Main Mission: Arcadia - Ground Operations

[daeron]

Seargeant Louis Bernard
Zeta Company
Exit, Landing Point Bravo

The squad moved down the block way, two warthogs, one transport, one chain hog. Bernard swallowed nervously as he had just received word that a pelican was down. From here their new assignment was search and rescue any alive passengars the pelican might still hold. With covenant racing all over, it was going to be hard.

The warthogs moved down the road, silenty, or atleast what they thought was silent. Turning to the left, Bernard haulted the squad.

"Look a flair. Their about 100 meters north of us, lets move before the covenant get any closer." Bernard spoke over the comlink.

Familar voices replied, but not Parron's he was still in critical condition and a rookie replacement was given. They called him rookie as they knew he wouldn't last with them for long. Parron's tough ego made it to where more than likely he would pull through.

It was a quiet night, only the sounds of anti aircraft could be heard, and the shells exploding was the only light they had. Bernard's warthog, being the chainhog, moved quicker down the road, keeping close eye to the windows and the sidewalks.

A sudden quick sound of a plasma rifle sent the rookie a blazing his chain gun toward the direction. Two grunts came running out into the streets, plasma grenades in their hands. Lock took aim out of the passengar seat, looking down the scout, aiming at one of the hands of the grunts. He squeezed the trigger slowly, then with seconds the grunt's hand was blown off and the plasma grenade laid between them before exploding, sending their bodies flying.

The brute that was with them was taken out fastly from the chain hog's gun and the group roamed on toward the known crash site.

"We're about 50 meters away, let's keep moving."

As they moved, it became more of a paranoid affect to Bernard. It was quiet, nothing moving in the bushes, and all he could hear was the sound of the warthogs engine.

Then, suddenly a ghost ran by from the intersection infont of them, at a high speed. The rookie took fire, spraying it down before a sudden eruption of blue flame sent the pilot flying and the ghost exploding.

Finally as they entered the last 25 meters, the site of the downed pelican came into their view of the night vision goggles.

"Lock go to thermal see what you can tell me." Bernard ordered.

Lock switched to thermal vission from his scope. It was a blur as the distance was hard to tell who was alive, and who wasn't.

"Sir can't really tell your going to have to ge-" Lock was silenced as an eruption of a wraith gun sent the warthog swirving to the right.

"They've found us!!!! HURRY!" Bernard yelled as he slammed on the gas pedal and the warthog accelarated. The transport did the same.

Minutes later they came to downed pelican. Bernard wasted no time jumped out of the warthog as Johnson followed him from the transport. The others took up positions and began firing.

A man laid in the main bay of the pelican, breathing hard as blood spued. Johnson had the medical kit and took time to presence morphine into his system before putting pressure on the man's wound.

"Stay with us, we're going to get you out of here as quickly as we can." Bernard attempted to talk to him.

Clark quickly came in with the folded stretcher in his arms. Johnson kept pressure while Clark and Bernard opened the stretcher.

[inhert]

Rocco Orbited the downed Pelican trying to get view through the smoke. Courtney did the same, but with the help of the thermal imaging on the Pelican's nose.

"Its all hot, I can't pick out bodies." Courtney was able to get out before a hot streak of white shot from the wreckage, "What the hell was that!"

"Flare, we got survivors down there" Rocco responded looking around the street to see if ground troops were on their way.

Surely enough there was a convey of Marines speeding toward the crash site. Rocco eased the Pelican down into the smoke and landed in front of the nose Nikon's Pelican. The six Marines of Zeta squad instinctively ran off the back of the Pelican and joined their comrades around the rear of the wreck. Shelby and David hesitated in running out of the Pelican and helping the Marines.

"Go" came the voice of Rocco from the front. With the go-ahead of Rocco, Shelby and David grab SMGs of the wall of the Pelican and out the back.

