Chapter 1: Rear guard

-Covenant Force On Reach confirmed-

-ADVISE: TIER 1 THREAT-

-WARNING-

-WARNING-

-COVENANT FORCE BREACH CITY LIMITS-

XXX

XXX

-DEPLOY ALEXANDRIA 5TH INFANTRY GUARD-

-COMPLETE-

2452 AUGUST 23

The air was a haze. The smoke filled the air like a poisonous spire, people's screams, and the sounds of explosions filled the air. Where was he, what was happening? He couldn't remember. He looked around and he see's still bodies beside him. Their armor burnt black with looks of pain but unmoving eyes. He knew him, he was friends he thinks, he sees more, but unable to recognize the face was charred at boddy locked a scream that never extinguished. But the IFF knew him or her, pvt. Gonzales, Emily, charred and unrecognizable and all he could do was stare. The ringing becomes defining until finally reality returns.

"ANDOR MOVE!" a soldier cries out and grabs Andor and runs to cover away from the destroyed emplacement.

The two make it to cover as a wraith plasma strikes their previous location as the bodies remain to evaporate into nothing but the most basic of carbon.

The street is littered with the broken bodies of soldier, Police, and civilian alike. Destroyed vehicles litter the street as high rises and apartments all around with them ither on fire or provide cover for the UNSC 5th guard snipers.

The street itself was filled with the 5th infantry soldiers firing with streams of traces filling the air along with the haze of blue and green plasma that came from the covent side.

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED" Andor screamed, as he looked to his savior his IFF reading pvt. Kovacs, Aliz.

"THINGS WENT TO SHIT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE" she replies back, as she looks back and lifts her rifle firing at a grunt that was too exposed.

"WHERE'S THE S.P.N.K.R" she cries, Andor looks at her "WHAT" he replies the explosions ever present. "THE FUCKING SPNKR FOR THE WRAITH, WHERE IS IT!?" more desprate as more fire hits their cover.

Andor looks over to where the bodies laid and sees what remained of the launcher, "THEIR" he cries out and points still trying to make sense of the world.

Aliz looks and see it along what happened to the previous owners, "fuck" she says to herself eyes wide. "WE HAVE TO MOVE, FALL BACK, ANYTHING!" she cries out frustrated, tears training her eyes.

With no choice they along with the surviving soldier fell back. Failing to stop the covenant advance into the city.

In a crumpled out building the guard sits after hours on end fighting until they finally have a chance to breathe.

In the building a group of men surrounded a table and spoke to each other

"How many did we lose" called an old gravely voice, that sounded so tired to another soldier.

"In the fight 22, in the retreat another 12, some of the squads are joined together now" replied a younger voice just as tired but more defeated.

"And the wounded?" the old voice asked again

"The ones we could carry? About a dozen." The same man replied

"Ones we could carry?" another man asked from the table, hands now resting staring at the young man, his rank and name now visible Lieutenant Colonel Brigs.

The young man now stood straighter "W-we had to leave some behind, hence the 12" he replied hurriedly.

The room stood silent. No one spoke for a moment.

"Where's your captain, Lt?" The LtCol asked but with no malicious

"Dead sir" he replied

"Your squad" the LtCol askes again

"Dead" the Lt

Silence once more filled the room, days of fighting already claimed so many. Part of the guard wasn't even able to get to the base to mobilize and they are still running on half strength.

The Lt Col looks up to the Lt. He knew he was a terrible officer and still too young and inexperienced. He knew he got his and another squad killed by telling them to take out a wraith by themselves but he had no choice.

"Lt stand still" he replies, "Yes sir" The Lt snaps to attention

The Lt Col starters before stating "Lt you are hereby Captain of 3rd platoon, in order to replace the loss of Cpt. Ross"

The room stood shocked, and the Lt had a show of shock

"Sir" he began "I don't know what to say, thank you" The now Captain replied

"Don't" the Lt Col replied sternly, practically barking at the now Cpt. before continuing "You are an idiot and a fool who has to little experience to even be a Captain with less grace to be a officer" as he talks the Now captain looks with wide eyes.

"Let it be known you are only captain because you are still alive and if that's it you are dismissed" the Lt Col says.

"B-but si-'' the Cpt. tries to start but is cut off.

"DISMISSED!" the Lt Col cries

The Cpt stops, salutes and leaves.

The other officer in the room, a major Xi, speaks to Lt Col.

"Wasn't that a little to harsh sir we need them motivated not at a breaking point before they even get to the firing line" he says

"I know but I have to remind him to not spend lives carelessly we are not getting reinforcements nor supplies here" he replies back

"We are getting reinforced sir" another officer replies a Cpt. Widow

"I wouldn't called half assed planetary reserves, beat cops, and armed civilians reinforcements"

He stayed quiet before asking "How goes the evacuation, Alexi, are they almost complete?"

The projector on a table comes to live showing the civilian evac tunnel

"Civilian evacuation 15% complete, main route damaged and evac tunel 5 and 7 destroyed due to bombardment with evac tunnel 10-12 destroyed by self detonation due to discovery" The dumb A.I. Alexi replied

"Were there civilians in the tunnels and how many losses?" He replied shocked

"Tunnel 5 and 7 report heavy civilian casualties and tunnels 10-12 before closure only 15,000 made it across" Alexi replies

"Out of how many?"

"125,000"

Silence is the only answer.

They have been fighting for days on end losing soldier after soldier hoping to get as many out but only saved 15% of civilians in this sector. With many of whose families are trying to leave and may as well die in those tunnels. How do they tell the men?

"God help us all"

LOG END…

Hello everyone this is my first story hope you enjoy and I do plan on finishing this story part so I hope you all enjoyed and criticism welcomed