Success
By Kool Killer
The Unyielding Triumph, Covenant cruiser 8/7/2540 6:03am
Four Marines and one sergeant stood guard on the out skirts of a small town on the planet Harvest. The planet had recently been visited by aliens and not in the friendly way. The group calling themselves the Covenant weaseled their way onto the planet and started offing people left and right after the negotiations had failed. It was quite funny really. The Covenant thought it was going to stroll through and start claiming territory. Too bad for them it wasn't going to go down like that.
Sergeant Avery Johnson, with a cigar in hand, gazed out into the valley. Avery turned around and looked over the firing line he and his marines had just set up.
"This firing line will be the primary focus point," Avery looked his marines over. "So what that means is you people are going to be receiving a lot of aggression," Avery walked over to a 25 millimeter anti air canon that had been set up and was now facing out into the valley. "Luckily, you will be properly equipped for this engagement," Avery placed his hand on the anti-aircraft cannon. "This AA cannon has been modified to shoot Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot Tracer rounds instead of the less effective flack rounds," Avery then walked around the AA cannon towards two M224 High Explosive 60mm Mortars that had been rigged to an auto ordinance loading system complete with a touch pad and a combatant Identification scheme. "These mortars are top of the line, even an idiot could operate them," Avery gestured to the mortars. The four marines chuckled nervously. Avery made his way over to a line of ten FGM-148 Javelin missile launchers that fired 127mm High Explosive Anti-Tank rockets. "These Javelin missile launchers have two different firing methods, direct and laser guided," Avery opened a case and pulled out a Soflam. "This is a laser designator used to laze and ID enemy targets for precisian strikes with any lock on guided munitions system," Avery paused while he placed the laser designator facing out towards the valley. "All you have to do is aim it in the direction of the enemy and it will take care of the rest," Avery hefted one of the Javelin launchers up onto his shoulders. "When the Soflam locks onto an enemy vehicle all you will have to do is aim the Javelin in the direction of the target and fire," Avery then fired the launcher unexpectedly. The four marines ducked and looked up at the sky. The Javelin missile shot upwards and soared across the sky and then came down on a tree one thousand meters away with devastating force. The tree exploded into pieces, branches and dirt flew in different directions. Avery stood unmoving with smoke drifting up from the Javelin still on his shoulder. Avery dropped the Javelin and gave his parting words. "There are also two M249 light machineguns that fire five point five six by forty five millimeter steal core penetrator rounds, with about two thousand rounds for each on either side of the firing line," Avery then looked seriously at the marines before him. "You all are damn good marines, I have complete confidence in your capability's," Avery paused and smiled. "Let's show these alien pussies what happens when you fuck with the core!" The marines yelled back with vigor.
"Yes SERGEANT!" The four marines chambered fresh rounds into their assault rifles. Avery nodded at the troops and climbed into a warthog and looked back at them.
"Reinforcements will be arriving at eighteen hundred hours, I'm going to hook up with the other fire and support teams on the left side of the valley," Avery started the warthog and offered a last few motivational words. "So you know, Explosive, Ordnance and Demolition teams filled this valley with Slam mines, Anti-Tank mines and Claymore directional mines, these alien piss ants are going to get destroyed,"
With that, Avery drove off leaving a cloud of dust behind. As the dust cleared and the silenced ensued, the four marines knew they were now truly alone. Nothing but the sound of the wind blowing through the grass and the distant noises of automatic weapons fire accompanied the lone marines. The marines knew the covenant soldiers would soon reach the valley. On the flip side, they had more than enough firepower to hold off advancing enemy units. But still, the young soldiers were scared. This was their first assignment and they were as green as the grass on the ground. Fresh out of basic, well technically their training was not officially complete since the alien hoard had invaded Harvest before they could finish their training. So this was their first active war time engagement. The four marines watched the tree line across the valley until their radios went off.
"All units be advised, recon teams have sighted a sizeable enemy force two klicks from Benton County and closing," The coms officer paused shortly, then continued, "Recon confirms sighting enemy tanks and air vehicles, long sword fighter jets have been deployed and will engage enemy air vehicles, Laze ground vehicles and enemy troops for long sword strafing runs, over and out," The coms went silent.
"They're going to be coming straight at us," Richard spoke out loud. Richard looked over at his friends. Jack, Velvet, and Brooks all looked back nodding; they were ready, ready to make shit dead. They all got into their respective positions. Velvet and Brooks took the light machine guns on both sides of the firing line. Richard got into the 25mm AA cannon and Jack crouched down next to the mortars. The four soldier's eyes scanned the valley closely, looking for combatants. They waited for an eternity before a loud bang from the tree line made them twitch. The sound of an alien screaming could be heard somewhere in the tree line further back. The sound was awful, like the cry of a bird or something.
