Main Mission: Arcadia - Ground Operations

[maxii1]

\Captain Paul Nikon
\


Nikon had just managed to save Harrington and the rest of his crew, their vessel safely left in the pelican bay.
"Nice cup of tea please, Layton!" he ordered with a grin.
(To see more of what Nikon has been up to check out the space thread)

"Paul, the Masyaf is coming down. We are splitting forces for and operation sunken. We'll likely need some Marines, Engineers, and Medics ferried down to the Masyaf depending on its damage level. Can you scramble any available forces from the fleet?"

"Copy that Allison, I'll see who else is around for a sortie" Nikon replied quickly.
"Mitchell, you aussie son of a bitch, get Izzard and a few other engineers together and meet me in two minutes in the bay" Paul addressed a fellow pelican pilot.

Then Nikon pulled out an old battered two way radio and pressed a button, it was a direct line to Captain McMad. "Sir, Super's on station to ferry assets to the downed vessel"
McMillian replyed "I'll see who and what I can steal, for the moment take Izzard the mechanic and some of Carlson's medics"
"Will do sir, thanks" Nikon spoke.
---------------

Within a few moments, Nikon and Mitchell where off towards the downed UNSC Masyaf.
"Westbrooke, could do with a little cover please" Nikon asked with a grin, rather unlike an order.
"Evans, you want to fall in with the convoy, we're coming up behind you now" Nikon grinned.

[caster]

CCS Pious Charity Executive Officer: Shri T'ova

System: Procyon/ Planet: Arcadia/ Territory: Pirth/ MagLev North Bound Tunnel

Shri T'ova stopped suddenly in the middle of the tunnel and turned to his left facing west towards the tunnel wall. He pointed down towards the corner where the ground met with the wall.

"E'jaro, here."

Shri T'ova stood aside as the Locusts powerful main cannon shredded into the earth and concrete. The droop dropped away as Shri T'ova approached a new collection of Covenant soldiers....A hunter pair, an engineer and two special operations grunts who were capable and versed in human systems. Shri nodded to the hunter pair then looked to the special operations major. "The grunts and the engineer. They are imperative to the mission. If they die, I can safely say your fate will be the same when the Prophet of Piety hears of your failure."

The major, a combat veteran clicked his mandibles. The warning was not needed, but it was required. After a moment the Locust's legs latched down and E'jaro exited. A large hole had been burned through the tunnel, at the opposite end a dim green light could be seen. The first lance of grunts followed by a special operations minor entered the new opening and exited. After a moment his grunt confirmed the area was clear. Shri went next, the two grunts and engineer behind him with the experienced SpecOps major behind them. As the strike team entered the underground fortress, Shri looked over the wires and communication terminals.

The grunts and engineer moved to a terminal, the first grunt a deacon started tapping at the controls slowly. The second grunt started reading the signs posted around. Shri came up behind the grunt and looked at the crude drawing. "A map?" Shri asked.

"Yea, map!" The grunt shrieked. "We need be here." The grunt pointed with its stubby arms to another part of the map. "We go down, elevator here....Then cross bridge."

Shri nodded after a moment then the engineer screeched loudly. The other grunt spoke up. "It says, it locked the doors above us. most booby traps not working now. Map is new."

Shri nodded slightly and checked the updated map in his heads up display. It overlaid the human map in a way that made sense. Shri looked over his shoulder to the SpecOps Major and gave nothing more than a nod.

"Engage active camouflage...." All the members of the squad except for Shri, E'jaro, the hunters, both grunts and the engineer faded out of sight.

Shri began walking, knowing the special operations teams were well ahead of them. As Shri turned the corner to the left at the end of this room, he saw a human in a white coat with an energy lariat around its neck. It struggled trying to yell before finally becoming limp. The unseen force held its limp body up then tossed it aside. The blue lariat vanished. Shri continued towards the way point to the elevator. As they rounded the next corridor, two black clad human guards were being decimated by their unseen assailants. The first guard was thrown against the wall held there and gutted after the plasma blade erupted into being. When the deed was done the dead vermin was left slumped against the wall and the blade faded out of being. The second human had been bent backwards, before its neck was crushed in a brutal blow that instantly killed it. The force of the blow caused the creatures head to hang at an unnatural angle. The last breath came out as steam in the desperately cold corridors.

The elevator made several trips up and down, seemingly empty before Shri along with his visible cohorts could be seen coming down. Several more dead humans littered a bridge that lead to a single room. As Shri approached, a screech stopped him. The grunt speaking up shortly after. "Door locked."

Shri clicked his upper mandibles twice in quick succession. Something akin to a chuckle. Shri looked to the closest hunter and nodded towards the door. The walking tank moved to the door blasted its metal frame with scorching plasma and with explosive force stuck the end of its shield into the door. It growled lowly before finally pulling the door off of the building. It moved out of the way and shook its heavy arm until the warped and melted door fell off the end of its spiked shield. Shri entered the room with the two grunts and the engineer. The grunts began by moving to a terminal, while the engineer simply entered its tendrils into one of the human systems data ports. There was a low gurgle from the engineer.

The grunt again interpreted. "Computer security trip."

Shri's fist balled. "What does it do?"

"Humans might know we here." The grunt responded.

Shri briefly looked at the contents of the information. Everything from how the water systems were implemented on this planet to human fleet locations in the neighboring systems to some indecipherable star charts.

There was no time now to go over all of this, they needed to move. At least the human defense systems were offline, and the routes from the surface had been sealed. It would take them some time before the pests could force their way down. Shri needed only make it to the surface to transmit the data through mobile terminals at the MagLev station. However, Shri as he had in the past would hand deliver the data to Joo'nae...Less some unforeseeable circumstance would cause Joo'nae to leave Shri on the planet.

Now the task to make it out of the cartographer...

Lt. Allison Westbrooke - "Super-Six-One"

South-West Downtown, Pirth, Arcadia, Procyon

Allison listened. "Super-Six-One, Super-Six-Four I am inbound to the Masyaf with three Marines, wait one." Allison tracked the Masyaf to its landing zone south-west of the city before Rocco's voice filtered through again. "Super-Six-Four inbound to Masyaf with one engineer, two medics, and three Marines."


Allison keyed her comm. "Roger, Super-Six-Four.....Six-Nine....You take care of the package."

The space liner sounding pilot again replied. "Ehhhh, roger that, One."

Not a hearbeat later Paul replied. "Copy that Allison, I'll see who else is around for a sortie" A moment later, he continued. "Westbrooke, could do with a little cover please"

Allison sent the non-verbal acknowledgment. Something she had had programmed into the console herself. It would display just a little happy face on his screen. She had a frowny and a meanie too. She liked them, since it could display messages for a variety of different circumstances. Also, she wanted to see if she could program it in.

Allison banked up and out as several other pelicans continued south-west towards the Masyaf. She could see Paul breaking the cloud cover above them. She came in just off his left and a bit below his jet wash.

Craig keyed the comm, his voice somewhat frantic. "Seraphs in bound on intersect course, zero-point-four."

They were a ways out, but that didn't mean too much when they were super-sonic fighters.

Cpl. Leon Carson - 1MSOB27 - Echo Squad

Roof Above Hallams Crash Site

Carson didn't see anything through the crack in the door. After a moment he pushed it open and proceeded out into the daylight. He swept from right to left, but didn't see Hallam in the open areas. Carson moved cautiously with Echo One in tow, around the right side of a massive air conditioning unit, would Hallam be on the other side?

[monkeyjoe14]

"Oh crap, Sergeant we have a problem", a marine shouted to me.

"What is wrong now?", I asked.

"ONI guys said that we have intruders in the building", he explained.

"Ah you have got to be shitting me", I yelled.

"Alright, well we have the situation under control up here", I explained showing that we had two teams of four snipers and two of our turrets still worked, "I want you to take seven other guys and find the intruders and blow them all to hell"

"Alright you guys on me, we have some covenant to crush", he yelled to a group of soldiers.

This was not something we needed to deal with right now, Covenant are at our door and over our heads and now they are underneath us to. I fired my rifle at an elite as the turrets chewed him to pieces.

[maxii1]

Captain Paul Nikon


“Thanks Craig for the heads up” Nikon stated, looking towards Gibson who was intent on piloting the vessel.
“You Medical Men comfortable back there?” Gibson asked in the internal comm. Unit.
A mumbled response seemed to be yes.

“Wish Harrington was still operational” stated Nikon. Thinking about how a Longsword would deal with those inbound Seraphs.

“Westbrooke, take evasive action but continue to the Masyaf, same for you Evans and Mitchell” Nikon ordered, before looking over to Gibson who returned the gaze.

“Lydia, we’re going to slow our speed, lead those enemy away from the others” he stated with a hinge of regret in his voice. He didn’t like the risk he was placing his passengers in.
“Paul, I don’t like this” Gibson replied simply.
“You don’t have to like this, I’m the bloody squadron leader, if I did what I liked then we’d all be back at the bay drinking chardonnay, but the simple fact is we’re at war and we’re soldiers” Nikon paused his semi-rant speech.
“Jesus, Lydia I’m sorry, I” Nikon looked away from his co-pilot.

Towards the enemy Anti-Air installation.

