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Last Hope part 6
Posted By: SSJBRK<brkessler@columbus.rr.com>
Date: 18 May 2002, 4:29 pm
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I awoke at home, in my own bed. I sat up startled, and looked over to see my wife asleep. It was already sunny in our bedroom, and it was a warm day. The perfect summer, the perfect dream. So many times I had thought of her before doing my job, before going to war. Thinking of her was the calm before the storm. My storm. How many times had I killed these alien things bent upon killing me, my wife, and every single human being ? I had stopped counting. Over two years of my life had been dedicated to protecting the lives of my men. Most importantly, protecting the life of the woman I loved.
I was surprised to see Megan staring at me once again. I awoke with a start and immediately grabbed my rifle. " Whoa major, chill out, fleet is on the comm. for you." I had only slept for four hours, the standard shift of sleep. "Thank you lance corporal." I stood up and walked over to the comm. array. " This is major Aleksandr Kolotov, go ahead fleet." I waited a few seconds until the captain of "The Last Stand" came over the comm. "We have picked up reports of another Covenant offensive against Solitarius seven. Aside from "The Last Stand" and "The Hellion" the rest of the fleet is taking off to help there. Our two ships can hold all ground forces, and we are fully stocked with everything you need. The faster you clean up down there, the faster we can high tail it to Solitarius seven.
In the mean time, Good work saving Alpha, but only half of the men you airlifted survived. Save half a dozen the rest are combat ineffective. I am sending them down to replace your losses, along with a full resupply. You are to stay put until you are reinforced and re-supplied, then you will move over to coordinates 202 x 444, Charlie squad has found the Covenant HQ, and are waiting for backup before moving in."
Outstanding. Without a solid command structure, the Covenant would be at a serious disadvantage, from what we know about them, military structure is very rigid, and I doubted they had a contingency plan for losing their HQ. I let my troops in on the plan. "Ok men listen up, we are going to hit the Covenant on their own ground. We have found their HQ and are going to team up with Charlie squad to hit them hard and fast. Victory here will make the rest of our stay mop up. Do not, I repeat do not think this will be easy. Their HQ is sure to be bristling with defenses, and crawling with Covenant. Nothing less than your absolute best will keep you alive."
Two pelicans appeared in the sky over our camp. As they set down, six marines hopped out, each one pushing a hover cart full of supplies. As they stopped, the carts opened up and revealed everything I had asked for. I grabbed as many cases of APFSDS ammo as I could carry, and there were dozens of jackhammer rounds. Two crates were full of LAAG shells. I guess Christmas comes twice a year on Epsilon 5. We split up, manning the warthogs and pelicans.
As we mounted up, I looked down at my rifle. Once again my hand brushed over the three engraved letters that always reminded me why I was fighting. I will survive, I will kill as many Covenant as I can. Very simple rules, to a very serious game. We were roughly half an hour from the rendezvous point with Charlie squad. We were traveling in a line abreast formation, and were covering ground fairly quickly. The terrain once again changed. Rather than hills, plains or ridges, this terrain was simply horrible.
Jagged rocks, mountains, cliffs, boulders, the worst combat terrain imaginable. Fighting would be a question of stealth and mobility, all the firepower in the universe wouldn't save us if we were pinned down here. As we entered the foothills, we encountered Charlie squad. We dismounted from our hogs and formed up. Their squad leader, also a major, addressed me with a salute, which I returned. " I am major Geirich Wetzer, here is the recon we have of the base." He then laid down the situation for me and my men. Producing a small hologram display of the area, he pointed out key points, as well as the Covenant HQ.
I was amazed at the detailed reconnaissance of the Covenant HQ and the surrounding area. The Covenant were not stupid, the had chosen an almost mesa like mountain, with full fields of fire from dozens of stationary guns. Surrounding infantry would have full defilades against us, and the obvious advantage of high ground. My suspicions were right, it would take our best to knock out this base. The terrain didn't allow for enemy wraiths, but banshees were all over the place. Between our two squads we had 19 warthogs, and three pelicans. We agreed not to use the pelicans in air to air, rather let the LAAGs deal with them. Our warthogs would hit from all sides, all at once, then circle while firing inwards. Major Wetzer seemed hesitant, but when I explained the effectiveness of this tactic he agreed.
Aside from the major, Charlie squad only had three sharpshooters and three jackhammer gunners. After grouping the two squads, I asked the major to have half of his riflemen trade arms with mine. This way an even half of our total force would have covenant weaponry. I hoped this would even the odds, we would need all the help we could get. Wetzel agreed, and the trade was done. Wetzel and I decided to hit the base while there was the least activity on the outside. We could not stay hidden for long, the Covenant would start patrolling this region shortly. We were only going to get one shot at this. My marines would make it a head shot.
