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  • Subject: [FF] Ashes
Subject: [FF] Ashes

Posted by: cB4d93
Posted by: Silent Eli
you are a good translator
Idiot can be a hard language to learn, but once you get it down, everything becomes so clear! The whole world will make sense to you.

UNSC HIGHCOM; AUGUST 30 2552
PLANET REACH
HIGHLAND MOUNTAIN RANGE


//
This was it. There was no possible way for them to turn it around. UNSC HIGHCOM Facility Alpha sat in the eye of an unnatural hurricane, swirling black clouds that pulsed with lightning, illuminating the flames and ash that made up the storm. The forests beneath it burned and mountains melted under their relentless onslaught. The Covenant was glassing Reach. And this was their last target.

"Major, we need you to get whoever else is still fighting out there and rally back to HIGHCOM. There's weapons in there the Covenant must not acquire. Are we clear? Give them Hell."

Hell. That's what Reach is now. It used to be the symbol of Humanity's military might. Now it's a sea of molten metal, a testament to the unstoppable bloodlust of the enemy. Major James Surkin looked up from his tacpad. His recon team of ten men accompanied him, and there were more isolated squads in the forest below him that had to be rallied. Smoke plumes snaked skyward and flashes punctuated the darkness below him.

"Marines, get the 'Hogs ready to return to HIGHCOM. We are leaving." Surkin shouted to his obviously shaken Marines. This planet is where most of them were born, seeing it like this was too much for Surkin, who was Earth-born himself.

"This is Major Surkin, all UNSC forces with in the vicinity of this emergency broadcast are to disengage immediately and rally at HIGHCOM. This is a direct order from Admiral Whitcomb. Operation: LOCK AND KEY is now in effect. Disengage immediately. " This signal was sent. Hopefully whoever was still fighting out there got the signal. "Sir, we're ready to roll. Hop on the turret." "Affirmative, Corporal. I'm on my way."

Surkin let his BR55 dangle by his side as he proceeded towards the LRV. Two of them sat roughly parked next to each other, one was an APC variant, and the other sported a M19 Gauss Rifle capable of punching through Scorpion battle-plate. The Marines loaded into the troop hog, each placing their weapons pointing out of the roll cage. Surkin placed his helmet on and his eyepiece displayed his targeting HUD. Its green hue faded as it integrated with his eyesight. He pulled back the massive lever on the M19 and electricity arced through the conductor coils. He rotated his head to see multiple Pelican dropships exiting clearing in the forest below. They spun and accelerated towards HIGHCOM. A few cleared the way before hope was once again crushed. Lances of plasma descended from the sky, striking the green plating of the remaining pelicans. They boiled and contorted as they fell to the trees in molten heaps. Seraph star fighters swarmed the airspace, there was at least one squadron of them. They left blue exhaust trails as they flew away like opportunists, abandoning their kills. As they disappeared into the blackened horizon, dozens of Spirit dropships emerged from the cloud cover. Their U-shaped hulls hummed as they spread out to deploy troops into the area.

"Let's get going. Now! Punch it Marine!" Surkin aimed his cannon skyward.

The projectile fired traveled almost at the speed of light. If he could score a hit he could make short work of a few dropships, however the panicked Marine now tearing down a mountain trail could make it a bit difficult. Surkin tilted the turret. A low-flying dropship flew parallel to the ridge, and Surkin let him have it. Thunder erupted as the Gauss cannon sent a tungsten slug directly through the driver's cabin at the rear of the craft. Plasma coils exploded a brilliant sapphire as the craft split apart, it's troop compartments spilling screaming Covenant forces. The unmistakable scream of Banshees was clearly audible, and Surkin snapped into action.

He swung the turret 180 degrees, and he saw that the Banshee was in pursuit of them. He fired a single shell, sending Banshee bits and gore exploding outward. The chamber rotated, and another slug locked into place. They were going downhill now, at unnerving speed. Rocks and dust tumbled off the cliff next to them as they tore down the mountain. "Hoorah, don't slow down." A Phantom swooped from a blind spot, its twin engines moaned as it hovered in space. The air shifted and melted into a pair of Special Ops Elites, their angular armor forming as they exited cloak. A 300 pound alien landed on the hood on the 'Hog. Its mandibles opened with a horrifying roar as saliva formed tiny webs between its carnivorous teeth. The driver screamed like a girl and fishtailed.

"SHIIIIIIIT!" Surkin reacted. A flash sprang from the barrel and severed Elite legs slid from the hood, leaving a bloody smear on the hood. The vehicle shook as it ran them over. The driver, stunned looked back with his mouth agape.

"Eyes on the road!" Surkin leveled out the turret as they turned onto the overpass leading to HIGHCOM. A screech shook the tepid air as something massive slipped from the surrounding hurricane. A Covenant Battle cruiser. And another. And half a dozen more.