"It must have tripped one of the claymores," Velvet said as she looked on in distaste.
"That alien probably got taco'd from the waist down, listen to those screams," Brooks shook his head. The alien continued to shriek until the load crack of a beam rifle silenced its suffering. The four marines looked on sorrowfully, picturing the bloodied body of the alien in their minds. Not long after the first explosion a second third and fourth one could be heard, followed by more shrieks and cries of pain from the invaders. The marines stood ready to open fire on the tree line. Then something unexpected happened. EOD must have planted the slam mines to close together because one went off and triggered a chain reaction. Slam mines started going off left and right in an organized manner, kicking up dirt, debris and body parts over the tree tops from the advancing alien units. The explosions continued and triggered the claymore directional mines as well. Soon it seemed like the fourth of July with all explosions that were tearing the forest apart. The marines watched in disbelief after the explosions stopped and the smoke cleared. Different covenant troops came hobbling and limping out of the forest dragging the remains of their friends with them. These battered aliens were missing legs; arms some had their belly's tore open from the explosive force and their guts were spilling out. They were crying and screaming as they crawled out of the forest struggling to stay alive. Some were even on fire and you could see the flesh dripping off of their bones.
The four marines had always laughed and joked about killing the enemy and blowing them into bloody pieces. But no one was laughing now. The marines continued to watch the massacre until Richard spoke up.
"Alright, let's end this," Richard armed the AA cannon and prepared to fire but he hesitated. For the life of him he could not pull that trigger. He could only look on in disbelief.
"Maybe we could help them?" Jack offered looking up at Richard. Richard said nothing. Jack looked back at the carnage.
"We got to do something, look their on fire," Velvet said shuddering. They continued to stare at the grotesque scenery until Brooks acted. Brooks pulled the slide back on the light machine gun and opened fire. The bullets from Brooks' machine gun tore into the dying covenant troops. Brooks cut them all down in a matter of seconds. Brooks stooped firing his machine gun and looked out into the valley. Tears were running down his cheeks. Brooks wiped the tears from his eyes and kept his M249 trained on what was left of the tree line, trying not to look at the covenant soldiers he had killed. Jack moved over to Brooks and placed a hand on his shoulder.
You did the right thing man, you okay," Jacks voice was weak. Brooks did not respond. He merely nodded his head solemnly. Jack moved back to the mortars and knelled. The soldiers looked on waiting for more combatants, but they didn't come. The four marines looked at each other with confusion.
"That couldn't have been all of them; I thought there would be mor…" Brooks was cut off as a snipers plasma round found its way into his chest. Brooks was knocked off his machinegun. He hit the floor gagging and clutching his chest.
"OH FUCK!" Richard started firing his AA cannon into the oncoming group of covenant soldiers that were starting to dash from the tree line. Jack started firing off mortars. The mortars slammed into the troops with good effect. Velvet crawled over To Brooks to help him. Searing hot plasma flew over her head. Velvet pulled Brooks towards herself and flipped him over. Blood was pouring out of his chest and his mouth. Velvet grabbed some bio foam and treated the wound. Velvet then grabbed a syringe of morphine and gave him a douse.
"We got to get Brooks out of here now!" Velvet shouted. Richard looked over terrified.
"IF we try and run now were going to get slaughtered!" Richard continued to shoot the cannon.
"There's no cover from here to the town, they'll shoot us in the backs!" Jack shouted as he kept lobbing mortars down range. Velvet looked up and saw a covenant assault troop carrier coming in for a strafing run. Just before the covenant ship opened fire, two long sword jets launched JDAM's at the enemy carrier. The JDAM's hit the carrier and blew it into pieces. Debris from the carrier landed in the valley below. Soon covenant tanks were starting to appear over the valley. One of the covenant tanks opened fire at the AA cannon. Richard hopped out of the cannon and jumped just as the huge blob of intensely hot plasma slammed down on it. The AA cannon fell apart in a molten mess.
"Javelins, use the JAVEILINS!" Richard shouted as he aimed the soflam in the direction of the enemy tanks. Jack and Richard each grabbed a javelin and locked onto the enemy tanks. Velvet covered Brooks' body with her own as Richard and Jack prepared to fire. They both fired at the same time. The two Javelin missiles shot upwards and flew through the air in unison. Both of the missiles came down onto their targets completely annihilating them. The soflam then lazed the alien troops. A long sword jet acquired the laze, came in and dropped cluster bombs on the enemy ground troops. Now the enemy presence was substantially less. Most of the covenant soldiers went into hiding for fear of another air strike. However, it wouldn't take long for them to regroup.
