Ok, it's WAY late where I live, and I finally finshed this chapter. I hope it doesn't drag , b/c I fear it does. Keep the reviews coming! I'm happy you guys are really liking this.

Once again, I own nothing, cept my OC's personalities.

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Leth opened his eyes slowly, and tried to move his head, wincing at the soreness. What had happened? Where were they? When he was able to focus his eyes, the medic looked around the ship. Everyone was still strapped into the harnesses, and the crash netting was still in place. Everyone's here at least. But he was wrong. It didn't look like Sgt. Manning was in his place, but from the angle it was hard to tell.

Leth reached up above his head trying to find the harness release. It was situated right above him, and he let it pop. The restraints lifted immediately, but were still partially held in place by the crash netting. He left the crash netting intact to catch himself. How ever the falcon had landed, it was lopsided and his feet were dangling slightly down ward. Using the netting, he started to climb upwards, and dig his medical bag out of the overhead compartment. Some one had to be hurt after all that. There was movement to his left, and he reached for his side arm.

"Calm down man, it's just me." Raines said softly. He moved silently, and cat like through the oddly angled space. His sniper rifle was on his back, and his side arm was holstered.

"Fuck you scared me."

"Sorry." I actually sound sincere this time, and not like an ass. " Sergeant Manning isn't here, and there's a huge hole in one of the airlock rooms. Lots of blood too."

Leth felt his chest tighten. "You think that's from him? He was strapped in last I remember."

Raines's helmet moved back and forth in a 'no' gesture. "No. I think it's from the co-pilot. I don't recall her making it back before we went through the slip portal. "

"Shit. No sign of her I'm guessing?" Raines shook his head 'yes' this time.

"Well what's it look like? How long have you been up?"

"Not long. Got up to see what the outside looks like. Heard movin in here, wanted to see who was awake." Raines voice was stoic and cold. It was a bit unnerving if you weren't used to it.

Leth sighed, trying to shrug off the burden of the current situation. "Just me. I'll get everybody up and going, if they're going to get up at all."

"I'm going outside to find a better vantage point, watch our perimeter. My comm is working, contact me if anything happens." He didn't wait for the doc to respond. Raines turned and practically glided out of the wreckage, silent and as easily as a fish swims.

Leth looked around at the still limp and unconscious forms of everyone around him, before going back to work trying to get his aid bag. He grumbled something about Raines being six feet tall, and couldn't even help him get the damn bag down. Leth looked down for footholds, and decided to put one boot on Cooper's shoulder and another on Ross's. With one big heave, he pulled on the bag, but it wouldn't budge. He tried again. The thing didn't even shift. Readjusting his grip, Leth threw all his weight into to once more.

It didn't move an inch, but he lost his footing, and was now hanging by the bag strap.

"Sonofbitch." He muttered. Someone stirred beneath him.

"Hey stumpy man, haven't I told you and Ross bout your foul mouths. Damn heathens."

Leth looked down through his arms. "Morning Coop."

"And why the hell are you hanging from the equipment like a friggin monkey?"

Before the medic could answer, there was a shout of , " OH MY GOD MY FRIGGIN BALLS!!!!" Ross was awake. Leth laughed so hard he almost lost his grip. But his buddy was whimpering now.

"I think they retreated. This ain't natural!"

"HAHAH, dude shut up! If I fall from laughing and land on that poor private, he might be traumatized."

"STUMPY, I need you to look at my sac, am I still male?"

"HAhaAHah, seriously, shut it! I can't keep my grip."

"Oh just drop then, see if I care. Torture the poor boy. Everyone needs a leprechaun in their lap to mentally scar them at least once. I've got my disappearing scrotum to worry about!"

Leth kicked him in the head, and it bounced off the wall behind him because of his helmet.

"That's abuse!!! I'm telling mom!"

"Hey man, I hate to interrupt your cry fest, but Sergeant Manning ain't here." Cooper said in what was more of a groan. Ross looked to his right and added, " And neither is Kev. Maybe they woke up before us."

"He did. You just missed him leaving for the club full of hot babes."

Ross started dancing in his harness, but quickly grabbed at his groin again and groaned. Cooper laughed loudly. The Doc moved his gripping and yanked one final time, achieving success and nearly falling in the process.

"Get out of your harnesses guys? Help me check if anyone needs medical attention. Then we need to get this crash bullshit squared away."

"Yes mom jr."

"Shut up.

