M5: Rumble in the Jungle

[MrKill]

Lieutenant Colonel Riley Duffman (NPC - Staff Approved)
Task Force Seven Seven; Executive Officer
Battalion HQ

"C2, this is Oden Two Actual, be advised: we have regrouped with the assault force. Break. Interrogative: what're your orders? Over." First Lieutenant Durrant said as the radio. Oden was a platoon in 'Oscar Company', a company in another Regiment, and thus Battalion. They'd be transferred to Task Force Seven Seven after the combat operation. It was likely that the unit was apart of another ship and as a result not in the Task Force.

Lieutenant Colonel Duffman was sent to relieve 'Major Killinger', who was recalled to the UNSCS Sratoga shortly before the Marathon 2 Cruiser left the area of operation in space. What ever the man was doing, he was doing it right. He'd begun to deploy the Marines, had set up a good intertwined sensor array around the forest treeline so the Marines could see anything closing in on the holographic projector.

Smart move.

Now it was the Lieutenant Colonel's time. He wasn't like the Major, he stayed back and gave orders from the Battalion HQ. Killinger was a front line leader, despite a lot of controversy over his decisions.

"C2 to Oden Two Actual, the Assault Force's primary orders are to disable the make-shift communications array set up near the middle of the crash site. Be advised the target is heavily defended. C2 out," The Lieutenant Colonel said, motioning towards a Battalion Sergeant. "I want a status report on the Battalion. What is our progress out there?"

The Lieutenant Colonel stiffened as the Sergeant relayed his information - things weren't going well. The Colonel would have, if he was here originally, followed the progress but as a recent arrival he didn't understand everything going on other than the primary orders from General's aboard the ships in orbit.

"Command to all call-signs," The Lieutenant Colonel begun. "Break off and form a four point column assault. Column one on the north west corner, column two on the north east corner, column three on the south east corner and column four on the south west corner. Wait for attack command, out."

"Divide and conquer?" The Sergeant asked.

"Precisely. Right now we are giving the Covenant an easier time focusing it's efforts on a larger force. Instead, they'd have to worry about four separate units moving in if we broke up and attacked simultaneously on those four corners. They'll be less built up and would have to defend four sections instead of one. It might also throw the Covenant into some confusion. They'll have to decide if they want to reinforce a side that is collapsing. If they do, another side gets weak, if they don't the side collapses." The Colonel said, eyes glued to the orbital images feeding from the UNSCS Kilimanjaro.

[Cabel]

[Task Force 77: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet]

"Command to all call-signs...Break off and form a four-point column assault. Column one on the North-West Corner, Column two on the North-East Corner, Column Three on the South-East Corner and Column Four on the South-West Corner. Wait for the attack command, out," blared over the helmet-com from the Regiment-wide frequency.

A light colonel's taken over command? Is the Colonel serious? He expects us to break-off, to pull back from the entire front when we have the Covenant in a bind? "Tornado X-Ray to Assassin Actual, over. Confirmation on orders to break-off requested. I'm inquiring into Major Killinger's status. Has the Major been relieved?" First Lieutenant Mark Seamus "Spade" Sorelson asked, hoping his men or those of the rest of the Task Force wouldn't come to regret the Colonel's plan. From the IFF Code that had been embedded in the latest transmission from the Battalion HeadQuarters located somewhere in the rear, Mark had been able to to at least identify the new commanding officer as a Lieutenant Colonel Riley Duffman the Battalion's assigned Executive Officer. Squeezing off a few rounds from the MA5C into a group of Grunts nearby, though while he'd been truthful about forcing the Covenant into a bind the Covenant had managed to fortify their own position. While the Covenant reinforcements had been finite given the circumstances, the troops of Task Force Seventy-Seven could call in reinforcements within minutes yet the ground beneath the jungle canopy surrounding the still smoking wreck of the Covenant Corvette had become a killing ground and a buffet for the local fauna. Covenant and UNSC bodies littered the area while the fighting remained thick, but one after another the bursts of fire pulled back as commanders spread throughout the Task Force's companies heeded the latest orders. He'd at least lowered the volume on the helmet-mic, knowing all too well the staccato of automatic to plasma weaponry had the tendency to deafen anyone unfortunate enough to be on the other end of a comm-link.

"What's going on, Spade?" Master Sergeant Keith "Doberman" Dennis asked lobbing a few well placed grenades using the standard issued grenade launcher at one of the Covenant gun emplacements before ducking back behind a fallen tree to reload.

"We're pulling back to regroup on another front, and take part in another offensive. I don't know what's happened to the Major, but we've got a silver oak leaf calling the shots now. I've inquired about the orders and about the Major's status," Mark replied, keeping his own head down before taking a few more shots at the Covenant troops. There were two types of officers, ones that he'd come to respect and the other he'd learned to at least obey if not entirely wholeheartedly. The first type had been the officer that led from the thick of it, from the front with the troops and shared their foxholes. Major Killinger had fallen into that category, and Mark had come to respect the man for it over the years of serving in the Task Force so much he'd almost shared a sixth sense with the man as far as tactics went. The second type had been the kind of officer that led from the rear, that valued their rank over the lives of the marines that fought to keep those officers in their plush chairs behind their elegant desks. He'd encountered a few of the officers of the second-type throughout his career, even had the misfortune of serving under many of them only to prove to their superiors how incompetent they had become.

"It's a fine time to pull back. If we could only get some air support to clear out that canopy we'd be have an opening in the Covenant lines," Sergeant Even "Greyhound" Haley said, taking a few lucky shots at some nearby Covenant troops before ducking back behind cover.

"Don't let the Light Colonel hear you say that," Mark said, turning to his right to look over his shoulder at the young Sergeant. The veteran Marine Lieutenant had crawled a little bit behind the downed tree the group had been using as cover for a while since the Task Force had moved into position. "The Light Colonel may have a good reason for the orders, but I'd rather know why the Battalion XO is calling the shots instead of Major Killinger. Until we receive the word for the charge, we're going to be giving the Covenant the time needed to dig in even deeper,"

[MrKill]

Lieutenant Colonel Riley Huffman (NPC - Staff Approved)
Task Force Seven Seven; Executive Officer
Battalion HQ

"Tornado X-Ray to Assassin Actual, over. Confirmation on orders to break-off requested. I'm inquiring into Major Killinger's status. Has the Major been relieved?" A reply pipped in from the orders. The reply had come from, like the man stated, Tornado X-Ray - or First Lieutenant Sorelson.

"Assassin X-Ray to Tornado X-Ray, Assassin Actual is unavailable at this time. Major Killinger has been relieved of command and is no longer in the area of operation. He has been returned to the UNSCS Sratoga, which has since left the the system," The Colonel replied. "Confirmation of orders confirmed. All units are to pull back and disperse into four groups for a primary assault. The main assault has taken too many casualties." The Colonel added, looking towards the Sergeant. He clicked the radio off.

"What birds are in the air?" The Colonel asked.

"Three pelicans, sir, armed with 70MM chainguns and ANVIL rockets."

"That will work. What are their call-signs?"

"Oblivion One-One, One-Two and One-Three."

The Colonel nodded and dismissed the Sergeant while activating his radio to the pelican pilots.

"Ground Command to Oblivion One-One to One-Three, how copy?"

"Solid copy, ground comm."

"We need air-support for the Marines, can you assist?"

"Affirmative, sir. Inbound. Oblivion out."

The Colonel swapped back to the open frequency, secured obviously, with the ground forces.

"Command to all call-signs. Air-Support is in route, call-sign Oblivion One-One to One-Three, break," The Colonel said, rolling his shoulders as the holographic map updated their location at sixty frames per second. Smooth, but he knew it could be better. It was supposed to be a live stream, instead they have to rely on the FPS rate the Kilimanjaro could provide. "Ground Forces, be advised: Air Support can only engage what they can see. The canopy cleared by the Corvettes crash site is the only thing they can target. Covenant forces inside the forest will be left un-targeted. Command out."

[Cabel]

[Task Force 77: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet]

"Assassin X-Ray to Tornado X-Ray, Assassin Actual is unavailable at this time. Major Killinger has been relieved of command and is no longer in the area of operation. He has been returned to the UNSCS Sratoga, which has since left the system," blared over the the comm-link. "Confirmation orders confirmed. All units are to pull back and disperse into four groups for a primary assault. The main assault has taken too many casualties,"

"Understood, Assassin X-Ray. We'll comply with the orders to Break-Off and reform. Tornado X-Ray, out," Mark said in response to the broadcast before switching the channel over to the Company-wide channel. "Tornado X-Ray to Alpha Company, disengage and regroup as per orders from Battalion. Tornado X-Ray, out,"

"I was starting to enjoy myself," Doberman replied, having overheard Mark's response to the orders. The veteran Grenadier lobbed several more grenades using the M-Three-Nineteen Grenade Launcher otherwise known as the thumper from the sound when the grenade left the barrel amid the groups of Covenant before ducking back down behind the fallen tree. "If we're moving, we'd better do it now. Those Covenant gunners are become rather insistent, and I don't think they care that much for the flying pineapples,"

"Alright. Stay close to the deck, and move. The rendezvous tags for our assigned formation should be visible on your HUDs," Mark replied, finding the fact he hadn't had to have said anything among his marines. A few quick gestures and Mark's marines followed by the surviving marines of Alpha Company with any other stragglers whom units had been decimated quietly fell back to meet at the rendezvous coordinates with the Southwestern Column. The thick growth of the jungle from the trees to the waist high grasses covered their escape, obscuring them from the Covenant fire. The lack of covering fire hadn't escaped the veteran Lieutenant's notice more from how he'd ordered his marines to delay their fire instead of immediately covering the Platoon's fall-back. He knew the Covenant would, and often did send out skirmishers to take out stragglers and if the marines had opened fire immediately the Covenant may have shown up with far more than a few skirmishers. After the surviving marines of Alpha Company with the remnants of other units had fallen back far enough, marines assigned to cover the rear-guard had taken up leapfrogging positions with their rifles or other weapons. As soon as one line of marines fell back, the farthest line opted to fallback and alternate with the other marines on the line yet each had orders to hold their fire. Any well-made plan had a tendency to fall apart and a force to be routed by a single misplaced round, and that had been something Mark hadn't wanted to have been responsible for. He had a duty to the marines, and the trust instilled by each marine to see each marine made it safely back home.

