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Just One Of Those Kind Of Days by Tyler



Ghostrider 5: Lt. Tyler Kent
Date: 9 November 2003, 11:51 PM

Specials thanks to Jillybean for letting me use her kick-ass character, Daxia. Much Love!

Briefing Room
UNSC Carrier Asunder
0600 Hours
In Orbit Around Saturn's Moon, Titan

"Attention! Commander on deck!" The fighter pilots of the Asunder came to silence and stood up in acknowledgement as Cmdr. Walken stepped into the spacious briefing room. "At ease," Cmdr. Walken said as the pilots sat back in their seats. "Alright gentlemen, we've just gotten word from the recon ship Endeavor that a small armada of Covenant ships consisting of two new types we've never seen. I'll let Norah take it from here." Norah, the carrier's battle A.I. appeared along with a display on the holo-board. "Currently, the Covenant are assembling their battle group on a base within the Western Hemisphere of Uranus," she said, her voice and body composition somewhat reminiscent of Cortana's. "They have managed to take out some of our beacons and small defense posts near the region. Now, about the new Covenant ships, they are designated as Our Faith Within and Blessed Be Thine. We are uncertain of their capabilities." The pilots all had a sense of worry due to the fact that they were going up against two unknown vessels. Norah continued, "Your mission is to intercept the armada and destroy them, simple enough. Four frigates will accompany you, the Ingraham, Jefferson, Garvey, and MacArthur. You will meet up with them at Waypoint Socom 5. That's all I've got to say, Commander."

Once the commander finished up what he had to say, the pilots were dismissed except for Lt. Tyler 'Sparky' Kent. A few of the pilots from the same wing he was a part of were also held back for more briefing. The commander addressed Tyler, "Son, you're one of the best Longsword pilots on board the Asunder." Tyler tried not to let this go to his head and make him even more cocky than he is. "Instead of your usual RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) we're giving you perhaps the next best thing. She..." Cmdr. Walken said a few more things but all Tyler could think of is 'she'. The others who stayed behind were thinking the same thing. A young woman stepped in decked out in full fighter pilot garb. "Lt. Kent, meet your new RIO, Daxia Ring." Tyler looked with a small smile at her and stuck his hand out, "Pleasure to meet you ma'am." Daxia stuck her hand out and responded with a nice English accent, "You too, and must ya call me ma'am? It makes me feel old." Everyone got a kick out of it.

"Go easy on 'er big man," Tyler's wingman, Lt. Aramis 'Dralion' Martinez joked. Daxia slid up next to Tyler as the and Aramis walked down the hall to their awaiting fighters, "Aww I dunno, I'm not the type who really likes it easy if ya know what I mean," she mused with a grin on her face. "I-I... Uh... well... damn..." Tyler turned from his normal caramel toned complexion to an almost cherry red. Those who heard the comments gave out hoots and catcalls. Daxia nearly keeled over laughing as she patted his shoulder. Tyler kept walking with a small nervous smile until he approached landing platform where all the fighters, interceptors, and Pelicans were parked awaiting their crews. He looked around flight deck within the Asunder, the newer Longshield single-pilot fighters rocketed out of the launch tube first. The Longshields had the same firepower of the Longswords but they were long with forward swept wings.

While Tyler did the once over around his Longsword checking for defects, he noticed Daxia chatting with Aramis. He vaguely looked over his shoulder but thought nothing of it. "So Rami, what's the deal with Tyler?" Daxia quietly asked. "Dunno, he almost never talks about his personal life... all I know is he may be young, but he's a hell of a pilot. Saved my ass a time or two, but he's pretty cool, you'll like 'em." Aramis replied as he checked the weapons bay on his Longsword. "Why you wanna know, chica... I-I mean, ma'am?" Daxia looked over towards Tyler, "dunno... he's bloody cute, in a kid sorta way. Anywho... see ya out there Rami." The two knocked helmets and Daxia walked over to the large interceptor. "Ready to go, kid?" she asked as she walked up the ramp." Tyler put his helmet on, "let's kick the tires and light the fires!" he said with a whole lot of glee in his voice.

"Preflight check... engines, go... radar, go... weapons delivery, go... avionics, go... atmospheric, go..." Daxia read over the preflight checklist as Tyler prepped for flight. He tuned the radios into traffic control and requested departure. "You strapped in Dax?" Tyler asked pronouncing 'Dax' more like Dash. She looked over with her sparkly blues. "You bet it am." She then made an announcement over the com: "Ladies and gentlemen currently the time is 7:30 Local time and we are off on a lil' duck hunt. Please put your meal trays in the upright and lock position and drinks will be served on how many Covies you kill... the more the merrier, and now a few words from Reverend Kent," Dax looked over at Tyler with a smile as he started to speak with one of those stereotypical Southern Minster voices, "Why, we is on 'dis mission, we will neva' know. But 'da good Lord will see dat' the Ghostriders of the mighty Asunder will prevail once again." Laughter could be heard throughout the com followed by "Amen Reverend's." Ghostrider one, piloted by Major Laurel 'Vulcan' Prepon came onto the com, "Alright Ghostriders, start engines and prepare for a blood bath..." Tyler's eyes became wide with anxiety then narrowed with revenge for his fallen fellow pilots, soldiers and civilians from his home. The 8 Longsword of Ghostrider Squadron all lined up in numerical order, Aramis' Longsword designated as Ghostrider 4 was just ahead of Tyler's. The rumble of massive sublight engines come to life. After Aramis' Longsword shot from the launch bay, Tyler positioned his Longsword, awaited his clearance, pushed the throttles to full, and felt the true power of the interceptor respond to his command as it shot out of the bay and into open space.

