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Force 81 Prologue: A Faithless Reaper
Date: 14 December 2002, 6:19 am
(note to readers: Faithless Reaper is an introduction to the main character in my short stories series
"Force 81". While Faithless Reaper is going to mainly focus around the lead character's personality, Force 81 is going to expand out to include a slice of each aspect of the war through the eyes of several characters who are to be revealed through out the series.)
"WE HAVE one covie recon squad on approach from the north, two kilometers from your position Max." Capt. Veer stared through his sniper scope down on the small Covenant recon squad approaching from the north. "Three ghosts, minor elite pilots." The cliff Veer was bunkered into had been his roost for well over nine hours. The main UNSC strike force he had been scouting for was coming in on foot while an armored assault company had gone around to the front of the Covenant bunker they were about to strike at to distract the covie armor support. Veer was doing recon for the foot troops coming up the back. His sniper squad of four; him and three others, had been scoping out for any lone patrols now for awhile. With the Scorpions in the 115th coming up the front, the common soldier would think the Convenant would be too occupied to cover their back end. But Jim knew the Covenant better than that.
"Veer, we can't let them detect us till the armored corps start their attack." Sgt. Max Meldon radioed back in to Veer. Max's squad was running point for the foot squad.
"This I know Meldon, this I know. We can take em out before they even get near you." Veer checked his clip. Four shots.
"Peeves! Allen! Listen up." Veer radioed in to his sniper comrades in clear sight of the ghosts coming in. "Peeves, take a bead on the left flank, Allen on the right. I'll get center. Fire after my lead. We need this quick and easy fellas, so one shot, one kill. Make it count."
Jim took sight and zoomed on his target. Minor elite, blue armor. His cranium was barely exposed over the top of the ghost, even at Veer's height. But a clear shot none the less.
"Mark."
Jim's rifle recoiled against his shoulder as the white contrail from his shot went right through the elites forehead. The Ghost the alien was piloting swerved into the dirt as two more shots rang out. The left flank elite fell out of his craft as his vehicle impacted with the grounded Ghost, a new hole in his temple. The other shot reflected off the engine housing of the right Ghost, and the pilot pulled hard out of the turn and made a break out of the canyon.
"Crap Allen! Take him down!"
Three more shots rang out, each hitting the dirt behind the retreating covie.
"He's too fast Captain, I can't..."
A single shot from Veer's position impacted the elite from behind. The ghost went silent as it ground to a halt.
"Max, recon patrol is cleared out. You got three grounded Ghosts but other wise your clear."
"Thanks Jim, we're moving in on checkpoint now."
The main UNSC assault company came into Veer's scope view. 8 specialists squads climbed over rocky rubble from a previous battle into the tight canyon, the Covenant bunker in plain view over a small hill in front of them. The squads piled over the small hole in the bleak canyon wall into the grassy valley with Veer's sniper squad hiding among the cliffs bordering the small enclosure.
"Jim this is Meldon, can you see the 115th from your position? We have orders to hold out here till they start the diversionary strike."
Veer zoomed out over into the horizon past the covie bunker. Wraith's were moving into position, so something was up, but there was no sign of actual combat going on.
"We got Wraith's on the move, but no sign of the 115th. Where are those guys? They should have been here by now."
"Jim, the covie's are going to start missing their scout group here soon, don't you think?"
"Depends." Veer shifted slightly. "Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Depends on how smart their Commander is..."
"I'm praying he's struck stupid right now..." replied Max in a low tone.
"Praying won't help right now Meldon." Veer zoomed in on the bunker's entrance as Covenant troops poured out the back doors. "They know we're here. We got contact Marines!"
Covenant forces came out the bunker like a flood gate was open. Elites barked out their orders as Jackals formed ranks, creating an almost solid energy blockade out of their shields as the Covenant force approached from behind the barrier. Marines opened fire on the swarming ranks as they got into formation. The occasional grunt would fall from a stray bullet, but for the most part the AR and EX rifle rounds ricocheted off the energy shield barricade. The Covenant returned fire from over their shields down onto the exposed marines.
"Marines, take cover!" Meldon dove for the nearest rock as blue and green plasma buzzed by, his MA6B rattling to his side. "Jim, take aim at whatever you can hit from up there!"
"Already on it." Jim stood up from his crouch and looked down on the scene before him. The covies were closing fast. "Peeves, Grave! Take out that Jackal line. Make a hole big enough for our guys to get some shots in. Allen, shoot at the main force and any Elite you can scope on. Fire at will!"
Sniper rounds blared from the walls. Jackals fell and stumbled two at a time, the line crumbling. Grunts gave out death cries as Allen ripped into their ranks. The Elite officers crumpled one at a time under Jim's steady hand. By now the Covenant had broken ranks though and charged the marines. Soldiers popped up from the rocks, spraying ammunition into the oncoming ranks. Elites fired through the marines, with the occasional shotgun shell unloading into their armored skin, breaking through their shields and shattering their body armor. Bodies flew as grenades exploded, blue flashes and red flame killing covenant and marine alike. Jim popped out shot after shot, clip after clip, each round bringing death to a different soldier.
"Captain, this is Peeves." Jim heard Peeves stammer over the comm. "We got Hunters coming at us."
Jim cursed audibly over his comm in an unconventional break of form as he loaded a fresh clip into his rifle. His crosshair settled on the charging mutants, their fuel rod cannons lighting up.
"Grave, take sight on those Hunters..." Jim squeezed his trigger mid sentence, punching a bullet through the eye of the closest Hunter. "Take out whichever one is glowing the brightest..." another shot, another dead Covenant. "Don't let them shoot."
The Hunter squad charged into the battle, one after another falling to the sniper barrage. Finally they crouched into battle position, their near impervious armor bristling in the setting sun. They chargeed their cannons and opened fire on the human sniper position's in the cliffs. Allen and Grave's position rocked with the blast as they flew from their roost to their deaths below on the valley floor. Peeves' nook was put under pressure as it caved in on him under the concussion. Jim dived to safety in time to see the rock he was just crouching behind vaporize. The battle still raged on as Jim recovered himself. A Jackhammer troop finally opened fire on the Hunters before they could open up on the main force, but the main Covenant thrust was still strong. Meldon grappled with an Elite, his knife drawn out and stained purple from the fighting. Veer ran out with his pistol and pegged Max's opponent in the head. The Elite slumped down as Jim re-shouldered his rifle, opening fire from behind the main fighting force taking out as many as he could before he ran out of ammo. Dropping the useless rifle, he picked an MA6B battle rifle off a dead marine, using it's scope and EX ammunition liberally against the onslaught. The smell of burning flesh and the screams of dying grunts and marines filled the canyon. Off in the distant Jim could barely hear the 115th Armored division engaging the Wraith tanks from the other side of the valley over the mixed battle cries and explosions around him. There was no glory in this battle, no honor to find here. It was death or life, kill or be killed.
