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Retaliation by Blue Jaguar



Retaliation: Chapter One
Date: 16 September 2003, 2:25 PM

BHHP REACH September 20, 2705 (0530)


"You thought we were finished didn't you. We have been watching you, your progress is impressive, but you will soon see the true strength of the gods." Lasok kept playing the recording over and over again. He remembered that the Covenant had once been the enemies of Earth, but that was generations ago. No one alive had ever seen a real Covenant, or at least, no one that he knew.

A thought came into his head, "We never actually proved we destroyed the Covenant. There are still 78 Covenant capital vessels missing, they could be anywhere." Lasok's implanted AI said to him. Lasok thought back. He was implanted with this AI at a very early age, which meant he was by now, quite accustomed to it, where as other commanders had never even considered the possibility of having AI implanted into their heads. It really changed the way he thought, and it also made him a ton smarter and quicker. In emergencies his AI would take over body functions and get him out of tight situations, which had saved him more than once in the Civil Wars.

Lasok took the disc out of the
implant on his neck and left his quarters. As he walked down the hallway, he stopped at a data port just down from his room. He inserted another disc, waited 3 seconds for it to download any information, and then put it in his head. He really enjoyed learning. He always had, and anything that fascinated him went into his head.

Further down the hallway was the ships mess hall. "Brother Lasok, good to see you again!" Said Rupin, a friend of his. "So how are things at ONI lately?" He asked.

"Oh you know, the usual, don't ask don't tell." Lasok replied. Rupin had been trying to get Lasok to reveal information for the last 2 weeks. It was obvious something was going on because half of the fleet was mobilized.

"Didn't they ever teach you that the only way to keep people happy is to keep them informed?" Rupin questioned.

"No, giving them information makes them feel secure. Besides, I don't know anything important, I'm not high enough on the food chain."

"You know that's not true, you are the Head Father of the largest ship in the fleet."

It was true, Lasok knew just about everything that was going on, he had no superiors, everyone reported to him. Fortunately Rupin didn't know that.

"Brother Rupin, do you know how much it costs to keep secrets in this army?"

"No, but I feel you are going to tell me."

"More than you could earn in a year." Lasok walked around Rupin and headed for the food. "Top spy in the military and you still have to get your own food..." Lasok grumbled to himself.

"Its all about the cover" His AI replied.

Lasok finished his morning meal and headed for the Officers gym. He walked in and the first thing he noticed were the Spartan soldiers standing in the corner. One of them was talking to 3 others, probably about some exercise they had done. Lasok respected the Spartans and their capabilities, but still would prefer to use Archer soldiers. The Archer program had been developed about thirty years ago, and was designed to enhance the capability of regular soldiers. The project turned out to be too high of cost to cover each soldier, so they just covered OESF special forces instead. The Archer system gave the troops no armor, but they had one heck of a shield system. The suit could track incoming rounds and then emitted a shield pulse to block the round, so that the shield was never actually on.

Lasok jumped on the running track that circled the large facility and began running. He had no muscle enhancements like the Spartans and other soldiers did, but he would gladly take brains over braun any day. He had been up against Spartan III soldiers before, and brains had prevailed when pure strength and stupidity would have gotten him killed.

After finishing his morning run Lasok left the gym back for his quarters. He still needed to take a shower and get dressed, but he only had 30 minutes before the ONI meeting so he would have to hurry.



"Glad to see you could make it Brother Alexei!" The Prime Chief Hawkins said. Hawkins was the commander of REACH, the largest and most powerful vessel ever created by anyone known.
Lasok saluted Hawkins and took his seat at the table. He was two minutes late for the meeting, but no one really cared.

"All right, everyone is here, lets begin." Hawkins paused and looked through his notes. "At 16:00 hours yesterday, we received a message from an unknown source. This ship was the only ship to receive the message, and we have not been able to find out where it came from. It could quite possibly be a hoax, but I would doubt it. This ship has the most sophisticated security systems ever created." Hawkins paused. I believe Brother Lasok has more information on this than I do.

