Chapter Fourteen - Calm
0725 Hours, August 30, 2552 (Military Calendar) /
Epsilon Eridani system, Orbital Defense Generator
Facility A-331, planet Reach.
A calm had settled over the valley.
Jack pulled Daniel aside and personally thanked him for taking charge when Eric disobeyed orders. Daniel had always been top notch in doing the right thing and getting a job done. He was usually number four in command, following Logan and Rachel. He could trust him to have their backs.
Logan, on the other hand, could be both a blessing and a curse. A wild card. But a wicked good one. His stunt with Rachel onboard had nearly crossed that invisible line between bravery and recklessness. But that was another matter entirely.
Jack leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
"Tell me what happened while I was...preoccupied. I want to know our current status: KIA, injured, everything. This silence from the Covenant won't last long," Jack said. Daniel thought a moment, searching the chaotic memories for the proper place to start.
"Sir. While you and the others were engaged at the far side of the valley, a large force of Covenant were able to sneak along the tree line. Fortunately one of us spotted the group, and we opened fire on them. Their infantry retreated deeper into the woods, while a squadron of forty Ghosts proceeded towards the facility. We waited for the trip mines to soften up most of them before opening fire with the turrets. It didn't take much more than that; there were only eight left standing from the trip mines," Daniel explained, and he sighed as he recalled the rest.
"That was the first wave. Then came the Grunts. I'd say at least a hundred, maybe two hundred of them. Jackals were right behind them in phalanx formations. The Grunts went down easy to the turrets. The Jackals took some effort, though. By the time we'd positioned members of East and West Bunker squads behind them for a better shot, two Hunter pairs had emerged from the tree line. That's when we started taking casualties..."
Daniel shook his head. Jack nodded for him to continue.
"West Bunker lead was killed by one of their plasma torpedos. The Banshees hit us, but we took care of them easily enough. By the time the remaining Jackals and Hunters were dispatched, I had full command of base defense. Nick was killed by that Hunter's plasma torpedo. That was the second wave.
By that time we had three remaining turrets. Still plenty of ammunition. But we were on edge. It was almost too late before we noticed the camouflaged Elites sneaking up on us. There had to be at least sixty of them, all with energy swords. Mark was...sliced in half. By the time each of one of the bastards was killed, Eric had showed up with the Ghost. We nearly shot him dead before we recognized him. I hate to admit it, sir, but the other Spartans seem pretty shaken up about it all. Not enough to worry, though. Their heads are still in check. Well, except..."
"Eric. I know. I'll be speaking with him shortly."
"Of course, sir. Green Team is as follows: Akiko took that Wraith shot in the tank, but was soon KIA. Grant and Andrew are KIA also, according to Eric. Sarah was hit by that Banshee torpedo early on. She was alive for a while...but she's now KIA as well. Nick was hit by that Hunter gun, KIA. Mark, KIA by that Elite's energy sword. The rest of us are uninjured, for the most part."
That leaves us with eleven, including myself, Jack thought with regret.
"What about weapons? How long could we hold out once they return?" Jack asked, a hint of guilty rage at their heavy casualties rising in his voice. He checked himself and tried not to think about the fact that he'd lost six Spartans on this mission. Six of his brothers and sisters were dead because his plan wasn't good enough. He wasn't being melodramatic. He had assumed he knew the Covenant's tactics. Instead, however, they had outdone him. For the most part. The facility still stood, after all.
Thanks mostly to Alpha Team and their sacrificial mission. The actual Covenant force would no doubt have been ten times the size it was. Perhaps such a force was already on its way.
"Sir, we have MA5Bs for everyone," Daniel responded, tossing Jack one of the assault rifles, "A dozen fragmentation grenades remain as well. Six Anaconda surface-to-air missiles are here also, but we've saved them for the biggest wave, when it comes. We were able to collapse East Bunker's tunnels to the main facility, and have rigged it with extra Antilon trip mines we found. The only way into the generator complex is either through this bunker's tunnels or the main entrance. But the Covenant will have a tough time cracking that gate open."
