RP:Operation: WARDOG

Rules
Rule 1: What I say goes

Rule 2: Try not to make dozens of posts before everybody else can reply :]

Rule 3: The obvious of no godmodding

Rule 4: If you want somebody to die, ask the owner of the character.

Rule 5: The RP occurs in the Necros Era

Rule 6: UNSC forces are split into three groups, the active SOCOM, which is mostly the SPARTANS and supporting special forces, ONI, who are keeping an eye out for them and the 5th fleet, who are arriving in several weeks

Rule 7: There is a death cap of three SPARTANS. Well two, I claimed one already. First come first serve

Rule 8: The RP will be fought in a 'unusual' method, that will be detailed later

Rule 9: You can add your units up now

Rule 10: RP will begin in febuary, so you got plenty of time to get your heads sorted for it

Rules on Adding new units

 * SPARTANS: on the SPARTAN-IV Program (Ajax 013) page is a list of all squads. Feel free to take control of one of these platoons or just take control of a squad, or even just a team. Be sure to obey the squad structure, I'll tell you if your doing it wrong, for more help, see Halo Fanon:SPARTAN IV.
 * ONI: ONI are there in a observation capacity. They'll be operating the tacical command centres and satillites support the SPARTANS and giving them tactical support.
 * SOCOM: aside from the 117th, other SOCOM units present include
 * Special Naval Support Unit: Operating observing Prowlers that support the 117th with observation and intelligence gathering
 * Special Reconnaissance Service: Special Recon will be there in small amounts, providing some recon for the 117th
 * Special Aviation Attack and Reconnaissance Unit: SAARU will be delivering the SPARTANS on day 1
 * Advance Naval Warfare Group: The ANWG will be launching hit and run raids on the orbiting Brute fleet to distract them before the arrival of the 5th fleet and keep the 117th safe.
 * Joint Evaluation and Tactics Group: JETG will be there for evaluation of the SPARTANS


 * UNSC 5th Fleet: They will have a comparitvately short part of coming in, blowing up anything in space and securing groundside and relieving the IVs. Feel free to add your own battlegroups, regiments and squadrons, most of you should be familiar with how they work.
 * Brutes: No real rule, just remember, your standing in the way of 2000 7 foot tall tank armoured demons, who are now superior to you in every way imagineable. :]

Order of Battle
I'm sure your all familiar with how I do Role Plays on here, but WARDOG will be something a little... different. The operation will commence over a number of 'weeks' (not in real time) and within each week, there is at least one raid for each SPARTAN platoon. After this raid, its patrolling buisness, recon, and brief breaks, happy camping and the such. This RP will be as much devoted to emotional development as it is to 7 foot tall green humanoid tanks tearing about space apes. I'll post the raids and details for them for you fellas, then you go and tear some suckers up, with me effective acting as 'Dungeon Master' for those clued in on Dungeons and Dragons nonsense. Eventually there will be 'final raids' which is done by battalion, so expect it to be bigger, better and bolder. :P

Introduction
"I am your worst nightmare. I have conquered fear, I have come to terms with terror and pain is my best friend. I will come from nowhere, I will dissapear without a trace. My brothers and sisters will lay down their lives for me, as I will for them. I am a UNSC SPARTAN-IV. The first and last line of defence."

- SPARTAN-A044

It is October, 2611. While winter begins on the world of Hannibal III, the war against the Remnant heats up. The 117th Special Operations Regiment is fresh from thier victory, Operation: DEVIANT and now is ready for a challenge. Thier 'test run' had ran smoothly and now they have a chance at truely proving thier worth. The world of Hannibal III has recently been occupied by Brute forces, who are turning it into a slaving operation to bolster thier failing war machine and now, SOCOM and the 117th have drawn up a plan to defeat the Brute occupiers. While the USNC Navy struggle to resist raids and move through captured territories to Hannibal III, the SPARTANS, as part of a Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) force, will wage a guerilla campaign on the surace of Hannibal III against the occupying force, while Navy elements harass their forces in space, ensuring a even protection for both in the coming battle.

The plan for the SPARTANS could not be more simple. Get down to the surface, get into hiding, then wage a war of terror on the Brute forces. They will raid convoys, interment camps, supply depots, vehicle depots, ammo and fuel dumps, garissons, command posts, supply links, lines of communications and airfields. They will strike out from thier hiding places in the vast caves, waterways and forests of Hannibal III then melt back into the darkness. When the time comes for the UNSC to finally liberate the world, they will attack en masse at the weakened enemy forces. Fourth Battalion would attack the last of the enemies head quaters, ensuring total confusion in the lines of communication and command, Third Battalion are assigned to attack a number of cross road villages, bridges and mountain passes, take them and hold them against Remnant counter attack until relived and destroy a number of key bridges to hamper enemy movement in and out of the designated landing zones. Second Battallion are assigned to securing enemy anti aircraft positions and landing zones and set up forward landing zones for UNSC troops. First Battallion would attack the city of New Oxford en masse and push Brute defenders out by any means. After all this, they would hold against whatever the Brutes could throw at them until the 5th fleet arrives to relieve them.

For the SPARTANS, this is thier trial by fire.

United Earth Government (Necros)
Commander: Lieutenant General Andrew James Lewis

SOCOM
Commander: Lieutenant General Andrew James Lewis

Ground Forces

 * 117th Special Operations Regiment
 * First Battalion
 * Albion Company
 * Bravo Company
 * Charlie Company
 * Second Battalion
 * Delta Company
 * Easy Company
 * Foxtrot Company
 * Third Battalion
 * Ghost Company
 * Halo Company
 * Indigo Company
 * Fourth Battalion
 * Joker Company
 * Kilo Company
 * Lambda Company


 * SRS: A Squadron
 * SAARU: E and F Squadron

Air Forces

 * Attached Airforce units
 * UNSCAF 3rd Squadron
 * Ross East Jr.

Navy Forces

 * Special Naval Support Unit
 * 8 Minerva-class Prowlers
 * 1 Athena-class Prowler Cruiser
 * UNSC Converge


 * Advance Naval Warfare Group
 * 7 Loki-class Stealth Frigate
 * UNSC Loki
 * 1 modified Horus-class Light Cruiser
 * UNSC Storm Rider
 * 3 modified Isis-class Light Cruiser-Carrier
 * UNSC Highwind
 * UNSC Fate of the Gods
 * UNSC Yggdrasil
 * Unsc hazard

UNSC 5th Fleet
Commander: Admiral Patrick Munro

Ground Forces

 * 613th Marine Brigade "White Feathers" - Brigadier General Pierce Hae-jin Hayase
 * 77th Airborne Regiment "Fly Fly"
 * 17th Armored Battalion "Hell on Wheels"
 * 45th ODST Battalion "Tip Of The Sword"
 * 98th Marine Aircraft Wing "Night Scare"
 * 6th Marine Combat Logistics Group


 * 101st Orbital Shock Regiment Screaming Eagles


 * 25th Marine Expeditionary Brigade- Brigadier General Francis Davidson
 * 345th German Armored regiment
 * 226th Infantry Battalion Excalibur
 * Royal 22e Régiment
 * 1st Special Service Force

Navy Forces
130 ships (10 battlegroups)


 * 1 Heimdall-class Frigate
 * UNSC Red Tide


 * Taskforce Echo
 * 3 Destroyers
 * 2 Cruisers
 * 2 Frigates

ONI

 * Lieutenant Commander Jamal-002

Naval Forces

 * 1 Athena-class Prowler Cruiser
 * UNSC Azrael

Covenant Remnants
Commader: Field Chieftain Alectus

Ground Forces
Grand Validus Pack
 * 7 Brute packs
 * Validus pack
 * Bardus pack
 * Pravus pack
 * Amplus pack
 * Astus pack
 * Vitiosus pack
 * Mauravauntus pack
 * 2 Armored packs
 * 3 Aerial Support packs

Sign up

 * Ajax 013
 * Hollywood101x
 * ODST Joshie
 * ONI recon 111
 * Actene
 * Matt-256
 * Lordofmonsterisland
 * 117649AnnihilativeRepentance
 * EliteMaster117
 * Arbiter7290
 * Masterchief46517
 * ShockTrooper
 * Spartan-118
 * SPARTAN-984
 * Spartan-091
 * CF001
 * SPARTAN 119
 * Jawsredfield
 * Spartan 112
 * MasterGreen999
 * FightWithHonor
 * Chim
 * Colass
 * Odysseas-spartan-53
 * SPARTAN-501
 * Just Another Grunt
 * Scarab-Grunt

Ajax 013

 * Faction:
 * Unit/ship:
 * Rank:
 * Equipment:
 * Equipment:


 * Faction:
 * Type:
 * Function:
 * Commander:
 * Unit Size:
 * Unit Size:

ODST Joshie

 * SPARTAN-G024
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit/ship:
 * Rank:1st Lieutenant
 * Equipment:MA6B Carbine MJONLIR Mark VII


 * SPARTAN-240
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit/ship:Kilo Company
 * Rank:Lieutenant, Junior Grade.
 * Equipment:MA6C Individual Combat Weapon System MJONLIR Mark VII


 * Shark Platoon
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:S-IV Platoon
 * Function:Search and Destroy
 * Commander:SPARTAN-G024
 * Unit Size:42 SPARTANs


 * Squad Mako
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:S-IV Squad
 * Function:Search and Destroy
 * Commander:SPARTAN-E024
 * Unit Size:13 SPARTANs


 * SPARTAN-E024
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit/ship:
 * Rank:Sergeant
 * Equipment:BR09 SR MJONLIR Mark VII


 * Joshua McCallan
 * Faction:UNSC/101st Orbital Shock Regiment3rd Battlion Juliet Company
 * Unit/ship:
 * Rank:1st Lieutenant
 * Equipment:BR09 SR M7A SMG M6B Body Armour


 * Squad Bull
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:S-IV Squad
 * Function:Search and Destroy
 * Commander:SPARTAN-E200
 * Unit Size:13 SPARTANs

Hollywood

 * Grey Platoon
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:S-IV Platoon
 * Function: Search and Destroy
 * Commander:Second Lieutenant David Plissken
 * Unit Size:38


 * Squad Charcoal
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:S-IV Squad
 * Function:Reconnaissance
 * Commander:SPARTAN-B053
 * Unit Size:12 SPARTANS


 * 613th Marine Brigade
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:Ground Force
 * Function:Ground Combat
 * Commander: Brigadier General Pierce Hae-jin Hayase
 * Unit Size: 6,000+

ShockTrooper

 * Squad Omaha
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:S-IV Squad
 * Function:Assault Squadron
 * Commader:SPARTAN-H024
 * Unit Size:12 SPARTANs


 * Paul Jackson
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:UNSC 6th Marine Combat Logistics Group
 * Rank:Sergeant
 * Equipment:MA6A Individual Combat Weapon System, Battle Rifle 09 Scoped Rifle, and Marine Combat Armor

Masterchief46517

 * Taskforce Echo
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: Naval Force
 * Function: Naval Combat
 * Commander: Rear Admiral Jacobson
 * Unit Size: 7 Ships

FightWithHonor

 * SPARTAN-C059
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit:Bear Platoon, Charlie Company, First Battalion, 117th Special Operations Regiment
 * Rank: Lance Corporal
 * Equipment: MJOLNIR Mark VII/EOD Variant, A/R Defuser, M-1126 Explosives Installation Tool, Entrenching Tool, 120lb. Bergen Pack, M7A Sub Machine Gun, M6L Personal Defence Weapon System, M362 Anti Tank Mine, M127 Anti Personnel Mine, C-14 Plastic Explosive, M2 AM Grenade, M43 Smoke Grenade, M4 Tactical Knife.


 * Bear Platoon
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: SPARTAN-IV Platoon
 * Function: Combat Engineering, Weapons, Recon
 * Commander: SPARTAN-C108
 * Unit Size: 41 SPARTAN-IVs


 * Weapons Team Juliet
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: SPARTAN-IV Weapons team
 * Function: Combat Engineering, Weapons, Recon
 * Commander: SPARTAN-B101
 * Unit Size: 2 SPARTAN-IVs


 * SPARTAN-E075
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:Eel Platoon, Easy Company
 * Weapons and Equipment:MJOLNIR Mk. VII, M81C ULMG, M9 HE-DP, M7A SMG


 * SPARTAN-C197
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:Bear Platoon, Charlie Company
 * Weapons and Equipment:BR09, M7A, Binoculars


 * SPARTAN-C108
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:Bear Platoon, Charlie Company
 * Weapons and Equipment:MJOLNIR Mk. VII Command Variant, MA6B Carbine, M57, Smoke Grenade

Matt-256

 * SPARTAN-108
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Albion Company
 * Rank: Captain
 * Equipment: MJOLNIR Mark VII, Assault Rifle, Battle Rifle, Data Pads, Frag Grenades


 * Albion Company
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: SPARTAN-IV Company
 * Function: Information gathering, information handling
 * Commander: SPARTAN-108
 * Unit Size: 200 SPARTAN-IVs


 * Fox Company
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: SPARTAN-IV Company
 * Function: Mid-Ranged Combat
 * Commander: SPARTAN-115
 * Unit Size: 200 SPARTAN-IVs


 * Ulric Domes
 * Faction: Civilians
 * Unit: None
 * Rank: Civilan, bartender, former SWAT operative
 * Equipment: Pistol

Lordofmonsterisland

 * SPARTAN-012
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Kilo Company
 * Rank: Lieutenant
 * Equipment: MJOLNIR Mark VII, Assault Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Frag Grenades


 * Kilo Company
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: SPARTAN-IV Company, plus all subdivisions: squads, teams, and S-IV's
 * Rank: Not Applicable
 * Equipment: Pretty much everything

ONI recon 111

 * SPARTAN-H091
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Halo Company
 * Rank: Corporal
 * Equipment: M41B2 MAV/AM, HBR10HB-SR, MJOLNIR MK-VII

Chim
Eagle Platoon
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: SPARTAN-IV Platoon (Under Ghost Company)
 * Function: High Precision Raiding
 * Commander: Wisp Chimasu
 * Unit Size: 41 Operatives


 * Wisp Chimasu
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Ghost Company, Eagle Platoon
 * Rank: Captain (?)
 * Equipment: FPI MK V - MA6A ICWS, BR09 SR


 * Squad Stellar
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Ghost Company, Eagle Platoon
 * Function: Single Squad Missions (Reconnaissance for Platoon)
 * Commander: SPARTAN-G116
 * Unit Size: 13 Operatives


 * SIV-G116
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Ghost Company, Eagle Platoon, Squad Stellar
 * Rank: Sergeant
 * Equipment: MJOLNIR MK VII - MA6A ICWS+M025 Rocket Launcher, M12 SMGx2


 * Fire Team Alpha
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Ghost Company, Eagle Platoon, Squad Stellar
 * Function: Advance reconnaissance
 * Commander: SIV-G023
 * Unit Size: 4 Operatives
 * SIV-G001 (Scout); MJOLNIR MK VII Scout - M12/S SMGx2, BR09SR+Suppressor - Camouflage Cloak Mark II
 * SIV-G144 (Marksman); MJOLNIR MK VII Scout - M1091 SRS23, MA6B Carbine, Camouflage Cloak Mark II
 * SIV-G023 (Leader); MJOLNIR MK VII - MA6B Carbine+M024 Grenade Launcher, M6L PDWSx2
 * SIV-G079 (Heavy); MJOLNIR MK VII - BR09SR, M122 Light Machine Gun+Suppressor


 * Assault Team Bravo
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Ghost Company, Eagle Platoon, Squad Stellar
 * Function: CQB, Anti Infantry, Ordinance Disposal
 * Commander: SIV-G101
 * Unit Size: 4 Operatives
 * SIV-G101 (Loader/Leader); MJOLNIR MK VII/CQC - M12 SMGx2, M108A1 CAWSx2.
 * SIV-G036 (Heavy Weapons specialist); MJOLNIR MK VII/CQC - AIE-486I Heavy Machine Gun, M108A1 CAWS.
 * SIV-G080 (Combat Engineer); MJOLNIR MK VII/EOD - MX12 Directed Ion Energy Rifle, M108A1 CAWS.


 * Nick SIV-G100 (CQB Specialist)
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Ghost Company, Eagle Platoon, Squad Stellar, Assault Team Bravo
 * Rank: Private
 * Equipment: MJOLNIR MK VII/CQC - MA6A Individual Combat Weapon System+M023 Shotgun (Assault Rifle with attached Mauler), MX4 Light Support Weapon (Human Plasma Rifle), M4 Tactical Knife (Knife)


 * Fire Team Charlie
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Ghost Company, Eagle Platoon, Squad Stellar
 * Function: Perimeter Formation and Holding, Sniping support, Anti-Vehicle
 * Commander: SIV-G034
 * Unit Size: 4 Operatives
 * SIV-G092 (Suppressor); MJOLNIR MK VII - BR09SR, M122 Light Machine Gun+Suppressor
 * SIV-G034 (Leader); MJOLNIR MK VII - MA6A ICWS+M024 Grenade Launcher, M6L PDWSx2
 * SIV-G117 (Marksman/Spotter}; MJOLNIR MK VII Scout - M1091 SRS23, MA6A ICWS+M023 Shotgun


 * SPARTAN-G049 (Sniper/Anti-Vehicle)
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit: Ghost Company, Eagle Platoon, Squad Stellar, Fire Team Charlie
 * Rank: Private
 * Equipment: MJOLNIR MK VII Scout - MX12 DIER, MA6B Carbine+M025 Rocket Launcher -

colass
Hazard company
 * Lt Dukes
 * Unsc hazard
 * Ensign Phillips
 * The Duke of Hazard

civilians


 * millennium hand and shrimp gang

SPARTAN-984

 * SPARTAN-A034
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit/ship: SPARTAN-IV
 * Rank: Sergeant
 * Equipment: M7S SMG, Shotgun, MA6B Carbine, MJOLNIR Mark VII CQB


 * Marathon Squad (Under Epsilon Platoon)
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:SPARTAN-IV Squad
 * Function:Information gathering, technology gathering, information warfare
 * Commander:SPARTAN-A034
 * Unit Size:Currently only the CO

CF001

 * Francis Davidson
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:25th Marine Expeditionary Brigade
 * Rank:Brigadier General
 * Equipement:M90D Close Assault Weapon System


 * Mary Lee Davidson
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:Battlegroup Everest
 * Rank: Vice Admiral
 * Equipement:M57


 * Genevieve Tanner
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:1st Special Service Force
 * Rank:Colonel
 * Equipement:M73D Carbine,M7A Sub Machine Gun


 * Isabella Portelli
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:1st Special Service Force
 * Rank:Colonel
 * Equipement:MA6A Individual Combat Weapon System, M10 Personal Defence Weapon system


 * Jim Ambrose
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:25th Marine Expeditionary Brigade
 * Rank:Sergeant Major
 * Equipement:Battle Rifle 09 Scoped Rifle


 * Steve Daniel Huang, Senior
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:226th Infantry Battalion Excalibur
 * Rank:Colonel
 * Equipement:Sniper Rifle System 99G-S3 Anti-Material


 * Spartan-A067
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:Squad Athens
 * Rank:Master Chief Petty Officer
 * Equipement:MA6A


 * Spartan-A008
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer secondClass
 * Equipement:M73D Carbine


 * Spartan-A033
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Tird Class
 * Equipement:BR09


 * Spartan-A042
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Tird Class
 * Equipement:M90D Close Assault Weapon System


 * Spartan-A027
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Tird Class
 * Equipement:M81C Ultra Light Machine Gun


 * Spartan-A019
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Second class
 * Equipement:Spartan Laser


 * Spartan-A022
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Tird Class
 * Equipement:Battle Rifle 09 Scoped Rifle


 * Spartan-A106
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Tird Class
 * Equipement:MA6A Individual Combat Weapon System


 * Spartan-A081
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Tird Class
 * Equipement:Battle Rifle 09 Scoped Rifle


 * Spartan-A040
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Tird Class
 * Equipement:M73D Carbine


 * Spartan-A004
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Second class
 * Equipement:MA6A Individual Combat Weapon System


 * Spartan-A092
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty Officer Tird Clss
 * Equipement:Battle Rifle 09 Scoped Rifle


 * Spartan-A020
 * unit:Squad Athens
 * faction:UNSC
 * Rank:Petty officer tird class
 * equipement:M73D Carbine

SPARTAN 119

 * Ross East Jr.
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Unit:UNSCAF Third Squadron
 * Rank:Major
 * Equipment:I-660 Spear, M98 Compact Machine Pistol


 * UNSCAF 3rd Squadron
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: Special Operations Fighter/Bomber Squadron utilizing either F/I-905 Claymores or I-660 Spears depending on mission.
 * Function: High-risk aerial operations, both air-to-air and air-to-ground.
 * Commander: Ross East Jr.
 * Unit Size: seven pilots

MasterGreen999

 * Validus
 * Faction: Covenant Remnants
 * Unit: Grand Validus Pack
 * Rank: Chieftain
 * Equpment:Gravity Hammer


 * Grand Validus Pack
 * Faction: Covenant Remnants
 * Type: Regular pack
 * Function: Varied; depends on current situation
 * Commanders: Validus, Bardus, Pravus, Amplus, Astus, Vitiosus, Cruentus
 * Unit Size: 200 Brutes

Jawsredfield

 * Squad Hammerhead
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: SPARTAN-IV squad
 * Function: Search and Destroy
 * Commanders: SPARTAN-E195
 * Unit Size: 13

Sgt.johnson

 * SPARTAN-A015
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Function: Explosive Ordinance Disposal
 * Andrew James Lewis
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Function: Commander of SOCOM
 * SPARTAN-002 (Sgt.johnson)
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Function: Military Adviser

Odysseas-spartan-53

 * Fireteam Bravo (Wasp Platoon)
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Function: Search and destroy
 * Leader: SPARTAN-D053
 * Unit size: 4 SPARTAN-IV's


 * Fireteam Delta (Wasp Platoon)
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Function: Search and destroy
 * Leader: SPARTAN-D078
 * Unit size: 4 SPARTAN-IV's

Spartan 112

 * Crimson Squad
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: SPARTAN-IV Squad
 * Function: Search and Destroy
 * Commander: SPARTAN-B019
 * Unit Size: 13 SPARTAN-IVs

Just Another Grunt

 * Fire Team Papa (Barracuda Platoon)
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:SPARTAN-IV Fire Team
 * Function:Stand around and look good doing it (?)
 * Commander:SPARTAN-E054
 * Unit Size:4 SPARTAN IV's


 * Assault Team Delta (Dog Platoon)
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:SPARTAN-IV Assault Team
 * Function:Deplete UNSC food and air resources (?)
 * Commander:SPARTAN-C006
 * Unit Size:4 SPARTAN IV's

Actene

 * Squad Silver
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:SPARTAN-IV squad
 * Function: Urban Warfare, Mechanized Warfare, Standard Combat
 * Commander: SPARTAN-B071
 * Unit Size: 17 SPARTAN-IVs (including commander)


 * Sergeant Kavin's Militia
 * Faction: UNSC/Hannibal Civilians
 * Type: Civilian Militia
 * Function: Slave rescue, minor guerilla action
 * Commanders: "Sergeant" Dom Kavin (self appointed rank)
 * Unit Size: Variable

Subtank

 * Crossbow Platoon
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:SPARTAN-IV Platoon
 * Function: Reconnaissance
 * Commander: SPARTAN-047
 * Unit Size: 12 SPARTAN-IVs


 * Bow Platoon
 * Faction:UNSC
 * Type:SPARTAN-IV Platoon
 * Function: Reconnaissance
 * Commander: SPARTAN-142
 * Unit Size: 12 SPARTAN-IVs

SPARTAN 501

 * SPARTAN-144
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Unit/ship: Lambda Company
 * Rank: Lieutenant Commander
 * Equipment: M2A Light Assault Rifle w/, Camera, Laser Designator, Suppressor, Small Unit Reflex Optical Gunsight; M98 Compact w/ Suppressor and UV Light; M1091 Sniper Rifle System 23 w/ Augur Scope, bipod, and Suppressor; M9 Dual Purpose/High Explosive Grenade; M70 Flash Bang Grenade; Heavy Battle Rifle 11 Scoped Rifle w/ M023 Shotgun, Small Unit Fire Control Sight; M77 Extreme Close Quarters Combat System w/ Reflex Sight; AIE-486I Heavy Machine Gun; M12 Suppressed w/ Small Unit Reflex Optical Gunsight, Laser Designator, Red laser ;


 * Lambda Company
 * Faction: UNSC
 * Type: SPARTAN-IV Company
 * Function: Recon/ High Officer Force Ruduction
 * Commander: SPARTAN-144
 * Unit Size: 180 SPARTAN-IVs + Command Personnel

Roleplay
12th of October, 2611, 10:51, Nova System, Arcturas, Training area B03-1

“Joyeuse, its all clear, run the program.” First Lieutenant Stephen Mitchell said, rubbing his armoured gauntlet across his shaven head

“Yes sir.” The red hologram responded with a smile. She had the visage of a young and shapely woman with short hair with code running across her body and a deep red tone to her body.

“All platoon leaders, operation is go.” Mitchell spoke into the radio set

A response buzzed through the radio and put Mitchell at ease. He thumbed a second button on his radio pack, patching into a private channel.

“Sir, are you sure I can’t tempt you with the prospect of a warm seat in the TOC (Tactical Operations Centre)?” Mitchell laughed

“No.” The response came, in a dead pan voice.

Mitchell frowned and then switched off the radio pack then looked back to the array of screens in the TOC, displaying an apparently unihabitated village with a large road crossing. He looked over the wide area and smiled. Somewhere, hidden excellently, was almost 200 15 year old super soldiers and their commanders. It almost made Mitchell proud to not be able to see them. He leaned back and watched the events begin to unfold.

First Sergeant Kenneth Tabard stood on top of the concrete tower, leaning on the left side of it and looking over the area down in the valley beneath them. In the training area officially called Military Operations in Urban Terrain, but more commonly known to the SPARTANS as ‘Frag Village’. He looked down at then turned to the large, imposing figure looming over her and the front of the tower.

“Lieutenant Commander...” He said quietly

He seemed to shift his armour, his massive armoured form seemingly moving.

“You have a problem First Sergeant?” He said, his voice was quiet, elegant, yet cold and chilling, something that made him frightened. He was a barely human monstrosity who fought in wars before he was even born. Even after all of that, he didn’t look as ancient as he should. He looked closer to 40. His helmet was firmly planted on a desk in front of him, along with a small holographic projector.

“No El Cee. It’s just that... I know you like being with your Bravo Company. Why not now?”

“Where we are going... they have to become self sufficient. I can’t always be there for them.” He said, picking up a pair of binoculars and zooming in on Frag Village. Tabard raised a set of thermal goggles and observed the field as well, smiling.

“Not a trace.” He smiled.

The holographic projector in front of him erupted and displayed Joyeuse.

“Ready sir, just give the word.” She smiled

“Go.” He said simply.

