looked around for his rifle and couldn’t find it. Had he left it next to the C-12? No, he had it before everything went black. But then, just before he was about to tear the room apart to find it, his team came though once again. Luther saw Jake looking around and threw him his rifle. Jake looked over the minor damage to it and kissed it through his helmet. It could probably still fire, but there was a chance it wouldn’t. Knowing that it could fire was all he needed.

A clean plasma shot that burned over the top of his helmet, made Jake turn to the hall again. He crouched down behind the pile of debris that was thrown together to make a small barricade at the door. Jake coughed and winced in pain as he felt his chest squeeze his lungs. His body was going to fall apart soon, he needed a medic, but all he had was adrenaline and biofoam. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to running for their lives back to the gravity-life. If the situation permitted it, Jake would gladly run like hell, but that may not be an option with that many Covenant at their tails.

Jake sighted down his sniper scope, his eyes localizing to the night vision that would pierce the darkness of the hall, and looked towards the other end. Surprisingly, he found the door, all the way through the intersection and laying on the main hallway’s floor, with a few grunts and Jackals smashed between it and the wall. Jake chuckled and imagined the look on their faces when they saw a door come flying at them. If the camera was still there, they might be able to watch it later, if they made it out.

A Red body moved into his scope and woke him once again, he was having a hard time focusing. Jake instinctively yanked the trigger and the bullet dug through the Elite’s right side before slamming into a grunt that had unluckily walked in behind it. The Grunt tumbled down dead and the Elite roared at Jake in pain and fury. Heavy-armor piecing rounds were a pain to fire and they shook his gun badly, but he was glad he snagged them under the UNSCs noses. He cycled the next round into the barrel and lined up for another shot.

The team just needed to hold out for as long as possible. Hopefully a miracle would happen and they would be able to get out, maybe use the back way or something. Even if they did get back, a court marshal was most certainly waiting for them. This was the first and probably the last battle that Jake would fight in with the ODSTs, so he would most certainly make it count.

[Jakob]

Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski

Jakob found Jake's earlier transmission saved and traced it, he found he was in a armory not far from the hall way he was in. He quickly gave the hold up signal and everyone froze, he looked around and found a door, it was firmly locked and Aborn walked over with a breach charge and he stuck it to the center, they all jumped back and Aborn activated it through his helmet.
There was a *BANG* And the door went flying into the room, hitting a Grunt who was passing by, Jakob and his team ran in and gunned down two others, the Elite who commanded them ran at Jakob, hoping to kill him with his bare hands, Jakob had no doubt he could, right when it was about to grab his neck its shields flared and then screamed as Aborn dug his combat knife deep into its neck, it fell onto the ground. Aborn took out the knife and finished him off with another shell from his shotgun.
Jakob nodded and they started sprinting again, following the sound of gun fire, there was only a few light patrols who were easily finished off, and the plasma gun position was dispatched with a single rocker, soon they came up to a half destroyed door, barely standing up, on the other side there were some ODSTs holding off a army of Covenant, Jakob and a Corporal pulled it down and Aborn moved in, firing a rocket over the soldiers heads smashing into the Covenant position, at there enemies dismay it easily put a major dent in there position, which they struggled to refill.
Jakob and his men sprinted up and took positions with the men, a medic grabbed the snipers shoulder and shouted over the gunfire,
"Don't worry, your going to be OK! Let me check you out!"
Jakob and the rest of the team through a volley of frags, even more cutting down the enemy position.

[majesticwolfs]

(( Ultimate noob post...))

Minor Ambr' Norutee

All the commotion had roused the sleeping shangheili. It all appeared to be a dream when she awoke from her quick cat nap. The ringing of bullets and yelling rang in her head like the bells of Charity. After shaking her head clear and grabbing the plasma rifle and pistol that lay somewhere on the floor shrouded in darkness. A kig-yar she'd never seen before came flying into her chamber. The dead body tumbled half way across the room. It's fluorescent blood splattering everything and anything in the way. Then out of no where Ana leaped up from the other side where she had rested. Her needler raised up high in the air pointed out to the darkness of the hall.