"I think we can move now," Jack said as he dropped the javelin and moved back over to the mortars. Jack launched the last few remaining rounds. While he was doing that, Richard threw smoke grenades down on the ground. The smoke grenades activated and emitted clouds of smoke. Richard, Jack and Velvet used a wooden board from a long container as a stretcher. They lifted Brooks up and laid him down onto it. Jack and Velvet grabbed the board and lifted it up. They both started to carry Brooks towards the town. Richard heard the aliens roar. Knowing they would soon swarm the firing line he popped a green smoke. While Jack and Velvet carried Brooks out Richard got on the coms following close behind.
"This is PFC Richard Adams, my firing line is about to be over run," Richard looked back," I've popped green smoke to indicate the area of enemy presence, Requesting an aerial strike, over," One of the long sword pilots heard the call and responded.
"This is Lonestar, I see the green smoke and I am preparing to strife, I need your proximity to the target area, over," The pilot replied.
"Danger close, were are now sixty meters from the target area over!" Richard yelled.
"Copy that Private," The pilot switched from missiles to the thirty millimeter minigun. A loud buzzing sound could be heard as the thirty millimeter rounds blew the enemy troop that had reached the firing line into pieces. The long sword jet screamed past the three marines carrying their wounded buddy. The jet turned around and prepared to do another run but it was hit by a covenant banshee. "I'm hit I'm hit!" that was all the long sword pilot could say before he crashed into the ground. The long sword jet was coming right at the four marines tearing up dirt and grass. Luckily the jet slid to a halt just twenty feet from Richard and the others.
"You guys keep moving to the town, I'm going to check on the pilot!" Richard yelled. Jack and Velvet nodded and kept moving. Richard ran towards the downed jet, it was a mess. Pieces were all over the place and black smoke was drifting up from the destroyed engines. Richard climbed up onto the long sword and shouted through the broken tented glass of the cockpit. "Are you fucking all right in there!?"
"Yeah I'm good, but I'm pinned!" The pilot shouted back. Richard began smashing and tearing at what was left on the windshield of the cabin until the pilot was completely visible. Richard reached in and offered his hand.
"Grab my hand, I'll pull you out bro," The pilot grabbed his hand. Richard pulled as hard as he could but it was no good, he was stuck tight.
"Fuck THIS SHIT!" the pilot yelled in distress. Richard leaned in and looked down at the pilots legs. They were pinned by the forward console. Richard tried to use his assault rifle as a crow bar to move the console. While he was doing that he began to smell something funny. He and the pilot looked back at the engine.
"The fucken fuel lines are leaking, hurry up!" the pilot shouted as he started to struggle more. Richard pried as hard as he could but the console wasn't going to budge. Fuel leaked into the cockpit and caught on fire by sparks from the electrical equipment. Flames started to spread to the pilot. "Help me Please man!" Fire stared to lap at the pilots back.
"I'm sorry, I really am," Richard said miserably as he climbed down from the cockpit.
"It fucking burns, oh god NO!" the pilot struggle furiously to escape, but to no avail. The pilot looked up from his legs and was staring down the barrel of Richards' assault rifle.
"You won't feel a thing," Richard's voice cracked as he pulled the trigger. The pilots head snapped backwards as a single round exited his head. The pilot stayed their unmoving as flames completely engulfed him. Richard took three steps back and retched all over the ground and his boots. Richard wiped his mouth and ran from the long sword crying. He ran all the way to the town. One of the doors to a small bakery opened up and Jack waved Richard in.
"Get in here Richard!" Jack yelled. Richard ran through the door and closed it. Richard was completely out of breath and panting. Jack noticed the vomit on Richard's boots. Jack pulled out his canteen and poured water on his boots washing the vomit away. Jack thought about asking Richard where the pilot was, but the look on his face said it all, the pilot was dead.
"Brooks how is he?" Richard asked huffing. Jack looked back into the bakery where they prepare the bread.
"I want you to know this, okay," Jack placed his hand on Richards' shoulder and leaned in "We had a medic look at him, and he says…" Jack paused and looked away from Richard, "That he's going to die," Jacks' voice was weak. Jack looked back at Richard, "Brooks doesn't know, he doesn't know…" Jack looked Richard in the eyes. "And he doesn't need to know," Jack left Richard and headed into the prep area of the bakery. Richard followed him stepping in flour and blood. Richard walked into the prep area and saw Brooks lying on a table used for shaping dough. Jack and Velvet were right there with Brooks. Velvet looked up at Richard; her eyes were red from crying. She looked back down at Brooks and continued to run her fingers through his blond blood stained hair. Richard walked over to Brooks and grabbed his hand. Brooks hand was cold and pale, along with the rest of his body. Brooks stirred and opened his pale blue eyes.
