M5: Rumble in the Jungle

[Huka]

Major Q'ai 'Muramee

After losing sight of the enemy insect, he didn't seem intent of chasing the human. Too much going on for that and it wasn't often a good idea chasing after a lone human in a battlefield, he've seen some good hunters sniped from watching humans. Looking down, he saw the Unggoy showing him something else, what a eager little creature. Seeing that he've investigated and found something of the human, the Sangheili grunted, "Good for you..." Starting to return to his commanding officer when the order was given to retreat. A rare move for any Sangheili commander, low or high. 

Jerking his head abit, the Major put his beam rifle away and grabbed his grenades, "Lance, throw grenades at the humans and retreat!" He commanded before tossing his own with a practiced aim, the burning explosives soaring through the air, followed by most of the lance that still had grenades. Q'ai didn't keep mark of his own while the screams of humans echoed in the battlefield as a blanket of ionized plasma covered the frontlines from the trench soldiers' grenades. 

Lifting a hand to signal the retreat, the Muram started to pull back to the corvette, "Get in line with Labus, Mikdap!" He ordered, he was about to let their escape to the ship and temporary recruit mess up his disciplined troop.

---

Fleet Security Officer 'Kasamee 
Communications Array 

Lifting his carbine, 'Kasamee blasted a human through the face from his perch while his invisible subordinates sliced others apart and looked around for more. They are getting closer by the tick, he mused frustratingly. Looking up to the skies as if hoping to see a slipspace rip and the Covenant fleet to appear, but nothing but blue skies and beyond that, he had no doubt the humans' vessels were waiting. So arrogant and sure of their triumph, but the officer knew better. If anyone refused to let the humans win, it was the Reticent Lance.

Looking at the Jiralhanae that he recently acquired, he didn't give much care for. The he looked around for the Huragok and he noticed several were missing, no doubt returned to the corvette as commanded after their primary duty was complete. The others remained behind to watch over the communications array and make sure it wasn't too damaged for the signal. 

[Spartan 999]

Field Master Sorsa Ra'ha Je'at 'Xirsasai
En route to the Corvette

Sorsa looked at his half-brother with a tilted head momentarily. He could tell the Muram Zealot was angry, probably angrier since he'd gotten his hopes up that his cousin had survived...only for them to be dashed. While Sorsa didn't like having angry allies, they had their uses, especially Til; he would fight viciously, even more so than before.

"Back to the corvette?" Sorsa inquired. When Til gave a curt not, Sorsa motioned to Ziin. "Your lance will accompany us back to the corvette. Take a minute to regroup and recuperate before we head out."

"As you wish, Field Master." Ziin acquiesced, bowing slightly before turning and contacting his lance.

"Jhakkado, what is your and Tarhuna's status?"

The Theron shifted and rumbled as it checked with its bond brother briefly. "...Our Lekgolo are undamaged, our armor has been scarred, but is still functional."

"Good." Sorsa checked his forearm-mounted computer to see if there were any units nearby. There was one, a Skirmisher rapid-response file lead by Major Cyy. "Major, your new orders are to rendezvous with Field Master 'Muramai's forces and help us push to the corvette."

"We were looking for some action. On our way." The Skirmisher's shrill voice answered over the comm.

Once the file and lance were prepped and ready to follow the two Zealots, Sorsa unholstered his carbine and nodded to Til.

"Cyy, give us flanking support when necessary. Shal'toree, the bulk of your lance will follow closely to Til and I. Kill any humans who get in our way, but do not forget that our objective is to reach the corvette as quickly as we can. Now, onward!"

With that, Sorsa and Til, followed closely by Jhakkado, lead the charge through the dense forest.

[Deleted]

Makdap, Unggoy minor
Retreating to the Corvette

Makdap got in line with Labus and headed back to the crashed corvette. Makdap didn't know what was going on or what was happening. Were we going to evacuate? Would we get reinforcements? Were the rest of our forces going to die in a last stand? Makdap had concern for the latter thought, for he did not want to die on his very first mission. He wanted to live and fulfill his dream. He had no time to question this. Soon He was at the corvette with the others that retreated. Makdap is unsure of what to do, but he keeps calm, not wanting to show weakness to the superiors.

[Faclan]

Bep, Jackal Spotter
3/4's of the way to the Marine Staging area from the Covenant crash site, hanging upside down from a tree held up by a dead tree snake.

It was quickly apparent that the snakes corpse was not going to let him go, so Bep would have to get himself out of this issue. Grumbling a bit as he started to feel the pressure rise in his head from all the adrenaline and being upside down he attached his pistol back to his thigh and thought again about his options.

The tree branch was fairly close by, he could probably swing to it as long as the snakes body kept hold of the branch...or he could try to sit up and climb up the snake like a rope. The second seem like a lot more work so he let his arms flop above his head and started to sway them back and fourth along with his body. Soon he was swinging too and fro as he reached out for the branch. More and more leaves and other foliage fell from the tree as Bep finally managed to grab hold of the tree trunk. Quickly pulling himself to mostly horizontal he took a few deep breaths as his blood returned to his chest and left him feeling a bit light headed. Soon the feeling had passed and he managed to clamber up onto the branch where the snakes body was coiled.

Humming a bit he patted around his chest and belt to try and find his knife and finally found it halfway out of its sheath on the back of his belt. Bringing the pink blade to the snake he slowly began sawing away at the snake body and after a good minute or two of cutting finally freed his leg. Giving the snake body a good kick for petty revenge he took a moment to take stock of his surroundings. He couldn't see the human base from this high up in the dense foliage. But he knew that he had to be at least close to it. Its not like he could go back to the Covie base camp with all the humans attacking it...I sure hope they are able to hold back the humans...

Beginning his climb down the tree Bep was soon back on the forest floor and walking over to retrieve his carbine and spotting equipment. But it was only when he was this close that he heard the quiet beeps of a message on his headgear. Frowning a little he slipping the carbine bandolier back over his chest and put the headgear on to check the message...Retreat.

Fear quickly leapt into Beps mind while he played the message over again just to be sure. He really hoped that it was a tactical move more than them really starting to loose. But now he had no chance to make it back to the Covie base, he was stuck out here with the tree snakes and the murderous humans. But he mentally slapped himself a few times and turned toward the human base, forcing himself to walk as he told himself that if he didn't finish his mission he wouldn't have a chance anyway. Taking off his headgear as he started to speed up he took deep breaths to try and calm himself. He just had to do what he could and hope that it all worked out.

As he started to jog toward the base however he caught a odd smell. Sniffing a bit more he hummed as it smelled like fire and fuel? And it wasnt covenant fuel...dammit. Curiosity got the better of him as he changed course and moved toward this new smell.

Bep soon came upon the source of the smell and quickly dropped flat as he could see humans still moving through the trees. It was a crashed human transport...and either not everyone died or the humans had already found it. Either way the Sangheili would want him to report it to them. Dammit. There was nothing else for it, so steadying his nerves he slowly crawled through the undergrowth toward the clearing outskirts.

(Edited to move Bep to the Pelican.)

[Huka]

Field Master Til Je'at Ra'ha 'Muramai
En route to the corvette

When Sorsa gave him the go, Til led the charge with his energy sword activated, demanding the blood of his enemies. Going through the large forest, vaulting over fallen trees, and cut through the giant insects that dared to cross his path without a pause, splattering their innards on his already dirtied harness. The sounds of human and Covenant firearms could be heard getting louder as they drew close. Beyond the burning valley of wounded humans and ionized plasma from a recent plasma grenade barrage, he could see frontline Acolyte Creche making their retreat to the corvette. Soon a last stand will be in order...

With a roar, he sliced a pair of humans in the back in their distraction of their comrades' deaths and pain, Til looked around for the remains of the fallen behemoth desperately before bucking from a vicious blast from a shotgun. Nearly falling back, the Zealot let out a shout of surprise while holding onto his thoracic cage, his shields severly depleted. Thankfully his armor was thickened for his respirator and sad for the human responsible. Snapping his head at the human, the mad swordsman spun as he sprang back up, and sliced it in half vertically, from the groin up. 