"Where the hell is the rest of the lance?" Growled the sangheili to herself in agitation. Stealthy she moved across the room against the wall. Trying hard to stay out of the visible light that poured into the open door. All was silent for a few moments, except for the shuffling of feet outside in the hall, and the whispers of humans. It sounded like there was one or maybe two. Holding up her hand, she silently ordered for Ana to make her way over to the door. The unggoy obeyed and crept over as silently as she possibly could. Staying on the tips of her feet.

Suddenly firing broke out in the hall and sangheili peered out. Another elite had made a run for it and had been seen. Another command was given and the unggoy ran to the door and opened fire with her needler. The pink crystalline bullets sank into the back of the one soldier causing him to fall to the ground. Ambr's plasma rifle rang out when she began shooting at the marine ahead. Sweeping him off his feet and killing him instantly. Once both were on the ground, she and Ana made there way down the hall. Heading past the soldiers, she stole a couple of there grenades and replaced two she had used in the previous battle.

[Dutch]

Lance Corporal Connor ducked, just missing an energy bolt which reduced a nearby piece of metal to boiling slag. He keyed his mike again, but then turned to Mac and yelled at him.

"Mac, where the hell are those explosions you promised?" the colorful Texan twang of MacCullum rang back cheerfully.

"Don'tcha worry sir, they’ll be on right about…now.” With this assurance, the anti-personal mines detonated in twin flashes of light and heat, throwing deadly shrapnel all over the corridor which ricocheted off the walls, turning the sector of corridor into a kill zone. He risked a quick peek around the corner to confirm the efficiency of the devices, and saw to his satisfaction that three elites lay in pools of violet blood and gore, splayed in various yet equally grotesque death positions. The other two were stunned, shields gone.

Yelling an order to gun them down, Connor whipped his whole body around the cover and opened up with his assault rifle, followed by Mackenzie’s own rifle and the deafening booms of Mac’s and Taylor’s M90 shotguns. The elites flipped over backwards, propelled by the massive amounts of metal ramming into them. Chests ripped open, the let loose a gurgle and died. A sigh of relief rippled throughout the fireteam, until the far door opened again.

Approximately fifteen jackals stood, energy weapons bristling and completely protected by a phalanx of overlapping shields. The four marines turned tail and ducked behind cover again, dropping three pulsing plasma grenades in their wake, which detonated and drained the jackal shields, followed by twin fragmentation explosives which shredded five of the unprotected aliens and wounded several others.

The jackal advance stalled, giving Connor the chance to key his mike again, yelling now on the UNSC open channel.

“This is Lance Corporal Connor of fireteam foxtrot, we’ve got our asses in the fire and we need them to be pulled out now! Anyone get over here and give us a hand please!” He shouted, desperation clearly evident in his words.

[hollowsaber]

Private Jake Furrow Fireteam Alpha; Nova Squad

As Jake fired a shot, he heard a distant explosion behind them. It was far enough that he could ignore it for now. But a roar from an Elite behind him made him worry a bit. Had the Covenant finally gotten smart enough to go around the back way? If they had, then they were screwed and all hopes of getting out were lost. Not even turning and running would get them out. Jake took a few more shots to finish off his second clip. The Elites were good at dodging, but they were still getting hit and taken down. The heavy-piercing rounds would seer their flesh, slamming through their shields and armor. Once their shields had failed and they stumbled from the impact of the shot, the others would quickly fire on the wounded warrior to finish him off. They had kept this strategy going, but the numbers of Covenant seemed to be rising and it wouldn‘t last for much longer. It looked as if they were going on a ground invasion of sorts.

