Chapter 11: Reclaiming The Powerhouse

Planet Reach

09:56 hrs

Ex-UNSC powerhouse

Clementine ordered Marlon and Louis to watch Mitch's back while he placed explosive charges around the exterior of the powerhouse at their side. The plan was to set them off at to confuse and draw the Rebels out into the open at their position. This would give Marlon the opportunity to pick some off before they fled back inside the walls for safety, but at the same time allow, Clementine, Ruby, Violet and Mitch to open fire on the Rebels from behind some of the rocks that were dotted around the area.

As Mitch worked on planting the explosives, Clementine, Ruby and Violet made their way behind the available rocks, preparing for all hell to break loose.

Mitch finished up two minutes later, making sure to double check the explosives before taking up cover behind the same rock as Clementine and patting her shoulder to let her know he'd finished. Handing her the detonator, he prepared himself.

"Ready?" Clementine asked via COMM. She smiled when five status lights went green. "Detonation in, three. Two." And with that, one huge explosion created by three explosives filled the air around them, followed by the shouts of alarm from the Rebels.

The sound of boots hitting grass could be heard around them as the Rebels ran out of the powerhouse. Confusion permeated the thick air around them all which was soon replaced by the 'crack' of a sniper round bursting through the air and finding a new home inside a Rebel's skull.

"Back inside!" One cried, only to be silenced by another round from Marlon, who fired his remaining two bullets, taking down another two.

As the Rebels ran for the safety of the powerhouse, Clementine, Violet, Ruby and Mitch burst from cover, opening fire on the Rebels that were unfortunate enough to still be outside.

Mitch saw a slope to his right which led up to the wall around the powerhouse. Pinging it for the other three he made his way up and onto the walls. The first thing he came across at the top of the slope was a building on his immediate left. Heading to the doorway and peering inside he noted it must be some kind of control centre for the powerhouse, yet on his right were stairs that led down to a lower level. Checking his ammo counter that read 12, he reloaded his rifle and vaulted over the railing to his right.

Landing at the bottom of the stairs he turned around to see that he'd dropped into some cramped grimy showers with at least ten Rebels hiding out in them; one had a M6G pointed at his face.

"Really?" He scoffed. Looking around at the others inside.

"Really." Came the confident reply from the Rebel holding him at gun point. A smirk on his face.

Mitch holstered his rifle on his back and sighed, visibly bored.

"Fine." He said with a shrug, before punching the Rebel in the face with such force even Mitch felt his jaw snap. With the others in shock for a few seconds, he used that time to clamp his hands on the Rebel he just punched and launched him into the others in the room. He removed two grenades off his harness, pulled both pins and threw them behind him, running up the stairs as he did so.

Only after the grenades exploded did he begin to register the sound of gunfire outside the control room. Sprinting out the door he used to gain access to the control room, he turned left and saw Violet covering Ruby who was ducked behind a concrete barrier tending to a wounded Clementine who had her back resting against the barrier with her helmet off.

"Shit." Mitch said to himself.

Running over to the three and opening fire himself, he made sure to take out a few Rebels before taking cover with them.

"What happened to her?" Shouted Mitch. Noticing that Clementine was still conscious, despite whatever injury she may have.

"A Rebel with a DMR got a lucky shot on her! Hit her right shoulder!" Violet shouted to make herself heard over the noise. "What took you?" She asked.

There was the crack of two sniper shots above them, followed by Marlon calling out two targets down. He'd already dealt with the Rebel that injured Clementine.

"I was busy!" Mitch defended.

"Whatever, just give me the M41!" Violet shouted over the gunfire, holstering her DMR and sticking her hands out for the Rocket.

"Since when were you giving the orders Violet?" Mitch bit at her.

Another shot whizzed overhead with Marlon calling another hit.

"Since Clementine took a round to the shoulder! Now give it!" She ordered sternly.

Mitch said nothing but handed her it anyway with a huff.

Having heard the whole interaction, Clementine was surprised at how well Violet was handling the situation.

Readying the SPNKR, Violet called for covering fire as she moved out of cover, found a better line-of-sight, and aimed at the last remaining Rebels across from her that were dropping in and out of their own cover. She fired two rockets on their position. There was nothing they could do and no where to go. Both rockets impacted and everything went quiet seconds later.

"Holy shit Vi." Louis said over COMM. "You got 'em. Ha ha! You got 'em good!" He cheered.

Violet lowered the Rocket Launcher with a light chuckle at Louis' enthusiasm.

"Clem!" Violet whispered to herself, her friends condition coming back to her. Dropping the M41 and removing her helmet, Violet headed towards Clementine and Ruby, bumping into Mitch on her way over.

"Vi, where's my Boomstick?" Mitch asked, referring to his missing M41 Rocket.

Without a word Violet pointed to where she'd been.

Mitch sighed and walked over to retrieve his weapon.

"Ow, Ruby! Could you bring back your gentle touch?" Clementine yelped, as Ruby inspected her wound, both physically and visually.

"Hold still then!" Ruby chastised. She shook her head amusedly as she heard Clementine sigh. "Well, it looks like it went straight through, but I'll need to stitch up your shoulder at base." She removed a biofoam canister from her tactical/trauma kit. "Gonna need to seal it with this for the time being."

Clementine sighed once more. "Alright," She agreed. "You're the Boss."

Violet reached their side and knelt down next to Ruby as she inserted the nozzle into Clementines shoulder. Violet put her hand on Clementines good shoulder. "You ok?" She asked.

Clementine cursed as Ruby pierced her skin, but turned her attention to Violet upon feeling her hand on her shoulder and saw the concern in her green eyes. She placed a hand on her friends, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"It came out of nowhere, and it hurts like a bitch. But I'll be fine." She said with a smile.

"You sure?" Ruby asked. "It was quite the scream you let out when you got hit." She teased.

"It was." Violet agreed with a laugh, shaking her head. Her blonde hair framing her eyes.

"I didn't scream," Clementine said making a face.

"Sure you did Clem," Louis called. Helmet in hand and a huge smile on his face as he made his way over to them with Marlon besides him, who was resting his Sniper on his shoulder. "Heard you from up there." He said, pointing to where the two had been a few minutes beforehand.

Marlon nodded his agreement. "You were lucky you took cover when you did Clem, one more second and that guy would've shot-to-kill." Marlon notified her. "But yeah, It was a pretty loud scream." He said teasingly. His smirk obvious even though it was hidden inside the helmet.

Clementine grumbled a 'thank you' but had a smile on her face anyway at the friendly teasing. She suddenly realised she'd yet to request pick-up and asked if anyone had done so.

"On their way." Mitch said, back with the group. "There was a Pelican in the area, so they've been rerouted to get us. Marines will be here to secure the area in two."

Clementine nodded, relieved. She couldn't wait to get back to base and she was certain the others couldn't either.