Chapter 3: Hot Work
The marines scattered and took up defensive position around the wreckages of civilian vehicles and fired at the Ghost and its escort. The Jackals, with their personal shields, easily deflected the bullets but the Grunt was not so lucky. It took a bullet to the head and toppled off the Ghost backwards, methane leaking out of its breathing apparatus. Six saw this and an idea came to his mind.
"Hold your fire," he ordered through his com.
"Hold our fire?!" asked Wallace exasperated. "Why the hell woul-"
"Shut your mouth, Private!" Sherman yelled. "Do what your seargent tells you to do."
"I see what he's trying to do," said Logan "I got this guys."
Logan rolled out from behind the car he was behind and stood up shouting "Hey, Covenant bastards, prick me with your sting"
The Jackals couldn't understand him but they shot at him anyway. Wallace ran to an abandoned office block across the street, dodging plasma bolts as he went. The Jackals, angry that their prey had escaped, followed him towards the building. As they stepped over their fallen comrade, the Spartan took the shot. The unsuspecting Jackals never knew what hit them, one minute they were following a human into a structure, the next there was some kind of explosion that knocked them all off their feet. Three out of the four were killed in the explosion but the lead one was blown towards Six; he didn't miss a beat. He drew his trusty combat knife just as the Jackal came flying at him and thrust it right through its neck. As it came out the other side, there was a bit of resistance due to the bony plate on the back of its neck. Slowly, the marines came out from their respective hiding places.
"Eww…" said Clegg, cringing. "I could never get used killing these guys in close-quarters."
Nothing else was said for several second, then, "I call the Ghost!".
The marines whirled to face the owner of the voice, a young-looking marine by the name of Brandeis. "What?" he asked. "Is there something wrong with that?"
"You'll be on recon duty from now on," ordered the Spartan. "Maintain communications."
"Alrighty then. It's been AGES since I got to ride on one of these". Brandeis hopped into the floating vehicle and shot off into the distance.