Chapter XI: Maelstrom

Location: City of Little Rock, Arkansas

Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2558 (UNSC Calendar)

Local Time: 09:34 hours

"Specialist, you go down there first and make us a hole," Paul shouted over the Falcon's engine noise as they flew into the city.

"You can count on me, sir," Q'to replied, loading a belt into his MG.

"Is this not a heavy risk to take, flying us into the city?" E'ros said. "I mean, surely they have some AA equipment set up."

Paul looked over at the Corporal from his seat. "Yes it's risky, but so is going in on foot or by vehicle. It's a war zone, there is no safe way in." Paul put a hand to his throat, activating his comm unit. "Romeo Eight-Six, set the Lieutenant down on the rooftop 400 meters away, eleven o'clock."

"Copy that, Captain. Moving into position now."

"Which Lieutenant?" Q'to said. "There are two in this squad."

"Lt. Madera is going to support us from outside the city. He has a mortar team in place already."

Q'to nodded. "That will be helpful."

"More than you know, Specialist." Paul knocked on the wall behind him and the Falcon descended to twenty-five feet above the ground in response. "Shields up!"

"Already done!"

"Go!"

-\- Loading Recording...

Rank: Specialist

Name: Q'to 'Ovus

Date: 24/10/2558

Local Time: 09:40 hours

I jumped from the still-moving aircraft, performing a roll once I hit the ground. "Shit," I growled as I immediately came under enemy fire. I sprinted sideways and fired up the street until I found cover. "Damn it," I hissed in frustration as I peeked around the corner, enemy rounds immediately pinging off of the building. I quickly looked around, finding a door to my left. I secured my MG to my back and swapped to my sidearm. As I got next to the door, I heard hushed voices on the other side. I stepped back, raised my sidearm, and kicked the door in, finding civilians on the other side.

"Don't hurt us," a female pleaded.

"Be quiet," I replied softly and made my way inside. "You should find a new place to hide, humans. Insurgents are crawling all over this district." They nodded quickly and scurried to another part of the building as I made my way upstairs. I peered through a third story window and quickly located the enemy positions. "Garek," I said into my throat mic.

"Go ahead."

"I have eyes on enemy troops. Marking them on your HUD...now."

"I see them. Thank you, Specialist."

I deployed my bipod in the window and watched as two soldiers fell from one shot. This caused the others to take cover, giving me the perfect opportunity. "Now, let's see how you like it," I said as I opened fire on them.

-\- Loading Recording...

Rank: Corporal

Name: E'ros 'Asar

Date: 24/10/2558

Local Time: 09:45 hours

I smirked as SPC 'Ovus tore into the enemy positions from an apartment window. "What do we do, Captain?" I shouted.

"We push them back! Let's go!"

"What about the others? Should we not wait for them?" I said as we ran up the street. I dove to the ground as .30 caliber rounds pinged off of my shields. I quickly crawled behind some debris and looked over at the Captain; the enemy forces seemed to be completely ignoring him. "Captain Fulmer!" I gestured up the street as he looked over. He nodded and reached for his grenades, pulling out a smoke. I holstered my M7 SMGs and brought up my Type 33 as the street was filled with smoke. Switching the scope to infrared, I quickly spotted the emplacement and fired. I grinned beside myself as I watched the shell impact the building, obliterating a large portion of the wall. I looked to my left as SPC 'Ovus slid next to me behind my cover, quickly averting my attention back to the street as things became quiet. "That was it?"

"No," Captain Fulmer said from my right. "They fell back into some buildings and back alleys. Nice work on that nest, by the way."

I shrugged. "I try. Where are the others?"

"They're coming. Just be patient, Corporal."

"Sir, we need to keep a look out for civilians. I found a small group when I entered that building over there," Q'to said, pointing over his shoulder.

"Noted." The Captain peeked around his cover. "Alright, let's move up."

-\- Loading...

Recording...

