Chapter 2_
1705, March 10, 2551 (Military Calendar)/aboard pelican heading toward surface of unknown planet
Eric took his MJONIR mark IV helmet in hand. He stared straight at the visor where his eyes would normally be, he then flipped the helmet around and put it on then clicked a button which locked it on to his neck. Eric looked up and his SPARTANs were looking at him, he knew why they were waiting for a plan. They had never been in this kind of situation before and he had no idea what to say. He looked around the cabin
"Alright," Eric started. "Miranda you take the SPNKr missile launcher and a MA5B assault rifle, Luke you take mines and extra grenades and ammo along with a MA5K assault rifle, and Devon take a MA5B and MA5K you've got our six." They all nodded understanding what they had to carry. He had been with this team for years, yeah there had been a lot of victories, but they all came with costs. Three of his men were dead at his feet because of his commands but they all had died saving their friends lives so they could fight to end this war. There were two deaths on Loki four years ago. Loki was the biggest planet that could sustain human life. The last one had happened less than a week ago but Eric still couldn't process what had happened fully. Everyone had taken Jacob's death horribly he was always making jokes and keeping morale up but now with him gone it just wasn't the same.
An explosion rocked the ship, and interrupted Eric's train of thoughts. "We're coming in hot boys you might want to hold on back there," the pilot shouted.
"Screw it!" Eric yelled back. "Turn this pelican around and get back to the ship we'll call for your assistance." The pilot said nothing but the pelican started to turn around. He then opened a private COM channel with his SPARTANs. "Grab the jet packs I'll open the tray, on my mark we jump and activate our packs." Three green acknowledgement lights winked into existence.
He walked over to a control panel and entered in the code: BLOODYMURDER. The tray opened, the reflective surface of the planet shined below them. His SPARTANs lined up on the tray all holding hands and praying that their friends do not die today. Eric hated being in command knowing his troops would follow him until they couldn't breathe any more. He then whispered "Three . . . two . . . one, MARK!" They all dove over the edge.
Eric nose dived and fell at an alarming rate. The wind started to penetrate his shields, He had to think fast. "Everyone activate your jet packs!" Eric yelled over the COM. An explosion went off and there was an extreme temperature rise on Eric's back. He blacked out.
One hour later
"I think he's waking up." A voice said ringing in Eric's head. Gunfire rang out plasma blasts flew around the Spartans who were taking cover behind a glassed rock. A green blur went straight over his head and exploded a couple meters back. He blinked once then realized they were in the middle of a firefight.
Eric tried to stand but fell back down. He looked around then spotted the SPNKr missile launcher. He crawled over to it inch by inch. He pushed it out of cover then hefted it on his left shoulder then aimed locked onto the wraith. He fired once and hoped it was enough for it was all he could bare without blacking out again.
The missile flew straight up and curved down towards the wraith that was swerving. The covenant forces stop firing and looked up at it. They started to aim and fired all they had at it. They were all then picked off one by one from left to right. The missile somehow extraordinarily survived and exploded dead center on the wraith which caused an explosion of mass effect throwing shrapnel everywhere.
Devon lay on the ground dead with pink spikes everywhere from his head to his waist. There was no saving him. Eric stared at him knowing that Devon had saved him when his jet pack malfunctioned and exploded.
Miranda and Luke sat Eric on the glass stone. He could tell by the way they were struggling to lift him that they were tired and had been through a lot today. And that they are going to be through even more throughout the next few days.
