Location: ONI Sword Base, Babd Catha Ice Shelf, Reach.
Timestamp: July 24th 2552. 8:32 hours.
Unit ID: Senior Chief Petty Officer Vincent Fall, Pilot of Echo 263. Call sign: Valkyrie.
Objective: Return the Lieutenant to the frigate Arcadia, and return for sub mission.
_
"Lieutenant Reece?" The voice is deep, but stern.
"That's me" She points to herself, using her other hand to signal the Privates weapon down.
"Good, I'm your pilot" The man states, finally hearing the satisfying hiss that his helmet was locked into place. Kathryn continues to stare, completely shocked at the sight of the man. Taking two strides to reach her, he snaps to attention, saluting.
"Ma'am Senior Chief Petty Officer Fall, reporting for transport" His voice echoing through her chest. With slight hesitation she returns the salute. The lieutenant was completely mesmerized by the spartan. Quickly, she scanned over every part of his person, trying to find what was off about him. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks. There was something wrong with his right arm; it was smaller and thinner than the other.
"Whoa, sweet arm Chief" Corporal Ramirez states in complete awe, as he stares at Vincent's robotic appendage.
"There is nothing sweet about it Corporal..." His voice a low growl, as he looks over his arm. The wires hidden beneath the titanium, and the moving gear that allowed his arm to move regularly. A fine piece of technology, shame he had to lose the original.
"Let us get this show on the road, shall we?" Vincent's voice still projecting through Kathryn's chest. No response. Shaking his head, he moves past her and walks into the cockpit, letting the door slam behind him. The thought of his appearance ran through her head.
He wore standard issue Spartan Two armor, the only exception was his robotic appendage. That had ONI written all over it. His armor color was solid white, with a blue detail finish. Each spartan had armor according to their job or the situation. His for example was the Pilot variant chest piece, with the knife stationed across his chest for easy access. His helmet, the Pilot variant Mark III version, upgraded to full optimization. The shoulder pieces were MJOLNIR Mark V, also standard issue. One of which had the UNSC symbol painted on the side. The other minor details were of no importance, his side bag, knee plates, etc.
"If everyone would please sit down and buckle up, we could get going...Ma'am" She hadn't even realized that she had been standing the entire time. With a nod of her head, Kathryn sits, looking at the open cockpit door. Vincent stood, watching her through his visor. How long has he been standing there? The thought paced through her head.
"Are you ready ma'am?" The voice was different, she directs her attention to it. Corporal Ramirez was starring at her, half in awe, the other half in total regards to the mission.
"Yes, lets get back before I get chewed out again" Vincent nods sharply, turning and taking his seat. The pelican door slowly lifts off the ground, coming to a stop at the top, locking with a hiss of the pressure being released.
"This is Valkyrie Echo two six three, requesting permission to take off"
[...Roger that Valkyrie, you are green for lift off. Safe travels out there Two six...]
"ThanksOmega,Over and out" With those last words the pelican began to shake, as the engines roared to life. The smell of gasoline and petrol fill the cabin. Every one was used to that smell by now, after multiple flights, it becomes as fresh as air.
"Ma'am, you alright?" The voice shaky, she knew that it belonged to Private Mathews.
"Huh? Yes Private I'm fine, thanks for asking" Kathryn had to sound confident in her answer. In fact it was quite the opposite, she was bemused by Chief Fall. It had to do with voice, she was sure of it. Kathryn trembles slightly letting his voice echo again and again in her mind.
"The Frigate is just out of Reach's atmosphere, fifty clicks west of here. Estimated time of arrival should be twenty minutes" Vincent shouts from the cockpit, into the cabin. No responses, but everyone got what he had just said. The Lieutenant quickly activates her watch again, staring at the time.
"Eight forty-three" She mumbles to herself. Very slow indeed.
Vincent sat in the cockpit, his one comfort place. Strange that a man finds peace in the one place that causes the most stress. Other than being on the combat field its self. His thoughts are cut short when the pelican hits an air pocket, sending the chief lurching forward onto the controls.
Looking back into the cabin.
"Seem's like we have some rough air pockets and fronts coming. Make sure you're all buckled in. I don't want any injures on a routine run..."
"Aye-aye" The Corporal states, looking down at his buckle, fastening it tighter. Vincent couldn't help but grin as he looks out the front window again. The sight of the Ice Shelf soaring past was captivating, a white and blue blur. The pelican shakes again.
[Warning Echo two six three, we've got some bad weather coming in soon. Probably another lightening storm. Once you reach the Arcadia, dock and stay idle for awhile. We'll call you back when the storm settles.]
"Roger that Omega, thanks for the heads up" Vincent sighs slightly. Great now he was going to have to stick around even longer. Today is going to be a long day. Suddenly, an alarm sounds on the control station, making a ship log appear.
"What the?" He mumbles to himself, reading the log. He decides to call out the problem.
"We've got a slip space rip, right side. Ten clicks northwest" Vincent's tone is that of concern.
"That's too close to be one of ours. Especially not in atmosphere" Kathryn unbuckles herself, and walks into the cockpit, staring out the window to the direction Vincent stated.