Jim finally ran out of ammo for both the rifle and his sidearm. The charging Elite he had been firing at was still running full speed at him. Veer threw his empty pistol into the alien's face and pulled out his boot knife. The stunned Elite was even more stunned when he looked up to see Veer jamming the jagged blade into his neck. Purple blood sprayed over Jim as he recovered his knife and slashed at a fleeing grunt. It dropped to the ground, it's face mask gouged off from the glancing blow. The sniper continued on, surveying the battle as the marines mopped up the last few Covenant. Jackals and Grunts fled, exposing their backs long enough for the keener eyes to pick them off as they retreated. Jim swiped his knife into the grass and picked up a nearby plasma pistol. Just in case, it's better than nothing right now.
Veer waded through the bodies left from the battle, picking at the newest nick in his armor from an Elite claw swipe. There they are. Grave and Allen both. Veer knelt next to his fallen troops, pulling out the vid records from their helmets. He looked up to Peeves' position grimly. No chance he was gonna get through all that to find the body. Vid was probably crushed anyways. No matter. Looking back to the soldier's at his feet, he could see Allen was burnt down to the bone. He must have taken some venting from the ion blast before being blown from the rocks. Grave was simply crushed when he fell down, snapping his neck on impact. At least they died quick. He had seen worst ways to go...
"They went down fighting Jim." Meldon had come up behind Veer as he was caught up in the mental images of battles long past.
"Tell that to the families Max." Jim went to take Grave's pistol in place of the plasma pistol he was carrying when Meldon grabbed his hand.
"We're done here. Incursion team has gotten what we needed and we're getting ready for dust off" Max slung his rifle over his shoulder as he turned his eyes to the sky. "Pelicans coming in already."
Jim followed his gaze to see the transports coming in low over the horizon. Then he turned to the fallen bodies all around him once again.
"I got lucky up there Max. I would have been another statistic in this fight if I hadn't of seen it coming... those Hunter's had us eyed up as soon as they came out of their pens..."
"I wouldn't call it luck Jim..."
"What would you call it then? Skill? A quick get away in sight?"Veer grit his teeth and gripped the pistol in his hand hard.
"Providence, Jim. Destiny. Fate. Whatever you wanna call it. I saw that shot from here. I thought for sure you were toast."
Jim caughed into his glove, forcibly keeping backs the words he really wanted to say.
"I go for luck. Or skill. No providence would have let this happen. There was no grand destiny played out before us just now..."
Jim looked up at Max and caught Meldon staring back right into his eyes. There was no expression in those eyes for Max to read into, no emotion.
"Get the remnants of your squad together and get out of here on the first drop sergeant. You guys deserve to get outta here."
Jim turned his back on Max as he went to the spot he had dropped his sniper rifle. He looked out towards the horizion as he recovered his rifle to see the stars starting to appear in the sky overhead, with the sun finally gone down. Smoke from the battle curled up into the sky, making it hard to see most of the sky line. The stars... he never bothered to look at them anymore. He remebered nights long ago sitting under starlit sky's as a child, admiring those diamond spots of light. Veer crouched down into the charred grass, picking up a brass rifle shell. This is what his life was now, just killing. From his scope he saw life pass to death at his hands nearly every day. He had no need to appreciate the beauty of it all anymore. His eyes found none to admire. The Pelicans landed and loaded quickly, taking the Marines back to the UNSC fleet in space. Taking us to our next destination. The next battle. Jim chuckled as he tossed the shell back into the grass. Battle to battle. Day by day. This was his existence.
Force 81 Part I: Desperate Times, Desperate Measures
Date: 16 December 2002, 6:51 pm
"I NEVER did appreciate your driving sergeant!" yelled a rather rattled Cpl. Steven Dobbs as the Transport Warthog he and his buddies where in jostled about violently. "I wouldn't trust you with my Grandpa's beater, yet alone a military issue troop transport!" A hearty laughter broke out among the six spec ops marines seated in the back as their compatriot mercilessly taunted their company's designated driver. "How in the name of everything good and holy did you get a combat driver's license anyways sarge?" The Sgt. smiled from behind the wheel and cocked his head to the passenger in the seat beside him. The passenger cradled his battle rifle and smiled good naturedly back at his upbeat sergeant, anticipating the witty comeback that such a comment rightly deserved.
"You try and drive a truckload of mouthy greenhorns like yourself around for as long as I have corporal, and see if the UNSC brass don't recognize that as a feat worth recognition!" The sarge made sure he spoke loud enough for the whole of the squadron to hear his response, and was rewarded for his effort with good number of "he dogged you comments" aimed towards the Cpl. coupled with a good number of belly laughs from the nervous soldiers.
"I get you to where we need to go Marine, so I would quit your belly aching." The sarge added on as an after thought, as he refocused his attention on the hard gravelly terrain before him. Red canyon walls surrounded him on either side and forlorn stretches of desert lay in front of him. The rumbling of the other Warthog Transports accompanying him in the convoy was the only noise he could hear, except the occasion jibe from the back from the corporal. In a drive such as this , the comments Steven was so well known for were more a blessing than a curse. Steven and his word jousts kept the troops from growing grim. And demoralized troops was the last thing Sgt. Max Meldon wanted right now. With the Covenant pressuring down on the remaining Earth colonies after the Fall of Reach, the dim hope of survival had become even more dim. And with the apparent obliteration of the SPARTAN troops still fresh in everyone's mind, it seemed the Marine's plight to fight off the powerful Covenant had become positively hopeless. Except here. On Shunt III, one of the few planetary colonies still standing a chance against the incoming Covenant onslaught. The Marine forces on Shunt were some the best trained in the UNSC, apart from those stationed at Reach itself. Sgt. Meldon prided himself in this, knowing that he and his troops made up a small part of what was left of the UNSC's elite forces. While defeat loomed so close on the horizon, he was the type of person who saw the light before he noticed the darkness seeming to consume it. His company knew this and they trusted him. They had never once found themselves in a situation where their commanding officer could not find a way out.
"Hey Max." Meldon's comm went on as a familiar voice came over the radio.
"What's up Greg." he replied as his close war buddy opened the comm links.
"Headquarters just called, said that the Pelican supply convoy were just dispatched and will be landing as we arrive."
"Good to hear. How's your company holding out over there Greg."
"We're plugging on with the rest of you guys. Lt. Adams is regaling us with another war story. You heard about the one where he wrestled an Elite to the ground on his own while we were in retreat from a covie ambush?"
"Yeah, it hasn't been awhile since he told that one. The newbies will be impressed."
"I still get a kick out of the fact that he leaves out the part about me blowing the critter's arms off before he bullrushed the thing to the ground. I don't want to bust his bubble though."
