Chapter 14: Ambush
Old Mombasa
"Are you in position yet?" Karla asked for the umpteenth time.
"Just stick with us here, Captain." Wrall's exasperated voice replied. "Shiela's being a little finicky here."
"More like being a giant junk heap!" Karla heard somebody with a deep Scottish accent yell in the background.
"Tankers." Karla sighed and shook her head. "It's always got to be the decent ones that get the crappy equipment."
"Could be worse." Williams grinned. "We could've been stuck with an M808."
"Don't even get me started about those things." Karla and Wrall both sighed.
The M808 line of Scorpion tanks were supposed to be at the pinnacle of excellence for all Scorpions. On paper, it seemed to be an unbeatable machine, with its high velocity 90mm cannon, heavy 7.62mm machine gun, tough armor, and heaps of automated systems. However, in practice, it was a completely different story. Unlike other Scorpion models, the M808 was designed and optimized for Spartans in mind. As a result, there were some glaring issues that no sane tank commander would ever accept.
First, the crew compartment was completely exposed. This wasn't much of an issue with Spartans, since their armor was pretty much as tough as the Scorpion. However, with a human crew, driving a tank was pretty much a moot point if the rest of the tank was covered with protective titanium-A except for the part that mattered the most.
Second, the M808 lacked a pintle-mounted machine gun and a gunner to use it. This made the tank more vulnerable to infantry assault and rendered the tank completely ineffective in close-quarters combat.
Third, since the M808 was optimized to be operated by a single Spartan and a high-class AI, crew space was minimized and used instead to pack in AI memory storage, extra ammo, and a few automated systems. For ordinary humans, there was only enough space for a gunner and driver. Unfortunately, testing showed that this configuration resulted in lower combat efficiency than older models. Without a tank commander to guide them, the driver and gunner often performed conflicting or poorly executed maneuvers. In the chaos of combat, the gunner and driver were too engrossed in their own tasks in order to concentrate on anything else. Also, the lack of a human loader and the inclusion of an automated loader meant that it wasn't as easy to switch ammunition types. In the heat of battle, the gunner often had no time to reprogram the autoloader and swap out ammo types, so the crew was often stuck using a single type of shell.
To put it in simple terms, M808s were rolling death machines if piloted by Spartans, but were third-rate when it came to a standard human crew. Most tank units kept one or two as a courtesy in case they were ever graced with the presence of a Spartan on the field, but other than that, M808s were often put in storage or used when no other tank was available.
"We're in position." Wrall announced.
From her position, Karla could see the alley exit, which was just behind one of the Wraiths and in a perfect flanking position from the other. She could make out the tip of the Scorpion's barrel jutting out from the alley, drawing a bead on the Wraith across the plaza.
"You're clear the fire." Karla said.
"You can fire when ready, Kazi." Wrall ordered.
"Give me an AP round and an HE as a follow-up." Kazi said as she locked the sights on the Wraith.
Shion nodded and queued the autoloader to load an armor piercing depleted uranium round and a high explosive round in that order.
"Loaded!"
Kazi pulled the triggers and fired the AP round. The tank shuddered as the 90mm cannon fired its lethal projectile. The depleted uranium round hit the first Wraith through its side armor and continued on, passing straight through the other end of the tank and slamming into the wall behind it. The Wraith shuddered for a second and fell to the ground as its antigravity propulsion systems failed. Through her sights, Kazi could see the crew hatch burst open and saw the Wraith's crew scrambling to escape the tank. She heard the unmistakable thunk of a shell being loaded, and Shion yelling, "Loaded!" and fired again.
Wrall marveled at Kazi's accuracy with the cannon. As he was watching, he saw the high explosive shell score a direct hit a Grunt as it leapt off the side of the Wraith. The resulting explosion engulfed the Grunt and the rest of the Wraith crew in a ball of fire.
"Scottie! Full power forward! Lets go!" Wrall yelled. "Kazi! Take out the second tank!"
Shiela's engines squealed and whined as Scottie put everything they had into acceleration. At the same time, Kazi spun the barrel in line with where the Wraith was supposed to be and saw with relish that it was still unaware of what was going on, and it's unarmored rear was presented in front of her like a giant birthday cake.
"Standard round, Shion!"
"Loaded!"
Wrall was also impressed with how Shion was quick to react to Kazi's needs. It was rare to see a loader who load a round almost instantaneously. Shion had obviously done her homework.
The tank shuddered again as the cannon fired. The shell pierced the rear portion of the Wraith and exploded, blowing the rear half of the tank off and gutting out the insides, killing the crew.
"Score two for Shiela!" Kazi laughed. "I changed my mind about this tank. This cannon works like a dream!"
