Chapter 1: Engage!

0753 hours July 16th, 2554 (military calendar)

Epsilon Eridani System, Planet Harvest

UNSC Supply Base 223 "Sidewinder"

It is Year 2554; the Covenant Hierarchy is getting extremely impatient with their delays of the destruction of Earth. Harvest, a planet once lost to the Covenant has been restored to its former glory under the Covenant radar, and now is the military outpost that is twice as much as Reach had been, producing the deadliest ships in the UNSC's Fleet.

It is now, however, discovered and is a primary target to the Covenant. Battles now rage in orbit around Earth and Harvest. The humans' counterattack took the alien race by surprise, and now, with more morale than ever, the humans understand that they have a fighting chance.

The fact that the enemy was so damn close had Admiral Richard Hastten at worry for nearly the entire morning. The young Admiral had been on edge, ever since Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood had promoted him from Lieutenant. And, since Hood had left to defend Earth, Hastten had been the highest ranking officer in the installation; thus leaving the newly promoted officer in command. Right now, he really wished he'd never been. Hastten ran his hands through his orange-cropped hair, and his blue eyes showed all signs of worry.

The UNSC Supply Installation-holding 4 of UNSC supplies- was built inside a canyon on the pole region of Harvest, which had just grown its population back thanks to Admiral Stanforth's campaign to save the planet. "Sidewinder" as the Marines had dubbed it, was a long, snowy, cold as hell canyon with two bases at both ends, and one outpost in the middle, which opened the meter thick blast doors at either end. The Admiral still didn't feel safe, even with reinforced concrete and Titanium-armor, as well as one MAC gun per base and the canyon with symmetrically designated Gauss and LAAG turrets placed around the long stretch.

Hastten walked over to a console and inspected the surrounding area, which was ten kilometers in radius on radar. Right on the edge of the ten kilometers was twenty-three large red dots, approaching slowly. Hastten had the base on full alert, had every marine inside the base, and kept the turrets manned as well as the Magnetic Accelerator Cannons hot. According to the radar, the force assaulting the base was twenty-three Covenant drop-ships, packed to the max with Covenant soldiers, no doubt. Losing this base would be a crippling loss for the UNSC and losing wasn't an option.

Then again, losing was never an option in Hastten's eyes. It never was an option in the eyes of any UNSC officer.

There was a small beeping from the NAV console as the Covenant approached another kilometer. "Weapons station one, the MAC guns are hot, right?" the Admiral addressed a new Lieutenant who had just taken Hastten's place on the Weapons console. The new officer had spunk, and he was a brave soldier as well. He was young, and although his hair was a half- inch longer than protocols applied, followed the marines' code down to the letter. He was scrawny, and at first glance, wasn't very soldierly looking. Looks were deceiving however, as William Harrison was fearless in the eyes of his opponents. Admiral Hastten didn't think he'd have anyone else on Weapons Station.

Lieutenant William Harrison replied "Aye, sir, MAC cannons hot 'n ready to blow the shit out of any Covenant ship, sir."

Admiral Hastten smiled "Very good, remember to keep all turrets around this base to stay on high alert. Lieutenant Jaggers, how far until the Covenant reach this station?"

"Sir, it'll take approximately forty minutes before the Covenant set foot on this installation." Jaggers replied

"Set foot, huh?" the Admiral snorted "They be a meaty pulp before they touch ground. Thank you, Lieutenant."

Jaggers had just flown in from space around Reach, just transferred from Captain Keyes vessel for cowardliness in the face of the enemy. Admiral Hastten still didn't know if he could trust the officer, but he had served fine so far. Then again, they had been in almost no battles, and the "battles" they had been in were just simple skirmishes. He was a very pessimistic officer, with short, brown hair and a slightly stocky build/

All around he saw fear, anger, emotionless, or placid faces on deck, whether it be a marine or the techie on a station. The Admiral tried his best to hide his fearful face from those who looked his way, because when the commanding officer was worried, that meant others would worry and that was the last thing a newly promoted Admiral needed.

"Sir," Jaggers cried, "Covenant are picking up speed, I'll recalculate the approximate time of their arrival."

"Do it!" Hastten barked, "Weapons station one, tell all weapons to face course zero-zero-three."

