- OfTheBloodguard
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- Fabled Heroic Member
The tide is turning, brothers! Let us take our kingdom back!
Restlessness scraped at Sierra Company's patience, bit by bit, as they were forced to wait indoors. As was evident with an ODST staring at Boris, his helmet obscuring his scowl, some were handling the situation better than others. All they'd been able to do for the meantime was get their oxygen tanks set up. Those who had brought backpacks with them to store gear had made room for the tanks to be placed in their packs, while spare packs had been placed with the tanks for those that hadn't. The packs clipped on magnetically to strips present on the Marine's and ODST's Battle Dress Uniforms, or BDUs for short.
Boris hadn't noticed the glaring ODST yet, he was too busy staring around the entrance floor. The room was round in shape, the floor above was where the ceiling took the shape of a dome, which was how HAUBERK Base looked from outside. As the structure went into the mountain, it took more of a quadrahedral shape. The eight facilities that were visible had entrances full of different equipment, entrances which also doubled as space for the facilities when they retracted back into the building. Big metal shells marked their end point, with a hole for people to enter and exit through. Boris almost smiled to himself as he now casually glanced back at the ODST who, obviously, wasn't admiring his armour.
"What's the matter, buddy?" Boris asked, smirking behind his golden visor. His deep, twangy accent only added to the joke he was about to make. "Is my fly undone or something?" A few Marines who weren't paying attention to the situation gave out a great laugh before they turned around and realised just who it was that had spoken.
"What are you trying to prove with that damn turret of yours, huh?" the ODST jeered angrily. "You trying to go for the whole walking tank cliché crap or something?" More heads started to turn, noticing the imminent commotion between the two men.
Boris smiled, looking down at the weapon he had always favoured. "I use it," Boris challenged, gently placing the hefty turret at the trooper's feet, "because I can carry it."
At that, the ODST flinched under his helmet. He looked down at the colossal weapon, but his bravado soon took over and he looked back up at the SPARTAN, almost thankful he had his helmet on. "What, is this some sort of joke? Huh, freak? I can lift this, no problem."
Still smiling, Boris watched on as the ODST made a show of getting ready. He then stooped down, once again, drawing out the time by making sure his grip was secure on the turret's custom grips. He then began to heave, trying to get the SPARTAN's gun in the air. But the effort was in vain, he had no hope of getting the turret off the ground. Still though, he tried, and tried. Eventually, exhausted, the ODST gave up, drawing out his M7S and shooting the turret with at least half a clip before Boris surged forward and placed a crushing hand on the ODST's wrist, forcing him to drop his gun. Almost all at once, Marines and ODSTs alike yelled at the angered solider, wondering if he'd lost it. A few even drew their weapons on him. Team Theta stood on alert, each SPARTAN in a barely noticeable crouch.
The commotion that had been created roused Colonel Thompson from the depths of his mind and snapped him back into reality once more. Reacting to what had just unfolded, he quickly walked over to the soldier, who was still staring at Boris, despite First Lieutenant McAlister's attempts to get him to stand down. He instantly noticed bullet holes in the M247H that the bigger SPARTAN-II had arrived with. The few that had their weapons aimed at the ODST lowered then as they noticed Colonel Thompson standing in front of him.
"You!" the Colonel bellowed, and the ODST jumped in shock as he turned to see the Colonel staring him down with a look of disbelief. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
For a moment, the ODST was silent, weighing replies in his head. The anger he felt towards SPARTANs momentarily subsided as he realized how foolishly he'd acted.
"I-"
"Actually, I don't think I want to hear it. As far as I'm concerned, nothing you can say will account for your behaviour. You're an ODST, aren't you? Don't you lot parade around and proclaim to the world that you're the best?" The Colonel waited for a reply, certain that a murderous expression would be present behind the ODST's visor.
"That's because we are, sir," the ODST replied, his anger suddenly reignited.
"Oh, really? Well, from that demonstration, I'm inclined to disagree." The Colonel folded his arms, casting his judgment down. "Name and rank, soldier."
"Gunnery Sergeant Arthur Vienna, sir."
