Chapter Thirteen
0837 Hours January 2nd 2725, (Military Calendar)/
Unknown System, Unknown System
Nick mouthed curses as the Vulcan shook violently in the vacuum of space. He grabbed onto a bracing support and held on tight. His S2 AM strapped loosely to his back. ZanZuga struggled to keep the ship flying straight and Casey was trying to compensate for all the speed they were catching. Nick stumbled into the cockpit and said, "Get me a visual on the Blackbird. I want all forward rotary plasma turrets and the fifties aimed at whatever is in range. Make em' Swiss shit cheese." He turned back and yelled at LaTymee, "Get second squad ready. Once we land we've gotta haul ass and find some friendlys." He then stumbled back over into the troop bay and grabbed hold of the brace again.
"Entering planet atmosphere in five… four… three… two… one!" Yelled ZanZuga. Nick fell forward and skidded into the door. Tiam and Atu toppled onto each other. They didn't get up. Tori slid onto the floor from her seat. Nick sat up and pulled Tori up next to him. He helped her into a seat and strapped her in. He gave her a thumbs up and she returned the gesture. He then rushed to Tiam and Atu's spot and lifted them up. Neither moved. Nick looked up towards Tori and shook his head. She curled up into a small ball and leaned against the door trying to keep from shaking.
Nick walked back up to the cockpit. "Tiam and Atu didn't make it. Their skulls cracked against the plating. Josh and Tori are still back there, their fine." He then looked up at the visual of the Blackbird. Two lifeless chunks of metal floated apart from each other. One moving toward the planet and the other about to hit one of the UNSC enemy ships.
"ETA to the planet surface ten seconds. We're stabilized, better go get suited up." ZanZuga said without taking his eyes of the screen. It was a beautiful sight to lay eyes on. Nick nodded and walked into the back. He pulled his sniper around his waist and laid it on his chest. He then went to a small arms compartment and grabbed six grenades and BR. He walked over to Tori and shook her arm some.
"C'mon, we're landing. Get some gear and meet us outside." He looked over to Josh and nodded his head to the now opening door. Josh got up and grabbed his COM pack. The two proceeded to jump out the door and onto the ground. Tori got up and watched Casey and ZanZuga jump out. She walked over to the arms door and picked up a shotgun and two grenades. She slowly closed the door and moped outside. The sun was just rising and they were in a small park. Nick pointed to the corner building and they moved silently. Josh kneeled down at the corner and looked back towards Nick.
Nick pointed towards the building across from them. Casey and Josh nodded and ran across the street to the building. They arrived and Josh aimed his gun back down the street. Casey stuck her hand out and moved it forward. Nick looked back toward Tori and ZanZuga and ran across the alley. ZanZuga proceeded to do the same after Nick reached the other side. When ZanZuga finally crossed, Tori started to run across. She hit the building and dived into the dirt. "Josh see if you can raise anyone on the COM. ZanZuga and Casey scout ahead fifty meters. We'll follow you up. Go." He whispered.
"Kilo two-four this is Kilo two-eight, do you copy. I say again Kilo two-four this is Kilo two-eight, do you copy." Josh silently whispered into the mic. They waited and Nick watched as Casey and ZanZuga moved down the street. The mic crackled with static.
"Kilo two-eight, this is Kilo two-four. Who am I speaking to?" Replied a voice. Josh handed Nick the mic.
"This is Lieutenant Nick of Silver team. Who's this?" asked Nick.
"Christ is it good to hear you. It's Corporal Steel of Easy Company, we've got eighteen wounded and we're hold up in a small building just inside a small town. From my HUD, we should be just South of you."
"Roger that Kilo two-four. We'll be to your position in about five minutes. Kilo two-eight out." He handed the mic back to Josh and waved his hand towards Casey and ZanZuga. They moved down the street in arrowhead formation. They soon came up to a small park with four buildings on each side. A downed Pelican lay turned over and smoking. Nick keyed his mic and said, "Kilo two-four, we are in the park and we are on the Northeast building, where are you?"
