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Battlefield 2552 by John Morris
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Looking Back to Move Foward
Date: 28 April 2003, 3:27 AM
Battlefield 2552
I can't remember before it all began, it's a memory that I dearly wish to retrieve, but fail to grasp at every waking moment of my life. It had been 6 years ago that my services had been called upon to aid the colonies in their struggle against the threat to man kind. I was Idealistic, even cocky, which is something I look upon ashamed to this day of my life. Not even all the battle ribbons and metals, which decorate my dress uniform, consol me when I look upon the dying face of my fellow brothers in arms, calling in pain for the loved ones that they will leave behind, the ones that will feel the longer anguish that will scare a permanent mark onto their hearts. My family was part of the fallen, murdered while I sat aboard a frigate some 16 light years away, unbeknownst to me, the UNSC had known of the impending invasion and had turned a blind eye. After learning of the travesty from a fellow officer, I became for the longest time bitter, apparently Solace, the place where I was born and raised, held little value to the top UNSC brass, opting to precede with the usual mandate, protecting the "High Priority Colonies."
Looking back on it now, in on one of the few occasions I get to do so, I suppose I can somewhat see the justifications to their actions. Solace had little to no resources to benefit the dire needs of the UNSC war machine as they continued to their rapid retreat closer to Earth. 5 million people were annihilated, men, women, and children, the enemy showed no discretion, as I suppose they never had nor will. I had heard stories of heroism on that dying planet, my father being one of the main topics of discussion, my best friend Corporal James Vanderveer had grown up with me on Solace and he fought alongside of the small group of Marines who did defend their planet. Even as their numbers dwindled they fought on bravely, outnumbered, outgunned and overpowered, James and the remaining units had been forced to retreat, he said that my father continued to aid the wounded on the planet even as the last evacuation ships departed.
It doesn't surprise me really, he had always been a remarkably strong man even in times of great hardship. As a member of the UNSC during the Galactic Civil War, He had learned respect, and dignity, which he had bestowed upon me. What things I do remember of him are minute in scale, such as him picking me up under his arms and flying me around the house making gun ship noises, before he would sit me down and tell me that I would one day make a great pilot just as he had been. The Irony of that statement still gets to me, I was arrogant, deciding to become a Leatherneck, telling him that Marines were workhorses and that pilots were just for mop up, often a source of great debate in our household before I shipped out.
I do however remember the last thing he said to me before... well before he died.
"Son" he told me "Stay safe, I will see you again." I had just smiled and nodded my head, something I hated myself for years down the road. Two days later the Covenant armada struck, I can't imagine what they must have went through, and quite frankly I don't care to. My fathers death I had come to understand through my years as being "Part of the job" as he always put it, but my mother and sister? It just didn't make sense to me, the caring loving ones of society brutalized. My sister, 10 at the time still slept with her plush animals, always asking when I would return, someone she looked up to, a role model for her dreams that would never be realized.
Now a majority of the colonies lay decimated, God only knows how many innocents died in the Aliens wake, but I would feel like I fell short if I were to say in the hundreds of millions. War is hell, I had always taken this statement lightly, believing that only the cowards would say such a thing, but upon my baptism under fire, I came to know that fraise to be the truth, as I looked upon the man I had trained with and roomed with for 3 years, watching as he struggled for every breath he could draw in, coughing up blood as he pleaded for help, the plasma score burning a hole through his chest. I sat by his side for as long as I could, clasping his hand until I was forced to the front of the lines leaving him to die. I would never find out if his body had been recovered, or left to rot for the entire two weeks before the planet was glassed.
It had been a rude awakening to me, life had been precious at one point , but now it was just another thing wasted. As I had risen through the ranks, I had been increasingly desensitized to the violence around me, and the casualties that were bound to ensue. Soon I was commanding my own squad, leading my own men to die, their deaths resting squarely upon my chest, but what doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger. I wish I could become a machine in a way, my heart incased in rock, incapable of even the slightest prick, but there is always the case which at most will make me uneasy, I have learned to turn the sadness into anger, anger into strength, strength to keep me going. It is this, which I call upon now, and every time of uncertainty to make it through the ordeal, and to mourn later as I reflect, as a survivor.