"As you all know our people fought a massive war against a group known as the Covenant. Little is known about them because many records were lost during the Civil Wars. We do know that the original message sent by the Covenant to the UNSC, which was at that time the governing body, went like this." Lasok played a recording of a voice that spoke out "Your destruction is the will of the gods, and we are their weapon." "This tape was recorded about one hundred and seventy-five years ago. We know that many Covenant warships were never found, and I believe that the Covenant may be attempting to invade again."

"That's ridiculous, we have searched every corner of this galaxy for them and have not found a thing!" One of the members cried out.

"Please, contain your self brother Nehrek" Hawkins demanded.

"My apologies Prime Chief, it wont happen again."

Lasok continued. "I believe the Covenant did not originate in our galaxy, and may be from another galaxy. We still do not know who the forerunner are, and why they no longer exist. My theory is that the forerunner came to this galaxy to colonize it, and started the Covenant races, eventually they evolved and after many centuries of no contact with the Forerunner, they began to believe they were some sort of gods. The Forerunner may have sent a message to the Covenant announcing their return, and when the Covenant failed to wipe our race out, they believed that this galaxy was too dangerous to attempt re-colonization. Of course this is all just speculation."

The other members looked at him as though he was out of his mind. There stares were broken by klaxons going off inside the ship.

"All personnel, rebel fighters are attacking, man battle stations! Man your battle stations!" The speaker said.

"All right, we will continue this briefing tomorrow." The Prime Chief said, and then all of the members filed out of the room.



Retaliation: Chapter Two
Date: 20 September 2003, 3:41 PM

Fort Royal, ATLAS September 20 (1353)

Major Reina Ketechi followed the security officer down the hallway towards a secluded door near the end. The Officer unlocked the door, opened it, then stood to the side and saluted. Reina saluted back and walked into a small room with nothing but another door. The door behind her closed and the room went pitch black. She heard several motors moving along the walls and ceiling but they soon stopped. "You are now cleared to enter" A voice said through a speaker. The lights turned back on and the door in front of her opened. Inside was a large room filled with nothing but screens, which were monitored by a few military personnel. "What do you have for me today Leskin?" She asked the officer in charge of the room.

"Not much Major, we launched a small raid on the Reach. Seems she is still orbiting Canis Majoris Alpha." Leskin replied.

"Anything else?"

"Yes as a matter of fact, 13 more ships have arrived in the system in the last 18 hours. We have identified two of the ships as cruisers, the rest are frigates and destroyers."

"Sounds like someone is preparing for a major operation." The Major said as she pondered what the Brotherhood might attack next.

"Yeah, command certainly is worried. Unless we have missed some ships the monks have 170 ships in the system, you don't arrange a fleet that big for nothing."

"Well thanks for the info, oh I heard rumors that the 219th was going to be transferred to my command, any truth to it?"

"Not that I know of, aren't those guys the ones with the Archer systems?" Leskin asked.

"Yeah, that's why I wanted to know. The brotherhood sure as hell don't have very many of them since they got that Spartan scum, so command wants me to take care of any Archers they have left, and maybe kill some Spartans too."

Leskin laughed,"Yeah that sounds like fun, I'll see what I can do, come back in a few hours."

"All right, thanks Lieutenant."

"Anytime Major."

Reina turned around and walked out of the Intelligence Room, but not through the door she came in. The exit door had no security checkpoints, just two blast doors and she was back out into the main base. She couldn't however, return back into the room as it had massive locks.

Reina walked through the last door and stepped out into a large hallway. Tens of officers were walking back and forth through the hallway, which was the main corridor for the base. Reina did not have to walk far however, her next destination was just down the hallway, and she was able to escape the huge crowed again.

Inside this door was the communications centre for the 198th Royal Marines Division.

"What are the orders Captain?" Reina asked the head communications officer.

"Ooooo! Looks like you got something special!" The man said, handing her a package marked "Top Secret"

"All right, thanks Captain." Reina put the package under her arm and stepped back into the hallway. She rushed back to her office on the surface level, she could not open this until she found some place private.

