2132 hours, October 17, 2552 (revised date Military Calendar)/In atmosphere of earth.
Log 2, Capt. Matthew Jacobson.
I just barely escaped before the Athens was destroyed. If it weren't for Sergeant McClau's intervention I would have died in the station. We made are way down to earth and are preparing an assault. I just hope the Covenant aren't waiting for us.
End Log.
Jacobson stared at the satellite scans of the city. The Covenant had already deployed a Scarab. Wonderful. He would have to send the Pelicans toward the outskirts of the city to avoid contact. The Sergeant and his men were preparing to touch down on ground. The COM line buzzed and McClau spoke.
"The Pelican is loaded and ready to go on your mark."
Jacobson responded, " Take off, and follow the Pelicans from the Amber Clad."
"Yes sir. Men, saddle up and move out."
The Sergeant and his men climbed into the Pelican. It roared to life and the whining noise of the engines echoed through the hangar. The pilot spoke through the speakers.
"This is Lieutenant Dixon preparing for take off. Is everyone aboard?"
McClau gave the all clear signal and walked to the cockpit. The Pelican hovered of the ground and sped out of the hangar. One of the marines started talking.
"I wonder if I'll get to keep a grunt head as a trophy."
The marine's name was Private Kenneth Washington or Kenny for short. He was a Creo. (White/black person.) and extremely tall. He often had problems with hitting the ceiling of the Pelican. He had dark, short curly hair, and had light skin. He was trained in the art of knife throwing when he was young and often resorted to using that skill to finish off the stragglers.
"Hey by the time were done, we'll have a hundreds."
The other marine's name was Private Dylan Clarke. He was a Caucasian man with light brown hair and green eyes. His hair was starting to grow out of regulation. His true passion was the study of ancient war tactics and weaponry. He knew just about every weapon in history and could fix any firearm you handed to him.
The Pelican continued to fly in a steady path. A radio transmission came in.
"Immediate, grid kilo two three is hot, recommend mission abort."
"Roger recon." another voice responded, "Its your call sir."
A deeper voice was heard over the radio, "Were going in, get tactical marines."
Sergeant McClau loaded his battle rifle and removed the safety. The rest of the marines did so too. Kenny slipped to combat knives into his boots and slung his battle rifle over his back. Dylan put together an S2 AM Sniper Rifle and loaded it. Another voice was heard through the radio.
"Master Chief get aboard that carrier, secure the Prophet of Regret. This is the only place the Covenant decided to land. That Prophet is going to tell us why."
The pelican sped out to the side of the cluster.
"Thirty seconds out, standby too…uh oh."
In the distance a spider like giant stormed across the street. In the center a large eye like object opened. Particles formed around it as the eye like object glowed brighter and brighter. Then in a flash it sent a beam of plasma toward one of the Pelicans. It hit the craft in the front and engulfed it in flames. Dixon watched as the frame of the burning Pelican crashed into the ground. The secondary turret on the Scarab targeted the second Pelican. In an attempt to evade it the Pelican lost control and crashed into the ground. The turret now searched another target. It started firing at Dixon's Pelican.
"Turn, damn it turn!" the Sergeant barked out.
It was too late. A shot connected with the pelicans rear engine. It burst into metal fragments. The Pelican started to spin around uncontrollably.
"Stabilize the craft!" The Sergeant yelled.
"I can't", Dixon yelled with a worried tone of voice.
"I swear Dixon, if we blow up I am going to kill you."
The Sergeant pulled out his radio.
"This is Charlie 15. Mayday, Mayday we are going down."
As the Sergeant yelled the distress signal out the chains that held the warthog were slowly twisting from the momentum. Two of the chains snapped and the warthog smashed into the passenger section. It hit two of the marines killing them instantly. Parts littered the ground behind them. The warthog fell down and exploded into a brilliant cloud of gasoline. The Pelican continued to spin out. A red light in the passenger section lit up.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT", Dixon yelled out.
The Pelican made contact with the ground skid and then lifted off the ground again before crashing down again. The Pelican slid about a hundred yards before plowing through a building.
The surviving marines crawled out of the wreck. The Sergeant got up and wiped some dust off him. He yelled out to Kenny.
"Check on Dixon."
The private limbed over to the cockpit and opened the door. He recoiled in utter disgust.
"Did you find Dixon?" the sergeant called out.
"I think I did."
The Sergeant walked over to the cockpit and shut the door. Dylan crawled out, lied down on the floor and started to breath heavily. Sergeant McClau ran up to him.
"You okay."
"Yah I think so." he said wearily. He fell down and started coughing. Blood oozed out of his mouth.
"Get this man medical attention immediately."
One of the marines ran up with a medical kit.
"Create a perimeter."
The Sergeant pulled out his radio.
"Leviathan, this is Fire Team Lewis, do you read."
"Loud and clear. What is your status?"
"We've crashed. We have four dead, two wounded and four are okay."
"That's the least of your problems fire team."
"What do you mean?"
"It appears you've attracted some attention. We've picked up to Phantoms coming in."
"Just peachy."
"We recommend you leave the area and seek cover."
"Copy. Over and out."
