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Closing with the Enemy Chapter 1 Unexpected Arrival
Date: 11 November 2003, 1:03 AM

(Firebase Echo HQ, planet Jericho II, grid fifteen by twenty five, sector four, three miles north of firebase Delta, 1100 hours, 2552)
"What have you got for me?" Colonel Paul Hood asked.

"This weather front will be gone by tomorrow, so no more rain, but a heavy fog is moving our way," Corporal Harold said as he typed away at his computer station.

"Any hope for sunshine?"

"None, as soon as this rain ceases we'll still have heavy clouds and a low fog, so visibility will be zero once the fog kicks in," Harold said as he looked at a weather report.

"So much for the sniper training," Hood said as he walked over to the main window of the Control tower. The tower overlooked the long grass field that stood in front of the base. Beyond the field was the forest which stretched on for miles in all directions. Hood loved his base but hated its location.

Echo HQ was a massive base, one of the largest on any planet in the outer colonies. The base consisted of a bunch of long rectangular buildings that made up the barracks for the six hundred soldiers. The rest of the buildings were a medical center, armory, the landing pads and maintenance hangers for its fleet of Pelicans and Longsword fighters, three massive hangers that housed its armada of Warthog's and other vehicles. It also sported four guard towers at each of the perimeter's four corners, and then there was the control tower, which loomed over the other structures. It was surrounded by forest except for the front where the field was. The field was about half a mile long and two hundred yards wide. The grass was short and the Marines had dug in trenches and foxholes in the front of the base. They had also placed a spider web of Lotus mines in the front of the base as well as barrels of napalm that had been covered in dirt. The front of the base also had a bunch of steel obstacles and barriers to keep heavy artillery out of the picture if a battle was to arise; the obstacles had a bunch of bricks of Semtex and C-12 plastique that were connected to motion sensors. The base itself was surrounded by two twelve foot high twin fences that were topped with razor wire. The left side of the base had a big barrier of giant boulders and rocks with steel obstacles that protected it from Covenant who might try and bring heavy artillery into the base via an old dirt road, through the left flank. The outermost fence was electric that would kill anything that touched it, instantly. The outer perimeter had an array of motion and thermal sensor, and a bunch of thermal and night vision cameras. The right side of the base was where its main gate was. A gravel road ran three miles south to Delta. The gravel road offered no protection for a convoy of vehicles. The main road had a turn off to another gravel road that went ten miles to the main city of Pacific West. The main road also connected to another road that led to the back entrance of Echo, the entrance was rarely used and most men hated to have to pull rear security. The main road also had several dirt roads that led everywhere around the field and the base.

"Sir I'm getting something the motion tracker, it looks like it could be another Elephant that strayed from its herd," Corporal Harold said.

Hood walked over to Harold's station to see for himself. "No it's too small to be an Elephant...wait...what sector is that in?"

"Four grid fifteen," Harold said.

"Get me a picture of it from camera sixteen," Hood said.

After Harold punched in the commands a picture popped up onto the screen. It was a Ghost with a blue Elite sitting in the back. The Ghost was slowly making its way into the clearing. It disappeared out of the camera's lenses.

"What would a Ghost be doing here; there weren't any signs of Covie dropships by the last air patrol?" Harold asked.

"Hell if I know it must have slipped past our sensors. It must be a recon for a larger troop," Hood replied as he went over to the main window and pressed a pair of powerful binoculars to his eyes. He scanned the grass field for a second. "Okay this could get bad, Sam get Major Lance to send a three 'Hog patrol the kill this Covie and to do a little sweep of the area, and have the Marines on alert," Hood commanded.

Major John Lance was sitting in his bunk reading when the intercom sounded and tech Corporal Harold's voice boomed into the barracks. "Major Lance a Ghost has been sighted in grid fifteen by eighteen, Colonel Hood says to send out a three vehicle squad to neutralize the threat and to do a sweep of that area, ASAP."

"Roger that," Lance said as he pressed the transmit button on the wall, next to his bunk. He shrugged, set his book down and got up. "Jack go get Johnson and tell him to take three 'Hogs and take out that Ghost," Lance said as he collapsed into his bunk.

"Sir yes sir," Lieutenant Jack Peterson said. He got up from his bunk and walked out of the warm barracks and into the rain. Peterson half walked half ran down to Johnson's barracks, only to find out that he was in the mess hall. He acknowledged and entered the freezing rain again. He ran to the other side of the base and entered the massive mess hall. He walked down to a group of five Marine regulars, who were chowing down on some lunch.

"What is it?" a man wearing a sergeant insignia asked, looking up from his meal.

"Sergeant Johnson, a Ghost has been spotted, Major Lance says to take a three 'Hog convoy out to take it out and do a thorough sweep of that area," Peterson said, staring down at the short sergeant.

"Alright, thanks Corporal, Jeff get three Warthogs prepped up and get half our squad ready," Sergeant Michael Johnson said as he rose from his table.

"Yes sir," Corporal Jeff Wolf responded as he got to his feet and ran out of the mess.
********************************************************************
Field Master Elite Orna 'Orsamee stood in a clearing, watching as two U shaped Dropships unloaded their cargo. A contingent of Grunts, Jackals, and lower ranking Elites, piled out and formed their ranks. The Dropships left and another swooped in and unloaded a special Hunter Killer unit. 'Orsamee watched as the Hunters lumbered towards two Wraith tanks. A fourth Dropship came in and unloaded a bunch of Ghosts.

"Field Master 'Orsamee, the main troop has been deployed, the second troop is moving in towards the second more weaker human base. As requested a scouting Ghost has been sent ahead and says that the humans are not aware of our presence," second-in-command Elite Fasa 'Fasamee said, running up to 'Osamee's side.

"Very good 'Fasamee, now send out a Wraith tank with a squad of soldiers. Tell the scout Ghost to continue his scouting until the squad comes, then tell him to fall back. The squad shall attack the human base front, and tell the soldiers to await orders. I want the Banshee's on strafing runs as well," 'Orsamee commanded.

"Yes Field Master, I have one more thing to ask...with your permission Field Master?" 'Fasamee asked with a hint of fear in his voice.

"Yes but make it quick 'Fasamee."

"Yes Field Master, the Hunter Killer squads asks with full respect, to stop waiting around and go into battle now, with the first squad?" the lower ranking Elite asked.

"Their request is denied, tell the Hunter commander that he and his blood thirsty Hunters will have to wait," 'Orsamee said.

"Yes sir," 'Fasamee bowed and went towards the waiting troops.

'Orsamee shook his head and walked over to his personal Ghost. He sat in it and relaxed as the first squad of fifty Grunts, thirty Jackals, twenty six Elites, and the Wraith tank, moved into the forest, heading towards Echo base. The Covenant had settled in a small clearing that was 2.5 units (miles) from both Delta and Echo.

Sergeant Johnson bounced up and down in his seat as the three Warthogs through one of the dirt roads that led to the middle of the field, where the Ghost was. He grabbed the dash for support as the three LRVs rounded a sharp corner and race onto a straight away. Ahead was where the road ended and the field was located. As the three 'Hog's pulled into the field the Ghost was fifty yards to the right. "Shoot him!" Johnson yelled at Corporal Wolf, who manned the 'Hog's M41 LAAG.

"With pleasure!" Wolf muttered as he depressed the Chain gun's fire buttons. The three barrels started to spin and ahead of him tracers cut into the Ghost and chewed up the ground around it.

The other two Warthogs pulled up alongside and opened up. The Ghost only had a few moments; it turned to face the three ORVs and managed to get off four bolts of plasma which splashed into the forest, when it erupted into a ball of flame.

"Good shooting Marines, now lets do a quick sweep of the area, their might be more," Johnson said as he leaned back and the 'Hog sped off.

"Ah sir I'm getting a hell of a lot of activity in grid fifteen," Harold said, staring at his screen.

"What do you mean, it's probably is the convoy we sent," Hood said annoyed as he walked over to Harold's station.

"No sir I mean I'm getting a hell of a lot more activity than just three LRVs," Harold wiped away beads of sweat that ran down his forehead.

"Okay get me cams sixteen through eighteen to prove wrong your little spine tingling feeling," Hood said sarcastically as he bent down at Harold's station to see the screen.

"Sir" Harold said as he typed in a few commands. Three pictures popped up onto the screen. The sight made both Harold's and Hood's eyes widen.

A Wraith tank moved from one camera picture to the next then disappeared, out of view. It was followed by a bunch of Grunts, Jackals, and Elites. They all walked towards the field through a path in the forest created by the Wraith.

"Holy shit!" Harold whispered.

"Get the Marines on full alert and ready for action, get vehicles prepped for action, I want the tanks out immediately. Call Delta and warn them of a possible attack," Hood calmly said as he leaned up and went over to the main window, which faced the field. He took the binoculars into his hands and brought them to his eyes.

Major Lance was leisurely reading in his bunk when intercom hissed with static. "Damn it what now?" he set his book down and sat up.

"Attention all base personnel a deployment of Covenant have been spotted in grid fifteen. All personnel to full alert, prepare for combat, perimeter guards are to do a full sweep of base perimeter and shoot anything that doesn't resemble a human, get ready," Harold's voice boomed over the loud speaker.

"Well this just got better," Lance said as he hopped out of his bunk and ordered the Marines to the armory.

"Harold contact whoever is in those three Warthogs and tell them to get the hell back to base," Hood said.
"Yes sir" Harold said as he switched to a com channel to radio the Warthog's.

As Johnson's 'Hog made another sweep of the field, a burst of static filled his com link. "What the hell now?" Johnson muttered as he adjusted his lip mike with one hand and his hood to protect it from the constant downpour of the rain.

"Attention three vehicle convoy turn back now enemy's spotted at your location," the voice said.

"This is Sergeant Johnson who's this over?" he asked.

"Corporal Harold base control, turn your vehicle back now, enemies have been spotted at your location, over," Harold's voice said through the other line.

"What do you mean, where is the enemy at I don't see any, there's only one Ghost?" Johnson asked confused.

"Dammit turn...back...the...Covenant are//***//" Harold's voice was replaced with static.

"What the hell is going on?" he asked.

"Hell if I know-" Wolf was cut off by Johnson.

"Shut up do you here that?" Johnson poked an ear out of his hood. He had heard a faint, low humming sound from far off. The constant pattering of the rain played hell with his hearing but the humming was very distinct.

"Hear what I don't hear any..." Wolf's voice trailed off as he heard the humming sound.

The sound was more distinct and closer this time. It grew louder and louder until it filled their ears. It was close, too close for Johnson. Johnson looked around until he saw trees shaking then falling over to his left. The trees in the forest were falling with a loud crack and the hum was closer.

"Get us the hell out of here now," Johnson said to the driver as he watched the trees fall into the field.

The three Warthog's that had been pulled along side each other, began to move towards the base. When the area about two hundred yards away where the trees had been shaking and falling, the last few trees fell and a Wraith came out of the forest and into the field. It was closely followed by a troop of Covenant.

