So here we go with another chapter. Just remember to keep the reviews flowing dear readers. Also just to clear one thing up since there was a review asking about it. It is military protocol to call an officer sir regardless of gender. Most soldiers would probably say ma'am but Spartans are raised to follow regulations to the letter so they would follow this protocol as well, at least in my eyes.
The Pelican shuddered as the storm surrounding it rumbled. To approach Babd Catha the aircraft had to fly through an electrical storm which had sprung up. Though it slowed progress, the storm was a good thing in many ways. Firstly, it allowed the aircraft to slip past any covenant out post which could potentially be hidden below them. Secondly it showed that the re-terraforming of Reach was proceeding well. A few months ago there was not a cloud in the sky. Not because the weather was nice, but because just about every drop of moisture had disappeared due to the intense heat of the plasma beams which had destroyed the majority of the surface. Currently the Pelican, carrying the Gamma company teams Warhammer, Halberd and Falchion to what had once been the Babd Catha ice shelf and the ruins of the office of naval intelligence's Sword base. Andreas was yet to inform his teams of their mission. The Pelican shuddered again and Andreas involuntarily closed his eyes. He didn't mind flying, he was a Spartan after all, but the thought that he wouldn't be able to do anything if the aircraft went down sent shivers down his spine. He thanked the Mjolnir designers for the opaque visor of the MK V helmet.
"Captain? Are you going to tell us what exactly we are going to be doing?" Asked Aisha impatiently.
"Yeah come on Andreas. It can't be that exciting." Said one Damian's squad. Lukas, Andreas guessed from the Germanic edge to his accent. Andreas removed a small holo projector from his belt and flipped it on. An image of the ruined sword base and the immediate area appeared hovering in the middle of the blood tray in a calming ice blue.
"The elements of Gamma and Delta companies are not the only Spartans assigned the Reach. A few days ago a Grey Team squad dropped out of contact while investigating covenant activity in the area. The Marine fire teams sent in after them have also gone dark. Its our job to find out what happened to them." Said Andreas.
"Who was in the Grey Team?" Asked Meghan from beside Andreas.
"Gabrielle 224 from Delta company, Anthony, and Lieutenant Commander Adrianna." stated the Staff Captain. There was much murmuring over the revelation that Anthony, one of the fifty three Gamma company survivors was among the missing group.
"How can be sure they are alive?" The question came from Yuka, a member of Falchion. Damian provided the answer from behind the black visor of his Ochre Recon pattern armour.
"Spartans never die. They just go to hell to regroup."
The Pelicans assigned to Thermopylae where a little bit different to the standard ones used by most branches of the UNSC military. These craft were built to be stealthy. Their engines were powerful and designed in such a way that the made little noise. This allowed them to use inclement weather conditions to mask their approaches. Their hulls were also different in that they were black. Not from paint but from a carbon composite that covered the majority of the hull. The carbon composite meant that the radar and other sensors had trouble locking onto the Pelicans from long range. Unfortunately this was not enough to protect the craft from sensors at close range. Though thankfully, due a combination of its darkened hull, the thunder storm raging overhead and the approaching night, no Brute sensors, visual or otherwise noticed the Pelican land, disgorge its deadly cargo and fly off again.
Andreas and his teams hit the ground running. They made their way to an outcropping of rocks which over looked a small bay. The bay once would have been covered in ice. But now there was no ice, there was barely any water, the plasma bombardments of the Covenant invasion all those years ago had evaporated vast amounts of water. The once deep Arctic seas surrounding Babd Catha were no little more than pathetic lakes and puddles. In this bay there had once stood a comms station for Sword Base, but now like most things on Reach, it was just a few piles of rubble. Andreas sent team Falchion to scout ahead while Warhammer and Halberd stayed on the rocks and surveyed the surrounding area.
"You always take us to such nice places Captain." Said Marcus sarcastically as he loaded a dart into his assault rifle's MAD launcher.
"Yeah you really know how to treat a girl Andreas." The second dose of sarcasm had come from Meghan who was standing to Andreas' left, adjusting the scope of her Battle Rifle.
