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A Soul of Steel: Part 5
Posted By: The Scribe<nero@cinci.rr.com>
Date: 5 November 2003, 2:15 AM
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Note: It's probably a good idea that you read the other Soul of Steel Chapters (1-4). Thanks.
It was very disappointing news when I found out that I would be in the group who would assault the Covenant convoy. My pal Bradford had been assigned as well and that was probably the only good thing about it. Some people in my group were happy that they didn't have to go and fight the enemy's other army of two-hundred soldiers, but I figured that my assigned group would get a little of both action because there were bound to be Covenant troops assigned with the convoy.
I walked up to Captain Edward at dinner that night.
"How exactly are we going to get to this goddamn convoy?" I asked him.
"We don't have any weapon equipped 'Hogs right now, but we do have nine Transport Hogs, which carry eight people each. That should be quite enough to get your group of 23 there."
"Twenty three?" I asked, surprised. "But I thought that only the six of us that came from Polaris were here."
"Oh, no. Four other ships carrying a total of 36 troops will arrive at about midnight tonight. It should be an efficient number of Marines."
"Oh," was all I had to say. I sat back down and ate up, knowing that I probably wouldn't have a lot to eat the next couple of days. The next morning, we were setting out for the convoy.
That night, I slept deep. I woke up for only a couple of minutes when I heard the four ships arrive, carrying our other men with them. The just-arrived Marines had already eaten and immediately reported to bed.
The next morning, I woke up. Everyone began to dress and report outside in the camp's small courtyard. Captain Edwards was there waiting for us. We all formed a straight line in front of him and stood at attention.
"I know that the sun is just rising, and that a man can be groggy at this time, but you better wake the hell up, men, because most of you are going to die today."
The Captain's words hit me like a ton of bricks. He had said most.
"Right now, I want the convoy assault team to listen. These are the drivers: Davis- Hog 1, Clark- Hog 2, Myers- Hog 3, Cruise- 4, Luis- 5, Aarons- 6, Smith- 7, Hart- 8, and Payton- 9. The rest of you, just pick a hog to get in. Now, move out. You're driver's already know the route to take."
I knew the trip should've been easy. After all, 114 was made of nothing but pretty much a few small lakes, green grass and a few hills here and there. I hopped up and into the point hog, the one who would be leading the chain of Warthogs. The driver, Davis, hopped in and my pal, Bradford, hopped into the passenger's seat. I moved over to the seat behind Bradford's, so that I could chat awhile. Seven unfamiliar Marines hopped in next to me and waited.
Captain Edward voice crackled in everyone's helmet radios.
"Everyone ready for go?" he asked.
No one said a word.
"Then go!" Edward shouted.
Davis hit the gas, sending the Hog forward. All of the others behind us followed.
"This is your point man, Jack Davis," Davis radioed. "ETA to convoy: 2 and one half hours."
"God, I love these things," Bradford said, tapping on the Warthog's speedometer. It read 80 mph, which was a nice speed and probably would get us to the convoy. It was still pretty dim outside and chilly.
Lots of chitchat went back and forth over the radio waves.
One of the drivers, Louis, said, "Hey, Captain, how's the other group doing?"
Edward's end crackled, "They're fine so far. ETA for them is about an hour and a half."
Those two hours and that one half seemed to blow by, and there we were, right at the bottom of a large hill, the Warthogs idol.
"They should be here," Davis radioed. "There's not a goddamned thing."
Suddenly, a huge blue ball of energy soared over the top of the hill and plunged into the tail gate of the Hog behind us. The blue ball exploded, throwing limbs and shards of metal everywhere. After the blue energy cleared, nothing was left, but two tires and a big crater, that at the bottom of, rested the rest of the Warthog.
The awful sound of someone screaming pierced my ears and I looked over to see a Marine, burnt beyond recognition, climbing out of the hole. His clothes contained big, gaping holes and his flesh was wrinkled, some of it still melting and dripping from his body, revealing bright pink muscle from underneath.
"Please!" he shouted. "Oh, God! Somebody help meeee!"
Someone in the third 'Hog stood up and aimed his assault rifle at the dying Marine. He fired and the screaming soldier stopped rested his head on the ground, finally in peace.
Another blue energy ball came whistling over.
"Shit!" Davis jumped out of the driver's seat and I leaped over the side of the Warthog. My feet hit the grassy ground and I began to sprint. The Warthog exploded. The loud boom blended in with the screams of some of the other Marines that had been riding with me. The first thing that hit my mind was Bradford. I turned and looked back. Bradford was crawling from the bright fire made by the explosion. He stopped looked down towards his waist and began to scream. It was one of the worst sounds I had ever heard. Bradford began to hit his hands on the ground and scream louder and louder. Suddenly, he threw up a large amount of blood and died, resting his head in the crimson puddle. When I got closer I could tell why Bradford had screamed so much. His left half had been blown off. It had to have been a horrible death.
I looked back towards the big hill to see three Wraith tanks, in a wedge formation come pouring over the top. Four ghosts followed it. The Marines from the other Hogs jumped from their vehicles and began firing. One of the Ghosts' body was filled with holes and exploded, sending its driver flying through the air.
I was pissed. And I did the only thing I thought of doing...I charged.
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