"Oh shit!" Wolf screamed and whirled the turret around. He opened up as well did the other gunners, onto the Wraith. He watched as the tracers pinged off the tank's thick armor. Suddenly a bright light illuminated from the middle of the tank and a bright blue ball of plasma shot out, racing for them. Wolf shielded his face with his arms as the giant plasma ball smacked into the ground, right behind the three 'Hogs. As the ball exploded the heat blast smacked into Wolf causing him to fall back onto Johnson and the driver.

"Shit!" Johnson screamed as the blast lifted the Warthog's back end up. He grabbed on to the dash as it slammed down. The driver lost control of the 'Hog and he swerved out. The Warthog flipped over onto its side and Johnson, Wolf, and the driver were thrown from it.

Johnson lay in the mud for a second, his vision was blurred and he slowly started to get to his feet. He felt a pair of strong hands lift him. "Shit," Johnson mumbled as he got to his feet and shook his head.

"You okay sarge?" Wolf asked as he released his grip on Johnson's shoulders.

"Yah fine, but how are we gonna get back to base with this?" Johnson asked, pointing to the Warthog which lay on its side.

"Hell if-" Wolf barely said, when suddenly the Wraith smashed into the flipped 'Hog and Johnson grabbed Wolf and both flung to the ground. The Wraith, with little effort, pushed the Warthog to the side and hovered over the two Marines.

Johnson didn't move a muscle as the massive alien tank lumbered over them. He tried to breath but the force of pressure was so intense that he couldn't move his chest. His sergeant cap flew off and his body was being pushed into the ground. Johnson managed to close his eyes and wish that the pain would end; the pressure kept pressing and pressing into him. Then it was over, the tank hovered on past as if nothing had happened.
"Jesus...can you believe that just happened?" Johnson screamed. He was dazed for a second, his mind wandering, when a plasma orb shot past, bringing him back to reality.

"Dammit Covies," Wolf said as he got to his feet. He got to his feet and drew his MA5B, which had been slung around his shoulder. He took a knee and opened up on a cluster of Jackals and Grunts, who were engaging the survivors from the other Warthog, who were fifty yards ahead.

"Where the hell's Fisher?" Johnson yelled over the gunfire, referring to the driver Fisher.

"Right here sir," PVT. Fisher yelled back. Apparently Fisher had ditched the Warthog as it flipped over. He had stayed in the exact spot where he had landed until the tank had passed.

Johnson nodded to him and he ran over to the flip 'Hog and opened the weapons locker. He pulled out an MA5B and threw it to Fisher. He grabbed another one and five clips of ammo and pocketed six grenades.

The three Marines all took knees and opened fire on the cluster of Covenant, whom now had directed their attention to them. As Johnson opened fire on a bunch of Grunts he saw one with a giant Fuel Rod gun in hand. The rounds confused the Grunts, as they tripped on the fallen ones and got chewed up with bullets. The spec ops Grunt who carried the Fuel Rod gun was hit the chest and managed to depress the firing mechanism.

Johnson saw the bright green ball of burning plasma race for him. He jumped to the side of his previously occupied location and the plasma lost its propulsion and landed next to Johnson, in a brilliant green flash. Wolf ducked and remembered seeing Johnson disappear in the flash.

To Be Continued...

Closing with the Enemy Chapter 2 Covenant Attack
Date: 17 November 2003, 10:55 PM

(Firebase Echo HQ, Planet Jericho II, grid fifteen by twenty five, sector four, three miles north of Firebase Delta, 1106 hours, 2552, Sergeant Johnson 6th battalion eighth regiment Baker company, fire team Sierra)
Wolf watched as Johnson disappeared in the flash. He ducked as a heat wave washed over him and his back blistered. He looked up but stayed sprawled on the ground as plasma shot past, the Covenant were advancing. He could see that Johnson lay not five yards from the initial blast and ten from the Warthog. The body armor on his back was blackened but not boiled and the boot on his left foot was melted and laden with blood. He was unmoving and Wolf feared he was dead.

"Sarge?" Wolf yelled over the pop of Fisher's gunfire and the loud patter of rain.

"Wolf take cover!" Fisher yelled as he reloaded.

Wolf crawled across the grass to the safety of behind the Warthog. He sat up and quickly ejected his spent clip. After slamming in a fresh one he looked at Fisher and said, "I'm going to get Johnson he might be alive, lay down some cover fire."

"Alright go!" Fisher yelled as he opened up on a group of fifteen Jackals who were packed tightly together.

Wolf leaped out form behind the 'Hog and ran over to Johnson who was laying ten yards away. Wolf slipped in the mud and fell face first. He put his arm over his head as plasma shot over him. He slowly crawled...stopped and fired...then crawled until he reached the unmoving Johnson. "Sarge hey sarge?" he yelled but no answer. Wolf shook him and then flipped him onto his back.

Johnson's face was covered with mud and grass as well as his body armor. His Sarges cap was off and mud covered his thick mat of black hair. The mud was laced with traces of blood around his mouth and nose and his eyes were shut.

Wolf checked for a pulse in his neck. There was one...faint but there. "Hey you okay Sarge?"

Johnson suddenly awoke. He heard a faint "you okay". His ears were ringing and his head ached. He opened his eyes only to close them again from the rain. He was tired too tired to move. Something grabbed onto his arm and was dragging him. Then he felt the pain in his leg and arm. Then he was tired and a black void took a hold of him.

Wolf slowly crawled back with Johnson behind him, to the safety of the flipped Warthog. He set him up against the Warthog and joined Fisher in fighting. The enemy had amassed now and was closing on them quick. Wolf could tell there were easily a hundred or so. The Grunts would charge and be mowed down by the tracers. Three Jackals and two Elites charged forward, their plasma weapons glowing. Wolf knew they wouldn't have enough bullets. He quickly dropped his MA5B and pulled out a Fragmentation grenade. He pulled the pin and lobbed it fifty feet in front of them. "Down!" he screamed as the grenade detonated and the blast caught the back of the approaching Covenant. They disappeared in a fireball.

Fisher got up and saw that the rest of the seventy or so Covenant were charging them. There was no way they could hold them off with MA5Bs. There were Elites who took an entire clip to bring down, and Jackals whom you had to flank, and the Grunts would charge and charge until they were all dead. "Down get down we can't fight them all!" Fisher yelled as he pretended to get hit and fell to the ground hit.

Wolf saw this and did the same, flailing his arms in the air and dropping his MA5B. Wolf stayed down playing dead. He didn't have to fear for Johnson since he was bloody and looked dead. He could hear the foot steps of Grunts and Jackals. One Grunt ran over to him and kicked him in the side then it pried off his helmet and took two clips for his MA5B, then ran off onto Echo base. Wolf laid there, his eyes open and his chest unmoving. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity he looked up to see that the first wave had passed and they were 200 yards ahead attacking Echo base. "Its okay we're fine now," he told Fisher. He turned around to the spot where the Wraith mortar tank had lumbered through to see even more Covenant troops pouring out into the clearing.

(Major John Lance, Baker company commander, 6th battalion)
Major Lance ran out of the armory with his MA5B in hand, to see men running towards the front of the base. A siren blared overhead and Harold's voice boomed throughout the base via speakers. "Covenant mortar tank sighted at the field all available personnel prepare for attack, rocket teams A through F, report to Lieutenant Waters for further orders. Major Lance report to central control ASAP all base personnel await further instructions."

"Shit, Lieutenant Olsen your acting company commander while I'm gone, relay the troops to the front, we can be expecting more enemy," Lance said as he turned to his second in command, Lieutenant Will Olsen.

"Sir yes sir," the tall, muscular lieutenant saluted and went off to rally the troops.

Lance nodded and as he was turning around to go to the command center, a bright blue ball flew overhead and smacked into the rectangular armory, behind him. Lance ducked as the massive orb of energy exploded and a heat blast smashed into him. "SHIT!" he yelled as the ammunition in the armory ignited and the armory exploded into a massive fireball and was followed by several other explosions. He hit the ground and another wave of heat blasted into him. It passed and scrambled to his feet. He turned around to the armory's main entrance which was now a blazing inferno, to see men running out on fire. Several fell to the ground screaming, steam rose from their backs as the heavy rain put them out. Lance got and ran to command.
(Colonel Paul Hood, Firebase Echo commander, 6th battalion commander)
"Tell those rocket jocks that they did a bloody good job," Hood said as he stood and watched from the min view window, as a dozen rockets streaked into the Wraith and it erupted into a bright yellow ball.

As Harold was carrying out the orders, Hood spun around to the sight of the tall Major Lance who entered the command center. His smooth face had been blackened by the armory explosion. The front part of his steel reinforced titanium armor was spattered with mud.

"Sir Major Lance reporting as ordered sir!" Lance snapped a quick salute and stood at attention.

"At ease John, we got a lot to cover; it looks like the enemy caught us with our pants down," Hood said, returning the salute.

"Yes sir they sure did, why would they want to attack a remote planet like Jericho II in the outer colonies and especially a remote city like Pacific heights and this base?" Lance asked.

"Hell if I know but we just lost an armory. I wan you to send out two Companies to meet any more Covies, at the front. That Wraith came out from the trees so they must have a little highway set up. I need you and this force to load up and make sure that any more enemies get to the base perimeter."

"Uh sir what do you mean by any more?" Lance asked confused.

"Look for yourself," Hood pointed out the front window that overlooked the field. Lance walked up and saw at least a hundred Covenant battling it out with the unsuspecting Marines.

"Get to it Marine," the short Colonel said.

"Sir yes sir," Lance said as he ran out of the command center.

(Lieutenant Will Olsen, Baker Company 2nd in command, 6th battalion, ninth regiment)
"INCOMING!" Olsen barely heard PFC Mark Gomez scream it out as a volley of plasma burned past the acting command crew of Baker Company.

Olsen hopped into the neck deep trench that was in between the two fences. He opened fire with his MA5B at the tight group of Grunts who were charging the base. Most of the stocky aliens were cut down by the shower of rounds sprayed by the guard tower's built in LAAG turrets. The thirty or so Grunts were quickly replaced by a set ten tightly grouped Jackals. Several large explosions rocked the other side of the fence as Grunts and other Covenant ran over Lotus mines and triggered the motion sensitive bricks of
C-12 and Semtex.

Olsen watched as groups of Grunts and Jackals slipped in the mud and disappeared in bright yellow flashes as they fell on Lotus mines. "Get down!" he yelled as five Elites charged up to the electric fence, firing their plasma pistols. Most of the plasma bolts dissipated when it hit the fence but a few shot through the melted parts of the fence. Two the Elites ran into the fence and they were shot back, their shields flaring. One must have landed on a Lotus mine because a fireball plumed out of the ground, engulfing them all.

"Sir Major Lance says that Baker and Alpha company's are to fall back and meet up at the vehicle hangar A, he says to leave this base perimeter to Foxtrot and Juliet Company's," PFC Raymond Macmillan, his radio operator, yelled over the escalating gunfire.

