Digsite (IC)

[kartoffelfogel]

Minor Zealot Nhar Vek’tsai
Scarab Tank, Glorious Retribution
Dig Site

The Supercruiser, Divine Harbinger soared over the planet, it’s shark-like form slowly cruising just outside of the world’s thick atmosphere. Blue flames jetted out behind it, and the hangar underneath it began to open.

“Nhar, are you ready for drop?” asked Tehlu Kusovai, shipmaster of the large vessel.

Growling in discontent, Nhar replied, “Yes, shipmaster.”


“Very well then, Nhar,” said the more senior zealot. The large form of a scarab tank soon became visible, with its legs pressed up against its sides, as if it were a large, hibernating animal. The ship’s master of communications began to speak over the comms,

“Drop in five, four, three, two, one… releasing scarab”

Suddenly, the gravity clamp disengaged, and Nhar’s stomach began to feel as if it were flipping over inside of his body. Luckily, he had not eaten for twenty-four hours!

“Ahhhrrggghh!” Nhar roared, clutching his belly as the assault platform hit the atmosphere, speedily plunging down through the upper atmosphere. Evidently many of the ground troops that had been packed aboard his scarab were also feeling the effects of the free fall. Soon, the real pain started, as the suits of every soldier fought to sustain internal pressure. Even so, the rapid drop was taking its toll on Nhar’s ears, and he was forced to relocate his hands from his stomach.

Suddenly, the scarab was in the troposphere. White misty shapes contorted and swirled around the gigantic vehicle as it fell below the cloud line, its massive form now visible to any that might look up from the planet surface.

The scarab grew nearer and nearer to the ground, until it smashed into the surface, some several hundred meters from the location of the artifact creating a small crater as it absorbed the force of impact with its massive legs. Nhar moaned, pushing himself up onto his feet, and stepping outside. He quietly thanked the gods for his private quarters, for it would not be fitting for his men, or those who had been assigned to the dig site, to see him in such a feeble condition.

The rock and sway of the four-legged monstrosity began, sangheili pilots directing it towards the fortifications. A single AA gun stood alone in the center of the encampment, and a well-defended perimeter surrounded the empty dig site. It would not be empty for long. As the Glorious Retribution reached its destination, it came to a halt, its massive main gun aimed directly over the relic’s resting place.

Nhar was not too happy about his scarab being used for this (admittedly, its original) purpose, but it was necessary, and if his scarab were chosen by his superiors, and thus the gods, then he would obey.

A small gravity lift had been set up between the scarab and the ground, and all but the gunner crews began to deploy. Nhar had been put in charge of the entire operation. As such, he would now survey the fortifications.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As Nhar strode about the camp, which was now densely filled with covenant forces, he came to a halt by the anti aircraft gun which, in addition to those of his scarab, would keep air support at bay. If they humans wanted to deploy, they would find it necessary to utilize an orbital drop.

Stepping away from the gun, he reached for his communicator, ready to begin the speech with which he would prepare his soldiers for the battle that would evidently occur soon.

“Warriors of the covenant!” he began, as was traditional for most speeches,

“This task to which we have been assigned is of the utmost importance! To fail now would be to fail the gods themselves!”

Clearing his throat, Nhar quickly continued,

“As you know, an important holy relic has been discovered at this site. It is our job to hold the line while the scarab cuts through the rock and dirt that has covered the artifact. Our duty is to prevent the vile humans from disrupting this activity, and if necessary, to lay down our lives in pursuit of this goal.”

Once more, Nhar paused, this time to let his words sink in.

“However, as grim as the circumstances may seem, and with the human onslaught about to begin, we must remember our one true advantage, our faith. It is our faith that keeps us strong, our faith that holds us together. If our faith fails, so shall we. Never forget this simple truth.”

With that, Nhar turned back to the gravity lift, entering the scarab from which he would direct all operations in the camp. The vehicle had hunkered down significantly, but it still towered over everything nearby, even the imposing AA gun. Already flaming streaks dotted the sky. The humans had come.