Once Shelby and David were out of the Pelican Rocco and Courtney looked at each other in puzzlement. They could stay on the ground, but they would be easy pickings for Covenant. They could also orbit the crash site, but there was the chance that they would suffer the same fate as Nikon. It was a lose-lose situation from where they sat, Rocco decided to do what he saw as the most sensible option, and stay on the ground. Easing the Pelican up off the ground slightly Rocco allowed Courtney to rotate the nose-gun. They would remain hovering 5 feet off the ground to cover the approach for as long as the extrication would take, which hopefully wouldn't be that long.

Shelby was the first to the wreckage, she body checked the side of the Pelican and took a moment to look for Covenant on the side of the street she could see. Although she could see and didn't mean there was any, she motioned to David to cover the street of the street as she stood up and leaned toward the canopy.

"UNSC friendlies!" Shelby yelled as loud as she could as she pounded on the canopy and looked in.

((OOC: Max do what you need to with my Chars to get Nikon out of your Pelican and away))

[dusty]

Dusty woke up on a gurney being pushed around. Tom was helping push it.
Dusty moved and tried to get his attention.

Tom looked at him.

"Dusty we're getting you to emergency surgery. You got 3rd degree burns all over your hands. You gloves are basically melted to them."

Dusty looked at him for a second, then at his hands.

They were black and purple, and stained red with his blood.

He pointed at his leg as best he could.

"They said it'll be fine"

Dusty nodded

"Then they're gonna treat you for smoke inhalation."

Dusty lost concentration for a second as the pain started to register.

"W..W..Woun..ded.."

"The man in the back died on the way up, the pilots have first degree burns, and the marines are gonna live."

"S...Sq...Squa..d?"

"Vincent is gonna live... Doc and Kendra are... In critical condition... Like you"

Dusty nodded again. The pain was unbearable. Everything was becoming Hazy.

"Mahh.."

He struggled to form the words.

"Mo...More...Morephi...n..e.."

Tom got a nurses attention "Painkillers Now!"

The Nurse hurried over and opened the syringe filling it with morphine. She leaned over Dusty, and stuck it in his arm. She injected half of it, then the other half to his other arm.

Dusty smiled as the pain was eroded, like the sands of time, by an infinite ocean.

She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

He looked at her confused

"My brother was one of the pilots you saved"

Dusty nodded, blushed, and passed out.

[maxii1]

OOC: Thanks Inhert for the liberty of controlling two of your characters, much appreciated as is Daeron for his rescue efforts!


/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)

"Stay with us, we're going to get you out of here as quickly as we can." Bernard attempted to talk to him.
Sergeant Reilly grinned, lamely giving a thumb up. He was with the other two passengers being escorted out of the remnants of the Pelican and towards Super Six Four.
Lydia Gibson had unbuckled herself and clambered towards the freshly arrived SMG carrying crew from Super-6-4.
She nodded a welcome to Shelby and David “The Captain’s in there, you got a stretcher?” she asked as she hobbled out completely of the wreckage and produced her service pistol.
David shook his head but spoke “I’ll carry him” and he moved into the wreckage, giving his SMG to Gibson to use.
“Rodriguez” Gibson smiled in a pleasant tone, the two women had in the past disagreed about a few things in the briefing room, however like every member of Super, they where all friends.

“Captain?” spoke David as he progressed through the wreckage towards the crushed cabin.
A corpse was flung carelessly in the cabin, it still bleed, still breathed, still talked “David McCarthy” came a weak, welcoming tone.
“One and the Same” the young man confirmed as he gave Nikon a shot of morphine before picking him up.

With Gibson, Rodriguez, Sergeant Bernard and the rest of Zeta covering McCarthy, he ran with Nikon towards the Pelican. The two female members of Super Squadron also joined them.
“Bloody Hell” spoke a dazed and drugged Capt. Nikon “Thanks Rocco for the pick up and the rest of you” he past out.

[daeron]

Seargeant Louis Bernard
Zeta Company
Exit, Landing Point Bravo

"Keep cover until the pelican is safe. Lock keep me posted on what your thermal can see. Rookie keep them covered down. Johnson, Clark, hold the left. Clark your on me."

The remaining squadmates moved into position as they used their covering efforts to protect the evacuation process. The rookie suddenly stopped firing as he jumped down from the gun, blood spueing from his hand.

