Finally managing to get sat down in the HEV and be comfortable at the same time Tz'eal closed the hatch over head which slammed down and secured itself with a dull hiss. Inside he felt so constricted. The atmospheric pods he and his fellow Sangheili had been deployed in before were much larger, designed for multiple warriors to deploy to the same location from one pod. This would allow more warriors to deploy to one location while costing slightly less in materials. The pods were also shielded which provided a degree of protection for any occupant.
These 'coffins' as they were called were very mundane and primitive by Tz'eals standards. A metal box with a chute that would potentially slow your descent to the surface, if it worked. If it did not then it was a quick drop into a sudden stop, buried under several tons of rock and dirt where you would simply suffocate to death. Not an honorable way to die.
He took a deep breath to settle his nerves when there was a sudden flash of light to his right side. One of the small screens built into the pod flashed into life with Shapiro on display. Another screen to his left lit up with the Captain of the Glasgow on display, followed by a soft crackle of static coming from all around him as the built-in speakers began to broadcast to all the HEVs.
"ODSTs listen up. Prepare to deploy!" Shapiro called out as the HEV shunted to the side and began moving.
"You're being deployed ahead of our main ground forces to secure different landing zones and secure the perimeter of New Mombasa. The Covenant have blown through the Orbital Defense Platforms and made their way here. Their main cruiser however has fled the system." Shapiro explained as the Captain took over.
"Intel reports that their main cruiser, which held a HVT, fled the system when they realized that the planet wasn't under our control. They didn't know we were here so it would seem they jumped in without checking where they were landing." The Captain commented as Tz'eal looked out the viewing port, glancing down to see the surface of Earth far below.
"The UNSC In Amber Clad followed them through Slip-Space to an unknown location, leaving the rest of their forces abandoned and without leadership. The cruiser Jumped inside New Mombasa, devastating the infrastructure and most of the city's systems. There are a lot of civilians fighting to survive down there." The Captain continued as Shapiro nodded and took over.
"The UNSC Say My Name has already deployed a section of ODSTs into the city where they have been fighting to secure it. We're slowly pushing Covenant forces back but it's taking time. You however are being deployed to two locations. New Ramisi and New Kilifi. Two cities one to the North and one to the South of New Mombasa. You will deploy here, eliminate any Covenant forces within and secure the locations for friendly deployment." Shapiro continued as the HEVs were lowered down, the upper atmosphere glowing blue before them. The interior lighting of the pod lit up red, bathing Tz'eal in crimson light.
"First Chalk, prepare to deploy. Feet first!" Shapiro called.
"Into Hell!" Came a multitude of responses over the radio before there were several thuds as Tz'eal watched several HEVs launch from the ship, dropping down suddenly towards the planet.
"Second Chalk, prepare to deploy. Feet first!" Shapiro called out a second time.
"Into Hell!" Came the response again from multiple pods, Drake's voice echoing out amongst them as Tz'eal held his breath, waiting for the drop. He watched ahead as the row of pods began to deploy from front to back, his launch coming swiftly.
"Good luck down there Fireteam Heretic." Shapiro said as Tz'eal watched Drake's pod launch moments before he felt his body being forced upwards from the force of his own deployment. He let his breath out as he settled down. The screens switched from the depiction of Shaprio and the Captain to the details O'Hara had explained to him before.
"Launch successful, readings look good across the board. O'Hara, Tz'eal, how are you guys looking?" Drake asked over the radio.
"I am looking green across the board. Stable velocity and descent. Integrity is holding." O'Hara replied over the radio as Tz'eal glanced over his displays. He barely understood what was being shown to him.
"I believe I will be alright." He replied trying to sound confident as he looked down through the port to see the other pods dropping through the clouds below him.
"If anything starts flashing red on your screens that's when you start praying to whatever gods you follow now for a quick death." O'Hara commented as Tz'eal jumped in shock from the sudden shunt. The chute had deployed to arrest the descent of the pod as it completed its burn through the atmosphere.
"Good chute. Everything's green, I'll see you guys on the deck." Drake called out sounding happy as Tz'eal glanced up and saw his own chute spinning gently as it arrested his pod's descent.
"I seem to be good too. I will see you both-" He began before there was a loud metallic crash. He glanced up to see the shape of a chute flying upwards away from him.
"Well this is a problem. Chute failure. Deploying reserve." O'Hara called over the radio as Tz'eal looked down, watching his pod drift farther away. The reserve chute deployed and spun for a few brief moments before Tz'eal watched in horror as the chute snapped away, O'Hara's pod plummeting out of sight.
"Complete failure of primary and reserve chutes. Occupational Hazard. It was nice getting to meet you Tz'eal, however brief it was. I guess that study I was talking about will have to be held by som-" O'Hara said calmly over the radio before there was a screech of static and the link went dead.
"If we find his location will we be able to do something to assist him?" Tz'eal asked as his own Chute broke away without issue, the ground slowly coming up to meet him.