"Tibur!" He cried out as if hoping for an answer before continuing his sprint, jumping over bubbling remains of humans and somewhat glassed ground from the barrage. Turning his head to Sorsa and their followers, "Continue onward to the corvette, I need to reclaim something." He said before going to the last sighting of Tibur's glyph. 

 Seeing the bodies of Covenant soldiers and humans, the Zealot slowed down to look around. Turning bodies around with his hoof, his mandible flicked and made his helmet's HUD changed through visions until he could better see through the humid veil and smoke that is commonly known as the fog of war. Then he saw it...

 A crumbled mass of flesh and bones, remaining legs splaying out with steam fuming from the disgusting mess that must have been a head. This must be the beast...might of been of the Queen's caliber. Growling at the thought of it, Til's boot hit something. Looking down, he saw the blackened metal, and kneeled down to pick it up. Rubbing his outer thumb on it, the ash revealed to the silver shine and etchings. "Tibur..." He whispered before starting to look around, moving the mess about with his boot. Oblivious to time or care for enemies, Til finally found what he was looking for. Tibur's forearm being picked at by a large arthropod with pincers for mandibles. Snarling fiercely, he lunged at it with sword in hand and sliced one of its legs off. The creature shrieked and tried to escape, but the Zealot cut at its thorax, making its innards split from the cauterized opening. Rolling on its back, the arthropod squirmed its remaining three limbs wildly before the Sangheili's plasma rifle unloaded its remaining battery on its body.

 Tearing the arm from the pincers, Til examined it with a mixture of sickness, anger, and sorrow. "Well...you're dead now, Cousin. Shame you had to blow yourself up. Must have known I would thunk you for dying on me so early." He said, somewhat wishing he was talking to his head, but he knew that was probably blown to atoms in the sacrifice. Deactivating and putting his own sword away, he reached up as the clenched fingers, one burnt away and the visible flesh reminded of his own. With some difficulty, he snapped the thumbs away, and found the most important thing in Tibur's possession, and perhaps more ancient than his condemned role.

 A energy sword hilt made of dark metal with a middle 'horn' and two more in the magnetic emitters, etched with Muram glyphs. Flexing his fingers, he squeezed down and a pair of dark red long blades flared out, onimously oozing with plasma gases, designed for its original master's vicious attacks and swooping, relentless techniques.  

The Sword of Storms.

 The Zealot could feel his fury boiling in his blood and growled, turning to see a small lance of humans coming to investigate the mess. "The Storm of the Muram lands demand the blood of his enemies. I, Til, will deliver the bloodied sands to the Clan." He mused before the enemy noticed him and aimed their rifles, but they were no match for him and his temporarily acquired blade.

[NinjaBoss]

Zahn 'Vignarlee, Major Domo

    Zahn stepped forwards, moving slowly and cautiously. He may have wounded the creature, but it was far from dead and he doubted he was going to get another lucky shot like before. He could hear rustling to his right, but when he looked nothing was there. Then left, but again, nothing was there. The creature was surely stalking him, and it was being just as cautious as he was. He had to think of something, and quick. How could this creature's skin be immune to his plasma fire like that? It just didn't seem possible..... That's when he got an idea. "We need to find a fallen Unggoy. Quickly!" He ordered, and began to accelerate his progress towards acolyte, when he found it. A clearing full of multiple dead soldiers, Covenant and human. Some of them had gunfire wounds, but others.... Zahn grew nervous knowing this was what would happen to him were he to fall victim to this creature's grisly fangs. Pools of multicolored blood collected around the bodies, well.... what was left of them. A pile of skin, blood and bones was hardly a body.

    Zahn quickly moved towards one of the less gruesome Unggoy body's, checking that it had died only recently. Fortune must've favored him today, because it had. He picked it up, and put his hands on the methane tank release switch. He was ready for the abomination. That's when he heard it. A terrible shrieking sound that almost made him drop the Unggoy, which he would've had he not known it was his only chance of survival. Looking behind him the creature was speeding towards him, shrieking very loudly. It closed a distance of almost a kilometer within seconds, and it was going to destroy him if he didn't act quickly. Zahn took a deep breath, released the methane tank and aimed the dispersing methane at the creatures face. A small area froze on its forehead, and the creature stopped, shrieking even louder. He tossed the methane tank at the reptile and drew his plasma rifle, immediately firing a burst into the creatures forehead, where it was frozen. Zahn heard a relieving shatter as his plan worked, and the sudden temperature change destroyed an area of scales on the creatures forehead.

    His rifle overheated, and then he holstered and swapped it for his pistol. If this didn't work, he was definitely dead, as the creature was lunging for him. He charged the plasma pistol, and right before the creatures fangs ripped into Zahn's body, he fired the plasma directly into its forehead, a bare area with no scales to protect it. The plasma hit and dispersed, blowing a hole into the creatures head, it's blood and brains splashing onto the ground and Zahn, and it made one last shriek before it fell and stopped moving, silenced forever.

[Ward, J.]

Trudging the thick jungle while under the constant danger of yet another firefight with the Covenant was no easy task. If the Marines of First Squad, First Fire Team weren't drenched in their own sweat before, they were now. The four Marines moved through the forest cautiously, keeping their guard up in case they were to roll up on some form of alien trap or ambush. The odds of Ward and his team surviving such an ordeal were... well, not something he wanted to think about.

It'd be ten minutes since he'd sent his transmission to Alpha Company's commander. Since then he and his team had made fairly good progress through the jungle. The NAV marker on Ward's Heads Up Display indicated they were roughly two hundred meters from the crash site and closing in on it fast. The Corporal allowed himself to smile, thankful that in a few moments he and his team would be regrouping with another Marine.

Albeit it was an officer, but the man obviously wasn't a boot.

Jon threw his fist in the air as a noise reached his ears. He brought his weapon up and pressed the stock against his shoulder, slowly scanning the environment to the right of Lance Corporal Furby. He didn't see anything and there was no sign of visual distortion common with a camouflaged Elite, so he waved his team forward again. Perhaps he'd been hearing things.

Just to be on the safe side, he had a game plan already devised for when they reached the downed Pelican. While he and the lance corporal offered assistance to Alpha's commander, Allens and Krieg would set up security outside guarding the the blood tray.

With the downed vehicle on his mind, it finally came into view. The once sleek and powerful Pelican drop-ship was now a broken and dented carcass of its former glory. It appeared to be missing its starboard engine, a Covenant Banshee being the likely culprit for it. Its back wing had been ripped off and shredded. Overall, the Pelican looked like it'd been through a cheese grater.

Ward issued orders via hand signals to his team. He and Furby approached the hatch to the troop compartment. "Friendlies!" Ward announced, loud enough for anyone inside to hear. Not waiting for any sort of response, he and his friend stepped into the cockpit, weapons at the ready, but lowered enough as to not be pointing directly at anybody. Which was good because his eyes fell upon two occupants inside the vehicle. A Private First Class and the Lieutenant whom presumably made the request for assistance.

"Hello gents," Ward began as he slung his rifle and marched over to the lieutenant. "I'm Corporal Ward, Oscar Company, Second Platoon. I responded to your request for assistance, Lieutenant."

His tone was very matter-of-fact and his words direct. He glanced up at the Marine who seemed to be making progress with the cockpit hatch. Ward nodded to him and sent Furby over to help him. "Who's he, sir? One of yours?"

[BasedGoody]

Barry Barrington

The Marine ducked from the Sniper shots. The Jackal had them suppressed. Mike wasn't in good shape and Gerald was attempting to stop the blood from pouring out but it wasn't doing much. Barry lifted his hands over the cover and let loose a string of rounds at the enemies cover. Gerald tried to yell something to the Private but he couldn't make it out over the bullets and Carbine rounds.