Rank: Sergeant

Name: Ar'n 'Drakos

Date: 24/10/2558

Local Time: 09:45 hours

I grunted as a grenade went off at my feet, bringing my shields down. SSgt. 'Rasar quickly helped me to my feet as she ran past, trying to find cover. "Damn it," she muttered as we ran into an alley.

"My shields won't recharge," I said with a sigh. I checked the shield generator, but quickly pulled my hand away. "Son of a bitch," I hissed, shaking my burned hand. "Get the damn thing off."

She nodded and pulled out her knife. "Stay still for a second." I complied as she cut the device from my belt. "Looks like we're going to have to be more careful. You got lucky, Ar'n," she commented, pointing to the generator; there was a piece of shrapnel embedded in it.

"Indeed," I began, but got quiet as heavy footsteps approched from the street. I quickly crouched and aimed my rifle, the SSgt. doing the same behind me. I saw no one as the footsteps entered the alley. I lowered my rifle slightly as a Spec Ops soldier deactivated his cloak. "What are you doing here?"

"I got seperated from my team," the soldier replied; he sounded very young. "I suppose it's the same for you?"

"You could say that," the SSgt. replied. "How did you get seperated? Surely you can find them on your HUD?"

"My armor is damaged," he said, removing his helmet.

I could tell by the look on his face that he was afraid and in a great amount of pain. "Are you all right?" The soldier quickly shook his head. "Come over here, let me have a look."

"It's nothing you could fix," he said as he began holding his left side and leaning against the wall. "My ribs," he answered, anticipating the question.

"What is your team's callsign?" SSgt. 'Rasar said. "We can contact them if you can't."

"Echo Two-Seven," he winced as he slid down the wall into a sitting position, still holding his side. He tried to hide the blood as he pulled his hand away, but I saw it.

"Let me have a look at it," I said again; this time he complied and lifted his arm. The wound was a few inches deep with a large burn around the opening. "Shrapnel?" He simply nodded and hissed as I sprayed some biofoam into the wound. "Relax." I removed the chest piece on his armor as slowly as I could and felt each rib. "Three are broken. What happened?"

The soldier scratched his head, thinking. "Some kind of mine, I think," he answered as I placed a field dressing over the wound. "It brought my shields down and then it went off. I can't remember anything else."

"Well, your fight is over," I said as he lowered his arm. I looked over at the SSgt. and tilted my head.

"I can't reach them. It must be a secure channel."

"Let me try," I said as I began tweaking my comm unit. "Spec Ops team Echo Two-Seven, this is Sergeant 'Drakos. Please respond."

There was a pause after the mic on the other end opened; I could hear gunfire through the soldier's helmet. "This is Echo Two-Seven Actual. How are you on this channel, Sergeant?"

"I hacked in," I replied shortly. "Listen, I have a soldier with me, he says he's from your team."

"Minor 'Zilas? Is he all right?"

I moved away from the other two, patting the Ssgt. on the shoulder as I passed. She nodded and started talking to the wounded Minor. "No," I began quietly, looking back. "He sustained a few severe injuries from a mine."

"Damn. Where are you now?"

"I am not sure. All of the street signs were either removed by the enemy or destroyed in explosions before we got here. Don't worry about it, I'll get him out."

"It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance." The soldier quickly switched off the comm link.

I looked back at 'Zilas once more and switched back to my team's channel. "Bradley?"

"Go ahead, Sarge."

"We need a medivac for a wounded soldier. Now, if you could."

"Can do. Get to a rooftop."

I walked back over to the two. "We need to go, Ahli. Can you walk, Minor?"

"I'm not sure anymore," he answered truthfully. I nodded and helped him stand, supporting his left side. After we were on the rooftop, SSgt. 'Rasar threw down an IR strobe.

"I see ya. Comin' in now."

"A Falcon?" 'Zilas said with slight confusion. "Am I not going back to the Shadow of Intent?"

"Not just yet. You will likely be flown to a UNSC installation before being picked up," I answered. "Don't worry, they won't harm you. But, don't answer any questions. Remember, they don't know that you are here yet."