"Thats enough you two." said the Captain. "We will have time to mock my choice of holiday location later. For now, cut the chatter." The two Warhammer team members responded with, "Aye", to his order. For a second Andreas puzzled over Meghan's comment before turning to Damien.
"What you thinking Damien?" He asked.
"That it is too quiet." was all the Halberd team leader said. Andreas was about to make a comment concerning Damien's cliché when Aisha's voice crackled over the comm channel.
"Captain, we have friendly forces in sight. They are under attack by Jackals." She said.
"They our missing Spartans?"
"Negative. Marines. Requesting permission to engage." Said Aisha.
"Granted. Try to save us some, we're on our way."
"Problem?" Asked Zhao.
"We've got Marines pinned down by Jackals. Double time Spartans I want us there five minutes ago." Both Spartan teams acknowledged him and started down hill at a sprint.
It didn't take the two teams long to reach team Falchion's location. They found Aisha first. She was laying down suppressive from her sniper rifle. The Jackals had quickly learned to either keep their heads down or their wrist shields up. Unfortunately for the raptor like aliens the latter did not save them from Aisha's vengeful rifle. Thomas, Falchion's medic was tending to the wounded. Which unfortunately included one of the Spartans who was sporting plasma burns on her left side. There was plenty of healthy Marines who were helping the Spartans lay down covering fire. Andreas spied a few marines fighting a desperate rearguard against the Jackals. They were fighting bravely, using a rocky outcrop to provide cover. But very soon they would be over whelmed. Andreas opened the comm channel for his team.
"Zhao your with me. Meghan, Marcus. Support Falchion and help the marines fall back." They nodded in acknowledgement. He then opened up the comm and spoke to Damian. "Damian. Deploy your team members where you feel they are needed but ensure me and Zhao have some covering fire." He said. Damian clicked his mic on and off in way of acknowledgement. Andreas then nodded to Zhao as the Spartans dispersed and they started sprinting to the rearguard.
Corporal Daniel Greig was not having a good day. This was his simple thought as he sent another three round burst into yet another Jackal mercenary. He ducked behind his rock as another one sent green plasma bolts at him. Before Daniel could return the alien the favour, one of the other marines sent a bullet from a magnum into its brain. Their position was not looking good. They had been able to keep the aliens occupied while their comrades had escaped but they were now tiered, wounded and running low on ammo. And to top it all of, the Jackals were getting bolder. Daniel had once seen a nature show when he was a kid of a Lion pride devouring a gazelle. What had always stayed with Daniel was the way the Vultures had circled, waiting to pick at the carcass. Daniel felt a lot like that carcass now. "Jackals is a bad name for these things. Vultures would be more appropriate" He thought to himself. He peeked out of cover again and fired a couple of bursts, catching a Jackal in the arm. Daniel threw the spent clip aside and inserted a fresh one; his last one. He once again peeked out and prepared to shoot a Jackal but he now saw something new. There were two phalanxes of Jackals with shields at the fore front of their assault, but now the right one was disrupted. Something was moving among them. Something fast, powerful and green. He only saw it for a couple of seconds but in the few seconds he saw much. The newcomer was charged by a Jackal with one of their crystal cutlasses. The new arrival grabbed its wrist and snapped the creatures neck before taking its cutlass and throwing it at one of the Jackal's friends. The pink crystal embedded itself in the others skull and detonating, showering its friends with shards of crystal and bone. Daniel finally recognised the newcomers distinct armour. It was a Spartan. The Spartan unslung a pole from his back which extended into a large spear version of an energy sword. Daniel would have marvelled at the exotic weapon but a shriek of rage brought him into focus. A new Jackal was standing before him with its cutlass raised, ready to disembowel him. But before the creature struck it shrank back out of fear. The reason for its fear came from above. Another Spartan, this one clad in grey and blue armour flipped over the marine and Jackal. As he flew in the air, the Spartan sent a burst from his assault rifle drilling into the alien's skull. The Spartan landed perfectly behind the now dead Jackal. Daniel stammered out a thanks and the Spartan inclined his armoured head in reply.
Thats yer lot fae now. Remember kids, more reviews equals more writing.