Mission 4 - GROUND BATTLE THREAD

[dave36464736]

So, this is where the Ground Battle posts will take place. Please note. even if you are still in space coming down in a pelican, your part of this thread.

[z]

Lucy Grey and Lunar Squad

Lucy blew out a breath and gripped the handles with her strength. Her eyes lingered over the picture to her left in the pod. She was going to make sure she got back... But, you could never be sure could you?

Lucy hated the "What If's" here. It drove her nuts...

When the clamps released and the pods dropped Lucy closed her eyes, if only for a moment, feeling the force going up on her body.

Opening her eyes she peered at the screens her team was cycling through on.

"Hold on boys! Dropping in on a combat zone I do think! Be ready, Safety's off, Snipers at the ready, and Alex... Rocket support would be GREAT. I have someone to get back to, as do you guys so I would love not dying!"

When the pod entered the gravity of the planet, she closed her eyes again... Here it comes....

When the pod hit the ground, he bounced a few times until finally her pod embedded itself between two stones, and Lucy's head was slammed backwards.

She was seeing double, and she went into black for a moment before snapping into focus, keying Jasons's COMM.

"No need to worry about me... I landed..." She then shut it off and keyed TEAMCOMM.

"You guys there?"

[Daenerys Targaryen]

Sergeant David Williams ODST
Dropping from the UNSCS Arizona

"Oh god oh god oh god.." Whined private Jason Toren, the newest member to the squad and member of fire team Ruby.

"Nut up or shut up!" Grumbled Susie Bircholt, designated marksman and co-leader of fireteam Jade.

"Oooh Rah!" Cried a few other squad mates in response.

"Prepare to drop into hell, we are most likely dropping into heavy covie opposition so form up on me and find cover once we drop. We will then group back up with Captain Lloyd and work from there." Stated David Williams as the lights in his HEV Pod began to flash, pods up in the very first clamps began to drop. "Good luck Aspen.." He mumbled to himself, wishing he could gaze into his wife's eyes one more time. He was soon shook out of his trance by a sickening dropping sensation and caused a white knuckled grip through space and then the first layers of atmosphere which caused a teeth chattering turbulance. A few screams echoed over comms from Susie, she seemed to be enjoying the drop with the same dare devil attitude she took on everything else.

Soon everything went from frightening drops to black as the slowing pod crashed into the groud, imedding it'self a third of the way in. Thuds over the comms channel assured that the rest of his team was landing too. "Ughh... I made it in, fire teams Jade, Rubby, and Sapphire report." Ordered David as he began to collect himself.

[vinny]

Lance Corporal Vince D'Ambrosio
GREEN Squad
Dropping from UNSCS Arizona

Sitting in the crash seat of his HEV, Vince's heart was already pumping a mile a minute. He rapidly tapped his foot as his muscles alternately clenched around his body. Old school flip music echoed in Vinny's ears as he prepared for the upcoming drop.

It had only been two days since Jericho VII had been lost. Nothing left but glass and dust. And while he was more than thankful his parents had been safely evac'd, Vinny was right pissed. He was more edgy than usual coming up to this drop. He took a moment to consciously relax his body and inhale a few deep breaths. He checked his gear was all with him one last time. MA5C with M301 launcher, check; various type 40mm grenades, check; M6C/SOCOM, check; combat knife, check; ammunition, check; water, check. All the essentials were there. The only thing left was some god-damn luck. Luck? Hell, he wasn't even sure if he believed such a thing existed but at this moment Vince was prepared to make his own damn luck.

Suddenly, a warning klaxon sounded and the 30 second countdown began. Vinny began taking sharp labored breaths as he got himself mentally ready. 'Let's rock and roll, shall we?' he thought as a small smirk cropped up in the corner of his mouth. Just as sudden as the klaxon had pulled Vince from his thoughts, the countdown ended and the SOEIV fell into space. The quick acceleration tore at him as the Gs increased. Vince's breathing grew even more sharp and labored as the pod entered atmosphere. His chute dragged out behind and soon after thruster rockets sparked and flared as the HEV violently decelerated and crashed into 'Artifice'. Vince punched the hatch release and it shot clear away as he burst out onto the dirt.

[Wax™]

Private Dean 'Coxy' Cox
Task Force 77: Lunar Squad
UNSCS Arizona - HEV Bay One

Dean gripped a hold of the control handles for the thrusters in the HEV, he counted down the launch sequence in his head and once he reached zero he tensed up, as the esplosive thruster detonated to get him away from the ship and moving he almost jumped out of his skin and once the primary trusters were fired he was almost force up against the roof of his pod, he gripped the handles tight and controled his pod to follow Z's as close as possible.

Entering gravity was the worst part about it, because once you entered gravity that was it, you didn't have no thruster pushing your way down to earth, you had gravity, god's worst but best fucking creation, Dean held his breath and then felt as his body was forced to the floor as the primary chute of his HEV deployed, then it broke, and there was a sickening moment of free fall, that moment where a Helljumper think's if they will hit the ground, or will they just keep going.

Then he was forced back down again as his secondary chute was deployed, that lasted for about ten seconds before his HEV slammed into the ground and stopped suddenly, the perfect HEV landing, which was achieved 60% of the time, Dean waited a second before tensing as his HEV door exploaded open and flew twenty meters outward, he followed Lucy right up her ass, so she should be around here some place.

