RP:Glorious Oblivion

 '''--ATTENTION-- ALL PARTICIPATING PERSONELL! PLEASE LIMIT YOUR POSTING TO TWO POSTS PER DAY! --THANK YOU--'''

"Oh build your ship of death. Oh build it! / For you will need it. / For the voyage of oblivion awaits you." --D.H. Lawrence, The Ship of Death

GLORIOUS OBLIVION

=Introduction= It is the year 2552, the month of December. Earth is under siege by hostile Covenant Loyalist forces, and Humanity is on the verge of being utterly destroyed. This is the story of Humanity's struggle for survival, the Loyalist's quest for honor, and the Seperatist's search for truth. This is Glorious Oblivion. This is the battle for the Sol System. This is war.

Insert your character on any of the three major fronts: Earth, Luna, or Mars; add them to the list below, read over the rules, and begin. Good luck to you. You'll need it.

Participants
After recieving an invite from Spartan-091, post your name below.
 *  SPARTAN-091  |Admin|  [[Image:UNSC.jpg|15 px]] HelmetComm  00:32, 19 September 2007 (UTC) [MODERATOR] 


 * "Our Business is Life itself"  Umbrella  Corporation [[Image:Umbrella_Corp_Symbol-2.jpg|25px]] Communications[[Image:Umbrella Viruses.jpg|30px]] Products[MODERATOR] 


 * Kebath 'Holoree "Data Access"


 * AJ


 * Just Another Grunt Converse


 * --Petty Officer First Class [[Image:Spartan III.png|30px]]SPARTAN-G023  Comm ChannelMission History
 * RelentlessRecusant 'o the Halopedia Team http://images.wikia.com/rainbowsix/images/7/73/GDI2.jpg TALK • MESSAGE [MODERATOR] 
 * -Anno &#39;Rhculee(Recieve Commands from me)(My lance)
 * [[image:Photoshop_attack.png|35px]] Spartan-064 ,≈≈Ω≈≈De ma kh is http://www.wikia.com/skins/common/progress-wheel.gif Reporting [[Image:Private first class.jpg|25px]] •  <font color="#A9A9A9">Contributions
 * -- The State(Our Decrees and Law)(The State Alchemists we've enlisted)[[Image:ROY!.jpg|25px]] 00:06, 23 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Spartan 112 05:40, 23 November 2007 (UTC) and i dont have any special sig so BOO YA
 *  Master Gunnery Sergeant  Hank J Wimbleton IV COMHalo: Galaxy 22:20, 23 November 2007 (UTC)
 * SPARTAN-118
 * Chief Petty Officer [[Image:Jonathan.jpg|45px]] SPARTAN-039T COM Link Mission Log

<font color=#9999FF>Ultimate Monster Lord <font color=#660099>The Lord of Grunts Just another SPARTAN <font color=#00FF00>MCPO James Davis <font color=#FFCC00>Alternate Reality Halo <font color=#33FFFF>I here your cries <font color=#CC3333>May your works be honorable 19:12, 10 January 2008 (UTC)
 * -- The Lord of Monster Island


 * Hollywood 02:53, 25 November 2007 (UTC)


 * CAF Master Corporal Spartan 501


 * [[Image:CommanderTony Logo.PNG|25px]] General  Tony  Talk 11/28/2007
 * --Project: Nemesis


 * -- It's good to be back. CaptainAdamGraves 00:57, 6 December 2007 (UTC)


 * --user:Spartan-E11


 * Sergeant  Masterchief46517  [[Image:ODSTbattlerifle.JPG|20px]] com link 18:12, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

Spartan-091

 * Role: SPARTAN-091
 * Location: Chicago Outskirts, North America, Earth
 * Status: Active


 * Role: UNSC AI JLT 8011-10 "Juliet"
 * Location: SPARTAN-091 Neural Network
 * Status: Active


 * Role: 1st Lieutenant Skadi Kobolds
 * Location: Chicago Outskirts, North America, Earth
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Captain Sylvie Grey
 * Location: UNSC Frigate Fountain of Spring, Earth Orbit
 * Status: Active


 * Role: 2nd Lieutenant Miles Jaeger
 * Location: ODST onboard UNSC Fountain of Spring
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Major Domo Sestas 'Laram
 * Location: Elite Liason onboard UNSC Fountain of Spring
 * Status: Active

RelentlessRecusant

 * Role: Dieter Friesen, UNSC Marine Corps 3rd Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D)
 * Location: Earth
 * Status: Unknown

117649 Annihilative Repentance

 * Role: Colonel Nicholai Grevdaeht
 * Location: Onboard Loyalist Assault Carrier, Memory of Loyalty
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Spencer Aragold
 * Location: Luna
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Brute Chieftain Optilus
 * Location: Onboard Loyalist Assault Carrier, Memory of Loyalty
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Gravemind
 * Location: On Earth, Crashed High Charity
 * Status: Active

Kebath 'Holoree

 * Role: Supreme Commander 'Holor
 * Location: Blade of the Storm/Mars
 * Status: Active


 * Role: [[Shrine Malor(ee)|Ship Master Malor
 * Location: On board Hollow Spirit/Mars
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Desert Brigade
 * Location: Mars
 * Status: Active


 * Role: 209th ODST Battalion
 * Location: On board Blood Moon/Mars
 * Status: Ready/Active

AJ

 * Role: SGM Arnold Lewis
 * Location: Covenant Ship
 * Status: POW

Just Another Grunt

 * Role: Sergeant Valea
 * Location: Earth
 * Status: Active


 * Role:Prophet of Vigilance
 * Location: Luna
 * Status: Active
 * Other:One of the main leaders of the Seperist forces.


 * Imogo Oth Warpol
 * Location: Luna
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Lolna's "Brother", currently gaurdign Vigilance


 * Role: Lolna Oth Waluig
 * Location: Luna
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Imogo's "brother", currently gaurding Vigilance


 * Role: Qzech'Mere
 * Location: En route to Earth
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Leader of a Loyalist Drone Lance

Spartan G-23

 * Role: SPARTAN-G023
 * Location: en route to Mars
 * Status: Active
 * Other: SPARTAN-III Gamma Company, Squad Leader
 * Role: Team Murmillo
 * Location: Mars
 * Status: Active
 * Other: SPARTAN-III Gamma Company Team
 * Role: Maverick-060
 * Location: Luna
 * Status: Active
 * Other: SPARTAN-II, Red-5
 * Role: Havargus
 * Location: Luna
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Brute Stalker
 * Role: First Lieutenant Peter Lewis
 * Location: Pacific Coast, Earth
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Marine Corps First Lieutenant overseeing the delivery of a nuke
 * Role: Special Operations Commander Kwas 'Pudmee
 * Location: UNSC Desert Fox
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Covenant Elite, Covenant Special Operations Commander

Anno 'Rhculee

 * Role: Anno 'Rhcul
 * Location: en route to Luna
 * Status: Active
 * Role: Vera 'Zenor
 * Location: en route with Anno 'Rhcul to Luna
 * Status: Active
 * Role: Senior Chief Petty Officer First Class CHRIS-087
 * Location: en route to Earth
 * Status: Active

Demakhis

 * Role: Imperial Admiral Dyr 'Jar Refos
 * Location: En route to Mars
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Major Domo Hasus 'Redonn
 * Location: En route to Mars
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Kemgor
 * Location: En route to Mars
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Ultra Sin 'Vordyee
 * Location: En route to Luna
 * Status: Active

Spartan 112

 * Role: The six Members of the Sacred Shadow Special Operations Lance
 * Location: En Route to Mars
 * Status: Active

SPARTAN-077

 * Role: Brachshaw,
 * Location: Onboard the Cleanser, with the Covenant Fleet in orbit around Earth and Luna.
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Zeta Squad
 * Location: Onboard the UNSC Autumn, in orbit around Earth.
 * Status: All members active


 * Role: Linda Farr
 * Location: Luna
 * Status: Active


 * Role: SPARTAN-077, Edward
 * Location: Onboard the UNSC Autumn, in orbit around Earth
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Rhino Squadron
 * Location: Onboard the UNSC Necropolis, awaiting orders.
 * Status: All members active

Rotaretilbo

 * Role: Fleet Admiral Sir Terrance Hood
 * Location: Aboard Cairo Station, an Orbital MAC Defence Platform, gyrosynched orbit over Cairo, Egypt, Earth
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Commanding Officer, All UNSC Space Forces
 * Role: Vice Admiral Cory Johnson
 * Location: Aboard UNSC Winston Churchill, a Marathon-class cruiser, space above Earth
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Commanding Officer, Earth UNSC Space Forces
 * Role: Commander Brandon Rebuga
 * Location: Aboard UNSC Desert Fox, a newly captured Covenant cruiser, space above Earth
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Commander of UNSC Desert Fox
 * Role: Lieutenant Bryan Hänkel
 * Location: Aboard UNSC Desert Fox, a newly captured Covenant cruiser, space above Earth
 * Status: Active
 * Other: N/A
 * Role: Master Gunnery Sergeant Hank J Wimbleton IV
 * Location: Aboard Honorable Vassal, a Covenant light cruiser, unknown location
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Unknown
 * Role: Ship Master Ligi ‘Fleomee
 * Location: Aboard UNSC Desert Fox, space above Earth
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Ship Master of Enduring Faith (aka UNSC Desert Fox); prisoner

Matt-256

 * Role: First Lieutenant Jane Parkinson
 * Location: Luna
 * Status: WIA
 * Other: Commanding 5th Battalion's Third Company, which is currently stationed at Luna Station Gamma fighting off Covenant forces.
 * Role: Special Operations Major Shn'co Sthr
 * Location: Luna
 * Status: Active
 * Role: Master Gunnery Sergeant Dean Jackson
 * Location: Mars
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Commanding a small squad of Marines that have disabled a Covenant AA-Gun.
 * Role: Chieftain Taurus
 * Location: Rome, Earth
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Commanding ground forces who are currently in Rome.
 * Role: Admiral Yakubu Agahowa
 * Location: Onboard the UNSC Devastator, in orbit around Luna.
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Commander of the Helios Defense Group stationed above Luna.
 * Role: Special Operations Commander Anfa 'Dela
 * Location: On Luna
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Commander of a Special Operations Unit. Have formed an alliance with the UNSC.
 * Role: Team Wakisashi
 * Location: Mars
 * Status: Active
 * Other: SPARTAN-III Gamma Company Team.
 * Role: Team Bokuto
 * Location: Mars
 * Status: Active
 * Other: SPARTAN-III Gamma Company Team.
 * Role: Supreme Commander Sokha 'Dar Cytod
 * Location: Onboard the Harbringer of Ascendent, in orbit above Mars.
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Supreme Commander of the Fleet of Ascendent Purpose.
 * Role: Sergeant Major Jack Jackson
 * Location: Rome Station, in orbit above Earth.
 * Status: Active
 * Other: In charge of Foxtrot Company.

SPARTAN-118

 * Role: Vice Admiral Will McKay
 * Location: En route to Earth on the UNSC Normandy to assist the defense of of Earth.
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Ship Master Amje 'Ailot
 * location:In route to Earth on the Everlasting Grace to 'reclaim' forerunner artifacts
 * Status: Active

Lordofmonsterisland

 * Role: Captain Jim Wilson
 * Location: Near Houston Station, in orbit of Earth, onboard the UNSC Annihilator
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Angela
 * Location: In the UNSC Annihilator
 * Status: Active
 * Other: She's an AI


 * Role: The Seven Members of the First Team Alpha
 * Location: On Luna's surface
 * Status: Active


 * Role: The Seven Pilots of the First Dragon Squadron
 * Location: Near Houston Station, in orbit of Earth, onboard the UNSC Annihilator
 * Status: Active


 * Role: The Four Members of Delta Team
 * Location: On Earth's surface
 * Status: Active


 * Role: The Eleven Members of the Squad of Unrelenting Reparation
 * Location: On Mar's surface
 * Status: Active


 * Role: The Seven Recruits for the Second Team Alpha
 * Location: On Luna's surface
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Children of the members of the first Team Alpha


 * Role: The Seven Recruits for the Second Dragon Squadron
 * Location: Near Houston Station, in orbit of Earth
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Children of the members of the first Dragon Squadron


 * Role: The Prophet of Trust
 * Location: Earth's orbit (location pending)
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Justin Davis
 * Location: Earth (location pending)
 * Status: Active

Hollywood

 * Role: Staff Sergeant Pierce Hae-jin Hayase
 * Location: Earth
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Lieutenant Andrew Sharp
 * Location: Earth
 * Status: Active - Pilot of Pelican Romeo-017


 * Role: Lieutenant Christian Berkley
 * Location: Earth
 * Status: Active - Copilot of Pelican Romeo-017


 * Role: Crew Chief Hunter White
 * Location: Earth
 * Status: Active - Crew Chief of Pelican Romeo-017


 * Role: Team Two-Three: Peter Lee, Pierce Hae-jin Hayase, Heesak "Farmer" Kim, Joseph "Joe" Oh, Tsubasa "Wing" Yamato
 * Location: Earth, China
 * Status: Active


 * Role: 17th Armored Battalion
 * Location: Earth
 * Status: Active

User:Spartan 501

 * Role: The Spartan IIIs of Fireteam Romeo
 * Location: Earth, currently in Sydney, varies
 * Status: Soon to be active (pending article)


 * Role: Brock Juno
 * Location: Luna, Luna Garrision F/A/72, varies
 * Status:Active
 * Other: 145th Naval Sqaudron


 * Role: EABT Seargent Jack Richards
 * Location: Luna, Letrone Crater, Varies
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Omnipotus
 * Location: Earth, Houston
 * Status:Active

CommanderTony

 * Role: Major Anthony J. Stubblefield
 * Location: New York City, United States, Earth
 * Branch: UNSC Marine Corps
 * Unit: 2/27 Infantry Regiment, 501st Marine Division
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Captain Teka Sar 'Kelum
 * Location: New York City, United States, Earth
 * Branch: Royal Separatist Army
 * Unit: K'Eoro Warrior Legion, Sithe Corps
 * Status: WIA, Recovering from wounds sustained on Doisac


 * Role: Commander Kenji Kikmera
 * Location: New York City, United States, Earth
 * Branch: UNSC Marine Corps
 * Unit: Chimera Battalion, Royal Hayabusa Guards
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Imperial Admiral Tegar Luma 'Wattinr
 * Location: New York City, United States, Earth
 * Branch: Royal Separatist Navy
 * Unit: Sangheilian Armada of the Arbiter
 * Status: Active

Nemesis Project

 * Role: Fleet Master Zund 'Nerom
 * Location: Earth
 * Other: Fleet Master of the Fleet of Imperishable Remorse

1st Lieutenant Aiden Smith

 * Role: Captain Andy Smith, Unit (Survivor) Commander
 * Location: London England, Earth
 * Branch: UNSC Marine Corps, Nineth Rifle Division
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Gunnery Sergeant Lee Pullman, Sniper
 * Location: London England, Earth
 * Branch: UNSC Marine Corps, Nineth Rifle Division
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Staff Sergeant Alessandro Alexia, Scout
 * Location: London England, Earth
 * Branch: UNSC Marine Corps, Nineth Rifle Division
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Lance Corporal Carl Ball, Medic
 * Location: London England, Earth
 * Branch: UNSC Marine Corps, Nineth Rifle Division
 * Status: Active


 * Role: Special Operations Kaso 'Lumen
 * Location: London England, Earth
 * Branch:Covenant Separatist
 * Status:Active


 * Role: Major Tyandos 'Ranos
 * Location:London England, Earth
 * Branch:Covenant Separatist
 * Status:Active


 * Role:Minor Seseno 'Ilman
 * Location:London England, Earth
 * Branch:Covenant Separatist
 * Status:Active

User:spartan-E11

 * Role: Captain Charles Davidson
 * Location: New Manila// MARS
 * Branch:UNSC
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Captain of UNSC Alexandria


 * Role: Major Isaac Williams
 * Location: longsword fighter//MARS
 * Branch: UNSC 5th Frontier defense squadron
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Squadron leader


 * Role: Vice Admiral Henry Chan
 * Location: UNSC Merrimack//MARS
 * Branch: UNSC 3rd frontier Defense Flotilla
 * Status: Active
 * Other: Admiral


 * Role:Lieutenant Linda Bedford
 * Location: Ruins of New Manila//MARS
 * Branch:UNSC 12th Marine Regiment
 * Status:Active
 * Other: Platoon leader

User:Masterchief46517

 * Role: Keith Johnson
 * Branch: 420th SpecOps Division
 * Location: En route to Earth
 * Staus: Active
 * Other: SpecOps

=Rules=
 * 1) There is a limit on Spartan characters. There were only 33 Spartans after genetic alteration. But, many died in battle. There are only 17 Spartans left alive. All Spartans must be approved by the Chief Moderators.
 * 2) Forces are only Covenant, Human, and Forerunner constructs. There are Flood on Earth only, but Annihilative Repentance is in charge of them.
 * 3) Please remember that the Humans are impossibly outnumbered, and that they can't win many battles without a large casualty list piling up. Covenant weapons are extremely formidable.
 * 4) Not all Elites like the idea of working with Humans. Keep this in mind.
 * 5) There is to be no "teleporting"; i.e. moving your character to another planet just to save him/her.
 * 6) Transport between Fronts is limited, and ships are hard to come by. All transits must be approved by a moderator.
 * 7) Please sign at the top of your posts and include the name of a background music track that you think would go along with your post. Put the track name and the artist in italics at the top of your post.
 * 8) Please get permission from another person before eliminating their character. If you do not, you will be penalized.
 * 9) At least try to play a Covenant character along with your Humans; this adds a little variety.
 * 10) Your character cannot come out of this fight unsccratched! He/she must have at least on injury before the RP is over (Thanks to AJ for this rule is to defeat god-modded characters!)
 * 11) If unsure about something, please ask a Moderator.
 * 12) Please consult the talk page for more in-depth rules on starships and inter-planetary defense.

