It had been a long while since the UNSC secured Rele's village, and ever since the village was secure, Hinson and his men, along with the rest of the UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili soldiers, were welcomed by the Sangheili villagers, given food, shelter and medical care in exchange for their help in liberating the village.
Later on, to serve as entertainment, Hinson and his men once again performed one of their songs. In the village centre, Hinson and his men all held their rifles leaned against their shoulders, and marched in place as they all sang firmly in sync, with all the villagers watching.
"They're sailing for England,"
"Oh, what a shame,"
"Someone is after our island again,"
"We'll let them have it, oh, yes we will,"
"But maybe they won't want it when they get the bill,"
"For we wrote the story of the old brigades,"
"We know the glory of yesterday's parades,"
"We'll sell Old Blighty yard by yard,"
"They'll buy it from the old home guard, they will,"
"They'll buy it from the old home guard,"
"Call out the navy, call out the ranks,"
"Call out the air force, call out the tanks,"
"From the cliffs of Dover call up the gulls,"
"And don't forget the loyal territorials,"
"But, who's sticking in here, who will defend,"
"Every inch of England no matter what they send,"
"Who's standing firm in our own front yard,"
"The soldiers of the old home guard, that's who,"
"The soldiers of the old home guard,"
"For we wrote the story of the old brigades,"
"We know the glory of yesterday's parades,"
"Who's standing firm in our own front yard,"
"The soldiers of the old home guard, that's who,"
"The soldiers of the old home guard!"
Their performance over, the villagers all clapped at the display of song, with 'Marem and Rele sitting on slightly elevated ground behind the villagers watching the performance. As the two female Sangheili sat next to each other, their heads leaned against each other as 'Marem had her hand resting around Rele's waist, they both smiled and giggled at the performance, then they looked at each other lovingly, happy that they were seeing each other.
Hinson then walked over towards 'Marem and Rele while his men went to interact with the villagers. "So, how'd we do?" Hinson asked, and Rele responded in Sangheili language with a satisfying tone, to which Hinson responded, "Yes, it was delightful, wasn't it. Glad to be of service."
Rele spoke in Sangheili to 'Marem and then she proceeded to walk over towards the main hut. 'Marem stood back up and then she and Hinson started walking around the village, looking at the situation around them. The Marines, Blue Sangheili and Sangheili villagers were all talking with each other and sharing food together. Some UNSC soldiers were even playing with the Sangheili children, playing soccer, and letting them wear their helmets.
"You never told me your village was out here." Hinson stated.
"It was of no concern," 'Marem replied, "We're all happy to do our part."
"Ol' Arbiter sure went all out for you two girls... How'd you meet her?"
"My uncle was the Kaiden, and he brought me here to survey the villages, where I met her, the daughter of the village chieftain... Now thanks to 'Vadam, I can be with her."
"How romantic," Hinson spoke, then looked over and saw Virum standing by a hut, "...So what's his story?"
"Kori is... Well, he's not much one to talk," 'Marem said, "Therefore, I don't feel it my place to tell you for him."
"Oh, you got an anti social one too?"
"You have one?" 'Marem asked, in which Hinson proceeded to point over towards Girov, who was by his lonesome, standing on the outside of the village, looking at a lake.
"Again, not my place to say for him." Hinson said.
"What I can say about Kori is, well, he's been through so much, and I look out for him, as if he was my brother," 'Marem stated, "...Well, all I can say is, thank you for helping our village."
"No problem, it's all in a day's work."
That was when Gallagher went up to Hinson and stated, "Eric, got a new job."
"Lay it on me." Hinson responded.
"Marines have established a line just South of here," Gallagher replied, "They're expecting an attack, but there's also a convoy of ours heading to where they'll be meeting up with our reinforcements, we're to escort them over there."
"Okay then, saddle everyone up and we'll get moving."
Gallagher proceeded to round up everyone and get them prepared for battle, while 'Marem proceeded to go over towards the hut to see her wife, Rele. Hinson looked over at Girov, who put on his helmet and picked up his rifle, and Hinson felt a bit of sorrow and worry for him. Hinson then looked over and saw 'Marem kissing Rele passionately goodbye, then 'Marem picked up her rifle and went over to join up with Hinson and his men.
