To put it mildly Geoffrey Dees was furious. Most of his day he had been alone on this Covenant infested ball of heat and humidity, and the only reason his nerves had not been completely frayed was he had run into Mixer and her platoon of vets. He had felt his mind start to drift as they entered the swamp and noted that with a few exceptions he had been one of the quickest to respond to the threat. And that was odd to say the least, inter-service rivalry aside marines don't just walk around in a daze directly into an ambush. It something this sloppy could even be called that.
With a shake of his helmeted head and some effort he got his head back in the game. It was time to bring death to some brutes.
Which was exactly what needed to be happening instead of worrying about something other than staying alive. He and Mixer's platoon were standing knee deep in water and thick sucking mud, shooting at camouflaged brutes that were running between the tightly packed trees. A couple of the massive alines had already gone down, one in a hail of gunfire and another taken down by the platoon's sniper from a perch in one of the trees. Now the previously standing tree was laying in the mire, its trunk shattered by a sticky grenade and it's marine passenger was sitting in the water staring up at one of their attackers. But it was visible at the moment, it's active camo momentarily distorted by the blast and splashing muck.
Moving quickly Dees snapped his rifle to his shoulder and fired two bursts into the massive alien's chest, dropping it to it's knees. He had to stop his finger from tightening a third time as the sniper unsheathed a combat knife and rose into his line of fire. To his surprise, and no doubt the brute's as well, the lithe marine drove the blade through the brute's left eye as quick as a flash.
That was three down but there was no telling how many were left, at least four judging by the flashes from their spikers. He fired his battle rifle at the source of another stream of spikes and must have nicked it with at least one round because a fuzzy shape came into sight. He quickly pulled the trigger again and three more bullets buried themselves into it's armor, bringing it's shape even more into focus as the camo generator reacted to each impact. But again he was denied a third burst as a full squad of the marines poured fire on the brute, focusing in on the now visible form with a speed that spoke of their experience. It was torn to bloody shreds in mere seconds as a proverbial tidal wave of assault rifle fire overwhelmed it.
He spared a second to glance at the readout on his hud and noted he only had fifteen rounds left in his magazine, five more bursts. He leaned out from behind the thick group of trees he and two of the marines were sheltering behind and his first glance showed him a stream of spikes sweeping his direction. Pulling his head back behind the trees most of the glowing red rods passed in front of his face but a handful hit the trees with fairly audible thumps and two or three flew strait into the water in front of him, sending up a small amount of steam. There was a grunt of pain from one of the marines behind him, but he left that for later as he pulled a frag grenade from his harness. Better helmet or not, tenderize the area before you stick it out.
He tossed the smoking explosive underhand around the tree and readied his rifle. The grenade's explosion was a little more muted than usual but it was clear enough that the ODST heard it and swung around, taking in the sight in the blink of an eye. The frag had landed closer to his position than he had expected causing some of the nearby marines to hunker down in whatever cover they could. On the upside though water and mud was now raining back down. Dees smiled at his luck as clumps of dark brown mud landed on their invisible enemies and left very visible floating brown dots. He picked out the closest of the three mud splattered forms and buried six rounds in it's armor and flesh before a column of fire flew behind it and hit a tree near the center of the group. The rocket exploded and engulfed all three of the brutes in a fireball.
How the hell do they keep beating me to the kills?
He scanned the area in front of him again but saw no more spikes flying, no wakes in the water and no-. The air in front of him suddenly rippled as if he were looking at a broken mirror. Instinctively he jumped backward and away from the trees he had been behind, landing in the water with his butt sinking into the bottom as he fired a wild burst that went wide. But as the shimmering air rapidly moved closer to him one of the marines took a step closer to the edge of the trees and waited for the brute to pass. The PFC suddenly jammed her MA5C forward and up, holding down the trigger as round after round of 7.62 armor piercing ammunition tore, point blank, into the brute's head.
