Chapter 2: Svenson
"Why don't you ever believe me?" Private First Class Matthew Svenson crossed his arms and stared at the other members of Fireteam Delta across from him.
"Because there's no way in hell the Master Chief is aboard," said Private Riley, crossing his arms in a mockery of Matthew.
"Wasn't that the whole point of this mission?" asked Private Gerrel, "escort a Spartan, capture a Prophet, end the war. You know, the entire reason this ship was given all the retrofits?"
"Isn't that all top secret hush hush stuff?" Svenson asked, "why are they telling all of us about it?"
"Because if we're gonna die for some big mission they might as well let us know why?" Riley guessed. It sounded correct to Svenson.
"Now, if it's such a big mission then why don't you think the Master Chief is gonna be a part of it? He's always a part of the big missions."
The soldiers aboard the UNSC Pillar of Autumn were sharing a meal after the ship had exited slipspace hours prior. Private Svenson and the members of Fireteam Delta sat with Fireteam Charlie, while the other Fireteams all hung out with each other.
Private Riley just shook his head, "you know what? I'll believe it when I see it."
"Guess that's the best I'm getting from you," Svenson sighed and stood up from the table in the mess hall. As he turned to throw his tray away, the entire ship shook as if it was hit by something. He almost dropped his tray on the floor as he stumbled, but he was able to catch his balance and set it down.
"The hell was that?" asked Private Bisenti, standing up from the table. The other members of the Fireteams followed suit, and stepped away from the table. The ship's intercom pinged and everyone in the mess hall looked up at the same time.
"Attention all crew, this is the Captain speaking," came the voice of Captain Keyes, "we are under attack by Covenant forces. This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill."
"Well, that was that," Bisenti frantically looked around the mess hall, expecting Covenant to show up any minute.
"Uh, guys," Riley looked around at the rest of Fireteam Charlie, "getting a call from the Captain. Just for us."
"Well, what are you waiting for?" asked Private Bisenti, "put it through."
Riley nodded and answered the call, sending it to everyone else around them so they could hear.
"Fireteam Charlie, this is the Captain. I need you to get to the cryo bay and escort the Master Chief to me immediately."
Svenson looked up at Riley with a sly grin. "Told you he's on board."
"And I told you," Riley approached Svenson and gently pushed his shoulder, "I'll believe it when I see it."
"Guys," Gerrel sighed, "now's not the time. Go get the Master Chief on his way."
"No way man," Bisenti chimed in, grabbing an MA5B that he kept leaning on the table, "I'm kicking the Covenant off this ship."
"Well, one of you has to go," Matthew added.
"I'll do it," Private Dubbo spoke up after remaining quiet for most of the time they were there. Svenson had almost forgotten he was there.
"I'll go with you," Riley walked to Dubbo's side.
"Alright," Dubbo nodded, "once it's all done, we'll meet back here." The whole squad nodded. Fireteam Charlie broke up and began moving, leaving Svenson and Gerrel to find their Fireteam.
On the other side of the mess hall was Sergeant O'Hale and the other members of Delta. O'Hale waved Svenson and Gerrel over, and the two Privates quickly ran over.
"You two know where the nearest armoury is?" O'Hale asked sternly, her green eyes burning into Svenson.
"There's an armoury on the way to the cryo bay from here," Gerrel spoke up instead of Svenson, "hopefully everyone else left some guns for us."
"I sure hope so," Svenson responded, "don't want to fight off hinge heads with sticks and rocks."
"Then you two take Faraday and grab some guns. I've got to talk to the Captain. Once you're all armed up we'll meet back here, okay?"
"Yes ma'am," Svenson and Gerrel said at the same time, giving their Sergeant a salute.
O'Hale rolled her eyes, she was never really a fan of being saluted. She motioned for them to get out of there and ran off towards the bridge nearby.
Faraday stepped out from where she was hiding behind O'Hale and stared at Svenson and Gerrel, expecting them to tell her what to do. She was newer to being a marine than both of them, she had basically just gotten out of boot camp.
"Alright, follow me!" Gerrel said. He sprinted through the tables of the mess hall with Svenson and Faraday close behind. As they made it to the door out of the mess, the ship rumbled and knocked the three of them onto the floor.
Gerrel was able to get onto his feet first. He took a deep breath and held out his hand for Svenson. "Get up man. No way you're dying on this boat."
"Thanks," Matthew groaned, taking his hand and standing up, "this was a really shit job to begin with."
Once Svenson was up he reached down to take Faraday's hand, but she didn't respond.
"I don't want to die…" she said quietly.