As Nhar entered his private quarters, he quickly gave the order to begin excavation, and the Scarab’s tunneling beam, significantly powered down so as to not harm the relic, began to eat into the solidly packed earth. He had set the power low enough that it would take just over an hour to reach the stage at which manual excavation would be required. At that point, it would only take another ten minutes before the relic was theirs. Hopefully, the camp would hold firm long enough to complete the mission. If not, Nhar knew that his feet would stray from the path, bringing him eternal damnation. He would not let this happen, not while he still drew breath.

Covenant Objectives

-Help set up fortifications
-Defend the digsite
-Assist in the digging (I will alert you when this is necessary)
-Defend the relic

(All covenant players should begin by helping in last minute fortifications. If will probably not be necessary to leave the dig site. For once, the humans will come to us.)



UNSC Objectives
-Deploy to planet surface via orbital drop
-Regroup
-Assault the covenant base
-Take the relic

(All human characters should begin by regrouping. Once this happens, you must assault the base. Remember, it is well fortified, so you don't want to simply attatck it head on)

[Deleted]

Captain Killinger
Baker Company: First Recon
Dig-Site

"Pelican's five to touchdown, sir." The Pilot reported. "Copy that." Killinger replied.

"Baker Company, our forward operating base has been established by a battalion that deployed first. We'll regroup, and with there support attempt to take this area back. It won't be easy, and there will be casualties. Courage is the discover that you may not win, and trying when you are about to lose, remember that. Fight with steel in your spines, fight with fire in your eyes... And get revenge for the Glassing of many planets!" The Captain screamed into his units comm channel, hoping to raise moral for the fight ahead.

"Capt'n, we are good to go!" The pilot said, as the pelican turned sharply, it's troop bay opened and the marines inside pilled off. Ten more pelican's dropped off the rest of his team and a few others, all of them using the "Troop Bay" attachment, or something close to that.

"First platoon! Give me a recon on the Covenant forces, Second Platoon, help set this forward operating base up, Third Platoon, go recon the rally point were the offensive forces meet. Lets get this job done right!" The Captain barked into his comm channel.

"Yes sir!" Hicks replied, followed by a short order as his platoon moved. Eric's second platoon did the same.

[spartan129]

Gunnery Sergeant Francis Hayes, UNSCMC Tank Commander
Badger Armored Platoon, Task Force 77
Covenant Dig-site, Kholo

Hayes gripped the bar of the pelican, standing in front of his seat. He glanced back to the rest of the troop bay. He saw Marshall, Hernandez, Harper, and Jewell...All familiar faces. But he didn't see Henderson or Alfaro. Instead, he saw their bloody replacements...Hayes sighed, and turned back to the troop bay.

"Sir," Lieutenant Marshall, Badger's commander, contacted the Captain who they were on lend to-Killinger. "Once Badger gets there, do you want us protecting second platoon and the FOB while it's set up? Or do you want us running recon?" He smirked a bit at this last part, probably because of the fact that as strange as it was for armor, Badger Platoon could run effective reconnaissance.

Hayes felt the pelican slow, and heard the albatrosses that carried their tanks slow as well. The troop bay would be opening soon...Hayes grabbed his rifle and gripped it tightly.

[jack]

Second Lieutenant Lukas Krüger
Baker Company, commanding officer Third Platoon

Lukas sat in the troop bay of the Pelican, ready to kick ass and take names. He had most of his platoon with him, and Remington had the rest of the platoon. The crew chief tapped him on the shoulder.

"Sir! Five to dust!"

Lukas just nodded. His COM crackled with static as a message came through.

"Baker Company, our forward operating base has been established by a battalion that deployed first. We'll regroup, and with there support attempt to take this area back. It won't be easy, and there will be casualties. Courage is the discover that you may not win, and trying when you are about to lose, remember that. Fight with steel in your spines, fight with fire in your eyes... And get revenge for the Glassing of many planets!"

Lukas smiled. Killinger sure as hell knew how to get a unit riled up for combat. Lukas opened a COM channel to his entire platoon.

"Listen up, ladies and gents. I know that each of you are going to perform to your highest potential, as will I. The Covenant are here, and they know we're coming. So we're going to kick their ass and take some names. Oorah?"

His platoon came back with an overwhelming chorus of "OORAH!" The crew chief nodded at him.