"Aye, sir, weapons facing course zero-zero-three." William replied

Jaggers finally said "Covenant are arriving at near full speed, it'll be twenty-minutes before they arrive."

The admiral nodded then walked over to the intercom and touched the button. There was a crackling noise as it came on. If the Covenant were packed to the max as Hastten thought they would be, then he would have to rely on sheer tactics to defend it. "Jaggers, give me the intercom, now!" Admiral Hastten barked.

"Aye, sir," Jaggers clicked a series of commands on his keyboard "OK, sir, the intercom is all yours."

Admiral Hastten spoke "OK marines, as you are no doubt aware, the Covenant is en-route to this station. They will arrive in approximately twenty-minutes. I want as many Scorpion tanks and as many Warthogs as we can get in front of each blast door. Plant lotus anti-tank mines in front of the blast doors behind you as well. Ladies, Gentlemen. Good luck, Admiral Hastten out."

"Sir, preparations have begun," William said, wiping the sweat off his face. "I have all Gauss and LAAG turrets ready to open up."

"Excellent, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Jaggers, what's the estimated arrival of the Covenant now?"

"Ten minutes encounting, sir. They keep on picking up speed." Jagger's hands danced across the keyboard.

The Admiral nodded "Assemble the marines, pronto. We'll need every able-bodied soldier fighting. Head count, Jaggers?"

"We have around…Two-hundred-sixty-five marines and seven ODST teams of six."

"Excellent," Hastten laced his hands behind his back "Time to blow the shit out of the enemy…"

Behind his back his fingers crossed in a fervent prayer.

Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Corporal Jared Jacques of slapped a fresh clip into his BR55 Rifle, examined his belt for his pistol, and double-checked his grenades. He wasn't doing this as a checkup, he'd already done that, the truth was; it was this process that cleared his mind the easiest. Around the hangar, men and women prepped for combat, a massive Scorpion Tank rolled by, along with several Warthogs. Word was Covenant was headed to Sidewinder, with a force that was sure as hell to overcome it. Jared's face was smiling like he had all the morale in the world, like he was ready to kick Covenant ass.

Truth was he was as scared as a cat hearing a loud crack of thunder.

He sighed and got up, right as the intercom came on. The familiar voice of the installation's new commander, Admiral Hastten broke through the brief issue of static "OK marines, as you are no doubt aware, the Covenant is en-route to this station. They will arrive in approximately twenty-minutes. I want as many Scorpion tanks and as many Warthogs as we can get in front of each blast door. Plant lotus anti-tank mines in front of the blast doors behind you as well. Ladies, Gentlemen. Good luck, Admiral Hastten out."

He slung his rifle over his shoulder and jammed his hands in his pockets "Good luck my ass." Jared grumbled as he walked over to a stationary Scorpion tank and sat on the treads.

His feet dangled as he began to review the first day he engaged the Covenant threat.

The blast door broke open and a wave of plasma tore through the smoke, ripping through human flesh and the cover they hid behind. Jared watched as men he trained with and for died, dropping to the deck like stones or clutching their wounds in complete agony. Jared felt a surge of adrenaline as he popped out from cover and unleashed a grenade followed by a lethal volley of SMG rounds. Several Covenant soldiers fell dead or mortally wounded.

The Covenant soldiers took notice of his act and sent streams of plasma his way. Plasma singed his suit and burned his body until his legs gave out and he dropped to the deck issuing a distinct cry of pain before he blacked out.

Jared snarled as he looked at his scars. He remembered them saying he was going to die, oh no, not Jared Jacques. ODST to the core, he willed himself to live and continued serving until now. This was only his third engagement against the Covenant. The UNSC Supply Post had the forces to successfully defend, then why was he so twitchy?

"Hey, mate, calm down wouldja, watchin' you's makin' me scared."

Jared looked around for the voice, until finally his gaze settled on the driver of the Scorpion tank.

"You're talking to me?" Jared asked, blinking in surprise.

"Sure am, mate, why you so scared, eh? Those Covenant SOB's 'll get what they deserve trust me." He hit the ignition and the massive vehicle came to life, rumbling through the deck plates and vibrating through Jared's body. The marine patted his vehicles armor, smiling.