"SHIT. What do we DO!?" Barry screamed out.

Suddenly Harold leaped out of cover and aimed his Battle Rifle before firing of a group of shots. The Carbine shots stopped.

"Did you get him?" Barry whispered. Harold shrugged and peaked out. Nothing. Barry stood up straight and looked down at Michael, who was bleeding all over himself. Gerald lifted Mike up in his arms and looked at Barry with a hint of something, fear. 

"We have to get medical help."

[Cabel]

[51st Marine Assault Regiment: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet: Southwestern Column and Flank: Currently: Ground-side: Downed Oblivion One-One Pelican Crash-Site]

"An honor, Cuu. I'm First Lieutenant Sorelson, or Spade," Mark replied, catching the young man's look. "I wasn't laughing at you, if you were wondering. I've never been hit in my years of the service until now," He'd slowly sit back and quickly sat forward as hull of the Pelican had grown warmer from the inferno the young Private had mentioned. He'd heard the hatch give way at least slowly, as the young man had made more progress than he had. "That's why it's been growing hotter? An inferno started from engagement, I assume,...it was only a matter of time. We've lost too many marines on too many planets, but for every marine a Covenant bastard's been dragged kicking and screaming to whatever god or gods they follow,"

"If you get tired, let me know and I'll take over. I needed to take a little breather first,"

"Friendlies!" he heard from outside the hull of the dropship, and briefly looked over. He'd try to stand, but the heat must have taken more out of his legs than he'd thought before he'd braced himself against the hull of the Pelican with his right arm. "Hello gents," a young Corporal said after climbing through the open side-hatch of the dropship, identified as a Corporal Ward if his HUD had been right and before approaching Spade. "I'm Corporal War, Oscar Company, Second Platoon. I responded to your request for assistance, Lieutenant. Who's he, sir? One of yours?" in regards to the other younger marine currently working at the wrecked hatch.

"He isn't one of mine. He's Private First Class Cuu, and he intercepted the same transmission,...and at ease, Corporal. We're not on parade. Your offer of assistance is deeply appreciated, as we have two marines...this bird's flight crew trapped behind the hatch Private Cuu is attempting to pry from its frame. I haven't heard a sound from the flight crew, and have to assume they're either unconscious, dead or dying," he explained, taking a gulp from an open water bottle he'd taken out of several crates worth that had come loose from their straps. "Corporal, how many men came with you?"

Setting the bottle aside, he'd approach the crowbar that had remained wedged against the hatchframe and the wrecked hatch. He'd slide in next to Cuu gripping the crowbar in an attempt to wrest the hatch from the frame a bit more and make things easier on all of them, but despite his noble intentions the combined exertion he'd placed on his body through the entire ordeal from his ride in the sky on the grasshopper to being burned by a missed plasma barrage and the heat exhaustion he had to plant both hands on the bulkhead to support himself. He had pushed himself a tad too far given the circumstances, and though the marine in him wanted to pry the hatch off the frame to drag the flight crew out he knew he required medical attention if only pain-killers for the burns from the plasma barrage. The bleeding had mostly stopped, but the burns had exposed the underlying nerves to the hot air.

[Jakob]

Private First Class Cuu Wen

The man blabbered on about his boring service and how he had never been hit. Cuu couldn't care less, he then asked about the inferno.

"Oh yeah, I started that. Sure as sure. Grenade burned a tree and the tree burned and the Covenant burned and some marines burned." He continued working it, moving the metal bar up and down to pry it.

Cuu continued working on the hatch, grunting as it opened up even more. The hydraulics screamed and the metal creaked as he strained, his muscles bulging from the effort and sweat forming in his brow. Several of the cuts he had received previously which had begun to close opened again, and blood streamed down his arms. He kept pushing.

Some new arrivals came, survivors of the fires. One of them came over to help Cuu push and he shoved him roughly away. If he was going to save the poor bastards, he would be getting the credit for popping the door. No one else. The lieutenant went up to help too, but Cuu never took the attempt seriously and he was stumbling away within seconds.

"Come on you fethers, open up." He took a step back and breathed in the smoke, the smells of burning jungle. He groaned when he went back, prying it with all his might. The door screamed and began to open wildly, Cuu raised a foot up and stuck it in the crack, then pushed down as he pulled the bar up. They both slid open further and further, protesting all the way, until Cuu was able to slip inside.

[BasedGoody]

Barry Barrington

"CHRIST? A FIRE!" Gerald yelled, holding Mike in his arms. He spun to the left and right looking for somewhere to go. Barry tripped over a root and landed in the dirt next to them. Scrambling, he gripped his Assault Rifle and leaped to his feet. Suddenly an explosion rocked the ground sending Donald and Barrington back into the mud. The Private pushed his hands through the wet dirt and coughed as the fire embraced the trees around him.

"Oh God..." Donald moaned, taking a knee on the ground. Mike moaned and Gerald's arms shook from the weight. Harry spun to him and walked over holding his arms out.

"Let me carry him." He said, taking Mike for him. Gerald fell to his knees alongside Donald. Barry stood up and shuttered as a tree smashed onto the ground near him.

"Stay here guys." Barry mumbled and ran up towards the sound of the explosion. He dodged flaming trees and logs smashing into the wet mud. One Grunt screamed in pain as fire consumed his right arm and headed towards his face. The poor creature tried to run away from the burning sensation. The Private grabbed him by the head and threw him into the ground. It singed his gloves and he shook it in the air. The Grunt wailed out of fear, but Barry simply raised his Assault Rifle and put four bullets into his head.

"Nothin' can't hurt you anymore." He grumbled and continued jogging through the smoke. Finally he reached a clearing and, a pelican, crash- landed. What the Hell? He though and jogged up to the group of people.

"HEY! We have a wounded man! Can you guys help us out!?"

[Ward, J.]

Ward listened to the Lieutenant as he introduced himself with a smirk. Obviously Sorelson wasn't your typical officer. Glancing at PFC Allens, he gestured for him to help Cuu out with the hatch, then looked at Furby and Krieg and ordered them to establish security outside. Despite the new element to the battle, the blazing fires outside, the Covenant were still a likely threat.

Wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, Ward noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked in the direction of Cuu and just managed to catch him push Allens away. The young PFC sprawled his arms out in a manner that said "what the hell" and he glanced back at Jonathan.

The Corporal frowned. Under normal circumstances he would've immediately chewed the Marine out for what he did. However, admittedly, the circumstances were by no means normal and this was neither the time or the place for that sort of thing.

Lieutenant Sorelson grabbed his attention by asking him how many men came with him. Jon's frown deepened. "Just my fire team, sir. It's all my unit could spare. Truth be told, I'm surprised my squad leader let me respond to your call. My unit is getting hammered by the Covies."

With that the Lieutenant stood up after taking a swig from a bottle of water--likely acquired from the supply crates that had been tethered to the Pelican prior to its unscheduled descent--and walked over to the hatch, taking hold of a crowbar in an attempt to help pry the door open.

Unfortunately, it appeared Sorelson didn't have it in him. "Lemme help, sir," Ward said. He marched over to where Cuu and Sorelson were and took hold of the door. He stared directly at Cuu as he did this. "The El-Tee and I are going to pull on the hatch while you push as hard as you can. We're gonna handle this as a team and hopefully find the pilot's alive," he stated matter-of-factly, and then added in a hushed tone, "and if you ever put your hand's on one of my Marines again, I'll have your ass. Clear?"

Before Cuu could offer any form of response, a Marine barged into the rear of the bird with a half-panicked expression. "We need help! We have a wounded man," was all Ward before he gestured to Allens.

"PFC, grab the first aid kit from Furby and follow that Marine to the wounded man. Do all that you can for him, and if he's okay to move, bring him here and we'll either call for a corpsman or a CASEVAC. I don't care if I have to bitch the Colonel out to get us some form of an assist, I'll do it."

"Aye, Corporal!" was PFC Allens's response.

