Title: Halo 3: Sergeant McCorin Style/Chapter Three

Author: Ice-Eagle Y'Siri

Disclaimer: I don't own Halo or any associated characters, objects, concepts, etc.

Summary: As Staff Sergeant under Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, things can get pretty...interesting. What I wasn't expecting was having Elites/Grunts/and the occasional Hunter pair on my side. As the one of the only female ranking officers in his squad, I had a lot to learn.

Thanks for reviewing, all that did review! I most appreciated it! I've been trying to make each chapter longer than the last, which means more time between updates. Please be patient! Thanks and enjoy!

I admit that I'm taking creative license with parts of the story. IT WILL REMAIN MOSTLY ACCURATE. I'm just moving a coupla things around that will flow with what my character's doing. The main plot is unchanged, but some of the cast's actions will be slightly different.

We rounded the corner and crouched behind a few supply crates. I heard a shriek and turned to see a Grunt, then a Brute, go flying past us.

"Well," I said dryly, " That was unexpected." The Arbiter--I have no idea how he got ahead of us--stuck his head around the boxes and motioned for us to come forward. The sight that greeted us was not totally unsurprising. Grunts were shrieking and running in circles (I casually picked one off with my pistol), Brutes were roaring with fists flying, and my favorite idiot was right in the thick of things.

Again.

"I think that he's a trouble magnet, sir."

"Well, it only happens when you're around. Simmons had a rep for being a good kid until he got transferred to my squad."

I ducked and shot down a jackal hiding in the ceiling, "Gee, thanks, sir. But haven't most of the kiddies that have a reputation for being good suddenly become trouble in your squad? I don't recall being it only me. I'm just the only outrageous one."

"Shut it, SS."

"This is all fine and dandy for YOU guys, but could you please help me out here?!" Our dear private looked slightly frantic as he was backed in a corner by three grunts.

"Keep yer shirt on, Private. Ya ain't gonna die on my watch. Now, jump on my command. One, two...NOW!"

Three things happened simultaneously. While Simmons jumped as high as he could in the air, the Arbiter reached from the other side of the crate that he was backed against and hauled him over, and Sergeant Avery and I let fire with our machine guns. The grunts were killed instantly, and Simmons rushed over to us as soon the Arbiter set him down.

"Jeez," I muttered, "Don't even say thanks next time."

Simmons looked slightly indignant, "Ma'am, he's a Covenant. An Elite."

I snorted, "He's helped us since I've met him. He also just saved your life. The Arbiter has been civil and tried to be courteous every time I've spoken to him. You could learn to do the same."

"Kiddies, let's have this discussion later. I would like to get out of here alive. Private, you're going with the Arbiter. SS, you are coming with me to help with the wounded, as per Commander Keyes's orders. We'll leave in the last Pelican. The MC will join us. Let's go."

"Yes, sir," I sighed, "Oh, and Private Simmons?"

He turned back to look at me, "Ma'am?"

"Good luck." He smiled and saluted, then followed the Arbiter down the hall. Sergeant Johnson and I moved farther down the vehicle road, and stumbled upon a Marine knocking on the door, trying to get inside the armory.

"Hey! Open up!"

A disembodied voice floated through the door, "What's the password?"

"Password? Oh, man. I forgot."

"Forgot...what?" The voice sounded bemused.

"I forgot the password."

"See, that was almost right. Uh, see, the password begins with 'I forgot' and ends differently. Um, Try again."

The Marine (his insignia indicated he was a lance corporal) started to sound exasperated, " No, I mean, I forgot the password."

In the meantime this is going on, Sergeant Johnson and I are just staring, confused.

"What's he talking about?" I whispered, "There isn't a password that I know of."

Johnson just shrugged, "I don't know, but we've got more important things to worry about. C'mon."

"I'm being serious. I don't know the password!"

The voice was getting irritated, too, "No no no, see, you changed the first part. See, that - that part was the right part. See, now you've got the whole thing wrong!"

"No! I forgot what the password is and I just need you to open the door!"

"Alright, c'mon, man, now you're just guessing!"

I just stared. Man, if he succeeds in getting in, that Marine had better run really freakin fast. Johnson and I just shook our heads and traced our paths back to the branching off tunnel. I saved that tidbit of conversation for me to unravel later. I sighed as we entered the hangar. That was one of the most confusing things I've ever heard. And since I've joined Johnson's squad, I've heard a lot.