"Damnit!" He yelled as he gripped his hand, "The assholes got me sir."

Johnson ran over, bandages in his hand, wrapping up the wound the best he could.

"We can't afford to loose you, Belote get on the gun, I hope your fingers still work," Bernard handed him Belote's assualt rifle.

The rookie fought through the pain as he moved his hands, firing at the many plasma shots being fired.

The squad remained solid as they awaited for the pelican to evacuate.

[Soulstep]

PFC Adam Walker Eastern Approach to Landing Point Charlie 5 Minutes before the Masyaf came down

Adam watched the Pelican, bearing Sarah, take off towards the Forlorn Hope as he revved the Warthog's engine. He looked over his shoulder at Ben, who was manning the turret. "Ready to go?" he asked.

"Ready as fuck. Floor it!", Ben answered, swinging the turret towards the road.

Adam grinned as he obliged, burying his foot onto the pedal and wheel spin kicked in, before the tyres found purchase and the Warthog sped off down the road, kicking up dirt and dust.

"To the right!" Adam yelled as he powerslid the Warthog through a stack of boxes, forming a rudimentary barrier that a few Grunts had hoped would slow them down. As Ben let rip with the chaingun, mowing down a host of the stocky creatures, the remainder were bowled down like skittles under the LRV's massive bulk. "Kill stealer!" Ben laughed back, as one of the Grunts' head was reduced to a ragged mess.

Suddenly a heavy rumbling filled the air, as the shape of a UNSC ship flew just above the city. Ben was obviously screaming something, but Adam couldn't make it out as the ferocious noise of the ship's engines drowned out all the sounds of heavy combat throughout the city.

As the ship passed, Adam regained his wits and drove away from the few remaining Grunts, who were cowering and weeping among their dead. "Andrew is pretty much due north of here, I'll get us there as fast as I can," he said, as he plowed through the debris that covered the streets.

Tom sat silently in the passenger seat, his Battle Rifle resting on his lap. Adam guessed he was saving ammo, but it still made him a sitting duck.

200 metres from Andrew's location, Adams eyes bulged in fear as a Hunter pair stepped out in front of him, Fuel Rod Cannons leveled at the Warthog. "SHIT!" he screamed, as the 2 beams crashed into the LRV's front, launching him out the seat. The world tumbled over and over, until he slammed into a pile of Jackal corpses, and the world went black.

[elando]

Corporal Daniel Styles - ODST Sierra Squad, Fireteam Alpha Leader Serial Number - 37985340

Building of Hallam's crashsite

"Sweet Jesus, lets get the hell out of dodge!" Shouted Thurlow, firing his battle rifle at the covenant troops who had taken up position on the bridge which made up part of what was once the AA battery. "I'm running low on ammo!" "Here, take this. I got spare." Shouted Davidson, chucking 2 extra magazines towards Thurlow.

From behind the squad the Scorpion tank, 'Tailsting' fired its main cannon, obliterating the main part of the bridge and sending numerous Covenant infantry flying. "We're in business! Other side of the cover! Move south under the bridge then west to Landing point Charlie!" Shouted Pink, leading the charge over the burnt out cars the Squad was using for cover. "Move! Out of the way!" Shouted Vassili from the driving seat of the Scorpion as it rolled over the cars and made its way towards the rubble that surrounded the bridge, with the rest of Sierra squad in tow.

"Hey, I need a weapon!" Shouted a voice from the tank. As Pink turned, backpedaling to keep up with the tank he saw a Marine perched on the Tank's treads, firing his pistol wildly. "Oi! Marine! Take this!" Pink shouted, unhitching his Assault Rifle and throwing it to the Marine. "Thanks mate!" The Marine replied, unlocking the safety and aiming down the sights. Pink hefted up his shotgun, firing a blast into a Jackal who was unlucky enough to survive the fall from the bridge.

