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Chambers Company: Chapter Seven
Posted By: AngryHorizon<rennerma@alltel.net>
Date: 30 January 2006, 3:56 am
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Chapter 7
It was a mess. Men were scattered all over the base, and in the woods to the south. Banshees were screaming down firing plasma, and launching fuel rod cannons. More and more men were being dropped in all the time. Chambers Company was secured in Command, with the exception of Red. I don't think he is going to make.
1201 hrs. September 21st 2552 (Military Calendar)/
Command Basement under Fort Erickson
We left the Titanium A dome entrance to the Commands basement. The entrance to the basement was hidden, so the Covenant should have a tough time finding us here. The halls were cramped and dimly lit, but there was so much space in the rooms. The first room housed the control area. This is where I found the General. I saluted, as did all of those who entered the room that was full of bright screens, with low light.
"Lieutenant Madison I want you to stay here. Lieutenant Champton, and Smith take you company, and the men from the other companies you have with you down the hall past five doors, and enter the sixth one on the left," he said shaking our hands now.
"Sir," they said leaving.
"Now Joseph, it is Joseph right," he asked.
"Yes sir," I responded.
"I understand that you have my AI in you helmet, I would like it back," he said.
"Yes sir," I said pulling off my helmet to get Thomas out. I yanked him free, and handed him over.
"Where is Captain Summers," he asked while handing the AI to one of his subordinates, whom then plugged him into one of the computers.
"He wasn't with us when Thomas said that all of the ships came. He ordered us to board the Pelicans that you left for us," I told him. "He is in a hog en-route back here, that's all I know."
"Oh dear," he said. I could here faint sounds of chatter from the monitors. He was about to continue, but I butted in.
"How are the flyboys holding up sir," I asked curiously.
"They are not doing to well. The Elanjar has been boarded, and the Washington is fleeing," he said. "We did manage to take out two ships however."
"That's good then," I said relieved to finally get some good news.
"Yes," he said absently. "We have been monitoring all of the combat around here, and the men on the surface will be gone in about thirty minutes tops. I am not willing to let that happen. In hanger six there is a small destroyer that just got the final repairs done on it yesterday. The navy personnel that operate are here, they will be able to fly it. We just issued an order for all surviving personnel to report to the ship," he said pacing around the room looking at all of the screens.
"All of those that are in or with Chambers Company right now are under your command," the General continued. "And since Red is MIA, if you haven't heard all of the Warthogs at the Covenant base have been wiped out. I'm sorry, but since he is MIA, you are being promoted to Captain, I will let you choose whom ever you wish to take you spot. Now go get re-stocked on ammo and equipment. We leave in five minutes," he patted me on the back.
I left the room fighting tears. Red didn't make it…no he did make it. He is just MIA… he will turn up. I wasn't going to hide this from my men. I walked down the hall with the same instructions. Five doors down, and on the sixth hang a left. I entered the room, and they were all sitting down, and talking quietly. They all quieted down when my presence was known.
The room wasn't anything spectacular. I was lockers around the edges, and lockers in the center. These lockers were stocked with lots of gear however.
"Chambers Company, restock yourselves, we move out in an hour. Johnny, come here please," said sitting down at an empty locker.
"Sir," he asked.
"Don't do that, Red didn't make it man," I said, now overcome with emotion. Still no tears came.
"What, no…he's… he is still alive man," he said slowly walking backwards and sitting. He rubbed his forehead frantically.
"I have been promoted to Captain, and given full command of Chambers Company. You are a now 2nd Lieutenant, and in-charge of 1st Platoon," I said. "Now tell everyone else about Red, and pick a knew sergeant to fill you boots,"
I rubbed my hands together. There was just so much information to take in all at once. I didn't know how I would tell Red's parents if I ever saw them again. I restocked, and waited for orders. We had just a small glimpse of the hell war is. When I signed up I thought it would be a breeze, that I would be invincible. They got Red.
"Alright," I finally stood, ready to face my men, "Red didn't make it back, so I am stepping in his place. We are going to board a UNSC destroyer, and get back to Earth. For those of you that are not part of Chambers Company, you are now. Lieutenant Melanco, please organize our new comers into squads, and evenly distribute them to our platoons."
With that said the room was full of motion again. I went to the doorway, and looked down the hall, first to the right, then to the left. A line of ODST's was coming down the hall, fully geared down. The line went on for a while, I just watched them go by. Nodding to those who nodded at me. Their black armor made me shined in my eye, and I wished at that moment that I could be a Helljumper.
When the last one walked past I guessed it was time to go. "Alright, let's move." Everyone stood, and walked to the door. We filed out of the room solemnly. I walked forward. Those that were in the control were now exited with the General at the lead. There was a new face next to him however. He looked tall, and a little overweight, but not much. He had a full salt and pepper beard, not regulation for enlisted men, so he was higher up. He was in the navy, I could tell by the Commander by his stripes. The ship must be his.
"Captain Madison, enter that door there," ordered the General gesturing to the door to the right of me.
I did as told. I entered to a massive room, but not a tall room. Just long, with rows and rows of seats. Many men, and women were already seated there. The ODSTs were there, and we sat next to them. We filed in professionally, and without incident. I looked back, and saw a lot of navy personnel enter, with those from command.
The General went up to the front podium. He was wiping some sweat off, and then he began briefing some two hundred of that were in the large room. "Men, to make this brief for times sake, we have been beaten. The Washington has fled. The Elanjar is gone, and there is only one Covenant ship left, a CPV-Class destroyer. Our only chance is to flee on the Melissa. We have about two hundred men, there was about two hundred men on the surface, and about one hundred men in woods. I think that we will be all that leaves this rock," he said sadly. "There are still survivors on the surface, and they are hunkered down in the hanger. We need to get to them, and leave this rock. The navy and Command personnel will be taken a direct route to the hanger, with the remnants of Manchester Company, and Halifax Company. 1st Platoon of Chambers Company and all of the ODSTs will go get in the pelicans that are left in the hanger. From there you will take them to the Covenant ship and take it for us."
"What!" I stood, clearly out of line. "That is a suicide mission sir. We total at least seventy, and we all couldn't fit in the Pelicans. With all of them that have been used here lately."
"I understand your concern, and you should be court marshal. I am going to let that go in light of recent events, but there are enough Pelicans, and before you say anything else, we have pilots to fly them. The destroyer is small, and has likely depleted lots of its forces here on the surface," said the General looking very sternly at me.
"Yes, sir," I receded back to my seat. I looked around, not wanting to look at the General. I noticed for the first time that even though there were so many of us here, this massive room could still sit many more.
"The rest of Chambers Company, and all other companies with us to the Melissa, now move out," he said stepping down, and receiving a Battle Rifle from a solider near by.
We stood, I shook hands with my friends as they left with the other men. The ODST captain was walking toward me when the last of the men going to the Melissa left. I saluted and then shook his hand.
"You are the ones who took the Covenant camp in the first place, eh," he asked in a Canadian accent. He was tall, a small beard growing, and he appeared to be in his mid-thirties. There were ten pilots with them.
"Yes sir, we are," I said. "Now we should move."
"Agreed, Helljumpers move out," he thundered. They scrambled towards the door.
"Chambers move out," I ordered and they raced towards the door. I followed suit, with the Captain right behind me. We came to the door, and members of the Melissa were still filing out. We waited for our turn. We could hear the battle raging outside. Explosions, gunfire, and screams, lots and lots of screams. As it drew closer to my turn, I felt my adrenaline pumping. I stepped out in the choas of battle, and my gun began firing for the second time that day.
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