The jungle they'd found themselves in had been thick with growth, with roots popping up out of the forest floor while the fauna had most likely been frightened off by the varied ordinance of both the UNSC attackers and the Covenant defenders to prove little hindrance for the marines. The heat or rather the humidity of the planet had mostly been unbearable, if the marines hadn't carried canteens of their own yet even with the thick jungle growth the marines of Alpha Company managed to rendezvous with the marines in the Southwestern Column. Mark hadn't lost a single marine through either heat stroke, the occasional upturned root and the heat-induced confusion.

[Ward, J.]

Ward's team was positioned at a berm, on the frontline of the assault. Plasma fire sizzled overhead intermixed with purple crystalline shards. The staccato of gunfire echoed in the Corporal's ears as he pulled himself up to the crest of the berm and sighted in on a target down range.

A Covenant lance had moved up to reinforce another lance that was firing from behind cover. The volume of fire from the Covenant increased as a result. Ward took aim on the Elite Minor leading the lance who'd been there first and squeezed off short, controlled bursts at the alien leader.

Its shield shimmered as the bullets ricocheted off of it. The Elite growled and ducked behind a portable barrier. Ward cursed and switched targets, lighting up a Grunt that jumped out of cover and brained him. Florescent blue blood mixed with pink brain matter coated the jungle floor beneath its lifeless corpse.

To the Corporal's left were Private Krieg and Private First Class Allens. Allens had set up his M247 General Purpose Machine Gun on its bipod and unleashed a sustained barrage of withering fire, cutting any Covenant out in the open to shreds. Kreig supported his fire with accurate shots with his battle rifle.

"They drop like flies only to be replaced two seconds later!" growled PFC Allens.

The squawk of the radio in Ward's ears startled him for a split-second. After catching his breath he listens in on the transmission. A Lieutenant Colonel Duffy was orders to the assault force to split up and take on the Covenant flanks from all sides instead of engaging them as a combined force directly. Immediately after the Colonel's transmission, the voice of Oscar Company's commander blared in his ear.

"Oscar Actual to Assassin X-Ray, acknowledged. Be advised: Oden elements are oscar mike to the south eastern RP and will raise you when we're about to launch our assault on the freaks."

After that, the company CO addressed his unit. "Oden Actual to Company, be advised: your HUDs have been updated with a NAV marker, designate Rally Point Leatherneck. Proceed to the RP and prepare to launch an assault on the Covenant's flank. Oden Two have point, over."

Ward cursed and shook his head. "Looks like we're givin' 'em time to dig in, boys. I know Sergeant'll want us--"

Jon was rudely interrupted by Sergeant Stone. "Waaaard, yer comin' with me! On point, let's go!"

The Corporal nodded and expended the remaining ammunition in his magazine at the Covenant. "Aye, Sergeant!" he replied, and then looked at his men. "Furby and I are gonna move to Sergeant Stone's position. Cover us until we get there and them haul ass to regroup. We're headed to RP Leatherneck."

Allens and Krieg replied in the affirmative and the Corporal tapped Lance Corporal Furby on the side of his arm. The young Marine shouldered his weapon, stood up with Ward, and broke out into a full sprint towards Stone's position. Jon followed close closely behind him while reloading his MA5B, slapping a fresh magazine into the weapon's receiver.

When they reached the grizzled old coot, they took up positions on either side of him and Ward announced "set!" Allens and Krieg stood up and bolted their way over to them before dropping to their knees covering the six.

"Let's git a move on!" Stone drawled.

Furby stepped forward and started towards the thick brush on the right. The others followed close behind, watching their fire sectors, while Ward ordered the rest of the squad to follow and set them up in a staggered column. The five Marines trudged through the dense foliage, being careful to watch their footing. A second later and the radio returned to life.

Colonel Duffy again had an announcement: air support was on its way. "CAS strike inbound, danger close. Keep moving." Ward said to make sure his team was aware.

A small patrol of Covenant, no more than a file, marched through the woods. They were likely a group trying to flank the humans that had just moment ago been occupying the main line of the assault. Furby threw his fist in the air and everyone stopped.

"Contact front," he whispered. "Six contacts, one split-lip. Danger close."

Ward tapped the Lance Corporal on the shoulder. He looked back at him. Jon pointed at himself and then gestured to the Covenant flankers, then pointed at him and then back to the group pointing out three to him; the Grunts on the point. Then he looked back at Allens, pointed to himself, and gestured at the two Jackals with holding shields. He would take on those two. Finally, he gestured at Allens and Krieg and directed his two fingers at the Elite Minor running the show.

Allens acknowledged his orders with the OK sign and Krieg offered him a slight nod. Ward turned and grinned in self-assurance that the aliens wouldn't know what hit them. He opened fire and immediately so did the others. In less than ten seconds the Covenant file was obliterated by a wall of lead.

Jonathan gave his men a thumbs up and ordered them to proceed forward. The rally point was eight hundred meters east of them, which was straight ahead for them. Normally eight hundred meters wasn't that bad; however, having to traverse this jungle made things exponentially more difficult. It would take long to get to the RP than it would've if the jungle had been cleared in this area beforehand.

Though, fortunately it seemed they wouldn't have to deal with the local wild life. All the commotion had seemed to scare them off.

The fire team passed the fresh corpses they created. Stone spit on the body of the Elite in charge and carried on.

Fifteen minutes of walking through the dense woods finally paid off as they reached the rally point. Ward and the rest of First Squad waited for the remainder of Oscar Company to reach the RP and assemble. When it had, the faint noise of Pelican engines could be heard. Oscar Company's CO hopped on the comms. "Oden Actual to Assassin X-Ray, be advised: we've reached RP Leatherneck and are standing by to assault the Corvette after the CAS strikes. How copy?"

[Cabel]

[Task Force 77: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet]

"Tornado X-Ray to Assassin X-Ray, Alpha Platoon with survivors have reached the rendezvous point for the Southwestern Column. We're waiting for other units to arrive, over," Mark said, switching back over to the Battalion frequency. Wiping some sweat from his brow with the back of his right hand, Spade wondered how many of the Task Force's marines had managed to survive though many units had managed to make it to the rendezvous point for the same Column. The heat had been something he'd been able to deal with and to a degree some humidity having grown up near the forests of Washington State outside of Seattle, but the high humidity of the jungle planet hadn't been something he'd been entirely used to. Reaching under the collar of the uniform, he'd draw the tube for the standard issued camel-water bag strapped to his back beneath the armor and drank enough to keep himself hydrated while warding off cramps. Looking around, he noticed the marines at the rally point had held the same idea and were hydrating using their camel-water bags while they could. Hydration had been one of the things that kept a marine...that kept anyone in fact from succumbing to heat-exhaustion and confusion. The act of staying hydrated had been one of the major tenants instilled into each recruit going through Boot Camp, and after his tour as a Drill Instructor he'd recalled quite vividly having to go through the files to watch each raw recruit learn how to hydrate properly following a rigorous drill. He'd had to verbally remind each of the recruits to hydrate slowly, to sip rather than gulp it down to prevent cramps and to stretch the available water supply that much longer. Seeing the marines of Alpha Platoon with the other units at the rendezvous point take their time rather than gulping it down made him smile a little, a look even many hardliner marines had learn to fear from the veteran Lieutenant.

The echoed wailing of Pelican engines, at least a flight worth if not more nearby had forced him to give a sigh of relief and noted many of the marines had looked up skyward to see if the welcome profile of a Pelican dropship had come near. Much to their dismay, the sound of the Pelicans remained off-in the distance which ruled out the possibility of an Evac the presence of the Pelicans reinforced the reality the requests for air-support hadn't fallen on deaf ears.

"Grab any ammo, and be ready to move out. The fireworks are bound to weaken the Covenant's dug-in positions, but are bound to draw attention from the more aggressive of the local fauna," Mark said, going down the entire column formation passing the word to the waiting marines. "Keep up the fire, and cover each others backs. Conserve your water,"

[Huka]

Major Q'ai 'Muramee
Covenant Barricades

As the last human on his sights was shot down in the back of the knees, leaving the soft-skinned creature screaming in agony, Q'ai watched the rest of the heretics retreat away. He blinked in surprise at this and wondered why, humans hardly retreated unless their nests were attacked or one of those ship space-to-ground slug were coming crashing down. He doubted either, the Covenant didn't plan on assaulting their base, where ever it is in this godforsaken jungle, and the slug would cause terrible damage to the corvette, endangering their prize. 

However some of the Unggoy cheered at this apparent victory, Q'ai growled before ordering, "Everyone took a rook's rest and get ready! Those cunning insects have something brewing in their minds." Labus looked at his officer with some confusion in his eyes but nodded and went to a nearby plasma dispenser to recharge his plasma repeater. Jhao however had the same thought and stalked away, checking bodies and collected ammunition. 

 When he heard the groaning of the wounded human, he got out of the trench and casually walked to it. Bringing his hoof up, he brought it down on the creature's back, and aimed his plasma pistol before ending its suffering. Then the sound of the roaring human dropships caught his attention. "Don't they ever relent?" He asked himself before jogging back to the trenches where Q'ai was looking up at the air, holding a carbine to replace the repeater.

 The Major looked around and see the fire starting to spread, accessing his communications, "Ultra, the fire is spreading and the humans are starting one of their tactics, I believe it is time to...prepare for the worst." He advised warily to his commanding officer.

Ultra Jadap
Territorial Patrols

The Unggoy Ultra leaped on the wounded insect as it scrambled on its back, its dozen of long spined legs flailing in its vain attempt. Nasty, nasty! Aiming his plasma pistol, the emerald bolt glowing large and bright, Jadap aimed and shot a oozing hole into its vulnerable thorax. The monster screamed terribly before slowly ending all movement. 