If he could get that anti-air firing at him, then there was a chance that the enemy seraphs would receive their own share of plasma projectile.

[pemberton]

Pfc. Verhiz Zecks



Silva and Verhiz pull out their sidearms and hand them to the civilians.

"If we get into trouble or see Covenant we don't see just. point. aim. shoot. That is all you need to do." Verhiz said.

The two of them just nodded their heads. Verhiz turned to Silva and said, "We have to move out the longer we wait the higher the risk of being left behind..."

Silva responds, "Your right how gonna do this? Run past everything and hope the civilians keep up, fight building to building dealing with what we encounter, or we take that delivery truck that is behind this building."

Verhiz thinks for a minute and replies, "Well all have their own flaws, but the only one I think we can do is take the truck."

The two agree made their way to the truck in back. They get to the truck and loaded the civilians in the back behind some creates. Verhiz get into the truck and looks over at Silva and says, "Landing zone Alpha is closer to us we should drop them there and then make our way to assist the ODST with the AA." Silva nodded and started to truck.

The truck lurched forward as Silva put his foot on the gas. They drove down the alleys avoiding the surface streets. They encountered no resistance and were soon at the landing zone.

[nex]

Captain Kerslake was in the infirmary when he was paged to the bridge.

He entered his bridge a short while later. Whilst his crew busily workeed to bring any damaged system online; Mainly those that helped them remain a stealth ship. After all, a Prowler that can be seen was like a carrier without air squadrons. It was what his ship was made for. Without it, he wouldn't last long in and orbital fight.

His bridge crew however, remained at their stations.

"Adria, situation report."

We've got a squadron of pelicans on route with supplies and personel. Most of the longsword's are currently tied up in orbital engagements, so Pelicans are covering us instead. Long range sensor indicates alot more covenant air activity, including seraph fighters.

The Moray Mining system is still offline, repairs to the stealth ablative coating and texture buffers are at 44%. Slipspace engines are still offline."

"Sir, we've recieved numerous communications from the ONI building in the city. It appears the covenant have infilitrated the buildings lower facility. It stands to reason they could have had access to restricted archive material - Including stellar cartography. UNSC forces in the area are pinned down in the upper floors, and running low on ammo and supplies. They cannot be extracted or reinforced due to active covenant AA." His communications officer sharply interjected.

"We cannot allow the covenant to leave with that data. Can we target the AA from here?"

"Negative, it's too far." Richardson, for once, looked doubtful.

He paused and thought for a moment, struggling to find a solution that would save the lives of the men in that building, without comprimising the lives of millions of other people. No such solution came.

"Reapprise the fleet of current ground affairs. We need some intervention. Try and rally any more ground forces, for a co-ordinated strike on that AA. Sync. 1 Hour"

[inhert]

The voice of Capitan Nikon's voice filtered over the radio, "Evans, you want to fall in with the convoy, we're coming up behind you now" Rocco eased off the throttled as Nikon and the other Pelicans raced by him. Once the others of Super squadron had passed, Rocco put his pelican in line and brought up the rear. It wasn't soon after joining the convoy that Rocco heard Nikon's voice again, "Westbrooke, take evasive action but continue to the Masyaf, same for you Evans and Mitchell." Shortly after receiving the message Rocco watched as the lead Pelican pulled out of line and turned back toward the city. In response to the message Rocco rolled his Pelican to the left falling out of line bringing him lower to the ground.

The Pelican's had no chance against a Seraph, the only option was to get to the Masyaf and hope its point-defense guns could deter the Seraphs. Rocco pushed his throttle forward and caught up with Westbrooke. Looking into the cockpit Rocco could see Westbrooke and her co-pilot. Before settling back into his seat Rocco gave a wave into Westbrooke's cockpit, without the threat of the Seraphs this would be a boring trip through the desert but things were going to get interesting as the long range radar started to pick up the super-sonic fighters baring down on the Pelicans.

[nex]

"Covenant Seraphs are closing on pelican convoy. They will intercept before they arrive in range of point defenses." Adria stated quite calmly, in that way that some of the more arrogant AI can be about the loss of human lives. "

"Damn." He fumed angrily. The battle was not turning out as expected. He couldn't risk moving, without for stalling repairs. However, there was still one thing...

"How many Seraphs inbound?"

"12, in four wings. Three a piece"

"Adria, bring Archer missiles online. Track inbound Seraphs. Firing control is yours. Synchronized missile fire. I don't want to give the game away until it's too late."

He couldn't risk his trigger happy weapons officer. This would require some well calculated shots, precisely time shots - waiting for the optimal moment. Not to mention some downright risky shots for the pelican pilots. Something that an AI could be relied on to make with indifference.

"Missiles away", the AI said, somewhat pleased with herself.

[maxii1]

Captain Paul Nikon

Nikon had sent the other Pelicans onwards towards the Masyaf, whilst he had slowed down his own pelican.
The medical personal in the back where slightly worried at what was going on, Gibson tried calming them with a simple “We’re just taking a detour” routine.

Two of the Seraphs had already neared Nikon’s position. He strapped himself in and got ready for what would be a hell of a bumpy ride.
Heading dead towards the enemy anti-air, Paul wondered if the medics in the rear had any equipment that could be used against the enemy. Some projectile that would explode.
Then his mind was back onto the matter in hand; the AA had started firing at him. It seemed that marines on the ground were attacking the Covenant installation; well Nikon would be one hell of a distraction for them.
The Seraphs too opened fire.
“Paul!” shouted Gibson as the pelican narrowly avoided a round.

Then one of the Seraphs came in for the kill, speeding towards the rear of the pelican, almost on top of it.
Nikon quickly banked his craft to the right, just as a stream on Anti Air was fired in his direction. Two round hit the seraph, enough to send the thing plunging to the ground.
Nikon grinned.
‘Just like the old days’ he thought.

[inhert]

A shortsword from the Juniata was the first to break the cloud cover near the Covenant AA gun in the city. The pilot brought his craft low over the roof tops baring down on the AA gun. As he readied two fire two anti-tank missles the AA spun around and fired a burst directly at him. The pilot slammed his flight stick violently to the left to avoid the fire but it was to late a green plasma bolt slammed into the cockpit exploding on impact. The force of the blast sent the flight stick back to the right causing the Shortsword to spiral nose first into the AA gun taking it out in an explosion that enveloped the upper floors of the building the AA gun was stationed on.

Mary like many of the other fighters broke the cloud cover just in time to see the Shortsword slam into the AA gun. She did not have time to react before a Seraph flew passed her and took out the Longsword on her right. She nosed her craft down and looped it back up entering the dogfight above the city.

[nex]

Steve 'Crash' Colsten

City Outskirts

Crash paused, his coat billowing in the gentle breeze. He'd been in the basement of an office building. Playing his little games. He hadn't noticed. He hadn't heard. Not till things started to fall. And now as he stood upon the ruins of what had once been a software company, on the outskirts, and gazed over the city, he wondered if his life would ever be simple. Slotting his PDA back into a front pocket on the strap of his bag. He slipped a wireless headset into one ear, before resting the thumb of his hand on a 'ornamental' silver dagger holstered in his belt.

He listened for a few minutes to the squawking of Navy Pilots overhead, their ships but contrails in the sky. Before he set out, he checked his bag, and the condition of his gadgets;

A deployable radio transmitter/booster, capable of putting a signal in orbit and made from a 'borrowed' BLACKWIDOW CommSat, but stripped down; a pair of electronic binoculars; a direct link cable for his PDA - Sort of an interface for everything; a few homemade smoke-bombs and flash-bangs, some well-acquired C4 and several litres of high caffeine drink.

He was set. He looked up sharply, as a loud blast in the distance showed a shortsword spiraling into the ground behind a tower, followed by a larger explosion and a plume of acid blue smoke.
Time to move.

[dusty]

Vincent removed the phone from his pack and handed it to Oreo.

"Covenant have infiltrated the ONI building"

"Fuck, hopefully those marines down there can handle it, otherwise were gonna be in for a good butchering later"

the idea that the covenant had come for Intel hadn't even crossed his mind, however a different one did.

"Vincent, hook your pda with the Intel up to the radio, and try sending the information in packets to that prowler the uh... mersefy? regardless, check if it works"

Vincent nodded, plugged the pda into the radio, and hit the send button

[caster]

CCS Pious Charity Executive Officer: Shri T'ova

System: Procyon/ Planet: Arcadia/ Territory: Pirth/ Human ONI Building, Sub-Level Nine, ONI Server Housing Areal

Shri started across the empty bridge back towards the human lifts that would take them back to the MagLev station. The elevator started up with seemingly no persons on it. After several trips up and back down the lift carried Shri along with the visible members of his troop up. The hallways were still empty, the humans were slow. The team made their way through the twisting corridors to the hole that lead into the north-bound MagLev station, as the team exited the battle-net which had been eerily quite under the dense cover of the ONI facility crackled back. The voice was of a minor that Shri didn't recognize. "The AA gun is destroyed!"


Shri sprinted south through the tunnel to the MagLev station, when the light of the station could be seen he keyed the battle net on the command frequency. "All Seraphs take heed. The human information is in hand, bomb the human ONI building into slag!" The channel squelched as Shri bounded up onto the platform where the Major was still standing. Shri need not say anything to the Majors who were interfacing with the fleet in orbit. A Spirit drop ship was already en-route to evacuate Shri back to the Pious Charity.