As the convoy jostled to and fro in the desert terrain of Shunt III, one of the outer perimeter's Warthog Jeeps sped ahead of the group to take over the Alpha perimeter position. The Warthog's LAAG gunner peered out over the large convoy as the whole moved forward towards one purpose, one intention. The young man made notice of every driver's expression from behind his visor guard, brought down over his face to protect his eyes from the harsh sun and pebbly sand being blown into his face. By observing each Sgt.'s expression, you could make a good conclusion about his entire squadron's demeanor. Sgt. Meldon's face cracked into a huge grin, apparently at another one of Steven's comments and the much looked forward to cut back. Sgt. Greg's face, while not smiling, was still positive in his own way. Sgt. Gregory Legusama was much more serious about his work than Meldon was, but he still tried to keep his troops on the up and up. At the moment he seemed rather bored. Adams was probably relating another one of his stories. The trooper chuckled from under his visor. He was familiar with each squadron's workings and personality's. He had, at one point or another, worked with each of them to one degree of sort, whether they knew it or not. Captain James Veer was a recon and sniper specialist. He was well known in the Marine Corp of Shunt III, and well used at that. Of all the troopers in the Shunt III Spec. Ops. battalion, he was most commissioned and most mobile of them all. His commanding officers shifted him from company to company, using his skills not only in the missions he was most needed, but also in having him impart some of his talent onto each company's own recon specialists, in the hopes that such giftings can be taught as well as born into. As of yet, no one had come to the same level of excellence that Veer seemed to reached with such ease. Oh yes, there were many a skilled sniper in the Corp trained under Veer, but no one had yet usurp the master. Of course, at 28 Veer was also very envied among his older peers who had been doing his line of work for years. But Veer held his position over no one. He didn't want to be commanding officer, and looked down upon rank. The only reason he was a Captain was because the upper Officers couldn't let such skill go unrecognized. Veer's keen eye had saved more than one company in his relatively short military career from becoming Covenant target practice. Often times unknowingly. Veer humbling accepted the position he found himself in. He did not look for honor, although he rightfully deserved it. He had a passion for his work, however, that few could equal in the Corps. He trained in his off time and studied the Covenant mindset and military practices diligently so as to do his job to the best he could. He was a fine soldier, and everyone knew it.
Veer took one last cursory glance over the convoy before pivoting his gun to the front of the jeep. The noise in his position was deafening, so it would be impossible to communicate to his comrades in front. He didn't mind, of course. He preferred to be alone. Which was his most major downfall. He kept himself detached from intimacy of any kind. A blessed curse it is, for in war you lose to much to try and hold on to anything. This was Veer's philosophy. It's what drove him to see the war through. Off in the distant, he could see the beacons of Beta Base warmly glowing blue, with Pelicans touching down in the nearby sands. The canyon walls slowing faded out from the background; first on the left, then on the right, as the vast desert opened fully before them with Beta Base looming in the background. The base, while not large by any standards, was not small either. It's only real purpose before the Covenant became so eminent of a threat was as a staging ground for desert warfare training on Shunt. The varying environments on the planet allowed for a large array of training to take place across it's surface. Training bases could be found in every biome under it's atmosphere, from the artic south to the jungle terrain of the north. The versatility of the UNSC battalion on Shunt came from their extensive and various training. This is what made them a force to be reckoned with. This is why Earth now hoped Shunt would supply a final stand point to stifle the Covenant onslaught. And this is why the convoy was now heading to Beta.
Force 81 Part II: Formations in the Desert
Date: 20 December 2002, 5:49 am
THE CONVOY rumbled into Beta base and quickly unloaded. Engineers rushed from the hastily made airbase encampment nearby to help haul weaponry crates and ammunition, along with food rations, med supplies and general equip. Veer climbed off his Warthog and observed the unloading process. Beta base was quickly becoming home turf for this operation. He could see the 115th Armored Division Scorpions, just dispatched off their Pelican carriers, kicking up sand and falling into a parking formation. Warthog recon jeeps darted in and out of the encampment, rushing officers to briefings and various command positions. Gun emplacements were being set into defensive positions. Veer almost laughed out loud. It was highly unlikely the Covenant were going to direct strike Beta base. They would be content to glass Prime and be on their merry way rather than come down here and kick this hornet's nest. There was nothing here on Prime for them to capture. But if the gun emplacements gave the officers some false sense of security, then they would serve a purpose. Edgy COs were worse to tangle with than a Covie Hunter in Veer's mind. You can kill a Hunter, but the officer you just would have to deal with. Veer sighed and kicked a pebble out of his way as he headed towards Beta's main structure. He had an individual briefing of some sort that the Beta brass wanted to have with him. Probably not something he was going to like, but orders were orders. He slung his sniper rifle over his shoulder as he went off from his jeep, waving to his fellow driving buddies. No one he really knew well, but a friendly gesture was always welcomed, even in a circumstance like this. That and Veer never liked coming off as being arrogant. A stuck up marine was never looked upon well in a group like this, and Veer liked having a little bit of respect to work off of. His inside work was made so much easier by him being able to command a healthy dose of respect. Especially when lives were in danger.
"Company 2, fall in!" Sgt. Legusama belted out his voice as his company left their little inner discussion groups and fell quickly into formation. Greg cracked a smile. Training was never a problem with this bunch. Hope maybe, but not discipline. "Here's the low down ladies! Last reports coming in had Covenant on the move from Reach after the initial assault. Contact has been lost with Reach and all battle craft involved in the battle are reported as casualities." A general shrugging from the company came forth. They were too disciplined to break rank, but there was still a noticeable enough downtrodden spirit coming on them. Greg continued on without breaking tone, ready to deliver another blow to the troops. "No contact has been established with the Spartans, save three which were dispatched separately from Reach before the attack." The troops visibly went down again. "The Covenant forces were on the move, most likely targeting the last few colonies in their way before reaching Earth itself. Including Shunt." Now the troops looked positively brow beaten. "You are one of the last crack forces left between Earth and the attacking Covenant force. We are assembled here to receive marching orders and prepare for the assault. Lock down has begun on the orbital defense systems. Freesia's defense has been bolstered and UNSC has dispatched an attack fleet to beef us up even further. But for the most part, the brass thinks that we will be the main offensive force in the defensive arsenal. And rightly so. You are the best trained, most disciplined, and the most experienced marines between here and Earth." The Sarge let that thought sink into his troops minds for a moment. A little bit of encouragement was needed, considering the situation. It wasn't often Legusama deterred from "the maggot and push ups" approach. "Now come to an understanding of what we are doing here at Beta. Beta is to be the Corps defensive headquarters here on planetside. Altar base will be sure to take care of orbital command. Now fall out and get those supplies out and packed and make your way to the barracks. Dismissed!"