As they rounded the rubble pile the real problem became apparent. "HUNTERS!" Screamed Court, jumping behind some rubble for cover. "Let me at them!" Shouted Vassili as the tank rounded the rubble pile and halted, bringing its main cannon to bare on the Hunter pair. As the both charged their fuel rod cannons the tank fired, hitting one of the hunters dead in the chest, piercing its thick shield, causing the round to explode inside the Hunter, sending pieces everywhere. Enraged, its bond brother fired on the tank, scaring the thick armour but doing relatively little damage. "Fire, Fire, Fire!" Shouted Pink as the whole squad opened fire on the lone Hunter. Under the immense hail of bullets it soon fell, crashing to the ground with a groan.

"Sir! We've got wounded over there!" Shouted the Marine who was perched on the tank. The squad moved up, covered by the tank as they approached the wreaked warthog and the battered bodies that lay around it. "They're still breathing." Court said. "All three are unconscious though..." "Hey, I know these guys!" The Marine said, hopping down from the tank. "They're with my squad. Indigo Squad." "Well whoever they are..." Pink said, laying down his Rocket Launcher and hefting one of the wounded Marines onto his shoulder. "We need to get them loaded onto the tank and get the hell out of here..."

He loaded one of the Marines onto the tank and strapped him securely in place. "Cutting and you..." Pink said, pointing to the conscious Marine. "Its Corporal Deiran, Sir." Deiran said. "Yes, you. Stay with the Marines we loaded onto ol' Tailsting here. We need to move. Now!"

[inhert]

Rocco shifted the Pelican and brought it above the roof line and directed the nose toward space and the waiting Forlorn Hope. Rocco had a 'heavy bird' meaning that he was carrying almost all wounded, he notified the Comptrollers on the Forlorn Hope that he was incoming and there would be a clear hanger bay waiting for him along with medical crews to rush the inquired Marines and Nikon's crew to the med-bay.

"Shelby get the door closed." Rocco ordered his Crew chief.

"Okay" responded Shelby over the din of the rear door closing.

With the back of the Pelican locked Rocco punched the Pelican to escape velocity, he had no idea what the situation was in space but if it was anything like the ground he didn't want to be there for long.

"Hows are they doing back there?" Courtney, who did not have anything to do, said to the back of the Pelican. The only response that he could get was a groan. Shelby and David in the back were busy tending to the injuries to Nikon's crew. Nikon himself had passed out as soon as he got into the Pelican. Fortunately those in the crashed Pelican would survive.

Rocco directed the Pelican into the cleared bay of the Forlorn Hope, the rear door was not even down and a crowd of medical and hanger crew had gathered. When the door opened medics piled into the back of the pelican and help get the injured out of the Pelican.

With the injured away, Rocco keyed a message to Westbrooke, ur bfs safe. Rocco unhooked himself form his seat and walked into the back of the Pelican, the air was heavy with the smell of blood. Looking out the back he could see Shelby and David sitting on the floor of the hanger just out side. Rocco started to walk toward his crew outside and his foot steps blended with the cluck of the gas pump. Reaching Shelby and David, Rocco stepped off of the Pelican ramp and looked at the two. They were both visibly shaken, Shelby more-so then David. Shelby stood up and looked into Rocco's eyes, she hesitated and sniffled before she let her body fall into Rocco's.

"Okay, okay," Rocco said as he wrapped his arms around Shelby, "Your not going back down there" Rocco whispered into Shelby's ear.

Lifting his head away from Shelby, Rocco looked at the still seated David, "Your staying here too."

"But what about the rear gun?" Shelby said as she stumbled back from pushing herself away from Rocco.

"We'll make do." Rocco responded with a shrug. They would not spend much more time planet side, the evacuation was almost done. The cluck of the fuel pump shut off causing Rocco to turn back to the Pelican, stepping up onto the rear of the Pelican he looked at David and Shelby.

"Don't worry you two" Rocco said to his crew.

"Thats just the thing that you say before something bad happens" Shelby tried to quip between sniffles.

In response Rocco chuckled as he picked a shell casing and chucked it at Shelby's helmet.

"No Fear. Right?" Rocco said as he walk to the cockpit.

"We good to go?" Courtney asked once Rocco took his seat. Rocco only nodded in response as he powered up the Pelican and guided it out into space and toward Arcadia.

