Halo:Insurrection
SPARTAN-27, Geo, was standing in the armory of Summer's Dusk, with two of his SPARTAN-III team members, SPARTAN-88, Jake, and SPARTAN-43, Jill. The armory was empty, save the rows of guns, ammo, and of course the 3 teenaged SPARTANS. They had been ordered to show up to the armory at 0800, in full SPI armor. And, as all good SPARTANS would, they showed up. It had been nearly a half hour since they arrived, and Geo was getting agitated. But, finally the door on the other side of the armory opened.
Fleet Admiral Sulivan and Lord Hood walked in. The three SPARTANS snapped crisp saluts in unison. "At ease SPARTANS." Lord Hood spoke out in an angry voice. Geo slowly lowered is hand back down to his side. "SPARTANS, we don't have much time to explain this. So, I will try to make this quick. We have been betrayed by an ONI spook. This spook is a seasoned warrior, at one point in his carrear he was an ODST with 105th. And you have to take him out. The target, Captain Allan Short. For reasons unknown Cpt. Short has turned on the UNSC and made an alliance with the Innie's. Or insurrectionists, as you may know formally refer to them." Lord Hood stood back.
Fleet Admiral Sulivan stepped forward. "We have intel on a large scale attack that he has put together. So we at the UNCS are prepared to counter the attack, but only as a distraction. You three are going to take out that traitor. No prisoners. And if in the process you kill a few more Innie's, well then that would be just fine. Now, we have acknowledged you three as being 'Lone Wolf' SPARTANS. So I only find it fitting to call your small group 'Wolf Team'. 27-Geo, your the ranking officer here, so you are in command." "Sir", Geo said with a nod. The Admiral continued, "currently we are about to exit a slipspace jump to Sigma system. Now, this is an ONI Prowler, so any Innie's on patrol ain't going to find us. Gear up, head to the ODST drop pod chamber. You will be dropped half a click from Cpt. Short's position on a little lonely moon called Hail. Good luck SPARTANS."
Geo watched the two men leave and focused on getting some equipment. Jill was an explosives expert. Jake, was a great sniper. And he was the fastes. However, he didn't have speed like SPARTAN-II Kelly, and Jake wasn't the shot you would expect form Linda. They both had been studying those two SPARTAN-II's for quite some time. Aspiring to be like them. Jake wanted to be able to snipe an enemy pilot out of his cockpit from two miles away, like Linda. And Geo had spent time on a track trying to match the 35 kilometers per hour Kelly could bust out. But neither could except that the fourth generation of SPAERTAN-III's were capable of Doctor Halsey's original super soldiers.
"Okay, Jake grab that SRS99C-52 sniper rifle. Your our shooter here. Jill, rockets. After that, any other weapon you want." Geo walked to the far wall in front of him. He tended to favor the MA5B Assault rifle and the BR55-Battle rifle. He slung both on the black, magnetic panel on the back of his SPI armor. He turned to his SPARTANS, they too chose to take the BR55, along with a hand full of extra clips and 4 fragmentation grenades. "Good. SPARTANS, lets make this mission quick, silent, and easy."
A few minuets later, The three had strapped into the egg shaped pods and the ONI ship launched them towards the surface of Hail. Finally, some time to think. Geo removed his helment, something SPARTAN-III's were not often allowed to do. His thick brown hair had grown an easy 5 inches past regulation length, but he didn't mind. He preferred it like that. He looked blankly at his reflection's blue eyes in the reflective glass panel infront of him. The age of 6...all of us were taken at the age of 6 ten years ago. And now look at us. Allied with the Elite's stomping out the Insurrection. Geo had lived on Earth for only six years before the UNSC found him and took him away from home to train him. He learned from the best. SPARTAN-II's that had fought in the Human-Covenant War past down their knowledge and skill to the next generation. "Busy thinking?" Geo had almost forgotten about his Smart AI. Issued to him by Lord Hood right before his drop. "Huh? Ohh, no just thinking." A holo pad to his left flickered to life. A small Holographic girl stood only inches from his face. She had long, jet black hair, and wore a bright green dress. Pail skin, and brown eyes. Geo could help but wonder who this AI was modled after. Each Smart AI was the flash clone computerized version of an extremely smart person. Most Smart AI's die after 7 years, by that time they enter "rampancy" and literally think them selves to death. But there was an exception. Geo had met Cortana. The small but deadly AI used by John-117 during the Human-Covenant War. She had surpassed the death phase and now went with John almost every place he went.
