With new found energy they sprinted through the groves of trees and luscious green bushes to the remainder of their platoon.
When Oliver's and Isaac's footsteps were within earshot of their platoon, said platoon's members quickly turned around, guns at the ready, searching for a target. This made Oliver and Isaac halt abprutly, but the other marines hastily lowered their weapons when they realised it was one of their own running towards them.
One of the marines located at the back of the group, a tall, muscled man with slicked back hair, asked, "See anyone else on your way here?".
Oliver quickly told him that he hadn't seen anything since they retreated. The group accepted their answer and continued walking with an extra two members accompanying them.
After at minute of walking Isaac asked, "Where are we going?"
The marine walking at the front of the group responded, "Were going to try and get out of range of that AA gun and request an evac. Were in no shape to fight back."
Isaac and Oliver both gave silent nods and they continued walking. The walk was uneventful and the group remained silent, the only noises coming from birds and rustling leaves in the wind.
A lone marine slowed his walk to a crawl while staring intently at some sort of radar. His eyes scanned over the screen multiple times before suddenly bulging in realisation.
He shouted out clearly, "Hey! I'm picking up movement, possibly covenant. There closing in on us fast."
Another marine called out, "Quick, find some cover!".
Each man scurried about trying to get into prime ambush positions behind whatever they could find, mainly thick tree trunks.
Isaac had his backed pressed up against a tree trunk while Oliver lay on his stomach, hiding behind some low lying shrubbery that was growing beside a tree, the tip of his rifle barrel barely poking out of the bush.
If it wasn't deathly silent whilst they were walking, if definetly was now. Even the birds had stopped chirping and singing songs of nature. The wind had died down and at this point the only thing Oliver could hear was the sound of his thumping heartbeat and shaky, shallow breathing. It seemed to get louder and louder in his ears as the silence went on until a new sound entered his ears.
The sound of an engine, multiple engines, rapidly approaching, seemed to drown out the other noises.
Through the trees he caught glimpses of a fast moving green vehicle, doing it's best to manoeuvre around the trees. He let out a loud sigh when he realised it was a patrol of mongeese, and then he let his head drop onto the cold forest floor. He wasn't physically and mentally able for another firefight.
As the other men also realised their chaser was in fact allies, they slowly started emerging from their places of hiding. Oliver did too, although he was one of the last ones to do so.
The men stood around in one large group, some with bits of twig and leaves stuck to them, patiently waiting for patrol to make their way to them.
A couple seconds later three camo green mongeese skidded to a stop, right in front of the worn marines.
One of the marines driving one of the mongeese, a young but battle experienced man, asked, "Are you the platoon sent out to that hospital back there?."
A wave of mumbled 'Yes's and 'mhmm', was the answer to his question.
Continuing on he explained how they found them. "Before your pelicans went down one of them sent out a distress signal so a bunch of patrol teams were sent out. We are to bring back to base and if anyone else is still out there we'll bring them back."
This received a similar response to the last question, a bunch of mumbles before the slicked back hair marine took the initiative and walked forward, standing beside the mongoose as if to say let's get on with it then.
The driver understood and started making his way back to the base, although at a much slower speed so the marines on foot could keep up. The other mongoose drivers followed suit and soon there was a convoy steadily making there way to a place that would change their lives.
2hrs 11mins Later
The path that they took had gradually become more and more like a travelled road, with beaten down clumpy bits of grass and no major obstacles blocking the way. The forest had also gotten less and less dense aswell as less of it.
The group had after a long, tiring walk come to a bend where the treeline seemed to end. As they reached a point where no trees were blocking their view, a beautiful sight fell before their eyes.
A valley with rocky, high mountains on either side, sheltering a luscious green stretch of nature. A brilliant, glistening river with water so clear you could see right to the bottom of the even the deepest points, like looking into a window which gave you access to a whole other world of wildlife, ran through the middle of the valley, going as far as the eye could see.
Most of the marines were completely awestruck at the sight, especially the ones who had lived on mostly barren, rocky planets.
The marines on the mongeese eventually got the group moving again, continuing on slightly higher spirits.
Only a few minutes later the group had reached their destination.
Oliver felt a bit more confident seeing the size and armament of the base they had been trekking so long to get to. Large walls surrounded the entire structure with marines patrolling on top of them. There seemed to be dozens of warthogs and mongeese, even a few scorpions. Countless men could be seen even from outside the base. He was in relative safety once more.
The group walked through the gate without fuss and the mongoose driver pointed them towards a worn concrete building and told them that was were they needed to go.
The remainder of the platoon silently obeyed and entered the building through a large, rusty metal door.
The group of eight were slightly crammed as a large wooden desk occupied most of the space of the room. Behind said desk was a stern looking man with light grey hair. He seemed to be studying something but looked up when every man had entered the room.
"Your the platoon sent out to the hospital", he stated like he already new.
He got some mumbles in confirmation and a 'yeah' from the soldier with slicked back hair.
"Very good. We're going to need every man for the upcoming assault on Fort Draux. It is a key position to holding the line and was recently lost. The assault is in two days and will be explained in more detail by someone else. The barracks are to the left of this building as you walk out. Dismissed."
In less than a minute they were in and out of the concrete structure.
Once they were outside Isaac turned to Oliver and expressed his disbelief.
"Another battle? In only two days? It's not fair on us".
"Yeah, nothing we can do though. This time atleast we have a much bigger force on our side.", was Oliver's response.
Isaac sighed and said "Yeah, let's just get some rest."
Oliver nodded and followed his friend to the barracks. He tried to hide it but he felt just as defeated as Isaac, and his body language showed it.
He took slow, sluggish steps towards the barracks. When he was inside he went to the nearest unoccupied bed and slung his bag underneath it, then falling onto the bed he tried to catch some well needed sleep.
Sorry this took longer than usual but I was busy for a few days and I'm also back to school, and honestly I was kinda lazy. Good news I have the next few chapter well planned out and ready to write and I will try and make up for it by having a chapter out sooner than usual.
Real Plasma: Wasn't really sure exactly what to do there so thanks for helping me out there. I've gone back and changed it now. Thanks again for reviewing and helping me.
VeteranGamer89: Thank you, and here's the next chapter.
Oserix: Glad you like it!
Mongeese or Mongooses?