Mission 4 - GROUND BATTLE THREAD

[Deleted]

^{Commander Zhek
UNSCS Winchester
In atmosphere: Over UNSCS Iwo Jima}

The Winchester floated over the crash site of the latest downed Cruiser, a mighty on at that. From the outside, it looked like she would never swim in space again, she was sunk alright, but it wouldn't surprise the commander if it could still be saved.

"Sir, Covenant targets all over the hull. They are trying to fire their weapons at us, but they are just dissipating in the atmosphere." The Ops officer said.

"Fire at them with our 50MM guns." The Commander said. The screen updated, and traces of rounds started to pelt the dirt.
An unlucky elite got a few rounds to the chest, and as he was inching forward another round struck the back of his head.

"Deploy ground troops to secure the vessel." The Commander said.
"ODST's are on the way. I must inform you sir we are using our counter-boarders now." The Ops officer said.
"I don't think we are going to be boarded in atmosphere, Lieutenant. Give the order. If we are, I'll just land the ship." The Commander said.

The Navigation officer glanced over his shoulders and smiled. "Sir, on them?"
The Commander had a grin from side to side. "Perhaps, Navigation." He said.

The Commander returned his focus to the Covenant ground troops, watching as the file of grunts were struck by the continuous fire from the Frigates point defense guns.

--------------------------------------------------------

^{Commander Dannic
UNSCS Victoria
In atmosphere: Over supply drop}

The navigator softly tapped a few buttons. Out the main view port, the Frigate leveled off. "We are arriving at co-ordnance, ma'am." The Navigator said.

"Good. Await further orders. We've already deployed as much as we can." She replied.

"Weapons, lock max charge to the MAC at 50%." She said.
"Ma'am, MAC percent decreasing. Lock set to 50% power." The weapons officer said.

On the text from the Arizona, both Frigates were allowed to use their MAC guns in atmosphere. She would most likely target a large Covenant group and fire, then use the Frigates PD's to help on top of that.

[tincanhitman]

Chieftain
Hectus

Hectus huffed with agitation "human, i grow tired of your stalling, open it or i will remove your hand and make you!" he said approaching her. He looked at the pod,seeing that it's very old and clearly took some impact that it was not meant to.

He turned and grabbed the girl by the back of her neck and slammed her into to it, not hard enough to kill just to get his point across.

"Open it human!" he growled into her ear, digging his claws in a little into her neck. As soon her skin came in contact with the pod, it began to glow blue and the whir and click of machinery began to emanate from it.

Satisfied with this he threw the woman into the wall.

[SuperCommando]

CPO SPARTAN-009 (Silas)

Planet Artifice

Approaching alien structure

Wind shrieked past the Hornet as it made it’s way to the alien structure at top speed. They were nearly there, only moments away. Silas gazed at the structure and grunted quietly to himself. They were running out of time, if only they didn’t have to waste more of it setting explosives just to get in.

If there was anything he learned from his lifetime of war, it was that there was always a way, nothing was impossible. If you couldn’t find a path… make one. And that’s what SPARTANs did best.

An idea struck Silas like a bullet. Wasting no time, he hurriedly got on the FLEETCOM Alpha channel. He’d end up spamming the whole battlenet with his message, but if that was the price to pay for speed, he’d take it. He would do anything it took to win.

“Vice Admiral Klix, this is Sierra zero-zero-niner, SPARTAN Gold Team,” he announced with a bold voice. “This is a matter of utmost urgency. I need a door at these coordinates, and I need it now, over!”

Silas sent the Admiral the nav data. He sent the same to the rest of the team and marked it with an angry red waypoint. The arrow rested on the edge of the structure’s roof, not an impossible distance from the edge of a cliff that ran parallel to the alien building.

“This is it, Spartans,” he called. “We’re going in!”

[Deleted]

^{Commander Dannic
UNSCS Victoria
In atmosphere: Over supply drop}

"Sir, the Admiral is giving us a firing solution." The Comms officer said.
"Upload it to weapons, give the solution to the A.I." The Commander said.

The A.I materialized on the holo tank reserved for it.
"We are firing at a structure. Seems like their are friendlies stuck inside." The A.I complemented.
"Alright, the Frigate is on position. I've done the required mathematics, the MLA rounds will hit that co-ordinance SPARTAN zero-zero-niner has sent." \

"Weapons. Fire the MLA's then." The Commander said
"Firing." The weapons officer replied.

