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Warriors of Valour by Ghost sniper
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Warriors of Valour: Part 1
Date: 4 October 2003, 7:58 AM
AUTHORS NOTE: I'm discontinuing my other series the last Spartan because it was stupid. If you do want it just e-mail me and I can send you parts if I do them. Hope you enjoy this one though if you do yeah, if you don't who cares.
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(Year 2514, Space Port 23 of Sigma Octanus II)
*CRACK*
The shot rang through my nineteen year old ears, for my entire life all other shots would not affect my mind like the one that just sounded, my brain not believing what my eyes saw. It just froze there, a UNSC Sergeant standing away from his squad, the pistol in his hand pushing back from the recoil. The bullet passing through the air fifteen feet in front of me. I watched in slow motion as the hollow point entered the elderly mans chest, the bullet past through the man's heart completely cutting any chance of Frederick Stiles Snr. surviving. I watched as the man fell to his knees, I tried to pull away but I couldn't, my legs started to run towards him, hoping in vain I could help him. He was on his knees and coughed up at least a litre of blood before falling on to his back.
"Father" I called out trying to get some reaction from him.
I ran as fast as my Frederick Stiles Jnr. legs could carry me to my Father. The marines looked on happy they had completed their mission. They started to walk back to base sure to confirm that the suspected mastermind of the imminent mutiny was eliminated. But they had it wrong my Father wouldn't risk everyone's lives for that, for years our family and other's had been slaves working at the space station and any chance to escape was a golden opportunity.
"Father" I said kneeling beside his body blood gushing from his wound.
'Son' He said weakly
'I'm here it's alright I'm going to help you'
'No it's too late' he started to smile 'I guess I'll be seeing your mother soon.'
'No Dad you're not going to die'
'Yes I am, there's something you should know... they where right, it was me, I was going to break out for you.' He said rubbing the tear coming from my face.
'But Dad you could of di-'
'Died, who cares, the government would sooner let us die than to help us.' He coughed again letting more blood out onto my shirt.
'Fight son, you must fight to free our people and others like us.' He coughed turning his face a very pale colour. The blood around his wound was watered down as my tears ran into the hole. 'You must fight to stop the government. You must fight for...for...me...' His eyes went completely cold and empty as the last breath took what life he had away from him, from me.
I held his lifeless body in my arms rocking back and forth as people my Father and I had grown up and worked with looked on not knowing what to do. My father's arm hung to the side an accusing finger pointing at the retreating backs of the enemy, the UNSC. Built on the hope of uniting the people of Earth and the colonies, little did the public realise that there where too many people to provide for and dusted the rubbish away to become slaves. Over my Father's shoulder I could see a faint glint in the dust, I looked closely, it was the bullet it obviously past straight through his chest. I picked it up and grasped it in my fist, the fresh blood seeping into the crooks of my palm. I left picking up my Dad's body towards the slave's shantytown. Knocking back offers made by supportive comrades I buried him myself under one of the landing pads. I stumbled back to my house, my house, it used to be 'our' house but someone had decided to change the word, killing and complicating a life with a single depression of a finger. I looked under my Dad's bed to find his gun. A M3B Pistol a pretty early model but can get the job done, obviously it didn't have the same magazine size and power of the militaries current M5C pistol but it did take the hollow point bullets of the M5C. So I ejected the first bullet of the magazine and replaced it with the hollow point from the shooting, it passed through clean and was still fireable.
Leaving the house for the last time I didn't turn back, cradling the knife I had in my belt buckle. I don't know where I was going eventually but I had to leave. I walked into the spaceport heading out to the pad of a domestic flight to Sigma Octanus I. Leaning slightly I could see the military launching pad below with two longswords, just my luck. Leaning further I launched off landing behind a box of crates. The nearby guard didn't even hear me over the racket of his radio. I started towards the nearest longsword, but froze as I heard a voice from inside. It was too late to go back because the guard was starting his casual patrol and a spotlight was tracing the path from where I was back to the boxes, I had to go inside. I slowly advanced inside and saw a marine working at the console obviously recalibrating the flight systems.
'Sergeant Smith here, it looks all fine I'll just take her up for a test drive.'
'Okay Smith clear to launch through planetary access 3A.'
'Confirm planetary access 3A. Making my ascent now.'
I looked from my hiding position out the front window as a black blanket with white dots replaced the blue sky that was there. I worked on every kind of space ship but never past the final frontier and the coldness of space struck to the bone. As the pilot stopped and started whistling to himself I treaded forward thankful for the cloth shoes, I wore on the metal surface. In a reflection of a console monitor, I caught a glimpse of his face; it was the sergeant from the shooting. I lunged forward sticking my knife no through the central nervous system but through the windpipe; so he could suffocate while slowly drown on his blood running down his throat. I walked round to face him and just stood in front watching him claw at my pants his eyes screaming 'you'.