With Gallagher, Hiller, McGinley, Kimball, 'Marem, Kori and Girov all armed and joined up with him, Hinson brandished his assault rifle and then he and his men started running down the pathways, being followed by numerous UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili, heading for the UNSC line.
Coming upon the UNSC trench line, Hinson and all the troops with him joined up with the UNSC soldiers and Blue Sangheili already stationed there. The UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili all filled and line the long trench, all of them aiming the guns at the field and trees before them, waiting for any enemy attacks, and Hinson and his men joined them in the trench, aiming their guns at the field as well.
"So what do you stupid voters want now?" Hinson asked teasingly of a nearby sergeant.
"Reds will be coming at us any minute," the sergeant responded, "We need to hold them off."
"I know that," Hinson stated, "What about the convoy?"
"It's coming through the jungle, further down. Squids have supply holds in the way we should take out first."
"That's good enough for me... Let's take 'em!"
With the men lining the trench and aiming their guns, some plasma shots rained towards them to soften up for an advance. After the plasma barrage, Red Sangheili and hordes of T'vaoan Kig-Yar advanced on the UNSC trench in large swarms.
"Fire," Hinson ordered, "Slice and dice the fucking bastards!"
With that, the line of UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili soldiers all fired hails of immense gunfire that shot up numerous Red aliens, commencing a vicious battle. As the line of UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili soldiers all kept firing hails of fiery gunfire that nailed multiple enemies and shot up their positions in the field, Hinson fired assault rifle fire and shot five enemies while his men all fired gunshots that gunned several aliens down. Hiller fired and shot several enemies while Girov gunned a few soldiers down, then Hinson fired and shot up six more enemies while the UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili all fired flurries of gunfire that shot numerous enemies in the vicious battle. Hinson kept firing and shooting five more enemies while his men fired and nailed several soldiers, then the UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili fired intense gunfire that riddled multiple Red aliens.
The fierce battle kept up as the line of UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili kept firing on the waves of enemy infantry, raking and pinning them in the field. As Hinson fired and shot six enemies, Hiller and McGinley shot up several aliens while Kimball and Gallagher gunned a few soldiers down, then Girov aimed and shot a few soldiers. 'Marem and Virum both fired and shot a few enemies while Hinson kept firing and shooting five more enemies as well. Tough enemy plasma rained over them, the line of UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili fired more intense gunfire that shot up numerous enemies in the fierce fighting. Hinson fired and shot five Reds with assault rifle fire as Hiller and Girov fired shots that nailed several enemies, and Kori gunned a few soldiers down. The UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili fired and shot numerous Reds in the field while Hinson kept firing and shooting six other enemies.
Enemy plasma kept raining over the UNSC and Blue trench, but despite this, the UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili kept holding on, firing and shooting up enemy positions. Hinson fired and nailed five enemies while Hiller and McGinley fired and shot several Reds, then Girov gunned a few soldiers down, then the line of UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili fired and shot multiple enemies. Gallagher and Kimball shot up a few soldiers as 'Marem and Virum shot several enemies as well. Hiller fired assault rifle fire that shot six more Reds as the UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili kept firing and shooting multiple enemy aliens, despite enemy plasma raining over their trench. Hiller and Girov shot up several enemies, then as Hinson fired and shot six Reds, the line of UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili all kept firing and shooting numerous enemies in the field and trees.
"Keep it up," Hinson stated, "We're winning!"
The battle raged as the UNSC and Blue forces kept firing and shooting up vast numbers of enemy troops and positions to pieces, leading to the numbers of the Reds dwindling. Eventually, after much fierce, hard fighting, the UNSC troops fended off the assault, successfully defending the trench.
"We're driving the bastards off!" Hiller said.
"Chase after them," Hinson demanded, "Move into the jungle!"