The Commander looked at the view screen, and stood straighter. A stead pace of rounds started to strike the area.

[C3]

C3135-T14
Location: Unknown
Status: Undetermined

The panel on the front of the casket began to glow upon the point of contact. This glow spread along various veins along the caskets outer edges, flickering in places when the damage was more severe. A low humming echoed throughout the pod as it struggled to restore power to itself.

Inside, a single being stirred. It had rested limply against the inside wall of the casket, as the straps that were meant to restrain it had broken long before now. It moved only a little, but enough to make some sound within the pod. It reached up with one hand and grabbed a hold of something to steady it.

A long moment passed as the pod finished rebooting and a slight hissing noise was heard. The pod was opening.

Inside was... a human. Or it looked humanoid at least. The being was small and rather compactly built, completely covered in a light blue suit with darker blue veins running along it. It's head was covered in the same material, with a near black visor covering its face. A blue-violet glow appeared behind that mask, bright at first, only to dim a moment later.

"Model C3135, section T14. Reboot successful. Full operation to be restored momentarily."

[hollowsaber]

Suliam Quart'ai Blade Of The Prophets Inside of the Forerunner Structure

From the darkness, Suliam watched silently. The scene was very amusing, yet the Chieftain could have just forced her by the hand instead of throwing her. Even so, the casket began to open. The Arbiter moved forward into the light of the room once more and held his blade tight, ready for anything. But, the scene coming would changed the Arbiter’s perspective on everything...

A Female Humanoid stepped from the inside. Suliam stared in awe for a moment as she seemed to go through some process, then he moved up close, almost directly in front of her. Suliam gazed at the figure slowly up and down and released the mouth-guard and eye pieces so he could see and speak clearly.

Then, as he began to speak, the ceiling exploded with a heavy thud. Suliam looked up for only a second before it registered; a giant hole had just been blown in the ceiling. The arbiter quickly swept the human into his arms and moved out of the way and out of the center of the room as debris crashed into the ground. He set the android back onto her feet and leaned down till he was face to face with her.

“Human, the Ancients have called for your service. You will leave with us, now!” Suliam activated his energy sword and pulled as plasma rifle from his thigh. He aimed the rifle up and began to fire out of the hole to anyone, or thing, that dared to come in.

“Chieftain! Have one of your fighters take the Human to safety! The Cruiser Glorious Will is waiting for a hail to leave!” The Arbiter stepped forward and continued to fire, shooting steadily as to not overheat the rifle.

[tincanhitman]

“Chieftain! Have one of your fighters take the Human to safety! The Cruiser Glorious Will is waiting for a hail to leave!”

"Protect the artifact!" Hectus yelled and stood infront of the small human, protecting it with his body. His captains Suprus and his men surrounded the artifact, and pointed their weapons up into the roof ready to attack any thing.

Hectus turned and drew his pistol and hammer, preparing for the incoming attack from the roof. The sound had also alerted his other soldier who would flood into the main area. His hunters would block the path that Hectus planned to use to escape. able to fire on any thing that came through the roof.

[z]

Lucifer

Checking her new toy, she followed Silas to the Hornet. Checking through the scope of the Gauss Rifle. She yearned to fire it... But she would put it to better use holding on to it.

Putting it to her back, Lucifer drew her regular sniper.

Now they had to wait.

[Dutch]

Desperate times called for desperate measures, and this was the epiphany of that statement. Victor wasn't exactly sure what the hell was going on inside the artifact, he was too busy driving the warthog. But he did know it was desperate enough for Silas to spam the entire battlenet with a request to MAC them a new door inside.

He pressed down on the accelerator and the rocket hog flew forward, and Victor really hoped the infamous Spartan luck would hold out for them again. The incline increased as the Spartan-laden vehicle tore up the cliff, and then jumped in one heart-snatching moment.

It was almost like slow motion as they flew through the air, just as the MAC rounds pounded the architecture to dust in front of them. Victor thanked God for the sound dampeners in his helmet so he was not completely deaf from the thunderous barrage.

"Hold on tight everyone!" He said into his COM as they arced through the air, aiming for their man-made entrance, and coming through the roof and to the ground with a shuddering crunch.