Meldon broke his troops out of formation shortly after Legusama. With intel still coming in, this fight looked down right grim, but Meldon wasn't going to clue his troops in on his concerns. To much on their mind's for that. Looking out to the sky's, Max could barely see the next Pelican formation coming in as the grounded Pelicans prepped for lift off. Probably heading for Altar base, Prime's small moon colony which was settled with the sole purpose of military command. No doubt the fight would come to the moon's surface, with the Altar being the hub of military command here in the system. The post has locked down, but no one knew exactly to what extent. Defensive positions were probably being taken quickly, with new ones being carved out just as rapidly. Meldon turned towards Beta's main structure in time to see the infamous Veer heading in through the secured entranced. Wonder what he's up to in all this mess? He'll try and catch him later maybe. Veer was privy to info some troopers would kill for right now. Thankfully, Meldon had a deeper relationship with the loner than anyone else could boast of. He might be able to get something out of him.
Force 81 Part III: Hope Takes Form
Date: 8 January 2003, 5:25 am
(To the readers: I apologize for delaying the submission of this chapter. The Holidays tied me up big time (not in a bad way, but still tie up never the less) so I haven't gotten on my comp in a while. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Post a comment or two for me. I like constructive criticism so be sure to be critique when needed. Thanks.
~Noble)
VEER WALKED into Beta's war room to a multiple front attack on his senses. Consoles buzzed, whirred and chimed. Technicians ran about downloading newly arrived systems. Wires laid out everywhere as patches were hastily uploaded. A huge screen showed views from all over the planet and off it into defensive space around Freesia orbital command. The smell of coffee permeated the room. Jim never cared for high caffeine intake. His mind was to highly tuned to override it's normal outage with artificial stimulus. He marveled at the technical wizardry of the staff techs as they moved about. Order coming from chaos. Veer suddenly became very thankful he was a simple soldier. He would much rather shoulder a rifle than work from behind this mess.
While nowhere near as sophisticated as Reach's combat systems were, Shunt was swiftly becoming ready for a fight. AIs were being shifted in from Freesia command to download to multiple battle systems while vital connections were still being made to bring up the systems they we're designed to man to operational status. Shunt command had always prided itself on it's combat readiness, but nothing had prepared them for the fall of Reach. Preparations were set into action a week ago to bring up the combat systems as soon as info came in that Reach had been attacked. Technical systems were stretched and reworked to be able to handle the newer systems being quickly brought in to fortify and streamline combat commands. Thankfully the tech staff were well versed in electrical wizardry.
"Captain Veer!" A voice boomed out over the din of the war room. Jim perked his head to receive the greeting."Colonel Curtis." Cnl. Curtis stood at a table cleared off to formulate a rough briefing surface. "Jim, welcome to ground zero. How was the trip?" Cnl. Howard Curtis was a big black man in his 40's. The diminutive Veer seemed suddenly very white as he made his way to stand next to the Cnl. despite his rather weathered tan. The two had a well rounded respect for each other, Veer because of Curtis's official position of authority over Jim and Curtis because of how much he knew Veer deserved more rank than the Captain wanted.
"As good of a trip as driving gunner in a Warthog convoy on desert terrain could be Colonel." Veer stepped over a bundle of cords lying on the floor and removed his helmet, letting his matted black hair free from it's entrapment. Curtis grinned.
"Been awhile since you last got buzzed Veer?"
Veer looked up to Howard and grinned back.
"Never enough down time Colonel. Especially now."
Curtis took on a more serious face. "Your very rarely wrong Veer." Howard quickly recovered his grin
"And I thought I told you last time to just call me Howard?"
"Of course Colonel, I'll be sure to keep that in check."
The Colonel looked knowingly at the Captain, struggling to keep face. For someone so outside the usual military protocol, Veer had quite the sense of humor when he wanted too, even in the face of such grave business.
"Well Jim, I don't want to keep you here long as I'm sure you'll appreciate what little down time you'll have here at Beta, so I want to get to business."
"Of course" Veer grew cold in tone.
"Veer, I want to let you in on some background info. First off, you know with contact lost to Reach, Shunt is next on the Covie hit list. All of Shunt's forces have been recalled to serve in the defensive front to keep back the tide, your own battalion being included in that recall. I want to be very frank with you Jim."
The Colonel's tone and volume went down to nearly a whisper. Veer inched closer as Howard looked straight into him.
"Shunt III's defensives are being set up with the sole purpose of keeping back the Covenant until Earth prepares itself properly for attack. I know and you know we can't stand against the same force that Reach fell to and stand. The idea here is to keep them back as long as we can."
The Colonel's face showed his displeasure in following such orders.
"As soon as we see Shunt is lost, we evacuate all military forces to Earth as fast as we can." Curtis lifted himself again and regained his composure.
"As well as the ensuing fleet to fleet combat, we are anticipating multiple Covenant landing forces here on Shunt."
Veer stared to the floor at this. "To land a beacon down to get us glassed, of course."
Curtis looked to Veer, catching his eyes as he replied. " Not only that, but there is another motive behind such an action. The Cole Protocol has kept the Covenant from getting a hold of Earth's location, and intel stills think they're in the dark to it's exact where abouts. They are awfully close, but they still don't know the actual location of the planet. They will most likely land groups near the main colonies, which are being evacuated to Earth as we speak, Freesia, and the Shunt military installations. Think Sigma Octanus. We'Äòre gonna have an invasion force on us Veer."
Jim's eyes flickered as he suddenly began to realize the full extent that the battle for Shunt was going to be. Multiple engagements over vast terrain, ranging from urban colonies to deep space low grav, fleet battles... this was going to be quite a messy fiasco.
"Veer, this is where your expertise comes into play." Curtis put his heavy hand on Jim's shoulder, breaking him out of his imaginative haze.
"Jim, you have personally worked with each squadron in your battalion. You know their ins and outs. You know who's expertise is needed when." The colonel removed his hand and turned his back to Jim as he brought up a holo screen display. Images flickered back and forth of human/covenant combat. Sniper shots rang out four at a time. Someone's helmet recorder of a battle Jim was involved in obviously.
"Most of all Veer, you know the enemy better than anyone of those soldiers out there."
A gold commander elite was rushing towards a marine that had his back turned to him, vibro sword glaring, but was blasted down as one of Veer's shot's went through it's brain stem.
"Jim, what I want you to do is form a team of elite troops. I want you to pick the best squads you have worked with to make up the bulk fighting force for this team. From these squads I want you to pick a specialist commando team of your choosing, of your number. You know the specifications needed most when fighting the Covenant full force. This commando team will fall under your jurisdiction, as well as the bulk fighting force. You train them as you please, arm them as you please, move them as you please. All I want is rapid response, able to do what needs done and get out of there as fast as they got there."
The colonel looked to Veer. Jim showed little emotion as this burden was placed on him. The only thing noticeable was the intensity in his piercing green eyes.
"Jim, you are now commander of Ghost Force, company 81, the specialist team that is going to form the backbone of the Shunt defensive. The brass know you are capable and reliable to get the job done. We want the Force put together as quickly as possible and briefed on what will be needed of them." Veer stared into the holo image as he heard his own voice ordering men into position and giving off the enemy's. Curtis grabbed a nearby data disk and handed it to the newly promoted colonel.
