Mission 3 Part 2: Setback after setback...

[z]

-Gunnery Sergeant Lucy Grey and Lunar Squad, Radio Tower-

Anders tipped his head a bit and pressed the button to his COMM.

"Z! We got some kid on the COMM, our TEAMCOMM, saying he needs cover!" He said, the channel open to where the kid could hear.

"I got it, Anders. Go back to work!" Lucy waled a few paces away from her squad to another chunk of cover and used her visor to zoom in on the Corporal's position.
"Gunnery Sergeant Lucy Grey here. I have you in my sights kid, Why are you even here?"

Without waiting for an answer Lucy shut off the zoom and looked over at her squad.

"Jackson! Anders! Cover our ODST friend. Coxxy, keep pegging Covenant, don't let any get close." She said before flicking back to the COMM.
"My Sniper and Rifleman are watching your ass, run as fast as you fucking can and get here, my sniper doesn't miss and he's impatient, so you might want to get the lead out of your ass and get the fuck over here."

Jackson let off a trio of sniper rounds and three Grunts went down only a few feet behind the Corporal.

"Move it, Kid!" Jackson yelled into the TEAMCOMM, his Russian accent teaming with anger.

"Look on the bright side, Sev." Alex said, looking at Jackson. "That makes Sixty."

-Sgt. Fredrick Johns and KEVLAR Team, UNSC Airstrip-

KEVLAR's tactics were not as effective this time. One Ghost was neutralized by two HMG blasts, and Infantry was not much. But as the other got smart and rammed right into Deidra's suit leg, making her fall face first and leaving it to Fredrick and Ken.

It took longer, with an Elite driver being smart it was quite a pain but they managed to take it out, leaving the rest to the Marines as they helped Deidra up.

Not their best.. Not by far.... But it was done, and their seuits were scarred and banged up already... Fun...

[kartoffelfogel]

Major Domo Legra 'Adantee

Legra froze.

"TIL!" he bellowed.

"Friend, you live! And--is that--is that--Essa?"


He lowered his curveblades, letting them hang limp a few inches from the floor. He took a few tentative steps forward...

...and immediately barged past Til to stare at Essa.

The soft-spoken yet stolid Minor, true to form, gave him a weak smile, and made an attempt at getting up.

"Minor Essa...ready to serve."

"Nonsense." Legra said, placing his hands on Essa shoulders and placing him firmly back against the ground.

He turned to Til once more. "Old friend... I cannot thank you enough. But...we must get out of here, and back to our own lines. We must..."

He broke off.

Essa smiled once more. "No, Major, you must join the assault on the Human airbase. Complete our task. Find Seroth and Breek."

"No. We cannot carry you, and we cannot leave you here."

"But I must stay here. I can, and I will."

"What! Are you mazed? I will allow no such thing! I..."

Essa raised a hand.
"This... young Major... who saved me. What say he?"

[Huka]

Til looked in surprise, amazed on how Essa made it up here through the fire, but glad to see him alive. [yellow]"Legra, as much as I dislike as it, I agree with Essa. We must help in the battle on the human airbase or our survival would be for nothing. I won't let Essa alone, I'll make sure to leave of my own behind for him and call for a medical support. [/yellow] Til said, placing a hand on Legra' s shoulder.

(OCC: I will edit my last post)

[milostsamis]

Corporal Matthew Stroud Task Force 77: Lunar Squad Approaching Radio Tower

Mattie bit down on his lip waiting for the reply, and sighed in relief when it came. "Gunnery Sergeant Lucy Grey here. I have you in my sights kid, Why are you even here?" There was a brief moment of silence and then she spoke again. My Sniper and Rifleman are watching your ass, run as fast as you fucking can and get here, my sniper doesn't miss and he's impatient, so you might want to get the lead out of your ass and get the fuck over here." Mattie wasn't complaining, he had his cover fire, so there was no reason to not continue anymore.

But for a few short seconds, he couldn't move. His mind was plagued with thoughts of death and pain. Being shot while on the run, finished off like an injured animal. Exploding into a bunch of pieces by a needler, like the corporal from his mission not too long ago. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live, a long healthy life. He hit himself on the helmet and cleared his head. He'd live a long life. He wasn't too sure about the healthy part though, nothing healthy about a war with technologically superior enemies, with greater numbers. He would live long, though. He would.

He hefted his assault rifle up, watching both his flanks as the sniper took down three grunts on his rear. "Move it, Kid!" the man said, a Russian accent coating his words.

"I'm on my way." he said before beginning the seemingly endless run ahead of him. Plasma bolts were criss-crossing in every direction, some being near misses to himself. He fired off two controlled bursts and took down a Jackal and a Grunt as they began to swerve towards his direction. "I've got an Elite, can't take him on my own." he reported through he COMM. Once the Elite had been taken care of by one of the ODSTs, he picked up his pace. There were twenty meters left, and these would be the most difficult, and the most dangerous.

He pulled a grenade from his belt and pulled the pin, counted to three, and hurled it towards an advancing lance. The small explosive landed between the four aliens and exploded nearly on impact, blasting the lance into nothing. Ten meters, and Mattie was panting, not from exhaustion, but from the extreme terror that was running through him at that moment. He fired off another burst and a Grunt dropped five meters away. As he approached the marine fortified position, a green bolt of plasma made contact with his lower left leg that made him trip over the bits of wall and rubble that were being used for cover.

"Ah! Shit." he cursed, not from the pain of the intense burn on his leg, but that he had tripped and fallen flat on his face. He was up within a matter of seconds, a slight hobble as he neared his new commander. While he stood, he leaned forward to avoid incoming fire, and was slightly tilted to the side to keep pressure off of his leg. "Corporal Mattie Stroud, I've recently been assigned to your squad, ma'am." Mattie reported.

[kartoffelfogel]

Major Domo Legra 'Adantee

"I...I thank you, Til. I trust your judgement as much as ever." Legra bowed his head at Essa. "May your ancestors watch over you, your Forerunners pass over you, and your enemies flee from you." He said, uttering an old proverb.

