- soulguard
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- Exalted Mythic Member
“Alright, let’s go.” Eric stated to the Spartans at his side. “08, find Private Williams.”
“You bringing him along?” Melanie questioned through the Black Ops private channel. She had been listening to the mission details while she planted the mines.
“No, but someone has to get Rose out of the area.”
“You know she won’t leave.” Melanie sighed.
“And we can’t leave her here.” Eric placed a hand to his helmet and changed frequencies, “Rogue Fantasy, you copy?” Only a buzz filled his ear. “$hit!"
Mathew and Wesley jogged up to Eric as the Spartans began to run toward the Warthogs and Scorpions, “Sarge?”
“Williams, find Rose and get her to the medical tent. Then tell one of the transport drivers to begin evacuating all injured to the Fallback Zone.” Eric turned and they began to walk toward the warthogs, following the Spartans course.
“Sarge, you know she won’t settle for that.” Wesley returned. Melanie and the Mirratord joined Eric as he approached the line of warthogs and he turned to Simyaldee.
Simyaldee looked to the southern sand dunes as he addressed Eric, “Sergeant, the battle has gone equally to both sides… so far. But our place is now at the side of the Arbiter. We are off to join him, and protect him. It is the will of the high council, and we must obey. Though, I wish I could continue to fight at your side.”
“We appreciate everything you’ve done. I’m sure the Arbiter will be grateful to have you at his side.” A phantom began to rumble over the camp from the south and hovered overhead. The purple light of the gravity lift exploded from beneath and one by one the Mirratord vanished within. Palab, Migpap, Simyaldee, and Gridolee were the last. Palab sniffed the air and nodded toward Eric. He learned much from the honorable human, and vowed not to forget facing the trials with him. He patted Migpap on the shoulder and together they rose into the Phantom. Simyaldee nodded and followed Palab and Migpap. Gridolee faced Eric and walked a few feet closer.
“When next I meet you, Sergeant, I will have the head of a prophet strapped to my belt. I shall present it to you as a peace offering between you and my family.” He nodded his head deeply in respect. Eric nodded in return. Gridolee then looked to Wesley, their eyes met briefly but neither spoke. Gridolee turned and stepped into the light of the phantom. The door closed, the purple gravity lift faded and the phantom turned back toward the south. It accelerated as it cleared the region. Eric hated to admit it, but he was indebted to the Mirratord. Had they not been there the battle against the Covenant would have been a massacre, but their skill and strength was the deciding factor in their victory. His anger toward them still existed, but his tolerance had grown stronger. Never had he met a nobler species.
Wesley, Melanie and Eric continued toward the chief’s company, and as they came closer to them Eric spotted Rose about to jump into the driver’s seat of a hog.
“Get her out of that hog!” Eric ordered to Wesley. Wesley sighed and sprinted to the warthog.
Melanie opened the private channel, “Just to warn you, this is going to get ugly.” Eric understood that more then Melanie did. He had been on Rose’s bad side more then once, and when she wanted her way she usually got it. Eric couldn’t hear the conversation between Wesley and Rose, but he could see that Rose was not happy. She pushed passed Wesley and stormed toward Eric as he placed his rifle into a nearby warthog.
“Master Chief, take your company and pull ahead, we’ll be right behind you.” The chief nodded his head and climbed into the passenger seat of a hog. Kelly climbed into another, while Linda mounted on the side of a warthog. The company of marines sped into the desert toward Camp Eden; twelve warthogs, two scorpion tanks and two pelicans overhead. It was crowded and cramped on each of the vehicles, but they only had a few kilometers to go. Dust clouds followed the wake of the speedy vehicles, while the scorpions stalked slowly behind.
Eric stepped away from the warthog as Melanie and Mathew climbed inside. He took off his helmet, held it to his side and waited for Rose to step to him. He could see the anger on her face, the emotion boiling inside and her eyes fighting back tears. Behind him he could hear the plasma cannon preparing to fire; its loud rumble as plasma charged within it. A loud pulse followed the sound and a gigantic mass of blue plasma escaped from the weapons top mounted barrel.
Rose stopped mere inches from Eric and didn’t look into his eyes, “don’t leave me behind, sir. I’m not useless… I can help.” Rose was sniffling, fighting against her emotions.
“You heard my orders. Get to the medical tent and wait for the next transport out of here.”
