A search (and obviously destroy) mission on a Federation-owned jungle planet the bastards used for mining. What could go wrong?
That was the thought command must've had when they dropped the Tenth and Sixth together on the same clusterfuck of a megajungle planet with air and ground assets enough to take a decent-sized city. Jake watched the treeline with thermal binoculars. He lowered said binoculars and ducked down into the trench as the pit-patter of rain hitting the corrugated steel roof of their little hidey-hole came down on them. Niura sighed, peering through the scope one of their HMGs.
Jake pulled out his boot knife and a chunk of wood he'd been 'carving' for the better part of their one-day stay here and started removing chips from it. A flash of light, followed by the thunderclap of lightning caused them both to twitch, but both remained in their positions, Jake only casting a sideways glance to the outside. A zig-zagging line of trenches lined with barbed wire at the forward lip, while, behind them, the stalk-like heavy barrels of Kodiak artillery pieces rose into the sky. One of the cannons had kills scrawled on the side sharpie.
He sighed and started humming a certain tune. Niura let out a muted laugh, further muffled by the rain. She quietly started singing, "We shoot the sick, the young and lame, we do our best to kill and maim 'cuz the kills still count the same..." And both she and Jake synced up and sang, "Napalm sticks to kids...!" while both went about their business. In the distance, a different thunder. Another Fire Base was shooting its shit down toward a valley river.
"Christ, we're really in 'Nam," A whispered voice took the two's attention. Jane walked in, covered by a dark-green rain poncho and carrying what looked to be warm tin mugs filled with food. She seemed a bit horrified by the shit the two were singing, but she still sat herself down and handed the mugs to them. Niura shook her head and shouldered the sniper again, which caused the doc to shrug.
She handed Jake a plastic spoon and said, "Command's new slop. They're testing this shit on us before sending it out to the rest of the units... It's supposed to be chicken stock soup, but if you're asking me, it looks like jizz..." Which got Jake to burst into a laugh just short of him actually taking a bite of the food. Niura giggled, too, then hummed and snapped off a shot from her SRS-99.
She radioed in, "Enemy Scout is KIA... Will check in the morning. Post Four out..." before sighing and checking her rifle. She looked down at the kids, to see Jake and Jane both staring at her like she'd just dropped a dead puppy in. She hummed and asked, "What?" while the two stared on with disbelief. Both shook their heads and turned back to eat. She chuckled, "Hey, I'm getting pretty good with a sniper."
"You nicked his skull and split it open," Jane observed without even looking up from the food. The good Sergeant blanked, looked down the scope and saw her kill. She turned back toward Jane, who smirked and said, "I've heard and seen a 14,5mm hit the top of someone's head, boss. Remember, I've dealt with taking care of people during an Innie attack on a TRAXUS site."
"Right," The woman sighed, "So, more work?"
"Eh, I'd say you'd do good as a Sniper if we don't get a new one in for our team soon, what with Marta being knocked out by malaria..." Joked Jake, before he downed the remaining contents of his soup mug. He sighed and set it aside, then stood up and pulled his binoculars back up, "Why the hell did Command drop us into this sweaty, palm-sized-fucking-mosquito-containing shithole anyhow? Couldn't they have just naped the Jungle and sent us into the mines afterward?"
"Enemy actually had Air Defenses here," Jane replied as she stood up, picking their mess kits up to clean them. She told Jake, "SAMs, surprisingly. One took a potshot at some of our Pelicans from due North of here and their range is unknown, so, command ain't exactly risking it. Not with their fleet assets playing hide-and-seek between the six moons of this place and the surface..."
"Shouldn't Navy have picked their enemy ships apart by now?" Niura hummed, "Y'know, so they could MAC the site from orbit?"
"A wombo-combo of the Fed commanders here seemingly being halfway smart, Civvies and some sort of something or other doohickey," Jane sighed deeply. She saw the two turn toward her, concerned, before adding annoyedly, "Sarge, didn't you pay attention in the Brief? Fuckin... They somehow found Forerunner Tech on this shithole of all places. That or the Luminary aboard one of our Ships is on the fritz..." before she yawned and stretched.
Jake hummed, then, as some buzzing rang by their ears, he slapped the back of his neck. Looking at his glove to see the decent-sized mosquito he'd killed bleeding out on his hand, he commented in a murmur, "Someone really oughta get the floaty boys on fixing it. This is nothing but jungle and bug-fuck huge creatures that God would only need to look at once before he dropped a meteorite on them..."