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It took several minutes to free themselves from the harnesses and netting. When they finally did it, Ross and Cooper had to climb down carefully. They released the other squad, and started to check for pulses. Some of them were waking up. Cooper called out that they were all alive. Leth headed for the cockpit with his bag. They hadn't heard anything from Thever yet.

When he got up there, the scene wasn't too encouraging. The front of the cockpit was cracked and shattered, and Leth could smell dry arid air flowing in. Thever was laid out in the pilots chair, passed out and still strapped in. Her chest rose and fell, but the breathing was shallow. He made his way in, working with the odd angle everything was sitting at.

"Thever? Chief Thever can you hear me?" Nothing. He made it next to her chair, and immediately, his eyes were drawn to the gigantic gash in her head. Her right arm was also laying at an odd angle, the bone protruding through her flesh up at the elbow. Leth was guessing there were several ribs broken too. He opened his bag and started pulling things out, hoping she didn't have internal bleeding. One way or the other, she was going to have to be moved. The lights in the cockpit flickered suddenly, and Tatsuo appeared on his holopad.

"Corporal Leth."

"Tatsuo, how bad is the damaged?"

"Bad enough. I believe the cockpit is damaged beyond all repair without UNSC facilities. The engine requires attention and so do the electrical systems."

"Can she fly again?"

"With the proper attention, yes."

"That's one encouraging thing I've heard today. Is communications down?"

"They require repair. If I had the time to work with Corporal Cooper, we may be able to get them online."

"I'll make sure I pass that on to Coop."

Thever groaned and shifted. She was waking up, and was going to be in serious pain.

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Ross crawled over each one of the men slapping their helmets, and singing, "Wake UP Wake UP you sleepy heads!"

Dawkins tried to reach out and punch him, but got his fist caught in the crash netting.

"haHAhahA" Ross laughed, before losing his balance and falling into a corner on his ass, arms and legs flailing.

The chuckles went around, and only got worse when he whined, "I've fallen and I can't get up."

Cooper walked over and helped his friend. Then they undid the netting and started helping the other guys out. One by one they got them up, and out of the Falcon. The guys were disoriented and banged up, but seemed ok. Sgt. Bastogne had blood trickling out from under his helmet, but said it was just a bang. They got out, and set a perimeter. When Cooper moved outside with them, he could see the real damage to the ship.

It wasn't horrific, but it would take repairs before she would fly again. Curiously enough, the bay holding the land vehicles looked like it might be intact. It laid up against a huge rock outcropping that was blotting out what appeared to be the almost noon sun. Cooper heard some shuffling inside, and watched Leth and Ross emerge carrying Chief Thever. Ross jumped down first and had Leth pass her to him. She was awake, and clearly in pain. Not one complaint left her lips.

Leth pulled off his helmet and gloves and focused more of his attention on Thever. Sgt. Bastogne pulled off his own helmet and wiped at the surprisingly small cut. Everyone else seemed to be following suit. The other Corporal, apparently named Bassik, with Bastogne's group only used one arm, and yelled out to Leth that he needed his arm set when he got the chance. The guys face was contorted in agony, but he just popped a morphine syringe and jammed it into his own leg. Lance Corporal Dawkins walked over to the Doc's bag, and dug a wrist splint out of it before shuffling to one of the Privates. He helped the kid pull off his arm plates and fit the split on. Bravely, the kid never made one sound, but was surely in agonizing pain.

Ross himself was having a little issue breathing. He had the nagging suspicion his ribs were bruised. He'd worry about it later. Much to his delight, the comm in his helmet was still working. He used it to try and reach Manning.

"Sgt. Manning are you there?" There was no response.

"Sgt. Manning, please report you position." The radio crackled in response.

"Ross, is that you?"

"It sure is Sergeant. Are you alright? Is Raines with you?"

"No, but he's watching our backs." Ross lifted his head and looked around by reflex. Raines was somewhere with a good view point, and that damn rifle he loved.

"Roger that Sergeant. Where are you?"

"Not far. Coming in from my landing zone, why?"

"You landing zone Sergeant?"

"Yeah. I'll explain it when I get back."

"Roger that." Ross let his head drop for a second, before heading back to the downed Falcon. They needed to know what kind of weaponry they had to work with. The inside of the Falcon was a mess of items that had come loose in the crash, including ammo and guns. They were lucky nothing got set off during the ordeal. The result could have been very messy, and painful. Crawling over the mess wasn't hard. Ross had been a construction worker before enlisting, and had moved through more dangerous cluttered terrain than a downed Falcon.