"Alright spread the word for Baker and Alpha to falling back," Olsen said to Macmillan, his radio operator (field radios are needed when there is rain and other interference).

"Attention all squad leaders in Baker and Alpha company's, tell your men to fall back and meet Major Lance at vehicle hangar A, spread the word," Macmillan said into his field radio.

"Collins lay down some cover fire then meet up at the rally point," Olsen yelled to PVT David Collins, an MA-60 gunner.

"Yes sir," Collins replied and took aim at a few approaching Covenant. He opened up with the massive anti-infantry weapon and 20 yards ahead the group of aliens was quickly cut down by the fully automatic spray of 800 rounds a minute.

The MA-60 was a highly reliable weapon that gave Marine squads enormous capabilities on the battlefield. The Marines favored the weapon for being powerful and able to take out multiple enemies in a single spray. Although it was a very reliable weapon on the battlefield it had several flaws as well. It was extremely heavy and slowed a Marine who carried it. It required a group of four men to keep it going. There was the gunner, an assistant gunner who was armed with an MA5B and was responsible for the four men's safety when on the move; there was the ammo feeder, and the ammo runner. The ammo runner and feeder were normally weighed down with ammo and were slow. The MA-60 gunner was also laden with ammo and the MA-60 it's self. The assistant gunner was always on the look out and carried the other men's main weapons which were either MA2Bs, Battle rifles, or SMGs. Each company had two 60 squads and the squads were slow and always made for a good target but were affective.

Collins stopped firing and looked ahead to see the last of the Covenant go down. "Alright Jones lets get the hell outta here," he said to his only assistant for now, PVT Fred Jones.

"Yah lets go," Jones said as he disconnected the belt of ammo from the MA and wrapped it around him. The two struggled out of the muddy trench and ran for the hangar.
(Sergeant Johnson, 6th battalion, Baker Company, fire team Sierra)
"Shit get down!" Wolf blurted as a volley of plasma knocked into the flipped Warthog. He and Fisher jumped into the mud behind the 'Hog as the plasma sprayed past.

"I'm on my last mag you?" Fisher asked as he reloaded his last clip into his MA5B.

"Ah I got about one and a half left...shit how are we going to get back to base?" Wolf asked troubled as he sat up and wiped the mud off his face.

"We're gonna have to wait it out even though base is right there, how's the Sarge?" Fisher asked.

"Umm he's doing good, unconscious but good," Wolf said.

"Good...when's this rain going to clear up?"

"It should be gone by tonight and I think fog is going to kick," Wolf said as he adjusted his coat hood.

Johnson awoke. The first thing he heard was a constant patter...then he felt it on his arms and legs. He could hear the ding of it banging against his helmet. He heard an occasional pop and voices. Then it came to him that he had been unconscious and he had been in an explosion. His eyes opened to see a blur then his vision focused. Johnson looked around at Wolf and Fisher who would stand up and shoot a quick burst, then get down behind the Warthog as plasma burned past. "What' happening?"

"Sarge you're awake," Wolf said as he dropped his gun and went to his sergeant's side.

"Yah yah I'm awake, now what happened since the blast?"

"Well Wolf dragged you over here and a large group of Covies advanced on us and we had to fake dead. After that we've been fighting back groups of 'em who just keep coming, and you okay?" Fisher said.

"Yah fine, how long was I out?"

"Ah I don't know maybe five six minutes," Wolf said.

"Figures," Johnson said looking up at the fat corporal.

"Hey reinforcements are here, maybe they'll relieve us," Fisher said pointing in the direction of the base.

Johnson looked back and sure enough at least fifteen Warthog's drove up out of the lowering fog and thick rain. The LRVs pulled up alongside them and Major Lance hopped out of one, in full rain gear; his square face had streaks of mud across it. "Good to see you sir," Johnson saluted.

"You too sergeant, your men are being relieved, that truck will take you guys back to base," Lance said, pointing to a five ton truck with a red cross on it.

"Yes sir thank you sir," Johnson managed a shaky salute, his hands were freezing.

With the help of Wolf, Johnson hopped into the flat bed of the five ton, followed by Wolf and Fisher. Johnson lay down as the medic in the truck placed a pillow under his head. Wolf and Fisher sat down on bench on the left side.

"Well what happened to you Sergeant?" Corporal Julie Becker chief medical officer of Baker Company, asked.

"I was fortunate enough to get caught in a plasma mortar," Johnson smirked as he lay back and listened to the constant patter of the rain against the five ton's tarp, the shouts of Lance as he ordered his men around, and the loud pops of MA5B fire.

"Well where do you hurt the most?"

"Umm obviously in my foot...and my back feels kind of weird," Johnson looked up in a grimace.

"No worry's I'll have you patched up in no time," Becker said, pulling out a syringe and injecting a shot of morphine.

(Field Master Orna 'Orsamee, commander of Covenant ground forces Jericho II)
'Orsamee sat in his personal Ghost, examining the holo report of his forces advancements and enemy movements. Second in command Fasa 'Fasamee stood over him.

"What will be your next move Excellency?" 'Fasamee asked.

"The enemy managed to throw back a force of 100 troops...I underestimated the interlopers," the Field Master grunted.

"A mistake caused by poor intelligence Excellency...it happens to every good leader. Besides if I may suggest the main enemy base has surprisingly fewer soldiers then their other base. If you were to through a larger troop at them then they would be weakened severely, their base defenses would be weakened and their troops tired and much more depleted of ammo, Excellency," 'Fasamee bowed, hoping that his comment would give his boss some comfort.

"For once in your pitiful life...your right, have Second Master 'Kasanee send in all his forces to the other base. For now we shall concentrate on taking over the main base, send in all awaiting troops to the attack the enemy but have the Wraith tanks of stand by, we need to push back any forces the interlopers have set up outside of our entry point to the field clearing. And tell that blood thirsty brute and his pack of savages that they will have to wait (he is referring to the blood thirsty Hunter commander).

"Yes Excellency I will do just that," 'Fasamee said as he went over to the anxious armada of 1500 Covenant who packed up half of the clearing and went far into the two mile trail. 'Fasamee walked over to the troop commander a gold Elite right under his rank. "Troop Commander 'Asanee prepare your troops their going to charge the enemy base."

"Commander when our forces cross the long field will enemy mortars and anti-troop projectile weapons be a major threat?" 'Asanee asked.

"No of course not, we expect that some of the humans have sent their forces to the front so our troops are most likely to see small arms fire as soon as they hit the field, now get to it my friend."

"Yes Commander." 'Asanee turned to his communications operator. "Inform each of company leaders that we are attacking the enemy base and to order them to move...its time for a victory."

To Be Continued...

Closing with the Enemy Chapter 3 Death on the Front
Date: 17 November 2003, 11:12 PM

(Firebase Echo, Planet Jericho II, grid fifteen by twenty five, sector four, three miles north of Firebase Delta, 1110 hours, 2552, Major John Lance, commander Baker Company)
"Alright men get settled in its going to be a long day," Major Lance said as he crouched down in the newly dug Baker/Juliet Company's command foxhole. The hole had been dug in fast and it was small and cramped.

For the past five or so minutes the force of the combined company's had pulled off an old layer of fake grass to reveal several small and large foxholes, then they put sand bags around them. The men of Echo base had dug these foxholes three weeks ago and covered them with metal plates so nothing would fall through and covered them with fake grass. Lance had two command foxholes, one for him and Olsen to command Baker, the other for Sergeant Major Chris Cove, a rugged six foot four inch giant of a man who didn't take kindly to pansy Marines who didn't take the war seriously. Cove and his second in command LT. Dan Jackson occupied the second command foxhole.

"Well Johnny old boy recon's a saw them Covies moving up, lets give 'em some hell eh!" the forty four year old Sergeant Major yelled over to Lance not ten feet away.

"Hell yah," Lance said smiling at the old Hill Billy's remark.

"Alright boy lets give it to them nice and hard," the restless Cove said as he cycled the bolt on his MA5B and aimed.

"Fire on sight," Lance said into his com link. He received acknowledgments from each of the platoon sergeants.

The Marines had placed a line of Marines and Warthogs, dug into foxholes and hiding behind sandbags, the line was about a hundred yards across and fifty yards from the opening in the forest (from the Wraith).

Cove took aim just as two Grunts popped out of the bushes. They were instantly cut down before a plasma orb could escape their weapons. "Did the Covies grow a brain and decide to go another way?" Cove asked no one in particular.

Suddenly several bushes began to rumble and Grunts and Jackals poured out of the opening and plasma poured from their ranks.

"Nope their still stupid!" Jackson blurted and opened with his MA5B.

"Figures," Cove muttered as he sprayed a group of Grunts charging the line.

Tracers cut through the air mowing down the front lines of the Grunts. The Jackals were able to hold for a few seconds longer until an endless barrage of human projectiles found their marks. The MA-60s especially did their part as their thick rounds popped into the charging enemy.

"Shit!" Lance screamed as a plasma orb flashed past his head. He ducked and felt he air crackle. The sand bags in front of them were peppered and peppered with orbs of plasma. Lance looked ahead at the opening in the forest; endless waves of Covenant kept streaming out. All around him men were getting hit.

"Fuck!" Collins screamed as plasma washed over the sand bag and molten bits flew everywhere. Collins gripped the MA-60 and opened up on the tightly packed group of Grunts who had fired on him. Ahead of him the tracers flew into the Grunts and they all fell head over heal, tripping over their dead and confusingly running around while getting shot.

Suddenly his ammo runner, PFC James Galloway was hit by one of those pink needles that Grunts shot. Galloway fell back, dropping his SMG, screaming. The needle exploded in his chest and blood sprayed out, covering the side of Collins face, the screams stopped.

"Shit medic!" Jones yelled at top of his lungs, dropping the ammo belt and crawling to the other side of the foxhole and picking up Galloway. Jones looked down at his lifeless friend, his face was pale and blood flowed from his chest in a steady stream.

Then a plasma bolt slammed into Jones back and he slumped over, falling onto Galloway. The ammo carrier PFC Buzz Trenton finished his MA2B clip and dropped the weapon. He crawled over to Jones, dropping the belts of ammo snaked around his neck.

"Dammit I need ammo!" Collins screamed at Trenton.

Trenton grabbed a belt and jammed it into the 60 and Collins opened up again, in short bursts so not to waste it all. The slightly larger foxhole for the MA-60 which barely fit four men, was crowded and the two standing men could barely move.

"Hey is Jamie dead?" Collins yelled to Trenton.

Trenton ducked from plasma and pulled Jones off Galloway. "Yah he's dead," Trenton yelled back.

"Then get him outta the foxhole, there's not enough room," Collins yelled as he fired the MA.

"I'll miss ya buddy," Trenton said as he struggled to lift the lifeless Galloway out of the hole. As soon as he dropped him his body was riddled with plasma.

"Ah I'm hit...I'm hit!" Collins screamed, clutching his shoulder, blood seeped in between his fingers.