"Speaking of Meteorites," Niura said, a bit more somber, "Did you guys hear these Arachnid creatures threw one from the AQZ to the UCF's Earth?"
"Fucking hell," Both Jane and Jake said at the same time.
"Yep. ONI's still working out the kinks on how they managed to do that, though word of mouth is it might be a Feddie work of art." She noted, then pulled out a cigarette and slid it between her lips as she kept scanning the treeline. She told them, "Try and open a second front or piss off the Arachnids enough to start swinging at us. All I know is it's probably not smart for a Fascist shithole to start a second front..."
"Amen to that," The childhood friends replied, grinning.
Come morning, the Marines had just woken up from a two-hour power nap to watch a patrol of UNSC Vehicles rolling out, with an Oryx IFV at the front. Behind it were modernized MRAP models, known as M18 Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Transports, or by the nickname of 'Saddlebacks'. Armored up to withstand anything up to and including a 20mm, with a shielded turret meant to protect from small-arms fire and containing a fifty caliber chaingun, a V-shaped axel frame near the wheels and six wheels total, two pairs of which were holding up the massive trunks, these armored vehicles were the UNSC's vehicle meant to be between the Warthog and the Oryx in defense and transport capabilities.
Two Warthogs, armed with Anti-Air missile launchers, also rolled out with the convoy, which finished with another Oryx and a 'Sun Devil'. A modification of an M808 Scorpion that mounted two pairs of twin-linked 40mm Autocannons in its turret instead of a 90mm or the more recent 120mm guns. It had also heavily re-armored itself to protect the boxes of 40mm ammo feeding each gun, plus the radar systems and variable sights. Damn thing was good as Short-Range Air Defense, or for shredding infantry and jungle foliage.
"They've sent out a couple dozen Marines to another supposed strongpoint near-by one of the mining villages," Nico spoke as he rolled up his sleeves. From a chilling rain to the searing heat of the binary stars of the system, this place as as uncomfortable and swamp-ass-y as it got. He sighed and tugged at his boonie hat, watching as the others tried to remain cool.
"Feds got anything that can even take out a Sun Devil?" Jane eyed the tank as it rolled out last. Everyone else shrugged, unsure, before they all watched a Wombat UCAV launch from the pads nearby. It was armed for groundpounding with a bunch of heavy-duty missiles. Twin warheads, if they recalled correctly. Both AT and Frag. Meanwhile, two UNSC Medevac Pelicans landed at the nearby pads and started carting out injured Marines and a couple of replacements.
The same two Finnish soldiers that Jake and the others had seen supporting them down on Planet V marched out of one of the Pelicans, each carrying different kit. A blonde with bright blue eyes hauled an MA40K with a holographic sight on top of the carry handle pic rails and an SRS-99 on her back. In front of her, a tanned young woman with brown hair and hazel eyes stepped forward, hauling an MA5K and an AT Launcher that looked ancient on her back.
"Holy hell. We didn't recognize you in all the dust and soot back on Planet V. Hey, Heikkala, Junttila," Jake smirked as he settled his rifle behind his back. The two Finnish nationals smiled at him and snapped quick salutes, before joining the party and sitting themselves down. Heikkala started fanning herself with her boonie hat and rolled her sleeves up, while Junttila seemed a hint more relaxed about the weather. Then again, she'd picked a thinner uniform than Heikkala.
"Glad to be here, corporal," Junttila quipped as she took off her helmet and looked around at the rest of the team, "We heard your shooter got KO'd by local space malaria... Anyone got some bugspray in case we wake up with similar issue-creating creatures like Mosquitoes?" before everyone ahead of her collectively lifted their hands. She snorted and shook her head, "Yeah, best way to deal with'em back in the woods, too..."
"Lieutenant barked," Niura walked up to the group as well, while two Hornet VTOLs dashed away overhead and the artillery started firing, which caused Junttila and Heikkala to duck. She stopped in front of the team and stated, "Our squad's gonna be setting up an OP at coordinates 539-999-919, right next to one of the nearby rivers. Apparently, the Feds are bringing supplies upstream via the use of locally-modified PT Boats. Color me impressed they could even haul that shit all the way from Earth. Means it's also a good thing our comrades here brought an AT Launcher," She then smirked and motioned to Junttila. The rocketeer gave a thumbs up.