The second she stepped into her office she opened the package. Inside were satellite images and pictures of a target building. She then pulled out the official orders.

Terran Royal Marine Corps
From: ATLAS Special Operations Command (ASCOM)
To: 489th Marine Reconnaissance Battalion
Message originated: 9:20:05:0932

The 489th has been assigned to strike targets designated inside this package. All info necessary to complete this mission is enclosed. The 219th Archer Battalion will be transferred to the command of Major Reina Ketechi, who is hereby promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

END OF MESSAGE

Reina pulled more papers out from the package until she found a pair of silver eagles. She was only 2 ranks from being a senior officer, "not bad for a 27 year old" she thought.

She glanced through the material, they were going to strike a Brotherhood installation on Kyralis Alpha. Ki Alp as it was more commonly known, had once been an important stronghold in the Royal Hegemony. The planet was lost several years back in a massive battle with the Brotherhood.

Ki Alp was guarded with about 8 Division sized units and 3 orbiting frigates. What really alarmed Reina was the 100 strong Spartan garrison at the base they were to attack. She despised the Spartans but that didn't mean she lacked respect or fear for them. Hundreds of her comrades had been killed by those monsters, she would make them pay.


Kataramee, Small Magellanic Cloud, September 20, (1741)ATLAS Central Time-ACT

Yara'a Katamee walked alone into a large room. He immediately bowed. "Please Commander Katamee, rise." A voice at the end of the room said. Katamee rose but kept his head down, he could not dare look at the greatness of the Emperor. "Please forgive me your highness for being late." Katamee finally worked up the courage to speak.

"No need to be sorry, please come forward, there is no reason to shout across the room." The emperor said.

Katamee slowly walked down a purple carpet towards the throne. His legs shook as he walked, to any new Elite warrior he would appear as a coward, except that he was standing before the almighty Emperor, whose power was undeniably strong.

"Now Katamee, I would like to talk to you soldier to soldier, so you can put your head up."

Katamee slowly brought his head up to looking at the Emperor.

"You have been assigned to command our assault fleet against the human forces."

"W-What?! Katamee stammered. "I-I me-mean I'd be h-honored!"

"Good, I want you to begin making plans, the assault is to begin in three months. If you need anything at all, please ask me, I do not want this mission to fail."

"Yes your highness! I won't fail you!" Katamee said as he stood stiff at attention.

"Good, that is all Katamee, your head quarters have been moved here, your command group is to be brought here tomorrow. My guard Jakanee will show you to your office."

Katamee saluted and walked backwards out of the hall with his head down in respect. He took one step out of the room, watched as the door closed, then turned around and put his head as high as he could hold it.

"Commander Katamee! I will show you to your quarters." Someone said behind him. He turned around, standing next to the door was a guard in white armor.

"You are Jakanee?"

"Yes Commander. Your room is this way."

Jakanee walked past Katamee down the long hallway that lead outside of the main palace structure. They too several steps outside and then walked down massive marble steps. When they reached the bottom they began walking across the flat, open, marble court to another building in the compound. Katamee recognized it as the military headquarters. He had never been there, ever.

After a several minute walk across the massive courtyard they reached the building. Outside the main door stood two white armored Elite guards. They saluted Katamee as he walked past. Just inside the building was the lobby. Officer barracks were on the top level, so Jakanee lead the way over to the elevators.

A few minutes later........

The guard stopped at a room. "This is your room Commander, my best wishes to your success, if you need any help just ask one of us.' Jakanee said, and then walked back towards where they had come from.

Yara'a opened the room, the first thing his eyes laid down on was the silver armor sitting in the middle of the room. His mandibles began clicking like mad, his way of showing approval. He walked towards the armor and began to take off his gold armor and replace it with the new silver armor.

He put it completely on and then looked down at himself, the silver armor was extremely smooth and shiny, it was a hand made, not mass produced. The armor was so smooth he could see a reflection of his quarters on it.

Yara'a looked around the room at other items in the room. A console, that seemed to obviously be for anything he might have an idea for. Other items included a very large information console and a communication console. But no window, which somewhat irritated him. Yara'a always wanted to know what was going on around him, he hated not being able to see things.