With that, Allens sprinted out of the blood tray. Ward returned his attention to the hatch and pulled with all his might.

((OOC: Goody, you have permission to control PFC Allens until y'all get back to the bird.))

[Spartan 999]

Field Master Sorsa Ra'ha Je'at 'Xirsasai
Approaching the Corvette

Those following Sorsa had just finished off a human scouting file when Til caught up with them. Sorsa noticed Tibur's sword in Til's hand, the handle dripping with some freshly spilled crimson blood.

"We are close to the corvette now." Ziin said from the side, clicking his mandibles upon noticing that he only had two arrows left in his quiver.

"Then we shall push on, quickly." Sorsa dropped his depleted plasma repeater in favor of his carbine, even though its ammunition was low. Better than not having anything at all. About a minute later, they were approaching the inner "red" ring of Til's defensive circles strategy outline, which seemed to be more or less intact, according to the tactical information being displayed on Sorsa's wrist computer.

He quickly informed the perimeter guards closest to them that their small group would be emerging from the jungle shortly. That way, there would be no accidental friendly fire if the turret gunners were feeling too zealous.

[Ultra Quor]

Ultra Quor 'Naturnai

Pious Creche

The Front Lines

Chaos didn't begin to describe it. Individually the humans were insignificant but they moved like a colony of insects. Even still, Quor seen such a dense population of nishum soldiers in one location working towards a singular goal with this type of determination, and while they had lost many they held a numbers advantage here and had used that to control the flow of the battle. In some areas they were so bold to even begin engaging the combined creches in closer range combat, a normally unwise decision made forgiving due to the set of circumstances. War was very much an exhausting game when playing from behind. It was hard to tell how the overall front line was holding, as the Ultra had been more than preoccupied with his own portion of it. Pious Creche had taken its fair share of losses as had all of the front line groupings Quor was sure, those who weren't killed were either wounded or on the edge of exhaustion, even with his strength and stamina he could feel the battle fatigue his bones. Rocketeers had taken down the majority of the outer mounted defenses, alleviating the pressure on the forces marching inward, and other advantageous positions had been scuttled by long arms fire. The radio was flurried with chatter from across the battlenet, there were suggestions of tactical retreat which did not sit well with the creche leader, but with the circumstances as they were..

A fragmentation explosive fell just short of his location, detonating on the other side of his cover and raining mud, moss, and wood chips down on his armor. He looked every bit the ragged warrior, the sheen was gone replaced by grit and splashed gore. Mud from moving between trenches caked his hooves and dotted pretty much every other spot on his body, the small chunks of moss and blades of grass along with shredded bark sprinkled here and there could have possibly served for cheap camouflage, he was one with the battlefield in sight and in mind.

Spinning around the corner, he took aim at approaching nishum forces, they were close enough now to make out a more specific tongue and even make out vauge facial features, too close for comfort in their groupings. They dove every which way to avoid the spray of plasma from his repeater, and it may have been enough to hold them at bay if it wasn't hissing itself. The guns were as spent as the soldiers, the battery had run out and the weapon now served as nothing more than an ineffective yet stylish club. Taking in a big breath of humid air, the large Sangheili exhaled and casually tossed the weapon down into the mud, it served him no purpose at the time being and was only a symbol of his frustration. He could hear a flurry of dull explosions to the west, it was hard to tell from whose side they originated, but there were many. He imagined frail bodies burning in waves of hot plasma and chuckled grimly, remembering death and destruction from years past, the humans could want the corvette all they want, Quor, his brothers, and their warriors would die before giving them that victory.

"This is Ultra commander Vinza'za 'Wodamai, Acolyte Creche has done all it can; we are falling back, we can no longer hold the line!"
His head perked at the communication, the humans were indeed going to overrun the front lines, he growled in anger but with the front line falling apart..

"EY BIG UGLY!"

Surprised, Quor looked to his right to see a small grouping of nishum engaging off the flank, the formation was compromised and medium to close range combat had begun in full. The emboldened human that shouted charged Quor, backed by 3 other marines, it was bewildering, so it took him a moment and a peppering of bullets to react to the assault. It was only a step and a half before the soldiers entered his threat range, but rather than back down as usual, they willingly engaged onto him, two tackling him at the waist and the other two running around and jumping for his shoulders in an attempt to bring him down. He could feel the shift in gravity sliding his hooves through the mud but was able to re-center and plant himself, knowing that being downed here would likely be the end of him. The human dangling on his right shoulder pulls out a knife and attempts to stab into him, Quor snatches the would be attacker by his forearm as he feels a sharp pain in his left shoulder, causing him to practically crush the wrist in his grasp making the marine scream in pain. He winces slightly as he turns his head slightly to the left, coming face to side-face to the insignificant whelp that had mouthed off in his direction. The ant had plunged his own knife partially into his shoulder through an opening in Quor's armor. All of a sudden that confident aura of the marines' was nowhere to be felt as they began to realize the gravity of their mistake.

"GET!.." Quor throws the first marine over his shoulder with tremendous force, the light and fragile body ragdolling off of the muddy terrain with a satisfying slosh.

"OFF!.." Continuing the motion of his throw all the way through, his right hand snatches his sword from his waist, backhanding the two marines at his front off of him before activating the sword at the peak reach of his arm. He re-plants his hoof into the head of the first marine he threw down, the skull and helmet pop like a melon fusing blood and mud on his foot with a sharp crack.

"OF!..." He slices down at a sharp diagonal angle, cutting down the marine farthest to his right at the waist, and his stumbling ally next to him at his left knee, the two fall in a pile as the wounded soldier cries out with his dead ally's upper half dead weighting down on where his leg once was.

"ME!..." Slamming his left shoulder into a nearby tree, Quor smashes the mouthy marine into the splinters before turning to impale him to the trunk, slicing straight up before coming back across horizontally, chopping him into three definable pieces and leaving the wood scarred and bloodied.

There were several small skirmishes breaking out in the immediate vicinity, the humans had been successful in breaking the lines.

"RAAAAAAAGH!" roaring both in anger and discomfort as he removes the primitive knife from his shoulder and dropping it to the ground, mumbling profanities in his 'Natrun dialect, his left arm still seemed functional but it was sluggish either from the dull pain or due to possible nerve damage. It could wait. The calamity at hand was far more important than any flesh wound.

A pair of minor domos approach, they had seen the situation developing but had to run to the location, as firing on their own creche commander was not an option. He shoos them off to begin falling back as he opens up his communications.

"Commander of Pious Creche, Ultra Quor 'Natrunai. The front lines are compromised, we are in the process of rearing out the withdrawal to the corvette and will actively work to slow the nishum advance as we do so..."

A small metallic round bounces off his back and flares his now recharged shields, looking back over his shoulder the one legged marine weakly fired off a couple more shots from his pistol as his clip ran dry, which did not stop repeated attempts at continuing to pull the trigger, the gun responding with nothing but clicks. Some of the local large insect life was disturbed by the commotion, their vulture-like tendencies keyed on the wounded soldier, their intimidating pincers growing ever closer.

".. Burn the earth as you go, where you can, level the forest, create obstacles and try to funnel them into predictable areas that are more easily defensible..."

In a different situation, the Ultra may have showed mercy to his foe, but his mood was anything but merciful, nature would run its intended course. Quor plants his plasma grenades onto more vulnerable trees as he retreats, with any luck the added obstacles would buy the allied creches more significant time to regroup and prepare a stronger defense. Gods know they needed it, as the initial defense ended disastrously, they had to be sure that this initial human win does not snowball into an unstoppable avalanche.

[Jakob]

Private First Class Cuu Wen

Cuu stared vacantly at the man as he made his threats. He was prepared to give a snarky response when some marines stumbled through the back of the pelican, distracting them. As they talked, Cuu pushed harder one last time and found his boot hovering just over the floor. Smiling, he stepped back, there was room to get through. Rolling his shoulders, Cuu ducked in and carefully stepped over the door. The scent of fuel and death hit him instantly. He embraced them.