He joked a lot, and tried to make people laugh, even when he wasn't feeling the humor himself. The hell he and his squad, and scores of others had seen and been through during the war would never leave them. But if he could lighten the burden for them, it meant the difference in his mind. Ross had been right there, cracking homosexual jokes in Voi, when they were being bombarded with plasma fire and fuel rod cannon blasts. He had been in the middle of asking one of the Hunters for a date when Raines had ended it's life. If he said just one joke that rose spirits and kept them going, then it was worth it.

Inside The River Tam's wrecked cabins was an array of goodies Ross didn't even know they were carrying. He found an abundance of SMG's and ammo, SPNKR ammo and a launcher, and dozens of frag grenades. He picked up a case holding another standard issue sniper rifle, but frowned when he looked over the gun. The barrel was cracked and the scope was trashed. So much for a protective case. He tossed it in a pile and made a mental note to tell Raines. It might be able to be stripped for spare parts. Assault rifles, battle rifles, magnums, and spare rounds for all, were being piled outside. He opened another storage hatch and brought out a communications pack.

"Hey Coop, looky what I found."

Cooper turned around from helping Sgt. Bastogne. Seeing what the red head was holding made him grin, through it was hidden by his helmet.

"My baby. I'll finish up and see what we can get out off her."

It was getting considerably hotter outside, and the sun was high above them. The ODST's moved into the shadow of the rock out cropping for some respite. Ross was leaning happily up against a box of demolitions material and grenades with his helmet off, and a big grin adorning his face. He'd found what he wanted.

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Not long after he'd spoken to Ross over the comm, Sgt. Manning headed back to the crash site. He remembered getting ejected from the ship as it hurled towards the ground. The plating tore off the ceiling, and he was sucked out and dropped several miles from the crash site. He'd went to find Garcia, as she had never come back from fixing the pressure lock.

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Manning found her face down on the floor in a pool of blood. But before he could check her, the plating had detached and he went on his small flight. It was a miracle he hadn't hurt his back. That didn't mean he'd gotten up right away. He didn't know how long he'd been laying there. His head was in a haze, and he kept seeing memories, like they were playing silently on a reel. Him and his sister at a family gathering, sitting with his squad at a company BBQ, fighting in Voi…

However, it had to be the sounds of hoof beats that began to pull him out of the fuzzy haze of memories…. Hoof beats? As in a friggin horse?…

It wasn't entirely unbelievable. Some of Earth's fringe colonies still used horses and other animals due a shortage of technology. He tried to move, but his body protested and won. Panic struck him suddenly, and he wondered if he had hurt his spine. The sun was climbing high and making him sweat inside the black jumpsuit and plate armor. He wanted to pull his helmet off and get a breath of fresh air, but his arms wouldn't budge.

The hoof beats got closer, and he could pick out two separate rhythms.

"Daddy what is that?" Someone slid off the horse and hit the ground with a 'thud'.

"Looks like a man. Alliance maybe, though I ain't never seen them wearin nothing like that. I reckon he's from that crash we saw earlier." The guys feet moved closer till they were right at Manning's head. A smaller 'thump' told him the other one had dismounted the horse. He felt hands gripping his shoulder and turning him over. Sunlight filled his vision and he couldn't help but groan.

"Looks like he's alive." The mans hands began feeling around the base of Manning's helmet. He could hear the guy mutter something about getting a better look at him.

"On the left and right, there's two buttons to pop the seal." Manning's voice was cracked and strained. The extra effort on his chest hurt.

The guy did what he was told, and there was a hiss when the seals released. He felt the helmet being pulled away gently. The sun light got even brighter now, and he was able to finally force his arm up to block it out.

"Who are you?"

The silhouette of the man was the only thing Manning could make out, and he watched him cross his arms and laugh. "Could ask you the same thing, laying out here in the middle of the ruttin desert. Looks like you got humped bad boy."

Manning was still squinting to see anything. "My ship crashed somewhere near here. I was thrown from it."

"Well then I reckon you're lucky to be alive. Can you move some more?"

"I think so."

"Then let me help you up." The guy offered out his hand. Manning took it. He heaved up the ODST with some considerable effort. The plate armor was not light.

His muscles protested badly, and he was sore all over, but much to his delight, it didn't seem like he had any spinal problems. The Doc would still need to check him out. Now that he was standing up, he could look the man right in the face. It wasn't hard, because Manning stood 6 feet tall.

"Now I'm thinking you ain't from around here son." The guy who had found him was roughly the same height, with a stubbly beard, sun weathered face, and was wearing a cowboy hat.