Hinson and his squad then lead many of the UNSC soldiers and Blue Sangheili from the trench and they all rushed across the field and into the jungles. As they moved in past the trees, Red aliens appeared in the trees and in different positions to confront them.
""Get these bastards!" Hinson said.
The UNSC soldiers ad Blue Sangheili all fired gunfire that shot multiple enemies, though the Red aliens blazed plasma laser that struck several friendlies in response. As such, Hinson fired and shot five enemies, then as Hiller fired LMG fire that nailed several Reds, Hinson gunned two aliens down by a tree to the right, before aiming and shooting two other soldiers by a couple trees to the left, then Girov shot a few aliens as well. The UNSC soldiers and Blue Sangheili troops fired gunfire that nailed numerous Red enemies and shot up their positions, then Hinson fired and shot five enemies. McGinley and Kimball shot a few soldiers while Gallagher gunned a couple Reds down, then Virum and 'Marem shot a few other soldiers. Hinson shot two soldiers by a couple trees to the right, then he aimed and gunned two soldiers down by a tree to the left.
Hinson kept firing and shooting several positions to pieces, then as Hiller fired LMG fire that nailed multiple enemies in the trees, Hinson and Girov shot up numerous Reds with fiery gunfire. A few friendlies were shot by Red plasma, but as Hinson fired and shot five enemies, then the UNSC soldiers fired gunfire that nailed several aliens. Hinson gunned two soldiers down by a tree, then Girov shot a few soldiers, while the UNSC soldiers and Blue Sangheili all fired hails of gunfire that riddled multiple enemies in the trees as Hinson fired and shot five more Reds as well. Kimball and McGinley shot up a few soldiers as Gallagher gunned a couple Reds down, then Kori and 'Marem shot up a few other enemies. As Hinson shot two soldiers in a couple trees, then as the UNSC troops fired and shot several enemies, then Hinson gunned a couple soldiers down by a tree.
"Find those supply holds!" Gallagher ordered.
As the troops moved around the area, Hinson soon found the two supply holds. Some Red Sangheili emerged to confront them, but as Hinson dodged the plasma, Hinson took out his shot gun and fired and shot a couple Red Sangheili, then Kimball went over and placed a charge on the first supply hold. A couple Sangheili fired on Kimball, but Hinson fired and shot them down, then aimed and gunned another down to the right.
Kimball then rushed over to the second supply hold and began placing a charge on it, while Red Sangheili appeared to get him. Hinson fired and shot a couple Red Sangheili, but another couple fired on him, so Hinson fired and shot the two Red Sangheili in response, clearing away resistance.
Finishing up with the charges, everyone got to cover as Kimball set off the charges and blew the supply holds to smithereens.
"That's it," Hinson said, "Let's find that convoy."
With that, Hinson took out his assault rifle and lead the troops through the jungle, encountering more Red forces on the way. While the UNSC soldiers fired shots at enemy positions in the jungle, the Red soldiers gunned several friendlies down, but Hinson fired and shot five enemies in response. As Hinson's men fired cover, the UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili fired intense gunfire that shot up numerous enemies in the trees, then Hiller shot several Reds with LMG fire. In fierce fighting, Hinson fired and shot up several positions, then as UNSC troops kept firing and shooting several Reds, Hinson fire assault rifle fire and nailed six more enemies, clearing the way towards the road just down the current pathway.
"There's the road, get to it, now!" Gallagher ordered.
Hinson led his men down the jungle pathway until he started hearing the commotion of vehicles moving through. As such, Hinson kept leading his men through until they finally came upon the road, where they found the convoy, containing different trucks and a few Hog cars, two with machine guns and one with a Gauss cannon, while all being lead by a Scorpion tank.
Walking up to the convoy, Hinson went up to the Scorpion tank, where the operator popped his head out from the hatch and spoke, "We heard you guys were coming. Where we're headin' is just up the road, can you get us there?"
"I'll see what I can do." Hinson said.
"Much obliged." the operator spoke.