"We can find his crash site and offer our sympathies. He'll be buried at least six feet down, under several tons of dirt and rock. There's nothing we can do. Damnit." Drake replied quietly, his anger clear in his voice.
"Impact imminent. I'll secure my landing and see you on the deck." Drake called before his comms clicked off. Tz'eal watched for a brief moment as Drake's pod slammed into the ground, the door explosively ejecting and Drake jumped out looking around.
Tz'eal braced as his own pod slammed into the ground violently. A large green light began glowing above him before the pod door burst away from him. He reached over, grabbing his BR55 and hopped out, engaging his energy shields as began scanning the area for threats.
"I think we're clear, rally up on me. Let's see if we can find the crater." Drake called over the radio as Tz'eal followed Drake's marker on his motion sensor. Before them was a small crater that had already been filled in. This was O'Hara's crash site.
"Before you ask it would take us days with the equipment we have to move the dirt and rocks to even get us access to his pod door, the only way into his pod. He has at most a few hours of air. If he hasn't already taken his own life he'll be gone long before we get to him." Drake explained quietly.
"This has not happened to you before has it?" Tz'eal asked as he watched Drake slouch as he stared down at the ground.
"No. I've been lucky with my guys that we've never had any kind of failure. I knew it would happen eventually but it doesn't prepare you for when it does actually happen. I liked him too." Drake replied with a slow nod as they continued to look down at the ground. From deep below there was a muffled pop which caused Tz'eal to close his eyes and look away.
"May your path into the divine beyond be swift and gentle Sergeant O'Hara. Your loss will never be forgotten, nor will it be forgiven. We will avenge him, Drake." Tz'eal said gently as he placed a hand on Drake's shoulder.
"You're right. We will. But for now we need to continue on mission. Let's go, we need to secure this town and make sure our Marines can deploy safely." Drake said as he engaged his visor and moved away, heading into the heart of New Kilifi.
Several hours passed as Drake and Tz'eal methodically moved from building to building, entering quietly. Working together to make sure each and every building was clear of both Humans and Covenant. The final building was a short, three story building, the windows were boarded up and sandbags placed around the doorways. Drake looked over his shoulder to Tz'eal and simply nodded his head while shouldering his weapon. Tz'eal walked over to the left side of the door, waiting for Drake to open it for him.
Reaching over Drake quietly turned the knob of the door and gently pushed it open, it quietly swinging inwards to reveal a desolate interior. There was dried blood stained on the floor and walls, footsteps of both Human origin and Sangheili were making tracks up to the higher floors. Taking the lead Drake raised his left arm in a fist. Then, using a series of hand gestures, signaled Tz'eal to clear out the left side of the hallway as he moved to clear the right.
Tz'eal stepped in line with him, tapping on Drake's shoulder once he was ready. With a silent nod between them both Drake entered the right room, vanishing from sight. Tz'eal entered the left.
Inside there were several Human corpses. All of them covered in Plasma burns which would have been the cause of their end. Tz'eal scanned the rest of the room, making sure there was no one hidden in the corners or any Sangheili using active camo to hide from him. Once he was sure he was alone he slowly walked over to the corner door. He tried the door handle which refused to budge.
Taking a step back he reared up and kicked the door. The door splintering open as he raised his rifle. He heard a soft click as a tripwire was tripped, a grenade dropping from the roof and landing before him. He quickly rolled to the side, pressing his back firmly against the adjacent wall, waiting for the explosion to come. An explosion that never came. Leaning over he looked down to the grenade that rolled slightly towards him before finally coming to a stop. The pin was still in it. Whoever had set this trap up had done with such haste that they didn't prime the grenade to detonate.
He rolled his eyes and sighed as he stepped over the device and continued into the small stairwell, leading down. Down in the basement there were what looked to be several small Humans, gathered together in a small embrace, their eyes closed. Slowly Tz'eal moved forward to check on the children. He gently placed his hand on one of their shoulders and shook gently. There was no response. He sighed again and shook his head in disappointment. Such needless violence on young beings. There was no point to it all. Senseless murder.
Leaving the basement and the children he returned to the main hallway where Drake was waiting for him. He raised two fingers to Drake who nodded and waved them forward. The second floor was also clear as the pair continued with their routine, Tz'eal taking left while Drake took the right. They made their way into one final stairwell that led upwards labeled 'Roof access'. Drake signaled that he would take point and moved up the stairs to the roof, glancing down at the steps before him there were more footprints, Sangheili in nature. Drake pointed the prints out to Tz'eal who nodded and readied his weapon. Drake opened the door slowly and stepped through. Before them, on the edge of the roof was an Ultra Class Sangheili. Purple ichor dripping from his helmet and stomach onto the ground. As Drake and Tz'eal approached his haggard breathing could be heard as he looked up at Drake.
