The Insurrection of Mamore.
Prologue-
Mamore, a desolate place, one of the few planet colonies in UNSC space that has not been glassed by the xenophobic alien race known as the Covenant. Mamore is set in a prime hostile location in the galaxy, rebels and UNSC forces clash for its control. Mamore is a very unstable political world, threatened by several rebel factions. But the rebel group called the Kelorist's, governs the majority of the planet.
To stop this dictatorship, the UNSC sends in a company of Spartan-III's, Alpha company.
August 07, 2537
0319 Hours Zulu /Military Calendar
Tau Ceti System
Mamore
The sun, at it's zenith, shown a brilliant yellow-red radiance. Off clear in the distance, a chain of mountains boasted their snow capped crescents, cutting into the aqua blue sky above. A river slithered like a snake down the ridge, its green edges carving a new canyon path in the mountain. A new figure appeared, a gray beast looms on the plateau, billowing smoke, followed by a rapture of fire, mingling with the morning sky, raging along the jungle's edge.
The pelican listed to port, narrowly missing the jagged edge of a mountain cliff. Balian looked over the edge of the dropships ledge as the craft swiftly floated over the green forest below. He pulled himself back, trying to avoid getting sick by the movement of the tree's. He reassessed, checking and rechecking his gear over again. He was going to do this one right this time.
Spartan- A102 Balian, looked to his team. Though he couldn't see their faces, he knew they were ready for a fight, he felt their energy. Though this was not his first mission, he felt chills down his spine, as he shifted himself in his SPI armor.
Though three hours ago, he had different feelings. The rebel forces on Mamore had greeted the UNSC forces arriving with a welcome gift, consisting of five captured UNSC Longsword fighters, and an array of anti-air batteries. Alpha Company had barely made it through the atmosphere on the Pelican's, had It not been for the UNSC Frigate Resilience, supporting them from the upper atmosphere.
He snapped back into reality as static filled his COM, "ETA to LZ is one minute". The pilot had snapped over the COM channel. Balian's senses kicked in as the stench of smoke, and burning rubber and flesh filled his nostrils. He tightened the grip on his MA5C, and tapped on his COM, "Gamma team, this is Team India, when we hit the ground, set up those heavy weapons so we can take out those AA batteries ASAP."
Not a second passed when he heard a stiff reply, "Yes Sir, we'll roll out the welcome package." Spartan-A009 Greg, answered.
The pelican spun, and dropped abruptly into a hail of gun fire. Assault fire ricochet off the hull of the dropship, pinging its dense armor. The aft of the Pelican scudded across the rough ground, and Team India leapt sprung into action, bailing from the bay of the bird, charging the battlefield.
Balian, along with two other Spartan's, found refuge behind the smoldered wreckage of a Scorpion Main Battle Tank. The tainted smell of lead, and screams of civilians and rebel forces alike filled the dirty air. Balian peered around the edge of his cover, and it was only then that the battlefield became visible. Buildings were ablaze, billowing smoke cast a ghostly shadow over the landscape. Fires ravaged the city, in the distance, civilians ran for cover.
Balian snapped into action, a life time of training kicked in. He clicked on his COM, "Team Gamma, target those AA's on the roof tops, Team Charlie and Havoc, lay down some supporting fire!". Acknowledge lights burned bright green as his Spartan companions complied with their new orders. Balian then turned to his own team, "India, we have our own orders, you know what to do." The young Spartan's nodded.
He turned, firing a volley of fire into the rebel encampment. Balian was surprised at the preparedness of the rebels. The stronghold consisted of two captured Scorpion tanks, embedded behind several rows of sandbags and debris. And three customized Warthogs for infantry. Day's before the assault on Mamore, ONI had deployed probes shot from slipspace, capturing intel on the encampment, the probes report indicated that their were an estimated 3,000 rebel's held up in the colony. Three against one? Those were fair odd's for a Spartan on any day.
Balian sprinted, jotting out from his cover, followed by his team, firing their weapons in succession. He opened his TACMAP, and examined the city, his target was one kilometer away, held up in one of the most fortified positions in the city, the capitol building. He highlighted the building, and the defenses surrounding it, giving the rest of Alpha company their objectives. They would support Team India as they searched for their target, the Governor of Mamore.
