Chapter Twenty-Eight: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
1056 Hours, February 16, 2552. Europa Base, City of Cote D'Azur. "The Nature of the Beast," Planet Sigma Octanus IV. Day One of the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV
Once again, first platoon was leading the charge for Bravo Company. Upon leaving the building with the civvies, we'd been attacked twice by Covenant air support; still, with only a couple of Marines with minor wounds, we considered ourselves extremely lucky.
But here in the outskirts of the city, things were just getting started.
We had managed to walk for another forty minutes before I noticed something wasn't right up ahead. I could hear a distant rumbling through my helmet's audio pick-up, and I could see faint shapes moving against a not-quite-normal background. I opened a COM channel to my platoon and ordered them to halt. In the meantime, I produced my field binoculars from my pocket, and tried to scout the area forward of our position.
My worst fears were realized when I saw that that distant rumbling came from a Wraith tank. And those ambiguous shapes dancing across an abnormal backdrop? A large Covenant patrol team, including ten Grunts, six Jackals, four Elites, and three Brutes. A few Drones were circling above as well, just for good measure.
"First platoon, halt and take cover," I ordered over the platoon-wide channel. I moved out from the middle of the street, in case the Covenant could see me, and crouched behind a half-melted parked car. Calling up a map of this part of the city on my datapad, I tried to find the best route to the aliens while maintaining the element of surprise.
Even the suburbs of Cote D'Azur were little more than a series of mazes, what with all the side streets and alleys. And now that we were closer than ever to the heart of the city, the roads were even more cramped together; that could possibly work in our favor. We could also go through the sewer system, but that would be difficult and less pragmatic. So back streets it was.
"Second squad, listen up," I said over the SQUADCOM. "See that big white and blue GalaCorp building, two blocks up?"
I waited for acknowledgement lights to wink, then continued. "I want you to get into that building, clear it out, and take the stairs to the roof. I don't know if the Covies have long-distance audio sensors, so you're going to have to use your legs---no elevators. Now, once you're up there, I want two sniper teams posted on the two corners of the building facing the Covie patrol. Gunny?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Notify me when you're set up. Get moving."
Gunnery Sergeant Hills's acknowledgement light winked, and I watched on my HUD as ten yellow blips raced across my radar. Slinging my shotgun on my shoulder and holding my battle rifle to bear instead, I switched COM channels. This time, I included only first and third squads.
"Ok, Marines, here's the deal. We've got twenty-plus enemy troops several yards ahead, right where the houses start to pop up again. Hiding just before that break from the commercial buildings is a Wraith tank. We don't have many rockets left, and I'd like to save those for the Banshee patrols. So this is what we're going to do…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As two of my squads and I walked through the alleys between corporate buildings, I had to admit my plan wasn't all that elaborate. Basically, it included sneaking up to the large alien group and unloading on them, using the urban landscape for cover. Meanwhile, second squad, waiting on the rooftop for my signal, would provide cover fire with their snipers. I wasn't sure how this would turn out, but I hoped it would work.
Leading the group of twenty Marines, ten on each side of the street, I crouched when we came within three city blocks of the Covenant. Through a small optical cord I sent around corners, I could see the Grunts being pushed around by the Elites and Brutes; the Drones buzzed around the general area, and the Jackals paced back and forth. I wondered why they were staying put instead of actively seeking us out, but I decided that it wasn't important for now.
This skirmish was going to be difficult to negotiate, even with half a platoon of Marines. Timing had to be perfect, since we were not only going up against a tank on foot, but also the Covenant's toughest ground troops, as well.
"Second squad, standby for orders," I radioed, keeping my voice low despite speaking inside my helmet. I waited for acknowledgements, then motioned the ten Marines with me to move up through the alley. As I walked behind them, I opened a new channel to Hillburn, in charge of the Marines on the opposite side of the street.
"Lieutenant, get ready. We'll try to sneak up behind the tank, take it out first, then flank the rest. The second that Wraith's out of commission, the snipers will help pick off the bigger targets. Wait for my signal."
"Yes, ma'am," the young officer replied, her voice revealing her anticipation.
Taking point again for first squad, I walked cautiously around the edge of the Covenant perimeter. As my Marines and I rounded the corner, still bent on getting behind the Covie tank, I unconsciously held my breath.
But that wasn't enough to stop a curious Grunt from catching a glimpse of us.