Dean unlike Lucy knew they would not be deploying into a hot battle zone so instead he just gripped his silenced SMG and slung it around him, along with a pistol and then he grabbed his Sniper Rifle System 99 Anti-Matériel, holding it against his chest and looking around, it took him a while to locate a pod near by and when he did he saw a pod lodged between two large stones, he ran up to it just in time, the door on the HEV exploaded open and Coxy only had enough time to just drop to the floor and dodge it.

The Private then hauled himself up and looked at the HEV, the area was covered in dust so he could not see into the pod, his ODST helmet was trying so hard to locate anyone in the mini dust storm but had no such luck till a few seconds past.

[z]

Lucy Grey

She grunted and slammed her fist into each of the explosive locks. As soon as the door flew open, Lucy laid there for a moment, taking off her helmet she rubbed her eyes.

"Oh, fuck me... Damn my head hurts...."

Laying there for a moment, she looked up to see no one other than Cox. She'd always liked to take Cox as a partner. He'd become a pretty good solder in the past few years. So, ever so slowly Lucy sat up in her pod.

She set her helmet on her knee and worked out her shotgun, tossing it out into the sand, next came her MA5B. Her new blade went to her belt, stopping for a minute she looked over at a picture of the kids and smiled, taking it from its spot she stuffed it into her helmet, on the side so it wouldn't mess with her sights, but she could look at it when she needed to moral boost.

Pushing herself up, she put her helmet back on and leaped out onto the dusty ground, taking up her weapons and slinging them on her back.

"Once again, I repeat. LUNAR do you copy? Stroud? Jack? Twins?"

A grunt came over the COMM and Alex answered.

"Me and Anders are good, can see Strouds pod, so we are underway... Can't find Jacks..."

Then Jackson came over the COMM.

"Ugh... I'm here, Lucy.... But my doors stuck..." Looking over at Cox she was alreadt laughing, she could hear the twins doing the same. and then Alex chimed in.

"What a BITCH! AHAHAHA!". Alex said

"Thought you were Mr. Billy Badass Russian man!" Ander said.

She could feel Jackson's head explode through the COMM.

"On the way Jack..." Lucy said, motioning Cox to follow as she headed out into the sands, seeing Jacksons pod about a click away.

"Lets go..."

[Spartan 999]

First Lieutenant Isin Herald

[/center]

Isin groaned, feeling gravity pulling from the top of the HEV. Just his luck, to hit a large outcropping of rock on his way down. He unbuckled himself, grunting as he thudded to the "ceiling" of the pod. He hit the emergency release buttons, sighing when the front popped off. He slid ungainly out of the HEV, seeming to slide on his front like a penguin for a second.

He flipped to his feet, stretching briefly before taking out his battle rifle, Silenced SMG, and M6 SOCOM. He holstered the latter two, and hefted the rifle. He activated his COM, contacting Reinmar's squad.

"Freis, how are you holding up?" Isin said over the channel.

"Not bad, all in all." A German-accented voice replied over the COM. "Everyone else made it."

"Good. I'll get back to you." Isin switched the frequency to LUNAR's as he hiked over the terrain, rifle held in the crook of his arm. "You make it down alright, Z?"

[z]

Lucy Grey

Heading toward Jackson's Pod, about halfway there she could see Stroud's pod with two other figure, Alex and Anders heading in that direction.

Then Isin came over the COMM.

Raising her hand up, she responded. "Eh, a bit rough... But I've had worse. Jackson's door is stuck so Cox and I are on the way to pop him out."

---

Upon reaching Jacksons pod, Lucy set down her shotgug she walked up to the pod and began pushing up. "Gah! Cox, gimme a hand here!" She said, still trying to force the door off herself.

Cpl. Alex Summers

Launching from the tube was always fun for Alex... she'd loved Rollar Coasters as a kid... and falling from space was the perfect one.

But then there was the impact....

As soon as Alex hit the ground, she was knocked the fuck out. Her head hung back in her pod, seeing all black... God that was not her best landing... Her pod had embedded itself in the side of a cliff, she was stuck a good couple feet off the ground.

----

"Clay, Vince, Raul, Church. Any of you see where Alex went down?"

[Dufflepud]

Xet's vessel rocketed down through the atmosphere. Instead of taking his place on the supercruiser, he had instead decided to stay with his men on Chur'R-Kyet's ship. Lucky decision!

Kyet had lended him the small craft, Grasping Claw, which now held the majority of Xet's legion, which was to deploy to the surface shortly. With little human artillery present, Xet's forces would see true combat soon enough!

[kel]

Dark gray clouds layered the sky, with pockets of sunlight piercing the blanket. A metallic whine emanated from the clouds, echoing off the tall cliffs that reached towards the sun.

Finally, a spirit dropship broke through, falling from the heavy blanket and pushing forwards. Many more dropped behind it, scattered across the sky. Fifthteen spirits tightened their formation, sweeping along the cliff towards their destination.

Inside the third ship to fall beneath the clouds were elements of Sublime Aggression, tucked away within the two side compartments that made the form of the spirit. Each member of the mission stood with their backs against the padded alcoves, their weapons mounted beside them for the trip to the surface.