"And our remaining Warthog?"
"Tucked away in the main facility. If things get too hot and we're holed up in there, we may need a quick way out. The Fury tac nuke is waiting in there as well. We can activate it if the facility is lost. Take a hell of a lot of them with us if we have to."
"Alright, good work, Daniel. Listen: there's nothing you can do about the casualties. You've done all you can to keep the rest of us alive," Jack said, placing a hand on his shoulder. But he had to wonder if he was telling this to Daniel or himself. "Excuse me while I see to Eric."
"Of course, sir. I'll check on the others."
Daniel saluted and left.
Jack turned and sighed, preparing himself for what he had to do. If Eric wasn't made an example of, the other Spartans would begin to crack as well. He had to remind him who was in charge and what it meant to follow orders despite emotional interference.
Jack turned and found himself face to face with Ashley, who lifted her blast shield and stared at him pleadingly. He shifted to move around her, but she laid a gentle hand on his chest that stayed him somehow. He sighed and waited for her to speak.
"Jack...please, I know what you're going to do. I just want you to listen, first. It's not his fault, he's just-,"
"-in love?" Jack interjected. Ashley bit her lip and shook her head helplessly.
"He feels guilty enough that he almost got you-,"
"Killed?"
Ashley lowered her head and swallowed.
"He was just trying to make sure we were alright-,"
"That you were alright-,"
"Is it so different, then, with Rachel?"
Jack clenched his fists. Despite himself, he felt his face flushing red behind his visor and he felt a panicked swirling within his gut. Was it that obvious? Jack had hardly begun to think of his concern for Rachel like that at all. He felt angry at Ashley for knowing more about himself than he did. But wasn't she right? Hadn't he also put Rachel before the rest and tried to make sure she was safe?
No, that was different.
Jack coughed and shook his head.
"I look out for all my Spartans. There's nothing different when it comes to Rachel."
Ashley laughed quietly, a knowing grin on her face through her uplifted visor. Jack tried not to look at that smiling face as he moved past her. In the main room of West Bunker, the other Spartans turned at his approach. Rachel tried to catch his eye, but he forced himself not to acknowledge her in any visible way.
Eric sat alone by the side door, now sealed tight. His head was lowered in shame, and he knew why Jack had come. He had donned one of the dead Spartan's helmets; the crack in his visor was no longer there.
"Eric, follow me," Jack said. He didn't even wait for an acknowledgement before turning to leave the room and walk back down the length of the tunnels toward the main facility. He heard Eric clink softly behind him.
When they reached the far end, Jack spun and faced him. Eric saluted.
"Yes, sir?"
Jack thought about what Ashley had said. He thought about how close he had come to death because of Eric's disobedience. He thought about how he himself had ordered Logan to retrieve Rachel on the hillside when she was perfectly safe and Logan could have been used effectively on the battlefield.
Jack put a hand on Eric's shoulder. The motion seemed to startle him, and he stood straighter rather than relax. Jack realized he had begun to lose touch with his fellow Spartans. The isolation of command had begun to show. But it was more than that. Jack expected and demanded so much of them that he almost forgot they were still human. Beneath their faceplates, they were still the same young kids he had grown up with. Still with weaknesses and doubts, with hopes and yes…fears.
Jack looked Eric in the eyes. His next words were soft and reassuring.
"You fought bravely out there, Eric," Jack began. But he also had to be honest. He had to let Eric know that he had drawn the line and would have to focus on the mission rather than one particular Spartan.
But it was then that Jack realized that his orders had been to save a particular Spartan: himself. Was it so selfish to want to keep himself alive? Didn't the team need their leader, after all? Or did they really need him?
Wouldn't they rather follow Logan or Daniel into battle than Jack, who gets half of them killed?
Perhaps both of us made a mistake this day.
Still, an order was an order. If Eric could promise to never disobey him again, then Jack could promise never to make selfish orders again. His next words were still gentle, but carried a slight force behind them.