As Jake was lining up another shot, a loud roar from one of the Red Elites down the hall made Jake shiver. Suddenly a large number of Grunt and Jackals, lead by two elites and followed by four more, began to charge down the hall. The main force stayed back, it must have been another rush-tactic. Rich fumbled for the C-4 detonator on his waist and almost fell over fighting for it. The rushers had gotten close, but a number of Grunts and Jackals were missing as Luther and Gordan fired. Finally, to their relief, Rich hit one of the buttons on the trigger and several C-4 sticks exploded the hallway.

When the dust cleared, the Elites bringing up the back where stumbling around trying to orientate themselves of what happened. The ODSTs had recovered easily, only having to suffer from the small shockwave. Quickly, Rich, Luther and Gordan removed the last of the assaulters before returning to firing on the main force. Looks as if the C-4 really did make it.

“We only have a few more of that left! I hope they don’t rush anymore!” Rich spat, cursing as he tried to put the detonator back on his waist.

The sound of a shotgun alerted Jake and made him whip around to look for where it came from. He aimed at the door on the other side of the hole the C-12 blew open, and zoomed in on it. Whatever it was, it was coming after them next as the sound of movement closed in on the door. As he watched, he shook and groaned in pain. Adrenaline had removed the feeling of pain from his body, but now, his fear made it all come back. The sign of four small black hands made him perk his head from his scope to see it with his real eyes. They weren’t Covenant that’s for sure, and the only other things on the ship were the UNSC.

Once the door came down and revealed who were the real makers of the noise, Jake felt a heavy sigh as a bunch of ODSTs filed into the room. A soldier fired a rocket over their heads and out the blown-up door, making Rich, Gordan and Luther turn to see their reinforcements. The news group of Troopers took positions around the blown out door and began firing at the Covenant hoping to help keep them at bay. Jake and his small team relaxed a little and took more accurate shots rather then shooting at anything that moved. But as a medic leaned over Jake and forced him to stay back, he had no choice but to set his rifle down and wait.

“Looks like miracles do come true…” Jake whispered to the medic before he rested his head back against a crate that was in the pile of debris.

Gordan, Rich and Luther gave up their spots to the fresh troops and moved out of the way, sitting to the sides of the room as they were tended to by another medic. One of the men that took their positions was familiar, Jake’s Sergeant. Jake was going to get an earful from him later, but right now Jake just wanted to live to see another day. If his Sergeant was here, that also meant his Lieutenant was close by somewhere. Jake groaned in both pain, and agony of knowing that fact and tried to stay relaxed, but the sound of the Covenant shooting made his adrenaline start to come back.

The Jake watched as the medic rubbed a quick layer of anti-biotics on his legs then tape them up, hoping to protect them from the environment. Once they were taped up and the medic was about to fix something else, Jake rolled back up onto his knees and picked up his rifle. The medic tugged and yelled for Jake to sit back down but Jake shrugged him off. Jake reloaded his rifle with another clip and aimed down the sights, the fight wasn’t over, and he still had some energy to fight.

[Jakob]

Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski

Jakob ran over and helped the Private up, he looked around and fired a few shots from his pistol, he helped drag him out of the hall while everyone else covered him, quickly two ODST's covered the door way with whatever they could find. Jakob let go of the Private when they were safe and slapped him over the head.
"God damn it kid I just got a message from the Captain, I can say good bye to my career now."

[hollowsaber]

Private Jake Furrow Fireteam Alpha; Nova Squad

Jake fired off one more round before he was ground fiercely. A trooper yanked him up and he wobbled to his feet. Jake held his fire, not wanting to risk a standing sniper-shot with his beat up body. He would more likely hurt himself rather then anything down the hall. Jake walked with the man to help him back before he sat against the wall. Jake looked p to see it was his Lieutenant looming over him. Even with his visor covering his face, he could tell the man was mad. A slap to his helmet shook Jake and cracked his neck. He could feel it all the way down his spine.

"God damn it kid I just got a message from the Captain, I can say good bye to my career now."