"Major," Shri started looking to one of the majors who was obviously irritated at the interruption of his command. "Alert troops in the area of the ONI building to pull to the outer areas. No one is to leave! Bring mechanized units to the outer perimeters to the streets to block reinforcements. Pull all Seraphs and start them on bombing runs of the building," Shri turned to the special operations major who had accompanied him into the ONI facility. "Take anti-matter charges to the lower facility. Implode it from within, that they may not escape through burrows like rodents." The major vanished from sight as he activated his active camouflage.

All wraiths, ghosts and other covenant vehicles would set a large perimeter around the ONI building one block out, using their vehicles and heavy weapons it would be unlikely anything but a large consolidated attack force would be able to break through to the ONI building. Additionally, ground troops not already in the building would hold the exterior courtyard to ensure none of the important humans inside could make an escape. Even with the AA tower destroyed, the sheer number of seraphs should be enough to suppress the Human air element. Additionally, the special operations group would plant large charges on the structural joints in the sub-levels and collapse the lower portions of the buildings, so the humans could not escape through any tunnels that lead away from the facility.

The Major finally responded after nodding to an unheard voice. "Field Master, Na'hal squadron is chasing human transports to the south-west. They believe the human ship lies in the area."

Shri clicked his lower mandibles and retorted quickly. "It matters not! Peal them away and focus their assault on the human ONI building. The humans there are of great worth to their filthy species, and for that they must die. Besides, that downed human ship....That is the problem of the fleet.....Not the ground." Shri would leave it up to Joo'nae to finish off the human ship.

Lt. Allison Westbrooke - "Super-Six-One"

South-West of Pirth, Arcadia, Procyon System

Craig checked the scope then started into the squadron comm. "The pursuing Seraphs are pealing off. Super you are clear for dust-off near the Masyaf."

Allison keyed up directly after Craig. "Super-Six-One on station at Masyaf. Starting cover pattern."

Allison banked her craft in a wide arc around the downed Masyaf as several of the transports started landing personnel along the port side of the ship. The other gunships joined Allison scanning the area for hostile contacts, it didn't seem like the Covenant on the ground were too concerned with the down craft. Maybe they couldn't see them on their scans yet.

Kelly came over the Pelicans PA system. "I wonder what's happening in the city?" She was asking what the other two were thinking, but neither Craig or Allison had any idea.

Cpl. Leon Carson - 1MSOB27 - Echo Squad

Roof Above Hallams Crash Site

Carson along with Echo One found nothing on the roof, Carson along moved to the East side of the roof and looked down on the human ONI building. That's when Renault and his small detachment arrived. "The Covenant are reinforcing their presence. Heavy armor around the entire perimeter area. Seraphs started bombing the top floor. Radio chatter says a special operations team breached the ONI Server Room and tapped the system. And..." Renault pointed with the barrel of his rifle. "A shortsword crashed into the AA tower and took it out."

Carson looked to Renault. "Lovely. What do we get to do?"

Samson approached and patted Carson's right shoulder. "No sign of Hallam. So, we're SNAFU. We're gonna be combat ineffective as we are. We need evac."

Samson tapped into the team comm. "Command, Echo One actual. No sign of Hallam, Echo is currently combat ineffective at his crash site, requesting orders or evac, over."

The team stood by waiting for a reply. Maybe Hallam's squad had heard from him?

[maxii1]

/Captain Paul Nikon
/Super Squadron Leader, Pelican F-753
/Above UNSC Masyaf
/Asset: Medical Staff
/Units: Co-Pilot Lydia Gibson (F-753), Crew Cheif Douglas Layton (Forlorn Hope: Pelican Hanger)

Captain Nikon had rejoiced at the sight of Longswords and Shortswords nearing his position, engaging the enemy Seraphs and the Anti-Air.
“Thanks for the assist Mary” he radioed over to their squadron leader, he told the medics in the back that they could relax and headed over to the Masyaf.

He looked over to his co-pilot, who was concentrating on the matter at hand. Lydia would have cried if she was on her own, she felt betrayed that Paul would have placed his crew and chalk in such grave peril. She could see why he had done it, to buy the safety of the rest of the squadron. But that didn’t stop the pain she felt.

Nikon took a deep breath and deployed the medics into the drop zone. He keyed into the rest of the squadron and ordered the following “Gunships, stay on alert for enemy presence and engage at will otherwise pick up any survivors that require a ride and either deliver them to the Masyaf or The Forlorn Hope.”

The battle was reaching it’s endgame, the Covenant winning leaving the UNSC to retreat.
Retreat or die.

[nex]

Steve 'Crash' Colsten

Outskirts of Arcadia Capital

Crash had descended from the ruins with haste, his arms scrabbling for handholds in the damaged concrete. In other circumstances, he would have used a descent harness, but he couldn't risk leaving a trail. His boots hit the ground with thud, as dust and gravel arose from the ground. He had to get off this planet now, before it was too late. He would pass as a refugee. But how to find the UNSC? How to find them, without getting shot, was the better question. He could easily spot their main position in the city; a central building surrounded by covenant. However walking up to it was probably not a good idea. As he contemplated his next move, he noted that he wasn't alone. A solitary jackal was standing, not far from him, his back turned. It clearly hadn't noticed his arrival, and he didn't plan on alerting it.

He approached the Jackal from the shadows, drawing the dagger from his waist. He bounded the last few steps, slamming the blade deep into the alien's soft neck. He pulled it out, spraying purple blood as he did so. The jackal slumped to the floor before him.

Crash knelt, cleaned the blade of his dagger before replacing it in his belt. He eyed up the lifeless corpse, before searching it for
anything useful. He removed a shield gauntlet, which he strapped to his forearm and plasma pistol, which he tucked into his waist. He
stood, and turned, before running into the city, hoping, for once in his life, to stumble across the UNSC.

UNSC Masyaf

Desert Plateau, South-West of Arcadia Capital

"Status on repairs", Captain Kerslake barked, impatiently strolling his bridge. He'd refrained from asking to often, but his curiosity

had gotten the better of him.

"Hull repairs are complete. It's not as perfect as I'd like, but it'll keep them off our backs."

"Moray mining systems have been patched, and is operational. Slipspace systems are still inoperable."

"Sir, Pelican convoy has arrived. Medics and engineers sir.'Sword Squadrons are on air support"

"Have the Medics report straight to the infirmary, and the engineers check in with the crew," Kerslake snapped.

"Covenant AA around the ONI building has fallen", interjected Adria from holopad.

"Get all crewmen back on board. We're leaving. We can have them patch the drive from the inside. Have the Pelican's fall in behind us, and have the 'Swords tighten their formation around us, and maintain it as we move. It's time we got our people out. Prepare chaff pods and flares. Ready the MAKO-Drone with the SHIVA for launch and remote detonation. Ensure all equipment and material is correctly stowed away for in-atmosphere operations. Ready engines for vertical lift. "

He quickly outlined the plan to his bridge crew; If the Masyaf could take up formation above the ONI building, the point-guns and archer pods could keep the covenant resistance down, whilst the Longswords could intercept seraphs. It would buy enough time for the Pelicans to extract personnel and troops from the building. They would leave, and release the MAKO-drone and chaff pods. Once the ships were safely away, they could detonate the SHIVA, effectively eliminating a mass of covenant and the ONI archive. The EMP would probably fry any covenant electronics near by. A last ditch effort, but hopefully there wasn't anyone else on the ground.

"Contact the fleet, and apprise them of the plan. Arrange for them to extract any troops not involved in the fighting at the ONI building. Have them come closer to the planet, so the pelicans have a clear return. Any units unable to extract, have their positions marked, and we'll have a pelican roving to pick them up. "

He waited until his communications officer nodded; the message had been sent.

"All Hands. Man stations."

[dusty]

"Sir, They're giving to order to reach evac points!" Vincent yelled to Oreo.

Oreo nodded "Allright Vincent, go down to the lobby and collect the squad, have them escort up the VIP's in the basement. We're heading to the roof!"

Vincent nodded and ran off.

The Soldiers beat a covenant wave back, and Oreo issued his orders. "Sprint up as many flights as you can, we need to consolidate ground!"

The men nodded and vaulted the cover, and began heading up the stairs. When they met resistance, it was un prepared for this advance so enemy resistance was weak. They reached floor 46 before they could advance no further.

Dusty fired his SMG into a brute who was about to stomp on a marine. It turned and was shot in the face, killing it. Dusty pivoted, threw a grenade, and ran forward. He scooped the marine up with one arm, and began dragging him, shooting his SMG blindly with the other.

He turned to see a brute chieftain running at him. It's hammed was ready to be swung at his skull. He braced for the impact knowing no good would come of it. It stepped forward, winding up, when it stumbled, fell and rolled, laying dead. Its head was now the proud owner of one of Amy's sniper bullets.

Dusty dragged the marine into cover, and the firefight raged. Several VIPs joined the fight, from the safest locations of course, but the fight was going in the UNCS favor.