Victor came face to face with several Covenant, including the biggest fucking Elite he had ever seen. The doctor was also present, along with some sort of opened casket, in which was the oddest looking thing Victor had ever seen, a small feminine form with glowing light coursing over its body.

But Victor was more focused on the numerous Covenant, especially the hunters gathered at the far end of the hallway leading into the chamber he was in. "Gold, use the turret on those hunters!" He yelled to Jethro on the turret as he leaped from the drivers seat, bringing up his shotgun in one hand, a rocket launcher in the other. He noted the Doctors position, and judged she was out of the blast radius. Aiming at the Covenant at the outskirts of the robot, he fired a rocket, their bodies would take the explosion and kill them, but save the android.

Leveling the shotgun at the Elite, he fired, sending an 8-gauge tungsten slug right at its ugly chest.

[hollowsaber]

Suliam Quart'ai Blade Of The Prophets Inside of the Forerunner Structure

From the hole, Suliam caught sight of a human land vehicle. It drove fast through the hole, and slammed down onto the cramped floor. The room was small, and the vehicle barely fit inside. The Arbiter stepped forward as one of the human Demons stepped out and activated his mouth-guard and eye protectors. His HUD flared on, and his blood began to rush. The Warrior raised his gun, but as he fired, Suliam spun to his side.

A heavy kick came up from below towards the abdomen of the Human. The move was swift and powerful, feeding off the momentum of Suliam’s spin. Yet, behind the kick, Suliam brought his blade around, ready to follow the strike.

[tincanhitman]

Hectus dove out of the way, while his captain grabbed the artifact and dove away as well, the other two weren't as lucky, one took a rocket dead on and was killed the other was flung against a wall and broke its arm.

"Go!" hectus roared at his captain who grabbed the human an ran for the exit, the hunters moved aside and allowed him through, quickly closing the hall off.

Hectus then turned and swing in one motion, swinging the hammer at the human car, which would effectively destroy it and its occupants.

[Daenerys Targaryen]

Dr. Victoria J. Harper
ONI Section III
Forerunner Structure

Victoria continued to inspect the metallic casket for signs of a way to open it.. time was waisting away... she had to open it soon or all hell would break loose. "John have you found anything ye-" She began but was shoved against the cool metallic pod, her knee hitting something smooth in flat that she could not make out. She pelt the slight stinging of claws that began to dig into her neck but the pod finaly began to glow in vien like patterns, humming in certain spots and flickering in other parts. The humm seemed to travel into her body but before she could do anything she was tossed backward by the excited brute into the hard, cold wall. John quickly ran over to help.

Everything wen't black for a little while.. but soon the Dr. slowly began to open her eyes. Natural light flooded the area as the roof was now torn open.. dust, metal, and heat flooded into the forerunner building, warthogs screeching to a hault and the humm of a hornet could be heard outside along with the noises of plasma fire and battle raging right around the corner. "Victoria are you alright.. please be alright.." Pleaded John, her assistant. Victoria could do little but nod as se slowly began to collect herself. But her brown gaze soon caught that of what looked to be like a human.. that the large alien was approaching to speak to.

“Human... You shall come with us... The Ancients have called for your service...” He told her, he was trying to convince her to go with him...

"Oh no" Victoria whispered, she barely had enough strength to whisper let alone stop this from happening.

Then something that Victoria thought she would never see happened, John stepped up and ran right over to stand next the the arbiter to block the way of the incoming brutes. He grabbed the andriods hand as if it could tell what the truth was just by it's grip and spoke quickly, enough to get the point across before he was silenced.. "C3134.." he gathered from memory. "Do not listen to him, they are a covenant of alien species who are trying to erradicate the human species, do not go with them! They will use you to destroy us all!!" He cried, not knowing what effect his words would have but he hoped they were enough to convince her not to do anything with those bastards, he was unsure if his words were heard as Spartans came in and everything went to hell.

"John no.." Victoria whispered, barely able to speak, she then looked around. Her body was covered in sand and rubble now.. the MLA's had bore cracks in the building and one right by her... the female scientist slowly crawled off towards the crack as the aliens in the room focused on the andriod and the hole in the roof... probably also focusing on John. So the ONI scientist managed to slip her slender frame into the crack, finally slipping into the crevace in the wall... she could see light at the end of the crevace, warm winds swept at her face as she army crawled closer to the light. Wind now whipped through her hair and she was now able to poke her head through the crack.. "Not that bad of a drop.." She wheezed before moving outward more, falling right into a sand dune behind the large Forerunner Structure.