The SPARTAN looked to the distance and spied a purple blob in the distance. It quickly approached, with more following, and more airborne targets taking flight.

“Which sim it?”

“11B. Limited mobile air support and airborne units, tanks, troops at full capacity.” She smiled

The SPARTAN was silent and waited, his attention grabbed by this little village. Covenant Remnant forces poured in, lead by a Wraith, straight down the main road cutting through frag village. As the lead one closed to existing the village there was an explosion, tearing apart the vehicle, sending incendiary shards into the air which fell back to earth as rain drops of flames. A brutal cacophony of fire opened up, bringing a sinister smile to the SPARTAN’s face. On the ground in Frag Village, 200 SPARTANS leapt from their hiding positions in the buildings, under the ground, in the fields and opened fire. Bullets lashed out, slashing apart Brutes, fires consuming them, explosives blowing them to pieces. Anti air craft missiles snaked up, cutting down dropships and Banshees, sending them tumbling into the fields and exploding. Wolf Assault Suits stormed out of their hiding places, cutting enemies apart and getting into close combat, followed by other SPARTANs, finishing off the survivors. Within minutes it was over and the SPARTANS melted back into the surrounding areas, fleeing by foot or Warthogs.

“Joy, timing.” He asked

“3:36 minutes Ajax.” She responded

“That’s too long. Remnant reinforcements would be hounding them soon. Get them back to Camp Sparta, organize some drilling with the teaching AIs and patch in Eurydice, now.” He ordered, picking up his M108A1 Close Assault Weapon System and putting the sling over his shoulder. He turned back to Joy to see her sharing the holo projector to see a floating, revolving yellow luminescent cube labelled ‘Eurydice’. Ajax immediately frowned and looked to Jaw, his dead hazel eyes giving her a steely gaze.

“Joy, sort her out.”

“With pleasure ‘Jax.” She smiled slyly.

The image of Eurydice fuzzed into existence in place of the cube and immediately she began to struggle against Joy and act flustered. Eventually she settled but crossed her feet over each other and looked down, stroking her arm behind her back. She was a deep blue in cooler with her dropping into purple at the end of her arms and legs. She had an impossible and strange hair style, a collection of geometric buns floating freely of each other and surrounded by a holographic band.

“Uh... hello sir.”

“Eurydice, Joy and Mitchell will send you the combat data, analyse it, compile a report, put it through Thermopylae server and pass it onto me once you’re done.”

“Uh... yes sir...” She said nervously. Ajax picked up his helmet and placed into on his head before he leapt from the tower, making Staff Sergeant Tabard wince.

“Good bye ladies.” He said, clambering onto the ladders and sliding down. The holograms both faded, with Eurydice giving Joy a little push

Tabard landed beside a small crater and walked over to a parked olive green M18 Wolfhound Command Vehicle and walked to the back ramp which had been dropped down. Ajax was leaned over Mitchell, observing recordings of the battlefield.

“Bring it up with Warren, his platoon dropped behind, it could simply be because of their wolves but it’s stressful. Bring it up with Raina that she is far too willing to get into close combat. She was lucky these were only holograms.

“Yes sir.” He said, picking up his comm set.

Ajax walked out the TOC in the back of the Wolfhound and pulled up the back ramp, shutting it and then walked to the front and climbed in, Tabard following him. He started up the engine and began to roll it back to their home camp, with Ajax lying back and gently adjusting the wheel.

“Sir, you know, if you keep pushing these kids, they are eventually going to break.” Tabard said, resting his MA6B on his shoulder

“They can’t afford to break. We’ll push them until they find that point, and then overcome that.” Ajax said, seemingly not caring

“Can we really do that? Isn’t that running a serious risk?” Tabard said

“The SPARTANS can’t have any kind of limit, no kind of barriers. If they break, they can’t continue being SPARTANS. It is a Darwinian but it’s true.” He said, staring ahead

Tabard smiled, hiding his more genuine shock at this statement. He knew his Lieutenant Commander cared for his charges but they were SPARTANS first, his ‘children’ second. Tabard looked back to the road as the grounds of Camp Sparta came up on them quickly.

Ajax paced through the gates of Sparta HQ, his helmet under his shoulder, with his camo cloak tied around his shoulder, making him look like a true Greek warrior. At the heavy bulkhead entrance another SPARTAN, slightly shorter than Ajax, waited, lying against the entrance, her arms crossed. He helmet was clipped onto her waist, revealing her tanned skin, a tell tale sign of her being a third generation Dust colonist, despite being Caucasian in heritage and her auburn hair.

“What took you so long Ajax?” She laughed.

“Sorry El, still drilling Bravo.” He said, walking right past her, making her pout.

“You’re still trying to get them up to your expectations? You know, that might never be possible.”

He didn’t turn to face her and thumbed in a code on the door panel, making it open. The holographic image of a large, almost dog like lion with red fur, a golden mane and a snarling face appeared.

“Fu, is this necessary?” Ajax frowned

The large lion prowled around him, sniffing before sitting to the side and nodding.

“Your clear zero one three.” He growled

Ajax passed him, followed by Elise but stopped and looked back.

“Fu, you overgrown feline, why aren’t you checking her with the ARGUS sensors?”

“I trust Miss Elise more than you.” He said, fading

Ajax snarled and turned, his camo cloak flowing behind him. Elise took a couple of quick steps to catch up with him and moved next to him, brushing up alongside him slightly.

“You know, a lot of the AIs don’t trust you.”

“Of course they don’t, Ajax is what is graded as a ‘wizard-class hacker’” The voice of Joyeuse sounded out before her hologram, life sized, appeared on the other side of Ajax, leaning on him as well, making Elise frown.

“Hey, get off Joy, I saw him first.” Elise scowled, part a real warning, part friendly joking.

Joyeuse laughed and handed Ajax a holographic slate, which exploded with textual data and images, which he scanned through with hand motions.

“So I was right. Tell Eurydice to pass on the improvement stratagems and unit reports onto the respective units. I want everybody well rested and prepared for their next bout of training.” Ajax said, crushing the holographic slate like paper and tossing it away.

“You know, you can keep pushing the SPARTANS, but do you think the officers can keep up?” Elise said leaning against Ajax slightly

“It’ do or die for them as well as their charges.” Ajax said in an uncaring tone. An excellent shield he had made decades ago to protect him from harm from others.

Vincent ‘Ace’ Warren leaned in the cheap plastic chair, his feet resting on the mess table in front of him. The air in the room was thick, acrid and stank, a result of Ace and a few of the other officers and non coms chain smoking Sweet William Cigars while waiting for the analysis of today’s exercise.

“You know jack ass, those things will kill you.” Raina scowled, the smoke making her feel terrible.

“You know, that’s a fucking urban legend. They identified the carcinogenic materials and chemicals that turn into tar in your lungs years and years ago and replaced them.” He smiled, blowing out puffs of smoke in rings

“You kids have no fucking idea.” Rotilla said, gently revolving a cup of water

“Oh, you do that ‘no drinks, no drugs, no sex’ crap right?” Keller smiled, nudging his ribs

“Respectively sir, drinking and smoking is one of the few pleasures we have in the marines, outside of hitting some prostitutes during shore leave.” Gunny Highway said, his cigar rhythmically moving with his speech.

“I don’t do straight edge any more anyway. Waste of fucking time. All these young scene kids coming along and corrupting it. Stupid fucking vegans and shit. I may have been straight edge but I still like a plate of steak.” He said, sipping the water

“Well, that’s just how shit goes.” Pliskken sighed from the other end of the table.

“Life’s a bitch, then you die.” Raina smiled, revolving her cup gently in her hands.

“No, life is a bitch, then your wife leaves you.” Highway laughed

“I’ll second that!”

In the middle of a brief and largely male orientated cheer the hologram of the shy Eurydice appeared.

“Uh, I... I have the analysis here.”

“Great job Eurydice.” Ace smiled “Upload it to my PDA.”

“Already done. It’s on everyone’s PDA. Also, all operation training theatres are open, the list is on Thermopylae server. You know the way it goes, first come first serve.”

Everyone retrieved their PDAs and began to observe their info before muttering amongst themselves.

“Fuck’s sake, Ely is hesitating again.” Ace scowled

“You know, that brat puts you through an awful lot of trouble, just fucking replace her.” Raina said, observing her own

“Ely is a good combat leader until her squad decide to do shit their way. She knows how to lead and direct them but they won’t fucking follow.”

“Ugh... I got the opposite with Motoko. She won’t fucking help her unit.”

“Well, live and learn, let’s go sort those kids out.”

Ace ducked under the half closed shutter outside the hangar and walked calmly in as the Wolf Armoured Suits were put through maintenance. He saw his own, ‘Victoria’ get moved to the maintenance area which made him wince a little bit.

“Hey, be careful with Vicky.” He said, making the techs shake their heads had him. He gritted his teeth then pulled himself away and moved to his squad leaders who were busy fussing over their own wolves.

“Oi, sergeants.” Ace shouted, grabbing their attentions. “I got the reports back from our field engagement. We got problems, again.”

All of them nervously looked to each other then back to their CO. They were all the same height as him and had much superior muscle tone to him but all saw him with a healthy mixture of fear and respect.

“Deunan, your leaving your squad behind again, even the ones in Wolves. I’ve booked you in a trip through the mountain assault course. If you even dream of finishing before your unit, I’m bunking you back down to swabbie.” He said, making the other two laugh and Deunan blush “As for you Ely. You’re letting your unit run riot. Bring them under control or you face the same. I booked in for kill house training. Better keep it together or you’re screwed as well. And... Uh Mike.... you did good, keep it up.” He said, patting the SPARTAN on his back

The SPARTANS looked to each other, with slightly mixed expressions. Ace frowned and then left, leaving them be. As he left, he saw the large green form of a Wolf limp around the assault course, making him frown.

“Sergeant-B095!” He shouted, immediately making the Wolf turn to spot him.

“Uh.... Lieutenant....” A female voice responded from it

“Yeah, I know it’s you. You can’t take your wolf at walking pace with your modifications.”

“I know, I like the agility, increasing the tension in the sheath and shock absorbers allows me to go further and a lot faster.”

“But your screwing the endurance, they wear out a lot faster like that.” He sighed, kicking one of the legs gently.

“El-Tee...”

“From the sounds of things, out next operation, you’re going to need endurance.”

“Sir... You’ve gotta tell me what the next operation is.”

“I’d love to Sarge, but our friendly local ass buster in charge will drum me out of the whole entire corps if I tell you. All I know is, it’s some kind of long endurance operation. Talk to the techs to get Tachi sorted out.” Ace said, finally leaving

Sergeant B095 watched him walk away then waddled away, only to have something push her in the back. She stumbled and regained her balance. She turned around to face Second Lieutenant Raina, who had a coarse grin on her face.

“He’s an asshole, but he’s right. By the sounds of things, we are gonna be in the field for weeks. Can’t have your Wolf in and out of the repair shop.”

“Uh, sure thing.” She said, waddling away to the shop. However, it wasn’t quite over yet.

She finally dismounted, leaving it hooked up to a maintenance frame and as she stepped out, she felt a chill up her spine. A shadow loomed over her, shadowing her. She knew who it was immediately.

“Lieutenant Commander.” She said, turning round to meet the eyes of Ajax.

“Motoko. Come with me.” He said, immediately turning and walking away.

Outside Jerome-C001 waited, looking rather sheepish. Motoko followed her company leader blindly to the communication centre, a large building with a satellite dish on its roof. Once inside, he led them down to a communications room. He forcibly sat them down in front of two consoles then put his hands on their shoulders.

“Both of you are gifted with hacking, even beyond my capabilities. What ONI would call ‘Wizard-class’. I need you to hack something.”

“Sir, why not just use one of the support AIs?” Jerome asked

Almost as if on cue, Joyeuse arrived, appearing on a holotank.

“One probably Charlie zero zero one.” She said, placing a hand on her hip “Seeing as how ONI had a hefty amount of influence in my construction, they have countermeasures to trace me.”

“That’s why Joy and the other AIs will be running an overlapping maze barrier, to protect us from back hacks. Meanwhile, I need you two to dive the target directly.”

“Okay, what’s the target?”

“High Command’s server.”

Both the SPARTANS looked at Ajax as if he was mad.

“Wouldn’t that get us locked in Jail for... ever?”

“Only if they catch you. Besides, we’re only taking a peep at their deployment orders. High level ones.”

“So, the plan?”

“We open a live communication channel and then bounce the message signal through Canaris Major, the Gagarin Nebulae nodes and Nova Bellum. From there, straight to earth, bouncing the signal should make it difficult to trace. From there you two are going to do a direct dive, I’ll be running the primary support with a defensive maze barrier. Joy and any AIs she can harangue into helping us will run a secondary overlapping maze barrier. However, that barrier is only a last resort, as soon as it hits their barrier, you will have to begin extracting yourselves or the ONI attack barriers will lobotomise the pair of you.”

Both of them looked and listened, Ajax having their rapt attention before finally, in unison, shaking their heads.

“It would be quicker and more secure if we bounce the signal around the system.”

“Then we bounce it out of the system in the opposite direction, while sending another signal to Earth.”

“So it looks like we aren’t hacking from Arcturas?”

“Right. Then it’s all up to how long we take to take.”

“Yeah, do we have any particular objectives?”

“Check CODENAME: ATHENA and CODENAME: SPECTRE personal messages and check deployment orders. Search for anything relating to the code name ‘WARDOG’.”

“Okay, will do Sir!” Motoko said “Joyeuse, run Server Thermopylae, sub room CORINTH, password Delta Bee Six Zero Six Ee Alpha Red.” Ajax said, Joy responding with a nod then fading.

Motoko began plugging a fibre optic cable link into her Neural Interface, followed by Jerome and Ajax. Immediately she dived into technicolour acid trip that was cyberspace. Her avatar approached a large circular object, decorated in code. ‘Arcturas’. Jerome and Ajax followed.

Immediately Motoko and Jerome created a web of fake links and passages, immediately creating a confusing pattern. She and Jerome immediately took the web passage beamed over laser links through slipspace. Immediately upon entering the system, they hit the large and powerful UNSC network.

“Launching decoys, initiating ghost hacks.”

“Jerome, keep me covered, I’m going to do a Brute Force attack once all the ghosts and decoys take effect.”

As soon as various duplicate and faked attacks initiated, it a hole the size of a small country in their defensive barrier, allowing Jerome and Motoko to enter their network.

“SPARTANS, keep your wits about you, their attack barriers are already trying to back hack my maze barrier. Providing they keep as they are going, it will hold for two minutes.” Ajax’s voice echoed through their heads.

“Aye aye sir, keeping on it.” They said, busting through layer after layer of defensive barriers.

“I’m coming close to HIGHCOM. These attack barriers are insane, they’re illegal!”

“My Maze Barrier is collapsing, initiating AI defensive protocols.”

On a satellite floating several hundred kilometres above the surface of Arcturas, activity bustled in its advance matrix arrays, the super conducting weave that filled the Satellite was excited by a wave of electron transfers. The cyberspace room created from this wave of data formed into what was commonly called ‘Thermopylae server. Inside the generated room, the AIs of the IV program resided to trade information and commune. However, deeper inside laid a range of hidden servers, CORINTH was one of them.

“So why were we gathered here?” Nemesis growled, impatiently tapping her foot

“Nemmy, calm down.” Themis grumbled

“Seriously, why has that SPARTAN gathered us?” Juliet sighed, growing impatient as well

“Because he trusts us implicitly. This is a difficult task...” Odysseus said, trying to stifle her complaints.

“That SPARTAN... thirteen. I’ve barely talked to him, why would he trust me?”

“He trusts your handler, Zero Nine One. He trusts you by proxy.” Artemis said

With a burst of code, resembling rising flames, Joyeuse arrived.

“Ladies, Gentlemen, unaffiliated avatars and demonic entities.” Joy said, signalling out Jjaro and Baphomet. “You were called here because Ajax needs some back up.”

“Why? What exactly does the walking slaughterhouse need us for?”

“He needs some AI cover... he’s hacking HIGHCOM.”

The room went silent before they all looked to each other and nodded.

“Find, sounds like a challenge.” Apollo smiled

“Ajax, AI support is running fully active, the barrier is up, any back hacks are going to get lost and trashed.”

“Good work Joy, keep the system running. You kids need to pull out, now, this mission is failed.”

“Negative sir, we’re almost in.”

Ajax disconnected his neural interface and got out of his chair in the communication room. He ran to the kids and was ready to pull the plug on this when he saw exactly how close they were.

“You need to hurry.” He growled, looking at their faces, their eyes staring blankly into the screens placed over them. “Joy, things have changed, keep them covered.”

After what felt like an eternity, both of them disengaged.

“Finally, you’re lucky you weren’t fried. What did you get?”

“Uh, we only got one thing sir. This ‘CODENAME: ATHENA’ just cleared operation WARDOG with SOCOM. Whatever it is, it’s going ahead in a month’s time.”

“Joy, you heard the kid, pass the message to platoon leaders and the other company commanders. G2 load outs, long endurance, one month prep.”

“Will do sir.”

“And Jerome, Motoko...” Ajax said, backing off, his face physically grimacing. “Good work.”

“Lieutenant Commander, I have a message for you. Lieutenant Commander zero one three. He’s requested a gathering of all regimental, Battalion and company commanders.” Baphomet growled, fire dribbling from his nose and mouth.

“Right on cue Romanov.” Mel-038 smiled

“Tell Ajax that if he doesn’t stop snooping and being so impatient, bad things will happen.”

“Yeah. I will tell him that.” She smiled, leaning back in the plush leather seat.

“Anyway. Pass on my disregards. Tell that sociopath that if he does it again, I’m closing Sparta’s uplink.”

“Will do. I’ll talk to you later Major General.” She said, putting down the phone.

“ONI, ma’am?”

“Bunch of troublesome fucks that they are.” Mel sighed, taking a bottle of whisky from her draw and taking a quick swig of it, straight from the bottle. “Ahhh.... that hit the spot. Well, ONI may be a nuisance, but Romanov is a good ally of the PHALANX Program.”

With that she rose out of her seat and left her office, heading to the regimental command.

Kelly-087 peered through the door then swore to herself when she saw everyone was already sat in the briefing room.

“Come on Kelly. We’re waiting for you.” Ajax frowned from the pedestal, leaning on the computer desk in front of him. Cheeks bright red, she opened the door and walked in with a sulk, sitting down beside Fred.

“Okay, listen up.” Colonel Teufel began. “HIGHCOM just approved joint operation WARDOG.”

With that Ajax jabbed a number of buttons, making a holographic image of a planet appear, titled ‘Hannibal III’. The word rotated gently, exuding a soft blue glow before the hologram focused on the western continent.

“I’m sure you’re all familiar with your objectives but I’m going to recount them again. The operation is simple. It will be a several month long sustained guerrilla with multiple objectives. We are to destroy enemy communication, transport and command systems, severely damage the enemy’s ability to fight through attacking their fuel, ammunition, infantry, command and vehicle supplies and inflicting terror and fear tactics on the enemy. Using the planet’s natural vast forests, mountain ranges and plains, along with natural and artificial water ways, we will maintain stealth while inflicting maximum damage upon the opponent. A number of Special Recon Service Personnel on the ground have already begun designating Landing Zones and company command positions.”

“In about 1 day, long range dropships from the Special Aviation, Attack and Reconnaissance Unit are gonna pick the regiment and ship us out. We’ve got until then to finalise out gear.” Ajax said, highlighting and UNSC combat group made up of UV-497 Terns and Isis and Horus fast attack capital ships.

“I don’t need to tell you how important it is we are ready, so dismissed.” The colonel said, resting on his walking stick.

As the SPARTAN-IIs filtered out, Mel and Fred hung around, waiting for Ajax and Teufel. As all three were II class one team leaders, they had seen a position of ‘higher echelon’ over the others though nobody questioned it. The squad leaders had guided them through the Covenant War.

“What’s up?” Teufel asked, shutting down the display.

“What will you and the rest of the regiment and battalion command staff do sir?” Fred asked, crossing his arms

“I’ll be on the Prowler, Converge. Battalion command will be spread across four Minerva-classes. From there we can provide intel, command, recon and electronic support.”

“And what about supplies?”

“A SAARU detachment attached to the High Wind, Yggdrasil and Fate will provide supply runs, along with gunship and aerial support whenever needed.” He said, beginning to walk out of the room

“You know. This could finally be a challenge.” Mel smiled, leaning on the pedestal.

“Be careful what you say.” Fred said, brushing past them and exiting.

“Fred, your being a stoic arse, as always.” Mel shouted, running after him, leaving Teufel and Ajax in the room.

“Lieutenant Commander. Is something wrong? You’re not feeling nervous about this?” Teufel asked

“No! No sir... It’s just.... I can’t explain it but I have a bad feeling. I’m going to play this mission carefully.”

“Frightened of a few Brute occupiers?”

“...perhaps. There’s something unnerving me. I guess we’ll find out groundside.”

“Do whatever you see fit. You’re pretty much on your own out there.” Teufel said, a smile cracking his wrinkled face. It only unnerved him more. Ajax didn’t feel fear or anticipation of a fight, but something didn’t sit well with him. He could hear the whispers in the back of his skull urging caution.

“But.... Lieutenant Commander..... WHY?!” Leona-B059 shouted, the pitch hurting Ajax’s ears

“The Fox You-Lat is too noisy for any close infantry assault missions and isn’t fast enough to keep up with Warthog formations.”

“Sir, with respect her top speed is just over 100 kay. That can easily keep up with the Warthogs.” She said, matter of factly

“Leona. Stop with this.” Ajax said, stopping in his walk, making the relatively short Leona bump into him. “We both know what happens when you operate it for longer periods at high speeds. Its fuel consumption is through the roof, meaning you’re going to have to stop to refuel often and you’re going to have to carry a small oil tanker with you, meaning if even a spiker or plasma burst hits you, you’re going to make a napalm bomb look like a napalm grenade. Besides, the engine will just disintegrate. At top speed for long periods of time, the fuel injectors being to wear, the combustion chamber begins to fall apart, the main drive train begins to collapse and the chances of the engine and fuel tank exploding increase exponentially. You’d be driving a time bomb. Not to mention, the amount of excess heat that engine will make you a huge target on Infrared. Your tank would probably be less visible to heat seekers if it was on fire.” He explained, towering over her “Do you understand?”

“Yeah... I understand sir.”

“Good, now go get armed up, pickup is in three hours.” Ajax said, moving on. He walked between the billet huts of the company then out onto Bravo Camp parade ground. Warthog Assassins of varying types were lined up, gear and extra equipment being stowed. Most of the cargo hogs had a Wolf exoskeleton latched onto the back. SPARTANS were rushing around, grabbing all their preferred arms, as much ammo as they could carry, rations, ordnance, equipment and anything else they needed. He came across Squad Charcoal trying to load their guy as quickly as possible but generally making a hash of thinks. He approached to sort them but Gunnery Sergeant De La Rosa came over to them and made an audible growl, setting the SPARTANS straight. He turned to face his commanding officer with a half grin.

“Good work Gunny, keep it up.”

“Wilco.” He replied turning back to them

He could see Red Platoon getting berated by Keller for loading their hogs with nothing but ammo, Warren desperately trying to get the last of the Wolves operational, including a full refit of Motoko’s Wolf, a job that would take up to a day for a UNSC technician, though those two working together could perhaps manage it in time. Finally he stopped with Raina, whose entire team, par the exceptions of Motoko and her disassembled Wolf, we’re all ready and sorted.

“Exceptional First Lieutenant.” He smiled, making the officer beam with confidence.

“Hey, me and my unit usually keep in top condition.” She smiled “Unlike that slacker Warren.

“Go easy on him. He’s had to refit eight wolves this morning. All things considered, he’s doing a good job.”

“Yeah yeah, take his side. Anyway El-Cee, where’s your gear?”

“That’s what I came about. I want a volunteer to go to my officer, grab all my gear and armour, including a packet of sweet William cigars in the top draw and get them over here in under twenty minutes.” He asked, looking over the silent platoon. Immediately Tony and Jack leapt up, volunteering. Ajax nodded, sending them both away.

“You know sir, those things will kill you.”

“No, these days tobaccos had been rendered-”

“Not that smartarse comment again.” Raina interjected, cutting up her superior officer “The heat signature will get you fucked. That’s if those Kongs don’t sniff you out first. I heard their sense of small is hyper sensitive.”

“It's actually over sensitive. The smell of smoke, among other things, can cause irreparable damage to their olfactory sensors, rendering them Anosmic. Effectively, it puts them down a sense and gives us an edge. Sense of smell is a vital one for Brutes, to make up for poor ranged hearing.”

“Ahhhh, I remember hearing rumours of a UNSC gas based weapon that would render Brutes Anosmic.”

Ajax looked up to see Jack and Tony already returning with his gear.

“That was quick...”

He grabbed his gear off them, including a heavy bag holding his armour and headed off to one of the empty billets to change. Being in his armour again felt good, familiar. His MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armour, Close Quarters, Mark Seven was like a skin. He began to anchor on all his combat gear, including numerous pouches, grenades, explosive devices, knife holsters and pistol holsters and loaded his weapons, ranging from two M33 Revolvers, a Heavy Battle Rifle zero nine with a 25 mike mike grenade launcher, a M108A1 CAWS, a tactical knife and a machete. He hoisted his bag onto his back, containing supplies, rations, command gear and with both his weapons strapped on and walked outside. Despite the extreme weight of his gear he moved unhindered. He came out, with everybody finally ready and a number of trucks arrived for transport. He clambered into his command Hog, dumping his supplies in the back and then setting it off, heading up a convoy heading to the airfield just outside the base. Other Warthogs and trucks fell in line, bring the force of two hundred SPARTANS on their way.

He parked his Warthog at the staging area and got out just in time to see Mel walk over and berate him.

“So monster boy, your company readied up?”

“Ready as they will ever be.”

“Well I just got word, the group picking us up just entered an orbital window over the other side of the world, they should be here shortly.”

“My fellow demon, I don’t sense Joyeuse’s presence. Where is she?” Baphomet asked, his holographic avatar missing.

Ajax was silent, frozen in fear. Melanie would never let him live this down.

“Sir, I got Joy here.” One of his SPARTANs shouted, holding the data chip and holographic image of Joy in his hand, who looked utterly unhappy. He tossed it over to Ajax, her hologram violently tumbling before he slammed the chip into the back of his head.

“Hey don’t be so rough!” She squeaked.

“That’s what she said.” A SPARTAN quipped. Ajax quickly glared at him, making him duck down behind a Hog in an attempt to avoid him.

“You forgot your AI support?” Jared chuckled, walking over

“At least mine isn’t stuck in my brain.”

“I heard that.” Juliet said with disdain

Elise walked over, immediately bringing a calming presence.

“Ajax, your being forgetful. That’s not like you. Somethin’ on your mind?” She said, resting against him, her head coming to around his chin.

“Nothing.” He muttered, walking away and making her frown.

“You know, I can always tell when you lie.”