The Minor nodded. "I'm not going to be detained, am I?"

"No. I'll see to that, kid," Bradley said as I set him in the aircraft.

"Thank you, human," he said as he closed his eyes.

"Be quick about it. I think he may be bleeding internally," I said throught the cockpit window. The Irishman nodded and took off as we ran back inside the building.

-\- Loading Recording...

Rank: Sergeant First Class

Name: Rotje 'Tsom

Date: 24/10/2558

Local Time: 10:05 hours

I held up my fist before peeking around a corner. "What do you see?" Sgt. Trombley whispered behind me.

"It looks clear from this angle," I replied. "You, Marine." The young Marine Specialist looked up at me. "Do you see that first doorway on the other side of the street?"

"Yeah, I see it."

"Get over there, we'll cover you." As the Marine ran across the street, the crack of a rifle broke the silence. A second shot passed through the soldier's helmet, killing him. "Damn it. I guess we know why it's so quiet around here." I peeked around the corner a second time, but quickly drew back as a round grazed my shields.

"Did you see him?"

I simply shook my head in response. "Captain?"

"Keep it brief, Ro. They may be listening."

"How would they do that? I thought this was a secure channel." I sighed. "I'm pinned down by sniper fire."

"Where?"

"I don't know. I can't get anything on my radar or my HUD. I think this entire district is being jammed."

"I think so, too. At least we can still communicate. You're sure you don't know where you are?"

"I'm sure. There are no roadsigns, no markings of any kind in this area."

"Alright. Try to find a way around." The Captain sighed. "This operation is going extremely well."

I snorted. "I couldn't have put it better myself." I switched off the link. "Let's get inside this building and try to find the bastard." We reverted to hand signals and crouch-walking as we searched the apartment building. I tried a door and found that it was locked; there was light coming from under the door. I nodded to Sgt. Trombley and watched as he placed a small breaching charge on the door. He entered first with his M90 shotgun raised, myself close behind.

I threw an enemy soldier over my shoulder as he tried to stick a knife in my neck from behind, bringing the butt of my rifle down onto the side of his head afterward, knocking him out. I watched as Sgt. Trombley did the same and quickly reach for his right leg. I couldn't see what it was, as his back was facing me. I quickly guessed as he pulled on the object and cried out; he had been stabbed. "Prick," he said as he bandaged the wound.

"Will you be all right?"

"I'll be fine. It didn't hit bone or an artery, but I will slow us down."

"That's fine," someone said from the doorway. I turned, seeing SSgt. 'Asar and Sgt. 'Drakos step inside. "At least now you're not alone," the Ssgt. said.

"Indeed," I agreed. "Ar'n, you have blood on you."

"It's not mine. We found a wounded Spec Ops Minor a few blocks away...or he found us."

"Is he all right?" Trombley said.

Sgt. 'Drakos sighed. "I don't know. He made it to the Falcon, from there," he trailed off with a shrug. "Have either of you seen Toma?"

Trombley shrugged and retrieved a pack of cigarettes. "It's going to be one hell of a day," he said absently, lighting one.

"How can you stand those?" Ssgt. 'Asar said in slight disgust.

"Hey, don't give give me shit about my habits, alright? This is healthy compared to what's out there," he said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder.

I sighed and shook my head. "We still need to search the rest of this building. Are you sure you're all right?" Trombley nodded and extinguished the cigarette in the kitchen sink. "Let's go, then."

-\- Loading Recording...

Rank: Private First Class

Name: Toma 'Ahur

Date: 24/10/2558

Local Time: 10:23 hours

"This isn't good," I said to myself, walking down a deserted street. I glanced to the watch on my wrist, not removing my hand from the rifle; it was automatically set to the local time. I stopped as I heard a low growl to my left. "That's not a growl, it's a signal," I realized and answered the call. "Thank the Gods," I mumbled as three Spec Ops soldiers exited a dark storefront. "Alhpa Seven?" I said, recognizing the markings on their armor.

