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War Comes to Earth by Firestorm
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Chapter One- Sneak Attack: Part I
Date: 28 February 2005, 3:11 AM
2100 hours, January 17, 2553 (Military Calendar)
Liberty Island, New York City
Planet Earth, Milkyway System
The entire harbor around Ellis and Liberty Islands crawled with security as people were gathering for the opening ceremonies of the military ball to be held on Ellis Island.
The night was lit with spotlights, and the water was dotted with police boats. Underwater sensors guarded the islands, and three different security satellites provided constant surveillance of the entire area. Some of the U.N.S.C. Marines were responsible for all the proceedings security. As far as they were all concerned, not even a fly could get in without them knowing about it.
Liberty Island ground security had been given over to over almost fifty of New York's finest, patrolling on a constant basis. The U.N.S.C. Marines had command posts set up on the side of Liberty Island that faced Ellis Island, where the opening ceremonies would take place.
The line of vehicles jammed the one road to Ellis Island like a traffic jam at rush hour. The backup, of course, was caused by the intense security check each car had to go through just to get to the island.
With all of the security no one would have expected for anyone to get through. Especially the Covenant.
On the dock side of Liberty Island, away from Ellis Island, a New York cop named Stan walked a set path. He was in his thirties, and was pretty much disgusted at he night duty he'd been forced to pull. He would much rather have been home watching a game on television, or sitting at Harvey's tavern, downing a few beers. Instead he walked a very short, very boring beat of less than a hundred paces on Liberty Island.
Stan was snapped out of his daydream by a low whining sound. He looked around for where it was coming from. He was so focused on his cold hands that he didn't see the dark shape hovering above him, didn't hear the release of the drop pods, didn't even know what hit him when a drop pod crushed him flat, killing him instantly.
Another cop named Frank, on the next beat over, saw the pods as they came down. He dove into a bush to keep from being spotted. He watched as a hissing sound came from the pods as the locks released and atmosphere leaked into the compartment. The door opened up to reveal what was hidden inside.
He stared at what was climbing out of the drop pods. He knew he should call in, but he was too afraid of being discovered.
2115 hours, January 17, 2553 (Military Calendar)
Ellis Island, New York City
Planet Earth, Milkyway System
Derick Sunner, a three-year veteran of the U.N.S.C. Marines, stood on a tower over looking the events unfolding below. He was in charge of a small squad of six men, and each squad commander reported to a superior. It wasn't often that they broke down into squads like this, but given the size of this particular event, it was the best way to keep track of everything and everyone.
At the moment the U.N.S.C. Marine band was playing a selection of different music. The bandstand was set up to the west of the main stage area. The music seemed to echo over the water, and to Derrick it seemed out of tune more than anything else.
Out over the water, the lights of the patrol boats moved in a constant pattern that over the last few hours had become familiar. Then suddenly, as he was just about to turn away, he thought he caught a glimpse of something large and black blocking a portion of the distant shore lights, moving about forty feet above the water.
He keyed his mike. "Can I get confirmation that harbor airspace has been cleared?"
"Roger that," a voice responded. "Nothing moving over three feet above that water. Airline flights have been shifted to the north approaches, as well."
"Thanks," Derrick said, staring intently at the area where he thought he'd seen the black form.
Nothing.
He scanned the horizon along the lit shoreline, all the way to the Statue of Liberty.
Nothing.
Maybe he was just getting too paranoid for is own good. He was starting to imagine things. And in his job, that wasn't a good thing to do.
He went back to scanning the road that led onto Ellis Island, and all the vehicles still waiting to be cleared. This was going to be a long night before it was over. A very long night.
Derrick looked back out over the black water at the Statue of Liberty. It stood out there,brightly lit and standing guard over the bay.
There was something odd about old lady Liberty. He couldn't put his finger on it.
He shook his head. Why was he having such a bad feeling about all of this?
So far everything had gone smoothly.
Maybe that was worrying him. Maybe it had gone too smoothly.
As he turned around he never noticed the two black shapes moving swiftly across the water from Liberty Island heading straight for Ellis Island.
Chapter One- Sneak Attack: Part II
Date: 28 February 2005, 10:45 PM
2123 hours, January 17, 2553 (Military Calendar)
Ellis Island, New York City
Planet Earth, Milkyway System
U.N.S.C. Marine Derrick Sunner scanned the crowds milling about below his tower, then he looked out over the water toward Liberty Island again. He'd just been informed that they were having radio trouble, two of their satellites were down, and communications were down for the entire city police contingent on the island. Nonetheless, he'd been assured that it would be fixed shortly. It had better be, he said to himself. Four U.N.S.C. Marines were heading there now by boat to check the situation out.
Down at ground level, the U.N.S.C. secretary general was finishing his speech.
"We must never forget," the secretary general said, "that even though we are here, safe at home, that others out there fighting are for us. Do not forget these brave men and women out there. But if the Covenant show up near us we'll be ready. Now it's time to cut some rug."