"You mean Corporal Arthur Vienna, soldier," the Colonel replied, suddenly thinking of something else as the now Corporal started to object. "And another thing, Corporal. This man walked in here with three guns. I think he should leave with three guns as well. Hand over your rifle and all its spare ammunition."
"What?"
Did he just object to my authority? the ONI operative wildly thought as he lost his temper."You heard me, soldier! If my memory's correct, you're also armed with an M6C. If you're as good as you say you are, then you shouldn't have much trouble stopping that entire army with it! So be the 'better soldier' and hand over your rifle!" The Colonel demanded, now absolutely livid.
Henry looked to Rodney for action, noticing he was bound still by his own anger over the situation. Sighing calmly, he walked over and placed a hand on the ONI operative's shoulder, to which Colonel Thompson turned his head and stared. His anger soon lost its ground as he stared into an intimidating pale silver visor, masking the face of a man who knew only war.
"That'll be all, Corporal," the Colonel finished as Corporal Vienna handed over his rifle and all the ammo he had on him. Boris nodded, almost thankfully, as he found space to store all the clips he'd been given. He looked up once he'd stored all his ammo, casually holding his M7S by its grip as he saw First Sergeant McAlister standing before him.
"Look, SPARTAN, I-"
"Don't bother apologizing, First Sergeant, it isn't necessary. Just make sure he doesn't try and pull something like that again."
"Roger that, Lieutenant." McAlister turned around again, noticing that Colonel Thompson had gone back to stand near the intercom again, having calmed down considerably after Corporal Vienna's insubordinate actions.
Boris's three team mates approached the SPARTAN-II, glad the ordeal was over.
"Boris?" tentatively asked Baldemar.
"I'm alright, Baldemar. Stupid things like that don't bother me." Boris's face set as he replied, realising that the ODST might just be getting to him. Nah. He doesn't deserve such a thing, he thought as Baldemar cleared his throat.
"That was not what I was going to mention, Boris, I know you better. I was just going to tell you that if he had done that to my gun, I would have... well..." Baldemar then started to overdramatically punch thin air in front of him, bringing slight amusement to the four SPARTANs for a time.
But just as things were beginning to settle again, the building suddenly gave a slight shudder as machinery started to whirr. Everyone immediately looked towards the Colonel for an explanation, who's eyes suddenly widened in realization of what was taking place.
"Covenant air units. They've reached our building's security perimeter." He started to look around as HAUBERK Base's facilities started to retract. The floors in the facilities' entranceways submerged, and walls retracted equipment as space was made for the incoming facilities to hide in. With a crash, all eight came back into the base, offered protection by panels that had flipped down to cover the spaces that had been left exposed by the facilities' retreat.
Also whirring were the eight 70mm defense turrets that were slowly being mechanically pushed out of the base, ready to defend. The Colonel turned back to the security terminal, pressing a few buttons which brought up a radar. "Where are our air units?" he quietly asked himself, not seeing any incoming friendlies. His brain quickly started evaluating possible strategies, then found only one that might prove successful. Yet, it'll also most likely prove costly.
Once again, he turned to face the company behind him, already regretting his finality. "Sierra Company, I've reached a decision. Until our air forces get here, we're going to need heavy weapons fire out there. Our defense turrets alone may not be enough to hold them off, especially if they're able to land and drop off soldiers. Those with appropriate weaponry, on my signal, you get out there and do what you can to hold the Covenant back."
"Yes sir," came the committed reply.
Looking back at the security terminal, he started searching through security camera feeds, almost flinching at the turrets starting to open up on incoming Banshees. He found one built into the very tip of the base's roof, overlooking the whole of Mt. Arphos. Satisfied, he stood back and watched as enemy ships and fighters went up in balls of hauntingly blue plasma. But, as each craft fell, more came to take their place. Somehow, they had figured out that the entrance to the building was on the west side of the dome and had concentrated their fire on that spot, only allowing three turrets to be of use. The Covenant's advance was starting to gain momentum, and they were starting to get close enough to land their dropships. Now or never, the Colonel thought to himself.
"Alright, people. Make final checks of your oxygen tanks, then get out there and do some damage."
"Yes sir!" the 24th Weapons Platoon and a few other soldiers chanted, heading out the now opening door. Team Theta followed right behind them as they stepped out into the heat of battle.