“I bet.” He scowled

“You know, you should take care. If your mind is this convoluted, it’s going to get hellish groundside.” Leonid said from behind El, making Elise physically jump in surprise

“Leo you skulking bastard, don’t do that.” She said, trying to calm herself.

“Yeah, don’t kill her before the Brutes try to.” Lavernius said, walking past Leonid and tapping him on the back of the head. Ajax could see the murderous look in his eyes, even with his full visor down. Lavernius was in turn hit over the head by Cassie, who chortled when he looked in the wrong direction in response.

“Simmer down.” Fred said, hopping over the bonnet of a Warthog to reach the group.

“Man... I’m getting antsy for combat now.” Mel frowned

“I know the feeling. That anticipation before a kill.” Jared smiled

“When you can almost taste their blood and their dying blood...” Leonid added in the end

Everyone looked at Leonid with a slight look of disdain.

“What’s wrong with you?!” Cassie laughed

Ajax didn’t say anything. In truth, all these SPARTANS knew it was the truth, they were all soulless monsters, this facade was simply them grabbing at the last remnants of their soul in an effort to protect the bloodthirsty creatures they truly were. Ajax never denied the blood fevered creature he was deep down, he never bothered to. A sociopathic killer is what he is, at least he did it for a good cause.

His morbid train of thought was interrupted by a series of distance sonic booms.

“Looks like the Yggdrasil has arrived with escorts. That’s Albion and Charlie’s pickup.” Mel said as a swarm of dropships descended.

“Good luck. You’re going to need it.” Cassie said, sitting down on the edge of a Warthog.

With a series of barks, Albion and Charlie began to load up en mass to the dropships parking on the landing strip. Ajax’s attention was drawn away by three Tern Stealth intersystem dropships, swinging in low.

“Bravo, look sharp, our transports are inbound!” he bellowed, making his unit rally up.

As the run way cleared, the heavy dropships touched down, the doors opening up on the vehicle.

“Bravo 1, you’re with me on transport one! Bravo 2, you’re with Mitchell, Bravo 2, you’re with Rotilla. Move out, and LOAD UP!”

Ajax clambered back into his warthog and guided it into the hull of the dropships then locked it down. He left Raina to over look the loading and headed up the internal stairs to the second floor, picked out a spot and lay down, using his bag as pillow. It was rough by he didn’t mind. He pulled off his helmet and dumped it beside himself.

“So you’re just going to sleep off this trip, you lazy bum.” Joy scowled, her hologram burning up beside him

“Still pissed?”

“You left me behind!”

“Yeah well, it’s not my fault. I simply forgot.”

“God, a forgetful super soldier. Halsey would be turning in her grave.” Joyeuse frowned

With that comment Ajax immediately sat bolt outright and turned at the red hologram.

“Shut up. Now.”

“What... about Halsey?”

“Don’t mention her ever again.”

“You know, technically I AM her?”

“Just... go away”

“You know, when she was on her death bed...”

“Shut up...”

“She asked where you were.”

“Shut up!”

“When she was told you were still out on your mission, she smiled and just said ‘good work’.”

That last sentence made Ajax roll over, away from Joy.

“Your heartbeat has risen and your emotional response has changed. Are you crying?”

“Joy... just... stop.”

“Fine, fine.” She sulked, disappearing

Raina came up, with the first load of SPARTANS who immediately began to settle down and find places to rest.

“You're planning to sleep sir?”

“It's a three hour journey. When we touchdown, we’ll need to be in top performance.”

“I just never imagined a SPARTAN to just drop and sleep like this.” She chuckled

“I may be a half human, soulless killing machine, but I still require sleep from time to time.” He said, snorting

“Hahaha, fine.” Raina said, resting herself

“Okay, everybody is loaded up, let’s get this bird moving!” The pilot intercom buzzed.

With that the four variable engines strained and whined, pushing the large drop ship into the air. It kept gaining altitude before the engines were fully activated. With a series of increases in pitch, the engines moved their inlet spike, allowing oxygen into the combustion chamber, to closed then began to add oxidising material into the combustion chamber, bolstering it to high speeds and allowing it to travel out of the confines of a planetary system. The group of three Terns moved under the shadow of the lead Isis-class Light Cruiser Carrier, the Yggdrasil, with The High Wind, Fate of the Gods and Celsius following in with their own Terns. In front of them the Prowler group and the lead offensive ship, the Horus-class Light Cruiser, Storm Rider, as well as a large number of escorting Loki-class Stealth Frigates.

“Opening up slipspace route to Eta Minor System... and we are go!”

Ajax felt the ship physically lurch as the particle accelerator shunted a hole in slipspace and pulled them in.

“Time for my beauty sleep...”

“Thirty minutes out people, thirty minutes to orbit.” The intercom squawked

Ajax sat up and rubbed his eyes, the voice waking him up. The first thing he saw was a number of Bravo Company scrabbling away and Raina and Joyeuse laugh softly.

“Wait.... what’s going on?”

“Maybe you should look in the mirror.” Joy smiled.

Ajax picked up his helmet and tossed it in his hands, so the visor faced him

“You little sods.” He growled

In a thick black permanent marker, somebody had added a small moustache to his face.

“WHO DID THIS?” Ajax shouted, throwing down his helmet and leaping up

“Whoa, Sir, calm down.”

The SPARTANS physically cowered in front of him, nobody wanting to own up for fear of being killed by this raging volcano of a man.

Ajax wiped some of it away and then let out a soft and weak chuckle. He understood that they were simply kids and this is probably the last chance they have to be children.

“We’ll I’m not going into combat looking like a Belgian Detective.” He joked, trying to wipe it away

“Uh... sorry sir.... but it was permanent...”

“....you’re doing the heavy lifting groundside.” He said, putting on his helmet.

“Oh, that was funny.” Joy laugh, her voice ringing in his helmet

“You could have warned me when they started doing it.”

“And missed that priceless look on your face?”

“... You’re just like Halsey.”

Ajax pulled his bag onto his back straps and pulled his HBR 1 from his bag and swung the sling over one shoulder.

“Okay everybody, nap time is over, arm up and get ready.”

“This is UNSC Charlemagne, activating active jamming in three minutes.”

“When that thing goes loud, half the hemisphere is going to go dark...” One of the SPARTANS smirked, looking out the window

“Totally. With its passive defence systems, it’s going to take them hours to find it too.”

“Cut the chatter and get read.” Ajax grunted, holding onto a overhead rail

“Our electronic countermeasures and active camo are keeping us off their sensors. Preparing for orbital burn in ten... nine...”

“Okay SPARTANS, this is it, be ready for anything groundside!” Ajax shouted, moving to the inter floor stairs.

“ Six... five...”

“Remember your training, remember your comrades, remember how to fucking shoot straight.”

“Three...”

“And DO OR DIE!” he shouted, just as the drop ship entered orbital burn, flaming through the upper atmosphere like a flaming meteor. The drop ship immediately began to shake but the SPARTANS held firm, keep a hold of themselves.

The dropships quickly burnt through the upper atmosphere, the shields protecting them held firm.

“Okay, we’re in, no triple A locks, RADAR is clear.”

“Heading over projected LZ now... I see it?”

“Where?”

“From current Azimuth, sweep angle X minus eight degrees and keep her steady.”

“Ah, I see it, drop zone on friendlies bearing green flares, right?”

“Keep her steady, go in hot.”

The large drop ship, followed by three more, all pattered a dark blue against the night sky, barely visible if it wasn’t for the faint plasma trails form the quick orbital entry.

The SPARTANS moved down stairs and began loading their gear and themselves into the Warthogs, with each warthog keeping a SPARTAN behind to release their cargo straps, keeping them pinned down and steady.

“Remember what we taught you out there and nothing can possibly go wrong.” Ajax barked, starting up his Warthog.

He felt the distinct lurch of the drop ship touching down motioned for the Warthogs to be released. The crew chief opened up the wide airlocks, allowing them to leave. The last of the SPARTANS mounted up and rolled out, down into the pitch black meadow they had landed in. He could see the lights of the other drop bays and sounds of more Warthogs disembarking.

“Mitchell, Rotilla, good journey?”

“As good as can be expected sir.”

“I taught the kids poker.” Rotilla laughed, putting the straight laced Mitchell slightly on edge.

“Quit the chatter, everybody, lights off.”

“Uh, sir, not all of us are genetically engineered to see the in the dark.” Lieutenant Keller said, her voice quite pathetic and passive in tone

“Use thermals, just make sure you can’t be spotted.”

As the Warthogs began to bunch up, ready for moving out, Ajax drove up beside the one visible human by the flare used to guide them in. The baleful red light of the flare cast hundreds of shadows across his ghillie suit, making him look like some kind of shadowy creature born from swamp marshes.

“SRS boys right?” Ajax said, stopping his Warthog beside him

“Yeah, Captain Gren, A Squadron. We uploaded everything you need to TACCOM, we got your forward base on there and a route planned.”

“Good work, you guys bugging out now?” Ajax said, leaning out of the Warthog.”

“Hahahah, hell no sir, we’re going to go do forward recon for you sir.”

“Okay, keep up the excellent work Marine, we’ll see you later.” Ajax said, heading the Warthog off again, the convoy heading up behind them.

Their ‘base’ was a short distance away and was certainly a good position. It had a relatively narrow cave entrance but a exceedingly large interior, meaning they could set it up as a Warthog/Wolf repair bay. Along with a roof tunnel they could use to run a aerial and enough stable sub caves to set up a armoury, workshop and numerous sleeping quarters, along with engineering teams working on punching holes in the side of the cave to give them firing ports. All in all, it had been a good position. Once everybody began to settle down and rig up any gear they could, Ajax went to find Mitchell, who was busy overlooking the installation of a holographic projector.

“Mitchell, I want you to grab a team and do some patrolling. Pick whoever you want.”

“Yes sir!” He said, giving a crisp salute before pushing on his throat microphone.

“Team Nal Gae, Tsubasa, we’re going on patrol, meet me and the cave entrance. Team Ha Neul, you’re tailing us on over watch, keep to the high ground and keep a eye on us. Now move it, on the double.” Mitchell ordered, grabbing up his rifle and moving out.

Ajax watched him leave then turned back to the SPARTANS working away in front of him.

“Lets see if we can’t get our C3 (Command, Control and Communication) systems up before the other companies.” He smirked, making his SPARTANS work harder.

“Those SRS boys sure did scope some nice spots.” Elise laughed

“Elise, stop slacking dammit.” Ajax barked “I’m trying to do work here myself.

“All work and no play makes Ajax a very dull sociopath.” Elise pouted “Besides, you should see this. We’re on a mountain, got enough caves and over hangs to hide our gear and mount our comms, got enough foliage cover to keep us from being spotted from the air, the top of the mountain gives us views of the surrounding area and the mountain paths are like the perfect killzones.”

“Well stop talking about them and start using them!” Ajax barked, cutting her off

“God he’s so serious in combat. We’ll, you heard the big bad man, I want out weapon teams setting up firing positions all the way up the hills, sniper positions set up and I want enough mines down here to choke a blitzkrieg. You’ll sleep out your positions, eat at your positions and live at your positions, do I make myself clear?”

“Yes ma’am!”

“Right, somebody go deal with recon. I’ve got to catch forty winks.... I never slept on the journey here...”

Lieutenant Commander Mel-038 carefully crept along the outer wall of the compound, followed by a handful of other SPARTANS. She got to the gate, meeting the gaze of another Charlie SPARTAN. She nodded and both moved around the corner, into the old abandoned refinery.

“Clear up!”

“Clear down?”

“Motion detectors clear!”

“Okay ladies, bring the Warthogs up, everyone, start digging in, I want this position made into a operable command centre in under three hours. In the meantime, I’m heading back out, I want recon and patrol volunteers, now!” She bellowed, making the SPARTANS stop and look amongst themselves.

“Lieutenant-087, what’s your position like?” Fred asked, with a distinctly stuff attitude.

“It’s okay I guess. I think we drew the short straw though. It’s pretty much a section of small hills in the middle of the western plains. Pretty exposed from the air, but some netting with deal with that.” She frowned.

“Hey... wait a second. 058 isn’t responding to my communiqué.” Fred said, slightly worried

“That’s probably because Linda and Ghost have gone to ground and gone dark. You know what Linda is like.

Indeed she had. Ghost Company had gone to ground in a thick wooded area, covering their transports in thick bushes and netting, along with the trademark active camo panels of the Warthog Assassin RAV. They had begun setting up a intricate network of trenches and foxholes, along with sniper and look out positions in the tall trees. Of course, Linda was cautious enough to send out whoever was willing to scout the surrounding valley.

Yes, this post is long overdue, long awaited, and probably less than you hoped for. However, now putting my ‘phase system’ into use, everybody is in a ‘rest’ phase as such, meaning they are staying at base, in this case, building it while a handful are on recon. Just go around, have a look, were all far enough from their bases to avoid any kind of serious contact. As for SPARTAN Companies I didn’t mention here building bases, that’s because I left it up to respective authors to make it themselves. In the meantime I’ll work on gathering some raids for all of you to go unleash on some unsuspecting space apes. Also, once you all have your positions sorted, I’ll create a ‘map’, detailing base locations, targets and major locations.

Day 1
Time: 0433

1
Joshua-G024 strolled along the wooded area of where they had landed; He had Recon Team Golf and Sniper Team Hotel out on patrol. While he and the rest of Shark Platoon where building there Base for the Operation. The mood was light and the SPARTANs were all calm and were chatting away.

"God, like the good old days" Maria-173 said to Joshua -The Platoon Sergeant for Shark Platoon-

"Yeah, I know." Joshua said, "'Cept this time it's a whole damn regiment except a few Squads."

Maria walked out to help some SPARTANs struggling to erect some walls. Joshua was on edge, he hated missions like this. They usually ended up with so many people getting killed. He wanted Amy by his side, but she was on Recon with the S-IVs to make sure they weren't gonna get themselves killed.

"SPARTAN-E024!" Josh barked

"Yes Sir!" He said jumping to attention.

"Get your Squad to set up your Machine Gun, that way." He said pointing East, the easiest way to attack his camp.

"Got it ell-tee" He said and began to give his Squad the ell-tee's orders.

Josh sat down near the fire that had been started, took off his Helmet and took a drink. This is gonna be a long one He thought.

Lieutenant   Mc  Callan  18:50, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

2
Time: 0445

SPARTAN-E195 shifted her hand slightly, and Fireteam Delta stopped behind her. She had chosen Delta purely because of SPARTAN-E051. She knew of His condition, and that would be good in case of an Ambush.

"What is it, Ma'am?"

The voice that spoke was Delta's leader, SPARTAN-E147, and Gemma replied with a simple "We're going back."

The Team crouched and walked slowly through the trees and foliage, and wondered how Echo and Foxtrot was doing. The team kept a hand of their Carbines, and soon, base was in their sight.

"Welcome Home, Delta."

Over the COM came the Voice of SPARTAN-E049, and Gemma smiled inside her helmet.

"Thanks, Dean. How's Sammy Holding up?"

"It's Sam, alright? Sammy is the name of a Chubby 5 Year Old."

SPARTAN-E031 sounded slightly angry, but he kept his tone of serious power in it. Gemma always felt slighty worried when Same used that tone. She never knew why.

"How's the bunker coming, Sammy?"

"God, It's coming along fine! Fine. Just as long as Dean helps."

"Hey, Keep building will ya? Bobby looks like he's gonna hit ya. Actually, don't dig, cause I want to watch."

Gemma laughed at the brothers squabbling. She found it amusing when they did that.

Love is Noise   Love is Pain  Love is these blues  19:47, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

3
SPARTAN-B015 crept forward past a moss covered boulder and towards the sounds of water. With each step only the slightest of noise was made, everything was quick and calculated and graceful. B015's weapon at the ready, until finally coming to a drop off. Twenty feet down was a small river, the water painted green from the surrounding brush that allowed only the luckiest rays of light to shine down onto the ground. B015 looked out across the jungled mess of trees, branches, boulders, and vines while he could simply feel the rest of his team fall in around him. The four SPARTANs created a circle, their weapons outward and ready for any target. SPARTAN-B017 kneeled in position but yet at the same time close to B015.

"Tsubasa to Ha Neul." B015 spoke through the intercom on his helmet.

"Ha Neul has you." came a reply from SPARTAN-B044.

"Made it to Alpha One, no contacts. Heading towards Alpha Two in seven mikes."

"Copy that Tsubasa."

"Alright ladies, let's go." B015 spoke in a voice just over a whisper, light enough to be carried away by the wind. In a matter of seconds Recon Team Tsubasa of Squad Charcoal, Grey Platoon, Bravo Company was gone as if never there.

"Chris you get that?" Spoke Jung-Suh, SPARTAN-B044.

With only a gentle nod SPARTAN-B053 replied in his usual manner. Christopher was a still as a rock, the long slender frame of the M99C Special Application Scoped Rifle ready to speak for him.

"Christian's handling Tsubasa pretty well don't you think?" Jung-Suh spoke softly only get get yet another gentle nod. She looked at him somewhat annoyed, "I'd hurt you if this wasn't such a pleasant spot." And it was, they had placed themselves by a gentle waterfall where the water had covered up their trail and gave them an elevated view of the jungle before them.

"What are you going to do when we're done here?" Jung-Suh asked after waiting for a moment. They were both such opposites, she loved to talk and socialize while Chris for the most part was someone who prefered being alone and rarely talked. However she knew that she could get him to talk, most of the time.

"Have a cigarette." He replied almost devoid of emotion. Jung-Suh brought up her gauntleted hand and came down on his helmet. He looked at her then spoke once again. "I'm not having one around you."

"I told you you shouldn't smoke." She hated the fact that he had started smoking a few years back. Nobody was quite sure how he was able to get a hold of them but then again nobody really cared, he was a good sniper and leader. They let it slip, but she constantly roared at him to stop. So in what many had concidered a sign of affection he avoided smoking around her, it had annoyed her so much.

"Nal Gae to Ha Neul." Spoke their intercom from SPARTAN-B009.

"Ha Neul has you." Jung-Suh replied quickly.

"We've got nothing heading to Bravo Two."

"Copy that Ha Neul." and with that the two SPARTANs went quiet again. And just for safe measure Jung-Suh hit Chris once more and repeated, "Don't smoke."

Gunnery Sergeant De La Rosa walked with some pride, it felt good to be on an actual mission. A sense of excitement that had been gone came back to him. He walked past Squad Silver as they readied their gear and joked with one another with their rivalry. He grinned when he saw Weapons Team Sora from Squad Charcoal begin to wrestle with each other, the teens didn't seem to mind that this was the real deal now. No more simmulations. He finally came to a stop in front of his LT. A David Plissken who held a Sweet Williams Cigar between his lips and read a hologram map that lightened the dimmly lit caverns they were based in for the moment.

"Alrighty LT." De La Rosa said and immediately began pointing out three locations. "Chris has got his recon teams here and here and he's set up nest here by this waterfall. It's pretty nice there, could go for a swim later on." he said with a grin then continued. "Team Tsubasa is heading here and Nal Gae is heading here."

"I still don't understand those goddamnt names." Plissken said looking at the map with his arms crossed.

"Asian thing LT." De La Rosa said then looked at Plissken in a quick motion that caught the Second Lieutenant by surprise De La Rosa snatched the cigar from his mouth while yelling out "BAM!" a quirk he became known for. "Told you we'd make a cold landing."

Plissken looked at him for a moment, he had been worried about landing under fire for some odd reason. "Bastard." he said then reached for another cigar. "Just be sure Grey is ready to move at any notice I want Silver as first response and Slate up and ready on standby."

De La Rosa nodded then began to walk away with the cigar in his mouth and a grin on his face.

Hollywood

4
Sergeant Eric Kavin leaned over the radio man's shoulder. "Try to reach them again," he ordered.

The militia trooper shook his head. "Sir, I've tried five times already with no response at all. Either South Base is having equipment difficulties or..."

His voice trailed off as both he and his superior had the same thought. South Base had been conducting more missions than was safe lately and had reported in a marked increase in Covenant activity in their sector. It wouldn't be the first militia holdout to be obliterated since the Remnant had officially taken Hannibal III, but it would be the largest.

"Alright." Kavin sighed. "Get into contact with West Base, it's the closest to South's position. Have them send a group out to see what's going on."

As the radio operator hurried to obey, Kavin glanced around the crude bunker that made up East Base's command center. Crammed within its tight confines were over a dozen other humans, all consulting region maps or monitoring the shorter ranged radios that monitored the transmissions from East Base's patrolling teams. All of their electronic equipment was below sub-standard and unreliable. Parts had had to be replaced by components never meant to be used in the machines they had been repurposed for, and as breakdowns became more and more common it was becoming more practical to rely on prayers rather than engineering to ensure their continued service.

As Hannibal III had fallen to the Remnant invasion most of the regular UNSC military forces had stood their ground and been destroyed by the enemy's overwhelming numbers. The planet's militia forces had nearly suffered a similar fate before they had decided to retreat into Hannibal III's woodlands. From there they had been launching small raids on Covenant outposts and slaving pens, hoping to free captured humans in order to increase their numbers. From this battered collection of scattered compounds had emerged four main bases of operation: North, South, East, and West Bases. From these "strongholds" the militia were able to conceal themselves from the occupation and provide shelter for any civilians who had evaded or escaped from capture.

The raids had mostly been successful, but since the militia forces had no true leader coordination was made difficult, and the unreliability of the long ranged radios further hampered inter-base cooperation. And now that it seemed that South Base had been taken out, the situation seemed worse than ever.

Kavin stalked from the command center's metal and concrete interior and out into the chilly morning air. All around him were tents and rickety buildings meant for storing weapons. The men and women of East Base were busy trying to scrounge up something to eat amidst the snow. Food, ammunition, equipment, and every other thing a guerilla force needed were growing scarcer by the day.

A militiaman jogged up to Kavin, out of breath from what must have been a long run. "Sir! I've got news from Corporal Owens!"

One of Kavin's two second in commands, Owens was currently stationed at a reconnaissance platform about a mile away from the main compound.

"What's he got?" Kavin wasn't sure if he could handle any more news about Covie troop movements.

"You won't believe this sir, but we got a visual on a whole bunch of ships coming down, landing all over the place! They've gotta be reinforcements sir!"

Reinforcements. That meant more troops, more supplies, and almost definitely people who could help pull the heavy load off of the beleaguered militia's back. For the first time in weeks, Kavin felt happy.

"We're saved."

SPARTAN-B071, Mark, head of the SPARTAN-IV Squad Silver, faced the sixteen other SPARTANs in his squad.

"While Charcoal gets to have the first chance at some fun with the Covenant, we have been given the task of beginning work on our platoon's base of operations," he began, only to be cut off by a few scattered groans from his squad. He silenced them with a cold glare.

"Before we even begin to think about sleeping quarters and defensive positions, we will be building a secure place to keep our Warthogs, and before that happens we are going to go over every composite scrap of those magnificent vehicles until we are absolutely sure that there is nothing at all amiss with them. They will be our primary means of damaging the Covenant and I do not want any malfunctions in the middle of a raid. Is that understood?"

"You got it. sir," drawled Hector-B010, head of the squad's Assault Team. "You want us to pump the wheels some while we're at it?"

Mark ignored the comment with practiced contempt. "I want those Warthogs completely checked over by 0700 people. Shift it!"

Squad Silver sprang into motion. Mark may have been imperious, authoritative, and downright unlikeable at times but he always managed to include a certain note in his tone of voice that not only demanded but required obedience. Besides, they all liked playing with Warthogs.

5
SPARTAN-C014 grunted as he scraped his leg across the abstractly shaped rock that jutted out of the ground infront of him. His armour made a squeal as it fizzled across the rock. Lynch repeated the movement again, though this time faster, sending a spark flying off onto a broken off branch, landing amongst its yellow dried out leaves. The leaves crumpled and turned black as a flame spread across them, and beneath his helmet Lynch smiled. The Spartan picked the stick up, and shook it slightly to spread the fire, before jamming the stick into the neckpiece of the SPARTAN sitting next to him. Marcus turned as his shield fizzled around the branch, “Please stop that.”

“Or what Marky-boy?” Lynch could barely stifle his chuckle when a he felt a fist smash into the back of his helmet.

“Lynch, stop this. We’re practically on show here and I don’t want you making us all look like a pack of unrefined thugs, go do your thuggery else where….thug.” Ruby, the Commander of his Assault Team, snorted at him, in her ineloquent yet somehow refined manner. Lynch dropped the flaming branch and with a salute, meant moreso as an insult than as a sign of respect, the Spartan slinked away, leaving his team-mates to stomp out the burning branch.

“Hey.” Another Spartan said cheerily as he passed Lynch by, though all he got in reply was a cold glare. Lynch walked over to the trench many of the Soldiers here seemed to be digging around their base and wondered if they’d ever have to use it.

“Hey hey hey! Lynchy-kins!” Another Spartan said as he flopped down next to him, his feet dangling down into the trench. The shirtless marine below them looked up and bit his lip as he turned back to digging out the trench.

“Hey Guido…they bring the water canisters down yet?” Lynch eyed SPARTAN-C127’s Canteen, noticing the deeper colouring around its brim.

“Can’t say I know, so what is up? Where are the others?”

Lynch “They’re over there, by that rock; you get a pretty good view of the pathway.”

The marine beneath them looked up, “Hey, could you two lend us a hand or something?”

Guido turned from Lynch with a groan and flicked out his leg, kicking the shovel from the Marines hands, “I’m afraid I’m just too important with busy Spartany issues to lighten your workload.” He grunted as he stood back up and turned to Lynch, “You want to go see Rube?”

“Nah, she’s pissed at me.”

“You want to go piss off Mark?”

“That’s why she’s pissed.”

“Damnit, so what are we meant to do? Just lounge around for a few days until some buggers get into a brawl?”

“Alright Gang! Guess what!” SPARTAN-E051 said with evident glee as he paced before the lined up members of Fire Team Papa.

“What is it?” Chris-E126 asked, anticipating some kind of trick.

“Nope, you have to guess.”

“Could it be that you’re finally coming out of the closet?” Remus–E192 mumbled as he kicked away a rock.

“No, but good try.” Clint, the Fire Teams commander said awkwardly.

“It’s orders…” Chris sighed and his response was confirmed by a nod from their commander.

Remus glared at him, “Orders are what you’re so happy about?”

“As if you’re not excited!” Alice-E099 said, “We can go out and do something fun as a team, our first real combat scenario, aren’t you guys excited?”

The other two Spartans mumbled, so their commander continued, “We’re going to do some patrolling around the place, make sure the paths are set in stone and safe from harm and all that, and we can go shoot some Brutes if they happen upon us, shoot to kill and kill them till they’re dead.”

“Yay!” Remus said sarcastically.

“Yay!” Alice cheered with a high-pitched squeak, unaware of the sarcasm behind her team-mates voice, causing the Spartans on either side of her to droop with a sigh.

