Gateway
Chapter 1 New Beginnings Part 1
18th June 2020
Unclaimed space, Odessa system
Cloaked Al'kesh
She imagined how good it would feel to destroy the bastardly bucket of titanium. Syae was leaning over the chair of the pilot and looked out the front viewport at the large Carrier beneath them. The white seven hundred meter beast seemed a pretty sight surrounded by the empty void, safe for a few support ships of Advent origins.
"How did Advent receive a Poseidon class Carrier?" Her fellow Jaffa in the pilot seat asked his copilot.
The Jaffa in the seat beside him shook his head.
"I do not know. Captured in battle perhaps?"
"I would say they stole the blueprints and built their own," Syae added. "Focus on the task at hand either way."
"Yes Councilor," the first acknowledged.
She straightened, still holding onto the top of the chair. She moved her right hand and shoved some strains of her midnight black hair out of the way. She took a deep breath. There was eleven Al'kesh' out there waiting for her word, her command to begin.
"The others should be in position." She placed a firm hand on the pilot's pauldron. "Decloak and fire on the Carrier's hyperdrive. Transmit orders to launch to the task force."
"Understood."
Our Al'kesh decloaked and quickly activated shields before launching a barrage towards the hyperdrive to disable it and cut off their escape route. A few short seconds followed before the other Goa'uld bombers decloaked and targeted the other ships. The black coated Frigates and Light Cruisers saw their hyperdrives and a few their shields disabled during the opening barrage.
"The Carrier's hyperdrive and shields are offline," the Jaffa to my right informed me. Our ship shook slightly. "They are opening fire." He had a deep and guttural voice.
Syae gripped onto the pilot chair tighter with her pale hands as the ship shook again after two executive hits.
"Take evasive action, target their weapons," she commanded.
On the screen she read that their shields was down to eighty percent and dropping with every impact. The ship shook heavily and she saw an Al'kesh being ripped apart as their shields failed. On our end a well-placed plasma charge destroyed an Archer Missile Pod and ripped at the titanium hull. Our two Staff cannons blasted at another Missile pod and destroyed it just as three missiles impacted our shields.
"Hyperspace windows opening," she was alerted.
"Good of them to join us," she remarked.
A small group of ships jumped in from their positions out of sight of the Advent ships. Three Jaffa Ha'taks followed by a Tau'ri Daedalus class Battlecruiser, six UNSC Strident class Frigates and an Autumn class Cruiser and an Epoch class Heavy Carrier. The Carrier launched fighters and bombers as all the ships opened up a barrage and the Ha'taks launched a Squadron of Death Gliders each.
"Our shields are down to fifty-six percent."
"Make a run across the bow and fire everything we have, order the closest Al'keshs to follow," Syae decided.
Three Al'keshs swept in across the Carrier and unleashed their plasma charges and half a dozen burst from their Staff Cannons. A well-aimed couple of missiles struck home at the last Al'kesh and it lost control and crashed into the Carrier. The impact tore through the white upper hull and opened a large section to space and destroyed several of their system. To top it off over fifty Archer missiles hit home from the Epoch class Carrier, tearing the aft section to pieces. After three months of searching Syae could sigh in relief. The dreaded Carrier's ambushes and lightning raids was over. The Carrier was finished off by internal explosions.
"Carrier is dead in space," was announced to Syae.
A beam from the Tau'ri Battlecruiser ripped through an Advent Frigate and finished it in one shot. The Epoch class Carrier fired a MAC slug and in ripped into a Cruiser at high velocity. It tore through the bridge and left the vessel dead in space. It was finished off by a pair of Strident Frigates. Two of the Frigates was unlucky enough to have a Ha'tak barrage leveled onto them and with their shields offline they were quickly turned to debris.
As the final enemy ship was destroyed Syae grinned and congratulated her fellow Jaffa. She was happy she had taken personal command of the stealth portion of the operation.
"Incoming transmission from the UNSC Furious Deer Councilor."
"Let me see it."