That's why I'm one of the best, that's why I was chosen for this mission. I am not careless, senseless, or stupid, I am not a genetically enhanced super soldier capable of dispatching entire armadas with a single wave of my hand. I am just an average soldier with a nack for getting out or jams, and fighting for the cause, with a bit of skill and a lot of luck I make it from fight to fight, Praying to see the end of this war. It is this strength I call upon now to continue this fight, to make me through this mission, As I crouch in the bushes peering out at my men, the M5Ab clenched in my hands the only lifeline I trust. I am reminded of one thing, I'm only human, I'm 1st Lieutenant James Walker Page, 32nd Marine Jump Division, Wolf Brigade, and I'm here to win.
Battlefield 2552 first Clash of a New Campaign
Date: 29 April 2003, 4:16 PM
Battlefield 2552
First Clash of a New Campaign
(the sequel to Looking Back to Move Foward)
The snow seemed to fall in thick sheets, blanketing the ground in a solid white layer that look as if it to continue to rise; the comforting reflection upon my past had left my mind, leaving only room for the thought of the here and now. My Marines were ready, each one skilled in their field, each one deadly. I stared at Private 2nd Class Tim Johnson, a new recruit from the UNSC training grounds on Earth. He shivered in the cold, clouds of vapor blowing from his nose as he exhaled each breath nervously. It had been several hours now, waiting for the signal to arrive, approving our evacuation. Johnson listened carefully; acting is if he were prey, I suppose we all could have been. He peered left and right, shaking off the near inch of snow, which had accumulated on all of us.
The cold titanium plates pressed against my chest leaving cold spots where they sat. My fingers had been numb for a half hour, the tingling sensation disappearing, and the early stage of frostbite setting in. I looked down at them; pulling off my gloves I noticed that the tips were purple and curled around my weapon. I slowly moved my right hand, the tingling sensation returning. Reaching into my pockets I removed two hand warmers that I had been saving for later, Screw it I thought to myself. Breaking the seal I allowed the two chemicals to mix, releasing their energy.
I pulled the gloves back over my hands and added the packs back into them. After a few moments, the warmth had returned the feeling to my fingers and once more I clutched my weapon. Winter on this planet had played hell on everything; the crops and natural resource exports had been shut down for quite some time yet the UNSC still found it an important area to safe guard. Up above the battle raged on in space, I watched as streaks of hot plasma flew towards UNSC ships, which returned the fire with Archer missiles and nuclear explosives. I frowned as another UNSC ship burned up in the atmosphere of the giant planet, thousands of lives lost due to a single hit, their screams of agony echoing over the Comm. Transmitter. I turned the volume down on the radio, any moment now the planet could be overrun, our only escape cut off.
Five elites sat in the open of the broad Ice Lake, the silhouettes of their 8 ft figures stretching for some 30 feet beyond the camps light source. Johnson grabbed my shoulder, initially I ignored it, but he persisted, until I acknowledged his presence. Terror rested within his eyes.
"What is it?" I asked him as I watched the young man before me fidget
"Sir." He said worriedly "We're losing, UNSC drop ship missions are going to be scrubbed." He gulped, obviously unsettled by the notion.
"Our drop ship is on it's way don't worry." I tried my best to assure him, but I felt as if I had failed at least in that aspect. I had never been one for the emotional support, but for now it seemed to have work, he nodded his head, and returned to his position. The elites paced across the ice, one slipping as it moved along the glossy surface. I watched intently, counting down the time before we would leave. My radio clicked on, a message coming through on the secure line.
"Alpha, Bravo, Lancer evacuation ETA thirty seconds." I sat up from my resting position against a large fern tree, brushing off the thin white powder in the process. I waved my left hand in mid air, signaling the snipers on the hill to take their shots.
A few fleeting moments passed, in the distance the lights from the pelican drop ships rapidly closed in on the ice lake. I watch devotedly at the targets, impatiently waiting for my men to fire, I felt like rushing them, but I knew they were professionals in their field, waiting for the ample opportunity in which to take the shots. The woodlands surrounding the ice lake made it near impossible for the enemy to see us, but I trusted that my men were prepared for any potential show of aggression, as they had been in prior engagement. The white streaks burst from the hilltops, acquiring the one shot one kill that so many snipers train for, two elites fell, the 20mm shell piercing their shield and skulls. The others glimpsed around vigilantly now, alert to our presence. Two more vapor trails materialized from my snipers location, followed by one more quick shot, flattening the remaining enemy.