"We're on the Northwest building. I suggest setting your squad up in the building across from us. Watch out, they've got Interceptors flying around. They might be on the roofs or inside. Better search it before you get settled." Replied Steel.
"Roger that." Said Nick. He then turned around and pointed at his eyes and then at Steels position. Casey went and leaned herself against the doorway. She aimed her sniper at Steel's position.
"ZanZuga, take Josh and start searching the upper levels. Tori help me start planting some C4 on the corners of the park. Anyone who tries to get in will be dead in two seconds. Oh and Josh. Once you get the chance see if you can raise Delta four-six and get us a lift."
"Roger that sir. Let's go Z." Josh took the steps two at a time. He came to an office room and raised his BR45. A slightly smaller version of the standard BR55, with a resemblance to the Second World War American Carbine. He rested the butt of the gun under his shoulder. He opened the door ever so slowly and turned on his night vision. Two Hunters leaned against the window overlooking the park. They snapped their heads toward him and began charging their cannons. "Hold your fire, repeat hold fire." Josh nervously said.
"ZanZuga get your fat ass up here and tell these two Hunters I've found to stand down. Now." Josh said into his mic. ZanZuga was heard rushing up the stairs and entered the doorway. He said something in Covenant and the Hunters lowered their guns.
ZanZuga turned to Josh and said, "They agree not to kill you. For now." He then keyed his mic and said, "Sir, we've located two Hunters who agree to help us. Shall I bring them down?" There was static and a muffled order and then Nick's voice broke through.
"Roger that, bring em' down. Casey get those satchels under the door. If they start firing on us, and move in. Blow em'." Was all that Nick said before he cut the COM. ZanZuga turned around and whispered in Josh's ear.
"Sounds like the L.T. is expecting Steel for dinner." Josh said as ZanZuga walked past him. ZanZuga watched as Josh walked away behind him and went up the levels again. He turned back around and motioned for the Hunters to follow him. He walked down the stairs with the Hunters following close behind, cannons raised. They stepped onto the floor of the entrance and walked over to Nick helping LaTymee set up fifty millimeter turrets aimed at the doors.
"Sir, the Hunters Josh located." ZanZuga said to him while motioning over his shoulder. Nick turned around and looked the two bond-brothers up and down. They looked like they had been through Hell and back twice. They lumbered towards him keeping an eye out and surveying the Spartans around them. Nick slung his sniper back over his head and let it drop.
"ZanZuga, think you can translate for me?" Nick asked while sill staring at the battle worn Hunters. ZanZuga got up from placing small rocks over the bipod of the fifty.
He clapped the dust from his hands and walked over. Nick watched him for a few seconds and then said, "Ask them what their names are and if they know what's going on." ZanZuga said something in Covenant and the Hunters replied.
"They say all they know is that they were on their way towards this building when they took fire from Human contacts. They fired four rounds a piece and retreated into the second floor. Where Josh found them sir." Said ZanZuga while Nick started pondering the where they could have taken fire from.
One word was muttered from his mouth. "Steele." He turned around and pointed at Casey an said, "Casey can you see Captain Steele from where you are right now?" She nodded her head. "Plug him. Tori and Josh on me. Everyone else on suppressive fire, go." He then hopped out the window and Tori and Josh followed behind him. He aimed his pointer and middle finger at the left corner of Steele's building. Josh crouch ran over and lobbed a grenade into the window. Three screams rang out and Nick ran up behind Josh tapping him on the shoulder with Tori behind him. They hopped in and two marines barged through the smoking door. Nick went wide eyed and immediately brought his gun to bare. He shot the first one and then charged to the second. He hit him in the chest and then punched him in the head, two sharp blades like a Predators split into his skull. Nick repeatedly stabbed the dead marine in the head. Tori stared at him, she had never seen him so angry. Josh ran up behind him and tried to pull him off, but Nick slashed at him weakening his shields down to half.