Once the big ugly had fallen the marine took one look at the mess she had made and offered Dees her hand. He took the hand and the marine helped him to his feet before the two of them ducked back behind their cover. Reloading he checked his motion tracker and was surprised to see a small number of red dots mixed in with the blue ones, add to the the sounds of spiker fire had died off. The apes must have gone into that berserk fury of theirs and charged in with the intent to kill with their hands, both a blessing and a curse really. They were stupid when they charged in like that but extremely dangerous if they get anywhere near close to someone. And judging by the screams at least one had gotten that close.
With a full magazine again he pointed his rifle at a series of slpashes that moved with one of the red dots closer toward his position and pulled the trigger. The three rounds pinged off of the thing's head and it stopped in it's tracks, fully deactivating it's camouflage and roared at Dees. At first it bared it's glistening fangs then roared again as it renewed its charge, this time directly at him, hands and feet digging up clumps of mud and throwing them into the air as it ran. With what he judged to be about twenty meters between them and the mud sucking down on his boots there wasn't much of a choice but to stand his ground. His first burst hit it in the left shoulder and brew blood, one or two of the next three hit the side of it's helmet and either shattered it or at least tore whatever fastened it tight causing it to fall away. The next hurried burst left a fairly tight grouping of holes just above it's prominent brow ridge and it fell into the muck.
As it slid in the mud Dees swung his rifle up to take on the last of the big aliens, but every time he aimed at one it was already being torn apart by the marines. The last one fell as it charged away from his position and he watched through his scope as an extremely irate looking marine put two eight gauge shells int the thing's chest. Then there it went, no more Covenant or human weapons and no more alien roars of anger and pain. But there was still some all too human screaming as most of the marines peered through the trees for any sign of more hostiles.
"Spread out and make sure we're alone." Lieutenant Mixer sounded cool and calm and once again he found himself admiring the officer. "Who's hit?"
Dees turned to look at the pair of marines that had stuck near him and winced. "Leg wound over here."
"Banigan has a broken arm!" The man with the shotgun called as he pushed through the trees and out of Dees' sight.
"Hudak got backhanded. He's missing a few teeth but he's tracking."
"And one of the bastards bit Childers'." Someone out of sight said
"How bad?"
"It went deep, he's bleeding pretty bad."
"Anyone else?" No one said a word for two whole seconds and the ODST smiled behind his visor again. Yet again they amaze me. First they hold a city and now fight off maybe a dozen camoed brutes? Shock infantry indeed. "Ok. Barnett," Mixer continued after a moment. "pull out that black bag of yours and take care of them. Childers and Harriman first, Banigan will have to wait. Squad leaders, and that includes you Dees, I need a word."
…
"Ok, putting aside how the hell we even walked into that, I am curious why a dozen brutes with active camouflage were out here. Ideas?" There was nothing unreasonable about the question but her tone said it all, she was fuming at having walked into that fight unawares. Though her voice was low so it wouldn't carry far beyond their huddle each word came out as sharp as anyone had ever heard her speak.
"I have a few." Donnelley said as he rubbed his chin in thought. "We already know that at least one family lived out here, and terrain as dense as this means that there may be a number of home and farms that may not be on any official census." It took Mixer a moment to realize what he meant by that, but then she remembered that the gunny had originally been from Eridanus II. The commonly seen focal point of the insurrection had been home to many people looking to not be noticed by the authorities for one reason or another. "So perhaps they were sweeping for stragglers to 'cleanse'"
He practically spat the last word and everyone else echoed the rage brought by the word the covenant commonly used to refer to their genocidal practices.
"Could be. But why use the camo if they're just sweeping for civvies, or even a few scattered Helljumpers?" asked Dees.
"Maybe some of the groups out here were fairly heavily armed as some of the 'off the grid' types tend to be. Or" he added hastily "it could mean that our assault on their FOB, or at least our check in afterward, didn't go unnoticed and so they laid a trap for us. In that case we have a lot more problems than clearing the area. And there is always the chance they were on one of those relic finding missions everyone talks about. But if that is the case why the camo?"