"That is correct...?"

"Toma 'Ahur, Private First Class with the TRF, Fireteam Foxtrot."

"The TRF is here?" one of the soldiers said.

"Just teams Alhpa and Foxtrot," I replied, glancing over my shoulder and quickly scanning the surrounding windows. "And we're all seperated."

"Have you tried to contact them?" the leader said.

I nodded. "My comm unit is malfunctioning. I can hear them, but can't speak to them."

"Surely, you have their location on your HUD?" the third asked.

"I don't use a HUD," I said, gesturing to my eyes. The soldiers nodded once, seeing that my eyes were their normal color under my Combat Helmet. "I prefer to use my own eyes to see the battlefield."

"Shipmaster?" The leader suddenly said, turning away. "Yes, I'm aware...No." He sighed. "Yes sir." He turned back to me and crossed his arms. "I have been ordered to join up with your group. You have command of this team."

I could tell that he was...how did humans always put it? Pissed off about the ordeal. "I can't lead your team, I don't have any experience," I said. "Plus, I don't even know where I should be going." I hated not being able to see the soldiers' faces, but I could tell the Spec Ops Major was pleased with my response as he nodded and uncrossed his arms.

"We have been given...someone's position on our HUDs. This way."

He directed me as I took point. "Wait," I said as I spotted a dead Marine lying in the street. From my position, I could see the small hole in his head. "There's a sniper out there."

"How can you tell?" The Major said incredulously. I pointed to the body on the pavement. "That proves nothing."

"You go first, then," I retorted coolly. The Major immediately backed down and I huffed. I then noticed an open door on the other side of the street. "Is the waypoint in there?"

"Yes," the Major answered with a sigh. "What are you doing?"

I dug into my grenade pouch and pulled out a smoke; standard issue to all TRF soldiers. "Blocking his line of sight," I replied simply, as if it were obvious. "This is more for me than for you. I don't have active camouflage."

"What if he is using a thermal scope?" one of the others pointed out.

"He can only hit one of us," I shrugged as I tossed the grenade around the corner. I rolled my eyes as they activated their stealth systems and ran into the street. I cursed under my breath as a round hit the Major's shields, bringing it and his cloak down. He growled loudly before taking a round in the chest. "You," I shouted at the nearest soldier as I picked up the fallen Major's arms. "Get his legs." He complied and we ran into the building as a round brought down my shields. "Clear that table off!" The other soldier, another Major I noticed, swept abandoned dishes off of a dining table and we gently set the wounded leader onto it. I quickly removed the chest armor and began retrieivng my medical suppiles.

"A field doctor?" the other Major said with disgust.

"Just part of the training," I mumbled as I examined the wound. I glanced at the leader's face, seeing blood flowing freely from his throat as he coughed. "Lung shot," I stated. "Hold him down. This is going to hurt."

"Wait," he coughed. "This will shame me."

"Ugh, not one of you," I muttered, but continued. He screamed as biofoam entered his lung, but quickly stopped as it began working. "Turn him over." The others complied and I checked for an exit wound, finding it in the small of his back. "Try to move your legs."

"I can't," the Major said.

I looked over at the other two Spec Ops and shook my head. "Call for an evac, get yourselves out of here. Did you complete your objective?"

"No," the second Major said. "We were still making our way to it when we found you."

"I see. Pass them on to me." The Major began to protest, but I cut him off, "Just do it. The TRF has the authority to carry it out." He sighed and handed me a datapad. "This is all?" I said, looking up from the device. "'Observe TRF forces until they are dead or complete their objectives'. Who gave these orders?"

"That is classified," the wounded Major said with a cough.

"Some things never change," I mumbled. "Just tell me."

"No, Private." He spat the last word, as if it would offend me.