Marks ran up to Eric and Rose, not knowing that he shouldn’t have, “Sarge, that Scarab is ready. I’ve gotten control of … it.” He saw Rose crying as she tried to look away.
“Good job. You’ll take orders from Commander Rodgers from here on out. Dismissed.” Marks hesitated and looked at Rose.
“You okay, babe?” Rose nodded her reply; a heartfelt yes. Marks slowly turned and walked back toward the Scarab tank.
Eric waited until Marks was clear and he gripped Rose gently by the shoulders; speaking softly, “Not this time, Rose. I’ve taken you into danger too many times. Not again. How many times do you have to barely avoid death?”
“I won’t be a burden to you. I can fight. My aim has improved… I know how to shoot. I won’t… I won’t be in the way.” Rose could no longer hide her feelings. She wrapped her arms around Eric and held him tightly in her arms. Eric leaned his chin against the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her in a soft embrace.
“I have to go.”
“What if you don’t come back? Don’t leave me again… please. Don’t leave me behind.” Rose couldn’t forget the moment she lost Eric the first time, the day she watched him board the transport from school fifteen years ago. “They stopped me from seeing you. I couldn’t say goodbye, or tell you how I felt.”
“I know that Kim told you not to talk to me.” Rose fell silent, her cries halted. “Siren told me everything.” Eric pushed Rose away and looked into her eyes. “Get to the medical tent. Wait for the transport. When this battle is over, I’ll find you.” He kissed her softly on the forehead, stepped back and pulled on his helmet. He wanted to say more, but time wouldn’t wait.
“Private Williams, get to it.” Eric shouted to Wesley. Wesley jogged closer and nodded to Eric. In one quick motion, Eric spun around and sprinted to the jeep. He jumped in the passenger seat and told Mathew, “Gun it!”
“About damn time!” Melanie shouted from the back. In the rear view mirror Eric watched as Rose and Wesley turned and walked back into camp. Wesley was consoling her and Eric knew he had to put the thought out of his mind. His job wasn’t done yet. Melanie was also watching Rose, “She’s not at all what I expected. What did you tell her?”
“I told her what she needed to hear.” While he knew he had a mission to accomplish, Eric also knew that his chances of surviving were slim. His luck on the battlefield was eventually going to run out.
A few moments passed and Mathew spotted the company ahead of him, “19, they aren’t that far ahead. I can see them.” The warthog speed passed the two scorpions and then caught up with the speedy warthogs in front. Mathew slowed down as they joined the pace of the head warthog and the Master Chief.
“Well, it’s about time you three showed up. We were beginning to have our doubts.” Kelly stated over the com.
“There’s no way I could miss out on this.” Melanie replied.
“Can’t wait to kick some brute ass!” Mathew chimed in.
The Master Chief cut in, “Enough chatter, Spartans. Sergeant, what’s the call?”
“Linda, take a platoon and man the tanks while providing cover fire, and take out their heavy weapons. Kelly, you have the warthog platoons. Focus on the vehicles and stationary weapons; use the warthogs’ speed to cause confusion. Chief, you and I will lead the infantry, two platoons, we’ll rush in and find Johnson and put an end to this stand. Once we’ve dealt with the little fish, we’ll take down that nearby cruiser.”
Five green lights popped into Eric’s HUD, compliments of Cortana; “I’ve linked all of the Black Ops into my system. Their modified Shock Trooper armor has basic com and HUD systems. I can relay any commands to the Sergeant just as if they were wearing MJOLNIR armor. Black Ops, simply speak yes or no and I can translate that in to a green or red indicator.”
“Wow!” Melanie gleefully returned.
“Good, that should make things simple to communicate with the Black Ops.” The chief added as he looked over the company. Camp Eden was in sight and overhead was the small Covenant cruiser, plasma was raining from its turrets and into the camp. “Pull it together and let’s get in there.” The roar of tank treads and warthog engines
Cortana then cheered into all Spartans personal com channels, “Six Spartans versus a Covenant Cruiser, I like these odds. Spartans form up, Covenant drop ship inbound!”
To be concluded…
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Notes: As I warned, the chief will play a part, but he wasn't the focus. Of course, you all know the chief did his thing doing the battle (owned some brute badasses) but I chose to leave his fight to your imagination. However, in the next (and Final) stage, you'll get to see him do a LOT more. Hope you enjoyed it.
-soulguard
[Edited on 12/9/2005]