[maxii1]

/Sergeant Richard Reilly
/95th Rifles, Fox Company, Feral Platoon
/Warthog Wreckage
/Asset: DCI Rankin (Forlorn Hope, Cargo Hold)
/Units: Sniping Element (95th Quarters) , Rifle (95th Quarters) , Assault (95th Quarters, Leader in Medical Bay), Chosen Men (Medical Bay)


Lying in the bed, eyes closed, Richard had a feeling that someone was present beside him.
‘Please let it be a gorgeous nurse’ he pleaded in his mind and opening his eyes surveyed his surroundings.
Beside him was another injured marine.

“Glover?” he muttered as he propped himself up.
“One and the same, Richard” coughed the Corporal as he turned towards his fellow friend and injured fighter. “Legs are pretty bad apparently after all” acknowledged Glover as he nodded towards another hospitalised victim.
“Mann’s over there, critical, the doc’s not too hopeful on him pulling through” warned Glover.
“What about Cliff?” asked Reilly, inquiring about the over ex-con that had decided to join his saviour on the battlefield.
“He’s fine, blooming walked out of that Pelican so I hear” Glover replied.

Beside the comatose convict was a male pilot who also seemed to be unconscious. “Nikon seemed in a bad way when he arrived, Doc’s seem to think he’ll recover and be as right as rain” grinned Glover.

That just left one person unaccounted for that had been involved in the crash; Lydia Gibson, the co-pilot, “Where’s Lydia?” asked Reilly.
Glover seemed to be in the know today. “She’s having surgery on her knee, other than that she’s fine, funny really the Doc says that had Nikon not swerved and exposed himself to the point of collision, Gibson would have been a lot worse for wear”
Reilly suddenly got a flashback, the pitching pelican, shouting, beeping, smoke, it had pitched, Nikon had purposely angled the craft to try and save his co-pilot.
Reilly grinned.
He knew what Paul Nikon had done was the same as what he would have done for anyone. It was the mentality from Mad Squadron; Self Sacrifice rather than Self Presevation.

[stone]

The snipers had been eliminated by a very helpful sniper team in the area. This much brought solace to Stone, who had been keeping his head low and on a swivel since the firing began. PFC Craig had crawled over to him.

"You think it's safe to poke our heads out now?" he said, sarcastically.

Stone shot him a look that could have halted a train in its tracks. Craig looked as if he was going to say something, but then decided not to. A smart decision to say the least.

"I'm not even sure if evac is on its-"

"Guys! You're gonna wanna see this!" proclaimed Randall.

Both Stone and Craig peered over the edge. A large number of Covenant troops were beginning to surround the building and some were even entering at certain points. It also appeared as if a few Wraiths were rolling down the road - in their direction. Stone cursed under his breath and then pressed his finger onto the microphone piece on his neck, his COM tuned to the UNSC E-Band.

"Delta Two-Seven to any UNSC forces, we're surrounded by Covenant forces and have incomin' mortar tanks! Could use immediate assistance and evac. Coordinates unknown, triangulate on this transmission! Two-Seven, over."

His voice almost sounded distrout. He couldn't sound like that, it would put his men on edge. Though, he was sure they had already gotten to that point, his actions didn't help any.

"Okay, let's show these split-jaw bastards why they don't fuck with the Corps," he barked, "Craig, watch the hatch. Randall, cover him. Nicolai, you're stickin' with me. Look out for any sign of Pelicans or CAS."

With that, his men snapped to action. Several rather tense minutes past in silence as the mortar tanks below got into firing position. If those bastards thought it would be too difficult for their troops to take out the fireteam on the roof, they'd bring the whole damn building down. Not exactly his idea of a fun way to die.

He could only hope someone had heard their message.

[monkeyjoe14]

"Sarge everyone is out of the building we're the last one's out", Ed yelled.

"Alright everyone form up in wedge formation we're getting the hell out of here", I said taking point.

Ed got up on my right side and Fred was on my left. Pat had already been extracted with the wounded. Several marines gathered up behind us and we rushed out the door. The Sounds of weapon fire and explosions grew louder as we proceeded outside.

