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Attack On Earth by Firestorm



Take Back Phoenix
Date: 11 May 2004, 1:26 AM

Authors Note: To understand some parts of this story you may need to read Evolution.


April 19, 2555
12:27pm
Phoenix, Arizona-USA


      Private Justin Ram wiped the sweat from his face as he walked through the town with three marines. He held tightly onto his M90 Shotgun afraid that they may be attacked by the enemy. With him was Lance Corporal Fargo Young, a heavy weapons specialists, carrying a M19 SSM Rocket Launcher and a M90 Shotgun for a sidearm, Private Richard Dwight, a sharpshooter, carrying a S2 AM Sniper Rifle and a M6D pistol for a sidearm, and Private Samuel Huggens, an electronic expert, carrying a MA5B Assault Rifle and his laptop.
      Five hours ago Phoenix's UNSC Marine Base had been attacked by a large group of Covenant. The base was caught off guard and was quickly defeated, but not before sending off a distress signal. Private Justin Ram arrived with 200 other Marines to retake the base. During the battle a small group of 20 Grunts, 13 Jackals, 7 Elites, 5 Brutes, and 2 Hunters escaped into the city. After the battle 100 of the Marines were sent into the city after them. Their only instructions were to eliminate the Covenant group and avoid civilian casualties. They split into groups of five to search the city.
      Their group already had one casualty when taking out three of the Grunts that got left behind. They knew that the enemy was not that far ahead. Around the next turn was the Phoenix Mall. Dwight took point and used his sniper rifle to check ahead of them.
      "You're right sir," said Dwight looking through the rifle,"they are inside the mall. Hey Sam you better call for backup."
      "Already ahead of you." Huggens said while opening a channel on his comm to al the other Marines. "This is Private Samuel Huggens from group 21. Covenant have been spotted inside of the Phoenix Mall. Request backup to position." Huggens waited while listening for a reply. "There on their way. They have requested that we wait for backup before engaging the enemy."
      Dwight kept on looking through his rifle. Through a window he could see a blue Elite with its back to him. He just hoped that the Elite didn't see them before reinforcements arrived.



      Nooslose stood by a window inside of the human building. His Field Commander had ordered a retreat when the human base they had just captured had received reinforcements. They lost many but he dose not care. Because they were weak they died. He considered his Field Commander weak for retreating.
      Nooslose turned around to look out the window behind him. What he saw nearly scared him out of his armor. On the street leading to the building they were hiding in was a small group of humans and one had a human sniper rifle aimed right at him. Nooslose quickly recovered from his shock and yelled out a warning to all of the other Covenant. "The humans are here."



