Chapter 2: The Steppes of Battle
Anders took a few steps, in order to stay moving. He looked around, gathering information on the situation. He saw that the covenant had some objects they used for their cover laid out, as well as a downed Pelican. And Signaled 1st sergeant Cole to take 2nd squad behind the dropship.
Anders remembered how during his training, he had outperformed most of the men in his company, which was a total of sixty. He had been promoted to 1st sergeant almost immediately before graduation, and being assigned to task force. The only mission here was to find and attack small to medium sized covenant strongholds.
Though there had only been three so far, Anders had done well. After the second attack, he had been promoted to Staff Sergeant, and replaced his platoon leader after the current leader has been killed.
An explosion nearby rocked Anders from his thought. He had subconsciously ordered his men to take cover behind the Covenant's pink- purple obstacles. Peeking his head up from behind the cover, he saw that they were at the foot of a small incline, though large enough to hide what was on the other side. At the top of the incline was the entrance to the Covenant bunker, which was jutting out of a cliff.
But the unmistakable sounds of human firearms and Covenant Plasma weapons could be heard from the other side of the hill. Checking his comm, Anders quickly gathered that 2nd and 3rd platoon was taking considerable fire. 4th and 5th platoons had been forced to land about half a kilometer back. There was no word from B Company. A company, and more specifically on it's own for now.
Anders peered around again, this time making a visual reference in his memory. Directly outside the bunker were two shades, the Covenant stationary weapons, along with a fair number of grunts, and an elite. Though there were probable more on the other side of the hill, seeing as how the ones outside the bunker only seemed to be waiting.
Luckily, the covenant's attention was held by the battle on the other side of the hill. Anders ordered 2nd squad to go behind a small rock formation jutting out from the hill, about 100 meters from the bunker. Anders took 1st squad, and slowly moved up beside the bunker. Preparing to the give the order, he took advantage of his newfound view, and checked on the battle.
The covenant force was roughly twice the size of the of the human's. Anders swore silently. Checking his comm, He got a hold of 2nd and 3rd platoon's leaders, and informed them of his location. On his signal, he would attack the covenant outside the bunker, while 2nd squad would provide suppressing fire, and the other platoons would begin to try and push the covenant back if possible.
Anders quietly gave the one count, hearing the curses on the other side of the comm. Giving the two count, Anders gripped his rifle tightly. On the three count he stepped out from behind the bunker wall, and took aim at a grunt manning one of the shades. Squeezing the trigger, he let a few rounds fly into the grunt. Watching the body fall to the ground, he quickly dropped to one knee, and aimed for the other shade's operator. Before Anders could fire however, the elite, a yellow commander armed with an energy-blade, charged towards him, roaring it's alien tongue.
Pointing his weapon at the tall, and terrifying, alien, Anders fired. The shields wrapped around the elite illuminated the ground, and drew out the men's shadows. But soon the shield failed, and the elite took a few bullets to its "stomach".
But that would not stop the elite. Roaring once more, the alien slowly started its charge again. Anders pulled the trigger, only to realize that his magazine was empty. The elite was nearly on top of Anders, and it began to raise its energy-blade. Anders ducked, and the alien swung its blade over his head. Striking the elite in the stomach with his rifle, the dark purple blood of the elite sprayed out of its wounds. The elite looked up, and began to raise its blade again. Anders quickly dropped his rifle, and grabbed his M6D. Squeezing off 5 rounds, the elite finally fell to the ground.
Looking around, he saw that this had been the push the human's needed. His men had manned the shades, and made short work of the remaining covenant. Anders placed his pistol back in its holster, and picked his rifle up again. Ejecting the magazine, he heard 2nd and 3rd platoon leaders calling for him over the comm. As he reloaded his rifle, he made his way over to the leaders.
Staff Sergeant Garrison, 2nd platoon's leader, was a tall, well built man. Roughly 6'8", he was well liked by the men. Sergeant Spears, on the other hand, was lanky, and fairly average in height. He was not as liked as Garrison for his gruff manner.
"Well Gentlemen, let's get down to business." Garrison said. " Sergeant Anders, I believe you know where 4th and 5th platoons are?" Garrison addressed Anders with the utmost respect, because they had been good friends since they joined the marines. So Anders began explaining the other platoon's situation and location.
"Do we wait for them before we attack the bunker?" Said Spears. Anders shook his head.
"The longer we wait, the more time we give the covenant inside the bunker the opportunity a chance for a counter attack." Anders said with an unusual authority in his voice. "Can we get 4th and 5th platoons on the comm?" Anders said. Garrison checked the comm, waiting for a response.
After a couple of seconds, he began talking with the other end. Anders and Spears tuned in.
"We're still about 250 meters away. Move in without us, we'll provide support when we arrive." O'Brien, the leader of 5th platoon said. Anders, Garrison, and Spears nodded to each other.
"Tell the men to lock and load," Anders said. "We got covenant to kill."