Applause and cheering filled the air.
At that moment the fireworks started. Red and green streamers shot into the air, the explosions echoing over the water. The display was scheduled to last for six minutes, six very long minutes as far as Sunner was concerned.
He continued to scan the crowd and the distant Statue of Liberty, now illuminated even more with the blues and reds and greens of the fireworks.
Something was wrong. He could sense it.
He just didn't know what it was, and calling an emergency based only on his gut wasn't something he could do.
The fireworks lit up the whole island. Then he saw it. He was sure this time because the image didn't go away.
Down by the shoreline he saw the unmistakable shape of an Elite. The eight foot muscular form was visible in the light of the fireworks. It's mandibles clicked as it moved up the beach. It was followed by Grunts, Jackals, Drones, and more Elites.
He flipped a switch and gave the order over the speakers so that everyone could hear. "Code One. Evacuate. Covenant have landed on the island.
Below him people stood at first not knowing what to do. All of a sudden people started to move at once. U.N.S.C. Marines moved as a tight unit towards a nearby armory, and not far behind them the rest of the security forces and most of the men and women followed.
He smiled as he opened a hidden compartment near revealing a S2 AM Sniper Rifle. The Covenant had just landed near almost one-hundred marines. They were ready to give them a very warm welcome.
Along the road that led back from Ellis Island and all the way into the city, Derrick knew all traffic was being cleared. The cars were going to pour off this island far, far faster than they had come onto it. The evacuation procedures had been worked out to the last detail, practiced again and again. He just hoped it was going to be fast enough.
The Covenant soon came into area were they were having the dance and were met by intense fire from every direction.
Derrick aimed the rifle the head of a Jackal and gently squeezed the trigger. Its head evaporated in a cloud of blood. He quickly fired off the next three shots. He stopped to reload and find his next target.
Suddenly the next tower over exploded in a green flame. He shielded his face from the intense heat. What the hell happened? He looked to see Grunt with a Fuel Rod Cannon aimed at him. He did the only thing he could do, he jumped the fifteen feet to the ground. The tower he was in vanished in a green flash.
He felt the impact through his back as he landed on a table breaking it in half.
"Shit, going to fell that in the morning."
He looked around and noticed that he left his rifle in the tower. He grabbed the Magnum that was hooked onto his waste and quickly squeezed two rounds into the head of the Grunt that shot the fuel rod at him. He rolled to his feet crouched-walked to were a women was hiding behind a table. He sat down beside and gave her a weak smile.
"How's it going?" he asked her.
She looked over at him and smiled back. "I've had better nights." she replied.
"So, how many we got?"
"Those two Grunts with the fuel rods caught off guard and with no armor we have taken heavy casualties," she said looking at him. "There are no Drones left, at least thirteen Grunts, and five Jackals." she looked over the table and fired her Battle Rifle. "Make that four Jackals. The Elites are down to three. Two blues and a red."
"Well then lets join the party." Derrick said.
The battle last for only five more minutes before the last Grunt dropped. Cheers erupted from the remaining marines.
Suddenly all of the cheering stopped as everyone stared up in the air. The sky was being blocked by hundreds of black clouds moving across the sky.
Covenant drop ships.
Pods began raining down from the sky into the city. Drop ships were landing everywhere. Plasma was being fired in nearly every part of the city. It was a full scale invasion.
War Comes To Earth: Chapter 2- Through The City
Date: 17 May 2005, 3:10 AM
2200 hours, January 17, 2553 (Military Calendar)
Liberty Island, New York City
Planet Earth, Milkyway System
Officer Frank McDougal huddled behind the bush staring at the Statue of Liberty. He had been sitting here, for nearly an hour, on the hard, freezing cold ground. His leg was beginning to cramp from not moving them. Though he wanted to stand and stretch it he didn't dare move.
He stayed hidden behind his bush, out the sight of the Covenant. It wasn't a safe place, but it was the closest he could find. And running around in the open was just a quicker way to die.
He had seen what had happened to those who had ran or try to fight back. The screams and moans of the wounded and dying seemed to come from everywhere around him and there was nothing he could do.
He closed his eyes trying to erase the visions from his head. He didn't want to hear the screaming, the crying, the death. He just wanted to go home. But he knew he would probably never see his home again.
Just then something caught his eye. Not far from him, sitting near the shores edge, was the only thing that was going to get him off this island. A Banshee.
He knew he didn't know how to fly one, but he had very few choices. Sit there, be found by the Covenant and die or learn to fly. He chose to fly.
Using all of the courage he had left, he counted to three than bolted for the Banshee. At first he thought he wasn't spotted. Then he felt the searing heat as plasma fire began raining down all around him.