He turned once more to Til, raising both of his curveblades. "I see no other option. Much of this city has already been taken--but we must finish the job in the name of the warriors who have fallen. We must take find transportation, and join the main assault on the Human airbase."

His blades flashed. "That, and exact some measure of revenge."

[z]

-Lucy-

When the ODST came to the barricade Lucy immediately reacted with him going down with a shot to the leg, with plenty of fire from her Rocket Launcher she had picked up, killing the Lance moving up behind him as he got up and lumbered into the protection.

"Alright, Kid... Skip intro's for now and go get your leg checked out god dammit." Lucy grummbled slightly and began to pace back and fourth.

"Two new ones in one day..? God what is command trying to do? Make me go insane?" She asked, passing her Rocker Launcher and dropping her ammo at the foot of a passing Marine as she snatched a single shotgun shell from his belt and nodded.

"My gift to you, use it smarter than i did..."

Lucy sighed and sat down, looking up at the sky as she felt around on her belt.

"Damn... Alex, I lost my smokes, you got any?" Lucy asked, removing her helmet as she sat with her back to a barricade, not like she was going to be much help.... She was a CQC and she fucking hated using Sniper Rifles...

"Yeah boss I got one." A single cigarette came over the cover and Lucy caught it in her hand.

"Got a lighter?" She asked, a second later a silver lighter landed between her legs, which she seized up and used to light the cigarette, blowing smoke into the air through her nose, her brown hair falling everywhere on her shoulders and back, some on her chest. All that time in the helmet had made it go a bit screwy.. But she didn't care... She was bored... Tired too... When she had gotten to the hotel she had planned on a nap, but now here she was fighting the god damned Covenant and having a Missing ODST Lieutenant... The one who was supposed to be leading Lunar.. and the shitty part was that the bulk of their "Squad" was with him....

Lunar was a big group of Spec-Op ODST's, she had only met Isin so far, but eh... He was enough at first but now here sat Lucy, wondering what the fuck to do since she was utterly worthless in the fight right now.

-Fredrick-

A split second passed before each of the CYCLOPS stod and Fredrick walked a few feet away as his COMM was keyed.

"KEVLAR! We need you to reinforce an Evac shuttle, get there as fast as you can!"

Fredrick nodded and motioned his team to come with him before keying the Captains COMM. "Gotta jet Capin', was fun"

Each of the large robotic monsters charged off into the trees, the sounds of breaking bark slowly fading.

(OOC: Kevlar is O.U.T)

-Mira Grey and Eclipse Platoon-

Moving up on the air strip, Rocket Launcher on her shoulder she yelled out, getting her Marines situated. "Eclipse! Get where they need you! Cole, up front with me! Abby, Joseph, rifles up and back us up at range. Bren, go with em. And lastly Ben, come with me, we find who's in charge and see if you can work Medic."

Tapping into the COMM Mira spoke.

"Sergeant Grey of Eclipse Platoon here to whomever is in charge. I got a medic if you need a hand with wounded, Riflemen, and some heavy weaponry here. Tell us where you need us."

-Alex summers-

Leaping from the Pelican onto the black concrete, each of the members of Green Squad aiming their guns already down the range, their visors a deep blue as the moved down and both Alex and Clay got into a crouch, aiming a BR and a DMR down the long range while Sgt. Lewis and Amy moved up...

Alex found herself watching Amy's back as she ran off, quickly shaking her head and sighing, the finger on her cybernetic arm lingering on the trigger.

She felt Clay's hand on her shoulder and she looked over at him, each nodded at each other and they went back to looking through their scope's.

"Green Squad reporting..." Lewis's deep voice said over the COMM.

Alex gave a shaky sigh and watched as a rather attractive female Marine ran past her with her platoon, Rocket on her shoulder..

Alex bit her lip... She hated to show her attraction towards the same gender.. She was always judged.. Unless it was her squad...

[Deleted]

^{Sergeant Killinger
Fire Team Echo}

--------------------------------------------------------
"Hey, Sergeant. ETA to Glasgow Command Center is seven minutes!" The Pelican pilot said. The large troop transport carried the squad to their new assigned Captain.

"Indigo 2-1 hailing Captain Sierra Lloyd. I've got some reinforcements for you. Sergeant Killinger and his fire-team. ETA, six minutes to Glasgow Command Center. Is it safe enough to land, how copy?" The Pilot said into a comm's channel, hoping that the Captain would pick up.

"All right boys... This is it. Lock and load. This is a combat situation. We are Fire-Team Echo. Hicks, Tyler, Burnbag and I will make First Squad. Fletchmen, Volk, Camrose and West, your Second Squad. All right marines. Lock and load!" Killinger said to his team.

The eight marines prepared for a combat drop. Getting their weapons ready to go. MA5B for seven marines, but Burnbag opened his rifles bag. Inside, his pride and joy. A SRS 99 AM Sniper Rifle. The marines also grabbed their respective side-arms, the M6 Series handguns. Killinger opted to load his gun last. He made sure each and every marine under his command had the critical tool that won wars. Ammunition.

When the last marine loaded up, the drop ship was roughly two minutes from touch down. Killinger picked up one of his Assault Rifles magazines and picked up a "Clip" and put the rounds on it. With his pointer and middle finger he was able to hold the clip in place well he slid the rounds into the magazine. An old 21st century trick. With this trick, he managed to load six magazines just as the dropship started to slow down.

"This is Indigo 2-1. We have arrived at Glasgow and awaiting orders. If necessary, we'll drop your troops right here, Ma'am." The Pilot said.

Killinger had put on his headset. "Captain Lloyd. This is Sergeant Killinger reporting for duty, Ma'am. - Sorry we are late."

[Huka]

[yellow]"And revenge we shall have, brother."[/yellow] Til said with a rare fiercenes in his voice but his moment was ruined with a short series of coughes. [yellow]"First thing to do is to get out of this building before it collaspe on us." [/yellow]He recommended.

[kel]

Kel arrived at the peak of the hill, crouched, rifle at the ready. She zoomed her mask's visor, and scanned the human fortifications on the opposite side of the hill. The walls of the city acted as the border between the civilization of humans, and the wild forest the Covenant occupied.