Manning looked around at his surroundings. "I'm thinking the same thing Sir." He glanced back at the guy and held out his hand. "My name is Sgt. Manning."

The guy looked him up and down before taking the Sgt.'s hand. "Mitchell Jennings, and this is my son, David. Welcome to Lilac." Only a few moments after that, Manning heard his comm inside the helmet going off. He reached down and picked it up, recognizing the voice of Raines.

"Read you loud and clear Raines."

"Good to know you're still alive Sergeant, and that the comm works. I can see you." He looked around again, and so did Jennings and his son. The comm was on loud speaker.

"I'm not going to even ask where you are, and I damn sure am not going to try to find you with my own eyes."

Raines chuckled over the comm.

"But I will ask you how the crew is doing. How bad was the crash?"

"Few steps above horrific. Doesn't look like anyone's dead. Can't find the co-pilot though."

"We'll talk about that later. I'm heading back now. Gimme some direction?"

"Due west Sergeant. Big rock outcropping."

Jennings spoke up. "I can take you there if you need. Ain't all that far or nothing."

Manning shook his head.

"Roger that Raines. I'll be there soon. "

They started walking west, with Jennings leading the way. David kept looking at him curiously, and did not try to hide it. This didn't mean Manning escaped questioning though.

"So Sergeant, what's UNSC mean?" He was referring to the insignia on his armor.

"United Nations Space Command."

"Uh huh. Are you a branch of the Alliance?

"Never heard of it, so I'm going to have to say no."

"Huh. I might reckon that's a good answer."

He put his helmet back on. Only a few moments later, Ross reached him.

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Tatsuo and Cooper worked together to link the comm pack to The River Tam's communication systems. The AI tried to hail the nearest UNSC cruiser, but there didn't seem to be one. However, they did have the coordinates of where they jumped into slip space. Cooper nearly jumped in excitement. This meant they could get back, given the proper tools, like a working ship and slip space engine…

A perimeter had been set up, and anyone injured any less than Thever took rotation on watch. Doc Leth had patched everyone up as best he could. He had discovered Thever had a collapsed lung, but didn't dare try to inflate it with out the proper tools. A choice would have to made soon though, because there was a risk of permanent damage.

Setting Bassik's arm had been ugly, but the guy was doped up on pain killers and giggled the whole way through it. Leth sutured and wrapped it, and put it in a splint. He took a look at Ross, and noticed him breathing shallowly.

"Hey man, what's wrong with you?"

Ross looked up at him like he was crazy. "What are talkin about? My scrotum? It still hurts if you wanna kiss it and make it better."

"AHhaHAHA, no you ass. How's your ribs?"

He sat up looking mortified. "Are you thinking about cannibalism already? What the fuck Doc, it hasn't even been a day."

"Ha. Shut up and take your chest plate off."

"You can't touch me, nothing gives you that right!"

Raines came in over the comm. " Nik, shut up. Sgt. Manning's on his into the perimeter. Looks like he's got company."

Ross grinned at hearing his first name, and put his helmet back on.

"Roger that Raines. Is it the good kind of company or the 'they're trying to eat his skin' kind of company?"

"The good kind."

Ross jumped up and yelled "Shizam! Manning's back."

Cooper crackled in. "Guys, I'm picking something up. Sounds like radio chatter, but not like anything I've ever heard."

This time Doc Leth answered. "Roger that Coop. We've just been told Sarge was found. We'll be in there in a bit."

"Copy that, over."

The perimeter guards were the first to spot him. The black armored figure wasn't hard to see in the sandy terrain. With him, were two people, with horses. When he was closer Ross stumbled down the slope and yelled "Mom's back!"

"If I wasn't glad to see you alive, I'd drop you to give me a hundred."

Jennings was staring at the wreck of the Falcon and whistled. "Never saw a ship looked like that before."

"Standard UNSC Falcon class drop and travel model." Ross remarked, like the man should have known.

"Mr. Jennings, this is one of my soldiers, Corporal Ross." They shook hands. It was obvious to the Sergeant that Ross was utterly confused by the man's manner of dress. He looked like a 1900's western cattle herder out of some historical movie. To Manning's relief, the corporal kept his mouth shut. They didn't know these people or this planet. The less said for now, the better.

"So sergeant, where were you and your men heading? How'd you get stuck here?"