"Woot! That's twelve points to the leader!" Dadam cried out with a wave of his arms. Some of the others groaned and grumbled at it. Jadap chuckled under his mask, reaching up to check if it had any external damage from the fight before jumping off the Jiralhanae-sized beast. His lance was put on patrols around the Corvette, just at the border of safety and death. What madman thought to recruit the planet's beasts to protect the ship!? 

 At least it kept the humans away enough but patrols weren't quite lucky. Several members of the Yamne'e swarm buzzed around the borderline, leaving pheromone markings around to keep the big bugs in check. In a wide range around the territory was like a living minefield, all sorts of creatures roamed and hid in hopes of their promised meals. Was it worth the effort? 

 Just then, the sound of another dying bug caught the Ultra's attention. Turning around, Jadap looked around for any friendly patrols but he didn't see it. Naturally, Unggoy didn't get the real advanced privileges, like HUDs, but he did had a motion tracker on his belt. However he didn't need it, his eyes saw the vehicle diving behind the jungle trees with several of its makers following in disciplined trots. 

 Uh, oh. 

[MrKill]

Lieutenant Colonel Riley Duffman (NPC - Staff Approved)
Task Force Seven Seven; Executive Officer
Battalion HQ

"Sir, two of four units are ready to assault the Covenant base and the dropships have begun to lay down some air-support." A Battalion Lieutenant had mentioned as he listened into the head-set at incoming transmissions on the general line, making sure that no tactics were leaked on the insecure line that was easier to hack into. Fortunately, Marines were disciplined.

"Oden Actual to Assassin X-Ray, be advised: we've reached RP Leatherneck and are standing by to assault the Corvette after the CAS strikes. How copy?" The Captain of Oscar Company said, awaiting orders for his men.

Assassin X-Ray to Oden Actual, we are waiting on one more unit to move into position, stand by. The Colonel replied, keeping his eyes on the holographic projector. He noticed some smoke bellowing upwards from the crash site and rotated the image upwards so he could get a birds eye view of the area. Fires from the Combat Air-Support had done a some damage.

"Tornado X-Ray to Assassin X-Ray, Alpha Platoon with survivors have reached the rendezvous point for the Southwestern Column. We're waiting for other units to arrive, over." Lieutenant Sorelson said. The Colonel was about to begin when the Lieutenant beside him interrupted his thoughts.

That's it, sir. All units are in position. The man said.

"Command to all call-signs, all units are in position for assault - commence assault. I repeat, all units commence assault, break. The Colonel said upon the news. "Company Commanders and Executive Officers have the ball on Combat Air-Support, be advised: You're limited to seven-zero MM rounds. ANVIL Rockets have been expended. Command out. The Colonel said.

Now it was a waiting game to see the reports.

[Cabel]

[Task Force 77: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet]

"Command to all call-signs, all units are in position for assault -- commence assault. I repeat, all units commence assault, break," the transmission over the battalion-wide frequency conveyed. "Company Commanders and Executive Officers have the ball on combat air-support. Be advised: You're limited to seven-zero MM rounds. ANVIL Rockets have been expended. Command Out,"

A brief gesture later, Mark had signaled the members of Alpha Platoon and the survivors from other units to move out. The marines of Alpha Platoon with the survivors of the other units that had met at the rendezvous point moved in a staggered formation, with the outer squads doubling as flankers. During his "tour" among the marines at the rendezvous point, he'd personally insured anything that could have made a noise had been secured and that there weren't be any verbal commands or noises on their approach. The notion of surprise had been compromised by the Pelican dropships, the fact the Covenant hadn't a clue where the marines would strike next had remained in the favor of the marines. The marines knew the local fauna had a nasty tendency of making their presence known where the scent of blood had been in the air, and Mark had told his marines to keep an eye open for any fauna with the other eye on the Covenant ahead. The column of marines, in their varied formations, made their way through the jungle vigilant for local fauna and Covenant scouts quietly enough to have made the Stonewall Brigade under General Stonewall Jackson proud.

The moment the telltale signs of the previous engagement from burned out trees to the smell of burning vehicles and the aftermath of the ANVIL rockets became known, Mark signaled the column to stop and relayed through hand gestures to the grenade and rocket teams to give their Covenant counterparts an invitation to the barbecue minus the paper plates. At least a dozen rockets with dozens of grenades launched from the standard issue M-Three-Nineteens landed amid the Covenant sentries along with the gun-emplacements. The marksmen took shots of opportunity from their chosen concealed perches either near trees or prone at any Covenant that managed to settle into their scopes, especially the reinforcements while the riflemen provided suppressing fire and forced the Covenant to hopefully keep their heads though whether or not the Covenant followed depended on whether they valued the grey matter between their ears. Purple and blue blood from the Covenant dead turned the ground both an odd kaleidoscope and an odd resemblance of a meat grinder, while the marines paced their fire. The M-Two-Forty-Seven light machine gun teams had set up their tripod mounts before strafing their Covenant counterparts, and any of the alien reinforcements that happened to arrive. Mark had spread his veteran marines, those from his command squad throughout the various squads in order to both increased the chances of survival and effectiveness of the entire flanking operation. Spade had opted for cover behind a rather large twisted tree that had probably been growing in that same spot for centuries, and paced his shots. Explosions from well-arced grenades tore swathes in the earth, while multiple rockets continued their dirty work transforming the formerly peaceful jungle floor...if you could call it peaceful into a bubbling mudflat with many passing over the Covenant trenches to targets just beyond them to disrupt the Covenant lines.

[Huka]

Ultra commander Usze 'Sumamai of the Aura Creche
Inner Circle of Covenant Defense, Northwest

With a painful ringing of his ears and groggy vision, Usze 'Sumamai groaned and slowly got up from his new position. Pain ebbed throughout most of his limbs and his armor felt hot. "By the Rings..." He swore under his breath as he shakingly regained consciously. WHen the ringing ended he finally heard the calling of one of his Major officers, "Commander! Commander!"

Looking up, he found his helmet was partially damaged, the left half of its visor was destroyed, and the concerned Sangheili tried to help his leader up while firing a plasma pistol at the enemy, veiled by the smoke.

The last thing Usze remembered before the explosion of pain and anger was one of the human's accursed warthogs running him over. The Gods certainly have saved him today and he will make sure to send several Humans to the void as a thanks.

"Are you alright, sir?" The Major asked, more confident now that his leader was up. Popping his neck and looking at his hanging arm, right now numb with a occasional twitch of his fingers, the Ultra growled, "No I am not! Get over here and pop this blasted arm back in its socket!"

With a look back to the Ultra, the Major just realized about his arm and with unceremonial swiftness, he readjusted and popped it back. Prompting a pained groan, Usze looked at his staticing HUD, his shields were trying to regenerate after the life-saving hit. With each breath, he could feel several of his ribs broken and his right leg wasn't so good too, but it was sufficent for battle.

Looking around, the lances were fighting back as best as a surprised force could. Plasma flew through the air and bullets returned. One such projectile pinged off his armor, much to the commander's anger.

"Warriors of Aura Creche! Fight back with all you got. Light these heretics ablazed!" he ordered before seeing the warthog responsible, it was one of those troop-carriers similar to a Shadow. Several of the passagers jumped out to engage the frantic Covenant soldiers.

With a savage roar, Uzse charged with his arm burning in its pain as he seized his sword from his belt, and its azure blades flared the moment he was close on one of the humans. Blasting a distracted Minor warrior in the back with its shotgun, the human had a cruel smile on its face in its dishonorable triumph but the Ultra took vengeance with a vicious hook of his good arm to its head.

The heretic flipped with a snap of its head and lyed motionless when it hit the ground but Usze didn't stop there. His shields were half-charged when more of the humans fired their rifles at him. With a sprint forward, he seized a plasma grenade and thrown it across the air. A couple humans barely rolled out of the way in time to avoid being stuck by the explosive before they were taken by the ionized gases and energy.

 "Field Marshal, the Corvette is in danger!" He warned through the battlenet but his helmet was damaged clipped his message, but in his frenzy, realized the Zealot obviously knew that. Bucking to a sudden shot to his side, the Ultra roared in pain as his shields popped and some of the slugs burned in his side. Spinning fast, he sliced the attacking human in half with his energy sword. 

Fleet Security Commando officer 'Kasamee
Communications Array


 The ground quaked at the humans' air-to-ground assault, 'Kasamee growled and caught himself against the array's smooth purple surface. "Blasted heretics!" he shouted outloud and soon enough the sounds of war was much closer now. Clenching his fist, the commando grabbed his carbine and took position of the top perch of the array, looking around cautiously with his light-blending camouflage on. 

 "Warriors, prepare for an assault. We need to protect the array as long as we can, at least until a fleet catches the call." He ordered through the close-range channels, he had nearly two creche from Zuko's forces protecting the array and he will be awaiting Judgement before he allow the human to lay one of their tiny little fingers on the comms array! 
***

Suddenly the roars were also closer. This have gotten harder. As if awakened from war, the bare ground from the bombardment rose and parted to let out a massive beast, at first it looked like a organic ship unto its spiked limbs extended and rose off the floor. A head slipped out of the front of the shell, oozing slime, and a fanged maw unleashed a thunderous roar with a lashing tongue. More of its pink sinews pushed out, transforming the beast into a living tank, three times the size of a Mgalekgolo. Its swooping back legs moved and its front legs. 

The Beast of the Jungles have revealed itself to tear through the disturbance, regardless of species.

[Deleted]

Sangheili Ultra Vinza'za 'Wodamai
Trenches

A deafening roar filled the air as Vinza'za ducked down.  An orange glow lit a huge area around him, and gigantic shafts of dirt were sent high into the air.  Confusion began setting into the ranks as the previously absent Human soldiers made another attack.  Hopefully all of the Creche leaders would be able to calm their warriors and keep things in order.  If they didn't, the line might break and the Human's could gain victory.  They could not let that happen.  Fortunately, the Ultra had already made sure all of Acolyte were well dug-in and was successful to get a Mga'lekgolo pair to his location in the absence of the now destroyed turret.  Still, the Human airships remained and would surely devastate the lines if something was not done.

