Halo 5.1 Guardians of Sera Chapter 38
"Come on. Once we get to the top of this building, we can cross over and reach the boat" said Baird as everyone took the stairs.
"How are going to do that? Jump from building to building?" asked Carmine.
"My question exactly" said Paduk.
"Hey, it's worth a shot!" added Vale.
"I'll figure out that part when we get there" answered Baird.
Several floors up:
"*Whew* What I wouldn't give for an elevator" said Baird catching his breath.
"You and me both" added Buck.
"How does a boat end up on top of a building anyway?" asked Cole.
"The wave washed it up there" answered Paduk.
"Ask a stupid question" said Cole.
A random Stranded holding a One Shot was staring at everyone.
"Whoa whoa hey, Who are you?" asked the Stranded.
"Who are you?" asked Baird as the Stranded got obliterated by a Locust One Shot sniper from across the building.
"Boring conversation anyway" said Baird.
"Sniper! Get to cover!" ordered Fred.
"You know things were okay around here until you showed up!" said the stranded hiding in cover.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, until we showed up. We know" added Baird.
"That's all you gotta say?" asked the stranded.
"How bout 'Shut your damn mouth?" added Cole.
"Be thankful we're even helping your people" added Vale drawing fire.
"Snipers down!" said Linda reloading her Sniper.
"Contact!" said Paduk as a Butcher Boomer and drones came rushing in.
"Those Locust are grappling up the building" said Carmine.
"So shoot 'em off before they get up here" said Cole.
As more and more grapplers came up the building, the team held them off and knock the grapplers back down.
Baird then sawed the barricaded door which lead to more stairs which lead to the roof.
"We're gonna need a bigger crew" said Baird.
"More Locust inbound!" said Buck.
"Secure the rooftop!" ordered Baird.
The team battled their way through Drones and Boomers as a Reaver dropped in.
"Focus fire on that Reaver!" said Baird.
As everyone quickly dropped the Reaver, the roof was all clear.
"We can use that tower to get across" said Paduk.
Baird then shot the support cables of the tower which caused it to fall over and act as a bridge.
"Well that solves that problem" said Baird.
"Looks like we got some stowaways" said Baird as Locust were dropping in from the boat.
"Grubs incoming!" said Carmine.
"Linda and I will hang back and provide cover fire. Push ahead and secure that boat" ordered Fred.
Linda zoomed in on her sniper and took out some Boomers.
"Move up! Boomers down!" said Linda.
Baird and everyone else pushed foward and killed Drones as they came across Therons.
"Therons!" said Cole taking cover from Torque Bow shots.
"Advance postions Linda! Ordered Fred as he and Linda pushed foward to take out the Therons.
"There's more dropping in!" said Cole.
"Heh, I think these Grubs might like your boat" said Paduk.
"Well they're gonna have to find another!" said Buck as he domed a down drone with his shotgun.
"Watch out! Reaver inbound!" said Fred.
Fred and Linda took out the pilots.
"Pilots down. Take out that Reaver!" said Linda as she and Fred regrouped with the others.
"We're clear!" said Vale.
"Baird. What are we doing up here?" asked Paduk.
"Follow me downstairs to the restaraunt. We need to find a gas line" said Baird.
"I hope you know what you're doing. Lieutenant" said Paduk.
Baird sawed the chain locking the door back downstairs.
"Anybody remember the last time he took a girl out to a place like this? Me neither" said Carmine.
"10, 15 years ago maybe" answered Buck.
"I actually ate here once. Um..it was just okay" added Cole.
"Hell even I don't remeber the last time I was wined and dined at a place like this" said Vale.
"Neither did I. Actually I've never been" added Linda.
"Why not?" asked Carmine.
"I was 'enlisted' in the UNSC at the age of six" said Linda.
"And be 'enlisted' she means abducted" said Fred.
"What kind of military you guys came from?" asked Paduk.
"We were part of a program that made us into super soldiers. Myself Chief, and Kelly were in the same group as Linda" Explained Fred.