      Private Richard Dwight watched the Elite as it turned around and looked out the window. When it saw them it had a look of fear on it's face but that look went away fast. It yelled a warning to the others and turned around and ran out of view. "Sir I think we've been spotted."
      "Damn." Lance Corporal Young cursed,"The reinforcements have not arrived yet. All right Marines prepare yourselves. They may come out here to greet us."
      No sooner has he said this the doors burst open and out come the two Hunters, Fuel Rod Gun already charging.
      "Everybody down!" yelled Private Ram while diving behind a car.
      Everyone else dove behind cover just as the Hunters fired. Both shots flew harmlessly through the air. Private Huggens popped up his cover behind a broken down wall and fired his AR at them. But the shots either missed or bounced off of their shields. Private Dwight used this detraction to aim at one of the Hunter's weak spot. He saw the bright orange neck showing and fired. The Hunter dropped dead forming a pool of orange blood. Lance Corporal Young fired a rocket at the other Hunter. It lifted it's shield to protect itself, but not even a Hunter's shield can stop a rocket. The Hunter was knocked back inside the mall. As the Hunter flew in a Brute came running out. It raised its bladed weapon in the air and charge forward. The Brute ran right for Private Ram. It swung its blade at Ram's neck. Luckily Ram was quick and dropped to the ground in time to the blow. While still on ground Ram quickly put one foot in front of the Brute's feet and he kicked it in the back with the other. It fell over and hit it's head on the ground. Ram placed his shotgun to the Brute's head and fired.
      Lance Corporal Young walked over to Ram and the Brute that no longer had a head. He held out his hand to help him up. "Nice work kid, but there is still more Covenant."
      "Thank you sir." Ram said as Lance Corporal Young helped him up.
      Just then the rest of the Marines came running around the corner. A man with a thick mustache walked up to Lance Corporal Young. He was Sergeant Josh Henderson but all the called him Spit Ball behind his back.
      "I thought I said not to attack yet." Sergeant Henderson said spitting with nearly every word he said. He was starring at the body of the Brute.
      "We had no choice sir we were attacked by two Hunters and a Brute so we had to defend ourselves. We also took out three Grunts." Lance Corporal Young said.
      "Good job any way." Sergeant Henderson said,"Now we don't have to worry about the Hunters. That leaves us with 17 Grunts, 13 Jackals, 7 Elites, and 2 Brutes against 100 Marines. I like the odds."
      "99 sir." Young corrected him,"We lost one on the way here."
      "Sorry to here that." said Sergeant Henderson,"All right men the Covenant are trapped inside the mall. I want groups 1 through 25 to move into the mall and groups 24 through 50 wait here to keep them from retreating. Now move out."
      Lance Corporal Young ran into the mall with the other Marines. The main path was empty, except for the charred remains of the Hunter. The Marines quickly moved through the mall checking every store they came to. Lance Corporal Young turned into a hardware store. He was followed by his group and another Marine. They searched quickly through isles. They found nothing in there so they turned to leave. On there way out Private Ram heard something. He held up his fist to signal everyone to stop then pointed to fingers to the right. They silently walked into the isle lined with circular saws. They walked all the way to the back and peeked around the corner. In the next isle were 3 Grunts and 2 Jackals.
      "We have 3 Grunts and 2 Jackals," Private Ram whispered so that only the others can hear him,"Who wants them?"
      Private Huggens walked over to a self and picked up six circular saws. "Leave them to me." he said and walked around the corner. Before the enemy could react to his presence he threw one of the saws. It cut right into the back of the first Jackal killing it. The second saw flew into a Grunts chest. The next one went right into a Grunts head going halfway through it. The forth saw went through the last Grunts mask causing it to leak methane gas. He threw the fifth one but it was blocked by the Jackals plasma shield. Private Huggens got an idea and through the last saw at the ground. The saw bounced off the ground creating sparks. The sparks ignited the methane gas making a huge explosion. The Jackal was killed and Private Huggens was blown back.
      The other Marines ran over to were Private Huggens was laying. "You all right Huggens." Lance Corporal Young asked him.
      "Yeah," said Private Huggens with a smile on his face,"I guess nobody will laugh at me being a frisbee throwing champion anymore."
      "You got that right." said Private Dwight helping him up.
      They left out the store and followed the sound of gunfire. They came up behind a group of 8 Grunts, 4 Jackals, 2 Brutes, and 3 red Elites. The marine with them rolled a grenade behind the Jackals and Lance Corporal Young fired a rocket at the Elites. The two groups were caught off guard and the Grunts ran around confused. The Brutes turned around to see who had flanked them and there backs were shredded by all the rounds fired into it from the other Marines. The left over Grunts were quickly taken care of. They regrouped and quickly moved down the hallway.



      Nooslose stood there in the humans building waiting for them. Though he dose not like his Field Commander he definitely agreed with his plan. He had set up the perfect trap. They were in a huge section of the building with only one entrance and two floors. The two Brutes were up top to shot down on the humans and keep them from getting snipers up there. The 7 Jackals will form a wall with there shields to hold back enemy fire while him, his Field Commander, and two other Elites fired over the Jackals. The six Grunts will flank the enemy. The plan was perfect. There was no way they could fail.



Victory
Date: 16 May 2004, 4:12 PM

      "Stay on your guard men." Sergeant Josh Henderson said to the Marines as they walked into a large section of the mall. There were two floors to this section so Sergeant Henderson sent some Marines to check up top. "All right, I want groups 1 through 10 to head up to the second floor and search for the Covenant." The ten groups broke off from the rest of the Marines and started to head up to the stairs. Sergeant Henderson led the rest of Marines towards the middle of the room. Suddenly they heard plasma fire from above. They looked up to see two Brutes attacking the groups of Marines. "Upstairs now!" Sergeant Henderson yelled running towards the stairs. Then from behind him came plasma fire. Three Marines dropped down dead and two more were injured. Before he yell for the Marines to take cover they were diving behind tables, chairs, benches, and any other cover they could find. Sergeant Henderson ducked be hind a trash can. He took a quick peek above the trash can and did a quick count. He dropped back down as plasma bolts flew over his head and slammed into the trash can. Seven Jackals and four Elites, he thought to himself, damn were are the Grunts at. Just as he finished his sentence six Grunts popped out from behind them and opened fire. Now Marines were dropping like flies. Sergeant Henderson activated his comm set for the other Marines outside,"Calling groups 26 to 50. Under heavy fire. Require immediate assistance. I repeat under heavy and require immediate assistance."



