Col Baker, T. Day 1, 1500 Hrs

The UNSC battle net was crackling with the sounds of combat chatter as dozens of comm channels reported the activities of hostile and friendly forces. Marines and Navy technicians rushed back and forth throughout the tactical operations center, delivering data to superiors and coordinating troops over the radios. Colonel Baker was having an urgent conversation with his battle captain, Captain Stein, a tall, young Marine officer whose responsibility it was to manage the TOC and deliver orders and information to the units in the field.

"My Marines are spread too thin up in those hills. I want Bravo and Charlie to pull back to defensive positions around the firebase. Alpha will have to maintain position until General Vaughn reinforces the crash site; until then, we'll reroute a few resupply birds to their location. I want Delta providing support for the Marines at the star port. Have they started evac-ing the civilians yet?"

The Captain entered information into a data pad, replying, "No sir. Covenant control the skies. They're still trying to re-establish air dominance."

Colonel Baker cursed. "Tell Delta to move their M12 Romeo's to assist them."

"Sir wouldn't that leave us open to the banshees?"

"We'll rely on our Scythes on the rooftops."

"Yes sir," Stein said, entering more data into the battle net. The information would then pass onto the terminals of the communications and signal personnel, who would relay the orders to the various units.

Colonel Baker walked over to where Sergeant Major Bruner was overseeing a group of Marines updating a holographic battle map of the valley. Friendly forces were displayed as blue points on the map, with known enemy positions displayed as red. The actual battle lines were ambiguous, as the Covenant had attacked from all directions. A CCS battlecruiser maintained position over the sea to the west, where flights of Phantoms and Spirits unloaded Brute lances upon a portion of the city built over a small island just off the shore. To the north, Baker's tank detachment, Echo Company, was assisting the 27th Marines' armor units in holding MSR (main supply route) Ceasar, the main interstate cutting through the pass leading north. The infantry companies of the 58th MEU were in the hills north of downtown, fighting viciously against Covenant forces landing by air. To the east, the 27th Marines were being scattered throughout the city by aggressive Elite shock troopers and their lances. The 27th had maintained positions both at the star port, and at Firebase White, just outside the industrial district to the southeast.

Bruner looked up as Baker approached, delivering his report and take on the situation. "Covenant have us spread thin Colonel. Diverting our hogs away might make them ballsy enough to try to take out our AA guns up there."

Col Baker nodded and said, "I know. You're gonna have to get H&S Company to put twice as many Marines on security."

"I have every bit of confidence they can do it sir, but H&S Company is already spread thin and lacking in manpower. We'll have to pull them from the motor pool and the supply depot."

"Right Sergeant Major, but we need to guard those guns. When Bravo and Charlie Company arrive, they can pull security while we send the support troops back to their stations."

"I'll coordinate and let them know sir. The Covenant don't stand a chance against this battalion." Bruner headed off to talk to another officer present in the TOC, relaying the orders to him. When the officer, a gold bar lieutenant, tried to protest against his Marines being used for combat, the Sergeant Major scolded him. "Get it together son! We're all in combat. Your Marines know how to hold rifles, so they can suck it up and pull security."

Baker made his way back to Captain Stein, who was hovering over the many terminals aligned beside one another in the TOC. Stein would receive reports from the technicians operating the terminals, and then he would relay it back to Colonel Baker. The Colonel would issue out his response, and Stein would relay it back to the appropriate unit handler. As the battlefield shifted, SgtMaj Bruner's Marines would monitor the holographic table and readjust any data that wasn't already being adjusted by SIGINT feeds.

A loud report came in from Echo Company, "Warlord, this is Blue Knight. We are engaged! Standby for spot report, over!" The sound of shells being loaded and fired from a tank was heard as the transmission ended.

A female Naval technician handling one of the terminals responded, "Blue Knight, Warlord. Ready for spot report, over."

The voice came back onto the radio, speaking faster and more urgently. "We are currently being attacked by a Covenant armor division along MSR Ceasar about 1 klick north of the city limit – roughly 6-0 enemy tanks, break. They're trying to overwhelm our position and break through our lines, how copy over?"

The woman shifted in her seat with nervousness. She then cleared her throat and responded, "Good copy on your spot report Blue Knight. Covenant division of 6-0 tanks currently attacking MSR Ceasar 1 klick from Victory City. Standby for orders, over."

When Blue Knight responded, the sounds of engines and cannon fire above the static were even more prevalent. "Roger. We're requesting reinforcements immediately, over!"

Captain Stein, who had been paying considerable attention to the report, looked up at Colonel Baker. He said, "Sir, Echo Company and the 27th armor detachment are outnumbered. Should we pull them back into defensive positions around the city gate?"

The Colonel assessed his options. The pass to the north had to be held, but he knew the UNSC tanks were greatly outnumbered. If they were unable to be reinforced, many would be cut down while breaking off from their current defensive positions. After a short moment, he said, "Can Delta reinforce?"

"They're spread thin throughout downtown sir. Their Warthogs might not make it in time, and if they did, I don't think they have enough firepower to put a dent in that division."

Col Baker cursed aloud. Then, reluctantly, he ordered, "Have Echo Company pull back to the city gate and regroup their defenses there. I want all available air assets to move in and provide them close air support."

"Roger sir, we'll call it in," Stein said as he turned to the Naval technician to relay his orders.

She nodded and said, "Yes sir," then got on the radio and said, "Blue Knight, this is Warlord."

There was a pause – silence from the other end of the radio. And then, "Roger Warlord, this is Blue Knight."

"Blue Knight, break contact and regroup at secondary defensive position. Prepare to copy grid, over."

"Standing by to copy, over."

"Grid as follows: Oscar Tango 3-5-4-6 2-2-8-9, over."

"I copy Oscar Tango 3-5-4-6 2-2-8-9, how copy over?"

"Good copy Blue Knight. CAS is inbound to support your movement, Warlord, out."

Stein then moved over to another terminal and spoke to another technician there. He said, "I want all available air assets to cover Echo Company to the north. There is a Covenant armor division attacking along MSR Ceasar and they need to provide CAS for friendly forces in that AO. I'll send you the relevant data."

The man nodded, and after waiting for the data to upload to his kiosk, said, "Got it sir. I'm sending out the call now." He then began transmitting to UNSC air units operating in the vicinity.

The first unit to respond was a flight of Sparrowhawks. Their commander spoke over the radio, "This is Talon 1. We are on station. ETA to coordinates: two mikes. How copy over?"

Colonel Baker turned his attention elsewhere. He had every bit of confidence in his Marines as a good commander should, but he knew they were fighting a war of attrition, and in that respect, the Covenant held them at a clear disadvantage. All they could do was continue to beat back the enemy assault and give the civilian transports as much time as possible to escape.