Bray Road
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Authors Note: So for any of you who have stuck through the first chapter(or chapter 0), this is pretty much what the rest of the fic will be like. So not sure if you all caught on to my excitement of releasing this, but you see, last year my new year's resolution was to finish one of my multi-chaptered fics. Seeing how I had just finished right before the year had ended, I just barely reached my deadline. So yeah, there was much cause for celebration on my behalf. So standard stuff still applies. If I end up owning the rights to something, I will let you all know. Read, Enjoy, Review!
-PFC Thomas Bortels-
-Fireteam Echo 12-
- Pelican Unit India 5-
-Location: Wisconsin sky, Wisconsin, United Republic of North America: November 15, 2552-
-Time: 1500-
Private First Class Thomas Bortels sat in a pelican drop ship, eyes closed. It had been a month since the covenant invaded earth. Since then, they had been fighting 36 hours strait, only getting 12 hours for rest before they had to get back in the action. Since then, most of the regiments and battalions were split, hell, there were even only a few companies left together. Now most of them were in fire teams and platoons. So naturally, any chance there was, they would rest.
A man cleared his throat loudly, disturbing Thomas from his dozing. The man wore the uniform of a Gunnery Sergeant. He had dark eyes and black hair in a buzz cut and in place of a beard was stubble. This was Gunnery Sergeant Timothy O'Riley, though everyone in Fireteam Echo 12 just called him Gunny.
"Alright men. We recently received a distress call from the army squad Alpha 16 from the 334th Regiment. They were stationed in the area to evacuate civilians. We received word that they were engaged with covenant. Our last transmission from them had them in the woods, hiding in a cabin with the remnants of their soldiers. We believe that it was from the covenant. More specifically, a brute squad. We're in charge of searching for survivors and eliminating the covenant in that sector while Echo 10 and Echo 11 clear the town. Let's do this Marines!"
"Hoorah!"
The entire ship cheered with him.
Thomas double checked his MA5 Assault Rifle and M6G, making sure everything looked fine, before looking around. To his right was a pale, blond haired female with blue eyes. She was young, but then again, most of the recruits now a days were. Her name was Gabrielle Poésy and was the one he was closest with in the squad. He gave her a smile and she smiled back.
To his left was Mitch Hudson. He was built and wore his uniform without any sleeves. If there was any sort of heavy lifting that was needed, Mitch was the go-to guy. He would carry any large gear that command decided to give them. He was also one of Thomas's oldest friends in the squad.
Next to the entrance of the pelican was Richard Michaels. He was a one of the newer recruits. He wasn't seasoned and was pretty young, but was still fit. Thomas didn't know much about him and didn't really make much of an effort into doing so anymore. The guy was not a morning person and had an attitude worse than a brute with a bad fur day.
Across from him was the resident red-head of the team, Leon Brown. He had spiked back orange hair which was held down back by his helmet. He often hung around Richard due to their connection of being athletes, both being members of basketball teams, though Richard was only a member of his high school team while Leon almost went pro.
Next to him was Elise Celeste. She was also new blood. Fresh out of basics where all she was taught was how to shoot and work their equipment, as well as clean it. She was quiet and watched everything the more experienced members did. She and several other trainees were sent out to help the group, only for them to be split amongst several Echo teams for the mission.
Across from Thomas was Raynold Bandley. Everyone just called him Ray. He was a cheerful guy with dark skin and tried his best at his job. He was everyone's friend and was the old "new guy" before the recruits joined. Thomas had worked with him in the field before. He, Ray, and Gabrielle made a mean team on a warthog.
Then there was Ginny Shawcross. She was a pale freckled girl who was originally stationed in the orbital platform Malta Station. She had been sent along with several other marines to Cairo Station for an award ceremony. Believe it or not, it was for THE Master Chief, and Sergeant Avery Johnson. Those two were practically living legends and greatest heroes of mankind alive. It was a story that Ginny always told. However, when Earth was attacked, she and her squad were in their pelican, returning to Malta when it was destroyed by the covenant. They were then picked up by the frigate that Fireteam Echo was in, the UNSC Rebirth of the Pheonix.