=Fronts=

Earth

 * SPARTAN-091
 * Juliet
 * 1LT Skadi Kobolds
 * Captain Sylvie Grey (in orbit)
 * 2LT Miles Jaeger (in orbit)
 * SGM Arnold Lewis
 * SGT Jeff Valea
 * Senior Chief Petty Officer First Class CHRIS-087
 * Zeta Squad (in orbit)
 * Fleet Admiral Sir Terrance Hood
 * Vice Admiral Cory Johnson
 * Commander Brandon Rebuga
 * Lieutenant Bryan Hänkel
 * Ship Master Ligi ‘Fleomee
 * Chieftain Taurus
 * SPARTAN-077 (in orbit)
 * Captain Jim Wilson (in orbit)
 * Dragon Squadron (in orbit)
 * Joe Harrison
 * Michelle Walters
 * Donald Summers
 * Randall Cragin
 * Sherri Black
 * David Davis
 * June Della
 * Dragon Squadron Trainees
 * Andrew Peters
 * Luke Donaghy
 * Brittani Della
 * Justin Cragin
 * Erika Black
 * Brittany Black
 * Cindle Della
 * Delta Team
 * Lead
 * Ratchet
 * Burns
 * Sarge
 * Peter Lewis
 * Brute Chieftian Jarvargus
 * Vice Admiral Will McKay (In route to Earth)
 * Ship Master Amje 'Ailot (In route to Earth)
 * Qzech'Mere (In route to Earth)
 * Fireteam Romeo
 * SPARTAN-G145 Scott
 * SPARTAN-G257 Maya
 * SPARTAN-G013 Jason
 * Rhino Squadron (in orbit)
 * The Hesperus *En Route*
 * Captain Adam Deadrus Graves
 * SPARTAN-014 Adrian
 * SPARTAN-054 Angel
 * Curtis Jennings
 * Max (Maximus) Peterson
 * Jason Orion
 * Warren Leats
 * Staff Sergeant Pierce Hae-jin Hayase
 * Pelican Romeo-017
 * Pilot - Andrew Sharp
 * Co-Pilot - Christian Berkley
 * Crew Cheif - Hunter White
 * Omnipotus
 * Justin Davis
 * Prophet of Trust (in orbit)
 * Keith Johnson

Luna

 * Anno 'Rhcul
 * Vera 'Zenor
 * SPARTAN-060
 * Prophet of Vigilance
 * Imogo Oth Warpol
 * Lolna Oth Warluig
 * Linda Farr
 * Brachshaw (in orbit)
 * Nicholai Grevdaeht
 * First Lieutenant Jane Parkinson
 * Shn'co Sthr
 * Team Alpha
 * Roy Koel
 * Clyde
 * Edwin Davis
 * Lisa Davis
 * Kymberli Wilson
 * Jerry Peters
 * Marshall Black
 * Amy Black
 * Team Alpha Trainees
 * James Davis
 * Katelynn Wilson
 * Nicholas Summers
 * Clayton Peters
 * Devyn Peters
 * Jake Donaghy
 * Samuel Tyler
 * Havargus
 * Admiral Yakubu Agahowa
 * Anfa 'Dela
 * 145th Naval Squadron
 * Major Brock Juno
 * Staff Seargent Jack Richards
 * Ultra Sin 'Vordyee

Mars

 * Imperial Admiral Dyr 'Jar Refos
 * Major Domo Hasus 'Redonn
 * Kemgor
 * Ultra Sin 'Vordyee
 * Supreme Commander 'Holor
 * Ship Master Malor
 * Team Murmillo
 * SPARTAN-G023
 * SPARTAN-G059
 * SPARTAN-G202
 * SPARTAN-G331
 * Special Operations Lance Sacred Shadow
 * Uasu 'Sojam
 * Ckpe 'Cinot
 * Asbe 'Cinot
 * Orbe 'Yatut
 * Eysu 'Eojus
 * Idbe 'Vadum
 * Master Gunnery Sergeant Dean Jackson
 * The Squad of Unrelenting Reparation
 * Jemsal 'Emvadson
 * Ketynic 'Ilwol
 * Nibesa
 * Jaig
 * Ank
 * Luzzda
 * Cer Muso Coun
 * Den Muso Hico
 * Jarikus
 * Samorulan
 * Ameigh Broley
 * Special Operations Commander Kwas 'Pudmee
 * Team Wakisashi
 * SPARTAN-G256 (Matt)
 * SPARTAN-G051 (Oliver)
 * SPARTAN-G297 (Belle)
 * Team Bokuto
 * SPARTAN-G029 (Henry)
 * SPARTAN-G162 (Diana)
 * SPARTAN-G329 (Victor)

=Archive=
 * Archive 1
 * Archive 2

=Roleplaying=

101
EARTH

Pierce couldn't ask for more right now. He sat in a messhall in an underground base near Osaka Japan. Everyone that had taken part in Tokyo's defense was sent there. During his flight out of Tokyo he wondered if that battle had been the deciding factor in the area. Covenant activity over Japan was for the most part small, not as concentrated as in North Africa from what he had heard. Hopefully fighting on the four main islands would die down soon and they would be able to focus their efforts else where. But for now he enjoyed his moment. He took a seat at a table near the wall and leaned back, he felt sore throughout his body and lifting his coffee cup took effort. But the lack of duty wasn't what kept his spirits up, it was the small screen showing a bright happy face smiling at him. "How long do you get to stay?"

Pierce shrugged, "Not sure," he said to the screen, he was talking to Hanako Asahina. They had met earlier in the begining of the Second Battle of Earth in Nagasaki after losing contact with friendly forces. It was afterwards when they reached friendly lines did he learn of her popular singer statis, a Japanese singer and dancer that did most of her work for UNSC personal to keep moral up. Right now her hair was long and partially wet, her skin sparkled from her sweat and he could only bet that she had just given a concert for the people that took refugee in the underground/sea base near Nagasaki. "but hopefully it'll be a while."

"Can you come visit?"

"You know that's not possible, you guys are on stage eight lock down, no visitors." Pierce said after taking a sip of his coffee, it was warm and he held it in his mouth before swallowing it down. "Even if there was no lock down I probably couldn't they'll want us somewhere else soon."

Hanako's bright face went away for a moment saddened at his news, but she light up again knowing that he would need her support. She thought for a moment trying to think of her words, "Was...was it difficult?"

Pierce thought back, the remembered staying on the line as the Brutes charged forward and marines and Elites fell. "No, it wasn't that bad. We just laid ambushes and ran before they could attack us. Don't worry." Pierce said lieing through his teeth. No point in telling her the truth, she'd only be worried. He looked up hearing bootsteps and saw two officers, at first he thought they were hitting the messhall for food but they kept their pace and headed straight towards him. "Hey sweetie, I got to go right now. I'll try to call back later okay? jya ne, ai shiteru." he said with a smile and quit the feed. Before the screen turned black he saw Hanako giving him a smile and waving then blow him a kiss.

"Staff Sergeant Hayase?" the first officer said, a lieutenant.

Pierce quickly shoot up at attention through his sore and aching body. He threw a sharp salute, "Yes sir."

"We've got goodnews and badnews." the second lieutenant say. "I get to tell you the good news, Captain Wilson as put you in for a medal for your actions in Tokyo. The people need heroes so you'll probably end up getting one. Ceremony and everything for the war effort you know the deal."

"Thank you sir but..." Pierce said.

"To late paperwork is almost done. Now for the bad news." The first said, "You'll be getting transferred day after tomorrow."

Pierce formed a solid fist, he figured he wouldn't get long to rest. He wished it would be a little long so that his body could recover but that wasn't going to happen.

"Where to?"

Andrew and Christian watched as Beijing approached, they weren't very sure what to do now. Their last transmission had been filled with static before they lost communication completely. They were now in the dark about what to do. Hopefully a miracle would happen and show them a guiding light of what to do or where to go.

Hollywood

102
IN ORBIT-- EARTH, SOL SYSTEM

Sylvie Grey felt tired. She hadn't ever recovered from the extreme stress and lack of proper rest of the Manheim campaign, and she doubted that anything besides six weeks of solid sleep could ever fix her fatigue. But it was good to be back in command of a UNSC ship! The Fountain of Spring was a beautiful frigate, one of the last produced from the Mariposa shipyards on Mars, and her technology was an extreme update from the old Heavy Battleship Sylvie had once been in command of. Still, she missed the Myrmidon; it was a reliable old ship, and so well-armored and armed. Now, she doubted that she would ever see it again: it was in drydock near one of the repair stations on Luna, which was being swarmed with Covenant Loyalists.

What a nightmare it had been to jump back from Manheim and find Reach destroyed, Earth under siege, and Humanity fighting its penultimate battle for survival. At least Miles was still stationed under her command. She and the ODST NCO-turned-officer had grown quite close during the two months' siege of Manheim, and she was grateful that she had been able to keep him posted with her.

Sylvie had also heard radio chatter about SPARTAN-091, another of her closest friends. The supersoldier had saved the day in the Omicron Polaris system, providing the combat effectiveness of an entire battalion of Marines to the beleagured defenders of Neu Stuttgart. He was in Chicago, with three other Spartans, and she resolved she try and help him as much as possible.

She glanced around the small bridge, and saw Second Lieutenant Miles Jaeger pacing anxiously on the bridge, accompanied by yet another familiar face, the crimson-armored Elite Major Sestas 'Laram. She had met the Seperatist on Manheim, when the Elites had turned angrily on the Brutes, forming a tentative alliance with the last remaining Humans. Now, he was actually onboard her ship, a liason from the Sangheili Council.

"Archer missile banks 1 and 2, A-D have been depleted, ma'am," the weapons officer announced.

"Status on the MAC?"

"Still charging, ma'am."

"Understood. Divert power from the engines to speed it up."

"Yes, ma'am," the ensign said, and informed the ship-status computer of the power change.

"Major 'Laram, are your ship coordinating with our attacks?"

"Indeed they are, Captain," the veteran Elite answered in his deep basso voice. "They target the Jirahlanae ships that you currently engage. Do not worry about our resolve, Captain. Our shipmasters want Brute blood just as much as yours."

The MAC gun fired, bucking the bridge and sending a silver streak barreling towards the Loyalist cruiser, and Sylvie hoped that the Elite was telling the truth. Because it was only the SPARTANs and the Elites who could pull humanity back from the brink of annihilation.

 SPARTAN-091  |Admin|   HelmetComm  17:18, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

103
\\Earth, Romeo-17\\Battle Time 0100\\159th ODST Battalion\\Iota Seven\\

Iota Seven looked up as she regained consciousness, looking around she saw she was in a pelican. A mark on the wall read Romeo-17, trying to sit up she failed, the pain in her body almost unbearable. Through all the help of the crew she still had, a broken leg, separated shoulder blade, broken ankle, several broken and cracked ribs, three large metal shards imbedded in her body and a broken arm. From what she could tell the rest of the ODST had suffered the same amount of injuries.

"Where are we?" she croaked out and the crew chief ran over. He grabbed a towel and started to wipe the fresh blood out of her wounds.

"Almost to Beijing," he said he said as Iota Seven fell unconscious again.

\\Earth, Above Chicago\\Battle Time 17 Cycles\\Fleet of Golden Redemption\\Imperial Admiral Dyr 'Jar Refos\\

"Sir we are exiting Slipspace now," said a crew member as the ship reappeared in the blank void of normal space.

"Good where is the artifact?" the Admiral asked fingering his sword.

"It has moved down to the surface of the planet," said the crew member as he clicked on the commands of the console in front of him.

"Send down thirty lances of Sangheilli and Unggoy and then suit up my personal lance," said the Admiral standing up," 'Lagt you are in charge till my return and if I do not return then leave with your new rank Fleet Master,"

"Yes sir," said 'Lagt as 'Jar Refos walked out of the bridge. He walked into the armory and picked up a plasma rifle and a carbine with four more packs of ammo. He had his sword, the Blade of Vengeance which he kept with him at all times. As he neared the hanger he could hear the sounds of the many Phantoms preparing their flight to the surface of the planet. His personal ship's phantoms had instead of Green, a Blood Red coat of paint. He looked at the thirty one Blood Red Phantoms preparing to take of from the Assault Carrier. His small army of Sangheilli and Unggoy who were prepared to die for him.

"It is magnificent, is it not brother," said 'Feros, "Jar Refos's cousin a Field Commander who was part of 'Refos's personal lance. The two replacement Hunters lumbered out, Reter Van Helos and Telos Van Gerto. His four Major Unggoy and a Heavy Unggoy and the last two Sangheilli, 'Teros a Ultra another cousin of 'Refos and 'Hasus a Major who had shown bravery by being the first to land on Mars.

The Lance walked into a Phantom named Bloodied Vengeance which had enough lifting power to carry everyone.

'Refos opened a comm channel to all the lances about to take off form the hanger and travel down to Chicago," Today we go and take back something that is supposed to be ours, today we fight for glory, honor and heart full of blood!"

\\Earth, Chicago\\Battle Time 18 Cycles\\Fleet of Golden Redemption\\Imperial Admiral Dyr 'Jar Refos\\

The Phantom Soared down through the clouds spotting the Anti-air Battery that the humans guarded, they headed for that.

"Today blood will be spilled, human blood," said the Admiral to the small army as the neared where the SPARTANs stood.

--SPARTAN-064,Demakhis 20:28, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

104
EARTH

Hanako Asahina laid flat on a small bunk bed in a small cabin. Everything was cramped, it had to be to fit everyone in the underground base. She yawned and was bored, today she was free to do anything. No performances for the soldiers or refugees, just given the whole day off. But there was little to do underground, there was no shopping or movie theaters, every inch of space was used for housing refugees or used for defenses incase of a Covenant attack. The door opened and another singer walked in, she was Korean and they both had done performances together. "I'm bored."