She promptly scanned the terrain between the city and the hill, but it was too hard to see the source of the message she had responded to. She hoped they would arrive soon. She didn't want to wait for the dead, when she could commence with her own plans to help in the fight. She had a portion of her lance, but it wouldn't be of much use without someone to provide the grunt work of the operation.

[kartoffelfogel]

Major Domo Legra 'Adatnee

Legra gave a fierce nod at Til's voice. "Indeed, brother--while we could run all the way back down, I see a more expeditious route."

He raised on of his blades to indicate a taut black cable that ran off the building's roof to a ruined building nearer to the ground.

"As our Phantom crashed, we struck the side of that human structure. That cable would serve as an excellent zipline..."

Legra approached it, picking up a twisted shard of Phantom metal from the ground. He sheathed his blades, and hooked the piece of metal around the cable, holding it at both ends.

"Follow me...if you dare."

Legra leaped.

[milostsamis]

Corporal Mattie Stroud Task Force 77: Lunar Squad Defending the Radio Tower

"Alright, Kid... Skip intro's for now and go get your leg checked out god dammit." Lucy said, and Mattie nodded.

"Yes ma'am." he said, giving her a brisk salute before limping off to find himself a medic. His leg was really hurting now, as if his flesh was bubbling and melting off. Hell, it probably was, but he didn't have the stomach to look at the moment. He slid his hand into the air, careful to look for any enemy fire and called, "Medic!" Within a few moments, a marine was by his side, pressing him down into a sitting position and resting his leg in a raised position. His heel was resting on a rock, and he saw his calf for the first time after being shot.

It was bright red, many layers of his flesh missing from where it had burned. There wasn't much blood, the burn had kind of closed off the wound, but there was a smell that burned Mattie's nose and made him want to vomit. The smell of his burnt flesh churned the chemicals in his stomach and he felt it start to rise in his throat. With a forced swallow, he sent the bile back down into his stomach, and he gasped for air. He was sweating now, the burn starting to effect his entire body.

It wasn't a fever kind of burn, but it was a temperature high enough to make him feel uncomfortable. "It'll be alright." the medic said, "Just going to wrap it up with some lubricated bandages, keep it cool. You're going to live, but you'll have to get some surgery to replace some things in your leg." Mattie groaned. First mission as an ODST and he already needed some form of medical expertise. There was a moment of silence as the medic, a private John Walsh, wrapped his calf up with the bandages. This silence was only broken by the silent gasps of pain that escaped Mattie. "You can go back to your squad now, you're all finished." the medic said upon finishing the wrap.

"Alright. Thanks, private." Mattie said before crouching low and making his way back to Lunar. "Alright, ma'am I'm all set now. Is there any word on reinforcements or evacuation yet?" Mattie asked the new commander as he fired his assault rifle off at a lance of Jackals, taking one down before the rest took cover.

[Huka]

Watching Legra disappear down the cable, Til looked to Essa and nodded before following his fellow hunter down the cable. The ride down was speedy but nothing he couldn't handle. Tumbling to his feet, he looked at the battle where he left his lance, "Skor, what is the progress?" He asked in a deep tone.

There was the reports of plasma and ballistic fire but Skor immediately answered, "There are humans...obviously, commander, but don't worry, Sufang is dealing with them inside their nest. I can see less fire from them."

"Good work, my apprentice." He said with approval. "After you deal with them, come to the given location to protect one of Legra's warriors and summon a phantom with medical support for him and other wounded. Understand me?" He asked and Skor quickly answered with a growl, most likely from a hit but corrected himself, "As you command."

"When the phantom come, if you are able, you will report to me for further orders." Til said and Skor accepted his leaders' orders before ending transmission.

Then he looked to Legra and nodded, he was ready to go.

[z]

-Lucy-

Looking up at her new addition she blew out smoke through her mouth before speaking and taking the smoke from her mouth.

"We've been here not even an hour Corporal... Go ask the Captain or Staff Sergeant Baker, they seem to be the ones who are making the tactics, I'm just here with my squad, missing an LT god dammit..." She cursed and tapped the cigarette before setting it back between her lips.

[kartoffelfogel]

Major Domo Legra 'Adantee

Legra's feet in the concrete of the next building, the reassuring jarring of his bones echoing up his form. Hitting the ground running, one of his hands flew up to his communicator.

"Command, this is Major Domo Legra 'Adantee. I am accompanied by Major Domo Til 'Muramee. We are en route to the Human airbase We request a support Phantom to carry us there with reinforcements immediately."

His hand dropped from his communicator to rest on the handle of his bone curveblade. His other hand found his opposite curveblade, and he drew them both, both flashing steel and scale in the light.

He did not need to turn around to know that Til would be hard on his heels.

[Dufflepud]

"Legra, this is Command. We regret to inform you that there are no sangheili currently available. However, a phantom transporting Legion Master Xet and a creche of skirmishers is on route. Command out."

Skirmisher Legion Master Xet


Xet tasted the air as his low flying craft just barely skimmed across the treetops. It smelt of blood and smoke, and yet at the same time there was a freshness to the air that he had not tasted in far to long. A full creche of warriors was ready to deploy behind him, including his honor guard, and the best warriors from his legion. Obviously, the sangheili they were on route to assist would not appreciate Xet's company, but the confident Zealot would do nothing if not prove his honor and skill in battle.

"By the end of the day, I shall hold their respect!" vowed the skirmisher under his breath. Just then, one of his honor guardsmen tapped him on the shoulder with an armored gauntlet.

"Sir," she said, "We have reached our destination"

"Good," replied Xet, before turning to his single creche, "Warriors of the covenant! Fight well and you will earn yourself a place in the great journey! Move out!"

The Phantom, having reached the treeline, began to approach the ground. Still twenty feet up, Xet took a running leap, landing gracefully beside a tall sangheili Major.

"Legra, I presume?" asked the Zealot, standing upright as his men began to descend. Xet activated his golden shield gauntlet, drawing his rifle from his back, and he soon saw several more elites approaching.