It was now fairly late in the morning and Yara'a realized he had not eaten anything today. He wondered over to one of the consoles and searched for a map of the building. He quickly found the location of the officers mess hall and left the room for it. As he walked into the hall way all the other Elite officers around immediately began gaping in awe at him. Several even bowed. Yara'a walked around them and headed towards the mess hall, nothing would stop him from eating.



Retaliation: Chapter Three
Date: 24 September 2003, 10:17 PM

Fort Royal, ATLAS September 21, (0918)

Reina stood in the control tower of the main landing pad at Fort Royal.

"Yankee 719 cleared to land, approach from the north, land at pad L8 through 29."

"Roger Tower, Yankee flight cleared to land."

Reina watched as a flight of gull winged transports came in to land. The Eagle transports slowed down as they approached the landing pads, separated, and landed in unison. Reina stepped out of the control tower and headed walked down the stairs toward the tarmac. She watched as the troops dismounted from the dropships with full gear and walked onto the tarmac. They formed at the north end and formed up. A man walked up to Ketechi and saluted. "Major Samson, 219th Archer Battalion, reporting as ordered ma'am!"

"All right Major, have your men report to barracks and report in, there will be an officer meeting at 1000 hours in the officers' lounge."

The major saluted, and the turned around and began shouting orders to his men. Reina walked off the tarmac and went back to her quarters.


BHHP Reach September 21, (0930)

"Now that we are in peace again, we can continue the briefing. Yesterday's raid was a failure, as usual. But I believe the Hegemony may be preparing a major strike against us." Hawkins spoke.

"This is going to cause serious problems, especially if the Covenant are going to prepare a strike as well. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to get the Hegemony to believe our story, please speak forth." Lasok added.

"I personally think that we should attack the Hegemony, if we can eliminate their striking force, we won't have to worry about them attacking us when the Covenant do." An officer added.

"Brother, I have no doubt the Hegemony will attack us once they realize the Covenant have. But we are not in any position to launch an offensive. Nearly our entire fleet is gathered here, and some systems, like Kyralis Alpha are completely unprotected right now. If we were to attack now, they would easily defeat us and then take the rest of our Brotherhood." Lasok replied, silencing his theory.

"I must agree with Head Father Lasok, while our ships are larger and superior to the Hegemony, they have far too many for us to deal with." Hawkins said, reinforcing Lasok's claim. "I would like to throw out a suggestion of my own however. If we can deceive the Covenant into attacking Atlas, it could be a huge advantage to us, I realize that this would be a difficult operation, but we could bring both the Covenant and the Hegemony to its knees."

The rest of the group thought through his suggestion, most nodded with approval.

"All right, I motion to move forth with Prime Chief Hawkins suggestion." Brother Nehrek spoke.

"I concur with Brother Nehrek. I second that motion." Lasok added.

"All right, all members enter your vote." Hawkins said to the rest of the group.

Behind him a screen appeared listing the percentage who voted yes.

"One hundred percent, we shall deceive the Covenant into attacking the Hegemony and defeat them both. This meeting is adjourned. We will begin briefings for the operation in two days."

The members filed out of the room, but Hawkins stopped Lasok before he exited.

"Brother Lasok, meet me in my quarters in thirty minutes please." Hawkins whispered to Lasok, knowing that any exchange of information between the two without any witnesses members knowledge was strictly illegal.

Lasok nodded and then left the room.



Kataramee, Small Magellanic Cloud, September 21, (0941)ATLAS Central Time-ACT

Yara'a stepped off of his personal dropship and looked at the troops before him. 500 of his best warriors stood at attention and bowed in his presence. One of the soldiers stepped forward, bowed and then yelled for the rest to rise. Yara'a bowed back and then walked up to the warrior who had stepped forward, Regiment Commander Kiiva Ramee.

"I am impressed Commander Ramee, how long have you been training?"

"Since the last new moon Supreme Commander."