The Vice Admiral commanding the UNSC Carrier appeared in front of me. The broad shouldered man had a small smile on his face as he sat in a command chair on his bridge.
"Tak Mal Tiak Admiral Collins."
"Councilor Syae. I have to compliment you on the opening barrage. It will take Advent a lot of resources to rebuilt a Carrier," he stated. "I am sorry about the two Al'keshs. I lost three fighters but that's all. Your Motherships lost four Death Gliders and the UES Sevastopol took no casualties."
"A small price to pay to destroy a Squadron and between one and two thousand Advent fatalities," she said certainly.
He looked at a screen, she assumed, to his left.
"I am patching in Lieutenant Colonel Malenkov." After a moment the screen split and Syae's eyes landed on the leader of the Tau'ri vessel. He had thin blond hair, a tall and skinny appearance and had a green camouflage jacket and cargo pants. There was a little flag on his right chest. One layer of white, one of blue beneath and a layer of red on the bottom.
"Vice Admiral, Councilor, I'd say that should make the Bureaucrats back home happy. For a while," he said. His voice had an accent, but Syae didn't know where on the Tau'ri homeworld he came from. She had seen the flag numerous times before and knew it was one of the larger nation states at least.
"Indeed. That Asgard beam weapon in as impressive as ever," Syae complimented him.
He nodded and smiled.
"Gentlemen," Admiral Collins stated, getting their attention. "There is a small concern I'd like to share with you, well…a question at least. One of the Light Cruisers, it was an old Halcyon. They were decommissioned almost ten years ago. Most deconstructed for parts to newer models. The Autumn specifically. How Advent managed to acquire one, I do not know. I must report to HIGHCOM and they can look into it."
With a frown on his face Malenkov spoke, "As intriguing as that is, it could be good news too. If this ship is an elderly model it doesn't make much sense for them to use it in battle unless they had to. If they are starting to fall back on old starships it might mean they're running low on them."
"Could be," Collins agreed. "Could also mean they have allies in some scrapyard on Earth. Let's report in our success and wait for orders." He suggested. Malenkov and Syae nodded and he terminated the channel.
Syae gave the pilot a pat on the shoulder, "I'll return to the Ha'taks." She walked back further into the Al'kesh and activated the ring platform to transport.
18th June 2558
United Nations Space Command space, Sol system, Planet Earth
City of Sidney, HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6
Fleet Admiral Terrence Hood found himself averting a sigh as President Redfield's advisor, a former major general-politician named Heller, followed up the briefing on the Free Jaffas political fraction with a statement that this could be an opportunity to establish the UNSC as the top dog and push their Jaffa allies down a peg. Despite how many times Redfield had rejected the idea of forcefully incorporating primitive worlds into the UNSC. Naturally he didn't mentioned forcing anyone to join, but Hood saw the underlying meaning of his words. It was like reading a children's book for him. He still wondered why Redfield kept him around. He understood why she wanted people that wouldn't be yes-men, but why Heller?
"Can I remind you that three planets have already joined the UNSC," Hood reminded. The three in question had joined in the last two years for the protection of a strong battle hardened military. All three was basically within UNSC borders already and they had all joined willingly, making the first step themselves. Redfield had been very 'hands off' on the situation. "The reason we don't try to convince all these primitive societies to join us remains the same Mister Heller." He emphasized the fact that Heller was now a civilian. He hadn't resigned for injury or retirement, but for a political career,
"We don't want to antagonize our allies and fly around the galaxy expanding our territory will quickly turned key allies against us," Hood told Heller; and anyone that saw his point of view as valid. "The former Covenant factions is still fighting and its as violent as ever. The Jaffa and Earth is key allies since our assets and resources are stretched thin."
Not to mention that he didn't want the UNSC to turn into a fascist expansionist state. While he recognized that he had basically been a dictator five years back, it was a necessary evil to ensure mankind's survival in the genocidal Human-Covenant War.
