The Halo RPG: RPG Thread (Story Arc 2, Sector 02)

[monkeyjoe14]

When we arrived at the site all we found were ruins. There were corpses and fires all over the area. A pelican lied broken and beaten by plasma and fires in the middle. As we approached the pelican shadows moved within it. We readied our weapons and I punched the com.

"Hey Alpha you in their" I said.

"Yeah, you the help" someone replied as soldiers slowly exited the pelican ready to fire if needed.

"Hell yeah son hurry up they might send more after us, now who is in charge"

"I am sir" I was surprised that a mere private third class was in charge of four other men. Plenty of higher brass must have died in the attack.

"What happened out here"

"Well we were sent to pick up a supply drop when we were shot down, then they sent out a wraith and two ghost to make sure we were dead, We took care of the wraith and have the two ghost in our possession to use"

"Good now where is everybody" I replied.

"Our lieutenant took four other men with him to scout the area, he radioed to us the co-ordinates of a couple of AA wraiths."

I remembered the AA wraiths that shot me down, taking that area could help take out those wraiths, also revenge was not a bad idea either.

"Then that's where we are heading, alright you five whoever is wounded get in the hog with Tom. Tom I want you to drop off these wounded then grab Desmond and Ed and get back here immediately. Everyone else search the area for any thing we can to hit to hit those wraiths let's move"

I hopped out of the gauss hog to inspect a dropped sniper rifle, besides the blood and dirt the weapon was in fine use. I hefted it and checked the scope and the magazine to see that only three rounds were left so I searched for ammo. My arm still hurt but I could fire a gun with it and that is all I need to do. The covenant were idiots for jumping the gun and now they were gonna face the consequences.

[conner553]

Jaxen saw Alison open fire at an incoming covenant force, a shoadow and two gho-make that one ghost. She shot well. He warmed up the 70 mm chaingun and opeend up. A A salvo of bullets fired, soem hitting the shadow, but only some. He had to get closer. He gunned the engine a bit, and tolf Alison.

"Super six one, this is super tango six, stay here, I'm engaging the targets." He gunned his engines and gained quickly on the slower transport and its escort ghost. The grunt swiviled to fire, but the pelican fired first and the grunt exploded in a splash of blue. Multiple rounds hit the shadow, and it stopped, shuddered, and detonated in a blue flash. The ghost was clear of the explosion, but the shock wave knocked it over. Jaxen fired a quick burst, and cut the pilot down. He smiled, satisfied, and told Alison.

"Super six one, this is super tango six, I'm climbing high to see what else might coem after us. He added power to the engines, and rose into the air, and flew oof a couple klicks. He couldn't see much, then, a cloud rolled away, and exposed a battalion of AA wraith tanks, and agroup of mortar tanks.

No way I'm loosing another aircraft. He thought. He immediatly turend around, and flew oof, back to Alison.

"Super six one, we've got a crapload of wraiths anti-air and mortar, at these coordinates." He sent some coordinates to Alisons HUD.

Conner hit the ground, and was about ot yell, 'shotgun' when someone jumped in. Crap, Oh well, there was always another chance.

[Administrator]

//OOC:Im tired of sitting around, im jumping in... character modification... away!\\

After wandering around the base for a couple of hours, I grew impatient, No one seemed to know anything and time was running short for some of these men.

Angry, I decided, it was time to act, no time for legalities, no time for sitting around wasting precious time that could be winning this war, so I finally decided to take matters into my own hands.

Running through the halls, Many people gave me a weird look as I ran past, some arching an eyebrow, some concerned. After all, a marine running through a base was usually associated with a bad thing.

Rounding a corridor, I come to the hangar part of the base, and as luck had it, There was a hornet, just sitting there, hatch open waiting for me to jump in and jumped in I did.

Just as I was about to close the hatch, A marine came running up to me and Yelled "SIR! YOU CANT TAKE THAT!!"

Scowling, I just looked at the private, and I just looked and him and said "No? And just what are you going to do?"

Pulling out his sidearm, he pointed it at me and said "If I have to, I will shoot you..." his voice quivering.

Laughing to myself, I just reached over, smacked the gun out of his hand and just said to him softly "Listen, There are men out there that could need me, you have to let me go. Dont try to stop me."

Looking sullen, the marine slowly backs away, and then yells "CLEARED FOR LAUNCH SIR!"

Nodding, I salute him, and he does the same, and then gives me the thumbs up of which I return.

Pushing the button, I lower the hatch, and the pushing the throttle, I raise the Hornet above the base, and head off in the last known direction of the pelicans, hoping to god that some of them were still alive.

[monkeyjoe14]

We were about ready with the attack when Tom got back with Desmond and Ed. We found a shotgun, two sniper rifles, four assault rifles, three rocket launcher, only five rockets though, a warthog with a chain gun, the two ghost plus the Gauss hog we had. That gave us plenty of fire power to get rid of any soldiers that were waiting for us, I hope.

" We have twelve of us" I counted us off including Alpha squad, "We have two warthogs with chain guns a Gauss hog and two ghost."

That meant we had eleven seats, one short for us, now we had to chose who stayed behind. I had to think of that then I had a thought, we need to find a way through or around the covenant.

"Alright Desmond, I have some bad news for you"

"What would that be sir"

"I want you to take a sniper and search for a way around the covenant for us, got it"

"Yes sir" I sensed anger in his voice.

"When you find a path, patch the co-ordinates using the com" I replied.

I jumped into the Gauss turret and ordered every one else to hop aboard the vehicles and said bye to Desmond and we were off. Desmond stood for a minute and started to head toward a large wall to the east about two miles away from us. The op had started and everyone was nervous about what the resistance that accompanied the wraiths was like and if the lieutenant was still alive or not.

[monkeyjoe14]

We were a little off from the location of the AA wraiths when I took a sniper rifle to scope out the enemy. I had Joe work with the radio to try and use burst transmissions to find the lieutenant if he was close by. We risked being discovered but I had to find those guys first, regardless how I wanted get back at those bastards. I looked through the scope and saw at least ten AA wraiths with only about eight squads of infantry to support them, easy kills in my opinion.

With three hogs with two chain guns and a gauss turret plus two ghost. If we could get rid of the infantry the wraiths would be easy to take out. I returned to the group with a little smirk.

"Must be good if you are smiling about the covenant", Tom replied.

"Oh I am those idiots left their best chance to keep us grounded poorly defended"

"Oh yeah they only got a handful of troops a quick couple laps around them and they are finished", I replied, "Same with the Wraiths only ten of them are out their, not the mention we have the hill between for higher ground"

Not everyone was happy with the number ten but we had a chance to take those bastards out. Fred and Tom would take sniper rifles and pick off what they could from up on the hill. During that time we would drop down with the hogs and ghost and shoot them up as well. The wraiths cannot fire on the ground with their AA mortars but the plasma turrets would be a problem.

I told Joe to take a ghost and a rocket launcher for the fight if he had to lose the ride. Ed would ride in on a hog then take a launcher to hit the wraiths for a while. With five rockets I gave Ed three and gave Joe two hoping he did not get hit. With that sorted I jumped up on the chain gun of a nearby hog and asked Joe about the com.

"Sir I only have static out here, except for some of the covenant transmissions"

"Well then if the lieutenant is alive he is going to miss out, Let's Rock"

[caster]

Corporal Leon Carson - ODST - Echo Squad

Sector 2 - North-East Landing Zone

Carson was still lining up the shot when Jaxen flew in low and destroyed the remaining contacts. Carson looked to the other warthog, just before it started moving forward. This was it, they were on their way. Carson kept his eyes pealed, in the sky and on the ledges to the small ravines they were moving through. His duty was to take out heavy armored targets, the chain gun would waste the infantry.

When they were about a mile out Samson's warthog stopped. "Renault, it should be right in front of us. Check it out."