"It's alright, it's alright," Svenson said quietly, squatting down, "you might see some action, but you're gonna get out of here. I promise."
"Svenson, we gotta go!" Gerrel shouted.
"Come on, if you stay here you're gonna die," Svenson reached his hand out again.
Faraday looked up, her face was filled completely with fear. She finally reached up and grabbed his hand, using it to pull herself up with some reluctance.
"Ready, let's go!" Svenson said to Gerrel.
Gerrel nodded and the three of them sprinted out of the mess hall and down the hallway outside. They ran from corridor to corridor, the grey metal and yellow paint of the walls made everything seem the same. Svenson had no idea how Gerrel knew where any armouries were.
Plasma weapon fire shot down the hall in front of them from the left side after they made enough turns to get close to an armoury, while they heard Marines firing from the other side. Gerrel, Svenson, and Faraday stacked up on the door's side, and waited for the firing to slow down. After a few seconds they heard the blast door closing, and Gerrel peeked outside.
One of the marines pushing the Covenant back spotted the three and waved to them, letting them know it was safe to cross.
Gerrel nodded, and the three members of Fireteam Delta sprinted across the hallway. They entered the armoury, and sure enough, there were some weapons left for them on a gun rack. An MA5B assault rifle, an M392 DMR, and an M6D pistol, as well as multiple packs of ammo for both.
"I was hoping for more," Svenson scratched his head before grabbing a helmet off a rack next to him. They hadn't had time to go to their lockers, so it wasn't his helmet, but it was better than nothing. He set it on his head, and buckled the chin strap. Gerrel found another helmet and did the same, while Faraday already had hers on. She rarely ever took her armour off, always afraid someone might attack at any moment. Faraday chose her weapon first, taking the DMR and holding it tight.
Gerrel grabbed the MA5B and attached it to the magnetic clamps on his back before Svenson could get over to him. He ran to the door on the opposite side from where they came in, and crouched down behind the closed door.
"Hey, come on!" Svenson complained. Once he had his helmet on, he grabbed the M6D from the rack, and stood behind Gerrel.
"What? You were taking your time," Gerrel shrugged, "first come, first serve."
"Whatever," Matthew sighed. At least the M6D was good at taking Covies down. "We safe?"
"For now. Let's get back to the mess," Gerrel stood up. He took the rifle off his back and began running back the way they came until he heard the sounds of Covenant Elites speaking.
Svenson and Faraday were close behind him, and they stopped as well.
"The hell was that? How did they get through the blast doors?" Svenson whispered.
"I don't know, but we gotta get through," Gerrel whispered back. He made sure his rifle was loaded and glanced at the two members of his fireteam behind him.
"Right. Let's make a run for it, shoot them and hope they don't shoot us."
Gerrel nodded. "Shit plan but it's all we got."
Gerrel went first, he turned the corner, and the wall was shot by a bolt from a plasma rifle. Gerrel pulled back, holding his rifle out past the corner and blindly firing it in the direction the shot came from. After he had depleted about half the magazine, he heard the wail of an Elite, and the sound of it landing hard on the floor. He peeked out again, and this time he was able to see the Covenant.
"How many?" Svenson whispered.
"Five of the little guys, I think I saw two more big ones coming up from behind," Gerrel responded after pulling back, "I'll head across the hall, we can hit them from both sides."
"Alright. You draw them out while you head across, I'll pick 'em off."
"Sounds good. Get ready, I'm going now!"
Gerrel rushed across the hall, dodging plasma fire, and rolled into cover past the door. Matthew rounded the corner and saw the Covenant squad approaching. He aimed down the sights of the magnum and fired straight through the head of a Grunt, and hit another's mask. Blue blood spattered onto the floor, and onto the wall behind it. The one that was hit in the mask stumbled back, holding its neck.
"I'll get rid of those big ones," Gerrel rounded the corner to fire, but the ship shook again as a hallway nearby exploded. Gerrel stumbled, almost dropping the assault rifle, but now he was out in the open.
"Gerrel!" Svenson shouted, ready to jump out of cover and drag Gerrel back. Another explosion rocked the ship, causing him to stumble again as he tried to get up. Faraday leaned out from her cover and fired her DMR at the Covenant as Svenson tried to come up with some way to get Gerrel out of there.
Gerrel was eventually able to get back onto his feet. Heslowly stood back up with the assault rifle. "Don't worry, I'm o-" Gerrel was cut off as five plasma rounds slammed into his chest, and another into his head. Gerrel's chest and head exploded, coating the ground and walls around his body with blood.