"Who the hell would out here would cause them enough trouble to send a kill squad that strong? And I don't see any signs of mystical archeological... things either." Kostoff was turning red as he said this. "It was an ambush."
"Then it was a very sloppy one." The Gunnery Sergeant Dees cut in with his level voice. "If they had been ready for us, they would have moved to put us in a killing field and hit the flanks instead of head on like they did. Best as I can tell one spotted us and took a pop shot at your sniper. It honestly looked like we surprised them just as much as they surprised us, because if they knew we were coming we would be a lot worse for ware."
He's right, Mixer thought, one leg wound, a broken arm and, a laceration along with some cuts and bruises are not what we would have ended up with in a full ambush. Though that did lead to another big question"Speaking of surprised, was I the only one zoned out when we entered the swamp?" They all avoided meeting her eyes and Donnelley shifted nervously, she had her answer. "Was everyone out of it?"
"I don't know ma'am. But the only way to find out would be to ask, and anyone with half a brain would never admit that they weren't paying attention." Donnelley said then smiled. "But I will tell you that it is getting a little difficult to think clearly."
"Same here." Dees' voice was still level and controlled. And even if he hadn't been wearing his helmet his face would still probably been the blank mask he always wore.
"Something very strange is going on here." Ryan muttered shaking his head and looked at her with worried eyes. "I wish we could call back and ask for at least some info."
"Ahhhh, but we can." The Gunny said wagging a finger. "Before we left the farm I had Childers and Lutz set up and hide a coms relay set to our frequencies. It won't do much to hide our location if the Covies have someone watching the airwaves but It'll help."
"Donnelly, you are a treasure" She said boosting the signal strength of her radio, switching to frequency used by the General's command post, and keyed the mike. "This is Lieutenant Eva Mixer, First Shock Infantry to Iocale Actual, come back" There was a second of silence and she was about to try again when a burst of static came through her earbud. "Say again, your signal is very weak., over"
"Lieutenant, Iocale Actual here, over." The voice was still fuzzy but she could just about make out the words now.
"We're continuing to scout the woodland west of Cumberland City." She started, taking out her tacpad and opening up the satellite image. "So far we have moved from our previous engagement at reference point one one seven point two by four three point one nine. We have since encountered and neutralized a patrol that was comprised of brutes with active camo at my current coordinates. Is there anything in this area that they would send out a team like that to deal with?"
"I'll be sure to send that up the chain. Where are you now?"
"Reference one one nine point seven by four two point oh six, over"
"Copy. Wait one." There was a lengthy pause then the coms officer came back. "Be advised Lieutenant, that area is known to be frequented by smugglers and insurrectionists. The Iocale authorities also suspect that a narcotics plant or plantation is in the area, but there is no solid data to confirm that suspicion."
"What kind?" Mixer asked, her shoulders tensing in frustration.
"A local flower," the coms officer sounded as if he were reading this as he spoke "it exhibits properties similar to Terran poppy plants, and it is thus processed into a variety of opiates. Again there is nothing specific in our files, but I could find something in the local database if you give me some time.
"Understood, and that is not needed. Is there any information on the group that may be running the plant?"
"Negative Lieutenant. Though there might be something in the local da-"
"That would take too long, and we have what we need. Over."
"Is there anything else Lieutenant?"
"Negative. Over and out." Mixer said, cutting down the signal strength again and sighed. Why is nothing ever simple? She shook her head before turning back to her NCOs. She smiled at their curious looks and pulled up her balaclava. "Masks on boys we might have a small problem. And you are just not going to believe this."
…
After the word had been spread to put on their masks and why, making it much harder to breath in the already humid air, the Lieutenant had them beat feet on to the north west, in the hopes of reaching the river before nightfall. It was really starting to irk Kray that each time they ran into an enemy the platoon had to flee the area fast. Potentially life saving or not he was tired and sore, so was everyone, and they needed a break or they would start losing people to exhaustion. But not only were there covenant around, but potentially hostile humans as well. So he kept his mouth shut and kept his eyes open as they trudged through the swamp, even though focusing still took some effort.
