Bleeding out
Disclaimer: I do not in any shape or form own Halo. It belongs to Bungie, 343 Industries, and Microsoft, nor am I associated with them in any way. This is a non-profit fan work written solely for the purpose of entertainment. This is in no way canon.
Responses to questions or statements:
-gundamator: Thank you very much kind sir.
-llumenexicorti: Maybe I'll do that.
-noble6117: Thanks, I went back and changed it.
Anyway, here is the new chapter. I hope you all enjoy it.
Chapter 2:
As the two UH-144 Falcons flew over Reach's mountains as they headed towards the communications relay, Casper took the time to think about his plans on how to deal with the upcoming events. Despite having years to plan out, he still felt nervous just in case if he missed or forgotten about something, taking the half hour trip through the mountainside to comb through his brain to make sure he didn't miss anything.
Ever since he was inducted into the Spartan III program, he began thinking of ways on how to change things for the better based on his knowledge of the universe. So far he already made some significant changes such as saving Cal-141 from dying and recovering the prototype armor, which had already created a few changes already such as more of the prototype armor being produced and the Spartan II headhunter being deployed to eliminate more Covenant targets. However, Casper still remained on guard just in case if there were any negative side effects to his actions. While he would like to believe that none would occur and that the changes he made were good, he still did not fully know how his actions had affected future events and whether or not they would play out in the same manner or at least similar to as how they did in the games.
He was soon snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Noble one speaking.
" / Alright, listen up Noble Team. / " Carter said over the radio to the fireteam. / " We're looking at a downed relay outpost, about fifty klicks out from Visegrad. We're going to introduce ourselves to whoever took it down and Kat's going to bring it back online. If need be we'll also run a CSAR on the missing troopers too. / "
" / Just get me under the hood Commander, / " Kat answered through the team's comm link.
" / Sir, why would rebels want to cut off Reach from the rest of the colonies? Wouldn't that be counterproductive as doing so would prevent them from communicating with other cells and resurfacing on other worlds too? / " Jorge questioned.
" / Come on, they're psychos big guy, and that's coming from me. When do they ever do anything that makes sense. / " Emile signed.
" / I don't know Jorge. Maybe if you get the chance you can ask them. / " Carter replied as he looked over to the other Falcon, where Jorge, Emile and Kat were.
After a moment of silence, Kat spoke up. / "Commander, we just lost our signal with HQ. / " She informed the team.
" / Back up channels? / " Carter asked.
" / Searching... / " Kat looked down at her TACTPAD before shaking her head, " / Nada, can't say what's jamming us. / "
"You heard her, we've just entered a dead zone," Carter said, not letting the inconvenience bother him, "Command will not be keeping us company on this trip."
" / I'm lonely already, / " Emile quipped as the Falcons flew over the mountains. Casper took the opportunity to look over his ammo and gear. During the trip to the relay station, he swapped out his Designated Marksman Rifle for an MA37 Assault Rifle with an M310 underbarrel grenade launcher that was in the weapons crate onboard, as well as stacked up on magazines compatible for it filled with 7.62x51mm rounds along with HE grenade and white phosphorous rounds for his launcher.
" / Shoot down attempts are likely, / " Carter warned the Falcon pilot, switching to the all-hands frequency. " / So make sure you keep your distance. / "
" / Yes sir! / " The pilot acknowledged.
" / Let's stay focused, / " Noble one said as he switched back to the Team's frequency. " / Watch your sectors. / "
All of the fireteam members flashed their lights in acknowledgement as the Falcons began circling around as they looked for a landing zone.
" / Be advised, I'm reading a distress beacon, / " Noble two announced.
An arrow popped up on the Spartan's HUDs and pointed towards at a flaming Warthog down below.
" Could be the missing troopers, let's check it out, " Carter said. " / Put us down on the bluff. / " He ordered the pilots as they began to descend.
" / Jun, I want you to maintain overwatch. We need your eyes in the sky. / " The team leader said to Noble three.
" / Wilco sir, out / " Jun replied.
Before the Falcons landed on the ground, the Spartans were already jumping out, "Let's go, Six!" Carter and the rest of Noble team, barring Jorge and Jun, and began securing the perimeter.
"Alright Noble Team, let's spread out," Carter said as he gestured with his arm to proceed forward. "Watch the approach and be on lookout for any hostiles."
Emile was already halfway down the hill as he quickly made his way to a nearby rock formation, making his way on top to get a good visual on the outpost.
"Structure at my one o'clock looks clear from this angle," he said as he continue to scan the buildings for any sign of movement.