A pelican hovered twenty meters in the courtyard and I could see a marine on the turret firing at incoming covenant, shells spat out of the turret and pinged against the pelican's hull. I assisted by firing at a group of elites who were, a moment ago proceeding to flank us. Ed fired at them as well and the elites were torn apart by the fire.

I reached the pelican first and helped Ed and Fred into the compartment. After everyone had got in I climbed in as well, I scrambled to my seat as the pelican rose from the ground in a hurry. I glanced at Ed who looked exhausted from the battle.

"Ed you take a break", I told him, "I'll do the honors"

Ed handed me a remote detonation device and I glanced at the ONI building, I placed my finger on the trigger.

"Take this you sons of bitches", I yelled pulling the trigger, "And good riddance"

The ONI building erupted in fire and chunks of rock flew into the sky and landed on covenant soldiers crushing them. Dust, gravel and rock fired from the explosion killing anything in a twenty yard radius and wounding anything in fifty yards radius.

"Hoo mother fucking Rah", I heard a marine yelled.

The pelican sped away towards the Forlorn Hope in the upper atmosphere. I glanced back at the planet's surface, the once beautiful city was not a war zone of ruin, dust, fire and death. I closed my eyes and wished that no other colony had to be reduced to that.

[nex]

UNSC Masyaf

Above the ONI building courtyard

"Status on the Evacuation?" Kerslake enquired. He was rapidly growing impatient.

"Nearly Complete sir. Last Pelican from the ONI building, is away. There's a few groups of stragglers scattered around the city, heading to LZs."

A sudden explosion shook the ship, as shards of debris pinged off the Masyaf's armour. A cloud of smoke filled the sky, blocking out the light and the ship's external cameras.

"Report"

"Building Debris. The marines must have placed explosive charges on the ONI building. To prevent the capture or compromise of sensetive archive data. Perhaps earlier, it might have done some good".

The voice came from the purple figure atop the holopad. Kerslake disliked the AI's cynical attitude, but was respectful of it's intellect and abilities.

"Sir, we have a covenant battlecruiser on long range sensors, entering the planet's atmmoshpere. It's orbit will put it right on top of us. ETA 90 minutes. The fleet is currently engaged, and cannot intercept in time."

"Ready to pull-out. Take us up and away from that battlecruiser. Aim to put us in that stellar-debris field. Silent Running. Battle stations, all-hands. Data Burst to the Forlorn Hope as follows. "

"ONI Building Successfully evacuated. Archive destroyed. Masyaf is exiting atmosphere. Covenant battlecruiser on route to city. ETA 89 minutes."

The ship's engines whined as it accellerated up, punching through the atmosphere towards orbit.

"External Temperature?"
"Within acceptable levels"
"Status on Slipspace drive repairs?"
"Repairs are continuing. Expected to be online momentarily."

"Rotate one of those STAR satellites. Give me and overview of the space battle."

Steve 'Crash' Colsten

On route to LZ Charlies

Crash had managed to slip out of the way of the tank unnoticed. Now he was following. It was suprising how few times they looked back. He had to jog to keep up, but it was reasonably safer behind them. They devestated any covenant that stood before them, and by the time he followed, he was unopposed. That didn't stop him from keeping a tight grip on the plasma pistol he held out before him.

[Soulstep]

Andrew nodded and reloaded the rifle using clips near the Warthog wreckage. He perched himself on the rear edge of the Scorpion, watching the rear as the Scorpion rolled down the street. He thought he saw a glimpse of a Plasma Pistol's glow, but lost it immediately when the earth shook and something to the North East exploded.

"HOLY SHIT!" he yelled as chunks of masonry that a minute ago formed the ONI building shattered upon crashing into the street. The terrific rumble subsided, and a billowing cloud of dust enveloped the ruin.

Andrew gazed at the cloud for a few seconds before remembering where he was and returning his attention to the road. He tried searching for the green light, but it stayed out of his view, until... There! As it came fully into view he saw it was being carried by what appeared to be a human.