Even tough Mixer hadn't said what the plant looked like everyone glanced wearily at every little vine, careful not to touch anything green for fear of being put into a daze again. It was kind of funny that something so insignificant could spell out death, though that had more to do with the situation than the plant itself. And he still marveled at the apparent strength of the drug, it seemed that only a little bit went a rather long way in affecting the brain. I wonder what kind of plant it is. Is it a flower? Poppies on old Earth had a reputation to affect people like this, at least if you believed the Wizard of Oz. Maybe it's like a rosebush, but it grows in an area that floods often so maybe its a vine. Shit, I'm drifting again. Focus!
This time it hadn't been too bad, he had only moved a couple of meters so only a handful of seconds had passed. Still, as he was learning to fight through the fog in his mind it was getting denser and denser. Maybe they were nearing that plantation the command had mentioned. That made sense since the platoon was walking almost directly into the gentle breeze that occasionally blew through the trees, carrying a bit of fog with it. He shook his head, he still wasn't focusing on the job. The Covenant was his concern right now even though no one had seen a sign of the alien's since they ran into the brutes. That didn't mean they were alone, not with a phantom armored group between them and the highway to the north.
He would have felt better if they were on dry land instead of trudging through this damned swamp. Not only was the water that filled his boots annoying, it meant that Lazlo couldn't work his magic looking for tracks. Though that in itself was a little helpful since the door swung both ways and anyone who found the brutes couldn't tell which way the marines had gone. But the farther west they went the less UNSC air coverage they had which meant more spirits and seraphs were liable to fly overhead.
The sound of a twig breaking snapped him out of his mental journey and he snarled behind his mask because he had been drifting again. The balaclavas helped but some of whatever was in the air still got through. Wait, twig? He looked down and was surprised to find himself on dry ground once again, oddly enough he was not as happy as he thought he would be. Looking back he could see the water's edge about three meters back, it ran straight into a rise in the earth that looked too steep and too straight to be natural.
Man made rise and leveled ground? So someone does live out here. I hope those dammed apes didn't- Focus! It was getting much harder to stay alert now, and his mind was cloudier than ever. Then he realized that instead of smelling the stagnant rot stench of the swamp his nose was filled with the smellof burning plastics and other chemicals. Wat he had taken for thin fog was in fact wispy gray smoke. He shook his head and pushed passed another wave of drowsiness and distracting thoughts, taking the shallowest breaths he could. And as he worked on focusing he noticed something else, the trees were beginning to thin out, and after a few more meters they were gone entierly.
As everyone stepped out of the treeline and onto bare dirt a collective gasp, or murmur depending on who was asked, ran though the platoon. The land in front of them was bare dark brown, almost black, dirt that lead right up to plowed rows in the soil with just enough space between them for someone to walk. In those furrows stood light wooden terraces that came up to just a little above his head in height and each of them supported vines sprouting dozens of yellow and orange flowers. Above the field, supported on a frame of metal tubes, was what looked to be thick camo netting effectively blocking the view from above. Peering down one of the empty spaces Kray could see a building in the distance framed in slowly rising column of smoke.
"Ok, so let me get this straight." He said looking at Sergeant Ryan in bewilderment. "We are standing in man made fields of a drug plant, correct?"
"That about sums it up, Kray. I think we found a plantation."
"Listen up." Mixer said just loud enough for them to hear. "I know we have been moving fast all day but we can't stay in this field. We'll stop once we've swept the area we're away from this place and take a rest. But move slowly and be careful, don't know who is still here."