There were plenty of dead men in the room. Men in ballistic armor dead in their seats, one of them in a pilot's uniform splayed out on the floor. Some of the bodies squirmed or moved in some form, most didn't. He counted around six living, the smoke was so thick he could hardly breath.

"We got squirmers." He said, before nudging one with his boot. The smell of fuel was so damn strong, why was it so strong?

It hit him, the tanks must have been punctured as the pelican crashed. The fuel leaking out into the valley, into the soil, into the bushes.

All of those things were catching fire.

"Oh gak." He said and stumbled out of the room, turning to everyone else. "Fucking fuel is leaking, we don't got time to sort and grab all the dying fethers. Sure as sure." They could try of course, but there was so much smoke wafting in the room that you could hardly see an inch in front of you. To look through each of the bodies for the still living would take minutes, and making sure they missed no one would take even more. They didn't have that long until burning trees started collapsing on them and igniting the fuel and ammo stores.

[Cabel]

[51st Marine Assault Regiment: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet: Southwestern Column and Flank: Currently: Ground-side: Downed Oblivion One-One Pelican Crash-Site]

"Just my fireteam, Sir. It's all my unit could spare. Truth be told, I'm surprised my squad leader let me respond to your call. My unit is getting hammered by the Covies," Corporal Ward said to his inquiry about how many men the young marine had brought with him.

"Your CO has more on his hands to deal with, but at least he sent you and your team," Mark replied.

"Lemme help, Sir," the Corporal said before stepping up to the hatch next to where Mark stood. "The El-Tee and I are going to pull on the hatch while you push as hard as you can. We're gonna handle this as a team and hopefully find the pilot's allive,"
Prying the hatch back with the combined help of both Private First Class Cuu and Corporal Ward with Mark had been graetful for, the hatch had been pried open enough for Cuu to step past it into the compartment beyond. "We got squirmers," he heard the young Private say from within the forward compartment.

The smell of fuel had been an ever present element, hanging heavy in the ever increasing humid air mixed with burning wood and if it had been anywhere else than on that particular jungle planet Mark would have treated the young marines around him to a Barbeque. Those thoughts had been for another place, and he'd banished them as quickly. They had a job to do, and he'd made a promise to the marines beyond the hatch to make sure he left no one behind alive or dead. Fairly thick smoke billowed from the open hatchway filling the bloodtray reducing visibility compounding matters that much more, though it wouldn't deter him. Slipping past the open hatchway into the smoke filled compartment, he narrowed his eyes in an attempt to see at least the profiles of the marines and flight crew. "We're not leaving any of these marines behind. The Corps doesn't leave anyone behind, and we'll give these marines a chance to receive medical treatment. I owe them that much," There were lifeless marines in ballistics armor strapped in their crash seats while others including a man in a pilot's uniform lay sprawled across the ceiling turned floor, and as luck had it or perhaps a more definite explanation left some of the marines alive. "Take a marine, and if you can't walk them out drag them. Corporal, have one of your men clear an area in the bloodtray for these boys. I'm not going to risk setting them outside this hull, and they'll have a better chance of survival shielded by the titanium in these bulkheads,"

"Marines," he called out to the marines that still remained alive if injured within the compartment. "Keep with us. If you see that bright light, keep away from it. Do not go towards that light. I promised to leave no marine behind, and I am damn well going to make sure each and every one of you receives the best medical help the Corps can provide," The coughing from the smoke hadn't bothered him, more from the fact he'd been coughing for a while mostly from the heat and heat exhaustion as he crossed deeper into the compartment careful of the fallen marines at his feet. Taking hold of one of the conscious marines, he'd grit his teeth maneuvering himself under the marine's arm and took him by the shoulder.

"Corporal, tell that newcomer with his team outside to grab anyone capable and help with these marines. Alive or dead, we're not leaving anyone behind," he shouted towards Corporal Ward hoping one of his men had been unoccupied enough to act as a runner. Breathing only out of his nose rather than his mouth since it would cut down on how much smoke he'd inhale, he'd slipped an arm around the marine at his shoulder and carefully made his way back towards the hatch and the bloodtray beyond.

[Jakob]

Private First Class Cuu Wen

"Feth me." Cuu said as the lieutenant stumbled forward to grab marines and pilots. He leaned out the side of the Pelican and saw just what he feared he would, a liquid dripping out and pooling around the bottom of the Pelican. A burning tree branch fell only five feet or so from the ever expanding pool, and Cuu dived out of crashed bird in order to stomp it out.

"Fuck. Fuck." He said, stomping his combat boot into the branch and the grass as that caught. He kicked it away and checked back to make sure the pool wasn't ablaze... if he would break off one of those branches and toss it in... he shook his head clear, too suspicious, and no one to tell the brass how brave he was as a little good boy, helping the marines with the booboos out of the vehicle.

He went back in, coughing from the smoke, though it hadn't been much better outside. "If we don't leave now..." he walked up and unbuckled a man he saw begin to cough in his seat. "We'll be gakking dead in three minutes." He heard a tree crack and fall outside, followed by the ground shaking slightly. He paused for a second and then breathed in relief when they didn't all die in a blazing inferno.

[Cabel]

[51st Marine Assault Regiment: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet: Southwestern Column and Flank: Currently: Ground-side: Downed Oblivion One-One Pelican Crash-Site]

"Feth me," he heard Cuu swear, at least through the open hatch anyway before hearing even more swearing from outside the hull of the Pelican before hearing the sound of something being kicked followed by the loud hiss of by his guess a fire being put out. He'd have to remember Cuu had acted in defense of the Pelican, out of self-preservation for the Pelican or for himself it hadn't truly mattered. In moments like that, everything seemed to blend into a single lucid moment of self-preservation and of insuring the safety of others. The young Private returned only a few moments later, apparently either rather angry Mark had taken time to try to save everyone in the downed Pelican or in a dire hurry. "If we don't leave now..." he said while unbuckling a fairly conscious marine still strapped into a crash seat. "We'll be gakking dead in three minutes,"

Mark paused as Cuu had at the discouraging sound of a tree cracking either in half or a huge branch before the ground shuddered outside of the hull of the Pelican, and the bloodtray. He hadn't like having to leave marines behind, a fact no marine liked and dreaded. The call had been his, but he hadn't been the only marine present. Mark had to think about the lives of Private First Class Cuu, Corporal Ward, Ward's Fireteam, the lives of the newcomers and the lives of those still conscious within the Pelican's forward compartment before he'd even considered his own. "Save those who are still alive. We'll come back for those that didn't make it upon impact, if we can or I will," If it had been up to him and if the jungle hadn't been set ablaze, he'd make sure each marine even those that hadn't made it had been dragged to safety. "Come on, marine..." he'd take a quick look at the still conscious marine's rank in his HUD. "Lance Corporal, we'll get you out of here. Stay with me," as he placed his right arm against the open hatch to keep his balance while in a sense dragging the Lance Corporal into the bloodtray beyond the forward compartment. Carefully setting his brief charge onto the ceiling turned floor of the bloodtray, he'd catch his breath and honestly started to feel a second wind. He'd try to make the young man as comfortable as possible by taking a discarded towel before rolling it up to place beneath the man's head before he'd try to get the man's attention or at least get him to open his eyes. Once the man had come around, Spade turned and headed back into the forward compartment to rescue another marine.

[BasedGoody]

Barry Barrington
Jungle

Barry nodded to the fellow Marine and lead Allens back towards his team. He coughed as fire built up around him. Trees smashed to the ground and light up more flames off to the side. Suddenly Barry tripped and landed face first in the dirt. He scrambled and got to his feet. The PFC grabbed Allens' shirt and lifted himself up.

"Come on!" He growled and sprinted forwards. 

The two reached the Team again and stopped short. Gerald spun around and motioned him closer. Allens sat down and took out the Medical Kit, pulling out things at random. Harold watched nervously with his Battle Rifle before spinning around and scanning the forest for hostiles. Donald was on his knees grasping Mike's hand as he bled over the ground.