Jake groaned and looked at the troopers putting stuff up in front of the door. Jake reached out to the door, his beat up arm clawing at the air. Blocking the door would only make the Covenant go away and that was bad. When the last piece was up and the door was sealed off, Jake stared and let his arm fall. With a heavy groan, he got to his feet and looked at his Officer. Jake saluted the man and chuckled.

“I just hope it was enough… Can we go back now? I can’t feel my torso…” Jake mumbled, swaying a bit from foot to foot as he tried to stay steady.

[Jakob]

Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski

Jakob slowly shook his head, a smile coming to his face, he unpolarized his visor and spoke the words, slightly annoyed slightly amused, he was not sure which he was feeling more,
"God damn kid only you, I am 'fraid we can't, there is a group of Marines we have to go help."

[hollowsaber]

Private Jake Furrow Fireteam Alpha; Nova Squad

Jake groaned at the sound of his Officer’s words. They had just blown up a room, and fought off a Covenant army while barely keeping themselves alive. Now they had to go do some more fighting. Jake fell back against the wall and looked around for his three guys. They were being treated by the medics but give Jake the thumbs-up. Jake looked at himself and he looked as his he had went through hell several times and still managed to walk back out.

With a heavy sigh, Jake hefted his rifle up into his hands and stood up straight. He nodded to his Lieutenant and slammed in a fresh clip into the belly of his rifle. He didn’t know how long his body would hold together, but Jake could definitely go for another run. The thought of going to court popped into his mind once again and he would rather go out and save some ODSTs then face a pissed off Captain.

“Nova squad is ready to go.” Jake said, peering at the others as they were helped to their feet.

[Jakob]

Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski

Jakob nodded and waited for everyone to be ready, soon the blockade began to shake as the Covenant attempted to break through, Jakob picked a ODST off his feet and allowed Aborn to lecture Jake all the way, soon they were following the same way and walked back into the hall way Jakob had come from, he pointed down the hall away from the grav lift and jogged down with his nearly replenished squad, they ran through a few halls when they ran in too the Marine fire team, they jumped behind cover with them and began firing at the force of vengeful Jackals who were about to eliminate them.
"Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski, here to help!"

[tincanhitman]

"OH MY GODS!!" Mam Yap squealed as he flung him self down a corridor. He was being chased by a marine who had put it apon himself to kill Mim Yap, and Mim Yap was to scared to fight back.

He had woken up to find the ship was under attack and that he was no were near his lance. His late night food nipple craving had led him to the unggoy feeding hall and that is were he had fallen asleep. He had then decided that he should find his sangheili commander so they could regroup and hopefully leave.

Unfortunately he had stumbled apon a lost marine who had been knocked unconscious during some sort of explosion. Mim Yap was lucky the marine had run out of ammo on other unggoy before he had arrived. But the marine still had a knife and he wanted to kill poor Mim Yap.

He bolted around a corner to find his sangheili commander. "They after me!!!" he squealed at her. He slid behind her legs and cowered in fear

[majesticwolfs]

Minor Ambr' Norutee

It was only a matter of moments before another bumbling member of her lance came fleeing down the hallway. Yelling and screaming bloody murder. It was the unggoy Mim Yap, another minor that was cast into her lance not long ago. She heaved out a long sigh and watched the marine chase him down the hall. "They after me!" Yelled the minor, leaping for safety behind her. Charging forward and lifting up her fore arm. The sangheili struck down hard onto the mans cranium, knocking his helmet clean off and bashing his head in to a pulp. Blood splattered everywhere and covered the face of the elite. Smiling in self satisfaction, she stomped on the soldier and walked back to the frightened unggoy. "What were you doing!? You were supposed to remain here at your post with the remaining lance."

[tincanhitman]

Mim Yap took a breath. He was safe at last! That's the last time he listens to his cravings! He turned to his commander with a smile but the look on her face stopped his heart "What were you doing!? You were supposed to remain here at your post with the remaining lance."