Balian sharply raised his hand, balled in a fist. India halted, hunkered down behind a smoldered building. Balian peered from the corner, catching a glimpse of the Embassy. He tapped his COM three times in succession, giving Alpha company the order to Assault the HQ. Seconds later, Balian caught sight of vapor trails and the recoil flash of Rocket launchers as his Spartan's razed the Embassies defenses. A rocket impacted dead on as a hunkered Warthog exploded in a fury of sparks and brilliant flames.
Balian snapped two fingers ahead, and Team India shot out from their cover. Rifle leveled, he fired a concussion of fire into the enemy, he didn't need to kill, only to spread the fire support the other four Spartan teams were laying down, he didn't want to put too much on them. But they were Spartans, right?
Team India reached the outer rim of the buildings entrance, slumping against the charred walls of the Embassy. He held up his hand, and did a trio of hand movements towards the door. India complied, and Sam kicked the door down, moving swiftly through the room.
"Clear!" Sam stiffly replied over the COM.
The team entered, Balian taking the rear. Once he entered, he set his hand on Spartan-A034 Sarah's shoulder, "Barricade the doors, I have a feeling we're not going to be going out the same way we came in."
Sarah complied with a nod, signaling to Sam they use the debris by the stairwell. She reached in her backpack, producing a LOTUS Anti-tank mine, "A little welcome gift."
Sam gave her a thumbs up. Along with Tom, and Minh, Balian proceeded up the stairwell, his rifle trained on the curving corners of the stairs walls. They continued up stairs for two minutes, silently jogging until they reached the top floor. Tom and Minh took the flanks on each side of the only door at the top floor.
"This is it."
Minh reared back, putting the full force of his right foot into the door. The door was ripped off its hinges like a tin can being kicked. Tom wasted no time tossing two flash bangs in succession. There was a quick spark and a thud, and the three Spartan's rushed the room. Minh entered, his M7 Submachine gun burping three round bursts.
Balian was in a moment later, and assessed the threats in the blink of an eye. There were four guards already down. Behind them, banks of security monitors showed a dozen views of the Battlefield. Balian caught glimpse of his fellow Spartans on several monitors, putting up a really good fight.
Three other men scrambled on the ground, trying to shake off the effects of the flash bangs. Balian moved to each of them, quickly and calmly shooting each of them in the head. Balian reassessed the room, scanning the larger than expected room, until he found his target. Tosses a side during the fight, lay the Governor. Still cuffed to the wooden chair and blind folded, he fidgeted, uncertain of anything.
Balian moved to him quickly, picking the frightened man up. He sat him down upright, reaching behind him and breaking the metal cuffs with one hand. Balian tossed them aside, ripping the blind fold from the man's face.
"Sir are you alright?"
The governor fidgeted, blinking profusely until he regained enough strength.
"Yes son, thank you for rescuing me."
Governor John Mitchell reassessed himself, straitening his back, rubbing his burnt wrists. Balian looked the Governor over for signs of shock or wounds, he seemed fine, just shaken. The Governor stood tall, his clothes were tattered, charred dirt covered his defined face.
"Sir I suggest we exit this area, we have a Frigate awaiting you."
"Sounds good to me son, but what about the civilians?"
"They have already been evacuated via Pelican to the Carrier in low orbit, Sir."
The Governor nodded in approval. Balian was surprised when the man knelt down beside the smoldered bloody body of a rebel guard, shaking off the dirt of an M7 submachine gun, checked the clip and pulled back the hammer. Balian turned towards his teammates, "We need to get out of here."
He turned to the Governor, "Sir do you know of any sort of transportation nearby, our Pelican isn't hailing our calls."
The tall man shouldered his weapon and nodded, "There should be a Pelican on the rooftops of the Embassy, but I believe it was under repair before you fellow's came."
Balian gritted his teeth, "That will be more than enough." He waved his hand to Minh. "Get Sarah and Sam up here, tell them to meet us on the roof."
He turned to Tom, "Lets get that Pelican prepared for flight." The young Spartan replied with a crisp salute, "Yes Sir!" And ran out the smoldered door frame, still smoking.
Balian turned his head to the Governor, "Sir if you would be so kindly as to accompany to the Rooftop, we could get underway." The Governor said nothing, taking the lead and heading out the room.
A minute later, Balian and the Governor arrived on the Rooftop, followed by Sarah and Sam and Minh. Balian assessed the Pelicans condition from afar. The aircraft needed more than repair, the hull looked like a grenade was set off directly on it. It was charred Matte-black, a few of the bay windows were seriously cracked.