      Nooslose fire his Needler at another one of the humans. Fifteen needles hit him in the chest and five seconds later they exploded tearing a hole in his chest. Nooslose watched as the humans tried to fight back. They had not taken a casualty. Not even a Grunt. He knew that the Prophets would promote all of them for this victory. He pulled a plasma grenade off of his belt and through it at the humans. It stuck to a human that was running for new cover. Seeing the grenade him the human ran towards them. The grenade went off right in front of the Jackals front line. Four were killed and two lost there shields. The Jackals with out there shields were immediately killed by the humans. Nooslose soon started taken hits and shield was quickly losing power. He ducked behind a human plant in a huge bowl to let his shields recharge.
      Seeing that the Elites were taking fire the Brutes killed the last Marine and jumped over railing down to the bottom floor landing in the middle of the humans. They started using the blade on there weapon to attack the humans turning the tide of battle again.
      Nooslose came from behind his cover as soon as his shields were recharged. As he came around from behind his cover a grenade landed near a Jackal. Nooslose dove back behind the plant as the grenade went off. He heard the scream of the Jackal and an Elite that was to close flew over his head. He dropped his Needler and picked up the other Elites Plasma Rifle. He rose from behind the plant and opened fire on them. Two dropped instantly. Nooslose then heard a loud bang and saw one of Brutes fall with a hole in it's head. There was another loud bang and the other Brute fell. Nooslose looked down the hall to see more humans running in. One had a sniper rifle looking for another target. The Grunts were caught off guard by the assault from behind and were quickly killed. Nooslose then saw the sniper turn his rifle towards him. He heard the bang of the sniper rifle. He felt the round break through his shield and enter his abdomen. The pain was to much and he passed out.



      Private Samuel Huggens nearly cried when he saw the Brute standing over him ready to strike. Before it could swing there was a loud bang and it dropped down to the ground with a hole in it's head. He looked up to see wear the shot came from. Down the way that they entered the mall a Marine stood with a sniper rifle. He fired another shot and the other Brute feel dead. As soon as the Brute fell Marines came spilling into the room. The sniper fired one more shot and than pulled out his pistol and ran forward. Private Huggens turned to see the blue Elite fall dead. With new confidence he and the other fighting Marines ran from there cover. Private Huggens raised his assault rifle and started to fire at the Elites in front of him. The Grunts behind him were quickly taken out by the reinforcements.
      Private Huggens pulled a frag grenade off his belt and threw it towards the gold Elite. It dove out the way of the grenade rolled and came up on it's feet. The Elite then produced a Plasma Sword and charged the Marines. Lance Corporal young stepped up and fired a rocket right at the Elite. The rocket slammed into it's chest blowing the body into the far wall. The last Elite quickly fell to the fire from the Marines.
      A roar of cheers echoed through the mall. They had won back Phoenix.



      Nooslose watched as the dropship lowered to the ground. He had his hand over his wound to stop the lost of blood from his wound. The doors opened and he climbed aboard. The dropship started to lift off as he locked him self in. The doors closed making it very quiet giving him time to think.
      He thought to himself about the battle. How did they lose? They had a clear victory but had lost. The humans were quickly losing numbers. Then the reinforcements arrived. His Field Commander had not expected that. He could have predicted that and won the battle. Starting to feel weak Nooslose drifted off to sleep.

April 19, 2555
3:55pm
Marine Base, 2 miles out of Phoenix



      Lance Corporal Fargo Young stepped off the Pelican. He only had lost one member from his squad. As he stepped off the Pelican he saw a Marine walking over to him.
      "Lance Corporal Fargo Young?" the Marine asked.
      "Yes." Young answered looking at him.
      "Captain Gunter would like to see you and your squad in the conference room sir." said the Marine.
      "All right." Young said to the Marine and turned to his squad. "Private Ram, Private Dwight, Private Huggens, Captain Gunter has requested are presence in the conference room."
      Seven minutes later they were sitting in the conference room at a long table. The door opened and in walked a man in his late 40s with white hair. He numerous medals on his uniform.
      "Glad you could make it gentlemen." said Captain Gunter as they stood up at attention. "At ease."
      Captain Gunter walked to the head of the table and took a seat. "Well lets just get straight to the point. I believe you all know who Professor McCoy is."
      "He is inventor of nearly all of our most recent weapon, vehicle, and armor designs. He also built the ship for the Dragons." Private Huggens said.
      "Correct." said Captain Gunter. "We have intercepted Covenant transmissions with his name in them. We have not been able to find out what they want with him so we are sending in Marines to protect him. Your just one of the groups chosen to protect him. I also see you are missing one."
      "Yes," said Lance Corporal Young looking down at the table,"we lost one during our search for the missing Covenant sir."
      "Sorry to here that." Captain Gunter said,"Well have a replacement for you when you leave. Your departure time is at 0600 tomorrow." The Captain turned and left out of the room.
      "All right men go and enjoy yourselves tonight." Young said standing up,"Be ready to leave tomorrow. Dismissed."





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