Sangheili! Xet sighed inwardly.

[Martial Virtue]

Captain Sierra Lloyd

The rush of incoming plasma bolts were no longer sounding so distant to Captain Lloyd's ears. The Covenant were practically on her doorstep, and she had yet to finish piling everyone back into the Command Center building and up to the evac Pelicans. She let out a curse, wiped the blood continuing to dribble occasionally into her left eye, and opened a COM channel to her XO, First Lieutenant James.

"James!"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"How're you set up in the Command Center? What's our status?"

"All ready to go, Captain. We've got our wounded on board and the civvies taken care of. Just waiting on you now, ma'am."

"All right! Start loading up your platoon, Lieutenant! And tell the pilots to come back around for the rest of us afterward! We need to blow this place ASAP! The Covenant are almost on us!"

"Got it, Captain!"

Sierra turned back towards the Covenant just in time to watch a group of Grunts try to run at her and the single squad that was left in the open, still attempting to get inside the building. They'd been stalled by all the Covies around that wanted to make sure that didn't happen. Lloyd brought her weapon to bear just as two of the Grunts were taken out by covering fire coming from the rooftop. She assumed it was one of the many squads that had just landed up there, and then rattled off a steady stream of bullets from her own BR55. She took down three Grunts before the weapon clicked - its signal that the captain needed to reload.

"Goddammit," she said to herself. Then, glancing up, she yelled at the nearest Marine, "Sergeant, get your fucking ass inside, now! I'll keep them busy, but your squad needs to get in that building! Just cover my six, Marine!"

The sergeant started to protest but stopped when Sierra gave him her best death glare. She'd be damned if she lost anymore men today. It was time to finish this and get the rest of her Marines safely inside.

After she finished inserting a new clip into her battle rifle, Captain Lloyd popped back up from cover and began firing again. That's when she heard more traffic coming in on her COM.

"This is Sgt. Brown reporting. We have delivered the medic and have helped move the civilians to evac. Orders Ma'am?"

"Cover us from the rooftop, Sergeant! We're almost inside! Then we're getting the hell out of here so we can blow the building!"

Sierra's lungs were beginning to ache from all the yelling. Things had never been quite the same since she'd been shot clear through her armor several years ago. But she pushed through the pain, hoping everything would work out.

In the next few minutes she found herself alone out there in the street, trying to stem the incoming tide of Covenant all on her own. In retrospect, that hadn't been such a good plan. She was thinking of hailing Dylan to say her goodbyes when a glimmer of hope arrived.

"Indigo 2-1 hailing Captain Sierra Lloyd. I've got some reinforcements for you. Sergeant Killinger and his fire-team. ETA, six minutes to Glasgow Command Center. Is it safe enough to land, how copy?"

In that same moment, a barrage of needles bounced and exploded off the concrete barricade Sierra had just ducked behind. She realized with more than a little panic that those rounds could've easily hit her instead and detonated inside her body. For a second, she couldn't quite form the words over the open COM channel. Thankfully, the pilot hailed her again a few minutes later.

"This is Indigo 2-1. We have arrived at Glasgow and awaiting orders. If necessary, we'll drop your troops right here, Ma'am."

Then she heard a Marine's voice.

"Captain Lloyd. This is Sergeant Killinger reporting for duty, Ma'am. - Sorry we are late."

To the pilot, Sierra replied, "Get them on the ground now, wherever you can! I need reinforcement near the Command Center on the double! I don't know how much longer we can hold out!"

To Sergeant Killinger, she said, "Glad to hear there's more friendlies joining the party, Sergeant! Now get your ass to the front entrance - it's me against the whole Covenant fucking army, and I can use all the help I can get!"

Captain Dylan Lloyd

Things weren't going much better for Dylan at the moment, either. The mechs had just left, saying a quick, "Gotta jet Capin', was fun" in lieu of any real explanation as to why they would depart in the middle of a fight. But Captain Lloyd had to admit, they'd done a number on the incoming Covie vehicles. He spared a brief glimpse from behind his cover to see the smoking wrecks of a couple of Ghosts and Spectres each. It just would've been nice to have some additional help with the infantry on its way in.

Then his COM crackled.

"Green Squad reporting," a man's voice said. And a moment later, a woman's also came through.

"Sergeant Grey of Eclipse Platoon here to whomever is in charge. I got a medic if you need a hand with wounded, Riflemen, and some heavy weaponry here. Tell us where you need us."

Dylan fired a burst from his MA37 at the enemy, bringing down two Jackals before he responded.

"Damn fine to hear you guys drop in, Sergeants! We've got Covenant on approach! I don't know how many, but I do know we've been fighting non-stop for several minutes now, and we've been left with nothing but our rifles now that the mechs are gone. Find any good spot to set up shop, and just start unloading on those alien bastards!"

[darthsloan]

"Listen up squad... we have our captain is below pushing to our position. Our job is simple, cover her approach so that she makes it to the building with out being riddled with holes. Johnson, you'll keep an eye on the buildings for snipers. the rest of you will cover our Captain. Remember, keep your shots in small bursts, three rounds if you can help it. When you spray bullets and not hit any thing it makes you look like an ass. Hoooah?!"

It was like an automatic reflex as the squad shouted "Hooah!" in response and got to our positions and observed the fighting below. Surely enough she was there and with company. The squad threw bursts at the covenant below, few of them dropped a few grunts, and some of the covies attempted shooting at the squad, though they had sufficient cover. Pvt. Johnson stood from the fighting, scanning the rooftops for snipers, and suprisingly found one emerging onto the rooftop of a building in front of them. Johnson didn't just stand there either, he quickly snapped up his rifle and sent, semi-automatically, several rounds at the jackal sniper. It took a few moments but it went down.

[Deleted]

^{Sergeant Killinger
Fire Team Echo}

"Glad to hear there's more friendlies joining the party, Sergeant! Now get your ass to the front entrance - it's me against the whole Covenant fucking army, and I can use all the help I can get!" A female voice echoed through the dull interior of the Pelican.