Vincent got to the battle huffing and puffing. 8 walked over to him, grabbed the phone off his back, and spoke into it "This is Foxtrot squad at the ONI building, We are on floor 47 fighting our way up, we have the VIP's with us, and we are waiting for extraction. over"

"This is Captain John McCoy of the UNSC Rolling Thunder, We have heard your request and because the AA emplacement has been destroyed, We are Deploying Crazy Cougar squadron to Ferry up your VIP's, then all wounded personnel, and finally all fighting condition Soldiers"


8 smiled underneath his helmet. He was going to survive to fight another day.

"All right men, We're getting out EVAC, Lets start this exodus!"

Oreo jogged over to 8. he had to yell over the gunfire "ALLRIGHT IM GONNA TAKE SOME MEN DOWN TO ROUND UP THE GROUND FORCES AND REINFORCE THEM! MAKE SURE DOC GETS OUIT ALIVE HES GOT THE DATA!"

8 nodded nonchalantly and walked to the combat and fired his shotgun wildly, blasting a jackal off his feet.

Oreo grabbed Dusty, Tom, Amy, and Richard. "ALLRIGHT KIDDIES, WE'RE GOING BACK DOWN INTO HELL!"

The squad nodded and broke down the stairs, to the beleaguered lobby defenders.

[inhert]

--Rocco Evans--
--Super-Six-Four--

Rocco orbited the Masyaf as the ship took off form its landing on the plateau. After dropping off his six Marine passengers Rocco had took an orbital pattern over the Masyaf. Now with the Masyaf rising and took up a heading toward the city, with the covenant taken out the Pelican's of Super Squadron where presented with a now or never situation of evacuating Marines out of the city.

A short transmission from the Masyaf came over the radio informing the Pelicans to fall into a formation in behind the Masyaf and extract Marines. Upon receiving the massage Rocco eased back into his seat and look over at his co-pilot, Courtney.

"We don't have to do it." Courtney responded to his co-pilot's glance with a shrug.

Rocco squinted at his co-pilot trying to remove his co-pilot's horrible attempt of humor. Sliding Super-Six-Four Rocco keyed his mic to the UNSC battle-net, "This Pelican Super-Six-Four approaching Arcadia city behind the Masyaf we are able to evac any Marines in the city."

Okay, Rocco thought as he sat back into his seat. This is the endgame of the battle, the Marines need to get off of the planet soonest.

---

--Mary Mitchel--
-- UNSC Juniata CAG, Primus-One--

Thanks for the assist Mary The voice of Super Squadron's Captain Nikon cut over the comms. Mary didn't have the time to respond as she dropped the nose of her Longsword under the blue plasma cloud of a exploded Seraph. Pulling back up to level out a Seraph which had be pursuing her continued over her Longsword at full speed. Mary yanked the flight stick back and brought the Longsword behind the Seraph, "Guns, guns, guns" she said into the intra ship comms.

"Fox two." Responded the voice of her co-pilot behind her. The 110mm shells of the guns pounded into the Seraph's shields, then a short-range missile sped toward the Seraph. The missile detonated inside the shields sending the shrapnel from the missile bouncing around the inside of the shield, shredding it.

With the second Seraph down Mary felt that she was finally able to take a breath. "Ok, try to get a status report on the other planes Primus first, then the Shortswords of Strike Fighters." she said to her navigator behind her in the cockpit. Once the reports have came in Mary took stock of the numbers of ships in the atmosphere. Five of the Longswords and Shortswords had be shot down in the air battle and three where forced to return to the Juniata for repairs. With the eight craft out of commission she had only eight craft. She needed more craft in the air battle and started to key her mic to the Juniata when she was interrupted by a message form the squadron leaders of Vigilantes and Demons, 16 more craft were entering the air battle. With the reinforcements entering the air battle she realized that Gil really did love her, she smiled a little as she pulled the Longsword back into the dog fight.

[caster]

CCS Pious Charity Executive Officer: Shri T'ova

System: Procyon/ Planet: Arcadia/ Territory: Pirth/ Human ONI Building, Sub-Level Nine, ONI Server Housing Areal

Shri T'ova exited the MagLev building as the Spirit floated to the center of the cleared human street. Shri looked to his right towards the ONI building two seperate Seraph wings streaked by, the first shot down several pelicans on approach to the roof, while the second slagged the top floor. The humans would not be escaping from the top. As Shri grabbed the top of the troop compartment he noted several cracks form up foundating of the building. The special operations teams had likely just sunken the bottom. The humans would now have to fight their way into the Covenant held courtyard and get evacuated from there. The two Sangheili majors who had accompanied Shri from Pious Charity also boarded the craft before the pods closed and the craft began back to the "charity".

As Shri's transport exited the atmosphere, Shri watched ten more wings of four seraphs streak towards the surface. Forty additional super sonic fighters. The humans "Long Blades" and "Dagger Swords" would be vastly outnumbered, and sooner rather than later the humans in the ONI building would perish in a cleansing blue flame.

((Shri's post from here on, continued in the space thread))

Lt. Allison Westbrooke - "Super-Six-One"

Escorting the Masyaf towards Pirth, Arcadia, Procyon System

Allison watched her scope as she fell in behind the Masyaf on its way back into the city. Her forward radar was severly hampered by the Masyaf's stealth coating, but it wouldn't be needed with the point defense cannons helping out. Allison moved a little lower than the Masyaf as they entered the south-western boarder of Pirth.

[nex]

UNSC Masyaf

Arcadia Capital

The Masyaf sped towards the city centre, Pelicans trailing after it and Longswords forming a perimeter. Seraphs flashed past, only to be intercept by a longsword, or a well timed burst of fire from one of Masyaf's point guns.

"Captain, we have the ONI building in sight."

"Adria, take auto-control of the point guns. Eliminate any air opposition faced. "
"Richardson, manipulate those moray mines. Set them to release and target enemy vehicular support. The maneuvering thrusters on those things should keep from them dropping straight down. Save the archer pods for targets of value; transports or large groups of enemy units."

Captain Kerslake was stepping up the mark, becoming the person this ship needed right now.

The ship slowly slunk over the city, it's point guns strafing the enemy fighters who came up for a closer look. Before long they were over the ONI building.

"Captain, the rooftop has received heavy plasma fire. It is unsuitable for extraction. They will have to fight to the courtyard."

"Adria, fire a missile salvo. Clear the courtyard, and hold it. Have the 'Swords establish a perimeter, bring the pelicans in when it's clear."

Kerslake watched one of the displays as it showed a number of wraiths and ghosts around the courtyard, somewhat surprised by the arrival of the Masyaf. Several explosions later, there was just charred debris. A few jackals darted for some cover, but they would take some time before they would reconsider taking the courtyard.

"Have any shortswords in the area perform strafing runs on some of the rooftops surrounding the courtyard. Make sure there isn't any covenant sniper teams holed up. "

Steve "Crash" Colsten

Somewhere in City Capital

Crash paused and watched as the figure of a ship shuddered over the city. The noise of it's engines were deafening at first, but they soon quietened. The ship was unlike anything he'd seen before. It's hull was matted black, and it was far smaller than most frigates. He stood transfixed as it fired a salvo of missiles, and the ground shook beneath his feet as they impacted the ground. A seraph fighter broke the outer perimeter, ducking between longswords, and sped towards the ship. A flash of light from the ship and the seraph was soon spiraling to the ground. A sudden sound of an engine behind him, made him turn. There was the barrel of a tank, pointed in his general direction.

[maxii1]

/Sergeant Richard Reilly
/95th Rifles, Fox Company, Feral Platoon
/ONI Building
/Asset: DCI Rankin (Base)
/Units: Sniping Element (Base) , Rifle (Base) , Assault (Base), Chosen Men (ONI Building)


Sergeant Reilly, Lee Mann and Clifford Fairfax had been commencing an attack on the Anti-Air installation whilst Nikon had been above it being chased by Seraphs.

They where nearing it’s position, taking down ground units that had placed plasma turrets to try and keep the three men at bay, when suddenly a Shortsword slammed into the installation. An explosion occurred, with deep purples and fiery red smoke spewing across the scene. The A.A was out.

“Damn Flyboy’s always steal our kills” grinned Reilly as he looked upwards in the sky seeing the dogfight above them.
“Sir, we should think about getting a lift outta here” spoke Clifford in his deep, resonating voice.
“Okay, we’ll take the warthog over to the Masyaf, they must need all the help they can get in the extraction of the ONI VIP’s”

The three soldiers moved back to their mode of transport and headed towards the ONI Building.

[dusty]

The men of fire team Foxtrot 1 got to the lobby, they we're prepared to meet their end.

It was empty, as the fighting had moved to the courtyard.

Oreo put his finger to his ear to listen to Vincent "The.. The top floor just got taken down, We are coming back down *cough cough* 80% of the VIPs are still alive. Whole squad is Alive, Most of the marines got killed. We...were pretty much in between stairs when it got burned out...Oh shit my ribs hurt..."

Oreo responded "EVAC has now moved to the courtyard, we're getting the hell out of here!"

Dusty ran out of the door, and was hit in the chest by a plasma rifle round almost immediately. He was knocked off his feet, and slowly stood up. feeling his chest already bruising. He pointed his SMG randomly and fired. UNSC troops had pushed out into and past the courtyard to form a defensive perimeter for the pelicans.