"Jesus Christ"


[Edited on 04.17.2011 7:20 PM PDT]

  • 04.17.2011 7:19 PM PDT

The tide is turning, brothers! Let us take our kingdom back!

Dun dun dun...

  • 04.17.2011 11:36 PM PDT

Brilliantly written! The best part is you could leave it as a short story, or you could bless us with more (please) :)

  • 04.18.2011 8:56 AM PDT

Posted by: cB4d93
Posted by: Silent Eli
you are a good translator
Idiot can be a hard language to learn, but once you get it down, everything becomes so clear! The whole world will make sense to you.

Posted by: roraj 196
Brilliantly written! The best part is you could leave it as a short story, or you could bless us with more (please) :)

I can do that:)

Currently writing the next part.

  • 04.29.2011 1:30 PM PDT

WHATS UP EVERYBODY

omg, do i here a perfect new story for a new evolutions

  • 04.29.2011 8:01 PM PDT

Posted by: cB4d93
Posted by: Silent Eli
you are a good translator
Idiot can be a hard language to learn, but once you get it down, everything becomes so clear! The whole world will make sense to you.

The cruisers slowly glided forward, their massive forms emerging from the cloud cover like the vengeful hand of God. Underneath one of them, an orange light glowed around it's energy projector. It was happening. They we're going to burn them and there wasn't a damn thing they we're going to do about it. Nothing was going to be able to stop them.

"We've lost." Surkin said, his posture slumping as dread washed over him. "I'm reporting to Whitcomb. This base isn't going to survive."

"Admiral, this is major Surkin."

Whitcomb replied, his southern voice unwavering. "We see them. Hold on"

What did he mean by "we"? Surkin, frustrated by the vague response, slammed his fist on the gauss turret.

"We have Orbital assets on their way. Every Atmospheric-capable starship available is currently inbound to HIGHCOM. We ain't losing it without a fight. Whitcomb out."

The second Whitcomb cut out, the comm flooded with FLEETCOM chatter.

"Seraphs, approaching at point two-oh-five. Firing solution in three seconds. Charybda, watch your approach vector. CCS-Battlecruiser locked on the targeting system. MACs ready to fire. They have no clue we're coming."

"Roger, this is the Destroyer Warpath. PD are actively engaging single-ships and dropships. We're ready to roll out the red carpet."

This was music to Surkin's ears as the convoy of Warthogs rolled to a stop.

From the clear patch in the sky descended at least a dozen UNSC ships. Carriers spilled longsword fighters from their sides. Frigates and Destroyers fired their MAC cannons in atmosphere, shaking the very sky. The Covenant Battlecruisers' shields buckled under the immense barrage, and shorted out. The UNSC fleet fired their archer missiles in symphony, their smoke trails snaking across the sky like great wyverns. The missiles impacted, blowing away chunks of the Cruisers until they could not sustain themselves, buckling under their own weight and crashing into the mountains below them in massive balls of smoke and flames. Four Battlecruisers were demolished, completely of guard by the suprise attack. A frigate descended, slowing down right over Surkin's position.

"This is Commander Flemming of the UNSC Unexpected Gift. We're your fire support major."

The irony of the ship's name went completely unnoticed to Surkin, he lost all professional air to him. He was overjoyed beyond belief. He turned around and flipped off the crashing hulls of the Covenant ships behind him. The last ones broke away from the carnage, but the UNSC had time to reload. They were gutted by a barrage of MAC rounds.

"Major Surkin, respond. This is Commander-"

"This is Surkin. You have no idea how happy everyone down here is right now."

"We're miracle workers son. Whitcomb is now managing the counter-offensive, but I'll be in direct contact with you. All available UNSC forces groundside are still to rally at the HIGHCOM facility. As long as a Few MAC Generators are standing, we'll be able to keep a few more Covenant ships at bay while we clean this mess up."

"The generators are still up? Who the Hell is defending them?'

"Spartans."

Spartans. The very fact that the generators were still up is a testament to the legends of immortality that surrounded them. They were sure to be giving the Covenant hell.

The Unexpected Gift, as well as many of the other frigates began to fire her point defense at the remaining Covenant dropships and fighters around the base. The massive slugs shattered the craft.

"Final protective fire boys, we're leveling the forest ahead to make sure we kill anything that isn't human. You have a clear path to the facility. We advise you to get your men to the Base ASAP. General Nylund will brief you on the ground operation from there."

Surkin couldn't help but to smile. How did the alien bastards enjoy that welcome party.

"Let's get rolling. We have work to do."

[Edited on 04.30.2011 9:04 AM PDT]

  • 04.30.2011 9:00 AM PDT