Ch 5
The agents were called into the briefing room, where the director was looking at a holo-table.
"Mission for us?" 6 asked.
"Yes, Noble 6. This mission is by far the most important you've taken to date. As our number one, Carolina will be leading from the field." The director said.
Carolina approached the table and activated it, showing a large city.
"As you may have heard, there is suspected insurrectionist activity in this area. Our intel says that members of the UNSC loyal to the insurrection have acquired a high-level asset and are holding it in this secure location." She said, as a tall building appeared on the holo-table.
"It's a 110-story building in the middle of an urban environment." Carolina continued.
"What does security look like?" Wyoming asked.
'Jesus! It's a high-tier asset in a building that's 110 stories high. Use your fucking head! Security will be tight as hell!'
"You can bet it's a lot, Wyoming. Always assume the worst before you enter combat." 6 snarked.
"Anyway. Our job is the infiltrate the building, grab the Sarcophagus and bug out." Carolina said.
'The Sarcophagus?" North asked.
"That is what we're calling it." The director said.
"But since this is a high-level asset, we'll need a key code to open it." Carolina said.
"I'm guessing they don't keep that just taped to the side." Wash said.
"It's held by an official of the program who will be moving in a vehicle along the freeway between inspection. That's when we'll hit the facility." Carolina explained.
"We'll need to hit both targets within minutes of each other." 6 noted.
"So, that means two teams." Wash said.
"Two teams. Team A will consist of me, 6, and Wash. We will work on infiltrating the facility. Wash, you'll need to hack into the locks, since York is in the infirmary." Carolina said.
"Hey, don't count me out so fast." York said, walking into the room.
"Thought you were in the hospital." Carolina said.
"According to their records, I am." York said.
"How's the eye?" Carolina asked.
"It's okay." York said.
"It's settled then. York will join team A." the director said.
"Transport will be two light pelicans. No weapons. Team B will be Maine, North, Wyoming, and CT. Team B will act as recon to team A. Once we enter the building, you will disengage to attack the target on the freeway." Carolina said.
"Who leads team B?" North asks.
"You will." Carolina answered.
"What about South?" CT asked.
"Agent South will not be joining you on this mission." The director said.
"Then our chance of coming out alive just went thru the roof." 6 said.
"Guess the world's a tough place when you move down a rank." CT sarcastically said.
"And our new recruit? Will she be joining us?" CT asked.
"That's enough questions." The director said.
"Note he didn't say no." CT muttered to Wash.
"Team B should be simple. Team A, will have more of a challenge." Carolina said.
"You should know just how quickly things will chance in a firefight. Break preconceptions, and work with what you have." 6 said.
"Good words." Wash said.
"Thanks." 6 replied.
"The Sarcophagus is an unknown at the moment." Carolina said.
"How unknown?" Wash asked.
"Unknown that we don't knows its size and dimensions. We only know it will have these markings on it." Carolina said, as the holo-table showed another picture.
"I saw those markings on the oil platform." North said.
"Whoever owned the oil platform made the sarcophagus." 6 said.
"Do we know what's inside it?" Wash asked.
"We don't. Which is why you must get it back here in one piece." The director said.
"We have a job to do, people. Lets do it right and come home safe." Carolina said.
"That is all. Dismissed." The director said.
Two pelicans dropped out of the Frigate and headed towards the planet. Breaking atmo, they hugged the water and approached the city. Inside, the agents were quiet as they mentally prepared for the mission.
Noble 6 was busy checking his DMR and shotgun.
"Team A, you look clear. Window is open. Start your clock on my mark. Mark." North said.
"Roger that. Team A is moving." Carolina said.
"Copy that, Carolina. Good luck, team A." North said.
"Thanks. We won't need it." Carolina said.
"Spartans never die. What a joke." Six muttered in response, prompting York to look at him.
"You okay?" York asked.
"Just focus, York." Six said, as he stood up and approached the back of the pelican.
Approaching the building, the agents jumped out and headed towards the 110 foot building, weapons in hand.
"We're in. York, get over here." Carolina said, seeing a holographic lock.
"How long to crack that lock?" Carolina asked.
"Should be about 60 seconds. Give me 15." York said, as he started to break the holographic lock.
Just when York started to crack the lock, an alarm went off.
"Hurry up, York." Six replied, as he gripped his shotgun.
The door quickly opened and the alarm dissipated.
"Thanks York. But do something about that alarm system. We don't need any more surprises." Carolina advised.
"Does saying sorry count as something?" York casually asked.
"What you're supposed to say is, 'yes sir.' And focus on the goddamn mission." Six retorted, pushing York out of his way.
"We'll secure the package. Set some trackers and then find us a way out of here." Carolina said.
York left the room, while everyone else headed into another room, filled with weapons, mainly covenant.
"How the hell did they acquire such an arsenal?" Six muttered, as he put his DMR on a table and swapped it for a covenant Storm rifle.
"Carolina, motion sensors picked up an enemy team outside the door." York warned.
"Well lets hope they're not as good at picking locks as you are, York. Alright, team. We're about to have company." Carolina said.
"Boss, I have good news and bad news. We found what we're looking for. But it's on that." Wash said, pointing to a large heavy container.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Six muttered.
"Team A. I've got us an exit up here. Straight up the stairwell. Door to the roof. Helipad." York said over the radio.
"Copy. I'll radio air support." Carolina said, before she faced her team.
"How are we going to get that thing up to the roof?" She asked.
"I saw a window washing unit when we came in. We can use that." Six said.
"Good idea, six. York, six saw a window washing unit when we came in. Can you find where it attaches to the building?" Carolina asked.
"I see it. I'll send it down to you." York said.
"At least he's taking the mission seriously." Six responded.
"What are you doing?" Wash asked.
"Improvising." Carolina said.
"I hate it when we improvise." Wash said.
"How the hell are you still alive if you won't improvise on the battlefield?" six asked.
"Six, come here." Carolina said, as she pushed the Sarcophagus onto the window washing platform.
"What do you need me for?" Six asked, as he looked down and up; then he realized what he was needed for.
"This should be interesting." Six said, as he walked out of the window and fell towards the ground. Carolina shot one of the cables, and the unit speed up towards the roof. Meanwhile, six's freefall was ended as the cable snagged.
Six lurched forward and landed on one of the lower floors.
"Hold it right there, or we'll shoot?" one of the soldiers nervously asked, seeing the 7 foot tall Spartan.
"We're going to need bigger cuffs."
Six aimed his newly acquired plasma rifle at the enemy troops and hosed them with hot plasma, quickly killing them. Six started to jog, then ran at full speed towards the garage.
Entering the garage, he sat in a warthog and started the vehicle, when more enemy troops came in.
"This is not my day." He muttered, as he aimed the hood at them, and floored it. The sounds of breaking bones and crushed bodies were heard as he drove out of the facility.
A loud explosion was heard, and he looked up, seeing the rest of his team falling from the building.
"Shit." He muttered, and headed on an intercept course. He pressed the side of his helmet and calculated the rate of descent, distance to the interception, and the speed required to grab them. He flipped the transmission into over drive, and accelerated towards the crumbling building.
'I can see this on the fake news. Charon Industries is an inside job. MAC rounds are incapable of melting steel beams. For gods sake. We use MAC's to break covenant ship shields and armor.'
"3, 2, 1." He muttered, and the warthog dipped as York and Carolina fell into the seats.
"Are we in a car?" York asked.
Six didn't respond, as he weaved thru traffic, knocking one vehicle off the highway.
"Six, thanks for the save." Carolina said.