The Ultra looked to his side and slowly reached for his Plasma Pistol which was just out of his reach. Drake walked over and, with his foot, kicked the pistol away. The Ultra resting his hand on the ground before slowly looking up to him.
"Of course. I am bleeding and dying, but you can not offer a fair fight. Your dishonor does not surprise me." The Ultra said quietly as he continued to struggle to breathe.
"Oh really, I'm the dishonorable one?" Drake asked sarcastically as he shook his head and stood up, stepping beside Tz'eal.
"Zealot. End him. He is…wait. You. I know you." The Ultra said quietly as he glanced up at Tz'eal.
"You are the Heretic. The Zealot that abandoned us. I should be so dishonored to die in your presence." The Ultra added before coughing violently. More purple blood seeping from his helmet onto the floor.
"You have already dishonored yourself by taking the lives of defenseless innocents. Children were locked below, left scared and starving because you were blinding following the blind." Tz'eal replied with a shake of his head. The Ultra looked up at him.
"My honor will be immortalized when our Covenant finds and ends you traitor. As I will be the instrument in their doing so." The Ultra growled as he raised his right hand to his left wrist and pressed a small button on his gauntlet. Drake raised his weapon to the Ultra's face angrily.
"What did you just do?" He demanded as he pressed the barrel of his BR against the Ultra's helmet.
"Alerted my Covenant that you are here. They will swarm this location, overrunning your position and ending you painfully. While you will return to High Charity and face judgment for your sins." The Ultra replied with a growl, turning from Drake to Tz'eal before there was a loud roar overhead.
Glancing up Tz'eal spotted the silhouette of several Phantom dropships flying towards their position. He quickly tapped Drake on the shoulder and pointed to them drifting ever close to their position.
"We must leave, now. They will be here in mere moments." Tz'eal warned as the Ultra began laughing.
"Your journey ends here, while my Journey. My journey…begins." The Ultra said in a proudful tone as his head slumped to his side. His final breath leaving his body as Drake turned to the door, his hand tapping the side of his helmet.
"Brea comms! Glasgow from heretic One we need immediate evac! Our position is about to be overrun with hostiles!" Drake called over the radio.
"Roger that Heretic One. I've got Brokkr five on standby. Get into a safe position and we'll send him in to pick you up." A female voice replied.
"Negative Glasgow, we have Phantoms inbound to our position time now! We need them here ASAP. Otherwise we're dead!" Drake argued as he rushed down the stairs, exiting the building and looking up to the sky, the Phantoms hovering overhead.
"I'm not a miracle worker Heretic One, it's going to take time for that bird to get to you. Hunker down or find some over and hold out as best as you can. ETA on that bird is 15 minutes." The Female voice called out over the radio as Tz'eal pointed to the Phantoms, they had begun their descent and several troops were spilling out of it's belly, the grav lift dropping them gently onto the ground.
"We will not have 15 minutes. Unless we abandon this position and run." Tz'eal suggested as Drake watched several Grunts, Jackals and Elites land on the ground and begin making their way towards them.
"Glasgow, direct Brokkr Five to the east, towards the cliffs, we're going to break down from our position and make tracks that way. Hopefully we can lose our tail before something bad happens." Drake said as he nodded to Tz'eal, agreeing with his plan to run.
"Roger that Heretic One. Good luck." The Female replied as a blue plasma bolt flew dangerously close to Drake's head.
"Thanks Glasgow, we're going to need it." He replied as he cut the comm link, bringing his BR to his shoulder and sending a burst of fire back at his attacker. Tz'eal turned to face their enemy, taking cover by the corner of the nearest building.
"Go. I will cover you, get to the tree line!" He shouted to Drake as he began firing at the approaching horse of Covenant. Drake nodded and turned, sprinting away. Tz'eal took a deep breath to calm his nerves as he fired burst after burst towards his enemy. His first engagement with his former allies.
Plasma bolts and grenades started landing and detonating nearby. His enemy not hesitating as he was. They were however panicking as he continued to send accurate fire towards them. Their plasma bolts were sailing wide and off target as they tried to suppress his location. He ducked back behind the building to reload when he heard the retort of Drake's BR from the Tree line.
"In position. Move!" Drake called over the radio. Tz'eal finished reloading his weapon and sprinted as fast as he could, following where Drake had ran. He spotted Drake taking cover behind a large tree sending burst after burst towards their enemy as Tz'eal ran past him.
"Keep going, we'll try to lose them in the trees!" Drake called out as he stood up, firing two final bursts from his rifle as he walked backwards before turning and running after Tz'eal.
"We will need to be swift. They will follow us." Tz'eal warned as he slowed to allow Drake to catch up and then matched his pace.
"I know. We've just got to hold out as long as we can." Drake replied, sounding frightened for the first time since Tz'eal had met him. Behind them, the small battalion of Covenant forces gathered in the town. A Gold clad, General class Sangheili stepped towards where the pair had run off to.
"Hunt them down. I want them alive."