Chapter 15: Prudiise

Lieutenant CT-7567 'Rex' POV

Republic SERE training facility, [REDACTED] place

[REDACTED] time

"Vod, what the karking hell are we doing here?" asked my brother and subordinate, Sergeant CT-75678 'Crush', covered head to toe in mud, grime and slush. The entire squad was looking the same way and I felt just like how they all looked. Like shit.

For the thousandth time, I wondered what was going on in the heads of our instructors as we trudged through this facility, armed with nothing but our armour. I wonder which idiot decided on providing us with armour that was painted white. I mean, even a kriffing blind old ast'ehu beroya would be able to pick us off with any half-assed rifle he could find. The wonders of bureaucratic fund cuts.

"Stuff it Crush, lets get this shabla bora over so we can get off this planet" I say when I suddenly hear a burst of radio traffic

"Get it off of me!" screamed a voice. A sickening crunch was heard.

"The hell happened?!" another screamed before being cut off.

"Kriff, who the kark is that!? Oh shit!" a thud was heard.

"The fuck?!" a second thud was heard.

"Akalenedat" came the calm voice of our instructor, Alpha-17. I heard blaster fire then an animalistic roar, followed by a thump.

Whatever it was, it was trouncing us easily. My sergeant tapped me on my shoulder.

"Orders sir?" he asked. I looked at my squad of five, all of us unarmed. But our vod were in danger, so I make up my mind immediately.

"Sparks, do you have a fix on 17's position?" I ask my techie. He fiddles around with a small pad, before giving a thumbs up and uploading the data onto our HUD. He also activated our secondary systems, giving us access to our grappling hooks. Something is definitely better than nothing, I guess.

"We find out what is attacking our vod. Simple recon, no heroics. We then head to the emergency rally point to the north-east from here and report back. We can't do anything against it without weapons" I say and my brother's nod in response.

"Crush, take Sparks and Digger and loop around to 17's position. Take up overwatch and cover us. Use rocks, branches, anything to cover us. Jester, Cooper, you're with me as bait" I say. My team nod in reply.

"Move out" I order, and we split up.

Unknown POV

Unknown place

Unknown time

"Imp, more of their bretheren approach" the growling, flanging voice of Jul'Mdama sounded in my ears. I double-tapped my comms. in reply. Next second, Rachel Kane's voice came on.

"Three approaching from the north-west, taking up overwatch positions" she said. I take a breath as I plan things in my head, while I move to a position to stalk the overwatch team. I felt like doffing my hat off to the genius who gave them all shiny white armor when they were in a jungle. It was so easy to follow them. By the way they moved and the amount of noise they were making, I knew they were rooks. I couldn't help the grin on my face. Hacking into their battlenet was so easy, it gave us up-to date information on each of their positions. The six we were going to ambush were the last of them.

"Alright, same plan. Non-lethal takedowns only" I order. Despite having been shot at by what must have been the training team, we were using non-lethal measures on them. An odd presence in my mind was preventing me from killing them. Even Rachel and Jul were complaining of the same.

I stalk up on the unsuspecting trio and launch myself at them. I lash out with my left leg, catching the one on the left, dropping him. I slam the butt of my SMG into the back of the middle one's head. By then, the last guy realised he was under attack and threw a punch at me, but was too slow. I struck him on his unarmored waist with a kidney punch, then pistol whip him into unconsciousness.

"All clear" came Rachel's relieved voice. I look over to see Jul tying up the soldiers with some jungle vine. Despite him being a Sanghelli who still believed in the ways of the Old Covenant, he and I had developed a grudging respect for each other after having survived on this planet for three months. Rachel, meanwhile, became the glue that held us together. I know that the racist bigot had developed quite the soft spot for the cunning, gutsy and vibrant woman, who challenged him and his beliefs each and every step of the way.

My thoughts are interrupted when I hear slow clapping. I turn around and see one of the white armoured soldiers, with golden-yellow markings walking up, his arms raised in surrender. I aim my SMG at him, waiting for his next move.

"Well, I am glad you didn't kill my evaar'la vod aruetti" he said, his voice light. Rachel informed me that she had a lock on him, while Jul informed me that he was moving into position.

"Who are you and where the hell are we?" I say, tightening my grip on the trigger. He nods in reply and slowly touches his helmet, unsealing it and revealing his face. He had a sharp face, with mocha skin, brown eyes and had shaven his head bald. He had an amused smirk on his face, his eyes flashing in amusement, as if expecting my every reaction.

"My name is X1, I am a clone commander for Grand Army of The Republic and you three have been beating up my vod. Not that I blame you, as they had attacked you first, but I don't like it. So can I know the names of those who gave my vod the muun'baajir of their lives?"

I glance around to see Rachel and Jul flanking me and encircling the lone soldier. We share a quick glance and I nod.

"Rachel Kane, OGA" Rachel says, her rifle pointed right at his head.

"Jul'Mdama, leader of The Storm Covenant and The Didact's Hand" Jul says, his voice a fierce growl.

I sigh and fix the commander with an even look and say "Rookie, UNSC ODST"

R&R!