"This is every thing you will need Jim. Give out ranks and set up formation by tomorrow at 22:00."
Veer turned to the colonel and shook his hand firmly.
"Howard, I'll be more than ready by tomorrow for combat with my team."
Veer grinned and propped back on his helmet as he left the grinning colonel. Howard looked on as Jim left the war room to the barracks for a well needed rest. He had a lot to figure out before tomorrow.
Force 81 Part IV: The Reaper's Works
Date: 16 January 2003, 4:36 am
(Note to Readers: During my numerous re-draftings of this series, I changed the name of the Orbital Defense Command Base from Freesia to Altar. Why you might ask? Freesia is a type of flower. Not very masculine or tough for a nuclear equipped, MAC gun controlling, general bad butt Orbital Command Station. That and the name Altar comes into play later on during an envisioned battle scene to come. Alas, while editing, I accidently sent out the unedited version to HBO, where the name Freesia is used rather than Altar. While there was no new content added to the original story while editting, I am sure that the Freesia/Altar thing would confuse somebody. While reading through the series, realize that Freesia and Altar are in reference to the same place, not two different orbital stations. Thanks.
~Noble)
VEER WAS RUNNING all the information of the meeting he had just had with Cmdr. Curtis through his head as he headed to the barracks. Ghost Force 81... Jim audibly laughed as he realized how much of burden had just been brought onto his back. Who had originally proposed for him to operate such a team? He had made clear that he had no intentions of pursuing any command position to all the right officers. He had severed all the right connections... how he hated commanding. Veer would rather risk his own neck over throwing some one else to the lion's den. Howard had said that they had chosen based off of who had the most experience and knowledge into what was needed for the job, which would have overridden anybody's personal opinion of Veer as commander material. Jim knew he was the best for the job on that end. Speaking of which... hadn't he said that Jim had all the jurisdiction over the Force? Well, at least he didn't have to worry about bothering with nervous COs after all. Jim laughed again. He had reached the barracks and had entered into his room, which surprisingly was unoccupied at the moment. Other troopers had thrown their scarce belongings into the room and had rushed off to finish work on the supply train running through Beta's encampment. At least he had some peace to think through all the specifics he would have to go through. Thankfully, there was a console in the room (each officers's barracks was equipped with one) so he slotted in the data disk he had been given to look over what he had to work with.
The usual UNSC insignia opened up on the screen, as well as a "For Your Eyes Only" warning. Looking through all the data files, Jim easily found what he was looking for. Weapon and equipment access. What he wanted to know first off. What was available and how rationed off it was for use. Jim was pleasantly surprised to see Howard had made due on his claim that Jim had full access to whatever he had needed. Ghost Force 81 had access to and usage of all available equipment stores, including several weapon and equipment models just recently gone through field testing. Jim grinned as he noticed that a new sniper rifle model had been developed, the S3-AM. It had basically been worked off of the old model, except for the addition of an enlarged ammo capacity, improved muzzle, and infrared sighting. The ammo had been upped to 6 shots instead of 4 and the improved muzzle not only silenced the shot completely but got rid of that bother some gas contrail left from firing the rifle off. Too many times that tell tale streak had led to the death of many a skilled sniper. Jim himself had had a few close calls of his own. The Ghost Forces' snipers would be completely concealed and hidden as long as they kept their noses clean. Jim liked that. Along with the sniper rifle model, a sub machine gun model had finally gone through complete testing. The suppressor add on would be very helpful indeed. Finally those trigger happy assault men won't have to be kept in check every time stealth was necessary. Along with the silencer for the submachine gun a pistol model silencer had been developed for combat use. That would very handy. Assault rifle upgrades had been tested, including an improved scoping reticule for the MA6B and a heavier assault model, the MA6BX, which had a 240 round barrel clip with chain loading action and a bi pod with EX, AP, and AP tracer rounds available for use.
The equipment listings also showed a few helmet improvements on the night vision and the addition of an infrared view for those who were heading out into dark territory and didn't want to just rely on the sniper's descriptions of hidden gun emplacements and covenant ambush markers. Also a motion scanner screen on the wrist guard had been added to the regulation body armor. About as close to radar as possible.
Jim ran the disk through for any more relevant material. Other than individual troop profiling for his entire battalion, nothing of major interest except the posting for the Force...
"During preliminary assaults on the planet, where most of the engagements are probable to occur more often in space rather than on the planet itself, The 81st company will be posted out of Altar Command Orbital as the main defensive force in case of direct invasion of the Command Center and in use of as a 'tactical space assault incursion team'."
What did that mean? Did they really expect them to be able to get on board one of those Covenant battle crafts right in the middle of a fleet engagement? Are they crazy? Wait... Vehicle listings... well there we go. ONI seems to have developed a stealth incursion craft and trained a view specialist pilots to fly them straight into Covenant shield openings during combat. Almost humorous to think it was even possible. Mostly just suicidal. Hopefully we're never stuck having to pull one of those missions...
"When planetary engagements become eminent threats, The 81st company has access to all military bases on Shunt III for use as a command post".
Well that's just a garnish compared to everything else..
Jim shut down the console after pulling out his disk. He would have to make squadron selections first thing in the morning. His head was throbbing from the desert drive and the mental overload he had just been thrust into. He would need a clear head to make decisions like what was needed by tomorrow at 22:00. Adrenaline wouldn't carry him that far into tomorrow on what he was running. Jim laid onto his bed and looked straight into the wall, checking the clock on the wall before letting his mind drift as his lids shut tight and sleep swept over him. 23:36. At least he could get a few hours of sleep before dawn.
Force 81 Part V: A Devil's Torment
Date: 17 January 2003, 4:37 am
(Note to Readers: Keep up with the comments. This is my favorite chapter written so far, so be sure to tell me what you think, good and bad alike please. Thanks.
