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The Revelation of War, Chapter Three: Part II
Posted By: russ687<russ687@hotmail.com>
Date: 23 July 2004, 8:51 AM
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1300 hours, September 19, 2552 (Military Calendar)
Aboard UNSC Destroyer Melbourne
Imbari System, in orbit above planet Imbari V
"Give me a look at the potential coordinates of the artifact." Baker ordered, staring at a recent satellite shot of the northern continent.
Cmdr. Grover nodded and overlaid the locations onto the map. The continent was about two-thousand kilometers long and four-thousand kilometers wide, and the locations were concentrated in the lower right side. Grover zoomed the display in and updated the resolution, revealing the portion of land.
"There are two possible locations, both of them within fifty kilometers of each other." Grover said. "The terrain is forest with sizeable hills and rivers running in the valleys. Now the two locations match the image properties that were pieced together by our ONI friends; they have rivers in a valley that empty into a lake.
"We just finished running a scan of those areas, and I think you'll be surprised to find that we detected an usually concentration of metals near this possible location. The analysts suggest that the concentration may be some sort of structure, but we cannot be completely certain until we get eyes on it."
Baker nodded. He looked at the distance between Rocere and these locations. "This place is at least one thousand kilometers from the city where we dropped off our Spec Ops platoon, who's call was that?"
Grover noticed the agitation in his Captain's voice. "That of the platoon's commander, a First Lieutenant Kren. Apparently Captain Rayford only heard about the decision to go to Rocere after the platoon had already left. Apparently this Marine officer has some friends in the aviation branch; they took one of ONI's new stealth drop-ships."
Baker sighed. "Goddamnit, we can't waste our time going into destroyed cities. What could possibly be in Rocere?"
Grover shook his head. "No clue, sir."
"And what of Major Griffith and his Company?" Baker asked next.
Grover brought up a tactical topographic map. "Major Griffith has secured a landing zone near the former theatre headquarters and will attempting to contact any command officers from either Marine Expeditionary Force."
Baker rubbed his eyes. He was not in charge of these Marines, and had to rely on their decisions on the ground. "Inform them of the potential locations and suggest that they redirect and set up an LZ near them and search for the artifact."
Grover nodded. The would 'suggest' was not to be underestimated.
Baker turned at the sound of his Communications Officer. "Captain, incoming transmission from the Valiant Knight." The secondary viewing screen came to life as Captain Rayford filled the screen.
"Captain Rayford," Baker acknowledged.
Rayford nodded. "Wondering where our ground forces are going?"
Baker grunted. "Naturally. We need to get them to the right location to start searching. Hell, where they are, the only thing they're going to find is destroyed buildings and streets."
Rayford shook his head. "Actually Captain, according to Lieutenant Kren, the commander of the ODST platoon, there's something that must be done first."
Baker sighed. "How could he know if there's anything that needs to be done? Whatever he knows comes from us, and it's not like those artifacts are in his rucksack, showing him the way..."
"He didn't explain it to me, but he knows somehow. You need to know, however, do not deploy any troops to the vicinity of the artifact."
"Why not?" Baker asked. "In fact, the remnants from the Triton's Marine Company are heading there right now."
Rayford eyes widened. "Why didn't Captain Scorzio tell me he was deploying his Marines to the possible location? Call them back; trust me Captain, I saw the effects of this artifact at Milestone. You must get those Marines out of there."
Baker leaned forward, taking the serious tone in. He didn't understand what was going on, what was going to happen, or even where this Captain was getting this information from. What even happened on Milestone? In his mind he figured that these artifacts gave glimpses into the future, but he never figured they would have double effects.
"Comm., flash message to Foxtrot Company. Tell them to reroute away from their specified coordinates." Baker said, his tone serious. The message was transmitted as second later.
"Captain, Foxtrot Company has aleady landed at the LZ." The Comm. Officer said.
Baker looked at the officer, then at Captain Rayford on the screen.
"You're too late." Rayford said.
1305 hours, September 19, 2552 (Military Calendar)
Fifteen Kilometers from possible locations
Imbari System, planet Imbari V
The MA5B's scanned the area back and forth as the Marine disembarked from the Pelican's that had dropped them off. The clearing they had found among the forest was not very large, but allowed for them to land in entirety together. The Marines of Foxtrot Company quickly moved to set up a perimeter, and the Pelican's began lifting away.
"Sir," the comm. specialist called out. "Flash message from the Melbourne."
The Company Commander walked over and grabbed the receiver. His eyes widened as he heard the emergency relocation order.
"Get those Pelicans back down here!" He ordered quickly.
The comm. specialist got on the radio and began yelling into the transmitter at the Pelican's now well into the air.
The Company Commander looked up and saw a bright blue flash appear above them. The Pelicans shuddered for a second, then careened out of control. He watched in horror as the craft fell to the earth and exploded in fireballs, others just sending up debris and dirt as they crashed into the trees around them. He had seen no fire, just the blue flash.
Then the blue light originated around them. He watched as it swept from the far end of the field toward them. Marines disappeared before his eyes and their rifles fell to the ground. The flash swept across the field and headed right towards him.
He remained still as the blue light hit him. His rifle fell to the earth, right through his hands. He looked around and saw the entire Company of Marines, their bodies blue ghostly outlines.
Suddenly, there was nothing.
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