The sniper jumped out of the passenger seat and crept to the top of the hill. He went prone and observed the structure through his scope. After a moment, a small box in the left of Carsons visor popped up. It showed the live feed from Renaults scope. The site was overrun with Covenant. Looked like they had snipers, on the roof multiple turret locations, and tons of infantry and that was just on the outside. Carson swiveled the turret around and checked behind them, nothing for the moment.

Samson's voice came over the comm again. "Wow. They've got it locked down.....I don't think we are gonna make it in.....But....Let's see if we can draw them out. Renters, pull up so that the gauss hogs weapon is just barely over the top of the hill....Herons, move that chain gun to the left flank and protect us from incoming. Renault...Guide the shots of the Gauss. Should take them a bit before they find us...When they do, we split...."

Carson charged the cannons cocking mechanism and sighted in. Dennison, Herons, Renters, and Samson were responsible for anything that came at them from any side other than the structure. Renault would be ready to take chargers down coming out of the structure, other than that, Carson had the joy of taking them down.

Renault spoke on a closed circuit. "Alright, give me a single ranging shot high and right."

Carson set up the shot, it would be far enough away from the structure the Covenant were unlikely to hear it. It would be close enough for Renault to dial him in.

"Okay....First target, structure roof, left side. Elite Major, red armor. Bring cannon to the left of current negative 48."

Carson brought the shot on line. He couldn't actually see the target, he was trusting Renault's eyes. "Fire, fire, fire." Renault's voice was quite, just like a sniper...Calm and collected.

Carson squeezed the trigger. The Gauss bursts and Carson waited.

"Adjust fire - plus two."

Carson adjusted the Gauss and fired again. Carson brought up the live feed from the rifle to at least give himself and idea. To bad he didn't have more advanced armor....The kind those freaks get with the AI's....It would automatically overlay his firing trajectory...This would have to work. Carson watched the round travel, before the red dot, had a blue flash around it, and exploded backwards off the structure.

"Joy. Second target, left side....Elite, white armor. Adjust fire plus 51"

Carson adjusted and fired again. Renault was quicker this time.

"Joy on target. Third target, roof top, right side, Jackal sniper. Adjust fire, minus point five."

Carson adjusted and fired.

"No, Joy. Adjust fire minus point one."

Carson adjusted and fired again, this time he could see something explode into a purple gore cloud.

Lieutenant Allison Westbrooke - "Super-Six-One"

Sector 2 - Over North-East Landing Zone

Allison watched Jaxen scream in while the turret was facing her and destroy it. That was a fighter pilot maneuver if she had ever seen one.

"Super six one, we've got a crapload of wraiths anti-air and mortar, at these coordinates." Jaxen's voice broadcast in her helmet.

"Roger that." She watched as a mini-map popped in the left side of her view, over her radar scope and colored an entire section from the North plateau near the cave, to the first ridge outside the bridge entrance to the cave.

"Super-Tango-Six - I would suggest that we head up and out of range, but if we do I'm afraid that Covenant cruiser in sector 1 one will ping us and send Seraphs." Allison referenced the flight-path they used as they entered. "I suggest we go in just under cruising altitude. It will force them to adjust their firing trajectory by a few degrees which will create an increased lag time between firing and burst." Allison added the enemy location into her flight path. They would be on the edge of their range. With some fancy flight-work, they could avoid it. "Should give us enough time to maneuver around the anti-air. Remember these aren't quite as nimble as a Longsword out of atmosphere....Your call, sir."

She would ultimately have to do what Jaxen ordered, but she wanted to make sure her suggestion was heard and understood. She sent the updated flight-plan as a burst to Jaxen's heads up display.

Ultra Zuka'Zanzamee - Sector 2 Operations Commander

Sector 2 - Aboard Phantom flying over Covenant Mortar Wraith Battalion

Zuka received an update from the Covenant Air Sub-Commander. "Field Master, the drop ships have unloaded their troops and appear to be leaving the area, commands?"

"Destroy them. I will have air patrols on stand-by to hunt down the crash sites."

"At once field commander."

Zuka paced over to the opposite side of the phantom and looked out of the side. He could see the tanks rotate on axis, take aim and began firing massive amounts of green fire into the sky. All the wraith tanks on the North-East side of the formation were facing East and firing along the flight path to the pelicans. Unfortunately, the pilot was heading North-East and from here Zuka couldn't see how the human ships were reacting. The other members of the AA Wraith battalion were still scanning their zones of responsibility.

[monkeyjoe14]

"Sarge we have a covenant dropship over head. Do we hit them first?", Tom said.

I thought for a second if we shoot them down the soldiers guarding the wraiths would have to split up. And if we miss the AA wraiths have air support to shoot us all to hell.

"Everybody take aim at the Phantom I want the chain guns and guass turret firing along with both luanchers and the ghost bring that thing down"

I aimed the chaingun and fired at the ship, rockets plasma and bullets followed behind my fire and raced toward the dropship. I waited in anticipation for the explosion.

[Deleted]

Rictus growled as the Jackal exploded into pieces from the gauss round, "Get your heads down! Snipers find where that fire is coming from but don't get yourselves killed! Actimus, radio all the ghosts, have them group together and wait for my signal to move in. Prophet! Take cover, I do not want you harmed in this conflict."

Rictus contemplated his next move, thinking carefully about how to attack these humans. They obviously didnt have a numerical advantage considering they wouldn't show themselves, but they had atleast one vehicle in there possession, and one that could do damage to anything he sent at it.

The jackals soon spotted the Human vehicle, but at the cost of three more of their snipers. The four Ghosts had grouped up but it would be awhile before they could reach the site and attack the Humans.

"You six Elites, charge there position! Actimus, tell those Ghosts to move as fast as they possibly can to this position and lock in on those co-ordinates. Snipers! Put pressure on that position, but I dont want any more of you dead!" Rictus commanded.

Hopefully the Elites would last long enough and create enough of a distraction for the ghosts to arrive and hit the Humans before they could know what is going on.

"Zuka, the Humans have begun attacking the structure, but I have it under my control thus far." Rictus reported.

[conner553]

Conner moved with the warthogs, muttering at the cold. They stopped, and Renault, their sniper, jumped out of the over sized jeep and moved into a snipers position. Conen had no idea what was happening, until their was a loud banging sound which left his ears ringing. He turned. The mounted gauss coil gun fired and a sent a high explosive slug screaming towards an apparent covenant position. He couldn't hear th shell detoante, but the gun fired several more times. This time, Conners armours audio intake system had duled the sound down to a mild whump. He wondered waht the heck thery were shooting at, and if he would get ot fight sometime soon. He couldn't the see the pelicans any longer, but could still here the drone of their engines, and the rattling of their 70 mm chin guns wreaking havoc somewhere, followed by some samll explosions, follwoed by a larger one as their target was eliminated. He was about to ask someone waht was going on, but then realized they probably didn't know crap either.

Jaxen listend to Westbrookes idea. It was a good one. He recieved her updated fligt plan on his hologram tank. He examined it over, yeah, it was good. He contacte her.

"Super six one, this is super tango six, your ideas got a green light. We should report this in to base first before we do leave, I have orders that we are to stay here and provide as much support, recon or combat, as we can. I'll contact Staff Sergeant Hallam. One second." Jaxen contacted Staff Sergeant Hallam.

"Staff Sergeant hallam, this is flight lieutenant Jaxen, Super tango six. We've dropped off the warthogs and ODST squad, but we've got a large group of AA wraiths and mortar wraith bombarding the bridge. Me and lieutenant Westbrooke have a flight plan out of there, so, should we stay here and risk the AA fire and continue to support the ODST's, or haul ass out of here?"

[maxii1]

Captain Nikon was still listining over the radio.
Jaxen was radioing Hallam for what to do next.
Nikon shook his head, Jaxen didn't know that his Captain was back in action.
What would Nikon do, he'd probably bring them back to help out here, no point in wasting fuel by flying around when the ODST's are in combat, although Westbrooke's pelican was a gun ship.
Nikon smiled and thought about what to do.