I nodded, looking back to the datapad. "You do know that these aren't very difficult to hack, correct?" I heard two Carbines being raised as I typed away, decoding who had sent the message. I looked up and smirked, throwing down the datapad. "The High Council? Interesting." I raised my M7S and M6C SOCOM, aiming at them both. "You being Spec Ops, I have the stronger shields. Who do you think will walk out of this room if we open fire?"

"Lower your weapons, Private," a familiar human said from the doorway.

"Yes sir," I said, instantly holstering them. "It's good to hear from you, Captain."

"Likewise," Captain Fulmer sighed. "Get your weapons off of my soldier, or you will not leave this room." The Spec Ops hesitated, but complied with the Captain's order. "What happened to him?"

"Sniper," I answered shortly. "He's hit in the left lung and the spine."

"I am fine," the leader grumbled.

"You're far from it," I scoffed. "You are breathing with one lung and you can't move from the waist down. How is that 'fine'?" I turned to the two Spec Ops. "And why have you not called for an evac?"

"I told them not to bother," the Major said weakly. "Spec Ops do not get 'evacs', as you put it. We come back when we are either dead, or the job is done."

"Get ready to break the rules, Major. I just called for a Phantom to come get you," Captain Fulmer stated. "The others found the jammer and destroyed it," he said when I looked at him questioningly.

I replaced my helmet and nodded. "That's good," I said into my teams' channel; I felt stupid upon realizing that I had the mic switched off.

"Toma?"

"The very same, Ahli," I replied. "Q'to and E'ros?"

"We're here."

"Where are you now?" Captain Fulmer said.

"On the roof, Captain. We're waiting for you."

"Grab your leader and lets go," he ordered the two Spec Ops, but both shook their heads. "What is it?"

"If we bring him back, we fail our mission," the Minor stated.

"Which was to observe us," I pointed out. "How can you fail a mission like that if you're with the very people you were sent to observe?"

"We were not supposed to be found out," the other said bitterly. "He disobeyed that order," the second Major said, indicating his leader.

"I don't like where this is going," Captain Fulmer murmured. I gave a slight nod in response. "You're not going with him, you're just getting him out of here. Understood?"

"I don't think you understand, human-"

"Understood?" the Captain said in a more commanding tone. I briefly glanced over, recognizing my people's common dialect. The leader winced as they lifted him, but made no complaints as we headed to the roof; Captain Fulmer leading the way, while I was in the back.

"Toma," SPC 'Ovus said once we reached the roof. We bumped fists in greeting; something the humans had shown us. "Glad to see you made it."

"Likewise, Q'to. Captain, where is Garek?"

"I am still at my perch, Toma. I'll be picked up after you."

Once the Phantom arrived, the Captain turned to me. "You go with the Major, Toma. Tell them why he came back if he won't," he whispered.

"Yes sir. You did hear what their objective was, right?" When the Captain nodded, "Do you have any idea why the High Council would want to waste a resource like the Spec Ops to observe us? I mean, we record all of our missions. Surely they could just watch those?"

"I do have an idea...or a theory, at least. Isn't it obvious why a body such as the High Council would want to observe us, Toma?" I tilted my head. "Think about it; this is still a project, but if the High Council is observing us..."

"No," I trailed off.

"Yes, Toma. I think that this may be it. The TRF made official." The Captain turned back. "Now get going."

"Yes sir."

-\- Loading Recording...

Rank: Staff Sergeant

Name: Ahli 'Asar

Date: 24/10/2558

Local Time: 10:57 hours

I smirked slightly at overhearing the Captain's theory; a theory that I, personally, agreed with. "What happens now, Captain?" I said, watching PFC 'Ahur step onto the Phantom.

"Now...I don't really know. We've completed our objectives in this area. Commander?"

"I am listening."

"Where do we go from here? We're...kind of lost," Captain Fulmer explained hesitantly.

"I see...I have reports of UNSC Marines that require assistance at this location." A waypoint popped up on my HUD. "They are pinned down by heavy insurgent fire. Make haste, Captain."

"Thank you, sir. Alright, lets go."

"Come on," I said to the two Spec Ops as they hesitated to follow. "What's the matter?"