"Me too." Hanako replied rolling around in the bunk, the other girl climbed a small ladder and crawled into her bunk as well. There was a moments silence until a tv screen hung in the corner turned on by itself. "Another broadcast." The tvs and radios were all controlled by the military forces stationed there and the only thing that was played besides one's own personal collection of movies were military updates that were baisis. First came on was an update of what was happening around Japan then a report came onscreen.

"Yesterday Tokyo was saved..." The news reporter said as a video showed the aftermath of the battle, they showed the body covered landscape surrounded by buildings collasped on their sides. Then showed pictures taken during the battle itself.

"Isn't your boyfriend in Tokyo?" the other sing asked as she watched, she noticed how the vidoes and pictures only showed the dead Covenant no dead humans.

"Yeah but he said he wasn't involved in anything big." Hanako said slightly hesitant.

"Now the brave soldiers who fought in the battle are being awarded." The screen changed to show an award ceremony. Officers and soldiers dressed in their best uniforms lined up as one by one the veterans of the battle were awarded.

They focused in on a Colonel as he pinned a medal on a marine's chest then saluted him and shook his hand. "Staff Sergeant Pierce Hae-jin Hayase." The colonel said, from the line the lone soldier clothed in the black ODST dress uniform stepped up.

"Pierce!?" Hanako said getting up and looked closer at the screen, the camera focused in on him and she knew it was him.

"For bravery in the battle of Seoul you are presented with the Red Legion of Honor." The colonel said taking the medal from a small box on a table beside him. He pinned it on Pierce then continued. "For being wounded in action during the defense of Tokyo you are presented with the Purple Heart." The colonel went through the action again. "For bravery and selfless acts of courage during the defense of Tokyo, the Colonial Cross. You've made us proud Staff Sergeant." The colonel saluted and Pierce gave a sharp salute in return.

"Baka..." Hanako whispered realizing what Pierce had done.

As Pierce and the other award reciepents walked away from the ceremony a lieutenant approached him. "Congratulations on the medals. Be ready for your transfer tomorrow morning okay?" the lieutenant said shaking his hand.

"Yes sir, I'll be ready."

Pierce tried to sleep but couldn't. The roar of the pelican's engines were too loud and the hull shook too much for him to be comfortable. He thought back to the night before, Hanako had called him and given him hell for lying but he could tell she was proud of him and how she was glad he was safe. Then he remembered this morning, how he had been put with a team of four other ODSTs. A captain had explained they would be going to assist in Beijing and more information would come later. He also stated that part of their mission would be to interrupt loyalists activities in the area. First they would be brought in by pelican to Tianjin near the coast where they would make a water drop for stealth. Once they made it onshore they would lay a series of ambushes and traps in the city for Loyalists then once out of Tianjin they would meet with allies and drive towards Beijing. It was a sloppy plan that was halfassed but Pierce knew it couldn't be helped, with so many things happening at once a good operation was hard to do.

Christian walked from the cockpit and to the carrier bay, he immediately smelled blood from the wounded ODSTs. Greg had done what he could for them but he wasn't a doctor and could only perform the basics of a medic. Greg had been wiped out afterwards, he sat on one of the seats and slept until Christian pushed his shoulders. Greg opened tired eyes and looked at Christian then rubbed the sleep away. "What's up?"

"We're made it to Beijing."

Hollywood

105
Lewis awoke from his sleep. As soon as he opened up his eyes, he began to get a severe headache. As his vision cleared, he saw that the Spiker round was gone from his torso, but the wound was still there. Then, the pain hit him. He screamed in agony, and when he opened his eyes again, he noticed where he was. The room was purple, and his arms were tied to the ceiling. He remembered from when he was captured on a Covenant Ship during the Battle of Orin and how they organized their cells. But this room was devoid of cells. Craning his neck around the room, he noticed blades, whips, chains, and serums. It was a torture chamber. He tried to clear out his mind when a Brute chieftain walked in. Then, the Brute released Lewis from the chains and began tossing him around the room. Lewis' life flashed before his eyes. The glassing of planets, his wife, his family, the court case, even when he was first jumped into the gang life. The Brute then picked up a whip. Lewis got into a ball and felt the agonizing pain of the whip. It even had scales on it, presumably from some sort of reptilian animal. One of the younger Brutes picked up Lewis by the neck, then began to slap Lewis. Lewis, in defiance, began to spout insults at the beast. Then, he spit in the animals' face. The animal dropped Lewis, but then, another Brute in the room kicked him. Lewis flew fifteen feet across the room, and slid into the wall. Then, he saw the Brute with a blade coming at him. The Brute picked him up, and began to cut him. Lewis thought he was going do die, and from the pain, he went into unconsciousness. -- AJ

106
Luna, on ground.

Shn'co moved quickly, even though he carried one of his injured teammates on his back. Slightly behind him followed his other teammates, along with some survivors from the previous battle. It had been a massacre. When the main attack force, led by the human Jane Parkinson and Special Operations Commander Sangheili Anfa 'Dela, had arrived in the largest bubble at the station (which had the diameter of a Human Frigate), they had been ambushed by at least a platoon of hidden Jackal Snipers and Two platoons of Brute Stalkers, as well as the Brutes' main force. The rest was simple to clue out. Almost everyone, except for some Humans and Sangheili (among them Shn'co), had been killed.

Now they were on the run. They searched for a place to seek shelter. Shn'co looked ahead. A station was only 200 meters ahead now. But Shn’co also noticed that the ground in front of the complex was full of dead bodies, humans and brutes. There were some living humans, however, walking the perimeter. Shn'co walked towards them, and they looked up. "Can we get treatment for our injured?" Shn'co asked. The humans looked at each other, then at Shn'co's teammates, then at Shn'co again. "Eeh...sure! Come here, we'll show you the way!

Mars, on ground.

Dean looked up, and saw the glassing lasers. Terrified, he turned to his squadmates. "Everybody, RUN!" he shouted to them, and they immediately followed. Dean activated his COM. "This is Master Gunnery Sergeant Dean Jackson. I and my Second Squad need immediate evac. If there are any UNSC or Separatist dropships within range, please respond!"

23:37, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

107
\\Earth, Beijing\\Battle Time 0130\\596th ODST Battalion\\Gunnery Sergeant Kele Okereke\\

The pelican touched down on the stone floor of the heli pad. Iota Seven and the rest of her battalion were rushed off to the medical room to have surgery on their many wounds, Gunnery Sergeant Kele Okereke walked up to the crew of the pelican Romeo-17.

"Welcome to Beijing, one of the last places in China that has not fallen to the Covenant, your supposed to fly your pelican over to the Downtown district for refueling and briefing," he said for the 14th time today. He walked away from the pelican and began to talk into his comm.

"Any sign of anyone," he asked the person on the other side.

"No not yet," said the melodic voice of Xia He Mak, the sniper on the hill four hundred meters away.

"Ok call me if anyone..." he was saying, but was cut off by Xia He.

"I know, I know call you, you've told me already," she said and turned off the radio connection. Kele laughed inside as he continued down the landing strip. This was probably the last time he could laugh for a long time.

--SPARTAN-064,Demakhis 00:54, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

108
Austin, Texas,

"Nice one, Lead!" One of the Rhino's shouted as Katana launched two missiles into a retreating convoy, they detonated, destroying the front of the convoy and halting the middle and back. Rhino Squadron came down on them, firing their cannons, which proved very effective. "Form up!" Katana shouted, "Delta Team? This is Rhino Leader, I think that's all the work we can do, the rest will have to be done by ground forces." "Thanks, guys, we'll beat these Covvies out." Responded the leader of Delta Team.

"Where to, Katana?" Ellen asked, "We need resupply, destroying the Covenant here sapped our ammo." "Roger."

UNSC MIlitary Base outside of the Luna OCS Academy, under attack by Covenant forces.

Linda walked through the dark corridors of the Base, emergency pwoer was on, but it was still dim. Marines and Navy personnel littered the floor, some wounded, others simply trying to find safety. Linda walked on, past the soldiers, till she reached the command center door. Her fingerprint and voice opened the door, and she walked through. She saw the man in charge of the base, Major Jackson, seated at his chair, surrounded by Commander Center personnel.

"Sir, the base can't hold out much longer, what's our best course of action?" The Major sat in thought, then said, "I was hoping for an airlift, but that appears to not be an option, so, we retreat." "Where to?" "The place with the smallest amount of Covenant presence is the UNSC Flight Instruction Academy, I'd say thats our best bet."

Chicago, Illinois,

The Pelican touched down, releasing it's payload. Edward and the small squad of Marines walked out to the main UNSC base. It was apparently recuperating from a recent attack, wounded were being carried off, fires being doused. It all reminded Edward of the dozens of other battles he'd been in. He looked around and saw a sight he didn't think he would see in a thousand years. A small team of Spartans were walking around the base.

-- The State(Our Decrees and Law)(The State Alchemists we've enlisted) 15:41, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

109
Africa, Earth

When the Flood infection hit, great disarray had begun among the warring troops. This confusion however, was what allowed the Flood to gain the massive numbers they had needed.

By now, the continent of Africa had become infested heavily; the insignificant amount of Flood left behind by the Gravemind had long since swelled their ranks, and now, threatened all those warring on the land itself. However, Africa had not been the only place to fall victim to the Flood; dispersal pods from High Charity's arrival had spread the infection across the planet. Little though they may be, if allowed to infect and spread, the Flood could potentially overwhelm the entire planet.

--117649AnnihilativeRepentance 03:08, 29 December 2007 (UTC)

110
Lewis saw the Brutes fighting off these tiny squid things. They seemed to jump onto the Brutes, and put themselves into the Brutes' bodies. Lewis puked. The whole process was sickening. The brains coming out the back of the head, the body undergoing mutation. But, one got through the Brute line and tried to infect Lewis. Lewis ripped off the flood form, relieved not to have had been infected. He noticed that the ship began to power down. Lewis stepped through the opening of the cell, and picked up a Covenant Carbine. Going through the endless hallways, Lewis killed flood after flood. He punched through a few combat forms before reaching the Ships' hangar. Lewis jumped into a banshee, and flew off of the Covenant Ship. He was free... but these walking horror freaks could not be left alive. Lewis flew the Banshee as far as its' fuel allowed, and picking up the Carbine, he began walking to the last known UNSC Post in Africa. --AJ

111
MARS Surface

Looking up, a marine stared at death for just a second as one of the glassing beams drove right through him. The lasers going every which way. A last pelican, with a large 06 painted on its front, and a moon covered in liquid below it flew past Dean Jackson and his squad, and diving into a crevice. A few seconds later it rose up and flew to them. It turned and opened its cargo doors. An ODST reached his hand out for Jackson. His visor was blood red. "I heard you needed a lift?" The ODST questioned. "I'm Major Everett of the 209th ODST Battalion en route to the UNSC Blood Moon. Where are you 'goin?" Everett asked. Lasers burning the ground in the distance. The engines of the pelican roaring, moving up and down keeping the pelican in the air.

--

112
EARTH

Pierce took a long breath as he watched the ODST in front of him walk off the carrier bay and drop. He wobbled up next and felt the cold night wind blow through his suit and knife to his bones, then felt the BDUs active and begin to warm up. He came to the edge and gave a quick glance down to the dark ocean water below him, it was a thirty feet drop and the water would be freezing, he judged it would take up to five minutes for his suit to warm up to his body temperature. The water sparkled with the reflection of the moon's light, he could see the first ODST hit the water with a water tower blowing into the air. He was in the middle of a thought when a hand slapped his shoulder, the mark to jump. Well jump was the wrong word, they simply stepped off the bay and fell. He could feel his stomach rise into his chest as he fell the thirty feet, his crossed his legs and arms to prevent injury and waited. Why is this taking so long?? Pierce though just before hit the water. Immediately the freezing temperature broke through him, the shock was so much he blew out the breath of air he was holding, he along with the others hadn't taken oxygen tanks to reduce weight. He began to push himself upwards and heard the deep booms as the three others hit the water.

"It's freaking freezing!" one of the members yelled through the comm. It was the team's radio operator Tsubasa, a Japanese name translating to Wing.

"Wing, shut it! comm silence till we hit the beach, hand signals from here on." Peter the team leader said.

Everyone emerged from the water and formed around each other. The roar of the Pelican increased as it started to break its hovering and start to make its way back to Japan. They inflated a small rafted and climbed in and checked their equipment. They hadn't lost anything luckily and everything was working fine. Peter gave the signal and Aaron started the rafts small but powerful motor. They would hit the beach in about an hour.

Andrew and Christian watched through their windshield as other Pelicans touched down in downtown Beijing. From the way everything was going, they way the soldier had told them where to go to when they first touched down they could tell something big was going to happen. "Hey you hear there was a flood incident back in Tokyo?" Christian said chewing his gum.

"No." Andrew said busy waiting for his turn to touch down in the busy area. "Wait flood!?"

"Yeah," Christian said calmly. "But some fool with a flamethrower took care of it before anything happened. That's some crazy shit right there man." Christian went on to tell the story and Andrew laughed. "Word has it flood is hitting everywhere, but mainly in Africa. This shit is just troublesome man, not only do we gotta watch out for baby kongs now mutant zombies."

"If flood's here might as well leave Earth and find a new home. One that aint glassed." Andrew said as he was given clearance to land over the comm.

"Just some troublesome shit." said Christian as he took the controls.

Team Two-Three tossed themselves out of the raft and dragged it up the beach. Small waves crashed against their legs and help push the raft forward but they most of their strength as they pushed and pulled it up as the water receded wanting to take the raft with it.

"Pierce head up to the sea wall and keep watch for a second." Peter said over the comm. Pierce nodded and grabbed his sniper rifle and ran, he reached the sea wall, a dune of sand about three feet high and leveled his rifle. The coast was clear. Team Two-Three gathered and formed a small circle, Peter went over the plan through the intercomm so Pierce could hear as well then everyone reached the wall. "Alright let's go."

Tsubasa said in an excited voice. "It's going down!"

Hollywood

113
//MARS, in the atmosphere, en route to flagship of Covenant Separatist fleet//December 14th, 2552, 1038 hours//

One Final Effort from the Halo 3 Original Soundtrack Disc 2

"This is Master Gunnery Sergeant Dean Jackson. I and my Second Squad need immediate evac. If there are any UNSC or Separatist dropships within range, please respond!" "We have to help him", said Matt. "We have our mission", stated Ameigh, "We cannot falter." "We must help the humans, Ameigh", said Ketynic, "You of all should know this. Not doing so would leave us no better than the Loyalist scum." "Duty above all else", said Ameigh, "That is how it must be." Then Jemsal smacked Ameigh in the back of the head, knocking her out. "Forgive me", he whispered for quiet that no one heard it. He turned to the Jackals. "Change course to the Humans." The Jackals quickly keyed in the adjustments, and the ship changed direction. "There they are!", yelled Samorulan as he watched the computer-screen connected to one of the ships external cameras. As Jemsal looked, he saw a dozen or so marines running across the plains nearly parallel to the ship. And not far behind was a glassing beam. "Jaig! Ank! Nibesa! Get this ship in front of the Humans double-time!", yelled Jemsal. The Endless Justice's engines strained and whined, giving the craft just a small amount of extra speed. It veered toward the marines, lowering towards the ground. "Ketynic! Cer! Den! To me!", said Jemsal as he headed to the back of the ship. The ramp at the back lowered, revealing the marines a little to their left. "Get in", yelled Jemsal. Two of the closest marines jumped in, soon followed by the rest. As Jemsal had expected, he and his teammates had to assist some of the marines get inside. A Human Pelican flew by and the other marines jumped into it. Jemsal stared at it for a minute, but then noticed that they had all the marines and the glassing beams were nearly upon them. "We have them all, go!", yelled Jemsal. The Jackals quickly pulled the ship up, heading out of the atmosphere. "Thanks for the help", said one of the marines, "Who are you anyways?" "We are the Squad of Unrelenting Reparation", said Jemsal. "The Squad of Unrel.... what? Hey, how about we just call you SpecOps Force Alpha" "I suppose that will work" "So, where you going and what's your mission?", asked the marine. "We're heading for the flagship of the Separatist fleet", said Jemsal, "We're going to stop the Imperial Admiral from glassing the planet." "I see", he replied, "Let me radio our commander, see what he says." The marine turned on his COM, "Master Guns, sir, we're onboard the Separatist ship to your left. They say they're going to try and stop the glassing. There some Spartans here, their ship's going to distract the flagship, then they're landing inside. What should we do?" Dean Jackson looked through the cockpit window of the Pelican. "We're goin with them.", he said over the COM. He turned to the pilot. "Radio your ship, tell 'em to give an assist in this assault. Now follow that ship to the flagship." "Yes sir" "You just had to pick them up, didn't you?", said Ameigh as she got up, "Oh well, to late to undo it now. I guess we might could use a little extra firepower if things go wrong." The marine explained what Dean had said. Ameigh turned to Matt. "Alright, tell your ship the plan. We're going in." Both the Pelican and the Endless Justice flew upwards, out of the atmosphere, and towards the Separatist flagship.