Trenton leaned over to Collins and pried his hands off. The plasma had flash fried all the muscle and most of the blood had boiled. He could see the white shoulder bone poking out of the wound. Already blood was creeping out. Trenton pulled his pack of his back and took out a tube of self sealing bio-foam. After squeezing some into the wound he pulled out a little morphine syringe, out of a plastic bag. After biting off the protective plastic cap he poked it into Collin's arm and injected the fluid.

Medic Sam Caskey was covered with blood; he had crawled from hole to hole and patched up wounded. The challenge was keeping the wounded still and crawling with a thirty pound pack, twenty pounds of body armor, and a heavy weapon, meanwhile throwing his pack along as not to get it shot at, and shooting of an occasional burst. All around him men were screaming "MEDIC" or "Caskey we got a guy hurt bad."
He was towards the left end of the long line of foxholes. Caskey slowly crawled over to one of the four MA-60 holes. A bloody body lay outside the hole, the body was scorched with plasma, in the hole on one was firing the big gun and two guys were sitting with wounds, one looked dead and the other was breathing heavily, passed out. A fourth man whom Caskey recognized as PFC Trenton, he was exchanging fire with the charging Covenant.

"What's the situation here?" Caskey asked, dropping into the six foot deep hole.

"Jones and Collins are hit, and Galloway's dead. I patched up Collins but he went into shock. Jones is pretty screwed up too," Trenton replied then got back to firing.

The little medic turned Jones over to see his back wound. Blood flowed in a river from it and blackened muscle showed. Caskey pulled out a knife and carefully scrapped off the dead muscle off the spine and other bones. He put some antiseptic on the open wound and pouted in bio-foam. He injected a shot of morphine into the unmoving Marine. After covering the foam with gauze he remembered to check for a pulse...there was none. "Dammit!" he screamed throwing of his helmet only the put it back on as plasma shot past his head. He set it aside and went on to check on Collins.

Trenton quickly dropped his assault rifle as a needle hit it and exploded. A shower of micro shrapnel sprayed into his face. His hands flew up to his face and covered it. He fell to the bottom of the hole with a loud "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"What what is it?" Caskey demanded as he pried Trenton's hands away from his eyes. Blood was flowing down in a stream from several deep gashes that were scattered around his face. Caskey was dabbing Trenton's forehead with gauze when two plasma bolts slammed into the hole; one hit his med pack and the other into the dead Jones.

Caskey screamed and grabbed his pack to see how extensive the damage was when two needles hammered into his back and exploded. Caskey went limp and slumped into Trenton's lap.

"Oh shit," Trenton murmured. He gently set Caskey's body off his lab and looked at the carnage surrounding him. Trenton said a quick prayer, scooped up some belts of ammo and opened up with the MA-60 on the closing enemy. It would be later discovered that he had killed over a hundred Covenant around his hole (he later won the Silver Star).

Lance ejected a spent clip from his weapon and slapped a fresh one in. He knew his men couldn't hold. The enemy had kept on coming and wouldn't cease. Little did any of the Marines on the frontlines realize that it had stopped raining and the fog was setting in, making visibility zero. Lance peered in through the low fog at an approaching hoard of Elites. He killed one with the rest of his clip, dropped the weapon, and pulled the pin on a grenade. After a warning shout he ducked behind the sandbags and a bright explosion rocked the battle field followed by several others.

Suddenly a bright green blob of plasma raced past and exploded in a hole to the left, not six feet away from Lance's hole. A heat wave washed over Lance and others. The sandbags on the left side of his hole, blew into the hole; the sand inside them had turned to glass.

"What the hell was that?" Olsen screamed next to him, followed by screams.

"Damn spec ops Grunts," Lance said looking up.

Sergeant Ted Murphy stood behind a LAAG turret in the back of a Warthog, which was one of fifteen parked behind the long line of foxholes. "Whoa" he muttered as a plasma orb raced past dangerously close to his neck. The black sergeant wiped the rain drops off his mustache and opened up with the LAAG on the group of spec ops Grunts who appeared out of the fog. His whole body shook as he fired for a minute at the charging enemy. "Shit!" He screamed as plasma washed against the protective plate and one went in between them. He ducked and came to his feet only to see that the barrel was melted over. "Well that blows," he said as he hopped out of the turret and took out his MA5B and opened fire.

"Sergeant Murphy every turrets been destroyed," a Marine named Private Connor said coming up to him.

"Well then tell the gunners to take up their rifles and join me at the front," the brave Sergeant said running among the foxholes and hopping into one.

"Yes sir, come on you heard him let's go!" Connor yelled at his squad mates.

"Major you guys doing okay it don't look to good from here?" Colonel Hood's voice filled Macmillan's field radio receiver.

"Give me that," Lance said taking it from Macmillan.

"Yah Colonel things aren't looking to good," Lance replied.

"Yes it looks like you guys are getting hammered pretty well."

"That's not even half of it."

"Well I'll send in a few Pelican's to pick the wounded and finished off that wave of Covenant, our scopes show that there are nearly two thousand in a small field and in the trail that's about two miles long, that trail was made by that first Wraith."

"Sir we need to pull back, we can't keep fighting them off, and we have a hell of a lot of wounded and dead. Our ammo is low and both company's will be nothing in a short time if we don't fall back," Lance urged.

"Are...okay I'm sending in Pelican's to pick you up, we're withdrawing your force from the frontlines," Hood said with hesitation.

"Yes sir thank you sir, what's your next game plan?"

"Don't worry about that right now, just worry about you and your men, expect in under a minute, Hood out."

"Mac tell the platoon commanders that we'll be picked up soon, and as soon as the Pelican's arrive to load up the wounded and dead first then the living, but tell squads A through F to load up their dead and wounded then their living mount up on the Warthogs and drive them back to base," Lance said, throwing Macmillan the handset.

Lance sprayed bullets into the approaching Covenant. They mostly consisted of Grunts who tripped over their dead and blindly ran into jackals, knocking them over, while being caught in barrages of gunfire. Lance was on his last clip when a low hum came from overhead and a snapping sound filled the air, as several Pelican Dropships came in low and sprayed the oncoming enemy with their chain guns. They also launched their payload of rockets into the ranks of the Covenant. Bright flashes lit up the thickening fog.

Lance and Olsen got out of their hole and walked to a Warthog. Lance got into the passenger seat and looked ahead at the carnage. The foxholes that were fifty or so yards from the opening, the holes were blood splotched and the part of grass that the Covenant had amassed between the foxhole line and the forest trail was covered with dead Covenant bodies. Thousands were scattered across the fifty by one hundred yard area. Some wounded Covenant would try and crawl away or get up and hobble away but were shot. Craters from explosions were scattered among the foxholes. Lance glanced at the Pelicans that were hovering above the ground and were being loaded with men. He could see blood dripping out of the troop bay deck and into the muddy grass.

"Let's go," Lance said as Macmillan hopped into the driver's seat and turned the Warthog around.

Of the one hundred and thirty men of the combined forces of Baker and Juliet companies, ninty six died, and only twenty three were not injured.

(Field Master Orna 'Orsamee, commander of Covenant forces on Jericho II)
"Well how did it go?" 'Orsamee demanded impatiently .

"Well the humans placed frontline troops as expected and they fought our oncoming forces. All the 1500 troops were annihilated. But we inflicted heavy casualties of the humans," 'Fasamee replied shaky.

"Obviously another mistake, never attack the enemy's front, I didn't think the interlopers would be this smart we will have to think of another strategy. How is the progress of the second base?" the main gold Elite demanded again.

"They are meeting great resistance since that base has more numbers of humans than the main one, but they are slowly pushing them back."

"Well tell him to progress faster or you and he will face the Council, gather our field commanders so that we can plot a strategy and to keep the enemy from doing anything stupid at the main base, send in Banshees to harass them, we will plan for now."

"Yes Excellency," 'Fasamee bowed and went off to carry out his orders.

To Be Continued...

Closing with the Enemy Chapter 4 Covenant Advance
Date: 26 November 2003, 11:03 PM

(Firebase Echo HQ, Planet Jericho II, grid fifteen by twenty five, sector four, three miles north of Firebase Delta, 1120 hours AM, year 2552, Colonel Hood, commanding officer Echo/Delta bases, commander 1st battalion.
"Alpha squadron enemy contact in sector four zero two, get airborne and engage," Hood said, keying a button labeled Alpha squadron barracks.

"Sir negative on enemy movement, their all dead, but in sector's five and six there is a hell of a lot of activity around that little clearing that the Covies call HQ and around Delta," Harold said, looking at readouts that scrolled across his screen.

"So the only thing we have to worry about is those damn Banshees, how's Delta holding?" Hood asked.

"Their being attacked by a shit load of Covies but they managed to push them back and are fighting them off, what's the point of attacking us anyways?"

"Who knows, how many men do we have who can actually fight if this battle heats up again?" Hood asked.

"Well that fight between Major Lance's men and Sergeant Major Cove's men put us down to...four hundred and thirty men," Harold replied.

"We can hold for now, tell Lance to gather what men he has and reinforce our left flank on that dirt road, tell him to have rockets in case of a tank attack. Tell Sergeant Major Cove to gather his men and reinforce the right flank. Have Base Security to run constant patrols and tell them to watch our back. Have Juliet and Golf companies to keep our front strongly guarded. Have Base Security platoon A go and set up some more Lotus mine in the front so power down the motion sensors. And tell Delta that if they need help then just holler," Hood said.

"Yes sir," Harold jumped to it, committing the orders to his unlimited memory.

(Orna 'Orsamee, Field Master of Covenant forces for Jericho II)
"Now Field Commander Seraph I want you to take your troops and head this way to flank the interlopers base. Field Commander Ak'Kamir send your troops to the interloper's base front. We will attack them with full force...on all sides, I will not make the same mistake twice," 'Orsamee said as he pointed a laser beam at a holographic image floating above a small palm pad. The hologram showed an overhead view of Echo base.

"Yes Field Master I will get to it immediately," Field Commander Seraph bowed and left the small circle of Field Commanders, all receiving orders from 'Orsamee.

Seraph walked fifty yards to the right of the little circle of Field Commanders, over to the awaiting entourage of 1500 Covenant. "Pass the word we are moving out and are going to flank the human base. It will be a long walk but we can make before the day has come to an end," Seraph said to his second in command, a red Elite named 'Warsamee.

"Tell the unit commanders we are moving out to flank the enemy," 'Warsamee said to his com operator, who relayed the orders to the smaller unit (the equivalent of a platoon) commanders.

Three hundred moved out into the woods, on a path that would take the, directly to Echo base.

(Colonel Hood)
"Sir lots of contact!" Harold blurted, his eyes glued to his screen.

"Where?" Hood asked walking over to Harold's station.

"From the front, the left, and the right," Harold said.

