Hope Against Desolation – Chapter 2 "The Strom."
Planet Ledoux
Kings City
Near Evac Zone
11:12 P.M.
Thomas sped up a little, trying to stay calm. After what he just heard, he shut the radio off, everyone in the car was on edge and didn't need any more fuel to continue on. As wreckage continued to fall down from the heavens, showing more of the night sky, they continued on to the Evac Zone until they reached a line of cars stopping and entering the gate. A few minutes past as they waited, the SUV was mostly silent save a cough or sign. "Are the Covenant going to get us?" Connor said, breaking the silence. "No Connor, your father and I would never let anything happen to you two, ever." Marcelle said, looking back at Thomas as he looked back at her, hoping they were right.
Before long, they reached the gates opening, an UNSC Marine stopped them before they could cross. "We need to hurry this up so please just answer my questions and you will be on your way." The Marine said to Thomas, which he replied with a simple "ok." "Could I get the number of all family members and family name please." The Marine said again, waiting for Thomas to reply. "Yes sir, there are four of us, my wife and I, and our children. Family name is Steele." The Marine took a second as he typed the name in on a touch pad. "Ok, ok. Yeah, you would be Thomas Steele yes?" The Marine didn't look up as he spoke. "Yes sir, that's me." Thomas quickly spoke back. "Ok, move up until you come to an intersection, which you will take a right until you reach Frigate FFG-384. Marines will help you there." With that last of what he said he gave the signal for Thomas to drive off into the Zone.
The Zone was big enough to fit 4 Frigates at a time. At the moment there were 3 more Frigates above the Zone, ready to take up an empty spot. Thomas continued to drive to the intersection, taking a right as the Marine told him too. Soon they reached the Frigate, there were 6 ramps going up to different levels of the Frigate, some had people going up them, the others nothing but stuff such as clothing and other things the families took with them. Everyone was in a rush, the sooner their Frigate left, the better. Marcelle helped Connor out quickly as Beth walked out and now stayed at the back of the SUV, as she looked around her long brown hair blew in the wind that was quickly picking up due to a Frigate taking off beside theirs. As Beth looked around she saw people crying, people running, people quickly and calmly getting to there Frigates. As she looked up to see the top of another Frigate behind the one they were getting on, her gaze was quickly moved to the clouds above the Frigate, it was glowing pinkish purple with a mix of light blue. The glowing became brighter and brighter until the clouds ripped open showing an energy beam that tore through the Frigate behind theirs. Everyone started to scream as the beam slowly moved around the Frigate, causing explosions and flying objects.
The sound of alarms filled the air as the clouds continued to open to show a Covenant CCS-class Battle Cruiser over head as its Glass Cannon cooled down. SAM Turrets quickly locked on firing Archer Missiles at the Battle Cruiser. The Cruisers shield flared and flickered as Missile after Missile caused little to no damage. Without thinking Thomas quickly yelled at his family; "Get into the car, now!" They all looked at him for a second before quickly jumping back into the SUV. And as if the Cruiser was laughing at them, plasma started to rain down, first targeting the SAM Turrets, then moving between Trucks, Warthogs, Pelicans, and the other Frigates. As the Steele family shut every door Seraph Fighters started flying through the clouds, helping the rain of plasma destroying everything and everyone. Longswords and the other Frigates returned the attack, but Frigates were not much of a match for a Covenant Battle Cruiser. Be that as it were, they still opened fire with their Archer Missiles Pods as the Longswords began dogfighting with the Seraph Fighters.
Once everyone was in, Thomas hit the pedel and the SUV was off. The Seraph Fighters dived bombed the entier Zone, causing more explosions and death. Thomas shrived right and left, avoiding people and objects. "What are we doing!" Marcelle screamed. "Im not letting my family die! Not like this!" Thomas yelled as he continued to speed up, even to where he saw head on was the Zones outer fence. Thomas quickly yelled "Hang on!" as he braced himself, Marcelle and the kids quickly did also. With a huge shake the SUV bashed into the black steel fence, and started down the hill, that ended in a ditch. Half way down the hill the right tire met with a big rock, causing the SUV to tip to the left before slamming into the ground. Everyone inside had not put on there seatbelt as they were forced out of there chair right before the SUV met with the outer wall of a small bridge that led into the Evac Zone. It smashed once again, sending the SUV crashing into the ditch beside the bridge.
Connor slowly opened his eyes. He had to blink twice to try to clear up the tears before the crash, beside him was his Sister, at the front Dad and Mom, no one was moving. Connor then slowly looked up through the window, now cracked in a few places. In the sky there were many Covenant ships. Cruisers, Assault Carriers, Dropships and Fighters. Longswords were falling out of the sky, The Frigates above the Zone were no where to be seen save one that was on fire in seven different places falling down to Ledoux. Connor felt a sharp stab of pain before shuting his eyes, and sliping unconscious.