"No one is suggesting that we annex inhabited bordering planets," young President Francesca Redfield stressed, giving Heller a glare. "Our people has no wish for conquests. Mr Heller, our relations with the Free Jaffa Nation is already strained, we will not provoke further divide."
Hood noticed she threw a look at Albert Forsberg; head of the Office of Naval Intelligence, ONI for short. Forsberg made no show of acknowledgement. Another man Hood never liked, though he certainly did his job during the wars last decade. He always felt a certain discomfort over how he operated, and ONI as a whole. But President Redfield had done her best to quell ONI somewhat and force them back into line, although she could only do so much. A lot depended on ONI cooperating. Concerning Forsberg; Hood was pretty sure he knew what kind of future he wanted, and that scared him. He would pick Heller over Forsberg any day.
"Let us keep moving," Redfield stated firmly, looking around at everyone at the table. "I am formally informing you that Earth's International Oversight Committee has authorized eleven additional scientists to join our joint science team on Destiny. They arrived some hours ago."
Destiny was an Ancient ship that had returned to this galaxy just six months ago. An SGC expedition had been trapped hundreds or thousands of galaxies away without a way home. However, Hood remembered reading that they had discovered a sort of Ancient hyperdrive. One that allowed virtually instant travel. Atlantis-which now rested on one of Earth's oceans-had another newer model at its possession. They had yet to be willing to share the details of this instant travel, though they had told them it was extremely dangerous. He suspected they might share it one day when they could safely duplicate it themselves, like they shared their hyperdrive technology, leaving slipspace travel obsolete for the UNSC. Although, he had noted that their hyperspace was based on the old Goa'uld models and not the Asgard designs.
Forsberg leaned forward, frowning. It meant he wasn't aware of it. Hood smiled amused. It was Redfield's way of telling him she didn't want any ONI spooks supplanting the scientists. One Oni officer was enough. One of her small steps to rein in ONI. With the war with the Covenant over since five years back this was possible. He would have tried himself if the UNSCs survival hadn't been at stake. He also noticed the tiniest hint of a smile on Redfield's lips. Any discomfort or the like on the Director's part was surely a delight for her. She was good at hiding it but he knew she hated ONI with a passion for a number of reasons.
"The fact we have a joint science mission on this Ancient ship is at least progress in relations between our peoples," head of the army; General Nicolas Strauss stated with a positive tone.
"I agree completely," the President's second advisor declared. His name was William Smith and to Hood's somewhat pleasure he was the opposite of Heller. He was a man of peace, almost too much so. Hood thought that the man was on the verge of becoming an isolationist. The man came close to lacking a spine and was barely willing to take military action in self-defense. Still, he was a man of the people.
"Shall we continue with discussing Advent?" Mr Heller suggested.
Director Forsberg shifted slightly and looked to a Japanese young woman to his right. Hood's eyes traveled to her. She was in her early thirties, wore a fancy black ONI uniform with a Commander's insignia on her color. She had her long raven hair tied in a bun with some locks having fallen out. Without missing a beat of the politics in the background over everything said in this room she turned her eyes forward. Her natural pale blue right eye and her blue glowing cybernetic left eye steered to the President and waited patiently for approval. She waited a moment before nodding her approval.
The young commander read points from a datapad she held.
"Vice Admiral Jack Collins and the Joint Task Force eliminated the Advent Carrier pack that had been raiding Jaffa and UNSC worlds for the previous six months," she announced with a neutral voice. She maintained eye contact with every one of us at some point. Most of all Hood, the President and Forsberg, "Overall fatalities was minimal and the Poseidon Class Carrier was destroyed with all hands, the support ships mostly suffered the same fate but an over sixty was captured on board disabled ships."
Forsberg spoke up.
"One of the enemy ships was an old Halcyon."
It caused a few frowns around the table. Before anyone could speak up Hood did so.
"Most likely the took it years ago when they formed Advent and although the ship is old, it can still put up a fight. Despite it being out of date."
The President nodded.
"That seems the most likely," she agreed. "Continue Commander Takahashi."