Their phantom veered from the pack, and raced over the cliff. The ships were in sight of the destination, and lowered themselves to the sands below. The carrier of Sublime Aggression steadied itself above the cliff, and opened the compartments.

Kel lifted her rifle from the alcove's weapon holster, and carefully hopped out to the hot rocks below. She landed softly, gracefully. Zhal and Ruk dropped in beside her, and raised their rifles to scan the surroundings.

Kel ignored them, and walked to the edge of the cliff. Before her stood an expansive sea of sand, stretching from horizon to horizon. The air itself shimmered from the heat of the desert, and Kel relished the warmth.

“Kel, you're with me.” Ruk ordered. Kel gave him a nervous glance, and looked back to Zhal. Ruk grumbled, and nodded. “I understand. Very well. Zhal, you are with Kel. You’re in charge.” He turned to his group. “Mir, Yik, you two scout along the cliff. Kag is with me.” He waved their sixth member over. “Head out.” He ordered, watching his division disperse across the cliff.

[z]

Kag

Landing in a crouch, he scanned the area. Needle Rifle ready, with a plasma pistol on his hip, and on the other, a Needler, and hell, even a plasma grenade rested on his leg he'd snatched from the armory... and lastly there was a Human Shotgun he had acquired in a past engagement... the others mocked him for carrying it... But he had his reasons.

A scar lingered over his face, where Zhal had attacked him once, same for his leg. Now he limped whenever he ran... he planned on getting the asshole back soon.

Scanning ahead with the scope of the rifle.

"Clear up ahead..." Kag said, standing at his full height.

Looking at Ruk he nodded. "Where are we off to then... sir...?" He said, slowly limping is way up next to the lead. Many sets of human Dog-Tags rested around his neck, one for each human he had murdered in cold blood

Looking over at Zhal, he pointed in warning. "Both of you come back in one piece...."

Zhal probably knew he was refering only to Kel, he could care less about what happened to the male Kig-Yar.

[Spartan 999]

Isin Herold

[/b]

Isin slid down a hill, sending rocks cascading around him. As he neared the bottom, he spotted Lucy and Cox attempting to pry open Jackson's HEV in the distance. He waved when Lucy looked his way, catching her attention.

"Hey there, Gunny." Isin said over the COM, starting on his way to them. As he drew closer, he saw just how stuck Jackson was. "Karma is a bitch, for sure."

[kel]

--Ruk--

Ruk darted from rock to rock, Needle Rifle out and sweeping the surrounding terrain for potential enemies. A career as a sniper had taught him to expect enemies at every corner. It wasn't much further that he discovered an ancient riverbed that had cut deeply into the rock, enough that two Sangheili could be stacked and just barely crest the edge. Ruk decided it was a good spot to snipe from, with ample cover, and enough distance to fall back. The end of the river had been a waterfall, and was now weathered rock. How such a narrow river had formed, he could not fathom, but here it was.

He dropped in, careful not to get himself wedged at some of its narrowest points. "Kag, stay atop and keep a lookout for any enemies that come from above of try to flank us." He put his Needle Rifle down and swapped out for his Focus Rifle over his head. Tapping his helmet twice, he zoomed in on the digsite and counted the number of visible workers, guards, and noted which vehicles were for the digging operation, and what wasn't. Were there any Majors, Zealots of Fieldmasters in that pit? If there were, he was sure he'd be able to find them. From now until the time of the Covenant strike, he would play the waiting game and listen to his surroundings.

[milostsamis]

PFC Jake Rotan Task Force 77: Able Company Approaching Ground Level

Jake felt light-headed as his blood rushed through his veins. The feeling was fixed as the adrenaline was released and began to course through his veins as well. It had been about four years since the battle of Glasgow on planet Albert. During that time, he hadn't risen a single rank, and that bothered him. Although he didn't feel too bad because none of the others had been promoted either, so they were all still together. Basically the same, apart from a new scar on Lenny's left forearm. Michelle also now preferred a battle rifle opposed to the DMR now.

Jake himself had his usual loadout, which was an MA5B assault rifle, this time with ten extra clips in case this mission dragged on. At his right hip was his M6, and his standard combat knife was strapped to the same side's calf. It was just another day. Just another battle. Now, the life of a marine was basically fighting. If you weren't on a brief shore leave, then you were on some distant planet away from home. Or if you were an unlucky one, you were fighting FOR your home. Jake hoped he wouldn't have to do that anytime soon. His home, Mars, was right next to Earth, so if the Covenant found that, there was no doubt that they would also find Earth as well.

That didn't matter now though. "ETA 20 seconds!" the pilot called from the front of the pelican. Jake stood up and gripped one of the hand railings to await the drop of the pelican's door. Ten.. He found himself bouncing lightly on the spot. He couldn't wait for that door to open so he could go out and kill some Covenant. Five.. His grip on the railing tightened until it hurt. Then they landed, the door opened, and Jake and his team stomped down the ramp onto the planet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Corporal Matthew "Mattie" Stroud Lunar Squad Ground Level

Mattie awoke with a groan, and then a moan. His head was throbbing with a massive headache, and the corner of his visor was cracked. "Fuck.. That hurts." Mattie muttered as he shook himself to a more awake state of mind. There was an annoying ringing sound in his ears, and his vision was a little blurry, but was getting better by the second. "What the fuck happened?.." he thought as he pressed the button to release the pod's door, and then kicked it out when it got jammed.