"Well, Geo, we haven't been introduced yet, though I have read your file from the ONI database. Nice, strong, fast, and not to bad a shot either. One purple heart, and one demotion due to a disobedience of a direct order to blow up your objective." Geo looked away, "there were civilians in the area." "And the insurrectionist's leader. You let one of the UNSC's biggest threats escape. But, I know how you feel. I woud have done the same." The young SPARTAN almost forgot. Smart AI's have emotions. "Well soldier, I think you should put that helment on, and be set to come out guns blazing. Seems the Innie's know about us."
Geo slid the helment on, and plucked the AI's chip out of the holo pad, sliding it into the back of his helment. He felt the cold sensation of mercury enter his mind. "Ohh yes, I'm Kona by the way." Geo could hear her voice surround his thoughts, as if she was literally in his mind. "Well Kona, its a pleasure to meet you." Geo keyed his com channel to the other SPARTANS. "Activate your camouflage as soon as we hit the dirt. I want guns up, ready to take out any and all threats." Two green acknowledgment lights winked in the upper left hand corner of his HUD. Geo grabbed his MA5B, slung the BR55 over his shoulder, and braced himself for impact.
He watched the ground come up to meet him. He watched for movement and made mental notes of land marks and possible Inny bases. He watched the scenery until his pod slammed into the ground with a bone jarring thud. They need better chutes on these things. He was about to turn on his active camo, but it turned on by itself. "Don't worry lieutenant, I'm a step ahead of you", he could see Kona coming in handy later on. The door to the pod unlatched and came off with an explosive force. As soon as his boots hit the dirt, a hail of gun fire zipped into the pod. Rounds bounced and pinged off his armor, but he pushed on. He sprinted to the nearest clump of trees. Okay, enemy contacts are hidden. Tree line behind me, and a small river 30 meters in front of me. He keyed his com channel, "SPARTANS acknowledge." He held his breath until the 2 green lights winked on. Geo gave a sigh of relief, and pushed forward through the trees.
On the other side of the trees, an armored Warthog LRV (obviously stolen UNSC property) was parked. A large built man was thumbing the triple barrled LAAC gun's trigger, spreading a large amount of high density ballistics rounds in slow, sweeping motions across the area. Geo raised his MA5B, and leveled the barrel with the mans chest, he flicked the safety, but a split second before he pulled the trigger, a M9 SSM JackHammer rocket impacted the all terrain vehicle. In the blink of an eye, it had been reduced to a pile of smoldering, charred mettle. The remaining Innie's scattered. Two ran right past Geo, taking refuge in the same clump of trees as him. Geo slowly unsheathed his combat knife. Silently, he snuck up behind the two of them. With pinpoint accuracy he dug the 6 inch blade into the closest man's spinal chord, letting him drop. The man let out a horrifying scream, alerting the other to the presence of a hidden enemy. Geo dropped low to the ground, as the insurrectionist turned and swept the area with an M7 SMG. Bits of tree bark and wood splinters flung through the air, bouncing off of his Semi Powered Infiltration armor. From across the open field came a crack that ended the Innie's rampage, and life.
"Team work. You SPARTANS do know how to work with each other." On any other day, he would have been happy to agree, but right now he had to silence these trigger happy pests. Geo stood and jogged out of the trees, grabbing his knife along the way. He brought the assault rifle up and let out 5 short controlled bursts. To mop up the last of the Innies that had formed up behind the Warthog's decimated body. Jake took his time to carefully lay out head shots to the retreating enemies.