"Sergeant! Civvie at 6 O'Clock!" he yelled over his shoulder, before aiming his rifle. Better to be safe than sorry.

[nex]

Steve 'Crash' Colsten

On route to LZ Charlies

Crash saw the marine turn. He stopped and lowered his gun, and gave what he hoped was a friendly wave with his free hand. With his long trench coat, now somewhat dust covered, he was unmistakably human. But he'd long held the belief, that the UNSC was always trigger happy.

"Don't mind if I tag along?" He asked, knowing that they couldn't say no.

[elando]

"Oi! Newbie! Whats going on back there!" Sgt Pink shouted, as a Longsword flew low overhead. "Sir! The Civvie wants to join us!" Deiran replied. Pink jogged over towards Deiran and addressed the Civilian. "Well, if he wants saving he'll have to keep up and shut up. Get on the tank or run behind us, just don't slow us down..." Pink said to the Civilian. Just then, the street behind them exploded as a Shortsword swooped overhead, carpet bombing the area. "Either way, we need to move, now!" Pink shouted, turning in the direction of Landing Point Charlie.

As buildings exploded all around, the rag tag rescue group made their way down the street towards the crossroads which made up Charlie's extraction point. "Come on, Sir!" Shouted one of the Marine's manning the outpost. "This is the last Pelican out of here!" "Alright, everyone get on board! Now!" Pink said. The squad dismounted the tank and bundled the wounded into the Pelican as the carpet bombing continued. "Ready to go, Pilot!" Shouted Pink as he climbed aboard and hit the hatch close switch, sealing the cargo bay, ready for the trip back to the ship. As the Pelican roared to life it lifted off with a jerk and sped on its way back to the safety of the 'Honour and Glory' as the city burned behind them...

[nex]

Crash sat and held on, as the Pelican sped away from the planet. Things had gotten pretty hectic down there, yet he suspected they weren't over yet. No doubt there was still a space battle raging, and he planned on staying well informed. He looked around the troop bay of the pelican. Everyone was occupied; tending to the wounded, or too shook up themselves. He reached to the pocket on the front strap of his bag and took out his PDA. Turning it on, he tuned into the UNSC frequency. There was some stealth reconaisance satellites in orbit, and one was turning about to view the space battle. He eagerly watched and waited, as it completed it's turn and the tactical layout of the space battle was presented on the small screen of the PDA. Turning his headset on, he tried to see if he could listen in to their chatter.

[daeron]

Sergeant Louis Bernard
Zeta Company
Exiting back from crash site

With most of the Covenant around the area gone, the squad armored back up, and made their way out of the hot zone. As they exited they were caught up by entering Covenant troopers who hadn't been notified that the package was gone.

Bernard swirved to the right, with the transport hog following, avoiding the incomming plasma grenade that a grunt had managed to get off before being blasted by Johnson on the chain gun.

The rookie sat in the seat next to him, his hand bandaged up and bleeding slightly, but he still fought on.

The next turn was a quick impact to them, the sudden sound of a wraith gun, sent the people onboard both hogs flying out. A blast from the wraith's cannon hit both of them inbetween. The burning smell of fuel roused Bernard's nostrels as he pulled the rookie by his color behind a building.

The rookie's arm was slightly broken and he could only fire a pistol. Johnson covered them as Bernard popped his arm back into place before handing him his pistol.

"Alright guys Rookie is down and only with a pistol, we're going to have to hold until we can get some support. Johnson take point, Belote get cover us from the right, Clark your with me, Lock do what you do best. Johnson, Rookie is in your hands, you better not loose him." Bernard spoke over the
comlink.

The squad moved out and Rookie pulled himself up near Johnson, attempting to fire into the darkness. Clark and Bernard made their way up, and hid behind a line of stone block. Lock stayed back and began using his night vision to hit what he could. Belote covered them from the right. When it came down to it, Bernard managed to get a message out.

"If there is any support in the are, my squad is down, our warthogs have been disposed of and we're surrounded. Any help would be appreciated."