Mattie remembered the drop perfectly. He had closed his eyes during the initial ejection of the pods. After that the drop had been relatively smooth up until they reached the atmosphere, and gravity. Once they hit it, the pod began to rock violently back and forth, slamming his head between the walls like a ping-pong ball. Then his pod had hit something and the pod spiraled out of control and bounced along the earth like a rubber ball. Mattie had been thrown briefly unconscious somewhere during that mess.

But he was awake now, and he could hear his squad mates talking. "Stroud here, ma'am. Sorry it took so long, rough landing." Mattie reported as he stepped out of the now open pod. "I can see Alex and Anders as well. I'm going to group up with them and then we'll make out way to you and Coxy to help Jack." he had to control his tone very strictly to make sure that his pitch didn't rise when he mentioned Jack, but at least it was safe to smile. "See you guys in a bit." He turned and looked through the interior of the pod to grab his SMG, which he had grabbed as a substitute for his usual MA5C assault rifle. His ten extra clips were safely tucked away in his equipment belt. His M6 was strapped securely to his right hip, and his combat knife was strapped to the opposite thigh. He glanced around, and then began the jog to the twins' position.

[darthsloan]

UNSCS Beaver, Entering Atmosphere
Bridge

It was nice to be out of the cross-hairs of covenant warships for awhile. For a moment he had no idea what to do, but then he remembered he needed to get his marines off the ship, and so Frost sent orders down to the hanger area to prepare to drop, but first he needed to know where the excavation site was... and so he tasked the Navigations officer with that duty.

Church
Green Squad
On the Surface.

"Clay, Vince, Raul, Church. Any of you see where Alex went down?"

Church shook his head and looked around, over head he heard the roar of the UNSC Beaver entering the atmosphere, and soon over their heads. He turned to the sarge, "You think that ship could find her?"

[Daenerys Targaryen]

Sergeant David Williams ODST
Artiface Surface
Jaded Venom Squad

"Report Squad." ODST Sergeant David Williams reported for the fifth time before his comms crackled to life.

"Fire Team Jade Calling in, our pods landed pretty close to you. What are the orders sarge?" Called out Susie Bircholt, David's faithful designated marksmen and co-leader of the fire team.

Soon the coms crackled to life with similar reports, all 11 pods were safe and acounted for. "Looks like we made it this far. I did tell you we would meet up on Captain Dylan Lloyd, but it looks like we'ed all be going the same place anyway. I want all fire teams to form up on me so we can get down to that excavation site and begin to set up a perimiter with the other ODST that have landed, should be a lot counting that the Arizona just dropped somewhere around 2,000 of them and other ships carry their own as well. The marines should be down soon, so why don't we clean up for them before they get here?" Spoke David into his Coms as he clouded his VISR and collected his weapons. With a few punches to emergancy door ejectors rockets flarred and the metal door went flying off into a near by rock, the force bending the door to an opposite drection.

"Any other Hell Jumpers out there? This is sergeant David Williams of Jaded Venom squad." The man asked calmy into his mike before climbing out of his pod.. the dust outside from his colision still hung in the air and clung to his black armor.. almost making an even better camoflauge. Now all he needed to do was find his squad mates.... "Susie!" David cried before actual catching her in the view of his visor.

" 'Bout time you showed up." Susie answered in a thick hispanic accent as the other four members of fire team Jade began t group together.. dust clung to their armor too.

"Yeah yeah.." David said before keying his coms, "Fire Teams Sapphire and Ruby form up on Jade. Our locations should be marked on your VISR's right about... now. Hurry up." David ordered before taking a look around.. he wanted to get where they needed to go before the covies showed up in this mess.

[z]

Kag

Standing where he was ordered, he sat in a crouch, his shotgun prepped a full cartage of homemade modified shells, made to be a bit more range. There were also blades attached to the back and front of it, making it that more deadly in close quarters.

Leaving it stabbed into the ground, lifting his needle rifle, he peeked down his scope, quickly lowering it again seeing nothing of interest.

He was loaded up for this mission, that was for sure... Plenty of ammo, Needler, Needle Rifle, Plstol, and the Modded Shotgun made him take the spot of the squads heavy support for a mission... Which he was fine with.

About two minutes in, Kag sat with his legs out ahead of him instead of in a crouch, he chattered slightly and leaned forward, the thirteen pairs of dog tags rested around his neck, while a fourteenth hung around the shotgun. He looked like a hardened solder, when in truth he had been in the Covenant maybe six years now... And he was only a Minor.

He was fine as long as he was with his friends.

Lucy Grey

Waving at the LT she started trying to pry it open. Meanwhile Jackson just sat inside and crossed his arms.. He was pissed... But Lucy didn't care much.

"Isin.... Cox... Fucking help me!" She said, at this point trying to bend the pod open with her MA5B.

[Wax™]

Private Dean 'Coxy' Cox
Task Force 77: Lunar Squad
Lunar Squad HEV Landing Zone

Cox sighed and shook his head from left to right, he walked up to the pod and put a hand on Z's right shoulder he would then gently but forcefully push her out the way before moving to the right hand side of Jackson's pod, with his left hand he took out his M6C/SOCOM from it's holster, he then put the barrel an inch away from one the crack between the door and the HEV, specfically where one of the explosive bolts were located.