"Yes ma'am," the commander replied promptly, as voice as neutral as previously. "Tok'ra informed us through New Earth-" Hood thought that was an interesting term. New Earth. Since there was, for god knows what reason, two Earths almost identical they referred to the other Earth as just that. they referred to them as the UNSC or even UEG but they had no official interplanetary designation, yet. Technically they could be referred to as United Earth since their official interplanetary forces was the Coalition Armed Forces, or Tau'ri. Which was what they were informally known as around the galaxy.
"-that intelligence suggest first; a massive offensive to come, and second; talks between Advent and the Lucian Alliance."
Hood snorted, "Terrorists and criminals together. No big surprise I think."
The head of the Marine Corps and head of the Air Force both nodded in silent agreement.
"All the same," Hood said and placed his wrinkled hands on the table. "If Advent becomes supplies by the Lucian Alliance it will make them a far bigger threat."
"The can already supply themselves with weapons, food and medical supplies and have even secret shipyards somewhere in the Milky Way," Forsberg stated, almost growling. "Until my operatives track them down we cannot halt their production." Hood knew he was frustrated by ONIs inability to find and even deal with Advent on their own, which they thought they could five years ago.
"Give me options," Redfield told them.
"A full scale assault on the Lucian Alliance would quell any cooperation," Heller suggested. "Combined ground and fleet actions."
Hood actually rolled his eyes. He didn't entirely disagree, but like always he went too far.
"My voters do not want all-out war Mr Heller," Redfield told him. Her gaze narrowed slightly. "I will have options that won't kill our people by the tens of thousands."
Hood cleared his throat.
"There is a more tempered way forward." He got her full attention. "I believe we need to put additional assets into hunting down Advent. If we keep them running we will eventually find their bases. They'll make a mistake. It is all a matter of time with a perfect combination of military might and spooks. I can scramble enough fleet assets for attacks on Lucian Alliance worlds and assets, but it is immensely important that, New Earth and Free Jaffa assets participate."
"We don't need the Jaffa or their xeno buddies," Heller stated bluntly. He clearly didn't like the idea one bit. Perhaps because Hood shot his down, or it was simply his xenophobia. It was a problem in the UNSC.
"Mr Heller, they are our allies," Redfield told him.
"Combined attacks will show that we are united and will work together if they make the wrong move. It would be better if the Arbiter was convinced to provide fleet assets," Hood continued. He would prefer not involving him but it would look best if all major alliance members partook. He had not, and would never, forget that the Arbiter had been slaughtering humans by the billions until he fell out of favor. Yet politics had forced them together for now. To be honest Hood foresaw war between them in a few decades. But he didn't think he would live long enough to see it and he had to ensure the UNSC was ready for that war.
"If only a token asset," Army General Strauss added and Hood nodded. "Madam President, we have twenty thousand soldiers stationed on Sanghelios, fighting side-by-side with the Sword of Sanghelios to defend that barren ball of dust. That should give us some political favor to call in. Giving that they slaughtered us by the billions and now we help them fight for their homeworld, well…that should count for something." Hood recognized a flair of anger for a split second. It quickly disappeared though.
Redfield took in the information, looking at Forsberg.
"What is ONIs current view of the Lucian Alliance. Are they itching for a fight?"
Forsberg shook his head dismissively.
"Not even close. Their mercenary armies are not willing to die and between them, the Goa'uld remnant, Jiralhanae and Kig-yar raids and the constant skirmishes with the Jaffa and Stargate Command they are in no position for a long war. They are up for a short lightning war, but only if they believe they won't face retaliation by us or any of the other powers." He looked to Commander Takahashi for a final addition.
"They are happy to take advantage of the Free Jaffa political divisions but carefully not to do anything that risk uniting the Jaffa people against a single goal, war. They went head to head with the SGC before we ever encountered either of them so I'm sure they are wary about the strength of their Battlecruisers. The Daedalus class vessels are, as you know ma'am, more than a threat with those Beam weapons."