[caster]

Corporal Leon Carson - ODST - Echo Squad

Sector 2 - One Mile East of the Forerunner Structure

Carson and Renault had removed as many snipers as were posted on the roof of the structure, along with a few Elites. But, their luck wasn't going to hold out. A brute had been spotted near the entrance....Several more troops took to cover and started diverting attention towards Echo squad.

Dennison, who was near Herons on the left flank pointed towards the south-west. "Contacts - left! Ghosts!"

Samson was already barking out orders. "Herons, you're on the ghosts!"

"Alright, we're gone. Consider the area scouted."

Renault fired a couple of rounds at some grunts that wandered a bit too far out into the open. Carson meanwhile cut the feed from Renault's scope.

Carson quickly glanced up, his polarized visor helped him see the pelicans not to far off in the distance.

Samsons voice came over wide. "Super-six-one, Echo."

"Super-six-one." The ladies voice filtered back.

"We're unable to get any closer to that structure. Between STARS telemetry and field observations the parameters of our mission is complete. Echo is requesting dust-off."

Carson watched as one of the first ghosts rounded the hill. The twin plasma cannons started firing on the lead warthog. Dennison ducked behind the engine block. Renters, and Samson, who were on foot, at the lip of the hill opened on the driver. It was an elite, driving. His shields flashed blue as he adjusted fire up the hill. Carson swung the cannon around, about the same time, Renters and Samson disappeared behind a white cloud of steam vapor; Renters bolted over the top of the hill, followed by Samson who was limping. Carson pulled the trigger, three times. Two rounds impacted the ghost sending it hurling back. There was a clean punch through the front armored area of the ghost. The third round had hit on the right side as the Ghost drifted backwards. It punched through something critical as the Ghost emitted a high pitched whine then exploded engulfing the Elite in a blue flash.

"Herons, cover that flank!" Carson shouted.

A return came from the woman pilot. "Roger that, Echo. Be advised, we are engaged by AA wraiths to your South-South-West. We are unable to provide a dust off at this time. You will have to hoof it out. Break" There was a long pause. "....Also, be aware, STARS is showing a friendly unit in that location. We believe they are engaging some of the AA wraith formation in that area. Stand by for further..."

Carson was just getting irritated. The Covenant had trapped them here, just to squash them out. Field data started scrolling over his STARS telemetry. Carson didn't have time to read it. He saw Renters and Dennison move towards his warthog, Samson and Renault to the one with Herons. "Let's get the fuck out of here!" Renault shouted. Samson's leg was blackened, and the plasma had obviously seared through his armor. He was still on his leg though, so either it wasn't too bad, or all the nerves in his leg had been fried and he wasn't feeling the pain at the moment. The wheels started spinning and the heavy engine of the Warthogs roared to life. As they left the relative safety of the hillside, Carson noted several ghosts coming in from the right.

Caron noted that Samson was in the passenger seat. "Dennison, I'm hit, left leg. Pretty bad....I'm fine for now, but I'm gonna need something here soon."

A green light in Carson's visor showed that "S. Dennison" acknowledged the radio traffic.

Echo squad would be crossing the open ground between the structure and the rear of the AA wraith formation. They were at extreme range of the structure, but who knows what kind of armament the structure was reinforced with. The AA wraiths would be too focused on the friendlies attacking to see them coming in, with all likelihood. The only thing was, they were moving between two separate enemy units, without any sort of cover. Speed was critical.....And well placed shots on any engaging targets.

Lieutenant Allison Westbrooke - "Super-Six-One"

Sector 2 - Over North-East Landing Zone

Allison watched as her scope tracked the incoming AA fire, as she expected their steeper slope offered some lag time in the salvos allowing time for her to effectively avoid the plasma.

"Super-six-one, Echo." The Sergeants voice filtered through, under some static.

"Super-six-one." Allison replied. She took a moment to glance over her right shoulder. She couldn't actually see great detail, but she could see several small dots, rushing towards two stationary dots.

"We're unable to get any closer to that structure. Between STARS telemetry and field observations the parameters of our mission is complete. Echo is requesting dust-off." The sergeant sounded as though he was under stress.

Allison returned her attention to flying just as the second salvo burst around her craft. All systems were still reading alright, no direct hits...And the cold of the environment limited splash damage. No doubt the exterior of the pelican would be a blackened crisp though.

"Roger that, Echo. Be advised, we are engaged by AA wraiths to your South-South-West. We are unable to provide a dust off at this time. You will have to hoof it out. Break" There was a long pause. "....Also, be aware, STARS is showing a friendly unit in that location. We believe they are engaging some of the AA wraith formation in that area. Stand by for further..." Allison pulled up and left as the third salvo burst in the air around her. Craig was getting uneasy. "There's two of us up here, asshole!"

Allison continued transmitting. "Enemy mortar tanks have the base entrance covered. Removing those enemy AA wraiths will allow us to come in and remove the mortar wraiths. Until that time, you will be unable to enter the base, and any ground support will not be able to leave the base."

The Sergeants voice filtered through. "Roger that objective. We are en route to assist the other squad at this time. Echo, out."

Allison watched two specks race away, with several more specks in tow.

Allison turned her attention back to Jaxen. "Super-Tango-Six, be advised, Alpha squad (Hallam) is on operations requiring radio silence. I don't think he will be transmitting. Sir, for right now, we can either bug out, which was our original objective. Or we can avoid the AA fire with hopes ground forces remove the Anti-Air.....If they do, we can take out that ground cover guarding base entrance, freeing up our forces to move freely in the area."

Allison waited for the reply. The original orders were a simple drop off, but things changed when STARS and Jaxen pinged all that enemy armor. At the end of the day, it was Jaxen's call. Allison was confident this sortie would be extended to help eliminate enemy presence in the area.

Ultra Zuka'Zanzamee - Sector 2 Operations Commander

Sector 2 - Aboard Phantom flying over Covenant Mortar Wraith Battalion

Zuka was monitoring battlefield communications. Apparently, the humans were assaulting the Holy Site. Zuka dispatched all roving patrols to the site under Captain Rictus. That would double his original numbers at the site. Those shadows would likely have turrets and ghosts to mechanize and reinforce the positions as well.

Suddenly the Phantom rocked on the left side, and a heatwave splashed over Zuka, before he landed against the side of the craft. "Humans, below!"

The phantom had been flying too low, although how the humans in the warthog below had evaded patrols was unknown. "Alert the Seraphs and have them come to our aide. Alert all banshee's to engage hostile vehicles in the North-West sector of our AA battalion."

"Yes, field master." The banshee escorts for Zuka's phantom immediately broke hard left. Zuka paced to the left side of the phantom in time to see the Humans fire returned in kind as six fuel rod cannons followed by a continuous stream of blue plasma rained down on the stationary target. Zuka held on to the side of the phantom, but his placement had been misjudged. Several chain gun rounds, and heavier Gauss rounds pinged against the side of the phantom. Zuka staggered back a bit with his arm in front of his face as large chunks of the phantom sprayed around the compartment. Zuka moved to the rear, and activated the gravity lift. He jumped out and started floating down towards the icy floor. About halfway down the phantom started to tear apart at the seems before it showered down faster than Zuka was floating. With the disruption of the gravity lift, Zuka simply fell the twenty-five feet to the ground. The fall was nothing. Zuka landed in a crouched position and removed his twin plasma rifles. He moved behind the nearest cover, an AA wraith firing several salvos into the sky towards the human gunships.

Zuka keyed his battlenet. "Sacred Promise, this is Sub-Commander Zuka. The humans dare to assault the Sacred Site, I require additional resources. I have also located a pocket of human resistance and request a heavy assault battalion to my location."

