ODST Operation Sandtrap

Part 3

Delta pulled up beside Irish's warthog. It was a wreak. The windscreen was full of holes, the engine was on fire, the turret was disabled due to the damage it sustained and the front wheels were punctured.
"How much longer until we're ready to move?" Delta asked Irish.
"Once King returns with some good tires we should be good to go. These things were designed to work until they explode." Irish replied. "Can't believe we lost half a convoy."
"Don't beat yourself up." Gustew replied. "No-one expected an entire army of rebels out here."
"Yeah, we thought it would be a bunch of Falling." Viper added.
"How many men did you lose?" Delta asked.
"30 dead and 25 injured."
"Leaving 20 of your original convoy to carry on with the mission." Delta finished. "Not the best of news."
"What are we going to do about the injured and dead?" Viper asked. "We can't just leave them here."
"But we don't have enough room to get all of them to the dig-site and we can't go back." Someone shouted from behind. They all turned to see King pushing 2 tyres towards them.
"What are you orders Captain?" Delta asked Irish. Irish paused for a moment, weighing up his options.
"I say that we repair all of the operable warthogs. They will tow those that can't function to the dig site. We'll get the injured and dead onto the warthogs and call for an extraction at the dug site. Those who can will continue with the mission."
"I don't think we have time to..." King began before Delta interrupted.
"You heard the Captain, let's get to work!"
"Why do I even bother?" King muttered before pulling the bad wheels off his warthog.

Within half an hour the convoy was on the move. Most of the warthogs were in pretty bad shape but all they had to do was get them to the dig-site. They were in three rows, the more heavily damaged warthogs in the middle. They drove for thirty minutes without any noise, bar the sound of the engines. Seems Irish had learnt his lesson.
"Delta, come in." Irish called over the radio. Guess not. "Look to your right." Delta turned his head to look at what Irish was talking about. There was a giant crater, it was massive. He was guessing, but it looked like it was 20 miles away and about 15 miles wide. In the centre of this massive hole was the remains of the Orbital Elevator.
"I didn't realize we were THIS close to the dig-site." Delta responded.
"Yeah, after the repulsers were shutdown the station drifted closer to the dig site." Irish replied back. "We're lucky we disabled it when we did. A second or so later and it would have hit the dig-site or worse. It could have hit New Mombasa."
"Oh, we would have got such a big bill if that happened."
"Yeah, and YOU would be the one paying it." King inserted.

"Hay, why me?" Delta asked.

"Because you were the one who caused it to crash."

"Actually, that was Crow..."

"Yeah, yeah. Sure it was." Everyone burst into laughter. They were like this until reached the dig-site.

After 30 minutes they reached the dig-site. Place was a sunken sand dune with a few rocks and pillars from an ancient Forerunner ruin. The warthogs pulled up and everyone got out and entered their formations. Irish began to brief them on the plan. "We have reports that rebel forces have the remaining scientists hold up somewhere inside."
"What happened to the other scientists?" one of the Marines asked.
"Those that didn't make it to us are dead." King answered.
"We have to presume that the rebels know we're here." Irish started.
"But, considering the force that ambushed us, there can't be that many left." Delta finished.
"So what's the plan?" Viper asked.
"We'll split up into two teams. Team one will consist of the bulk of the force. They will engage the enemy in the lower levels of the ruins. Your job will be to distract the enemy. Engage them and slowly press forward into their lines but be cautious. I don't want to lose anyone on this mission. Viper, you will lead this team."
Viper saluted Irish, "Thank you for this honour, Sir!"
"Team two will consist if me, King, Delta and Christ Fighter. We'll infiltrate the lower levels of the ruins while team one draws the enemy's fire. We'll make sure that the hostages are still in one peace, then flank the enemy and provide you with backup. Once we give the signal, which will be an explosion behind the rebels, I want all of you to break cover and charge the enemy. We'll have them pinned down with suppressive fire so they can't retaliate. We'll force the remaining rebels to surrender then call for an extraction for our dead and wounded. That clear?"
Everyone shouted in unison, "SIR, YES SIR!"

Irish, King, Christ Fighter and Delta crawled through a hole that they had found on the other side of the ruins and worked there way into the structure. After what felt like five minutes of commando crawling, they entered the ruin. They had arrived in a large empty part of the structure. There were four passage ways leading out of the room.

"Great, now what?" Christ Fighter asked.

"Think we should split up?" King suggested.

"What else can we do?" Delta commented. Suddenly gunfire sounded from three of the passage ways.

"Looks like team one has engaged the enemy." King started.

"Meaning that if we take these three passageways we should find the hostages." Irish finished. "Delta and Christ Fighter take the two on the right. King, your with me. We'll take the one that seems to be going up. See if we can't find somewhere to snipe from."

"Understood." Delta and Christ Fighter said in unison as the stormed off down their respected passageways.