"Shit we should have sent out Longsword's to do bombing runs." Hood looked at his watch, it was 1210 hours. Since then the Covenant infantry had not attacked, only their Banshees, which weren't much when up against Longsword's. Echo base had received reinforcements and additional supplies. At least 500 new soldiers had come in. Two hundred of them were ODSTs, another two hundred and fifty were Paratroopers from the UNSC's 82nd and 101st divisions. The rest were Regular Marines.

"Okay have base personnel stay where they are, tell the Paratroopers to engage the Covies attacking on the left. I want a hundred and fifty of the Helljumper's to stay put and reinforce the frontline. I want the other fifty to move to the west in the direction of the clearing that the Covies have. I want them to move up and attack it, we'll send in reinforcements for them later," Hood ordered.

"Yes sir," Harold jumped to his tasks.

(Lieutenant Wilson, Alpha company, 105th Helljumpers)
"Lt. Colonel Hood says to take fifty of our guys west towards that clearing that the Covenant have, you know the one we saw coming down," Lieutenant (1st class) Anna Orson said to her second in command.

"Yes ma'am I know the one," Lieutenant (second class) Wilson answered.

"Yah well the Major says that your to lead the charge," Orson said.

"Yes ma'am I'll assemble the troops ASAP. Feet first into hell ma'am," Wilson saluted and ran off to rally his men.

Five minutes later Wilson and fifty ODSTs ran out of the base via the main entrance and hit the bush. They ran for maybe a mile until they slowed down. Wilson had his men stick tightly together due to the thick fog that made it exceptionally hard to see in the dense forest. The fog was so thick that Wilson had the men don their thermal imaging via their eye pieces which were connected to their helmets.

"El-tee I see movement," Sergeant Eros whispered.

"We got possible movement, platoons get down," Wilson said into his com link. The fifty Helljumpers all took a knee. Wilson switched on his thermal vision and scanned the bushes ahead of him...nothing. "Alright platoon leaders tell your men to fire a three round burst at anything that looks suspicious."

All fifty Helljumpers opened fire. Wilson switched his modified MA5B assault rifle to burst and quickly popped off his three rounds. The crackle of gunfire faded and the empty stillness sound of the forest crept back into the Helljumpers ears.

Suddenly a growling sound rose above the forest noises, Covenant troops poured out of the bushes and charged the humans.

"Shit open fire!" Wilson screamed into his com link. The noise of gunfire arose. Wilson depressed the assault weapons trigger and held it. Three rounds fired then nothing. "Dammit!" Wilson screamed as an entourage of hundreds of Grunts and Jackals advanced. He ducked as plasma shot past with a loud whine.

"Damn Covies musta' been trying to sneak up on Echo base," Sergeant Eros said, just as a bright orb of plasma slammed into her chest.

"Lieutenant there's too many of them!" Lance Corporal Williams screamed.

"Keep firing!" Wilson yelled back. He kept his finger on the trigger as more and more Covenant charged. They seemed to be growing out of the thick bushes that covered the forest ground. "Everybody fall back!" Wilson yelled into his link and got up. Suddenly as he was taking cover behind a tree something hit him in the stomach. It felt like a metal bat hit him. Wilson fell to the ground, his arms wrapped around his stomach. "Helljumpers...get down...ta...take cover," Wilson croaked into his link. He looked down at his stomach. A plasma bolt had hit it but didn't penetrate his ballistic armor. The Helljumper grabbed his MA5B and reloaded.

(Field Commander Seraph)
"All units attack...don't let the interlopers leave kill them all," Seraph said into his com link. He set the link aside and pulled out his plasma pistol.

"Excellency where did these humans come from?" a Grunt named Wagaw inquired.

"They must have been trying to sneak up on the field we have. They are pretty much trying to do the same thing that we are trying to do," Seraph looked down at the head Grunt in his company.
"Oh thank you Excellency," Wagaw said.

Seraph looked ahead, although he couldn't see anything in the fog, he could here the pop of human projectile weapons and the blast of his race's plasma weaponry. Two tracers appeared out of the fog, they went past Seraph's head with a loud snap. Seraph ducked as more snapped past. Five Grunts materialized out of the fog, two were clutching bloody wounds and the other two were holding a badly wounded Grunt.

"Second in command 'Rasamee," Seraph barked.

"Yes Excellency?" Seraph's second in command, a red Elite named 'Rasamee asked.

"Tell the squad leaders that we are setting up a temporary command center right here, I want 1st and 2nd squads to maintain their attack, tell the rest to fall back for rear security in case the interlopers advance," Seraph said.

(Colonel Paul Hood)
"Colonel enemy troops advancing," Harold said, staring at his screen.

"Tell the troops to hold their position and to engage the Covies on sight," Hood commanded.

(Major Lance)
Alright here they come!" Lance said into his com link. He looked through his eye piece that was set on thermal vision to penetrate the thick sheets of fog. Visibility was now zero.

"Helljumpers when the first wave is taken out by the Lotus mines, use grenades then open fire and keep your eye pieces set for thermal," Lieutenant Herrick said into is com link.

Duck and cover!" someone screamed as the Lotus mines detonated. Their flashes pierced the fog and made it visible to the two hundred Marines and Helljumpers on the frontlines. The blasts shook the ground and threw bodies and debris in all directions.

"Open fire!" Lance yelled as his thermal eye piece filled with red signatures. Lance ducked into the chest high trench that was in between the bases twin fences that ran throughout the perimeter. Plasma splashed onto the sandbags and shot through. Most of it dissipated as hit the outer electrical fence but the gaps in the fence gave way for more bolts to escape. The Helljumpers jumped to their feet and lobbed grenades over the fence and more explosions rocked the ground. Lance was firing his assault rifle when he saw a blue Elite charging the fence. The Elite was laden with bandoliers of plasma grenades. "SHOOT THAT BLUE ELITE SHOOT IT!" Lance screamed into his com link, the Covenant was trying to get through the electric fence. The Elite was about fifty yards ahead and closing. Lance fired at it until he ammo counter read 00-and his assault rifle clicked.
"GET OUT!" Lance yelled as he grabbed Herrick and the two crawled out of the trench and through the small opening in the inner fence to the bases interior. Lance was reloading and Herrick was screaming into his com link for his men to get out of the trench. A hundred and fifty Marines and Helljumpers got out of the trenches that were in between the fences and fell back.


The Elite pulled a cord and all the fuses of the plasma grenades ignited. Three seconds later the front of the base lit up. Lance hit the ground as waves of heat splashed over him. All he saw was a bright blue flash then he clenched his jaw and closed his eyes. A second later he was on his feet.

"The Covenant have breached...the...fence...li...can't...hold**///***," Lances com link hissed with static. He drew his MA5B and pulled the trigger...nothing happened. Lance dropped to the ground as plasma whined over his head. Ahead of him and the surviving humans a giant gap 45 feet in length was in the fence, Covenant poured out of it and into Echo base.

To Be Continued...

Closing with the Enemy Chapter 5 Night Approaches
Date: 2 December 2003, 1:14 AM

(Firebase Echo HQ, planet Jericho II, grid fifteen by twenty five, sector four, three miles north of Firebase Delta, 1120 hours AM, year 2552, Major Lance)
Lance dropped his MA5B and yanked his M6D out of its holster. He didn't bother to zoom in with its scope. Sixty feet ahead of him the Covenant poured out of the gap and fell into the trenches. The first few Grunts who led the charge were struggling to get out of the ten foot deep crater left over from the grenades, when a volley of assault rifle fire poured upon them.

Lance quickly finished off his pistol ammo then reloaded his MA5B. He drew it and opened up on the helpless aliens who were struggling to get out of the crater. Several grenades were lobbed and exploded sending Grunts into the air and shrapnel flying into the Covenant ranks. The Elite that had all the plasma grenades left a 10 foot deep crater and even more Grunts fell into the crater and were struggling to get out. Jackhammer crews launched multiple rockets at the enemy who was trying get out of the crater. Ten minutes later a sea of dead bodies, human and Covenant alike scattered the front of Echo base.

"Good work Major we showed 'em!" Herrick said as he reloaded his modified MA5B.

"Yah," Lance whispered. He stood up and picked up his M6D. Through his thermal vision he could see that the other Covenant forces were falling back and were signaling for Dropships to land at least 600 yards from the base. An occasional plasma orb would whine past and in response the loud reports of S2 AM sniper rifles would be heard. On Lances left the Paratroopers and Marine regulars were sitting on the mound of gravel after a heavy attack by the Covenant. The soldiers on the right were all sitting against the fence either smoking or recovering from the traumatizing effects of heavy combat.

(Colonel Hood)
"Dammit we can't afford another attack like that again. Get those Longswords airborne and on bombing runs ASAP," Hood shot.

"Yes sir," Harold responded and jumped to his tasks.

"Sir Major Lance is on the line," Harold said.

"Pipe it onto the overhead speakers," Hood said.

A hiss of static filled the control room and Lance's voice filled it. "Sir the enemy attacked heavily that time."

"Yes I know but we're going to have to deal with it Major. Now I know your men have been through a lot but we have to wait it out," Hood replied.

"Yah sir are the Longswords in the air?"

"Yes as a matter of fact they are on bombing runs so we don't have a repeat of that. How you boys doing, fine I hope."

"Yah we're okay down here, holding our own."

"Good keep it up Major and keep us posted."

"Yes sir we will, Lance out," Lance's voice disappeared and static hissed through the speakers.

"Harold we're not going to see shit through this fog. Activate the thermal vision," Hood said.

"Yes sir," Harold flipped a set of switches and the room's incandescent lights flickered and faded. A bank of thermal vision lights flickered on giving the room an eerie red glow. The view through the windows showed he world of heat.

Hood walked up to the front window and peered down at the front of the base. Several fires from the plasma blast had the largest and most distinct signatures but the red blobs of humans were walking around the front of the base. In the field several scattered signatures were walking around waiting for the Dropships when the Longswords swooped in and opened fire with their autocannons.

(Lieutenant Wilson, 105th Helljumpers)
"HERE THEY COME!" Wilson barked into his com link as another wave of Grunts and Jackals advanced. The Grunts kept charging but the Jackals hid behind their personal shields and slowly moved forward. Wilson picked off several advancing Grunts and focused on five Jackals. The bird like aliens were packed closely together and were slowly advancing on him, they opened fire.

"Shit!" Williams screamed as a plasma orb smashed into his shoulder. He dove into the bushes and covered his head as plasma burned past, inches above him.

Private Hans ducked as more plasma shot past her. She cursed and opened fire on the little methane breathing bastard that had shot at her. Crouching next to her was Privates Falkirk and Burns. Falkirk was reloading when a needle slammed into his face. It exploded and blood sprayed out. Hans and Burns were covered in his blood.

"This was a damn suicide mission," Hans hissed as she slapped a fresh clip into her MA5B and jacked a round into the chamber.

"Yah no crap there," Burns remarked, firing on a massing group of Grunts.

A bright orb of superheated energy slammed into Burns throat and he slumped to the ground, his arms flailing into the air.

"Damn Burns," Hans dropped here MA5B and hovered over her friend.