Finally, there was Wade Kruz. Wade was a little lanky but wasn't half bad with a rifle. Wade had blond hair and a slight go-tee. He was a good guy and easy going. Thomas liked him.
/We are coming upon the LZ./
The pilot called back.
/Get ready./
The fireteam readied their assault rifles, or shotgun in Gunny's case. The back door opened. As soon as it did, the team jumped out, weapons ready.
Thomas looked around. They were on some road in a country by a forest. Nearby were several warthogs. One was a standard machine gun hog and two were transporter types. All of them looked pretty messed up. The regular hog was blown up with only the shell remaining. The turret gun had fallen nearby and lay mostly intact. There were three bodies of what looked like members of the UNSC army. One of them was just crashed into a tree, damaging the engine too much to work. There was the body slouched on the steering wheel of what Thomas assumed was a police officer, what with the armor look and all. There was some blood around and on the hog but no other bodies. The final one had plasma scoring on the sides, but had no bodies inside so it was assumed that the ones inside got away safely. Nearby was a fallen phantom. It had a hole punched through the armored plating, looking like a clear shot through and hit the pilot directly. The phantom was on fire in several places. It must have been plasma fueling the fire. While he was taking this in, Thomas barely noticed the pelican leave.
"Geeze Gunny. Where did you bring us?"
Leon said, looking around.
"Some backwater place called Bray Road."
Thomas heard a snort from behind him and he turned, along with the others to see that it was from Richard.
"Care to share something Michaels?"
Gunny said.
"It's nothing. Just some stupid story my older brother used to tell about some monster living in the woods."
"Hmph." Gunny grunted. "Well while you are playing with your Dracula and Frankenstein, the rest of us will be fighting covenant. Hudson. Bandly. Go and check the phantom for any survivors or anything we can use."
"Yes sir."
The two replied. They readied their Assault Rifles before moving towards the phantom.
"Bortels. Poésy. Back them up."
"Yes sir."
Thomas and Gabriel chorused. The two raised their MA5's and followed their teammates. Thomas gave Gabriel a nod and the two took positions at either side of the Phantom's entrance. Ray and Mitch both nodded to the two before jumping inside, facing either directions. Thomas lost sight of the two and He and Gabriel paused with baited breath.
/Hey Gunny?/
Came Mitch's voice.
/What is it soldier?/
/Everything here is dead. It's like a brute went crazy and killed several of these guys./
/What's the count?/
/We've got three grunts and a jackal./
/We have another grunt in the cockpit but this one was killed by a gauss cannon./
Ray joined in.
/What's the status about the ship itself./
/It's got a lot of scratches here but we can use it as cover./
/Rodger that. Regroup./
/Yes sir./
Both said as they came out. The group of four, including Thomas and Gabriel walked back towards the group.
"Alright men, listen up. This is how things are going to go. Michaels. Brown. You two are going to stay here. I want you two to get the hog ready. Round up all weapons and throw them in the hog. We'll call for you if we find survivors and you can be damned sure that they will need fresh weapons. The rest of you will come with me. Kruz. You take point."
"Rodger that."
"Let's go marines!"
Wade got in front as the rest of the group, bar Leon and Richard, followed into the forest. The forest itself was lit green with the light flowing through the canopy. Thomas couldn't see the sky above. Despite it protecting the team from unfriendly eyes, he felt unsettled by it. He wasn't sure why. The place was beautiful and there was no sound to indicate fighting. In fact, everything was quiet.
"Tom." Gabriel looked at him. "Where are ze birds?"
Thomas realized what was making him uneasy. There was absolute silence. No birds. No squirrels. Nothing.
"Maybe the covies scared them off."
Mitch guessed.
"Maybe."
Thomas said with a frown. He tightened his grip on his rifle. There were normally at least some sounds. During his time in Reach, he fought the covenant in the Battle of Viery. There were still animals around. Hello, he and Gabriel even used a Gúta as a meat shield when their squad was pinned down and moa birds took plenty of plasma rounds for them. Just for all of them to disappear like this? It didn't make any sense.
As the team continued, they saw more evidence of fire fights, but no bodies. It didn't do much besides make them uneasy. Then Gunny suddenly stopped and raised his arm to signal a halt. Celeste gasped. Wade just uttered.
"What in the holy hell is that."