Standing up, I waved to my men as the Pelicans circled overhead, preparing to touch down. The two sleek aircraft hydraulics on their landing stilts hissing as they stabilized the craft. Walking to the edge of the lake I glanced around, before waving my men to follow. The snow that had crunched under my feet had now turned to solid Ice, which echoed through the plain. I turned and crouched down waiting for my men to reach safety. A year ago when I attended Officer Candidate School, and took to heart the phrase "The First One In, The Last One Out." My men continued to approach, setting up a pattern of a crisscross maneuver, something only taught to Special Forces, which I had taken and implemented upon my crew. Johnson knelt beside me, aiding me in my efforts.
The Marines had all boarded the craft now, for the exception of the snipers who had just reached the ice lake some hundred yards away. We were almost to safety, a perfect mission, no casualties, but all did not go as planned. Johnson was the first to see it, the snipers had climbed into the Pelican, but we now were to far out, by some 50 ft. He yelled and pointed to the squadron of Banshees as they flew in to attack, screaming as they closed in on us.
"Run" I yelled emphatically, lifting Johnson to his feet we bolted to the Pelicans, which were preparing to leave. Johnson tripped and I slid forward on the ice, coming to rest on the rear-landing skid. I watched the young Marine struggle to get up, as the streams of radiant blue plasma showered down from above. I wanted to run out, to help as once more he fell, only to be held back by a crew chief. Pulling a lever, the back of the ship began to seal closed, yet allowing enough time to watch the plasma splash over his back and listen to his excruciating screams of pain, before the ship became dark and silent except for the humming of the engine as the crafts lifted off flying in formation to the decimated UNSC fleet. Once more I had made it, but knew this was just the beginning, and the road ahead would be long and treacherous. As I sat down, the red lights illuminating my face, I realized something, survival was not guaranteed.
Battlefield 2552: Road to Redemption
Date: 4 May 2003, 11:58 PM
Battlefield 2552:
Road to Redemption
The trip back to the UNSC Iron Eagle was perhaps, the most sullen time I had experienced since my families death. I clasped my hands and placed my head in-between them. Maybe I was tired more than anything, or maybe I was dreading the call to Johnson's wife and 8-month-old child he so often bragged about before this mission. I never understood why I always lived, in situations when most would die, I would leave with a scratch, forced to push their faces to the back of my mind, forgetting their existence so I would not live in turmoil.
Yawning, I leaned back in my seat, looking out the porthole to my right; the conflict had temporarily been postponed; yet the damage was extensive. Multiple UNSC frigates sat crippled, some missing large sections of hull which floated in orbit nearby, I peered back at the white orb which we were leaving, so peaceful from our distance, but knowing to well about the chaos on the surface. So many lives lost, so many still to be lost. I always felt that each action I made, had an effect on the outcome of this war, even if it was just a minute incidence. One more alien killed, meant one less to fight on, one more escaped, meant another threat in the future. It was in this form of thinking that kept me going, giving me some solace in my actions.
"Touchdown in five" the pilot called back to us. I acknowledged him with a nod of my head followed by sitting down and clipping my belt. Soon we would be safe, out of harms way or at least for the moment. In the distance, the lights of the docking bay approached, and the electronic hum of the landing skid descending filled the ship, before we touched down with a rumble. The red hull lights turned green and the back of the ship opened, I was the last to leave, calmly walking off the Pelican's rear ramp with a metal clang as I crossed the steel grating. My sleeping quarters rested between A and B deck, a kind of transition floor, not even designated on the ships blueprints, reserved for Marine officers.
Swinging my MA5B assault rifle over my arm, I headed to the lift at the far corner of the Hangar. A Warthog ATV pulled up and the driver asked if I needed a ride probably due to my sorry condition. Without hesitation, I jumped aboard, riding the remaining 300 yards to the Elevator in a short time. Upon arrival, I quickly hopped out and thanked the driver who did not reply. I shrugged my shoulders and pressed the button to head up to B deck; from there, I would access a staircase to make the rest of my trip up, since the elevator didn't stop on my floor. To my surprise and benefit, the door immediately slid open, something that rarely happened on a ship of 7'000 inhabitants. A man half way across the room waved and called for me to hold the lift but I ignored his pleas, aggravated by his request, opting instead to hurry the door close button.
