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DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Protagonists
- MIKE - Squad Leader, Expert Marksman
- TOM - Grenadier
- BEN (Benjamin) - Operator
- JESTER - Recon Marksman
- DOM (Dominique) - Scout
- ROY - Grenadier
Antagonists
- Kvar Dabasee - Royal Zealot
- Zael Dabasee - Champion Assassin
Epsilon Eridani System, Reach, 2552.The battle for Reach is raging and passing much in the favour of the Covenant forces. Most of the Orbital Defence Systems have been destroyed, sabotaged, or damaged severely enough to render them useless.
The Covenant have set foot on the planet's surface, shattered a great part of the Ground Defences and have begun to glass the planet. The UNSC, suffering a grave defeat, have no choice but to execute the United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1, the Cole Protocol. Selective Purges of databases on all ship-based and planetary data networks are being activated all across the planet. The Covenant must not gain knowledge of the location of Earth!
3am Local time, the South-Western foot of the Highland Mountains, located in a dense forest, carved into the southern face of Aaron Mountain. Here lies a top-secret abandoned ONI base, housing valuable intelligence and blueprints of the newest UNSC equipment and weaponry. That intel must be protected and retrieved for future purposes. However, all the local units had to be moved to other locations in the Highland Mountains.
A six-man squad of Spartan-IIIs have been assigned to reactivate the base and protect it until all information has been extracted.
Due to the strong aerial presence of the Covenant in this area, the squad was forced to travel by ground. Having already left more than half of their way behind them, the squad, consisting of the six Spartan-IIIs, two marines and two ONI agents distributed into three warthogs, only needs to descend from Aaron Mountain into the forest. The Armed Warthog is in front, the one reserved for the future cargo is in the middle and the passenger Warthog is at the rear end of the convoy. Slowly and steadily they're driving down the steep and narrow roads towards their destination.
Lurking threateningly above the forest, only a handful of clicks south of Bellinzona Base, floats a Covenant Carrier, preparing for battle and awaiting orders. Its two commanders, Sangheili from the noble tribe of Daba are fanatically observing the instruments on the bridge. Interestingly, the ship's Luminary is indicating a small group of "reclamations" moving away from the main battle in the highland and towards their location. Counteractive Measures are being made. A large force of ground units is being deployed to march towards the approaching enemies.
As the last warthog descends to the height of the treetops into the forest, a blue-ish glow coming from the Covenant ship illuminates the night.
BEN: Looks like we've been spotted. Were we expecting this?
MIKE: I've guessed as much. Why do you think they sent us?
JESTER: Think we should get our equipment ready? Better too early than too late...
MIKE: Fine. Men, we're taking a five minute break here for us to apply the equipment to our armour. Marines, guard the perimeter, Spartans, get suited!
The Warthogs stop. The two marines and the agents climb out of the vehicles and scout the area with their Designated Marksman Rifles while the Spartans unload the new toys from the middle hog. Limited Supply Equipment. Rare stuff...
Kvar: Good Hunt, my brother.
The two warriors share a handshake and then separate. Kvar returns to his men to oversee their preparations personally, whilst Zael steps into the Gravity Lift, descending to the surface of the human planet.
After his feet arrive on solid ground he steps in front of his small army and gains attention by drawing out his Energy Sword.
Zael: Men, move out at top speed! We shall intercept the approaching humans and stop them dead!
The almost childish cheers of the unggoy, the blood-thirsty comments of the kig-yar and the few applauds of the other Sangheili are only drowned by the many buzzes and the loud chattering of the Yanme'e. They start marching towards the highland, whereas the vehicles speed ahead and the scout and sniper squads take the slightly longer, but higher-located paths.
After a few minutes pass, Kvar reports in over the comm.
Kvar(over the comm.): My brother, apparently the humans have arrived at their destination. They have come to a halt, not far from your current location, and have sent a small part of their numbers ahead to scout or secure the area. I suggest gaining the high ground and flanking them.
Zael: I thank you, my brother. I have already dispersed my units throughout the area, surrounding the humans, and am only awaiting their signal for an offensive. You need not bother yourself, my brother. I shall manage this foe by myself.
Kvar: I have no doubt in that, but I shall follow with my men nonetheless. Kvar out.
Finally receiving the last signal, Zael readies his focus rifle and signals the warriors around him.
Not too far from the Covenant forces lies the Barcellona Base. Separated slightly from the forest due to its location on a clearance at the southern face of the mountain.
Contrary to the still-modern interior of the abandoned base, the almost derelict exterior walls draw away all suspicions of the base still being used. The contrast between nature and technology that marks most other bases is long-gone here. Roots of the mighty trees cover most of the roof and parts of the walls. The grey colour of the old stone walls, covering the metal ones, is blurred with green and brown colours of no longer present plants. The two never before used exterior shield generators are fairly unrecognizable under a layer of moss and blueberry bushes. They should still be functional though.
MIKE attaches his DMR to his back again and watches the men carry in the required equipment for the mission. As the ONI Agents start setting up and organizing the inside of the base with the Marines standing guard at the entrance, the Spartans show their ranger skills by attending to the shield generators, clearing them from the flora.
MIKE: Well, Sergeant? Are they still intact?
BEN: They're not damaged. But I think, due to their age, they'll probably overheat fairly quickly. We should only activate them when we really need to...
ONI Agent(over the comm.): Lieutenant, we're all ready to start here.
MIKE: Great. Start doing your thing then. Seal the base off from the inside. We'll fire up the Energy Shields manually from out here.
The Spartans watch the heavy metal door close behind the stone entrance and then focus their attention back on patrolling the area.
[Edited on 05.28.2010 12:02 PM PDT]