Zuka terminated the connection before the reply. He knew that the Prophet would without question reinforce him. A sacred site was at stake, one that had not yet been cataloged. Zuka got on the local net. "Trident battalion. Move your rearguard echelon by two. One to reinforce the holy site, the other to support anti-air."

"At once field master."

Two mortar wraiths would arrive in addition to the shadows to support Captain Rictus, while two other mortar wraiths moved to support the AA in the region. Zuka needed only to hold the area long enough for support from Sacred Promise to reach them.

Zuka looked to the air, three more flights of five banshees in staggered formation were coming into the area, on a assault path intersecting the human warthog. Phantoms behind them were coming in low, those were the heavier special operations troops. Each lance had at least one fuel rod cannon, some had multiple. But each carried two highly trained and revered Covenant Hunt-and-Kill squads, Brute and Elite alike.

[monkeyjoe14]

"Hell yeah" I heard someone reply.

No sooner had we taken down the phantom banshees had started to attack. I was a sitting duck, but Joe jumped in the driver seat and took off as plasma started to hit. A bolt missed my head by a foot and another melted the windshield and Joe ducked down in the seat. Suddenly the banshees were getting hit by the chain guns and the ghosts.

I punched the com.

"Everyone get moving they might send more banshees after us"

Someone suddenly came on the com.

"Sargent thanks for coming out here to get us"

"who is this I am talking to" I was still firing at the banshees.

"I am the lieutenant of 62nd"

"Sir, where are you posted we will come get you immediately"

"I am five miles to your left, enjoy the present"

I looked up and saw one of the banshees get hit with rocket pod missile. How the hell had they managed to get one of those. I suddenly remembered the supply drop, the lieutenant must have grabbed what he could and came here to hide out. Well now we have some anti air of our own. The other banshee was still taking fire until it exploded from a guass round.

"Sir we are gonna take out the AA wraiths feel free to join the party"

"alright we have two warthogs with chain guns and a mongoose for transportation, weapon wise we have two missile pods and three sniper rifles and a captured fuel rod cannon."

That was plenty of fire power for taking out the AA wraiths and anything that hits us from the air.

"Alright we are heading to you guys cover our backs"

"Everyone follow me hurry up or burn to a crisp"

Just as we were moving several phantoms approached from behind us. They fired fuel rod cannons at us and we all swirved to avoid enemy fire. I turned the guass cannon and fired at the phantom's cockpit with the assistance of the chain guns and the phantom fell to the ground. The others however were only firing more and more at us.

We were about halfway when the phantoms were still firing and we could not hit them hard enough to bring them down. Suddenly four more of the missile pod missiles impacted against the cockpits of the phantoms and they both dropped to the ground and one of them exploded into a ball of fire.

[monkeyjoe14]

"Well Sergeant nice to meet you", lieutenant Walturn said.

"Sir", I replied with a brisk salute.

We were in a small cave that overlooked the hill and the AA wraiths. Two men were positioned to snipe any infantry that noticed us. We had managed to dodge the phantoms and the infantry they dropped to support the AA wraiths. Apparently the Phantom was carrying a high ranking soldier who was in charge of field operations which gave us a new objective.

Joe was being treated for a burn that covered his left shoulder from a plasma bolt. The vehicles were hiding under an overpass two miles west of us. The lieutenant was able two post up in the cave and was watching for the perfect chance to strike which was given to him by us. The banshee squadron would easily take out any ground forces so they were the main concern.

The lieutenant wanted the missile pods to fire at the banshees and the AA wraiths while the others were to attack the ground targets. I grabbed a sniper rifle to see the action below, the number of troops doubled now that they were on high alert and I could see an elite barking orders to the infantry and the AA wraiths, I would love to shoot him here and now but I just lowered the rifle and turned back inside.

"Alright now they think we are either nearby or have retreated back to base, or dead", Walturn said."I was hoping for an opportunity like this"

"Sir, we might need to radio in some support", Fred said.

"Who would hear us all the way out here"

"Sir", I replied, "I have one of my men out there he might be close by we could try to reach him and tell to get support"

"Very well give it a try"

I pressed the com on a heavily encrypted channel, "Desmond do you read me out there"

"Sir I hear you how is your attack going", Desmond replied.

"Shits hit the fan hear we have found the lieutenant and his men though, listen I need you to radio to base and ask for ground support on our position ASAP. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir"

"Alright we are waiting for ya"

Now all we had to do was plan our next move for taking out the AA wraiths.

[Administrator]

Risking the comm, I send out a wide beam transmission, Hell the enemy knew I was coming.

"This is Sargent Dave Kabruski radioing any survivors that are still alive, Im going to strafe the position with fire, stand by" and signed off.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed my hornet to the max speed and sped towards the nearest AA Wraith. Watching the reticule turn red as I aimed over the nearest wraith, I let loose a volly of missles and watched as they fired away and sped towards the target.

After 10 seconds, they exploded on target, but the wraith was un scathed aside from a few scratches. Cursing under my breath, I saw the wraith turn, aim its guns at me, and fired.

Watching the green globs of plasma, I only had one option left. A suicidal fake out maneuver that if worked, would at least take out a wraith.

Not thinking, I grab the joystick and tilted it down, heading straight for the wraith, full thrust, All the while me screaming and hovering my finger over the eject button.

As the wraith grew larger into my view, I mentally counted down from 5. 4. 3. 2 .1. and then jammed the eject button, then felt a rush of wind take the canopy off, then felt my seat eject, flinging me high up in the air and away from the wraiths.

After approxametly 20 seconds of air time, I felt the seat parachute fly out and halt my rapid descent, all the while me looking down at the ground, laughing my ass off at my escape from immenent death. I just wondered if my plan had worked.

[monkeyjoe14]

"Holy shit!!", Someone said.

I turned as I heard an explosion and saw that a plume of smoke was where one of the ten AA wraiths were at. There were elites and brutes who were unfortanate enough to be close to the explosion. I saw a parachute in the sky that the wraiths were preparing to destroy and I punched the com.

"Who are you soldier and what are you thinking"

"Sir, his name is Dave Kabruski a sergeant"

I grabbed a missile pod and fired on the closest AA wraith hitting it in the core. The Wraith erupted in plasma and a group of jackels were disintagrated. I fired on another Wraith while Fred, Tom and two other guys started sniping the infantry. Well this was a surprise atack we wanted.

"Ed take some guys and make sure the vehicles are okay" I said.

I was still trying to destroy as many wraiths I could to save that crazy bastard. I managed to take out two more when the missile pod was empty. I grabbed the other and fired at banshees that were heading towards the the man.

[caster]

Ultra Zuka'Zanzamee - Sector 2 Operations Commander

Sector 2 - Among the Covenant AA Wraith Battalion

Zuka was still behind the Wraith for cover. "Stupid creatures, they risked how many to take out five"....There was a loud whup and another wraith exploded...."Six tanks."

They were using their radios though. Didn't matter what they were saying....It gave away their positions.

Zuka watched an entire wing of Seraphs streak by high overhead before banking down low into the plateaued tundra. These moved far too fast for the slow missiles to hit. Zuka uploaded the triangulation data, the humans had holed up in a cave a few miles to the west. The Seraphs shredded overhead at super-sonic speed and began bombarding the cavern. They wouldn't be coming out of the front, as the hill began to slide forward on itself. Zuka could only hope that the miserable creatures were crushed inside....Less they feel the hot wrath of a Covenant plasma sword instead.

Zuka turned as they were now safe from those damned human rockets. There wasn't much of a wind across the tundra today....The human parachute was drifting slowly down between a couple of wraiths, the last two on the west side.

Zuka pointed to four brutes, one of them the gold plated bastards. "Kill it before it escapes....However...If you can.....Capture it."

"A meal?" The brute replied with a slight snarl.

"It doesn't matter, Brute. Break its bones, sear its flesh....But try to get it alive."