Biofoam was painted on sloppily and Mike winced in pain. Barry stood up and took out his Assault Rifle.

"Let's get back there." He said, and Gerald stood up.

"I'll decide that, but yes, let's get moving." He said and hoisted up Mike, one arm around his. They began moving through the forest and back towards the downed pelican.

[Deleted]

Kig-Yar Jackel Sniper Pair

Mog and Gek

Border of the Covenant Camp

Mog lazily walked along the barricades, his view high over the forest floor. His partner, Gek, stood about ten meters behind him, surveying the foliage for movement. They were both feeling each other's patience running thin. Who would thr ey have to kill to get a small enemy fireteam, or a lost squad to come wondering through the forest, confused as Unggoy.

"Why are we here?" Mog asked, staring through his scope, focusing in on objects at random.

"Stay alert!" Gek replied, looking out at the dense forest, switching through the various modes his scope offers.

"I'm as alert as a Kig-Yar can be!" Mog responded with a bit of frustration in his voice. They had only been sent out for a few hours to scout out the area when they were ordered to return and guard the main gate.

"I'm just hoping the pay is good." Gek replies as he stares off into the distance. After a few minutes they resume pacing back and forth, holding their Beam Rifles, and doing whatever they can to stay focused, such as trying to sync up each other's footsteps by just hearing, and occasionally stroking the plumage of quills, which were a dull brown. 

[Faclan]

(Edited previous post to move Bep to the Pelican.)

Bep, Jackal Spotter
Hiding in the brush on the outskirts of the crashed pelican crater, working on getting a video feed for the Covenant forces at the Corvette.


Fumbling with his headgear was causing some of the bushes around him to shake but Bep told himself that the fire would cause more distraction than his movements...he hoped. Even though a lot of the humans here seemed to be wounded there was still several that were combat ready and he knew that they wouldn't take kindly to aliens while they were trying to protect their own. Taking a few deep breaths he slid the headgear over his head and turned it on its lowest setting as he slowly scanned over the crashed pelican area and the humans that were stationed around it.

The image would be dim and a little hard to make out if anyone happened to be receiving his transmission, but any brighter and Bep was confident that the humans would be able to see the eyepiece glow through the bushes and bullets would feel out his position. There was still the chance of them spotting him regardless - but he had to do something or else he would be accused of desertion or failing in his mission. Licking his teeth a bit he nodded and reassured himself this was the best thing to do right now.

Just in case however he slowly pulled the carbine off his back and set it beside him in the bush with a bit more rustling. Making sure the weapon was loaded and ready to fire if he needed to fight back, but he sure hoped he didn't have to as he was hugely out numbered here. Taking another deep breath he continued to slowly scan back and fourth so the clearing would be visible for any who were receiving, and after he had scanned a few times he activated his comms and quietly squawked out a report.

"Hooman transport crashed at my position, many wounded but seems to be at least a lance of able bodied. Standing by until they move or orders are received excellentcies." By the gods he hated using that word...

[Huka]

Field Master Til Je'at Ra'ha 'Muramai

Returning to the formerly safe zone of the Covenant's territory, Til strided towards the defending turret operators as they fired storms of plasma onto those foolish enough to draw close to their firing range or sight. He lost all care for this battle now, the humans were mere nuisances equal to a fly buzzing by a fine feast at the moment, right he wanted to get off this planet now! Losing an Arbiter a second time wasn't expected in his lifetime, both related to his clan. It was hurtful sensation to feel. Til don't think in his reading of the ancient texts that two Arbiters were killed in one campaign before. There is...180 casket currently, few others were closely killed by the same enemy.  

 As he mused by this, he felt someone grab his shoulder. Snarling, he quickly snatched the offending hand and twisted it off his pauldron with a death glare at a surprised Major, his mandibles twitching in great discomfort. "What is it?" He growled. Trying to reposition himself, the Major shifted abit and answered nervously, "We still have soldiers out there, Holy Zealot and the reinforcements haven't appeared yet." 

 Twitching an armored mandible, the Sangheili Hunter pulled him close slowly, "Then I suggest you tell your commanding creche officer to keep holding the line until they do." He snarled and released him before Sorsa advise him to. Clicking his lower mandibles in pure visual display of annoyance before walking towards the corvette, leaving the Major to quickly run to his commander as instructed while holding his arm abit. Passing through the shield, causing a slight flare of his energy shields, and a sudden rush of fatigue rushed to his head, returning the painful migraines that he hoped to have overcome by now.

 "All soldiers of the Covenant, this is Field master Til Je'at Ra'ha 'Muramai." He said, getting access of all channels through his comlink, "I invoke the act of retreat to the Corvette's defense circle in preparation of a final stand, including the sensor array creche. All who remain will die on this planet." 

 After giving the message, he received transmission from one of the Kig-yar scouts. He was actually surprised there were anyone else alive outside of the battlezone. Blinking and see the feed at the humans nestling by one of their cumbersome dropships, he flexed a mandible, if this was more proper time, he would send hunters on them or just have the scout kill them, but sadly it is not the time. "Fine initiative, scout. Return to the corvette, but be wary, our defenses have crumbled to the final ring. Move swift and may you keep your head on your run." He said, almost chuckling, remembering saying that to his old sniper long ago.

[Deleted]

Sangheili Ultra Vinza'za 'Wodamai
Falling back to inner defense sphere

"All soldiers of the Covenant, this is Field master Til Je'at Ra'ha 'Muramai.  I invoke the act of retreat to the Corvette's defense circle in preparation of a final stand, including the sensor array creche. All who remain will die on this planet." The Field Master ordered through the battlenet.  Vinza'za had already assumed this was the case, as it was not hard to tell from communications that the Humans were finally making headway across the perimeter.

The Ultra had ordered multiple kig-yar snipers to defend the rear of the Creche, along with a warrior file to keep the Humans suppressed during the retreat.  He accompanied them, determined to see as many soldiers retreat safely as is possible.  It felt like progress and slow.  Surely it was too, but he urged his soldiers on.  He was no different than the others, despite his experience.  His muscles burned from protracted use, but his mind was lucid.  Combat was his world, and it was something he was very good at.  His kill count would agree with that statement.  Still, Vinza'za pushed himself onwards, willing his body to press on.  The Humans hadn't pursued with a vengeance, only harassing the rear of the Creche.  The 'Wodam Hunter felt he owed a debt to the Mgalekgolo who gave their lives to ensure the Humans wouldn't overtake Acolyte.  An Unggoy fell in front of the Ultra, his leg's giving out.  Vinza'za pulled the creature to his feet.  The Unggoy looked wearied.  

Vinza'za coaxed him onwards, "Keep your feet moving, Unggoy!  The God's shall see us through this day; feel their energy become yours, feel their will become yours, feel their purity become yours, and let yourself become their instrument."

The words encouraged the Unggoy, and he waddled hastily back into file.  They were nearing the inner sphere.

Pfc. Tristan Thorn; 51st MAR, 1st Battalion, Alpha Company, First Platoon, Bravo Squad
Assaulting Covenant defenses

Plasma slammed into a tree, not more than twenty-five centimeters from Tristan's head.  The bark sizzled and crackled as the Private nearly shat himself.  The rest of the squad opened fire while Thorn breathed heavily from the experience.  He was able to calm himself enough to relocate behind a different tree as the rest of Bravo took fire.  He sighted the enemies the rest of the squad was firing on: a few vultures with a squid-lip commanding them.  They had created a shield wall around the Elite, and all of them were firing on Bravo.  TT fired two bursts at the jackals, which bounced off harmlessly.  Smith managed to strike one in the hand, causing the alien to flinch.  The PFC unloaded another burst that sent blood spraying from the jackals neck.

"Watch this guys," Statham said confidently before firing the Grenade Launcher he had gotten his hand's on.

