Chapter 5: Landing.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The life boat roared down towards the ring and was soon closing on the surface. Suddenly there came the sound of something blowing out.
Areith: We're coming in to fast!
Foster: Damn! Engine failure! They blew too early!
There came the sound of metal shearing off.
Shaggy: I think we just lost our guidance flaps!
Foster: I'm losing her! Brace for impact!!!
The life boat strikes the ground sending Clouds head flying into the ceiling he is knocked out.
A minute or two later…
Areith: Cloud! Cloud can you here me?
Cloud: Oh my aching head.
He sits up.
Areith: Are you alright? Can you move?
Cloud: Yeah. I'm good.
He looks around and saw a grim scene. The crashes whip lash had broken Wilt and Homer's necks. Madame Foster had been killed on impact. Shaggy and Jack's seat belts had snapped and flung them into the aft of the life boat. The impact had killed them. Then the door had opened and caused their bodies to spill out of the back and leave them smoking on the ground.
Areith: The others… I'm sorry… There's nothing we can do for them.
Cloud: Its okay if we hadn't gotten on board we would have been trapped on the ship and I don't like the idea of riding her down here.
He scavenges some ammo from the bodies.
Areith: Warning I'm detecting multiple organization drop ships in the area. They must be looking for survivors. I recommend moving into those hills on the left.
Cloud: Got it.
He runs for a narrow bridge over the river leading to the hills.
Areith: Uh oh.
Cloud: Don't tell me. Hostile drop ship in bound.
Areith: A huh.
Cloud: Packing a plasma cannon?
Areith: Yep.
Cloud: Lot's of enemy troops?
Areith: Most likely.
Cloud: Bring it on.
He takes cover on the other side of the bridge and prepares to set up an ambush. As he does the enemy drop ship passes over head.
Cloud: Here they come.
He crouches down as the drop ship settles in on the opposite bank. Suddenly Clouds shields flare as they take some hits.
Areith: Banshee's!
The enemy air craft swoop in plasma cannons blazing. Cloud takes cover behind a rock and pulls out Uno's pistol.
Cloud: Watch this.
He fires on the lead banshee's engine pods and it explodes scaring the other one enough to make it head for home.
Areith: Here come their ground troops.
Cloud turns his pistol on the remaining enemy troop's two elites and six dusks. He opens up with a deadly barrage from his pistol. The dusks go down fairly quickly but the elites charged forward with out fear. He switches to his assault rifle as they crossed the bridge. He threw a grenade close enough to wound them and fry their shields. He then charged forward guns blazing and mowed them down.
Areith: Let's get out of here before enemy reinforcements show up.
Cloud: Ahem to that.
He ran up the slope till he reached the edge of a clearing.
Areith: What are you doing?
Cloud: This is perfect for an ambush.
Areith: Yeah to bad we don't have enough troops with us to pull one.
Cloud: No I mean. This is where they have an ambush.
Areith: Elaborate.
Cloud: Some one go's up the center and is attacked by a group of dusks and maybe and elite. Then another elite comes up on the flank and attacks. It's and easy kill.
Areith: So what do we do?
Cloud: Spring the trap.
Areith: What?
He runs forward and the ambush happens exactly as he says only he first hits the main group with a grenade the spray's the flanking elite with his assault rifle.
Cloud: See.
Areith: I'm picking up a life boat beacon near by!
Cloud: Okay let's go!
They run through the clearing then through a canyon only to find an enemy drop ship waiting attacking a small group of marines held up in a large structure.
Cloud: Let's give 'em a hand.
He snipes down an elite with his pistol sending the dusks into a panic. The marines charge out and attack! The enemy troops are quickly finished off and Cloud heads over to the marines. Raymundo comes out to meet him.
Raymundo: Thank god it's you Cloud.
Cloud: Where's your CO Private.
Raymundo: He's over there. Hey sarge!
Barret comes out of the structure followed by Clay, Omi, Kaz, and Shang.
Cloud: Barret what's your situation?
Barret: It's a mess we're scattered all over this valley. We called for evac but until you showed up I thought we were cooked.
Areith: Don't worry sergeant we'll stay here until evac arrives I've been in touch with the ODST's. There sending a drop ship to pick you and your men up.
Barret: That's good to hear some of my people need medical attention.
Raymundo: We got another bandit dropping in behind us!
Barret: Let's roll out the welcome mat then.
They rush over to the next enemy drop ship which not only deploys two elite's and three dusks but also two sound ninja's. The ninja's kuni knives out of their special pistols. Cloud took care of them quickly though and the marines took out the rest of them. The gun fights went on for three more drop ship attacks until finally…
Voice: This is Echo 002 to any UTSC forces. Repeat any UTSC forces respond.
Areith: Roger echo 002 this is fire team Charlie. We read you. Is that you Hogia.
Hogia: Roger that Charlie team good to hear from you.
Areith: Hogia the marines here need evac to the command center.
Hogia: Roger I'm on my way.
Suddenly there came a roar.
Areith: Look more life boats.
Looking Cloud saw at least three life boats hurtling out of the sky.
Areith: If they make it down the enemy will be right on top of them.
Cloud: Then we got to beat them to 'em.
Areith: Hogia we need you to disengage your warthog Cloud and I are going to see if we can save some soldiers.
Hogia: Got it.
Areith: Barret we need a gunner could you spare some one.
Barret: You got it.
They watch as Hogia drops in low with his pelican and deploys his warthog.
Hogia: Okay Charlie team warthog deployed saddle up and give 'em hell.
They head over to the hog while Barret's squad pile's into the drop ship. They find Clay at the chain gun of the hog.
Clay: Hey Cloud sarge said you could use a gunner.
Cloud: That's right marine. There are three boat loads of marine's over there and we got to go get 'em.
Cloud hops in the hog.
Areith: Alright of locked onto the life boats most likely crash sites.
Cloud: That's …
Areith: Just follow the nav points to each spot.
Cloud: Areith…
Areith: And then drive of the …
Cloud: JUST LET ME DRIVE WOMAN!!!
Areith: Okay! Man what is your problem.
Cloud slaps himself in the face
Cloud: I'm surrounded by morons.