"Alright boys, we're thirty seconds to dirtside. Lock and load."

Lukas' personal SAW had a 100-round magazine in it, loaded with FMJ rounds with a tracer every ten rounds. He stood up and faced the hatch as the ramp began to lower. Lukas strolled off the ramp as the Pelican hit dirtside, knowing full well that they were landing in a mostly secure area.

"First platoon! Give me a recon on the Covenant forces, Second Platoon, help set this forward operating base up, Third Platoon, go recon the rally point were the offensive forces meet. Lets get this job done right!"

"Aye, sir! Third's on the move!"

Switching channels from company to platoon, Lukas started handing out orders.

"Platoon, column formation. Alpha Squad, take point. Bravo in the middle and Charlie on tail. Keep your eyes out. Remember, we're in the foothills of a scrub area. Keep off the hills, try to stay off established trails in case the Covenant try to ambush us. Move out."

Lukas took up a position near the center of his platoon, where he was able to see his entire force as they set out to recon the rally point.

[Deleted]

"Sir, once Badger gets there, do you want us protecting second platoon and the FOB while it's set up? Or do you want us running recon?" The Captains Comm channel etched to life.

"Negative, we've got some AA batteries that need to be taken out before we can get some air-support. We've got Vultures on stand-by, code name 'Raptor'. You and Second Battalion work on that objective." The Captain said, as the holographic map updated.

The Scarab, and a series of AA Guns surrounded the objective "Dig-Site". It would be a challenge, but once those AA guns were offline, the Scarab would surely fall to the fire power of Vultures and other UNSC units, like short sword or long sword air-strikes.

The Captain signed, this was a plain problem. One thing was for sure, those AA guns would have needed to be de-activated before anything can be done. This position was secure for the Covenant, and it is going to take some hard work to take back.

The Captain though, if the AA Guns were offline, perhaps they could insert UNSC Troops directly onto the Scarab, maybe a few SPARTAN's that may potentially become available, but if that resource wasn't available at the time... The thing would go boom-boom.

[spartan129]

Gunnery Sergeant Francis Hayes, UNSCMC Tank Commander
Badger Armored Platoon, Task Force 77
Covenant Dig-site, Kholo

"Negative, we've got some AA batteries that need to be taken out before we can get some air-support," the Captain replied sharply as the troop bay opened, "We've got Vultures on stand-by, code name 'Raptor.'"

"Copy that, sir," Lieutenant Marshall replied, before shouting to his platoon (of which only Hayes had heard the transmission, "Alright Badger! We need to take out Covenant Anti-Air, so we can get some air support in here to blow that scarab to hell!" Hayes leaped out of the troop bay, bending his knees as he landed. The two albatrosses were directly in front of the pelican's rear hatch, with the ramps extending. The seven marines rushed up to their tanks, hopping in and exiting the albatrosses.

"Wheels are all on the ground!" Marshall broadcasted to the pilots once all the tanks were out of the albatrosses, "Thanks for the lift."

"Sir?" inquired Harper, "If the AA guns are guarding the scarab, does that mean..."

"That the vice versa applies as well?" Marshall finished her statement for her, "Yes it does, Staff Sergeant."

The comms went silent as the tanks followed Marshall. Unlike normal, Hayes' scorpion was bringing up the rear; the replacements for Badger Four couldn't handle such a task, and were right behind Marshall's grizzly.

After somewhere between five and ten minutes, Marshall came to a stop, and so did the three scorpions behind him. Hayes checked the readings of his other tanks and of the immediate vicinity to make sure there wasn't a problem, before his fears were silenced by Marshall's voice:

"Sir," the Lieutenant broadcasted to Captain Killinger, "We're about a klick away from the first AA gun. ETA on troops from second battalion?"

[Deleted]

"Sir, we're about a klick away from the first AA gun. ETA on troops from second battalion?"

"Lieutenant, second battalion should be there soon. Air-drop isn't available as those AA Guns will rip the pelican's apart. I've got an idea, stand-by." The Captain replied, and brought up his data-pad, inserting some 2D units.