[elando]

"If there is any support in the area, my squad is down, our warthogs have been disposed of and we're surrounded. Any help would be appreciated." Came a voice over the intercom. "Oh for christs sake..." Said Sgt Pink. "Roger that. It'll be a bit of a squeese but we'll make room." As Pink turned around he noticed the civilian was messing around with a PDA. "Oi, lets have a look at that." Pink said, snatching the PDA off the Civvie. "Whats this? Tactical readout of the space battle? UNSC Frequencies? What the hell do you think you're playing at you wanker?! Thats UNSC encrypted chatter! Regardless of the situation we're gonna have to take you in to custody."

He turned to Private Cutting and tossed him the PDA. "See what you can get out of that." Pink said. "As for you..." He said, turning back to the Civilian, who was getting out of his seat. "I'm going to ask you to back up and put your hands where we can see them..."

((OOC; Nex, take this however you like, but we can't have you snooping around UNSC stuff. You can either come in quietly or we'll have to have Sgt Pink go Green Beret/Royal Marine on your ass...))

[nex]

Crash froze. Whilst his PDA was encrypted - beyond the levels of most military files - he didn't want to draw any more attention to himself. They had to believe he was an average civilian. The PDA was suspicious enough, should they examine the contents of his bag, then he'd stand no chance. Very calmly he placed his hands in the air and sat back down.

((OOC; Lol elando. It doesn't matter, I need Crash conscripted into the ONI next arc. ))

[inhert]

If there is any support in the are, my squad is down, our warthogs have been disposed of and we're surrounded. Any help would be appreciated. Came a voice loud over the radio that caught Rocco's attention. It was the first comm that he heard form marines still stuck in the city. As Rocco eased the Pelican around to point it in the direction of the call an icon popped onto his HUD, 'Z-coy'. The guys stuck on the ground were those that helped rescue Nikon and his crew from the crash. Coming over roof tops Rocco could see Blue blobs of a Wrath's gun shooting at the marker on his HUD, that must be them he thought to himself. Courtney saw that Wrath on his thermal and targeted it with the Pelican's nose mounted cannon. Courtney and Rocco heard the metallic thunk of the cannon firing as rounds landed on and around the Wrath. One of the round hit directly on the engine of the Wrath cause it to blossom into a blue fire ball.

As the Wrath burned a second Pelican arrived on scene and the pilot radioed Rocco, "Good to see someone else responded to their call. We are kinda full up, but we can provide you with cover."

"Okay thanks," Rocco responded to his new wing man, "I'm going down." Rocco ease the Pelican ground level behind the Marines and waited for them to get aboard. As he waited Rocco radioed the ATC back on the Forlorn Hope for permission to land.

"Thats a Negative we are at full cap in our bays. We have rerouted evacs to the Juniata or one of the other ships." Came the ATC's response.

Rocco tried to raise the ATC on the Juniata to get landing clearance, but the response came back, "We don't have room for a Pelican load we have evaced troops in all of our bays. And on-top of that two of our bay are sealed shut. Recommend one of the other ships."

"Shit, I guess weren't not going home just yet." Rocco said to his copilot before pausing to think. Him and the other Pelican had to be that last two Pelicans in the City, which was about to be nuked.

"Uh hey buddy I got a strange question. What ship are you heading back to?" Rocco asked the Pilot of the other Pelican.

"I'm from the Honour and Glory." the Pilot calmly responded.

"Okay, Okay Sorry to invite myself home with you but its my only option." Rocco blurted from the stress. The other pilot once again calmly responded not knowing Rocco's situation. Once the members of Zeta company were onboard Rocco closed the Pelican's door behind them and followed the other Pelican back up to the Honour and Glory.

((OOC: Daeron your squad safely in a pelican. Elando take me to the Honour and Glory with you.))

[daeron]

Seargeant Louis Bernard
Zeta Company
Pelican's Bay

"Fuck," the rookie yelled in Bernard's ear. His arm was still in bad shape, and a little blood was showing.

"Thanks for the pick up. We really appreciate it." Bernard looked to Rocco.

"Johnson, tend to his arm, Belote if he needs help, help him."