So I rode alone for six minutes, watching as the lights flickered on and off in the tiny elevator, until it came to rest with a ping. I exited the small enclosure and made my way straight to the staircase, which was engulfed in darkness, each step I made, reverberated off the concrete floors and echoed through the close walls. The flight of stairs was no larger than fifteen steps, but seemed to be longer, much longer, as each time my foot hit the ground, a searing pain shot through my head. Slowly I reached the top and opened the door to a dark hall, which was only lit by several white light bulbs spaced some 15ft apart each. My room was the first on the right and was rather small compared to other officers; to make things worse I had a roommate who always had a tendency to leave her belongings about.
I quietly swung the door open in case she was asleep, luckily she wasn't. Flipping on the lights, I squinted as my eyes struggled to adjust. I dimmed them somewhat and found it easier to handle. Removing my helmet I placed it on the on the counter in the cramped bathroom, which contained a toilet, shower stall and sink within a 4X6 room. I looked into the mirror, my own image staring back at me as if I was mocking myself; I ran a hand through my short brown hair, which once again needed a trim. I slowly turned on the faucet and washed the soot from my face, watching as the mix of dirt and blood rolled down the drain.
Pulling off the armor plaiting from my uniform, I piled it onto the floor and walked over to my bed, flipping off the light switch before I crashed unto the firm mattress. Although the room temperature was around a warm 80degrees I pulled the quilt over my body and curled into the fetal position, trying still to warm up from my stay on the Ice Planet. It was now 23:05, if I awoke seven it would allow a good nights rest, setting my alarm I fell asleep.
The lights turning on in the room awakened me with a jolt, my pupils rapidly retracted from the light, and I quickly retreated my head under the covers. I checked my watch 6:30 becoming aggravated I bit down on my bottom lip, something I often did when I was frustrated. Suddenly I watched as the covers were stolen from my body. I groaned and sat up straight bracing my back against the Cerulean blue wall that my bed cornered against. I flashed a glance at the attacker that sat at the end of my bed brushing her teeth. She was a fair burnet haired woman with a striking figure and green eyes that sat upon a rounded face, yet sometimes I loathed her. At first I assumed UNSC Co-ed rooming specifications would be a decent proposition, and I eagerly volunteered, now I longed for a male roommate, who wasn't so damn energetic.
"Rise and shine." She said happily, I smile crossed my face but was one of utter sarcasm. She returned the favor, not realizing the frustration behind mine.
"What the hell" I whined, "I was going to sleep until seven." I fell back onto the bed.
"Oh well, it's close enough." She obviously didn't realize how important a half hour of sleep was. I tried to ignore her, only to be tugged on persistently.
"Fine!" I gave in; Ellie O'Connor always seemed to win for the exception of once when I refused to move at all. Pulling myself to the edge of the bed I swung my legs over the side letting them hit the cold floor. Rubbing my sore eyes I once more yawned before standing. She patted me on the back, quickly I pulled away, gathering my armor off the floor and reattaching to my clothing. Grasping the helmet under one arm and clipping my combat belt with my right hand, I pulled the weapon from the floor and tossed it over my shoulder. She stared at me politely, before she resumed her aggravating rant.
"You want to eat?" She requested.
"No" I gruffly replied
"You sure."
"Yes."
"Cause I'll pay." I became exasperated; walking to the bathroom I slammed the door behind me. I wanted to shave but was stuck looking for my razor, which ended up in the shower. I exhaled, trying to relieve some stress; I turned on the cool water, and began to cut the dense layer of whiskers away from the rigged contour of my face. My eyes, which were normally green, now had red streaks running through them. I shook my head, sleep deprivation showed, and I didn't want to seem disheveled when I spoke to widow of Johnson. Quickly brushing my teeth I almost had made it out of the room when she spoke again.