So in groups of two or three they started moving down the rows of flowers, Kray doing his absolute best to stay focused and quiet. It was slow going but they were at least moving faster than in the woods despite their cautious pace, ah the glories of open ground. As for focusing it was still difficult, but now with something other than a mass of green for him to focus on it was easier to avoid the daze. But still he kept his mind on the building ahead and what awaited them there, eyes darting in search of any movement on his motion tracker. That was until he heard some snickering from the row to his left. Curiosity, and maybe the drug, took hold of him and he popped his head through a gap between two of the terraces. There he saw Bradley, Nasri, and Childers not too far away picking flowers by the handful and stuffing them into their packs.
"What the hell are you doing?" He stage whispered. Bradley, the tall woman that some had taken to calling Amazon, turned to him he could just imagine the massive grin she must have had under her mask.
"Are you kidding me man? This shit is great."
"And free." Childers said
"And free" Amazon repeated and grabbed a few more flowers. "Just imagine what it would be like if didnt have to fight off this stuff's effects. Its too good an opportunity to pass up."
"I'm not going to stop you, just don't. Get. Caught." He pulled his head back and shook his head in response to Lazlo's curious glance. Though he had to admit that she had a pretty good point, if the only a little smoke filtered through their masks did this to a person it could turn out to be a great relaxant. No doubt some of the others were stuffing their pockets with the blossoms too and maybe the Lieutenant wouldn't mind as long as they were focused while still on missions. Maybe. He was tempted but duty took hold more than anything. This is not a time to be picking flowers, someone has to stay focused.
And stay focused he did, for the most part, as they passed through the field. He estimated they had gone over two hundred meters before they walked out onto open ground again. Looking around he saw that Ryan's guess had been right, this was a plantation with fields just as large as the one they had come through surrounding a group of buildings at it's center. Each of the larger buildings looked like cheap prefabricated affairs made from steel and plastics with a few haphazardly built sheds here and there. The main building was long and low with a flat roof and several square windows that looked to have been shattered recently, a thin stream of smoke wafted out from one. What looked to be a car port was attached to that building with a number of broken an twisted vehicles under it's cover, and the other large building was simply a burned out skeleton of a structure now.
Mixer Made a broad waving motion then held up three fingers and pointed to the main building, then she held up two fingers and pointed to each of the sheds. And as nine of the marines moved to the designated buildings she made a spinning motion with her hand for everyone to spread out and look around. Lazlo took off to the front of the main building with a purpose and Kray decided to stick with him and check out the car port a little more closely. Just as he had thought from afar the civilian model warthogs were smashed and burned to bits, even the trailers behind them hadn't been spared. Following the tire tracks with his eyes he saw them cross an open space between two of the fields and pass through a gate. The gate was now slagged metal and the two towers that had flanked it were burned out husks.
Lazlo whistled and waved him over and as he approached the other private pointed at the ground, or more specifically at an impression in the dirt. "Another track? You know I don't know shit about that sort of thing."
"I know, but this one should be easy." Lazlo said with a roll of his eyes, then pointed at the slight depression in the dirt. "Look at the size of it, whatever made this was big and heavy. Much heavier than a human for it to compress the dirt that much."
"Brutes?"
"More than likely and that over there is a partial hoof print so maybe jackals as well."
Curious and wanting to learn Kray opened his mouth to ask his friend to show him those as well, but was cut off by three sharp reports of pistol fire from inside the main building. The gunfire was answered by a number of shouts and the familiar sound of a short burst from an MA5. Kray and Lazlo were on their feet and moving towards the front of the building before the second bout of gunfire died away to heavy footfalls. Maybe a third of the platoon had their guns trained on the doorway, the others watching outward, by the time mixer called out over the coms "Contact report!"
They waited in silence for maybe a handful of seconds, but felt like so much more time had passed before Donnelley responded. "Found a Civilian, he's scared shitless."
"And the fire?" Mixer asked.