6
Jamal-002 pushed himself around the TOC, his oversized arms propelling the wheelchair across the room, and the new spinning chair design allowed him to turn around and act at multiple consoles. Staring at the screen, which at first fluttered with static, and then resolved a clear image, Jamal picked out multiple Brute encampments, as well as what appeared to be a motor pool.

''How could they have kept their equipment up and running for this long? Weren't those Prophets in charge of all of this?''

He shrugged it off, wrote down his thoughts onto a notepad, and then pushed himself towards another console, which showed the constantly updated feed from the STARS III Drone. It maintained a geosynchronous orbit over the planet, and so, it only surveyed one area... unless it was told to do otherwise.

For the moment, that area was rather large, and after flipping through multiple views, Jamal finally found what he was looking for.

The SPARTAN-IV encampments.

They had been dropped in the other day, using Stealth Pods and other Stealth Insertion methods, and HIGHCOM/CENTCOM demanded proof that they had been successfully deployed.

Quickly taking a snapshot, the picture was sent towards a secure location on the UNSC Athena's servers, being prepared for a Burst Message to the two commands.

After wheeling towards his small desk in the corner of the TOC, Jamal checked his papers on force size and composition, as well as the S-IV's plan for their campaign on Hannibal IV.

Shouldn't be too hard.

First Lieutenant James Franklin ran through the hallways of the unnamed HIGHCOM Facility, which he had only known as "MANSION".

After nearly stumbling through the doors, he made it to the room where all of the high brass, and more specifically, the commander of SOCOM were meeting, discussing the UNSC's main issues at the time, as well as force deployments and the S-IV's new plan on Hannibal IV.

Stopping short of the door, he decided that there was a better way.

See, after he had burst in on numerous meetings, Lewis (the commander of SOCOM) had developed an ingenious method of sharing information.

Lewis carried a laptop with him into meetings, and on it was an instant messaging program.

If something urgent came up, a simple message would appear, and Lewis would glance down, and maybe would type a few words.

The other officers on the HIGHCOM's senior council had referred to said laptop as the "IBB", or Infernal Black Box, or by other names which cannot be said at this time.

Many of the officers figured that they could tell the connotation of the message by the reaction of Lewis: if it was bad, he would rub his forehead. If it was good, he'd smile or chuckle before closing the lid.

Lewis rubbed his eyes to the dull tone of the speaker, relaying specifics that he had already known about; performing his own research beforehand.

Hearing a tiny beep, Lewis glanced down at his laptop, and saw the message:

002 PICS, PLZ FWD 2 APP. MEMS.

Lewis smiled, and clicked a button on his laptop, and the pictures downloaded.

The meeting had stopped, and all who were in the conference room stared at Lewis.

"I must be excused from this meeting, something urgent has come across my desk. You may continue, gentlemen and ladies."

Gathering his items, Lewis walked out of the room, and sighed in relief of not having to listen to that speech.

After walking to his office, Lewis found his aide de camp, James Franklin, wearing a smirk on his face.

"How did you like that meeting, sir?"

"It was boring, Franklin."

Franklin chuckled.

"Anyway, you can forward those pictures to the appropriate parties, you don't need to go through me to perform that, you know, right?"

"No, I didn't sir. I'll add that to the internal memory bank."

They shared a chuckle, and Lewis took a seat in his large leather office chair, opened the laptop, and began analyzing the photos himself.

''Nice to see the Orbital Insertion went fine... I remember what those were like back when I was in Divison.''

-- SPARTAN -002 [The Hero] [The Team] [A New Chronicle] 13:48, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

7
James looked down the creek, making sure no hostiles were in the area. He raised his fist and pulled it down, a motion for Crimson Squad to hold position. James sat on a rock, as the other SPARTANs fanned out. The squads assault team crossed the creek and hid in the jungles on watch, Bravo sat down by the creek, and Charlie stuck around with the sarge. Down by the creek, the Bravo team looked into the waters of the creek, with a quick motion, one pointed into it.

"Bet I can grab that fish." The Spartan, Chelsea proclaimed the rest of their team.

Another stood and held out his hand "I'll take that bet" Michael proclaimed, behind his MJOLNIR, James knew he smirked.

Chelsea huffed "Alright" she concentrated into the water, in it a large trout was swimming, slowly up the stream. She grabbed the fish, however it slipped out of her hand. The rest of her team laughed, especially Michael, who patted her on the shoulder

"Maybe next time SPARTAN, maybe next time."

Chelsea sat down, brought her knees to her chest and sighed.

The Sarge smiled, always good to get some relaxation. However, someone whispered over his COMM.

"Sarge, we got movement ahead of us, Unknown if Hostile or not." The SPARTAN on the other side spoke.

"Roger that, keep down and watch that area" he looked to his other SPARTANs "get into cover, now!"

Bravo and Charlie teams disappeared into the pine forests. Watching with caution. Suddenly a laugh came through.

"Hey Sarge, might wanna come see this."

The rest of the squad walked to Alpha's position. In front of them, a small bear cub sat down and looked at him

"Awww!" Amber, a member of the assault squad cried out.

James just placed his face into the palm of his hand.

"Comon squad, we can't waste time on small things like him, were in occupied territory and we need to keep sharp." and with that, James shooed the cub away, and it ran into the forest.

The team leader of Charlie Company, Michael walked off, his team following him. To him, every distraction was another possibility and getting killed, and he wasn't going to lose anyone while he still drew breath.

8
Rika-142 marched through the lush green woods ahead of her platoon. Though consisted of only 12 SPARTAN-IVs, it was enough to suppress any enemy unit. Young but talented and capable of performing the impossible like their predecessors, the SPARTAN-IVs would carry the mantle the SPARTAN-IIs have uphold since 2550s.

A message popped up in her helmet's heads-up-display. A message from Alex-047. It reads as so:

///AUTOMATED REROUTE STARS REG-77379 APO/// ///FILE ACCESS GRANTED ///

ENCRYPTION CODE: JOKER PUBLIC KEY: N/A FROM: CODE NAME SNYPER TO: CODE NAME ANALYST SUBJECT: CAMPING OUT: EYES ONLY

/FILE EXTRACTION COMPLETE/ /START FILE/


 * TO RIKA.

JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, JANE HAS SET CAMP BEHIND US - SURVEYOR - TO LAUNCH SEVERAL BOTS IN THE AIR. OH, SHE TOLD ME TO TELL YOU THAT YOU SHOULD SET YOUR COURSE THROUGH THESE COORDINATION. DON'T WORRY. I'M NOT SPAMMING. :)

JUST TO REMIND YOU OF THE OBJECTIVE: TACCOM REQUESTED THAT THE ENTIRE JOKER COMPANY TO STAY BEHIND. CROSSBOW AND BOW SHALL CONDUCT RECONNAISSANCE. BALISTA, CATAPULT AND CANNON SHALL LEAD THE INITIAL "SURPRISE".

DON'T GO TECHNICAL ON ME. 

/END FILE/ <font size="1.7">PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE. </tt>

Rika archived the message and held up her fist. The whole platoon crouched down and held out their weapons. Through the TACCOM, she relayed the new coordination. A green light blinked, followed by another. The platoon acknowledged the new objective and continued their march.

Alex-047 closed her message centre and fixed her shoulder piece. She looked up and watched as the Pelicans began to depart from Joker's Landing Zone. Her visor polarise as the sun rose from the horizon. It was morning.

"Back to the woods," she informed her platoon. Alex holstered her sniper rifle and rushed ahead of her platoon.

The Crossbow Platoon was her personal favourite. Every member of the platoon had undergone intense training with the Commanding Officer 047. Each squad specialised in specific fields. Albalest Squad was her Marksmen specialist, Repeater Squad acting as the Sprinters, and Compound Squad as the "Surprise Package".

Minutes later, the Crossbow Platoon became silent predators, lurking in the woods. "Set up base here," ordered Alex, pointing at the redwood tree. In her helmet, four lights blinked green.

"Volunteers. Four units." she posted an alternative objective in the TACCOM. Four green lights blinked. In a line, four SPARTAN-IVs stood and armed their weapons. "Check that hill and report back every 5 minutes." Repeater Squad nodded and sprinted.

Alex admired these SPARTAN-IVs. They were young, yet they performed their task with without question. Alex wondered what happened to the SPARTAN-IIIs. She never faced one before. Alex snapped out of her daydream and took off her helmet. "I wonder..."

- <font color="#FF4F00">5 ub<font color="#FF4F00">7 ank (<font color="#FF4F00">7alk ) 17:20, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

9
"Come on, move it!", shouted Riker, "We ain't got all day people!" A leader by circumstance, never by choice, Riker-012 still took his duties very seriously. He wasn't all that keen on ordering people around, but he knew that the faster bases were set up, the better; no base, no defendable fall back point, no supporting fire and no intel data Grabbing another crate full of supplies, Riker once more reflected on his situation: he was a SPARTAN-II, respected hero of the UNSC, commanding 200 teenagers that had somehow become the newest generation of SPARTANs and had practically no true combat experience. How had this happened? As a six-year-old, he'd been abducted by Dr. Catherine Halsey, a woman that he and the other SPARTAN-II's viewed as something of a mother-figure, to become a Spartan, but he'd been afraid of everyone, even the loners like Ajax-013. Something had changed him nearly a century ago; when he'd seen the dead and crippled bodies of those that hadn't made it through the augments, he'd become someone, something, else. A survivor. Riker became a true commando, working alone even when he could have, at times should have, worked with others. That was his way of surviving; going away from the masses, yet here he was now, stuck with 200 rookies in the middle of nowhere on a backwater planet. Grabbing another box, it nearly slipped out of his hands as a layer of carefully placed grease made Riker loose his grip. Saving the box, Riker placed it down, then turned to a nearby group of IV's. Charlie, he thought, I oughta strangle that little.... "Calm down", came the voice in his head, both powerful and soothing at the same time; however, it did little to calm Riker. "The boy...", he began "Is just that", cut in Susano, Riker's support AI, "He's a teenager; let him be a child while he can" "I never got to be childish", said Riker defiantly. "I've seen your record", replied Susano, "Need I remind you of the time when you attempted to pull a prank on Mendez by replacing his cigar with a well disguised flare, only to have Ajax-013 and Joe-124 nearly burn their faces off when they stole said "cigar" from Mendez's office" Riker remained silent. "They respect you as their CO and they love you like a father", said Susano, "You ask and they give. What more could you wish for?" Silent a moment longer, Riker said finally, "Understanding". After another silent moment, Riker plugged several power cords into sockets and started up the computer system for the base; taking out Susano's data chip, Riker then plugged him in. Suddenly, a 3 foot image of a stylized Japanese god of war appeared from a hologram projector. "All the other bases appear to be up and running", said Susano, "058 and Ghost are going silent though, as are 144 and Lambda. 108 and Alpha are sending out intel already, while 013 and 038 have most definitely gotten up and running; I've got IV signatures all around their area." Riker hadn't had much discussion with the other II's after the WARDOG briefing, being the loner that he was, but he assumed everything was going according to schedule. "Alright, get Fireteams Alpha and Beta of Fenrir to do a one mile perimeter sweep, I want this area clean. Get Sniper Teams Golf of Fenrir and Æsir and Sniper Team Juliet of Asynur up on the southeast and south ridges and tell them to keep long-range watch. I want all Engineering Teams setting up a perimeter of mines; make sure everyone's posted on that one. Ensure we've got an Assault Team at defensive positions Alpha through Hotel." "Riker", cut in Susano, "The SRS cleared this area; no hostiles for dozens of miles in every direction" "Do it Susano; I don't care what those SRS boys say, I want to know we're clear" "Riker, you're overdoing it" "Susano..." "Think Riker; this isn't Reach we're talking about here" Riker cringed physically, visibly. Mention of Reach was uncalled for. Susano knew how he felt about that fight, his feelings of sorrow over being forced to leave the fight. Still, he realized Susano had a point. "Alright", Riker said, "You win. Still, take Alpha and Golf and set up the perimeter sweep and the sniping post." "Fine", said Susano stubbornly, "I still think you're overdoing it" Riker smiled a small bit, something rare. As much as the AI could get on his nerves, he had to admit that the little nuisane had his strong points. A flash clone of Lord Hood's brain, he had most of the Admiral's best qualities, as well as his stubborn attitude and agitation with overdoing things. Designed originally as an experimental "AI Commander", Susano was supposed to control drone armies, unmanned vehicles made from varying popular such as the Warthog and Scorpion, with starships brought up as possibilities and a single unit being prototyped; however, it was all dubbed too costly and mass production was denied. Susano would have been scrap had he not been redirected to duty on the S-IV Program by none other than UNSCSOCOM big wig Andrew James Lewis; Lewis was said to have saved Susano to honor Hood's legacy. Whether that were true or not, Riker didn't know, but he was glad Susano had been saved nonetheless, as the AI had since become an invaluable ally and a good friend.

Moving quickly about the camp, Viggo-G132 of Team Scimitar continued to ensure that everything was in order, making certain that things were unpacked correctly, weapons were stored right, vehicles were properly taken care of, and Spartans were ready at a moment's notice. At last, after several hours of such activities, Viggo entered Team Scimitar's command tent, finding his four brothers-in-arms already there, relaxed and doing the various things they enjoyed: Elijah sat at a table covered in weapons, taking them apart, cleaning them, then putting together again, with Sean sitting nearby reading the 20th century classic The Lord of the Rings, while Dominic and Billy played each other in a game of chess. "Ah, the great leader returns from ensuring that the troops brushed their teeth", said Dominic sarcastically. "Stow it Dom", said Sean evenly, "He's already battle antzy; don't make him hurt you" "I've got him Sean, but thanks all the same", said Viggo; turning to Dominic, he said, "Better safe than sorry" "Right", said Dominic, "And when do you reach the point where you're sorry you were safe?" Viggo simply shook his head and sat down at his desk, viewing reports from various intel, pictures and stats on the surrounding area, and recent analysis from Riker-012. "Do younot trust anyone Viggo?", asked Elijah, looking up from his weapons for the first time. "If it were between me personally knowing or having been told, I'd take the former", replied Viggo, "Do I trust them? Yes, with my life. Are they ready yet? Until I see a baptism of fire, I won't say" "Lighten up a little Viggo", said Sean, "They're Brutes; they're stupid. Fenrir could take 'em down alone." "You trust your platoon that much Sean?", asked Viggo. "Absolutely" "Then I hope they aren't the death of you" "Don't worry Viggo", said Dominic, "We don't have to worry about that because Riker will be the death of us five." After a few chuckles from Sean, Billy asked, "I wonder why he hates us so much?" "Dunno", said Dominic. "My theory", continued Billy, "Is that he feels guilty for everything he's done, so he takes it out on us" "No", said Viggo, "I think it's because he doesn't think we can understand; compare the lives lost between the S-II's and the S-III's. There's 14 or so of them alive, not counting the cripples, while Gamma Company escaped almost unscathed. Do you notice he's friendly towards Tom and Lucy? I think he feels camaraderie with them because they're all survivors." "Well", said Elijah as he slapped an ammo cartridge into his Battle Rifle, "I suppose we'll never know. Now, anyone care to join me at the shooting range?" Sean, bookmarking his place, accepted the invitation while the others declined. Together, Elijah and Sean went to practice.

In the Spartan sergeants tent of Fenrir Platoon, Jacob Terra, Ben-K126, Juliet-K163 and Richard-K071 sat around discussing possibilities for the battle. "We should use Team Golf to our advantage", said Ben, "As much as Boone and Shannon don't get along, they are ideal snipers; they could cause some havoc while Hraesvelgr and Gleipnir Squads close in." "Or", began Juliet, "We could use Hotel to set a trap and then let a team lead them into it" "Both are good plans", said Richard, "But I personally would lean towards the latter" Looking over at Jacob, Ben asked, "Any suggestions Jacob?" Jacob continued to study the map of the combat theatre, not saying a word, till, at last, he pointed to a small canyonto the side of the Brute encampment. Pointing at several large rocks on the edge of the canyon walls near its' mouth, he muttered "Hotel", then making a circular motion around the canyon, he muttered "ambush". "Ah yes, I see", said Ben, "Thank you Jacob" "And that's the reason he's called a Mastermind-class strategist", said Richard. "Indeed", replied Ben, "Well, I suppose that will be it for now. I'll be getting some sleep if you need me; good night" Jacob watched Ben leave. He was an odd man, Ben; he always seemed to have a plan to work things to where they went his way, with some even calling him dangerous for such ways. Jacob didn't care, because he knew the one thing Ben feared: higher authority, such as himself. They were an odd four, Jacob thought, the sergeants of Fenrir. Ben was a de facto leader, despite being outranked by Jacob, but any of the others could claim "leadership: if they wanted. Juliet had an odd relationship of hate and love for Ben, as he'd dragged her into leadership and kept her there. Juliet was almost a flip side to Ben; not so much different as simply that the two couldn't exist and operate properly without the other one. Richard was probably the most interesting, as he and Ben viewed each otehr as something of leaders for the other, but neither would admit it. Richard was not the schemer that Juliet or Ben were; he was a guider, not a manipulator And then there was Jacob himself. Older than the rest, not being a IV, he rarely spoke, but when he did it was well worth listening to. Jacob was the XO of Fenrir, second only to Sean-G291 in rank; he over saw everything and ensured everyone was in peak condition. Yes, they were quite the group. Still, they managed to make everything function somehow. Grabbing his Assault Rifle, Jacob left the tent and headed for the shooting range.

"So remind me Doc, which of our wacko CO's ordered this stupid sweep anyways?", asked Sawyer-K015. "Riker did Sawyer", replied Jack-K004, "and you'd better be glad those "wacko CO's" aren't here to hear you say that" "Ah, lighten up Doc", said Sawyer, "If Riker, Billy or Dom wanted to they'd do the same thing, or worse" "You know he's right Jack", said Kate-K008, "Dom especially; he'd have called James ten times as many times if the roles were reversed" "Would you stop calling me James", asked Sawyer angrily "Nope", replied Kate, enjoying this "torture". "Don't make me mad Freckles", said Sawyer. Jack shook his head in disbelief at the two's petty argument, but stopped as he heard a noise, the sound of someone or something coming. Signaling for the others to get down, he unsheathed his Combat Knife and prepared to throw it; as soon as he guessed the target was near enough, he threw his knife. As soon as the knife was thrown, a scream was heard from the bushes. "Oh no", muttered Jack. Moving into the bushes, Jack saw the scream's source and yelled, "Kate, Sawyer, it's alright" As Kate and Sawyer approached, they too saw the scream's source: there stood Hugo-K016, his canteen in front of his face with a knife stuck in it. "Dude...", was all Hurley could say. "Hurley", said Jack, "How many times do I have to tell you? When you're coming back, come from behind us and whistle an 'Oli Oli'" "Yeah, sorry Jack, I just kinda... forgot" "Well, you'd better glad you've got those Spartan reflexes, because this is the fourth time I've nearly killed you" "You know, you might could, like... not be so... paranoid", said Hurley "Jumbotron's got a point Doc", said Sawyer. "Let's just finished this sweep and get back to camp", cut in Kate, "No need wasting time, right?" "Right...", said Sawyer, "Come on Doc. Jumbotron. Freckles. Let's get this party on the road."

"Are we there yet?", asked Shannon-K002. "Yes, Shannon, we're here", replied Boone-K046, "Now, help me set up the radar dish" "Remind me, why are we up here?" "To keep watch for Brutes" "Oh yeah, Riker's paranoid" "Just stop griping and help me with this, alright?" Within 15 minutes the radar system was set up and Boone was staring across the surrounding area with his Sniper Rifle. Shannon, though supposed to be watching the radar devise, was instead looking through data on weapon and vehicles modifications. "Shannon, anything on the radar?", asked Boone. "Nope", Shannon replied. "Are you even looking at it?" "Yes" "Shannon, I can see your reflection in the scope; you're not looking at it" "Would you just mind your own business" Boone sighed. "You're hopeless"

In Kilo's camp mess hall, most of the Spartans were present, eating and talking together for the last time until the team's would split up to begin their duties, shifts and other occupations; Riker, without Susano's immediate knowledge or consent, had ordered positions posted across the surrounding area. Around one particular table, the not yet deployed teams of Fenrir Platoon discussed for the last time. Discussing strategies together were Fireteams Bravo and Foxtrot: they were to be posted in the same general area, and were attempting to come up with ideas on combating Brutes creatively if they arrived. Christian-K153 provided a logical, big-picture view, suggesting that Danielle-K155 and her younger sister Alex-K198 serve together as a form of commando team, leading Brutes into a heavy weapons trap set by Charlie-K023, Claire-K042, and her younger brother Aaron-K101. On the other hand, Tom-K054 and Naomi-K187 suggested that they do a reverse, setting a trap and driving Brutes into it. However, the first idea won out as their plan in case of battle, with Charlie letting his sense of humor run wild for a minute, making Tom flustered and not seeming to effect Naomi. Weapons Team India had been assigned to point defense, guarding the very edge of the camp's surrounding mountain cover. Composed of Libby-K083, Nathan-K052, Ethan-009, and Goodwyn-013 they would be in some of the least protected area, likely able to view Brute forces on the horizon. They were to be the first line of defense for the base in the case of a Brute assault, along with the other Weapons Teams. Goodwyn and Ethan seemed all too eager to begin the battle, while Nathan seemed too quiet and Libby was considering all options. All in all, they seemed a rather disfunctional team at first glance, but each trusted the other with their lives and would work well in the heat of battle. Already moving out, Jin-K094 and Sun-K065 were working with several other Engineering Teams to dig vehicle traps and set explosives, as well as placing markers to be uplinked to the main command interface of the company, from whence it would be uploaded to each Spartans individual HUD. It was a long task, but Jin and Sun both were studious workers, and they loved one another, which made working together an even better thing. Preparing to go to their assigned defensive positions, the Assault Teams of Fenrir talked for one last time at the edge of the camp. Walt-K033 and Michael-K057 were the first to leave, heading for their post ahead of Eko-K194 and Locke-098, though the two men did follow soon, completing Assault Team Charlie. Ana Lucia-K027 was the first of Assault Team Delta to leave, dragging Sayid-K089, Fenrir's best demolitions expert, along with her; Rose-K200 and Bernard-K066 were soon to follow however, the lovers coming along so they didn't get lost trying to find their position, as direction wasn't their forte. Assault Team Echo grabbed the last few things they needed and then left the camp also, Kelvin-K111 leading out boldly, Artz-K139 following timidly, with Desmund-K105 and Penny-K122 bringing up the rear. Recon Team Juliet had left before all the other teams of Fenrir, most of the teams of Kilo in fact, having headed for their position in the nearby mountains to begin their reconnaissance. Daniel-K074 led the way, constantly consulting his small notepad he carried with him at all times, trying to figure out who knows what. Frank-019 followed shortly afterward, carrying the majority of the team's supplies, the rest being divided between Charlotte-K082 and Miles-K147, the team's strategist and CQC experts respectively.

From his command tent, Riker watched with pleasure as 200 Spartans hurried out to the positions they'd been assigned out in the surrounding area. He wondered how this battle would play out; would the IV's fail miserably, or would they do well against the Brutes? Riker didn't know; he'd trained them to work together, but at the same time to be able to work as commandos, just as he'd done for years and years. Yet the only way to truly know if they were ready was a baptism of fire. Nearby, Susano watched with displeasure. He was a flash clone of Lord Hood's brain; he had Hood's memories, and he knew just what had happened at Reach. True, there were less Spartans and more Covenant, but those Spartans had had experience and had still been killed, while these Spartans had traded experience for numbers. Susano didn't know if this was a good idea, or a horrible one. In any case, all Susano could do was watch and wait.

Checking his pistol for the seventh time, James-K012 looked around from his seat on the cliff edge to check on his teammates. James was the leader of Fireteam Alpha of Wasp Platoon, Delta Company; he had been born with good leadership skills, and it was sort of a legacy, unbeknownst to him, as his father, his grandfather and two of his great-grandfathers had been in various CO posts - of course, having been abducted at a young age, he never had learned any of these things. Looking to his right, he saw his sister, Aubrey-K093, checking and double checking her Sniper and Battle Rifles. Aubrey was the stealth and sniping expert of the team, operating solo at times, using flash-bang grenades, her sniper rifle, timed bombs and active camo to pull off assassination and sabotage missions. On James' left were the other two members of his team. One of the pair was a silent, strongly built Spartan bent over the open hood of a Warthog, tinkering with the engine to ensure maximum performance. Smiling to himself, James stood and walked over to the Warthog and handed the Spartan the wrench his wandering hand was searching for; the Spartan grasped it and continued working, not realizing it'd been handed to him. "How's she doing Clayton?", James asked loudly. Jumping slightly in surprise, Clayton banged his head on the hood. Looking at James, Clayton-K137 asked, "You have to do that?" "Yes", James replied, grinning. "Engine's a little out of whack, but I'll fix it" "Good work" Moving around to the end of the Warthog, he found Nicholas-K189 sitting on the ground with a laptop uplinked to HIGHCOM's battle records. "Nick!", yelled James. Nick jumped and screamed, dropping the laptop on the ground and breaking part of it. "Great, now I've got to fix it", said Nick. "Nick, for the last time, stop hacking into HIGHCOM's classified records! Romanov caught you once, Fred twice and Ajax has caught you six times; Ajax will probably let it slide, being who he is, but Romanov and Fred won't for sure." "I was trying to find out about this "Battle of Ignito Prime"; it took place in 2588, but it's so classified that I'm having a hard time figuring anything else out... I wonder if Motoko would help me?" "Nick, stop it. We're focusing on killing Brutes now, not classified mumbo jumbo." James would have continued, but he realized Nick was ignoring him, so he walked over Aubrey. "You ready?", asked Aubrey, "These are Brutes, not Jackals or holograms" "We can take them", said James, "Riker trained us well enough, and with as many as there are here, we could stop anything." "Are you sure?", Aubrey whispered, not looking at James. James didn't answer. Together, they stood on the edge of the cliff and watched the Hannibal III sun descend through the sky.

-- //Out of the Darkness//  //Into the Light//  Devil  Savior   Traitor   Destined   Doomed   Uncertain   Insane   Grieved  22:58, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

10
SPARTAN-A015 calmly walked up to the Covenant explosive device, and gently lifted the lid, attempting not to disturb any anti-movement sensor that could be on the weapon.

Taking out his pair of wire cutters, he began to mess with the circuit of the primitive weapon, which was actually a modified UNSC bomb that did not explode during the Militia's escape from Hannibal IV.

He cut the first wire, and licked the sweat off his upper lip.

He carefully cut another wire, and then, the beeping stopped.

He sighed.

This was dangerous business, Explosive Ordinance Disposal.

However, when you got to use explosives to dispose of other explosives... it was gratifying.

