Chapter 1
The Forest
'Go go go!' Sarge blasted over the intercom. 'These men need our help!'
In the Pelican's cramped, noisy duel-controlled cockpit the pilot Captain Tom Hardy and co-pilot Privet Brie Garret exchanged uneasy glances.
This had bad written all over it, thought Brie as she controlled the craft's hover.
Tom checked his instruments then flipped his com on and said, 'Sergeant Lee, we only have two hours of flight time left. You either have to be back here in one hour, or we'll have to back for you!' He waited for a reply. 'Sergeant, do you copy?' Then he frowned at his co-pilot and snapped, 'Turn on the rear viewer.'
'Yes sir.' Brie switched it on and amongst all the other dials and toggles a small screen set into the panel lit up. 'Sir, the engines are overheating.'
'Yes, Privet, I can see that.' He said shortly. 'Where's Lee's Platoon? They just got off. There's no Covenant in this sector.'
Brie tore her eyes away from her instruments long enough to look at the live feed from the camera.
'Maybe the jungle is causing some kind of interference?' She said quickly then adjusted the Pelican's yaw by five degrees. 'We did have trouble maintaining radio contact coming in. And we could barely make out that distress signal from the Lieutenant Viceroy's squad.'
'Bullshit, it's just trees. Go and make a visual inspection.'
'Aye, Sir.' Garret had to hide her disrespect for her superior. Being an officer meant that he was allowed to a lazy asshole at times. 'What am I to look for?'
'Them, or if it's anything out of the usual we will launch a beacon.' He rejoined briskly. 'I'm ready to take over now.'
He took his yoke and Brie handed over control and unbuckled her seatbelt, stood up and exited though the airlock and into the main hold. The seats lining the hull were vacant, the harnesses chinked together gently. The engines roared and primary hatch was wide open but there was nothing other than the dust to see.
This is crap, she thought as she approached the steel airlock and gazed out into the warm, hazy jungle dusk.
'Sir, I can't see a thing.' She called over her com while the smell of the Pelican's exhaust near choked her and clung to her clothes.
'Alright get up here, I'll lock the door and what the fuck..!'
The ship violently swung sideways and suddenly a bulkhead was rushing at her. The privet threw her hands up and was slammed against the wall. Rebounding, Brie lost her footing and was thrown out on to the forest floor. The engines were howled strangely then the huge ship ploughed forward through trees.
Brie was dazed for all of five seconds, then, 'Wait!' She screamed but was drowned out by the dissipating roar. I'm out of the ship!I'm out of the ship! Was repeating over and over in her head. She stumbled up and fought her way through the dense undergrowth. The Privet heard the explosion and was blown off her feet by and shockwave.
No!
It was the Pelican! The damp forest caught fire as the JP8 fuel burned and debris crashed down like heavy rain. Something smashed down beside her. It was a torso.
Oh, god, was it Tom? Brie couldn't stop looking into its vacant eyes.
No, it was Sergeant Lee.
Acrid smoke was chocking the air as gunfire rattled off nearby. Stunned Garret threw herself under a mossy log in retaliation and fumbled for her handgun only to find the holster was empty. Shit!
Had the Captain crashed into Lee's men, or Viceroy's She thought wildly. Now bright green and white plasma bolts flew through the undergrowth and bullets tore up thick, waxy leaves.
There are Covenant and the Marines somewhere in here.
Under her log Brie had the equivalent of an epiphany. She switched on her com.
'This is Privet Brie Garret. Please report your position.' Brie waited but was met with static.
A grenade exploded nearby and something jumped upon her hideaway. She poked her frightened head out and saw her saviour. A green and brown spattered combat boot moved past her FOV.
The co-pilot rolled out and stood up. 'Hey! Don't shoot!' She said. The Marine turned and Brie's next words died in her throat. It was not a man, but a creature. It raised its shotgun and fired – but Brie was already in a dive, the momentum sent her down a gully, the thing crashing down after her. Around her she could hear more coming.
What the fuck was that?! Brie bounded up and ran though the thick ferns and smack into an Elite. She stared at it in horror. Its tall, putrid, slimly body was missing both arms! It just stood there, looking at her!
Then something smashed into her, sent her reeling through the air. Brie hit the ground and slid onto then through a lichen covered cement grate.
Her last thoughts were primal. Run! Hide!
Disorientated she crawled in the dark hole for a long time. Suddenly she was sliding uncontrollably down as the angle declined sharply. Brie was cold and scared and unable to do a thing about it.