The back of Oliver's head hurt like hell and was wet. He reached up to touch it to find cloth wrapped around his head covering the wound. The bandage was wet were he had hit his head.
He brought his hand back down in front of his face. It was dark, only the dim, red emergency lights illuminating the wrecked pelican. Even so, he was almost certain he saw blood on his hands.
He heard someone say something. He listened closely to try and figure out what was being said. He turned his head to roughly the source of the sound. He saw Isaac standing there.
Isaac spoke louder the second time he said "Oliver?". He was worried the hit had caused serious brain damage or at least concussion so he rushed over to him to stop him from getting up to quickly.
Oliver looked at Isaac and in a confused tone asked "What's going on?". Isaac gave him a quick recap to jog his memory aswell as giving him some new information. "So now were trying to find a way to contact any UNSC ships or make our way to the hospital to continue the mission or find the other crashed pelican and continue the mission from there. All our radios are destroyed so I guess plan one is out of the question. We also had to deal with whatever took our bird out or at least get far enough away before we can get an evac."
Oliver rubbed his eyes and then looking back at Isaac he simply said "Alright", in a somewhat tired voice.
"When are we leaving?"
"In a few minutes, we just need to take the supplies of the pelican and patch up some other people who got minor injuries.", Isaac replied. He was also somewhat tired and unsure of their options.
Oliver didn't noticed his friend's uneasiness and just nodded his head. Isaac helped Oliver up on his feet before quickly going over to help someone unload a box of supplies aswell as getting his sniper rifle from the storage above the seats. Oliver looked around the pelican and saw nine people inside the pelican including him and Isaac, aswell as six outside who appeared to be on watch, occasionally one would move position to get a different view angle.
His eyes scanned around the pelican, looking for his battle rifle. He eventually found the gun under the seat he had been originally sitting on. After getting on one knee to pick up the rifle he quickly bounced back up but regretted straight away as it caused his headache to get much worse.
"You okay?", asked Isaac. He was no doctor but knew head injuries could be a lot worse than they initially seemed.
"Yeah, just a bit sore. Might have to just take it easy for a bit, but I'll be alright."
Isaac juat nodded his head but was still concerned about the injury. "Alright. Were leaving now though, so do you have everything you need?".
"Hmmhmm, all set".
As soon as their conversation ended they briskly walked out of the pelican. Once Oliver was out in the open, he examined the terrain before him in more detail. He gazed upon the vast ocean of trees surrounding their position aswell as the plumage of smoke rising high into the sky a couple of kilometres away. There wasn't any shrubbery in the forest and the only other thing to accompany the trees were fallen leaves and twigs, and with the relative darkness for the time of day as the trees prevented most of the sunlight from touching the forest floor, the forest had an very eerie look.
Someting else caught Oliver's attention as he was panning around the small area. A load of dead marines lined up on the ground. Oliver quickly looked away but it was tough to try and forget a sight that grim.
He overheard a conversation between two marines about whether they should try and find the other crashed pelican or go straight to the hospital. It was decided that the group would go directly to the hospital and hopefully they would meet the other half of their platoon there.
"So it's settled then, were continuing the mission first, but do you know where the hospital is even at?", the first marine asked.
Oliver wasn't looking towards the two but he heard what sounded like someone rummaging through a backpack before pulling something out. After a couple of seconds he let out a sigh before stating to the other marine, "Apparently, the hospital is located in the area where that giant smoke cloud is".
"Well that's not good."
"Figure that out yourself genius", the second marine sharply replied.
"Alright Davies, just sayin' ", the first marine replied in a slightly annoyed tone.
The second marine, Davies however wasn't listening and was already making his way to the rough centre of the group of marines. He cleared his throat rather loudly to grab everyone's attention. Once he had achieved his goal he spoke clearly to the soldiers of their plans and the reasoning behind why they were going straight to the hospital. No one was officially 'leader' of the group but the plan was accepted as the most logical course of action.
After all ready having wasted enough time they set off quickly through the forest. They started off in a light jog but they had to soon slow down to a fast walk as it was too difficult for the marines carrying heavy weapons or extra ammo and supplies. Isaac was slightly struggling with the big heavy sniper rifle that he had slung over his shoulder so he appreciated the slow down in pace.
Oliver and Isaac were somewhat in the middle of the group but off to the side a little, walking beside eachother.
Isaac decided it would be a good time to strike up a conversation.
"So, what do you think that big smoke cloud was from? It could be the other pelican but it seems too far away to be."
Oliver slowed his pace thinking things over for a bit. Isaac was wondering if he had heard him and was going to ask again but he did speak.
"I overheard these two marines discussing our course of action when one of them asked where the hospital even was. The other pulled something out his bag and told him it was where that big smoke cloud was coming from."
"What's the point of going to rescue a graveyard?", Isaac responded, annoyed and slightly angry towards the one who had made the plan.
"It's our mission and theres still a chance that people might still be there so we have to try."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Sorry, i'm just still a bit on edge."
"It's alright, I think we all are a bit. Besides, if there is no one there then there won't be any covies either.", Oliver reassured. They walked in silence for the next few moments.
Time trickled by, and after a while of walking the group started to smell smoke, although faintly at first. Another few minutes and the entire group could clearly smell the strong odour.
The marine leading the group all of a sudden halted and signalled to the other marines to do the same. He turned his head back towards them and then in a hushed toned said, "I can see the hospital. Don't know where the smoke is coming from though. Keep your eyes peeled for any lingering covies and stay low."
The soldiers nodded silently and continued their journey more cautiously and alert. Oliver could see up ahead and he estimated for them to be roughly a hundred metres away from the perimeter of the makeshift hospital.
Seeing it in person he noted that it did in fact have a few small concrete buildings but was mostly comprised of dark green tents whose front face were completely open. They could only see half of the site as clustered tents and buildings blocked their view from the other portion which was also the portion where the smoke was coming from. Burn marks from presumably plasma weapons were dotted around the area they could see. Oliver did not see any covenant troops immediately but he still kept a firm grip on his rifle.
Isaac was crouched down behind Oliver a few paces back and looking through his scope he confirmed that there were no covenant in sight or people for that matter to the marine leading the group.
They contiuned their trek down to the hospital until they were right up against one of the concrete buildings. They halted for a moment and were about to continue to a different location to get a better vantage point when they heard the sound of footsteps up ahead.
The marines automatically stopped and remained dead still. The lead marine mouthed 'Take them by surprise'. The marines were just about to do just that when they heard a very human sounding voice coming from the direction they heard the footsteps.
"Hey, Commander? Do you think the other lot should be here by now?".
His answer did not come from the commander but by the marines stepping out from behing the building in view of the second group of marines.
"Glad to have you here men. Didn't see any covies?", the commander asked.
Real Plasma: Thank you so much again for such a nice comment. Heres the next chapter!