Halo New galaxy Ch12 Setback
26th July 2554
Riga Lillo system, Rio, Lakeside
John Keegan's Alpha Company had established an LZ thirty minutes ago. Lakeside was the second largest island with twelve km and a population of one-hundred fifty-thousand. Most of the island was just city-scape and so they had touched down in the harbor area.
The Storm began a ninth attempt to kick them off three minutes ago. Just two minutes ago he had been informed that the enemy aerial forces above his head was too strong and his marine reinforcements had turned back to avoid losing too many men and Pelicans before reaching Lakeside. He understood the logic but without backup his Company couldn't hold out.
It was going way better for everyone else. Mostly anyway. Shepard and Cornfield was in a little trouble but they remained firm, Major Hathaway was establishing an LZ on the second island. Hendricks and Wu had both succeeded to secure their own LZs. But Keegan was in trouble. They were defending the LZ from three Covie attacks from different directions. With the sea at their backs at least the Covies couldn't attack from a fourth direction.
"Wraith is disabled, Captain!" A Lieutenant informed Keegan.
"Great work," he complemented the officer through the comm. He kept his head down from the store window as plasma rained down on his position. "How's the rest of the armored convoy?"
"Two Banshees down. But that's it!"
A Storm convoy had driven up on their left flank when the engagement began. Two Wraiths-both destroyed already-with Banshees and twelve Spectres plus a full Company of troops. At the same time three Companies had attacked the center of their lines and a Company of heavily armored shock troops charged into their right flank. Out of two-hundred and fifty ODSTs one-hundred was dead and another hundred was injured in some way, although most was able to continue fighting. After constant attacks Keegan's men was getting tired and their ammo was starting to run low.
"Another wing of Banshees incoming, three o'clock!" The acting CO from 2nd Company reported with an exhausted voice. The action CO was dead. He was injured and a volunteer Pelican tried flying injured out-including him. But the Pelican was destroyed in flight.
"Again," Keegan grunted.
He already had two Squadrons of Banshees above their heads. Both had half strength at this point but a third Squadron didn't help.
"How's our pilot doing?"
"He's all right, but with so many Banshees it won't last."
A pelican pilot was still here. He was flying close to the ground among the buildings and towers and did his best to level out the aerial stage. He was out of missiles and would soon be out of munitions completely.
The store Keegan was taking cover in was acting as their HQ and infirmary.
1st Platoon's medic came over and kneeled in cover beside him.
"Captain. I'm sorry to tell you Lieutenant Bowie just died," he informed him in an accent Keegan connected with-the formerly glassed-Reach. "Too much internal bleedings. 2nd Lieutenant Curry is about to join him." The medic spoke with sorrow in his voice.
"Can't you do anything for her?" Keegan asked.
The medic hung his head. "No sir. If I had a functioning medical wing, sure. But she needs surgery say, fifteen minutes ago. I don't know who's third in line to lead 1st Platoon it seems to be time to get him or her ready for it."
"Thanks doc," Keegan appreciated that he came over to tell him in person. Keegan quickly narrowed it down to a Master Sergeant. Most officers in 2nd was already dead.
He left cover and fired at a Jackal getting ready to throw a plasma grenade. He hit the grenade and detonated it, killing the Jackal and three Grunts.
He returned to cover and peeked across the harbors small plaza at 5th Platoon's position. He could only see two Hunters now. The third was apparently down, thanks god. His attention quickly shifted to a new armored convoy. It came down the street from the east. It was two Spectres with a Wraith in the back, surrounded by three Platoons worth of Elites. He wished they still had some mines left, but all had gone up in the third wave.
"Captain!" The acting CO of 4th Platoon shouted over the battle roars on the comm. "I have to retreat to the secondary positions! We can't hold it any longer!"
"Go ahead Staff," Keegan allowed.
He ducked down further when the building shook heavily. It was from a Wraith bombarding the area and a Squadron of Banshees making an attack-run on their location.
He felt his sweat slowly dripping inside his helmet. It was forty degrees here. Celsius, for the record.