"Sorry I had to use your razor, I couldn't find mine." She told me softly as if it were no big deal. My face turned a vivid crimson, as I tried to hold back the rage. It was bad enough that I had to share a room with a female Navy who didn't understand the value of sleep, but it was worse to have one who stole my belongings. I clenched my hand into a fist, turning my knuckles, which turned white. I wanted to tell her off, tell her to just shut up, but I only managed to say:
"It's ok, I'll get another one." She smiled her bright smile, and waved goodbye. Turning down the hallway that now buzzed with men, I walked to the chapel that housed the system, which I could contact Johnson's wife. I entered the holy area, conscious of my surroundings as the multi color illumination gleam from the roof. Removing a plastic card from my pocket, I typed the co-ordinance of his wife into the system. Placing the Type 5 Titanium helmet unto the table, I grasped both hands together. The screen in front of me flickered on and the image of a short blonde haired woman in her early twenties appeared clutching a child.
"Hello." She greeted me as she bounced the baby on her knee entertaining it, the small boy cooed and smiled.
"Mrs. Johnson, I regret to inform you that your husband, Private Second Class Tim Blair Johnson was killed in the line of duty yesterday at 20:00 hundred hours, while serving on the planet Sirius. The UNSC sends full gratitude to your family and those left behind." I was a bastard, my nonchalant tone made me sound heartless as if I didn't care, normally after those speeches we would flip off the screen and let them to fend for themselves, but this time I continued to watch, breaking several UNSC codes. She remained calm, something I would not expect from a woman who just lost her husband. The baby stirred, drool seeping from the side of it's mouth as he giggled.
"He was a good man, and friend." I was lying to an extent, I hardly knew him, and he was hardly a man, still to young in my opinion to be dead. I watched as she pushed the long blond hair from her face, an attribute she and her son shared.
"I lost my brothers also." She said calmly "and no one ever stayed on this long or said anything after the initial news."
"Excuse me ma'am, what do you mean by that?" I was caught off guard.
"Never mind." she said "it just meant a lot." She smiled, and I flipped off the monitor, the holopanel disappearing completely, leaving me in a leather chair with an empty room. Another layer of rock had compiled onto my heart, I snapped my fingers together and stood, Walking back out into the bright hallway, my radio buzzed.
"All Jump divisions report to your appointed docking bays at once, this is not a drill." I ground my teeth, the warning that once had sent my heart racing, now liberated me from the depths of the unknown. Conflict was once again on the horizon, and I had decided to take the road to redemption, the road to revenge. And now as I walked once more down the large corridor, Ellie following close behind me, I just smiled, and squeezed into my rifle, the friend who I would once more call on to bring me home.
Battlefield 2552: Back to Hell
Date: 7 July 2003, 3:07 AM
Battlefield 2552
Back to Hell
The safety clamps locked in over my shoulders with a thud and a series of metallic clanks, the tiny pelican drop-ship shuttered under the force of the thrusters as we went from a normal environment to zero G in a matter of minutes. The pelican was half empty, an idealist would say it was half-full, but not many had seen the covenant armada up close. Ellie leaned forward in cockpit and pushed the thrusters, I gritted my teeth so they wouldn't shatter from the force of the propulsion. I watched as The UNSC Iron Eagle disappeared, and Solace grew closer the glowing white orb, growing large in the viewport. I leaned my head back, our squadron had been called to evacuate the planet, and sure enough, the superiors knew in who they could trust, I was one of those elite few, a member of the Wolf Brigade.
An ODST private sat next to me, a frown of utter discontent was etched like stone on his face. Those members of ODST, in my view, were arrogant bastard's, fighting how they saw fit even with a superior officer in command, they were loyal to the cause. I at one point had been accepted into the ranks, but denied myself the opportunity, this way I knew I could help as long as possible, instead of joining a suicide outfit. I crammed a new rifle into my weapon, and ripped the hammer back, grinning at the clicking of the MA5B chambering a new round of ammunition. The young soldier looked at me precariously, I returned the favor in a more demeaning manner.
The Pelican broke hard port, causing me to be caught by the foam encased titanium bars that surrounded my shoulders. A searing score of plasma from a covenant cruiser shot past the nimble space craft. The young marine bared his teeth and yelled up to the pilot
"Damn-it fly the ship straight you bitch!" Ellie responded with the finger, which further aggravated the young ODST troop, but seemed to shut him up. A nearby Pelican took a hit, turned red, then evaporated into space, no screams were uttered, they had no time to. Pressing the release button on my harness, I approached the cabin and watched from the cockpit, Two cruisers were in hot pursuit of the squadron of friendly dropships.