"Medic we need a medic now," she said into her link. "Here let me see it," Hans said as he struggled to get Burns hands unclamped off the neck wound. She let go knowing that if she did the skin would come off with it. Burns hands were blood smeared and the parts of his neck that weren't covered by his hands were red and black. A pool of blood was starting to form around his head.

"Anna you called?" Medic Tom Downing asked.

"Help Burns," Hans said, moving out of the way and picking up her MA5B to provide cover fire.

"He's dead sorry," Downing said and crawled on.

"Damn," Hans whispered and pulled the trigger.

All around Wilson Helljumpers were dying. Screams rose up over the pop and whine of weapon fire. Wilson was reloading when Williams crawled up to him.

"Sir we're getting slaughtered here!" Williams shouted.

"Just keep shooting," Wilson shouted back. He finished reloading and took cover behind the tree. He switched com channels on his link. "Red 3 come in, this is blue 1 over."

"Rodger that blue 1 this is red 3 go ahead over," 1st Lieutenant Ferris the ODST company's commander, said.

"Sir we're getting our asses kicked here," Wilson said.

"What's your switch (situation) over?" Ferris's voice crackled over the static.

"We're about a mile in, we ran into a bunch of Covies. They must have been trying to sneak up on Echo. Anyways there's hundreds of them and we're pinned down, we need back up."

"Can't you fight them back?"

"Negative sir you don't understand there are hundreds of them. They just keep coming. We have a lot of casualties!" Wilson almost yelled.

"Look we can't send you back up of any kind right now we just got hit hard and it's going to take a while for us to set up a base perimeter security and regroup."

"Sir we can hold out until reinforcements arrive."

"Good hold tight Wilson we'll come. Just give the enemy hell and keep your soldiers alive. Good luck," Ferris said.

"Yes sir will do...blue 1 out," Wilson switched com channels back to his units. "Listen up Helljumpers we're going to have to fight off the Covies attack. Reinforcements are not able to come. We have enough ammo and supplies to last us all two days so make he best of it. Hold the line and we will not get overrun. We can't fall back due to heavy enemy fire so stay down or get shot, shoot in controlled bursts and conserve your ammo. Good luck Helljumpers...Lt. Wilson out," Wilson said over the team freq and traded his com link for his good old MA5B as five Elites charged upon his position.

(Major Lance, 1800 hours PM)
"Platoon leaders report," Lance barked into his com link.

"A platoon five: dead, six wounded."

"B platoon: eight dead, ten wounded."

"C platoon: six dead the rest of us wounded."

"D platoon: fifteen dead, six wounded."

"E platoon: ten dead, thirteen wounded."

Lance listened as all of the platoons in his company did a status report. After they were done Lance said, "Alright guys you did good today. They hit us hard but we fought them back. Platoons take your dead to the casualty collection point and bring your wounded to the med station in barracks M. Good job guys, Lance out," Lance stepped out of his little foxhole and sat up on the edge. He pulled out a cigarette and removed the safety strap, tapped the end and it ignited. He exhaled a cloud of smoke and took a deep breath.

"How are you feeling Major?" Herrick asked, walking over to the little hole and sitting on an edge.

"Like hell," Lance rasped, taking another puff.

"Yah...damn its cold out," Herrick said wrapping his coat tighter around him. "But look on the bright side we have a sea of dead Covies to laugh at."

"Yah...to bad most people won't be here to see it," Lane muttered.

"Hey Major you guys did good today. You killed more Covenant then stars in the sky. Your men died because it was there time. Its war...it happens," Herrick said.

"Yah well it could have been my time."

"Major your probably asking yourself why them and not you. It's a phase every officer undergoes. War is hell, this war is hell. Men die and others live on to fight another day. God has a plan for you...well for everybody, and he chose you to live on. It's not your time yet. You have a future role to play in some way. Of course I every officer hates it when the soldiers under their command die. But its war and that's the way things go in war. Your men spent their lives for the good of humanity. An entire race about to be kicked out of the picture...but we kick back. Your men spent their lives for a just cause and you were meant to survive this battle to live to fight another day. You think about that," Herrick got up and walked away.

No matter how much Lance didn't want to admit it...Herrick was right. Even though the Helljumper was a lower rank he still had more combat experience than Lance. Lance had worked his way up to major by being more of a tactician, staying on the back lines helping devise strategies with the older officers. It wasn't until two years ago when Lance saw combat for the first time. When he was assigned to his new unit, he was thrilled. He pushed his men to excel. For two years Lance's unit had seen one hundred fifty hours of combat. Most of the time was spent on UNSC ships traveling space. Every time the ship Lance was on would come close to a planet with heavy fighting, they got there too late and the Covenant had already glassed the planet.

Lance shook his head and took a last puff before flicking the cig away. Since 1100 hours the Covenant had launched a massive attack on Echo. There were thousands of them, Grunts, Jackals, Elites, even Hunters. They had at least fifteen tanks and dozens of Banshees harassed them. The hospital was destroyed and so were several barracks. Two of the three mess halls were destroyed and four Scorpion tanks were as well. They attacked on all sides. The front of the base was littered with dead human bodies but mainly Covenant. Grunts were the most common in the sea of dead. Two hundred UNSC soldiers were killed, fifty were from the 105th and the rest were Marine regulars and Paratroopers. The outer electrical fence was disabled and knocked down. In the front of the base deep craters were scattered around the ground and the two fences were completely flattened or blown away. Men were already piling the Covenant bodies in the front of the base to act as barricades. The human bodies were being collected in a Pelican maintenance hangar in the back of the base. The med center was located in another maintenance hangar; since the hospital was wiped out the med center was the acting hospital.

(Sergeant Johnson fireteam Sierra)
Johnson watched the carnage all around him. A couple of hours ago he was in a comfortable bed in the hospital, then a bunch of nurses had came and got him. He was thrown on a litter and rushed to this Pelican maintenance hangar, just as the hospital was hit. He was given a fluffy pillow and he lay back. The hangar was peaceful, there were no Pelicans around, and the sounds of battle were faint. But then Marines started flooding in. Men were carrying others and some were carried on litters like his. They were laid around him and the doctors started performing surgery on the critical ones. Blood was soon covering the floor and screams of pain filled the hangar. More and more men were brought in and more blood and more screams as men went under the doctor's knife. Some had to get amputations and others had to get badly burnt organs removed. The hangar was a blood bath and the ground and tables were jammed packed with men. The screams had settled as the morphine and other drugs kicked in, but the atmosphere was the same, the smell of rot, death, blood and other bodily fluids, and all the horrors of life after battle. Johnson's foot was feeling better thanks to the shot of morphine a medic had given him.
Johnson sank his head into the pillow and tried to catch some sleep.

(Colonel Hood)
"Great work today Corporal, the base wouldn't be where it is if it weren't for you," Hood patted Harold on the shoulder.

"Thanks sir," Harold said. He was sweating and his fingers were red and stiff from typing and punching buttons. His voice was partly distorted from relaying Hood's orders to the fighting men and women of Echo.

"Go get some sleep. I doubt the Covenant will do much tonight after we fought off there forces and they've sustained so many casualties. I'm sure the Covie commander is trying to figure what he'll do next."

"Thanks sir but permission to stay at my station?" Harold asked.

"Whatever you want," Hood smiled as he watched Harold dutifully return to his overseeing of the base security. The man had showed excellent skills today. Hood believed that one of the men who fought the hardest today was Harold.

(Orna 'Orsamee, Covenant Field Master for Jericho II)
"Yes Field Lieutenant carry on," 'Orsamee killed the com connection between him and Seraph. "Report 'Fasamee," he demanded.

"Yes Excellency, our forces have been pushed back and only a small number of troops returned unscathed. The human's defenses have been severely weakened. I think if we were to launch another attack like-"

"-No one asked for your opinion. Our forces were badly damaged since the attack, even though we did weaken them...badly. For now we plan," 'Orsamee cut off 'Fasamee.

"Ye...yes Excellency," 'Fasamee turned away and walked to his personal Ghost.

To Be Continued...

Closing with the Enemy Chapter 6 Night Fighters
Date: 6 December 2003, 11:22 PM

(Firebase Echo base HQ, planet Jericho II, grid fifteen by twenty five, sector four, three miles north of Firebase Delta, 2010 hours, year 2552, Lieutenant Wilson)
Wilson hid behind the tree as a volley of purple plasma bolts whined past, inches from his head. He crawled out from behind the tree and opened fire at a large red blob on his eye piece, which was set on thermal vision. He stopped firing as soon as the blob went from red to blue. He dove behind the tree and more plasma splashed against the thick trunk.

Every time a muzzle flash could be seen the position where it had come from was sprayed with plasma fire from Shade turrets and foot soldiers. The Shade emplacements were a big problem for the Helljumper unit. At least eleven Helljumpers were already dead because of them. The Covenant forces were dug in several quickly made bunkers, not sixty yards from Wilson's troops. Each bunker had at least one Shade in the middle of it. It was going to be a major pain in the ass for Wilson. The Shades were dug in three feet into the ground, surrounded by plates of metal except for their field of fire, and had at least the comparison of a human platoon surrounding them. And there were at least ten.

"Sir how the hell do we get rid of those damn emplacements, their murdering us?" the wounded Williams inquired. He was clutching a bloody bandage to his shoulder.

"Hey if you figure it out, let me know," Wilson replied.

"Get down," Williams coolly said as two Shades hammered their position with plasma. Neither of the two Marines even bothered to return fire knowing that it would give them even more unwanted attention.

"How's the shoulder?"

"Fine that shot of morphine Valdez gave me, is working."

"Good where the hell is Valdez anyways?" Wilson inquired.

"I don't know, I think he might be on the left patching up some guys down there," Williams replied.

Wilson didn't reply as more plasma splashed against his tree. He jumped out from behind it and fired half a clip in the direction of the Shade. He dove for the tree as more Shade fire answered his fire; they came from two different positions. "Where the hell is Russell?" Wilson demanded. "Blue five this is blue one come in over."

"***///*** Blue one this is five go ahead over," Blue five or Corporal Russell leading officer in Wilson's Sniper team, answered.

"Yah five we need you to take out those weapon emplacements, why haven't you?" Wilson inquired.

"Sir we've been pinned down since those Shades arrived and got dug in. I lost six of my snipers and the rest are out of ammo. I only have two rounds left in my current clip and two other clips left," Russell's voice crackled into Wilson's com link.

"Well work my way over to my position, I'll activate a chem light so you can see my position," Wilson pulled out a triangular light and hit it with his fist...nothing happened. Through a night vision scope or through a pair of NODS (acronym for Night Observation Devices) you could see a bright blue light...the chem light.

"Do you see it?"

"Yah Rodger I see it. Okay I'll work my way over, five out,"

Wilson adjusted his lip mike and switched his eye piece from thermal to night vision. Williams eye piece had been hit by micro shrapnel and disabled so he wore a pair of NODS that looked like sun glasses. Five minutes later Russell crawled over to Wilson.