Hovering in the middle of the courtyard we're 4 pelicans with their chain guns in the cargo bays keeping covenant troops at bay. Hovering over them were several others waiting to get down, and long swords raced around fighting seraphs and strafing ground targets.

Dusty sprinted to the nearest wall and sighting down his smg, fired at a jackal.

The first of the VIPS were just getting out of the building and in the pelicans.

This was going to be a long exodus.

[elando]

Lieutenant Andrew Hallam - ODST Sierra Squad Leader Serial Number - 24651568

Hallam's Crash site 6 minutes before Cpl. Carson's arrival

Carefully I sidestepped up the flights of stairs towards the roof, shotgun shouldered and ready. "2 floors to go..." I thought. So far there had been no more contact with the covenant but as I made my way up the flight of stairs I could hear the muffled growls and barks of Grunts and Brutes above. As I turned on the landing of the 51st floor I held my back against the wall and readied myself.

Moving slowly, shotgun raised, I approached the foot of the stairs to be confronted by a startled Grunt. Before it could turn its plasma pistol on me I fired at it, peppering its body with buckshot, sending it flying backwards. Ejecting the empty shell I made my way up the stairs. No doubt the Covenant would of heard the shot.

As I rounded the corner at the top of the stairs two Grunts came waddleing down the corridor and were instantly met with a spread of shotgun fire which managed to down both of them in one shot. I ejected the shell and moved on, carefully stepping over their corpses.

At the foot of the stairs to the top floor I could hear the growls of a Brute, obviously ordering more grunts to check out the commotion. I crouched at the bottom of the stairs, shotgun pointed on the door to the roof. Suddenly another grunt appeard in the doorway. I fired, blowing it back instantly. Quickly I cocked the shotgun, ready for the next enemy to come. Unfortunately, it was a Jackal with an energy gauntlet. "Typical, it can never be easy..." I thought.

Flashes of green plasma came speeding towards me and I dived just in time as they impacted on the wall behind where I had just been. Unhitching a frag grenade from my belt, I removed the pin and lobbed it up the stairs from behind the wall. All I heard was a sharp sqwark of suprise before a low boom as debris and Jackal parts came flying down the stairs. "That must of caught their attention" I thought.

I turned the corner and scooped up the Jackal's energy gauntlet from its corpse, engaging it as I cautiously climbed the stairs, replacing my shotgun with my pistol as I went. As I exitted the stairs and stood in the light of the Arcadia sun I looked around the roof. Plenty of cover from air conditioning units and concrete slabs, but also plenty of Covenant too.

I rushed for the cover of a concrete slab as the Brute squad leader noticed me, letting out a large growl of rage as he did. From my brief look around I judged that there was at least 4 grunts, 2 jackals and a brute. Even odds, almost.

Immediately spiker rounds impacted on the concrete next to me as I pressed against the cover. I leaned out, protected by the energy gauntlet and fired off a few shots with my pistol, hitting a grunt in the chest with 3 shots before the sustained fire of the squad caused the energy shield to flicker and fail. As I went back to cover I saw the grunt fall down, dead.

I unclipped another frag grenade and tossed it over the cover. As it exploded I heard the howl of a Jackal and Grunt, probably caught in the blast. I turned back to the energy gauntlet as the concrete slab I was behind began to fizz and smolder from the sustained plasma fire. I attempted to engage it again but to no avail. It seemed it was damaged in the fight.

Tossing it to one side I equipt my shotgun again. The 2 Grunts and the Jackal would be easily taken care of but the Brute was another story. Leaning out I saw the Jackal advancing with the 2 grunts in tow as the brute fired pot shots from the cover of an air conditioning unit. I dived and rolled towards another slab of cover the leaned out and quickly fired off two blasts with the shotgun but it was no use. Ballistic weapons were next to useless against Jackal shields and with no grenades left there was little I could do except face them head on.

I pulled out my pistol again, putting the shotgun on my back and readied myself. I'd have to rush them and hopefully tackle the Jackal to try and kill him in melee. I quickly grabbed a pistol magazine from my belt and threw it over towards my original cover spot. Luckily the Jackal followed the movement and I saw my chance to move. Running round the cover I charged. As I did so, one of the Grunts saw its chance of glory and fired it pistol at me, hitting me square in the chest.

As the searing pain of the white hot plasma begain to sink in, I jumped and dived at the Jackal, knocking it clean off its feet. As I tumbled I rolled onto my back and as the Grunts seemed stunned at my foolishness I shot both of them in the head from near point blank. With its energy shield depleated, the Jackal tried to make a run for it, but it was met by a shot to the back.

As I clambered to my feet, clutching the plasma burn with one hand I heard the Brute howl in rage. Obviously it didn't like the idea of its whole squad being wiped out. In rage it threw down its spiker and charged towards me. I didn't even have time to react as it snatched me up into a bear hug and threw me across the roof. I went flying and skidded to a halt on the other side, hitting the wall as I did so. As the Brute advanced on me I went for my pistol be found it was no where to be seen. As it advanced I attempted to get to my feet but the Brute smacked me to the ground again. Laughing, it grabbed me by the neck and made its way to the edge of the roof.

Suddenly, I heard the low sound of a gunshot and a bullet wizzed through the air, clipping the Brute's helmet. It dropped me in suprise and clutched its head where the bullet had wedged it on tight. As it spun around, thrashing at the helmet, attempting to remove it, I saw my chance. I unseathed my combat knife and lundged at the Brute's back. Grabbing onto its fur with all my might I stabbed at its back repeatedly, again and again, as it trashed around attempting to remove me.

Finally I found my mark and stabbed through the Brute's thick skin and into its neck. Blood gushed from the wound but the Brute was still fighting. As the blood drained the Brute's strength faded with it. Finally, as it spun around, still trying to shake me off, it fell to the ground and let out a final growl of pain. As it did so, I was flung to the ground, rolling head over heels until I made contact with a concrete slab.

Panting, and still reeling from the shock, I got to my feet. As I looked around, still clutching the plasma burn and the slashes the Brute's claws had made in my armour I saw what I was looking for. A purple device sticking in the roof, with a spike extending about 10 feet into the sky. Here was the radar jammer. I limped over to a Grunt's corpse and retrieved a plasma grenade. Primeing it, I threw it at the ground of the device and slid behind cover. A bright blue explosion errupted from the device as the grenade exploded, sending shrapel into the air and all around.

I sat, with my back against the wall, releaved that my job was done. For now...

As I sat waiting, I heard a low boom from overhead and looked into the sky to see a bright metalic streak streaming through the sky above. "This is the UNSC Masyaf to any UNSC Fighter Squadrons. We are performing an emergency landing on Arcadia, requesting air coverage. Be advised, arrival of Covenant Cruiser in system. Things might get busy quickly." "Looks like the fly boys arn't doing so good..." I whispered.

As the ship slowly came into view, I heard movement from behind me. Footsteps on the gravelled roof came closer, obviously searching for something, or someone. I was in no condition to fight, so I kept quiet behind the concrete slab, listening.

"The Covenant are reinforcing their presence. Heavy armor around the entire perimeter area. Seraphs started bombing the top floor. Radio chatter says a special operations team breached the ONI Server Room and tapped the system. And..." A human voice said. "A shortsword crashed into the AA tower and took it out." "Lovely. What do we get to do?" Said another. "No sign of Hallam. So, we're SNAFU. We're gonna be combat ineffective as we are. We need evac." Said a third voice. "Command, Echo One actual. No sign of Hallam, Echo is currently combat ineffective at his crash site, requesting orders or evac, over." Said the voice again.

From behind my cover I could tell they were obviously friendly and I peeked out to see a squad of ODSTs. "Oi, a little help here!" I shouted over to them. They all looked up in suprise as I shouted. "Evac seems like a great idea right about now." I shouted to them as the shadow of the 'Masyaf' loomed overhead as it made its way into the city.

[daeron]

"This is Sergeant Louis Bernard of Zeta Company. We are requesting evac on the roof of the Garage. Enemy have begun entering the garage. We need help as quickly as we can." Bernard yelled over the radio.

He waited for a reply over the radio as shots raged on back and forth. Both Ghosts were out, the Spectre half demolished, but stil lthe turret raged on. Lock kept moving back and forth trying to get a shot out of the turret, but couldn't. Parron was now beside Bernard as the turret had been shot to pieces.

The radio rang over and Bernard picked the line up. Here he was told the bad news.

"Fuck. They're sending three warthogs instead. Two LAAG's and a transport. Lock get that shot in we need to move as soon as they get here." Bernard spoke over the com link, "Keep the civilians up there until they get here."

Lock instantly was beside Bernard when he finished the message. "Cover fire is all I need." Lock spoke.

Bernard looked to Parron and then within seconds the two arose and opened fire at the turret. Lock rolled over, took aim, and fired. The bullet soared through the air before stopping in the flesh of the alien's head. He instantly fell to the ground, dead.

Bernard rose from his stop, their own Chain hog, pretty baddered up, but within seconds two chain hogs and even a bus came strolling in.

"It's all we could pick up, the hogs will act as guards, get the civilians on the bus," The main seargeant incharge approached Louis.

Bernard shook his head and motioned for Lock to take aim over the garage balcony, and Parron made his way to the upper floor, getting Johnson, Clark, and Belote.