"Those fools are endangering everyone at Sword base. Might as well be firing MAC rounds in atmosphere. Stupid bas-..." The purple rip opens, revealing the nose of a white metal object. Vincent could hear the Lieutenant gasp slightly as the object turned into a ship. Not a UNSC ship either. A Covenant corvette had just entered through slip space and had brought friends.
"Holy shit..." Vincent whispers, turning his attention back to the blinking control station.
[Omega to Valkyrie, we've got multiple confirmed tango's appearing from slip space. The Covenant have found Reach, I repeat the Covenant have found Reach!...]
"We've got company!" The chief exclaims, noticing the three dots racing towards his pelican.
"Corporal, I'm opening the hatch, man that gun!" Vincent points at the rising M247H Heavy Machine Gun. Ramirez smirks and quickly unbuckles, sliding loose and grabbing hold of the weapon.
"Ma'am, ever had any flight time?" He questions.
"Yes of course, I've flown everything from Falcons t-"
"Perfect, please sit and take control. I'll be right back" He stands, reaching behind his seat. Retrieving a sling of grenades and a M319 IGL Grenade Launcher.
"Those bastards are not taking my baby down" His voice a growl, as he steps into the cabin. Watching the three Covenant banshees come into view behind them.
"Ramirez open fire!" Without hesitation, he lets the gun rip. Fully automatic, changing to short controlled bursts, not wanting to over heat the weapon.
[Echo two six three, we are calling back all Spartans and personnel to assist with keeping these bastards at bay! Please res-...]
A loud deafening sound is heard over the gun fire. It was the corvette firing its first salvo at the Sword Base.
"Omega? Omega can you read me!" Nothing but static.
The banshees quickly break off, firing pot shots at the pelican, also getting peppered by the barrage of turret fire. Swaying to the left, the chief is thrown off balance, but quickly catches himself on the wall.
"Ma'am! Please keep her steady! I'll tell you when to maneuver!" Vincent levels the Grenade Launcher and waits for the first of the three banshees to slow and come into firing range. Quickly squeezing and holding the trigger; activating the EMP mode on the grenade. It soars at the first vehicle, exploding on impact. Completely crippling all electronics of that vehicle. It stalls and falls into the watery abyss below.
"OORAH!" Ramirez shouts, throwing his fist into the air. Chief loads another grenade with haste, aiming and firing again. The next banshee pilot was smarter, and dodged. Bleeding his engine at the last second to avoid the explosive.
"Smart bastard" Vincent growls, loading another shot. Ramirez has kept them at bay for the most part. Not wanting to wander too close because of the grenades, but that hasn't stopped them from firing their own plasma at them. The second banshee swings in too close and gets pelted by the barrage of turret fire, engulfing the enemy plane in flames and sparks. It explodes mid air, making the third banshee nearly crash. The remains fall into the water below.
"Whoo! Take that Covy bastards!" And by Ramirez's words, the odds in the dogfight were tipped towards the enemy. The last of the banshees releases a hail of plasma fire onto the pelican. Plasma fire stops, as the banshee falls back slightly.
"Ma'am! Start maneuvering now!" Vincent shouts towards the Lieutenant, turning his attention back in to the enemy craft. Another bang, not as deafening as the salvo, but closer. A green fuel rod missile hurdles towards the pelican, threatening to enter the cabin. Lucky the pelican banks to the left, nearly dodging the fuel rod. Chief was ready this time, he quickly grasps onto the railing above, holding on with one hand, the other aiming and firing the grenade launcher.
An explosion ripples through the cabin and cockpit, making everyone shake violently.
"They've got the right engines!" Kathryn exclaims, trying to keep the pelican as steady as she can.
"Where did that even come from?" Ramirez shouts, keeping the banshee off of them.
"We've got more friends coming, southwest! Watch out!" She flips a switch, turning on the chin-mounted 40mm rotary cannon. Another explosion, crippling both of the main engines. Ramirez swings violently with the explosion, slipping off of the mounted Heavy Machine Gun.
"AHH-" Ramirez screams, but is cut off by the sight of Private Mathews holding onto the mounted gun and the Corporals wrist.
"Oh thank god! Mathews I owe you one!" Ramirez shouts into the cabin, trying to hold his grip the best he can. Plasma flies past the two hanging enlisted personnel hitting the inside of the pelican. One of the plasma rounds hits the turret, making it shatter and melt away. Private Mathews loses his grip and slides off the end of the pelican still holding onto Corporal Ramirez.
"RAMIREZ! MATHEWS!" Vincent shouts, walking to the edge of the pelican. When he looks over, he couldn't see them hit the water or anything. Only heavy waves and dark water.
The Chief stands there, watching two other banshees and a phantom join in the chase after Echo two six three. Everything was going to hell with both the engines shot, and two marines dead.
Kathryn sits in the cockpit, listening to Chief Fall shout the two Marine's names, followed by silence. We're going to die aboard this ship, and the Covenant are going to be the fall of Reach...God help us all...
Told you this one would be longer! Hope you enjoyed Chapter two of Sierra Protocol, pretty intense huh? I know I messed up on a few key facts, that I didn't realize until after I did my research. Anyway thanks for reading and please drop the criticism hammer if needed. But not to hard please, thanks again!