- Rainman89
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Read about the Forgotten Spartan I Program
Butane: To protect the world from devastation!
sir_brilliant: To unite all people within our nation!
Rainman89: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
sir_brilliant: To extend out reach to the stars above!
SpaceGhostFlyer: Jessie!
Butane: James!
sir_brilliant: Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light
Butane: Surrender now or prepare to fight
sir_brilliant: Meowth, that's right!
I promised, and i deliver...
1600 Hours, December 18, 2525(Military Calendar)/ Main briefing room of the UNSC cruiser Connecticut
“The Covenant are not nearly as tough as their ships.” Mitchell was a hardened Marine, with years of experience and dozens of engagements. His uniform was coated in campaign ribbons and medals. He had an aura of confidence, which comforted the men in the room. “Some of them do have shields, but they can be beaten with tactics.”
A video played from a helmet recorder showing an avian looking alien with a glowing sheet of energy absorbing bullets by the dozens. The Marines leaned in for a closer look. Then the creature fired a handheld weapon and a blob of green-white energy flew across the video. A human off screen groaned, and at this sound, all three Spartan’s winced. Clearly the wounded man had been a Spartan. Simmons wondered which Spartan had taken the hit, and what kind of damage it had caused.
“The Covenant apparently use handheld plasma weaponry in ground engagements.” Mitchell said, pausing the recording. “This weaponry is very effective, so don’t assume your armor will take the hit for you. Take it from me, it won’t.”
Mitchell resumed the tape, and it showed three green soldiers in what Simmons recognized as the Mjolnir armor flanking and killing the alien. The helmet wearer charged forward and kicked the alien’s shield out of alignment and revealed that the Covenant were not invincible by shattering the creature’s skull with bullets.
“ONI’s recommendation is to be prepared for anything. They speculate this may not be the Covenant’s only type of soldier. Recommendation is to avoid contact unless you are overwhelmingly outnumbering your opponent. Snipers and grenades over the shields should prove highly effective on the open fields. The Lieutenant Colonel has tactical command of the ground operation, but he has asked me to deliver his brief for him, on the grounds that he is catching up on some sleep.”
After the Marines had had their chuckle, Mitchell began. “The main force will insert to the city airfield, where the civilians have massed for evacuation. Alpha Company will secure the airport perimeter for the duration of the operation. Bravo Company will remove the city library from operation. Use extreme prejudice against any electronics you encounter. We need to prevent the Covenant from getting any navigational information. Charlie Company will create a reaction force, to aid any forces that should come under fire. All companies will insert at 0600 and Charlie Company will be last to extract, hopefully at 1000. Remember, be prepared for anything. Good luck Marines.”
“Question,” Simmons said, raising his hand.
“Uh, yes Captain?” Apparently Mitchell hadn’t been expecting questions.
“What is the Spartan’s role in this operation?”
“That information is classified. Just focus on your own men Captain.” It seemed Simmons had touched a nerve. He should have known the Spartans were off limits for discussion. “Like I said, good luck Marines. Be prepared to disembark at 0500.” Mitchell dismissed the room with a wave, and everyone went to get what sleep they could manage.
0300 Hours, December 19, 2525(Military Calendar)/ Barracks four of the UNSC cruiser Connecticut
“Wake up Marines! It’s three in the morning! You slept in!” Dominique’s voice rang out and inspired the anticipated response. A deafening groan signaled that Simmons’ men were awake. In two hours, they would be en route to the planet’s surface. This was the first time in a while Simmons had to cope with the fact that he might actually not see some of them again. The odds of the Covenant appearing were slim, but the odds of defeating them with the limited Intel and support were even slimmer. The only thing that kept Simmons from questioning his orders was the fact that the Spartans were on hand if things got rough.
“Men, I want you to pack light. No need for the standard issue frying pan today. Our best defense is going to be dodging and weaving. The city is surrounded by open fields, so I want lots of snipers and heavy weapons. Remember we’re the reaction force. Be quick to react. If you see something unusual, report it. Get all the support you can. Then check it out. Be at your ready rooms in one hour. Platoon leads report. I mean five minutes ago people!” Simmons spoke, and the Marines of Charlie Company responded.
Puller reported for the 90th within seconds. Lt Han scolded a napping Marine on her way to report, and Lt Bailey showed up, albeit rubbing his eyes. “Everybody’s accounted for boss. Intel is changing by the minute, so we haven’t gotten a full brief yet. I don’t like it…” Puller was still nervous, but he had hardened thanks to CPO Mendez’s episode in the forest.
“You’re not the only one. It doesn’t make sense to have no Intel just two hours before the drop. There’s something they’re not telling us.” Bailey had tested in the high genius range in school, and was a phenom at the academy on Reach. The only reason he wasn’t currently designing things and being a genius somewhere important, is that his father was a Marine. He eventually told Simmons how he felt it was his duty to serve before he made loads of cash working for the shipyards. Simmons admired the kid’s devotion, and only two people Simmons had ever met could beat this kid in book smarts.
“The 91st is ready to go boss. I’ll have ‘em in the ready rooms in no time at all.” Lieutenant Jenny Han was the company’s resident beauty. She was also living proof that looks could kill. She was all-Division in hand-to-hand combat, and a crack shot. She also had references from ONI, a particular study conducted by a certain Doctor. Lt Han had a long file, two thirds of which were from before she enlisted and had been blacked out by Section Three. It didn’t take someone with Bailey’s IQ to realize she had been a Spartan I candidate. Not that anyone had bothered to tell her.
“Like I said boss,” Puller continued, “we’re as ready as we’re going to be, but not as ready as I’d like to be.”
Time to be a confident commander, Simmons thought to himself. “That’s ok. We’ve got a great group, and we’ll be all right. We’re going to liberate the UNSC base’s vehicle depot groundside and create a couple of roving squads. Puller, you and the 90th are on that. Do it as soon as your feet hit the ground.”
“Right boss.” Puller wouldn’t fail, of that Simmons was certain.
“The 92nd is with me and the 89th in the city’s library. That’s the control center for this op. Jenny; keep your men by the airport. Stay hidden. I don’t want to have those civilians jumped. Hey, where’s Omni?” Simmons had something in mind for the best sniper in the ODST program.
“Right behind you boss.” Omni was as stealthy as he was deadly.
“Crap Marine. You’re not supposed to scare your squad mates like that.” Omni’s sudden appearance had taken Puller by surprise.
Simmons had heard the man approach, but for the benefit of theatrics, he pretended. “Listen, get to this location.” Simmons showed Omni his personal data pad. In the city center was a residential tower that would never be completed. It was to be the highest building in the area, and as such the perfect place for the sniper to hide.
“I concur boss. Good place. I may need a spotter though…”
“Take a whole squad if you need ‘em. We’re not going to have any good satellite surveillance, so I need your input.” This lack of info and preparation was becoming the theme du jour.
“No boss, I don’t want a squad. I’ll just take McKay and James. That’ll be more than enough.” Omni was in his mission mode. He was no longer human, just a killing machine, and he would be that way until the mission was over.
“That’s fine, just make sure one of you takes an extra communication pack. You’re useless if you can’t talk to me. All right, get going all of you. Lets do this thing fast and right. I want to see all of you back here in six hours. Semper fi.” Simmons saluted his men and they responded.
“Semper fi!” And within sixty seconds, the Connecticut’s fourth barracks was empty.