"What about you Buck and Vale?" asked Baird.
"Different story" answered Buck.
The building all of a sudden the building started to shake.
"Uh oh. It's shakey shakey time again!" said Carmine.
"What did you expect? The explosion weakned the other building" said Paduk.
"Yeah let's not dilly dally okay?" said Baird.
The team made it to the top floor of the restaraunt as more Locust came in.
"I've got a few complaints about the service" said Baird.
"They're not gonna let us take the boat without a fight" said Paduk.
"Then let's give 'em one!" said Vale as everyone cleared the area.
"All clear" said Fred.
"We need to get to the kitchen" said Baird.
"Over there!" pointed Vale at the door.
Baird kicked down the door and said "Heath Inspectors!"
"We got an armored Kantus!" said Carmine firing his Torque Bow.
"Tossin' frags!" said Buck.
"Armored Kantus down!" said Cole.
"Mop up the rest of 'em" said Carmine as they cleared the kitchen.
Everyone heard a radio nearby playing a tune which just so happens to be familiar to both Baird and Cole.
"Uh, uh. No more radio! Marcus would be proud!" said Cole.
"So much for the catchy tunes" said Buck in dissapointment.
Baird then opened the gas mains as the kitchen started to be filled with gas.
"Let's ge out of here!" said Baird.
Baird saw a way out through the windows with some zipline hooks. He picked up a grenade to set off the gas explosion.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" asked Paduk.
"No, not really" answered Baird.
"All right...c'mon...c'mon, let's go!" ordered Baird.
"This is the plan?" asked Paduk.
"All right, save it Paduk, let's go!" said Baird.
"Perfect" added Paduk.
"Well, there we go" said Baird as he tossed the grenade causing the explosion.
"*victory laugh* Look at her go" said Carmine as everyone ziplined down as the boat fell towards the water.
"Ha! That Gondola splattered that Reaver!" said Vale.
"It'll splatter us too if we don't shoot down the hooks" said Carmine shooting the hooks.
"Just a little bit more" said Paduk as everyone made it to a safe landing spot.
"Now to find out how seaworthy this hunk of rust really is. Someone here knows how to steer a ship. Right?" asked Baird as everyone got settled in.
"This is Spartan Fred to Infinity, we secured a boat for transportation en route to Azura. We'll pick up reinforcements on the way. Please advise" said Fred.
"Copy that. Commander Palmer is leading UNSC forces as Fenix's group shuts down the maelstrom. I've also made some calls to a friend for help" said Lasky.
"Who would that be?" asked Vale.
"It's a surprise" said Roland, Infinity's Ship A.I
"Copy that Infinty. We'll see you soon" said Fred.
Meanwhile:
"We're gonna kill the Locust-all of 'em-for good. That's what's at stake" said Baird.
"This planet's ruined. Let the grubs have it" said Paduk.
"We've all lost people...all of us" said Baird.
"You wanna know what happned to Sofia? Kidnapped while she was out on patrol. I watched it happen through my scope. I was only able to kill one of them. He dropped these" explained Paduk as he tossed Baird Sofia's COG tags.
"You wanna stay friends? Let's never see each other again" said Paduk as he left.
"Paduk's not coming with?" asked Buck.
"No...let's go" said Baird.
Later:
The ship was en route to Azura. Baird was standing alone on the deck as Cole and the Spartans joined him.
"You know a couple times a day, I almost wanted to call you sir" said Cole.
Baird then gave a playful shove.
"*laughs* Yeah" added Cole.
"Day's not over yet. Let's go find Marcus and Dom" said Baird.
"Their turn to save the day" said Cole.
"Thanks Cole" added Baird.
"My pleasure sir" said Cole.
"Don't forget about us. Chief and Locke are savin' the day too!" added Buck.
"This isn't over yet. Let's get to Azura and finish this" said Fred.
"Here here" added Linda.
"Anyone buyin' the first round when this over?" asked Buck.
"You ask, you buy" said Vale.