The map updated with the tanks, closing on on a ledge. The Captain quickly plotted an idea, like a sniper units, every time the tanks fired they moved back and relocated, making it harder to spot them, and the terrain was actually a benefit to the UNSC right now for this purpose.

"Alright, Lieutenant. Let me know if this works, I want your feedback. You aim at a AA gun, fire everything you have and pull back to a new location, repeat until the AA guns are destroyed. Alternatively, I can come up with something else, maybe a small archer missile bombardment from the UNSC fleet, if they have them available." The Captain said, sighing.

"Baker Platoons, sit-rep." The Captain requested.

[kuran]

Rear Admiral Daniel Yakamura
UNSCS Spirit of Reach
100km above Covenant Dig Site

"They have what at the dig site?"

Daniel could hardly believe what he was hearing. A Scarab? "What do we have landed that can destroy one?"

His tactical officer shrugged helplessly. "Not much sir. Some Scorpions, but...casualties will be heavy."

Daniel shook his head. "This is what we are designed for." Opening a general shipwide channel, he addressed the crew. "Action stations! Longswords prepare to launch, arm and fuel in accordance with ground attack pattern Charlie."

"And give me a line to admiral Klix." His communications officer nodded and confirmed that the line was open.

"Admiral, requesting permission to attack Covenant forces around the dig site sir. They have heavy equipment that our ground forces will have difficulty overcoming."

[jack]

Second Leiutenant Lukas Krüger
CO Third Platoon

It hadn't taken long to hump the roughly two klicks to the rally point. Finding the area unoccupied, he had set up security around the site and began to formulate a sitrep for Killinger. Right on time, his voice came over the company COM.

"Baker Platoons, sit-rep."

"Sir, the rally point is clear. We are prepared to dig in and await reinforcements."

Currently, his platoon was simply deployed in a circle around the rally point, not dug in.

[spartan129]

Gunnery Sergeant Francis Hayes, UNSCMC Tank Commander
Badger Armored Platoon, Task Force 77
Covenant Dig-site, Kholo

"Alright, Lieutenant. Let me know if this works, I want your feedback. You aim at a AA gun, fire everything you have and pull back to a new location, repeat until the AA guns are destroyed. Alternatively, I can come up with something else, maybe a small archer missile bombardment from the UNSC fleet, if they have them available."

Hayes smiled as the Captain explained his plan. After he was finished, Marshall replied: "Got it, sir. Even if you can't get air support, we're in position to give 'em hell. Tell us when you're ready, over."

Hayes pulled up to the cliff, as did Badger Three and Badger Four. Marshall's tank was aimed dead-center on the AA gun, and Hayes saw for the first time the scarab.

It was a huge, hulking thing, digging into the rocky ground. It was looking for...something. Hayes didn't know what; no one did. But if it was important to them, he was going to make sure they didn't get it.

[Deleted]

Captain Killinger
Baker Company
Dig-Site FOB

"Sir, the rally point is clear. We are prepared to dig in and await reinforcements.", the Captain's comm channel cracked to life, it was his new, and reliable, Lieutenant commanding the third platoon.

"Good job, Lieutenant. Dig-in. First platoon should be reporting back soon, I'll give up an upda... Stand-by." The Captain said, as first platoon buzzed his comm channel, reporting that the Scarab was digging. They seemed aware of the presence, and are setting up some serious defense. - "Lieutenant, dig-site is secured pretty good. We've got a plan in motion to take out the AA guns so we can have air-cover." The Captain added.

Second platoon's Commanding Officer actually came to the Captain, "Sir, why do you have me reporting to you when you are watching me work?" The Lieutenant said. "Eric, I want status updates. You'll understand eventually. You haven't reported in, so I'll assume you K.I.A?" The Captain said.

"No, sir..." The Lieutenant replied, and updated him on the base. Some vehicles had been put into defensive positions, but the area could easily be overwhelmed. Firing pits had been dug and the FOB Battalion was waiting for orders from there Commanding Officer.

"All available UNSC Forces awaiting orders, make way to the staging point Alpha, we are making the final preps for an assault. Stand-by..."

"Got it, sir. Even if you can't get air support, we're in position to give 'em hell. Tell us when you're ready, over.", the Tank commander radio'd in.