Zuka was insulted by this humans act....Did he think they were all so blind that they would not find him? It didn't matter...Humans were stupid creatures...They would sacrifice much to retrieve one of their own.

One last human transmission had been broadcast. A single pinpoint location about a half mile away in open space. A team had already started that way. After a few moments a voice came over. "It was a human sniper, Field Master. Its been killed."

"Yes, fine. Bring the body back as a treat for the apes." Zuka replied.

Another transmission followed. "Field Master, this is Specter...We have located an area of entrance in the ice caverns. We silently await your command."

"Not yet."

Zuka watched as one of the surviving phantoms orbited high overhead. Out of the effective range of infantry or their blasted missile stations.

Zuka began moving yelling off to the AA commander. "Reposition these tanks for coverage on approach to the Holy Site....Keep a forward area to protect the mortar wraiths." The tanks started moving in unison, under protection from the banshees and infantry. Zuka continued towards where a group of brutes stood around a chair with a long piece of cloth strewn behind it. He couldn't quite see yet, as he approached the back of two brutes.

Corporal Leon Carson - ODST - Echo Squad

Sector 2 - One Mile East of the Forerunner Structure

Carson was too occupied with what was behind them to worry about what was in front of them. He heard something over the radio about a hornet, but was too busy firing on the ghosts chasing them. The chaingun from the warthog in front of them had been roaring nonstop and Carson had likewise been firing as much as he could. The back bumper and part of the roll cage on the Warthog Carson was on, had completely melted away, and the right side of the bumper was still on fire. Three ghosts were still in tow though. The only saving grace was that in order to catch up they needed to boost...When they boosted they weren't shooting. It had become this rhythm. Again the Ghosts started to boost, and Carson fired three more shots. One of them clipped the left side but the other two were misses....The ghosts turn now, it fired a long peppered volley directly into the ass end of the warthog. The bumper fell off and the hubcaps on the back wheels seared and rolled off the tires. The ride was starting to get a lot bumpier. Maybe the shocks were effected.

[monkeyjoe14]

I was still firng at the banshees when seraphs fired at us. Trying to collapse the cave on us. I yelled to everyone as the bolts raced towards us.

"Everyone take cover or get out of the cave now", I dived out followed by Fred, Tom, and four others followed behind us. I felt a plasma bolt race by me and it felt like the sun was right above me. The cave collapsed on the men who were still inside and I had no clue to tell if they were alive or not.

"Dammit all to hell with those Seraphs" Tom yelled.

"Well let's get to the vehicles we still have Ed and the guys he was with guarding them" I replied.

We started to trek down the hill when I noticed that six of the AA Wraiths were destroyed. A decent amount but at what cost was it worth. I knew that we had to finish the job or at least kill that damn Elite who was responsible for so many of my men dead. I grabbed an assualt rifle that was missing the scope and had dirt covering it compeletly like a blanket.

I was wondering if we had any support heading our way or if we were alone out here after all. I saw Ed in the guass turret and the Mike in a ghost. The other two were in the other hogs we had seriously been reduced in numbers now. At least we were alive more than I could say for some of those damn bastards. I told Ed and Mike what happened.

[Administrator]

*Ten Minutes Earlier*

Landing hard, the impact took my breath away, and I had to sit there a moment to regain A) my senses, and B) My weapon that had come loose. However that time was short as I saw two brutes coming in my direction, obviously looking for some stupid human that had ejected his seat and suicided a wraith.

Scrambling to my feet, I quickly grabbed what gear I could, and humped it accross the tundra, finally seeking refuge in a cave, and quickly took stock of what I had. two plasma grenades, and two frags. I had my Sidearm Magnum, and my MA5B. That would have to do for now. Quickly, I came up with a risky idea for any intruders that may come my way.

[monkeyjoe14]

I was in a hog planning our next move when Tom came over.

"Sir I was wondering what happened to that marine in the hornet"

I suddenly remembered that marine who took out the first AA wraith. I remembered the guy parachuted out a little ways from here but would we really be able to get the dude without our asses getting roasted by plasma. No matter, we do have to save that bastard.

"Alright, Tom I need you to tell everyone to get ready for a search and rescue" I said.

We had the four warthogs and two ghost so two people in a warthog and a person in each ghost. I hopped on the guass turret and readied to save a crazy bastard.

[caster]

Ultra Zuka'Zanzamee - Sector 2 Operations Commander

Sector 2 - Among the Covenant AA Wraith Battalion

Zuka stood among the wraiths as they repositioned. He looked over the seat, the two Brute packs had began sniffing out the Human survivor. He had holed up in a cave not far from battalion. The area had been previously scouted by the Covenant, and was confirmed to only have one way in and one way out. The brute packs though, were still under orders to retrieve the human alive if at all possible. But Zuka could see fuel rod rounds enter the cave in the distance before the grunts rushed in, then the Jackals, then the Brutes.

Zuka was perplexed with how the humans destroyed six tanks and only resulted in one human casualty. That was certainly a streak of luck for the vermin.

Zuka watched as one of the Phantoms came in low over the Wraiths. It was dropping another two lances of troops into the area, plus hunters.

Zuka spoke to the Hunters. "You, make haste to the Brutes in the cave..." Zuka pointed towards where the Human survivor had fled. "Make sure the Brutes are holding to my commands."

The Hunter pair made a low nearly audible growl that shook the eardrums. Then ran off. The creatures, however bulky, were certainly fast.

Zuka boarded the new phantom before it lifted it off. He would be using it as his command shuttle in the area. The craft took off and climbed to a much higher altitude than before. Zuka watched as the Seraphs streaked over sector two from North-to-South past his phantom.

Corporal Leon Carson - ODST - Echo Squad

Sector 2 - One Mile East of the Forerunner Structure, Approaching Western Edge of Covenant AA Formation

The warthog was in worse shape than before. There was a heavy grinding on the rear end, it sounded like the vehicles shocks were completely destroyed and the vehicle was literally resting on the axel. It didn't stop Renters from pushing it as fast as it would go. Herons, on the chain gun wiped out the last of the ghosts in a hail of lead. The ghost flipped over and blew up. The driver ejected had stood up, fired a few plasma rifle shots then started running back towards the structure.

Carson whipped the turret forward and saw the anti-air wraiths, they weren't firing as much as they had been stationary. They were still a ways out from the bulk of that force, but the Covenant was mighty pissed off anyways. Several banshees started in on a heading, Herons on the chain gun started firing on them, which was met by several volleys coming back at the two racing warthogs. IFF in Carsons visor was pinging friendly contacts apparently inside the mountain off to their right, with another about a half a mile inside a cave to their direct front.

Carson could see the muzzle flash out of his right eye as Dennison fired over Renters head. Renters voice strained in the radio. "Dennison, grab the rockets in the back!" Dennison stood up in her seat and reached into the back area of the hog. Strapped down near the roll cage was the Rocket launcher Renters had brought, with an extra case of rockets. Dennison hefted the weapon. She sat with her back against the roll cage, using her right foot to brace against the dash of the warthog.

"Make 'em count!" Carson shouted as he let loose three rounds to the lead banshee. The first two missed wide and left, but the third scraped its fuselage. These banshees were disciplined. They didn't break formation, choosing instead to continue their firing path. A stream of blue pelted the warthog. Carson ducked his head behind the bulk of the Gauss canon, although he could hear the splash of the hot plasma. There was a faint scream somewhere at the edge of Carson's hearing, but there wasn't time to focus on it. Carson lifted his head and continued targeting. He fired continuously at the banshees, as they started to break. Two turned left, and two right, Carson went for the lead left banshee. With the larger target and the slower banking of the aircraft, the rounds impacted on it's belly. The craft jolted, and blue streams of plasma belted out from the bottom before the pods on the side stopped glowing and it simply fell out of the sky.