"This is Ultra Vinza'za 'Wodamai of Acolye Creche to all Covenant forces, the Human's are striking our lines with their airships!  What happened to the fighters and gunboats?!?!  We must bring them down or they will make quick work of destroying our defenses!" Vinza'za spoke with animosity, attempting to bring what was going on to his allies attention and bring down the level of confusion.

Switching his battlenet to the Creche, the Ultra spoke again, "All of you, hold your ground!  We cannot lose the trenches.  The Humans are pressing the attack yet again but we have the Mga'lekgolo to support our sector.  The God's shall not let us fail this day!"

[Huka]

MAIN MISSION SUMMARY REPORT (Made in this format due to Covenant on the defense, instead of UNSC)

---

COVENANT REPORT
The Mid-rim barricades was holding fast against the Human assault with the competent command of Ultra Creche Commanders; Vinza'za 'Wodamai, Yrai 'Vedolmee, and Quor 'Natrunai, now the Humans have gained a fierce spur to break through their defenses.

***

Since the previous update of General Ekdo Vo'ha 'Sausamai's premature demise at the hands of the Demon with his body secured onboard the grounded corvette, the Arbiter have been confirmed alive after suffering shock from his wounds, currently in battle with the Human forces.

Field Masters Til Je'at Ra'ha 'Muramai and Sorsa Ra'ha Je'at 'Xirsasai are currently in the field as well, assisting in vital defenses.

The humans' persistence have waned upon the sect's front-lines. Vehicles spear forward with peppering storms of projectiles that take uncovered soldiers in the scores and their chemical explosions maim those too concentrated on battle to realize, and their infantry take the advantage that they can get.

The Covenant's saving grace is the pious vengeance that strive them to feel dull pain in their wounds, their superior firepower, well-planned defenses, and experienced commanders keep their pride and survival instincts strong.

The surviving banshees from the Human bombardment have moved to engage their aircrafts, supported by a handful of Phantom gunboats and Seraphs. The remaining gunboats and a trio of Seraphs remain in the corvette as last resort.

Covenant Corvette & Inner Territory

The corvette is untouched by the Humans yet with heavy defenses of a creche-sized garrison and few turret deployments. The commanding officers onboard is Field Marshal R'ha Ze'ta Je'at 'Katolai and War Priest Yinji Ra'ha 'Torai. While the Field Marshal maneuver air support and make sure the troop cycles are proper to keep the combatants supplied and wounded carried off safely, Yinji continue to deliver his holy sermons of vengeful spirit to the sect to keep morale up and burning. The Imperial Admiral still kept in stasis and his pod hidden.

***

The medical bays are getting their share of wounded, well-staffed by Huragok medical specialists and Unggoy assistance, who were selected from their own wounds that keep them from battle under the supervision of Major Luk 'Curiimee. Those of minor wounds are returned to the field on the next cycle and those of more significant remain behind as further defense to the corvette.

The corvette's personal arsenal of functioning pulse lasers and plasma torpedoes are ready for any large-scale attacks with a makeshift energy shield generator made by the Huragok maintenance to protect the ship in case for stealth assaults or air strikes.

The Communications Array have been recently completed and is currently pulsing its signal to call for nearby Covenant assistance. 

---

UNSC REPORT

Human Assault

The UNSC ground forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Riley Huffman (Due to current absence of Major John Killinger) still have the advantage of a ruthless offense, have the Covenant groundsided with Rear Admiral Dave Vardy's ships watching over the planet like wardens of this insect-infested world and the infantry have a strong stand planetside. With a larger force than the extraterrestrial warmongers, they press their battalion of Task Force Seven Seven-with ODST company and SPARTAN-II Gold Team's assistance-against the powerful defenses.

Losing men and war machines to a wide infested area of giant insects and the vicious barricades awaiting them but the UNSC relentlessness is pushed against the Covenant. The reported feat of Gold Team assassinating the Elite General have kept morale strong but rumors of a unknown Elite class and Zealot survivors of the Supercarrier assault keep them wary but they remain unaware of the fatal command of the current Covenant Hierarchy.

SPARTAN-III team RAPTOR have landed to assist the UNSC groundside efforts at the lessened activity of Gold Team. With their aid, the marine assault is becoming a mind-spiraling edge of push and shove. It is hard to tell who will make the next advantageous move to break the coming climax, or perhaps the environment itself will assist...

---

The Fauna of the battlefield

From sightings of knee-sized ant-like arthropods of bone-severing pincers to giant armored mantis to giant wasps with stinger projectiles, the fauna of the jungles remain at large, attacking either side. In the immediate frontlines, the thralls of the Drones' superior pheromones attack more of the UNSC than Covenant, but the extraterrestrials also report casualties from the giant insects, arachnids, and few reptilians that crawl and wait for their next new meal in this warzone.

WARNING: Unclassified Benemoth have appeared on the battlefield, attacking either factions. Small units are advised to avoid it!

[Cabel]

[Task Force 77: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet: Southwestern Column and Flank]

"Tornado X-Ray to Oblivion One-Two, if you aren't preoccupied strafe the Covenant shields on the Southwestern perimeter. Lock onto my signal, and let loose a burst of the Seventy Mike-Mike at the Covenant lines. You can't miss it. I only need you to sow a bit more confusion, and make them spread their lines thin. Make two passes, and then return to your previous objective," Mark said, into the helmet-mic after switching to Oblivion Flight's frequency. The UNSC ground operation needed to sow as much confusion in the Covenant, forcing them to spread their already stretched lines that much thinner even if the ugly toads had erected a shield blocking most of the incoming fire.

"Solid copy, Tornado X-Ray," the pilot of Oblivion One-Two, a Lieutenant as identified by Mark's HUD replied.

"M-Two-Forty-Seven Teams, keep up the fire. Grenadiers and Rocket-Teams, hold your fire while a Pelican swings around. Resume your barrage after its left the area," Spade ordered, switching the frequency over to the Platoon-wide channel before switching back over to Oblivion Flight's encrypted channel. "Tornado X-Ray to Oblivion One-One and One-Three. Oblivion One-Three, alter course to the Northwest sector. Oblivion One-One, alter course to the Southeast sector and I want you to coordinate with Oblivion One-Three to target the roof of that shield. Fly two passes, peppering it with Seventy Mike-Mike rounds and then get out of there at full thrust. Following the second pass, angle your nose skyward and make them think you're going back into orbit. Get those Covenant split-lips to think the sky's falling. Watch out for ground-to-air fire and any craft the Covenant might have been able to get off the ground,"

"Solid copy, Tornado X-Ray. Hold onto your shorts," came the reply from Oblivion One-Three. Squeezing off a few more rounds, Mark had to give the Covenant split-lips credit. At least, they had enough sense to be resourceful. Though, considering their resourcefulness had turned into a major source of agitation for the marines he also damned them for it. Ducking back behind the gnarled, twisted tree, he'd ejected the spent magazine and slammed a fresh one into place with a satisfying click. Swinging back around the trunk, he'd squeeze off a few more rounds as the choreographed attack pattern for the Pelican dropships unfolded. One of the Pelican dropships swooped in over Mark's own position strafing the Covenant shields forcing the shields to crackle within two passes before the two other Pelican dropships swung in from the Northwest and Southeast peppering the top of the dome forcing the shields to at least dim from the assault with their chainguns prior to climbing to a far more respectable and safe altitude.

[MrKill]

(( Off Of Character: The creature Huka is talking about is the one I made. I will quote a previous mission update. "Kill's fucked up monster- This thing is the only one that will be faced in the entire mission. Nine feet tall and fifteen feet long, this spike footed, tentacled behemoth will tear anything to shreds. (If you do not wish to be attacked by this thing, you do not have to be.) - Note three things. 1) "This thing is the only one that will be faced in the entire mission", 2) "Nine feet tall and fifteen feet long" and 3) 'If you do not wish to be attacked by this thing, you do not have to be." ))

Lieutenant Colonel Riley Duffman (NPC - Staff Approved)
Task Force Seven Seven; Executive Officer
Battalion HQ

"Command, this is Oblivion One-One. We've got visual of a large creature surfacing between the Marine approach and the next barricade of defenses for the Covenant. This thing is massive. Video is online. The Pilot of the pelican said over the open channel, and a Lieutenant answered the call, rather startled as the video started to stream from the pelican pilots live camera feed.

"Please repeat Oblivion One-One... Are you certain?" The Lieutenant said.

"We're positive, command." Came the reply.

"Duffman to Oblivion One-One, take that thing down. We know it's hostile. The Sratoga picked it up earlier from long range sensors. It killed an ODST that separated from the launch zone and landed alone. You're cleared to engage." Duffman said, eyes widening at the sheer size of the large creature. In reality, it was only nine feet tall. But it was, however, extremely dangerous.

"Roger that, Colonel. We'll be engaging shortly." The pilot said, specifically addressing the Colonel.

[BasedGoody]

Gary

RAPTOR 002

Jungle

Gary wanted to help his Partner but didn't risk opening fire in fear of accidentally hurting him. Suddenly he shot a look to Gary, but not directly at him. Sort of... Behind him. RAPTER 002 spun around to the face of another one. He yelped into the air as it pounced at him. The SPARTAN rolled to the side and the beast slid trying to regain balance before diving again at him. Gary hopped back three feet letting the beast crash a few feet short. He hoisted up his Assault Rifle to his shoulder and sprayed out into his face. The bullets bounced off of his reptilian skin and fired off into the jungle. It seemed to growl and swiped out it's hand. Gary was grabbed off of the ground and lifted into the air.

"Ahk! What the hell?" He yelled and bashed his hand with the butt of his gun, it held on unfazed. Slowly it brought its claw toward its mouth. The mouth opened to reveal hundreds of sharp teeth and a black tongue. Gary lifted up his gun again and stuffed it into the beast's mouth. Before he could pull the trigger it clamped down on the weapon and ripped it out of his hands. The Assault Rifle was destroyed and spit out. Gary covered his face as his enemy yelled into the air and spit flied over him. The beast went for the kill again. The SPARTAN pulled out his magnum and fired three rounds into it's mouth.