"Russell get to it," Wilson said.

"Yes sir," Russell drew his SRS99C-S2 AM modifiable sniper rifle. Russell had made some adjustments to the weapon. He had put a retractable but stock on and an extended barrel that gave rounds more velocity, and a sound/flash suppressing silencer. He stuck his eye into the 20x magnification Oracle scope. He zoomed in on the closest emplacement. A silent thump sounded as he squeezed the trigger. Through the scope he saw the Grunt manning it, lose a head. Russell quickly switched targets and fired again.

Wilson watched as Russell in quick succession, kill all the emplacements operators. But more were quick to take their fallen comrades place and sprayed the area ahead of them with fire. By that time Russell was out of ammo and lying in the bushes as big balls of blue plasma whined over his head.

Wilson poked his head and rifle out and returned fire. Almost instantly he was greeted with another barrage of plasma. The at least five of the Shades returned fire on Wilson's position. "STAY DOWN!" Wilson screamed as superheated plasma splashed against bushes and trees. Williams made the mistake of sticking his top half of his body as well as his M6D pistol out. Three consecutive plasma bolts that were in a triangle smacked into his chest and sent him flopping to the ground.

"Dammit Williams, you okay?" Wilson shouted. The barrage of plasma fire ceased and Wilson got into a sitting position and leaned over to Williams who was not three feet away behind another tree. Three plasma bolts had hit in a triangle pattern, obviously from a Shade. The first two hit his upper stomach and the third hit the center of his chest. Williams's ballistic armor did not stand a chance against the heavy plasma; it had burnt all the way through. Wilson checked for a pulse...there was one...faint.

As Wilson was doing this, a quick volley of plasma sprayed the area, again. A plasma orb slammed into Russell's helmet. Luckily Russell's helmet was not strapped to his chin and it fell off before the super hot plasma could melt all the way through to his head. Wilson was hit too. A plasma orb smacked into his back, the ballistic armor plating on his back had survived one hit to the back but this one luckily hit his lower back, melting the armor off completely. "Shit!" Wilson hollered as the heat on his back increased and burnt the top layers of his skin. Wilson fell on top of Williams and rolled off onto the ground.

"Holy...ha...ha...wow," Russell laughed, sitting up behind a tree and thinking of his near death experience. "Hey you okay?"

"Sonufabitch shot me again...in the back," Wilson said lying on his stomach, next to Williams.

"How's Williams?" Russell inquired.

"He's not doing...well he's faint. We need to evac him or he's gonna' die. I'll call Valdez to get his ass over here and patch him up. Take his MA5B and provide cover fire...its going to be a long night," Wilson responded blankly.

(Colonel Hood, 2200 hours PM)
"Harold, send out a recon team of five ODSTs. I want them to scout out a half a mile perimeter around the base. And tell a Paratrooper company to go out and get Lt. Wilson's pinned down squad," Hood said, leaning back in his leather command chair.

"Yes...sir," Harold responded and jumped to it. He rubbed his eyes and finished up relaying the orders.

"You sure you don't want to get some sleep?" Hood inquired.

"No...sir, I can manage," Harold said, leaning back in his chair and yawning.

"Okay but if you need to then just go ahead and leave. Its okay Harold I insist you to get some sleep."

"Sir the one who should get some sleep is you," Harold said spinning around in the swivel chair, coming to face Hood.

"An old man like me...heh I got used to staying up a long time ago, don't worry about me."

"Okay sir," Harold spun around to face his console.

(Lieutenant Wells, 101st Paratrooper division, UNSC Army)
Lt. Wells had taken his Paratrooper company a mile into the thick forest. Now half a mile from Lt. Wilson's pinned down Helljumpers. The company had moved along with no resistance. "Lt. Wilson come in...this is Lt. Wells from the 101st...do you read me over?" Wells whispered into his com link.

A hiss of static filled his ear piece and then a faint voice came in laden with static, "rodger...I...read***//***got///*****///##Cov...need help....evac...wounded," Wilson's voice was overrun with static.

"The Covies must be jamming our communications. Move out and keep an eye open," Wells got up from his crouching position, MA5B drawn, and his alert eyes scanning the thick bushes in front of him, through the thermal vision setting on his eye piece.

Through the thermal vision he saw nothing but blue. The night was going to be even colder than the day. Wells glanced at the thermometer on his multi-purpose watch, thirty-six degrees and dropping. Wells was surprised it hadn't started snowing yet. His attention returned to the thermal vision.

(Nowak, Commander Grunt, Field Commander Seraph's company)
The Grunt Nowak was uncomfortable, tired, and pissed. Field Commander Seraph had ordered him and the sixty Grunts under his command to follow a red Elite named 'Masemee and to provide rear security in case the humans they had engaged didn't fall back. Nowak lay in the cold hard ground shivering and covered with a freezing tarp. The tarp could adjust itself to the climate temperature that surrounded it. Seraph had ordered all the rear security troops to take such. "Nos you still awake?"

"Yes I'm still awake. How could I sleep in these damn conditions?" another Grunt named Noswill smirked.

"No kidding, damn Seraph for making us do this," Nowak shifted his lying position so that he could be more comfortable. He lifted the tarp for a brief moment to allow more room to move. While he was doing this his faint heat signature was compromised for only a second.

(Lieutenant Wells)
"Stop get down," Wells whispered into his com link. The 120 paratroopers hit the ground.

Wells looked around through the thermal vision...nothing. He could have sworn he had seen a faint heat signature and it was moving. An animal most likely, but most animals were in hibernation this time of year. Wells pulled out his silencer from his pack. He screwed it into the barrel of his MA5B and took aim. He fired a three round burst at the spot where he had seen the signature.

(Commander Grunt Nowak)
Nowak was in mid-sentence when he heard a zipping sound and a heavy air past by only a hair-breadth away from his head. A sharp pain suddenly stabbed at his shoulder and blood ran freely from where it hit. Nowak screamed and rolled out from under his tarp, rolling into Noswill who jumped to his feet.

(Lieutenant Wells)
Wells saw the unmistakable blip of a Grunt. He gave the order to open fire and Nowak and Noswill were almost instantly chewed up by sprays of 7.62mm rounds and ceased to exist. The return ticket was a barrage of plasma fire that materialized out of the pitch black of night and the thick fog. In the first five seconds of fighting twelve paratroopers hit the ground dead.

"DOWN GET DOWN!" Wells screamed into his com link and hit the dirt as the air above him filled with plasma. He looked ahead and saw dozens of heat signatures. He guessed that there were at least a hundred Covenant.

(Echo base)
The forces that were remaining at Echo base were thrown into a night of multiple firefights. Several platoon sized knots of Grunts, Jackals, and lower ranking Elites attacked the base, but were quickly cut down. The night went on with small fights and no big skirmishes. Colonel Hood was more then sure that the Covenant brass were testing the base for weaknesses but found none. When a Covenant Dropship was seen leaving and shot at, Colonel Hood thought that the Covenant were pulling out. But he was very wrong, in fact the Covenant were pulling in and massing for the coming day, ready to attack the human base.

To Be Continued...

Closing with the Enemy Chapter 7 The Convoy
Date: 11 December 2003, 11:50 PM

(Firebase Echo HQ, planet Jericho II, grid fifteen by twenty five, sector four, three miles north of Firebase Delta, 0905 hours AM, year 2552, Colonel Hood)
"Sir incoming transmission from Delta...it sounds urgent," Harold said, pressing his hand against his earpiece.

"Put on the overhead speakers," Hood replied.

"Yes sir," Harold said as he flipped a series of switches. A moment later the control room filled with a fear stricken voice.

"Colon...Hood////****they've breached the base per...they've taken out///the**//#hospital and are closing in on//con//center. ////need assistance//supplies...men...overrun-" the message was overrun with static.

"Lieutenant Colonel Marsh come in, over," Hood said. No answer.

"What should we do sir?" Harold looked up at Hood.

"Get Sergeant Major Crew to assemble a company of 190 men. I want them to load up in Warthogs, Scorpions, and five tons. Load them up with supplies and get them under way to assist Delta."

(Field Master Orna 'Orsamee)
"So 'Fasamee how is the attack on second base going?" 'Orsamee inquired.

"Wonderful, our troops have overrun the base and are taking out the last of the bases commanders."

"Good, now report."

"Field Commander Seraph has asked for one thousand additional troops, his troops have run into two separate human forces. Five thousand additional troops are on standby and all they need is our call. A human vehicle column has been reported leaving the main base and heading towards the second base, most likely to assist them."

"Good bring in one thousand troops and tell them to meet up with Seraph. Have an additional two thousand troops land along the human road and be prepared to engage this relief column. Have the Dropship pilots bring in Shades, energy shields, and I want five Wraiths on the sides."

"But Field Master the terrain on the side of the road is thick with tree," 'Fasamee protested.

"Well have them cut them down or blast a clearing," 'Orsamee ordered.

"Y-yes Excellency, but what of the other two thousand troops?"
"Have five hundred land in this clearing as an emergency force and tell the rest to stand by. And ask Command for an additional five thousand troops to ship into this system, and to await my orders to land. I have something in store for these annoying interlopers."

"Yes Excellency," 'Fasamee walked down towards to the makeshift 'communications center' to carry out 'Orsamee's orders.

(Sergeant Major Chris Crew, 6th battalion assistant commander, Baker Company, ninth regiment, 1030 hours)
Crew sat in the passenger seat of the second Warthog in the 120 vehicle convoy. In back of him were sixty other 'Hogs and then ten Scorpions and then thirty five ton trucks, and the rest of the vehicles were Warthogs. Parallel to him was Corporal Higgins the driver, and in back of him was PFC Baker the gunner, and PFC Donovan AKA Van, who sat at Baker's feet, holding an MA5B.

"Anything on the motion tracker Higs?" Crew inquired.

"Nothing sir," Higgins said, glancing at the motion tracker located on the pedestal in-between the passenger and driver.

Crew reviewed the previous two hours. Hood had called him to the command center and briefed quickly. His orders were to assemble 190 men and load them up on 120 vehicles and bury the vehicles with supplies/ammo. It took them the better part of the two hours to get organized and to wait for additional supplies to arrive from the orbiting ships. That took about an hour and a half. The next half hour was wasted loading up the vehicles and getting the men loaded up. Now they were half a mile away from Echo and no opposition had come their way...yet.

"Uh sir...there's something on the tracker," Higgins said.

"Well where?" Crew demanded.

"Ah to the left about twenty five yards."

"Well Baker, you heard him, open fire," Crew ordered. "Dallas stop!" Crew shouted up to the first Warthog's driver. The convoy stopped.

"Sir," Baker pulled back the 50 cal's charging lever and released it, it slid into place with a metallic 'snap'. Baker depressed the chain gun's triggers. The heavy chain gun shook the entire Warthog as Baker fired a sustained burst. A second later a hail of purple, pink, and green plasma bolts sprayed out of the bushes. Baker was safe behind the M41s protective metal plating and fired a volley of 12.7X99mm armor-penetrating rounds in return. Van opened up in short bursts with his MA5B, as did Crew. Higgins stomped on the accelerator as did Dallas in the 'Hog in front of them. The convoy started moving again.