The small alien suddenly jumped, waving its arms frantically in the air and starting a scene. I quickly pulled my silenced pistol from its holster and shot the Grunt twice with my right hand, holding my battle rifle in my left. The alien went down with a spray of blood and a silent thud, and I prayed the rest of the patrol hadn't seen its fit.
Today wasn't going to be my lucky day.
Of all the Covenant that could have possibly noticed an overly excited Grunt, a Brute was just about the worst one you could hope for. Sadly, that's exactly what I got.
"Snipers open up! We've been compromised!" I managed to yell through the COM before a flaming piece of ordnance propelled itself my way.
I threw myself onto the ground, listening to the whooshing sound of the Brute shot round as it flew past my head. The explosion knocked off a dozen bricks and shattered the glass of the old house behind first squad and I, but luckily we were all wearing strong armor.
I didn't wait for the debris to stop raining down on me to get up and fire my battle rifle at the Brute. If I allowed him a second shot while I was still lying on the ground, he wouldn't miss.
"First squad, find cover and engage! Third squad, you'd better take care of that Wraith or we're cooked!" I shouted into the COM.
The ten Marines behind me rapidly dispersed, looking for more ideal locations to join in the fight. Since I was already in the Brute's sights, however, I had to take the alien out before I could move on.
Crouched in the dirty alleyway and hiding behind a dumpster surrounded by rotting refuse, I fired two three-round bursts at the Brute that had first spotted us. The alien's armor blew off in pieces as each bullet searched for flesh, but he was well-protected. The Brute roared and shook with anger, then started running right for me.
I rose quickly to backpedal out of its way, but the burly alien wasn't about to let me go. Knowing I would be faster, it simply stopped charging and fired another shot from its weapon. The round hit the front of the dumpster, blowing it to pieces and sending garbage everywhere. The explosion threw me off my feet, and I finally landed on my back in a large puddle of stagnant rainwater.
Soaked head to toe and fighting the sudden pain coursing through my body, I shook my head slightly to clear my blurry vision. I could see the Brute coming towards me, checking to see if I was dead, and I also saw that my battle rifle and pistol were far from where I'd ended up. The only weapons I was left with now were my knives.
Shit, how the fuck do I take down a Brute with nothing but combat knives? I thought frantically. It would have taken more than several rounds of rifle fire to take the beast down, its hide was so thick. What was a five-inch blade going to do, besides tickle it?
That's when I felt the familiar weight of a shotgun on my back.
Thank God I picked up two weapons in the armory, I thought to myself.
Still lying in the nasty old water, I kept myself as motionless as possible. I'd wait until the Brute got closer, then sling the shotgun off my back and give him a twelve-gauge surprise. With its frontal armor shot off, even a Brute didn't stand a chance against a shotgun blast that close.
The huge alien took another few steps, and though I couldn't see what passed for its face, I could certainly sense that it was watching me for any slight movement. I'd have to be fast---real fast.
With another two steps, the Brute was almost upon me.
Suddenly rolling my upper body forward, I grabbed my shotgun and held the weapon to bear in one lighting-quick motion. I aimed at the ugly Brute, enraged that its prey had outsmarted him, and I fired a shell into its unprotected chest. Dark purple blood and chunks of flesh came bursting through the air, and I pulled the trigger a second time, just for good measure.
The hulking beast let out a pained roar, then staggered backward and fell into the pile of blown-up garbage.
I finally got up from the backed-up drainage grate and stood over the Brute to make sure I'd killed it. When it didn't immediately attempt to slaughter me, I knew it was dead.
Pulse pounding in my ears from the adrenaline, I wiped the water from my visor and stood there a moment, catching my breath. That had been one hell of a close call.
"Lieutenant!" a voice crackled in my helmet.
"Report," I replied, jogging out of the dirty alleyway.
"Wraith's been taken care of, ma'am," Lieutenant Hillburn announced. "The Covenant hadn't spotted our squad yet, but it still took a lot of grenades and some careful maneuvering."
I allowed myself a small smile. "Good work, Hillburn. Let's concentrate our fire on the rest of 'em."
"Got it, El-Tee."
Coming out into the main street after gathering my lost weapons, I saw the huge Wraith tank smoking a few yards away; the bodies of two dead Elites lay limp in the wreckage. Thankfully, the hardest part was done.
I ran to the nearest source of cover, which happened to be a scorched vehicle, and peaked over the top. Most of the Drones had been eliminated by now, and a second Brute looked like it had been sniped. I could see, however, that the two squads of Marines were still firing on several other aliens. The skirmish was winding down, but not over.