Yara'a was impressed, in just three weeks this regiment had become the top fighting force in his army.

"Keep up the good work, I will be giving you new armor in a few days, I want this group to be the finest unit in the entire army!"

"Yes your righteousness!" Ramee shouted back.

"Good, I wish to see the troops in action, when is your next exercise?"

"In two hours your righteousness, but we can delay it if you wish"

"No need to delay, I will return after my review of the other troops."

Yara'a turned and stepped back onto the dropship, to head for another base on the planet.



Fort Royal, ATLAS September 21, (1001)


"I have good news, but bad news as well." Ketechi said.

"Well shoot, no point in delaying." Major Jin Hueng replied.

"The bad news is, we are transferring to a new base. The good news is, we will be all alone at the base, and can train in secrecy."

"When are we moving?" Major Samson asked.

"Dropships are coming to pick us up in 1 hour, we will be going to a base designated Kilo Alfa Alfa. The exact location I cannot give at this time."

"I guess we better pack up then." Jin replied.

"Yeah that might be a good idea, sorry about the complications Major Samson, we should be at the new base permanently until we have finished training."

"My men are ready for anything ma'am." He replied.

"All right, we have debriefing on the trip there instead. Dismissed."



Retaliation: Chapter Four
Date: 3 April 2004, 7:05 PM

Nova Laikais Dry docks, Kyralis Alpha/September 22, 2705 (1904)

Commander Letrent, BHHP Defense Forces, glanced down at his sensors screen. He could have sworn that several targets had just appeared on the screen. He was nearing the end of his watch, and was quite tired, but none the less he was sure he'd seen something. He stared intensely at the screen for a few minutes, and then took action.

He flipped open the com channel for fighter command. "Nova Laikais Dry docks to Echo One." He said into the microphone.

"This is Echo One, go ahead." A voice replied.

"Contacts identified in Sector Three-dash One Two, lost contact two minutes ago, please investigate."

"Roger, Echo Flight is heading there now."

Letrent looked back at the sensor screen. Echo flight had changed course and was now rapidly heading on an outbound course towards the last known position of the contacts. Within three minutes they had arrived in the sector and the five craft began patrolling the 2nd moon of Kyralis Alpha, looking for anything suspicious.

"Echo One to Nova Laikais, no targets spotted yet, we are entering the moon's atmosphere, will be out of contact shortly." The voice said again through the channel.

"Affirmative Echo One, Nova Laikais out." Letrent responded.

Echo Flight faded off the sensor screen as it entered the atmosphere of the moon. A few seconds later two targets clearly identified as "hostile" appeared just aft of the Flights last known position on the sensor screen.

"Echo One, Echo One contact at 6 O'clock!" Letrent yelled into the microphone. Alas, it was too late and Echo Flight was already burning through the moon's atmosphere.

"Nova Laikais Dry docks, we have an emergency, enemy craft have entered the system and engaged Brotherhood fighters in sector Three-Dash One-Five." Letrent sent through the emergency communications channel. Immediately chatter began filling the channel. Letrent looked back down at his sensor screen. A pair of frigates and two squadrons of fighters were already departing the dockyards and heading for the moon.
In Orbit around Kyralis Alpha Alpha/September 22, 2705 (1923)

"It looks like our diversion is working; we are preparing to set down." The pilot yelled back into the cargo bay of the Hegemony dropship. "Sit tight, it's gonna be rough!"

The ship shook violently as it burned into the atmosphere of Kyralis' Alpha 1st moon at incredible speeds. As the ship continued dropped into the lower atmosphere, the vibrations ceased and the crew began to settle back down.

"ETA two minutes, lock and load marines!" Reina yelled to the other soldiers in the compartment. Their dropship would be one of the first to touch down on the surface, and if their secret was out, they might be the last.

"One minute!" Reina reminded the troops. By now everyone had all of their gear ready, and the side hatches were opened, as well as the rear.

The dropship slammed hard into the ground, creating a cloud of dust around the craft. This gave the troops on board enough time to disembark entirely without being seen. The dropship shot off a few seconds later, and the troops moved out and began setting up a perimeter in the nearby woodlands.