Mim yap looked up at the sangheili with fear "I-I-I! The food nipple i went to go get the food nipple!" he squealed and covered his head. "Me sorry! me sorry!" he pleaded while covering his head and trying to shrink as much as he could.

A voice suddenly entered his head"see the sangheili no like you!"

[Dutch]

Mackenzies heart skipped three beats just then.

"Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski, here to help!"

Henearly leapt out of his armour as he whipepd around, just to plant the muzzle of his rifle into the mouth of a Lieutenant, their rescuer. Realizing what the hell he had just done, he pulled it out while babbling apologies flowed from his open mouth.

"Oh shit! Sorry sir, I didn't mean to do, you know, it was a compelte and total accident which will not ever ever happen again in my life, so so-" The stream of words was turned off by Connors hand across the burbling mouth.

"Good to see you lieutenant, you got a rocket to spare we could fling at those lizards?" he asked over the noise of the firefight. Mac perked up at the sound of rockets, and yeleld at them without turning.

"Rockets? You got some 102 mm's to kentucky fry these chickens?" Taylor roleld his eyes in exasperation, and chucked the last grenade at a small opening in the phalanx. It detonated, shrapnel diced up a single jackal, but the rest were unscathed behidn their pulsing, multi-layered barrier. A rocket would be very nice.

[Jakob]

Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski

Jakob was about to say "OK" To a babbling Marine when a hand shot over his mouth,
"Good to see you lieutenant, you got a rocket to spare we could fling at those lizards?"
Jakob nodded and yelled over,
"Aborn give them hell!"
His Sergeant ran over from a supply crate and pushed a Marine over to the side, he got into a crouched position and unloaded his SPNKR, aiming it at the hostile position, waiting for Jakob's word.
"It's your lucky day boys, DO IT!"
A rocket shot out and spun down the damaged hall, nearly missing a crate and finally sped into the door way of the room the Jackals were firing from, it smashed dead center into a Jackals shield who was in the middle of the formation.

In a brilliant explosion, many fuel tanks that were tucked away exploded, along with the Jackals plasma grenades and two frag grenades thrown by some of the soldiers, Jakob ducked as the remains of a Jackals head flew over his and smacked into the wall.
Metal was ricocheting off the walls in the room cutting the few remaining Jackals who quickly died of there wounds, quickly Aborn screamed,
"Boo Yeah you ugly mother fuckers!"
Followed by the cheers of the combined ODST's and Marines.
Jakob stepped up with the Marines and offered his hand to the Corporal,
"We haven't properly met Corporal have we? Jakob Zaborowski."

[Dutch]

As it turned out, they did have a rocket, fully encased in a launcher. A ODST, Sergeant Aborn, knelt with a launcher, waited for the lieutenant's signal, recieved the said signal, and pulled the trigger. There was a woosh, followed by a plume of smoke leading to a rapidly speeding missile which detonated int the center of the jackal formation with an incredible explosion, the destructive force both contained and magnified by the sturdy covenant metal which surrounded them all.

Grenades also detonated, brilliant blasts of brilliant saphire light, the resulting inferno, the mix of chemical compounds of two different species, vaporized the vast majority of the tangoes. A scorched and carbonated head flew over head and narrowly missed Connor. Mac was on his feet, yelling out in delight.

"Yee-haw! Most excellent, awesome, awesome job my friend!" With another barrelful of laughs, he slapped Aborn on the back in a hearty fashion.

Amid the cries and yells of victory, Conner heard the lieutenant speak up in introduction.

"We haven't properly met Corporal have we? Jakob Zaborowski."

Connor gripepd the outreached hand and shook it with vigor.

"Thank you lieutenant, without you and yor boys we'd have been dead meat mighty fast. I'm Lance Corporal Connor, James Connor." His grin of victory then faded as he asked a question. "Sir, me and my fireteam had orders to head up and give the spartans support fire whiel they take the bridge. But except for my boys, the rest of our marines are dead back thataway." He jerked his thumb to the scorched door behind him. "So should we just head back to the grav lift room, or radio in for orders?"