//EARTH, on the surface, in Austin, TX, USA//December 13, 2552, 0543 hours//

"OK boys, let's lock 'n' load!", yelled Lead, "HQ says we're through here. There's a Covenant convoy heading through the Tatum area of the Four City metro about 250 miles northeast of here, and we're going to take care of 'em. Gather your gear and check your ammo, cause we got 3 and a half hours of road ahead of us, Covie-free.... I hope." While some of the marines, including Ratchet, gave a cheer because of 3 and a half hours Covie-free, most just ran to gather their equipment. There were only 40 marines, give or take, but it would be a squeeze with only 4 Hornets, one Pelican, 2 Warthogs (one chaingun and one Guass), and one Troog Hog. Delta Team decided to split up: Ratchet would get on one of the Hornets, Lead on a Hog, Burns on another Hornet, and Sarge on the Pelican. "Good luck", Sarge said to Lead as he climbed on the Pelican. "Good luck to us all", said Lead. As soon as all the marines were in their vehicles, Lead yelled, "Alright, let's get this convoy crasher on the road!"

--

114
This was battle. There was an air about it, as he took a brief moment to take a look around the scene laid before him and truly appreciate where he was and what he was doing. It had been quite some time since his blood had flown through his veins so vigorously and the heat of the moment was so thick and weighing upon his soul and mind. He could barely contain the emotions that were swirling around inside of his being; the hate, the passion, the angst and the ever present fear which plagued him.

Yes. Fear.

He had found that in the past few engagement that he was no longer as steadfast and committed to believing himself capable of remaining alive. He had really analyzed his life, and all that had come with it, and realized that his time was coming sooner rather than later. It was principlistic to think this kind of way when you grow up as a soldier and truly appreciate what the battlefield can bring with it. When you take the gun into your hands, you are instantly reminded of what your duty actually is; the task of finding, engaging and striking down your enemy before they strike you down. Fortunately, Adrian had long ago been spared of the majority of this task when he was deemed mentally unfit to see action on the front lines. He had been spared of one life, and been afforded another, but in the end it had seemed that he had purposefully been placed right back into those front lines which he had been led astray from. Reach, Installation 03, Ardina, and now this; Earth. He was part of quite a few of the truly integral battles in the last few years. The Spartan who had been sent away, unfit to fight, was fighting along side the marines and his brethren in the important fights of his or any other time. The irony in such was nearly palpable. But, there-in lies the point of why the fear resides. There is a point where your luck just has to run out. There will be a point where fluke events such as the orbital dive and using the Divine Judgement will no longer work, and he will have to face the cold hard truth that he is but flesh and bone like everyone else and fall to the wayside as so many had done before him.

It is with this in mind, as he surveys the scene, that he plans his next move wisely.

"I see..." He utters, hearing Jared's voice filter over the speakers within his helmet. It was great to see his comrade again, his fellow Grey Team member, and to fight alongside the formidable ally once more. He wouldn't rather have anyone else beside him in what would probably be his final hour than this man, a Spartan, but more importantly a person who knew where he was coming from. To be sequestered on Grey Team, without your fellow Spartan, was in itself meaningful. For Adrian, it had been because of fault. He didn't know why Jared had been placed in this unit, and wouldn't ask. It was treading on testy ground, and they didn't need that right now.

He turned to Angel, and nodded, placing a hand on her shoulder. She nodded back and he turned to Jared, glancing for a moment at his sniper rifle. He had a plan, and it would work, as long as the three worked as a cohesive unit. He had adamant respect for both of them, enough to place his life within their hands, knowing that they would come through. "Jared, I want you and Angel to take to the sides of the streets and use the corners to snipe out any Covenant who might be posted on vantage, so we can clear a path down the street for armor and artillery." He began, turning away and looking at the path ahead, and beyond to the Covenant who were setting up for a retaliatory effort to their bombardment. They were pissed, and he knew it. Jason and his fighters had torn a gaping hole in their forces, and whoever filled that gap would take this sector. He took a light step forwards, reaffirming his BR-55X in his hands. "I'm going to head down the middle, and draw their fire. When they make themselves visible, strike them down." He uttered, taking a deep breath and reaching down to his side compartment to retrieve the small, baseball-sized orb from within. He held it in his right hand for a moment, before switching it over to his left and holding the rifle one-handed in his right.

It was then that several more Pelicans touched down around them. His eyes widened for but a brief moment. Another detail must have figured of their reinforcement and sent more troops. To that, he smiled, knowing they had a better chance of fighting this battle. His eyes left the new soldiers who were exiting the Pelicans and returned to the proverbial 'valley' which lay before him. It was going to take a full on sprint, with the a true portion of the Divine Judgement's output forced into his shielding to keep from being destroyed while on approach. Once he got into the building, though, he would fight his way unto the rooftop, and then call in for reinforcements from the marines. He had confidence in his plan, knowing that they could pull this off, and salvage this outpost.

Once again, he heard the roar of Pelican's behind him, as another detail of Pelican made their approach. Smiling behind the visor, he saw that it was once again the Hesperus' three Pelicans inbound with the remaining stragglers from the ship. As those birds set down, he did the rudimentary calculations in his mind, and figured that there would be more than a hundred and fifty marines, complimented by engineers and maintenance crew within this small area. He was even more pleased when he realized that these pelicans were sporting two of the elder version Guass Warthogs and a Scorpion tank. They touched down and unloaded their passengers, several friendly faces exiting the holding bay. He made out the faces of Max Peterson, Warren Leats and Curtis Jenkins as they barked orders to the marines and the rest which were leaving the landing area. He laughed to himself, seeing his Hesperus crewmates taking charge. For a moment, he was reminded of how new to the battlefield they all were but a year ago, and now they were as akin to taking it to the enemy as the marines in this outfit were. What a change had been bestowed upon them, and he was glad for it. He wouldn't have been able to make it this far without their help, and he was sure that they would be integral to his furthered success.

Turning his back once more, he took another moment to survey the scene before him. There was not much more to do than begin to walk towards the enemy. He took a deep breath, and smiled to himself, closing his eyes. The inside of the helmet blew upon his cheeks lightly, venting the heated air he was breathing in and refreshing the oxygen. The light touch was almost heavenly, as he felt a shiver rush down his spine of renewed vigor and anticipation mixed with resilience. This was the battlefield, humanities battlefield, and he would be damned if he was going to let himself fade away into the darkness. It was with this in mind that he took one heavy step forwards.

115
Mars, onboard the Endless Justice.

Matt thought over the plan for a minute. It would definetly be dangerous. For they, a small group of Humans and Covenant Separatists, calling themselves "Squad of Unrelenting Reparation", would try to board a Flagship. It was one thing when he and his teammates had boarded the Covenant Frigate with help from a company of Marines. Now they would be alone with some separatist commandoes they didn't even know.

Matt noticed that two of the Elites had an argument. Matt didn't hear all of it because of the chatting in the bay, but it was something about picking up some Marines. It seemed that one insisted they should, but the other, the prophet-like female, insisted that they should continue on their duty. Matt was just about to step forward to say his opinion, when the other Elite knocked out Broley. The other Elite then ordered the ship to pick up the marines. Matt stepped back to his team.

As the ship closed in on the surface and opened it's back entry, Matt thought over the plan again, but the result was the same: It would be extremly dangerous, unless they received reinforcements. He returned to reality as some of the Marines jumped onboard the Endless Justice and some others jumped on a Pelican that swept down to pick them up. Matt pulled up a marine into the ship, while the Brutes (who appeared to be called "Jarikus" and "Samorulan") dragged in most of them. When all were inside, the hatch closed, and the Endless Justice rose into the air.

Matt listened in secret to the Marine's discussion through the COM. It seemed there would be some Marine reinforcements. That was good news. A while later, Commander Broley awoke. After a time of talking with the one who had knocked her out, she turned to Matt. "Alright, tell your ship the plan. We're going in." Matt had forgot about the rest of the plan. He hurried to turn on his COM. "Sergeant Major, this is SCPO Matt, do you copy?" "I'm here, sir. What is it? Tell me I can be of use, I'm dying of tireness up here!" the Sergeant's voice saaid through the COM. "Actually, I need you to cause a distraction by attacking that flagship, while my team, the separatist squad and some Marines will board the flagship and stop their commander!" "Alright, a distraction is on the way!" Jack shouted. Matt sighed. Finally, he thought to himself, some action.

116
Aboard the UNSC Necropolis, in orbit around Earth.

While Rhino's ship's were repaired and refitted, Rhino's pilot's clustered around a group of storage crates, doing whatever they could think to pass the time. Dozens of missiles and various munitions were rolled past and fitted into the Longsword's, but one thing that caught Katana's interest were containers marked "Napalm." Katana hurried over, "Napalm?" He asked, "Yeah, napalm, you know, the flammable liquid put in bombs first used in the mid-1940's..." The crewman hefting it responded. "I know what it is," Katana said, "What's it for?"

"Well, in case your COM wasn't working, The Flood got onto Earth, so your gonna take this napalm, fly low over Africa, and give 'em some heat!" "Will it kill them all?" Katana asked in wonder, "Of course not, you idiot! Napalm spreads, but it won't spread all over Africa!" "Ohhhhh." Katana said, "Should we get our helmets and equipment on?" "Ya know, what a good idea, Mr. Flyboy, in fact, I think your going down soon." "We'll be ready."

"Don't give an inch!" Michael shouted over Zeta's COM channel, imitating the centuries old quote. The Covenant were back, rolling down the street and trying to break the UNSC line. Grunts and Jackals were first, hoping to sap the Humans ammo. "Would'ya look at that! Their not even armed!" A Marine yelled. Brutes and vehicles came behind, firing their weapons. Spike rounds, plasma, and grenades hit the UNSC line hard.

The UNSC fired back, destroying the first line of Brutes and vehicles. Within seconds, both sides were trading fire.

-- The State(Our Decrees and Law)(The State Alchemists we've enlisted) 19:35, 1 January 2008 (UTC)

117
'Onboard Covenant Assault Carrier; Memory of Loyalty''. In orbit of Luna'''

How hard could it possibly be to find a Human onboard the Chieftain's own ship? He had continually wondered this as he prowled the halls, hearing noises only to find that they were his own Brutes. Optilus roared in anger and frustration, knowing that the Human would inevitably escape; there were too many options he could have chosen... the boarding ships, the drop pods... those were only two, and they were lightly guarded.

Suddenly, a shimmering patch of air moved in front of him, uncloaking to reveal black armor. "Did you find him?" Optilus growled, "No, Chieftain... the Human has proved... resourceful." "Then find him, fool! Or I shall have your head!"

Optilus was in no mood for failure... the next Stalker that came to him empty-handed would die.

UNSC Base, Luna

The marine's voice wasn't at all familiar, although it did calm him down... and ruined as it was, the base still appeared to have atmosphere. "Who are you?" Spencer asked, and the soldier replied rather quickly; he was very troubled. "Corporal Nicholas Raine, sir. And you might be?" "I am SPART-..., Master Sergeant Spencer Aragold. I was sent here to deal with the Covenant disturbance"

Spencer had almost forgot that the SPARTAN-III program was still classified...

"Come on sir, I'll lead you to the rest of the garrison" Cpl. Raine said, and Spencer followed along. The sooner he dealed with this, the better.

--"Enlighten the path of others-darkness lights its own way"  Monitor  of Installation-07 CommunicationsContributions

118
EARTH

Team Two-Three ever so slowly made their way through a large street of Tianjin. Street lamps were light and held off the darkness. Pierce moved forward in a crouch, the run only lasted a few seconds when he reached the back of a truck and took cover. Looking behind him he saw Heesak "Farmer" Lee coming up next, he ran past him towards the cover of a building then stopped as well. For the whole time they had been making the leap frog movement to advance through the city. They were on a perpendicular path towards what intellegence had stated was a heavily trafficed road.

"Friggin A this is taking forever." Tsubasa said as he stopped next to Pierce, they had been moving for the better part of three hours now.

"Just hang tough." Pierce said then saw Joseph "Joe" Oh run past them now. Pierce got up to run and did his best to keep the sniper rifle from falling from his shoulder. Since they had entered the city he had used his Silenced M7. The barrel length was larger with the attached silencer, he had the stock retracted outward and the foregrip folded upward.

"Point is coming up close get ready." Peter said over the comm. Up ahead they saw the intersection, along with a Shadow passing by. They all stopped and raised weapons. Even slower now they crept forward, weapons leveled and bodies low in a kneeling position. They inched forward watching as a convoy of vehicles pass the intersection. They stopped and went prone, they were less then a hundred feet from the intersection. "Wait till this convoy passes."

"I think this is the last of it." Joe whispered, he checked a palm size screen that showed a satalite image of the intersection. And sure enough a Shadow and Wraith passed then that was it.

"Everybody go!" a harsh whisper came from the intercomm by Peter. The five men of Team Two-Three got up as one and rushed forward. Pierce and Tsubasa were the first to the intersection, they checked the area with leveled weapons, clear. The others reached behind them in their packs and grabbed their equipment. They needed to work quickly only having seven minutes till the next convoy would pass. Everyone set up trip mines and claymores in the streets and sidewalks. Farmer had made makeshift explosives with spike grenades and placed them in areas that infantry would run to for cover when the ambush began. Peter had laid another trip mine in the road and covered it, with the dark of night it would be impossible to see. Altogether they had laid nineteen trip mines, twenty-four claymores, and fifteen other explosives.

"One minute to go!" Farmer said as Pierce laid the finishing touches to his trap.

"Alright we're done here let's go!" Peter yelled and gave hand signals. Team Two-Three immediately melted into the night and ran off towards their next checkpoint.

The large convoy made the slow drive forward. Ghosts, Choppers, Prowlers, Wraiths of both kinds, and Shadows. Beside them were numbers of Grunts, Jackals, Drones, and Brutes. Every so slowly they approached the intersection unaware of what was waiting for them.

The trip mines had been programmed to not detonate till each other mine around them had what it detected was a target above them. So once all nineteen mines were active with targets overhead they detonated.

In an earshattering boom nineteen explosions occured. Immediately the Shadows were destroyed along with the supplies and troops they carried. The Wraiths were gone as well, one had been pushed forward in the detonation and crushed a Prowler beneath it. Ghosts were tossed into the air like nothing quickly coming spiraling down to crush infantry or to land on other wrecks. In the instant explosion most of the vehicles were destroyed leaving only a Ghost, a Prowler and two Choppers. But that wasn't all, the blast wave had come with tremedous force killing all nearby infantry. Only a few were able to limp away from the first blast.