"Alpha Company, North perimeter is up" Reina said into the comm. Channel.

"Bravo and Charlie Company, West perimeter is up" A voice, which Reina
recognized as Major Leskin, said back through the channel.

"All right Major, get a hold of Major Samson, tell him the LZ is secure and he can bring his Archer's down now."

"Will do Ma'am." Leskin replied.

Nova Laikais Dry docks, Kyralis Alpha/September 22, 2705 (1943)

"Stupid Hegemonial bastards..." Letrent muttered. These hit and run tactics were driving him mad, and they had been going on for nearly a week now. By the time a significant force could be rallied to force them out, they had fled the system. But he wasn't the only one getting fed up with these attacks. The high council was supposedly preparing a major operation against the Hegemony, and the Spartans that would spearhead that operation, all seven hundred, were coming here.


Kataramee, Small Magellanic Cloud, September 22, (2105)

"Our intelligence ships report a heavy amount of human military activity in the past few days. It is completely, well dumbfounding. We would assume that the two groups would be merging together, but instead they are mobilizing their forces for a major strike against one another. No communications between the two have been made since we sent the message, so we know that the Brotherhood is not telling the Hegemony about us. We can only assume that the Brotherhood is trying to wipe out the Hegemony before we arrive." Yara'a said to Commander Ramee

"They must be completely stupid, what could they possibly be trying to do?" Ramee replied, somewhat excited.

"That is what is so confusing, it might be a trick."

"A very good trick indeed, that is why I am very doubtful it is a trick.'

"I am doubtful too Commander, that is why I am sending your unit on an incursion mission to investigate." Yara'a handed Ramee a memory chip. "Enclosed is all the intel we have and the mission specifications.

"Where will we be going?" Ramee asked.

"Kyralis Alpha, it is a Brotherhood planet, we think some of their Spartan soldiers are based there, so be on the look out. We are sending you because your unit is the best."

Ramee looked at the chip for a second. "We wont fail you." Ramee paused for a second. "I don't mean to be rude sir, but what about our new armor?"

"Ahhh...I thought you might ask. They just came in a while ago. Your troops will be issued them once they are onboard the cruiser Justice. You will be the only unit on board the ship, so you will have all the training facilities to yourself. But you depart in one hour, so you'd better suit up."

"Yes sir, thank you sir."

Ramee bowed and then exited the room.



Retaliation
Date: 6 April 2004, 12:29 PM

Kyralis Alpha Alpha Hegemony FOB/September 27, (0418)

"Sensors, long and short range are now operational, plus defensive batteries are in place and linked to the main computer ma'am." Major Leskin reported to Lieutenant Colonel Reina Ketechi.

"Nice work major, what about Samsons group?"

"Major Samson reports his Archer forces are ready for deployment."

"All right, we will begin recee missions tonight, order his mission to be ready for a follow up mission tomorrow morning."

"Aye aye ma'am." Leskin said as he saluted.

Reina followed Leskin out of the command tent and then turned to walk down towards the barracks.

Nova Laikais Drydocks, Kyralis Alpha/September 27, (0521)

Commander Letrent rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he woke up. The morning briefing was in forty minutes and he couldn't afford to be late like usual. Supposedly command was preparing some sort of massive operation, and even though the last of the reinforcements came in two days earlier, they still did not have any orders.

Letrent walked down the hallway towards the showers, it was more of a stumble however. In the past few days he had been kept very busy, as had the rest of the BHHP forces on the planet, by the Hegemony's constant attacks. If the attacks had only been on Ki Alp and not on dozens of other planets as well, the BHHP command might have believed that the Hegemony knew about the upcoming offensive. But this was not the case, and Command had informed the Ki Alp defense forces that "there is no need for alarm, repulse the invaders and continue training excercises." Letrent of course, scoffed at that notion.