[Jakob]

Lieutenant Jakob Zaborowski

Jakob sighed then looked up,
"I am waiting for the Captain to demote me, I better report back to him before he gets any more reasons."
Jakob walked overt to Aborn and helped him up, a small crowd had gathered around him and he was being overwhelmed by his new fans,
"Is this what it feels like to be famous sir?" He asked jokingly
"With a face like that it's the closest you are getting any time soon!" Replied Jakob who received a soft jab from his Sergeant.

Jakob began walking down the hall to the grav lift.
"Come on lets get resupplied."

[hollowsaber]

Private Jake Furrow Fireteam Alpha; Nova Squad

Jake had returned to the back of the fire team, remaining in the shadows as a shadey figure. He was broken and was back on his private channel, humming to himself. He watched the corridors around the back of the squads and made sure they were clear. He wanted to be by himself, but for now he just had to make sure as many people got back safely as possible. Knowledge of another team near-by that needed help gave Jake just enough energy to keep up with the team as they moved. Rich, Gordan and Luther were up in the front and slowly Jake faded away from them again.

As they dealt with the Jackal problem, Jake remembered the gauntlet on his arm. He hadn’t used it yet, and he didn’t even know if it functioned correctly. Seemed as if it was just turning into a shiny trophy. Quickly, Jake set down his rifle, pulled his pack off, and put the gauntlet away. Gordan was right, at the bottom of his bag there were a lot of extra magazines for the battle rifles, sneaky bastard. Jake shook his head then pulled his bag over his shoulders and grabbed his rifle.

He looked over in time to see the Sergeant fire a rocket into the Jackal’s phalanx. The bird-like creatures didn’t stand a chance, evaporating in a fluorescent explosion of blue and orange. The explosion sent a Jackal head flying over the heads of everyone and landed at his feet. The head looked up at him, it’s jaws mangled and it’s eyes open in surprise. Jake’s memory flashed and he remembered the Jackal back at the DZ that he had stole the PDG from. At the thought, Jake knelt down and picked up the head, he looked into the wide-eyes and thought quietly for a few seconds before throwing it into a vent.

Jake stood back up and looked to the commotion, looked as if the Sarge got some new friends. What a mission this was turning into. Jake winced and gripped his chest as another flush of pain flowed through him. His Lieutenants words of returning to the gravity-lift were the best words he had heard all day. Jake recovered and held the pain in, turning and watching the man walk past before he looked back at the crowd. He shook his head then turned and headed back to the lift.

[nex]

Warrant Officer Steve 'Crash' Colsten ONI Section III

Crash kept a steady pace behind SOG-A, with Paula keeping up alongside. Right now, he was favoring the lightweight flight suit he'd traded for the standard armour. It didn't offer as much protection, but he'd find other ways to defend himself.

As they paused before rounding a corner, taking an extra moment to ensure they weren't walking into an ambush, he reached over and turned on a shield gauntlet that he'd strapped to his wrist. It was one of several that had been collected by the marines and brought to him. He hadn't said anything at the time, but toys like this were just one of the many perks of the job.

As the energy formed a near perfect oval over his right side he couldn't help but reach out and touch it. His fingers slid over the surface, almost as if was solid. He admired the way the covenant technology worked. It was so far beyond most UNSC understanding. As thought about the advanced technology that made up this marvelous device, he begun to loosen his improvised strap on the carbine he carried bringing it into an easier firing position. Reaching into a back pocket, he took out a second gauntlet and turned to Paula who'd stopped alongside him.

"Paula, catch" he said gently tossing one over to her. She snatched it out of the air and begun to strap it to her own wrist.

"You worried at all that the fleet might just blast this ship away if things start to go downhill?" She asked as she twisted it to face the right direction.

"Nah, I know the covenant for 'Escape Pod'." Crash casually answered back.

