0730, April 19th, 2544 [MILITARY CALENDAR/]Colonist Planet[OROVOR]
Ever since we were augmented, we have been fighting Covenant aliens. We have never fired on a single human. Not even an insurrectionist. Sure we've defused situations between hostages and panicking civilians, but we've never killed a human being before.
It has been a solid year since our first mission with Fireteam Zeta, and a lot has changed. We've seen a lot more death and tragedy We've seen more planets fall, civilians lost, and fellow soldiers left behind to last a life time. But I know, if all goes well, we'll see a whole hell of a lot more.
We've been sent on a mission to a frontier planet to investigate a UNSC distress signal. It's the only time that we're not facing a direct Covenant threat. Fireteam Zeta has been sent along with us to ensure our safety. They're like our body guards.
Unfortunately, we weren't exactly told how long it would take. So when Jessica broke the news of our two week long travel, we weren't exactly pleased. But that grief was lifted when we were told that we would be taking a small vessel which could be manned by a small crew. It has a Shaw Fujikawa drive and multiple armaments as well as a few bunk rooms. But it doesn't come with any cryo tubes. So we can't just sleep the trip away. But ever since that time we woke up with the ship hijacked, I haven't been able to comfortably step into another tube. So it wasn't exactly disappointing when that was revealed to us.
We were dispatched in our ship from the UNSC Faithful after our very brief debriefing. Zeke says it's not normal to have so little information passed our way. But it's normal to us. Zeke tried to say something about it, but the officer just waved us out.
Seeing as how we're all used to each other already, we don't get on each others nerves or drive each other crazy. But it is still a long and boring trip. But also relaxing. We haven't had much rest recently because the war is kicking into high gear, putting us all on edge. We've been shipped out time and time again, not allowing for good and honest rest. In a way, I was glad for the constant run-and-gun. Because now I realize that being left alone to think for so long can get dangerous. But luckily Zeke and his team have come prepared for these things and know how to keep busy. Sparring, exercising, training. All good ways to distract yourself.
I practically don't notice when Arnold tells us that we're reaching the planet and to suit up.
Once we ready up, I go to the cockpit and look out through the window to see the huge planet looming up to meet us. A single space elevator reaches up out of the planet like a gigantic straw. Arnold says that there is minimal orbital activity, and that we haven't been seen yet. "Hopefully we won't be found. Colonies in the outer reaches tend to be...hostile towards the UNSC," Arnold says. "But isn't it a little, I don't know...dangerous to lie about our presence here? They might be angrier if they find out we're here unannounced," Kia says. "Trust me. We know how the outer colonies are. This is the best approach to a mission like this. In and out, don't let them know you're here," Arnold says.
The planet is beautiful. It's filled to the brim with forests and mountains. The atmosphere is a light blue color, much like Earth. But unlike earth, the air is thicker and the gravity is a little heavier. We have trained to operate even under different gravity situations, so it's not too difficult for us when we step foot onto the hard packed ground.
We had landed in one of the deserts. The rocks are a bright red color and the sand kicks up angrily as we leave the safety of our ship.
"Beacon is four klicks from our current position. Looks like it's in a crater. Must be where the ship crashed," Jessica says, consulting her tacpad. "Lets get going. The faster we find that beacon, the faster we can get the hell out of here," Zeke says and begins walking.
We've been on other planets before, sure. But no other planet has felt as hostile as this one. Even the sand beneath your boots feels as if it's trying to eat you alive. Swarms of gnat-like bugs come and go in giant clouds. They land on our arms and stick small needle probocis into our biolayer in attempts to suck our blood. No matter how much we swat at them, they always come back.
When we're only a mile from the beacon, a sudden dust storm is kicked up when the wind starts to blow. Our vision is obscured to only a few feet ahead of the lead Spartan. The sun is blotted out, draining all light. The mixture of the heat and sand makes it a very hard travel. But Fireteam Zeta isn't complaining, so we don't either.
We very suddenly find the crater when Zeke, who was in the lead, falls out of sight. Arnold, who was right behind him, curses as he slips and falls. Jessica reacts quick and grabs his arm, preventing him fall falling the rest of the way. "I found the beacon!" Zeke calls from below. His COM signal is distorted from the storm and filled with static. "We're heading down," Jessica says and disappears from sight as she slides down the crater.
Arnold and Jacobs follow her down and I wait until their tags have reached the bottom before approaching the edge.
It's a rocky dune filled with jagged edges and loose rocks. Sitting at the bottom of the crater is a pelican, destroyed and in ruins. "211, Kia, you two stay up here and keep an eye out. Parkson, you're with me," I say and sling my weapon across my back. I kick my feet out underneath me and slide down the crater. The loose rocks break free and come down with me, noisely knocking into the side of the pelican. Once we're down, we join the others who are checking the insides of the vehicle.
The troop bay is packed with sand which coats everything. But something feels wrong when I see that there isn't any signs of a body. Parkson taps my shoulder, looking distressed. He pulls me back out and points to the side of the Pelican. Once he sees that I don't see anything, he points again and outlines the entire pelican with his finger. He reaches down and touches the hull, then grabs a bullet from his pocket and shows it to me. And that's when it dawns on me. "Oh shit!" I gasp. "Kia, 211, get down here!" I roar over the COM's. But it's too late.
I hear two gunshots from far away and Kia and 211's signals suddenly flatline. "NO!" I yell. "What's wrong? What happened to the others?" Zeke asks, poking his head above the pelican. "Get down, now!" I yell. Parkson drops into the bay just as a Sniper round zooms past his head. The crack was barely audible but I heard it. I manage to drop down as well but the bullet nicks my helmet and drops my shields, breaking them with a shower of sparks.
