Chapter 5
Silence
I woke up, realizing I felt way too warm for where I was laying. I clicked my visor back to normal shade and looked around. Everyone was fast asleep on the ground, a few guard walking around as the sun set high above us. "It's got to be at least noon." I said standing up and lighting a cigarette as I walked over to one of the patrols. "Report." I ordered as soon as I was within earshot. "Uh, Aye, Sir. Covenant activity tapered off around day break. Haven't seen anything since. It's been real quiet for once." I took a drag and looked around. 'That can't be good.' I thought.
"Cortana." I transmitted into my mic making the blue AI woman appear. "Yes, Thomas?" "Give me an aerial scan of the area we know as the covenant camp." She nodded and pulled up the live view to my HUD. "Thomas, it's empty, they've been obliterated!" She sounded almost shocked. "That's what I was afraid. ETA on the rest of Blue Team?" I asked. "Kelly – 087 was the closest, it's going to be awhile yet." I nodded and clicked her off. "Marines! Load up! Push to the covenant camp!" I yelled across the camp waking anybody who was still sleeping.
"God I haven't slept like that in ages!" Somebody yelled above the rumble of off road tires and tank treads. "Don't get used to it. The only easy day was yesterday." I transmitted to the entire battalion getting a few ooh-rahs in return. We pulled up to the camp. "Dismount and investigate. Scorpions and Warthog gunners stay on high alert." I ordered looking around.
'Good God no, it can't be.'