"Silas I am outside, get the anrdiod.." She said into her comms as she tried to stand up.

Dani-047
Gold Team
Forerunner Structure

Dani watched as the scene below erupted into violence with plasma flying into the air. Should she go in or wait to see if anyone gets out? She thought.

[Dutch]

"Shit." Victor muttered as his shot missed and the enormous Elite fired a kick at him. Dodging to the side, Victor found himself in the path of a swinging energy sword. reacting quickly, Victor swung his shotgun into the sword arm and disrupting the attack. Stepping back, Victor pumped the shotgun and fired again, point blank into its chest.

From the corner of his vision, Victor saw a brute take off out the exit, carting the alien robot with it. "To all UNSC units outside the dig site, there is a brute carrying hostage with it. Eliminate the brute and protect that asset!" He said into his COM to all the UNSC forces.

[hollowsaber]

Suliam Quart'ai Blade Of The Prophets Inside of the Forerunner Structure

As his strikes missed, Suliam stepped forward directly against the Demon. Hectus’s strike had hit the Warthog where they both wanted it, and it came straight for the back of the Human. Even with the shotgun blast, Suliam’s shields shimmered and were down to about a quarter of its original strength. Suliam braced and pushed himself forward, slamming as hard as he could with the human between him and the vehicle as it came.

[C3]

C3135-T14
Location: Unknown
Status: Restarted/Mid-Analysis

C3135-T14. The designation was the first thing that re-registered itself into the android's memory. Other things began to float back as well as it's various systems came back online.

Across her optical interface, several warning a minor damage became visible to her. Nothing that was too alarming. However, much of her initial stored data appear to be inaccessible. She dismissed the warning and finished loading into the world around her.

She was slung over something. She used her hands to push herself upright slightly and look around. She could register the sounds of combat not far from her. And something was moving her.

C3 wasn't sure what to expect when she looked to her carrier. But it wasn't anything she had ever personally seen. She did not care for the unfamiliarity not for being carried. She pushed against the creature's grip, causing it to drop her.

Dazed, she looked up at it through her protective visor. "Who are you?" she asked. Her voice no longer sounded like the automated one from earlier, but more like a young human girl's now. "What is this place?"

[Daenerys Targaryen]

Dani-047
Gold Team
Forerruner Structer

"To all UNSC units outside the dig site, there is a brute carrying hostage with it. Eliminate the brute and protect that asset!" Crackled Victor's voice over comms.

"Got it Vic" Responded Dani as she jumped from the hornet and onto the ground facing the hole. She soon found herself charging toward a Hog, grabding the rocket and being ready for anything.

Lieutenant Jessica Mae Collins
ONI Section I
Forerunner Structure

"Well looks like it's now or never." She told herself before punching the gass and flying off into the hole of the forerunner structure. Her hog itself crashed up against a random wall but as soon as jessica jumped out she grappled her Rocket launcher and fired a rocket off toward the Cheif Brute (Hectus)).

[Dutch]

Victor heard the hammer strike and felt the elite plow into him with all its considerable strength. Moving on reflex, Victor shifted his center of gravity and swung to the side, the Elites pushing rushing it forward. The warthog flew into the both of them, sending Victor flying back into the opened crypt. Victor wasn't too horrifically hurt, although his sides ached and he was rather sure he could feel some cracked ribs. But the hog had such a small space that when it was struck it didn't have enough force to do any real damage.

Working his shotgun again, Victor grabbed the M7 from his wast and began working on the Elite again, firing another slug into him while peppering it with the M7.

[tincanhitman]

Hectus

Hectus saw the rocket and flung himself forward flat onto the ground, in his fall he drew his grenade firing revolver and fired two shots at this new human.

At the sign the fight his drones swarmed form all around this new human, attacking from all sides.

Captain suprus

Captain Suprus looked at the artifact in surprise. "we have little time holy one, the ancients require you. for speeds sake i will carry you." he said lifting her onto his shoulder and moving with his lance further down the tunnel.

[Deleted]

^{Commander Dannic
UNSCS Victoria
In atmosphere: Over supply drop}

"To all UNSC units outside the dig site, there is a brute carrying hostage with it. Eliminate the brute and protect that asset!" The comm's channel blurted out, it was on the primary UNSC channel, a call to all UNSC personnel is proximity.