"Long story." The man shook his head, but didn't ask anything else. They started walking up the slope, and Manning took a good look at what was in front of him. Chief Thever was propped against a rock, her arm in a splint, and a big bandage wrapped around her head. The other sergeant and one of his men stood guard not far from them, and Doc Leth was standing up from digging in his aid bag. The other three guys from Bastogne's squad were laid out in the shade, helmets off.

"Where's Cooper?"

"In the cockpit, or what's left of it. Him and Tatsuo are trying to get communications going."

"Good. What about the vehicles in the hold?"

"The two hogs are still functional and two of the four wheelers are still going strong."

"Well, seems like we might be needing them soon. The falcon doesn't look like it's going anywhere. Mr. Jennings, what's the local authority here?"

"A private security source funded by the Alliance."

He noticed the corporal turned his head to look at the stranger. It was another sentence he didn't understand completely. "Well, if you wouldn't mind waiting sir, if I have a little bit to debrief my men, I'll need a guide to the authorities. "

The guy looked around at all of them. Manning could see the suspicion in his face. None the less, he nodded his head and muttered, "All right then." The guy's kid wanted to run up to these strange looking men in armor and bombard them with questions. But one look from his father made him think twice.

Manning began moving toward the downed ship quickly, ignoring the stiffness in his bones. Ross kept pace beside. He explained quickly to the corporal about Garcia the co-pilot, and how Jennings had found him a ways out. Something was off about those people, and he didn't know shit about this Alliance that seemed to be the head government around here. The man's comment 'Welcome to Lilac' was slightly unsettling as well. To the sergeant, it insinuated that this was only one planet, and there might be others in this civilization, or what ever it should be called. The people spoke oddly, and dressed even worse. They didn't seem to mind the presence of high technology however, because the thought of a space ship just seemed to roll off their backs. The next question would be, how advanced were they exactly? He couldn't tell, considering they were using horses as transportation, but it would be stupid to assume them ignorant. He and his men didn't make through the hellish war by assuming things. So he would reveal as little as possible, and observe everything tiny detail.

Cooper came over the comm and said he and the AI were picking up signals on and off. It was a start. Manning went up to Doc Leth and asked for an account of all the injuries, and wanted to know how fast they could move and when.

"Everyone can still travel fine and fire at least one weapon sir. The only one almost completely out is Chief Thever. I think her lung is collapsed."

"Can you fix it?"

"That's a very large, and doubtful maybe Sarge."

"Then we need to find an actual doctor. No offense."

"None taken. I agree."

"Ross, fill the rest of them in. I need to see what Coopers got."

The two corporals nodded and turned away, while Manning continued for the Falcon. The heat was at it's worst now, and he removed the helmet when he walked inside. It was a mess, and awkward to get into the cockpit, but he made it. Cooper was inside, pecking away at the computer, and readjusting wires. Tatsuo was standing in his projector relying data verbally, and announced that Manning had arrived.

Cooper turned, and a look of honest relief crossed his face. He didn't stand at parade rest like he should have, but then again Manning never cared for that crap, especially if no brass was around.

"Good to see you alive Sarge. I didn't want to be praying for anyone's soul today, cept the rest of our squad as usual."

"Don't worry. Takes more than a crash to kill me, or any of us for that matter. Where do we stand Cooper? Can you hail and of our ships?"

"Sir, we can't even find any of our ships. Tatsuo's kept us in stealth mode, so we don't pop up on anyone else's radar. I didn't think it was to smart to be stickin out like a sore thumb. Well, I've been picking up chatter from all different kinds people. Mostly civilian vessels. None of it sounds familiar. It's like we're in a whole other universe Sarge. They're talking funny, speaking some oriental language interchangeably. The more I hear, the more I get the feeling that some group called the Alliance is in charge of everything. This isn't the only planet in the system either. There's over a dozen others. "

Manning stood there with his arms crossed, not sure which course of action to take. All previous thoughts had been confirmed. He didn't like the situation they were in. Talking to the locals could get them some information, but also expose them to attentions they may not want. They needed to make contact with command, but he would not risk the lives of any of his men without good reason. Tatsuo's lighting went darker and he turned to look at Cooper.

"There seems to be some odd chatter over the radio system. Would you like me to patch it through?"

"Yes."

The ruined cockpit was filled with the sounds of radio static. The way they were speaking, made it sound as if they were going to defecate in their pants. Something had them scared bad. Men were talking in almost hushed tones about moving out of the area, keeping steady, and something called Reavers. Cooper particularly was interested when someone said, "They're headin at Lilac. Keep yerself out that orbit."

Some else said, "Give a call down to the settlers. Those people need a warning."