"Your call, Lieutenant. We are gathering for an assault. Personally, the sooner that big AA gun is destroyed, the better. We may have an airstrike inbound." The Captain responded, smiling.

Dedication, commitment and respect - That's what he liked to see. This guys weren't even under his command technically, but still following the idea the Captain had submitted, which means they liked it, or the Captain assumed they did.

Admiral Klix
UNSCS Arizona
En-Route to Rally Point Bravo

"Admiral, incoming transmission, channel two." The Communication officer reported, a channel designed for his fleet. "Bring it online." The Admiral said, and the communication officer nodded, the channel was open.

"Admiral, requesting permission to attack Covenant forces around the dig site sir. They have heavy equipment that our ground forces will have difficulty overcoming.", spoke the Rear Admiral of one of the two carriers.

"Your ship is a long ways away from the Rally Point, Rear Admiral. Permission granted, then get your ship back in formation, under-stood?" The Admiral said.

He was right, the UNSC Ground Forces needed help, and an airstrike would help. "All though, Rear Admiral. The area has a large active AA gun, we've got marine units co-operating with armored divisions to take it down, but it's a threat to your fighters. Your call." The Admiral added, before manually cutting the channel.

The Rear Admiral really wanted to see the UNSC Ground Forces to win that dig-site, and it contained Forerunner tech, or at least the brass, including the Admiral himself, thought it did. The contents of what inside it are virtually unknown, and it could be anything. Hopefully, it was a anti-son-of-a-bitch weapon he could use on the Covenant.

[jack]

Second Leiutenant Lukas Krüger
CO Third Platoon

"Good job, Lieutenant. Dig-in. First platoon should be reporting back soon, I'll give up an upda... Stand-by. Lieutenant, dig-site is secured pretty good. We've got a plan in motion to take out the AA guns so we can have air-cover."

"Aye, sir. We'll dig in and await reinforcements."

Lukas turned to his platoon sergeant.

"Get the men ready. Dig in. Establish immediate-action fighting positions. Have the men use their E-tools and scratch out a position to lay prone in for a short period of time. Use the hills to our advantage."

The sergeant nodded and began shouting orders left and right as Lukas broke out his own E-tool and began digging a fighting position. Before long, Warren joined him, as did Rose.

[spartan129]

Gunnery Sergeant Francis Hayes, UNSCMC Tank Commander
Badger Armored Platoon, Task Force 77
Covenant Dig-site, Kholo

"Your call, Lieutenant," the Captain responded over the comms, "We are gathering for an assault. Personally, the sooner that big AA gun is destroyed, the better. We may have an airstrike inbound."

"Yes, sir," Marshall replied, "Commencing bombardment!" Hayes noticed that he then switched his broadcast to the platoon only: "Alright Badger! Throw everything you've got at that AA Gun, then roll back from the cliff ASAP! We'll displace, then do it again!"

"Oorah!" Hayes shouted along with the rest of the platoon.

"On my mark!" Marshall said, "Three...two...ONE!"

The canyon shook as three 90mm cannons, 2 120mm cannons, and bursts from machine guns fired at the AA Gun down in the canyon. Almost as soon as the shots had been fired, the tanks all reversed back from the cliff. As they got back into cover, plasma flew up past the cliff, but it was nothing that could affect them at this point.

"Alright Badger, the next time we won't have as much time to get back-they know we're attacking them now!" Marshall shouted over the comms. "Captain!" he broadcasted to the CO, "first barrage was just released-Can you get me a sitrep of effect on target?"

As Hayes heard this, he wondered what all that energy must've done to the AA Gun. Sure, the core was heavily armored-but he figured the Covies were probably having a bad day down there.

[kuran]

Lieutenant Matthew Bradford "Cut-throat"
Longsword Alpha-1
Approaching Covenant Dig Site

Lieutenant Bradford was having one hell of a day. He didn't get to fly longswords as much as he liked. Normally he was a pelican pilot. But he did have cross-training, and the Spirit of Reach was always short on full pilots.

At least he was staying mostly in atmosphere today. He had never cared much for space flight, but he loved the qualities that came with atmospheric travel.