"Respond to it, UNSC Victoria will assist." The Commander said.
"Weapons, engage remote control on one or two of the MLA's." She added.
"Navigations, get us to that target, climb to 45, 000 feet."
"Yes ma'am! Climbing, 31, 500... 33, 000... 36, 000." The navigator responded.

The Frigate flew forward a tad forward and higher and the gunner waited for the brutes to come outside.

"Ma'am, 45, 000 feet above the planet achieved." The navigator said.
"Prepare to cut the thrusters and drop to 10, 000 when the targets come out." The Commander responded.
"Aye, aye. Ma'am."

[hollowsaber]

Suliam Quart'ai Blade Of The Prophets Inside of the Forerunner Structure

From the force of the Warthog, Suliam’s shields crackled and failed. The Arbiter kicked backwards upon impact, moving his body along with the force of the warthog. Damage was minimized, but his stomach and chest exhaled a massive gasp of air. Suliam slammed down onto his back several feet from the impact, and swiftly spun onto his feet. The human pulled his pistol, but as he shot, the Arbiter was already in motion. He moved foward and swiftly across the open space.

Suliam moved through the main door and snagged his staff, activating the dual blades before walking back into the room. The Human was still there, and Suliam growled and sprinted forward.

The warrior sliced first down diagonally, then followed with several jabs to the human’s torso, his shoulders, and his upper legs. Mostly as feints, as between every two strikes, Suliam followed with a heavy slice to the side. He pressed on, and moved his staff hastily as to keep the human on the back step

[Dutch]

Victor was hard pressed to dodge the strikes as he pulled the grenade from his pelt and flicked of the pin. Taking a leap back to get a bit of distance, Victor tossed the grenade on the floor and between the creatures legs, behind it, where it exploded. Ironically, the massive alien would absorb the blast and protect Victor from the proximity of the detonation, and then it swung at him.

He had no space to back up, so Victor sprang forward, and too far inside the staffs reach for the blades to touch. Simultaneously he wrapped both hands around the base, just next to the crackling blades, jumped up, and fired both legs into the aliens chest like twin pistons, making sure to release his grip after he kicked so the blades wouldn't cut his hands.

[Daenerys Targaryen]

Lieutenant Jessica Mae Collins

Jessica dove to her imidiate right behind her hog once the Brute fired what ever the hell he was going to fire, the explosions from the grenades racked the warthog but did nothing more but puncture it in some places.

Then suddenly bugs where upon her, a swarm of drones surrounded her and began to open fire but she was quick. Plasma slapped against her recon armor and began to melt it but with a single toss Dani threw one can of C-7 foaming spray high up in the air, above the swarm and fired her clip at it, managing to hit it once. The resulting reaction sent a shock wave down toward the drones that killed most in it's direct path but diiverted most of the effect from Jessica as they fell on her or away from her, dead, injured or shocked. Soon she was ripping off sections of armor to make sure the plasma didn't reach her skin.. she felt a slight tingling in her arm and leg but chose to ignore it. The ONI yanked a grenade from her belt, pulled the pin with her fingers and tossed it over toward the Cheiften.

[kuran]

Read Admiral Daniel Yakamura
UNSCS Winchester
Bridge[/u]

"Commander," Daniel nodded as he entered the bridge. "I won't take your time for long. Thank you for the rescue."

He had been onboard for only a few minutes, and had made straight for the bridge, refusing medical attention. With him was the ODST fireteam that had linked up with the pelican he had been riding in who refused to let him out of their sight. Daniel wasn't inclined to argue with them.

"If you can find us a ship in orbit then I would greatly appreciate it."

LCPL Jonas Schultheiss
Planet Artifice
Dig Site[/u]

Jonas peered down the scope of his rifle, searching for a target. The crater was littered with wrecked Covenant dropships, and multiple enemies, but footsoldiers were a lower priority....

There.

Jonas almost didn't see the Brute, who was crouched behind a crashed phantom. He would have passed him over-there were several brutes offering an easier shot-but this one was wearing the maroon armour of a Major.

"Target sighted," he murmured so that his spotter could hear.

"Confirmed. Range...two-four-two meters."

Moving slowly, deliberately, Jonas adjusted a dial on his rifle's scope. "Got it."