The area in which he was aiming was slightly damaged and had a crack big enough for the bullet to slid in and detonate the lock, Cox tilted his head down and looked through his visor which was assessing the damage, Cox smirked and squeezed on the trigger, one second he was standing there, the next the small explosive caused him to back away and look the other way.

Cox shook his head and turned around, his ear's were ringing slightly and once he turned around he saw the the HEV door was open enough to pry open, Cox lifted his right boot and forcefully kicked the HEV door, the door tumbling off to the left, Cox then stepped infront of Jackson and nodded, he chose not to pick sides and not to pick on members of the squad, he was nice to everone, he simply patted his head slid his M6C/SOCOM back into it's holster, drew his sniper and walked off twenty meters to get a baring to the excavation site.

Staff Sergeant Jason Bowers
Alpha Company: Delta Destroyers
Pelican Heading Ground Side

"Alright hold on ground-punders i'm taking you out early, we only got a small time window to do this"

Yelled the Pilot from the cock-pit of the Pelican Bower's was in, Bowers looked to Cassie and nodded he gripped his chair with one hand and with the other he continued to look at his photo before folding the photograph and tucking it under his chest plate, once he did he looked to the rear blast door's which were closing and locking up, one minute they were sitting in Pelican Hanger Bay Two, the next minute the Pelican had blasted it's way out of the hanger nad made it's way towards the planet below, Jason pushed back against his seat, he hated flying and when he did he accidentally gripped Corporal Thompson's hand and squeezed it tight.

Jason's face went red as the Pelican he was in entered the planet's gravity and as the Pelican fell under the force of it's thrusters and by the force of gravity he continued to grip Cassies hand without realizing and it was only when the Pelican stabilized when he finally let go and looked to her with a bit of a red and sheepish face.

"Sorry about that Corporal"

The Sergeant said with a small smile, he nodded before looking around the Pelican, the Pelican managing to get all 20+ squad member son board, at least 7 or so standing and the rest sitting down, Jason got up out of his seat and moved to the back of the Pelican, one of the Privates standing up quickly taking his place, pussy, Jason thought before looking back to the pilot.

"We in atmosphere?"

"Affirmative Sergeant"

Jason nodded and leant his hand over to press the button to open up the rear bulk head, as he did so he lifted his left hand to grip a hand rope, he looked out from under his orange combat glasses that were attached to his helmet, his helmet which was brand new and had a Staff Sergeant symbol on the back, Jason looked out along the desert like landscape, the landscape and dirt was bright red and orange, the dirt was thick and the land around the excavation was barren and filled with rock farms and fields of large stones, many of thoes stones now HEV pod's.

"Staff Sergeant! We are approaching the excavation site, no Covenant as of yet it seem's they havent landed on the surface yet"

"Affirmative Lieutenant... Drop us just ouside the pit on ground level"

"Affirmative... 10 seconds"

Jason leant out of the Pelican and watched as the ground got slower and closer to the Pelican, ten seconds passed and Staff Sergeant Bowers jumped out of the Pelican once it came to a halt and turned to face his men, he gestured for all of them to bail out and helped them to do so with exsesive shouting.

"Go go go! Get out of there go!"

Jason watched as his men bailed out and eventually the Warthog dropped off the back, after a few seconds the pelican pilot lifted off and blasted back into the upper atmopshere so as to get more people onto the ground, Jason looked around and watched as his team crouched around cover and moved around to take cover from nothing, there were some ODST's around but not much.

"Cassie! I am leaving you incharge of the team, I am taking the Warthog out for a patrol confirm?"

Jason waited her to respond before nodding, Jason then walked over to the Warthog and mounted the driver's seat, he then gestured for a private to mount the gun and another to climb into the passenger's seat, Jason looked around before looking to Cassie again.

"If you need me let me know through TEAMCOM, till I get back just set up a perimiter in or around the excavation"

Jason then set up a link with Captain Sierra Lloyd.

"Captain this is Bowers... DELTA is on the ground, setting up perimiter now and heading out on an outer perimiter patrol to rondevous with Helljumpers in the area"

Jason then shut the channel and looked to his hand where Lucy wrote her personal COM number, Jason thought it in using his neural implany, he then contact Lucy Grey, punching down on the accelerator and blasting the Warthog out into the distance.

"Afternoon love? How was the drop..." Jason smiled before speaking again. "...What's your location I am heading out in a Warthog?"

[Daenerys Targaryen]

Sergeant David Williams
Jaded Venom Squad
Artiface Surface

"Nice to see some green at least.." Muttered David Williams as he noticed some pelicans carrying marines began to break atmosphere. His entire squad had formed up on him less then moments ago so with an arogant sigh. "Looks like we might not have any hogs for a while, the excavation sight is marked on your huds. Get moving Jaded Venom!" David ordered as the squad began to jog toward their way point. How the humans had made it to the ground before the covenant he didn't know but he was thankfull he would be able to dig in and find the best cover before the rest of the task force got on this rock.