When only grunts in stationary guns and forty elites were covering the base, Major Wetzel and I gave the order to move out. Warthogs, pelicans, snipers and jack hammers would hang back and give cover fire. The rest of us would sneak up and get as close as possible. I was positive hunters would come out to play once it got thick. I would find out soon enough. As we crept over the hills, I could feel the absolute rush of battle. The proper mix of testosterone and adrenaline had me wired to kill. I was absolutely itching to waste everyone of these horrible nightmares. The Covenant were just that, nightmares, but in a few minutes, they would be dead nightmares, at the hands of myself and ninety marines. We crept over the mountains, the hogs would hold off until we had lost the element of surprise.
Slowly, closer to the base we crept, yard by yard, careful to not be observed. We absolutely had to get the drop on them. I took a quick count, no more Covenant had exited the base. We were roughly two hundred yards away. " On my mark, open fire, then everyone rotate to the left, we will circle them and fire inwards, do not form one target, move quickly and stay low. Snipers and jack hammers, hit those stationary gunners first. Then move in a wide circle, stay on the guns and pick off the elites, but hunters get priority if they appear."
The base was a large semicircle, like a bubble coming right out of the ground. Stationary guns were everywhere, and elites were walking back and forth between boxes and small stationary shields. A series of rods and cones stuck from one side of the base, probably a communication system of some kind. A sniper from Charlie squad radioed me informing me of a gold elite which had exited on the other side of the building. The perfect opportunity to hit their command structure. " All marines halt. Jack hammers and snipers open fire on my mark, sniper, do you still see that gold elite ?" The reply made me grin. " Head shot on your command sir." It was go time. " Sniper fire ! Marines, mark !!" I heard one shot, a second, it had to have been a head shot. It would have taken three shots to kill from center mass. No sooner had the echo of the shot been heard, the streaming trails of jackhammer rockets, along with the contrails of sniper rounds filled the sky. The explosions were met by the cries of elites, and the screams of grunts.
" Snipers and jack hammers move in a circle to your right hit them again !" The advancing Marines opened fire, a rain of bullets and plasma fell on the Covenant base. The elites immediately hid behind boxes and shields, while the grunts fired from stationary guns and charged our position. As we moved and fired, stationary guns fell silent, grunts hit the ground burning and bleeding. My marines were burning and bleeding as well. The elites here had deadly accuracy, even our composite armor was trashed, and marines started dying. They hit only stragglers, and yet that was one less gun aimed at the Covenant. My worst fears came true, ten hunters came out from shielded doors, their glowing fuel rod cannons a warning of death to come. They opened fire.
The first volley fell right behind us, hot rocks and sparks covered my men. " Jack hammers and snipers hit those hunters now, drop all targets and engage the hunters !" I then radioed major Wetzel. " Major we are in a world of shit unless we take out those hunters." When my call came with no reply, I got worried in a hurry. The comm. came to life, and my hopes rose, only to be cut down. " Major Kolotov, Wetzel has been hit, he's critical, took some plasma right to the chest. We are taking him to the rear. You're in charge sir." Great, not only was our assault losing steam, but major wetzel was probably gonna die. With only seventy marines left, I had to act fast. " Where are those hogs !?" I screamed into the comm. I was met by the sight of warthogs clearing the ridge, roaring into the fray with guns blazing.
The hunters stopped killing my men long enough to engage the warthogs. The hunters were now advancing out into the battlefield, and the elites were getting wise. They too moved out and began circling, firing outwards. Our tactics had met, a total strategic stalemate. Accuracy and numbers was all that mattered now. I raised my rifle and blasted a hunter in the back, hearing it roar as it died. In a few moments, we would be in point blank range. At one hundred yards apart, both sides started trading grenades. Grunts ran right into our blazing guns, not caring about the bullets riddling their bodies, totally consumed by the desire to kill. I saw some movement behind a large rock. I leveled my rifle and blew the head off a blue elite who was about to toss a grenade. The hot plasma grenade fell to the ground. Three red elites and a few jackals ran from behind the rock. The last jackal was caught up in the blast, and was incinerated, the others had fallen directly into sniper fire and hundreds of AR bullets.