The Sergeant put the radio in his pack and picked up his battle rifle. He turned to Kenny who was searching the wreckage for equipment.
"Did you find anything?"
"We have one portable turret, a few battle rifles and three SMG's. We also have 5 blocks of C-10 and a remote detonator."
"Pack it up were moving. Leave the blocks here and bring the detonator."
He walked over to the soldier working on Dylan.
"We can't stay here. Get him to a secure area and work on him there."
The soldier nodded and called another soldier over to help him carry Dylan. The marines ran out of the building. They crossed the street and slipped into an ally way. The familiar buzz of Phantoms echoed in the distance.
"Kenny, you still got that detonator."
"Yah"
"When I give you the signal, detonate the C-10 blocks."
"Yes, sir."
The Phantoms hovered over the building. Three elite special ops units drop down. They ran into the building while the Phantom hovered above.
"NOW"
Kenny pressed the detonator. The building exploded until a brilliant blaze of orange and red. Glass and concrete streaked across the sky. The Phantom made an attempt to escape but was consumed by the flames. It erupted in to a large blue ball of ignited covenant fuel.
"Nice work, Washington. Send a beacon to get us picked up."
The Sergeant walked up to Dylan who was still lying down.
"How is he?"
The marine replied, "He has pulmonary internal bleeding. We need to airlift him out of here immediately. "
Dylan began to cough up blood and then started vomiting.
"Don't worry, Private. I promise you you'll live to see these bastards be hung up like tree ornaments."
Dylan weakly smiled and then closed his eyes. The Sergeant went over to Kenny who was busy getting a signal out. The radio whirred a buzzed until a voice was heard.
"This is Captain Jacobson calling Fire Team Lewis do you read."
"Loud and clear."
"We picked up a lot of heat down there. Are you alright?"
"Just some fireworks. Were grounded and we have a critically injured soldier. We need evacuation."
"I'll send for a pelican to pick you up. On the other side."
"Good."
Meanwhile on the Leviathan Jacobson reactivated his shipboard A.I
"Archimedes"
"Yes, captain."
"How is the generator shakedown process?"
"Reactors at 75."
"Good. We'll be at full power soon."
Back on earth, Fire Team Lewis made its way around the buildings to be they were supposed to be picked up. In the middle a smoldering drop ship laid life less.
"Damn it."
"Leviathan, what the hell."
"Three Anti-aircraft guns are in the vicinity. You need to take them out before we can pick you up."
"This mission just gets better and better."
The sergeant turned off his radio and ran to the other marines.
"You, stay with Dylan. Washington, you're coming with me. The rest of you, wait for my orders"
The marines un-holstered there weapons and stood in caution. The sergeant pulled out his binoculars. They saw three anti-aircraft turrets in a triangular pattern on the field. Around them there were a lot of grunts, elites and jackals. Two stationary turrets spun around searching for enemy troops. Sergeant McClau yelled out.
"SUPPRESIVE FIRE."
The marines jumped out of their cover and fired at the Covenant squads. They were caught by surprised and lost a lot of casualties before they returned fire. The Sergeant snuck around with Kenny. An elite returned fire on the marines. One of the marines was hit by plasma in the face. The marines focused their fire on the elite. Its shields flickered and died. The elite ran for cover to allow his shields to recharge. The last thing the elite expected however was a ten-inch blade to skewer him through the forehead. Kenny ran up to the elite and pulled the knife out of the elite and wiped the purple blood on his pants. The Sergeant followed closely behind.
"That's pretty impressive."
"Thanks"
The two disabled the first gun and moved on to the next. Meanwhile the marines continued their suppressive fire. All the elites soon fell amongst the chaos along with many grunts and jackals.
"GIVE EM' HELL"
The marines ran out of their cover and finished off the rest off the grunts and continued there way around ducking behind cover on the way. The second anti-aircraft gun was destroyed and the marines continued down to the center of the field and were immediately pinned by the two stationary turrets. One of the marines primed a grenade and tossed it between the two. The marines continued downward. The third and final anti-aircraft gun was destroyed as well.
"All anti-aircraft weapons have been neutralized."
Jacobson spoke up through the COM channel.
"Have you found out what anything about the area?"
"Judging by the crates and loaded shadows I'd say that this is a re-supply station."
"That would explain how they mobalized so fast. Give me the coordinates."
The marines gave the coordinates the captains spoke up.
"Very well. Clear the area."
The marines mad their way back all the way to the second crashed Pelican and took cover. The whine of jet engines was heard as three Longsword bombers flew over the camp. A trail of explosions followed and the entire station was destroyed. The Sergeant ran up to Dylan who was still on the ground.
The marine called out, "He's gon'na be alright."
"Good."
A pelican landed nearby and they all took off and made it back to the Leviathan. Meanwhile the captain began to slowly leave the city. From the bridge he saw the Covenant cruiser that supposedly belonged to the prophet accelerate. The air began to ripple around it and green streaks slide across the hull. A message was heard on the COM.
"Slipspace rupture on the targets bow. It's going to make a jump inside the city!"
Jacobson stared outside as the cruiser disappeared and in its place left a ball of light which grew large and larger as it engulfed the city.