With the sudden movement of feet on the dusty sandy surface of the planet small clouds of the stuff rose up and clung to their armored legs. "This will be hell to get off sarge." Susie muttered as the ODST moved on, now weaving in between rocks.

"Yeah yeah." Muttered David before the entire squad stopped, witnessing something that was actualy quite comical. An ODST stuck in his pod and some of his ODST squad mates fighting to pry it open. The squad simply stood their and watched untill the pod had been pryed open and the ODST was now free to get out. Then the one with the sniper made his was off about 20 meters or so. Without even mentioning that they had been there a little longer then they should have the Sergeant spoke up to his squad. "Jaded Venom I hope you enjoyed your rest, time to get moving again." He ordered as he began to lead his squad away from the other ODST and toward their predestined area.

"When will the covies get here Sarge, I am dying to shoot shit." Carol Haines moaned as the squad continued on.

"Shut your fucking mouth Haines, they will get here when they get here. Unless you want to snuggle up next to some brute sooner?" Questioned Susie with a hard voice, wihich recieved a pat and a nod from David.

[Huka]

Major Domo Til 'Muramee

Til ‘Muramee walked between the two files of his lance, standing on his full height and hands behind his back, looking at his warriors; veterans and novices. Igri, Pluk, Glutz, Reeg, Dakip, Piypip, Sufang, and Skor ‘Husnee. Along with them, he has been given new warriors in this war, three Unggoy younglings and a pair of Kig-yar.

Coming to a stop at Skor, he looked at his student with a neutral look. He could see the savagery and arrogance growing in him, something Til hoped he would not get. After organizing his strengthened lance; Skor is standing as Til’s secondary commander, the recently-promoted Ultra Igri was given the subordinate power of Skor and had the power of override his commands if found unreasonable, which is enforced by Til’s direct command-much to the grudging annoyance of Skor.
Sufang was given command over the newcomers, showing them how Til’s lance do things, even if it means being violent to prove his way is law.

Continuing his walk, he looked at the interior of his Phantom, listening to the hums of the ship as it shifted through the air. “Today, we fight for the relics of our Gods! The humans dare to defile them with their touch and we will eradicate their foul forms from the face of this holy planet!” He announced with a growing deep voice before turning back to his lance, “We will fight with all of our strength and fervor, dying is not a option in this battle. If you fail, I will personally rip your souls from the afterlife and make you fight on to oblivion, and if I fall in battle, I expect the same, do you understand me?”

“Yes, Huntsmaster!” The lance roared. “Good! Now perpare for battle!” Til commanded and they moved to the edge of their designated dropship, the Valiant Harbinger.

"Major Domo, we are approaching the drop point." The phantom's pilot, a exceptional Minor warrior named Isna 'Kumamee.

"Of course." Til said as he was personally debating on using which one of his several weapons on his person; plasma rifles, needle rifle, spear, energy dagger, or curveblades.

[z]

Lucy Grey

After watching Cox show her a new way to open a HEV pod, the ODST stood with her arms crossed, picked up her M45, and slung her MA5C on her back.

Jackson stood from his pod, popping his arms and other joints, and adjusting his helmet. Sniper in hand he walked past Lucy and Cox quietly without making a word, grunt, or sigh. And that was fine by Lucy.

"Afternoon love? How was the drop...What's your location I am heading out in a Warthog?"

Lucy smiled after hearing Jason over the COMM, lifting her hand she returned to speak.

"Well my head feels like its about to implode, Jackson was stuck and now is acting like a little bitch, Stroud, and the Twins are underway, Cox is hanging along with me... I'm about a click away from a cliff face and if that's the case...." Lucy thought for a moment before Jackson chimed in, giving her the location, which she then sent to Jason.

"Get here soon" She said, smiling. "I don't like Deserts!"

Chiming into TEAMCOM very quickly she spoke again. "Mattie, Twins. We are gonna get pick-up via Warthog. Get down to Jack's pod. Just follow the Cliff-Face."

Green Squad

Lewis looked up at where the ship was, he keyed in to the COMM and spoke.

"UNSCS Beaver? Sergeant Lewis of Green Squad here. We dropped and have been separated from a squad mate. Acknowledge, Over."

[milostsamis]

Corporal Mattie Stroud Lunar Squad Ground Level

It wasn't too long before he reached the twins. For a moment, they realized they had no idea where Jack's pod had actually landed. That brief problem was resolved when Lucy came on over the COMM. Mattie, Twins. We are gonna get pick-up via Warthog. Get down to Jack's pod. Just follow the Cliff-Face." The three of them looked at each other a moment and nodded. They had seen the cliff-face already and knew where they needed to go.

"You got it, Z. Be there in a bit." Mattie said through the COMM in return. "Four to six minutes tops," he looked at the twins now, "C'mon, I wanna get there before the 'Hog does!" He started a brisk jog parallel to the cliff-face in the direction Z had indicated, glancing back only once to make sure the twins were on their way as well. The air around them was very dry, and Mattie's throat itched with the want for water. He put the thought in the back of his mind and continued forward. He'd grab a drink at a later time. For now he had to get to Jack's pod and meet up with the rest of the squad.

