Disclaimer: See chapter 1 for the disclaimer.
Fire Team Charlie and Sergeant Howell ran up and across the street in a diagonal line. They reached the corner of a building on the intersection and held position there, covering all four streets.
"Charlie set, Delta bound." Brutal said into his comm. From down the street they'd just crossed, the three surviving members of Fire Team Delta, as well as Doc Valdez, came running up the street in the same path as Charlie, the whole time they were covered by the other team. When Delta reached Charlie's position, Brutal looked up the north street. They still had several blocks to go before turning west. Fortunately, it would then be a straight shot to the friendly position where they'd be picked up. Even more fortunately, it wasn't far away at all, 2nd Squad would make it long before their deadline was up. Hell, they'd make it long before sundown today.
"Delta, see that broken storefront?" Howell asked as he pointed to the store in question. When Corporal Valance gave the affirmative, Howell gave the order. He and Delta Team then ran for the store front while being covered by Charlie Team. Once they reached the safety of the store's interior, they halted.
"Delta set, Charlie bound." Brutal relayed, then helped Delta cover Charlie as they moved to the store. This was the act of bounding, a way for teams to leap frog from position to position, a trick well in use by militaries since the late 20th Century. They continued bounding north, and it wasn't until they were two blocks from the "turning point" that they ran into trouble.
"Charlie, see that-" Brutal started but was cut off by Corporal Hatcher.
"Movement." the Charlie Team Leader simply stated.
"Where?" Howell asked.
"Three blocks east, looks like a Grunt squad and two Jackals." Hatcher replied. Brutal looked that way and saw the enemies. He thought on what to do before giving his order.
"Charlie, head back one block. Delta will bound to your position, we'll then head west a couple of blocks before turning north to get back on the road." he ordered.
"Can't we just kill 'em?" Foley asked.
"There might be more in the area. If there are, they'd hear the shots, and I don't wanna risk us getting swarmed." Brutal replied. Moments later, 2nd Squad was moving on a road three blocks south of the road which would lead directly to the friendly position. They were in another building with a missing front. It was dark inside, and they couldn't see anything. Howell was contemplating there next move when someone passed gas rather loudly. Several members of the squad winced and grimaced in disgust. Then they began coughing and gagging once the smell hit.
"Jesus Christ, Cotton, I think a chunk of roadkill just exploded in your ass!" Foley scolded as he waved his hand in front of his face.
"Well, sorry! I didn't even feel it comin'!" Cotton replied. Even he himself was grimacing and gagging. Several members of the squad then groaned as another loud buzz was heard.
"Aw Christ, more?!" Foley asked in disbelief.
"Hey, I admit to the first one, but that second one was not me!" Cotton replied in self-defense.
"Bullshit!" Foley replied.
"I think he's telling the truth guys." Carson said, his gaze locked on the blackness at the back of the store. As if in agreement, another buzzing sound was heard. Then another, and another, and another. Realization dawned on Brutal's face as the buzzing grew to an insane chorus.
"Drones!!" he cried before the squad dashed out of the store and across the street to cover. They'd just barely reached it when a swarm of Drones burst from the shadows of the store and opened fire with their plasma pistols. 2nd Squad returned fire, destroying the silence of the abandoned streets with the bangs and cracks of automatic and burst-fire weapons. The giant bugs began falling dead to the ground, one by one until none remained. The squad reloaded their weapons, and Brutal was just about to call for a status report when a Brute roared down the street. Its unit of Covenant soldiers appeared around the corner and charged the Marines. 2nd Squad took cover and returned fire. Brutal ordered the teams to split, Charlie covered the left, Delta had the right.
"They're pulling back!" Hatcher cried as the Covenant soon turned tail and left. He stood and fire some more rounds into their backs when a Spike Grenade impaled itself into his shoulder. He cried in pain before it detonated, sending spikes flying everywhere. When the smoke cleared, Brutal and Doc arrived at Charlie's position.
"Hatch!" Foley screamed a he sat up from where he'd fallen over. One look and everyone knew Hatcher was dead. Doc sighed and closed Hatcher's eye.
"Anyone else hurt?" Brutal asked.
"My arm got scratched again." Foley said. "Same damn one, too." Valdez set about fixing up the new wound. Sergeant Howell turned to Carson, who just couldn't stop staring at his dead friend.
"Carson." Brutal said. "Carson!" he said again, this time getting the Marine's attention.
"Sir?" Carson asked.
"You're the new Charlie Leader…can you handle that?" Brutal said. Carson thought a moment before swallowing and nodding his head.
"Yes sir…I can." He replied.
"Good. Make sure you're team's set, then we move out." Brutal ordered. When all were ready, the squad moved out, short two of its beloved members.