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Defense of Fire Base Epsilon Ch. 2 Pt. 2
Posted By: S7NN3R<janet.johnson8@comcast.net>
Date: 22 February 2005, 3:26 AM


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Chapter 2: Rub Vigorously Part 2

      Brigadier General Gunter Black and his team of three Marines had been walking for almost half an hour before they arrived at the Communications Room. The two Tech Officers that had been there had already been killed, one was beheaded, and the other was dead on the ground minus his left arm.
      They had encountered light resistance on their trek to the Comm. room. A pair of invisible Elites and four Grunts were all that they had had to face.
      "Looks like the Covenant have already been through here," one of the Marines, a Chief Warrant Officer said.
      "Stow it, Alberts. This is no time to joke," said Master Sergeant Darwin Towers. The Sergeant had been on Zephyrus since he was in the Corps. He was of medium build with black and white hair. His dark skin was starting to show the first signs of wrinkling. He shouldered his Battle Rifle and looked around the room for any cloaked Elites.
      "Alberts, cover that doorway. Deshcain," he pointed to the third Marine. "Cover the elevator."
      General Black moved over to the central communications terminal and holstered his SMG. He typed in a few commands and a password, then spoke into the microphone. "This is Brigadier Gener-" he stopped speaking. He looked over at Sergeant Towers. He made a slashing motion across his throat, and pointed towards the elevator.
      "We've got company, guys," said Corporal Deshcain. He stepped back away from the elevator and leveled his shotgun. Warrant Officer Alberts took a grenade from a pocket satchel. Everyone in the room was silent and they could hear the elevator rising. Everyone moved to the back of the room.
      The elevator door came to a halt at the Communications room. The four men in the room held their breathes.
      The doors parted, and a single human exited. The entire room was taken aback in surprise. The human limped forward, supporting himself on his sniper rifle. There was a large gash across his forehead, where blood ran in a snaking river down his head and onto the floor. There were several bruises and gashes on his body. He clutched the arm he was holding the rifle with with his right hand. Blood trickled from under the hand. His black-grey hair was covered with blood and gun-powder.
      "Jesus son, what happened?" General Black asked.
      "We were ambushed," he said, and collapsed onto the floor. His sniper rifle clattered to the floor beside him.
      It was Chief Petty Officer Zach Jacobsen.
      General Black checked his pulse. "He's barely alive. I don't know how long he'll last," he said. He walked back over to the comm. panel and took the microphone again. "This is Brigadier General Gunter Black, authorization code Bravo Sigma Seven One Three, calling from the Zephyrus Fire Base Epsilon. The Covenant have infiltrated this station and we require assistance. Over and out," he set down the mic, and checked back with Jacobsen. The Petty Officer had regained his consciousness. Black knelt down and cradled his head.
      "Sir," the wounded Marine said, and managed a shaking, jittery salute.
      "Son, I need you to tell me what happened to you and your men,"
      "Yes sir. We were guarding the power generators. I stationed two men at the door incase they came through there, and me and another Marine were at the elevator," his eyes fluttered. "We heard a clatter and an Elite dropped out of the air vent above us. Don't know how he got in there, damn thing was huge!" he coughed up blood.
      "Don't strain yourself, son," the General told him. "Go on."
      "We turned and opened fire on it. More of the bastards burst through the door, killed the two men. They opened fire on me and my other man. He got stuck with a grenade, blew him all to hell. I got into the elevator, when one of those things cut me in the arm with one of their swords," he coughed again. "Then I got hit in the chest with one of their plasma guns. I hit the close doors button, but not before one of them nicked me in the head with a shot. I came here, to warn you," he coughed up more blood. "To warn you that the generators...the generators are in danger."
      "It's alright, son, its alright," the General said. Jacobsen's eyes fluttered again, and then closed. Black checked his pulse.
      "He's dead," he announced.
      "Sir," Warrant Officer Alberts said. "If the Covenant take out the generators, the elevators will go dead."
      "You're right, saddle up men, we're heading to Med Lab," the General said. He laid Chief Petty Officer Jacobsen's head on the ground, and picked up the sniper rifle. At that moment, the lights went out. The control panel flickered and then went dark. The team heard footsteps coming up the stairway. A pair of Elites burst into the room.
      "Open fire, men!" the General barked.




      The lights went out in the Med Bay, then came back on three seconds later, slightly dimmer.
      "What the hell?" Sergeant Corisca said, sitting up and grabbing his shotgun.
      "The power went out," Doctor Dreyer said. "The Medical Bay has its own generator in the supply room incase the power goes out."
      "Why'd the power go out?" Private Valdez asked.
      "Covenant," Lieutenant Johansen said.
      "I'll check the door," Delgado said. He pulled out a mirror, and slid it under the door at an angle. "It's the other team," he announced. "The ones that went to the Communications Room. They've got a body." Delgado opened the door for them.
      "Thanks, son," General Black said. "Where's the doctor?" he added.
      "Here," said Doctor Dreyer.
      "Get this man into a cryo-tube, stat. We may be able to save him if we survive this."
      The doctor took the body over to a cryo-tube and put him in. She sealed the hatch and sat down again.
      "What's the situation, sir?" Corisca asked.
      "The Covenant took out the power generators. I sent a message, but I don't know if anyone got it."
      "What about the other bases?" Corisca asked. "And the city? What about the civilians?"
      "Unknown," Black said bluntly. At that moment, Ensign Norman woke up.
      "What the? What happened?" he asked, sitting up and looking around.
      "Rest," Doctor Dreyer said, forcing him back down.
      "Is there any way to get to the other bases?" Delgado asked.
      "There should be some Warthogs down in the garage, three levels down. You could use those," Black said.
      "Alright then, we're moving out!" Corisca said and stood up. "Delgado and Vendanski, you're with me. Towers, you, Deshcain, and Valdez come with us. Alberts and Johansen, stay here and protect General Black and Doctor Dreyer. Understood?" They all acknowledged.
      Corisca and his team left the med bay. Delgado tipped a wink to Doctor Dreyer, which she returned. Corisca was the last one out. General Black grabbed his shoulder on the way out, and he Corisca turned to him.
      "Yes, sir?" Corisca asked.
      "Be careful out there, okay son?" Black said.
      "Okay, yes sir." He turned and left the room, locking it behind him.
      "Be very careful," Black said quietly, solemnly, and closed his eyes.





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