Fallen Retaliation

"Stupid bastards. You think they'd learn to stop sticking their noses where it hurts." Dak muttered to Vera as two more shots found their mark. The high ground where he made his perch gave him a superior sightline at the mouth of the canyon the Fallen kept coming in from. They had Pikes, but could only send them in one at a time due to the narrow opening. Their ground units did not fare much better, getting bottlenecked as soon as they entered the Anchor of Light. The experienced Hunter had little difficulty picking off the hapless Dregs as they funneled right into his sniper scope.

"You guys doing okay down there?" He asked, glancing down towards Bill and Kahlee's position on the second level of the plant.

"Never better. They're hardly getting through to us." Bill said between bursts from his rifle.

"We shouldn't waste too much time here, though. The Devils could be closing in on what we're looking for."

"Kahlee's right. Gonna try and find us an exit route. You're gonna be without cover fire for a minute." Dak swung his rifle around 180 degrees and scanned the area behind a large disc-shaped building just in front of the h3 facility.

"Vera, what do you think about that? We break for that pass?"

"Doubtful. There was heavy Devil activity in that area on my last scan. And that area isn't as defensible as here. We'd be slaughtered."

"Dammit. Okay, what if we go the way these morons are coming in from?"

"Are you mad?! That's certain death!"

"Not quite. Look at the map of that area, that canyon is so narrow, the Fallen numbers won't do them any good in there. We just take 'em on one by one all the way to the other side."

"Maybe, but… Dak, that might take us too close to the Hellmouth."

"I don't really see any other alternatives."

Vera fluttered for a moment. "Hmmm, statistically, it could work. We have about a 63% chance of- BEHIND YOU!"

Dak whipped back around ducked just in time to avoid the swinging shock sword of a Fallen Baroness. He leapt backwards, and the Baroness shrieked at him in her strange tongue.

He tossed his rifle aside and drew his hand cannon. Unsheathing his knife with his left hand, Dak snapped off a shot that bounced off the Baroness' shields, the Arc bubble swirled around her like a vortex.

Gonna have to do this the hard way, he thought to himself as he threw his knife at her midsection. He missed his mark, but the blade found its way into one of her lower arms. The Fallen major howled in pain as she charged at him, and she landed a punch to his head with the other of her lower appendages. Dak fell backwards, sliding down the hill on his back, firing as he slid. He saw the Arc shield around her flicker and then it dropped with a hiss-crack.

"Vera! Give me Golden Gun, now!"

"On it! Charged!"

Dak's hand cannon was suddenly wreathed in flame, and he felt the Solar energy surge up his arm, and lining up his target, he unleashed a single massive shot, striking the Baroness in the heart. The impact site glowed as the large pirate staggered forward, and the orange flame spread outward from the wound. Then, as the Baroness began to disintegrate, she exploded in a ball of Solar energy.

Dak reached the bottom of the slope and jumped to his feet. Vera sent his sniper rifle back into his hands via transmat, and he looked up at the charred spot where his enemy fell.

"Well, that could have been worse." He keyed his comlink. "Guys, I've got a plan. But… you're probably not gonna like it very much."

"Can't be much worse than the current situation, though the Exiles numbers seem to be getting fewer. They could be backing off." Bill ejected his magazine, but he felt no more spares on his belt.

"Dammit. Cee, can you get me some more ammo?"

"I can't reach the ship! Something is blocking our long-range transmat and comms."

"Is it the Fallen?"

"No, this is something else. I can't pinpoint it. But I also can't bring in ammo! We're down to short range comms and transmat only!"

Before Bill could look for ammo crates lying around, he noticed the Fallen had made their way to the second level. Tapping Kahlee on the shoulder, they turned to the ramp at their right. Drawing his new sidearm, Bill took aim and fired several shots at the closing Dregs. He was impressed at the punch carried by the small pistol. Kahlee's shotgun rang out with several sharp reports, but the Dregs kept coming closer.

"Heads up! We've got Devils incoming!" Cee shouted. Bill turned to see three Skiffs bearing Devils colors flying in from over the ridge.

"Dak! Take cover where you can! Kahlee, get close to me!" Bill summoned the built-up Void energy inside him, and just before the Skiffs opened fire, Bill cast his Ward of Dawn around himself and his partner. The Void bubble hummed as it accepted incoming fire, holding fast against the Skiff guns. The Exiles around the shield were not as fortunate. The rain of fire and bombs dropped from the crafts leveled all of the opposition against them as they also dropped ground troops to chase off the stragglers.

A Devil Captain took a glance at the two Guardians inside the domed shield, and held up a hand to stop his forces from advancing on it. Kahlee loaded her shotgun and pumped it regardless.

After a brief standoff, the Captain barked at his subordinates, and they were pulled back into the lead Skiff. As the three ships departed, Bill lowered the Ward.

"They saved us." Kahlee watched as the ships faded from view.

"No, they just couldn't kill us. We got lucky."

Dak slid down the steep incline ahead of the plant, landing at the base. "But at least now we can follow those Exiles."

"We were ordered to stay out of that area. That's the Hellmouth." Bill replied.

"But we also can't radio our ships to get out of here. We also can't call in the two Sparrows that you haven't blown up yet. And according to Vera, whatever is blocking our signal is down that way. Unless you've got a better idea, I say we go play catch-up to those bastards."

Bill frowned behind his helmet. "I don't, actually. Fine. We'll do it your way."

Dak clapped his hands. "Yes! I love it when I win!"

Bill held up a hand. "But you have to take point."

"That's not fair. I have a sniper rifle."

"So?"

Dak was silent for a moment. "When's the last time you were able to use a sniper in a narrow, snaking canyon?"

"Well, then you better ask Kahlee if you can borrow the Matador."

Dak shook his head. "You've got to be freakin' kidding me."

"And Dak…"

"What?"

"Ask nicely."