Playing Kings Over Aces
The COM link went up in so much smoke as plasma punched into and seconds later through Mitch's shield. The remainder of Aces Alpha paused for only a fraction of a second, all the time that could be given to their fallen comrade. Mal, squad leader keyed his COM once as shots rang out, ammunition all going towards putting down whatever strange new threat the Covenant had decided to send their way. "Alpha-Six, get an angle on it and fire. The rest of Alpha, I want suppressing fire and fall back maneuvers until the threat is put down. Get your shot, Alpha-Six, even if it takes time." Mal's voice was like ice, chill and precise as only a STARCer could be. Four acknowledgment lights winked on in his Heads-Up Display. Also on the screen, he could see the biosigns of the remainder of his team, Mitch flat lined but everyone else a measure of calm, exactly as it should have been despite the surprising force of the lone Covenant soldier.
Reynolds could see the strange weapon that seemed to be grafted onto the blue creature heating up and tucked down, ready to roll out of it's line of fire. "Shit!" He knew the exclamation was completely uncalled for but, once again, Reynolds was near the end of his clip. The rounds from the assault rifles seemed to be having no effect anyway. The creature was able to effectively deflect all their fire with it's massive shield. No one could pay him mind, however.
Slowly the new threat was backing them all into a corner. Off COM, Reynolds wished Drew would hurry the hell up and find a shot. The fuel rod gun went hot and another blob of sustained plasma flew forth in Reynolds and Pierce's direction. Reynolds pushed to the left, tucking his body in tight to roll away from the decidedly deadly fire, his MJOLNIR armor leaving great furrows in the grounds. The world spun and he spared a fraction of a moment to wonder if Pierce had been able to escape as well and dirt went up all around them.
Both Spartans scrambled to their feet. Mal's calm voice cut through to them, anchoring them back in the moment. "Alpha Four and Five, fall back on my mark. Alpha-Six, find that shot. Alpha-Two and I will lead. Maintain suppressing fire." Again four acknowledgment lights winked on. Mal and Vita led the rest of Alpha, moving backwards into a boxy canyon that would lead back to the LBP base.
At the familiar clickclickclick of an empty clip Reynolds cursed again. "Double time it, Alpha, fire in the hole!" And with precision born only of experience Reynolds threw the grenade at the hefty creature; it seemed to have no effect. "Oh, no fucking way..."
"Hold it together, Alpha-Four, that's an order!"
There was a telltale streamer from Drew's position as he fired, orange blood suddenly spraying outward. Another shot hit the mark as the creature cried out in rage. He rushed Reynolds and Pierce, still the two closest with the intent to slam the massive shield into them. Reynolds couldn't dodge and roll but suddenly Pierce was pushing his inert mass and Reynolds was sent tumbling, Pierce right behind him.
The Spartans landed in a tangled heap, Vita's voice coming over the COM. "MOVE."
There was intense heat and Reynolds' shields drained to zero. The brightness of the plasma left him blinded and he wondered if he was dead. He heard another shot and then an anguished howl from some little ways off. Pierce's mass still lie atop him, a literal dead weight.
Reynolds, weak, scrambled out, trying to regain his vision. A hand came down on his shoulder and pushed. "Evac. Now." Vita's voice, reassuring. Reynolds blinked hard and tried to clear his vision.
"... ...All right." Blinking hard again helped and Reynolds was able to help Vita carry Pierce to one of their LBP issued Warthogs. Drew was already in the driver's seat, foot on the pedal and rifle shouldered. Mal hopped into the back and took up gunner. The Warthog was really too small for all of them but they made due, the pace still quicker and more sustained than all of them could have managed at once.
With a calmness that rivaled any STARCer, Drew shared the bad news. "There were two. I saw the second in my scope. Those lotus mines we set down at the perimeter should slow it down if not take it out. I got off a shot but I'm uncertain if it downed the thing."
Mal didn't even nod, trying to compute. "We'll need to report this. I want us back out there ASAP. The Covies are on to us and might be willing to send reinforcements." Like a robot. No one liked the idea...but Reynolds hated it.
"I need more ammo, Sir." He was also fairly certain he'd broken his leg but he was a Spartan and that just didn't matter, not when two of his teammates were dead.
