A second later a dot flew overhead, and smaller dots dropped from it. As the first dot vanished, the other dots became blobs, then figures, then UNSC Paratroopers. They activated their parachutes as they drew close, and rolled as they hit the ground, parachutes disconnecting. They stood up almost in unison and saluted me. I saluted back and checked they were all there. Baron, my Right Hand Man, stood in the front, armed with a MA37. Chatter, the newest member, stood behind him, holding a M7 Submachine Gun. Spark, the explosives specialist, was holding a M319 IGL Grenade Launcher. I could tell she was itching to use it. Behind him was Chopper, our hand-to-hand specialist and only team member able to pilot air vehicles. The final member of the team is Silent. He doesn't talk much, but is deadly with any weapon he chooses to use. They all wore the same armor, which was rougly 5 milimeters thick and encased their whole body, with a dark green visor and camoflauge paint. Each had large, spuare shoulder pieces, which were quite thick. They covered half of our faces while we were aiming down our weapon's scopes. On the left side of the chestplate was the UNSC Enblem (which looked like an eagle sitting on a planet, with UNSC written on a piece of thin paper going across the bottom of the planet), and the Paratroopers name and number written in bold white text below it.
Our mission today was to sneak into a Covenant Base from behind and place some C12 Charges on the important buildings - their versions of Barracks and Armories and their Methane Storages, as well as any other buildings we chose to explode. Knowing Spark, probably as many as possible. On the way there, we were supposed to meet up with 4 other squads of Paratroopers at a small lake in a clearing of the huge forest the Covenant chose to build a base in. Speaking of clearings, that's where we were now, in a small clearing. 4 Grunts lay dead in the middle of it. They had been sitting there when I found the clearing. I had tossed a Frag Grenade into their midst and blown them all to hell, then charged the Elite Minor that had been leaning against a tree on the other side. I wasn't sure why they were there. Probably a patrol taking a rest. As I was thinking, Spark was darting around, collecting Plasma Grenades from the fallen aliens. Plasma Grenades stuck to living things and packed a huge punch. Get hit with one, and your life is over. Silent had also looted the bodies, taking a Plasma Pistol. Before I met him, I would have thought taking one of them things stupid. That was before he demonstrated their ability to be overcharged so they could take down shields and stop vehicles. I grabbed one too, just in case, and secured it to my Kevlar Belt. No one else had taken anything. At least I thoight they hadn't until I saw Chopper switch on and then off an Energy Dagger looted from the Elite.
Now that the looting spree was over, we moved out, heading through the forest, following a pointer on out Heads Up Displays. They weren't as good as ODST HUDs, not having a Health and Energy Monitor, but it did have a Direction Pointer, Night Vision, Friend Or Foe Tagging, Radar and Communication System, so I wasn't complaining. We got halfway to the lake when we spotted another patrol moving through the forest. This one had 6 Grunts and 2 Elite Minors. Seems they noticed the one I killed was missing and sent stronger patrols. I told everyone to get down into the fallen leaves. Did I mention it's Autumn on this Planet? Hell, did I even mention the name of the planet. In case I didn't, here it is - Solus IX. Fitting name for a planet that seems never to have snow or ice. I should know, my Aunt and Uncle lived here when I was a kid, and my family sometimes visited. But it wasn't time for that. I whispered a few orders over the Comm and aimed my MA37 at the smaller Elite Minor, who was holding a Beam Rifle, a Covenant Sniper Rifle that could down any of us in one shot. Silent was going to lower the Elite's shields, and Spark was aiming for the other Elite Minor, who had a Plasma Rifle. Baron and Chatter's job was to spray the Grunts with as much lead as they could without needing to reload, and Chopper was going to finish off any Survivors with his Energy Dagger. I waited for the patrol to get a tiny bit closer, then barked one word.
"ATTACK!"
A blob of Green Plasma hit the Elite with the Beam Rifle, popping his shields, and I opened fire on him, ripping his body open. The other Elite fired at me, hitting and heavily damaging my Shoulder Pad, before an explosion tore him apart.
"Thanks," I said to Spark.
"No problem, Boss." she whispered back.
I glanced at the Grunts, as I heard Baron and Chatter release their clips. They were all dead except one, which was reaching for it's dropped gun. Chopper activated his blade, and ran at it, stabbing it right through it's temple. I heard the hissing of an Energy Sword as he switched the Energy Dagger off. Wait... Energy Sword?
"Chopper, get down. Everyone else, shoot!" roared Baron.
A point appeared on my hud. I saw a faint shimmer in the air there. Chopper hurled himself to the ground and I emptied what was left of my clip at it. Unfortuantley, 10 bullets didn't pierce it's shield. It did, however, make it show up, revealing it as a Spec Ops Elite, and a Grenade sailed towards. It ducked and the Grenade hit a thin tree, which toppled and caught alight.
"Whoops!" shouted Spark.
Chatter charged the Elite with his Combat Knife. It roared a challenge and swiped at him, but he dodged and stabbed at it's arm, his blow glancing off it's shield. Chatter was incredibly agile, but not all that strong. The Elite kicked him and he flew back into the piles of leaves. His reckless attack had given me and Baron time to reload. We emptied our clips at it, and it staggered and fell into the flames. The flames now burning the land around us. Even worse, they were burning Chopper's leg.
"Shit, sorry Chopper!" shouted Spark, pulling him away as we ran.
"Get some water on his leg!" ordered Baron.
Spark fumbled with her Water Canteen with one hand, prying it open and tipping it over Chopper's leg.
"Chopper, are you okay?" she asked frantically.
Chopper groaned. I checked his FOF Tag, and told Spark the news.
"He's unconscious, but he'll live."
"Oh thank god," Spark exclaimed.
Spark loved us all in a friendly manner (Except Chatter, who she argued with, lots), and I don't think she'd be able to take it if her Grenade Launcher had caused one of us to die. I don't think she would have been able to take it if any of us died in any way. We'd all be devastated, but Spark... She'd break down inside. Lucky for her (and all of us) none of us had ever been wounded enough to be kept out of combat for more than a few months. Ah, damn, I just jinxed it didn't I? When we got a good distance from the fire we stopped running and stripped Chopper's leg armor. His fatigues underneath were burnt and his leg red and black in places. Nothing fatal, but it probably hurt like hell. Baron ordered Chatter to stay here with him and guard him. The following conversation was vaugley amusing.
"But I don't wanna!"
"But orders say so."
"But I don't wanna!"
"But orders say so."
"But I wanna shoot Elites!"
"But some might come here."
"But most will be at their base!"
"Will you both SHUT UP, you sound like Chatter and Spark!" I shouted.
"But I am Chatter!"
"SHUT UP!" I yelled.
I heard Spark laughing through the Comm, and slammed my head against a tree, cracking my visor. Spark laughed even more. God, this would be a long mission.
