- soulguard
- |
- Exalted Mythic Member
Stage 6: “Legendary”
Location: Unknown
Time: 02:58 October 21, 2552
Transmission Origin: Unknown
From:
-ONI Section III; Research and Black Operations;
Major Elizabeth Rawlings: Head of Artifacts and Forerunner Technology Research Committee
Recipient: Chief Petty Officer Spartan 043
Encryption: Level 9
“Surprisingly, they successfully infiltrated Port Said. If the traitors can acquire that ship then we may have the chance we were looking for.
“Spartan, take the AI program and use it to take over that ship. Red Squad will assist you once you arrive. When full control of the vessel is obtained you will return to this facility, we need you here. Eric Raynord is a skilled man, and he can lead this mission if he survives the assault. Where they’re going, they may not return, so you must remain and protect that facility at all cost. Time is of the essence, Spartan. We can not afford to have you gone for too much time. If the covenant find the location of your facility within Camp Eden… no telling what our fate may be.
“You have your orders Chief Petty Officers.”
…End transmission
*****************************************************
Northern Suez Canal;
Covenant Cruiser: Life and Sacrifice
07:33 October 21, 2552
Port Said, Egypt
Explosions rocked around Wesley and his fire team, as brutes and jackals converged on the primary cargo hold of the Life and Sacrifice. The ten marines were pinned down as plasma and grenades poured upon them.
“Wesley, what the…”
“Regroup!”
“Their all over us… there’s no cover.”
“Move to the wall!”
“Stupid ape bastards!”
“Regan fall in!”
“Regan get over here!”
Wesley’s fire team managed to slip through a small gap in the brute’s offensive and positioned themselves in a corner. But the group was still under heavy fire.
“Wesley, where’s Brian?”
“Brian’s dead! We’re all going to die!”
“Shut up and shoot!”
Wesley was loosing control of his team; they were panicking. He tucked Rose’s unconscious body into the corner behind him and blurted out orders as best he could.
“Fall back by pairs to the rear wall! Use the wraith as cover and take down any brute with a grenade in his hand!”
“Brian isn’t dead! Look, he’s moving!”
“He’s cut off. Brian, over here!”
“OH god!”
“Jesus, that brute bit his head off…”
Wesley had to maintain some form of calm in his team. But the more he tried to gain control the more it seemed his team began to loose it. His fire team fired wildly into the brute and jackal advance as they tried to keep them at bay as best they could. But it was if they had stirred a hornet’s nest.
“Sustain your fire and form up, damn it!”
“Take this you bastards!”
“Suppression fire, suppression fire!”
“Were the hell is the Serge and the rest of the squad? We’re getting killed in here!”
“Shut up and fire!”
“Wesley, more incoming from the left… we’re pinned down!”
Wesley turned and one of the doors in the cargo bay opened, and several more brutes and jackals raced in. The smell of burning metal from the sub machineguns and battle rifles was so thick that Wesley could taste it. He was running low on ideas.
“Give me some controlled grenade bursts to the left. Maintain heavy fire on the right!”
“Matt is dead! Damn you…”
“Gloria get back here! Gloria!”
“$hit, we’re loosing it here!”
“I’m hit…”
“Incoming!”
“Where’s the rest of the squad? Where is second team?”
The center of the massive cargo bay quickly began to glow with a purple haze, and a clear visual of the room was able to be seen. The ceiling rose nearly forty feet with a center doom. Tanks, Specters, and Ghosts cluttered the room as brutes and jackals took cover throughout. There were four visible doors into the room, and the covenant forces were steadily flowing through them. The purple haze intensified and a formation of marines ascended through the circular gravity lift. A small bubble of intense purple light formed beneath the marines’ feet and the metal doors of the lift sealed mere centimeters beneath them. The purple haze faded and marines all jolted the small distance to the floor.
The nine marines took a circular position around the gravity lift plate, all aiming outward, while Eric and the Spartan stood in the center.
“Fire at will!” Eric shouted. The marines all took aim and fired controlled bursts into the crowd of surrounding covenant forces. But the sheer number of covenant troops was overwhelming them. Eric’s fire team was having a hard time holding the brutes at bay.
Eric took down several brutes with his battle rifle, looking constantly for his next target. He then spotted the torn remains of three marines scattered about the floor and then spotted Wesley’s fire team. They were pinned down in a corner, and Rose seemed lifeless. Eric gathered his thoughts.