A015 picked up his Carbine, and trotted off with his friend, SPARTAN-A, as they went searching for more booby traps. -- <font color="White">SPARTAN <font color="White">-002 <font color="White">[The Hero] <font color="White">[The Team] <font color="White">[A New Chronicle] 23:21, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

11
"What our objective sir" asked Spartan-A008 "Clear the city" responsed Spartan-A067

Maxime, codename Spartan-A067 just received a transmission from the first battalion command displayed on his hud:

<advance recoon group first battalion>

 Encription device code quiet rabbit Public Key:Classified To:Squad Athens From:Advance Recon group

Target ahead hostile detected from the south of the city to the north. 300 brutes 500 jackals no wraith clear to proced. KEEP IT CLEAR GOOD LUCK. </tt><font size="1.7">/FILE EXTRACTION COMPLETE/ /START FILE/

Spartan-A067 made a quiet mouvement with is hand wich that mean stop and regroup. " We have hostile ahed 800 brutes and Jackals im sending you the information on your hud. Befor we procede remember: SERVE PROTECT AND DIE FOR HUMANITY, it the only thing that should matter for spartan." <font color="SteelBlue">C <font color="#A9A9A9">F <font color=Teal>00 <font color=Teal>1 14:19, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

12
On Hannibal III, UNSC SPARTAN-IV Supersoldiers, primarily from Squad Omaha, rushed across the Forest establishing an Base Camp for Bradley Platoon for the UNSC Military Operation, Operation: WARDOG. SPARTAN-H024, with Battle Rifle in his Hands, wandered the Base Camp and directing S-IVs in thier Construction of the Base Camp.

Then, SPARTAN-H024 took an seat on an Rock nearby and pondered on his Thoughts.

We missed out on Kanna, but now, its our turn thought Daniel-H024.

Just Hope nothing goes FUBAR thought Daniel.

Then, SPARTAN-H002 approached Daniel, with his Shotgun, to tell his Squad Leader of thier Status.

"Sir, Base Camp has been setup and we're good to go", said SPARTAN-H002.

"Good, Get Fireteam Sword to be on Guard and to look for Bravo Kilos" said Daniel.

As SPARTAN-H024 stood up, he took an Good Look of the Planet of Hannibal III.

Here we go thought SPARTAN-H024.

ShockTrooper

13
Charlie Company Bivouac Bear Platoon Encampment

Moana-C108's clear, authoritative, yet gentle voice coursed through the circle of young SPARTANs crouched motionless around him on the craggy turf of the wind-swept hillside

"Standard bivvy formation. Dug-in camp, rifle pits around the perimeter. Make sure everything is buttoned down, camouflage nets over everything exposed. You know the drill."

Nodding wordlessly the circle dispersed into a cloud of bustling green armors, their olive shades nearly invisible on the verdant swade.

Moana was known for being a taskmaster. He expected his SPARTAN-IVs to be the best. They had to be Bear Platoon was going into battle without a single member on an Officer pay grade, a last-minute injury had sent Lieutenant Greene into the hospital, and as the senior enlisted, Moana had taken over.

The company rumor engine had it a replacement officer was going to join Bear in the field, but Moana had no time for rumors. Bear was one of First Battlaion's "outrider" platoons, and mistakes would not be tolerated.

Nigel-C059 looked upwards from the newly-completed rifle pit, its earthen sides crafted to allow a pair of SPARTANs a maximum both of concelament and of freedom for movement

A tiny trickle of sweat coursed down his face. Nigel reflexively reached to wipe his face, only to be interrupted by the clang of guantlet on his craggy EOD helm.

Cursing silently to himself, Nigel stowed his entrenching tool and moved to the next rifle pit that was requiring his attention. But he puased a moment to suvey the scene before him. Hundreds of olive-drab figures were rushing about, felling trees, moving boulders, digging foxholes, stretching camo netting, stringing radio aerials. It was as sight that was of intense personal interest for an engineer like Nigel...but he was interrupted.

A figure he could not see spoke from his left.

"Nige, take a satchel of M320s and mine that berm. CO's worried about ape armor hitting us while we're setting up"

Dutifully grabbing a canvas sack of the cylindircal anti-tank mines, Nigel trotted off down the ridge, e-tool in hand. Engineering was a lot of work for minimal thanks, but for Nigel construction had a greater reward than destruction.

Bravo Company Camp Blue Platoon Bivouac Victor-B101 idly spun the barrels of the AIE-486I Heavy Machine Gun, its gunmetaled lines warlike, poised. Around his ankles the freshly turned earth was soft, giving gently beneath the ton of man and armor.

"I want some action." Victor thought. As a weapons specialist, he was stuck, immobile in his foxhole while the recon gouys and the snipers proweled the perimeter. Although training dictated "gunners" only moved when the company moved, even the most stringent of training could not fully suppress the urges of a young soldier eager to "see the elephant."

But Bravo wasn't going anywhere, and so Victor had to content himself with fussing over his machine gun.

"Break out those e-tools people. Shallow holes, I want to be Keep your eyes open." Kelly's voice was sharp. "This is ape country, and they won't let you forget it. And if they do, I won't. Now move!"

Easy broke ranks and began to disperse into it component teams. Soon four green-clad SPARTAN-IVs were rallied, ready for orders.

"Lance Corporal E075, take Echo and secure the treeline!"

Breaking into an easy lope, the other three SPARTANs quickly fell into Indian file behind their tall leader and were off.

Alyssa-E075 moved with the natural ease of an athlete and the determination of a leader. She was one of the fittest SPARTAN-IVs, strong, fast, tall, unparalled as a fighter. Yet the team behind her seemed ill at ease. The much-vaunted skills of Alyssa had divided team and leader, a silent gap that was nibbling away.

They were a group, not a team. Would combat change this?

Custer-B166 twisted the tiny knob at the side of LAAG's aiming panel, the blue readouts bare of the targets he had though he would be engaging by now.

Camouflage nets were stretched low over the Assassin LAAG's photreactive panels, its angular form dug into a ditch, only the Gauss Cannon's barrel protruding like a hand from a grave.

Custer was as eager as any to get into battle, but all the same a tickle of nervousness filtered through his stomach. This would be their first trial by fire. The speeding Warthogs of Bravo Company would draw a hail of fire, and sitting exposed in the turret, Custer would be vulnerable to spikes traveling at near supersonic-speeds, scorching plasma fire, and the badly-aimed bullets of his fellow SPARTANs. No matter how much protection his MJOLNIR VII offered, Custer was going to have his work cut out for him.

But if there was going to be a battle, Custer wanted to be in the thick of it.

Craig-197 crawled through the low-spreading grass, the rustling blades parting seamlessly before his serpentine movements. Binoculars in hand he paused, his motionless form Ghillied, invisible.

Magnified to 20 times its natural size, the land before him was at his command. Craig's Battle Rifle was a reassuring weight on his back, but today he would have no occasion to use it. The land was devoid of life Human or Brute, hushed as the calm before the storm ruled.

FWH

14
"Of all the guys we could have gotten assigned to be our sergeant, how come we had to get the asshole?" Tobias-B013 asked as he inspected the Warthog's underbelly. "He's always giving us extra work, he always eats separate from us, and he's always hanging back with that sniper rifle once the fighting starts. He's even got a British accent."

"He acts less like a sergeant and more like a freakin' LT," agreed Samuel-B012 from where he was examining the vehicle's chaingun. "It's a wonder he hasn't been promoted yet for sheer asshole-ishness. But I don't see what being British has to do with it."

"That's not a word, Sam. And if you've seen enough movies then you know that assholes usually have British accents."

"He makes it a word by being such an asshole. And I haven't seen many movies but I have known British people, and Mark's the only British asshole I've ever met."

"Cut the bellyaching, both of you," growled Erwin-B005. "If we don't finish this before Nenya does then we'll never hear the end of it."

"You mean you'll never here the end of it, and it's only gonna be David who makes you never here the end of it. You do realize that you two are like the only ones who take this whole rivalry business seriously," Sam told him.

"No, all of Nenya takes it seriously, which is why they're always beating us." Erwin was definitely in a bad mood. "All you people ever do is make jokes about it."

"I think Andrea doesn't care one way or the other," put in Tobias. "Raymond's just eager to please David and Mark, and John just gets stuff done. You two should just cool it for a while, and I promise you that you'll feel better. Save it for the enemy, y'know?"

"See? This is the attitude I get from you people all the time! Screw our sergeant, how come I had to get stuck with people like you?"

From where he was standing by to hand Tobias tools, Anthony grinned his scarred face and made the symbol for tough luck. He might be mute, but the guy could still get his point across.

"Anyway, what's Narya doing?"

"They're standing by with Mark, in case Charcoal runs into anything."

"Better Hector's guys than us..." muttered Tobias.

"What, you don't want to fight the Covenant?" asked Erwin incredulously.

"No, they get to hang out with Mark while Nenya and us work on these Warthogs..."

"... so all I'm saying is that you could make a pretty good spear out of a Gravity Hammer," Hector-B010 told his teammates. "Just take off the hammer part, move that blade attachment thing up to the top, and you've got a durable melee weapon that never runs out of energy!"

"And who do you expect to kill with your archaic melee weapon?" asked Percy-B030 with a raised eyebrow.

"Anything! We're strong enough to punch through Jackal and Grunt armor, and Hunter and Brute armor has joints you can aim for. You just have to be fast about it, that's all."

"You'll excuse me if I don't take you up on that one," grunted Hamish-B120 as he cleaned his precious M23 Grenade Launcher. "Burning and blowin' 'em up works better for me."

"You guys just don't get it," muttered Hector. "It's not about efficiency, it's about style. A spear or a sword looks cooler than a gun."

"Well you go ahead and make a sword and spear and look cooler than us for a few minutes. I got dibs on your armor parts when you get blown away," sneered Hamish.

"I call his helmet!" piped in Elizabeth.

Mark ignored the fire team's banter and continued to scan the surrounding woods for movement. There wasn't much to see, but it helped him get his mind in order. Vilya and Nenya's team leaders would race to get done first, which meant that the inspection would end faster. They could then move on to seeing where and how the LTs wanted the camp set up, as well as establishing a good perimeter to monitor for Covenant activity. He himself would need to find away to requisition a stash of guns and ammo for his squad to choose from to supplement their basic weapons. Percy and Raymond would want some Covenant tech to play with as well, which meant that he'd have to collect some on their first mission...

Narya's topic had turned to girls.

"I'm just saying that I'm cool with never having a date," Percy was saying. "There's only two girls to go around in the squad anyway, so why stress myself out with the competition?"

"There's always-"

"Don't even think about suggesting that again!"

Mark rolled his eyes and continued thinking.

Sergeant Kavin looked Corporal Owens's hand-picked squad over before turning to the corporal.

"They look good to me. Here's your job: there's a bunker that was never used during the invasion, one that's got a lot of weapons and supplies stored in it. Take two APCs and check it out, then bring back anything you find. Understand?"

The corporal saluted, and Kavin turned to another Corporal, Richards. "You know what to do. Take a Mongoose and find whoever just arrived. Find out whoever's in charge and tell 'em about us. They'll need all the intel we've got.

Richards nodded and turned towards the base's vehicle depot: a pen fenced off with logs. "I got it, sarge. Don't worry about me."

Kavin grinned and turned back to the ops center. When he reached it, he was actually whistling.

15
Christian B015 stopped in his tracks and immediately knelt down with his weapon raised and ready. The rest of Tsubasa did the same.

"I heard it to." Kinu B017 said softly through the comm.

Christian listened to the surroundings carefully he could have sworn he heard the roar of an engine in the distance. It was too dull to point out though. He cursed to himself for not being sharp enough, "Lauren get Chris on the ring see if he can spot something."

"Tsubasa reported hearing engines but the surroundings are making things hard to hear." Jung-Suh said as she got off the comm and grabbed for a pair of binoculars. She could already tell Chris was searching for whatever might be out there.

"Got eyes on Tsubasa." He said softly then moved his sights north of their position. He watched as he zoomed across a hill than noticed something on the other side. Birds. Almost in a path birds began to fly up from their treetops in a hurry than after a moment settle back down. "Movement, there's a hill between it and Tsubasa."

"What could be traversing this terrain?" Jung-Suh asked then answered her own question. "Maybe a Mongoose."

"Go report it to Plissken." Chris said still keeping his eyes on the movement. Jung-Suh rose from her position and made it back towards camp. "Tsubasa, we've got eyes on your noise. You're being blocked by a hill. Move north seven hundred meters, east four hundred and you should spot him."

Christian replied and Chris for a moment was alone. He took off his helmet for a moment, grabbed a cigarette and thumbed the end and it lit. He brought it to his lips and zeroed in back on his sights. Who would be using a Mongoose?

Nao B009 got off the comm as her team surveyed the land. "Damnit, Tsubasa already found something."

"What?" came the hurried reply from Hanako B021.

"A vehicle probably a Mongoose."

"So what do we do?" asked Alex B011 as she switched her weapon between her hands.

"Charlie Mike." Nao answered, Continue the Mission. They still had two more points they needed to hit before completing the recon and she wanted to do so before dark. "Karen you're on point let's move a bit faster."

"Ah would it be wrong for me to want to have a couple legion of Grunts just roll up towards this position?" Parker B027 said as he laid back in the small Horseshoe position. Camouflage netting keeping the sun from his eyes as he sat there without a helmet.

Matt B046 rolled his eyes, "Why's that?"

"Because we're loaded up with Armor Piercing Incendiary rounds. Could you imagine those little guys up against this thing?" Parker replied as he patted the firing controls of the AIE-486I Heavy Machine Gun

"That would be pretty fun." Matt said softly as he waited in one of the long prongs of the U shaped position.

A long pause followed and the two looked at each other for a moment. Until Parker finally broke the silence. "Fuck I'm bored."

Hollywood

16
Ross East Jr.'s I-660 Spear and the other I-660s of the UNSCAF 3rd Squadron exited slipspace above Hannibal III. "Third Squadron, sound off", Ross said. "Robiechaud here, all systems are go." "Brittni Skyler reporting, sir." "This is Archer, hear ya loud and clear" "Allison reporting" "Baron here, all systems A-OK" "Dillon Merton here", The squadron members responded. "Alright ladies and gentlemen", Ross said, "Prepare to land aboard the UNSC Highwind." Orbiting around the planet, they could see Four Isis-class Light Cruiser-Carriers, The UNSC Yggdrasil, UNSC Fate of the Gods, UNSC Highwind, and the UNSC Celsius, as well as the Horus-class Light Cruiser UNSC Storm Rider and several Loki-class Stealth Frigates. Ross's radio crackled to life. "This is the UNSC Highwind to the UNSCAF Third Special Operations Squadron, do you read me?", the radio operator on the Highwind said. "Loud and clear, Highwind", Ross said. "You are cleared to land in Hanger Three", the radio operator said" Ross and his squadron approached the Highwind, and prepared to land. As Air Force pilots, they were trained to land on Navy spacecraft carriers, most UNSCAF pilots did not do so regularly. The Third Squadron, however, was different, as a special operations squadron, regularly were involved in joint operations with the Navy. Ross flew towards the open hanger and slowed down his I-660 toward the open hanger on the UNSC Highwind the aircraft drifted into the hanger, catching the arrestor wire. The rest of his squadron followed suit. The airlock closed behind the squadron and the hanger refilled with air. The radio crackled to life: "It is now safe to exit your aircraft". Ross exited the I-660 and walked out of the hanger with the rest of his squadron, towards the squadron's assigned quarters.

17
"Exiting slipspace" responsed the navigation operator of the UNSC Everest. "This is Vice Admiral Davidson requesting autorization to enter in a geocentric orbit." A voice over the Com channel responsed "welcome in Admiral."

"So listenning Spartan we will take position in those building and take down does brute one by one. Fireteam 1 will take position on this roof. Cover us! The rest of the squad follow me we will wipe those jakal out! No question? So Move on." <font color="SteelBlue">C <font color="#A9A9A9">F <font color=Teal>00 <font color=Teal>1 19:05, 15 February 2009 (UTC)

18
“And then I put my right boot on, then my left boot. Then I thought about standing up, and then I stood up.”

Fire Team Papa had been following the dirt track for an hour now, steadily spiraling their way down towards the base of the hill Easy Company’s HQ was situated on top of. For most of the journey they had been talking, only now it was only Alice talking with the others just being bored.

“Sooo….Remus, technically it’s not rape if I say surprise first.” Chris awkwardly tried to restart the joking, butting into one of the few breaks in Alice’s story of what she’d done today, causing a muffled laughter from his companions.

“Yea, you know it’s also not rape if I kill you first.” Remus chuckled raspily.

“Haha, 9 out of 10 people prefer gang rape.” Alice tried to join in.

“I’m not entirely sure you should be talking about this…what if we pass by other officers who overhear you speaking of…the R-Word.” The Fire Teams commanding Officer shook his head, as turned from his position at the front of the pack to look upon his troops, “We do have a job to do, and I know everyone likes a laugh, but more people like a clean laugh than a …dirty one.”

Remus jogged up to Clint as he turned back around, “Hey Clint, I totally agree with you, but you know what? Surprise.”

“Wut?”

“Hey baby! Want to be saying that in twelve months I’m your man!” Guido shouted at the marine, who was now hastily running away from the Spartan.

“You’ll get in trouble if you keep shouting things at every chick that passes by, like I dunno, I presume there’s some kind of punishment, or restraining order…” Lynch said glumly as he juggled seven fist sized rocks.

“We’ve been here, what a day? And already I feel we’re losing it to camp fever, we never do nothing… there has to be something.”

Lynch let the rocks fall to the ground as he looked at Guido “You know what I’m thinking?”

“Please…don’t say Surprise.”

“Air Band, two words, Air and Band.”

“You mean like…” Guido moved his hands out as if he was holding an invisible guitar, which he started to strum while making a noise that sounded more like an ambulance siren then an instrument.

“Yea, kinda.”

“Maybe later, we need more people…lets go see Marcus.”

19
Sniper Team Hotel and Recon Team Golf were on there way back to base, when Hotel 1 had spotted something.

"Ma'am," Hotel 1 said

"Yeah?" SPARTAN-G094 said.

"Bravo Kilo's spotted" the Young S-IV said.

"Ok, Sally get you Sniper Team hidden. Ash have Golf ready their grenades and ammo." She ordered. "No one fires 'till I give the Order. Understood?"

Green lights flashed on her HUD. She moved into postion and she waited for the brutes to cross her postion.

"Sally, prepare to fire." Amy said she thumbed the saftey off her Battle Rifle. "Fire."

She saw the brute fall before she heard the shot. "Let's Go GOLF!" she screamed down her mic.

Rifles flaring, the brutes had barely any time to react. Half of them were cut down in seconds. The remaining ones turned round and open fired. One S-IV took one in the head, her shields flared and she dropped instinctivly. Amy threw a Grenade. It exploded in the middle of the brutes killing all but one. Sally fired again, The brute fell.

"Fall in." Amy ordered. The SPARTANs jogged up to her. "Nice job, Now lets head home for Steak and Beer!"

The S-IVs roared with laughter and joy. They walked back to base; Heads held high.

SPARTAN- G0  24  20:04, 16 February 2009 (UTC)

20
As Squad Omaha looked around for any Bravo Kilos near the Camp, SPARTAN-H024 and SPARTAN-H048 were having an serious discussion in the Command Station of the Camp.

"So, what do you think about Operation: WARDOG, think it well work? said SPARTAN-H048.

"Oh, absoulutley" replied Daniel-H024, "its just matter if we can prove to Command that Bradley Platoon is an Effective Fighting Force" said Daniel.

Then, an awkward silence occured within the Camp and SPARTAN-H024 just stood up and walked outside with S-H048 drinking from his Canteen.

As SPARTAN-H024 looked outside, he thought of his Future and his Squad's Future in his Camp, which was in the Barren Forests of Hannibal III. Then, SPARTAN-H161 approsched Daniel.

"Hey Danny Boy" said Christie.

"Hey Christie" replied Daniel.

"So, Danny, when do you think we get our Baptism?" said Christie-H161 as she laid her head on Daniel's Shoulder.

"Hopefully, tommorow" replied Daniel.

"I just hope nothing goes wrong tommorow" said Christie.

"Relax, Squad Omaha is ready for anything, besides, Christie, you are the Best Hand-to-Hand Combat Expert in the Company, you beat everyones asses, except mine, I think you can take care of yourself" said Daniel.

"I just wanna live to finally kick your Ass in Sparring Match" replied Christie with Confidence.

"Huh, like you ever will" replied Daniel.

Then, Daniel wrapped his arm around Christie and planted an kiss on her forehead.

"Christie, go take a few Zs, you need your energy tommorow" said Daniel.

"Alright, see ya Danny Boy" replied Christie as she left to the Tent.

For the remainder of the Day, SPARTAN-H024 watched the view from the outside of the Base Camp and continue to ponder on his Thoughts for an while.

As Paul Jackson, UNSC Marine, and his Marine Squadron wandered in thier Ship for Hours, Paul Jackson kept gaining thoughts of Nervousness and Anxiety.

God Dammit, I want to go into Hannibal III right now thought Jackson.

"Ugh, when is the UNSC 5th Fleet gonna get to to Hannibal III, we need some Action!" yelled an Marine.

"Relax, we are going get ther soon" said another Marine.

Hope so thought Jackson.

Then, Paul Jackson approached the Window to see the vasness of Space and the Ships of the 5th Fleet that were near his Ship.

Why do I have this Feeling something bad is going to happen?! thought Jackson.

ShockTrooper

21
Russell-A034 woke up suddenly, having experienced a nightmare. He was a bit sick with the cold, and was deemed unreliable to fight until it cleared up. Why he got the cold, nobody knew. The nightmare was of the Brutes destroying the camp and killing every SPARTAN-IV.

Russell promptly got himself calmed down. "Come on, it was just a dream, you're better than that. It will never happen." He walked to the wall and noticed his cold had disappeared. Taking a drink of water, he put his Carbine on his back and walked off to breathe the stale-lifegiving, yet stale-air of Hannibal III. Taking a breath, he walked over to the mess hall to see what was available for food.

SPARTAN-A034, Retooled for the Necros I am a SPARTAN supersoldier. This is what I have done. Don't mess with me. 18:42, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

22
From the moment they had stepped off the dropship, Lambda had been a sea of silent movement. No radio signals, no voice communication, just quick, efficient, and speedy setup. They were setting up the base on a hill in the trees, with foliage to protect from air reconnaissance and elevated positions from which to launch sniper attacks and mount raids. Leonid marveled at the skill of his SPARTANs, how they had begun setup without a single order from him, even while outwardly betraying nothing, forcing himself to become detached. He could not afford to care.

The company was completely radio silent, not communicating with any of the other IV companies, but Leonid suspected many of his men and women might be listening to the others as they worked. As much as he had tried to drill into them to become detached, and to ignore emotions, and how it helped keep a level head on the battlefield, they still cared, and cared deeply. Leonid himself fought the battle not to care every day—he knew the consequences. The consequences was Edward-077, laying on the ground with his limbs broken, and blood spurting from his nose—all from a goddamn training exercise.

“Base is running at 97% optimal efficiency.” Came the voice of Kami, his AI, in a ghostly and hollow tone. “SPARTAN-IV units report that it is ready for combat operations.”

Leonid didn’t smile, despite the good news. He was still consumed with the memory. Nevertheless, he managed a terse “Good.” And entered the base. Kami didn’t speak again, but Leonid could feel her, mind to mind, working on whatever it was she worked on. He wondered if she was spying for Section 0 at times. But that was probably just his paranoia. Probably.

Leonid entered the base, feeling out of sorts, and found the command quarters. They were exactly the same, aside from a briefing screen, with a simple cot, sink, and weapons locker. Leonid checked inside. He’d brought a small armory with him to the operation, and he was glad that none of his SPARTANs had taken anything. It must have been tempting.

A SPARTAN-IV arrived at his door, and entered, saluting. Leonid saluted back, then asked his purpose.

“Sir, recon shows some Brutes sniffing around the third perimeter, the SPARTANs there want to know if they can engage.”

The Brutes might have definite intel on Lambda’s base…but Leonid doubted it. They were probably just out foraging. He considered…then decided on a course of action.

“Prepare a squad.” He said “Kill them. No survivors.”

Then, he finally smiled. “But wait for me. I’m going with them.”

23
Mark sat on a log and polished his helmet as the cold air bit at his exposed cheeks. They'd been on Hannibal III for less than a day now and he already hated the weather. He'd always disliked the cold, but he also hated overwhelming heat. The perfect temperature for him was lukewarm, with perhaps only a gentle breeze to disturb the tranquility.

As he scrubbed at the already spotless helmet, Mark looked at his face in the visor's reflection.

Am I interesting enough to look at? he wondered.Do I stand out from everyone else?

His musings did not stem from vanity, but rather from a desire for people to take notice of him and his squad. A sergeant who caught his superior's eye would be more likely to get noticed doing something remarkable, more likely to be seen as a hero. And Mark wanted desperately to be a hero.

His scrubbing slowed as a pang of fear rose in his gut, one that was unpleasantly familiar to him. Mark shoved the feeling away with a groan and looked off into the trees. It wasn't the Covenant he was afraid of, but something far more ordinary that had plagued him since before graduation.

Anonymity. Normalness. Mark was terrified of always being just a face in the crowd, a name in a list of squad leaders. He wanted to be someone, someone people read about in history books, someone they made movies about. If he had been one of the SPARTAN-IIs such a goal would have been easy, but he was just one of a thousand other SPARTANs who, in Mark's mind, were all after the same thing he was. Sometimes this thought alone was enough to make him want to curl into a ball and scream with frustration.

Mark shook his head and set his helmet aside. If he wanted to be special, then he'd have to start pushing for that now, in this campaign. And the first step to such a push was ensuring that his squad was a professional and effective fighting force.

Which, he thought, glancing over to where Hector had found a long branch and was pretending it was a sword, is not at all what we are right now...

"Look at him," sneered John-B153 as he stared at Mark's back. "Uptight bastard, thinks he's too good to be with the rest of us grunts."

Raymond-B100 glanced up from his ration bar. "That's no way to talk about a superior officer."

"He's a sergeant, that barely counts as an officer, moron. Besides, you're always sticking up for that asshole."

David-B040 rolled his eyes. "Can it, B153. I really don't have the patience for your bullshit today and besides, isn't their something constructive you could be doing right about now?"

"My name's John," growled John. "Not a designation, a name. Would it kill you to use it once in a while?"

Instead of answering, David glanced over to where Hector was playing with the stick he'd found. "That guy is the weirdest soldier I have ever met."

"Do you think he meant what he said about getting some scrap metal together and forging a sword?" asked Raymond.

"Knowing him that's more than likely," David told him. "But seeing as he's just got a few welders to use for heat, it'll probably just end up a ridiculous-looking mess." He looked over at Andrea-B050, who was absently twirling a strand of her brown hair. "Something on your mind, B050?"

"There you go again!" snarled John, but Andrea just shrugged.

"I'm fine."

David shrugged. Turning to Raymond, he asked, "You always remember everything Mark says. Did he mention what we were supposed to do after we finished with the Warthogs, B100?"

"No sir, but he did say that he'd get some new orders from the LT when we were finished."

With a groan of exasperation, John hauled himself onto the back of their Warthog. "Doesn't look like he's too interested in doing that now," he commented. "And Raymond, you don't call corporals sir. I swear, if you weren't so naive and trusting then you'd be the biggest kiss-ass I have ever met."