"Yes ma'am. We are on the way."

The Pelican pushed forward then descended and the rear hatched opened with stress. As it creaked and screeched open, a marine in his squad swore. It was loud.
"Go, go, go!" The Sergeant yelled, and ran right out not realizing that the pelican hadn't descended to the ground. He landed with a dull thump "Oh crap..." He said, and got up brushing off his combat gear. The Command Center was seven blocks to the North.

"This is as far as we can take you Sergeant. It looks like the Command Center is going to be over run. Indigo out."

As the last marine stepped of the ramp, the pelican rotated and took off, barely missing a few buildings. Bolts of plasma hit the armor of the troop transport. Yup, they were close.

"Captain, we are foot mobile." The Sergeant said into his comm, then switched the link to his unit.

"Alright. Alpha team, move up. Bravo, you got the rear!" He said, because he was Alpha's lead, he moved forward. The area was literally looking overrun. The Sergeant stepped over some concrete from the destroyed building (( I'd assume their are destroyed buildings in a war, if not, I can remove this...)) and moved on. The Command Center was under trouble, and so was the Captain.

"Bravo Team, new plan. Take the other side of the road, I can see the Command Center now, we need to hustle." The Sergeant said, starting to sprint, but still slow enough he could check his corners.

He finally reached the road across the command center. Some human blood was here, so he'd assumed that their had been casualties.

"Captain!" He screamed across. "We are here. Advancing. Cover fire!" He added.

"Alpha, we are to suppress over there" The Sergeant pointed using his thump flipped over his shoulder. It was an area were Covenant fire was coming from. "As we are suppressing, Bravo is going to move across the street. Burnbag, you are to take your Sniper and fire at any targets once you get across, same goes with the rest of you. You suppress well we cross."

All seven marines under Killinger's command nodded. The understood the plan. Killinger and his squad moved behind a burned out car. "Cover fire!" Killinger yelled, popped up and pulled the trigger.

Next came the barks of four Standard Issue UNSC Marine Assault Rifles. As the first of the few hundred smoking shells hit the road under neath the squad, Bravo valted across the road. Shards of needlers, plasma bolts of Plasma Rifles and Pistols landed on the road and buildings. To close, for the entire Bravo squad could have died, but they reached the other side. Bravo Lead gave Killinger the thumps up.

Killinger ducked behind the car and moved back behind the wall, one by one so did the rest of the squad, and a moment before a few plasma grenades landed near the vehicle and exploded, causing it to flip end over end.

Killinger reloaded, then put his thumbs up. He was ready. He turned to his team. "You guys ready?"
"Last one their is a rotten egg." Hicks said, smiling.
"Or, should I say" Hicks added, before being cut off.
"Shut up, Hicks. This isn't a time for that." Killinger said.

Hicks understood cleanly, and it was the wrong time to start popping off jokes. "Right... Sorry, Sarge"

Bravo opened up suppression fire, Killinger and Alpha's chance to get across the street, alive or dead.

Killinger turned, and ran. The small dust flipped up as he ran across the road, Hicks wasn't ready for that. Killinger had nearly crossed the road before Hicks even moved.

Killinger slid into cover, popped up and fired his rifle, joined by the rest of Bravo team who were firing as well.

A few soldiers yelled out that they were reloading.
"Hold fire! Alpha is across!" Killinger informed the squad.

Killinger ducked and weaved across a few pieces of cover, and found the Captain. He kept his head down, because their were dents, scratches and all sorts on the wall above her.

"Fire-Team Echo, has arrived, Ma'am" He said. Killinger rose his hand and brought it to his forehead, a salute. He dropped it before the Captain could respond, this was a war zone.

"Fire-Team Echo, regroup." Killinger said into his teams COMM channel.
Within a few minutes, Fire-Team Echo was assembled.
"Your orders, Ma'am?" Killinger asked.

[kartoffelfogel]

Major Domo Legra 'Adantee

"You can deactivate your shield gauntlet, Kig-Yar, and return to your Phantom. There is no glory to be earned here--the field of battle is elsewhere."

Legra sheathed his blades as the Phantoms full of Kig-Yar neared the rooftop. They were all Skirmishers--bright, alert and vicious. Legra grunted with approval.

"You are correct. But I am Major 'Adantee to you, comrade. I presume you lead this creche--how am I to address you?"

[hollowsaber]

Planet Albert, City of Glasgow. Entering via Bridge Connection Bracknell-Glasgow. Reaper Platoon: Perspective of Major Foely

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“Open the gate!” One of the marines yelled from the top of the gate, the order echoing down over the fighting to the command post below. Three marines echoed the call, getting the attention of the operator as he hid within the walls of the building.

The two massive gate doors grumbled and started to twitch, slowly parting in the middle as the massive sheets of metal moved from each other. Almost instantly, when enough room was made, three Warthogs roared through the entrance, dust and dirt kicking up behind them as they hastily moved into the fight. Two of them yanked to the right, rolling to the side of the road while the third moved to the left. Their Light Anti-Aircraft Guns blasted to life, the tri-barreled turrets spewing out .50 caliber rounds into the ranks of the Covenant soldiers assaulting the gate, tearing the creatures to all hell. Two more warthogs popped through the gate only seconds after them, stopping in the middle of the road with their front ends staring down the main group in the center. The gunners cycled the bullet-feeds into the barrels and quickly began firing downrange as well. The passengers and drivers hefted their battle rifles and assault rifles to their shoulders and began firing over the windshields of the vehicles, cleaning up what the machine guns failed to kill.

“Special Delivery you Alien Sonsabitches!” An ODST laughed over the gate’s local channel as three 30mm Triple Feed Auto-Cannons blasted from the opening gate.

From behind the cover of the Warthog’s and ODSTs fire, a trio of M888 Salamander Infantry Fighting Vehicles rolled into the fight. Beasts made of pure armor, growled low as the bright sunlight was swallowed up by their jet-black anti-reflective paint jobs. Each Salamander was flanked by two black Cougars, one armed with a M247H HMG and the other armed with a MG460 Grenade Launcher. Another group of Warthogs skidded beside the vehicles, their turrets alive with lead as the armored convoy rained hell down on the Covenant.