“Marines, hold formation, and move to the aft of this room.” Eric ordered. Will quickly new what he was planning.
“Sergeant, move your men.” Will stated. “I’ll cover the left flank.” The brutes were astonished to see the Spartan and the marines had the element of surprise on their side yet again. The Spartan tossed two grenades to the left side of the cargo bay, knocking three brutes off their feet. He then charged into a small group dazed brutes as they slowly stood to their feet. The butt of the Spartan’s riffle struck the back of one brute’s head, another caught a short three round burst into his skull, and the third was impaled in the chest by his combat knife. The brute roared and grabbed Will by the shoulder. Will dragged the blade up the beast’s massive chest and twisted the blade in its throat. The brute gargled as Will ripped his combat knife out of its neck and turned his attention elsewhere.
Eric and his squad swiftly, but cautiously, made their way to Wesley’s fire team and cleared the right side of the room of enemy targets.
“Wesley, report.” Eric stated.
“Thank God, Eric.” Wesley moaned. “We’re all pretty beat up. Gloria, Brian and Regan are dead. Several wounded. We couldn’t form up in time. They were waiting for us to come up the lift.”
“What happened to Rose?” Eric questioned. Several explosions rocked the room but Eric ignored it.
“Jesus, look at him go!” Marks shouted. Marks words got Eric’s attention and he turned to see what was happening.
Will was going solo against what seemed to be an entire covenant assault at his position. One by one brutes and jackals dropped lifeless to the ground. The Spartan took head shots, melee attacks and combat knife use to another level. Eric, and the marines, could only watch in awe. All the remaining covenant forces in the room advanced toward the Spartan. The initial shock of seeing the Spartan had left the brutes, and now each of the beasts was determined to be known as the one which killed of the demon.
Plasma and brute shot grenades began to rain down toward the Spartan. Will took cover behind a covenant ammo crate, knowing well that it could withstand the constant fire. He reloaded his rifle and held his combat knife in his free hand. He used the back of his left hand to support and balance the battle riffle and began to crouch-walk around the ammo crate. He twisted to his left as two plasma bursts seared over his head. He took aim and took down the two jackals with several shots from his rifle. He stood and relocated, but ran face first into a brute. The beast never had a chance to react as Will raised his knife and jammed it into its chin. Before the brute could scream, Will turned and fired controlled bursts into two more brutes. The last group of jackals was filled with terror as the last brute fell to the ground, and they quickly tried to run from the room.
“Wesley!” Eric shouted. Wesley had already pulled out his trusty sniper rifle, and he quickly put two rounds the jackals’ skulls. The room became deathly silent as Will’s shields finally found the time to recharge. The golden static filled rings encircled him as he pulled the blade from the dead brute’s chin.
“Salvage what you can.” Eric shouted. “Marks, Melanie, Hicks, Belinski; cover those exits and make sure we don’t have any uninvited guests before we can move out.”
“Sir!” The four marines shouted. The marines quickly scattered throughout the room and began grabbing as much equipment as they could; refilling their gear or switching for covenant weapons. The four marines that Eric had called out ran to the doors that outlined the corners of the cargo bay. They reached the doors and opened them, peering down the curving hallways of the cruisers interior.
“How’s Rose?” Eric questioned as he turned back to Wesley.
“She passed out before we boarded.” Wesley returned. “She was having a hard time getting her breathing under control.” Wesley lifted Roses head and positioned her comfortably on her backpack.
“That run and sprint must have been too much for her.” Eric stated. “She hasn’t pushed herself this hard in a long time.” Eric stood straight up and looked across the room to Rodney Hicks, one of the marines he had positioned at the door. “Hicks, get over here. Wesley, cover Hicks’ post.”
“But, Eric..” Wesley began to rebuke, but Eric gave him a sharp glare.
“You’re not a medic, Private.” Eric stated. “Move out.” Wesley stood and ran off to the door. Hicks quickly ran over and looked over Rose.
“After you’re done with her, check out any of the wounded.” Eric stated as Hicks checked Rose’s vitals.
“Will.” Eric snapped toward the Spartan. “You’re up. I hope that toy of yours works.”
[Edited on 5/19/2005]