"B100 just knows how to show his superiors the respect they're due." David glowered at John. "I bet Erwin doesn't have to put up with anyone like you on his team."

"Why is it that you only use his name?"

After riding for only fifteen minutes, Corporal Richards had begun to tremble with fear. After a half hour he was trying to calm his nerves by humming to himself, and after forty-five minutes he had begun to whimper. So when his Mongoose stopped and would not start again, the militia corporal nearly burst into tears.

It was always like this. He'd be decent and respectful before the mission, but when it was in full swing he lost his nerve completely. At only seventeen years of age, Richards was only a corporal because Corporal Henderson had put in a good word for him with Kavin before he bought it.

Still trembling, Richards slid off the Mongoose and leaned his head against a tree. He didn't even want to be fighting, but now here he was, stuck in the back end of no where with no transportation and possibly surrounded by the enemy. ''What was the sergeant thinking? How do I "find whoever's in charge" anyway? For all we know, those ships were just Brute reinforcements...''

Taking deep breaths to steady himself, Richards pulled his SMG off the back of the Mongoose. He took several steps away from the useless vehicle, then stopped to catch his breath again. He made it about three meters before he heard a noise in the trees. Spooked out of his mind, the corporal dashed away into the woods, not caring about the noise he was making.

24
The Squad athens back from is recoon mission. Maxime-067 is making is rapport to his platoon commander. "Only a hanfull of foes sir." The rest of the unit is making their way to the casern cantina. "Were it so hard?" Maxime received his order he had to return but now with the mission of eleminating those enemy <font color="SteelBlue">C <font color="#A9A9A9">F <font color=Teal>00 <font color=Teal>1 22:20, 2 March 2009 (UTC)

25
13th of October, 2611, 6:33, Hannibal III, Usea Continent, Northern Mountains

Mitchell crept through the underbrush, his ghillie suit creating a perfect blend. As soon as they landed, he set to making this suit as soon as possible from local materials and now blended seamlessly with his surroundings. Beams of morning light crept through the thick foliage, with Mitchell moving cautiously to avoid it. He moved forward before hitting the floor, a noise setting him off. He looked up, peering through half obscured eyes to spot it. A pack of Brutes. Thirteen strong, led by a Major Captain, all of them making a lot of noise. He could see one had a deer slung over its shoulder, making it obvious what this was. Rookies hunting food. They never even suspected they were this close to death. He tilted his head and patched his neural net into the UNSC War Net, sending his data back to headquarters.

Camp Bravo, northern lowlands

Ajax pulled the cable across from the communications desk and plugged it in to the underside of the holo table, twisting and locking the latch.

“Okay, Comms patched in, give them a whirl, see if one of the southern camps is online yet.” Ajax asked, wiping his brow.

“Feeling lonely, are we?” Joyeuse quipped

“If this goes wrong, I’m going to decompile your coding.” Ajax scowled

“No need to be a sour puss. Beginning communications check and..... opening all ports, remaining silent.” Joy said, tilting her head and putting her left hand to her temple.

“Confirm, everybody is live, most are in acoustic. Awaiting commands I guess.” She smiled

“Fine.” Ajax said, before a soft and muffled yelp from the cargo area made his eye physically twitch.

“Joyeuse.... did you hear that?”

“Yes... I did... analyzing...decompiling. Sounds like a dog? Not domestic though. Lupus Verso?” Joyeuse said, deep in thought

“Rubra Rex.” Ajax snarled

He paced over to the cargo area like an animal, to which several of the IVs scattered, knowing what was coming. One desperately tried to shut a large crate, meant for ammo until Ajax physically picked him up, dragging him in front of him then pinned him to a wall.

“You brought him, didn’t you?”

“Sir...I.... we... come one... we can’t... we couldn’t.” He said, stumbling over his words

Ajax snarled but something warm lapped at his exposed fingers. He turned around to see a shaggy wolf like animal with a red and white fur and golden eyes. Of course, despite being descended from domestic dogs, it was the size of a small tiger. As Ajax looked at him, he let out an excited park, only for Ajax to grab his snout, a physical command for ‘shut up and be quiet’. He lay down and rolled over, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.

“Stupid mongrel...” Ajax sighed, looking to the frightened IV he Ajax had just scared half to death. “Did you at least bring canine armour?”

“Yeah, it’s in there with his food bowls and food packs.” The SPARTAN said, pointing to the container

“Fine, get him suited up, pile some extra ammo and rations on him and get him ready. I bet Grey Platoon is hungry.” Ajax said, waving his hand

“Talking of which... “ Joyeuse hummed “Mitchell just opened comms. Video feed.”

Ajax paced over to the holo table which deployed a 2D image as he arrived. Though partially obscured by foliage, he could clearly see the Brute forces ahead.

“Mitchell. Hold your position, continue observation, reinforcements in bound.” Ajax said, holding down the communication button. He pressed another, opening up communication to Grey Platoon.

“Plissken, you have orders. Move to Mitchell’s location, identify Brute targets and eliminate them. Save one, try and take a junior officer alive. We’ll have your return covered.” Ajax said, not giving Plissken a chance to argue or reply. He headed to their cargo area and whistled sharply, grabbing the attention of those in there.

“Grey platoon is inbound on a target, they need some cover. Red Platoon, I want reconnaissance in force along the lowland pathways. Mount up and make as much noise as possible. Blue, I want you to move up, dismounted and engage in Recon by fire, probe their defensive positions then retreat when given the order. You have ten minutes to load out and move out.”

“YES SIR!” Came the sharp reply, followed by several concerned Purple and Green Platoon members.

“Sir, what about us?”

“You’re defending the base. Sit tight until you’re called for.” He ordered, smirking a little at the following groans.

(Okay, dawn is breaking on Hannibal and your first raid missions are coming in. University begs most of my time, so I’ll do this simply. I’ll upload an image with attached description of your raiding mission including force deployment and support. Of course, if I’m not controlling the Company, then your commander will introduce it. If I’m controlling the commander, I’ll post a quick introduction to it soon and if the person controlling your company is currently MIA from the site, I’ll do it as well)
 * Key
 * Red shape: Primary objective
 * Green Shape: Secondary objective
 * Blue Shape: Enemy barracks
 * Numbered arrow: SPARTAN force (see mission details)
 * Red lines: Enemy fire line/trench/barricade/defences
 * Red Xs: Friendly mine ordnance
 * Albion Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Enemy communication hack
 * Terrain: Lowland hills
 * Enemy Forces:3 Brute packs, one on guard (90+ Brutes, 20-40 on duty)
 * Support:F/AQ-22 Warhound UCAV armed with two AIM-11 CLAW air to air missiles, AIM-34 HORN Beyond Visual Range Air to Air missiles and six AGM-76 PINCER Air to Ground tank killers, running on autonomous, guided by laser designation, optional AI override.
 * Brief: SATCOM has identified an enemy communications station amidst a cluster of low hills not far from Albion’s base. Albion is to attack in force and eliminate the garrison (garrison positions marked) and take control of the communications building and implant a virus into the local Covenant Battle Net. This will allow the UNSC to monitor them more effectively and cover up attacks happening at the same time, along with making sure this base appears to seem operable, despite capture. Force ‘1’, comprised of Platoons Epsilon and Zeta, will perform a conservative frontal attack with aerial cover. Force 2 and 3, Rho and Lambda Platoon respectively, will launch assaults on hills 2 and 3, take control and provide fire support for force 1. Force 4, omega platoon, will launch a rear assault scaling the cliffs behind the barracks and command centres. Orders are to exterminate all resistance and take all buildings.
 * Picture: [[Image:Albion 1.png|400px]]
 * Charlie Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Ambush
 * Terrain: Narrow canyon forced by cliffs, hills and forests
 * Enemy Forces: four choppers, six prowlers, four Shadow troop transports, designated Alpha, with ammo, Bravo, with ammo, Charlie, with fuel and Delta with troops, Delta is priority target/ Support by a Phantom and two Banshee escorts. In total, up to 60 Brutes, possible reinforcements.
 * Support: Two LUNA Laser Satellites under AI control
 * Brief: Forces are to arrive at target zone prior to raid and dig in, suggested deployment of mines in location marked. Platoons Bear, Snake, Cat, Dog and Crocodile are marked 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respective. 1 is to attack from cover of buildings and hold position against potential infantry counter attack, force 2 is to dig in on the hill and fire upon enemy. 3 deploy fire from cliff top onto enemy and 4 and 5 to stop enemy retreat or advance. Suggested use of anti tank mines of both types in the gully and deployment of CANINE SAMs from M41B2 ordnance platform for deployment against enemy air targets. Possible enemy reinforcements, all units must remain alert, SATCOM will keep close tabs. LUNA Satellites are for long range enemy reinforcement interdiction and eliminating anybody who slips through the net.
 * Picture: [[Image:Charlie 1.png|400px]]
 * Delta Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Costal Raid
 * Terrain: Coastal waters, beaches
 * Enemy Forces: Barracks comprising of 100 possible Brutes, perhaps 30 on current duty, three Prowlers.
 * Support: 7 Dolphin-class Landing Craft, numerous M54 Barracuda Rigid Inflatable Boat
 * Brief: Force designation 1, comprised of Wasp and Bee Platoons are to infiltrate close to objective 1 and 2, green marked watch towers and eliminate them silently, paving way for Force 2, comprising of Spider, Beetle and Ant to rise and deploy close to the shore, infiltrate as deep into enemy territory as possible and engage enemy forces in designated combat zone, eliminating resistant and ammunition store.
 * Picture: [[Image:Delta 1.png|400px]]
 * Easy Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Destruction of objective
 * Terrain: Low land areas, forests, bridge, river
 * Enemy Forces: force disposition of around 50 Brutes, with immediate reinforcements of 60 mounted on Prowler ISVs and Shadow TTs. Closer reinforcements mounted by Phantom and Banshee
 * Support: 1 FQ-99C Warlord UCAV
 * Brief: The objective is to take and destroy the enemy bridge to separate their ground forces and ease operations for Halo Company in close proximity to base. Force designation 1, Eel Platoon, is to engage enemy by close fire and assault and destroy the Brute CP, marked red, while Shark and Barracuda Platoon, marked 3, will take the opposite checkpoint, while force 4, Dolphin will hold an upriver forward base and force 2, Ray Platoon, will secure the bridge and prepare explosives. A FQ-99C Warlord UCAV is in high altitude loiter, in autonomous mode to engage enemy air reinforcement. AI override optional. Suggested light anti vehicle load out of LAAWs and 40mm grenades is suggested.
 * Picture: [[Image:Easy 1.png|400px]]
 * Fox Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Destruction of enemy outpost
 * Terrain: Coastal waters, artificial island
 * Enemy Forces: Expected forces of 60 Brutes, expected 40-70 operated on ad hoc patrol boats.
 * Support: 1 F/AQ-22 Warhound armed with four AIM-11 CLAWs and 92 ASR-34 TUSK air to ground rockets, 1 RQ-4 Twilight UAV
 * Brief: A former lighthouse is hampering movement of Fox Company by water up and down the coast. It has to go. Force 1 and 2, AKA Platoons Samurai and Knight, will go overland, attack enemy garrisons. With the lighthouse forces distracted, force 3, made of Apache, Cossack and Spartan Platoons will infiltrate by water and assault the light house, force enemy forces off and plant demolition charges on both the light house and underwater supports of the structural supports that keep the island upright. Enemy patrols will be intercepted by a loitering Twilight UAV which will direct the attacks of a loitering Warhound UCAV.
 * Picture: [[Image:Fox 1.png|400px]]
 * Ghost Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Destruction of enemy observation position
 * Terrain: mountain, cliffs
 * Enemy Forces: suspected disposition of 90 defending troops, sixty on duty
 * Support: 2 Eagle UCAVs, both armed with two AGM-64 BARBs and 38 ASR-34 TUSK
 * Brief: A mountainside observation post is posing a problem for Ghost Company and its ability to operate in the areas below, so it must be demolished. Force 1, comprising of Platoons Falcon, Buzzard and Hawk will perform a frontal assault while platoons Eagle and Kite perform a rear assault after Force 1 attacks. Loitering Eagle UCAVs will provide missiles to destroy fortification walls and grant access. Garrison destruction and destruction of observation tower is required.
 * Picture: [[Image:Ghost 1.png|400px]]
 * Halo Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Heavy assault on enemy CP
 * Terrain: Gently sloping hill
 * Enemy Forces: expected 90 Brute defenders
 * Support: 1 A-660 Pike armed with mixed ordnance of AGM-331 ANTLER, M24 DISCORD and M68 CHAOS
 * Brief: Halo has the fun job of a frontal assault on a well defend enemy listening post, protected by two tiers of fire lines. However, typical Brutes have screwed their own defences, so that the second line cannot see past the first line, meaning only one fire line can attack them, depending on their position. Objective is to crush enemy defences then push in and destroy the enemy listening post. Support is provided by an A-660 Pike, complete with anti infantry bombs and a pack up for possible tank engagements. Laser designation for bomb targets is preferred, but pilot can engage enemy vehicle targets at will. Two Wraiths and numerous Shade turrets expected.
 * Picture: [[Image:Halo 1.png|400px]]
 * Indigo Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Ambush of heavy enemy convoy.
 * Terrain: Lowlands, few buildings, raised road over lowland shallow marshes.
 * Enemy Forces: Eleven Shadows, transporting Fuel and ammo, seven Prowlers, two Wraiths and escorting squadron of Banshees (5)
 * Support: COMET Directed EMP satellite
 * Brief: force 1, Stonewall and Takeda Platoons, Force 2, Hannibal Platoon and Force 3, Platoon Wellington and Giap are to surround and destroy enemy forces by multiple deployment of mine nets and engagement by heavy fire from concealed positions. Orbital EMP Satellite will disable errant enemy vehicles.
 * Picture: [[Image:Indigo 1.png|400px]]
 * Joker Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Assault on hill fortification
 * Terrain: Hill with multiple buildings
 * Enemy Forces: suspect 80+ Brutes, perhaps up to half on duty at any given time
 * Support: METEOR Kinetic Bombardment Weapon
 * Brief: Joker has the task of eliminating an enemy garrison based in an abandoned settlement. Heavy resistance is expected, so deployment of METEOR ‘Rods from God’ weapon is approved. Platoons Bow and Catapult form Force 1, directly attacking enemy trench positions, while Crossbow directly attacks the village as Force 2 and Force 3, Balista, provides flank support, Force 4, Cannon, will attack the enemy’s rear, attack their small vehicle depot, with three Wraiths and four Prowlers. Capture of enemy Command Post, marked red, is vital. All other enemy forces and buildings are expendable. METEOR KBW can deploy up to twelve kinetic weapons, each has a ten second deployment delay and is equal in force to a 500 pound bomb.
 * Picture: [[Image:Joker 1.png|400px]]
 * Kilo Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Destruction of enemy costal defences
 * Terrain: Costal cliffs (ten meters)
 * Enemy Forces: up to 80 defenders
 * Support: 1 SOL Satellite
 * Brief: Kilo Company is assigned to destroying some Cliffside guns that could stop a potential UNSC invasion. Force 1, Aesir, Asynjur and Fenrir form Force 1 and attack Battery North, while Jotun and Einherjar form Force 2 and attack batter south. Force 1 also must destroy the ammo dump supplying the guns and Force 2 destroy the bridge linking the two gun positions. Support is set by a SOL Laser Satellite, operating a TITAN Anti aircraft/tank LASER, for decimating any enemy reinforcements, with it being open to use by Kilo’s AI.
 * Picture: [[Image:Kilo 1.png|400px]]
 * Lambda Company Raid 1
 * Objective: Assassination
 * Terrain: Valley with cliff walls and forests.
 * Enemy Forces: Four Shadows, eleven Prowlers, three Wraiths, six choppers, no immediate air support
 * Support:None
 * Brief: A Brute High Chieftain is moving position, giving the perfect chance to remove him, killing everybody else is also advised. Due to the use of light, open topped vehicles, weight of fire from firearms will provide much kill capacity, while anti armour support is still required. Mines should prevent advancement, priority target is the Chieftain in the third Shadow. Force 1 is comprised of Ghost and Phantom platoons, force 2 is Ghoul Banshee and Reaper.
 * Picture: [[Image:Lambda 1.png|400px]]



26
Nigel-C059 swung his armored frame onto the cargo net, its black webbing bulging with the menacing shapes of mines and concertina wire, their warlike barbs only occasionally punctuated with the more mundane shapes of shovels and empty sandbags.

"You on, Nige?" Armand-C176 asked, shifting awkwardly from the cramped driver's seat, the five point harness steched awkwardly across his broad, armored chest.

"Yeah, good to go Armie." They had gear piled everywhere. The passenger seat was packed with missile tubes, cans of ammo, a bundled-up pup tent, and a very uneasy-looking Craig-C197, who was casting nervous glances back at the stack of anti-mines, Nigel was clambering over to reach the bed's jumpseat.

It was odd for a sniper to be catching a ride with engineers, but transportation was short, and cramming in with two "engies" and a carload of explosives beat riding with the assault guys from Polar, who were known to have trouble keep their myriad of shotguns set on "Safe."

I guess circumstances are relative.

Custer-B166 swung roughly in his harness as the Warthog roared from its shallow revetment, even the gel layer of his MJOLNIR unable to muffle the rude lurch. But Custer's mind was on other things, besides, everyone was eager for their first proper fight, and stepping on the gas seemed to be the best way to get to it.

Red Platoon's job was to "make as much noise as possible," and being noisy children was a job they excelled at. Custer's LAAG Guass cannon alone could devastate an entire armored column. When placed in conjunction with the dozens of automatic weapons Red's Warthogs mounted, the effect would be truly devastating. Custer only hoped there would be something more subtantial for his gun than soft infantry.

"I say we load for bear. Bandoleers, the lot. Everyone with 40 mikes, missile tubes, RPGs, whatever."

"And I'm saying unless you want to carry it all, we don't go in heavy."

"'Lyss, I know we're not Halo, but we need to pack at least a LAAW tube."

"Yeah Mike's right. Intel says we're going up against armor. No way I'm killing a Wraith with an M7."

"I'm with Trish and Mike on this one, Alyssa. You might be able to outrun tanks shells, but we can't."

"Well I'll..." Alyssa bolted forward, fisted raised. Mike stopped her.

"Yo, cool it Sven, 'Lyssa, knock it off. Save it for the Covies."

The row quieted, but the three glared at each other beneath polarized viosrs.

Echo was feuding again. If vast talent and big egos went hand-in-hand, Echo only proved the theory. Alyssa-E075 could practically outrun, outjump, outbox, and outwrestle anyone in Easy. Sven-E025 ignite a holocaust of debris and fire with a single frag grenade. And Patricia-E039 was a wizard with the Battle Rifle, the only SPARTAN-IV to have ever scored higher than a 99.7% with the BR09. And poor Mike-E011 was in the middle. Normal in nearly every respect, it had fell to him to be Echo's diplomat, the unlucky SPARTAN who had to practically peel the three quarrlers off each other after every squabble.

"FORM UP EEL!" The shout rang loud

Still glaring, the teammates scooped up their gear, and trotted out towards the circle of camouflaged figures gathering around the platoon leader.

Victor threw the camo cover over his heavy-machine gun's grey metal form, eagerly snatching an M45 HMG before the fluttering canopy of faux leaves had finished draping itself across the minigun's curved gunshield.

"Finally! We get to fight!" The cry was in the thoughts of everyone in the camp, even if the stern glares of the officers prevented them from voicing it too loudly.

Blue Platoon was going to get to fire its weapons in anger, and Victor planned to do his share of the firing. The sheer concussive force of a machine gun made when fired was a complusive attraction for Victor. And now he finally would be able to use it in action.

FWH

27
Ross East Jr. looked at a copy of the transmission from UNSC Command, as he stood before the rest of his squadron in the briefing room of the UNSC Highwind. "I'm afraid I'll be the only one flying this week", Ross said. At that, a number of groans rose from his squadronmates. "I wasn't my idea", Ross said, "but it says here they needed only one A-660, and it's a milk run anyway, I'm supposed to take out a few Wraiths and Shades and bomb a couple of Brute-controlled buildings for Halo Company. Apparently Elise-070 and her Sierra IVs are going to be taking out a Brute command center with my support." "Wait a sec", asked Dillion Merton, "Why are they bothering with the SPARTAN IVs, surely we could just crush the Bravo Kilos with our regular forces like we did at Kanna?" "I don't know.", Ross replied, "Personally I'd just as soon drop an ENTROPY on that command center and be done with it.", Ross said.

28
The Objective of Squad Athens was simple perform a frontal assault with the rest of the Epsilon platoon and the Zeta platoon to take the hill and destroy the communication of the Brute. With the help of an aerial assult it should be much more easy and once for all destroy the brute force. On the space The Battlegroup everest was preparing to support the ground force and in need, to send marines on the ground."Spartan get ready for the real fight" said Maxime "Our Order are simple took this hill destroy the bruten and their communication station. We gonna be help by the Zeta Platoon." <font color="SteelBlue">C <font color="#A9A9A9">F <font color=Teal>00 <font color=Teal>1 03:53, 7 March 2009 (UTC)

29
(I'm posting for the Companies in my control, If 501/Matt/091 haven't posted by the end of the week, I'll jack them to do the post.)

Liuetenant Commander Melanie-038 put the firm butt of the BR09 square into her shoulder, allowing her to visually line up her eye with the Small Unit Combat Night Vision Gunsight looking down range. She sat with Cat Platoon on the top of a cliff, watching over the road some six meters below them. A smile twisted across her face as she saw the lead Chopper approach, its engines glowing in the prior to dawn twlight.

"Okay, roll call ladies, positioning?." She asked

"Cat is right with you."

"Dog, in position, ready for hell."

"This is Snake. Falling in now."

"Crocodile, digging in."

"Bear, ready."

"Wait until those fucks hit the first mine, then start pounding them. As soon as that bastard goes up, hit target Delta first, others can wait. I want Canine SAMs held off until the first one goes, I don't want anybody rabbiting. Baphomet, can you patch into LUNA SATCOM?" She ordered, seamlessly

"I have control of our designated satellites but cloud coverage is proving difficult to penetrate."

"No success with RADAR or optical visualizing systems?"

"Negative. I'll patch into the War Net, as soon as somebody identifies a Banshee, I can cross reference the GPS and local sensory nets and catch them." Baphomet said, his voice booming in her ear.

"Good, just be ready for it."

She watched with anticipation as the Chopper drew closer, its noisey cluttering noises piercing through the darkness. It passed in to the gully, just under her sight and then set off the first mine. seven flaming spikes shot up into the night sky, followed by a violent explosion.

"KILL 'EM ALL!" She barked, standing up from her hidden position and letting her Battle Rifle do the rest.

Wasp Platoon closed close to the Beach, thier small RIBs being silent but still fast enough to avoid the search lights. They were running as close to the shore as possible, with the intent of landing on the beach as close as possible then silently removing the search lights. Once that was done, the rest of Delta, some 200 meters out, would rise up and come in on Landing Craft, as close as they could get too then would break hell loose. Lieutenant Commander Fred-108 rode on the side of one of the RIBs as it bounced its way along the shore line, gently tossing the matte black knife in his hand in a variety of ways, creating a ornate, if deadly display. His M7A lay on his lap, silent, ready, with him carrying enough spare ammo to weigh down a ordinary Marine. Attached to a holster on his right leg, another M7A waited for when the battle became more intense. As the RIB closed close to the bottom of Tower Alpha, it beached itself, allowing him to dismount, followed by his SPARTANS. Some stayed behind to operate the .50 cal and 40mm defensive guns, for when the rest arrived. Fred motioned for his unit to move up in the dark, making them move in perfect synch. He knew, further up the Beach, Bee Platoon was doing exactly the same.

Shadows flickered through the forest, moving at a unnerving pace. The lead one stop, beckoning the others to crouch. Behind Liuetnant Kelly-087, Eel Platoon dropped like rocks. Ahead she could see two Brutes loud shouting at each other, arguing over a trivial matter.

"Dolphin ready Ma'am."

"Ray platoon is moving."

"Shark here, Barracuda is right behind us, in firing positions."

"Keep it together. This is where the games begin."

Kelly opened the breech on her M024 Grenade Launcher by pushing it forward that pulling it to the side then added a retarded flare shell. She snaped it back in to place and cocked it back before Aiming the rifle into the air, like a mortar.

"We all know the drill. Once things get bright, hit the bastards. If they are dazzled, they won't be firing back." She smirked

Her fingers moved to the electronic trigger and activated it. There was a comfortable thud, sending a shell lazily into the air before it exploded into a cascade of light, slowly coming back down to earth on the retarder, a three part parachute, dazzling Brutes.

"Take them out!"

"So, pretty eyes, you going to hit the one of the left, or right?" Dante's smug voice intoned

Linda was quite and lay motionless, observing the fortication walls. She swivelled the SRS99 from left to right on the Bipod, the Nightvision AUGER Scope giving her a decent view of the enemy.

"Eagle and Kite in position at the rear ma'am."

"Begin." Linda said, simply and quietly.

Two Eagle UCAVs flew straight over thier heads, deploying a wave of anti tank missiles, just as deadly to thin metallic walls as they were to tanks. In the surprise of the first explosions, Linda took her first five targets out, all within three seconds, leaving sabots to fall down on the SPARTANS below.

"Storm it, quick and clean."

Lieutenant Elise-070 moved slowly through the thick undergrowth, cutting away the weeds in front of her to reach the position of Zhukov, lying on thier bellies in the mud, observing the enemy.

"Typical charletons are well dug in but in poor positions. Shall I prepare the air strike?" Tycho asked

"Indeed you may Tycho." Elise said, kneeling down in the mud. She let her BR hang on its sling and pulled the M41B2 from her shoulders and placed it firmly on her shoulders.

"Somebody target designate that fire line. As soon as it goes up in fire I want out machine guns to drop suppresive fire on it and then all Assault teams move forward to clear it out. Fire teams follow up and use it to fire and designate fire line two. Same again."

"Here comes the wrath of god..."

(PS. This is something I have to add for the sake of clarity. SPARTANS are now better armoured than thier foes, with thier MJOLNIR armour being upgrade, shields are at the same level as Zealots, you have better training, better support, better training, better senses, better reflexts, better agility, faster, your just as strong and you currently outnumber your foe. Your enemy is badly trained, stupid, noisey, arrogant, annoying and ill suited to even fight a war. Whatever gear they have, it doesn't work properly or it is falling apart. Your fighting More or less a gang of apes with some semi functioning armour, crude weapons and vehicles and a bad attitude. SPARTANS are the epitome of stealth, precision and military destructiveness. I don't want to see swathes of SPARTANs running in, two guns blazing loudly or Brutes snapping SPARTANs like they were limp fish or SPARTANS tripping over a rock and dying. Theres only three SPARTAN deaths alotted this RP,already shared out on the talk page and it has barely begun.