Nova Laikais Drydocks, Kyralis Alpha/September 27, (0600)

"Be seated everyone." Fleet Chairman Nevas ordered the officers in the room. "As you know, command is preparing a major offensive against the Hegemony. Our assault will not begin for at least 4 more weeks, so we have some time to finish training and preparing." Nevas paused for a minute. "If anyone has any questions or needs assistance, just ask." Nevas said, then continued on with the rest of the meeting, over the 'status of the toilet' as the other officers referred to the fleet housekeeping.


Kyralis Alpha Alpha/September 27, (2304)
Bravo Two-Zero/489th Battalion
On patrol 85 klicks NW of FOB Ki Alp Alpha

"Second Squad in position." A voice said quietly through the company comm. Channel.

"Roger that, 1st Squad has contacts, looks like Spartan III's." Another voice replied. "I count at least one company, looks like they are on excercises."

"Roger that, we are going to move to the East side of the camp, and try to infiltrate to see if we can't find out how many more are based here."

"Roger that, we have overwatch position set up. Call us if you need anything."

2nd Squad's commander chuckled through the com set. "All right, Bravo Two-Zero-One out."

2nd squad moved forward under the cover of darkness. As they neared the base they slowed their movements. They had several hazards to watch out for, one was the searchlights, another was land mines and sensors. Stepping on either one would really ruin their day.

"Everyone down, move slowly, and watch out for traps." 2nd Squads commander ordered.

After a slow hour long crawl across two hundred metres of open terrain the group reached outer most group of buildings in the camp. The group walked along the wall until they came to a door.

"Optics, get up here now." The commander ordered.

A man rushed to the front of the group. He knelt down by the door and put his mini-cam through the base of the door. As the image came back through to his monitor, his heart stopped beating at what he saw. Less than a second later the thick steel door slammed down on top of him, crushing him instantly.

The group immediately backed away from the door and set up a perimeter. One of the men walked slowly towards the door and peered in. He was grabbed by the head by what could only have been a Spartan III, and slammed into a wall with such speed and force that his armor shattered, splintering into his body. He as well died instantly.

"Bravo Two-Zero-One, you've got Spartan III's, at least a battalion force moving in on your position, get out of there now!" A voice yelled through the com channel.

"Frag out and then get the fuck out!" 2nd Squads commander ordered.

Two men pulled out HE grenades and tossed them into the room, they exploded on impact, killing the Spartan before he could avoid them. Taking his place however were two more Spartan soldiers, who stepped outside the door and began opening fire on 2nd Squad.

"Return fire!" the commander yelled, just a few seconds before his head was taken off by a sniper round.

After a few second firefight the entire squad was wiped out. The Spartans walked through the group, firing a few rounds into each, just to ensure their deaths.

"Bravo Two-Zero-One, what is your status, come in dammit!" A voice yelled through one of the com sets of the fallen soldiers.

"We've got more company." One of the Spartans' said to the rest. He switched to his Battalion channel. "Be advised, more enemy forces in the area."

The other Spartans acknowledged and began spreading into small groups to search for 1st Squad.

"Shit!" 1st Squads' commander yelled. "All right marines, move out we've got company." Just after saying this a BHHP attack craft flew over their heads. At first the commander didn't think that the craft had spotted them, but when it turned around and dove back in on them, he changed his mind.

"TAKE COVER!" He screamed, just before a rocket hit just in front of him, spraying debris and shrapnel into his face.

"SHIT! The LT is wasted!" One of the men screamed.

The squad began sprinting away from the base, but they were cut down by sniper fire from the Spartan soldiers, who had spotted them just after the LT became fubar.


Kyralis Alpha Alpha/September 28, (0048)
FOB Ki Alp

"Colonel, Bravo Company came under attack just ten minutes ago, two of their squads were wiped out just after reporting a battalion of Spartan III's in the area."

"Where is the rest of Bravo Company now?" Reina asked.

"They are falling back towards the base, Lieutenant Wallace was killed and right now no one is in charge."

"All right, get the 219th and the rest of the 489th mobilized. It is only a matter of time before they find out where the rest of us are. In the mean time, order Bravo Company to fall back to our outer perimeter, and to link up with Charlie Company."

"Yes ma'am!"





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