"We don't trust humans," the Spec Ops Minor replied.

"I heard that," Sgt Trombley called from the doorway. "And the feeling's mutual."

"You don't trust us?" SPC 'Ovus said behind him.

"No, I don't trust them. I've never liked anyone from a special operations group."

"Alfred, we're...technically special operations," the Captain sighed. "But only technically."

"Why do you say that?" I said.

"Well, think back to each mission we've done so far. We've either been hunting war criminals, getting rid of arms dealers, or eliminating terrorist cells; things that a special operations group should be doing," the Captain said, glaring at the two Spec Ops.

I shrugged in agreement and turned back to the Spec Ops soldiers. "Let's go," I said impatiently. "In front of me," I sighed as they continued to stand there. "Idiots," I muttered as they passed, the Major looking over his shoulder briefly in response.

A few minutes later, we pressed ourselves against a wall, the Captain peeking around the corner. He held up two fingers waved for PFC 'Ahur and myself to run to the other side. "Ro, do it."

"Thunder," SFC 'Tsom called over the wall.

"Flash," a Marine replied on the other side. The Captain nodded and we filed through a hole in the wall. "Sarge, our relief just showed up!"

"We're here to help, but we're not your relief," Captain Fulmer said.

"Ugh," another human said; the Sergeant, I guessed. "Whatever, we'd appreciate the help. I think we have more than a coup on our hands here, Cap. These guys have been reinforcing themselves with two regiment sized groups. All day. The streets around here have been quiet for about forty-five minutes. Our boys to the eastward are taking heavy fire right about now."

"Who's that on the loudspeaker?" Captain Fulmer said.

"Hell if I know, but my guess is that he's some kind of morale officer."

"'The UNSC is kaput.' That's disconcerting," the Captain said sarcastically.

"Go ahead and get a runner up here," the Marine Sergeant ordered.

"Runner!"

After the runner arrived, the Sergeant; Hill, I noticed, whispered the directions to him. "Cover!" We all emptied our magazines before the runner tapped Lt. 'Izak on the shoulder and began sprinting down the road. He made about half-way up the street before insurgent machine gun fire cut him down. I watched as one of the other Marines peeked over the wall at the injured runner.

"Sadistic fuckin' animals," he shouted as the downed soldier was fired on again.

The Captain quickly pulled the man back behind the wall. "As long as his lungs have breath in them, he still carries the message. We'd do the same thing."

"No we wouldn't!"

"Corpsman, get him ready to travel," the Captain said to a UNSC medic, indicating a Marine with an injured leg.

"Yes sir."

"Boyd," Sgt. Hill began. "Try and reach Captain Hammill again, let him know we're coming?"

"What's the rest of this district look like?" Captain Fulmer said as Boyd talked into his comm link.

"Uh...mainly two and three story buildings on either side. There's a lot of windows...and then there's a wide-open square with pretty good cover on the left."

"Show me."

-\- Loading Recording...

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Name: Garek 'Izak

Date: 24/10/2558

Local Time: 11:13 hours

"You, uh...Trombley," I heard one of the Marines say in front of me. "Where's the Captain from?"

We all shared glances, seeing an opprotunity to mess with the Marine. "You figure that one out, you get yourself a nice prize," Sgt. Trombley said.

"Three thousand credits last I heard," SPC 'Ovus said as he passed.

As we edged closer to the square the Marine continued, "Someone must know where he's from or what he did for a living."

"I've known him for over six years, I don't have a clue," I said.

"Does anyone even know where he went to school?"

"The Captain didn't go to school, they assembled him at OCS out of spare body parts and dead G.I.s," Trombley said before quckly moving away from the Marine.

Seeing the look on the Marine's face, Cpl. 'Asar joined in. "You have to pay attention to detail. See, I know exactly where he's from and exactly what he did for a living because I pay attention to detail."

"Human...careful that you don't step in the bullshit," Sgt. 'Drakos said as he passed them.

