Authors Note: So yeah. I'll keep this one brief. Please review guys. Give me suggestions or constructive criticism. Not flames though. Those are not helpful in any way shape or form. Read, enjoy, and review!
Bray Road
Discovery
-PFC Thomas Bortels-
-Fireteam Echo 12-
-Location: Forest near Bray Road, Wisconsin, United Republic of North America: November 15, 2552-
-Time: 1600-
"What in the holy hell is that."
Mitch muttered. Thomas could only stare at what lay in front of them.
It was a warthog, only part the front had been ripped off and a large claw mark along the right side. There was blood all inside the warthog but no bodies to be seen, nearby, or in the hog.
"Just what the hell did this Gunny?"
Ray asked as he gaped at the damage on the hog.
"Tom? Ez zat… fur?"
Thomas looked closer at the claw marks and saw dark fur clinging to the scratches. It was long a coarse.
"Hey Gunny. Check this out."
Thomas called to his CO, pointing out the fur.
Gunny looked over.
"Hmph. Would you look at that."
"I didn't think brutes had fur like that."
Ray said.
"They don't. We don't have anything to hold it in so we'll just have to leave it. We should be getting close. Poésy, Bortels, and Hudson. I want you three to branch off to our right. Kruz, Shawcross, and Bandley. You will cover our left flank. Celeste and I will go down the middle."
"Yes sir."
The troop chorused and did as ordered.
Thomas walked with Mitch and Gabriel in the forest. Thomas activated his radio.
/How far from the location are we anyway Gunny?/
/About a mile off. Focus though. The covenant should be around here./
/Rodger that sir./
-PFC Thomas Bortels-
-Fireteam Echo 12-
-Location: Forest near Bray Road, Wisconsin, United Republic of North America: November 15, 2552-
-Time: 1645-
The rest of the journey had been silent. Gabriel had stayed nearby Thomas while Mitch stayed silent, his MA5 scanning the surrounding area. Besides a few more plasma scoring and bullet damage on the trees and foliage, there wasn't much to see. This only put the team more on edge.
"Tom. I don't like zis."
Gabriel said, nervously.
"I don't like it either Gabs. But we can do this."
He said with a slight smile to her. She nodded, still unsure but Thomas could tell that he had reassured her.
"Hey guys. Check this out."
Mitch said from in front of the two. Gabriel and Thomas looked one either side of Mitch only for Gabriel to let out a sharp gasp. In front of them was a dead brute leaning against a tree. This wouldn't have been such of a shock if the Brute's stomach wasn't ripped open. It was as if something ripped him apart.
/Hey Gunny. You really need to see this./
Mitch said over the radio.
Gabriel huddled close to Thomas as they started at the brute. Thomas recognized a spike rifle by its hand. He looked around for any spikes in the trees that would hint at a fight. He didn't see anything. No sign of any sort of damage to be specific. That meant either it took the brute by surprise or that it was someone the brute knew. Judging by the ferocity of the kill, Thomas assumed the former.
"Real pretty." Gunny said as he walked up with Elise. "Friend of yours?"
"I found him like this. What could have done this?"
Gunny frowned.
"Keep on your toes. Whatever killed it might still be around."
Thomas frowned at the lack of an answer but still answered affirmatively with the rest of the team. Gunny left with Elise back to their position as the group continued.
"Gunny didn't answer that. It was like he was hiding something."
He said.
"I noticed."
Mitch replied.
"What would 'e be hiding?"
Gabriel asked.
Mitch and Thomas looked at each other, a knowing glance that lasted the briefest of moments. Both knew what each other was thinking. And neither of them liked it.
"What's really going on."
Thomas answered.
-Time: 1700-
Thomas looked blinked as the group entered a clearing. In the center was a small building that looked like it consisted of several rooms. The door was broken open. Around the building was several bodies. The sight made Gabriel gasp. Several of the bodies had been torn in half and thrown about the place. A few others looked like an animal had eaten from them. Around the clearing were also several grunt bodies that were smashed or ripped apart. There were Jackal corpses that were missing their heads and arms. Against the wall was a brute that looked like it was the most mutilated. There were still several human bodies that looked in better condition. Thomas could see police and army units scattered around.
/Form up men./
Gunny called over the radio. Thomas, Mitch, and Gabriel moved over towards him as Ginny, Wade, and Ray came from the other side.
"Hudson. Bandley. I want you to check the bodies out here. Shawcross. Kruz. I want you two to stand guard outside the door. The rest of you, cover me."
Ray and Mitch started to check all the bodies around the place. Thomas held his rifle up as he followed Gunny, who had his shotgun ready. The group reached the door and walked through, past another body. Inside, there were several bunks. Near a destroyed radio was a savaged body of an army soldier with the rank of sergeant. Nearby to the dead sergeant, two other bodies lay. One was by another torn down door while the other looked like it was thrown against the wall, his stomach torn out. Thomas looked inside the door and paled. Inside were many bodies of what looked like civilians. Mutilated men, women, and children littered the floor, torn to pieces.
Thomas heard Gabriel come from and she gasped. He turned to see the already pale French girl get even paler. She looked faint so Thomas grabbed her and gently pulled her away.
"Come on. You shouldn't see stuff like that, much less stare at it."
He told the frozen girl. While he was busy with Gabriel, he heard Elise gasp before running outside and relieving the contents of her stomach.
"Is everything clear Bortels?"
Gunny asked, solemnly.
"Yes sir. The place is clear. Not a living thing."
Gunny sighed.
"Settle down then. I need to look through these vid files."
"Yes sir."
Thomas replied.
Gunny sat down with a slight groan and plugged his helmet into a data pad before sitting down and sighing.
"This war has gone on too long."
Thomas couldn't help but agree with his sergeant.