~Noble)
"PVT. VEER, we need those pilots down NOW!!" The Sergeant's voice boomed into Veer's comm as he stared dumb founded from his emplacement, looking at the invasion force heading towards his home colony of Elysium II. His eyes focused on through his night vision sights onto an incoming Shadow's driver. The rifle recoiled against his shoulder heavily as he rapidly squeezed the trigger twice in tandem. He watched the Elite's shield flicker with the first shot impacting below his sternum and then watched as the target jerked his head back as the second shot pierced through his cranium, sending the troop carrier and all it's occupants veering into another transport in the engagement group. Four Elites flew out of their respectful vehicles and hit the ground with a thud as one of the two pilot-less Shadows slammed to the ground on top of one of them. The dying Elites screamed their death howl as mortar explosions ripped craters into the grassy plain around them and chain gun fire erupted from the UNSC forces settled around the large colony city. Jim gasped at the destruction caused at his own hand, seemingly amazed at what one well placed bullet could do. Unfortunately, the armored division of the invasion force had crested the hills surrounding the colony. Wraiths, their cannons gleaming, opened fire with plasma mortar in arcs raining down on the marine forces and the entire colony city. Gun emplacements exploded as the marines manning them screamed in agony. Shadows zoomed in closer, signs of impending doom, now opening fire on the marine gunners posted in the bunkers around the city. Veer's comm went crazy with frantic calls for medics and evacs, all which were for sure to fall on near to deaf ears
"Jim, haul your gear out of here. We need to fall back to evac points." Jim's friend Alex Brady grabbed him by the shoulder and pointed towards the erupting city. Jim and Alex had been buddies since training days, Alex working with Jim as a spotter for Veer's sniping. They worked well as a team, Jim being able to focus on his target completely and Alex watching his buddy's surroundings for him, allowing him to get in the shots that needed to be taken. With havoc all around their guard tower, Alex had left his chain gun post and grabbed his equipment, looking out at the Pelican drop ships landing down all over the city in the designated evacuation zones. The sun was low and had almost gone down as Jim flicked off his night vision and stood amazed at the scene played out in the city behind him. Pelicans were hastily loading civilians into their safe thresholds as marines retreated towards the drop zones as his radio erupted with new activity announcing different Pelican approaches and landings all across the colony. Plasma mortar crashed into the city's buildings, blowing them into debris which rained down into the streets. Jim threw his rifle over his shoulder and climbed down from the guard tower, his feet slipping nervously over the slick metal steps as he followed Alex down the entry ladder. Jim had barely been in the Corps for two months now. He was only 21 and fresh out of training, and the live ammunition exploding and erupting around him was not controlled or imaginary. His home was under siege, and he was still nervous as he shouldered his rifle with wavering hands to take his shots. Both he and Alex hit the ground early, skipping the last three rungs of the ladder, and let out into a sprint. More explosions. LAAG fire. Jim reeled at the sight of his Sergeant laying dead near a fresh crater, his body in more pieces than he wanted to count. Alex plugged on, his assault rifle at ready. Suddenly a Shadow burst through the fortified entrance of the city, just twenty yards from Jim and Alex, and opened fire on another group of retreating marines. The soldiers let out feeble, suppressed cries as the plasma seared their skin, burning deep into their bodies. One daring soldier popped out of the coverage of a mortared building and greeted the Covenant transport with a Jackhammer missile through the hover engine, erupting it into a flaming piece of slag metal, it's occupants' screams not heard over the explosion. Jim fell to his knees, being overwhelmed by the violence around him and mumbled a prayer underneath his breath as he looked at the blood stained street beneath his knees. Alex picked him up to his feet and set him running again.
"Get a hold of yourself Jim. We need to move."
"I can't take it Alex, I can't do it..."
An explosion cut the two short as Banshees screamed into view and a Pelican erupted into flames mid take off, it's remains crashing to the ground in flames, surely killing the civilians waiting below for the next take off as well as all the occupants. More screams as an explosion ripped the launch pad it had just taken off of into pieces. Havoc erupted onto the comm link as a frantic call for Longsword escorts went out from all the transport pilots.
"Oh Jesus..." All Jim could think of in that brief moment was his wife and child, among the civilian population awaiting evac. Had they been on that Pelican? Had they been on the launch pad? "Please God..."
"Come on Jim, over there! An evac!"
A Pelican had landed at a launch pad only thirty feet away as civilians and marines poured into the passenger seats.
"I can't Alex! I need to find Kelly and Zack! I won't leave until they're on a carrier out of here!"
"Jim, they're probably already dead! We need to go now!" Alex grabbed Jim's arm and dragged him towards the Pelican.
"No Alex! I'm gonna find them! Go if you want, but I'm not leaving!"
Jim pushed himself away from Alex and pulled out his pistol sidearm, dropping his sniper rifle as dead weight. Alex looked at his training buddy one last time before running onto the Pelican carrier, running into it's belly without regret. Brady's last vision was of the stars overhead as the Pelican's blast doors closed on him, leaving the whole passenger section in darkness...
Veer barreled into the streets, towards the evac zone nearest his family's home in hopes they had been there before the attack. The street lights shimmered as another explosion shattered the continuous sound of gunfire and grenades into pieces. He turned in time to see the Pelican Alex has just boarded explode into shrapnel as the Banshee squadron that had just blown it up fired into the streets below, raining death down on marines and civilians alike. Veer blinked his eyes as sweat broke out onto his brow, the flames of the destroyed Pelican still flickering in his eyes. Alex... He needed to find his wife, and soon. People ran screaming past him as he ran towards his home to see it in flames, suffering a direct mortar shot. Bodies lay in the street, obviously caught off guard by the attack. Hadn't they heard the sirens? Maybe his wife hadn't even known that they were under attack... A tear streamed down Jim's face as he waded into the bodies. So much destruction... so much death... Kelly's body wasn't here, and neither was his son's. Thank God she wasn't here among the dead. But how many other lives were laying there snuffed out in the street by a single blast? Veer let another prayer for his wife and child's safety slip through his lips as he ran to the Pelican loading zone. Warthog's drove away from the pad, lift off about to occur as the mass of humanity around the launching Pelican cried in terror as their only hope flew away from the doomed colony. Kelly... she was there, nearest to the closing blast doors, bashing the metal with her free hand as she cradled their infant son with the other. LAAG fire erupted as the Warthogs that had just left from the loading zone formed a solid barricade in the narrow street Jim had just ran down, firing upon the Covenant who had broken through the lines. Grunts and Jackals let out death dries as the machine gunners mowed them down. Kelly turned to look at the gun shots and screams that seemed so dangerously close to see her husband pushing through the panicked crowds to get to her.
"Jim!!!"
"Kelly!!!" Jim embraced his wife and child to his chest in desperation and let out a cry of relief. He whispered into his wife's ear as the other's around him ran from the pad in fear.
"I'm so glad your alive. The Covenant, they came so quickly..."
"I know, I ran out of the housing complex as soon as I heard gunfire." Kelly teared up as she looked into her husbands eyes. "Something hit the complex as we were leaving and the debris..." she looked at the baby in her arms, it's body limp and crushed. "Zack..."
Jim looked at his dead son as his grieving wife wept in anguish. What had he done to deserve this? Was there some unspeakable crime against God he had committed to deserve such punishment?
"Kelly," Jim fought back his tears. "we need to leave."
The fire from the Warthogs had stopped and the patrol had moved on, fresh Covenant bodies laying on the concrete the only thing near life in view. People had abandoned the street in search of alternative salvation. Plasma explosions were rampant as the Wraiths advanced on the city. Kelly collapsed to the street as she wept over her dead child as Jim's radio told him that a final Pelican evac was touching down in the city's square.
"I'm so scared Jim."
Jim picked his wife and dead son up into his arms and cradled them close, his pistol still in hand. Kelly's dirtied brown hair fluttered in the wind as he looked into her blue eyes with strength, explosions ripping around them and Banshee screams coming from over head.