"Good job guys." Jakes voice crackled over the com. "I don't see any more, but I say we form up and get the hell out of here before reinforcements show up." "Agreed", Jills soft voice filled his helmet's internal speakers. Geo gave a quick jog back to the ODST drop pods, and waited for his team. "I counted 16 dead Innies in a total of 3 minuets. Know I know why you got the name Wolf Team." Kona had opened a secure line for the SPARTANS to communicate through. "Guys, I'd like you to meet Kona. She will be our AI on this mission", Geo stated. "Actually Geo, I was issued to you. Partners for life." Nice, a new friend. The SPARTAN thought to himself.
Jill and Jake jogged together back to the pods. "Okay, lets be quick about this. Grab all the ammo you can take, com equipment, beacons and everything else we may need. "Sorry to interrupt, but you wont need com equipment or beacons with me around." Kona's voice sounded amused with the fact that she was everything the SPARTANS needed. "Well you heard the woman, weapons only."
Jill dug out a few high explosive charges and stowed a few plasma grenades (standard issue since the alliance with the Elites) away in her armor. Jake Carefully wrapped up a night vision scope, and extra rifle barel, and replacement bolt. Geo had what he needed, all tucked away in his mind.
"Okay, I want a fast march to the Innie's main base. Intel has it that this is where our man is. Jake, I want you to take out Short, provided we can get you a clear shot. Jill if we find him in heavy armor, a JackHammer should take him out. Any questions?" Jill raised her hand. "What is your job?"
Geo thought back to the day he met Kelly. She was his idol. "I'm the rabbit. I doubt any of the can catch me. If thats it, we should be on our way." A second of silence ment the beginning of the mission.
In single file line they marched out into the forrest.
Captain Short was standing in the Insurrectionists Intel room with his staff of well trained military specialists. Short was a tall, built man with a greying buzz cut. He slamed a clenched fist onto the Intel rooms large, rectangular table. "What did you say?" His battle analysis officer cleared his throat and spoke nervously, "SPARTANS sir. Not sure how many, but we know they took out that out post. And they are smart ones too. They didn't take the bait, I guess once the welcome party was killed off, the knew you weren't there." "Of course they knew I wasn't there! ONI takes time on ops like this. All we can do, is how they don't know about our allied forces. They are what has held us together for so long." The room fell silent. But finally one of his men spoke up. "They can't know sir. All files on our alliance are on paper, and we only speak in person. You even made these rules yourself to-" "And what the fuck do you know about ONI, shit for brains? The Office of Naval Intelligence can be in your face, you still wouldn't know it. Thats why you need me! I am your politics. I am your military. I am your connections." Short turned to the rest of the room. "Snipers in the towers, activate the land mines, and I want full air ops 24/7. Hornets and Pelicans flying over the perimeter every mother fucking moment of the day! Ohh yes, WartHogs to be on patrol within 25 clicks of this facility."
Wolf Team had marched nearly 17 miles. The sun had set and early morning was upon them.
Geo had ordered them to sleep and rest near a small pond Jill was fast asleep, he helment off. Geo looked at her, taking the rare occasion. It wasn't often that he could see his fellow SPARTANS in the flesh. Her once deep brown hair was a faded dirty blond. Her skin was unnaturally pail from extended use of the SPI armor. Even though her physical appearance had slightly changed, she was still the cute girl he met ten years ago. Geo looked up a bit. Jake sat hunched up in an indian style, kneeling hybrid position. He was taking slow sweeps of the area with his night vision scope. Geo, looked back at Jill and slowly he began to feel his eyes close and fell fast asleep.