Carson was already firing on the other left hand banshee, but as he pulled the trigger, a single rocket impacted the right side strut, the Banshee without the anti-gravity pod on the right, listed hard, but managed to struggle away. That was until a long stream of tracers dinged the right side as Herons focused his attack in the crippled banshee.

"Almost there, keep it up!" Samson's voice filtered through. Sounded like the Sergeant was getting pissed.

Carson finally looked over, part of Renters forearm was still smoldering. But he continued to drive with his right hand.

They were closer to the cave now, and the AA wraiths continued to ignore the ground target, at the same time though an ever increasing amount of black clad Covenant reinforced its flank. Carson wondered why they weren't attacking harder.

Then it happened, a bright blue flash just forward and left of Samsons hog. The resulting jolt flung the hog up on it's two right wheels, but Samson kept it going long enough for it to right itself. Carson looked back down the Gauss targeting device, and saw that two of the wraiths, weren't moving with the rest. Instead they were moving towards Echo squad.

Carson didn't think, he started launching Gauss rounds at the lead tank. While the armor was being penetrated, the tank continued rolling forward, firing continued blue blobs of plasma their way. The tanks were too close now, the gunner mounted on top started firing on the side of the warthog. One of the tires went flat, drivers side rear. Carson jolted forward, smashing his helmet into the Gauss canon.

Carsons vision was blurred for a moment, and everything seemed a lot slower than it should be moving. Another rocket flung towards the lead mortar wraith, the impact blew away the top hatch and the gunner. Another jolting explosion, and a wave of heat before Carson realized something wasn't right. Then a thud, and a roll. Carson sat up and stared for a moment, he was looking at the base of the hill. It took a full couple of moments before Carson realized he wasn't moving. Carson reached for his weapon and got up to a kneeling position. He turned around and looked at the wrecked warthog. Renters was on his side firing his LMG at the closest tank, before Dennison behind the cover of the over-turned warthog dragged him by his left boot back behind cover as well. Carson shouldered his weapon before running closer behind the overturned hog. He could hear the tank hovering on the other side of the warthog, and as he ran up he could see the top of the turret, but it wasn't firing. Carson glanced off to his right, Samson's hog was still taking heavy fire and continuing North along the base of the mountain where the friendlies were sighted. Carson couldn't blame them, even if they knew that the hog behind them was down, what could they do? The only rocket launcher on board was with Dennison.

Lieutenant Allison Westbrooke - "Super-Six-One"

Sector 2 - Outside of AA operational range, Eastern Sector

The AA had slowed, considerably. Allison brought up the overhead map and aligned STARS tactical data over it. Echo squad had tried cutting along the border of two Covenant positions and ended up pulling patrols from each side with them. Now one of those hogs had abruptly stopped, and several enemy pings were closing in. Also, fluctuating were AA in the area. The eastern approach was now completely outside of the AA area of effect. Allison slowed and hovered for a moment. She angled her craft towards the stopped green Echo squad marker. She started doing the math in her head. Craig finally chimed in. "What are we doing? Let's go while it's clear, we can start on those Mortar wraiths while the AA realigns!"

"Shut up, Craig! Shut up!" Allison knew he was right. They might be hit if they used the opportunity now, but they would be hit if the AA completed repositioning. Allison opened her eyes having finished her calculations, twice. She displayed her calculations over the map, it lined up well...So the math was close...What she couldn't account for was any inaccuracy the weapons system had inherently, which was generally two to five feet in any direction. At this range though, that could, in the worst case scenario, be on target to fifty yards off.

Allison confirmed the go-codes for a single Archer missile....After a moment of silence Craig spoke. "Super-six-one, fox-three." The missile streaked away, starting it's five mile journey across the tundra. At that moment, Allison banked hard left and started towards the Mortar wraiths on the Northern hill overlooking the Human controlled base. "Super-Tango-Six, Super-six-one. Starting attack run on mortar wraiths. We will only get one pass before AA is realigned and we are in range."

Two pelicans, over fifteen mortar wraiths....Wasn't good odds, but perhaps a large enough dent could be made. Allison uploaded a revised flight plan. It took them South along the Eastern boarder....They would cut South-West over the mortar wraiths and destroy as many as they could. Then they would proceed down into the canyon to get under the AA realigned fire. From there they could approach the Western mountain range and hopefully extract any humans in the area.

Corporal Leon Carson - ODST - Echo Squad

Sector 2 - One Mile East of the Forerunner Structure, Approaching Western Edge of Covenant AA Formation

Carson looked at Dennison. "Alright, you pop up left and fire on that left wraith." Carson grabbed Renters grenades off his side. "I'll try to get the one on the right." It was futile but at least it was something.

Carson whipped around, he pulled the pin on the first grenade and chucked it at the Wraith. He was trying to land it in the popped hatch. That would kill the driver and eliminate the threat. As he threw the first grenade, two explosions and a concussive blast could be felt from the rockets hitting the left side wraith. The grenade blast happened behind Carsons target, but it threw a grunt out from the side. Carson realized what was happening, they were using the Wraiths to pin them, infantry would come in for the kill. The next grenade sailed away, Carson didn't wait before throwing the next one, and another. Two of the three more thrown bounced off the shell and detonated harmlessly next to the tank. The third one, got caught where the turret met the haul of the tank. When it exploded a stream of blue plasma shot out of some kind of connection conduit. Carson flung another grenade as a column of jackal shields rounded the corner with black clad elites crouched behind them. Carson rounded back behind cover and shouldered his rifle. This was bad, really, really bad.

There was a deafening explosion, so loud his noise cancellation in his helmet simply cut out completely, and a bunch of static filled his visor for a moment. The warthog rocked back. Dennison rolled out of the way. Carson rolled out of the way on the other side. The warthog rolled onto its roof. Carson scrambled to his knee and shouldered his rifle, but all he could see was snow, dirt, and black smoke. Carson was worried about his friend, and moved back behind the warthog. He got down on his hands and knees and looked. Renters was fine, the roll cage missed him and it was holding the warthog from crushing him. Carson grabbed Renters good arm and pulled him out from under the hog.

Carsons mind raced...Fight, or flight? They could stay near the debris and try to hold off the special operations troops, or they could try to book it in the confusion for the mountain, where they could hopefully evade capture long enough to connect with someone....

"Run!!" Carson shouted. He pulled Renters as he started to move. Dennison was already in front of them heading towards the mountain base. There were howls from somewhere behind them, but so far no plasma or spikes heading their direction. "Cut left!" Carson was relying on his training. When being fired at in open ground, try to create angles so as not to be an easy target. The group started zig-zagging, unsure if they were pursued or being shot at.....Not really caring to confirm it either. They started towards the North to the base of the mountain. With cover in the rocks and hills, they could head West where the last known friendlies were.

[monkeyjoe14]

It was a big weight risking these men to save some guy who probably wanted to die. I was watching the covenant slowly move away and watched the skies for any banshees. I wanted radio silence so nobody found out where we were.

We searched the dead covenant soldiers while we searched for the guy. I managed to find two plasmas and a spike grenade. Tom grabbed a carbine while Mike and Ed both wielded two plasma rifles.

"Sarge, where would this guy be hiding", Fred said barely wielding a rather large fuel rod cannon.

"I don't know if I were him I would think a cave to take cover from the air", I replied.

We hopped back in the vehicles to continue our operation. We were heading to our left using the shadows to our advantage when we noticed seraphs were closing in. They had not noticed us or we be roasted on the spot. We didn't move until they flew past us. I then heard the sound of plasma firing.

"Hold up, you hear that", three more rounds went off in the distance.

"Fuel rod cannon, sir", Ed replied, "About three miles from here"

That was where the marine had to be, who else would be out here. I had to figure out how we would hit those bastards and get that guy out if he was still alive to begin with.

"Alright let's approach them but do not fire unless they notice us understood"

"Sir, yes sir"

Maybe we would get lucky and could finish the wraiths and save the sergeant as well. Or we could be burned to a crisp by plasma. I really hope on the first possibility.