The shot was spot-on, falling right in the center of the Covenant soldiers.  The Elite was vaporized, and most of the vultures were either dead or wounded grievously. 

"They don't teach that in college!" Smith joked.

Then, something almost unheard of happened next: The Covenant retreated.  This time, it wasn't just the Grunts, but the whole lot of aliens.  Tristan was somewhat dumbfounded, although Smith and Statham were wooping and hollaring.  More jokes were quickly passed about how the enemy was scared and knew they were about to get a "good ol' can of UNSC whoopass" laid upon them.  Despite the pairs glee, Thorn was unsettled by such action from the aliens.  It wasn't common for them to retreat, even when faced by a force greatly outnumbering them.  

Nonetheless, Sgt. Radke ordered them on, "This battle isn't over, and we have to press the advantage.  Hoof it to those trenches Marines!"

Everyone followed without hesitation, and most even seemed excited to push on.  A lot of friends had been lost up to this point, and vengeance was in their hearts.  The Covenant retreat had just increased morale tremendously.

[deceit]

The path back to the corvette had been filled with more than one fire-fight for Ra'ab and his squadron. Several vehicles had been driving around harassing retreating troops. Ra'ab and his two Kig-Yar had done them a service in distracting the vehicles long enough for a few retreating lances to escape. He and his Kig-Yar had fired a few controlled bursts at the enemy vehicle, then quickly retreated behind some woodwork. When the warthog came around a bend to attack them, Ra'ab had fired a burst from his plasma pistol, the emp wrecking the front engine of the vehicle and scrambling the computers. It was temporary, but it was enough for him and his lance to join the retreating troops.

Several troops around him were not so lucky in their continued escape endeavors, taking hits from passing vehicles. The troops were keeping the pursuit at bay with sparing use of grenades, plasma fire, and using their cover as they made their way back to the corvette. In the end, they reached the turret line, and the vehicles stopped their pursuit. Now Ra'ab was stepping behind friendly lines, looking at the manned turrets high above. He and his Lance, he had rejoined with his full lance, who had been waiting at the corvette after carrying the generals corpse, took a short moment to rest up in the relative safety.

"The humans will gather their forces and hit us hard." He said, "If reinforcements do not arrive, we will all die."

Ra'ab hated that his victory depended on something he simply could not factor in. He hated even more that the only reason the humans didn't turn them all into space dust was that they had the Imperial Admiral aboard.

[BetaWülf]

Jiralhanae Captain Garatus

As he was stalking the forests edge the field masters message for all Covenant forces to retreat to the inner defenses played over his comlink, he paused to contact his pack. As he started to speak a bullet whizzed past his head embedding in a nearby root, he jumped behind a fallen tree as another bullet ricocheted off his backplate. He peeked over the top of his cover, seeing three humans, the standard kind he believed. He fired a burst of spiker rounds over the top of the log, missing all three of them, as he went to fire again a bullet ripped across his right cheek leaving a long bloody streak. He bellowed and fired again, three spikes protruded from his targets chest as it fell backwards into the dirt.

He went back behind cover and activated his com
"This is Garatus, pack do you hear me?" he said somewhat anxiously
"This is Valorus, we're heading back as the Field Master commanded, do you require assistance?" Valorus said
"No, but I want to know where you and the rest of the pack will be when I get there" Garatus said worriedly
"Near the Field Master most likely" Valorus said
"Good, Garatus out" he said, the occasional bullet hitting the huge log. Garatus took a deep breath then activated a plasma grenade, he tossed the grenade towards the human soldiers who fired upon him.

The grenade landed near the Marines, they both jumped away but when the grenade exploded the closer one got it good. An arm flew through the air along with unidentifiable chunks and a helmet, Garatus jumped over the log he'd been using for cover, running straight for the other Human. It raised its weapon from the dirt and fired a burst that ricocheted off Garatus's chestplate, he ripped the weapon from its hands and picked it up by the throat. As he held it out at arms length it pulled a knife and stabbed at his arm, Garatus squeezed the blade from its hand causing it to groan in pain.

He dropped it to the ground, placing one foot on its back as he unwrapped a strip of leather from his arm wrappings. He lifted it off the ground and stood it up, he forced its hands together and tied them tightly with the leather. A length of the leather ran from its bound wrists to Garatus's hand, a leash of sorts.
"Your my prisoner now, do you understand?" he said behind its head, it spoke in a hateful tone in its alien language, Garatus sneered and pushed the Human forward with a nudge, he wasn't sure what he was going to do with his prisoner yet, maybe torture it for information or perhaps a motivational disemboweling for his fellow Covenant warriors, whatever he decided it probably wasn't very nice.

[NinjaBoss]

Zahn 'Vignarlee, Major Domo

    Zahn looked at the gargantuan reptile creature he had just killed, his breath slowing. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins, something Zahn rather enjoyed. He quickly snapped back to reality as his com link buzzed, and Til Je'at Ra'ha 'Muramai's voice emitted from the speaker. "All soldiers of the Covenant, this is Field master Til Je'at Ra'ha 'Muramai.  I
invoke the act of retreat to the Corvette's defense circle in
preparation of a final stand, including the sensor array creche. All who
remain will die on this planet." Zahn stood for one more moment, slightly shocked though he knew he shouldn't be. Though they were holding, the Covenant forces were small and they had no reinforcements, but Zahn still wasn't used to the feeling of defeat. He quickly shook his head, remembering the task at hand. Besides, they weren't defeated yet, just being pushed back. And Zahn had a feeling Field Master 'Muramai had another trick or two up his sleeve......

    He turned and looked at his lance, and realizing they were still missing his Ultra Yaddap and his file. He then activated his battlenet to a direct channel to Yaddap's. "Yaddap, this is Zahn, if you are still alive regroup with me and the rest of our lance at the corvette IMMEDIATELY!" Yaddap was either dead or had been ignoring his orders throughout the entire battle, something that angered Zahn. However, he continued through the thick forest, making his way back to the corvette. Thankfully he hadn't been far from the area when he was attacked by the reptilian creature, and they made it to the ship fairly quickly. He set up behind the barricades at the corvette, his lance along with him. They were nearby one of their turrets, and ready to defend and even give their lives if necessary, which Zahn knew it may be. He held his plasma rifle ready, prepared for the battle that he knew was soon to come.

[Ward, J.]

FUBAR was probably the most accurate descriptor for the situation that was at hand. Fires raged nearby, making things even more uncomfortable then they already had been. The heat was near-unbearable. Ward had to wipe beads of sweat away every few seconds. It was becoming an annoyance.

The Corporal walked out to where Lance Corporal Furby and Private Krieg. Lieutenant Sorelson had asked him to send a runner out after the Marines that had requested medical assistance. Before he could even get the words out of his mouth, they were marching up to the Pelican with the wounded man he'd sent PFC Allens to help out. He nodded to them and glanced over his shoulder, towards the downed Pelican. PFC Cuu and the Lieutenant were pulling out wounded personnel from the wreckage. The smell of fuel reached his nostrils.

The situation was deteroriating at a rate he hadn't expected. With a heavy sigh, he looked to the Marines who were approaching. "Set your man down where the rest of the wounded are, then start pulling people out of the wreckage. We need to hurry. Fuel is leaking and the fires could ignite the fuel any second now."

Before he could turn around to begin helping as well, the voice of Private Krieg stopped him in his tracks. "I think I've got contact."

Ward looked at the young Hungarian and took a few steps towards him. "You think?" Ward asked, wiping yet another bead of sweat away.

Krieg nodded and pointed at his rifle. Ward walked over and took it from him before dropping to one knee. He brought the weapon up, placing the stock firmly in the pocket between his arm and shoulder, and peered through the scope.

Jon scanned the environment and stopped when he saw a small light shining through a bush. He focused on it, trying to make out what it was. After a moment's contemplation he decided he knew exactly what it was.