Mattie was amazed at how constant the cliff-face seemed to be. The elevation stayed basically the same, only occasionally rising in altitude before coming back down again, the entire way to the pod. After about four minutes, Mattie caught sight of a small black dot, with three smaller dots around it. "Looks like we found 'em." Mattie called to the twins before picking his pace up slightly. They were about.. 400 meters from them now, and Mattie thought he could clear the distance in about another minute or so. But he didn't see any need to speed up any further from this slight increase. There was no immediate danger, and the 'Hog wasn't anywhere in sight yet. So he kept jogging, and in less then three more minutes, he and the twins were back with Z and the rest.

"Miss us?" Mattie asked, stopping before the three ODSTs.

[Jakob]

Jakob stood in the drop bay of the pelican, his feet secured on the ground. One of his ODST's lightly felt his forearm, a female who had been getting rather fond of him lately, though he had no idea why.
"Come on lieutenant, we all know you do not plan to get out of this one alright."
Jakob looked over to her and shrugged.

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
"But how are you even going to get the major to let you back in after that bar fight?"
"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse."
"But L T... you are too good for-"
"You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am."

The lights flared green and the pilot told them they were landing. The door opened and the ODST's stood as Jakob ran out, in battle formation, Jakob shouted over the radio.

"Hey Toto!" He shouted to a private in his platoon, using his pet name. "We ain't in Kansas anymore!"
"Why should I care sir? Nothing I ain't used to."
"Here's looking at you, kid."
"Go ahead, make my day LT"
"You talkin' to me?"
"Guys can we just get a move on." Said another ODST. Jakob shrugged and keyed his comm.

"We have boots on the ground, what do you need done."

[Dutch]

Staff Sergeant Baker

Through skill or luck, Baker and his men actually hit near their intended landing site, only a few hundred yards away from the objective. Their pods popped without a cinch and they all piled out and formed up within under five minutes.

Right, now got to team up with the others. Baker keyed his mike and raised the ODST's CO, Captain Dylan Lloyd.

"Captain Lloyd, Baker here. Me and my men have all touched down without a problem and we're only about two hundred yards from the dig site. Shall we proceed to secure the site or form up with you?"

Corporal Jonathan Fisher

Bad luck or bad equipment, Fisher was about a mile from the dig site when his screaming pod slammed into the ground. The impact had nearly knocked him silly, and he'd landed wrong-side up, with his exit panel planted into the dirt.

Thankfully his HEV was so melted and destroyed he just climbed out of the remaining cage-work, no worse for wear. Grabbing his gear, he brought his tacmap and swore.

"Ah shit." He was way the hell away from the site, Mossley and Rhodes were half a kilometer away. "Mossley, Rhodes, hold tight I'm on my way. Just landed a bit off course, I'll be approaching from south-south-west."

"Got it boss." Rhodes answered. Fisher sighed, and began making his way to his unit at a decent pace. Boot camp pays off once again. He thought to himself as he checked the surrounding area for threats.

[darthsloan]

UNSC Beaver
Bridge
Commander Frost

He flew slow and steady around the landing zones that the ODSTs have landed when he got the request.

"UNSCS Beaver? Sergeant Lewis of Green Squad here. We dropped and have been separated from a squad mate. Acknowledge, Over."

Frost smiled and responded, working to locate the missing member as he spoke. "This is Commander Frost and we copy Green leader... searching now................ Ah you're in luck Green Leader, we may have located your missing piece to the puzzle. It seems their is an unopened HEV Pod embedded in a cliff face north of your position. I can't say the exact distance but you're lucky it isn't terribly far. If you need support Green Leader, Beaver'll be around. Frost, over and out"

[Cabel]

[UNSCS Fire Tear: Pelican#12: Planet Inbound]

“Drop in thirty seconds,” the co-pilot shouted from the cockpit, as the dropship quickly approached the barren surface of the planet.

From what little intelligence he’d been able to gather through the briefing, the only inhabitants on the planet had been an archeology team digging for something that had been above his security clearance and status of platoon sergeant. With the exception of a few trees, oasis of spring water, sand dunes among the many miles of open arid desert engulfed the surface. Desert fatigues had been issued before the order came to suit up, secure their gear and file aboard the Pelicans before the combat drop commenced, and Mark knew they’d either drop into a Hot LZ or would come under fire after camp had been set. It hadn’t been a surprise the Covenant had wanted whatever the dig team had uncovered, but the magnitude of the UNSC response force had amazed everyone. It hadn’t been the size of the Fleet that had been that much of a surprise, but the amount of the big cruisers and a single massive vessel he’d never seen before leading the response forces. There had to be something of importance if both sides had arrived in force to secure it, but while the mystery of it was tempting the Master Sergeant knew they didn’t pay him to ponder the galaxy’s mysteries.

“Check your weapons. Cycle the bolts, and grab only what you can carry. Keep your sights clean,” Master Sergeant Mark “Spade” Sorelson said, tightening the chin-strap of his own helmet and checking his own weapons. “Doberman, Taffy, Chris, Shades…keep the replacements in sight,”

A shudder passed through the dropship as the Pelican touched down on a patch of even ground, and shortly after the ramp lowered the men of Zulu Squad had left the safety of the affectionately known blood tray. The sun overhead glared down on the marines in their desert fatigues and ballistics armor, as Mark took point with the MA5B assault rifle sweeping the ground before them. A soft click signaled one of the flight crew of the Pelican had disengaged the locking clamps holding an M12 warthog equipped with an M41 turret in place, and the four-wheeled eight-cylinder hydrogen fed utility vehicle landed softly on the sand.