Holstering my pistol once more, and slinging my shotgun across my back, I stood to my full height over the vehicle I was using as cover. Using my battle rifle's scope, I quickly took aim at a group of Grunts harassing a fireteam from first squad. I squeezed off four three-round bursts, and took down three of the annoying little creatures.
I ducked back behind the car as plasma fire and needles started coming my way. I reloaded my battle rifle, and, going prone, crawled to the side of the vehicle. Observing the scene from under the front bumper, I saw one of my Marines toss a frag grenade at the three Grunts and lone Jackal giving me hell. The Grunts cried out and the Jackal jumped sideways, but it was no use. Two Grunts went up in bloody fragments, and one ran straight into a Marine's submachine gun fire. The Jackal's shield flared red but held.
When the alien turned its back on me in an attempt to get away from the other Marines, I popped back out from cover and shot the alien in the neck.
Just two more Elites and one Brute to go.
A few yards from my position, first and third squads were already attacking the three big aliens from both sides of the street. As much as the three Covenant warriors growled and fought, they were surrounded; this made them easy kills for our sniper team.
I ran out from the vehicle I'd been behind and joined the other Marines in unloading rounds on the Elites and Brute, but each was sniped in quick succession.
The skirmish had come to an end.
"Squad leaders, give me your status," I said over the radio, crouching in the open and looking around for any concealed targets.
"First squad all present, no casualties, ma'am," Corporal Dandh replied.
"Second squad all present, nobody hurt, Lieutenant," Gunnery Sergeant Hills reported.
"Third squad all present and ok, El-Tee," Second Lieutenant Hillburn answered.
"Reynolds?" I asked.
"Confirmed, ma'am. No wounded," the petty officer responded.
"All right. Great job, everybody. Let's grab any supplies we can off these dead Covies and keep on truckin'," I ordered over the COM channel. "Second squad, rendezvous with first and third at our location." After uploading a map and a blinking objective marker to the sniper team, I stood and walked over to Hillburn.
"That was definitely a nail-biter, El-Tee," she said to me, raising her faceplate to wipe the sweat on her forehead.
"No kidding," I answered, lifting my own visor. Now that the fight had ended and my mind wasn't focused solely on survival, I began to feel very uncomfortable in my wet clothing. The damn Brute just had to shove me in a stinking puddle, didn't he?
"How the hell'd you end up dripping wet, ma'am?"
"Apparently Brutes like pool parties, Lieutenant. And there's always more fun to be had when you've got a guest."
When she gave me a confused look, I pointed to the alleyway, where trash, rubble, and dark-colored water could be seen in every filthy little crack.
"The bastard launched an explosive right at the dumpster, and I wound up near the grate," I explained.
Hillburn followed my gaze, then made a face. "Well, as disgusting as that sounds, at least you weren't thrown into a sewer."
Despite it all, I couldn't help but grin. "See? There's always something to be thankful for."
The young lieutenant was about to reply when I heard Kingston's voice come through my COM.
"Lieutenant Cooper."
I held up a finger for Hillburn to stop whatever she was going say, then answered, "Yes, sir?"
"Good news. We've managed to re-establish contact with Europa Base. They've been under attack since after we moved out, but they're hanging on for now."
"I'm glad to hear that, sir."
"I was also able to convince one of the officers in charge of the motor pool to send up some troop carrier 'Hogs. The civvies you placed in the building were evacuated, and they all made it out. Including the wounded."
A wide grin formed on my face. "That's definitely good news, Captain."
"I wanted to thank you for your part in making the evacuation a success. And tell that medic of yours that his efforts saved the lives of a lot of those civvies."
"Thank you, sir, but it was really the doing of my platoon. I'll pass on the compliments to Reynolds and the others."
"You do that, Lieutenant." There was a brief pause, and I thought he'd cut the connection. I was starting to turn back towards Hillburn when Captain Kingston's voice returned. "Oh, and Cooper?"
"Yes, sir?"
"One more thing. A man named Greg Howard wanted me to tell you that he found his wife and two girls. They were reunited before the Warthogs left, and they're all alive and doing well."
I took a deep breath, controlling the emotion in my voice before replying, "Thank you, sir."
"No problem. Now, I should be receiving additional orders from Europa Base as the Covenant forces get larger. In the meantime, I want you to continue your original mission and forge ahead. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"All right. Kingston out."