The back of the forward Salamander popped open and clambered on its hinges as 5 ODSTs piled out, taking up defensive positions around the flanking Cougars. They took up positions on the back, their rifles checking targets and dropping them just as quickly as the machines guns. Even though they used it for cover, the Troopers kept their distance from the Cougars themselves, as the recoil of their guns rattled the vehicle some which would disturb their aim.. Another ODST strolled out of the vehicle slowly, a battle rifle strapped to his back as he walked into the sunlight. The ODST looked up to the sky, then to the fight as a plasma shot blasted over the armor of the APC on his left.

The ODST pulled his battle rifle free and shut the doors to the Salamander. With a hard punch, he alerted the crew that they were out, and the vehicles began rolling forward to get closer to the fight.

“On me Grey Squad!” Sergeant Locking called from the back of a Cougar, slamming its doors shut as the vehicle started to roll forward. 12 ODSTS now stood in the road, all looking to the one Trooper that had taken his time.

“Let’s get some answers, shall we?-” Foely nodded to Locking as the Sergeant walked up to him. As Locking got close, a long, pink needle streaked between them. Foely and Locking both turned to see a Jackal aiming his needler-rifle in their general direction… Well, until one of the Cougars adjusted it’s grenade launcher and send a grenade into its face.
“And let’s do it before we get shot…”

“Yes sir!” Locking looked to his Troopers and nodded to them, pulling his shotgun from his side.
“Let’s move Grey! Stick to me and the Major, provide fire support while we get a sit-rep.”

“Yes sir!” Were his answers, and the group moved swiftly over towards the command post. A few of the troopers aimed towards the fight, and only a few took shots towards the Covenant, but only scattered bursts went off. Their vehicles were doing much of the work, and as other troopers began filing out of the APCs, they were well protected this far from the line.

Upon arrival to the command center, the Squad was greeted by a pair of smiling faces in the doorway; two Marines acting as guardsmen to protect everyone else inside. When Foely walked past, he caught a glimpse of some bodies. When he looked to his left, three dead marines were sat against the back wall of the room, and another was being treated by a medic. A needle was stuck in the soldier’s stomach. Poor guy wasn’t going to last long.

Across the room, a civilian hid under his desk that was situated in the middle of a bunch of security-screens and a command panel for the gate. He was curled up and shook furiously. Beside the civilian, standing around a table next to the command table were three Marines; one captain and two lieutenants. They had a map out of the city along with a radio to stay connected to the fight as they argued over what they would do next. Three of the 12 ODSTs moved inside, the others took positions outside in the sandbags and behind the building. The three marines heard the ODSTs walking to them and turned to look, ending their argument immediately.

“I’ve gotta say, when Bracknell said we had reinforcements on the way, I didn’t think they’d send so many.” The Marine Captain and Foely locked forearms, giving a quick shake to each other as Foely turned his visor transparent.

“When we got word of what was happening, we headed back as quick as possible. First off, what’s the situation of the city? I can see the Covenant is here…” Foely looked down at the map as the Captain directed his attention down.

“We have orders to hold this gate for any reinforcements coming through, and civilians getting out. If you hadn’t started rolling up, I’m not sure if we would’ve lasted. Bracknell has everyone in the Task Force at three other points; the Command Center here to the middle area of the northern sector the Radio Tower to the middle of the area itself, and the Air Field, which I wouldn‘t worry about. The Command Center needs to be blown up, the Tower needs to be secured, and the Air Field must stay open so we can get all of the civilians out as well as ourselves as a last resort. Though, if we get the reinforcements we were promised, we won‘t need to fall back that far.” The Captain circled the different locations on the map with his finger, then a marker, as Foely digested his speech.

“How about a Lunar Squad? Any murmurs of them?” Foely looked to the Captain, but one of the Lieutenants stuck his finger at the Radio Tower.

“I heard them over the radio earlier, they are holding down the fort at the Tower. It’s getting pretty bad down there.” The Lieutenant added, and Foely pulled up his city map. He marked the locations of the three objectives for his platoon, and then slapped a NAV marker on the radio tower location.

“Alright, thanks. I got what I need. More reinforcements are on the way. Good luck to you all!” Foely gave a curt nod then moved out of the building with Grey squad at his hips.

“We’re mobile Reaper!” Locking spoke over the local channel.

The ODSTs nearest to the APCs pulled open the hatches and teams began falling back inside as Foely and Grey reached their transports. Foely halted at the door and waved his men and women inside of the secure vehicles. He looked around to the battle field, taking in the sight of piles of dead Covenant scattered all over. The gate was quiet now, except for a small fire team to the left that was fending off a running Lance.

“Gate to Bracknell is secure for the moment.” Foely nodded to the command center.
“Private Daimond!”

“Sir?!” A young ODST to Foely’s left perked up from behind a warthog, dust coating him lightly because of an explosion got the Major’s attention. The Trooper hopped out of the side seat of the warthog and started to jog towards Foely.

“Get in the vehicle and take a break. You did well.” Almost pushed inside, the Private stumbled inside of the APC as Foely closed the hatch-doors behind him. The Major moved quickly half-jogging over to the warthog the private had come from and nodded to the soldier in the front seat. Foely jumped inside the passenger seat and leans back against the seat.
“Let’s go.”

The Warthog’s tires spun for a moment, rubber finally connecting with the pavement as the vehicle roared back to life. The Warthog turned from the side of the road and took point in the front, driving along side another warthog that revved up to the front as well. The convoy formed a line, with Warthogs alternating with Cougars and Salamanders as the vehicles moved into the city. The convoy rolled quickly, the sounds of the engines and wheels shaking the buildings around them. They were about 10 clicks out, and it would take a while for them to actually reach the tower.

“Contacts! Contacts! Left side!” The gunner in the warthog next to Foely’s yelled over the platoon-wide COM, spinning his turret to a trio of Covenant Ghosts.