My head is ringing once I get as far back into the pelican as I can. Zeke and Jacobs are at the front of the pelican, pressed as close to the side as they can get. Jessica and Arnolds are in the cockpit, working with something. Parkson has removed my helmet and is doing something near my ears. Once my hearing comes back, the sounds of gunfire reach me first. It's loud and very close. The rounds ping off of the outside of the hull and create a rythmic thrum.
"Engines are still offline. I'm rerouting power from the weapons," I hear Jessica say. "They've got us pinned. The bastards had an ambush!" Zeke snarls. He peeks out to fire a few rounds but pulls back when a bullet lodges itself in his chestplate. "Fucking hell!" he says angrily. "Jackson, pull yourself together. We need you up here," Arnolds says from the cockpit. Parkson gives me a little space to move as I shake my head and move to Arnolds.
"You have experience with old clunkers, right? Get this damned thing in the air. It still has emergency power, so it can at least get us out of this crater," Arnolds says, moving away from the consoles. I take my place in the seat and try to ignore the fact that the window is in a very vulnerable spot. "Emergency power is online...engines are good. Guidance..." I mutter while working the controls. "Auto guidance is shot. I'll have to work manual."
I flip a few switches and divert power from the landing lights and the non-existent landing gear to get the engines working. I am rewarded with a whine as the engines power up. "Guys, get away from the door," Jessica yells.
It's very hard to focus on the bird's spacing when the constant gunfire rains down on you like a nightmare. I know I have shields, but they're weak. And I'm very vulnerable here in this cockpit. But fortunately, I can drown out those thoughts and focus on the Pelican.
"Hold on to something," I call back. The Pelican's engines' whine grows to an angry roar as I gun them. The bird feels like it is stuck for a few moments, but the sand gives way with a jerk and lets us raise into the air. Someone has the brilliant idea of shooting at the cockpit, and their bullets shatter the right side window, making me duck for a few seconds. I direct the pelican to the left and ignore the overheating alarms and push it forwards.
It doesn't make it far before the engines fail and I am forced to land it.
"Zeta, get them from behind. Use your camo and sneak around. We'll distract them from here," I tell the others. "Good idea. Zeta, we need to move fast. They're already regrouping," Zeke says. "Move out!" Jessica calls.
Me and Parkson go out onto the ramp and crouch down, aiming down our sights, as Fireteam Zeta activates their camoflauge and nearly disappears from sight. It's not long before the attackers find us again and open fire. We're forced to the far side of the pelican for cover, risking an infiltration.
It seems like an eternity of trading fire until Zeta finally makes it behind. The gunfire quickly switches as they realize what had happened. Once that happens, we leave cover and slowly advance on the enemies, free firing on anything we see.
It's not long at all before the last of the enemies are fleeing, running as fast as they feet will carry them. But we let them leave and instead turn our attention to the fact Kia and 211 may be dead.
But once we reach the crater again, we don't find anything. No signs of them. "How the living hell did this happen?!" I demand. I'm furious. I got my teammates killed. What the hell kind of leader am I?! What was Hokai thinking by choosing me?
Parkson suddenly puts a hand on my shoulder and points to a spot on the ground. He crouches down and picks up a handful of sand. It slowly falls away until it leaves a pinkish splotch in his palm. "What is that?" I wonder. "Zeke, come here."
Zeke looks at Parkson's hand and touches the splotch. he looks at it for a second before shaking his head. His fingers curl into a fist and he looks over Parkson's shoulder. "TTR. The bastards had a sniper," Zeke says. I follow his gaze and find a small hill overlooking the area. The perfect place for a sniper to perch. "So help me if they hurt them. I'll kill every last one of them!" I say, gripping my weapon tighter. "We'll get them back, Jackson. We're not leaving until we do so," Zeke says, looking at me. "Good. Because I don't intend to leave," i say and head back for the pelican.
Zeke is explaining what happened to the others when I hear something in the cockpit. It was a slight scrape. Someone else might have passed it off as the old bird settling. But I knew different. I gesture for Parkson to stay put and crouch down. My feet make no noise and I dare breath only the slightest as I sneak up through the back and into the troop bay. My radar picks up a unidentified white dot, directly in the pilot's seat.
Once I'm behind the seat, I fly up and quickly grab the infiltrator by his throat and pick him up out of the seat. He gives a strangled cry as he goes flying into the wall. He hadn't even looked up before I place my boot over his chest and train my gun on him. "Where did you take them?!" I demand, staring hard into his terrified eyes. He says nothing so I discharge a few bullets right next to his head. And I'm pretty sure he just pissed himself. If I wasn't so mad, I would have even smiled.
He still doesn't talk and I'm about to execute him when Zeke walks in. "Hold on, Jackson," he says. My eyes don't leave the infiltrator when he steps up. "Jessica has a bit of training in interrogation. Give her an hour, she'll get what we need," Zeke says. The fear in the man's eyes only grows and I'm sure he's close to a heart attack.
"Wait!" he cries as Jessica enters the pelican. "I know where they were taken. Alpha base, Alpha base! It's our main base of operations." Jessica laughs and crosses her arms. "No counting for loyalty," she says. "I can take you there. It is only a few hour's walk from here," he says. "Give us the coordinates," I say. Once he does, I retrain my gun and pull the trigger. Fortunately for him, the death was instant.
"He didn't have to die, you know," Zeke says. "He could have been chipped. We might have been walking into another ambush with him leading," I say coldly. I then sling my gun over my back and leave the pelican. I don't want to hear his lecture. What I did was deliberate and I would have done it a hundred times over. I have no mercy for those who kidnap my teammates. They will all pay. I will kill them all.