"Wind...moving west-to-east, five to seven."

He twisted another dial a few notches and re sighted on the brute's head. "Ready."

"Fire when ready."

Secure in the knowledge that given their position, the camo cloaks that they were wearing, and the fact that locating the origin of a single shot in the middle of a battle would be nearly impossible, he sighted his target once more, aiming the crosshairs on the Major's forehead.

Jonas took a breath...held it....exhaled....and slowly squeezed the trigger.

The 14.5mm discarding sabot round, fin stabilised and anti-material rated, left the barrel of Jonas' rifle with a loud boom.

Three quarters of a second later, it passed through the Brute Major's forehead and exited out of the back of it's brain. As the body fell back, Jonas slowly reached up and worked the bolt of his rifle, chambering another round.

[C3]

C3135-T14
Location: Unknown
Status: Reboot Successful. Repairs recommended.

"We have little time, Holy one. The ancients require you. For speeds sake, I will carry you," the being told C3, proceeding to lift her over his shoulder and continue moving.

Holy one? The term confused C3, as she recognized it as something that was tied into religion: something that she was not. What was the creature talking about?

"I do not even understand your meaning," the android spoke, keeping her tone even. "Please release me. You call me holy, but I am no such thing. If you insist on my coming with you, at the very least, allow me to walk on my own. I am," she pushed again on the being attempting to get loose once more. "... perfectly capable of moving on my own accord."

[tincanhitman]

"Of course but with haste please" he said moving to the exit. He stopped at about 200 feet away, waiting.

He turned to the artifact "Please remain calm, we must wait here for a moment."

[Deleted]

^{Commander Zhek
UNSCS Winchester
In atmosphere: Over Iwo Jima}

"Commander, I won't take your time for long. Thank you for the rescue."

The Commander spun in his chair and stood up, he was about to salute but the Admiral spoke again. "If you can find us a ship in orbit then I would greatly appreciate it."

"Actually, sir. Their is a vessel you can command. I'll assume your bridge crew is on board." He said, looking at the ODSTs.
"A destroyer was boarded a bit ago and the bridge crew was lost. You've been requested to pilot that vessel. Admiral, I insist go get medical attention. We are a small vessel, or medical bays shouldn't be to hard to find. I'm sorry about your Cruiser, Admiral." The Commander said with a brief salute before getting back on his tasks.

"Navigation, plot a course to come into orbit. Get us close to the UNSC Into The Breach." The Commander said.
"Yes, sir!" The navigations officer replied.
"Weapons, cease fire." The Commander said.
"Sir, I already did. The Covenant fled inside the ship, not a single Covenant soldier is outside at the moment." The officer replied.

The Commander frowned, he didn't even notice, he was to busy looking at the status reports from the boarded UNSC vessel, regardless, it wouldn't happen again.

The Frigate noised up and picked up speed as the navigator pushed the reactors to 100% to get into orbit, then a left turn got them into course to come into orbit with the UNSC fleet.

-----------------------------------------------

"Iwo Jima bridge crew, we have stabilized next to the UNSC Into The Breach, we have a set of pelicans waiting for you. I do have to inform you, the ship was boarded and they are still clearing bodies off. Also, they still have Covenant resistance in a few sections, but none of them are critical." The Commander said into the ships intercom system.

[Daenerys Targaryen]

Dani-047 and Dr. Harper

"Dr. Harper!!" Called out Dani as she rouned a corner of the structure, finding the ONI scientist, her "mother" stumbling along the sand in aparant distress. The female was yelling into a ear peice in her hand that seemed not to be working.

"Oh thank god, finally someone!!" Cried out the Scientist as the female Spartan neared her. "Listen closely set your channel out to locals comms and let me ask for a C3135 to come to your location." She ordered, slumping against the Spartan and so Dani did what she was told and turned on the comms.

"Hello, C3135 can you hear me? You are currently being held by a covenant of alien species intendead to destroy humanity and we advise you to respond to this message and get away from your captors if you can." Pleaded Victoria into the comm's channel.

"Let's go Dani, we need to get closer to the structre." She stated, limping toward the building with the Spartan as her guide.

"This is Dr. Victoria Harper to the UNSCS Victoria, get pelicans down here for hot extraction now!! We are not sure when we need to leave but it might be soon! This is Tier 1 priority!!" Yelled Harper over comms, hoping the Captain would hurry.

