UNSC Ballista in Flint's atmosphere
August 18, 2558
Currently, the Ballista was heading straight into one of the worst storms that occurred in Flint's cold August months. Down in Misrata, the summers would get hot and stuffy, the perfect scenario for evening storms that lit up the night sky with yellow lightning and dousing the streets with rain and hail. Inside the vessel, much of her was now war weathered as she spent days battling nearly a half dozen pirate vessels. They knew that they were on the right track from the higher density of pirate controlled ships in the area. So far, all that challenged the stealth frigate had succumbed to its mighty firepower.
Inside, the operations bridge, Trip was strapped in the command seat, his face was stubble, having not shaved for a while. His normally dark eyes that brimmed with energy had now lost their will, but still maintained the sharpness that he was known for. Thanks to some extra strong black coffee, it was responsible for his astounding ability to keep from slouching in the command chair.
The main staff had the bridge, with Dan Tyler coming down with a sickness, so he had been filled in by Vaal, who was now at the helm. Aegis watched as he worked the ship through the unpredictability at even a high altitude. The displays were all a kaleidoscope of speed indicators, altimeters. However he had little time to focus on her movement, as he was currently dealing with the weapons and facing a large SDV corvette, the Devoted Envoy.
"She's on the move!" Riley called out, "Radar picks her up moving twenty by six!"
"Arm another guided torpedo and lock onto her main engines."
"Aye." Unfortunately, due to so much interference in the weather, achieving a shot with the MAC was much more difficult, so they had to resort to lockon weapons. Archer missiles had damaged the ship, but her powerful point defense weapons managed to keep Ballista at bay, preventing her from closer range attacks and a swift victory. The clouds were thick and obscured visibility. Leah manned the communications and the radar. So far it had been clear, but in this weather, nobody was taking any chances.
Onboard the Devoted Envoy, Jor Fel balled his fist, slamming it on the command seat's arm. The metal spikes that lined his forearm plating made giant gaping holes inside the soft fabric seat.
"Get me a damage report now!"
"We're sustaining major structural damage on our starboard end, caused by missiles. The hostile contact is falling back." A frail skirmisher manning a station adjacent to him reported, watching as updates on the panels began scrolling at a rapid pace.
"Then we shall hit their tail while they run. Arm our long range turrets and fire immediately!"
"Hostile has launched a torpedo! Impact in thirty seconds!"
Jor cursed again now having fear flood his veins for the first time, the new human torpedoes were extremely difficult to avoid and were devastating to all targets. Any ways of defense were futile.
"We're going to have to accept this one." His crew's mouths opened as he knelt down. "The best we can do right now is that we have things under control on the ground and the Anije will make it back with enough gold."
Every single one of his bridge crew had done more than a hundred raids with him on both civilian and military ships of both humans and Covenant alike. Despite their illegitimacy, they had done the same that their ancestors had done so long ago when they first plundered the seas of rival ships.
"So we fall. I only hope father makes it off in time with her gold."
The Blades' torpedo slammed into the rear engines, detonating the Envoy's propulsion in a massive blue fireball. The ship broke apart into four large fragments before fire consumed Jor's body and burned the remaining debris into ash.
"Commander, you're not going to believe what just happened!"
Aegis was suddenly upright in his seat, nearly knocking over the beef lasagna MRE on his seat's arm. The weather and unpredictable motions the ship was making had made meal creations impossible, so the crew resorted to military grade MREs.
"Leah, what's going on?" He had to nearly shout when the other bridge operators let out a shout of approval as a blue flash emanated from somewhere in the clouds. The Envoy had been destroyed by their torpedo.
"I got a transmission from Vasili."
"Bullshit. When?"
"About three seconds ago."
"So then where is he?" Vaal swiveled in his seat, ready to punch in commands.
"Get to the north side of the mountain range, there the storm might clear up and he should be somewhere on the coast. I'm also picking up a large ship ascending." She scooted her chair to another set of panels, rapidly typing in commands. "It's the Anije."
"She won't make it far." Aegis countered, after seeing the surprise on her face. "Ignore her for now."
He smiled at the newfound hope inside him despite the Anije having a clear path for a getaway; there was a chance that everyone could be brought back alive. However, getting a team in there was an absolute necessity, as the skirmisher pirates were not planning to give up their own slaves without a fight.
"Hang in there Vasili." He whispered, "Help is on the way." Unstrapping himself from the command chair as Ballista eased her way out of the storm, he began his walk out. "Get Pyra to assemble two teams of everything we've got. All Spartans going head to the armor bay to get suited up."
His armor was now trashed, being the leg segments caught in the whirling saw blades back at Metsker, he now donned a newer pair of leg armor that was kept in the bay. They were contoured and smooth, colored green in accordance with the armor color that he was going to wear for the mission.
Sliding his fingers into gloves and browsing the armory, he crossed back to the hangars, where the two pelicans were being prepped for combat. Vaal and Pyra were already running preflight checks and examining the craft for a proper flight, a handful of ODSTs and a couple of Spartans were getting weapons checked making sure everyone was prepared, Meredith Adrian came up to him, decked out in a black combat suit and cradling an assault rifle.
"Alright listen up." His words caused the entire group to halt what they were doing to listen what he had to say. While he was mainly addressing his team, it would be broadcasted throughout the ship.
"Drew is everyone ready to go?"
One by one, first done by his second in charge, his senior bridge staff called in, each of them saying that they were prepared. Trip swapped channels to now the broadcast would be spoken by him.
"Attention all hands, this is the Commander. This is what's happening, from what we can tell. These pirates that we've been after for the past two weeks have their peak operation in these mountains. Now one of our own is down there right now, suffering with every other poor soul forced to work. I personally owe Vasili my life after he had saved my skin and I can confidently say that all of you can state likewise. His rescue is our top priority. Second, we have no idea how many slaves that the pirates have brought onto their lair. With them trying to bury their evidence of the atrocities that they committed, speed is the main focus. To those going out to combat with me, pick your targets, fingers on the trigger and keep it safe. With the storm getting even worse by the minute, I'm not willing to jeopardize the ship, no matter how badly the circumstances."
He reached across the table to pick up his Air Assault Helmet, complete with a bright red solar visor. "Now I won't be giving something like Cole at Psi Serpentis or Whitcomb in his NOVA, but we are going to be up against insurmountable odds. Everyone here knows their duty and what I and your crewmates expect of you. The contract that I accepted is far less of what hells we have gone through these past weeks. This is not a mission to line our pockets with credits, nor is it for the media to snap pictures of us for fame. Countless lives will be dependent on our engagement with these ruthless hostiles known as the remnants of Nex Fel's empire within the next twenty minutes. If any of you see that bastard, nobody should hesitate to put a bullet through his ugly head so that he can spend a nice eternity in hell."
Trip ended his broadcast, knowing that his crew's spirits would be the best they could to help out all those in distress. He slipped on his helmet and accepted his chosen armament from Vaal, an M90 shotgun and a pair of M6H handguns.
"Okay I lied." He grinned to the team as he slipped on the Air Assault helmet. "That last part sounded a lot like Whitcomb. Now let's get out there and kick some ass."
Aww yeah! It's ass kickin time! Thanks for reading and reviewing everyone! You give my writing purpose.