Hinson and his men all proceeded to assist the convoy in moving down the road, with help from other UNSC soldiers and Blue Sangheili. Moving alongside the convoy down the road, Red forces began appearing on both sides of the road, firing plasma at the convoy. In response, the UNSC soldiers and Blue Sangheili fired gunshots that nailed several enemies attacking them, then as Hinson fired and shot four Reds, the UNSC soldiers and Blue Sangheili kept firing gunfire that shot up multiple enemies as the convoy moved up. The Reds fired and shot several friendlies, but as Hinson's men fired and shot up several enemies, Hinson fired assault rifle fire and nailed four enemies to protect the convoy.
The fierce skirmish raged as the convoy moved on down the road, with Hinson and the troops firing and shooting up different enemies in the trees to the sides of the road. Hinson gunned tow soldiers down, then as Hinson's men fired cover, Hinson fired and shot four enemies while the UNSC troops and Blue Sangheili fired and gunned multiple enemies in the trees to the sides. A few friendlies were gunned down by enemy plasma, but Hinson gunned two aliens down to the right, then shot two other soldiers down at the left while Girov fired and shot a few aliens. The UNSC soldiers shot up several enemies as Hinson's men fired cover, then Hinson fired shots that nailed four enemies in the trees.
Getting further down the road, the convoy kept moving up towards the point of meeting up with the reinforcements. More Reds appeared and fired shots that gunned several friendlies down, but Hinson fired and shot two aliens to the right and then aimed and gunned two other soldiers down to the left. The UNSC soldiers and Blue Sangheili all fired hails of intense gunfire that shot up multiple enemies, then Hinson shot four more aliens with assault rifle fire. Hiller fired and shot several enemies as Girov gunned a few aliens down, then Hinson fired and nailed four Reds. With Hinson's men firing cover shots, the UNSC soldiers fired and shot several enemies while Hinson gunned two soldiers down by a tree.
"We're getting closer," Gallagher reassured, "We're almost there!"
"Finally!" Hiller stated.
The convoy was just nearing its destination, but that's when more troubling events started to arise, for enemy Wraith tanks began appearing, firing plasma at the convoy, which took out the two Hog cars with machine guns. Despite this, the Scorpion tank fired several shells that blasted two Wraith tanks to pieces, then fired a shell that damaged the another Wraith. However, the remaining two Wraiths fired plasma mortar rounds that blew the Scorpion tank to a burning ruin.
"Shit," McGinley said, "We were so fucking close, shit!"
"Hold your bloody fucking horses, will you," Hinson said, "I'll figure something out!"
Looking around, Hinson saw that the Hog car with the Gauss cannon still remained, so Hinson rushed over and manned the Gauss Cannon stationed on the back. The driver drover the Hog closer towards the damaged Wraith, leading to Hinson firing a couple shells that finished off the tank.
The other two Wraiths fired at Hinson's car, blazing plasma mortar towards him, but Hinson's car swerved and sped away from the fire, while Hinson aimed the Gauss cannon and fired continuous shells at the two tanks. As Hinson kept firing shells, he managed to destroy the first Wraith, then as the other tank fired on him, Hinson kept firing shells that blasted the other tank away.
With the pathway cleared, Hinson stepped off the Hog car and then he proceeded to lead the rest of his convoy and his men down the pathway, just coming upon the spot where they would meet with the reinforcements. As they approached the area, enemy machine gun emplacements opened up and fired on the convoy. Hinson and his men fired at the machine guns, with Hinson shooting several gunners, but the machine guns kept up the attack.
However, luckily for them, that was when a fleet of UNSC Pelican ships flew in, raining flurries of gunfire that shot up the enemy machine guns to shreds, with the lead Pelican blasting away a couple emplacements, finally eliminating the enemy presence for good.
The lead Pelican proceeded to land on the ground, with a relieved Hinson going over towards the Pelican to greet the operator... But his joy turned to annoyed disappointment when the man responsible for saving him stepped out and revealed himself to be Elias Salazar, and he was just as annoyed.
"God damn it." Salazar said with aggravation.
"Oh, out of all the people they could send," Hinson spoke, "They send you."
"Oh bite me, I hate this more than you do."
Hinson looked around at the situation and then spoke, "...Well... Guess we're stuck together."