[monkeyjoe14]

We were about a mile away from the cave that several brutes and hunters were firing into and beyond that were the AA wraiths, one heavily damaged by the assault earlier. That was to our advantage as was the fact we had not been spotted but that would only last a little while longer.

I aimed the fuel rod we had along with the fuel rod Fred was using. Two large green blobs raced towards the brutes and one of the hunters. The hunter didn't notice us and had it's back disintegrated by the plasma, along with a brute who was to close. As they turned to fire on us they were met with plasma, bullets and guass rounds.

"Keep it coming", I yelled.

I saw one brute who was blown to pieces by a guass round. The remaining Hunter turned and raised it's shield to block our attack. That would of worked if we weren't using plasma and guass rounds. Bullets just pinged off but plasma melted holes in the armor and the gauss rounds sent it flying on to a another brute who was crushed under the immense weight.

The remaining brute was in the cave as we approached and the other covenant soldiers were approaching us from our side. The best chance was to enter the cave or run and I chose the latter.

"Everyone drive towards the cave to pick up the Sergeant then we plan the next move"

[Administrator]

As I went through the plan in my head, I could hear the sound of a brute coming in, and by the sounds he was making, it was a minor brute, still inexperienced, as an experienced leader would have made less noise.

Taking this to heart, I looked around and noticed a bunch of mirror like ice formations, that looked like one of those ancient earth mirror houses. "I could use this..." I thought to myself.

Positioning myself, I hefted my rifle and waited for the Brute to enter, both nervous and excited, my one hand trembled slightly and I checked the motion.

Soon enough, the brute comes in, and snarls aloud as he looks at about 6 reflections of myself.

"Come out human so that I may feast upon your flesh!" Roars the brute, looking around, confused.

Laughing to myself, I reply "Oh really? Personally, I prefer cooked meat over flesh any day!"

And with that, I leapt from my cover, dropping my rifle, and grabbing a plasma grenade.

Jumping onto the brute I activate my plasma grenade and manage to attach it to his throat, but the brutes reflexs are strong and he flings me off him like a rag doll, sending me flying into a wall... and thats when I slipped unconcious.

[monkeyjoe14]

A blue flash blasted from the cave as we approached and I jumped out and took aim. The cave was empty except for the crater in the floor and I saw a person to the side. I ran over and checked him he was still breathing but unconscious. Ed take care of him everyone else take fire and at the infantry.

I grabbed my assault rifle and fired at an approaching group of jackels with those damn energy shields. Fred fired the fuel rod cannon at the jackals and erupted into plasma and meat. Three brutes were closing in when they were met with two chain guns that mowed them down.

"There are to many we won't last long at this rate", Fred said as the he fired two more fuel rod blasts at incoming elites.

He was right but we did not have much choice but to find another way out of the caves. So we held our position firing at incoming troops. A plasma bolt impacted on the windshield of a hog and I saw a plasma grenade fly at us and it stuck to one of the ghost and erupted in a blue light. Damn now we are one less against a small army I pulled the order.

"Retreat inside the cave lets move"

The hogs went in and i followed looking behind for the other ghost but their was none. I saw an explosion from inside the group of covenant. A suicide that took a good portion of those covenant bastards, that was respectable. I ran inside as plasma fire raced at me.

[monkeyjoe14]

We were moving deeper into the cavern with covenant right behind us . We were eventually forced to stop and keep them from overrunning us. I was firing my assault rifle and two of the chainguns were mowing down brutes and elites. I primed a frag grenade and threw it at a grunt who was stupid enough to get to close.

Fred went further in to search for an exit while we held the enemy back. I knew that if we didn't find an exit we were finished. I ducked to avoid a spike from a brute who I shot in the leg a second later. Tom threw a plasma grenade at the brute and there was an euption of blue light.

"Im on my last clip sir", I heard some one say.

"Me too"

Damn if this kept up only the chain guns would be enough to hold off the enemy. I looked around and saw that the last chaingun was unmanned. I jumped in and fired at some Jackels who were using their sheild to protect from fire.

"Alright when you see a chance grab the dropped weapons", I yelled.

It was risky but it was our best chance at holding them off. Some of the guys were throwing grenades and grabbing weapons while the covenant recovered from the blasts. I saw an elite with an energy sword run towards Tom who was grabbing plasma pistols for everyone. I fired at the Elite who dropped the blade and yelled in pain.

I jumped down and grabbed the sword and swung at another Eilte who went to kill Tom. The blade went through his shoulder and down his chest. I saw the Elite drop in two and a grunt ran in fear to the on coming waves.

"Sarge, thanks for the save", Tom said.

"Thank me when we're safe", I replied as I primed a frag and threw it at a jackel.

[caster]

Ultra Zuka'Zanzamee - Sector 2 Operations Commander

Sector 2 - Among the Covenant AA Wraith Battalion

"Field Master, we are loosing too many trying to take them alive."

Zuka considered the alternative. He would make do. "I understand, Major. You have my word, kill them." The assault in side the cave would no longer be held back. They would be shooting to kill now. With all likelihood, the Elite in charge would simply throw grenades into the hole until they were all dead. It wasn't as if they were going anywhere.

Corporal Leon Carson - ODST - Echo Squad

Sector 2 - One Mile East of the Forerunner Structure, Approaching Western Edge of Covenant AA Formation

Carson was still running, his chest was starting to burn. Dennison had gotten a bit further up than him, and Renters was lagging a bit back. Just how they were physically built I guess. Dennison was shorter, faster...Renters was powerful but not quite as fast. Carson took a moment to look back as they were running. They had made it to the relative cover of the mountain base, but hunt-and-kill teams were already moving towards the base of the mountain and fanning out in both directions, a hunter pair even started up the mountain itself. A few of the banshees over the wraith, started from the base of the mountain directly behind the destroyed hog and started off up the mountain at low altitude in a three prong approach. The covenant probably thought they were going for higher ground, where they're fire would be superior...Enough to slow down the oncoming approach.

The team had slowed to a jog, that's all they could muster anymore. They continued though, the green dots on their heads up display getting bigger with each step on the icy tundra. They still had quite a bit to go.....At their current pace it would take about twelve minutes to get to the group....Who knew what kind of resistance was there when they approached.

Lieutenant Allison Westbrooke - "Super-Six-One"

Sector 2 - Outside of AA operational range, Eastern Sector

Allison looked to the red triangles dotted over the hillside overlooking the bridge leading out from Alpha base. She targeted the closest one and without a moment Craig had already started dumping the high explosive seventy rounds on it. Hitting it from the back increased the damage dealt considerably. Three long streams rendered the first tank virtually destroyed. Moving right to the second, then the third, fourth, fifth, and part of the way on the sixth. Through this flight though the Shade turrets the infantry support had started firing. The bulkhead on Super-six-one had gotten boiled away, but luckily in the cold the metal looked warped, but there was no hole....That would be a weak point. Who knows how many other similar holes littered the side and bottom of the craft though. Layton and Kelly would be busy, that was for sure.

They had been too close when they started on the sixth, and it wasn't destroyed by the time they flew over. Allison could hear the faint thump from the back as Kelly continued firing down on the infantry, or tanks....

As they cleared the hill Allison pushed the stick up and to the right. The craft dove down into the vast trench below the line of fire the AA wraiths could operate at. She checked the map again and noted that the green dots were surrounded by a lot of red. From the safety of the canyon they could fire somewhat accurately on those forces, but any friendlies would have to make a mile long break from their position to the edge of the cavern to make it to evacuation.

Allison got on the radio. "Echo squad and ground forces in the West of Sector 2.....Dust off will be standing by, to the South of your current location. We can provide some fire support, but you will have to come to us. Over."

[monkeyjoe14]

"I hear you, roger that", I started yelling to everyone, "Ed get the sergeant in the hog and somebody tell Fred to get back here"

"Sir", Fred said running up behind me, "There is no other way out."