30
Joshua lay prone on the ground; Amy, Maria and John -Leader of Baracuda Platoon- beside him. Sniper teams: Hotel and India were overlooking the Checkpoint they were ordered to take.

"Ok here's the plan. Amy, your gonna take Bull around the back and have India and Hotel Cover you. Maria, wait here with Hammerhead and take any reinforcements out. John. Have Baracude move with Bull. But wait 'till I attack with Mako. You got it?" Josh finished.

"Yessir." They replied.

Amy and John moved down the left of the slope with there men. Maria dug in. Mg's and Rocket Launcher ready.

"Team Bull in place."

"Baracuda here. Ready."

"Hammerhead. Ready to go."

Josh put the BR09 on his shoulder, aimed down the sights. Eyeing up a Brute Major. He slowly pressed the trigger, the bullets hit the brute on the head. It's armour failed and he turned round to find his attacker, Josh fired again. The brute fell, never to stir again. Josh and Mako quickly decended the slope, weapons blazing. A Spike impacted of Josh's chest. He was almost prepared to fall -having never used shields before-. Damn these things are good. he thought to himself.

"Baracuda move up!" Josh screamed as he dropped to load SPARTAN-E021's rocket launcher. The you S-IV let it loose. It impacted on the Brute Chopper speeding towards them.

"Peter hold your boys up out here."

"Got it ell-tee."

Josh moved up to the door of his Target. John was at his. Josh nodded and together they opened the door. Josh threw in 3 Grenades and then moved in Rifle raised. Not a Brute stirred.

"Sir! Brute Reinforcements!" Maria screamed, he could hear the gunfire and the chatter as they young team tried to kill the targets before they got near Mako.

"Rodger," he replied, "Amy bring up the reinforcements." He walked out of the room and help E021 to reload his Rocket Launcher.

SPARTAN- G0  24  20:24, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

31
Ross East Jr. in towards his target in his A-660 Pike at a low level, about 3000 feet. In front of him stood two Brute fire lines guarding a Covenant Remnant Fortification. "Lt. Col. East, this is Lieutenant Elise-070 of SPARTAN IV Company Halo, we have designated the first Brute defense line." , a voice said into Ross' radio. "Roger", Ross responded, "Inbound for strike, over. You just sit back and watch the fireworks." Ross flew directly over the target and released a pair of CHAOS cluster bombs, both armed with forged fragmentation anti-personnel bomblets. Hundreds of one pound explosive bomblets exploded over the Brute trench lines. The Jiralhanae defenders were torn apart by a cloud of shrapnel. Ross flew over the decimated trench lines and came around for a second pass. He spotted a Wraith tank moving up to the first line of trenches, as well as some Shade turrets that survived the blast of his cluster bombs. Ross switched to his AGM-331 ANTLER missiles. "Hey Sierra 070, you know that M41 you got down there? That isn't a missile, this is a missile!", Ross said as he fired an ANTLER missile. The lone ANTLER missile flew towards the Wraith and the surviving Brutes and Shades before it shedded it's metal skin and released ten smaller AGM-76 PINCER anti-tank missiles. Each missile flew at a different target. All at once, the Wraith and nine of the Shades exploded. The surviving Brutes fled back to the second line. Ross strafed the fleeing Brutes with his aircraft's 30mm cannons as he said, though he knew the Brutes couldn't hear him, "You're wasting your time. There's nowhere to run!". Most of the retreating Brutes were torn apart by cannon fire, leaving only a handful surviving to make it to the next line. "All right Halo Company", Ross said through the radio, "The first line is decimated, let me know it you need anything else annihilated!"

32
"Fuck." Plissken said as he rubbed tired eyes. He had made the mistake of taking a fifteen minute nap at the wrong time. Tsubasa had found something and now the CO wanted some action done. Gunnery Sergeant De La Rosa walked up beside him with a cigarette in mouth.

"Don't worry too much LT. I put Silver Squad doing the main action, they've been itchin' for it anyways. Slate is on reserves ready to bounce down something's throat and Charcoal will provide sniper and heavy weapons cover." De La Rosa pointed to some locations around a hologram map then folded his arms across his chest. "Hell I'm sure we wont even need the other platoons."

"You had a cigarette didn't you." Jung-suh said as she got into her position next to Chris. His eyes still on the weapon's scope.

"Tsubasa said the engine noise is gone, they're investigating." He said calmly.

"Don't change the subject I can smell the smoke on you."

"We're going to need to relocate when we cover Silver." he said slowly getting up from the waterfall position. Water dripped from the armor's surface. He walked away with his weapon at hand.

Jung-suh watched him walk and before getting up to follow uttered. "Hate you."

Christian and the rest of Tsubasa moved silently. When they heard the engine die out they moved to investigate. As they topped the hill and looked down below Kinu was the first to spot a lone Mongoose. Christian used his helmet's magnification sights to inspect the area, a small set of footprints led away into the jungle. Lucky for them whoever was walking had disturbed the vegetation and would be easy to track.

With a quick hand motion Tsubasa was on the move again.

Parker and Matt looked at each other. "Damnit we just finished setting up this position and now we gotta move again."

Matt got up and moved to a few crates. "Try thinking for once, we'll leave the chain gun here and take a SAW."

Parker stared at him for a moment almost dumbfounded. "They aren't as much fun as her though." He said patting the mounted weapon.

"Get up and grab some ammo."

Hollywood (Sorry for being inactive for a while, hope this post will keep my head above the water while i try to clear some things up)

33
As Squad Omaha watched the Brutes's Trench being light up by UNSCAF and SPARTAN-IVs fire thier Machine Guns at the Trench, SPARTAN-H024 and Squad Omaha waited in the Treeline to move up to the Trench Line.

Wait for it... thought Daniel-H024 as he readied his BR09 Scoped Battle Rifle.

Then, the Signal was Given by SPARTAN-070.

SPARTAN-H024 and Assault Team Gold approached the First Enemy Trench, with Guns readied in thier Hands. As the Sierra IVs entered the First Remnant Trench, the SPARTANs found the burned and bullet-rittled corpses of the Brutes and took up thier positions, waiting for the rest of Halo Company to catch up.

Damn, 3rd Squadron tore the Apes up... thought Daniel-H024.

However, 3rd Squadron had missed some Brutes in their Air Assault. Just at the Horizon of the Hill, SPARTAN-H024 and Squad Omaha had just catched an Glimpse of 4 Brutes hiding in an Crater near the Trenchline. So, SPARTAN-H024 aimed his BR09 Scoped Battle Rifle and worked the Trigger in his Favor.

The Brutes fell down hard from the Hail of Daniel's Bullets and weren't gonna be getting back up, any soon.

SPARTAN-H024 had Killed 4 Brutes, via BR09 Scoped Battle Rifle, on Hannibal III, Human Colony. This was Daniel's First Actions in Combat.

Soon, the SPARTAN-IVs of Halo Company arrived at the Trenchline and held thier position for thier Next Move to the Remnant Command Post. Then, the SPARTAN-IVs moved out of the first Firing Line and approached the Second Trenchline to engage the remaining Remnant Forces.

This it, showtime thought SPARTAN-H024.

The Phenomanal One

34
Lieutenant Riker-012 carefully placed his hand on top of the cliff edge, pulled his head up and, once he saw that it was safe, threw himself up onto the ground and rolled behind several rocks. Pulling out his Battle Rifle, he stared down the scope, seeing the vastly outnumbered and outgunned Brute force defending the encampment. Kilo's mission was relatively simple, at least in Riker's mind: AEsir, Asynjur and Fenrir would destroy the first tower, while Jotun and Einherjur would do the same to the second; Force 1 would then blow a nearby ammunition depo, while Force 2 would then take out the bridge across the chasm that separated the two towers. “Susano, are all the platoons in position?”, Riker asked “Both Jotun and Einherjar have successfully scaled the far cliff”, replied the AI, “Aesir is up on your left, Asynjur has nearly completed the scaling to your right, and Fenrir is right behind with half still climbing” Sighing lightly, Riker then asked, “What of the SOL Satellite?” “It will be in geosynchronous orbit shortly; interference from atmospheric disturbances is at a minimum” “Alright then”, said Riker, “Time to teach these dumb apes that they should have kept their ugly mugs out of AUR space” After he finished talking to Susano, Riker immediately gave the signal to commence hostilities, and carefully crept forward towards one of a dozen Brute guards: Spartans were the epitome of stealth, outmatched only by the Plainsfierians and perhaps the Sangheili Stealth Corps, and the Spartans of Kilo Company were even more so, as they were trained to be not only battle-hardened drop-shock specialists, but also commandos. Of course, Riker had little fear of any slip ups, as not only were the Spartans trained at superb stealth, but the Brute's Power Armor – or rather, those that had it – was so aged that it lacked integrated motion tracks, and Riker doubted if any of the RADAR systems were even working to any degree of usefulness. As Riker moved forward, he saw on his motion tracker the confirmation marks of almost 200 Spartans sneaking towards their objectives right under their enemies nose's. For some, adrenaline and excitement raced through them; for others, nothing but a will to follow duties, while still others had a feeling of dread or vengeance. At last within 10 feet of the Brute sentry, Riker quickly jumped towards him, grabbed his neck and broke it, then tried to disappear once again. However, he wasn't quite quick enough, as another Brute saw him: trying to stop him from crying out an alarm, Riker shot him with his Magnum, only to have more Brutes see their dead comrades. Slinking into the shadows rapidly, Riker turned on the Kilo COM Channel and said, “Everyone continue as planned”. Pulling his Magnum closer to himself, Riker closed the COM and said to Susano, “That satellite had better get here quick; I think we're going to need to move the explosion schedule up a tad”

-- //Out of the Darkness//  //Into the Light//  Devil  Savior   Traitor   Destined   Doomed   Uncertain   Insane   Grieved  16:12, 12 March 2009 (UTC)

35
"Oh my god we made it, we made it." said Harrison A-033. It was an amazing feeling for the squad, they had took the hill without loss. But were it so hard they were spartan at all the best killing machine the humanity has ever know. The hardest part of their life wasnt past yet they all know that they would have to fight for humanity as the first and the last line of defense."incomming fire get down!!!" yelled Maxime A-067 " We have brute heavy armored comming on us, Dwayne grabe your Spartan laser and deal with it."said Maxime A-067 "But sir im out of ammo." At this moment Ann A-081 sugested to run in the buid to give the time to call an airial assault.

"we have an transmission from the ground Admiral. One of our squad need a close airial assault or they are doomed." said the communication crewman. "Send a Broadsword's squadron to help them." responsed Davidson. On the UNSC Everest hangar a squadron taked off to help the Athens Squad. "The bomber are gone, i hope it gonna be helpfull." said the deck officer.

"It a trap we're doom!" said Justine is this a sound of a broadsword? Oh yes they send one squadron." repliqued Ben. From the interior of the buiding they were listenning to the sound make by the bomber their bomb and the diying brutes. "this noise sound like music to me." said Maxime <font color="SteelBlue">C <font color="#A9A9A9">F <font color=Teal>00 <font color=Teal>1 14:02, 14 March 2009 (UTC)

36
Charlie Company Bear Platoon

Before the storm

"Bear, plan's simple. Grizzly, Kodiak, set up a base of fire to cover to village. Polar move in. I want it fast and quiet. Once Polar's occupied the village, you two move up. Polar dig in on the roadside. Grizzly in the houses. Kodiak, put Mohawk, on the roof, get a good vantage point. Moundbuilder, Aleut, AT mines in the road, Claymores in the verges. Inca, secure our rear. Make sure we have small arms and AT fire concentrated on all possible enemy moves through the killzone.

Our baptism by fire, let's make this a good one."

Moana's direct, staccato style of giving orders was typical, blunt and to the point; a delivery carefully crafted to avoid vague generalities and windy speeches alike. The Moari SPARTAN had never been accused of expending needless verbage on orders; Bear needed only a nod.

Nigel leapt over the low wall, dirt-encrusted spade in hand, the empty stachel at his side billowing in phantasmic folds of olivine canvas. Armand C-176 followed, his  M-1126 slung with a hasty inetnsity over the iron sweep of his armored back. Behind them, the ovid shapes of buried mines lay buried in their graves, tiny piles of silent earth, reminders of the death they would bring. The engineers had just finished their work of mining the road, and the low rumble of far-off Chopper engines was the cause of their hasty scramble for cover.

Armand's M10 was out, its red laser sight focused with a luminous intensity upon the killzone, his weapon covering his partner as Nigel tuned the infared detonator of the Claymores. Both had their ears stuff with synthetic wool, their visors at maximum polarization; there was truckload worth of explosives in the road ahead, and when they went off anyone caught off guard would find themselves deprived of the better half of their senses, deaf, blind, and stunned by the ferocity of the shockwave.

Hostiles spotted

Craig heard the convoy before he saw it, the low growl of worn Chopper engines sturggling to negotiate the rough road of the pass, their tired Great War-era machinery groaning. Besides him, Keith-088 lay prone, long rifle calibrated to the millimeter. Craig's own rifle lay in his hands, the reassuring weight of the BR11 and its massive Augur scope a deadly comfort.

A quick flick of Craig's trained eye reassured him of the presence of the other platoons scattered across the hillsides, their camouflaged foxholes inscrutable to the unititated.

A few more seconds, and then the storm which had waited so patiently in the hearts and thoughts of the young SPARTANs would be released. And the convoy rolled over the hill.

Fire!

Leonardo-C076 watched as the mass of the lead Chopper filled his sights, its bladed body more fearsome than any simulation had ever portrayed it. Leo swallowed, and then his mind disengaged. He saw the Chopper vanish in a flash of steel, then heard the answering roar as his weapon answered. Before he knew it he was standing, spikes flying above his head, thudding into him, his shields blazing in a halo of light, his armor shuddering before the onslaught. Firing, aiming, loading. They were no longer willed actions, but now mere instinct. Leo watched as Brute after Brute fell in a spray of vapor, his every bullet striking with a thud that boiled away body and soul alike. Explosion after explosion, spark after spark, as the fires of gunpowder extinguished the fires of life.

Then silence...The calm was heralded. Before Leo lay a pyramid of the perished, a pile of Brutes a feet tall, a cluster of bodies as torn as the smoking wreckage they lay beside.

Mention in dispatches

Transmit O:WD/1 C/1/117 Encryption Code: Maori Public Key: N/A From: C004 To: 038 'Subject:After-Action Report (AAR) Op 1. C/1/117.'' Classification:Transmission Category Whiskey Delta 1.

AAR for BEAR PLATTOON, CHARLIE COMPANY as of DAY 2 Op: WARDOG,

As per directions for Day 2, BEAR PLATOON ambushed Covenant mobile air and ground assests in 1st Battalion sector. Ambush was conducted in line with standard operations procedure, with platoon engineering team mining road area with mixed-spectrum mines, and platoon infantry teams occupying a deserted village.

Sniper Team Mohawk reported first sighting of enemy after forward and nearby company units reported detection of hostile sonic signatures.

Hostile CONVOY, lead by a Chopper escort, encountered the pre-laid minefield and suffered heavy losses from AP and AT mines. Those vehicles which survived scattered, with some attempting to run through the killzone, and others retreating. Given the severe damage inflicted to many of the CONVOY's vehicles, numerous Brute infantrymen were forced to dismount. These dismounted forces were rallied by a Captain Major (ENEMY COMBATANT WD-11356C) and attempted to rush the platoon lines. This charge suffered heavy losses and was repulsed, all remaining survivors being engaged and killed by other company assets.

PLATOON COMMANDER has extended a commendation be extended to ENGINEERING TEAMs MOUNDBUILDER and ALEUT for their skilled emplacement of the minefield, SPARTAN-C197 for his skilled early warning of approaching CONVOY assets, and to SPARTAN-C076 for his actions in the face of the attack lead by ENEMY COMBATANT WD-11356C, in which he accounted for significant Covenant losses.

Recognition for the above individuals in the form of promotions/decorations is respectfully requested by CHARLIE COMPANY and FIRST BATTALION.

/end file/ /encryption shuffle/

Press ENTER to continue. </tt>

SPARTAN-C004 closed the small computer, Bear's After-Action Report (AAR) filed and sent to company HQ, sighing as he did so.

"Mo, why the heck do I have to write this stuff?"

"'Cause you're the XO for the platoon. Besides, last time I wrote an AAR, Melanie told me to re-do it. Apparantly, we have met the enemy and they are ours was plagarism and didn't "describe the mission in enough tactical detail.""

"Mo, the that "mission" was cleaning up the mess hall."

"And yet a report was mandated."

"Dang brass hats..."

Easy Company Eel Platoon Fireteam Echo

Preface

Alyssa-E075 slammed the last of the 40mm grenades into the M23 Grenade Launcher and locked the firing chamber. Over her shoulder a pair of LAW tubes were slung, at her hip, an M6 pistol. Around her, Fireteam Echo was preparing likewise, arming themselves for the stuggle they would soon face.

Mike's battle rifle was fitted with a bayonet, its black edges deadly sharp. Patricia's M12 SMG fitted with an extra laser sight velcroed to the stock, a backup to the SUROG and the relex already on the Misriah rails. And Sven had a set of reloads for the M025 taped to his leg with the silver material he jokingly called "duck tape."

Intel had it they were facing tanks, and firepower was thus a prerquisite for success.

Into the fire

The plasma arched overhead, its glowing fingers casting the shifting glow of war over the landscape. Spikes shrieked in supersonic bolts of metallic fury, their wails mingling with the thump of grenade launchers and the wolfish howel of rockets.

Brute screams and snarls competed with the harsh orders of the SPARTAN leaders as the officers of both sides ordered desperate charge and counter-charge.

The chaos of battle raged on, a hurricane of confusion shrouding all, the fog of war draped over the field like quiet.

Alyssa charged forward. Ahead a trio of Brutes were scrambling from a foxhole. A quick trigger pull, and they were silenced by a flurry of grenades. Behind Alyssa, Eel Platoon charged. In the hands of every SPARTAN, the spark of muzzle flashes flickered like a deadly candleight vigil.

A Banshee swooped overhead, its Fuel Rod cannon glowing a potent green. Alyssa swung one of the LAAW tubes from her shoulder, flicking the rocket to unguided as she did so. To use the weapon in "guided" mode would make the weapon swerve in a manner, that although deadly to tanks, would allow the Banshee to escape.

Alyssa fired, and the rocket hit the purple craft sqaurely in the the cockpit. Chunks of blazing metal and plasma rained down on friends and foe alike, one unwary Brute being crushed by a large piece of the wing.

Ahead was the Brute command post, Eel's objective, cloaked in a spectre of flame from a well-placed LAW missile. Alyssa marked an imposing Chieftan struggling from the ruins, his mane of fur afire with phosphorous. Alyssa aimed her M6, but some beat her to the kill. A sudden rattle at her elbow alerted her to Mike, the barrel of his battle rifle glowing from repeated firing, his black bayonet running red. Mike nodded in acknowledgement of his teammate's presence, then turned and disappeared.

Continuing her sprint forward, Alyssa found herself on the bank of the river, its waters splashed by the impact of bullets, running dark with Jirlahanae blood. Two naked Brutes floundered from the water, their bath interrupted by the less domestic pursuit of war. Alyssa shot one, Sven got the other with a rocket.

Alyssa, her objective reached, turned. The last pockets of Brute resistance were being mopped up, the Brute vehicles which their owners had clustered around the bridge with such martial pride were now punctured by the power of a handful of armored warriors.

FWH

37
Around him, Percy's team was in motion, hurrying to get geared up and into the fight. He was already armored and was taking the chance to calm himself as he always did before an exercise or mission. Already he could imagine the way he would fire his assault rifle, the way he would weave and dodge and reload, the way he would aim his bullets and grenades just right...

SPARTAN-B130. That was his designation, the way the ones too high up on the chain of command to care about his name identified him by. But it was also a symbol, a title that bore a heavy weight and responsibility. It gave him his purpose and his duty, the duty to serve and protect and even die for the rest of humanity. He and his comrades were the ultimate shields and protectors, those who fought and died so that others might live. It was his responsibility to obey the UNSC, even if it was a government that he didn't particularly like.

Percy didn't know much at all about politics, but from what he could discern the government was little more than a military junta in which the marines and the navy wielded all the real power. It was they who could override civilian government so long as an appropriate threat was present and it was they that had the power to create forces like the SPARTAN-IVs, instruments of their will that served to battle not only external but internal threats as well. They were the ones responsible for the fact that Percy was an armored supersoldier, one of humanity's best of the best, at a time in his life when he should be attending high school. And Percy knew that no matter how much he excelled, no matter how far he climbed, he would never be free from the burden he had to share.

But for all its faults, the UNSC stood for a united humanity, one that could withstand any attack in order to preserve the existence of humanity as a species. They controlled one of the most powerful militaries in the known galaxy, a military that stood between the rest of humanity and a force bent on its destruction. And Percy was a soldier in that military, and it was not the place of a soldier to analyze and critique the actions of his superiors. So long as he was under military authority, he would keep his personal opinions out of the way of his duty as he followed orders.

Percy stood and slid his helmet onto his head. He ran a quick check of the various sidearms and knives he wore on his body. One M6L holstered on his waist, check; one small M47 pistol further down his leg, check; the knife that came on the chest pieces of all MJOLNIR CQB armor sets, check; one knife in its shoulder sheath, check. Lifting his MA6A assault rifle, he checked its reflex sight to make sure it wasn't crooked. He always had a hard time deciding on its other attachment, but for today he settled on a grenade launcher. That would be fine for a small-unit action like the one they were about to embark on.

"Alright Silver, you know the drill!" Mark barked over the squad's private radio link. "Separate by teams and move to the designated ambush area; remember, we need one alive!"

"This is a milk run," complained Samuel. "We even outnumber the hairy bastards."

Percy sometimes wished he could summon forth the hatred that some of the other SPARTANs could, but the long hours of studying Covenant culture with Raymond had made him understand their motives a little more clearly than any of the others. Besides, hatred led you to make mistakes during battle, and that could get you killed.

Squad Silver formed up and moved into the woods.

Corporal Richards relieved himself behind a tree before stumbling further onwards. His blind panic earlier on had exhausted him, and now he was certain that he was lost. Without a radio to call for help, the whole situation seemed utterly hopeless.

With a tiny shiver of despair, he hurried on towards whatever he might wind up running into.

38
Ross East turned his I-660 Spear around to make a second pass on the Covenant Remnant positions. "Halo Company, This is Lt. Col. East", He said into the radio, "I am making an attack run on the second Brute firing line now" Ross locked onto nine Shade turrets and a Wraith and fired another ANTLER AGM. The ANTLER missile split into ten smaller ATGWs, each one attacking a different target, like a miniature MIRV. All ten targets were reduced to burning wreckage. Ross then released pair of CHAOS cluster bombs over the Brute trench lines like before, only these ones contained Pyrosene IV bomblets. The bomblets exploded, releasing burning Pyrosene over the Brute lines, setting Brutes ablaze, incinerating the Remnant forces. Ross looked down to see the Brute trenches burning bright, the SPARTANs wouldn't see much resistance from those positions. "All right Halo Company", Ross said, "Attack run is completed, I am awaiting your next target."

39
Ha Neul lay motionless. The two armored Spartans barely visible to the naked eye. Chris had immediately set up his position and was already looking through the scope of his rifle. Jung-Suh had taken only thirty seconds to remove any trance of evidence of their presence.

"Thirteen Brutes. Silver is in position. Sora needs thirty seconds." Jung-Suh said, she received no reply but knew Chris heard every word.

Parker and Matt stared at each other then finally they broke. Both their hands shot forward and stopped between the their armored bodies.

Parker looked down at his open palm.

Matt's hand in a ball with two extended forward, scissors.

"Damnit."

Matt grinned behind his helmet then placed himself behind the bulk of the M389 General Purpose Machine Gun and brought the stalk to his shoulder. Parker lay beside him now ready to keep Matt well feed with ammunition.

"Sora ready."

"Silver commence once we open fire." Jung-Suh said calmly. She observed with her helmet's built in magnification. She and Chris had the elevated shot as the Pack walked away from them. Simple plan, it was always best that way little room for error. Chris would fire the first shot then Silver would hit hard and fast with Weapons Team Sora providing covering fire. Jung-Suh at first couldn't spot Silver, but after a moment she recognized the armor among the trees and brush. The Brute's were walking right past them and straight towards Parker and Matt.

Chris kept the crosshairs still along the base of the head of a Brute. A deer thrown across its shoulders. It was a fairly simple shot, the winds were nothing and the distance not too great. He could have made the shot in his sleep but the thought of his shot starting a firefight with his family in the mix made things slightly difficult.

CRACK

Jung-Suh was slightly shocked by the unexpected gunshot from Chris. But it didn't keep her from losing her focus on the pack. The Brute with the deer flung over its shoulders was mostly gone, as if a giant had taken a bite of it. The lower portion of the Brute tumbled forward while parts of the deer splattered among the Pack. The round had then proceeded through and amputated both legs of another Brute causing it to roar in pain and fall on its back. The Brute clawed at the ground trying to stand when gunfire opened around them.

Christian was on point, followed by Kinu, Lauren, then Sarah. He moved at a hurried pace, whoever was on the Mongoose no longer bothered about moving with subtly. Branches and leaves were distorted and seemed to point out directions. "There." Kinu said softly with an extended arm.

Christian saw him, a Marine laying on his back. His chest bobbed up and down as he gasped for air his fatigues were dark with sweat. He reached at his side for a canteen and brought it to his lips but cursed when it was empty.

Christian looked at his team for a moment, "Keep me covered." He said already knowing they would have done so without his command. Then he stepped forward, weapon lowered he headed straight for the Marine who finally heard the footsteps and shot upright with rifle at hand. Christian held out his hand and saw the shock in the Marine's face, he towered over him. "Yo."

Hollywood

40
The Brute pack seemed to disintegrate as every member of Squad Silver opened fire at once, their bullets becoming a meat grinder that chewed the enemy into fleshy clumps of meat and gore. The aliens' power armors were old and poorly kept and could only stand up to a few sustained bursts before failing and collapsing under the mass of bullets. The Brutes themselves were not the lethal fighting machines that had waged war on the surfaces of Kanna and Vespera, but recruits who had seen little combat and had grown complacent and lazy in a post that offered scattered and demoralized militia units as their only threats. Against the SPARTANs, these monsters never stood a chance.

We've got them outmatched, outnumbered, and outgunned, thought Percy as he slapped a fresh clip into his assault rifle. We should've all stayed back at camp and let one fire team come to do the job. Maybe the Lieutenant Commander had thought they all could use the exercise.

With fire pouring down on them from almost every side, most Brutes proved too disoriented and surprised to even draw their weapons. With Parker and Matt obliterating their front ranks with the M389, Silver's assortment of weapons tearing up their flanks, and Sora's sniper fire cutting down anyone in the middle, the few who did manage to fire off a few scattered shots were quickly made priority targets and dispatched. But something stirred in the back of Percy's mind, something about a specific part of the mission...