Withing seconds the group of civilians aswell as the rest of Zeta company made their way to the bus.

"Sir what the hell? I thought you said we were getting hogs, not a bus." Clark spoke over the comlink.

"I know. Clark, Belote, Johnson, take our hog and take the lead. The other two hogs will line up one in the front behind you and one in the back. Me, Parron, and Lock will ride on the bus with the civilians. Parron, your driving, Lock I want you to run from inbetween windows, looking out with your sniper. I'll stay toward the front by the door, covering Parron. We're heading back to Landing Point Bravo."

"Aye sir." Many replied.

The troops took their positions. Johnson, Clark, and Belote took the lead infront of the bus, with the new hog following, then the last in the back. Parron took his seat in the front of the bus. The civilians were quickly rounded up and put on board. Lock popped open the top hatch before going back down and doing what he was told. Bernard stayed up close, keeping his assualt rifle up, looking for any sudden movement.

The group exited the garage and headed south, toward Landing Point Bravo. As they made it half way to the end a sudden noise sent the hog in the back hurdiling in the air from their own engine exploding, killing all the men aboard.

"KEEP MOVING DON'T STOP WE HAVE TO MANY CIVILIANS. HOG 2 MOVE TOWARD THE BACK." Bernard yelled.

The warthog moved back and the gunner turned before opening fire toward the group of Covenant they had ran upon. It was a small task force with one with a fuel rod, taking out the previous warthog. The gunner ramaged out severely bullets, pounding through them.

As they turned to the final block, Bernard's face quickly became bloody as the splatter of Parron's blood fell upon his face.

"Keep your foot pressed down, I got ya." Bernard yelled as he took the wheel. Parron struggled back, gripping his right shoulder, almost going into shock.

"Come on. Calm down, your going to make it." Bernard yelled again. Lock found the sniper, took aim, and fired a shot, killing the jackel up in the building.

Another turn found themselves at Landing Point Bravo. The civilians were evacuated and Parron was quickly brought to a medical station, being tended too.

The squad would remain at the point before getting furthere orders.

[stone]

Having basically fought through three waves of Covenant, Lance Corporal Stone felt unusually tired. Fatigue was kicking in early and that wasn't a good sign. He had to look alive for his subordinates.

Shrugging off the tiredness as best he could, he came upon a half-blown out building. Rubble littered the base of its perimeter and huge chunks of brick freshly fell from the walls. It wasn't what he would call a reliable building to be in, but it was cover.

As the fireteam entered, his radio crackled to life. The white static only proved to irritate him more than put him at ease. That is, until the static was replaced by the gruff voice of Sergeant Tontral.

"Golf 1/1, this is Golf 1/5, we're getting extracted and bringing a bird your way. Enemy AA got knocked the fuck out. Transmit your co-ords and we'll find you ASAP, over."

That was all he needed to hear. He replied back with a rough translation of their coordinates and Stone ordered his men up to the roof. This was gonna be a cake walk from here on out. Nothing too big, nothing too dangerous.

Kicking open the door to access the roof, the team fanned out and checked every nook and cranny for signs of Covenant. Once confirming it was clear and setting up positions on each of the corners of the roof, the men searched frantically for their bird.

Unfortunately, it would seem the Covenant had marksman in high places. No sooner had Stone poked his head over the edge of his corner did a plasma bolt land right next to him. He dropped to the floor without catching himself and rubbed his chin as pain registered in his brain. He hadn't counted on the bastards to place snipers at every fucking point of elevation.

This was wearing on his last nerve. He wanted to find that fucker and tear him a new asshole, but, none of them had weapons with the range to make that kind of shot. So, he told his men to keep low and he hunched down at the corner and simply waited. That was all he really could do.

Hopefully the Pelican would arrive soon. He didn't want to stay on that roof any longer than what was necessary.

[caster]

Cpl. Leon Carson - 1MSOB27 - Echo Squad

Hallam's Position, Roof of Pirth Municipal Authority Building

The team startled as the voice broke the quiet that had fallen over the roof. Samson turned his head, in the obvious familiarity between the two he spoke. "Andy!" Samson turned to face the UNSC forces across the street. "Command, Echo One Actual. Advising mission complete. Sierra One Actual located and recovered. Requesting immediate medical evac, priority."

"Eh, roger that Echo One Actual. Stand by, routing a transport to your location. Advise marking with green smoke."

In the mean time Carson had looked over to the Lieutenant, his visor turning transparent. "Lieutenant," Carson let his weapon hang from the sling over his chest as he rushed to the Lt's aide. "Dennison!"

The slender female form came around the air conditioning unit before she dropped her backpack down next to him. She took a medical interface cord from her forearm brace and plugged it into the side of Hallam's helmet.

The rest of Echo Two came up the stairs and closed the door behind them heading over to Samson. Rochester, team twos medic came over to assist Dennison, he nudged passed Carson who took a knee and kept a watch on their surroundings.

Renters, the heavy gunner removed a canister from his belt, pulled the pin and rolled it to the middle of the roof clear of the air conditioning units and concrete slabs. The green smoke poured out of the canister.

Carson watched as Rochester and Dennison worked on Hallam. "Blood pressure 120 over 90 - elevated. CKG normal. Suite is showing burns to his chest, rib fracture and contusions, and some nasty cuts along his left abdomen and legs."

Rochester didn't acknowledge as they removed the chest plate off Hallams armor. "Plating did it's job. Second degree at impact, only first degree after." Rochester commented.

Carson watched on morbidly curious, before looking to the Brute Squad Hallam took out alone. Impressive.

Dennison took off her combat gloves and replaced them with medical ones. She removed Opti-Can Medi-Gel and spread it over the burns before they placed two small bandages over the effected area to make one bigger bandage. After a moment she took off the gloves and placed on new ones, obviously not wanting to cross contaminate the two separate wounds. She filled the largest gash with bio-foam and bandaged the wound. The smaller nicks and cuts she cleaned with alcohol based wipes and placed a thin line of liquid stitches. When this whole process was done Rochester replaced the front plate which had a nice seared hole in the center on Hallam before helping him up to a sitting position.

"Not to bad, El-Tee." Rochester said patting Hallam's shoulder. "You'll be fine." Cheryl added.

Carson offered his hand and helped Hallam to his feet. After a moment there was the sound of a large caliber weapon before a pelican hovered low on the roof. Echo Team helped Hallam aboard then climbed on themselves. Carson's visor turned reflective again as Samson communicated with whom Carson wagered was the rest of Sierra. "Pink, Samson on Private Link." There was a pause. "We got Andy, he was C.I. ((Combat Ineffective)). Stable now. We'll take him up, get to evac see you ship-side."

Lt. Allison Westbrooke - "Super-Six-One"

Downtown Pirth, Arcadia, Procyon System

Allison watched as the Archer missiles crested from the Masyaf and completely decimated the larger Covenant force. The pelicans dove under the ship, the transports automatically dropping into the courtyard as the first ONI evacuees left the safety of the building. Allison scanned the ground but really it was Craig doing the scouting.

The Squad-Comm buzzed to life. "Super-Five-Two, multiple hostile tangos moving along the eastern perimeter. Engaging."

Allison looked to her left as the gunship came to a slow hover and the seventy high explosive rounds tour into the retreating Covenant soldiers, one of the grunts caught and exploded into a methane cloud which burst into a flame before extinguishing soon after. The Naval Comptroller's voice filtered through.

"Super-Six-Two, with Super-Six-One to back. Priority evacuation to the east of the ONI building, rooftop. Group of ODST's including command staff requesting immediate dust-off, over."

Allison didn't acknowledge over the comm, instead sending her smiley face to the comptroller, which he was sure to reprimand her on later.

"Super-Six-Two, solid copy. Proceeding."

Allison had to scan the sky, for a moment before her visor pinged the craft in green and identified it as Super-Six-Two. After a moment the craft's designation turned blue, designating it her wing craft. The craft was already above her and coming over the roof top of the building. Allison used vertical thrust and raised up the floors. Craig took the opportunity to clean some house. "Tangos in the building, going loud."

The seventy tore through the floors as the craft raised along before stopping just before the roof. The last ODST's were just mounting up as Allison turned the craft around and began scanning for hostile air. The seraphs that had been coming in hadn't even made it this far down before the Masyaf and it's contingent of Longsword's intercepted their decent.


After a moment Super-Six-Two started towards orbit. There was nothing more her gunship could do at this point. Just as Allison turned the stick to head back down to the ONI Building the Comptroller came over again.

"Super-Six-One and Super-Three-Nine prepare to copy fire mission." Allison looked over her shoulder to Craig who just nodded once.

"Super-Six-One and Super-Three-Nine, Zeta company has made convoy to L-Z Bravo on the eastern side of the city. This task group has the last civilian evacuation site on hand. Break." There was a pause. Allison took the break to bring up her map and plot a course to Landing Zone Bravo. "Evacuees are on board civilian transport - bus, marked with IR Strobes but have encountered heavy residual ground contact in the area. Break." Allison closed the full view map and full throttled towards LZ Bravo. "Proceed on station and provide heavy cover for Zeta Company, we have transport en route from orbit, but it will take some time before the transports arrive due to heavy naval engagements. Advise your contact is Zeta One Actual, your spotter is Chameleon."