It recoiled and dropped Gary to the ground. He scrambled up and grabbed his sidearm again. He spun towards the beast that... Wasn't there. 

"Dammit!" He growled and swiveled in a 180, aiming his Magnum. Suddenly the growl came up again off to the side. He turned to it and motioned a 'Come here' with his hand. "Let's go."

[Spartan 999]

Field Master Sorsa Ra'ha Je'at 'Xirsasai
Currently ambushing a human convoy with Til

Sorsa and Til stalked through the underbrush on the opposite side of the convoy from where Ziin and the majority of the Major Domo's lance was. He currently had a borrowed plasma repeater in his hands for the eventual attack, as it would give more covering fire and launch more bolts at the humans than the carbine slung on his back.

"Ziin, do it...now." Sorsa ordered, settling into a sort of hunting trance.

In response, Gat and Raz, who had climbed up into the lower canopy above the convoy, dropped two plasma grenades down each. Four explosions tore through the center of the group, disorienting them and giving the ambushers an opportunity to attack.

Sorsa popped up and opened fire with the repeater, sending a stream of superheated plasma bolts into the scattering humans' ranks. The others did the same, with plasma, needles, and grenades flying through the air. Ziin steadily used his bow and arrow to take down the closest humans to him, though his progress was slowed by the chaos of battle. When Sorsa's repeater started to heat up and slow its firing rate, he dropped it to the forest floor, activated his camouflage, then sprinted right into the thick of the combat, Jhakkado following him.

Twin, barely visible energy swords cleaved through a Warthog as it tried to flee, tires growling against the slippery ground. The vehicle shuddered and slowed, then stopped suddenly when Jhakkado jumped onto its hood. The Syalekgolo Theron's retractable spines went to work on the driver and passenger at the same time, impaling them both through the chest. The gunner barely had time to move and aim the turret wildly in Jhakkado's direction before Sorsa cut his legs off at the knees with one quick stroke of his sword.




Petty Officer Second Class Luke-A191
Covering Raptor 1 and Raptor 2

Luke refrained from firing for several seconds, as the creature was too close to the rest of his team at that time. Still, he kept his reticule trained on the thing's torso. It payed off when the 'Behemoth' backed off for some reason and started circling around the two other Spartans, at the same time revealing itself almost in full to Luke.

Hello ugly. He thought briefly, finger already squeezing the trigger. Eight more silenced armor piercing rounds slammed into the Behemoth in rapid succession, three of which hit its head. The creature's lower jaw and eye on that side exploded, sending dark blood spraying onto the tree trunk next to it. Roughly half of the Behemoth's lower jaw still remained, but its eye was now a bloody pit on its face.

"Try shoving a grenade down its throat next time it tries to eat you." Luke said over TEAMCOM as he reloaded.

[Arbiter124]

1st Lt. Drake A124

Raptor 001

Getting the hang of these bastards

Drake heard Raptor 003 over the TEAMCOM, and nodded to Gary. One of these things was dead from the shotgun, and the other severely wounded from Luke's impressive shots. Raptor 001 ran passed Gary, and primed a grenade. The Beast turned to him and let out a shriek, charging. The thing pounced, giving Drake an idea of when being clotheslined by a Brute would feel like. He flew backward, dropping the frag and rolling on the ground with the creature. They both staggered to their feet, but the grenade activated, sending shrapnel into the creature and sending Drake onto his knees, coughing. He aimed his shotgun, too late. The scorpion tail lashed out, towards Drake's SPI helmet. He twisted like a snake, avoiding the deadly tail, but it caught his shotgun, sending it twirling into the brush off behind the SPARTAN-III. He snarled angrily, before taking out his M7 and charging, firing the weapon poorly in one hand. The bullets exploded on the thing's already mutilated face, forcing it to back up. Not enough of an effect though, because the thing snarled and roared, leaping at him again. Drake was faster, though, unsheathing his machete and sidestepping the tackle, bringing down his blade on the thing's neck, with his superhuman strength. It dug into the spinal cord, either paralyzing or killing the thing. It went stiff almost instantly, and toppled down into the dirt, dead. Drake looked at the thing, and then to Gary, and then to the Waypoint of Luke. He looked back at the corpse and laughed, sending one powerful kick into the side of its head.

"Hell yea, you little asshole!" He laughed, stepping over the carcass and into the brush, feeling around for his shotgun. He found it, and strapped it back around his torso. Grabbing his M7, he ripped off the mag and chucked it into the brush, shoving a fresh magazine into the weapon's feed. Drake walked back over to the dead thing, grabbing hold of his machete's handle and pulling hard, sloppily tearing it out, with several chunks of flesh toppling to the ground as well.

"Raptor, form up on me. Let's get to those Covenant lines and give'em hell." Drake said, awaiting the other SPARTAN's to reach his location, which shouldn't take much time. He turned and began walking, a little more cautious now, to the Covenant border.

[BasedGoody]

Gary

RAPTOR 002

Jungle Floor

Gary made a lopsided smile under his helmet out of appreciation and utter shock. The SPARTAN picked up his Assault Rifle, or at least what was left of it. The barrel stuck out through mashed metal with teeth marks all around the gun. The handle and stock seemed to be unscathed but covered in spit. He aimed it off into the woods and attempted to pull the trigger to see if it still worked. All that came out was some black smoke and ten bullets that slid off and dropped to the ground.

"Dammit!" Gary mumbled and tossed it off into the woods. He let the magazine from his magnum fall out to be caught be the other hand. He had enough bullets for the clip to save it so he strapped it to his belt and slammed in a new one. His hand pulled back the slide cocking the weapon. A satisfactory *Click* emitted and Gary clipped it to his thigh.

"Nice one Drake. Respect plus ten. What our next move?" He asked as he walked up to the team leader.

[NinjaBoss]

Zahn 'Vignarlee, Major Domo

    Zahn looked up towards the reptilian monster retreating into the woods, a look of disbelief in his eyes. For one, his plasma rifle seemed to have no effect on this behemoth, and for another, with the obvious advantage why was it running? Remembering how close he had just come to death, Zahn wasn't about to stick around and find out. "Come on, we must hurry to acolyte's position!" He ordered, and then activated his battlenet once again. "Yaddap, where are you? You must bring your lance to acolyte's position, make haste Unggoy!" Zahn ordered, and then began to run in the direction he was originally headed, more cautious for roots and any other dangerous creatures native to this planet. Hearing rustling to the right of his position, Zahn turned to see the tail of what looked like the dangerous lizard he had just come into contact with slithering away in the trees, not too far as to lose sight of it's prey, but not too close to reveal it's exact location either.

    Zahn continued, running faster this time, and ordering his lance to do the same. "Hurry, we mustn't give this monster the chance to attack us again!" He ordered, continuing with his sprint. As they ran through the forest, suddenly the ground fell out from underneath them, and Zahn and the rest fell into a tunnel, just barely dug by what he assumed was this.... creature. Then the dirt began covering them, in an obvious attempt to bury them alive. "NO!" Zahn roared, and struggled to remove the dirt from on top of him. He raised his plasma rifle in an attempt to shoot the beast, but his arm was nearly torn off as the creature latched onto him with it's teeth, tossing him nearly 25 feet in the air. His rifle fell to the ground, far below him and Zahn's only protection was the plasma pistol sidearm holstered at his side. While in the air, Zahn got a clear view of the creature continuing to cover his lance with dirt, and though they were trying to uncover themselves the best they could the creature was faster.

    Zahn grabbed a branch with his free hand as he came down, and swung himself onto the giant reptile attempting to distract it from burying his lance. The ploy worked, as it began jerking it's head, not happy with the fact it's prey was now attached to it's neck. Seeing his lance begin to dig themselves out, Zahn un-holstered his plasma pistol and swung himself around to face the beast. As it opened it's mouth wide in an attempt to swallow Zahn whole, he fired rapidly into the large cavity of it's mouth, discovering the insides of this demon were nowhere near as strong as the hard scales covering it's body. Seeing steam erupt from the areas inside of it's mouth, Zahn didn't let up until the creature managed to shake him off of it, screeching in pain. Falling 12 feet to the hard forest floor, Zahn looked up to see the creature take off back into the woods once again, this time more wary of it's adversaries. Zahn re-holstered his plasma pistol and retrieved his rifle, then began to help pull his lance out of the large hole, all four of them aware they had narrowly escaped death once again.

[Cabel]

[Task Force 77: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet: Southwestern Column and Flank]

"That is why you keep your head down, Corporal," Mark said, managing to his knees while helping a young Corporal new to Alpha Platoon. He'd tackled the young marine from being the next casualty of a Covenant gunner, as the tree the Corporal had taken cover behind had been burned to a cinder leaving only a burning stump behind. "Keep your head down, and remember if you can see them they can see you. Now, find some cover...a thicker tree and keep out of sight," The young marine nodded before grabbing his MA5C, and making for the nearest and thickest tree before opening fire on the Covenant perimeter. Looking around him at the positions the marines had taken, Spade knew every unit of the Task Force that had been deployed to the surface following the running engagements on the SuperCruiser were going to be in need of replacements to fill the losses from the operation. The Task Force may have been an elite unit within the UNSC, but even elite units at this stage in the war often had their bulk made up of replacements either fresh from boot or other decimated units. His marines hadn't really dug entrenchments or foxholes due to how the enemy which in this case had been the Covenant had a tendency to zero in on fixed entrenchments, leaving his marines to move to other cover once the Covenant had zeroed in causing even more confusion and more importantly frustration among the Covenant lines. Mark knew that frustration led to mistakes, and the UNSC waited for the Covenant to make such a mistake. While very few of his marines had been injured in the exchange, many of the surrounding trees had been felled leaving burning stumps or splintered trunks and scorched ferns.