"Nerves." Donnelley said, no longer over the coms but directly to mixer as he stepped out of the main building and into the small clearing around it. Behind him was a very disheveled man who appeared to be in his mid thirties wearing a crumpled and dirty set of coveralls. His hands were bound behind his back by a set of zip restraints and was being pushed forward by Harris and Lutz, though he didn't need much in the way of encouraging "Heard us moving around and shot through the wall, missed by... well he missed. Once he heard the return fire he threw down his pistol gave up immediately."
"And the restraints?"
"Just in case." Harris offered.
"Look, I'm sorry!" The man began, with a thick accent. It was one from old earth but Kray didn't recognize it, his best guess being it originated somewhere from the Balkans. He stepped up beside the Gunny, speaking directly to Mixer while the marines behind watched him closely. "I though those alien bastards had come back, a-a-and I didn't hurt anyone!"
"So it seems." She said coolly, softening her tone somewhat. "But lets start at the beginning. Specifically with who you are."
"Kićun Mirotić. I am a farmer."
"Uh-huh. Interesting crop you have here."
"Ah." the man said, shoulders slumping slightly as it registered that he couldn't avoid that particular topic. He lowered his head and nodded slightly before looking back at Mixer, continuing in a resigned and somewhat defeated voice. "It is a living. Legal no, but it is a living. What difference does it make now? The whole work crew and the guards are all dead, the processing equipment is burning over there, and we all have more to worry about than drugs."
"You are very well spoken for a farmer." Her voice gave away nothing, staying cool and level as she continued before the bristling Kićun could respond. "How are you still alive?"
"Just because I am-"
"How did you survive?"
"It does not ma-"
"How did you survive?"
"Why do-"
"How." She continued, putting emphasis on each word. "Did. You. Survive?"
"Fine!" He shouted before steeling and calming himself, sighing. "Enough. I was in the hall when they came, eating supper. Most of us were in there when the guards on the north gate started shouting and shooting. We had practiced what do do in case of a raid, and even put turrets in the towers when the Covenant came to our world. Everyone started running to get weapons or to do this or that. It was my job to purge the terminals in the office and dispose of other things we did not want the authoreties to find."
"Sneaky sons of-" Began Lutz from nearby.
"Can it! Continue."
"By the time all the drives were wiped and the physical stuff was burning the gunfire had gone mostly to screams, and I could hear the big ones smashing into the building. I- Well there was a space for hiding things like product or files under the floor. It was tight, but I got myself in there before they broke down the office door. I do not know how long it was before they left but it was light by the time I came out. I stayed in the hole mostly, especially when they would come back but I came out to eat from time to time. That is why I was out, you came up so silently that I did not know you were here until you were in the building."
"Was there anything else in that hide?"
"No. Only me."
"Right." Mixer started at him for a silent moment. "Harris, go look for this hole and check it out."
"Yes ma'am." The marine nodded and hurried off into the building once more, disappearing into the dark. It was easy enough to track her quick footfalls now that she was unworried about being heard. Still not taking her eyes off of Kićun mixer started up her questions again.
"How long ago was this?"
"I do not know, I was in the hole most of the time. Maybe three days ago."
"And you say that they came back."
"Yes, I heard them. Maybe twice since the first night. There were some screeches and hisses like a large chicken yesterday, and then heavy foot falls this morning. I think it was those big ones again."
"Did you see them?"
"No. I was in the hole."
"As you said."
She looked as though she was about to continue but Harris emerged once more shaking her head. "Nothing ma'am, its empty. I'm actually surprised he managed to fit in there at all, it's tight."
"Any way to see out?" Mixer called back.
"No ma'am."
"Thank you Harris. Keep an eye on him for a moment."
The Lieutenant stepped away from the man and motioned for Donnelley to follow. With a nod and a toss of the head to each of them she brought all of the senior NCOs around her maybe fifty meters from where Kićun remained under guard. "Thoughts people?"
"I don't say to trust everything he has said, but his story checks out." Offered Kostoff.
"Seconded." added Ryan. "This place looks like it was pretty heavily guarded, but not anywhere near enough to hold off anything more than a patrol."