[hollowsaber]

Arbiter Suliam Quart'ai Blade Of The Prophets Inside of the Structure

The grenade blasted behind Suliam and propelled him forward slightly. From the blast, Suliam’s staff was pulled back, and the moment the human touched it, the Arbiter dropped. He squatted low, and dropped the staff to the floor as the Human attempted to jump and kick him. The Demon would not get much, as the drop would cause him to fall, or at the least lose his footing.

Suliam spun his staff back, pulling it hard, then stepped back hard. He pushed himself several feet away from the human and slid his staff onto his back. The sound of the weapon clicking securely made Suliam’s hands slide down and pull both of his plasma rifles free. He fired them both towards the Human warrior as the Arbiter backed away.

“Shipmaster! The Artifact is ready!” Suliam spoke over the channel, and suddenly, the space above the planet began to grow dark...

* * * * * * *

(NPC approved by Dave)

At the call of the Arbiter, a massive slip-space hole appeared above the planet’s atmosphere. From the main battle group, five ships separated into slip-space. Above the planet, a Covenant Battle Cruiser, a Destroyer, two Frigates, and a Corvette appeared, lowering themselves directly above the battlefield. The two Corvettes moved directly towards the Human Frigate, and fired two plasma torpedoes each at it. The Frigate moved over the main dig-site and began to release Covenant Gunships down to the battlefield.

“Arbiter... we are in orbit... We are sending drop ships to retrieve you and the artifact.” Shipmaster Vardumee spoke calmly as he observed the battle from his seat on the ship. The cruiser shuddered some as a few more gunships, protected by banshees, dropped from its hangars for the planet.

* * * * * * *

Corporal Jake Furrow Sniper of TF77 Searching for the correct exit...

Jake dropped from the skid of the Hornet, and upon impact on the ground, rolled to support his weight. The Trooper lifted his rifle and scanned around the desert for a moment, then back to where the fight was occurring. Down below, he watched the SPARTANs duel with the Covenant, then caught sight of a human being dragged off by the Brutes. The hallway then was sealed by two Hunters.

There was no way Jake would be able to get down there in time, let along live if he even tried to grapple down. He looked up to Silas and pointed forward across the desert. The hallways were straight, and the sand had slightly outlined the structure itself so it was sort of easy to see where each hallway would lead to.

Sniper ready, Jake sprinted across the sand and over the top of the hall. Eventually, he could see where the entrance poked out... It was small, and barely noticeable from all of the sand, but stuck out like a sore-thumb once he got close. The Trooper was unsure if this was the right one, but he pushed on. If he was wrong, he would simply move to another door.

Jake slipped down to the side of the exit, and turned inside slightly, leveling his rifle straight down into the hallway. It took a moment for his rifle to adjust, but eventually Jake was able to see inside. Luck was on his side today. The Brutes were waiting inside with the Android... Jake quickly keyed the COM, and forced the update out of his mouth.

“Eyes on target... Engaging hostiles...” Jake leveled his rifle, and fired a trio of rounds into the Covenant forces. The exploding rounds tore into the Jackals, blowing several of them into pieces, and damaging others around them. The clip was extended, and had 6 shots instead of four. With another round, he drilled one Brute in the throat, then hit him again in the knee. With haste, the sniper dropped the empty clip and slapped another into his rifle, cycling the next round in as he waited to line up another shot.

[Dutch]

Victor took a second to regain stable footing, an eternity for the quick-reflex fighters. The Elite retreated, pulling his staff away and retreating to the entrance.

"Typical Covenant coward." Victor growled through his speakers, hoping that would slow the Elite's progress while he fired two more slugs at its retreating bulk.

[darthsloan]

UNSCS Beaver
In Atmosphere
Commander Frost

"Slipspace rupture detected...... Slipspace rupture detected....... mulitiple slipspace ruptures detected. Recommend abort immediately"

Frost stood there knowing this was the end. The only weaponry this peace of junk has is 2 archer missile pods, and could take out a covenant corvette, heavily damage, or ground the vessel. He patched himself manually to the admiral, requesting in utmost urgency. "Admiral... the covenant have slipspaced five ships into atmosphere. Retreat is not an option, they would pick me off as I approach the fleet. Permission to utilize archer missiles in atmosphere sir? If I am going down, I plan to take a covenant ship with me.