Anders took a few steps, in order to stay moving. He looked around, gathering information on the situation. He saw that the covenant had some objects they used for their cover laid out, as well as a downed Pelican. And Signaled 1st sergeant Cole to take 2nd squad behind the dropship.
Anders remembered how during his training, he had outperformed most of the men in his company, which was a total of sixty. He had been promoted to 1st sergeant almost immediately before graduation, and being assigned to task force. The only mission here was to find and attack small to medium sized covenant strongholds.
Though there had only been three so far, Anders had done well. After the second attack, he had been promoted to Staff Sergeant, and replaced his platoon leader after the current leader has been killed.
An explosion nearby rocked Anders from his thought. He had subconsciously ordered his men to take cover behind the Covenant's pink- purple obstacles. Peeking his head up from behind the cover, he saw that they were at the foot of a small incline, though large enough to hide what was on the other side. At the top of the incline was the entrance to the Covenant bunker, which was jutting out of a cliff.
But the unmistakable sounds of human firearms and Covenant Plasma weapons could be heard from the other side of the hill. Checking his comm, Anders quickly gathered that 2nd and 3rd platoon was taking considerable fire. 4th and 5th platoons had been forced to land about half a kilometer back. There was no word from B Company. A company, and more specifically on it's own for now.
Anders peered around again, this time making a visual reference in his memory. Directly outside the bunker were two shades, the Covenant stationary weapons, along with a fair number of grunts, and an elite. Though there were probable more on the other side of the hill, seeing as how the ones outside the bunker only seemed to be waiting.
Luckily, the covenant's attention was held by the battle on the other side of the hill. Anders ordered 2nd squad to go behind a small rock formation jutting out from the hill, about 100 meters from the bunker. Anders took 1st squad, and slowly moved up beside the bunker. Preparing to the give the order, he took advantage of his newfound view, and checked on the battle.
The covenant force was roughly twice the size of the of the human's. Anders swore silently. Checking his comm, He got a hold of 2nd and 3rd platoon's leaders, and informed them of his location. On his signal, he would attack the covenant outside the bunker, while 2nd squad would provide suppressing fire, and the other platoons would begin to try and push the covenant back if possible.
Anders quietly gave the one count, hearing the curses on the other side of the comm. Giving the two count, Anders gripped his rifle tightly. On the three count he stepped out from behind the bunker wall, and took aim at a grunt manning one of the shades. Squeezing the trigger, he let a few rounds fly into the grunt. Watching the body fall to the ground, he quickly dropped to one knee, and aimed for the other shade's operator. Before Anders could fire however, the elite, a yellow commander armed with an energy-blade, charged towards him, roaring it's alien tongue.
Pointing his weapon at the tall, and terrifying, alien, Anders fired. The shields wrapped around the elite illuminated the ground, and drew out the men's shadows. But soon the shield failed, and the elite took a few bullets to its "stomach".
But that would not stop the elite. Roaring once more, the alien slowly started its charge again. Anders pulled the trigger, only to realize that his magazine was empty. The elite was nearly on top of Anders, and it began to raise its energy-blade. Anders ducked, and the alien swung its blade over his head. Striking the elite in the stomach with his rifle, the dark purple blood of the elite sprayed out of its wounds. The elite looked up, and began to raise its blade again. Anders quickly dropped his rifle, and grabbed his M6D. Squeezing off 5 rounds, the elite finally fell to the ground.
Looking around, he saw that this had been the push the human's needed. His men had manned the shades, and made short work of the remaining covenant. Anders placed his pistol back in its holster, and picked his rifle up again. Ejecting the magazine, he heard 2nd and 3rd platoon leaders calling for him over the comm. As he reloaded his rifle, he made his way over to the leaders.
Staff Sergeant Garrison, 2nd platoon's leader, was a tall, well built man. Roughly 6'8", he was well liked by the men. Sergeant Spears, on the other hand, was lanky, and fairly average in height. He was not as liked as Garrison for his gruff manner.
"Well Gentlemen, let's get down to business." Garrison said. " Sergeant Anders, I believe you know where 4th and 5th platoons are?" Garrison addressed Anders with the utmost respect, because they had been good friends since they joined the marines. So Anders began explaining the other platoon's situation and location.
"Do we wait for them before we attack the bunker?" Said Spears. Anders shook his head.
"The longer we wait, the more time we give the covenant inside the bunker the opportunity a chance for a counter attack." Anders said with an unusual authority in his voice. "Can we get 4th and 5th platoons on the comm?" Anders said. Garrison checked the comm, waiting for a response.
After a couple of seconds, he began talking with the other end. Anders and Spears tuned in.
"We're still about 250 meters away. Move in without us, we'll provide support when we arrive." O'Brien, the leader of 5th platoon said. Anders, Garrison, and Spears nodded to each other.
"Tell the men to lock and load," Anders said. "We got covenant to kill."