He dove towards the Banshee and climbed inside. He had no idea how to start it so began pressing buttons until it came to life. For the firsf time ever he was happy to hear the hum of an enemy vehicle. He grabbed the control sticks in front of him and thrusted them forward. The Banshee instantly shot backwards and slammed into the Staute of Liberty.He cursed under his breath and pulled back on the control sticks. This time he flew forward and straight up into the air. He began to get queasy as he flew loops in the air. The cockpit began to heat up from the continuous plasma fire from the Covenant.
"I think I'm getting the hang this," he muttered through clenched teeth as he straightened out the Banshee and aimed for Ellis Island.
2230 hours, January 17, 2553 (Military Calendar)
Ellis Island, New York City
Planet Earth, Milkyway System
Derrick Sunner lifted a young marine in his arms. He had taken a plasma shot to the chest but was still alive. The heat had burnt and melted away his armor and his flesh underneath it. He was taken deep raspy breaths and his eyes were barely open. Derrick knew he would die soon.
The marine moaned, as if sensing his thoughts. His face was frozen by the agony that was coursing through his body. The medic might have had something to ease his pain. Who knew where he was now? Or whether he was alive or dead?
The marines' eyes fluttered, then opened all the way. They didn't focus on him. The marines' hand clutched weakly at Sunner's jacket.
"Dad?"
His voice was breathily and weak. Recognizing how near death he was, he lied to ease him. "I'm here son."
"It hurts."
"I know."
He never said anything else. He just stopped breathing and was gone. In a world gone strangely distant, he closed the marines' eyes. He gently laid the body down and gave a silent prayer.
Derrick took a deep breath and rose to his feet. In this short amount of time they had lost many men and women. As he looked around, he saw that only about twenty-three of the marines had survived.
In the distance New York City was glowing red from fires. The Covenant had attacked quickly and swiftly.
Suddenly a whining sound reached his ears. He looked out over the water and saw a badly damaged Banshee flying towards them. It was barely staying in the air and it was easy to tell it was coming in for a crash landing.
The Banshee's nose dipped down as it came closer and slammed into the ground. It slid to a stop five feet from Derrick. Every gun was leveled on the craft ready to shoot what ever came out. The craft opened and out stumbled a figure, too short to be an Elite.
"Don't shoot me!" cried the man who nearly wet himself at seeing the guns pointed at him.
Derrick lowered his gun and looked the man over. "Who are you, where did you come from, and how did you get this Banshee?"
Over the next ten minutes the man explained what had happened. His name was Frank McDougal. He was one of the officers stationed on Liberty Island. He told how hid from the Covenant and escaped in one of their Banshees.
"Sounds like you were a lucky one." Derrick said to him. "All right people, we need to find a safe place to get an evac out of this city. Have you found somewhere Henderson?"
The man he was talking to was bent over a small holographic map. Without looking up he adjusted his thick glasses and pointed to an area on the map. "According to the map, Central Park seems to be the most logical position to depart from the city. For some obscure explanation there is limited Covenant presence there."
Derrick walked over to where Henderson, with Officer Frank following close behind, looked over the map. A detailed three-dimensional image of the New York City area, focused on Central Park, was displayed. On the map he saw different color dots. Henderson pointed to one of the dots. "Red represents Covenant troops, yellow is UNSC forces, and the blue are surviving civilians."
Derrick nodded as he looked at the map. He watched as lights from all three sides were flickering out. The Covenant had a clear advantage in numbers.
Sunner studied the map. Finally, without looking up he said, "All right, sounds like a plan to me. What about being able to contact fleet command?"
"Negative, communications are obsolete with fleet."
Officer Frank looked like someone had just told him he was going to die. "You mean were going into the city. With the Covenant. Are you crazy? They'll kill us."
Derrick turned to look at him. He had forgotten the man was even there. "Hey, we need to learn to adapt. I suggest you start real quick if you want to live. We are leaving tomorrow wether you come or not. Now everybody get some rest, your going to need it tomorrow."
Frank just stared at Sunner as he walked away.
0730 hours, January 18, 2553 (Military Calendar)
Somewhere in the city, New York City
Planet Earth, Milkyway System
Officer Frank followed closely behind the pack of marines. They had left early in the mourning without any type of breakfast. If he was at home ha would have still been sleep. He open his mouth let out yawn. He was carrying a Battle Rifle from the marines and his police issued M6C Pistol in its holster.
He could feel the wind blowing across the now empty city. He could see it lifting and spreading the dust and trash that it kicked up.
He wished that somebody would say something. It was just too quiet for him. They had just been invaded by an alien race and nobody was out fighting them. He didn't blame them any, because he didn't want to be there either. But it was strange how empty the city seemed.
After half an hour they heard the roar of an engine slowly growing. When they reached the corner they saw were the sound was coming from. In the distance heading towards them was a black motorcycle. The rider's black helmet gleamed in the sun as he sped towards them.
The motorcycle was not the only sound that reached his ears. A chill flowed down his spine as he heard the unmistakable hum of a Covenant vehicle.
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