"Why are they following us!" I said yelling over the roar of the engines. Ellie shrugged and flipped several switches, her normally vibrant green eyes were somehow now dull, focused on one thing, getting us to the surface alive. She guided the craft through a field of wrecked UNSC frigates, one unfortunate Marine bounced off the front of the ship, apparently he had been sucked out into space during the Naval battle. It was a Marines worst fear, dying in space, and not being able to do a thing about it. For a moment we had lost sight of the pursuing covenant vessel, only to have it surprise us as it burst through the wreckage, flaring it's shields a brilliant yellow.
"Holy Shit." A marine yelled.
A glow became evident along the side of the gargantuan monster, An explosion rippled along the hull of the ship and sent it tumbling, a cheer echoed over the comm transmission as a squadron of Longsword fighters blazed over our 12 o'clock.
"Flight Group Delta, this is Bravo Lance, your clear to descend planet side we'll deal with this little inconvenience."
I allowed a brief grin to cross my face, Ellie lifted the nose of Delta 1 skyward to avoid the remnants of a crippled UNSC Battleship, I had little time to react, and before I could brace myself, I had fallen back against the rear bulk head. My world began to spin and an ever increasing ring drown out the other sounds inside the craft, then everything went dark.
Solace: Planet side
0800 hours UNSC Time
Area: Hostile
The same ring that dominated my hearing before I blacked out, was the same that brought me back. The familiar cold of Solace once again enveloped my body, and I struggled dizzily to bring myself to stand. Sounds of plasma echoed in the distance, something I had also gotten used to over the years of service. I reached up and was surprised to feel a bandage wrapped around my head, blood still emanated from the gash on my head. I shrugged and checked my area, the once large metropolis of Hailin lay decimated after weeks of assault, pandemonium ruled the streets of the city as marines fought a gallantly struggle to hold off the oncoming storm long enough for evacuation of the citizens. Grabbing an Assault Rifle from the feet of a wounded marine, I approached a command tent nearly 50 meters away.
Pulling the flap up I entered the hut, 2 marines stood guard and quickly asked for my identification, apparently the ODST were also fanatics at guarding headquarters from their own kind. Reluctantly I removed my identification card, and was allowed through. The area was full of activity, for the exception of one area where a noncom and a Vice Admiral were directing battle plans. The older man looked up his face, rugged and unshaved, he waved me over, and I did as directed, standing at attention, the general waved a hand.
"At ease son, all hell is breaking loose down here, so don't worry about the formalities." I agreed with the superior officer, and allowed myself to become lenient. "Although the UNSC won't admit it, Solace is a lost cause, and that's why we're here. Propaganda on Earth says that our forces are winning, be it couldn't be further from the truth. So it's our job to get as many people out of here as possible, and then, get our ass out too." I nodded my head, not sure what to think yet. "Chief Peterson, give us a sidrep." The ODST noncom stood, it was apparent that he had been through hell as he traversed the side of the table.
"Currently, the UNSC evac. squads are spread around 20 large cities, 15 of which are preparing to dust off, leaving 3 city that are beyond our help, 1 where our forces were completely decimated, and here, our last footing on this planet."
"Very well Master Chief, what do you have planned." The Vice Admiral folded his hands across his chest and listened to the marines presentation.
"Sir I believe if we redirect all ODST troops here and the outlining areas we can ward off this assault for at least 5 days, my men are up for it." he pointed the topographical map of Hailin and the surrounding areas. "If we place a squad of snipers in those mountains and armor in the city, we will hold out for quite some time." The Admiral looked at me as he rubbed the scruff of his chin.
"Well what do you think Lieutenant Page?" he looked me squarely in the eyes, and I knew that, even against the principle of disagreeing with a seasoned veteran, I had to tell the truth.
"It's absolutely insane." I replied "The Covenant will over run this planet in a matter of time, even if we can fortify this area, that allows them to focus all of their resources on Hailin, and with anti aircraft batteries surrounding the city, followed by a Covenant armada of tanks, troops, dropships, you'd be lucky if you lasted 5 hours after the incursion began." While the Superior officer took in the facts, the noncom went on the offensive.
"You arrogant prick, you know that my men are up to the challenge, Admiral we can do this, we're hell-jumpers, not some Wolf Brigade pansies." He huffed and shot me a look of utter discontent.