"Super-Six-One, copies all."

"Super-Three-Nine, good copy."

Allison was the second one into the area, but she heard the chatter. "Gunships, Chameleon. Grid Kilo-Three-Two is hot. Multiple foot tangos moving along the alleys north to south just North-East of LZ Bravo. How copy?"

"Chameleon, Three-Nine good copy. Starting run."

"Zeta One Actual, Super-Six-One coming on station."

Three-Nine responded promptly. "Copy, Six-One. Three-Nine, going thermal."

"Roger, Three-Nine." Allison responded as she looked down into the LZ. Looked like Chaos.

"Six-One, I got fourteen colds on view. Along with two Mike-Foxtrots." Three - Nine advised. 'Colds' were grunts. Due to their lower body temperature, they would show gray on thermal, but their methane tanks stood out in black. Three-Nine continued. "They look confused, I don't think they know they are heading towards an LZ."

Allison sent the smiley face, then the meanie face. After a moment She could see the muzzle flash of the seventy. Her eyes tracked the tracers until they disappeared behind a building into an alley.

Allison came in over the top of the same alley after the strafing run. Craigs voice picked up. "Good kill, three-nine. I see a lot of color down there."

Both groups continued covering the landing zone until the transport filtered through. The civilians were pulled out and only the marines were left on the ground. Allison looked down as she banked to her left, looking at the marines. There was at least five wounded on the ground. She wondered if transport would be coming for them, or if they had to hoof it to the ONI building.


It wasn't too much longer before the Comptroller came over the radio again. "Any Super-Squadron clear for evac?"


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

Allison listened as her craft screeched overhead. There was no reply. With the evacuation of the ONI building nearly all of the squadron was holed up. Allison took the initiative, sure she was a gunship, but there were a lot of feet on the ground and she had some room now that she had dumped ammo into the Covenant.

"Super-Six-One, available."

Allison was sure she heard Craig sigh in his helmet. She stuck her arm up with her middle finger raised at him before returning it to the flight controls.

"Copy, Super-Six-One. Golf-One-One, Marine platoon is requesting pick up. They are located near your first cover mission at Pirth Municipal."

"Roger, command."

Allison banked away and left Super-Nine-Three to cover Zeta Company. It wasn't long before She orbited over Golf-One-One position. She came in low over the street, and picked up the marines, not before taking a few plasma bolts against the side of her craft. The gunship still had the amenities of the transport variants but it was stripped down. The seats for instance had no cushions. After a moment Golf's commanding officer opened the cockpit and stood in the door way. "We got enough room to get the second lance of my guys?"

Allison turned her head to look at the marine over her right shoulder and gave a thumbs up. The marine nodded and uploaded the information of Golf-One-Five into her HUD.

Allison continued on position and passed over-head approximately ten minutes later. "Golf - One - Five, Super-Six-One, we are overhead and ready for dust off."

She could see a the squad laying on the roof, but she didn't know why. Until a purple beam hit the cockpit windshield. Allison flinched and the craft reared back as she inadvertently jerked the stick back. The beam though had come in at an extreme angle. It refracted off the reflective window and shot back into the open sky.

Allison banked around and climbed away from the pinned marines. Craig came over the ship comm. "Switching to thermal."

Allison realized she was shaking a bit. That was the closest she had been to being personally shot at. It was certainly a terrifying experience. She almost dunked her bird because of it. Craig must have noticed, he spoke up. "It's okay Allison, you're fine. Focus on flying."

"Yeah, Craig." Allison spoke quietly focusing her mind. Although she wondered how Marines could deal with that kind of looming threat. Her friend in the Marines, Jill....She found it exhilarating. Allison didn't share the sentiment.

Craig found the Jackal using the thermal imaging, and four others in separate buildings. They were getting wise, and retreating to near top floors of buildings instead of roofs. Craig sent four large bursts to each target. In the distance, Allison watched the glass of the building explode before Craig announced the area was clear. Allison brought the craft down over Lance Corporal Stone and his team and allowed them on. Kelly, Super-Six-One's rear gunner and medic would likely greet the warmly from behind the mounted machine gun.

[monkeyjoe14]

"Almost done", I yelled to the marines.

Most of the VIPs were inside pelicans and the last group was being sent out with several marines surrounding them. I punched the com.

"Anybody that is still in the ONI building should report to the lobby ASAP!", I yelled.

"Alright next group", an ODST yelled out.

Several more marines along with the wounded were sent out next to another pelican. Fred yelled through the com.

"Sarge, I'm on the 20th floor and coming down now got several others are with me, also we have covenant on our back", Fred yelled over several other voices.

"Alright hurry up and we will cover your six, move it soldier", I yelled to him.

I fired at a grunt who got to close and aimed at the staircase, the sooner that we got out of here the better.

[dusty]

Dusty looked around. It Didn't look any better out here with the pelicans loading, then it did indoors. He turned around to see Doc being helped into a pelican with the VIPS. Since he was injured and had the PDA data he was a VIP. Vincent was getting into another one for the same reason.

Dusty had lost his helmet, but was now wearing a plug in headset so he could still hear radio communications.

"Foxtrot Squad come in, over"

8 responded "This is Foxtrot squad, over"

"Uhh... We got a bird down with survivors, we got a pelican for you coming in right now, do you copy? Over"

"Copy that Over watch, we'll perform the Search and Rescue, over"

"Roger that, We'll tell them your on your way there. Over"

Dusty looked at 8, who’s face couldn't be seen, but was still visibly upset that he had to stick his neck out.

"ALLRIGHT FOXTROT GET THE FUCK OVER HERE. WE'RE MOVING OUT!" He bellowed into the Comm headset.

A pelican was hovering waiting for them. Dusty ran over and climbed in, and helped several of his squad members climb in. When they were all in, and sitting Oreo walked over to the pilots door and hammered his fist on it.

The pilots took off, maneuvering extremely quickly, and flying low, to avoid radar.

The Crew master fired the Chain gun at targets as they flew down the streets.

Dusty who was sitting closest to the edge ducked several times as missed rounds entered the loading deck..

"Allright We're coming up on it, its the Next Street!"

The Pelican took a right turn and flew over the pelican wreck "Allright i see movement down there!"The Pelican was on fire and the cockpit was broken out. Sitting in it were two pilots firing magnums at covenant. 2 marines Were firing battle rifles at the covenant.

The Crew master fired the gun tearing up several covenant.

The Pelican flew back to where they made the right, turning the pelican exposing the loading bay to the firefight, and set it down.

"We got 2 minutes before we gotta bugger off!"

Dusty ran forward and jumped down and sprinted to cover.

Oreo yelled out orders "Dusty, Get the non walker! Tom Get the pilots help if they need it! I'll get the marines!"

Dusty sprinted to the pelican and fired his SMG at the Covenant. He missed every shot, but it was more of a suppressive idea then a killing one. He walked into the burning pelican's loading bay and found an man. He was pinned under a metal bar, and fighting weakly against it.

Dusty crouched down next to him and struggled against the red hot metal bar. Tears leaked out of his eyes cleaning stripes of soot off his face. He moved it, and scooped up the man onto his shoulders and jogged out of the fire towards the pelican. Arrayed around the pelican was the rest of fire team foxtrot forming a perimeter.

Dusty climbed into the pelican and placed the body down.

He climbed out coughing "Wheres.. wheres Tom... And Oreo?"

Amy shrugged.

Dusty stumbled randomly for a few steps and then got his balance and ran to the pelican again.

Tom and Oreo were pinned down. Dusty ran back into the burning inferno and pushed on the door to the cockpit. He placed a breaching charge on the very corner of it, and blasted the hinge off. He pushed on the door and pushed it in halfway. Enough for a human to squeeze through.

He coughed and got the pilots attention and almost got shot for it.

"Co.. Come on.." He choked out.

The pilots nodded and crawled through.

Dusty pointed them in the direction of the pelican and they moved as quickly as they could.

Dusty figured they had 20 seconds left.

He ran to Tom and Oreo who were yelling for the marines to move, but they were pinned down.

Dusty drew his rocket launcher and stepped out of cover with it.

He took time to aim it, and sighted on the shade turret pinning them down.

Dusty pulled the trigger and the rocket clanked as it left the tube, and flew straight and true blasting the shade turret apart.

The marines started sprinting for them, and they all ran to the pelican.

They reached the pelican and sitting down were the wounded. The marines climbed aboard, and Then Tom and Oreo. Dusty dragged himself aboard, and sat down. The Rest of the squad Clambered aboard as plasma raged around them.

"Come on, we need to leave!"

As Kendra was climbing aboard she took a round in her back.

She stumbled, fell, and reached out trying to climb aboard, failing.

Dusty moved without thinking. He moved, lept out, and grabbed her. He picked her up in his arms like a child, and Ran for the pelican. He was shot in the legs and stumbled to it.

Tom, Oreo, Richard, and the Crew chief grabbed Kendra from his arms, and then grabbed Dusty and pulled him in.

"Lets go!"

The pilot responded and the pelican lifted off the ground.

Dusty passed out.

The Pelican flew into the atmosphere and docked at the Rolling Thunder, Dropped off its wounded, refueled, and Returned to pick up more from the ONI building.