"At least the landing gear looks good." Sam commented, seeming to finish Balian's thought.
Balian gritted, "Load up team, we still have Spartans to aid."
The team complied, and along with the Governor, climbed into the aft of the Pelican. Balian climbed in last, making his way to the cockpit where Tom already was. He strapped himself in, attaching his rifle to the side of the chair. Tom tapped on a green pad three times, and the Pelican shuddered as the damaged engines screamed, lifting the heavy bird off the landing pad.
Balian turned to Tom, "Does this bird have weapons?"
"Yes Sir."
"Good," Balian tapped a trio of buttons on the Weapons console. The console hummed, arming the Pelicans main weapons, the missile pod's. The Spartan furiously tapped controls left and right, "Tom, contact the Frigate, we have Spartans to evacuate."
Tom nodded sharply, and accessed his COM, "This is Spartan-A014 Codename INDIA, requesting immediate evac of Alpha company one hundred meters south of the Embassy, be advised, package is aboard and safe."
There was a second of dead silence, and then a stiff reply, "Uh, roger that, Pelicans inbound to RZ, ETA One minute."
"Seems the cavalry was already on the way, Sir." Tom replied to Balian.
"Good, take us the southern part of the Embassy, lets give Alpha some help"
The Pelican flew adjacent to the damaged building. Balian moved to the bay of the Pelican, joining Team India, and the Governor. He looked down at his assault rifle and examined it, there were dents and scathes covering the entire rifle. The scope he modified and attached before the mission had been broke off, and the clip was battered. He dropped the magazine and produced a new clip from his rut sack.
Balian clicked his COM, "Team Gamma, Charlie and Meta, this is Spartan-A102, pickup is inbound, hang tight."
There was a stutter of COM traffic, and a weak voice played, "Roger that Sir, please be advised, we have wounded and dead to move."
Balian's chest stiffened, but he pushed his emotions into the deepest part of his mind, this campaign was not over, and emotions got soldiers killed. That's what his commander, Lieutenant Commander Ambrose had taught him and the other three hundred children over five years ago.
The Pelican swooped, leveled and descended. Balian peered at the Battlefield, it looked like a warhead had detonated. Collapsed buildings, burning vehicles and flesh littered and stung the already smoldered atmosphere. A couple hundred yards away, the rest of the Spartan teams recovered. The only signs of the rebel forces were burnt and charred bodies, the rest of the surviving forces must have scattered, or retreated to the mountains to recover and hide. No matter, the UNSC would deal with them and the civilians scattered throughout the damaged and battered city.
Balian exited the Pelican, followed by the rest of Team India, "Sam, coordinate a perimeter with Team Gamma and Meta, recover the bodies, load them on the Pelicans when they arrive."
Sam was already off before Balian could finish, he acted quick and decisively, something he admired most about his closest friend. India followed suit, and quickly melted into the rubble of the battlefield. Balian turned to see the Governor clamber down from the Pelican's bay. The Spartan examined the old man's face, pure shock and grief. He had worked for over ten years to build one of the strongest political colonies in UNSC controlled territories, only for it to be violently cast down by the Kelorist's. The Governors expression changed from grief, to Hatred, he balled his hands into a tight fist.
"Dam those bastard rebel's, and their children," The man said with furrowed brows and a red face. Balian felt his pain, his struggle. The young Spartan also grieved, for his fellow soldiers, his friends. But he quickly stored his feelings aside once again as he was shook back to reality, caused by the hum of a Pelican's engine. He glanced to his right to see the rest of the UNSC forces arriving.
"About time," He muttered to himself.
He attached his assault rifle to his back, and accessed the team roster on his HUD. He accessed the file on Alpha Company, and moved all dead and the rest of the W.I.A to the Missing in action file. He had strict orders to do so if there were any deaths, which was something the UNSC expected on this mission, colloquially dubbed, "A Suicide run." ONI Section two directive Nine-three-Zero, he thought back. When ONI went public with the Spartan-II program it was decided that reports of Spartan losses could cause a crippling loss of morale. Consequently, any Spartan casualties are listed as M.I.A or W.I.A, in order to maintain the illusion that Spartan's never die.
Balian watched with grief as Sam, along with the rest of Alpha company entered the Pelican's, accompanied by the dead bodies of the fallen.
"Spartans never die?" Balian looked to the desolate sky, turned and entered the scathed dropship, "If only that were true."