"Doberman, gather any of your boys that have grenade launchers. I want you to lob a few of the pineapples over the shields of a group of jackals forming up on the left. You can't miss 'em or the shield wall the raptors have set up. I want them dislodged. M-Two-Forty-Seven teams, pick up shop and move to other locations and continue strafing once you're set up. Marksmen...Shades, have your boys cover them. Rocket Teams, coordinate your fire with the riflemen. Everyone else, maintain fire and keep your heads down. I don't want any cowboys here," he ordered into the helmet-mic keeping his voice loud enough only to be heard over the frequency. Having managed to his feet along with a firm grip on his MA5C, Spade managed to hear the distinct whine of an incoming round whether plasma or ballistics the sound remained the same oddly enough and barely managed to leap out of the way as a blue bolt of plasma passed by. He'd been about to dust himself off when he noticed the ground quickly growing smaller beneath him, and equally realized he'd become airborne. The distinct emanation of buzzing filled his ears, something he hadn't been certain he'd been able to ignore and craning his head around noticed transparent wing-membranes beating rapidly and a long scaled abdomen arcing from behind a body with six lanky limbs. He'd managed to snag an oversized grasshopper, and one that had been more spooked from being grabbed than the grizzly exchange on the jungle floor.

"Tornado X-Ray to Oblivion...Oblivion One-Two, I need assistance. I'm about to be in your neighborhood. Hey, don't drop me..." he began over the helmet-mic before the grasshopper began a dive allowing Mark to in effect pull himself up off one of the grasshopper's hind legs onto its abdomen and due in part to both an accident and gravity managed to slide down the grasshopper's extended body to sit above where he'd assumed the shoulders had been located. His left hand had somehow snagged the grasshopper's hind leg, and using the joints on the insects legs as a rudimentary ladder to at least climb to a slightly more safer position. They didn't cover how to pilot a grasshopper in boot, he realized. Eventually, he managed to at least learn how to control the grasshopper's movements with his legs using a technique the ancient Roman cavalry used prior to the invention of the stirrup. I hope this works, he thought. Using his legs to steer the grasshopper, he'd manage to redirect it towards the conflagration below and with careful aim started taking shots at the Covenant shield dome and over the Covenant trenches. He'd continue with the strafing maneuver, carefully steering his new found mount.

[Arbiter124]

E-1 Private Hunter Knight

Getting into it

Hunter sat in the TT Warthog, playing with his Assault Rifle, MA5B variant. They blew through the brush as if it was twigs, when in reality is was more along the lines of huge roots, which surprised the Private. He expected it to be much more challenging to maneuver in the thick jungle, but apparently he was very wrong with that assumption.

"Yo, Hunter." Andre yelled over the screeching sounds of the Hog, tapping Knight on the back. Hunter twisted his upper torso around, to see his dark skinned friend and his SAW. 

"Sup', Andre?" Hunter smiled towards his buddy.

"Ten credits I kill a bird today." Andre snickered. No one in the fireteam had killed a bird but Zane once and James a couple times. So, none of the privates had killed one of those damn shieldy's.

"Deal," Hunter said, bumping fists with Andre. "Twenty credits I kill a Gator." Andre went wide eyed, and started laughing. He patted Hunter on the back. Riley, Sam, and Zane all started laughing at Hunter as well. After all, Hunter didn't have one confirmed kill. Not even a Grunt.

"You've got yourself a fuckin' deal!" Andre laughed, turning back to see where James was driving them. Hunter turned around too, a little energetic now, and a little embarrassed, mixed in with a bit of fear. Now he had to kill a Gator, and everyone knew that one of those Hinge heads could potentially take this entire fire team. 

BOOM.

An explosion of green near the right of the warthog sent the TT spiralling in the air, and the team flying out. Hunter flew through the air, looking up and smashing through some branches. He began his descent, and tumbled to the ground, rolling through the thick brush. He skidded to a stop on his stomach, facedown, fully submerged in the brush. He groaned, and pushed himself to his knees, a ringing exploding in his ears. He looked around, his vision blurry. He saw small little creatures firing upon an advancing line of Marines. He saw huge monsters with large, blue assault rifles shooting. He couldn't make out what they were though, the blur was too much. He began to step up to his feet, when he stepped on something metal. Picking it up, he saw his MA5B, and everything came back to him. The Grunts, the Elites, the Marines all fighting to the death in the Jungle. His head swiveled to the right, to see Andre's huge frame tackle him, sending him to the ground, barely avoiding a volley of emerald green plasma. The two quickly scrambled to their feet and backpedalled to the Marine lines. They hopped over a root, to find their entire fire team, no casualties.

"Let em' have it, guys!" Corporal James snarled, blind firing with his assault rifle.

[Deleted]

Sangheili Ultra Vinza'za 'Wodamai
Trenches

Vinza'za watched a bright green orb shoot out from the Mgalekgolo's arm cannon and satisfactorily explode in a group of Human's.  He could faintly see body parts flying in all directions.  Looking around, he wondered how much longer they could hold.  Many of them were beginning to become fatigued and the Human's assault continued at a steady pace.  Not to mention they were losing warriors from an already limited supply.  There fervor and the God's grace was the only thing carrying the battle onward, and morale still seemed high from the Battle Priest's sermons.  But no amount of Zeal could carry them on forever.  The Ultra's thoughts snapped back to the battle as a stream of bullets pinged off the Mgalekgolo's arm shield.

"Mgalekgolo, keep yourselves protected!  Your survival is imperative to the prolonged defense of this sector," Vinza'za ordered, and the Hunter's nodded in agreement.

The Ultra fired several shots into a lone marine, sending his allies scattering into the trees.  He ducked out of their return fire before taking another set of shots which ended up slamming into a tree.  Then, he noticed possibly the oddest thing he had ever seen in all his years of battle.  A lone human rode atop a gigantic grasshopper.  The 'Wodam warrior nearly laughed despite himself.  The little worm was even managing to fire shots from the back of the creature.  Ignoring his disbelief, he aimed straight for the Human's steed, firing off three shots in hopes of sending the Nishum crashing down into the forest.

Private First Class Tristan Thorn
Southwestern Column

Tristan sent a barrage of bullets at an Unggoy who was unfortunate enough to be caught in the open.  Several bullets cut into his chest armor before spraying bright azure blood all around.  Another spray caused bullets to pierce his cranium.  The PFC relocated to a tree a few meters away before turning towards the Covenant defenses again.  This time, he sighted a blue-armored Split-lip who was taking fire from several other Marines already.  Letting loose another burst from his MA5B, the Elite's shields popped from the combined fire before he attempted to duck back into cover.  A DMR bullet cut through the joint on the creature's leg, causing him to fall to the ground short of the metal plating he was trying to reach.  More fire from Tristan caused blood to spray from the thing's neck.  He was pretty sure it was dead as he ducked into cover, blue plasma scorching the tree he was hiding behind.

It's ok, you'll live, Thorn reassured himself to keep from panicking.  He would be lying if he told anyone he wasn't scared.  Fear had gripped him throughout the battle, but he was more scared of Humanity's extinction.  Pushing off the tree, the Private moved again, sprinting briefly before diving under a bush and crawling through to get a decent firing position.  He fired another five rounds at a Jackal, which bounced high into the air.  Three more bullets managed to strike the thing's hand, causing it to jerk his shield arm away and allow a BR55 round to pierce it's avian face.

[Ward, J.]

"Keep firing!"

A nearby explosion rocked the environment causing dirt to rain down on top of Corporal Jonathan Ward, screwing with his aim on the Grunt he'd just zeroed in on. Things had been calm for a moment before all hell had broken loose. The Covenant had managed to keep the Marines of Oscar Company pinned down for the last ten minutes. He exhaled a slew of expletives as globules of plasma exploded against the felled tree he'd taken cover behind.

Ward's fire team was on either side of him unleashing a near ceaseless volley of scorching hot lead into the Covenant's defensive positions. Sergeant Stone had ordered the squad into a line formation, with second fire team to their left and third on the right. The rest of second platoon provided fire support from the rear--marksmen taking accurate shots at any alien unfortunate enough to be outside cover while the machine gunners laid down heavy suppressing fire. It didn't seem to be as effective as originally thought.

But, at least the Covies weren't charging them. That would surely only end in disaster.

Another blue orb of plasma came all-too-close for comfort and a file of Grunts headed by a Grunt Major advanced some on his team's eleven o'clock. The Covenant were slowly attempting to gain ground. A decision that was unacceptable as far as the Corporal was concerned.

"Allens, shift fire!" the young NCO shouted. "Fire team of Grunts to our eleven! Pin 'em down! Krieg, take out that Major!"

He received responses in the affirmative and Allens's M247 turned towards the Unggoy file. One of the stubby alien's was obliterated by a prolonged burst from the light machine gun, its chest exploding open in a visceral spray of blood and it appeared as if one of the stray bullets punctured its mask, a sage-like gas venting into the air.

"Oden Two-One t' Two-One Alpha, we ain't gettin' anywhere by stickin' our thumbs up our asses! We need t' move!" Sergeant Stone barked over the SQUADCOM.

Ward nodded to himself and glanced at his subordinates. "Alright, you heard Stone. We need to move," Jonathan stated, his eyes briefly scanning the area ahead for a good position to move to. "Okay, fire and maneuver! Furby and I are gonna move to that cluster of trees to our two. Allens, Krieg, you know the drill. Force the enemy to keep their heads down!"

"Aye, Corporal!" was their response.

Jon looked to Furby who shot him a nod of assurance. Satisfied that they were ready, the Corporal gestured for them to start moving and broke out into a full sprint, clutching his MA5B tightly. Lance Corporal Furby was right on his tail and as they neared the aforementioned cluster of trees, the duo slid into cover. Ward immediately leaned his upper half from around the tree and squeezed the trigger.

Fully automatic fire crashed against the Covenant's defensive positions, keeping them pinned while Allens and Krieg rushed over to regroup with their fire team. As soon as they were in the relative safety of the trees, Allens set his weapon up and resumed fire.

Ward quickly reloaded and scanned the area ahead for further places they could move to. There was a spot roughly thirty five meters from the main Covenant line, a perfect spot for them to lob grenades at the enemy. The issue was getting there without being cut down.

