Chapter 3-Exodus
"So where's the rest of the squad?" Miller asked, glancing around a corner, pitch black tunnels of the skyscraper made only slightly better by his VISR. "Dead. Hit by AA on their way down." Bishop said, following with his DMR at the ready. "Damn shame. Hold up!"
A grunt ran past, screaming. Miller motioned to O'Keefe, who nodded. O'Keefe ran up to the grunt, drawing a knife. "Hey, douche!"
The grunt turned a the knife was slammed into it's gut, bright blue blood cascading onto the floor.
Returning to the squad, O'Keefe sheathed his knife, and picking up his shotgun said "Cakewalk."
Miller nodded, and the squad walked on, emerging into a brighter room.
"Freeze!…Miller?"
The team stopped, heeding the Russian ODST's word as he stood there, his sniper ready. Miller walked up to him, gun down.
"Good to see you Chernkov. You got a sitrep?"
"We got wounded civvies, next room over. We got a Spartan clearing the way."
Donahue cut in, angry. "Then we're going up. I'm not letting a Spartan do all the work!"
Miller looked at his squad mate, and replied cooly "For once, I agree with you. Let's get to work. Doc, stay with the wounded." he walked on, reloading his gun.
"But-Ah what's the point?" Doc said, pulling out a medkit.
"So Chernkov, I haven't seen you since Sigma Octanus IV."
"I was sent to Reach after the leg wound, been here until…you know."
The now 5-man team walked onto the rooftop, and saw B312 working his magic in the distance. "Damn." Donahue, said, noting the destruction that lay around. "All right team, jetpacks, now!"
"Always wanted one of these." Cherenkov said, putting on the jetpack. "Your coming?" Miller asked, putting his on. "Can't argue with you logic about the Spartan, and there are still plenty of guys at the base. You want a smoke?" the Russian rebuttled, holding out a pack of cigarettes. "Why not?" Miller said, taking the pack.
"It's go time baby!" Miller heard O'Keefe say, jetpack fumes nearly drowning out his voice. "I'll give this back later." Miller said, pocketing the pack. "Fine by me." Cherenkov said, blasting off himself. Miller followed suit, flying from pedestal to pedestal.
Reaching the end, and after noting a rather lot of brute bodies, the team finishing their extended leaping next to a group of civilians. An armored figure turned, Mark V/B visor staring at them. "I thought I told you to stay with the wounded." came a deep male voice.
"We aren't dumb AI, jackass." Donahue said, pushing past the Spartan. The rest of the team followed, minus Miller.
"Spartan, I noticed you needed assistance in holding the elevator. My squad will hold that side room, you protect the main hall." Miller said, storming off.
"HOLD YOUR GROUND TEAM!" he yelled, getting behind sandbags. "Cherenkov, get on that turret, quick. Bishop, use that sniper from behind the turret. O'Keefe, get at close range. Donahue, on me."
The team assumed their positions, sun glinting off their black armor. "PHANTOM!" Miller yelled, pointing to the incoming dropship. The machine gun rattled as rounds flew out the sides, striking the blue hull, some hitting, while others ricocheted off, hitting the ground. The oddly shaped machine stopped, side opening to reveal even more brutes. Miller ran behind a square advertisement for Moa Burgers, while Donahue mimicked his actions. The brutes fired their strange weapons, and a new one fell out…with a hammer…
"Concentrate on the hammer!" Miller said, opening fire with his MA5B. The sniper bullet to it's head, however, was what killed it. "Nice shot!" Miller said, firing at the brutes.
Suddenly, Cherenkov's voice came over the comms. "Ah Shi-" he tried to say as a spike hit his jetpack's fuel stores, causing him to combust.
"NO!" Miller screamed, emptying his clip into the perpetrator, the last brute left. Seeing the brute fall was not enough to sate his desire for revenge. "AH!" he screamed, throwing his weapon on the ground. "Stand down!" Bishop said, putting his hand on Miller's shoulder. "Damn it!" came the reply.
Miller picked up his gun and walked over to what was left of the Russian. Picking up the man's dogtags, he bowed his head. "Rest in Peace." were his sole words before he walked back to the elevator.
"We're in." said the Spartan, pushing the button for roof. "WAIT!" came the men's reply as the door shut, leaving them behind. "The elevator will come back down when I'm done." came the reply over an open comm. channel.
The next ten minutes were spent in silence as they waited for the elevator, before they finally heard the ding. They walked the rest of the way in silence, as the passed through what could have passed for a Covenant graveyard. Coming up to a helipad, they were greeted by the Spartan
"Troopers, I nee-"
"Oh can it will you? We just lost a man and you just bark orders at us? You're just a computer, issuing out orders. You must have no emotions or some shit, because you're just doing your job, you don't care about humanity!." Miller said. "I was telling you to get out." the reply came, Spartan getting in the gunner's seat of a Falcon. "Get out!"
The squad stood and watched as the falcon flew off into the distance, another one coming for them.
"Belay that, we're going in."
"Now that's the Miller I know." O'Keefe said, patting the Sergeant on the back. "Mount up team!" Miller said, getting on the mounted weapon.
The ride passed rather quickly, Banshees pretty much ignoring the Special Forces vehicle. They passed a transport taking off, and heard over the comms "What the hell are you doing?"
'Doc?"
"Miller, he's taking off without fire support, we can't-AGH!"
The transport's midsection was hit with the brightest of lights, and began to sink to the depths of the ocean. "NOT AGAIN!" Donahue screamed, pulling down his gun. "Time for payback!"
"Ditto" Millers said, nodding.
Finally they got a field with two AA guns, a Warthog clearing the way. Miller pulled down the grenade launcher and fired at a Wraith.
"Need some help superman?" he said on the same open channel.
No answer.
Nonetheless, they still fired, giving the Spartan support until both AA guns were online. The falcon flew off, leaving the site behind.
Miller looked at his HUD, and said "New orders. We're to link up with the ONI building, get some rest until night time. Then we disable a comm. jammer, got it?"
Seeing that everyone understood, Miller pulled off his helmet and took out the cigarettes. "Anyone got a lighter?"
"Here." O'Keefe said, tossing him a small metal one. Miller raised the lighter and cigarette to his lips, taking a puff of the noxious fumes. "Doesn't matter what orders we get-we lost already."