"We can make it. I'm here now. There's a military transport leaving a short way from here picking up the last survivors. We can make it."
Jim kissed his wife gently to reassure her and ran towards their hope, his broken family in tow. Darting down side streets full of debris and bodies, Jim found himself in the city square, a line of marines firing at the advancing Covenant, this being the last drop point held in the city. The chain gun fire from the sandbank explacements was near deafening as it cut down the advancing line of Jackals, cutting deep into the Grunts bringing up the rear of the line. Even so, the marines were outnumbered nearly 3 to 1 already and the Elites firing from behind the lines were untouched. Four Pelicans were loading up the surviving civilians and military personnel and a fifth was just landing. A Shadow barreled into the square unloading it's Elite passengers well past the front lines of the battle as the gunner in the back ripped into the declining marine lines and emplacements.
"Listen to me sweetie." Jim put his wife to the ground and readied his pistol, taking cover in the side street they had just run down and the wall of a nearby building.
"Run for that transport over there, the one just landing. I need you to run as fast as you can, alright? I'm going to distract those Covies from shooting at you while you're in the open. Do you understand?"
Kelly looked to her husband's face with fear and peered into the erupting gunfire in the square. The four Pelicans were lifting off, their bellies full of fleeing men and women and the fifth was touching down to the receive the final fighting squadron, who was faltering fast from the constant Covenant barrage. A few marines left their chain gun posts and ran towards the transport, firing into opposition as they went. A few made it but the majority fell to the plasma hissing though out the air. Kelly looked back into her husband's courageous face and nodded. They embraced and kissed once more before they ran into the open, Jim leading the way firing off into the Covenant Elite strike team attacking the marines as Kelly made a dash for the Pelican, her dead child in arm. Jim charged at the Elites, his only concern for his wife's safety. The alien nearest Jim rolled onto the ground dodging the soldier's pistol fire, turning his attention away from the other marines onto the kamikaze sniper charging towards him. The Elite fired his rifle off into Jim's side, burning a neat hole into his armor and piercing down into the skin. Jim went to yell out but bit his tongue as he dropped to the ground on one knee. Pointing his pistol into the black Elite's eyes, Jim fired off three rapid shots through the beasts shielding and into his face, killing him almost instantly. More Covenant transports funneled into the square, more Elites jumping off into the fray as the remaining marines around Jim made a final dash for the Pelican. Veer looked towards the transport to see his wife climbing aboard and pulled himself up to his feet giving out his last energy reserves to sprint to the transport. Plasma hissed and sizzled through the air by his ear, the smell of it burning the atmosphere around him bringing fear into his heart. He was certainly going to die here, every nerve in his body screamed out at him as if it had already happened. Sure enough, he felt the strong impact of a plasma rifle striking against his back and was brought to his knees one last time by a pursuing Elite. He turned his face to his attacker and was greeted by a claw strike across his neck. The crippled marine cried out in terror and slammed into the ground with a thud, the Elite cackling at the fallen man. The sound of an assault rife unloading a full clip into the alien droned out the hideous laughter as the Elite dropped dead over Jim's own body, his purple blood pouring out over Jim's shaking body, mingling in that brief moment with blood spilled on the ground from Jim's own wounds. A single marine pulled Jim's body from underneath the alien zealot's and shouldered him onto the transport, firing with his side arm as he ran onto the ship.
"Let's get out of here pilot!"
The marine yelled into his comm as he as he slammed the blast doors shut behind him, putting Jim down into the closest seat with his other arm.
"This is Corporal Max Meldon of Fire Team Tango! Drop point Delta Zebra is clear! We are out of here!"
Kelly ran to the semi-conscious Jim, helping him into a chair and strapping him in for the take off before seating herself next to him. Plasma beams impacted the door as the remaining members of Fire Team Tango sighed in relief as the Pelican precariously took off and quickly accelerated. Jim looked up to Kelly from his seat, her face fading into a dreamy haze as the explosions and gunfire of the battle dimmed into non existence...
Jim sat up in his bunk with a start, his internal clock waking him at 04:00. Cold sweat drenched his fatigues as he wiped his face, fingering habitually at the scar over his neck... Not just a mere nightmare, but the torments of the past brought back to life to haunt the man in his sleep. If only his life had been a dream, just one long horrible nightmare...
Force 81 Part VI: Plasma and Chevrons
Date: 20 January 2003, 6:08 pm
(Note to readers: I threw some Halo conspiracy theory into this one to keep it a little entertaining. Hope you enjoy.
~Noble)
THE BARRACKS was completely enclosed; no windows and no natural light sources. The only light came from the long fixture on the ceiling, which stretched down the entire length of the 12 bunk barracks. At the moment, the main light was off, wake up call still some 2 hours away. The light Jim had this early was the comp console, which some marine must have left on from the evening before. Jim got up out of his bunk and stretched his arms and legs, rubbing the battle scar on his neck. The nightmares had been getting worse lately. Jim had for so long wanted to forget the things of the past, but every sleeping hour was spent in fitful night terrors, tormenting him endlessly. Maybe that's why he had become such an insomniac. That and long hours sitting in the dark alone with nothing but his rifle to keep him company when he was on duty probably helped in that. Looking out into the dimly lit barracks, hearing the snores of his fellow officers (who must have hit the sack much later than he since no one was inside yet when he went to bed), Jim flexed his sleepy arms out one more time before he started grabbing his stuff to take a shower. With a start, he realized that someone was using the comp. He took notice of the light erratically flickering on the wall, wondering who in their right mind would be using a console this early in the morning. Not many people woke up before he did, especially after an all night equipment stocking detail. Looking towards the console, Jim could barely make out the form of Lt. Adams typing away at the comp, very involved into whatever he was doing. Veer walked up to Adams and managed, even in such a drowsy early morning state, to walk practically in on top of the fellow officer without the other man noticing. Jim peered over the lieutenant's shoulder to see Covenant weapon diagrams opened up all over the screen. Measurements, firing and overheating rates, special capabilities, all were listed in great detail and number on the flat screen, Adams apparently lost in analysis of the strange weaponry.
"What are you up to there Drake?" asked Jim, rubbing his eyes from the harsh light. The lieutenant nearly jumped out his skin as he turned to face the waking sniper. He breathed a deep sigh of relief on seeing that it was just Veer who had crept up so easily on him and not a Covenant assassin of some sort.
"Holy crap Jim! Don't scare me like that man. I'm jumpy enough as is." Drake ran his hands through his dirty blonde hair and rubbed his crystal blue eyes, which were considerably droopy considering the time of morning. A cup of coffee sat at the comp's desk top area, long ago gone cold. Data disks laid spread out all over the work area with labels such as "Plasma Field Testing", "Plasma Chamber Analysis", "Needler Diagrams". Drake was obviously very up to date on the currently declassified Covenant weapon analysis from ONI. Jim was kind of surprised that stuff like that was even in Drake's possession.