Mark got to it before he did. "Silver, Sora, Ha Neul, hold your fire! We need prisoners, remember?"

As the weapons fire ceased, Mark ordered: "Narya, break cover and find a survivor. Make sure he'll make it before you collect him."

Percy hesitated. "A prisoner, sir? There might be more than one still alive..."

"Right, just one. Take whichever's in the best condition and patch him up, then do the decent thing with any others."

Percy and the rest of Team Narya moved out into the open, wary of any survivors who might be fit enough to attempt an ambush. The ground around them was sticky with blood, but they hardly noticed it through their MJOLNIR armor. Hector whistled.

"So that's the enemy, huh?" asked Narya's leader. "The rest of this campaign's gonna be a cake walk!"

"Well, you just managed to guarantee that we'll be up against the meanest and baddest apes on this planet for the rest of our stay," grumbled John over the radio. "Besides, all the other companies got the big missions. This was just a routine ambush."

"Thought you liked missions like this," commented David. "What's that you're always saying, 'Less of a risk factor' or something?"

From his position in the surrounding foliage, John gritted his teeth but did not respond.

A low groan caught Percy's eye. Looking down he saw a Brute with its legs partially trapped under a fallen comrade. Its arms were riddled with bullet holes, but it was his chest that had taken the worst of it. It had obviously taken some extreme fire there, and its intestines had been blown out and smeared across the ground where it lay helpless.

Taken in by the grisly spectacle, Percy wordlessly unslung his assault rifle to point down at the Brute's head. He wasn't quite sure what to do. The Brute was certainly going to die, making it useless as a prisoner, but some internal instinct stayed his trigger finger for a moment. This wasn't combat, where it was him or the enemy. Should he finish the thing off? Would it have done the same for him?

A look into the beast's eyes made up Percy's mind. There was an animal, fearful look in those eyes, one laced with pain and... desperation? As it looked up at the barrel of the assault rifle, the Brute's gaze became pleading. It wanted to end the suffering.

Percy put the remainder of his clip into its skull.

A few yards away, Hamish seemed to have had better luck. His prize was the second Brute that Sora had taken down at the beginning of the fight, one with both of its legs blown off at the joint. It seemed to have avoided further damage for the rest of the battle, but it was desperately clawing at Hamish's armored legs in an effort to escape.

"Whose got the medical kit?" Hamish yelled before turning back to the Brute. Looking down at its face, he asked, "Do you want to live?"

In response, the Brute made a desperate punch that was easily deflected by its captor. "Too bad," the SPARTAN rumbled. "We're still not gonna shoot you."

Raymond was in charge of the first aid gear and he bounded out of hiding to stop the bleeding. The captive was going to live... for now, anyway.

Percy looked down at the shattered head of the Brute he had just killed. "Mission accomplished." It felt good to win, even if the results weren't much fun to look at.

Looking up into the armored visor of the... thing above him, Corporal Richards found that while his vocal chords seemed to have abandoned him, his bladder had apparently not. Trying to ignore the the hot feeling that was spreading in his pants, Richards tried to scramble to his feet but only managed to make it halfway. Desperately bringing up his SMG, he managed to fire off a desperate burst that just seemed to bounce off the coat of energy that suddenly appeared around the terrible apparition. Tripping in his haste, Richards fell onto his back and lost his grip on the gun, which tumbled out of reach. He was going to die and he had no means of defending himself.

Richards did the only thing that seemed reasonable at the moment.

He fainted.

41
"Crimson Squad, in position and ready to engage targets." James spoke through his helmets communication systems. An officer on the other end confirmed and gave the order "Crimson you are free, engage at will." James smirked under his helmet, time to rock and roll. Another voice came over the COM Link "Alpha and Bravo in position, Charlie is preparing to engage." The voice was Michael, Bravo Team leader. He was a good soldier, however his personality off the field was left to be desired. "And the Hogs?" James spoke back, keeping down with Alpha Squad. "Hidden as ordered, we will be ready to hop in as soon as we get this done." Good.... They could get to the next spot quickly. "Charlie, you may proceed with your distraction."

"Roger that" spoke Michael-B112. He tapped his teammate, Rin, on the shoulder "You get the first shot." Rin hefted the M41B2 MAV/AM at a Brute Prowler sitting unoccupied, however a few Brutes were gathered around, speaking to one another. She fired the rocket into the Prowler, the vehicle went up in a sea of flame, and the Brutes gathered around were incinerated by the heat. The rest of Charlie squad opened fire on the remaining Brutes, their bullets bouncing off the shields, exactly as planned. A Brute turned to the squad, pointed and roared, and the Brutes fired on Charlie. "Thats good enough, squad pull back." Michael and the rest of Charlie ran back, through the valley. Although invisible to the naked eye, Michael could see his squad mates hidden in the sand. They waited until the Brutes were right on top of them.

Maius had not expected this, not from Humans. He and his packmates had pursued their attackers into a valley. He spoke a silent curse upon the Humans as well as his Captain. However, he was dead now, a demon had leaped from the sand, a shotgun in its hands and blew the captain apart into tiny chunks, a piece of head landed on Maius's shoulder, as he dove into the dirt for some form of cover. More, however, appeared and cut his packmate down, some with simple holes in their bodies, others missing body parts and limbs. However, the demons did not see Maius dive, and so he remained hidden. A demon walked past Maius, however as he reached for his blade, it turned and kicked him in the face, breaking apart his helmet and shattering it in his face. He covered his face and saw what was happening. The demons, Maius counted thirteen of them, were gathered around Maius, some laughing. Maius snarled and another demon slammed the heel of its boot on his knees. He howled in pain, another moved up as the others stood back, it was wielding a weapon with flame emanating from the tip. Maius attempted to fight, but could not, the demon sparked its weapon and flames spewed from it, engulfing Maius. He cried, trying to pat the flames off, but he slowly gave up as he felt his body char.

Good work team, but a little too brutal there Jennifer. The squad walked away, leaving the burning husk of a Brute behind. It was clever enough to avoid the ambush, and almost ambush one of their squadmates as well. Red Platoon did not show it any mercy, but that is over, and the small encampment the Brutes occupied was destroyed. Hopefully it would draw reinforcements as the others completed their jobs. "Command this is Bravo-019, objective achieved, proceeding on." James slapped another magazine into his Battle Rifle. "Lets move Red Platoon, got another encampment that needs burning. The platoon hoped into their Assassins, and drove east to a Brute radio outpost.

42
11th of October, 2611, 11:15, Sol System, Earth, High Orbit

As Rear Admiral Jacobson stood on the bridge of the UNSC Warrior King he watched as the UNSC Vixen entered slipspace to head to Hannibal III, he know it wouldn't be an easy fight to retake the planet. So he devised a plan where the Vixen would jump to Hannibal III and scout the system than rejoin the taskforce in slipspace before the rest of the fleet arrived to retake the planet. "This way", he thought, "we can at least know what we're dealing with."

13th of October, 2611, 22:30, Hannibal III

Near Hannibal III a slipspace rupture opened up and the Vixen emerged, immediately cloaking. Captain Edwards ordered the ship to go dark and to deploy the F-206C Kama to scout the planet. After the F-206 left the hanger, Edwards ordered the Vixen outward to scout the rest of the system.

(Note: The Vixen and its F-206s are not available for support, I will be keeping the Vixen near Hannibal III only long enough to gather an estimated size of the brute naval forces )

Staff Sergeant  Keith Johnson   com link 21:36, 28 March 2009 (UTC)

43
Lavernius moved as quietly as he could. The long grass covered him and the rest of Albion Company Force 1 as they crawled up the hill. They didn’t make a sound, and the Brute warriors around sixty meters ahead didn’t react at all. Just before the top, Lavernius signed with his hand, telling force 1 to stop moving. He activated his mike.

“Odysseus?” As he spoke it, the voice of an artificial intelligence echoed in his head.

“Yes?” the AI asked politely.

“Are everyone in position?”

“All members of Force 1 are with you, ready to attack. Force 2 and 3 are just below their targets, ready to attack at any time. Force 4 is currently climbing the cliffs behind the hill. In other words, all is going according to plan. This reminds me of a particular battle-”

“Alright, I get it!” Lavernius sighed. The AI murmured something but stopped talking after a few seconds. He activated the “go” signal two times, instructing the Warhound Drones to immediately launch a wave of missiles at the unsuspecting Brutes on the frontal trench. As the drones moved into position, Lavernius triggered the “go” signal three times, instructing Force 2 and 3 to attack their targets.

The missiles streaked above Lavernius and his companions and impacted with the metal trench, blowing it and all guards near it to pieces. Pieces of metal and hairy limbs covered in blood flew all across the hill. He turned around and gave the hand signal; and then, Spartans jumped out of the tall grass and onto the hill, shouting their war cries while shooting down confused Brute survivors. The Spartans moved to the largely blown up trench and took cover wherever possible, firing back at Brutes from the second trench.

Behind his visor, Lavernius smiled. It had been some time since he had been in a true combat situation.

Cassandra-115 and the rest of Force 1 moved quickly but quietly through the forest. They moved in an arrow formation with herself in front. She knew that it made her the most likely to first encounter an enemy or get spotted, but she had always preferred it that way. She didn’t like the idea of others getting hurt or dying in front of her.

She was sometimes called the “pacifist” among Spartans because of this, although she tried not to transfer this trait to her subordinates. This happened to several of them anyway, although the vast majority was like Spartans were “supposed to be” in common opinion; in other words: calm, cold, analytical and emotionless war machines. Those Spartans often had problems understanding Cassandra’s logic at times, as she was always against splitting up her company into smaller groups, since she thought that the fewer in every group, the more the chance of someone dying or being injured. If it was possible, she would even try to reach targets on her own while leaving the subordinates behind in a “safe” place. But this time, she couldn’t follow her usual routines, she had to admit that. This raid would have to be done in split up groups for maximum efficiency.

She and the Spartans behind her stopped just before the end of the forest and start of the beach. Brutes were carrying containers and power cores around, loading them onto boats. A Chieftain along with two Captains watched, occasionally barking orders or beating a Minor or major that accidentally dropped whatever they carried. The monkey-like aliens didn’t suspect a thing as the Spartans spread out along the forest line, readying their rifles.

When all Spartans had transmitted their ready signals, Cassandra put a clip into her rifle and pointed it towards the Chieftain. She gave hand signals to the two Spartans closest to her, Yang-F093 and Leroy-F124. They nodded and adjusted their rifles to also point towards the Chieftain. Cassandra moved her hand to her helmet, and activated the “go” signal, causing all Spartans on the front line to fire their weapons and the underwater teams to start moving towards the artificial island in the distance.

44
As Squad Omaha watched the UNSCAF light up the Second Brute Trenchline, SPARTAN-H024 had watched in awe as the fires blazed.

Woah, those Pilots know how to blow shit up thought SPARTAN-H024.

Then, the M12 Warthogs rolled out of the treeline and approached the Brute Command Post, with their Gunners preparing thier Machine Guns.

Yeah, its time to fuck'em up nowthought SPARTAN-H024 as he and his SPARTANs crossed out of the Second Brute Trenchline and approached the Remnant Command Post.

Soon, the Shade Turrets and Brutes came into the SPARTANs' eye views and the SPARTAN-IVs opened fire on the unsuspecting Brutes in the Remnant Outpost.

SPARTAN-H024 lobbed a Frag Grenade at a Group of Brutes that were operating Communications of the Command Post, Killing 4 Brutes and Destroying the Communications Array Sration. Then, at the corner of his visor, Daniel-H024 spotted his Best Friend, SPARTAN-H048 Destroying a Shade Turret and Killing a Brute, via Rocket Launcher. Also, at the other corner of his visor, spotted SPARTAN-H161 hitting a round-house kick to a Brute, whose head had splattered on a sharp rock.

Yeah, we're indestructible thought Daniel-H024.

Then, SPARTAN-H024 had Killed 2 Brutes near the Command Center, via Battle Rifle.

We're Indestructible Masters of War thought SPARTAN-H024 with a smile on his face.

The Phenomanal One

45
"Did it lose it's legs before or after being captured?" Gunnery Sergeant De La Rosa said looking at the bond and gagged Brute before him and Lt. Plissken with the rest of Squad Silver. They explained entire event, some with smiles on their faces. Plissken and De La Rosa gave each other a look. "They got their first kills, we ought to start a tally." De La Rosa said reaching for a cigarette. Plissken handed him one while still looking at the squad. "Where's Charcoal?"

"Chris is back in his original position, Jung-Suh said they'd be staying out till both of their recon teams returned." Said one of the boys. "Matt and Parker are back."

As if on cue the two could be heard from a short distance. Parker was cussing loudly and Matt replied. "You always pick paper."

De La Rosa chuckled with the cigarette in his mouth, swirls of grey smoke danced upwards towards the cave ceiling. "So what we do with the ape?"

Plissken lit his own cigarette and took a few puffs. He stared at the Brute, his eyes red with anger and pain. Blood still trickled from the short limbs that were once his legs. "Start askin' questions. I got a feeling Ajax is gonna wanna be here for this, get him on the horn." With that Plissken knelt down before the Brute, it tried to move but it's large arms were bond behind his back. The Brute was slumped up against the cave wall and as it struggled he fell to his side, unable to rise itself up. Plissken looked at the sight. Took a long puff of the cigarette and held it in. The cigarette now in his hand, Plissken then nonchalantly stabbed the burning end onto the Brute's forehead. It shook a moment as it tried to fight off the pain but to no use. Plissken threw the cigarette away and blew the smoke he was holding onto the Brute's face then got up to leave.

Christian couldn't help but laugh, the guy pissed himself and fainted. But hey given the situation switched he might have done the same. "Alright Kinu call it in, Sarah head us back to camp. I'll carry the dude." Christian walked up to the limp man and picked him up easily with one arm. He still couldn't help but grin.

"Alright I'll report it to the LT." Jung-Suh said after receiving the report from Kinu. She looked at the motionless Chris beside her. "Things are getting interesting huh?"

No answer. For a moment the two of them were deathly silent, but they were used to it. Jung-Suh kept her eyes on the distance, it was a nice view. "Chris?"

"Yeah?"

Jung-Suh kept her gaze forward and to the view. "You want another cigarette don't you." She said plainly.

"Yeah."

Then she hit him like usual.

Hollywood

46
"So lemme get this straight," Raymond grumbled as he polished his assault rifle. "Over half the guys in this company are involved with a girl in some way, and I just happen to be the one who isn't?"

"Yep," said Percy as he scribbled notes on a scrap of paper. "That would seem to be the case."

Raymond rolled his eyes. "You just don't care," he accused. "I swear, when God handed out hormones you were the last in line."

"It's common knowledge that relationships are just a liability on the battlefield," Percy replied without looking up. "Since it seems to be the UNSC's plan to keep us fighting until we can't hold a rifle anymore, I'm really not in a hurry to start anything with anybody. I get the same feelings towards girls as you; I just do a better job of ignoring them."

"Well, maybe I'd have a better chance with hooking up with someone if the two girls in the squad weren't so good at making themselves off limits. Elizabeth's like you when it comes to dating and Andrea's too shy to really do anything with."

"It wouldn't kill you to look outside the squad," Percy advised. "There's plenty of girls besides 'Beth and Andrea." Silver was one of the more introverted squads in the regiment, only interacting with other platoons when it was absolutely necessary. While they were comfortable enough with associating with the other squads in Grey Platoon, Mark tended to discourage them from "fraternizing", as he called it.

Putting away his paper, Percy got to his feet. "I know what'll cheer you up," he informed Raymond. "Go get the medical bag. Let's see if our burn salves don't work on Brutes."

The two of them had been assigned to guard the prisoner, which was more or less an officer's way of saying that they could slack off for a few hours. Bound, gagged, and legless as he was, the Brute certainly wouldn't be making any daring escapes into the woods. Ever since Lieutenant Plissken had finished with it the alien had remained sullenly where it was. The only signs of movement it showed were a few scattered bursts of uncomfortable squirming. From the way its eyes rolled up towards its forehead, Percy could tell that the mark where Plissken had burnt it was itching terribly.

"Well, I'd love to see how they react to our medicines, but why should we do that?" asked Raymond uncertainly. "He's a prisoner and Lieutenant Commander 013 needs him for interrogation. We're probably not even supposed to touch him."

"We're going to do it because I can't stand watching him squirm like that," said Percy. "If I were tied up and had something like that on my head, I'd want 'em to take a look at it. Now get me that medicine bag."

A few minutes later, Percy was squirting some burn salve into his palm as Raymond watched. The Brute was staring too, its eyes wary and mistrustful.

"Hold still," Percy instructed the prisoner. "I'm not sure if this'll work, but if you try anything I'll break your arms."

As he smeared the gel on the burn mark, Percy saw something burning in the Brute's eyes. This must be humiliating for him, the SPARTAN realized with a touch of chagrin. But I couldn't just let him go on suffering like that. After a few moments of inactivity, Percy decided that the gel had worked. The alien certainly wasn't squirming any more.

"We should probably give him something to eat too," he muttered. "Nothing fancy, just a ration bar or something."

Raymond shook his head. "C'mon, we've already done to much. We're his guards, not his maids. We'll probably get in trouble already for wasting medical supplies on a hostage. If we give him food, it'll just be that much worse."

"At least he won't be hungry when the Lieutenant Commander's beating the shit out of him," Percy retorted. "Or when he gets his brains blown out."

He had realized not two seconds before that that the creature before him was going to die. There was no room for prisoners on an extended guerilla campaign like this, not when he'd have to be watched to ensure he didn't sabotage any vehicles or supplies. Once the information that was needed from him had been extracted, the Brute would most likely be "disposed of". Pretty morbid watching someone who's already condemned...

"All the same, I'm going to ask him if he's hungry," Percy said and moved to untie the gag. ''He might have killed civilians before this. Maybe he slaughtered children just to amuse himself. But if we're cruel just because the enemy is cruel, than how different are we from them? The monsters might not think themselves cruel, or know that what they do is wrong, but we do. If we do things like that just because the enemy does it, than we're worse than they are.''

"You know, the instructors always told us not to show compassion like this." Raymond's voice cut into Percy's reverie. "They said it got you killed. Weren't you just saying the same thing about relationships?"

"If we were in combat then I wouldn't be doing this," snapped Percy. "And it isn't like a relationship at all. This guy's probably going to die within the next twenty-four hours, so I want him to go with some dignity. Relationships are lasting things; the prisoner will probably be gone before we go into combat again."

Raymond grumbled but said nothing,

Removing the gag, Percy asked the Brute, "Can you understand me?"

After a brief pause, the creature spoke. "Yes, Demon. Most of us must learn your pitiful language in order to better predict your movements and orders."

Percy decided to take the insults in stride. "You want something to eat? What we've got isn't much, but it'll fill you up at least."

The Brute shook his head. He seemed too resigned and weary to make a show of it. "I would rather die than defile my body with infidel food. Besides, it's like you said. I'll be interrogated and killed soon, so why stray from the path when I am so close to finishing my journey?"

Most of the other members of Silver wouldn't have understood the Brute's spiritual references, but Percy and Raymond had studied Covenant culture together and had an outward understanding of the Great Journey. Percy shrugged. "Have it your way." A renewed sense of pity flowed through him. "But when they do interrogate you, just tell them what they want to know and get it over with. They'll grind it out of you sooner or later, why not make it sooner and avoid a lot of pain?"

The Brute looked off into space before replying. "Demon, would you betray your fellows just to avoid a little pain? You don't have to answer that. You Demons are brave, if the stories I have heard are true. You wouldn't give anything away unless they broke you completely. I must do the same for my brethren. Now please, leave me be." He closed his eyes, and Percy wondered if he was praying.

"You heard him, he wants us to sod off," wheedled Raymond. "Now get back to doing nothing before someone notices us and we get in trouble!"

Percy returned to where he had been sitting, but instead of getting his paper out again he watched the Brute carefully, pondering what he had just said.

47
The spartans of the Squad Athens emerge from the destroyed building "Report!" said 067 "All clear" responsed the spartan."No sign of enemy sir the bomber did the job." The member of the squad athens moved once more on the top of the hill just to reralize that all of the brutes were dead. "ok people let try to find ammo, we will need it for the rest of the operation. As they were walking around the area they discovered a unsc suplie pad lauched from pelican.

The UNSC Tenochtitlan a Ultra Carrier enter in the system. Freshly built and under the command of the UNSC 14th Nomad Fleet the ultra carrier would saw his first mission and would be there for intercept any enemy ship that would try to catch the unsc force in the system.<font color="SteelBlue">C <font color="#A9A9A9">F <font color=Teal>00 <font color=Teal>1 00:47, 25 April 2009 (UTC)

48
Ash Ford; surveyed what his Company was doing. Well, the company was Kelly's but to him: it was his. His sniper tucked underneath his cheek, spying on them.

"Ma'am?" Ash said turning to Kelly.

"Yes?" The SPARTAN-II replied.

"Everything is going we-" Ash paused for a minute to fire his sniper at a Brute Chieften. "Sorry. As I was saying: It's all going well. They should mop everything up in a few minutes...I hope."

Amy ducked as a RPG flew over her head. She dropped to one knee, and began firing with her BR 09. She had a whole platoon of SPARTAN-IVs behind her and 2 SPARTAN-IIIs who were under her command, rather reluctantly. They were moving to slowly, as brute fire was keeping them pinned down.

"Josh," Amy said into her com, "any chance of support?"

"Yeah, hang on." Josh replied.

Amy heard to explosions, and a group of brutes fell near her.

"Thanks, Josh."

"Your welcome, Honey."

Amy ignored the final word Josh had said. She needed no distractions, when dealing with brutes. She ran up a steep slope, making sure she had enough momentum to carry her up it without falling down, which was easier said than done. As she was encased in 2 Ton armour along with ammo and grenades. She made it up the slope and began ordering her SPARTANs about. She ordered Bull to cover the Rear while Baracuda, moved to secure the fair edge of the Bridge.

"Phantom!" Josh screamed. He dropped behind E021 and helped him to load his Rocket Launcher. "Fire!"

The rocket screamed towards the Dropship. It impacted on it's Port side. The Phantom began tumbling towards the ground. "To cover!" Josh screamed, as he jumped behind rocks. The Dropship landed with an almighty thump!. Josh got up. "Amy, John. With me." He said as he began to carefully move towards the downed Ship. A brute got up and snarled at Josh. Josh fired into it's snarling mouth. Three jumped out at Josh and sent him tumbling to the ground. Josh quickly got up and unsheathed his knife.

The first brute swung at him, he ducked and rammed the knife into the brutes chest. The other two swung at him, Josh quickly moved out of the way, and the brutes hit each other. Josh slid his knife into the back of the 2nd Brute, it made an ear shattering scream, the final brute turned to Josh and began walking slowly to him.

"Come get some bitch!" Josh screamed at the final brute, before charging at it. He and the brute fell to the ground, Josh punched it in the face before he sank the blade deep into the beasts chest.

"This is why SPARTANs never die! Now FORWARD!" He screamed at all the S-IVs with him as he ran to engage the brutes charging at him. <font color="Grey">SPARTAN <font color="Grey">-G024 <font color="Grey">{The Warrior} <font color="Grey">{The Team} <font color="Grey">{The Tale} 15:05, 23 May 2009 (UTC)

49
The pack of Brutes edged closer to the shadowy area near the encampment's defensive "wall". "Susano....", hissewd Riker "SOL Ion Satellite, online and ready!", replied the AI "Fire!" Suddenly, a new bright spot appeared in the sky, at first seeming like only a star, twinkling in the night. However, it quickly grew and grew, till at last it became evident that it was more than that, that it was something approaching. The pack of Brutes looked up at the incoming blast, and quickly attempted to flee, but in that moment Riker jumped forward, snapping the necks of two, breaking two more's backs and shooting the three left with his Battle Rifle. Turning from this carnage, Riker watched as the Ion blast from the SOL barreled through the atmosphere, crashing straight into the middle of the Brute camp. Nearest to the impact point, all kinds of things went flying, ranging from vehicles to equipment, buildings to Brutes; however, throughout the entire camp the effect of the Ion Cannon took effect, sending all active electronic systems offline. Though the Brutes themselves were ready for war, their vehicles, their turrets, even their communications systems now were not. Quickly fingering his COM link, Riker gave the signal to being their attack. Almost immediately, 200 Spartans rushed the two gun positions, Force 1 on the north side of the gorge, Force 2 on the south. Rockets and other explosives flew towards the positions, while sniper rounds and a storm of machine gun fire blasted into the Jiralhanae charging the Spartans. In Force 1, Ásynjur Platoon rushed for the gun positions themselves, mowing down the Jiralhanae opposition while the other two Platoons moved forward to head for the second objectives. While the Assault Teams and Special Teams held off any enemies stupid enough to attack, the Fire Teams quickly placed their charges on the large gun positions. Fireteam Alpha quickly, yet tactically, strapped down the explosive on the first gun, while Bravo did the same on the second gun, Fireteam Delta following behind them to prime each explosive. The Spartans were trained at this, and did their job well. Soon enough, the Platoon cleared out, and their XO, Gunnery Sergeant Clint Werner, pushed the button and blew the emplacement. On the far side of the canyon, Force 2's situation mirrored their own, and merely a half a minute later Gunnery Sergeant Ishiro Honda detonated the second gun emplacement. With their jobs done at the gun positions, Platoons Ásynjur and Jotun raced to their comrades, moving to help achieve the secondary objectives they'd been assigned.

-- //Out of the Darkness//  //Into the Light//  Devil  Savior   Traitor   Destined   Doomed   Uncertain   Insane   Grieved  21:45, 3 May 2009 (UTC)

50
SPARTAN-E195 gripped her MA6A ICWS tightly, firing at the oncoming Brutes, when She saw a Grenade fly over her head, bounce once and hit a Brute in the Chest, where it started to fall when it exploded, killing the Brute and wounding a nearby one. She shifted her fire onto the Brute, and watched it fall to the ground. Gemma turned her head and Saw Sam and Dean firing their MA6A's, straight towards the oncoming Brutes. Dean noticed her looking, and shouted.

"Well, How about you keep your eyes on the battle?"

Gemma turned back to the battlefield, and saw another Brute disappear under a blast from a M43 HDS, and turned to see Joe reloading it, nodding at her.

"Ma'am, Eyes on the field please."

Gemma fired a short Burst from her Rifle, splintering a tree and striking a Brute in the arm. It started to howl, but Gemma shut the thing up with another burst from her Rifle, hitting the Brute full in the Face, when Sam appeared on the floor next to her.

"I'd keep down now." Sam said with a sidelong glance.

"Why?" Gemma asked, then realised why. Dean was standing up behind them, firing madely straight into the middle of the brutes, and Sam took Gemma's M33 Revolver and fired a round from it at the Brute crawling along the floor, and handed it back to Gemma. Gemma spoke into her COM to Maria.

"Ma'am, the Brutes are Fleeing. Orders?"

Dean reloaded his MA6A, and threw himself on the other side of Sam, and chuckled.

"Think they can Mess with us? They haven't seen anything yet!" Jaws