He then proceeded to get up and run into the next room, cutting down marines one by one with remarkable speed and style. The Master Chief taught him how to kill, but not how to control emotions apparently. Nick cut through at least twenty marines before finally reaching the wounded personnel area. He just looked at them and back at Tori and Josh. He motioned for them to go into the next room and they moved ahead. He saw Tori turn his head and look at him. She pointed to her heart and he just stared. He slowly walked behind them and captured glances from the marines. As he stepped out, he pulled a grenade from his belt and looked at it. He pulled the pin and threw it back in.
The explosion rang out and Tori looked back at him stunned. He had just killed eighteen or more wounded marines. Harmless, wounded marines. They walked out the door and looked towards the sky. Hundreds of orange spheres came raining down in the area, almost twenty right square in the middle of the park. They burst open, the heat waves reaching out, unbalancing all but Nick. The rest of Silver Team walked out, guns raised. The Drynk burst out and began charging them.
Nick stood there and pulled out a plasma grenade. With lighting speed, he ducked under the swing of the lead Drynk and came out behind it. He stuck the plasma grenade to its back and jumped forward. He landed on the next Drynk's head and snapped it with his feet. He fell down and saw ZanZuga and LaTymee cutting down numerous beasts with the new energy swords. There was one more in front of him. He snapped his arm, the steal blades coming out again. He rolled under the swing and slid under it's legs. He stabbed the blade into its back and jumped up, and back in front of it, dragging the blade along its spine and up to its face. All the way down to where he started.
The beast roared out in pain and fell down. Nick was to busy watching ZanZuga and LaTymee cut down the last four to see that a large blip on his radar had appeared behind him. With one swift blow down Nicks back, he was on the ground. Blood leaked through the wound and he flopped over to his back.
LaTymee lunged forward cutting the Drynk's head off. The Drynk fell over to the side dead. Nick coughed up blood and stared into the night sky. His visor was cracked and his arms broken. His leg was twisted in a highly unnatural angle. Tori ran up and pulled the helmet off. His suit was completely wrecked beyond repair. "I'm sorry." He muttered, blood spilling down the side of his mouth.
Today I saw my hero fall apart!
Tori smiled sadly at him, tears at the brim of her eyes. "Don't be, you did nothing wrong." Josh ran up behind her and yanked her arm. More Drynk fell from the sky.
The one who taught me to be strong!
A phantom blasted through the clouds and hovered over them. "Tori let's go!" Josh yelled.
On the outside I look fine!
Nick pulled up his M6C and smiled weakly at her. "Go." He said. "That's an order." Josh pulled her away and they went up the grav beam. Nick looked at the Drynk in front of him and shot at them. The phantom pulled up and out of the clouds.
But on the inside I am dying.
My strength is overcome by pain.
My love for you remains the same.
The loneliness is setting in.
I have no one to free myself.
He muttered three last words. "Live your life."
It's never too late,
To live your life.
The time is now its do or die!
Tori sat in the phantom and cried. She thought she'd never see him again. She thought she'd be alone forever. She'd thought her life was over.
Epilogue- Two years later Silver Team was rescued by the Covenant ship Arbiter. The team was recommended and received the Medal of Honor for going above and beyond the call of duty. For a year they were stationed at Earth, helping defend any Covenant. The next year they fought the historic battle at LongWood, their home planet, where nearly forty thousand Covenant mustered against eighty thousand CK. The battle was won and the team went on to helping defend the home planet for Grunts. They witnessed the Battle of Lekgolo at Claotar and are now stationed at Cairo IV at Claotar. For another three years the war raged on against the CK and for another five years the Drynk. Red team was captured and executed and Cory was tortured to death. . One year later in 2738, they would meet an old friend none of them ever expected to see again.
Well all, the end has come for the FIRST book. Keep an eye out for the second which is now profoundly named Silver Team: Bloody Doves.
I hope you all had a wonderful time reading my storie and if I dont say so myself, I think this was by far the longest chapter i wrote.
-Knight 56