After recieving reports of explosions and no contact from one of their convoys the Brutes sent infantry to investigate. They arrived on scene to see the wrecks and bodies of the convoy. As they approached they then detonated the claymores. The twenty-four claymores went off sending shrapnel that cut through flesh like a hot knife through butter. Each claymore had been placed so that when they went off there was also a cross fire leaving maximum damage. Then the other explovies went off leaving only a few survivors.

Two-Three ran through the streets as quickly as they could and even faster after hearing the first and second set of explosions. Each of them held bright smiles inside their helmeted faces.

Hollywood

119
\\Earth, Beijing\\Battle Time 0200\\596th ODST Battalion\\Gunnery Sergeant Kele Okereke\\

It was 2 o'clock in the morning and Kele still hadn't gotten the bunk that the Colonel had said there was for everyone, so instead he was forced back onto guard duty. He put the battle rifle down for a second to grab his cup of coffee, he was amazed they even had coffee, he was also amazed at the fact that he had the time to drink it. Suddenly there was a loud crack as the comm sparked to life.

"This is Xia He Mak reporting Covenant sighting East and North of Beijing, I don't know how many hundreds, possibly thousands," Mak yelled over the comm as she packed up her equipment to get the hell off the hill.

"Calm down we are sending a warthog to pick you up," the commanding officer said over the comm.

"Thats a negative sir, their closer then we thought, I see grunts 1000 meters and closing," reported another lookout who was closer to Beijing.

"Why are they coming from the north, wasn't there convoys to the South," the commander mused out loud to everyone.

"Sir, Team Two-Three has destroyed some convoys to the South, but I guess our intel was wrong, troops are coming from the North," said another officer.

"What about Xia He?" Okereke yelled out and the slight murmur of chatter on the comm channel stopped.

"She's a big girl she can handle herself," the voice of Captain Alberto rang out through the comm. Captain Alberto had been looking after the crew of the UNSC Iraq since they had left Reach and now everyone trusted him with their lives.

"Good lets get some defenses set up," the commanding officer said with an air that told that it was the end of the conversation.

\\Earth, Beijing\\Battle Time 0200\\159th ODST Battalion\\Iota Seven\\

She looked up at the ceiling of what looked like a medbay. She could feel the weight of the cloth that lined almost her entire body and she felt at her side for something, a gun or anything that she could use as a weapon. She found the familiar handle and trigger of the M6G magnum and brought it under her back as the soft click of the door sounded.

"She is lucky that she is still alive," the female doctor said, both of the doctors didn't even notice that Iota Seven was awake.

"Considering that all the others died," said the male as he checked her vital signs.

"So I'm the only one left?" she asked and the doctors jumped a little as the bandaged woman tried to sit up, but failed and fel back onto the bed.

"Yes I'm afraid, but there is someone here to see you," said the male doctor showing in a tall armor clad figure. He grabed the helmet of his body suit and lifted it off showing the mess of bleached orange hair and shocking Icy blue eyes.

"Well if it isn't the Yanki Iota himself, came to say goodbye to Earth?" she said heaping the sarcasm on her voice.

"Just the opposite I'm here to say hello," said Iota Thirteen.

"Your late, I could have used your help in Hong Kong," she said before taking in a deep breath and letting out and loud cough which was mixed with blood.

"It looks like I'm just in time," he said walking out into the courtyard of the building the medbay was in. He looked left and right at the walls of sandbags that were being erected. Beijing was going to need a lot of help if it were to survive the night.

--SPARTAN-064,Demakhis 05:41, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

120
EARTH - Beijing

"What!?" Christian yelled almost falling from his seat of the cockpit. He then cursed feeling cold water drip onto his lap from a knocked over cup. Cursing again he stood to air out his pants and looked at Andrew who got into his seat.

"Haven't gotten full details but there's trouble comin'!" Andrew said quickly, he wanted to make sure he was refueled. The gauge told him only half full. "Damnit where's the crew?"

"They just went to pick up more fuel...goddamn it why is this so cold?" Christian kept trying to air his pants out and grabbed an olive drab towel nearby.

Andrew cursed under his breath, a Major had just debriefed everyone about the oncoming Covenant forces from the North and possible the East, communications had been a bit rushed and incomplete. But other then that every bird was to wait on standby until recieving orders. "They better hurry...Greg how are things back there?"

Greg checked the turret, it had been replaced along with a full load of ammunition but his main concern was medical equipment. He had set up in the corner a stack of first aids ready to be used. "Things are good, hey Christian any more water left?"

"F*** you!" Christian said still patting his pants with a towel. Andrew laughed as Greg was left wondering what had happened.

EARTH - Tianjin

Team Two-Three made it to the outskirts of the city of Tianjin. They were exhausted from the run, twice they had to take a different route to avoid checkpoints and intensified patrols. They reached their last checkpoint and waited until a whisper came over their comms. "Two-Three?"

"This is Two-Three." Peter said quietly, nobody moved but instead kept their weapons at the ready. They hide underneath shrubs of a park.

"Copy, this is 2nd Recon Platoon, Charlie Company." Slowly from the darkness two marines advanced with weapons leveled. They stopped halfway and waited until Peter broke from his cover and advanced towards them.

"You guys are late." Pierce heard Peter say over the comm.

"Things just got busy, we'll need to hurry, come on." The first marine said in a whisper. Peter gave a hand signal and the marines watched as four other ODSTs appeared from the dark. "Come on this way."

A small run led them to an alley where two warthogs were parked. One was armed with a Gauss canon and the second was a troop transport. As they neared the gunner on the Gauss turned the turret towards them until confirming they were friendlies. Two other marines approached them from the Warthogs, "Sorry to rush things but we've got to hurry Beijing's in trouble."

Pierce and the rest of Two-Three entered the transport as the marines boarded as well. He wondered why there was only two warthogs, they'd be in trouble if they got ambushed. But hearing about "trouble" might explain things. "Where are the other supplies?" Tsubasa asked looking around. They were told they would resupply for other ambushes after meeting up.

"We're not really sure how or why but the Covenant have shifted their troop movement towards the North and East. What you guys already took out probably broke back bone of Covenant in this area." One of the marines said from the passenger seat. "So the mission has changed somewhat. We're going straight to Beijing and help defend it or something, intel is a little messed up at the moment."

"Intel is always messed up at the moment..." Farmer said under his breath as he leaned back in his seat. He looked out at the Warthog in front of them as they broke out from the city.

"Spirits incoming!" A marine said over the comm.

Everyone looked up, it was odd to hear Spirits. Most had been replaced by Phantoms but then again Spirits were more usefull as supply carriers. Pierce saw them, there were only two and luckily no Banshees flying air cover. "Those things are flying low, they must be heavy with something." Joe said looking at them, the fact that they were flying low didn't really mean anything. But flying low when there wasn't much of an enemy presence in the area could mean something.

"They also look like they're heading North." Peter said.

"We're gonna do something stupid then...Bryan bring em down!" The marine said into the comm.

"Got it!" was the reply and then a pause. "Firing!" came over the comm and the ODSTs looked at the Gauss turret. It was pointed upwards and fired three rounds followed by another slight pause and another three rounds.

The ODSTs then looked towards the Spirits. The tuning fork shaped ships flew unaware of what happened. The rear Spirit took the three hits, each hitting the cockpit. The right prong began to detach from the hits and soon broke free and spiraled to the ground. The rest of the ship listed to one side and made a steep decent into the ground crashing in a ball of flames.

The second Spirit took similar hits, this one however lost both of its prongs. The two carrier bays spin through the sky until hitting the ground with a tremedous impact killing and destroying all onboard. The Cockpit itself exploded in midair and rained small pieces of debris down.

"Good hits!"

"Nice one Bryan!"

"Let's hurry up and get outa here." Peter said tapping the smiling marine's shoulder.

Hollywood

121
Lewis was tired. He had just walked fifty miles through the hot desert. He looked down at his abdomen, and noticed that the spiker round was still there. He pulled it out, wincing from the pain. He set it down, and proceded to walk. After the banshee crashlanded in Algeria, he knew that he had only 60 miles to go to the nearest port... and water. He was thirsty, but it had only been two days. He knew that the human body could surivive five without water, so he knew that he was still good.

01:23 Hours, Coast of the Med. Sea.

Lewis had made it. He felt relieved, but he had to get a boat to cross the vast sea. The former coastal town had been ravaged by the invading Covenant, and there were destroyed buildings everywhere. Lewis found a house, full of supplies and a bed, still farily intact. He drank some of the water and went to sleep, relieved that he had found shelter. -- AJ

122
Cornawall Memorial Highway//MARS

The convoy of Warthogs and Scorpions rumbled forward. Captain Charles Davidson sat in the passenger seat of an M831 Warthog. He pulled a map off the dashboard and opened it. He concurred that they had about 30 miles until they reached the objective, the outskirts of New Manilla. He looked at the scenery to pass the time. He had once heard that Mars was quite a beautiful planet. It wasn't anymore. The smell of blood and smoke filled the air. He saw burning fields and destroyed JOTUN harvesters. He saw New Manila's burning cityscape in the distance. He saw the bodies of farmers and their families burning in roadside ditches. Damn the Covenant, damn every single one of them he thought as he shook his head. He looked down and saw his MA5B laying next to his seat. He picked it up. He prefered the BR55HB SR Battle rifle, but his assualt rifle would do the job just the same. He pulled a clip off his belt, slammed it home and then cocked the weapon. You can never be too ready, he thought. He looked up. He noticed a faint green glow in the foliage up ahead. He clicked on his COM and ordered the convoy to halt. At that moment, the lead Scorpion melted as green plasma ripped through it.

"Out! Everybody out! Covenant ambush!" he yelled as he jumped out of the warthog. Two Hunters stepped in front of the convoy. The Captain took cover behind his warthog as a green plasma bolt melted the ground were he had just been standing. He saw several marine corpses near his vehicle. He swore. This mission had barley gotten off the ground and it was already looking bad. He ducked out of cover and fired a short burst from his assault rifle. This is useless, he thought. He saw movement behind the Hunter pair. four Wraiths came up behind them and began lobbing blue plasma at the pinned down marines."Shit!" He yelled as a blue plasma mortar round headed straight for his warthog. He darted out of his cover and sprinted to another Warthog were 3 marines were taking cover. He looked at them. One had an 99D-S2 Sniper rifle, and the other two had battle rifles. "Marine, do you think you can take out those hunters?" he inquired to the sniper. "Yea, gimme a sec, sir" the marine responded. He stuck his rifle out form the cover of the warthog, and looked through the scope for a couple of seconds and then said, "Got'em in my sights sir." "take the shot." There was a deafening crack and one of the hunters went down. "Dammit! The other one saw me!" the marine said. Davidson peeked out of the cover of the Warthog and saw the hunter charging it's fuel rod cannon. His stomach churned. Right before the hunter fired, a Jackhammer rocket flew into it. There was a huge explosion as the the hunters plasma cooked off. Jack Ames ran towards their Warthog hefting a SpNkr rocket launcher.

"Boy is it good to see you Major. That was close," the captain said as he slicked back his blond hair. He opened a COM channel with the UNSC Alexandria, which was in orbit. "Alexandria, this is Captain Davidson. Our convoy is pinned down by enemy armor on grid Oscar 5/6. I am requesting air support." he said. "Captain, your situation is understood. Longswords on the way," the Alexandria responded. The captain then opened an open UNSC COM channel."Any UNSC Survivors on on Grid Oscar 5/6, fall back into the tree line. Friendly air support inbound." He then pointed to the marines behind the warthog. " Get moving! All hell is about to break lose!" he shouted. As he reached the tree line, his COM crackled. "This is Major Williams of the 11th Frontier Defense squadron. Is the highway clear of friendlies?" Davidson looked over the tangled mess that had been the convoy, and then said " Yea, the highway is clear." "Roger that." Moments later he heard the familiar roar of longsword engines and then there was a blinding white light.--user:spartan-E11

123
EARTH

Major Chris Jaeger tossed his cigarette away into the sand around him. It was unbelievably hot at the moment and a slight wind blew sand into his face. Using a handkerchief he wiped his face and turned to his M808B Scorpion MBT. Major Chris Jaeger was the commanding officer of the 17th Armored Battalion just sent down to the surface onto the Suaz Canal and prevent any Loyalists from crossing into the Middle East. The mission seemed somewhat pointless, if the Brutes really wanted to get around all they needed to do was use their ships. But he took his orders and did what he could, his four companies Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta had set up in a long line, large mounds of dirt and sand created defilade for the Scorpions revealing only the tops of the turrets. Th 17th was made of sixty-two vehicles, fifty-one were Scorpions, three Rhinos for support, five Warthogs and two mongooses made up the recon platoon, and an Elephant was used as the command post. "Blake? Anything on the horizon?" Chris asked through his radio as he entered his Scorpion, his driver Paul and machinegunner Kenji gave him lazy salutes, he didn't really care knowing they were both tired.

"Actually sir...yes." Captian Blake Harris said, he was in command of Delta Company which held the recon platoon. "Two companies of Wraiths, four Shadow transports, and a number of Choppers and Prowlers, most fun of all is a Scarab."

Chris cursed, his battalion could handle everything but the Scarab. "17th combat alert! Check displays for sitreps!" Chris fierously typed a series of buttons and sent the information of numbers and location to each vehicle in the battalion. "Bravo Company move to these positions and be ready to flank and strike the Scarab from behind!"

Captain Akira Kurematsu acknowledged and his seventeen Scorpions moved from their deflade to positions on the line's right flank.

"Hold fire, Captians assign targets let's hit em hard in the first blow." Major Jaeger looked through his computerized sights, one by one the oncoming Covenenat vehicles were marked red signaling a Scorpion had targeted it. He himself put his sights onto a filled Shadow, he could see a blue glow around it given off from battery packs and a number of Brutes and Jackals sitting around. Slowly the Loyalists neared whiled the 17th held their fire. "One my mark...Three...Two...One...MARK!"

Hollywood

124
Sky above New Manila// MARS

Major Isaac Williams Longsword bomber swept low over the highway. He checked his TAC map. The convoy was just ahead. He now had visual on it. There wasn't much left of it, just a pile of burnt, twisted metal. "Sigama 2 and 3, this is Sigma 1. I'm going in low to strafe the column," he said. Acknoledgment lights winked on, on his helmets heads up display. He moved his target recticle over the four wraith mortar tanks and fired. Two Archer missiles screamed towards the covenant tank column, destroying all four vehicles. He pulled up 30 yards from the target and swooped around to get kill conformation. He opened a COM channel with Capt. Davidson. "Targets destroyed sir," he said. "Nice job major." He grinned at the destruction he had just wreaked on the Covenant armor. "Sigma 2 and 3, lets head back to base." "Roger th... sir, im picking up Covenant Loyalist contacts, bearing 2-3-0."Lieutenant Emily Ackart said. "Understood. Lets give them a warm Martian welcome." he replied. The Major turned his ship west and saw the contacts: Five Saraph intercepters. He opened fire.