"Commander, the distress beacon is coming from just south of here," Kat said as she, Carter, and Casper began to make their way down the hill.
"Roger that Kat, keep your eyes peeled Noble." Carter ordered.
Casper was the first one to make it to the building as he raised his rifle and looked around for any threats, entering the small courtyard that contained the burning Warthog along with several other wrecked vehicles.
Noble's one, two and four soon followed in behind him as they kept their weapons at the ready, looking for signs of whoever lived here or who could've done this, including the missing troopers. However, the red, dried blood that was scattered around was a cause for concern, especially as they can see that whoever had died here didn't put up much of a fight as there were no bullet holes or spent shell casings.
Six knelt down and flipped over a broken box board beside the burning vehicle and was greeted with the sight of a small distress beacon, one that was faintly beeping and was most certainly not issued to civilians.
Grabbing it, he momentarily examined it before he held it up for the others to see. "Found the beacon," he said before tossing it over his shoulder to Kat who caught it effortlessly.
"Can you make out any ID?" Carter asked the team's tech expert.
Kat scanned the device for a second, "Negative, but it's definitely military issued," she said before dropping the beacon.
" / So where are the missing troopers? / " Jorge asked from the Falcon circling overhead.
Noble two was inspecting the flaming Warthog when she noticed something strange, " I'm not picking up any explosive residue?" She thought out loud as she began surveying the site.
"Good question..." Carter agreed. " / Noble three, can you confirm any E-X residue in the area, over? / "
" / Scanning...negative. I'm not seeing anything commander. / "Jun replied.
"Well that's not worrying," Kat muttered sarcastically." Found anything Six?"
"Other than blood, nothing." Was all Six said before he began pulling security.
"Plasma maybe," Emile offered.
" / Can't be. Not on Reach. / " Jorge interjected, not believing that the enemy had found Mankind's fortress in the stars.
Reach was one of the UNSC's most protected planets from the Covenant. Not to mention that the planet was his home, he felt a strong attachment to it.
" / There's a lot of blood on the ground here. / " Noble four retorted. " / I'm just making suggestions here big man. / "
"Alright Noble, looks like there's nothing here. Let's move on." Carter ordered.
"Smoke at the building at my 11 o'clock sir," Casper pointed with his arm at a stone gate that looked like it lead to another house.
"Circle west and check it out," Carter ordered, "Noble team, you have permission to engage but be selective, we don't need to telegraph our presence."
The Spartans continued moving down the valley in a light pace, with Casper taking point. Their eyes constantly shifting for any sign of danger.
After nearly a minute, Six had reached the structure with Carter following close behind.
"Noble Six, move into the house. Go in quiet, we're right behind you," he ordered with his voice no more than a whisper.
Six gave a brief nod in acknowledgement as he raised his rifle and slowly entered the home, checking the right corner as Carter quickly checked the left. Moving silently, he remained on alert for any movement as he canted his rifle by 45 degrees to allow for better accuracy in a close-quarters environment, keeping his trigger finger disciplined to prevent an accidental or unwanted weapons discharge. While it was dark, the enhanced vision his augmentations provided allowed him to navigate the demolished house with no difficulty. The rest of Noble team not too far behind him as they came across a large section of the house that was blown open, revealing another courtyard and a building a few meters ahead.
" / Noble leader, I'm picking up multiple heat-sig's in the structure ahead, / " Jun warned.
" / Roger that, Jorge get down here. We may need you for whatever happens next. / "Carter ordered.
" / On it, / " Jorge said as the Falcon he was in landed and he jumped out.
Noble team began spreading out throughout the courtyard and aimed their weapons at the building. Slowly, the door opened and a man slowly emerged from the structure with his hands raised, trying to convey that he meant no harm. Slowly, he began speaking in what their Heads-up display identified as Hungarian.
Emile wasted no time and took a threatening step forward with his shotgun, as he gestured for the man to get down, "Move! Get on your knees, now!" He ordered roughly as he aimed his shotgun at him.
"Sir, these people don't look like rebels. More like farmers to me," Casper said to his team leader as he saw more people appear in the doorway.
"He's right four, lower your weapon. He looks scared enough as it is." Kat agreed as she flipped the safety on her M392 and pointed it towards the ground.
"Jorge, ask them what they're doing here." Carter instructed.
Jorge relayed his message to the man in Hungarian and the man replied back, albeit shakily. His eyes constantly glancing from the nearby field to the members of Noble team with fear.