It seemed to Hood they could all agree on the destructive power of the Asgard Beam Weapons. The New Earth people might not have a lot of military capacity but they made up for it in sheer strength. To Hood's annoyance Heller brought up another idea.
"We should consider expanding Operation Heartache."
The operation was about winning hearts and mind by fortifying primitive human planets and building up their infrastructure. It would surprise nobody that the dozen planets under protectorate status had important resources on them and they had barely been asked, no, they had been told they would be defended by the UNSC. Though most of the primitives didn't possess governments and didn't mind after they saw that they kept their basic rights and their lives was improved and their planets was defended.
"Are you mental?" Smith questioned, mocking Heller. "We can't waste resources on that. We are spread remarkably thin by the conflicts and rebuilding our worlds from the war. Not to mention that it looks bad if we do that. It will look like we are using Advent as a reason to expand and claimed resources."
Redfield raised ah and for him to calm down.
"Gentlemen, we will not do anything to look like conquerors in our allies eyes," she said with a tone of finality to the conversation. "I will speak with the New Earth ambassador about expanding the Joint Task Force and launch a preemptive attack against the Lucian Alliance. They will relish the opportunity for us to finally take sides against their enemy. About Operation Heartache, expanding it means using resources we cannot spare." She looked at the different faces around the table. "With that, this meeting is adjourned."
She looked to Commander Takahashi,
"Commander, a word."
"Yes ma'am," Fuji Takahashi complied.
She then looked at the marine general.
"General Hogan, you will wait as well. We will discuss a team of Spartans I believe has been underused as of late."
"Which is that madam President?" Marine General Hogan inquired.
"Fireteam…" she glanced at her datapad for a second. "…Razgriz."
Hood rose. He liked Redfield's authoritative demeanor. She never asked you to do something, she told you what you were going to do instead.
18th June 2020
Galandria system, Planet Galandria
"Training? Is that as exciting as it gets here?" The young marine asked as she sighed. She was half serious, half joking.
The older Lieutenant nodded.
"Better up. You get to see a team of Spartans walking off to train," he added a smirk. "You don't even get to participate. The glorious life of a marine, Staff Sergeant Song."
"Glorious is the word, sir," she said with a sigh.
She was sitting on the edge of a cement barricade on the edge of the roof of yellow stone. The village they were stationed in was close to the Stargate and their Platoon was in charge of guarding the gate and the village. The planet was one of the protectorates the UNSC had. The young Staff Sergeant watched Fireteam Ivy marching off towards the the forest edge.
"So how did a decorated war hero end up on this shite planet?" The El-Tee asked.
Staff Sergeant Song looked down at the poorly garbed locals milling about.
"I think that's the reason the locals don't like us very much," she noted.
He chuckled in amusement and Song sighed. She went back to watch the Spartans marching off. She wondered what they were going to do that they couldn't do in a holographic training chamber. Maybe they were going somewhere by ship from here and just planned to put in some practical forest training or something while they waited. Thinking about it; in made sense to her. The Spartans disappeared into the thick vegetation that surrounded the primitive. Well, it actually wasn't as primitive anymore since functioning pluming and air conditioning had been installed, plus the dirt roads in and around had been turned into proper asphalt.
"How long have you been stationed here El-Tee?" Song inquired casually.
"Ah, six months 'bout the time this here planet became a protectorate and," he paused to chuckle. "Let me tell you, they did not like us much when we first got here. They tolerated us fine because we promised to protect 'em, you know?"
She nodded.
"I imagine seizing their resources will do that," she mused to no one in particular.
She and her Squad had only been here for four days and given how boring the others told her this assignment was; she almost regretted her decision to be reassigned. But this calm peaceful village was preferable to her than the deserts of Khaharren.
Her Platoon CO, First Lieutenant Kirtman, picked a cigarette out of a pouch on his waist.
"It's funny really," he said. "I didn't use to smoke, my dad always hold me it would kill him."