[maxii1]

/Captain Paul Nikon
/Super Squadron Leader, Pelican F-753
/Above UNSC Masyaf
/Asset: None
/Units: Co-Pilot Lydia Gibson (F-753), Crew Chief Douglas Layton (Forlorn Hope: Pelican Hanger)

Over the radio came a familiar voice; “Paul matey, Could really do with a pick up, have two plus one’s with me”.
It took Nikon a little while to realise that it was Sergeant Reilly, apparently he had been in a Warthog, which had been driven over a landmine.
“Any casualty’s?” asked Gibson.
“Negative, but we’re engaging multiple enemy units” Reilly warned.
Nikon lowered the craft to survey the scene.



/Sergeant Richard Reilly
/95th Rifles, Fox Company, Feral Platoon
/Warthog Wreckage
/Asset: DCI Rankin (Base)
/Units: Sniping Element (Base) , Rifle (Base) , Assault (Base), Chosen Men (Warthog Wreckage)

Fairfax was manning the still operational turret, engaging the larger targets.
Reilly had lent his Battle Rifle to Mann and was instead using his Sniper Rifle, taking care of a few Snipers.
“Low Ammo!” Fairfax warned as his targeted rounds hit a Brute’s midriff, forcing the body backwards, crushing two grunts behind its weight.
Reilly saw in his scope a sight which worried him deeply; a Hunter.
‘Those things always travel in pairs’ he remembered.
“Shift fire to that big bastard!” Reilly ordered as he took a shot at it’s orange weak-points.
“Nikon, we have one spotted Hunter, another must be close nearby, recommend we find another extraction point” Reilly ordered.
Knowing deep down that there wasn’t time to find a suitable location.



/Captain Paul Nikon
/Super Squadron Leader, Pelican F-753
/Above Warthog Wreckage
/Asset: None
/Units: Co-Pilot Lydia Gibson (F-753), Crew Chief Douglas Layton (Forlorn Hope: Pelican Hanger)

“Ah, the other one’s probably dead or sleeping” Nikon replied to Reilly’s warning of a Hunter pair in the vicinity.
Lydia Gibson looked less convinced.
“Paul, reroute a gunship and lets get back to the Forlorn Hope” she spoke with a longing to be back in that Pelican Bay.
“I’m not leaving a friend behind” he stated and lowered the craft.

Gibson gritted her teeth and shook her head. Nikon was acting like he was still in Mad Squadron, free to risk life, craft and co-workers for others. He had a duty to the rest of Super Squadron and was failing at it. She would have to have a word with others in the Squad, see if it was just her that felt this way.

“Richard, we’re going to come in low and turn, you guys run into the rear and man the turret, then we’re off” Nikon aired his tactical idea as an order to the sergeant on the ground.


/Sergeant Richard Reilly
/95th Rifles, Fox Company, Feral Platoon
/Warthog Wreckage
/Asset: DCI Rankin (Base)
/Units: Sniping Element (Base) , Rifle (Base) , Assault (Base), Chosen Men (Warthog Wreckage)

“Fairfax, save those round for when the Pelican gets here, you’ll provide covering fire until we can reach the Birdie then we’ll cover you” Reilly spoke to Cliff.
Cliff smiled and nodded.
Mann reloaded the rifle and smirked.
“What’s got you soldier?” Reilly asked.
“I’m a cross country runner, I’ll get the Bird’s Turret going to cover the retreat” Lee stated as he fired upon the Hunter, still charging and firing.
“Got any explosives?”
For an answer, Reilly threw two grenades at the Hunter, which was enough to down the beast.
“Finally” Cliff boomed over the radio.

Then as the Pelican approached, so appeared the Second Hunter and a squad of grunts carrying Fuel Cannons.



/Captain Paul Nikon
/Super Squadron Leader, Pelican F-753
/Above Warthog Wreckage
/Asset: None
/Units: Co-Pilot Lydia Gibson (F-753), Crew Chief Douglas Layton (Forlorn Hope: Pelican Hanger)

The pelican stormed onto the scene, skidded to a stop and hovered just off the ground.
Lee Mann was the first aboard, nodding hello before using the mounted machine gun post and providing covering fire for his comrades.
Clifford had run the Warthog’s gun dry and retreated to their transport.
Reilly had stopped to try and engage the new hostiles, downing a few of the grunts with lucky headshots.
A green plasma projectile landed a foot in front of him; it’s blast forcing him backwards, towards the pelican.
He got up slowly and returned fire.
Realising that if he targeted the Plasma’s Ammunition it would cause an explosion that would kill the whole enemy force, Reilly fired furiously.
His Sniper Rifle was out.
Clifford pulled his leader aboard the craft, Nikon pulled the craft up and turned it, ready to leave.
“Nikon here, we’ve got some space for stragglers, any takers?

Then a Large Green Projectile hit the Pelican...

[inhert]

//Rocco Evan
//Super-Six-Four

Rocco arched his Pelican away form a port on the Forlorn Hope and accerated full speed through the atmosphere. Once planet side Rocco took position above the Masyaf and took up a tight orbit as he waited for a landing spot in the ONI courtyard to clear up. As he orbited he could see the other Pelicans of Super Squadron carrying out their duties. As he nearly completed his orbit a message cut through on the Squadron comms.

"Super-Three-Nine advising, transport of marines needed at my twenty." came the voice of Three-Nine's pilot.

"Super-Six-Four, Super-Three-Nine, I am available to evac." Rocco responded as he pulled the Pelican out of its orbit and along the roof line to Three-Nine position. As he did he could see Westbrooke's Pelican coming toward him and drop down to street level.

Once at the location of Zeta company Rocco gave the landing zone a half orbit so that the nose of the Pelican would be facing back toward the Masyaf. As the Pelican eased into the landing zone Marines ran aboard. With the rear of the Pelican half full Rocco pulled the Pelican up and started back toward the Masyaf. By this point the Masyaf would be a crowded ship so his best bet was to risk going up into space and drop the Marines of on the Forlorn Hope.

"Ok Hang on guys were going to drop you off on the Forlorn Hope." Rocco said to the Marines over the Pelican PA system. Rocco began to prep for the trip to space when he saw Captain Nikon's Pelican pull above the roof line, belching black smoke from its rear engines.

"Super-Six-Six, Super-Six-Four," Rocco hollered into his radio to his Captain, "Advise, your rear engines are belching smoke. Recommend you cut power and return to F-H immediately." Rocco had paused his preparations for space and leveled the pelican and headed toward Nikon's bird. As he neared Rocco could only watch in horror at what happed next. The right side rear engine of Nikon's Pelican exploded sending it into a clockwise spin beneath the roof line.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Rocco yelled into comms, "Super-Six-Six, is going down I repeat Super-Six-Six is going down, I repeat Super-Six-Six is going down." Rocco pushed his Pelican in the direction of where Nikon dropped beneath the roof line. Coming over the roof of a building Rocco tried to look down at the crash site but could only make out the blob like body of the Pelican in the smoke, hopefully they were still alive down there.

---

//Mary Mitchell
//UNSC Juniata CAG, Primus-One

Mary had ordered the other Longswords to cover the immediate area around the Masyaf . While the Shortswords would work with Marines on the ground to provide close air support on covenant ground forces, at this point any mission was going to be danger-close. Mary's job was not the best one at this time there were to many Seraphs in the sky and they had air-superiority. The only hope her and her craft from the Juniata had was retreat and that couldn't happen until the ground forces were out.

[maxii1]

/Captain Paul Nikon
/Super Squadron Leader, Pelican F-753
/Crashed
/Asset: 1 x Marine, 2 x Convicts
/Units: Co-Pilot Lydia Gibson (F-753), Crew Chief Douglas Layton (Forlorn Hope: Pelican Hanger)

"Paul!!!" Gibson hollowed through her microphone as she and him struggled to keep control of their pelican. Crash.

The Impact had been sudden, defeaning. Nikon had tried the radio, thanking Evans for his advice, then the explosion had occured. From inside the crushed remains of the cargo hold came a moan "Ahhh!".
It was Reilly, he had been pincered between the floor and the metalic wall of the Pelican. Mann was motionless, dead, it seemed with a pool of blood surronding him. Clifford Fairfax however was still in his seat, the buckled roof of the Pelican just missing his head, he checked on the other two passengers before shouting down to the cabin "You two okay?"

Silence followed.

Super Six Six: Down.
The message appeared in the Pelican Bay back onboard the Forlorn Hope.
Every member of the Squadron that had returned to the bay seemed worried, no one more so than Douglas Layton.
The Mechanic tried the radio "Anyone Read Me?"
No reply, just static.

Gibson quickly woke up, she was shocked to find herself still in the crashsite of the pelican. She checked herself for any internal injurys, None, yet a lot of blood filled the cabin.
She looked down and saw that a deep cut had been inflicted on her left knee, she flinched as she saw it.

Looking around for a medical kit, her gaze fixed on Nikon. Captain Paul Nikon, Super Squadron's Leader. Dead?
Suddenly his eyes opened, a hand whipped out a weapon, it was a Flare Pistol.
Aiming it, he fired it out of the crushed canopy and prayed that someone would see it.

For Nikon would, if the rescue was not swift bleed to death.