Ch 13
"As we all know, Agent CT has deserted us, and is planning on turning her armor over to the insurrectionist. That must be stopped. Armor retrieval is of the highest priority. If you see the leader of the insurrectionist, take him out." The director said.
"Who will be leading this mission?" Carolina asked.
"Stealth will be agents Wyoming and Florida. Armor retrieval will be Carolina, Tex, and Six. Everyone else is the main assault force. Good luck." The director said.
Grabbing a DMR and an assault rifle, Six heads out to join his comrades in the hanger bay. He walks right past them, hearing the pilot argue with Delta. Soon, the rest of the squad follows.
Enroute to the base, Six's thoughts are in his head. He's fought inni's during the war, as ONI's personal hit man.
"We parking?" Wash asked.
"Indeed. The enemy base is right below us." The pilot said.
"How far below?" Wash asked.
"Very far. Don't let it get to your head." Six said.
Carolina came into the cago bay, with ominous news.
"Tighten up your harness." Carolina said, setting next to Wash as they tighten up their harnesses.
The pilot kills the engines, and the pelican drops to the earth like a rock.
"I think I'm going to be sick!" Wash said.
"You know these suits are supposed to eliminate all wastes! You could probably throw up in your helmet and it would take care of it for you!" Carolina joked.
"Yeah! You should try that, Wash!" York joined.
"You two are assholes!" Wash retorted.
"Actually York, we were never able to get the vomit disposal patch beyond Beta. Agent Washington would likely drown." Delta said.
"That's nice to know." Six replied.
"Way to kill the mood, D." York said.
Just before hitting the ground, the pelican roughly stopped its descent, and the bay door opened.
"First floor! Everybody out!" the pilot ordered.
Six jumped out of the pelican, DMR in hand. Bringing the rifle up, he shoots a surprised equalist and runs forward into the fray.
Two warthogs drive up and fire at the group. While everyone else runs for cover, Six charges the warthogs. He slides under one of the warthogs and shoves a grenade inside the fuel tank. He quickly rolls away from the warthog as it blows up.
"Well that's one way of…" Carolina said, watching as Six lifts the remaining warthog and chucks it away, killing the occupants.
"Show off." Carolina growled.
4 enemy snipers start hosing the Freelancers with rifle fire. Carolina, who is also pinned, attempts to throw a grenade at the squad, only for the grenade to be shot. York and Wash move up, only for a third warthog to pin them down.
"I'll get the warthog. You guys get the sniper!" Six said, as he runs past the pair and hits the warthog at full tilt. The warthog is rolled on the top, the gunner squashed beneath the vehicle.
"We got the snipers. You're go." North said.
As Carolina and Six advanced inside the complex, more innie troops move to engage the freelancers.
A loud bang is heard, as Agent Maine arrives at the battlefield, via drop pod.
"Well, that'll keep them busy." Six said.
"Damn straight." Carolina said.
Agent Florida appears out of nowhere, and the three head towards CT's location. Florida spies inside a hallway, seeing the leader, and two soldiers. Six barely registers a collapsible tomahawk heading towards them, watching as it embeds in Florida's armor.
"Cut them down!" the leader says.
Wyoming, Wash, York, Six, and Carolina take cover behind pillars. The gunfire flows past them, preventing them from moving.
"Wyoming, move up!" Carolina said.
"With all due respect, I'd rather not be killed." Wyoming said.
"York! Got any ideas?" Carolina asked.
"Anyone have a nuke?" York asked.
"You mean the one I'm going to drop on Wyoming if he doesn't move the hell up?!" Carolina seethed.
"Do you have any ideas? We're pinned down, and if we stick our heads out, we're dead!" Six retorted.
"So how are we going to get thru all this?" Wash asked.
"So far, we're not." Wyoming said.
"Maybe Wyoming should try one of his knock-knock jokes." York sarcastically said.
"Oh, who's there?" Wyoming asked.
"Nobody, stop." York replied.
"Nobody, stop who? Shall I go on?" Wyoming asked.
Six grabbed Wyoming's helmet and slammed it against the wall, hard. He grabbed the sniper rifle and peaked out from cover. Instead of focusing on the gunners, he observed the environment around them.
He noticed a crane that is moving a large crate, and fires at the joints. After the fourth round, the crate falls and crushes the enemy soldiers.
"That's how it's done." Six said, dropping the rifle.
Suddenly, a cloaked figure runs past them, towards CT's location.
"No, damn it!" Carolina growled, and ran after Tex.
"Man, she really wants to win." Wash said.
"They can get the armor. Come on. Lets cut the power to this base." Six said.
The freelancers headed towards a panel, and Delta appears.
"York, there is little chance you will successfully cut the power before Carolina and Tex arrive at the leader's location. You should let me cut the power." Delta said.
"Get it done, D. We're out of time." Six said.
Seconds later, the lights dim and power down.
"Now what?" Wash asked.
"We hunker down, and wait." Six said, aiming his assault rifle into the darkness.
After minutes of waiting, Carolina, Tex, and Wyoming appear.
"Did you get the armor?" Six asked.
"We didn't. We're heading back." Tex said.
Everyone heads to the surface, while Carolina briefly looks back to the scene of carnage.
"Carolina, lets go." Six said, motioning with his hands.
Six observed Carolina, and noticed she wasn't her usual cocky self. She seemed despondent about something. Losing the armor? Losing to Tex?
"Carolina, whatever is on your head, you need to put it aside. You're one of the top freelancers, and we'll need all the help we can get." Six said.
"It's just…" Carolina started, clenching her fist.
"Just what? Unable to get the armor? We'll get it later, or let the UNSC deal with it." Six said, as the two approached the surface, seeing the rest of the freelancers enter the pelican.
"It's not just that." Carolina said.
Six inwardly sighed. He was not good at this.
"If you want to talk, we can talk later. Right now…" Six started.
"Hey, where's Wyoming?" South asked.
Six facepalmed himself.
"I'll go get him." Six said, and ran back using his superhuman speed.