"Yeah?" knowing the El-Tee, she doubted it would actually be funny.
"Aye. Then I stepped out of the bubble of wealth I grew up in and realized it was the least dangerous thing for me. So I picked up smoking and an assault rifle, and here we are."
"Inspiring story, sir."
The noise made by the gate brought her eyes back to it. It had started spinning.
"Incoming wormhole people," Kirtman said over their helmet comlink. His voice was calm. He had put his helmet back on for a moment, to now take it off again.
Four Heavy Machinegun turrets was positioned around the gate. A fancy welcome for unfriendly types. Those men was as casual as Kirtman himself. Song imagined it came with having been stationed here and the only threat being boredom would do that. Still, they weren't too relaxed since they did at least stand ready by their turrets. There was two more turrets on the roof top she and Kirtman shared, on opposite sides of each other and same could be said of two other buildings in the village.
She rose to her feet and and grabbed her grey, black helmet with both hands. A light breeze blew through her bob cut raven hair. The gate had encoded the fourth chevron. Kirtman took a knee against the cement barricade and blew out a puff of smoke and brought the cigarette back to his lips. The fifth chevron was encoded. Below them a marine was trying to put on his charm with a local woman and a fellow jarhead laughed at his failure. Sixth chevron was encoded.
"I bet a ration on traders," one of my squadmates said just loud enough so I could hear him.
"Maybe more Spartans," another said.
The seventh and final chevron locked and the whoosh was heard and the regular swirl of energy before it settled. Song put the helmet over her head. Out of the event horizon came a horde of Unggoy. They fired plasma pistols and lobbed grenades while screaming like maniacs. There was a second or two of inaction before the four Heavy Machine gunners encircling the gate exit area started mowing them down, a dozen dropping almost per second. One plasma shot went through a gunner's visor and through his scalp. He collapsed onto the barricade his machinegun was mounted behind. A grenade took three men out of action and demolished a turret.
Song ran to the mounted turret beside her and leveled the aim on the gate area. She squeezed the trigger and started killing three to five of them a second, and somehow they kept coming out of the gate and weren't stopping or running. Not even as they practically started jumping and climbing over their own dead.
Kirtman had dropped his cigarette and put his helmet on. Civilians was running in a panic.
"Gate area under attack, ex-Covies swarming through!" He barked in the comm in his helmet. Song heard his focused and hard voice in her own helmet.
She saw the muzzle flash from his rifle in her peripheral view. A third turret went down after a grenade hit it, but it also sent half a dozen Unggoy flying. One of the other rooftop turrets started spewing led at the xenos.
"What's with these guys?!" One of her squadmates exclaimed over the squad-com frequency.
"Hell if I know!" A second squadmate stated frantically.
"Craze get out of there, abandon the gate area!" Kirtman barked at one of my squadmates.
Song saw that Craze held onto the final turret at the gate area. Still mowing down Unggoy but they would soon gun him down if he remained. Craze didn't respond either.
"You heard the order!" She told him. "Move it; we'll cover you!"
But it was too late and a plasma grenade stuck to him and blew him apart. It flung blood and gore and armor pieces in every direction, even killing three Unggoy in the explosion. When Song's turret ran dry of ammo she estimated at least fifty or so dead Unggoy within the first six or seven meters of the Stargate. The four first turrets had done their job. Yet they kept advancing swiftly, as swiftly as an Unggoy could at least. Although, for a moment she was relieved when they stopped swarming through the gate for ten seconds. She quickly reloaded the turret as Kirtman covered her. Two of her squadmates made their way up.
When she saw a new wave coming through the event horizon she was surprised and confused to see Advent troops. Given their armor coating they were Shock Troops, the primary troops used by Advent. They fired off their weapons and sent bullets our way as well as the Unggoy plasma bolts. There was no time to consider why Unggoy and Advent ended up together for Song finished reloading and opened up on them, ripping through half a dozen shock troopers before they orient themselves after stepping through the gate. Though most were quick to take cover unlike the suicidal Unggoy.