"And the others he heard?"
"We already know that the covvies have a number of patrols out here, could have been any of them checking out the compound." Dees threw out.
"Any clue as to why camo brutes?"
"None."
"Nadda."
"Nothing."
"Two ideas." Dees added at the end, drawing all eyes. "They are apparently conscious about losing too many troops, otherwise they would have made another run at the city by now. And after finding a group of reasonably well armed humans camping out here it could be that they are worried about other compounds that could prove to be a problem. It's better to sneak than to smash if you are wanting to reduce casualties."
"Awfully sneaky and forward thinking for the apes." Kostoff said.
"Maybe, but lets not rule it out." Mixer put in. "Idea two?"
"It isn't exactly hard to spot drop pods coming down, could be that they were looking for my people."
"Both good points. But we now know that some of their patrols sweep back through here, we should move." Mixer said, staring to turn back around.
"Agreed. But what about him?" Donnelley asked.
"Well," Mixer answered as she began walking towards their prisoner "lets figure that out."
Kićun, who had been standing with his shoulders slumped as they spoke, straightened to his full height as the officer and her NCOs approached in some attempt at a dignified display. The man knew his fate was in her hands but if he was experiencing any fear he hid it well behind defiant but oh so tired eyes. Coming to a stop only a few fet in front of him she placed her hands on her hips and focused directly into his eyes, holding the eye contact and remaining silent until it got uncomfortable.
"Alright, here is where you stand. We know that you are a drug runner at least and you have possibly done more, we also know that you don't exactly play well with authorities."
"So you will only let me go if I swear off doing bad things? I am not ashamed of how I make my living, and there is nothing to repent for." He said stiffening.
"Didn't think you a man as prideful as you would beg for forgiveness anyway. But you know things that could help us, and we can arrange to help get you to safety."
"You have my attention."
"Im sure that you know of at least one or two ways of moving around these woods without drawing attention, if not more. If you would be willing to share that information with my superiors and a few that can get us to the river safely, as well as what you know about this operation" she said opening her arms wide to indicate the fields around them. "then I could see it in my heart to arrange a pickup for you."
Kićun remained silent for a few moments, standing as straight as ever and still holding Mixer's gaze as he considered his options. "Deal"
"Splendid." Mixer exclaimed, her face breaking out into a smile as she pulled out her tacpad once more. After questioning him for a few more minutes he indicated a number of animal trails in the area that his counterparts had used to move their product among other things, he even indicated locations that contained small weapons caches. Then managing to reacquire the signal to Iocal Actual the Lieutenant managed to arrange a small boat pickup for the man along a stream almost three kilometeres to the east. Armed once again with his handgun, a UNSC radio, and a compass he set out on his own.
"Are you sure that was a good idea ma'am?" Donnelley asked as they watched him disappear into the foliage.
"He knew quite a lot more than I was expecting." Ryan added. "And he might know a whole hell of a lot more. He could just disappear forever out here."
"He could." She responded, putting away her tacpad once more. "But that is on him. But we now know that patrols move through this area, and if he was telling the truth, where we might be able to resupply. Closest point is just up on that rise."
They all turned to look to the low hill she had indicated to the north while she signaled the rest of the platoon to form up and muster. Satisfied that everyone was there they began their trudge north.
"What are you thinking ma'am?" Dees asked as they started out.
"Simple. A well executed ambush." she answered with a smile that could only be described as wolfish.
This is the first time I have come back to this story in almost seven years, and I really want to complete this portion of the platoon's journey.
I have very heavily changed this chapter because I was not happy with how I had left things off and wanted to set the platoon on a solidly planned path forward this time. The preceding chapters and the story 'A Family's Beginnings' will be left as they are as a marker for the progress that I have made between then and now.
I sincerely hope that you enjoyed reading this, and I look forward to adding more to their story as time allows.
As always please leave a review to let me know your thoughts. :)