"Th' names Vincent Skiborough." The young Australian driver said, popping the hatch. He extended his hand, which Jared firmly shook.

"Jared Jacques," Jared replied, releasing his grip "I'm ODST, you a marine?"

"Uh-huh, hardcore marine to you, mate," he spat on the deck "I've blasted through Covenant lines as thick as blast door in front of us and have had my body burnt all around. I'm still alive and kickin' in those SOB's faces." He winked at Jared.

Suddenly, the klaxons began their shrill scream and everywhere flashed red. Jared hopped off the tanks treads and darted over to a nearby camera console. Vincent followed. One the camera, the Gauss and LAAG turrets lit up the sky with magnetic bursts and peppered shadowy figures in the snowy cannon, to an enemy Jared could barely make out. Just then, a flaming Covenant U-Shaped drop ship careened over the canyons edge, and smashed straight into an adjacent wall. Not before, however, the side doors opened and several Elites, Jackals, and Grunts jumped out. Two unharmed drop ships followed, then several more that were bathed in turret fire. Three exploded before their load could be dropped, and mangled bodies dropped dead from the sky.

There were now nineteen Phantom and U-Shaped drop ships in the air with more than half- releasing their soldiers. Seventeen of the symmetrically designated forty-five turrets were swallowed in plasma fire, and then engulfed in an explosion. "OK, I WANT ALL MARINES READY TO KICK ASS! QUADRUPLE TIME!" a Sergeant appeared from nowhere, barking commands.

Jared's adrenaline spiked to a critical level as everyone around him sprung into action. The Covenant had touched foot on base. The battle had begun.

Jared unslung his battle rifle and ran over to the Scorpion tank where his friend sat, punching in a series of buttons before he glanced up at Jared, smiling. "They've come, and when they break open that door, I'll give them one holy hell!"

Jared patted his rifle "Save some fun for me, would you? My rifle doesn't like it when she can't shoot live targets."

"Oh there'll be plenty, mate." Vincent said, and shut the hatch intently focusing on the blast door.

Jared heard marines shouting orders to get Lotus anti-tank mines on the rear blast door. Jared hopped off the tank and took cover the slot between the vehicles treads. He checked his ammo again to clear his mind "I'll make it through this, just like I did before, there is no way I'm gonna die today, no way, no how."

He peeked around the heavily armored tread and zoomed through his rifle's scope, as intent as his friend was to opening up as soon as one of the inhuman SOB's poked their heads out. Then he realized just how quiet the room was, save the Scorpion and Warthogs engines rumbling. Sweat slithered down Jared's cheek and into his jacket. It was pure quiet until the intercom burst out and a loud scream issued through static "There breaking through damn it," the was a brief moment of gunfire then the frantic voice continued "Hangar One is lost! We're pulling out to number two!"

"Roger Corporal, pull your team back to our position," the Sergeant spoke through an unencrypted comm link "We'll be ready for you."

"Aye, sir pulling ba- Arrrrgh! Ah, shit no, get ready there comin-" static fuzzed through the intercom.

"Damn…" the Sergeant muttered.

Just then, a brief white flash outlined the blast door, and pieces of it flew everywhere in heated slag form. Vincent pulled the trigger, which sent a spray of bullets ripping into the smoke, the LAAG turrets followed suit. There was what seemed like hundred screams of agony, then the smoke cleared to reveal a massive Covenant force aiming straight at them.

Jared froze up.

"God damn it all!" Vincent shouted, and pulled the primary weapons trigger. A missile shot from the Scorpions barrel, then exploded in the middle of the Covenant force, sending mangled bodies everywhere. He pressed it again. More bodies flew. Then the Covenant sent a stream of plasma his way. The plasma collided with the thick armor, melting through the treads like fire through paper.

"Oh, hell, no!" he popped the hatch and rolled out behind a barrier, just as a plasma grenade landed in his seat, and exploded in a bright white flame. The massive tank shut down, fire sprang out the engine. Jared made a run for it. He lifted his BR55 rifle and let three bursts fly through the air and into a blue elites head. The first six bullets collided with the shield, and then it flickered and died allowing the others to pass into the alien's skull.