We entered in the midst of shouting and BOOMING explosions.

"Wipe those bastards off the deck!"

"Pelicans can't launch until the hangar's clear!" Swearing, my Sergeant Major pulled me to a higher up position on the stairs, and handed me his battle rifle, while he used a sniper rifle. Catching his drift, we began to pick off the smaller Covenant. At least, I did. Johnson started taking down all the Brutes in sight, along with the Jackals.

Once the Phantoms began to retreat, I started helping the wounded down the steps and into the Pelican as fast as possible. After the last passenger got on board, the medic slapped (well, figuratively) some biofoam on my wound, then bound it with gauze and a little medical tape. That stuff wasn't going anywhere. I felt much better immediately. Ah, the miracles of modern medicine.

"C'mon, Staff Sergeant! Back to the Ops Center!"

"Yes, sir." With the MC taking the lead, the rest of us Marines followed him back to the Ops center, where we heard something beating against the ventilation pipes. Aw, shit. If those things are what I think they are...ick. Just....ick. Drones are MESSY. And they squeak and shriek and chirp like birds. Incessantly.

One of the Marines who stayed behind commented,"Hey. You hear that?"

Another replied, "Yeah. And I don't like it."

Way to point out the obvious, people.

Commander Keyes's voice suddenly rang out over the speakers, "Attention! Hostiles reported outside the barracks! Barracks are under attack! All available combat teams, respond!"

Well, yeah, lady, they're probably inside the barracks, too. The Brutes probably blew open the doors. What is it about getting hit do you not comprehend? I didn't answer my own question, and the COMs were quiet as a tomb. Well, figuratively. The rest of Johnson's squad were getting jumpy; the banging and rustling noises that was coming out of the ventilation pipes was getting louder and more frequent.

Commander Keyes's voice echoed through the speakers again, "Anyone in the barracks, I need a Sit-rep. Now!"

We stayed close to the walls of the hallways as we made our way back to the Ops Center. Suddenly, a Drone dropped out of the vent right in front of the MC, who shot it immediatlely. The Marines who were remarking earlier about the Drones both squeaked and their guns jerked. Alarmed, the rest of us moved back from those two, until we saw that their safeties were on. Temporarily. I breathed a sigh of relief. Those two were a little too trigger happy.

We moved back out into the cave that we had just recently passed through earlier when a swarm of Drones dropped out of the ventilation shafts.

Swearing, Johnson hollered, "Line 'em up! Line 'em up!!"

Ducking behind a box for cover, I followed up his command with one of my own, "Drones! A whole swarm! Take 'em down!! Short, controlled bursts!!

We began to open fire, and thanks to my fellow Sergeant Reynolds (who found the machine gun turret), the Drones were quickly eliminated and we were finally able to move back into the Ops Center. As I was entering, I peered back to see a Marine who nearly slid and fell in the Drones's blood and--other things. Thankfully, the Marines behind him caught him and hauled him upright. Assured that things were being taken care of, I moved into the building that contained an enormous bomb. Or at least, that's what I thought it could have been. It also looked like a giant CPU from a couple of hundred years ago on its side. It was hard to tell.

Miranda Keyes was talking, "--We've linked it to smaller charges throughout the base. Johnson, soon as the evacuation is complete, start the timer."

Johnson nodded to the screen and waved lazily, "Understood."

"Good luck, everyone. See you on the last Pelican out." Keyes's screen winked out. I relaxed against the wall as the other Marines began to trickle in.

"Lemme guess. We're blowing up the base. And we're supposed to get out of here before the timer goes off."

"Pretty much, SS. We get to stay here until the rest of the base is cleared, then meander over to the Pelicans."

"Well. This'll be boring."

"Don't forget, SS, I got a hunch. And you know what happened last time when I got a hunch." I sighed gustily over the mic. Yes, I did know what happened the last time he got a hunch. Us trying to escape in a Covenant Phantom that we hijacked after some idiot grunt managed to activate the self-destruct before he died wasn't fun.

The fact that there was a Brute locked farther in the back of the damned ship didn't help matters much.

"So we're gonna barely get out with our lives, again, for the fourth time in three Earth months. Our luck sucks." My eyes flicked to the Arbiter, who had just walked in, and back to the Master Chief, then over to Simmons, who somehow by some godforsaken miracle of nature had remained intact since I last saw him.

"I take it back. We're marginally better off than before, sir. Marginally."

"Optimistic much?"