“Doberman, take Shades, and one of the other Privates with you on the warthog. We’ll cover your flanks,” Mark ordered. With their orders given, the men of Zulu Squad moved out as the Pelican took off back for to rendezvous with the Fire Tear for more combat drops.

[jack]

Lieutenant Jack O'Reilly
UNSC Navy
Airspace above the drop zone

Jack finished up his preflight check and fired up the engines. He closed the hatches and lifted off, then eased out of the hangar. He opened the throttle wide, the other Pelicans falling in behind him as he assumed flight lead.

"R.J., take the stick. I'm going to talk to the Marines."

Jack unbuckled his restraints and stood up. He moved to the door and looked around the troop bay, plugging his intercom into the jack near the forward crew seat. He noticed that a Marine Captain was sitting in the far seat.

"Marines, this is going to be a hot drop. ODSTs have already hit the dirt, and we're next. My callsign is Archangel Six. I will be remaining on-station for gunship support and casevac. Oh, and kick some Covenant ass for me, Marines."

Jack saluted the Captain, even though they were technically the same rank. Once she returned the salute, he headed back to his seat.

Staff Sergeant Wheeler
UNSC Marine Corps
Airspace above the drop zone

Wheeler stood near the hatch, hanging on to a handhold. His squad and another fireteam was packed into this Pelican, which was technically only rated for twelve. He looked around at his people, then squared his shoulders. It was time.

[Daenerys Targaryen]

Lieutenant Aspen "Jade" Watts
Planet Artiface Surface
UNSCS Fire Tear Trooper Runs

"Ok boys, have fun on the ground!!!" Aspen called back as the squad of ODST she was carrying filed out of her pelican.

"Don't let the bay door hit you on the way out!!" Dan called back as well before turning back to Aspen.

"So are we going back to the ship again or ar-" Began to ask Dan who was cut off by Aspen.

"Message from the Tear, says we can stay on the surface and give support and farry troops to the objectives. The rest of the birds got the farrying under control, not much marines left up there." Reported Aspen.

"Ah, guess we are staying here." Dan stated, clicking switches to heat up his weapons.

"Well time to do a fly around." Stated aspen as she closed her bay doors and lifted off.

[Wax™]

Staff Sergeant Jason Bowers
Alpha Company: Delta Destroyers
Pelican Heading Ground Side

"Well my head feels like its about to implode, Jackson was stuck and now is acting like a little bitch, Stroud, and the Twins are underway, Cox is hanging along with me... I'm about a click away from a cliff face and if that's the case...."

Jason heard back from Lucy, though there was a momentary pause while she sent Jason her location.

"Get here soon I don't like Deserts!"

Jason smiled to himself and gunned it on the Warthog, the Warthog reaching it's top speed before Jason was forced to slow down and swerve in and out of a rock farm, the Warthog was already covered in thick red dust around this barren land, and it would probably get worse, Jason stopped for amoment to focus on his combat glasses, instead of having a monocle, he had a HUD installed into his combat glasses though it was designed in a 3D view so he didn't have to strain his eye's focusing on something so close to his face.

Jason slowed down for a moment to look at the map on his HUD before pressing down on the accelerator again, five minutes passed and he finally made it to Lucy's position, once he spotted the squad of Helljumpers he slammed on the break, the huge Warthog skidded to a long and dust halt, spraying dust all over one of the ODST's Cox though Jason didn't realize, Jason hauled himself out of the Warthog and looked over to Lucy before smiling at her, he then looked around again and spotted Jackson.

Jason simply smiled at the man before turning to Lucy again.

"I got my team at the excavation site securing a small chunk of the perimiter"

[z]

Lucy Grey

Leaning on the pod, Lucy looked over at the picure in the side of her helmet. A smile curved on her face. Her squad knew when she went quiet and still she was thinking, and mentally preparing herself. That trance was broken when Mattie and the twins came.

Looking up at them, actually startled having not expecting them she shook her head quickly.

"Miss us?" Stroud asked.

Lucy faked a loud laugh and simply said: "No. No not really. Were planning on leaving you honestly." She said.

"The thought had cross my mind..." Jackson said quietly, only to get a rock thrown at the back of his helmet by Anders, course that made Jackson growl.

Then Jason pulled up, and without a second thought Lucy was in passenger. Isin and the others could get in the back. lifting her feet up, she crossed them on the dash and then removed her helmet, taking the picture and holding it tightly in her hand.

"Fuck it's hot..." She complained, rubbing her head.

A moment later, just to fuck with her, Alex moved uo and leaned over the rail to talk to Lucy, but made sure to talk loud enough for the others to hear.

"Hey Lucy... does he really eh...." He stopped for a moment and then held up the same to fingers Jason had used to taunt Jackson.

And at that second, she looked away, feeling her ears turn dark red.

"Fuck you Alex, go sit down."

Green Squad

"Alright, appreciated, Beaver." Lewis said into the COMM before turning to the team.

"ALRIGHT BOYS MOVE! Church, i want you and me on point. Vince, Clay get on the flanks." He looked at them for a moment and moved his hand to tell them to hurry before taking off to Alex's pod.