Marines had fire coming from the muzzle of their weapons, sending more hell into hell itself. The Covenant responded in kind. Jared took cover as the tank burst into flame; he keyed Vincent "Hey, you still alive?"

"Alive, and kicking!" Vincent gasped, letting his SMG's drain bullets into the crowd of Covenant.

"Well that's good news," Jared peeked out, aimed and shot. Three rounds collided into the side of a shielded Jackals head. The alien slammed into a nearby grunt that was about to throw a plasma grenade, but dropped it in the collision. A blue-white flame vaporized the two.

"Nice shot," Vincent complemented while he discarded both his SMG's and picked up a dead marines battle rifle, sending a burst into an explosive barrel. Shrapnel and flame tore those unfortunate enough to stand next to it.

"My complements," Jared examined the room, realizing how many comrades were dead on the floor "We can't win this fight as we are, we'll need a rocket launcher or something explosive, like an-"

"Lotus Anti-tank mine?" Vincent finished for him

"Yeah one of those would do."

"Say no more, I'll disarm it then bring it to you." Vincent retreated to the rear blast door, careful not to draw attention to himself.

Jared covered his back. He asked, "How long is it going to take you to disarm that thing?"

"Wait a minute…now! I got it, cover me as I head to your position." Vincent broke off in a sprint, willing his legs to elongate as he flew across the hangar. Plasma followed in his wake. He skidded to a halt a few inches from Jared, gained his balance- smiling -the showed Jared the disk.

"Good, now set the timer for five seconds and give it to me." Jared commanded.

Vincent clicked a few buttons and a digital 5 appeared on it "Here you go!"

Jared switched his comm to an all around frequency and screamed "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" and tossed the disk like a Frisbee.

…4…every marine backed from the door, weapons blaring.

…3…the disk landed and skidded to a halt at a zealot's foot.

…2…the alien warbled in surprise as he began to back away.

…1…Jared took cover and closed his eyes.

There was an enormous explosion, obliterating everything in a twenty-foot radius, even the elite commander. Covenant where thrown everywhere like rag dolls as explosive barrels caused a chain reaction.

Jared shouted over the chaos "Counterattack!"

Marines and ODST troopers emerged from cover, taking aim at any alien dumb enough not to take cover. Jared watched as two marines mowed down an elite with SMG's in each hand. The alien's; realizing their attack had failed, retreated deeper into the building. Several teams followed.

"We need cleanup teams in those halls now!" the Sergeant barked.

Jared and Vincent formed up and began their march into the corridors that honeycombed the canyon walls. "Its cleaning time!" Jared whooped, "Let's go kick some alien ass!"

Akas 'Putomee, a zealot in the Covenant forces, stood in a phantom drop-ship with his arms crossed, a cape draping down his back and an energy sword blazing to life in his right hand. Altogether, he looked rather intimidating, especially when he was angry.

Right now, he was angry.

"How did the invasion go?" 'Putomee's deep voice broke the irritable silence.

"According to the leader, it failed. The humans managed to break our lines."

'Putomee banged the wall with his left hand and signaled an Elite in black armor " Commander 'Duramee, go and purge the infidels inside, this base must fall at all costs."

"My lord, what if we could bombard the base and force the humans out?" 'Duramee proposed, intent on examing his carbine.

"A rather ungraceful method of victory," 'Putomee smiled "Excellent idea. How many turrets do we have remaining?"

"We have one operational, one gone, and the other needs repairs." Another Elite replied.

"Then…" 'Putomee trailed "We shall send a team inside to lure them out, in which we shall bombard their front entrance trapping them outside for good, then all that remains is-"

"Extermination." 'Duramee finished.

'Putomee laughed, "Excellent work, now assemble your team and chase them out. I love killing trapped prey."

'Duramee bowed "Lord," And descended down into the snowy cavern below with several others.

"How are preparations going, taking the other base?" 'Putomee asked.

"That base is already under our control." The Elite replied.

"Excellent, now all we need to do is as planned, then we have a foothold on this filthy human inhabited planet!"

The other Elites scowled as they were deployed.

Uyo 'Duramee landed deftly on the snow and swept the area with his carbine before he activated his camouflage. "Time to die, infidels."

…. To be continued in Chapter 2: Coagulation…