“Light ‘em up!” Another gunner called, and the warthogs splattered the Covenant vehicles with gun fire.

The first ghost didn’t even last three seconds as the driver, a Grunt, took several shots to his torso and methane-tank. The alien slumped forward onto the controls and the vehicle listed to the left, directly in the path of another Ghost. Out of confusion, the two collided and with the aid of the UNSC fire; exploded into a bright flash of purple. The third Ghost closed in on the convoy, and as gunfire bounced off the front chunk of armor, its two plasma cannons began to target one of the Cougars. From it’s right, another Cougar turned slightly left for a better angle before its grenade launcher blasted a round into the air. The Ghost was able to get one single plasma shot, then the grenade slammed into the main compartment, blowing the craft in half and it’s driver to pieces.

“Hell yea! All clear!” The gunner, three Warthogs back cheered over the COM.

“Good job, Troopers. Keep yours eyes open. I don’t want to be caught off guard. Eyes on all levels; street, sky, and buildings. I don’t want any surprises.” Foely ordered, his stern voice being answered by simple ‘Yes sir!’s.

Foely turned sideways some in his seat, glancing back only for a few seconds to make sure everyone was alert. Passengers held up their rifles, gunners twisted around, and even some drivers looked for potential threats while keeping their hands steady. This would give him time to reach Lunar hopefully. Yet, as Foely attempted to switch channels, some static came over into his helmet.

“Lunar Squad, this is Major Foely, do you read me?” Foely asked, only getting static. He snarled in aggravation and smacked his helmet.

“Anyone from Lunar Squad! If you can hear me, we’re coming in from Bracknell. We’re 10 clicks out and will reach you shortly. Hang in there, reinforcements are on the way. Foely out.” Static was all Foely heard, but it was probably from either hard fighting or just the distance. Damn radios. Hopefully Lunar would hold out until Foely could get there.

[Dufflepud]

"Major, is it?," replied the skirmisher, haughtily, "Then you will adress me as Legion Master, Major. I had thought that you were requesting assistance, not an evacuation!"

With that, He turned to face his warriors.

"Return to the phantom! The battle is elsewhere. We will be transporing several of our Sangheili comrades, most of which out rank you. Treat them as such."

Xet then leapt the twenty feet from the ground to the phantom, catching the edge with both sinewy arms, and springing up onto the ledge.

"Lower the vehicle so that our sangheili friends might join us!" Called Xet to the pilot, and his men shared a loud laugh.

[z]

-Lucy-

Stopping for a moment she heard Foley click over the COMM.

“Anyone fr-... Lunar...If you...an hear me....coming in from...nell. We.. 10... out and will reach you short.... Hang in there, reinforcements are... way. Foely out.”

"Major? Its Gunnery Sergeant Grey... Can't seem to find our LT at the moment, but back up would be nice, can never have enough ODSTs to show the regs how its done." She said laughing a bit afterward and tossing her smoke to the side, putting her helmet back on.

"Oh, Foley if you can hear me, tell Command to stop sending me fresh meat, if i get anymore i might go crazy!" She said standing and taking up her MA5C and slinging her MA45 on her back as she moved back up next to her men.

Jackson announced his Seventy-something kills by now and Lucy hung on one knee, zooming in on the other side of the clearing where the Covenant were.

"Coxxy! Your not all that new anymore, we have a new one." She said laughing a bit more and leaning forward a bit.

"Jackson! Got a big one on our left!"

She heard Jackson reload and a sniper scope zoom.

"Squid or Chimp?" He asked.

"Chimp, has some fancy armor, no Hammer though, thank God." Anders said as both the rifleman and the sniper fired, taking out the Brute and going back to work.

"Seventy Seven." Jackson muttered.

[Martial Virtue]

Captain Sierra Lloyd

Sierra had been taking heavy fire for over five minutes before any sort of relief showed up. Other than giving birth to her two kids, they felt like the longest stretch of minutes she'd ever had to endure.

She tried not to seem too blatantly relieved when Sergeant Killinger approached from the rear and snapped a quick salute.

"Fire-Team Echo, has arrived, Ma'am," the newly arrived sergeant said. "Your orders, Ma'am?"

Captain Lloyd was livid, but it only came out in her tone because of the loud sounds of heavy fire all around them, drowning out her raised voice. "Dammit, Sergeant! I think I'm enough of a target at the moment, don't you? If you salute me in the middle of the field ever again, I'll have all the Covie snipers in the goddamn area gunning for me and my ass will be dead on that pavement, are we clear?"

Before he could reply, Sierra took a deep breath, keeping her body pressed low to the barricade so she wouldn't get hit. "Anyway. Forget that for now. I want you to provide suppressive fire on my mark. I'm going to run into the building and get some items for distraction so we can all make it inside together. Understood?"

[Deleted]

The Sergeant cocked an eyebrow. "Dammit, Sergeant! I think I'm enough of a target at the moment, don't you? If you salute me in the middle of the field ever again, I'll have all the Covie snipers in the goddamn area gunning for me and my ass will be dead on that pavement, are we clear?" The Captain said.

Silently, he muffled. "Just payin' my respects, ma'am." Before popping up and pulling the trigger. A few plasma bolt's hit the barrier and he ducked.
"Fuck it. Burnbag!" Killinger said.
"Already on it, sir!" The young private responded, laying prone and with his sniper already down range.
The loud report from the sniper was an order it's self. The rest of Fire-Team Echo popped up from cover and started to spray the Covenant position.

Burnbag pulled the trigger again, then again and finally one last time before rolling into cover and grabbing a fresh four round magazine. "Fucking rights, boys! Four shots, four kills!" He screamed.

"To bad their are thousands of them and non of them are confirmed!" Killinger added. The privates face drained of all excitement.
"You need to confirm kills?" Burnbag asked. Someone kicked his, so he rolled over and fired his rifle some more.

The Sergeant kept firing, then when he needed to reload he turned towards the Captain "Sorry to give you an order, but move inside now well my team has them suppressed!" He yelled.