"Contact to our ten o'clock, thirty meters, behind a bush," Ward announced loud enough for the others to hear. "It's gotta be a Jackal sniper. I dunno if he's alone but I don't wanna find out. Suppressing fire on that target. Krieg, try to take him out."

Ward handed the Marine back his rifle and brought up his assault rifle. He squeezed the trigger and opened fire, Furby's rifle joining his a split-second later. The rounds screamed through the air towards the bush concealing the alien marksman. In the back of the Corporal's mind, he hoped that it was alone.

[Deleted]

The sound of battle suddenly began to echo through the trees. Though there had been plenty of explosions, smoke, fire, and bursts of plasma in the sky, they all were moving closer and closer to the outer ring. Mog stood anxious, ready to get his fix of death, but Gek was somewhat worried. Suddenly, their comms came to life.

"All soldiers of the Covenant, this is Field master Til Je'at Ra'ha 'Muramai. I invoke the act of retreat to the Corvette's defense circle in preparation of a final stand, including the sensor array creche. All who remain will die on this planet." Well that was charming news for them. Moments later, the sound of hundreds of feet could be heard thumping through the forest floor as dozens of Unggoy and Kig-Yar stumbled into the inner circle, their Sengheili Lance leaders throughout the mix. Gek watched the units, and scanned the treeline for any incoming human forces, while Mog stood ready, staring through his beam rifle for any possible targets. He noticed one, what looked like two special forces. The kind that are usually found where you least expect them, behind your lines. No matter, they were tougher than the usual batch of humans, but just as easy to take down with a sniper rifle and a shot like Mog's or Gek's.

Mog relayed to Gek the position of the pair and aimed at them. He took a deep breath, slowly squeezing the trigger, but not before one of them fired off a burst from their primitive weaponry. Mog's quickly ducked, letting go of the trigger as Gek took a shot, but missed completely. Mog jumped up again, but the pair were gone.

[Cabel]

[51st Marine Assault Regiment: Alpha Platoon, Alpha Company, First Lieutenant Mark Seamus “Spade” Sorelson: Tropical Planet: Southwestern Column and Flank: Currently: Ground-side: Downed Oblivion One-One Pelican Crash-Site]

"Contact to our ten o'clock, thirty meters, behind a bush," Mark heard Corporal Ward shout from outside the Pelican's bloodtray followed by the familiar stoccato of automatic rifle fire and semi-automatic fire. "It's gotta be a Jackal sniper. I dunno if he's alone, but I don't wanna find out. Suppressing fire on that target. Krieg, try to take him out,"

As much as he'd wanted to join them, he had a promise to fulfill by dragging the wounded marines and flight crew from the wreckage. Mark had managed to pull two conscious yet injured marines from the wreckage setting them in a designated cleared area outside the wreck before he'd rushed back into the smoke-filled wreck. The smoke had grown thicker to where he hadn't been able to see more than a few inches past the tip of his nose, but he trudged on. Coughing from the smoke inhalation, at least the heat hadn't been quite so severe though he'd be have to remind himself to check by Kilimajaro's sickbay following the conclusion of the mission for a check-up at least.

Having felt for the crash-seats along the sides of the Pelican, he'd heard slight groaning from an injured marine. Unbuckling the straps with a little difficulty, Spade lifted the young woman's right arm taking her by the shoulder and dragged the marine back towards the bloodtray and outside to a designated cleared spot. After passing the open hatch and leaving it behind, he'd carefully set the injured marine next to her friends to the designated cleared spot outside the wreck. From those marines he'd pulled from the forward compartment and the bloodtray that had come too far sooner than the others, he'd instruct them to either find medkits, bottles of water or whatever they could to slow the bloodflow or prevent the bloodflow of their unconscious friends.

"Tornado X-Ray to Assassin X-Ray, request CASEVAC for multiple wounded and casualties at the Oblivion-One-One crash-site. LZ will be marked with a NAV Marker and purple smoke. Repeat, request CASEVAC at the Oblivion-One-One crash-site. Be advised surface hostiles have been detected, but we are providing suppressing fire," Mark said, over the encrypted Battalion frequency to Battalion HQ and he'd leave the frequency open. He'd set a NAV Marker through the HUD of his helmet, and went in search of a supply of smoke grenades he knew Pelican transports often carried in case of an emergency or to resupply diminished units. Checking the formerly secured crates that had emptied fallen outside the wrecked bloodtray, he'd search for purple-colored smoke grenades and found at least five such grenades that hadn't been too damaged or pinned behind heavier crates. He'd leave that particular crate open, and slipped one of the grenades out resting it on the lip of the crate. Turning, he'd head back towards the pelican's bloodtray and the open hatch leading to the blootray and the cockpit in an attempt to search for the next marine or pilot to pull out of the compartment. Loosening the safety strap on the M6B with its hard-nickel finish while loosening the straps holding the MA5C secured to his armored chestplate, the marine knew if they'd been able to see find one Covenant sniper there had been at least a dozen they hadn't spotted.

[Jakob]

Private First Class Cuu Wen

Cuu stumbled into the vehicle again, coughing as the smoke entered his lungs and burned it from the inside. If he had spent a lifetime smoking, he was sure that it would do half the damage that him stumbling through the pelican had. A marine lay dangling from his seat, his harness half snapped in the crash, one arm hanging limply while the left side of his body slumped out. Cuu could swear he saw a twitch, and when he walked over, he gave a swift kick to the mans shin. The dead wouldn't notice, and the wounded would be too wounded to know what happened. The marines leg twitched back and he shaked a bit.

The strap was cut in an instant, Cuu's knife never far from his hand. The wounded marine nearly toppled from his seat but Cuu swept over and grabbed him, bringing his arm around his shoulder and dragging him out. He walked past the lieutenants mini morgue and out into the burning jungle. Finding the place he put the other slightly more than dead yet less than alive things, he let go of the man and heard him slam into the dirt. Looking up, he saw some marines begin filing towards the pelican in order to help out.

They all ducked down when the sound of gunshots filled the air, he looked towards the marines and then what they were shooting at.

Cuu always had good senses, it had kept him alive before and after he joined the marines. With those good senses, he realized what was happening before he saw it.

The bullets flew into the brush, several however, went off course and slammed through a long and tall tree, already weakened by the flames licking up the side. The bullets tore through, and with a crack, the tree slowly began to fall.

"Feth me." He said and sprinted to the pelican, practically diving inside. The lieutenant was near the front, helping someone down into the blood tray as if he wasn't going to die. Cuu stormed over and grabbed the idiot, getting him into a sort of headlock. The lieutenant was still dazed from the plasma and the smoke probably wasn't helping and the little defense he put up was ignored. Cuu sprinted out of the pelican with him, and when he heard an even louder cracking noise, the sound of a tree splitting, he threw the lieutenant and dived to the forest floor.

The burning tree shook the valley as it slammed into the ground, the wood shattering against the side of the pelican and denting it in as flaming chips and ash flew in all directions. The puddle of fuel, which had been growing and growing for the past five minutes, ignited as the woodchips fell into the liquid, red and blue flame flying up in almost an instant. A second later, the huge flames of the fuel reached the inside, the fuel tanks, not too far from the ammunition stores.

The ensuing explosion was so loud that Cuu could only hear the first second or so before he heard nothing. Fire licked the back of his armor and the heat washed over him, he felt like he was inside of a brazen bull. Pieces of metal tapped against his back, daring him to turn around and let them touch his skin, and he felt a hot stinging sensation as the shrapnel cut his exposed wrists, hands and neck. Blood pouring, feeling the tapping stop, he rolled onto his back. Half the valley was on fire now, pieces of burning pelican scattered around it. Somewhere to the left, he saw half of a marines helmet, scorched black, to the right, an arm fell to the ground.

He carefully sat up, the fire was reaching up to the sky, cutting the marines from the jackals they were shooting at. After what must have been minutes of them sitting there, a ringing noise started to form in his left eardrum. Frowning, he felt his right one and felt blood pouring out of his ear. He felt a bit dizzy suddenly.