"How in the world did you get a hold of all that stuff Adams?" In that brief moment, Jim thought it may have been possible that he was still dreaming as he held onto his shower toiletries under one arm and his fresh fatigues under the other in a separate bundle. It had been awhile since he was able to really clean himself up before running off onto the next assignment somewhere, which usually involved Veer's sitting in some cold, forlorn, and dirty sniper roost from anyone to hours to days. To say the least, he was quite the mess as Cnl. Howard had been so keen to tactfully point out when he mentioned something about Jim's hair the day before. But Jim's hair was probably the least rugged of his features, his grainy stubble greying his whole face, practically a beard now. Drake stood in full uniform, cleaned and ready for the day's duties already, looking onto the rather grimy Veer in receding fear. An observer would have deemed the early morning scene quite humorous.
"Friends in high places Jim." Drake cracked a weak grin as he turned once again to the console and pulled out the current data disk and slotted in another one labeled "Recorder Field Footage" as he sipped at his coffee, puckering up as he suddenly realized how long it had been sitting there, forgotten and neglected.
"I like to keep up on anything ONI releases to us common soldiers as soon as it comes out."
Battle footage played out on the screen, Marines charging a beach head as bunkered Covenant returned fire with a hail of plasma. The silent footage was stopped at one point as Drake zoomed in on a firing plasma rifle at a side view, showing particles around the firing zone lighting up and fizzling down as energy bolts formed between the two contact points of the rifle.
"I find the enemies weapons much more intriguing than our own. They're more powerful, energy based, and very different in structure than anything our engineers would have designed."
"Do you think this is enlightening to me Drake? You're stating facts I already know from experience." Jim stared blankly at the console's screen, wondering how in the world anyone could have such an interest in something like plasma burn damage and firing rate on the enemy's weapons.
"Think about it Jim. Why did we develop armor piercing weaponry over energy shield burning munition in our times?"
Jim looked at the lieutenant like he was a radiation mutated grunt/elite hybrid as he replied with a rather sarcastic tone. "I guess because we never developed energy shielding, we just made better alloy armor, so it would have been foolish to design energy weapons that couldn'Äòt pierce heavy armor."
"And why did we keep developing better armor plating Veer?" Drake was immersed in his thoughts as he stared into the screen with a strange intensity. Jim was still missing the point, maybe because of the hour of morning or maybe because of Adams erratic behavior. It was probably a mixture of the two.
"Because we kept developing better ammo I guess..." replied Jim, still lost as the conversation continued to develop..
"So why do you think the Covenant developed such weaponry?" Drake had zoomed in on a marine being pumped full of needler ammunition as he analyzed the slow motion purple explosions that ripped the man apart as the velocity and explosion interval rate numbers appeared on screen. Jim cringed at the sight of the grisly death, but Adams seemed only interested in the tatical data appearing on screen, not the brutal loss of life being played out in front of him. Jim thought of a logical reply as the early morning haze started to wash away from his mind.
"Maybe because they were developing energy shielding to counteract more primitive ballistics."
"Or was it because they were facing enemies who had already developed energy shieldings and had to find a way to circumvent the shields to cause real damage?" Drake closed the battle scene as he scribbled some notes down on a notebook laid out before him and quickly turned to face Jim eye to eye. "Do you know Jim that the most recent SPARTAN models, the ones based out of Reach, had been outfitted with a low end energy field fitted into their battle armor? We stole the tech for the shields off of recovered Covenant equip." Jim was almost seeing Drake's point, but was still having trouble grasping at the main idea. "Jim, I've been thinking that the Covenant did the same thing long ago when they ran into an enemy that they could not defeat. An enemy that had advanced energy shielding and plasma weaponry." Drake seemed to glaze over as his mind ran through numbers and tactical information stored away in his brain. "They stole the tech of their enemy to eventually overcome them and establish themselves over their foe. I feel that in order for us to win the war our only hope is plasma energy and Covenant tech." Adams turned once again to the console and flipped in another disk, a diagram of a plasma pistol instantly lighting up the screen. "The only possible way we can expect to beat the Covenant down and reestablish the human race is to dissect and analyze their equip and weapons to the max and learn how to utilize the information we gather in ways we have never dreamed. And in ways the Covenant had never imagined." Jim stood still with all his stuff for his shower still under his arms, his jaw nearly dropped at Drake's ramblings.
"Drake, how long have you been at that console?"
"Since 01:00, right after I got out of the shower."
Jim shook his head and stared at the lieutenant's back, bewildered at Adams' obsessive behavior. No wonder Drake was such a good hack at the Covenant battlenet. He must do this every time ONI released something new on Covenant tech research. Veer was once again very pleased that all he had a talent for was the rifle. Thoughts like Drake's would have drove him mad by now. Suddenly, Jim's mind lit up with a very interesting idea. What if he put Drake in a command position on Ghost Force? He could train up the company on current plasma weapon usage and techniques, allowing Ghost Force to not only utilize all of the current human tech but also all of the Covenant weaponry that were laying in the dusty researching housings at Beta Base and all over Shunt III.
"Hey Drake, I got something I want to talk to you about later. Right now, I want to hit the showers, but I'll catch up with you later, alright? It's kinda important, so keep a look out for me while on duty."
"No problem captain." Drake responded, half immerged into his world of numbers and blueprints and half in reality. Jim turned, looking at the clock as he passed by his bunk. 05:34. He had been talking to Drake that long already? Hmph.
"No problem captain." Drake's parting phrase echoed as Jim realized it's irony. No one even knew Jim had been promoted to colonel yet. What a hoot. As much as Jim hated rank, as soon as he got promoted he didn't even make a big deal about it with all the other soldiers. It was life as usual for Jim as he walked to the showers, traversing the low lit halls of Beta's barracks. His first real day as a colonel and all Veer could think of was cleaning him self up before jumping back into the fray. Jim still had a lot of things on his mind that wouldn't have entered his mind if the circumstances were "normal" though. He needed to hammer out so many details still, like how many squads, how many men in the commando squad, who to pick for the commando squad, what arms to pass out for field training, what to train in field training... Jim reached the showers and dumped his stuff in a corner of the room, pulling out every thing he would need to start the day. The shower Jim took would had to have been the longest in his military career, in part because there was no line of cranky marines to get in afterwards, in part because there was no pressing mission launch time to run off onto, but mostly because Jim had so much to think through before he even started to put together the most strategic team of marines the battle for Shunt necessitated.
Veer stepped out his shower at 06:10, just in time to avoid the usual shower rush during the morning wake up call. While the other marines came into the shower room in a rather gloomy demeanor, not knowing if this morning was to be their last, Veer stood over one of the washbasins in an almost absurd state of peace, his razor buzzing ever so casually over his stubbled face. Everything had been figured out. Now the trick was getting it all together...
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