Purpose Of Existence Chapter 25: First contact
"You were looking for me captain". Palmer stated officially as she entered the bridge. Her gaze turned worried as she saw how tense the atmosphere was. "Everything allright?" Lasky looked old. The kind of oldness only the command of the largest ship in the UNSC could bring.
"We lost contact with blue team". Palmer frowned hearing this. "We have a rought estimate where they crashed and I need you to send a fire team to salvage whatever is left out of this shitstorm".
"If they even crashed". Muttered Anthony The Comm Officer.
"They alive?" She asked and all Tom could give her was a shake of head. "We don't know. We have been unable to establish contact with them, so we should prepare for the worse I guess". The last part nothing more than a under the breath mutter. He took a deep breath and continued "We believe they are crashed here". Pointing a finger to a spot on the holomap currently on display in front of them. "It isn't far from their original target but their seems to be a mountain blocking the most direct path to the command center". Captain paused for a minute a slight frown on his face that Palmer had learn to recognize as "Tom solving a puzzle" Face. If I was them I would pass trought this canyon". Again he pointed at the map, this time a long almost tunnel like canyon that cut trought the mountains.
"I don't know that canyon almost screams for ambush Tom". Sarah pointed out sceptical of the "path" Tom had drawn for them.
"Yeah it does but they don't have much options. Changes are that they are injured or witch would make passing over the mountain even more unlikely. Sarah walked next to him and took a look at the glowing holomap. "What about if they take shelter here". She said pointing at a old tower of some sorts.
"I doubt it. The spartans have a mission to complete and if I have learn to know them at all during our time together, id say they are going to use the cloak of darkness to their advantage as they move towards the command center".
"Allright il take a team and hopefully fix this shitstorm". Said Palmer after she gave the orange map one last glance and turned to leave. suddenly as she was about to walk out from the bridge she heard Tom's voice behind her "Bring them home save, commander". She had turned her head and was looking Tom over her shoulder.
"You know I will". Was all she said as she walked out of the Bridge with a purpose.
"So Chief, you wanna enlighten us on your masterplan to get your girlfriend back?" Asked Kelly her face appearing at the top right of his visor. Chief was heading the group as they walked in pairs towards the old ancient snowy canyon. Kelly was right behind him and noticed how he stiffened and walked just a tiny bit faster after she called Cortana by her new nickname.
"Im still working on that part Kelly". Saying her name a bit louder than he needed to. To this Kelly smirked. "You know we would like to get the mission dossier a before we go headputting to darkness and probably dying.
"Well you will be first to know when I figure something out". He shot back getting a slightly amused look from her. He would never say it out loud but it was immensely comforting to have his siblings on this pretty much insane journey with no knowledge if they would survive. He despised putting them in danger but also knew if anyone could take care of themselves...It was the spartans and damn he would rib the universe apart to get answers to how to get her back.
"How much further till the canyon?" Linda asked.
"Fred popped up at the corner of her screen and looked amused "Getting soft there Petty Officer?" Linda shot him a dirty look "Yeah and your getting old silverhear". Kelly's mouth hung open. "Did she just make a joke?" She asked.
"Down!" John said as they came to the entrance of the canyon. The sguad reacted instantly and disappeared to the environment almost impossible to see even tho their bulky and colorful armor.
"Two wraiths guarded by two full squads of elites and unggoy". Fred informed after scanning the group".
"Aand brutes". finished Kelly
"Those brutes could be a problem, we have to deal with them first. I definitely do not wan't to have a berserk brute messing up our battle plan". Told Chief as he gazed the middle sized Banished group.
"Why would they be guarding entrance to a empty canyon?" Asked Fred.
"Don't know don't care they are in our way and we need to get to that control center. Chief what's the plan?" Said Linda clearly irritated with all the talking. She tolerated it a bit more among the spartans but enought was enought.
"I agree with Linda, we have wasted enought time already. Fred take the remaining spartan laser and destroy the first tank on my mark. Linda 50-meters above us is a small clearing can you see it?" Linda gave him a affirmative and John continued " Go their focus on the brutes. You have the only weapon powerful enought to deal with them fast and cleanly. Kelly, take my grenades and destroy the second tank on my mark. Il deal with the elites. Move!"
3 minutes and 20 seconds later every single spartans was in position and Chief gave the thumbs up.
0 seconds: Red laser flashed trought the air and the first wrath exploded. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as Chief hauled himself from his hiding spot.
5 seconds: Kelly jumped to the back of the second wraith and stuffed the grenade belt inside it. Making the tank explode and taking some of the unggoy's with it. Linda also fired her first shot taking down two of the four man brute squad.
10 seconds: Chief gunned down the first elite, jumping over its sword swing. After landing he grapped the second elites arm and twisted it at a unnatural angle. The elite howled in pain and Chief took its energy sword and stabbed it trought the third elites chest. The final elite of the squad was frozen, even after all the stories he had hard time believing what he saw. All of he's brother in arms killed with such eas...such grace, it was inhuman. After that he gave a battlecry and charged…Only to be put down by the very same energy sword.
15 seconds: Fred sweeped in and naded most of the unggoy's, shooting the ones that remained. Linda show a second shot, killing the two remaining brutes.
20 seconds: everything was silent.