Cornwall Memorial Highway//60 miles south of New Manila// MARS

Captain Charles Davidson looked up at the dogfight taking place in the sky, and then down to the four marines he had left. The marine with the sniper rifle, Cpl. Steven McCoy, had disasembled his rifle and was now cleaning it's barrel. Major Ames was scavaging for more Spnkr rockets. The other two marines, pvt. Che Santiago and pvt. Lee Hou were checking the wreckage for wounded. The captain sighed. He wouldn't be able recapture New Manila with four men. Santiago came up to Davidson."Report." Davidson said. "sir, we fond three survivors behind the wrekage of that Scorpion. All three are wounded, one of them seriously. Hou is back there trying to bandage them up but they need to see a professional." the private said."Understood. Are they movable?" the Captain inquired. "I, think so sir." "Ok, get them back here. If you see any weapons, grenades etc., feel free to bring them along." Davidson said."Yes sir."the pvt. said as he walked away. Davidson walked over to their last working radio and opened a channel with the UNSC Alexandria."This is Captain Davidson. At the moment, we have succesfuly reppeled all covenant forces but our casualties are at nearly 100 percent. I have wounded and require imidiate extractioin." Davidson said. "Understood captain, pickup is on the way." Davidson stowed the radio and examined their defensive position. If the covenant attacked them while they waited for the pelican, they would be utterly destroyed. "McCoy assemble that weapon. We may need it before our pickup comes." he said to the marine. The captain thought he heard a low familiar hum behind him. He turned around.

"Phantom!" he screamed. he looked at his men. Hou and Santiago had just come back with the wounded and had found some incindiary grenades. Major Ames had found 5 more rockedts for his Spankr and McCoy was still in the process of assembling his weapon. "Ames, use the Spnkr and kill that things plasma turrets. Santiago and Hou, kill anything that comes out of that ship and McCoy, aim for the brutes. As the covenant troops came out the bottom of the ship, a Jackhammer rocket smashed through the ships forward plasma turret. The Captain picked up his assualt rifle and began firing at the grunts that had just dropped from the belly of the Phantom. Three went down sparying blue blood and mathian. Hou broaght another one down and Santiago took down the last two with a three round bust from his Battle Rifle. Out of the Phantom came 3 brutes; a Chieftain and two bodyguards. Davidson grabbed an incindiary grenade and three extra clips for his MA5B. "Cover me," he said. He ran forward and took cover behind a destroyed Scorpion closer to the phantom.

The Brutes began to advance. Davidson jumped out of his cover and emptied a whole clip into one of the bodyguards. The brute fell to the ground in a puddle of blood. He reloaded and turned his attention to the other bodyguard. He primed one of his grenades and threw it at the brute. As the Covenant warrior caught ablaze, he fired a quick burst into it's chest. The brute fell to the ground with a wet thump. The brute Chieftain roared in anger. Hou and Santiago emtied their rifles at the brute but the rounds bounced off it's energy shield. Davidson swung out of his cover to fire a burst from his assault rifle. The brute leveled it's spike rifle at the captain and fired. Davidson felt a searing pain spread through his body. He fell backwards onto the hot asfalt. he looked up and saw a spiker round loged in his right thigh.The brute Chieftain began to walk towards him. The brute pulled a Gravity hammer off it's back and wielded it over it's head. He heard a deafening crack and the brute's head was gone. As the Brutes body fell next to his, a squad of Jackles came out of the Phantom. They turned on their energy shields and began to advance on the marines in a Phalenx formation. He heard the familiar sound of Palican drop ships behind him and felt someone grab the back of his collar and begin to drag him.

---user:spartan-E11

125
UNSC Alexandria// 3rd Frontier Defense Flotilla// MARS orbit

Captain Charles Davidson stepped onto the destroyer's bridge and winced in pain brought by his newly bandaged wound.

"Captain on deck!" Commander Robert Glendale shouted as he snapped to attention, followed by the rest of the Command crew.

"At ease" he said as sat down in the command chair and pulled out a Knosis cigar. The brand was a rarity because the industrial world the cigar was named after, and incidentally made on, was glassed by the Covenant a few years back. The Captain sighed. The Covenant were not only destroying Human colonies, they were destroying Human culture. He put the cigar in his mouth and lit it.

"Sir" said Coms officer Lewis Gibson."Message from Admiral Chan." "Put it through" said the Captain. Davidson pulled the command chairs Data pad in front of him as the Admiral's image appeared. "Captain, sorry about what happened planet side." he said. "So am I" the Captain responded. There was a couple of seconds of silence and then the Admiral said " I've gotten word that the Seperatists are sending a large fleet to the Sol system and will give assistance to the recapture of New Manila. Their fleet, led by the the Emblazing Justice, will..." the Admiral paused and talked to someone off screen. He returned. "It seems we have company, Captain. 15 Covenant Loyalist ships just entered the system."

UNSC Merrimack// 3rd Frontier Defense Flotilla// MARS orbit

Admiral Henry Chan looked out the Merriamacks large viewport at what was left of his Flotilla. HIGH COM had taken most of his ships and given them to Fleet Admiral Terrance Hood in his defense of Earth. He only had 11 ships at his command now. It didn't make him happy but he never questioned his orders. The Admiral walked towards the bridge's TAC station. "Status report on that covenant armada, Julian," "Sir, they've found us and are advancing towards our current position." the TAC officer responded. The Admiral then turned his attention to the COMS officer, Ensign Jack Carlson. "Send a message to the other ships, to fall back to the dark side of the planet." He then turned to NAV officer Chrystene Richards. "Set a course for sector j/13A." Yes Sir," she responded. He returned to his Command Chair and once again looked out the viewport as the other ships of the flotilla turned as they recieved their new coordinates.

"Sir" Said TAC officer Frair."All ships are heading to the rondevue point... except the Alexandria."

"What?" the Admiral spat. "The Alexandria is not heading for the new rondevue point. In fact, she's setting a new coarse FOR the Covenant armada." He Turned to Ensign Carlson. "Set up a COM link with that ship. NOW!" he said. Captain Davidson's image appeared on his Command Chair's Data pad. "Goddamnit Davidson, What the hell are you doing?" Davidson paused for a few seconds before answering. "Paying an old friend my respects." "Well what in the name of Sam Hill is that supposed to mean?" but befor he could finish the, the image of Davidson disapeared from his data pad. "Dammit!" the Admiral said. He got out of his command chair and headed for the Situation table were he tracked the Alexandria's movements using one of the table's built in computers. The closest Covenant ships cosisted of one carrier and three frigates. A thought sprang into Changs mind as the destroyer set a collision coarse with the lead frigate with her emergency thrusters.

As the Alexandria launched one her Shiva Nuclear warheads, TAC officer Lieutenant Julian Frair said "Sir, are you seeing what I'm seeing?". "Yea" the Admiral said quietly as his jaw dropped, " Davidson is making a Keye's loop..."

UNSC Alexandria// MARS orbit

Captain Davidson watched as the Covenant fell for the same manouver his old friend had made at Sigma Octanus lV. "Sir, their firing plasma torpedoes," TAC officer 1st Lieutenant Riccardo Moretti said. "Understood. Lieutenant Deville, turn hard to starboard on my mark." Davidson said as he looked out the Alexandria's viewport at the incoming plasma. "Ensign Bardem, launch the nuke now." Davidson said. "Aye skipper." the Plasma was practicly apon them now. Deville nervisly turned to face him. Davidson waited a couple of seconds and then said "NOW!" The ship lurched as it moved away from the incoming plasma. "Sir, Plasma succesfuly avoided, but, it's coming back around," said Moretti. "Good. Lieutenant Deville, put us back on our previous coarse with the lead enemy friagate." Davidson said. "yes sir." Davidson watched the nearing Covenant frigate out the destroyers viewport. In about 30 seconds, his ship and the Covenant ship would collide. "Lieutenant Deville, pull up," the captain said. "Yes sir," She said with a sigh of relief.

The UNSC ship shook as It grazed the Covenant warships shields. The enemy ships shields flickered, then disappeared. As the human ship pulled away, there was a loud explosion as the Covenants own plasma ripped through their lead frigate. The command crew whooped with excitement. "Settle down, don't party yet. We still have a whole Covenant armada to take care of.

"Lieutenant Deville," Davidson said. "Use our momentum and slingshot around the planet." "Yes sir" she responded. He walked over to weapons officer Ensign Bardem's station and said, "On my mark, insert your firing key and detonate that nuke."

"Yes sir." He responded.

Davidson looked out the bridges viewport and waited until the Covenant flotilla was out of sight. "Ensign, detonate that bomb." The weapons officer turned his key and flipped the detonation button's cover off. He pressed the button. As the destroyer came from the other side of the planet, the captain once again turned his attention to the weapons officer. "Arm our MAC gun Ensign, and prep our missile pods," "Yes sir" he responded.

UNSC Merrimack// MARS orbit.

A blinding white light filled the Marrimack's bridge. When it cleared, Admiral Chan saw the Alexandria round the other side of the planet. The surviving lead ships, including the carrier, had lost their shields. The Admiral saw Archer Missiles leaving the Alexandria. He turned to his COM officer, Ensign Jack Carlson.

"Tell the flotilla to engage the Covenant armada. Get the UNSC Haddock and Carahee to make sure the Covenant don't launch any more troops onto the planets surface." "Understood sir," he responded.

As the flotilla changed coarse, the Covenant opened fire. Three human warships disintigrated under the power of the covenant plasma fire. "Dammit!" the Admiral said. "Sir" said the Weapons officer. "Our MAC cannons are now online." "Understood Lieutenant. Open fire with everything we've got." The ship thundered as the MAC gun fired. he watched out the ships viewport as the enormous slug ripped through a Covenant Cruiser. "Hell yea!" the Admiral said as the bridge crew cheered. "Lieutenant, fire missile pods 1-15 at the closest Covenant cruiser," Chan said. "Aye sir," the Weapons officer said. He looked out the view port and saw hundreds of Archer missiles headed for the Covenant armada. The missiles destroyed 3 destroyers and crippled the armada's last cruiser, but not before it fired a wave of plasma at the Merrimack. The Admiral was knocked off his feet as the ship shook violently. Chan sat up and put his hand to his head. he felt blood. Sat up and looked at the bridge. Lieutenant Frair was on the ground. The Admiral slowly stood up and walked over to the TAC officer. He had a pulse and would probably be alright, but he couldn't worry about him at the moment. He looked around and saw that the rest of the command crew were at their stations. "Status report!" he said.

"Fires on decks 1-4. We're venting atmosphere as well sir. Countermeasures are in place and blast doors are closing, sealing off those area." said Ensign Carlson. "Status on the enemy fleet," the Admiral said.

"All enemy vessels have been... wait, sir I just lost contact with the Haddock and the Carahee. Sir it seems the last covenant carrier just broke through the atmosphere for New Manila." Chan sighed and walked over to the command chair and sat down. He pulled the chairs data pad out in front of him.

"Ensign Carlson, I want a COM channel with the Alexandria asap," the Admiral said. "Yes sir," Carlson responded. Captain Davidson's image appeared on the Admiral's data pad. "Captain" the Admiral proceeded. "I should have you thrown in the brig and stirpped of your rank. But..." he said. "You probably just saved our asses and we're going to need you anyways. The last carrier broke through our defenses and is now over New Manila. We need it taken out." "Understood Admiral." Davidson responded. "We're on it,". ---user:spartan-E11

126
EARTH

A thunderous roar broke a peaceful silence. Overhead birds had panic from the sound and flew in every direction like flies. But as soon as the roar came it was gone, as well as most of the Loyalist unit. In a first strike the 17th Armored Battalion fired with fifty-one Scorpion tanks and three Rhinos. Immediately the unexpecting Covenant mobile unit heading in their direction stopped mostly because most of the vehicles were destroyed. Wraiths and Shadows were hit with a flash of red and orange then engulfed in a light of blue. Ghosts were tossed into the air like pebbles and spiraled their way down to earth and hard sand. Infantry on foot throw themselves on the ground and covered their heads as explosions erupted all around them. One Shadow took a hit and stop, soon secondary explosions caused the transport to be blown into the air and crush a chieftian. However the one thing that didn't stop was the large monsterous Scarab. Armor piercing rounds had hit the legs and caused some damage but not enough. Already its main weapon charged to fire as its secondary turret spat blue plasma towards the 17th.

However the 17th had been smart, their defilade had provided enough cover to keep their vehicles safe and their crews unharmed. Another volley was fired most aiming at the Scarab. Then Bravo Company led by Captian Akira Kurematsu drove from their cover like Major Chris Jaeger had ordered. They held their fire as they speed around the Scarab in hopes of not drawing its attention. But soon the secondary turret turned and fired a burst that destroyed one Scorpion and another damaged. Akira was in the lead now, he was behind the Scarab and his machinegunner was having a field day mowing down Covenant infantry. Akira fired his cannon at the Scarabs back, another Scorpion did the same and soon the rear armor was blown away. A flaw in the design which the UNSC took advantage off. Now the power core was visible and another Scorpion fired to destroy it. The Scarab took the hit and stopped. Its mechanical legs bucked under the weight and the turret offlined, blue sprays of plasma escaped from holes and cracks. Bravo Company speed away to gain distance and head back to the 17th as the Scarab blew. A blinding light engulfed the Scarab, three of the crew were left with slight eye damage that could be easily repaired later.

Major Chris Jaeger smiled at how well his men preformed just now. But a fire and a colomn of black smoke from one of his tanks reminded him of how many he had lost. Today they had been lucky, only three dead, a destroyed Scorpion and another that would need to have one of the tracks replaced.

"Sonofa...SIR!" yelled one of his staff members. Chris turned to him as the lieutenant handed him a data pad. "An update on the situation here sir."

Chris frowned than looked at the screen. The lieutenant could hear him whisper "Son of a bitch."

Hollywood

127
Five Hours Later

Lewis had finally crossed the Med Sea, and off in the distance, he saw fires. As he tried to walk, he collapsed, and closed his eyes. He was too tired to walk any further. As he went to sleep, he dreamed about his wife, who was serving on a Prowler somewhere in the Sol System, and his two Sons, who were serving on Mars...

The Next Morning

"Sir, there is an UNSC Soldier here, he may be booby trapped. Permission to check out the body?"

"Permission Granted."

Private Hawkins walked over to the man's body on the beach. Many a-time, the bodies of dead soldiers were often booby trapped, killing many UNSC Army and Marines. The Private was assinged to Solar System Defense Unit 8/23/4, and he had served with the unit ever since 2551. He slung his MA5C ICWS Assault Rifle and prodded the body. When the Private turned around, a hand grabbed his foot and pulled him down.

Lewis stood up, looking at the UNSC Army Private. Lewis saw that the Private was in fear, and so, Lewis stated his name, rank, serial number, and the name of his now decimated unit. The Private relayed it back to UNSC HIGHCOM Facility Bravo 2-5 and Lewis' information was confirmed. Lewis walked over to the Warthog the two Privates drove over in, and they took him back to UNSC European Command outside of Madrid, Spain, EU. -- <font color="Red">Your Worst <font color="Red">Nightmare  01:19, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

128
EARTH

A cool breeze was in the air, a setting sun painted the sky with its colors of reds, oranges, and pinks. Slowly the sun would sink into the horizon of the ocean and the world would go dark. The only sound to be heard was the branches of a tree being pushed around by the breeze, its leaves rustled and few were blown into the air making lazy loops till it eventually landed gently onto the ground. Pierce watched the scene, he stood on his yard with his hands dug in his pockets. A sliding door opened and footsteps were behind him. Arms came around him holding him close, he could feel the weight as the person rested their head against the back of his shoulder. "Dinner is ready." Hanako said softly. Pierce smiled softly and turned around to face her.

Pierce was felt his stomach go in knots and felt dizzy. He heard someone yelling and a constant roar. He now woke from his dream, and found that he was pinned inside the Warthog transport which was flipped over. Pierce was overcome with the smell of metal being melted by plasma. Looking around he saw the body of one of the marines, his body was suspended upside down still being held by the seatbelt of the driver's seat. Pierce tried to move but couldn't, he stopped for a moment till he heard the rattle of an assault rifle. Pierce could look out a bit through the wreckage and could see that the second Warthog had been luckier, it had only driven itself into a ditch and stayed motionless besides the Gauss cannon firing from the rear. Along the ditch he spotted the rest of the marines and Team Two-Three firing from their cover. Their rounds went across the road and across a field in the distance, about a hundred meters away he could see the source of the plasma shots.

