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The Battle for America pt 1
Posted By: karrgflght<tomk2010@yahoo.com>
Date: 12 April 2007, 11:31 am


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October 20, 2552
Location: Sparta Station, in orbit over the United States
10 minutes till the covenant invasion of Earth.

"Accessed granted: welcome Lt. Matt, enjoy your rest," the computer gave the standard phrase, "please note, you have 20 minutes left in your break." Lt. Matt had decided to relax in his bunk and watch the local news. Nothing special had happened that day, the galactic stock market continued to plummet with the destruction of the colonies and his hometown of New York had rain in the evening forecast. He continued flipping through the 2000 channel's until he came across a broadcast only viewable to military instillations, an award ceremony taking place on the Orbital defense station Cairo orbiting over Africa. He saw the Master Chief receive his award, but he also heard Cortana's comment about whispers near Io. He was still on his break, but he decided he should relay this information to the bridge. On his way out of the room he grabbed a holo screen so he could check the information coming in from those probes Cortana mentioned.

In Armory G7, A three man Spartan team was checking their equipment. They were due to ship out to the inner colonies to help defend against the covenant. The group consisted of Spartan 08- Tyler, Spartan 32-Kathy, and Spartan 83- Donald. The three also were watching the award ceremony on their view screen and heard Cortana's concern. "I don't think will be leaving anytime soon," Tyler said. "You're probably right," said Donald, the leader of the group, "suit up."

Lt. Matt had made it to the bridge just in time to see a fleet of covenant ships exit slipspace. He saw it on his holo screen and every screen on the bridge. For a moment no one talked, the AI's were silent, and computers didn't beep. A moment later, the ability to talk returned to everyone on the bridge simultaneously, and the COM's were full of chatter. Information poured into the bridge, Matt couldn't make out all the information but he heard that 13 cruisers were entering Earth orbit. The Battle for Earth had begun.

It was a cold October night in New York. Ben was about to leave Times Square when the every screen in the big apple switched over to a news broadcast. The image of covenant ships were now plastered all over Times Square. It was the day all had feared, the Covenant had found Earth. The reporter on the screen urged all to stay calm and he informed them that the covenant were only landing in Africa. This was good news and bad news. The good news was New York was safe for the moment, but the bad news was that when you have a ship that can travel through slipspace the other side of the world isn't that far.

Word came over the PA that the covenant was going to attempt to board the Sparta and plant a bomb. This was known because just minutes ago the master chief had diffused a covenant bomb on Cairo station. This allowed the Sparta to be prepared when the covenant attempted to board them. The marines and the Spartans stationed on the Sparta were able to quickly eradicate the covenant from the station, and with the intel from the Cairo, the bomb was easily located and diffused. Tyler, Kathy, and Donald were eager to get down to America which they believed was a battleground. When they called for orders however, they were informed the covenant had only landed in Africa and to report to the pelican bay for deployment.

Ben decided to go home and gather up some of his belongings in case an evacuation was declared. The trip home was almost as dangerous as the covenant, people were running around in panic. To help maintain order and to repel the covenant when the time came, the national guard was deployed in many major cities. Ben got home about 30 minutes later and immediately turned on the news. Images of the covenant fighting in New Mombasa continued to play on the screen for a few minutes while Ben packed a suitcase. Suddenly, Ben's attention was completely focused on a blinding white light on the TV. The light bubble quickly moved toward the camera, the picture on the screen quickly went static. The TV switched back to the reporter who was stunned to tell the viewing audience that New Mombasa was gone, and in its place was a barren wasteland. He did have some good news though, the covenant ships were retreating.

The three Spartans were shocked to hear about the destruction of New Mombasa and the covenant retreat. It was that great of news to them though, they knew that the covenant would return to destroy humanity's presence on Earth.

One week later…

The week after the covenant's initial assault had been quiet. No one was sure when the covenant would return, but everybody knew they would come back to finish what they started. The National Guard remained in the cities to help clean up after the panic and to help prepare for the upcoming battle.

It was a warm October morning. Ben was just waking up when he heard a series of deafening booms coming from outside. The noise made him wide awake and he instinctively turned on the news. Reports were flooding in of a huge covenant fleet approaching Earth. This time however people were prepared. Those not willing to fight ran for the underground evacuation tunnels, those brave ran for the military camps and picked up guns. The people of Earth were ready to fight for their planet and die for it. Ben, in a moment of courage, decided to help fight the covenant.

"All hands to battle stations. The covenant has returned to Earth. This is not a drill," Matt shouted into the PA system. Matt was in charge of defense coordination on the Malta and relaying orders to troops on and above the east coast of North America. He continued to shout orders over the station's PA, "We have 15 boarding parties inbound!" He switched the COM to relay information to the fleet master, "Sir, there are 25 covenant battle cruisers coming in, the commander wants you guys on the defensive." He switched the COM again over to the ground commander; you have over 50 landing craft heading toward the strategic points across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. I'm also being informed over 300 across the rest of North America." Three status lights at his station blinked green to confirm everyone had received their transmissions. The station shook as the first wave of boarding pods latched onto the Sparta.

To be continued...





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