"So, we're hitting the hell," Ayaan quipped as he stood to his feet, grabbing his gear. Sarge gave him a nod, then motioned for everyone to fall out and grab the rest of their gear. Ayaan walked with Jake and Jane, asking Jane, "Doc, you got something for rashes or swamp-ass?" thus making Jane snort. Jake gave him a gentle punch in the shoulder, smirking, too.
Boarding a duet of Saddlebacks and three Warthogs, the squad of about two dozen Marines packed their kit into the backs, with Jake manning the .50 in the lead MRAP. He racked the bolt of the LMG and smirked as he lifted it up by the handles, watching as the first link fell to the floor. He started the turret's motor, testing if it turned, then checked the depression and rise of the gun, finding it good enough to cover just about anywhere needed except point-blank with the vic.
The Sergeant boarded the lead vic with the Lieutenant and Junttila, as well as their driver. She bumped the roof with her fist, to which Jake replied with a fist bump of his own, a clang of metal echoing down into the hull. The convoy of light vehicles activated its hydrogen engines and listened to the girls purr. The lead MRAP lurched forward, Jake holding tightly to the MG as the transports rolled out into the jungle.
Palms, shrubs, bugs and the whole shebang of the fucking sun beating down on their heads, heating the armor of the vehicles and making them thank the lord the Engineers spent some time to repair the climate control units in the Saddlebacks. The Warthogs, meanwhile, had to rely on the breeze as they drove down the muddy road, kicking up spurts of brown muck.
Moving down the mountain road and taking a right, the vehicles veered and continued their advance deeper into UNSC-owned territory. The thunder of lightning had been replaced by the thunder of sporadic artillery fire, the Kodiaks engaging anything reported to be a hostile target. Two Longswords screamed above the convoy, followed by the UCAV settling in position nearly a kilometer above them.
"God damn, I hate jungles..." Jake murmured to himself as he scanned the treeline on each side.
"This is Convoy JULIET, JULIET-1-Actual on horn..." The Lieutenant spoke over the radio, "Advancing to checkpoint GOLF..." Just as they crested the small hill that led to another crossroads. Another platoon of UNSC Marines had set up an OP in the area, which was a rather wide clearing made by Napalm and newly-deployed Daisy Cutter bombs. One of the Marines, a guy manning a 40mm automatic grenade launcher on a tripod, gave a wave to Jake.
He waved back with a nod, watching the man struggling to keep the GL in working condition. As the transports continued rolling forward, a ping echoed from the computers, signaling that they'd arrived in the midst of what was tantamount to the edge of UNSC-controlled territory. Below them and to the right, going deeper into the valley, was the river they were supposed to set up an OP next to.
Arriving at the crossroads marked on the map, the team disembarked immediately and started digging up defenses. A platoon of Mortars had also joined them on the deck, setting up their own pit. Niura called out, "Alright! I want the OP tents set up in the defilade!" pointing to the side of the road, which fell at a twenty-five degree angle down into the jungle, "The Mortar pits next to them! Missiles and guns, up on the other side next to the river, covered by foliage! The vics, hide in the jungle! I want teams of two also setting up a perimeter! We don't wanna get caught with our pants down, ladies!"
"Oorah!" Called out the Marines as they packed their kit and did as ordered. The Sergeant turned to the Lieutenant as the Firebase and ambush positions were being set up, before saluting him. He gave an approving nod and saluted back, then slid down the side of the road and manned a position next to some of the machine gunners. Jake and the others moved to various defensive positions, digging a trench and preparing their weapons.
By nightfall, the concealed ambush site had been set up. The UCAV orbited them at several thousand meters in the air, watching as they finished the last prep, including camouflaging the vehicles. Jake had set up in a Foxhole, finding Heikkala right there. She looked to him and smiled, whispering, "Evenin', Herra Alikersantti." as she set her sniper on the lip of the foxhole.
"Aada," Jake quipped, peering through the binoculars, "How're you and Thor doing?"
She smirked, "Fairly well. Heard they were gonna send him here next," then she peered through the scope of her rifle, "Didn't know they put ya with me in the hole."