"It's still a piece of junk." Scottie muttered.
"The plaza is clear." Wrall announced. "It's safe to come in now."
"Roger that."
Karla saw the quick and efficient way that Wrall had taken care of the Wraith tanks and was impressed. She'd keep her eye on this tank crew for the time being.
"Lets move forward." She said as the small convoy of three Warthogs pressed on into the plaza.
New Mombasa
"Is this a good idea sarge? I mean, tailing a Scarab?" Leo said as they navigated their way across another pedestrian bridge.
"Of course it is." Paccone grunted. "Scarabs aren't terribly smart. They really don't notice anything smaller than themselves."
"Gee, I wonder why." Kumi said sarcastically.
"Hold it." Scohar warned. He was the point man. "I think there's something up ahead."
Suddenly, an energy beam shot past Scohar's head, missing by mere feet.
"Shit, get down!" Paccone yelled.
Without delay, the rest of the squad ducked down and tried to find cover.
"Wellings!" Paccone yelled. "Did you see where that came from?"
Sam nodded. "Yeah."
"Good, find that sniper and deal with it." Paccone motioned at the other end of the bridge. "Keep your eye there. We might have enemies coming down that way any minute."
"Come on, Leo!" Sam slid to a halt near a pile of crates and went prone, snuggling her rifle right under the safety rail. Leo did the same and hastily began setting up his sights.
"I saw it come from the big gray building."
"They're ALL big gray buildings, Sam. Be a little more specific." Leo sighed.
"Company!" Kumi yelled just as plasma bolts began to fly. Sure enough, Covenant were beginning to appear at the other end of the bridge, an entire squad or more. What made it worse was that more Covenant were beginning to appear on adjacent bridges.
"Take them down!" Paccone yelled, pointing at the Covenant at the other end of the bridge.
Instantly, with the efficiency of a well-drilled squad, Kumi and Scohar poured fire into the bridge exit, forcing the Covenant to dive for cover. Paccone meanwhile started firing harassing shots at the Covenant on an adjacent bridge. Another energy shot past, forcing Kumi and Scohar to duck for cover, which gave the Covenant more time to move in.
"Wellings! Find that damn sniper or we're never going to get off this bridge!"
"Do you see him yet?" Leo asked.
"No, that's why I've got you to spot for me!" Sam grumbled. She knew which building the shots were coming from, but there were at least two dozen spots where the sniper could be. "I need him to fire one more time!"
"I swear," Paccone scowled, "nobody can ever do these things right."
"Sir?" Kumi looked up. "What are you doing?"
Before anybody could react, Paccone stood up and exposed himself to enemy fire. He started running for the next set of crates as plasma fire began to trail behind him. Suddenly, an energy beam shot past. Unlike projectile rifles, beam rifles shot a single, unbroken energy beam that made it easy to track back to the shooter. Sam caught the beam in her sights and traced it straight to a Jackal hiding on the twentieth floor of an office building. Sam carefully nuzzled her sights over the Jackals head and fired. The Jackal's lifeless body toppled over the edge and flattened itself on the street.
"He's down!" Sam yelled.
"Let's move!" Paccone stood up again and made his way to the other end of the bridge, firing at the Covenant taking cover there.
Kumi and Scohar followed suit, pouring fire on the adjacent pedestrian bridges to keep the Covenant down. Sam fired her remaining shots at several Elites and began to move as well, with Leo following close behind.
To clear the path, Paccone threw a hand grenade into the bridge exit which scattered the Covenant attackers, killing or maiming most of them. Unfortunately, the Elites on the adjacent bridges were beginning to leap onto their own bridge. One landed right in front of Sam, plasma sword in hand.
"Shit!" Sam cursed and slid to a halt. The Elite yelled something in its garbled language and swing it's sword downward in a vertical slash. Sam raised her rifle in a feeble attempt block the energy blade.
"Sam!" Leo screamed and grabbed Sam, pulling her back. The sword sheared through her rifle, cutting it in two, but didn't quite reach far enough to hit Sam herself. The blade barely touched her and left a vertical singe mark down the front of her body armor.
At that moment, Paccone came from behind and struck the Elite with the butt of his weapon. The blow didn't even pierce the alien's shields, but knocked it off balance. With another savage blow, he managed to shove the Elite over the bridge rail and off the edge, sending the Elite plummeting twenty stories to its death.
"Quit slacking and start moving, privates!" Paccone yelled as he fired at a group of Elites coming in behind them.
"It broke my rifle…" Sam said glumly, too distracted to listen.
However, before any of them could react, a storm of automatic fire swept across the pedestrian bridges, tearing the Covenant on them to pieces.