"Sorry to tell you Peterson, while you may be up to it, even if your hell-jumpers are up to it, you still rely on those pilots up in the dropships, and if you think their going to come in when the landing zones are overrun with the Covenant, think again." I said in a sharply.
"Well than what do you propose son?" Admiral Kimmel asked in reply.
"Yeah what do you propose." Chief Peterson interjected hoping to catch me off gaurd.
My face remained nonchalant, but inside I smirked. Drawing myself nearer to the holo-panel map of Solaces outlining area I pointed to an area which Covenant forces were thin.
"We attack here, an all out frontal attack, once their forces are decimated it will force them to face the threat head on, their by taking pressure off this city for a short time."I took a breath and waited for a reaction.
"Interesting son, but we don't have the supplies." Kimmel said, I watched as Peterson put his hands on his hips, nearly assured of his plans acceptance with the Admiral.
"I understand sir, but we don't need them, 6 platoons of Marines would do, maybe with some flight cover from Bravo Lance, make them think we have more than we actually do. If we take control of that area, it could cause them to delay the attack, and while they regroup outside that area a few pelicans waiting nearby will fly the diversion team out, give us more time to evacuate, and thereby reduce casualties." I exhaled hopefully he would accept it.
"Alright son I like it, nice work." Kimmel said in applause.
"Sir it will never pass, they'll know it and those poor guys out there will be crushed to pieces, give me the task and I will not let you down." he desperately tried to change the captains mind to no avail.
"Peterson, you're a good man, but unfortunately if your wrong."
"but..."
"No buts son, if you say those men out there would be crushed, imagine a division of ODST troops surrounded by a whole Covenant army, risky or not this is the better way, Lt. Page Intel and I will plan this thing, would you mind supervising evacuation around here?" He asked.
"Not at all, not at all." I assured him.
"Oh and Peterson, your ODST boys can preform distraction duty." The Chief nodded helplessly at the commanding officers orders.
I left the tent with a renewed sense of confidence, knowing that with my idea, more men would live to fight another day. Pulling the blood soaked bandage off my head, I replaced it with a standard issue helmet before walking out into the cold. Snow once again began to fall in thick white sheets, nearly obscuring my vision, to a mere 25ft, still the sounds of battle pierced through the early morning air. It would get louder as I trotted towards the front lines.
Solace: City side
1000 hours UNSC Time
Situation: Explosive
What wasn't white from snow, was crimson from blood I took the time to kneel next to a Marine and hold his hand as he slipped from life. The soldier was nearly severed in half, his intestines spilling over onto the snow. More were out there, and as I pried my hand away from the clenched hands of the young man, I ripped the dog tags from his neck. Another member from the Wolf Brigade ran up and grabbed my shoulder tightly, pulling me up to the wall of a edifice behind some fallen rubble, just as a volley of plasma shot down the street.
"Sir, we're in shit shape sir, a Covenant shade is holding us up, and those bastards won't let go."
I looked at him, biting my bottom lip, something I often did when thinking of a new plan.
"Charge it." I said
"That's crazy, no that's suicide." he protested.
"I know you wasted valuable time waiting for me to get here for something as simple as that."
He nodded "well what would you do then?" he yelled trying to be heard over the roar of weapons fire.
I pointed over to a butt caused from debris,
"Put a sniper there, get two rocket troops place them on either side of the road, it's only about 16 feet wide, the rockets have an effective range of 50, put fire about..." I waited for the shade to shoot again so I could see where the plasma emerged. "65 meters out, then increase range if needed." I got onto my knees and patted him on the back.
Walking into the building on my right I headed up a flight of stairs to the temporary battlefield command center.
"Officer on deck." A Marine shouted as the others snapped to salute.
"At ease damn-it, I don't want a plasma suppository because some trigger happy elite wanted to add an officer to the notch of his gun." there was an uncomfortable laughter as they returned to work. I tapped the nearest Intel advisor on his back.
"How's the plan going." he held up a finger gesturing that I wait a moment, and I did so until he turned to face me sullen look on his face.
"ODST forces have taken grid 8 and are waiting for a response, Covenant radio traffic is up, but we can't be sure yet, the city is almost evacuated, but the evac ships can't leave until, well until the defenses have been exponentially reduced. Charlie squad tried to dust off and was nearly anahiliated." The Soldier put his headset back on and turned his back on me to resume work, It was going to be a long day.
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