He shrugged at that, telling her with calm, "Junttila's set up with the other Anti-Tankers next to the river, sarge and the Lieutenant are inspecting the lines and there's Light and Noise discipline, so it's good Thor ain't here yet," before nudging her shoulder gently and grinning knowingly. The blonde's face flushed, but she chuckled. He continued watching forward.
As the night went on quietly, the two kept watch from underneath the camo netting tarp that they were using as cover from the night and any possible aerial recce by the Feds. If those bastards even knew what Reconnaissance was as a concept. Jake munched on a protein bar that he'd managed to sneak off their transport ship and stared on out through the binocs. All was going normal...
Until Aada opened her mouth, "Herra alikersantti, do you think Space Malaria gives you the super-shits?" which almost made Jake choke on his fucking food. He started coughing and stared with fear at the sniper, who simply smiled carelessly, sole open eye focused down the camera-like sight of the ORACLE Scope on her SRS-99 rifle. He blinked repeatedly, rubbed his eyes and shook his head, then went back to his watch.
... And he decided to answer, "Fucked if I know, Aada. And I don't wanna know..."
The Finnish soldier giggled jovially, though her sights remained set. Jake swore, he could never get a proper read on Heikkala. Not even in training. She was all professional, cold and a dead-eyed killer in one moment and in the other, basically that. Now that Jake also looked better, the blonde's eyes were more of a bright shade, too. Weird thing to notice, he knew, but Heikkala just made things weird by sheer existence.
"Hey, Aada, give the man a break," Joked a second familiar voice. Junttila jumped in-between'em and said, "Pardon me!" with a grin. She pulled a cigarette out, put it between her lips and lit it with a bullet-shaped lighter. She took a puff of the cigarette, then stated, "Man, if this place doesn't feel like home... Sans the palm trees, y'know...?" And looked to Heikkala.
"Sure, Anni," Giggled Heikkala, "The Malaria even feels like the one back in Uusima..."
"What are you doing out here, Anni?" Jake asked Junttila as she set the tube for her anti-tank launcher and let it lean on the forward wall. She also set her rifle down there and leaned against the back wall of the place, then turned to Jake. The girl was a more 'rough' beauty than Heikkala, though Heikkala was the crazier of the two friends he'd had to deal with, so Jake-No, no, no time to think about girls. He shook his head.
Junttila answered rather happily, "Got replaced by Sergeant Niura. Said she wanted to try her hand at lighting up a PT Boat with missiles, so I just thought it'd be fun to come hang out with you guys. Y'know, what with the tent and everything..." before she leaned over to Jake and whispered to him, "Also to make sure Heikkala doesn't do anything stupid..."
"You're still her handler, eh?" Jake snorted. Junttila laughed, then yelped and covered her mouth as she realized they were literally a stone's toss away from the Federation's positions. Heikkala hummed and raised one finger toward Jake, who peered through his binoculars as Junttila tensed. He asked Heikkala where through a hand sign. She raised three fingers, then one, then five. Three-Fifteen, so around eleven o'clock. He turned toward it and zeroed in on the silhouette.
A Fed trooper was either stupid enough to wade through the place or was watching them from afar. Jake gave a nod to Heikkala, who radioed, "Be advised, taking out a scout..." and squeezed the trigger. The thundercrack of the shot echoed all throughout the forest, the scout falling over as a spray of blood appeared on the thermals, painting the trees around and behind the kill.
"Chest shot. Tore his sternum apart, methinks," Jake snorted, lowered his binoculars and elbowed Junttila. She handed him a cigarette which he lit with a match, before putting said match out and throwing it on the floor. Taking a puff of the cigarette, he lifted his hand over Junttila's head and extended a balled fist toward Heikkala, who bumped it with a grin.
"Imma go loot him in the morning," She joked, then pulled out her own MRE and bit into it... All while still looking down the scope. Both Junttila and Jake looked to one-another, then at Heikkala, who had just admitted she was stealing shit from her kills. Honestly, Jake should not have been surprised by the fact Heikkala would be a graverobber. She seemed the archetype to do something crazy like that, which brought into question Finnish National High Command's sanity, too. Who would let someone as unhinged as Aada in anyhow?
Jake sighed, rubbed his eyes and murmured something to himself that only he'd understand as he slapped down another giant bug. Another god-damned mosquito, too...
Feds were gonna be a pain to root out from this shithole...