"Just remember that Ashley isn't the only one who will need you in the battles to come. You're still part of a team. Alright?"
Eric sighed in relief and nodded gratefully. Jack let go of his shoulder and dismissed him. He watched him stride away, wondering just what it was Eric was willing to do to redeem himself in Jack's eyes.
Would he have the courage to leave Ashley behind if I told him to?
Jack stood there a moment, savoring the solitude of the low-lit tunnel. Even underground in a bunker, he appreciated every second of escape from the harsh realities that faced a Spartan. That faced a soldier. A leader.
His quiet meditation was interrupted by a distant explosion.
The names flashed through his mind, hammering his conscious.
Akiko-Grant-Andrew-Sarah-Nick-Mark...
Who was next?
Jack sprinted up the tunnel's length, arriving in the main room of West Bunker, where the other Spartans stood ready, assault rifles in hand. Daniel pointed silently towards his eyes, then towards the window. Jack crept to the opening and looked.
Smoke rose from East Bunker. The Covenant had apparently found the trip mines and the sealed passageway. Several surviving Elites stumbled from the bunker, injured. Jack wanted more than anything to take aim and finish them off. But patience kept him from revealing their location and he looked out across the valley.
Twelve more Wraith tanks were unloaded from Phantom dropships, while two dozen Banshees screeched over the ridgeline in twin delta formations. Grunts, Jackals, Hunters, and Elites swarmed by the hundreds, deployed after the Wraiths. The Covenant had at last gathered another large battalion that could properly assault the generator complex. The entire attack force began to charge towards the main facility.
A crack of thunder, and the rain returned. They had passed through the eye of the storm.
Jack thumbed the safety off his rifle and spoke to the rest of Green Team.
"Spartans, load up. We're taking the tunnels to the-,"
There was an explosion of blue plasma and melted concrete. Jack was flung to the hard floor and rolled over, his shields drained. He rose to one knee, rifle raised.
A part of the bunker's ceiling had caved in. The rest of the Spartans grabbed him and pulled him away from the smoking debris. Another Spartan remained, trapped partially beneath the rubble. A chunk of searing concrete pinned them against the back wall. Who was it?
Please don't be Rachel! Please let them be okay!
Jack shook himself from the others and watched one of the Spartans rush forward to help the one crushed by the rubble. Jack shouted for her to wait, that she needed covering fire...
A barrage of green plasma torpedoes detonated, incinerating them both.
The Banshees screeched overhead.
Jack cried out in anguish and rage, but managed to shout orders to his other Spartans.
"Get back to the tunnels! Follow Daniel! We'll hold the main facility! GO!" Jack shouted, as he ran forward and peeked out from the smoldering opening in the bunker. He saw the horde of aliens now charging en masse towards West Bunker and the main facility. Jack forced himself to remain cool and fired off several controlled bursts at the closest of them. Three grunts and an Elite fell, oozing blood.
He heard the second squadron of Banshees and ducked, feeling the wave of heat pass over him as more torpedo rounds detonated above him. Jack felt two others appear by his side and open fire on more of the aliens, who now returned fire with searing streams of plasma. Jack glanced to either side.
Logan and Rachel.
"Fall back, that's an order!" Jack shouted, as he barked off another burst from his assault rifle. The magazine ran dry and he ejected it. He searched for another...and found none at his waist. Logan tossed him one and he slapped the fresh ammunition into his rifle.
"We're staying with you 'til the end, Green-One," Logan said, firing a steady burst into the nearest Jackal.
Jack was just about ready to call them off and fall back, when he felt Rachel nudge his shoulder. He glanced at her and saw her point at the sky. Jack followed her gaze.
The clouds parted as a brilliant-white orb of fire descended from orbit.
"Fall back..." Jack repeated, almost a whisper. He couldn't believe it. It was over. Reach was finished. But he had one last promise to keep.
"We're getting the others out of here," Jack said to them, as he fired his last rounds.
No Spartan will be left behind.