One of the shock troopers lobbed a frag grenade onto another rooftop and both killed or wounded five men and destroyed both turrets. Song heard the screams. She heard one of them over her comms. It was Friedman. Her screams soon died down completely as Song imagined some cold blooded bastard finished her off.
"Don't let 'em organize!" Kirtman barked orders. "Alois, get that goddamn rocket launcher firing!" He put a bullet through the visor of a shock trooper. "Hold fats, we have the Spartans incoming boys and girl, just hold!"
Piece of cake, Song though. One of her squadmates mounted the opposite turret and started punishing the hostiles for trying to encircle the village. She just kept firing the turret and killed trooper and trooper. The Unggoy that survived this far had moved into the village proper. For a second her life flashed before her when a plasma grenade attached itself to the turret.
"Grenade!" She yelled and booked it to the other side of the roof.
The explosion flung her to the ground, but unharmed. She heard yelling, plasma and kinetic fire, explosions and her own pulse in her ears. As she laid there. She groaned and opened her eyes. She saw a pair of legs half facing her and in a crouched position.
"Come on, Kimberly, come on," she told herself.
She forced herself up on her knees and tried to focus. For a moment she was surrounded by sand, in a frighteningly familiar desert and bodies of ex-Covies and marines surrounded her. her heart started beating faster and her mind raced. She heard shouting and shooting and a Sangheili approached. The large grey armored Saurian had a weapon leveled at her and without thinking she reacted by firing her BR85N. She staggered backwards and was knocked to to the sand when someone slammed into her. Then she was back on the rooftop. Confused and panicked. She looked to see a dead marine beside her. her visor identified him as corporal named Fred Paulson. She sat up and looked around. The rooftop was devoid of life and she stared at Kirtman's lifeless body and bullet wounds in his chest.
Her eyes widened and she was frightened by the thought that she had shoot him. yet, it could as easily had been a shock trooper. They used similar kinetic weapons. With no way to tell she scurried over to him. His chestplate had stopped a dozen bullets but some had torn through.
"El-Tee, El-Tee," she pleaded in hopes he was alive. She felt a clump in the back of her throat.
"Staff, Staff!"
She registered the voice of a fellow marine and gripped her rifle tightly.
"Y-yes!"
"Oh thank god, is there…" he paused, probably to fire. "…anyone else alive up there? How's the El-Tee?"
She swallowed hard.
"I…he's dead."
She didn't get a response and he didn't respond when she tried to talk to him so she assumed he was KIA too. As a head popped up over the barricade she aimed and fired ten rounds into his black helmet. There was no cry and the shock trooper dropped back down dead.
With a running start she leaped off the roof and immediately got to cover behind a corner and put a round through an Unggoy. He held a grenade and it detonated, blasting him apart and turning two shock troopers into casualties.
"Squad one, two and four report!" She ordered. She had to see which officers remained.
"Corporal Davis here ma'am, Staff's dead," came from 1st Squad.
"2nd Squad XO reporting in. Afraid 4th Squad is gone, everyone's KIA!"
Song abandoned her cover for the inside of a house when two shock troopers found a good position to shoot from.
"Staff Sergeant," she heard a voice through the comms. It was unfamiliar to her. It was a feminine voice. A tougher and harder version of her own almost. "Spartan-A305, we're pushing forward from the west. Attempting to take the gate area and cut off their escape."
She felt a wave of relief to hear that the Spartans was fighting with them.
"C-copy!"
"Shock trooper took a dozen locals through the gate," the same Spartan reported in a neutral voice. "Mostly kids."
She didn't have time to get angry about that, not when a shock trooper made his way through the door. She had just gunned down his buddy outside. She ducked behind a couch as she fired and she heard his rounds leap from his gun barrel and the couch was shredded. A few even scraped the side of her armor. With no sound of gunfire inside she rose to her feet and found the man down, wounded. She aimed at the groaning terrorist's head and squeezed the trigger as fury filled her mind.