"They're hiding sir," Jorge translated as the man continued speaking. "His neighbors were attacked by something last night. He heard screams. Gunfire. It stopped sometime around sunrise. Said something in the field killed his son."
"Something?" Carter asked, his tone suggesting that he was starting to believe that they weren't dealing with human insurrectionists.
" / Commander! Be advised, I'm picking up heat signatures in that structure directly east of your position, over. / " Jun warns outs over the radio.
" / Copy that, / " Carter responded before turning back towards Jorge, "Tell them to get back inside!" He ordered as he gestured towards the villagers.
Jorge turned and passed on the order in Hungarian, the people running back inside as they did not needed to be told twice. Soon as they shut the door, the team began running towards the building.
"Come on Noble Team, double-time it!" Carter ordered.
Six put on a burst of speed as he arrived at the building first, the others right behind him as they began stacking up on the wall beside the entrance to a garage, clicking the safeties on their weapons off as they did a quick check on their armor to make sure it was operating. Carter placed his left hand on Casper's right shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze, silently informing him that they were right behind him and signaling him to proceed forward. Six understood this as he immediately entered the room and began checking the corners and scanning for hostiles, the rest of Noble team following behind and doing the same. Once they were inside, they were met with a gruesome sight.
Two men in Army combat uniforms were dead inside, one being hung up on his shoulders and impaled on what looked to be a meat hook while the other laid at the other's feet. Beside them were four civilian corpses, all of whom were killed in brutal fashion.
"Damn..." Carter mumbled as he took in the state of the deceased troopers and civilians, or what remained of them while Casper began examining their wounds and searching for their dog tags.
" / Fill me in commander, what are you seeing? Over. / " Jun requested with hidden concern.
" / We've got civilian and military casualties here, three. Two of the missing troopers. / " Carter said with a grimace as he inspected their patches, showing that they were members of the 7th Cavalry. " / Looks like they were interrogated before they died...it's messy. / "
"Private First Class T. Coleman and Sergeant R. Jankowski , sir." Six informed Noble one as he had found their dog tags and showed it to him.
Carter nodded somberly as he stood up. "Alright Noble, let's keep moving." he said as Casper placed the dog tags in a pouch before taking point as he moved forward with the rest of the team.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Casper said to the others as they came across another dead civilian, a woman that looked to be in her mid-thirties with her face covered in blood that looked to have died from having her head bashed in.
"Yeah, you and me both Casper." Kat responded as she kept her Carbine ready
Along the way they had noticed footprints in the blood...that didn't resemble a humans in the slightest that lead into another room. The team was now on high alert as they cautiously moved through the building as they followed the footsteps, encountering another civilian corpse along the way.
Soon, the sound of clanging made everyone tense up. As if there was something running on the roof above them. Casper raised his left hand to tell the others to stop as they continued to hear movement.
"Movement, watch your motion trackers." Carter warns as they continued to make their way forward.
Suddenly, a red dot appeared on their radar as everyone instantly pointed their weapons towards the roof, the reading disappearing as quickly as it came.
"What the hell was that?" Emile exclaimed as he tightened his grip on his M45 shotgun, continuing to scan for hostiles.
" / Jun, do you see anything? / " Carter asked, hoping that their overwatch can identify and locate what they were hearing.
" / Negative, thermal's clean, nothing on FLIR either. But it doesn't mean that there is nothing there commander. / " The marksman said as he continued to try and identify what they were dealing with.
" / Understood. / " Carter replied as he signaled for the rest of the team to push on while remaining on high alert. As the five super-soldiers made their way through the abandoned structure, Jun spoke up over the radio again.
" / Boss, I'm seeing movement just outside your structure! / "
" / Copy that. / " Noble one said as he ordered the team to pick up their pace and get outside as quickly as possible.
When the team passed by several large windows that gave an open view of the courtyard outside, they saw something that made them collectively inhale and made their blood cold, except for Casper as he had been expecting this.
Just outside the windows, were multiple squads of grunts of varying ranks and Jackals. A closer look of them revealed that they were skirmishers, close-range combatants that were faster, stronger and more agile than the regular ones. Mainly used as stealth infantry in combat and utilized flanking tactics.
"My god..." Jorge said as one of his worst nightmares came true.
The Covenant had found and made it to Reach.
And scene! That's it for this chapter and I hoped that you guys enjoyed it.
Terms:
-CSAR: Combat Search and Rescue.
-Overwatch: Watching from a high position.
-Wilco: Will comply.
-FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared. (Basically the black and white cameras you see in games like Call of Duty.)
Remember...stay frosty gents.