Chapter 1
The Saratoga
Built to replace the Trafalgar super carrier the Saratoga is the first of her class, mounted with a total of 8 Super Magnetic Accelerator Cannons and thousands of Archer Pod Missiles. She is also armed with four HAVOK nuclear warheads, five NOVA missile, twelve SHIVA nuclear missiles, nearly a thousand MLA auto cannons and thirty squadrons of Longsword interceptors. It also includes the new Valiant missiles and Thompson Rapid Fire Cannons. With many layers of tungsten and titanium A-grade alloys and also an almost invulnerable bulk head armour the Saratoga is well defended against all attacks. It is scheduled for commission on the 2525, October, 24th.
The NSOC
The NSOC was founded by the UNSC as a specialized unit which are able to efficiently combat enemies in space. Hence the name, Navy Space Operations Corps. After the Covenant attacks, full funding was made to the project and training sped up. Just after the Fall of Reach, the first team of NSOC s was operational.
Washington Orbital Defence Platform 1300 Military time, Earth
"The Covenant are attacking from this side of earth, just in front of the moon. Now, the Multa and the Atlas have already been destroyed by a bomb and the Cairo station is being defended by the Master Chief. We've been ordered to take up the Atlas's position here. However, already, Covenant drop ships are about to slip through. We've sent as many Longswords as we can spare, but now we won't be able to defend ourselves. Already, we've got reports of numerous boarding craft approaching us. I'm going to ask you guys to be our 'Longswords' and destroy as many boarding craft you can. After you have either run out of supplies, sustained serious casualties or destroyed as many boarding craft you can return to the station, Cairo this way. After this, report to the infirmary if you have casualties, armoury if you need ammunition. Then, defend the station at all costs."
Captain Fargo of the Washington ODP stood at the tactical display board showing the manoeuvres that were needed. Outside, in space, hundred of UNSC ships and Covenant craft were firing salvos of molten spheres of super heated ferric-tungsten projectiles and super heated plasma. Calvin Cheffington, head of the 1st platoon of NSOC s, stood to attention.
"Any questions?" Cpt. Fargo asked.
"No sir!" Calvin Cheffington replied.
"Dismissed."
The platoon of 16 men saluted before walking out towards their cabins to collect their equipment.
"Now, we can only supply you guys with 2 hours of air max. You'll have a thrust system to guide you on your mission, but use it sparingly. Remember, the STS (Space Tactical Suit) can only absorb approximately three hits of plasma before the shield breaks down. Then you'll have to wait ten seconds for it recharge," the technician advised. The NSOCs began to suit up into the lilac coloured suits before strapping their weapons and equipment to the suit. They had to be securely strapped while they were in space.
"The pods will take you a directly in the path of the boarding craft. There is a little problem though," said the technician.
"What?" Calvin asked.
"You might be separated by a couple of kilometres."
"Fine. Anything else?"
"No." the technician answered before the soldiers loaded up inside the pods and prepared for launch.
"Opening, air locks. Checking flight paths and trajectories. All systems green. Launch!" the technician replied before the pods were thrown outside into space.
The vibrating of the pod was uncomfortable. Calvin waited until his pod's speed had decreased. The small canister conducted a scan of the surroundings before the seal opened. Calvin pushed off the pod before radioing his team.
"This is Alpha-Leader. All Alphas regroup at my location. Bravo-Leader, what is your location?"
"We're only a couple of klicks away. Orders?"
"Follow the mission plan, Bravo regroups to take the left side and Alpha takes right" Calvin ordered. The two squads took their positions before the first wave of boarding craft headed their way. Three squadrons of Longsword interceptors began to destroy as many boarding craft as they could while defending themselves from the Covenant Seraphs. After the Longswords had depleted their ammunition they flew back to the Washington station leaving the NSOC s with the rest of the boarding craft. The NSOC s stood still, posing as space junk to their sensors. Slowly, they drifted towards the boarding craft which approached them before grabbing hold of the hulls. They methodically attached C-7 foaming explosives to the purple hulls and kicked off before attaching more C-7 to more boarding craft.
"Get clear guys!" Cheffington ordered, "towards the Cairo!"
After the team was clear Cheffington and his team flicked the fuse. Fireballs erupted in space, annihilating the first wave of boarding craft.
"Mission accomplished. Now, let's head towards the Cairo."
Cairo Orbital Defense Platform 1400 Military Time, Earth
"We have fifteen Covenant capital ships, holding position just outside the killzone," Cortana informed Lord Hood.
"Any news on Mars and the Saratoga?"
"I'm receiving alerts of Covenant swarming around the shipyards and the Saratoga is currently preparing for launch. I'm getting reports of the Covenant breaching the first perimeter. I estimate a maximum of 2 hours before they reach the Saratoga. Should we send the Chief?"
"As soon as he fights off these borders I'm getting Miranda to get him to Mars. The Atlas and Malta are gone Cortana and we're vulnerable to those Covenant ships. I've received orders to cover the area were the Malta was assigned. You've got our MAC gun. Use it well. The NSOC s have successfully destroyed the first wave of boarding craft towards the Washington without loss and are currently in the Cairo in Level C guarding our fusion reactors."
"The Chief has located the bomb sir, I'm going to defuse it sir."
"Godspeed."
After the Master Chief has defused the bomb and destroyed the Covenant ship and just landed on the In Amber Clad
"For a brick…he flew pretty good," Sgt. Johnson announced as he stood at the bridge of In Amber Clad.
"Chief…get inside, gear up. We're going to Mars."