"All men shoot at anything that moves, doesn't look like human, or shoots at you," Crew ordered. This mission could get worse.

Crew was right; the world erupted with plasma from all sides. Men began to get hit. Higgins was hit in the shoulder, Van was struck in the chest, and Crew in the arm. Three Warthog's back a Warthog exploded, then another.

(Sergeant Johnson)
"God dammit little bastard!" Johnson screamed as a plasma bolt shot past inches from his face. He sprayed the area where it had come. Johnson had volunteered to come with the convoy. It required no walking and he figured he would just sit around in a Warthog away from the action...he was very wrong. The 'Hog's gunner named Collins was firing to the side and shells were pinging off Johnson's helmet. "Damn Collins fire in another direction!"

"Sorry sir," Collins said and turned in the opposite direction to fire. Five seconds later he was hit.

Collins was firing to the left when a plasma bolt slammed into his lower neck and he fell onto Johnson. Johnson swore and pushed his lifeless body into the back of the LRV. Johnson wiped off some of the blood covering half his face. He resumed firing.

"Damn sir, how do you think the Covies knew about us?" the driver named Dells inquired.

"I don't know just keep driving," Johnson replied.

"Yes-" Dells was interrupted by two plasma bolts that slammed into the side of his head.

Johnson closed his eyes as blood sprayed into his face. The Warthog came to a stop and was jerked forward by the one behind it. Johnson looked over at Dells whose head had fallen against the dash. Blood covered the windshield and dash.

"MOVE IT!" someone behind him yelled.

"Damn," Johnson muttered as he got out of his seat and ducked as plasma shot past. He limped over to the driver side and lifted Dells into the back of the 'Hog. He hopped into the driver side and shifted into gear. He pressed down on the speed pedal and the 'Hog raced forward for the vehicles in front. Johnson's foot was full of pain as it stayed pressed down on the acceleration pedal. All around him plasma bolts shot past. His Warthog was getting peppered with plasma. The windshield was about to completely melt. Johnson stood his rifle up on the pedestal, so it would protect him from fire coming from the left. Sure enough the assault rifle was hammered with plasma. Soon it was so shot up melted metal began to collect in a small pool at the base of the assault rifle. Some of it dripped onto Johnson's leg. Johnson screamed as the super hot medal melted through his pant leg. He began to wipe it up with a greasy rag from his gun cleaning kit.

(Sergeant Murphy)
Murphy rolled down the window of the five ton and emptied his clip on a bunch of Grunts, standing to the side of the truck. "Oh shit," he muttered as a plasma orb shot into the cab and hit the inside of the windshield. Murphy rolled the window up.

"That was close," the driver named Sims laughed.

"No crap," Murphy said and reloaded his MA5B. A bright flash filled the cab as the Scorpion tank in front of them fired at a bunch of tightly packed Elites and Jackals. The group was on the left and truck shook as the 106mm shell impacted. A Grunt or at least half of one, came flying across the front of the truck, it skimmed the windshield, leaving a trail of blood.

The two men laughed but stopped as two Scorpions up a tank exploded and flipped onto its right side. "Mother of god," Sims whispered as he saw men jump out of the tank, on fire. The men were quickly cut down by volleys of plasma.

In back of the truck Corporal Davis was lying on his back as plasma orbs shot through the truck's canvas. A plasma orb had shot in front of him and luckily missed him. He took the little hole to his advantage and shot through it at the passing by Covenant.

"I'm hit I'm hit," PFC Reilly who was lying in the back of the flatbed, screamed.

Davis reloaded and crawled to a little space between the crates of ammo and supplies that dominated the flatbed. Through the space which was too small for him to crawl through, he saw Reilly lying in a pool of blood, his hands clutching his side. "Hand tight I'm coming over."

As Davis tried to move the crates out of the way, Reilly was hit again, this time in the head. Through the space Davis saw a wave of blood splash up against the crates and the pool turn to a river as it flowed in his direction. Davis sat up but slammed into the ground as a plasma bolt smacked into his chest, penetrating his armor. He roared in pain and his hands instinctively clutched the wound. Davis lay there, slowly dying, and feeling more bolts slam into his legs and feet. Davis made a final effort to reach for his MA5B but went limp in the process.

Murphy wondered why he couldn't here the rhythmic shake of MA5B fire, coming from the back. He slid the little sliding cover out of the way and looked into the back. Both Davis and Reilly were lying in pools of blood.

"Why aren't they shooting?" inquired Sims, who too was familiar with the feeling.

"Their dead," Murphy said, closing the slide.

Sims was quit from then on.

(Sergeant Johnson)
Johnson's LRV was slowing down. All the tires were blown, the LAAG was melted beyond repair, and the front left wheel was about to fall off. Twice the convoy stopped as a vehicle was blown up. A truck somewhere in front of Johnson had been destroyed and six wounded had crawled onto his 'Hog. Johnson had to keep on stopping and going. As a plasma grenade would come from out of no where and land in front of him, he would wait for it to explode and then speed up again.

(Sergeant Major Crew)
A plasma grenade flew past Crew's head and thankfully landed away from his 'Hog. Now that his 'Hog was the first in the entire column, it was the most shot at. Dallas's 'Hog had been hit by a Wraith and flipped on its side.

"Sir we can't keep this up!" Higgins screamed at him.

"There's no choice," Crew screamed back.

Van was clutching his wound when he was hit five times. Blood flew every where. Baker screamed as his feet slipped across the blood slicked flatbed. He opened up on several Grunts who had run out into the middle of the road. As he was firing a volley of needles shot his way. Two hit the LAAG and exploded, disabling it permanently. Baker was hit in the shoulder and when the needle exploded, blood sprayed out. Baker screamed and released his grip on the LAAG. He slid in the pool of blood and tripped on the tail gait. He fell out of the 'Hog and since the convoy had been tightly packed together, he fell on the front of the second Warthog.

"Holy shit, you okay?" Johner the driver of the second one inquired, while driving.

Baker was too weak to answer. He was about to get up when the first 'Hog exploded. "Oh Shit!" Baker screamed as he hopped off the second 'Hog which ran into the burnt chassis and stopped the convoy.

Baker ran up to the burnt 'Hog and took cover behind the wreckage. "Chris, Higs, you alive?"

He was answered with a groan. It was Crew who lay under a twisted piece of metal. Baker pulled him out and searched for Higgins. He found Higgins or at least the burnt corpse that had been Higgins. Baker carried Crew back to the second Warthog and threw him in back. He screamed at Johner to get going. The convoy started up again.

Baker checked on Crew. He was unconscious and was badly burnt. His face was covered with soot, ash, and blood.

"Is he all right?" Corporal Anderson the man in the passenger seat, inquired.

"He'll live," Baker said, as he gave Crew a shot of morphine and dressed his wounds. The convoy began to move again, under heavy fire.
Baker was shooting a newly acquired MA5B when he heard a whoosh sound. Over the main com channel someone shouted "Banshees" and sure enough two stubby winged fliers swooshed down for gun runs.

"Get down!" Baker screamed into his com link as the Banshees opened fire. Plasma splashed up against the Warthog, Johner was hit and he fell out of the driver's seat. "AAAHHHHH!" Baker yelled as a heat wave slammed into his back and threw him to the floor. The second Warthog was hit with one of the Banshees Fuel Rod Cannons. Then the third Warthog was hit with another Fuel Rod bolt. The two burst into green flame and the men were thrown from them, on fire.

(Sergeant Johnson)
Johnson heard the screams over the com freq and saw the two fliers screaming overhead. When plasma splashed from the first's gunports, Johnson ducked down. Two wounded men in back were hit and killed. Johnson looked up and the Banshees shot past.

(Sergeant Murphy)
Murphy couldn't hear the two Banshees but saw them. They were firing constantly and men were getting killed. Plasma bolts smacked into the front of the truck and against the windshield. One penetrated and smacked into the seat in the middle of Johnson and Sims. Johnson looked at the scorched leather which was two inches from his head. The cab filled with nervous laughter.


(Corporal Hudson, Foxtrot Company, 6th Battalion)
Hudson's Warthog was the very last vehicle in the large convoy. His was being pursued by Three Ghosts, who constantly poured fire upon it. Hudson slammed onto the brake as the convoy stopped. Hudson looked back at the Ghosts who stopped and sprayed the 'Hog with plasma.

"C'mon Hudson move it!" Sergeant Foster screamed at him.

Hudson had momentarily 'spaced' out. He came to himself to see that the column had started to move again. "Sir yes sir." Hudson pounded the accelerator with his foot and the 'Hog sped up.

The gunner Miles poured fire at the three Ghosts. He hadn't blown one to oblivion because he kept on having to duck when plasma would come from behind, it seemed to come from every direction, but Miles was bent on taking out the Ghosts. He ducked again as the Ghosts fire became more accurate and sic bolts whined past. The air to his left and right sizzled and cracked as the plasma went past only inches from his head.

"Damn it Miles take those bastards out!" Foster screamed as plasma bolts struck the inside of the windshield and one hit the dash board.

Miles got back to manning the gun and opened up. The first spray missed two by feet but the second spray hit true. A steady stream of tracers blew one to hell. Miles shouted a victory cry and lobbed a grenade into the other two's midst. The grenade exploded when the two had past it by a couple of feet. The explosion engulfed the back of one and the force of the blast lifted its back up and the Ghost flipped, the driver was thrown free and killed by the blast. The second Ghost's back lifted then fell into place. The driver resumed its fire and pursuit. Miles opened up full auto until he was satisfied that the bright ball of flame and twisted metal that used to be a Ghost, was inoperable.

A very distinct whooshing sound filled Hudson's ears. "BANSHEES!" he managed to scream before the two Banshee fliers banked into anther gun run. Hudson swore and ducked his head as the window, dashboard, seat, metal skin, and pedestal surrounding him were hit with plasma. Hudson got up and looked around. Miles was hit; Foster was slumped forward in his seat, a stream of blood waterfalling down his chest. Hudson kept his foot on the accel pedal when a needle hammered into his shoulder and another one on the inside of the windshield. He only got a grunt out when the one in his shoulder exploded sending blood spraying onto the windshield. The second one exploded sending micro shrapnel spraying into his face. After a series of screams, curses, and waves of the finger, Hudson turned his attention to the road.

(Sergeant Major Crew)
Crew slowly awoke from a world of black to a world of unbearable pain. He wiped the soot and ash out his eyes with his burnt sleeve. Crew's eyes widened as he discovered that parts of the sleeve and his skin had come off in the process. He looked up to see Baker firing an assault rifle above him. Crew was uncomfortable lying in a packed flatbed of a Warthog. Wounded men lay against him. Crew set his head/helmet down and closed his eye. This was a suicide mission.

To Be Continued...

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