"Asunder fighter squadrons, this is lead ship Ingraham, we are at Waypoint Socom 5 awaiting rendezvous. What is your ETA?" Norah came onto the COM, "Ingraham, this is UNSC Asunder, ETA to rendezvous three minutes." Tyler gripped the flight controls with an intensity that way surpassed his normal levels. He looked over the flight panel checking for abnormalities. Daxia, who also had a much more intense look, yet to a lesser extent than Tyler's, checked the weapons delivery systems and the new Solitron Radar installed into all of the newer built Longswords. After a couple minutes, the blocky shapes of the four frigates were visible. Like most ships in the UNSC, they all had a few of their own Longswords for added support. Tyler looked out of his left side window to see Rami making a stange gesture. "Asunder squadrons, form up and hold positions. Set weapons to LIVE, it's go time! The following fighter wings will take lead: Hornets, Liberators, Ghostriders, you have the front." Tyler's heart began to race after hearing that he was going to be the first into battle. Major Prepon came on, "Alright Ghostriders, delta formation, arm Phoenix Five Cluster Missiles and fire on anything that isn't human... lets hit it!"

Dax thought aloud, "Something's not right... the Covies should be all over us, where the hell are they?" Tyler got real nervous too then lost his train of thought. "Targets spotted! Fire at will!" Prepon roared. The Ghostriders fired their missiles first followed by Hornet Squadron and Liberator Squadron.

Meanwhile, back on the Asunder...

"Captain, missiles have been fired. We're awaiting confirmation of target hit." Capt. DeSaulniers gazed into the vidscreen watching the battle unfold. "Arm MAC cannons and get the secondary fighters on call... we don't wanna be caught with our pants down." The captain ordered. Yessir's rang throughout the bridge and alarms began to sound within the corridors of the gargantuan carrier.

Back to the fighters...

"Seraphs! Break formation!" The fighters broke formation as the wave of enemy space fighters came upon them like a flash flood with plasma beams firing. "Ghost 2 watch your back, you've got two bogies on your six!" The Jefferson, which backed up the first wave of fighters, came up firing it's 40 MAC guns. Golden streaks raced towards numerous targets destroying them with ease. Tyler moved his Longsword through the mass of Seraphs, his face void of emotion. Daxia with her nimble fingers locked on and fired at any bogie within range. "Alright Dax, we're gonna fly hot, can you keep up the firing?" Dax replied, "You shake 'em I'll bake 'em, kid" "A small grin came on Tyler's face... "outstanding."

The remaining three frigates plus the other Longsword and Longshield fighters came onto the scene and immediately, weapons firing at their targets. Tyler met up with his wingman Rami, and Ghostrider 7. Rami took the lead postion with Tyler on his left wing and Ghost 7 to the right. At that moment, one of the main targets, the Blessed be Thine appeared from a sort of stealth mode that made it invisible both visually and by radar. It appeared right above the Garvey in an area that had little protection. The Garvey was then rained upon by hundreds of plasma torpedoes as the helpless frigate attempted to maneuver away. "All fighters, concentrate all fire upon that capital ship!" Norah bellowed through the COM. All Daxia and Tyler could do was watch as they tried to assist the doomed frigate.

"We can't save them... break off the attack, maybe the explosion from the Garvey will take it out..."

"All fighters get the hell out of there! The Garvey is gonna blow! Move now!"

"My God... We're not gonna make it out!"

"All frigates, fire MAC rounds as soon as the Garvey explodes..."

"Fire At Will!"

"We've lost all of Red Squadron! The rest aren't fairing to well either..."

"This is suicide! We're dropping like fl...."

"Ghostriders are down to three Longswords..."

After Tyler heard that his eyes became red and wide listening to the COM. Dax looked over at him noticing something different about him. The once quiet yet cocky side of Tyler was replaced by one that showed his emotions for the ones he just joked with less than an hour ago. Dax turned her head away only to watch as a blinding light swallowed the Longsword...



-Okay, this was my first attempt at a Halo fan fiction. I know it most likely was horrible but hey, first drafts are always horrible and I do plan on writing more. Oh, and sorry Jilly B for taking so long to write this. I know I asked to use your character a month or two ago but I finnaly got something done... Here's To You!

TK





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