[Huka]

Hearing the disrespectful laughing from above, Til snarled to himself, watching the phantom lower towards them. [yellow] "Such arrogance." [/yellow] He mumbled to Legra before flexing his upper jaws and readying his legs, the Major Domo took a lowly crouch before making surprising jump that sprung him to land into the phantom's side.

Looking at the Kig-yar crowding the ship, he gave the respect to nod, and stepped aside for Legra with silence.

KIG-YAR MERCENARY SUFANG

Sufang hissed as the human tried to shoot him back but was only hitting concrete as the lightning-fast Kig-yar sprinted side to side before slashing his talons across its face.

It hollered a very sastifying scream as it fell back crying and grabbed its face in pain. Ripping its arms from its face, the bloodthirsty Kig-yar looked at the fear in the human's eyes before tearing its throat out with his fanged beak.

Screeching, the Kig-yar laughed manically, before sprinting to hunt down the last couple humans hiding in the building.

[Martial Virtue]

Captain Sierra Lloyd

Sierra saw a new set of green names pop up on her HUD as she sprinted back towards the Command Center building. It was another squad coming to cover her six. She registered the names SGT BROWN and PVT SLOAN before she stopped paying attention to her head's up display and turned to face her heavy weapons platoon leader instead. Oddly, she didn't feel much safer once she was inside.

"Fortnight!"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Get me two of your rocket boys and some mines. We need to keep the road clear for the rest of our exit. I believe some explosives will do the job just fine."

To her surprise, the usually mild-mannered young Marine officer grinned darkly at the prospect. "Already on it, Captain."

Captain Lloyd only had to wait a moment for things to get moving, but in the meantime she went around to the Marines closest to her and made sure they were holding up okay. Besides some dirty faces and scratched armor, her men looked all right. It seemed the cut above her left eye had finally stopped bleeding as well, although she could feel streams of it caking on the side of her face now. It was still painful and the drying blood made her face itch, but other than that it wasn't too bad of a wound.

Second Lieutenant Fortnight returned with four heavy weapons Marines and the equipment she'd requested in under two minutes. "All set, ma'am. We'll cover you as you head back out."

Lloyd nodded in acknowledgement. "Be right back, LT."

It was much harder getting back to the front this time. The air was thick with plasma and needles, but between the coverage on the rooftop and down below, the Marines weren't totally screwed at the moment. Still, it was high time to jet so they could blow the place before it was overrun. Which it would be eventually. Sierra had no doubt.

As soon as she reached Sergeants Killinger and Brown's squads behind the concrete barricades, Captain Lloyd brought her weapon up and shouted, "We've got rockets outgoing, Marines! Keep your heads down until you hear them go off, and then move your asses inside! I'll cover the heavy weapons specialists as they place mines while the Covies are distracted! Make sure you find someplace to cover fire too from the windows once you're in! On my mark!"

Sierra took in a breath then as she finally ducked down behind cover herself. She shut her eyes for a brief instant, taking in all the sounds of battle around her, and then cried out, "Three! Two! One! Mark!"

She hoped her plan would work. The explosions from the rockets should provide enough chaos in the enemy ranks to give her specialists a chance to plant the mines. And the mines would, in turn, allow them all to rush back into the Command Center mostly unharmed.

[kartoffelfogel]

Major Domo Legra 'Adantee

As soon as the cackles left the Kig-Yar's mouths, Legra had already taken a running leap into the Phantom. As he landed, the rough contact of the landing made him lose his balance--but he managed to save face by turning a desperate attempt to regain balance into a thump on the Kig-Yar's back.

He icily looked at the Kig-Yar, leaned over, and very quietly murmured to him.

"I am not merely a Major... Legion Master. I am also Huntsmaster of Templar's Rest... and generally I have not had the pleasure of listening to prey talk back."

Slightly out of breath, he straightened back up, and addressed the Kig-Yar.

"I am honored, as is my comrade, Til 'Muramee, to join you as we prepare for the field of battle. Let us begin our assault, and soon! My blades thirsten for blood."

Turning back toward the Legion Master, he muttered again. "Glad to have that dealt with. Now, I must ask, where do you keep your spare weapons on this Phantom? I lost my previous rifle... in actual combat."

[Dufflepud]

Smirking at the sangheili, Xet quietly whispered in his ear, Do not forget your rank, Sangheili. I could have you executed on charges of heresy in minutes, if I so chose, your race means nothing here. I am a holy warrior of the Covenant, not some lowly mercenary you can intimidate with your height. I will treat you with respect if you do the same, but I will not tolerate any behavior that endanger's my warriors for your own personal "glory". I do not command you, but I outrank you. You will treat me as such. As for a weapon, there is a focus rifle, and several needle rifles in my personal cabin in the back. You may take your pick."

"Sir," called out the pilot, "We have reached our destination. We are a kilometer away from the back of the airfield, out of range and out of sight of the human artillery."

"Warriors!" Called out Xet to his skirmishers, "We have reached the field of battle. Deploy!"

For the second time that day, Xet leapt from his vehicle, absorbing the impact of his fall with a roll. Standing tall, he waited as the best of his soldiers formed a perfect formation in front of him. Xet did not tolerate indiscipline in his legion.

[darthsloan]

"Three! Two! One!... Mark!!

The Squad did not need the Sarge's repeating of the Captain's orders in order to take cover it was a mad rush to get behind something stable but eventually everyone with secure with their head down. Sloan chuckled seeing Johnson in a fetal type position and shook his head quietly to himself. He closed his eyes and waited for the explosion and rushed inside with the squad shortly after the explosions went off. Surprisingly, Johnson was the first on his feet and in the door before the rest of the squad. Once inside the building he chuckled quietly at Johnson, who just glared back in response.

[Deleted]

Killinger watched as the rockets flew over his teams head. The exhaust from them made him cough a bit. The explosions were actually quieter then he had thought, did it hit a Covenant soldier?

Killinger peered up, and waited for a little bit of the smoke to vanish. Nope, two small creators appeared were the rockets impacted.

"Okay, Echo. Move inside the building." Killinger said.

His squad moved inside.
"Ok, ma'am. What's the game plan?" Killinger asked.