"Richard?" Brook's voice was shallow and none existent.
"Yeah buddy, I'm here," Richard leaned in and placed his other hand on Brooks left shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I really wanted to make it out of here with you all," Brooks coughed up bio foam and blood. Richard wiped the blood and foam off the side of Brooks' cheek with his hand.
"Don't be sorry, don't be, were going to get you out of here, head back to earth and…" Richard stopped talking when he noticed Brooks' blank stare. Richard waved his hand over Brooks eyes and he got no response. "Brooks, wake up, you just keep breathing man, you keep on breathing" Richard shook him. Richard looked at Jack and Velvet, They shook their heads mournfully. "Where's the medic!" Richard asked. A marine medic came into the room with a long white table cloth. Richard tore the cloth out of the medics hand and threw it on the ground.
"NO! YOU FUCKING HEAR ME, YOU HELP THAT MAN, DO WHAT EVER THE FUCK YOU DO, DON"T YOU GIVE UP ON HIM!" Richard pointed his assault rifle at the medic.
"I did, I swear to god I did," The medic help his hands up, "He was shot in the liver; he should have died within thirty seconds of receiving that wound, I did all I could, I swear to you," The medic lowered his head while keeping his hands up. Jack came up behind Richard and gently laid his hands on the firearm.
"It isn't the end, we'll see him again, you know we will," Richards' grip loosened and Jack pulled the rifle out of his hands and set it on a table. Richard held his head and started to sob. Jack led Richard out of the room. The medic lowered his hands, reached down and grabbed the long table cloth. He walked over to Brooks and set it on the table. The medic checked for Brooks' pulse one last time and sighed. The medic closed brooks eyes and laid the cloth over him. The medic looked at Velvet and shook his head as he left the prep room. Velvet stayed in the prep room, looking at Brooks' cloth draped body. She walked up to him and placed her hand on his forehead. Velvet then left the prep area and headed for the seating area where Jack and Richard were.
"We have to leave, the town has been evacuated and our ride isn't going to wait forever," The medic said. Jack stood up and shook Richards shoulder.
"We have go Richard, get up," Richard didn't move. Velvet walked over and said it too.
"We got to go, get up," Richard still did not respond. The medic walked over and shook Richard forcefully.
"GET UP!"
Richard sat up quickly and looked around in panic. This wasn't the bakery. A plasma barrier, Purple walls, a cot, sink and a toilet? Realization hit him. He was still on the covenant ship, he had been captured. Richard sighed and held his head, unaware that he was being watched.
"Bad Dreams, Human?" Richard looked up to see the huge elite black elite that had caught him. Richard did not respond. He looked down at the elites clawed hands. The elite was holding a tray of food, meats mostly and a drink. Richard looked the elite in the eyes, giving him a questioning stare. The elite smiled back and told the guards to open the cell. Two elites in blue armor walked up beside the huge elite and opened the barrier. Richard thought about running but he doubted he would get away this time. He would probably just be shot. The elite walked into the cell and placed the tray of food down on a small table. Then the elite leaned against the cell wall.
"What is this, my last meal," Richard said as he looked at the tray. The elite smiled and clicked his mandibles.
"What is your name?" The huge elite asked cocking his head to the side. Richard couldn't help smile, was this elite really trying to be all buddy buddy right now. Richard decided to humor the large elite.
"My names Richard," The elite gave Richard a funny look.
"Why is it that humans have such strange names?" the elite eyed Richard up.
"Well what's your name then?" Richard asked slightly irritated. The elite lit up like a Christmas tree when asked what his name was.
"My name is Sael Yersen'ee commander of this ship and your captor," Sael smiled brightly down at the human. Richard started to laugh. Sael eyed Richard up suspiciously. "Why is it, you are laughing Richard?" Sael questioned in his deep voice.
"Nothing Sael, there's nothing strange about your name either," Richard said sarcastically. Sael got the hint.
"Your human sarcasm isn't lost on me, Richard," Sael said as chuckled. Soon they both stopped chuckling. Richard looked at Sael carefully.
"So, are you going to turn me or what?" Richard asked looking at Sael nervously. Sael smiled once again and left the cell. His guards activated the plasma barrier.
"Enjoy your meal Richard," Sael left the detention center with his guards. Once the three elites left, there was nothing but silence. Leaving Richard alone to contend with his thoughts…