He reached around him and thanked God that his sniper rifle was still intact. He brought it up to his shoulder the best he could and aimed through the sites. He could only get an angle on a Grunt firing a plasma turret, he took the shot and saw the methane tank blow away as the Grunt almost split in two. Another Grunt soon took its place and met a similar fate. When Pierce saw a third Grunt come he fired one round to kill it and another to disable the weapon.

"PIERCE! Hold on man!" Tsubasa "Wing" yelled, he had thought his friend was dead but hearing the loud cracks of the sniper rifle put away that thought. "COVER!" He yelled and sprinted from the ditch to the overturned Warthog. He came to a sliding stop in front of Pierce, he could see how metal bars had pinned Pierce and prevented him to move. He tried to lift but that was a stupid idea, he tried to think of a way to remove the bars. Only one came to mind. "Sorry bout this!" He extracted his pistol and shot the ends of the bars a couple times, twice the ricochets almost hit them but it had worked. With swift kicks he removed the bars and Pierce pulled himself out with his arms. "Come on lets go!"

---

Major Chris Jaeger realized now why they had been placed on the Suaz canal. It wasn't to stop Covenant forces from leaving the area. It was to prevent the spread of the Flood. "Son of a bitch." He whispered. Now he was just pissed for getting briefed in such a way. "Get all the company captains here now for a briefing."

129
En route to New Manila// MARS

Four Pelican drop ships hurtled through Mars' atmosphere. Captain Charles Davidson slammed a clip into his BR55 Battle Rifle. Davidson walked into his Pelicans cockpit stood over the pilot. "Our ETA is three minutes, sir". "Understood bring us down on top of the Parliment building," Davidson said.

He looked out the window at the quickly approuching city. Fires had sprung up over a third of the city and the orbital elivator had collapsed. He could now see the Federal district of the city. The houses of parliment and the governers mansion looked secure. "Good" he thought. "Sir" said the pilot. "Im picking up some contacts on the ground. Their probably anti air batteries. We'll most likely be receiving some flak, so i suggest you strap in."

He turned around and walked out of the cockpit. He sat down in one of the empty seats in the back of the ship, not taken by the marines. As he strapped in, the Pelican shook violently. The pilot made an evasive maneuver and one of the marines vomited. At that moment the pilot screamed as the cockpit boiled away from the heat of plamsa fire. The ship began spinning uncontrolably as it fell towards New Manila. One of the Marines who had unfortunatly not strapped in, fell through the gaping hole that had been the Pelicans cockpit moments before. He heard a grinding sound as one of the ships wings fell off.

Everything went black. -user:Spartan-E11

130
Before marines had thought that Wraiths were the main artillery of the Covenant, boy were they wrong. Beijing had been hit by wave after wave of faster traveling and stronger blots of wraith shot. Half the city laid in ruins, thousands had been injured or killed in the intense bombardment of the city. Several companies had been holed up in the Forbidden City and now were fighting of the Covenant who were banging of the walls of the forbidden city, leveling those walls was no problem for the Covenant War machine.

Thousands of grunts and jackels made up the first wave, quickly following the cannon fodder were hundreds of brutes. They employed a tactic of running in tossing every spike grenade they had spend a clip of spiker or brute shot ammo then run out again. They had lost twenty brutes in this method, but the humans lost over one hundred. Kele witnessed one marine being grabbed by a brute as it ran out. The marine had shot of his own arm so that he could crawl back only to stepped on and shot with a clip of spiker ammo.

Kele lifted the sniper rifle to his shoulder and took the shot, first the brute was knocked back by his shields bursting then his head exploded form the second shot. Kele wouldn't run out of ammo anytime, he had over 200 sniper bullets sitting beside him in little boxes. What was sad was that he started with over 800 hundred. Hundreds of grunts lay on the bloodied battlefield with sniper ammo embed in their chests, "A waste of ammo," one marine had said as he threw a clip aside.

A bone jarring boom was heard mixed the rattle of machine gun fire. The three scorpions had taken out a lot of Covenant, they had started with seven. Marines fired from the 40 pillbox style buildings one which Kele sat with another marine. They had started with over 150 pillboxes. Trenches had to be abandoned as the filled with dead bodies and flooded with blood. Several marines came back in fits saying they were swimming in the blood of friends.

However one described the battle, there was one sentence that everyone said the UNSC was loosing this battle. The last battle of Beijing, the last battle of China, maybe the last battle of Asia.

--SPARTAN-064,Demakhis 03:02, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

131
New Manila//MARS

Davidson woke to the smell of charred flesh and smoke. As he opened his eyes, he realised that he was up side down, still strapped into the pelicans seat. The drop ship had flipped over and crashed on the top floor of a garage. Davidson reached up and unclipped himself from the seat. He fell to the ground with a thud. The smoke filling the cargo bay made him cough, as he felt around on the floor. He felt something, only to relise it was a body. Davidson felt his way to the rear of the ship and stumbled out the open door.

He slowly stood and looked around. He saw movement behind one of the civilian sedans. A marine stood and beckened him over. Davidson strode over and took cover next to the marine.

"It's good to see you sir. No other survivors," the marine said. "Understood. We have a radio?" Davidson said. "Not one that works sir. We're on our own until we get to the rally point." the marine said in return. "Right. Lets get indoors. The Covenant will be all over the place in a few minutes." Davidson said as walked over to the crash site and picked up a M90 Shotgun laying next to a marines body. He loaded 5 shells into it and said,"Lets get moving".

-user:spartan-E11

132
Major Chris Jaeger had just debriefed everyone of the situation at hand. Now his battalion were working on ways to better themselves against the incoming infection. Most of the Scorpions loaded themselves with Beehive rounds, simple anti-personal rounds that when fired went off at a certain distance then exploded outwardly like a shotgun round. Some went out to the distance to plant the few mines they had while others tried to outfit their Scorpions. One of the more popular ideas was the "Dragon" simply taking out the machinegun turret and replace it with a flamethrower. Now all Chris wanted to do was to smoke a cigeratte so reaching into his breast pocket of his unarmored uniform he took one and brought it to his lips and quickly light it.

Hollywood

133
Lewis sat up on the hard cot. His vision was blurred at first, but soon it settled. He stood up, and walked through the bombed out base. The Covenant were wreaking havoc, but there was soon a glimmer of hope. In scattered reports, Master Chief SPARTAN-John-117 had sacrificed himself to detonate some strange construction known as "The Ark". Lewis looked around, then a voice came over the intercom.

"Would Sergeant Major Arnold Lewis come to the office of General Jake Nican?"

Lewis turned, and hobbled down to the office of the Commanding General of all UNSC Marine Corps forces in Europe. He sat in his metal chair, wearing the standard UNSC Combat uniform, with a M-6G pistol on his desk. Lewis walked in, wearing his combat uniform bottoms and a t-shirt. He saluted, and the General turned around.

"Sergeant Major. According to this testimony, you were captured in the Battle of Kenya, tortured, then broke out after these parasitic freaks came onto the ship. It appears that you got into a Banshee, flew to the coast, then got into a boat where you finally collapsed on the shoreline. Is this true?"

"Yes Sir."

"Well then, if we win this war, I'm putting you up for a commendation."

"No Sir."

"Say what Sergeant Major?"

"No Sir, I refuse to accept any awards until all of this is over."

"Suit yourself Sergeant Major. These are your new orders. You are being sent to Germany to fight in Berlin. Have Fun."

"Yes Sir."

Lewis turned around, and walked out. He walked through the base to the armory, where he got his full combat uniform, a new Sergeant's cap, a BR-55HB SR, and one of the old M6D pistols. He walked out of the base, then got into a Warthog and drove off into the distance.

-- <font color="Red">Your Worst <font color="Red">Nightmare  19:26, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

134
Berlin, EARTH The building shook as another plasma missle hit the ground. The 2 LAAGs continued to fire down the street, towards the Wraith that had kept the marine Company pinned down for 4 hours. The platoon was the only surviving troops left in Berlin. The Covenant Loyalists had done quite a number on the city. After 3 crusiers dumped their troops in the city, the marines spung a huge traps, killing three-forths of the troops in the city. It also destroyed the Marines. So the survivors, all in the downtown area, took a position around the Berlin Bank, which was 60-story building. They had 4 Scorpian tank, 8 Warthogs and 16 SPANKr Missles pointed away from the building. They were all ready to hold the city until reinforcemences ultimetly came. They were ready.

135
EARTH

Team Two-Three fired from the small confines of the ditch. Two other marines were there with the five ODSTs and another on the Warthog's Gauss canon. However that marine was cut down in a hail of plasma and needlers. So the seven men kept to their cover and fired in random intervals. Pierce and Tsubasa rolled to their right and lifted themselves slightly to fire. Three loud cracks of Pierce's sniper rifle brought down three Brutes and a long burst from Tsubasa silenced a plasma turret. But almost just as soon as they were up they dropped down again from incoming spike rounds. "Quite the fix aint it?" Joe said firing over his head.

"Not exactly sure what to do now." Farmer said trying to reload while making himself as small a target as possible.

"Wing! Go for the Warthog we'll cover!" Peter yelled taking his grenades and reading them beside him. "We'll make a run for it!" Soon everyone readied their grenades, explosive and smoke were set and when Peter gave the word everyone tossed the grenades and opened fire.

Tsubasa sprinted for the driver's side. Hopping in he started the engine and brought it in close as the others climbed from the ditch and onto the frame. They held onto anything avialable as the Warthog fit for three now held seven. Farmer got onto the turret and fired as they quickly made their get away.

Pierce sighed heavily as they got away. They now were heading to the dark colomns of black smoke of Beijing. "Hanako...koishi...honto ni koishi. Ai shiteru. Sayonara." He whispered to himself and to the thought of his distant love.

---

"What the fuck is that?" Owen asked over the battalion comm. Major Chris Jaeger looked through his pair of binoculars to the horizon. He could see the object or objects in this case and didn't know how to react.

"That would be a herd of elephants...a herd of infected elephants." Lieutenant Jung-Suh Kim replied over the comm. Some of the men in the battalion laughed while others looked on in horrow. It made sense, somewhat, the Flood infected everything so why not mammals.

"Those things are still a threat, open fire." Chris said over the intercomm. Ironically he stood on top of the battalion's Elephant vehicle as he gave the order. Alpha Company's Second Platoon opened fire with beehive rounds that cut through the herd however from the depths of the elephants and other animals spawned the small infection forms that had grown inside. Another volley fired this time with a mix of beehive and explosive rounds which quickly stopped the threat.

"This is getting really fucked up..." Chris heard one of his staff say while they walked back to their station. He couldn't help but agree. So much of this war had "fucked up," his wife was dead, many loved ones of his men and women were dead. Now Earth was on the verge of falling and to add salt to the wound the Flood had arrived. He could only sigh for now and wonder when the next attack would come.

Hollywood

136
When Lewis finally reached the front, it was a mess. Marines were cowering under overturned warthogs, and the Brutes were slowly moving forward. Lewis shifted his cigar, a habit that he had picked up during the insurrection, and moved foward. He found a cowering Marine Private, and told him to stop hiding and fight. Lewis moved around, under heavy fire, and boosted morale. Lewis slid to behind an overturned Scoprion, and began to fire. The Brute Regulars began to fall under the onslaught of his BR-55HB SR, and Grunts began to fall under the power of his M6D. Lewis reloaded, and threw a fragmentation grenade. It landed right next to a Brute Chieftain, the one that was running the whole show. Lewis exposed himself to fire, then shot the Brute chieftain in the head. The chieftain collapsed and fell. The Brutes, seeing this, began to flee. The Marines, seeing the large aliens retreat, screamed "OOORAH!!!" and pushed forward. Lewis moved forward with them, at the front. -- <font color="Red">Your Worst <font color="Red">Nightmare  19:58, 17 February 2008 (UTC)

137
//December 13, 2552, 0510 Hours// //Sol System, Terra// //Austin, Texas //

The human strike force, a convoy of vehicles, accelerated through the bombed out city-scape. In the distance, columns of black acrid smoke drifted upwards, and fires dotted the nearby skyscrapers. Glassy cracked patches of ground could be seen far off, and the road had bits and pieces blow out of it.

Bruce shifted his feet on the landing skid of the hornet, and felt the restraints tug at his standard ballistic armor. His body ached, and wind clawed at the patches of exposed clothing on his armor, numbing several parts of his body. Below him, several warthogs accelerated forward, those with turrets sweeping the area. Bruce looked down and saw the ground flying past as the convoy zoomed through the streets, towards their target.

The covenant supply convoy was moving over the Tatum overpass, a steel and metal highway that sat 50 meters above the ground, and had a single level. The area had been hit hard in the invasion, and all forces there had been wiped out. The Covenant were moving troops and supplies across the overpass to support offenses elsewhere, such as in Chicago or Boston. An excessive convoy of Shadow transports was moving across the highway, on roads that had once been filled with commuters.

Bruce gazed into the distance, and saw a portion of the highway that was their target. The covenant convoy would arrive there soon, within an hour, and the small UNSC force planned on setting up a killer ambush zone. Below, the hogs, three in all, put on an extra burst of speed to keep up with the hornets and the Pelicans, accelerating to their top 78 miles per hour. Bruce glanced to his left, where Lance crouched patiently on his end of the hornet. He seemed so calm, so serene, Bruce admired him for it.

The convoy force soared for a moment over open space, and then the hogs swerved sharply to the left where an exit had once let commuters get off of the highway. The hogs leaped onto the highway and came to a halt, as the hornets and the Pelican dove sharply, and came to a halt five meters above the ground. Bruce grabbed his BR55HB SR, and leapt from the landing skid, yelling as he went.

He touched down and crouched to absorb the impact, bending his knees to dissipate the shock. Bruce came up from his crouch and looked around. Everywhere, marines and ODSTs were dropping off of hornets and the Pelican, or else piling out of the warthogs. Demolitions specialists were already moving, setting up mines and using portable jackhammers to dig deep foxholes into the concrete, so that the troops would have a place to hide from view when as the convoy approached.

The bridge itself was a mess—chunks of slate grey concrete were piled and strewn over it’s once flat surface, and dents and craters provided good trenches. The still burning wreckage of civilian cars dotted the sides, where civilians had abandoned their vehicles to find shelter. Most of the vehicles had been destroyed during the invasion. Bodies, both those of marines and those of civilians, covered parts of the bridge, and Bruce quietly cursed when he saw the remains of a young couple, still holding hands.

A squad of marines toting BR55HG SAW/ICs and M41 Rocket Launchers rushed past, and Bruce saw a group of engineer marines measuring a space to be cut into, to allow hiding places for the hogs. Heat washed over Bruce as the hornet above him rose, and maneuvered towards the end of the bridge. The other hornets followed it as it darted down underneath the bridge and vanished from sight.

The pelican touched down on its landing wheels and extending cargo bay doors, easing onto the rubber wheels with a thud. Immediately, several marines set to work unloading supplies from it, gathered from the corpses of the covenant, and refitting the missile launchers and chin and bay chainguns. Bruce stepped towards it, and watched as marines hefted fat ANVIL-II missiles and slid them into the rocket pods.

Sparks flew and hammers thudded as deep holes were dug in the surface, and Bruce moved and retrieved a package of Lotus mines from the pelican, excess ordnance that the dropship had acquired during a pickup. Lance stepped over to him, and Bruce handed him a satchel full of mines, taking a satchel for himself.

“Lets set the perimeter.” Said Bruce, and Lance nodded.

