The fight for Omega Centauri. Part four: Sound the alarm
Posted By: Aonghus Maher<aonghus@gofree.indigo.ie>
Date: 10 February 2004, 8:35 PM
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"Explain to me again why those fancy armoured shits can take over."
"'Cause Oni has put too much money into them to let them kiss up to guys with such a low rank as General. Bastards." Said Private Little with feeling.
"Shut up. This is an avalanche area. Keep quiet." Newly made Sergeant Johnson warned.
Johnson ran a hand over the two new stripes on his shoulder. He replayed General Wilder's words in his head.
"These men are going to be pissed at the change in management. They need someone they know to have some authority. You saved my ass by fielding that grenade for me. I'm promoting you to the rank of Sergeant as of this moment." Wilder had said.
"Hell, I liked bein' a grunt." Muttered Johnson.
"Hey," whispered Private Brown. "Anybody else hears something."
"Quite screwin' around, Brown."
"Nah, I think he's right, sarge." Sneered Private Golding. "I can't quite make it out, though. Sounds a bit like...the brass screwin' up. How come you get promoted, Johnson?"
"That's sarge to you, Private. And next time the Covenant attack you save the general's ass. That should get you a recommendation at least. Now, everyone shut up."
"What's that?" said Private Little, his voice choked with fear.
Johnson looked around. He couldn't see anything. He turned to Little, about to tell him off, when the snow behind him erupted, spewing out an elite. Johnson spun and opened fire, empting his MA5B's entire clip into the alien's shields. The shimmering veil of the shields fell and Johnson ducked. The other four soldiers took their cue and opened fire, tearing the elite apart. More aliens, including two of the immense hunters, jumped from the snow in front and behind the human patrol. Two elites opened fire on Brown, killing him in a barrage of the coloured plasma bolts. Johnson grimaced every time one the weapons made a seemingly too loud bang. He kept unconsciously glancing at the mountaintop as he fought, expecting the tons of snow to shift at anytime. Then Private Little, who always panicked under pressure, pulled the pin from a grenade and threw it.
"Fire in the hole!" she yelled.
"Mother of Christ, no!" yelled Johnson as the grenade made it's slow arc across the snow.
Somehow, either due to Little's skill or just luck, the grenade lodged itself in the barrel of one of the hunter's fuel rod cannons. The hunter shook the gun in an effort to dislodge the grenade, but to no avail. The grenade exploded, taking the hunter's arm off and destroying the fuel rod cannon. As the fuel rod cannon exploded it tore the hunter apart. The alien's shield landed end up in the snow a few meters from Johnson. Everyone froze and looked up at the mountaintop. A crack appeared in the snow and suddenly the whole thing fell away, rushing down the mountain as if eager to great the armed forces that waited there. Suddenly, Johnson snapped out of his shock. He looked around and saw a likely looking bunch of trees further down the slope.
"Move it. Get down to those trees. Go. GO!"
Johnson ushered the others forward before running himself. He noticed the severed shield of the hunter and thanked God that the hunter's arm had fallen away from it. He kicked the shield over and jumped on top of it, using it as a snowboard. The advancing wave of snow had just about reached then.
"Little, give me your hand!" shouted Johnson as he sped towards the Private.
Little looked over his shoulder and grabbed Johnson's hand. Johnson grunted and pulled Little onto the immense shield. He did the same with Golding before directing the shield straight towards the trees.
"As we pass the tree line jump off and get behind one of the trees."
Johnson ducked down to lower the wind resistance. He willed the trees to come closer. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, they passed the trees.
"Now!" shouted Johnson, throwing himself from the shield.
He and Golding rolled behind the same tree. Little was left lying between the trees, directly in the path of the oncoming tons of snow and ice. Johnson reached out, trying to grab the Private. The rumbling of the snow was getting louder. He stretched out, jumped and grabbed Little by the wrist. Then he pulled both himself and Private Little back behind the tree. Then the snow broke over the trees like waves breaking on the shore. The Covenant had been unable to make it to any shelter and had been buried under the snow, their bones snapped by the sheer force of the avalanche. The tree groaned under the weight of the snow but held. Johnson released the breath he hadn't realised that he'd been holding. He pushed off the small amount of snow that had edged its way around the tree and stood, pulling the others up with him. He allowed them a moment's rest before giving out the orders.
"Come on, ladies. We've been in worse battles."
"Yeah, but Brown ain't gonna' fight any more. Poor bastard."
"That as it may be, we have to get back to base. We have to let them know that the Covenant knows that we're here. We have to sound the alarm."
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