Screams of dying Covenant, screams of dying marines. This was hell, I was in hell. The devil himself rushed at me, not with a pitchfork, but with a long blue sword. I fired three rounds, and dropped the nightmare coming towards me. Fifty yards, in a few minutes, had to hand would break out. I took aim and fired into a group of grunts pinning down some marines. My one round entered and left the bodies of several grunts. The rest ran away screaming, only to be killed by a passing warthog. As I ducked to reload, a flaming warthog flew over my head, spinning on it's axis. The burned bodies of marines flew from it, and I heard the horrible laughter of a hunter. Anyone could get angry, anyone could experience rage. I felt something beyond that, I ascended beyond rage. I didn't want to shoot that hunter, I wanted to tear it to pieces with my bare hands. I slung my rifle over my back and pulled out my combat knife. It was only ten yards from me, on the other side of a large rock, the bristles on it's back gave it away.
I turned the corner and was met by the odd, glowing back of the hunter, this spot was a dark red. I immediately pulled out a grenade with my free hand. I Wrapped my arm around it's neck and hopped onto it's back. It turned and ran, bucking trying to throw me of, swinging it's arms wildly. I jammed my knife as hard as I could into it's exposed back. The hunter roared in pain and tried all the harder to fling me free, it's shield missing my head my inches. I cut as deep as I could, blood ran all over my hand and forearm. I the traded arms around it's neck, once my arm was around, I slashed at where it's eye should have been. At the same time I felt a horribly hard punch on my back. I had caught the attention of an elite, who was trying to kill me without hitting the hunter.
Hunters must not have been too smart, it turned again, shielding me from the elite. I reached with my free hand for one of my modified grenades. One more explosion would join those going on around me. I jammed the grenade as hard as I could into the hunter's gaping wound and hopped off. I rolled behind a rock, and bringing my rifle up, took aim at the elite who fired at me. Head shot, dead, done. I turned to see how my hunter was doing. I felt pure vindication at what I saw. The hunter ran blindly, and the grenade went off. The exploding grenade literally split the hunter in two ! Acid coated chunks of hunter, along with an absolute cloud of blood covered an area no smaller than twenty feet. Only one bloody leg of the hunter was left standing. The head of the hunter rolled into a group of marines.
As we advanced closer toward the base, the Covenant were abandoning strategy and relying on brute force. Good, let them rush us. They weren't even bothering to dodge or weave through our fire. The shrieks of jackals me the chatter of AR fire, the roars of hunters and elites was forever silenced by LAAG and sniper fire. Judging by their ferocity, this must have been a last stand. If we held them here then the base was ours for the taking. Elites were now taking swings at marines, and marines were laying into them with bayonets and combat knives. This was it, right here, the most primal form of combat. Agility and strength were all than mattered here. As marines fell with crushed ribs and skulls, elites fell with slashed chests and cut throats.
An elite powered up a plasma sword, only to be run over by a warthog. I looked up at the base, zero activity. Truly this was their perimeter's last defenses. I turned to fire on an elite who was charging a group of marines, my shells ramming through his body, it fell gurgling blood. Another hard knock to my back, I staggered forward and ducked into a roll, turning as I did so, met by the eyes of a jackal. I let fly with the last bullet I had, and put a football sized hole in the jackal. Through the hole in his chest I saw a group of marines pinned down by plasma fire. I then slung my rifle to my back and pulled out my pistol. I headed over to help them.
As I neared their position, I eyed where they were taking fire from. A few elites were taking cover behind a large rock. I pulled my last grenade out, and lobbed it right into the middle of them. As it detonated all three elites defied gravity for a few seconds, only land on the ground covered in acid. I hollered to the marines " Don't shoot !! Let them die slow !!" As they looked on the three elites crawled across the ground and sure enough, they died really slow. A sniper came over the comm. " Sniper 501 reporting clear !" I was still wary, I replied over the comm. "Stay sharp, they could be hiding. Some elites might be playing dead, if you don't see any blood, let them have it."
My orders were met by the occasional fire from AR's and plasma rifles. I sat down on a small rock. We had cleared the perimeter. " Ok marines, head count." Bursts over the radio let the count stand at fifty marines. I asked "What is the status of major Wetzel ?" hoping to get some good news, I didn't. "Sir, Wetzel is KIA" Damn it. Now It was entirely my show. As my remaining marines rallied around me. I stood to speak." Members of Charlie squad, major Wetzel is dead, I am now your acting commander. I don't know how things were with you and the major, but you will certainly get a chance for revenge. We are taking that base. We are taking it now. Officers with me, we need to make plans."
The Covenant would pay. They would all pay.
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