"Squad Roman, report progress," he ordered.
The Squad was holding three floors above them and provided sniper cover and heavy fire for the hostiles in the air.
"Roman Squad, report in," Keegan said. "Stephen, you read?" No answer. Damn.
He gripped his MA5D tighter and peeked over the window edge covering him. He unloaded one burst of three rounds into a Grunt, killing the little bastard immediately. He had been rushing a Fireteams position with a Plasma pistol and a plasma grenade. The next burst he directed at an Elite. The shields protecting the alien from injuries.
He took cover before the Elite could zone in on him.
"Private," he looked at a trooper beside him.
"Sir!"
"Go check up on Roman Squad. They're not responding," Keegan ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
He scurried off through the smashed up store to a staircase that led through the buildings floors.
Keegan got out of cover and fired two bursts at the same Elite as before. He squeezed off a third before the elite fired back at him. He got back in cover. Goddamn it. When he got out and fired a fifth and sixth burst two Jackals had come up with energy shields for the Elite to use for moving cover. When two more Elites rushed over Keegan presumed that one guy he tired taking down was pretty important. He wasn't wearing anything that identified him as an officer of any rank.
He figured maybe these new guys was trying to stop wearing armor depending on your ranks. Maybe they had finally realized it made 'em big targets in combat.
A well-thrown frag crippled one of the Jackals and wounded two Elites. No fatalities though. The other Jackal deactivated his energy shield in order to properly grab his wounded comrade and drag him to safety.
Well what do you know, Keegan mused. Looks like those guys found some real comradery.
It wasn't something he was used to see. The old Covenant never cared about their troops and he'd almost never seen comradery among their troops. Maybe this splinter group was different. But he was quickly proven wrong when the original Elite pushed the Jackal dragging his friend back aside and roared. It probably meant charge or something since the nearby troops started advancing quickly, firing like madmen.
Keegan fired a burst of three bullets into an Elites skull when he saw the warrior's shields dropping under a barrage of battle rifle rounds.
"Captain," Keegan heard the voice of the soldier he'd sent to check up on Roman Squad. "They're all dead, I think…"
"What you mean you think?" Keegan demanded a more certain answer.
"…Nothing much l-left," was the answer.
The Captain took a deep breath. "Copy. Get back down here."
He had assumed the worst when he didn't get contact, but now he knew no one needed help or it was just a radio malfunction.
Goddamn it! He decided to let his anger and frustration out the easiest way. He got up straight and squeezed the trigger. He sprayed bullets onto the advancing six aliens. He hit the shields of three different Elites before the assault rifle ran dry. He got back down into cover and started to reload it with a fresh mag. He heard a crash in the midst of reloading. He had heard that sound several times since they arrived and it was a Banshee crashing. A beautiful sound. He felt a little better after taking his anger out over the Elites. Would have been better if he killed one or two off course.
Screams of men filled their air for a moment but quickly grew silent. He wasn't sure how long he could hold out until he ran out of men.
He finally got up and unloaded another hail. One of the charging Elites went down. He noted that two had gone down during the time he reloaded. That left three. A few Shotgun shots killed one of them when he got too close to a Fireteam.
"John, how's your status?" Keegan heard Shepard through his comm.
"Colonel!" He exclaimed in relief. "We're in trouble. Storm doesn't want to give up Lakeside and my marine backup turned back!"
"Yes, I just heard. I am stepping on board a Pelican right now. Sierra Company's being rotated off Candali after the 824th boys arrived. We're on our way to help you."
"The aerial support for the Covies is too hard. You won't get through, sir," Keegan said. "That's why the marines turned around."
"Those marines is going to follow us in. sooner or later. And don't worry about the enemy fighters. Leave that to our pilots," Shepard said steadily.
"Understood. Good luck, sir," Keegan complied. God knew he needed help badly.
Yeah I know it's short but I'll make up for it with the next chapter. Don't worry!
I'm planning on getting out the next out tomorrow.
Happy New Year!