"What the-" Leo gasped as the last of the Covenant troops were cut down.
He looked up and saw a squad of Marines making their way down a pedestrian bridge several stories above them.
"Are you guys all right?" The leader called down to them.
"We're okay down here!" Paccone replied. "Who in the hell are you guys?"
"27th Marine Recon!" The other Marine yelled. "What about you?"
"2nd Marine Recon!" Paccone replied. "We're tracking a Scarab just two miles south of here!"
"We're also tracking it!" The leader sounded somewhat surprised. "We're setting up a rally point!"
Paccone's HUD pinged as a nav marker appeared. "See you there!"
Leo saw the other group of Marines run down the bridge and out of sight. He looked back at Sam, who was still looking at the remains of her sniper rifle glumly.
"My sister got me that rifle…"
"I'm sure we can get you a new one after this." Leo said sympathetically.
"You don't understand…" Sam looked to be on the verge of tears, "That rifle was made and fitted specifically for me. It was like a part of me…"
"Quit your whining and start moving." Paccone said sternly.
"But sir-" Leo started to say.
"NOW!" Paccone glared at Leo, who quickly took the hint and ran off after Kumi and Scohar.
Paccone turned to Sam and his expression softened slightly. "I know how much that rifle meant to you, and with your incredibly careless and incompetent attitude, I decided to bring this along."
He then picked up the mysterious case he had been lugging the entire time and handed to Sam. She cracked the case open and peered inside. Her jaw dropped at what she saw.
"Sarge, is this-"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is."
"How did you get it? Only specialized NavSpeWar personnel get access to this stuff!"
"I don't think you really want to know how I got this thing." Paccone glanced at Sam's angered reaction and quickly said, "Let's just say your mother, and by extension Karla, are very active firearm connoisseurs. If you really want to know more, ask Karla about sometime… if either of you are still alive that is."
Karla glanced at Paccone somewhat suspiciously. "Exactly why are you going through all this trouble for me? Does this have something to do with that thing between you and Karla?"
"Well, let's just say that you remind me a lot about her before she realized the truth about everything."
Sam suddenly recalled the story of Paccone and Karla's relationship that Leo had told her about. "You mean that time when-"
"Not exactly…" Paccone's voice trailed off, as if he were unwilling to continue on the path the conversation was going. He suddenly changed the subject, "What the hell are we doing still standing here? Let's get moving, Private!"
With her head still swimming with questions, Sam could do nothing but follow her sergeant.
\Old Mombasa
"That was way too easy." Karla said cautiously as Shiela rumbled to a stop next to the Warthogs. "It's never supposed to be easy."
"It's probably just a side effect of your shoddy leadership skills." Williams said sarcastically. "You get us into so many sticky situations, that you get suspicious when you actually get something done right."
"Something tells me you've been spending way too much time with Sergeant Paccone." Karla glared at Williams, causing him to shrink back.
"Captain." Tarin said calmly, staring into the sky. "I think we've got company."
"What?' Karla looked at the sky, and managed to see several dark shapes closing in at lighting speed.
"Banshees!" Karla yelled into her radio. Already she could hear the characteristic shriek of their engines. "Take cover!"
The Warthogs immediately broke off and took shelter in a nearby bombed out store. Unfortunately, Shiela was too large to hide.
"Get us out of here!" Wrall yelled.
"I'm trying to!" Scottie wailed as he tried to get the stubborn vehicle to move. "She's not responding to anything!"
"What are you talking about!" Wrall yelled again. "Just pull up on the lever and push down on the pedal! It's not that hard!"
"I know how to drive a tank, you twat!" Scottie retorted.
Meanwhile, Kazi had turned the turret into the direction of the oncoming Banshees. The 7.62mm machine gun spat tracers at the hostile aircraft as Shion began loading airburst shells.
"Get this tank moving, NOW!" Wrall yelled again. He knew the damage Banshees could cause, and that one direct hit from a fuel rod cannon would result in a very bad day.
Kazi fired her first airburst shell. The shell zoomed through the air and exploded as is passed by a Banshee. The shockwave knocked one out of the air, and shrapnel crippled a second, forcing it to retreat. However, there were three more incoming Banshees, and Wrall knew that there was no possibly way a single gun was going to get them all.
"Come on, what the hell are you doing?" Karla muttered as she saw the Scorpion stranded in the middle of the plaza. She had her Warthogs move back into the open and were throwing support fire into the air to drive off the Banshees. It was at that moment Karla noticed movement on her Warthog's radar. From the looks of it, not only were there Banshees, but more Wraiths were incoming. At least two or three more. If Shiela didn't get moving soon, she and her crew would all be doomed.