As the rest of the squadron behind him closed in to formation, he tilted the nose of his craft downwards. The Covenant were arrayed in a valley, which gave them the perfect opprutinity to be strafed. Not to mention be given a surprise in the form of the air-ground-space missiles that each of the fighters carried.

"This is Longsword Alpha one, broadcasting to all UNSC forces in the immediate area of the valley. Hang on to your hats and find a rock to hide behind boys. We've got a priority delivery for our friends."

As the 12 fighters roared into the valley, their primary target was shown. A large Covenant walking tank, a Scarab that appeared to be taking part in the excavation, was revealed. "Target's in sight boys...fire at will."

As the longswords roared through the valley at close to the speed of sound, within the space of several seconds close to a hundred missiles, detached from pods under the wings of the UNSC fighters, and after a moment of free-fall, rocket engines ignited. And with that, the deadly payload of explosives streaked towards their target, the shielded excavation scarab, while the Longswords flashed past overhead.

[Deleted]

Captain Killinger
Baker Company
Dig-Site

"first barrage was just released-Can you get me a sitrep of effect on target?" the CO of the tank group responded on his comm, overhead a group of twelve Long-Swords flew overhead, releasing a payload.

Well the tank rounds did little no no effect on the Scarab, it destroyed the AA gun not with-in it's shields reach, then the rockets hit. Explosion after explosion sounded as smoke filled the area, then sharper explosions and finally the louder, higher pitched snap of the shields. Finally around two dozen more explosions.

The Captain waited for the smoke to clear, the Scarab was disabled or destroyed, one of the two. A leg was blown clean off, and canon on the top was blown into pieces. The main weapon, the one that was drilling into the side of the rock was also blown off by the missiles, but the Scarab remaining standing, a little lopsided, but standing.

"Lieutenant, your tank... I think took out the AA gun, but the airstrike leveled the Scarab! This is the advantage we need." The Captain said, grabbing his M250 and M6Z Revolver. "Baker Company! The Scarab is down. All units, advance. We've got the support of the Marine battalion behind us. Let's do this!" The Captain added, switching to his Command Channel. "First Platoon and Second Platoon, regroup with third. Third, once you get people arriving, make the push. The Marine Battalion should be five minutes out, I'm on my way." The Captain said, turned into the general direction and started into a crisp paced run.

(( OOC: Duffle, you had twenty-four hours to counter, and you did not. Your Scarab is DISABLED and OUT OF THE FIGHT, however, it was the only think that took the hit. No other PC Character was killed, except for some unlucky NPC's. ))

[thenether]

UNSC Corporal Ari Haskil

Ari climbed out the pelican that he was dropped off in, he scanned the surrounding area,
"Look at that scarab, bet they thought that would stop the corp!" he said, pointing to the damaged hulk in the distance. "Still getting off sir?" he asked, looking at Sargent Rufus Jones
"Yep." Rufus replied, as he pumped his shotgun and the rest of the fire team climbed out "LETS GO! LETS GO!"

They joined the assault, charging towards the dig site. Mitchel had a DMR, and shot a grunt from long distance as he ran, a jackal returned fire, but missed, the needles hitting the ground behind him, Mitchel kept running, trying to keep his aim true. He shot three more times and the Jackal fell dead, it's head had a gaping hole in, Mitchel reloaded. Ari wished he had a long range rifle like that, he just wanted to put some of the covenant into a casket. Rufus knew what Ari was thinking
"Don't worry lad, we'll get ours" he said, reading his shotgun "Just give it a while"

OOC; Don't know if that shooting is even possible, but I just had to make something DIE

[spartan129]

Gunnery Sergeant Francis Hayes, UNSCMC Tank Commander
Badger Armored Platoon, Task Force 77
Covenant Dig-site, Kholo

"Lieutenant, your tanks I think took out the AA gun," the Captain replied sharply, before adding, with a lift to his voice, "but the airstrike leveled the Scarab! This is the advantage we need."

A chorus of shouts and "Oorahs" issued from Badger Platoon, as they made their way to a rocky path that they could take down to the dig-site.

All units, advance. We've got the support of the Marine battalion behind us." Captain Killinger said over the comms. "Let's do this!" he added as Badger began descending the path.

