- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
“I repeat, you are clear to commence your attack,” the Chief spoke to the commander of the Longswords and waited for a reply.
“Affirmative Chief, Delta Squadron inbound, estimated time of arrival…45 seconds.”
“Roger that, we will be waiting,” the Chief answered as he turned back to Kelly.
Linda had left several minutes ago and Fred and Will were also heading towards their assigned positions.
“How are you feeling?” the Chief casually asked Kelly.
“I’m alright, a little tired but other then that…I’m good.”
“Well watch your flanks, keep you eyes open and I’ll watch your back…we’ll be fine.”
She gave him the thumbs up sign and they spent the last several seconds sitting in silence.
They heard the fighters before they saw them. A deep roaring filled the air and the fighters streamed over the Spartans position. The Covenant was sloppy and was unable to charge any of their gun emplacements before the bombs began to fall. The pilots aim was perfect and the Covenant HQ and officers quarters were destroyed instantly, next came the barracks and finally the make shift airfield where a squadron of banshees were obliterated. It was all over very quickly and the Longswords flew into the distance without taking any fire.
“Bomb bays are empty Chief, heading back to base, good luck.”
“Roger, thanks for the help,” the Chief replied.
Only seconds had passed before Fred and Will shot off their first volley of rockets. They flew true and hit the forward plasma cannons and gun emplacements.
That was the Chief’s and Kelly’s signal to start moving. They burst from the cover of the forest and started across the plains.
A second volley of rockets streamed over the Spartans as they ran towards the front of the Covenant Camp. The rockets destroyed another pair of guns and another before the Chief and Kelly even fired their weapons.
They finally reached the camp and were met with no resistance. This worried the Chief but they kept moving.
“Keep your eyes open,” he told Kelly. Her acknowledgement light winked on and they continued on.
Seconds had passed and there was still no sign of the Covenant, soon the Chief heard feet slamming against the ground and trained his rifle in the direction of the movement, Fred and Will emerged from behind a wreckage and the Chief sighed in relief.
“What’s going on Chief? Where is everyone?” asked Fred.
An answer was given before the Chief could reply. He heard a low grunt and the sound of dozens of plasma weapons being discharged.
“Take cover!” the Chief shouted.
The Chief grabbed Kelly and dove behind the wreckage of a ghost and glanced behind as Fred leaped behind a smoldering gun emplacement.
Will wasn’t quick enough and was caught in the open. He was hit nearly a dozen times before being thrown backwards.
The Chief saw Will lying on the ground out in the open and acted immediately.
“Will, what’s your status? What’s your status?” the Chief yelled into his com link.
He was answered with silence and static and the Chief was briefly paralyzed in that moment. He had never lost a man and he was not about to start now.
“Linda, lay down some goddamn cover fire!” yelled the Chief over his com.
It was silent for a moment before he received an answer.
“Roger, Chief I’m just getting into position,” replied Linda
The Chief heard four sharp shots of fire and then after a second four more. That was all he needed. He turned to Kelly who was firing back at the enemy and tapped her on the shoulder.
“Cover me, I’m going to get Will,” he said firmly
She nodded, loaded her rifle with a new clip and began firing at the enemy’s position.
The Chief jumped up from his cover he fired several rounds from his rifle before running to Will’s position. He didn’t waste time; he grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him behind cover. He carefully removed his helmet, he was still breathing and the Chief let out a sigh of relief. Looking at the armor on Will’s torso he knew that he must have extremely bad burns.
Will’s eyes shot open and he grabbed the Chief roughly by the shoulders and looked wildly around their position. His eyes were bloodshot and he was unable to sit still.
The Chief spoke in a soft voice, “Will, calm down, it’s going to be alright.”
Will looked deep into the Chiefs his eyes; “Chief…I’m…” he slumped down to the ground, again unconscious.
The Chief gave Will a shot of pain killers before opening up his com link
“Kelly, what’s the status?” he asked
“Enemies in the immediate area are neutralized, we are sweeping the rest of the camp, no other contact,” she replied calmly.
“Roger that, move back to my position and watch over Will until the evac arrives.”
“Affirmative,” she answered.
The Chief opened up another link and spoke to Linda.
“Linda, can you spot any Covenant movement from your position?”
“Negative sir...wait…”
The Chief heard four shots in the distance, and then Linda re-opened the link.
“Now all the Covenant ground forces are eliminated,” she replied calmly.
The Chief smiled, “Roger that, move down to our position and establish a perimeter just incase.”
“Yes sir, I’m on my way,” she replied.
A voice spoke to the Chief over a link and he recognized it as Fred.
“Sir, requesting permission to accompany you into the battle cruiser,” he asked hopefully.
“Negative, I will proceed alone, you will assist Linda in creating the perimeter until the Pelican arrives,” he answered.
There was silence on the other end of the link until he finally answered.
“Roger that sir, creating perimeter,” Fred replied.
By this time Kelly had arrived and was beginning to examine Will. The Chief loaded a new clip into his rifle and collected several more from Kelly.
Before the Chief left, Kelly grabbed his shoulder; he turned around and looked at her.
“Be careful up there alright,” she said
He smiled inside his helmet “I’m a Spartan,” he said playfully, “I’m always careful.”