"Hes out cold Jake. I think that puts you in charge." Kona was using the secure channel she created to communicate with the SPARTAN. "Great. Just what I wanted, two sleeping soldiers under my command. Think you could wake up the Lieutenant?" "Not yet. He needs the rest. Just keep checking the area soldier." Jake gave a sigh and went back to sweeping the horizon. "Nothing..." He gently set his snipe rifle, making sure the scope never touched the ground, and removed his helment. He was 16 years old, but could easily pass as 13. When he went through the bio augmentation, the UNSC injected a chemical into his brain that contained a liquid he was highly allergic to. He survived with only a regressed age affect. But other than that, he had dark hazle eyes, blond hair, and freckles.
The young soldier plucked a cantine from his belt, popped off the cap and took half a sip. His eyes went wide when he heard it. The hum of 3 mongooses. He replaced the cantine and slipped on his helment. "Kona, wake his ass up!", "On it." He shouldered his rifle, while slightly nudging Jill with his foot. "C'mon, wake up" Through the scope he watched the three vehicles travel in a loose formation. Each driver held an M7 SMG, and each passenger had Brute shots. Brute shots....odd, no one has used those since the Covenant war. Jake pushed the weaponry to the back of his mind.
"Sir, wake up!" Geo's eyes opened, his hand went instinctively to his MA5B. "Report?" Kona was quick to reply, "three enemy mongooses. Drivers are lightly armend, but the passengers have alien weapons. Brute shots, sir." "Explosive rounds, used by the Brutes." He leaned forward and tapped on Jill's shoulder. "Get up Jill." The girl squinted her eyes, the slowly tried to sit up. "Stay down. Grab your JackHammer." Jill gave a slight nod, reached for her helment and rockets, then scooted close to Geo. "Kona uploaded the situation to your HUD", Geo told her. He switched to his BR55, and looked through the scope. "Jake, have they acknowledged us?" "Not sure, I know that the gunners continue to look in our direction, but nothing to say they found us." Kona busted through the conversation, "intel from their com channel, its a search party. They know about us, but theres a lot of confusion. Our best bet would be to wait this out and stay-" Kona was cut short due to a heavy explosive round from a brute shot detonating a few meters away. "Open fire! Activate camouflage!" Geo was barking out commands as he tracked the nearest mongoose with his scope. He pulled the trigger and a short, three shot burst erupted from the rifle. He watched as the rounds sunk into the drivers chest, peeling him off the small four wheeler. The gunner let out a few random shots, the shells detonating all around the SPARTANS. Geo let out another burst that took the gunner in the forehead.
Jake pulled the trigger as soon as the first shell went off to his left. The 14.5mm x 114 armor piercing round struck dead into the gunners skull, and a quick adjustment and one shot later took down the driver. "Inbound Hornet, heads up." Kona was providing vital intel as the trio combated the enemy.
"Jill, you heard her. Heads up."
Jill had her rocket on her shoulder, aiming at the last mongoose. "One second, I got this guys." She squeezed the trigger and the massive shaped charge flew the air, catching the vehicle in the front just as it was turning towards them. The dull thump of a Hornet's blades filled her ears she changed her stance to face it. The cockpit sat low in the center of the two caged blades that held it aloft. Door gunners sat on both sides of the small, deadly air to ground craft, strafing the flat plain with razor tipped rounds. Okay, I get one shot at this. She breathed slowly, then pulled the trigger. The pilot saw the plume of smoke, and tried to avoid the explosive round, but the rocket hit the right blade and blew up. Bits of metal and derbies fell to the ground as the Hornet crashed down.
"Okay, police the field, BR's out", barked Geo. He slowly approached the downed Hornet, gun leveled. A short bust of machine gun fire strung out from the wrecked air craft. He ducked low, and circled the vehicle. "Come out, hands up", he commanded to his opponent. A small figure crawled out. The pilot survived, but both of his legs had been snapped at the shin bone. Blood oozed from the wounds. "I surrender. Don't kill me! Please!" Geo walked infront of him and deactivated his camouflage. "Sorry. No prisoners." Geo raised his rifle, and watched a look of terror form to the man's face. A three shot burst tor into the insurrectionist's head. His skull caved in, and the body flopped onto the grass, lifeless. "SPARTANS, disperse." The group left the wreckage.