Hayes checked his systems; although he knew they would be fine, it was a natural instinct at this point to check them frequently. He had noticed a couple of the tanks get hit with shrapnel from the rocks as they pulled away, but after checking the rest of the platoon's systems he discovered that none of them had been affected. Perhaps a few dents here and there, but nothing that showed up on the scanners.

"Badger!" Marshall barked to the platoon over the comms, "We're coming up on the Covenant camp...Fire at will!"

Hayes instantly designated a target for Hernandez-seconds later, the ghost was vaporized in an explosion of tungsten. Marshall's twin cannons hit a group of grunts, and Harper's machine gun laid down fire on a group of jackals. The new Badger four blew a pair of elites out of the way with a quick shot of the cannon, and Hernandez leveled the machine gun on Hayes' tank with the face of a jackal sniper...who subsequently ate dirt, as much as a dead alien-bird can.

"Captain, we're softening 'em up for you!" Marshall broadcasted to Killinger, "Can't tell how many there are, though-could be more in whatever they were digging."

[Deleted]

"Captain, we're softening 'em up for you!" The Lieutenant said over Killinger's comm, "Can't tell how many there are, though-could be more in whatever they were digging."

"Good to hear, Lieutenant! The Marines will make there final push now." The Captain said. "Platoon snipers, on the ridge. Let 'em have it." The Captain quickly ordered as he watched two snipers climb the rocks. It wasn't much, but snipers were snipers.

The weather was starting to get gloomy, as a steady Pat.. Pat.. Pat of rain drops fell onto the dust covered armor of the Captains. Hopefully, it wouldn't rain hard. The forcast predicted this type of weather, and with hours of sunlight still left, at least if it did rain it would be warmer then when at night.

The Captain finally reached the Staging point, as watched as an entire battalion of Marines started to move towards the Covenant dig-site at a brisk pace. This mission was about to go good, or bad, depending on the resistance remaining from the airstrike.

Regardless, it was time to move.

(( OOC: Are ANY Covenant PC's still alive? If not, this Objective is pretty much an insta-win for the UNSC and we will re-deploy into the City. ))

[jack]

Second Lieutenant Lukas Krüger
Third Platoon

As soon as the communique from the Captain came through, Lukas had replied with a terse "Aye, sir" then stood and waved to his men. Taking point, he led the platoon to the digsite at a brisk trot. Upon reaching the trail that led down to the digsite, Lukas scrambled down.

"Platoon! Use the tanks for cover! Keep up fire on the Covenant!"

Lukas crouched behind a tank and began firing at the Covenant in front of the tank.

[thenether]

OOC: Wasn't there only one covenant player in here? Duffle's scarab?

Ari looked up at the rain "Great, now we can get coated in mud as well," he said
"Quit your belly aching, remember you're a leatherneck" Rufus ordered, Ari sighed and looked at Mitchel, who seemed to be having a whale of a time with the DMR
"Hey, Mitch, having a good time"
"Yep, why, jealous?"
"Well he won't be for much longer, we're getting closer. Ari! Jordan! Keep your eyes on them hostiles, track them and light them up once we're in range!"
"Looks like the armour has this one handled"
"Maybe they do now, but if anything goes wrong, we need to be there to help, now quit talkin' and start shootin'!"

As soon as they were in range, Ari and Jordan opened fire, Jordan killed a jackal and a grunt
"Ari! Two already!"
"Good for you, I'm on three!"
"I won't be outdone this time" Jordan said. He continued to fire, mowing down a grunt, then turned his attention to a skirmisher. "How you doing now Ari?"
"Still on three, you stole my kills,"
"Didn't see your name on it."

[Deleted]

This is a FORCE POST for ALL players. Since no Covenant PC users are active in this mission, it is being closed.

ALL UNSC PC Characters here successfully took the dig-site, taking medium to heavy casualties even with the Scarab destroyed. Those who survived secured the area. The Marine Battalion assisting in the operation secured the dig-site. Baker Company, Badger Platoon and any other PC Character effectively boarded Pelican's and Albatross's and headed to Kholo City.

Sorry guys.

[/b]