Cooper turned to Sgt. Manning and asked, "What do you make of it?"

"Dunno. Tatsuo, is there anyway to get a visual off their radio signals? I know that's newer technology and programming-"

"I am outfitted with the latest AI technology and programming available Sergeant. I am the best the UNSC has to offer in smart AI's."

As if to prove his point, one of the screens activated and a black and white image popped up. It was brief, only lasting a few seconds, but the ship it showed chilled Manning to the core for some reason. The only word he could think to aptly describe it was 'savage', and he knew nothing about the ships from these people. What the hell was a Reaver? Was that ship a Reaver? It didn't sound very good either way.

"Up load it to my data pad. I think our local buddy down there should see it."

"As you wish Sergeant."

Before he got to comfy with the idea, Manning reached in his cargo pocket to check his data pad. He frowned deeply when he saw the cracked screen.

"On second thought is there a spare around here?"

"In the storage locker behind you Sergeant." Tatsuo said calmly. He retrieved the device and activated it.

"Good. Lets see what he has to say about this. Might answer a few questions." Manning put his helmet back on.

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Manning squinted when he walked back into the sun. Dust kicked up every time he walked. He made a line straight for Jennings, who was standing there with his son, eyeing the ODST's warily.

"Sir, I need to show you something." He set the short video on a loop and handed the data pad to Mr. Jennings. The guy took it and glanced at the screen. A reaction was almost instant. The pure fear that coated his face was disturbing, and shook the sergeant slightly.

"Reavers," The man whispered," My god they're here again."

Manning wanted to hit someone. He was tired of unanswered questions." What are they?"

But the man ignored his question, and jumped back on his horse. "They're gonna raid the town! I gotta warn them!"

"Papa, mama and Elizabeth are still there!"

The Sergeants temper was at a boiling point. "WAIT!" His voice carried such authority, it made the man and his son stop, and all the soldiers look at him.

"What is going on sir, if you would please tell me. We are not from here, and we may need some serious help."

Jennings spun his horse around, then fear and panic vivid in his features. "Them's Reavers coming. They'll kill the whole town, eat'n and raping alive, skinning them cloths. There'll be nothing left. Everyone caught there is humped!"

Doc Leth had walked up beside his sergeant, and asked, "Sir? You're orders?"

It was just like Leth to know his thoughts before he did. Ross got up from his seat of explosives, and the guys in Sgt. Bastogne's squad stood up, weapons in hand.

He hit his comm button. "Cooper?"

Cooper answered. "Already ahead of you Sarge. Got the hogs prepped. Ready to go on your call." Damn he had a great squad. He turned and walked towards the weapon layout, and grabbed his Assault rifle.

"All right listen up!" All attention was on him. " We're loading up the hogs. Might be some people that need help, and it's time to get your lazy asses moving around. I won't have you acting like a simple crash landing is anything bigger than an ant hill. Sgt. Bastogne, if you wouldn't mind, I'm going to borrow Lance Corporal Dawkins and Private Smith. Someone needs to stay here with Chief Thever, someone that's not all torn up."

The private with the compound fracture in his arm yelled in a voice that cracked from the painkillers, "Sorry Sarge!" Laughter rippled through the little group..

Bastogne nodded. "No problem Manning. You owe me one."

"Uh huh. I wants Raines here now. Got no idea where the sneaky bastard is."

As if on queue, Raines came gracefully jumping through the rock outcropping, rifle slung on his back.

"Damn monkey." Ross muttered. Raines landed right near him.

"It's called free running, ginger kid." he replied softly.

"All right people, get your asses in those Warthogs, NOW."

The bay door to the vehicles was opening. The men got up quick, shouldering their weapons. Manning forced Doc Leth over into the passenger seat, and Ross jumped into the turret. Dawkins leapt to drive the second, with Cooper in the passenger seat, and Smith in the gun. They peeled tire pulling out of the bay.

Jennings was already ahead on his horse, heading north west, and Raines plowed the mongoose down the ramp, and followed them.

It was an intimidating sight, men in black trooper armor moving in a pack. It certainly startled Jennings, when they pulled up beside him, moving as fast as his horse. They followed closely, making for the town as fast as possible. Adrenaline was pumping, and the men were ready for a fight. This is what they lived for, and had been doing for most of their lives. They had fought the hordes of the covenant, and lived. Nothing scared them.

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A/N : I'll try to have the next one up in about a week. Gotta see what my work load for school is. Hope you all enjoyed this one.