Echoes and Whispers: The Mars Report
Chapter 1
United Nations Space Command Priority Transmission
FLASH 39718A–21
Encryption Code: BLACK
From: CODE NAME ECHO
To/ Fleet Admiral Harper,
Subject: Mars Defense Grid under Attack
Classification: Emergency (XXX-XD Directive)
/ start file/Decryption Protocol/
Per general order 63.97.150, I am under protocol to report all suspicious happenings within the Solar System, and have the authority to take command of all of the MAC-guns via intranet and the crew at each station upon death of the Admiral on-station. I hereby exercise that authority and order all MAC-guns to open fire and have all available arms-bearers to prepare for attack.
Attacker Identity: Covenant
You are authorized with code-word clearance LIBERTY-FIVE-RED to review the following material of immediate benefit. Any breach of code-word classification confidentiality is punishable by the death penalty as per UNSC MIL-JAG 4465/LHG, the Wartime Articles of Secrecy, and the amended Articles of the United Security Acts of 2162.
/ end/
/ postscript/
MESSAGE HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO "Restricted" PER PROTOCOL 112.73.59
/ attached file 1 of 5/
October 19, 2552 (Military Calendar)
Subject: Security Feed 07
Issuing Officer: Field-Engineer F. C. Fernandez, Aboard the Alexandria Orbital Defense Station: Mars, Power Station Gamma, 3rd Floor
VIDEO, NO AUDIO:
The video screen shows a feed of a man fixing a box with wiring of some sort inside. Sparks fly from the box and the man is apparently hurt by it. He walks off-screen, and it is noted that the wall's shadow lights up and two plasma streaks go by. The video ends as the camera suddenly becomes bright and then fails to give any video feed.
END VIDEO
/ end/
/ attached file 2 of 5/
October 19, 2552 (Military Calendar)
Subject: Helmet-Camera Feed 139
Issuing Officers: Master Sergeant J. R. Xan and Private M. A. Biggs, Aboard the Alexandria Orbital Defense Station: Mars, Security Station Upsilon, 5th Floor
VIDEO:
The video pans in onto a Grunt fumbling with a movable turret behind a phalanx of overlapping shields held up by Jackals.
"We're never getting out! COMM is down still, sir, and I've only got nine rounds!" a voice from off-screen says frantically.
The camera turns and shows a man, obviously the Master Sergeant, in dress uniform holding his left arm with his right hand, covering an unseen wound. The camera zooms out revealing that the man, along with the one with the camera-helmet, is behind a small wall. The wall is charred with plasma-burns, as the Master Sergeant puts a clip into his magnum and takes three shots and then quickly ducks before nearly being hit by a plasma streak.
"Calm down, son. Pick your targets and fire only when you're sure you'll hit." the Master Sergeant responds.
An unusual noise is sounded from behind the camera's view. The camera turns to look and reveals anElite in red armor firing off five rounds in their exposed position. The Master Sergeant screams from behind the camera and the Elite changes targets to the one with the camera. The Private takes five shots, before the Elite jumps behind a wall just before its shields went out. The camera turns to the dead or incapacitated Master Sergeant, bleeding inexplicably from the left arm and chest. There is also a hint of plasma burn and bleeding under his right arm, on his right hip, but it isn't confirmed. The Private panics before you on camera a hand picking up the magnum, a single shot firing, and the camera falling to its side, giving a lopsided view of the Master Sergeant's left foot and leg.
/ end/