"You need to calm down. Vita. First aid duty when we return to base. If you expect to go on a return duty mission you had better stow the emotions, Reynolds. You know how we play this game. You know the rules." The words were harsh but they had to be. Mal only got "Yessir"s in return. "And we go heavy. If we need to, we can drop out gear and pick it back up later. I want those things permanently removed. Drew? On return to base, update our best snipers on it's weak points."
Like a well oiled machine, only down by two gears. God how it bothered Reynolds--but he wouldn't let it. He had a job to do. They all had a job to do.
((Please pretend this came right after the truncated message. Life happened so I didn't get to finish/post until now.))
Reynolds could see the strange weapon that seemed to be grafted onto the blue creature heating up and tucked down, ready to roll out of it's line of fire. "Shit!" He knew the exclamation was completely uncalled for but, once again, Reynolds was near the end of his clip. The rounds from the assault rifles seemed to be having no effect anyway. The creature was able to effectively deflect all their fire with it's massive shield. No one could pay him mind, however.
Slowly the new threat was backing them all into a corner. Off COM, Reynolds wished Drew would hurry the hell up and find a shot. The fuel rod gun went hot and another blob of sustained plasma flew forth in Reynolds and Pierce's direction. Reynolds pushed to the left, tucking his body in tight to roll away from the decidedly deadly fire, his MJOLNIR armor leaving great furrows in the grounds. The world spun and he spared a fraction of a moment to wonder if Pierce had been able to escape as well and dirt went up all around them.
Both Spartans scrambled to their feet. Mal's calm voice cut through to them, anchoring them back in the moment. "Alpha Four and Five, fall back on my mark. Alpha-Six, find that shot. Alpha-Two and I will lead. Maintain suppressing fire." Again four acknowledgment lights winked on. Mal and Vita led the rest of Alpha, moving backwards into a boxy canyon that would lead back to the LBP base.
At the familiar clickclickclick of an empty clip Reynolds cursed again. "Double time it, Alpha, fire in the hole!" And with precision born only of experience Reynolds threw the grenade at the hefty creature; it seemed to have no effect. "Oh, no fucking way..."
"Hold it together, Alpha-Four, that's an order!"
There was a telltale streamer from Drew's position as he fired, orange blood suddenly spraying outward. Another shot hit the mark as the creature cried out in rage. He rushed Reynolds and Pierce, still the two closest with the intent to slam the massive shield into them. Reynolds couldn't dodge and roll but suddenly Pierce was pushing his inert mass and Reynolds was sent tumbling, Pierce right behind him.
The Spartans landed in a tangled heap, Vita's voice coming over the COM. "MOVE."
There was intense heat and Reynolds' shields drained to zero. The brightness of the plasma left him blinded and he wondered if he was dead. He heard another shot and then an anguished howl from some little ways off. Pierce's mass still lie atop him, a literal dead weight.
Reynolds, weak, scrambled out, trying to regain his vision. A hand came down on his shoulder and pushed. "Evac. Now." Vita's voice, reassuring. Reynolds blinked hard and tried to clear his vision.
"... ...All right." Blinking hard again helped and Reynolds was able to help Vita carry Pierce to one of their LBP issued Warthogs. Drew was already in the driver's seat, foot on the pedal and rifle shouldered. Mal hopped into the back and took up gunner. The Warthog was really too small for all of them but they made due, the pace still quicker and more sustained than all of them could have managed at once.
With a calmness that rivaled any STARCer, Drew shared the bad news. "There were two. I saw the second in my scope. Those lotus mines we set down at the perimeter should slow it down if not take it out. I got off a shot but I'm uncertain if it downed the thing."
Mal didn't even nod, trying to compute. "We'll need to report this. I want us back out there ASAP. The Covies are on to us and might be willing to send reinforcements." Like a robot. No one liked the idea...but Reynolds hated it.
"I need more ammo, Sir." He was also fairly certain he'd broken his leg but he was a Spartan and that just didn't matter, not when two of his teammates were dead.
"You need to calm down. Vita. First aid duty when we return to base. If you expect to go on a return duty mission you had better stow the emotions, Reynolds. You know how we play this game. You know the rules." The words were harsh but they had to be. Mal only got "Yessir"s in return. "And we go heavy. If we need to, we can drop out gear and pick it back up later. I want those things permanently removed. Drew? On return to base, update our best snipers on it's weak points."
Like a well oiled machine, only down by two gears. God how it bothered Reynolds--but he wouldn't let it. He had a job to do. They all had a job to do.
((Please pretend this came right after the truncated message. Life happened so I didn't get to finish/post until now.))