Chapter 7
//ELEVENTH CYCLE, 156 UNITS
(COVENANT BATTLE CALENDAR)//
(AUGUST 25, 2552 USNC MILITARY CALENDAR)
EAST WING OF UNSC ALPHA BASE
COVENANT OFFENSIVE SQUAD, GH-00987
(UNSC DESIGNATION BEVROREN)
They met opposition at every turn. Every new room the squad entered, every closed door, presented a new challenge. They were behind enemy lines, surrounded on all sides. Her men pressed forward, using their active camouflage whenever possible, leaving a pile of carnage in their wake, but the humans were persistent: placing mines and setting charges, always pressing the attack. The infidels knew the territory, and utilized the hallways to their advantage, often flanking the attacking Sangheili. They were slowly being driven backward, but they were defending their last hope. And Commander 'Rolomee knew just how far desperate beings were willing to go. Eventually, cornered beasts struck back.
Their injuries were mounting as shields began to weaken and tired limbs got sloppy. They had lost two Sangheili and six Unngoy already. She had long since ordered the smaller beasts to stand back beside their larger counterparts. This could not go on much further. In the hour since leaving the command center, they had gained only three hallways.
"Lekl, where are you?" the commander called into her battlenet over the din of firing weapons and screams of pain. She sighted along her plasma rifle, her preferred projectile weapon, and opened fire on a human who had just ducked around a corner.
"We've cleared out the northern part of the base. It seems to have been housing units and is largely empty," the fellow commander answered. "You however, seem to be having difficulties."
"We overran the command center, but we're pinned down," she answered, shouting to be heard over the gunfire, flattening herself against the wall as a handful of off-target bullets filled the air around her. She sported a gash on her left arm from one already, when her shields had briefly dropped.
"I will arrive as soon as possible. Have you been able to get through to 'Vadumee?"
"Not since before taking the command center. I sent two minors to check it out. They haven't reported back yet."
"Not the twins!"
"Yes, the twins."
"Why do you always trust them with the most important missions?"
"Because they always complete them."
"Hmm. If you say so. Lekl out."
A large hand suddenly grasped her injured bicep and yanked her away. Lumeria felt heat from an explosion before she and Verk tumbled through the air, his arms protectively holding her against him. She felt him jerk and slide, grunting as they landed, her on top. She untangled her right hand and fired her plasma rifle at a human about to hurl another hand grenade, catching him in the chest. He jerked backwards and fell, grenade harmlessly detonating. Verk sat up, dismounting her, and climbed to his feet, hauling her up with him.
"Thanks!" she managed to shout over the din, pivoting and firing again.
Verk rumbled good naturedly and nodded as he fired numerously into the band of humans.
Even here, he grew a grin from her. That was Verk, always watching her back. They had saved each other's life numerous times.
The humans retreated suddenly, a huge door sliding protectively into place in front of them. The team immediately moved to inspect their surroundings, checking for another trap, running swords through any bodies to ensure death, but nothing happened: the cowards were gone, seeking refuge behind the huge door in front of them. That made Lumeria uneasy, but they would use the break to their advantage.
Four more Unngoy had been lost, and one Sangheili. Lumeria ordered two minor domos to approach the door. It was not locked, and slid open easily, revealing a lift floor piled high with explosives.
Lumeria roared a warning as the charges detonated and fire filled her vision.
One minor was instantly killed by the flare of flame that erupted from the lift. The other was pitched down a side hallway, lifted off his feet entirely. Lumeria and those near her were hurled backwards like limp ragdolls, completely helpless as bits of metal were pitched towards them at inconceivable speeds. Her weakened shields flared and died as the intensity of the explosion overloaded them, but as she struck the floor and ground across it into a wall, her armor absorbed most of the impact, thank the rings. She grunted as something slammed into her ribs, expelling her breath from her beaten body.
She heard coughing as her head cleared, then identified it as her own, opening her watering eyes and blinking against the smoke. An Unngoy had landed on her, and, panicked and apologetic, scrambled to his feet, tugging at her arm as if he could assist her. She waved him off as she pushed herself up on her hands, a hand going to her ribs. Her left shoulder throbbed.
"Sound off!" she ordered, voice cracking with pain at the end. One by one, shouts echoed back.
"Mahl!" the major sounded somewhat out of breath as his voice echoed from somewhere to her left. "I'm alright."
"Verk," the sub-commander said, close at hand on her right.
"Minor Er'Tor."
"Armdor."
"Vanas."
"'Moram."
The list continued. They had lost two of their number: one when the explosion detonated, another from a unwieldy section of heavy alloy. Lumeria growled in frustration at their misfortune, then her battlenet beeped.
"Commander?" She instantly recognized Stev's voice. Rydl always complained about being unable to distinguish the two, but Lumeria never had any trouble telling them apart.
"'Rolomee here, Stev. Have you reached the hanger yet?" she queried, climbing stiffly to her feet and dusting herself off as Verk appeared.
"No, ma'am. We had to hide from another group that's storming through the base. We didn't recognize any of the squad and they're headed in your direction. And not being discreet about it."
"Hmm," Lumeria said, processing the information. Not Rtas' group then. "Thanks for the warning; we'll keep an eye out. Hurry up and get back to the hanger, but be careful."
"Yes ma'am. Stev out."
Lumeria powered down her battlenet and turned to find Verk gazing quizzically at her. "What?"
"You just told the twins to be careful."
Lumeria considered this, then grinned. "I suppose I did, didn't I? It would have been better if they had stayed with us, though," she said, gesturing at the blackened hole that had replaced the lift door at the end of the hallway. Ash was beginning to settle over everything, but the air was still filled with a hazy mist.
Verk rumbled and nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
They re-approached the lift cautiously. A huge, gaping maw was all that remained, blackened. Verk stepped to the edge and snapped his shoulder mounted flashlight on. "Down is the only way to go," he said as other lights joined his. "Let me go first," he asked. "There are plenty of handholds."
Lumeria hesitated, then nodded. "I don't need to tell you to be careful."
His eyes twinkled as he smirked. "I am not like the twins." Then he swung himself over the edge and dropped out of sight. Lumeria leaned over the blackness after him, positioning her own light until he was out of range. It was a long way down.
Abruptly, pounding feet sounded behind them, and the entire squad spun, weapons priming, but it was Lekl who materialized at the head of a column of Sangheili as they rounded a corner and slid to a flabbergasted stop.
"Wow," the other commander said incredulously, walking cautiously forward, taking in the torn up walls and charred hole. "What happened here?"
"Long story," Lumeria said, relaxing out of her battle stance. "What took you so long?"
"This base is bigger than you'd think," he said, stopping next to her, eyes roving over the wreckage. "I wish I'd been here sooner too."
"The humans went down there," she informed him. "Verk is following."
He nodded. "Those twins of yours reported back yet?"
"Yes. They have not yet reached the hanger, but encountered a squad of soldiers they did not recognize."
Lekl's brow furrowed. "I haven't been able to raise Rotn either," he said curiously. "Have you tried?" Lumeria gave him a skeptical look. "No, I suppose not," he soothed. "Still, it is troubling."
Her battlenet signaled again, and she answered. "'Rolomee."
"'Kattrinee here. The area is secure."
"Good work. Hold position, Verk. We'll be right there."
"Yes, Commander."
"Move out," Lumeria ordered, striding over to the blackened mess, avoiding a tangled heap of metal. She relit her flashlight and swung nimbly into the darkness, the rest following.