She laughed at his comment, expecting it to be some part of his witty sense of humor, but for once Crash was serious. If things really came down to it, he'd find a way off this wreck.

[majesticwolfs]

Minor Ambr' Norutee

"Make sure to report back next time. You have to be wary at all times." She hissed in a low tone to Mim Yap. Being angered wasn't going to get them anywhere and her temper, though fierce was going to distract her from her main mission. Try to eliminate the enemy and protect whatever they were after. It was going to be hard since many of the elites on this ship were probably maimed, gutted, or to busy kicking ass to inform her of whatever was happening. So information had to be gained at a timely pace. Search and destroy was the main mission for this sangheili.

Raising her hand gripping the plasma rifle and motioning it forward. She was telling them to move on and continue down the hallway and past the mangled corpse that lay on the floor. Ana followed behind walking past the unggoy that had cowardly ran from there adversaries and hid behind there leader. Pausing for a minute, she took the extra needler that was on the floor and handed it to Mim Yap. "You take it.. You need it."

[smoke]

Kane leaned on the hull of the pelican, trying to keep his lunch from joining him in his oxygen mask. The others were undoing the restraint harnesses on the crates they had transported from the Arnhem. A whistle snapped him back to his senses, Dead meat stood just under the tail looking up “looks like we’re missing a hell of a party eh?” he joked before heading back inside the pelican before emerging carrying one of the four crates with Callahan. Bear followed holding a crate one handed while the tail gunner struggled with the other end of the darn thing. Kane and Wiley brought the third crate and two other marines.

They walked past the dead with a bored respect born of experience on a battle field and being ship bound to long” Only Callahan stopped and stared at dead only to be pulled along by Dead meat. Some bright spark brass had assigned them to grunt work loading the pelicans with supplies since entering system, only now were they ordered dirt side to escort theses crates.

Three of the four were dropped off on the stock pile by the grav-lift but they were ordered take Kane’s up to the AC. “It’s not my day is it” Kane sighed looking at the grav lift before following the others up with Wiley and the crate.

In the dark lift room Kane could see wounded and demoralised troops along with those that had set up a parameter, “Special delivery...” Kane jested before he spotted the captain and the whole fire team snapped to attention.

[Dutch]

"I am waiting for the Captain to demote me, I better report back to him before he gets any more reasons."


Conner gave a dry smile to his superiors fate.

"Ah, ain't that a bitch. We may as well head back with you, report for more orders." Craning his head, Coner manuevered it nto view of his command. "Come on boys, back to the grav-lift for new orders." Having said that, he started heading back to the gravity lift bay, his fireteam heading up behind him.

Mackenize was relieved. Thanks to the helljumpers, he'd avoided being burnt to charcoal by those jackals. Now they were heading back to their CO, get new orders. He wasn't a war hero or anything, but he alive, even if for only a little longer. And in his opinion, that's all he could really ask from this war. Then, a thought occured to him.

Raising his hand like a schoolchild, Mackenzie raised his voice in question.

"Uh, sir? Why don't we jsut radio command instead of hauling our asses back there?" Connor froze in midstride, his brain clearly processing this new information. Then, like he was turned bac kon, relaxed as he sighed with realization of stupidity.

"Yeah Mackenize, that'd work too. Damn it." As Connor began to radio in command, Mackenzie realized he'd just prevented them amarch back ot base, and quickened the apce of which they'd be reassigned.

He'd quickened the pace of his own death.

He was considering bellaying his idea, but before he could attempt such Connors vocie broke through his barrier of thoughts.

"Captain Lennox, this is Lance Corporal Connor of fireteam foxtort. On our way to support the spartans the other fireteams with mine were killed by a large group of covenant. The said tangoes were neutrilzied thanks to the intervention of Lieutenant Zaborowski's men, but we are now too weak to continue our mission. Shall we fall back to the gravity lift bay or rendezvous with another unit?"