But today was going to be different, thought Ulma 'Dolacan. The Field Marshal turned to the Spec Ops officer behind him.
"So," began Jolan 'Tesamee, "what is your plan?"
'Dolacan was briefly insulted by not being called "Excellency" by his subordinate, but thought better of killing him then and there.
"The attack will commence soon. But first, I want your team to take out the human snipers."
'Tesamee turned to his partner and repeated the order. The second Elite nodded and walked away. 'Tesamee turned back to 'Dolacan.
"It shall be done."
'Dolacan nodded and turned back toward the city. He smiled. A great battle was about to be fought. 'Dolacan was a veteran of many campaigns, and had come to view the Humans with a certain respect that most of the Covenant. While they were nothing more than animals needing to be wiped out, they were competent fighters. Sometimes he wished he had some of those "Marines" instead of the cowardly Grunts.
LCpl Taylor had spent most of the previous day performing counter-sniper duties, only getting six hours of sleep. Lancer squad had racked up sixty-seven kills, eleven of those claimed by Taylor.
He was sitting with his back against the low wall, cleaning his S2. He briefly thought about his life back on Earth, about his girlfriend, Erica. The thought was thrown from his mind as a chilling scream came in over his radio.
"Report!" Everyone responded, except for Lancer-seven.
"Taylor, check on Patterson!"
"Aye, sir. Wait one."
Taylor quickly reassembled his rifle, loaded it, and then slung it across his back. He then removed the M6D from the holster on his right leg and released the safety. Taylor started jogging towards Patterson's last position.
'Tesamee wiped the human's blood off his knife and returned it to its sheath. The young Marine had been an easy kill; 'Tesamee had simply walked up behind him and slit his throat.
His partner ran to him.
"Hide, brother! Another human approaches!"
'Tesamee nodded and engaged his camouflage. He ducked behind a nearby bush and waited for his next kill.
Taylor stopped and crouched down when he saw Patterson's body.
"Lancer-six reporting. Patterson is down, probably dead."
"Probably?"
"I don't know for sure, sir. I'll try to get closer."
Taylor brought the M6D up and started crouch-walking the remaining four meters to his objective.
He stopped when he heard the bush next to him rustle. Taylor slowly turned to face it. It shimmered a little, and Taylor froze with fear. He had heard stories of how ferocious the commando Elites were.
'Tesamee stopped. He was certain that the human had spotted him. He was staring right at him, almost as though he was looking right through him and into his soul. He knew this standoff wouldn't last forever. The winner would be whoever reacted first. He could thing of only one solution.
He lunged at the Marine…