For the next thirty minutes, a variety of preparations were made. The chain gun on the back of the pelican was removed and placed in a makeshift bunker of concrete blocks, camouflaged to look realistic. Foxholes that we shoulder deep were drilled, and mines were set up all along the bridge, right in the kill zone. Almost two dozen BR55HG SAW/IC gunner emplacements were set up, all with good lines of fire. The hogs were rolled into pits that covered everything but the barrels of their weapons, and those were carefully disguised. The trap was set.

//December 13, 2552, 1730 Hours// //Sol System, Terra// //Madagascar, near middle of island//

Scott pushed a tree out of his way, swept the area ahead with his assault rifle, and then signaled all clear. Behind him, Jason stepped through a particularly dense patch of jungle, slicing his spikers like machetes and clearing away the vines with ease. Maya was still slung across his shoulder, though she had stirred several times in the past few minutes. Hope fully she would be awake soon.

A snake slither stealthily past, but Scott ignored it and peered into the jungle. Once, a small town of Ampefy had been located nearby, but during the rain forest wars it had been destroyed and left for ruin. An eerie red glow was coming from the foliage ahead, about 200 meters. Scott gestured to it at Jason, and he nodded, running his fingers down his face in the signature SPARTAN smile. Time to go hunting.

Scott advanced steadily forward, using his strength to push aside vines and trees as if they were saplings. Scott spotted a clearing ahead, and headed towards it, sweeping his rifle around the entire area. No movement, no targets.

They walked into the clearing, and Scott saw something very, very strange.

The trees within a two hundred meter square area had been flattened, and small flames burned away at dozens of twigs and trees that lined the outside of a thirty meter deep crater that covered the middle of the clearing. The crater was easily a hundred meters large, and Scott could see lines of shattered trees that had been thrown back from the shockwave of the impact.

At the center of the crater, a large rock, the size of two pelican dropships, sat steaming. An eerie red glow resonated from it’s center, and flames from reentry burned all around it. Something seemed to be moving around inside it, squirming around underneath the surface. A few startled animals were making their way towards the thing to check it out, but Scott didn’t want to get any closer than this. Something didn’t sit right with that object.

Suddenly, a chunk of rock moved underneath the object. Several animals jumped back, sniffing the air, with wide eyed innocence. Abruptly, the chunk exploded outward, impaling a small animal. Scott watched in a flood of bulbous pod like creatures poured out. The creatures latched onto the animals, and transformed them into something horrific before Scott’s eyes. The entire object exploded, and hundreds of the pod creatures zoomed outward, latching onto nearby animals or chasing some down.

Scott turned to Jason, and saw from his body language that he was just as disturbed as himself.

“Move it!” he yelled, and Jason turned as a shrill scream filled the air.

//December 13th, 2552, 1345 Hours// //Sol System, Lunar Surface// //Letronne Crater, Lunar Complex G/T/39 //

The space above Luna shined like a miniature sun, as one of the Covenant Pickets engines detonated. Jagged pieces of superheated metal and hundreds of bodies tumbled out of gargantuan holes in the side of the ship, as vacuum sucked crewmembers and equipment out. The remains of the ship slowly nosed into the ground, then hit it and fragmented into dozens of smaller pieces.

Major Brock Juno let out a hearty laugh at the destruction, as a cheer broke through the comm. That was the third picket they’d brought down so far. Along the Lunar surface, wreckage, from craft both human and Covenant, made the once smooth grey ground look like a garbage dump. Charred metal and bodies covered everything within a ten mile radius.

“145th, form up now!” cried Juno as he glanced down at the roster.

The human fighter numbers were dwindling. Almost fifteen craft had been shot down since the attack on the Pickets had begun, and more than half of Juno’s squadron was gone. It only held five pilots, including himself. They would probably have enough ships to take down the remaining pickets, but if another assault came…then things wouldn’t be so hot.

As the Rapiers of the 145th swooped in behind Juno, he checked his boards.

Their current target, marked by the other squadron leader, was a picket that was already damaged. It had strayed to close to the mountains, and the heavy guns hidden there had shelled it numerous times before it managed to retreat. It had retreated an survived, but it was badly damaged from the ordeal. It listed badly on one side, a result of destroyed anti-gravity generators, and its shields flickered weakly. A (hopefully) easy target.

Banshee fliers, modified for vacuum combat, circled around the picket, creating a screen around the ship, plasma cannons charging with an electric blue light. Many seemed damaged or partly disabled, which led Juno to believe that these were survivors left over from the failed invasion. Even if not, the slow and lightly armed banshees were no match for the Rapier fighters.

The Rapiers roared through the fighter screen, cannons flashing, cutting through the banshees like tissue paper. Man sized chunks of insect like metal fell to the surface, crashing into the Lunar plain and sending up clouds of dust. The human formation passed through the banshee screen and out the other side, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The remaining banshees tried to retaliate, and turned and fired. But their cannons were no match for the Rapier’s armor. Small amounts dented or boiled away, then the Rapiers were out of range and heading straight for the picket.

Pulse Laser fire, tinted a shining blue, lanced into the Rapier formation, and two ships detonated. The remaining ships, Juno included, took evasive action, rolling and juking out of the line of fire. Sweat beaded down Juno’s neck as he slammed his stick hard to port, rolling just in time to throw off a Covenant gunner’s aim. A blue laser flashed centimeters above his fighter. The Rapiers opened fired, and dozens of orange plumes of exhaust started flashing towards the Picket’s weakened side.

The Picket redirected it’s fire to the incoming barrage, and slagged almost half the missiles before they were within range. The remaining missiles slammed into the Picket’s weakened side, penetrating it’s shields, and then exploding against the straight hole. The fire blossomed and ballooned inside the shield, melting through armor and equipment. The ship tilted, tried to correct it’s burn, then it cracked into two separate pieces. Smooth, red hot metal fell to the dusty Lunar plain.

“One down, one to go!” cried Juno.

Spartan 501 15:25, 19 February 2008 (UTC)

138
EARTH

Wing brought the warthog to a stop, a good thing to as two of the tires were about to go out due to excessive damage. The seven crawled out of the vehicle and looked around at the outskirts of Beijing. They had arrived at a medical field hospital where wounded were being treated and loaded into pelicans. Pierce looked at the three drop ships and their tags, on looked oddly familiar from his time in Seoul, Romeo-017. He took the thought away though as a lieutenant came up to them, he was tired obviously, his eyes blood shot red. "Glad to see a team of helljumpers." the lieutenant replied as the men straightened up and saluted. "Team Two-Three?"

"Yes sir." Peter replied loud and clear, he could see blood around the lieutenant's ears and wondered if it was his or anothers, and if it was his how was his hearing.

"You guys were supposed to link up with command in Beijing, but as you can see Baby Kongs here screwed that up." the lieutenant said taking off his helmet and rubbing the stubs of red hair of his shaven head. "We're cut off with the rest of the forces and have heavy casualties." A medic carried a wounded soldier over to a field docter as he said this. "Right now we've only got a platoon's worth of able marines." A distant cry of agony broke their concetration for a moment but they turned their gaze back at one another. "We're gonna try to make our way back to the main force soon so you guys came in just in time. There's plenty of ammo and supplies, it's just a matter of you takin' it off of the dead."

"How are we moving in sir?" Peter asked for his team.

"Two Pelicans are gonna unload us on top of a skyscraper and we'll make our way down, less distance to travel and we can hopefully bypass the patrols around here." The lieutenant said. Two loud cracks were heard from a distant sniper who radioed in reporting he had taken out a Brute patrol. "Get plenty of ammo, you'll need it."

Pierce and Tsubasa looked at each other. Near a metal tent was a pile of weapons, mostly assault rifles and battle rifles. But there was also the long sniper rifles stacked next to M247 GPMG SAWs. Tsubasa shrugged his shoulders and went for the weapon, the weapon was mostly crew served or placed in defensive positions but they had also been produced as Squad Automatic Weapons. The weapon itself was the same only lacking a tripod and used a box of two hundred rounds placed oddly on the right hand side of the weapon. He took the weapon, it was heavier than an assault rifle but was still comfortable. Also he and Pierce took as much of the box ammunition as they could carry without hindering their movements. Pierce took six boxes and more ammunition for his sniper rifle. With both the automatic weapon and the precision of his rifle they would be a deadly force. The others loaded up as well taking with them grenades, ammunition, water, more ammunition, and more grenades. The Lieutenant had been right, there was plenty of supplies to go around.

Twenty-three marines sat or stood in small groups in front of two Pelican dropships as the lieutenant was talking to the pilots. Soon the officer and the pilots nodded heads and went separate ways, the pilots quickly entered their Pelicans and started their engines quickly going through the process to fly. The lieutenant looked at his marines than pointed with his finger at separate groups to enter the Pelicans without saying a word, it would be unless as the roar of the engines and the wind carried away his voice. Everyone got up and ran to their designated dropships. Team Two-Three entered the second and were the last to board, within a minute they were all airborne.

Hollywood

139
UNITED NATIONS SPACE COMMAND COLONY WORLD EARTH, SOL SYSTEM, December 14, 2552 (MILITARY CALENDAR)

As the Sun began to rise over the plains, Lewis squinted through the mirrored visor of his helmet. Today, him and his new platoon were assigned ODST Body Suits for the operation. This operation was suicidal, but anything good was better than nothing. The day before, Lewis recieved this message:

PLNB Priority Transmission XX991J-XX Encryption Code: GAMMA Public Key: N/A From: CODENAME NECRO To: UNSC PLATOON 8-5 Subject: COVENANT CRUISER Classification: EYES ONLY TOP SECRET (SECTION III X-RAY DIRECTIVE)

Tomorrow, you will attempt to board the Covenant Cruiser Justified Regret and plant a FURY TACNUKE inside of the ship. This will be a suicide operation, and I pray for your success. This is necessary for the survival of the Human race. Godspeed.

/end file/ /scramble-destruction process enabled/

Press ENTER to continue.

Lewis had only picked his best soldiers for the operation, who were mainly NCOs. Many had served in the Insurrection, mainly in TREBUCHET, an operation Lewis was involved in. His mind quickly leaped from the past to what was now happening. The Hornets were now landing a fair distance from the gravity lift him and his platoon were supposed to climb. The Covenant had left it undefended, as they felt that they were winning the war. Lewis jumped from the Hornet and checked his map. The gravity lift was about ten miles south south west of thier position, and Lewis could see the dark outline of the Cruiser as it stayed in orbit. After a few hours of waiting, Lewis ordered his platoon to move out.

1400 Hours

Lewis crouched on the rock that jutted out from the cliff. Down below, Lewis saw Unggoy loading Plasma torpedos onto the Grav lift. To the UNSC, the Unggoy were easy pickings. They were in a valley far below them, and only commanded by a single Unggoy Major. Lewis ordered his Designated Marksmen, armed wtih SRS-99DS2 AMs to start firing on the group. They fell, and methane and blue blood flew everywhere. Lewis checked his COM frequency, which was hacked into the Covenant Ship's Communications, to see if anybody was running. Lewis heard only static, and they moved into the valley and onto the Gravity lift. Lewis saw the value in the Plasma Torpedos, as they would suffice as explosives.

Five Minutes Later

"Sanchez, are those torpedos hooked up yet?"

"Yeah Sarge, just a little more... got it!"

"Alright Marines, move out."

As soon as Lewis turned to begin walking, the door on the far end of the cargo room opened. In came a Jiralhanae Chieftan, armed in gold armor and wielding a giant Hammar. Lewis silently motioned to his sharpshooters, who quicky unslung thier rifles, and fired shots into the Brute's head. The first shot took down the shields, and the second split the large creature's head open. The Marine platoon then ran to the grav lift, and moved back down to the surface.

Two minutes later

As soon as Lewis hit the ground, he ordered his team clear of the lift. They ran into the cliffs, and Lewis flipped the detonator. In space, the plasma torpedos exploded in a muffled sound. At first, Lewis thought nothing happened, but not even a second later, the torpedos set off other munitions, causing the whole Cruiser to explode inside of its shield. It was quite the fireworks show, and Lewis called the Hornets for extraction. -- <font color="Red">Your Worst <font color="Red">Nightmare  18:44, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

140
EARTH

Andrew Sharp leaned back in his flight seat snacking on a package of dried mangos, they now became his new addiction. He looked around the cockpit as Christian lay asleep on the floor catching some shut eye. Greg was in the back of the bay trying to clear the blood from the floor but it had proven difficult after it had dried. The crew of Romeo-017 had flown over thirty flights that day and were given some rest, mainly to refuel and rearm. He stuff another sliver of the dried yellow fruit into his mouth and chewed slowly, it tasted sweet and quelled his hunger. "Greg give it a break and get some rest man." Andrew called out kicking his feet up, right now this was the closest to heaven he'd get without becoming another casuality.

"Just gimme some more of the mangos and I'll be good for another hour." Greg called whipping his forehead with his arm, his gloves were turned dark and wet from the blood.

Andrew looked down at the dried fruit, "Not sure I'm willing to do that." He said as he put another one in his mouth. He was thankful that he had found the crate of them near the base.

---

Pierce and Tsubasa nervously looked over the edge of the megaskyscraper. Pierce immediately felt a sense of vertigo and stepped back and slightly leaned his body over the edge. Tsubasa backed away completely and gave a low whistle. "I'd hate to be you." he said as Pierce slowly tried to overcome his fear of heights, he step up the sniper rifle on the edge and looked through the scope. With full zoom the marines below were only a couple inches tall as they slowly made their way up the street.

"Sniper Team One in position, Team Two-Three you're clear to move." Pierce said through his comm set. He got comfirmations from the members as the remaining three moved from the building into the streets. He and Tsubasa were to give sniper support as they made it up the streets, luckily the megaskyscrapers were connected by small footbridges so they too could move with the unit and still stay elevated.

"Hold it, got eyes on Brute patrol: two Kongs, six Grunts, and an engineer, looks like they got engine trouble." Tsubasa said, Pierce looked to his side to see that Tsubasa got over his fear as well and looked through a pair of binoculars. "Lieutenant permission to engage?"

"Red light, no go, don't wanna give out our position just yet. Keep eyes on em until I give the word." The lieutenant replied over the comm set. Pierce adjusted his rifle and looked through the scope again, his aim was right on the Brute's chest but odds were from this range he'd hit a limb.

"Just feel like wasting a few." Tsubasa said bringing his M247 SAW closer to him. "Hate this waiting stuff."

Hollywood

141
EARTH

Pierce still kept watch with his sniper rifle, slow but surely the makeshift platoon was moving up. The two of them had kept up as well moving across three megaskyscrapers. The walk across the small footbridges had been terrifying for the two who were afriad of heights.

"Pierce we got three Brutes on guard and we can't move up can you guys take em out quick and quiet?" Peter said over their comm. Pierce set up his sniper rifle and Tsubasa looked through a pair of binoculars. He spotted the three as they stood facing each other having light conversation, their weapons across their backs. Tsubasa quickly gave the location to Pierce who zeroed in on the three.

"I should be able to take em out quickly but not sure about sound, the shots might echo with these buildings." Pierce replied. He placed the reticular right on the center Brute's face plate, with their distance he would be able to get a clean hit.

"We'll have to risk it we can't move up at the moment."

"Got it..." Pierce whispered as he readied himself. Tsubasa picked up his SAW in case they recieved in fire. Pierce calmed himself and switched between the three targets practicing the speed he would need to work with. Now he was ready. "Firing...firing..." He pulled the trigger.

The center Brute had just rubbed the back of his neck when the round pierced his forehead, the round knifed through matter and exited the back of the neck to blow his hand away. Before the Other two Brutes noticed the second dropped dead as the round cut through his neck quickly decapitating him. The third Brute barely had time to react, he only was able to reach for his weapon and try to drop to a knee when the third round came and cause the back of the head to explode. With the three quick shots a gentle echo went through the buildings and the platoon was underway once again.

"Bloody Brilliant." Said the Lieutenant.

Hollywood