Shit that meant we only had one choice, drive through the bastards and that was risky. I jumped on the guass turret and told Fred to drive. I fired a hole into the oncoming enemy and we plowed over covenant who were caught off guard. The tunnel was narrow enough for the hogs to get in but we slowed with each thump I heard from bone and flesh meeting metal.

"Grenade!!", Tom yelled from behind and there was a bright blue flash from behind.

"Sarge we just lost Tom and Mike", Ed reported.

I fired two more guass rounds at the next group who was surprised to see hogs advancing them. Plasma melted parts of the hog and large portions of the windshield were melted. I was suddenly frightened when I saw a bright light thinking a plasma grenade when we bursted out of the cave. I saw a brute pack coming towards us when I fired at them.

"Alright lets head south I yelled to Fred turning to see if we were being followed. We were, by two other hogs who were covered in blue and orange blood. Ed was in the last one with an unconscious Sergeant in the passenger seat. Behind them were hundred of angry covenant soldiers who were pissed off at our insane maneuver.

I watched the sky, banshees were more frightening then soldiers right now. I saw three turn and fly towards us, I fired the guass cannon and and caught the middle one. It exploded and shook the other two off corse. The other two hogs were firing and both of the banshees crashed down.

Now we were heading to the place that the support told us to go. I just hope that damn Elite from earlier was pissing himself.

[caster]

Ultra Zuka'Zanzamee - Sector 2 Operations Commander

Sector 2 - Among the Covenant AA Wraith Battalion

Zuka listened to the incoming chatter from the AA special operations teams. It seemed that the Humans in a burst of fear, simply took their chances and drove out of the hole they were hiding in. They were now South bound towards the crater.

"Field Master, they hare heading towards the canyon. Air patrols are following. I don't know why they are going that way....It leads to another dead end."

Zuka considered for a moment. Two human gunships had flown over the Mortar wraiths during AA realignment and taken out over six tanks. Less than half of the deployed force. Then they had disappeared out of radar range. Ah, smart. The humans must be flying below the plateau using the Canyon that separated the human base from the tundra.

"Seraphs in the area take heed. Focus your bombardments on the human ground vehicles. Banshee patrols, continue south. Ignore the ground vehicles and assault their drop ships which should be low near the canyon!"

Two confirmations chimed, one from the Seraphs, which streaked by at super-sonic speed rocking the phantom from side to side. The other response from the banshee patrols. Low in the west, Zuka could see the purple crafts speed ahead of the Warthogs towards the canyon.

Corporal Leon Carson - ODST - Echo Squad

Sector 2 - 1 1/2 Miles North of the Landing Zone; On Foot

Renters, Dennison and Carson were still holding the slow jogging pace. They could see a large group of Covenant chasing after three warthogs, until Samson's hog smashed through the middle of the group with their backs turned and began following. That diversion would help. Dennison had already started moving a bit higher up the mountain, if they stayed behind the lead part of the pack, and down wind, they might make it without having ever been spotted...But...Nothing else was going right either.

Carson responded back to the pilot lady. "Echo squad, fire team two, roger that. We are on foot and extended....We should arrive in fourteen." Carson was sure to send that as a burst transmission, instead of sending it straight to the pilot, which would cause their team to be discovered. He sent it to STARS, then had STARS relay it as a burst to the pilot. They could be triangulated, but it would take longer. Hopefully they'd be gone by the time the Covenant found it out.

Lieutenant Allison Westbrooke - "Super-Six-One"

Sector 2 - South - West Canyon; Providing Over-Watch to Incoming Infantry

Allison was watching the map, watching the STARS data. Waves of Red streaming after some green, but with three small green dots moving perpendicular to the red on the west side. She heard both teams radio traffic.

"Ground, I copy."

Craig started firing the seventy, long streams over the back of the hogs. It would slow down the few Ghosts which were making their way up. Allison noticed a glint behind her visor. She focused her eyes and saw a green blob launching towards her craft. The banshees were all over. Allison nosed up the pelican and pulled to the left, the green blob splashed and exploded off the left side. Warning klaxons started blaring in the cockpit. Craig yelled over them. "Right, forward thruster is overheating! Shutting it down!" Allison noted that the targeting in her visor had shut off. Craig yelled again. "Fire control circuits fried. The seventy is offline...Missile systems fail safe tripped! I can't reset it from here!"

Allison was already contemplating what to do. "Craig, get to the access hatch behind the cockpit and see if you can reroute missile control and get it up!" Allison keyed her comm. "Kelly, fire control is shot. Are you ready?"

The reply came just moments later. "As I will ever be, Ally."

Allison jerked the pelican counter-clockwise until the back of the pelican was facing north. She could hear the constant thump of the machine gun Kelly was on as she tried to fend off the incoming Banshees. Super-six-one was listing to the right, the other thrusters had to work harder to keep the craft from spiraling down the canyon. At this cold temperature though, maybe she could reactivate it soon.

Craig's voice filtered through her helmet. "Alright, I'm wiring the system. Rekey it on your end!" Allison flipped the fire control switch for the missiles off, then on. The system was still reading an error.

Kelly came over. "Dodge right!"

Allison jerked left, she was aware that Kelly's right meant her left. This process would have to work until those Marines got there. She was now relying on Jaxen to do most of the work on those banshees.

[conner553]

Conner was close to exhaustion. no amount of PT runs could have prepared him for this. His black helmet and visor concealed his exhaustion from the rest of the crew. He whipped around, hefted his battle rifle, and sawn a elite closing in on them. He squeezed the trigger four times, and the elite shuddered, five bullets richocheted of its shields, and the other seven tore into him. He shuddered as 9.5 mm rounds tore hoels in him, and collapsed in a pool of purple blood. Conner grinned, and continued running. He yelled at Carson.

"Hey, do you think we're in trouble? They look pretty mean back there, I'd almost say they want to kill us eh?"

Jaxen nearly swept away in a flood of new events. Allison was heading off to take on some wraiths, and also uner hot fire by some banshees fliers. The land lubbers were in hot water too, and his CO was unavailable. just another day for a pilot. He told Allison.

"Super six one, keep up evasive manuvers if yo can. I'll try to handle some of those banshees, and you try for the wraiths after I cool off you six." He heated up the weapons targeting display, and moved in to engage. The banshees were fast, but not that agile, but more agile than his dropship. Jaxen waremd up the missiles, and locked onto two banshees. He hit the firiing stud, and two missiles blasted off with a whoosh. The banshees were manuverable, but not as manuverable as a missile! They tried to dodge, and failed. Twin explosions sent burning, twisting shrapnel everywhere. He fired a quick burst of the .70 chain gun. and another banshee was torn apart. The banshees turned off Westbrooke, and after him. He contacted her.

"Westbrooke, your ass is cool, now see if you can knock out a wraith or two. I'll handle these buggers." There was about five of the attack ships closing on him, and he kicked on his engines, burning higher and farther from the assailants.

[monkeyjoe14]

I finally got that support I asked for. I saw a warthog behind us that was not there before. I also looked out south and saw a few pelicans dealing with banshees. But they wouldn't last against those seraphs.

"Sarge hows that for calvery", Fred yelled.

I could not agree more, apparently the wraiths were causing everyone problems. I checked my com and found out that alot of soldiers were around and about. I punched the com.

"Hey watch out for seraphs in the area"

No one replied and I saw that the covenant behind us were greatly reduced. I smirked at my plan which would probably work thanks to all the support we had. I told Fred to turn the hog and we crashed head first into covenant. We ran over a grunt, three jackels, and a brute before we cleared the group. I fired at an elite and the other hogs did the same.

Now the force behind us was way smaller and now I focused on something else. I punched the com on a heavily encrypted chanel.

"Anyone out there who needs a ride out of this hell hole" I said.