I snorted, "Just crabby cuz I hurt, sir. Once we get outta here and the biofoam has more time to work it's magic, I'll be fine."

Myself, Johnson, and two other Marines waved a goodbye as the MC and Arbiter and remaining Marines exited the room and moved on towards the barracks. Simmons flashed a peace sign before the doors shut all the way, and I waved again. Slightly.

And so we waited.

And waited.

And waited some more. The explosions that we could hear put us on 'wary-but-sounds-about-a-hundred-yards-away' alert, and I got an idea. Not that we could accomplish it here, but still.

"I wish we had a recorder. We could mix some music later on from all of the explosions and noises. It could be called, 'the day the Covenant called and we kicked ass.'"

Johnson snorted, "SS, that's lame. What kind of name for a song is that? My granny coulda come up with something better than that."

"Then why don't you try, sir?"

Silence.

I fought a smirk. Barely. Just as I opened my mouth, the Marine that was nearer to the door said overly calmly, "Ma'am. Sir."

"What's up, Private?"

"The door's glowing. Should we get back?"

Peering around the hufreakingmongous bomb, Johnson and I looked at the door, and we both swore. An outline was being carved out of the door, and animalistic roars could be heard on the other side. Damn. They must've seen that we were alone through the security cameras somehow...

"Fuckin' A. Yeah, let's go. Get as close to the hangar door as you can, and run. Don't stop until you reach the hangar and are sure the area is clear. Am I understood?" Johnson growled and the two Marine Privates jumped to attention.

"Yes, sir!"

"Let's get back, SS, and kill as many as we can. When those Brutes get halfway in, move. You know how fast them boys run when they charge, and I don't feel like becoming a new doormat for those Covvies."

Our two fellow Marines quickly exited and Johnnson and I took positions just inside the doorway that led out to safety.

I smiled wryly, "What is it with you and those hunches and feelings of yours? Is there something you're not telling me here?"

My Sergeant Major just shook his head, "No, SS, I'm just really good at my job. Yours'll develop eventually. Mine took a few years. But hey, maybe you'll get lucky and this whole war will be done by then."

I snorted, "As if. Let's be realistic here."

The door kicked open--Brutes roaring--and there was no more time for talking. I managed to kill one and Johnson got two before we had to hightail it outta there. Those things were fast. What did they do, drink the Brute version of Red Bull or something?

Ew. I don't want the answer to that question.

"Well, that was less than what I had hoped for."

I huffed as we sprinted along, "Sir, at least we got a few. The Privates would've just been fodder."

As we continued to run, I could hear Johnson reporting what had happened on his radio, "--couldn't hold them off. Am falling back to the hangar. But don't wait for us."

"Hold position!" Keyes commanded, "I'm not leaving without him."

We moved through the hallways as fast as we could, gunning down whoever was in our way. Fires were popping up all over the place and the smoke was starting to get thicker.

Just as we finally leaped through the hangar doors and met up with our squad, a flock of Drones dove down to meet us. Gunfire from another direction shot them down for us, and we ran over to the Pelican. I sighed (making sure my mic was off first) with relief at seeing Simmons, the MC, and Arbiter all safe and relatively unscathed. Well, I wasn't really surprised about the Master Chief. Heck, a tank could probably roll over him and it woudn't do a thing. He fell two kilometers from space, for crying out loud.

Johnson finished whatever conversation he had with the MC and Arbiter, and he and I quickly boarded the Pelican with the rest of the injured and our earlier group members. Simmons sat on the right of me, again, and Johnson on my left. The Arbiter was across from me this time.

As the Pelican lifted off and the hatch closed, the last thing I was able to see was the MC walking back inside the building, being obscured by smoke.

Finally--freaking finally--relatively safe, I reclined my head back and fell asleep as we began to fly our way to Voi.

Hello!

I realize I'm late--by a few weeks--and I'm sorry!

I have had so much work to do lately I just hadn't had the time to write. Things will eventually get better, and I will hopefully get on some sort of regulated schedule. It's hard writing more than one story at once. And having a bunch of other work to do besides FanFiction.

Thanks to all my readers for the comments, and others who have not so far, please review review review!

I also do apologize for any or many grammatical mistakes, as I wrote this fairly late last night. I will be editing this over the next few days (like typos and stuff) but if I have made a serious error somewhere, please PM me or comment in your review.

Thanks and I hoped you enjoyed it!

Regards,

Ice