Neverland: A New Mission
Posted By: SOS.Odin<kavika86@yahoo.com>
Date: 20 May 2004, 1:09 AM
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John turned to Kelly and asked, "What is this place?"
"This is the strongest Human city here. The HQ of all operations. Capitol of Human controlled land. This is Sparta."
John, strapped on the standard issue UNSC Marine ballistics armor that was given to him. The Office of Neverland Intelligence, ONI, told him that shipments of clothing, food, weapons, and sometimes vehicles just appeared every once in a while. He didn't care where it came from, he was just glad to have it.
He left his tent and took in the scenery. He stood at the edge of a row of tents. Rows upon rows of tents were neatly stretched throughout an open field. This was the makeshift barracks of the 1st Neverland Expeditionary Force. One thousand Marines were assigned to the 1st NEF, ten Scorpion MBTs, and a fleet of 30 Warthogs .John was just recently assigned to command Dog Company.
Cpl. Brian Souder approached and saluted. John returned the salute and motioned for the Marine to follow him. "What's the status of Staten and James?"
"Dead sir." Brian had checked on the two just that morning.
John lowered and shook his head. He approached the 1st NEF HQ and motioned for Cpl. Souder to wait back at the tents. John approached the door and the guard saluted, opened the door, and went back to the position of attention.
John's eyes quickly adjusted to the room. It was dark and musky in the room. Ten men chatted, read maps, and wrote down various notes. This was the usual sight right before an operation. Lt. General Lejeune noticed John and motioned him to wait.
John waited patiently for five more minutes. He was getting aggravated and prepared to talk when a Marine burst into the tent. The Marine's clothes were tattered and he was covered in dirt and blood, blue and red.
The Marine dropped to the ground and struggled to get back up. John helped the man up and sat him against a nearby crate. Moments later, the two guards and a medic entered the tent and tended to him.
General Lejeune approached the man and recognized him instantly. "Sgt. Kesinger. What happened?"
"We were...ambushed...before we...got to the temple." The man was barely able to sit up. "Knights and Elites...had to fall back."
Gen. Lejeune nodded and placed his hand on the Marine's shoulder. "Rest easy, where's the rest of your platoon?"
Kesinger sat erect, wide eyed, and tears began to form. "Sir, I have no more platoon."
Gen. Lejeune stood and stepped back. Forty Marines, lost. Gen. Lejeune ordered the Sgt. to follow the medic to the hospital. He sat back down and dwelled on the events. That platoon of Marines was supposed to recon a possible site with answers to questions about Neverland.
At that moment he noticed John still standing near the entrance. "Master Chief Petty Officer, come here." John walked to him and stood at the POA. "That man was on another ONI mission. ONI is trying to find out where the hell we are and what the hell we're doing here. This mission is quit important. It is now apparent that the Covenant are in the area, and that means there's something important there. I need you to take your company and take that temple. If you request it, Charlie Company will assist you. You will be in complete command of how this mission goes down."
"Yes sir, Dog Company should be enough to take the temple. I do however request the assistance of a few fellow Spartans, sir."
"I'll see what I can do. Good luck Master Chief. Check in with ONI HQ for the details." Gen. Lejeune stood and saluted John.
John returned the salute, tuned on his heel and exited the tent. Outside, Cpl. Souder was waiting. John waved him to follow. "Tell the Platoon Leaders to meet me at my tent. We have a mission."
John sat with four of his Platoon Leaders and his Company First Sergeant. They studied recon information, map layouts, and went over the battle plan. John's request had been granted, Kelly, Fred, and Will were going with him. A Spartan was to follow each platoon.
"Get your men some sleep. We leave tonight at 2200." John stood and saluted the men that were soon to follow him into battle.
John walked slowly through the brush. Trees covered the land, John was starting to get real tired of trees. His MA5B assault rifle was leveled and ready to open on anything inhuman. Behind him, scattered half a mile across, were 175 battle hardened Marines.
A mile from where the temple was supposed to be, John came upon an opening. Not a natural opening. The trees were splintered, burnt, or just plain uprooted. Bodies lay strewn across the ground. Most of the bodies wore grey. A Knight lay alone surrounded by Marine corpses. A dozen Elites scattered the area.
John hit him comm. mic and opened channels to Platoon Leaders and Spartans. "2nd, 3rd, and 4th platoons halt and set up a perimeter around 1st platoons position. 1st platoon, police these bodies, collect dog tags and set a nav point for BC."
John dragged two bodies to the edge of the opening and collected their dog tags, Pvt. Lewis and Pvt. Thompson. He pocketed the tags and searched for another body. He just spotted one close by and was walking toward it when the staccato of rifle fire resounded through the trees.
Will came over John's comm. system, "Third platoon under attack. Knights, Brutes, Elites. Need back up."
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