Before the fire team leader could devise a plan, his ears were with met with a sound that sent a chill down his spine. His eyes turned to the sky to see an areal launched green ball of plasma falling down from the air and then land somewhere amidst the line First Squad had formed. "INCOMING!" was screamed over the radio before the ball slammed into the ground detonated, flash vaporizing some of the brush and third fire team.

Jon cursed under his breath and shook his head. He knew those men fairly well. They were good Marines. "Oden Two-One Alpha to Oden Two-One, no one said the enemy had Banshee's!"

"No one told ya t' talk, but ya do it anyway!" the Sergeant retorted. "Standby!"

The Corporal scoffed with a deep frown. The more we wait, the more opportunity we give that freaking tank to turn us into floating molecules, Ward thought angrily.

"Two Actual, Two-One, be advised: hostile Banshees in AO. Two-One Charlie is down! Say again, Charlie's KIA. We need some close air on th' double!"

Lieutenant Durant's response was near instantaneous. "Those heathens'll pay, Two-One. Rest assured. Standby."

A moment later, the Lieutenant's voice was heard again. "Oden Two Actual to Assassin X-Ray, be advised: requesting priority CAS on enemy fast-movers; Flight of four bansees. Coordinates to be transmitted via CNM, danger close. How copy, over?"

[Cabel]

[Task Force 77: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet: Southwestern Column and Flank: Currently: Airborne]

Three green radioactive rounds lashed out towards him from the Covenant lines hadn't really surprised him since he'd come to expect the Covenant to direct their fire towards him while allowing the marines to zero in on the alien trenches, but incoming plasma still had an effect. Squeezing his legs a little to assert a bit more control and to urge the grasshopper in a particular direction, Mark and the grasshopper banked hard to the right only moments before the burning orbs of plasma passed by singeing the air. Swinging the grasshopper back around on a different approach from the east, Mark secured the MA5C assault rifle using straps on the front of the standard issued marine field armor and once the rifle had been secured without fear of it coming loose during the maneuvers he grabbed a few grenades from his pack before clipping several to his belt. the marine tossed each grenade onto the heads of unsuspecting aliens in their trenches below trying to defend their position from determined marines. Considering the altitude he'd been at with the distance of the ground, Spade hadn't bothered waiting the traditional three seconds after pulling the pins before more or less dropping the fragmentation grenades on the Covenant trenches including at least one of the heavier squad weapons or whatever the Covenant equivalent had been. At least several of the trenches exploded showering the area below in Grunt, Jackal and even the parts mixed with the blue clad armor of Elites.

Whether the grasshopper had reacted to enemy ground fire or if it had been a show of aerial acrobatics, Mark found himself having to grip the grasshopper's thorax with both arms as he became inverted. The remaining grenades save for the ones clipped to his belt spilled out of the open pocket in his pack tumbling from gravity and their inertia among at least several of the Covenant's more permanent structures. He hadn't quite anticipated being inverted, or for that matter hearing a series of loud explosions from below a result of more than a few grenades detonating in a relatively short span. The sound of squealing metal, of cries of confusion to agony swarmed up to meet him before he'd finally been able to pull the grasshopper over. Using his own weight, he'd managed to roll the grasshopper from being inverted to a far more more sensible posture allowing the blood in Mark's veins to flow back into his limbs.

[Huka]

Field Master Til 'Muramai
Eradicating a Human convoy, Outer rim of Covenant Territories


 Sneaking through the underbrush with Sorsa, Til looked around cautiously out of habit from the loss of his eye. Silencing his respirator, the Zealot caught the sight of his fellow saboteurs as they crept along the trees. Angling his good eye to watch the humans walk with such pride and confidence, it gave him a mix of sickness and respect. The battlenet screamed about the humans' ruthless advance, he hoped that R'ha was commandeered things properly there. Digging a hand into the soil, the Muram hunter slowly reached back and pulled one of his telescopic javelins from their hidden quiver. 

 Finally the signal was given and the earthquaking sound of plasma grenades rang, sending vehicles ablaze and soldiers burning in their holy fires. Survivors screamed, fired and scattered like angry Quill-backs...or worse, a pack of Moonbeasts with an Alpha in their midst.

 Lunging out the same time as Sorsa, he leapt out and unholstered one of his plasma rifles in one smooth move, blasting a trio of confused humans down before he touched the ground. Roaring a terrible shrill of a warcry, he charged at a couple of terrified soldiers as debris and Covenant fire showered about. Aiming his plasma rifle, the Zealot blasted them without a hint of care, and looked for the next victim.

 When the Humans finally started to counter, one of the few remaining vehicles came rolling towards him. Growling, he quickly clicked his mandibles on his inner controls, immaterializing via his active camouflage. The worthog reared around before it hit the tree, the turret gunner aimed around, firing. "Where did it go!?" It shouted before its chest sprayed blood outwards the second its vehicle bucked back.

Shakingly reaching up, the human grabbed a invisible shaft and choked up blood. A sinister hiss came to its ear. "You ok back there, Private?" The passenger asked before its head was blasted into nothing by a plasma bolt, the driver swerved in panic before a invisible hand snapped its head effortlessly.

 The warthog crashed hard against a large tree and the invisible spear pierced deeper into the turret operator, finishing it off. Til appeared with a deep chuckle, hanging onto the dead soldier before ripping his spear out. Turning around, the Zealot looked at a small lance of soldiers who faced him. "Fire!" The leading soldier cried before the bloody spear impaled it down the ground simply. 

 The now leaderless soldiers quickly fired at the murderer and Til quickly crouched before flipping through the air, his energy sword hilts flicked into his hands and summoned their pale sand-yellow blades with a wind-like cry. Cutting down two with a inward sweep, the Field Master roared as he lunged and crushed a soldier's skull on his right with a knee. Tumbling forward, his blades off for obvious reasons, and lunged outward with a roar, stabbing his taloned hand forward. 

The snarling human had the shotgun ready but the trigger finger was too late to save it from a Zealot tearing its heart out.

---

Major Q'ai 'Muramee
Covenant Trenches

With a defiant roar, Q'ai decapitated a overconfident human with his swooped curveblade, designed for skilled Ghost riders and clan calverymen of old to decapitate their enemies in close-quarter sweeps. "Begone, worriesome prowlers! The carrion will not feed you today!" He roared in Muram as he aimed his plasma pistol and fired bolts at savage humans in their varieties of weapons. Bullets that pinged and ricocheted off his shields, but they were pounding like a hailstorm. 

 The Humans' newfound advantage gave them the spirit to attack Covenant warriors in close combat, a sheer boast of their prowess and visual display of their edge. When he was distracted with one who was aiming to kill one of his Unggoy, Q'ai roared in pain as he shot in the side by the feared shotgun. Literally knocking into the bloody trench that was filling with mixed blood and vermin that thought to feast on the dead. 

 Breathing heavily, he looked at the peppered wound on his side. While it drained his shields, he audibly thanked the Gods that most of the pelts hit his armor but some pierced through jumpsuit and flesh, oozing purple blood. Not badly but it certainly stung. Looking up at the crunch of debris, Q'ai saw the smiling human as it pumped its shotgun for the coup de grace. 

 With a vicious hiss, the bloodied Kig-yar Pim lunged from out of the chaos to save his superior. Opening his fanged beak, he snapped it over the human's unarmored neck as his talons dug into its flesh. The hunter blinked as he watched his would-be killer be tore into by Pim like a wild raptor. The screams weren't pleasant to his ears but he got up quickly, picking up his bloody pistol, and watched Labus crush a human's helmed skull in with a slam of his plasma repeater.

 Hissing as the burning cooled, he saw Pim tear his victim's throat out before calling, "Q'ai 'Muramee's lance regroup and keep a viligant eye, we will not lose our hold here!" He commanded. Then Jhao replied over the comms, "The humans have already started to spill through like a flood, commander!" 

 The Muram hunter knew but he still hoped their victories here will redirect the humans from their primary goal. Hope is all he had...and a glorious vengeance. 

---

Unggoy Ultra Jadap
Near Corvette Defenses

The brilliant explosion of plasma and flaming machinery, Jadap cheered with his lance after a successful grenade toss on a human warthog. "Aha! Another fall for the oldest trick in the text!" He yelled out and the others agreed fullheartedly. "Next!" The Ultra called out and Vakak stepped forward, his beady eyes looked at the destruction started was getting closer to the stronger defenses that encircled several units away the Corvette. 

 Few humans managed to pass through into the deadly field of plasma, radiation and beams but the small 'war-time rock throws' were fun for the surviving lance in the safety of the higher defenses, so did several other Unggoy files and lances that consisted the sect. Their Sangheili officers roared their orders, worried about the survival of some higher officer, and manned the more powerful weapons, with Kig-yar sniping. Jadap believes he saw one Mgalekgolo pair lumbering somewhere in the line, incinerating a bunch of humans in a single fearsome blast.

Dazap manned a plasma turret to help suppress the humans from getting farther and, personally important, not interrupt the game. Vakak pulled a plasma grenade from his belt and looked around for a target. Then he found one of the few large beetles that have got into the mix of the battle. 

Zeroing in, he reared his arm back, holding onto his plasma grenade's activation glyph. Watching the beetle zipping about until it made the mistake of coming directly in his arc of throw. With a swift thrust of his arm, the burning orb flew through the air and landed on the beetle's thorax. 

Mindlessly it kept buzzing before its body was engulf in a flash of ionized gases and its killer cheered in celebration. "Wooo! Six points to Dazap!"

[David]

Admiral David Vardy
In Geo-Synchronus orbit around planet
Bridge - UNSC Killimanjaro

"Admiral." nodded Janeway as he noticed David walking onto the bridge. "I was told you would be in a sleep cycle for the next 6 hours."

Taking the proffered seat, David sat down and placed his mug of coffee at his side on a table. Three cups and he still couldn't sleep. The last 3 hours had been draining and non-restful.

"Couldn't sleep, Commander." He replied. "We have too damned much to cover up here. I realise that I should trust the Colonel, But I was the one who started this ground OP." Then, turning to Kim, He looked at him and asked "Status of the ground troops?"