We ran up to another wall leading into the French speaking portion of the city. "Do it," the Captain ordered.

"Thunder! Thunder, or we will fire on you," a Marine called.

Not receiving a reply, but hearing voices on the other side, the Captain peeked over the wall and saw a family. "Alfred, tell them to show themselves."

"Montrez-vous! Montrez-vous," Sgt. Trombley called. As the family walked out of the shadows, we ran through the gate and stopped below them in the street.

"Ask them if they know where the insurgents are."

"Savez-vous où les insurgés sont?" he called up to them.

The father began speaking frantically, which visibly irritated the Captain. "What is he saying?"

"He said something about the children," Trombley replied. When the father grabbed his daughter and held her out, "They want us to take the children."

"No no no, we can't take the kids."

"Non," Trombley called repeatedly, but the father ignored him. I watched as one of the Marines walked up the pile of debris towards the hole in the apartment's wall.

"Marine! Get that kid back up there," Captain Fulmer shouted.

"I can't. She reminds me of my niece, sir."

"Get that kid back up there!"

"Captain, the decent thing to do would be to take her down the road to the next town," the Marine began, but the Captain cut him off.

"We're not here to do the decent thing, we're here to follow fucking orders! Sergeant Hill, take this goddamn kid!"

I was surprised by the Captain's outburst; he usually wanted to do the decent thing. "Then again," I thought. "Nothing has gone right today." As if the Gods were listening to my thoughts, I watched as the Marine gasped sharply and fell down, the crack of a rifle echoing soon afterward.

"Cover," several Marines shouted.

"Goddammit, where'd that come from?" Sgt. Hill called.

"He was on the ground before we heard the shot," I called. I peeked through a car's window at a eight story tower in the distance. "That's where I would be."

Captain Fulmer looked at it, then back at me. "I didn't see it."

"Eight hundred and fifty yards," I said, absently judging the distance. "I wouldn't venture out there. This sniper has talent." I quickly moved into a position that would give me a good angle on the tower. I muttered to myself as I adjusted the controls on my scope, switching the IR on. As soon as the insurgent sniper paused in his scanning, I squeezed the trigger, sending the .50 caliber round directly through his scope. I turned and waved everyone out of cover after seeing no more movement.

"That's why we can't take children," Captain Fulmer said as several Marines gathered around the dead soldier. "Ro, E'ros, go check that tower and double time it back here. Now, go!" He pulled the Marines dogtags and handed them to Sgt. Hill.

After twenty minutes of silent walking, we came into a small alleyway. "You guys can flake out here for awhile, while I get this goddamn hitchhiker out of my boot," Sgt. Hill said as he plopped down onto a pile of debris. As he shifted his weight, a large board fell over and knocked the wall down. Everyone quickly turned and brought up their weapons as insurgents rushed into the now-open room and did the same, each side shouting incoherently at the other to drop their weapons.

This problem solved itself as three Marines opened fire on the insurgents from above with MA5C Assault Rifles, killing most of them instantly. "Clear up," one of them called. "Clear up!"

"Clear down," Sgt. Hill called back as one of the Marines ran into the room and disrespectfully pushed one of the slumped insurgents over.

"It's enough to make you old."

"Let's hope so," I muttered as I did a quick check over my equipment.

"So, do you have anything left in this town? Like a three-star hotel, something with clean sheets, soft pillows, and room service?" Captain Fulmer joked after he had introduced himself to Captain Hammill.

"How about a nice, comfy church?"

"Eh, we'll take that."

"So, what brings you out here?"

"What do you mean?" Captain Hammill's response was to nod his head towards me and the other Sangheili in our group. "Ah, right. We're looking for some guy named Ryan. He's supposed to be behind this mess."

"We could sure as hell use you around here, but I understand what you're doing."

Captain Fulmer snickered lightly. "You do?"

"Yeah, I've had to do things like this a few times myself," Captain Hamill explained. "Good luck."

"Thank you."

"No, I mean it. Find him, and end this."