"Sir" Kim replied, bringing up reports. "Colonel Jason Brody reports they have engaged the Covenant as well as local native species of bugs. Big ones at that"

Nodding, David leaned back, exhaling loudly. It was turning into a shit fest and quickly. But his thoughts were suddenly inturrupted by Kim.

"Sir! I have the SRATOGA on the line." Kim reported loudly. "Requesting Audio."

Nodding, David's breathing quickened, What had happened. Last he knew, Klix was off back to the barn with issues with his SF Drive. "Put it on the overhead, LT."

Punching a few buttons, He nodded.

"Admiral. Whats your status? I thought you were heading back to the barn." David quried.

"Well. Hard to go anywhere when your FTL drive fizzles out." Klix replied dryly. "Forced us out of slipspace."

"Understood. What is you position" David asked, gripping the edge's of his seat.

"Closer than you might think. We only made it to the nearby gas giant." replied Klix. "Any chance of a bit of a helping hand?"

"Scrambling a ship now. Stay safe my friend." David said and motioned to cut the channel.

"Scramble the frigate Down and Dirty. Make sure they have engineers." David ordered.

[Spartan 999]

Petty Officer Second Class Luke-A191
Regrouping with Raptor

"Copy, I'm en route." Luke acknowledged Drake's order. He stood up out of cover in the underbrush and started jogging through the forest to the other SPARTAN-III's, head glancing from side to side as he did so. Right now, he didn't fancy being caught off guard by one of the native carnivorous species or an advanced Covenant squad. Within a few minutes, he'd reached the other two members of Raptor. He didn't say a word, merely waited for an objective from Drake.



Field Master Sorsa Ra'ha Je'at 'Xirsasai
Finishing off the human convoy

Sorsa ducked as Jhakkado vaulted over him to land on a Mongoose that was strafing the Zealot. The driver was crushed beneath Jhakkado's weight, and the human on the back with a rocket launcher didn't fare much better after the Theron impaled her through the side of the head. This allowed Sorsa to turn his attention to a nearby lance of humans. They'd lined up and were calmly focusing fire on him; their last mistake in this battle and their lives. He switched off his left energy sword so he could maneuver better, then activated the point-defense gauntlet on the same forearm before charging.

The clear diamond-shaped shield caused most of the oncoming bullets to ricochet off, though a few did get through and hit his shields, but they didn't go below half strength. Upon reaching the now panicking aliens, he became a whirlwind of death. His sword cleaved through two of the humans at once, and he used the momentum to spin and kick a third in the chest. The human went soaring away to slam into the ground several meters away and remain there, unmoving, until a Warthog drove right over the body, definitively killing him. However, Sorsa didn't pay that human any mind, as there were still a few more in its lance that he wanted to kill. He dashed forward, sliced a human's rifle out of his hands, reactivated the left energy sword, and plunged it into the smaller alien's chest.

He pushed past the body and advanced on the one remaining human. Sorsa ducked and sidestepped a shotgun blast from the amazingly calm human. He deflected a second with his shield, ripples spreading across the clear surface. Before the human could pump the weapon and fire again, Sorsa detached his right sword from the wrist mount and hurled it. The spinning energy blades carved through the side of the human and continued on to stab into the ground, burying itself up to the hilt.

Sorsa moved quickly over to his weapon and reached out to pick it up. Before he could do so, he noticed and barely had time to avoid an oncoming rocket. He vaulted back into the air, easily spinning back and landing on his feet about six meters from where he was previously. The human with the rocket launcher readied another shot as Sorsa drew his plasma pistol. Luckily, they didn't have to see who was quicker, as an arrow thudded into the side of the rocket launcher; it ended up going through the launcher itself and sticking the human in the skull. Inside the tube, the rocket, now pinned but attempting to fire, ended up tearing out of the launcher as it tumbled to the ground and detonating. The resulting explosion vaporized the dead human and the surrounding topsoil, also knocking one of Ziin's Sangheili and the human he was battling to the ground.

The Field Master now retrieved his sword unhindered and continued his assault. Meanwhile, Tarhuna had been released and was striking from the ground like the vicious serpent he resembled. The Wyrm's spine launcher downed humans from afar and his coils squeezed and bludgeoned those up close to death; when the retractable spines slashed and stabbed, they sent a spray of crimson accompanied by the occasional body part spiraling into the air.

Soon, the human convoy was decimated, and only a few of the aliens still lived. Some attempted to flee, but Til, Sorsa, and the Syalekgolo hunted them down in quick order, while Ziin and his lance finished off those who remained and tried to fight back.

[Deleted]

(Sorry for short post...but I gotta get Cabel and his damned bug :3)

Sangheili Ultra Vinza'za 'Wodamai
Trenches

The Human's new thrust at the Covenant lines was continued.  The soldiers of the Sect of Lamenting Consecration had been harried by the Nishum constantly and fatigue was taking it's toll.  Human's had died in the droves but their persistence was taking down many Covenant Warriors and the defenses were destined to break soon.  Hopefully the Zealot's leadership could make the line hold a little longer.  Vinza'za fired on the Human's that were now attempting to thrust across the no-man's land, ignoring the Human he had shot at earlier.  He killed two, before Heretic grenades started exploding on his Creche's soldier.  It seemed the Human and his Grasshopper continued to pester him.  The Ultra's previous levity turned to anger and embarrassment at his own underestimation of the creature.  He couldn't help but to respect the Nishum's resourcefulness.

"That Human atop his bug must be taken out before he does more damage!  Kill him immediately and do what you can to stay the Human's.  Be prepared to fall back soon, and I expect every soldier to follow the order without hesitation; His Holiness, the Imperial Admiral will be protected, The God's demand it!" Vinza'za ordered across the Creche-wide battlenet before firing again at the Human flying above the defenses.

[Arbiter124]

Tibur 'Muramai

Holy Arbiter

What a plot twist

Tibur slashed at another imp with his 'blade of the storm'. The ODST snarled and collapsed onto his ass, clutching his chest. Too late now, Tibur lifted his massive foot and kicked, making contact and ripping the ODST's helmet from its place on the Human's neck, taking the cranium of the creature with it. The helmet, head, and blood piece of the neck toppled into the brush. The body tipped and fell onto its side. The Arbiter growled, hopping over it. An ODST who was firing at one of the lowly Unggoy turned, to see the ten foot tall beast coming at him. The Imp gasped, turning and getting off three shots, that pinged off of Tibur's powerful armor. He swung his shoulder, knocking the ODST over like some ragdoll. He laughed, delighted with that outcome. Tibur snarled in satisfaction, before turning, to see... something else.

Something bigger.

A fifteen foot monster charged through the brush, tearing apart the ODST's as it went. A set of thousands of teeth gleamed in the beast's jaws. It let out a bloodcurdling roar, one that even intimidated Tibur. However, Tibur's wave of fear left as quickly as it had come.

He turned to the group of Unggoy.

"Get out of here!" He roared towards them, looking back at the hulking beast. He raised his bright red 'Blade of the Storm'. The beast looked ready to pounce, letting out a huge roar.

Tibur spread his mandibles at let out an uncivilized, just as intimidating roar, spit flying, like some sort of animal. He closed his mandibles, and charged the beast. The creature did the same, bringing its jaws up to clasp Tibur. The Arbiter raised his weapon, which slashed through the jaw like butter, causing blood to pour out of its lower mouth. It made a sputtering sound, before turning around and lashing out with its claws. Tibur leaped backward, and raised his plasma rifle. The weapon's bolts splattered against the animal, burning into its flesh. It flinched, but continued. Tibur tried to slash once again, but his arm was too slaw, and the thing headbutted the Arbiter, sending him flying into the brush. He landed on his back, but shifted his wait and was right back up in an instant. He had lost his plasma rifle in the fall. Tibur looked up, and then saw the issue.

This was unwinnable.

If he ran, the thing would catch him.

If he fought like this, Tibur would be killed.

Damn. Heh, I guess this was what it was going to come down to, regardless.

Tibur let a smile spread across his face.

He'd played his role.

"For the Journey." He muttered, before reaching to his side, and taking a plasma grenade. With a flick of his finger, the thing was primed. The beast snarled and charged, and Tibur did the same. The moment they made contact, Tibur shoved his blood red sword into the Behemoth's eye, burning into the things eye socket easily. It whinnied, but too late. The Arbiter's grenade went off, taking the soul of Tibur 'Muramai, Holy Arbiter, with it.

The explosion took a large portion of the beast's face with it. It lay in a bloodied heap alongside Tibur 'Muramai's carcass, dead.

Tibur 'Muramai, Holy Arbiter, KIA (For good this time)

[deceit]

Ra'ab stared in horror as the great beast came from within the jungle. The ODST's, who were staring in equal horror, were swept away or taken in its reputable maw. He'd seen a legion of soldiers brandishing energy swords and daggers that were quite frankly, less terrifying than this beast. The Arbiter's attention was drawn to it immediately. The arbiter charged, as did the great beast. The arbiter fought well, and fought bravely, but he was continually thrown back or knocked away. Ra'ab quickly calculated the chances of a victory, he was about to beg the Arbiter to retreat, but knew it was futile, and the Arbiter might be too prideful to do so anyway.

He cursed under his breath as he saw the Arbiter pull out the plasma pistol. He had that look that a warrior only ever gets once.

The Arbiter and the beast collided with force, blood, screams, and roars. The explosion sent blue plasma and dust in the air, along with bits and pieces. Ra'ab ducked behind his cover. When he looked up, he waited for the red mist and smoke to un-obscure the view.

The creature lay on the ground. The Arbiter...well, Ra'ab was quite confident he had not survived this fight.

"Field Master Till Muramai. The Arbiter is dead. This time for sure. There are...too many pieces to bring back to the ship. He fought bravely against a massive beast, but in the end...he sacrificed himself to slay it."

With that, Ra'ab ended the transmission, "Lance. Form up on me." After scanning the area, he noticed that all the ODST's had either been killed or fled. He walked up to the beast which lay next to the Arbiter, and shot it a few times to ensure it was dead. With that, he turned and followed the fleeing Unggoy.