'Die you...dog' I shouted into his face as his eyes glassed over into death. I pulled out my knife from his neck and re-sheathed. I quickly changed into his clothes dumping the body and slave clothes out the airlock. At the control panel I was easily able to access the hyper drive, I allowed the computer to select a random coordinate to jump too.
'Longsword Gold 3-2 are you alright you've been out for a while everything alright.'
'Bite me you pieces of shit.'
'Crap we've got a hijack in progress on Gold 2-3 all units apprehend the ship, medic units to be put on alert we have an officer down.' The chatter continued and I was about to turn off the radio until the operator came back online. 'Hijacker of Gold 2-3 may I ask who am I talking too perhaps we can make an arrangement'
'I am Frederick Stiles can you arrange to bring back my father, no. I'm going to teach you pigs everything can come back and bite you on the arse!' I said activating the hyper drive. The sheer force of hyperspace travel sent me back into my chair; once I had recovered from the initial blast I set the cryogenic chamber to wake me after the ship dropped out of hyperspace. The chamber lid closed as frost began to appear on the glass before I stiffened by the extreme cold.
Warriors of Valour: Part 2
Date: 4 October 2003, 8:00 AM
'WARNING, WARNING CRASH IMMINENT.'
The monitors all held the same message with the computers flat toned voice ringing through the compartment. The cryo sleep had weakened me and a manual wake up had drained all my energy plus without anyone else I couldn't tell if there was permanent damage. I fell to the floor sending a crash through the small cabin. I tried to crawl forward towards the control panel, each reach of the arm seeming a lifetime. I reached the control panel and hauled myself up, my legs not responding. I bashed the keys with my hands scrolling through possible landing vectors; I selected one and fell to the floor blacking out before the crash sent me against the wall.
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I awoke against the back wall, sparks flying out of the controls, orange sand the only visible thing through the front viewpoint. I got up, apart from the severe bruise on my back I felt all right. Able to walk I opened the rear door and fell three feet to the ground. Looking back the longsword had landed nose first into the planet leaving the back feet in the air. I looked around seeing absolutely nothing but a stream of dust from afar. As it came closer I could see it was a car, a civilian car, thank god. It stopped just in front of me and a really built man got out his short brown hair not moving in the severe winds.
'Where am I' I asked first before he could say anything.
'You are on Eridanus 2 in the Eridanus Star System, Elysium City is just that way.' He said pointing from where he came. 'Why is a marine as young as you being a sergeant, you would of only joined the corps?'
'What year is it?'
'It is the year 2515'
'Well I'm twenty not to young and I'm not in the corps.'
'Then why do you wear a uniform?'
Oh shit, I spoke too much; well he looked like a good guy. So I told him about my father being killed and me stealing the ship.
'Ah yes I remember you. You where from Sigma weren't you, there was a small broadcast about being on alert for you. They still have a wanted notice on you though.'
'Wha- how do you know that?'
'I like to keep tabs on the military, I don't particularly like them.'
'Well neither do I.'
'Good, well you seem alright' he said looking at my back 'but you can stay with me and my wife till you're ready to go.'
'Where am I going to go?'
'Anywhere, but I suggest the Resistance.'
'The Resistance'
'Yeah, it's a little movement on the outer colonies; they help mercenaries, enemies of the state and people like you with nothing left. They have recruiting officers coming every two months.'
'Well I hate the UNSC and I am a wanted criminal so I guess I don't have a choice.'
'Good lad, I can keep you hiding in my house till you're ready.'
With that I got into his car and we set off talking about his and my family. I learnt his name was Robert and was married to a woman named Jane and had a four-year-old boy named John.
'Yeah John the apple in my eye. He's a very smart and strong boy. A little while back some military people came to see if they could recruit him for a new program called... oh what was it some Greek people in very ancient time...'
'Spartan' I suggested.
'Yeah that's it how did you know.'
'One of the fellow slaves was an ex-history lecturer. I got most of my schooling from him. The Spartan's where people who were great warriors it's an obvious choice for a military project.'
'Yes well where was I. Oh that's right, so we agreed to let them have him for the project, we are not very rich, we are having trouble keeping him now let alone when he grows, and any chance for John to have a good life we would jump at. Even if it meant we may never see him again at least he would be able to get an education and have food in his stomach.'
'That's sad, so is he gone?'
'No they come back in two years, 2517 in fact to pick him up. We're going to try and see him as much as we can till then.'
We suddenly stopped in front of a run down house. Robert got out and walked up the steps.
'This is my wife Jane.' He said gesturing to a very tall blonde woman in the kitchen. 'Jane this is Frederick he's going to stay for a while.'
'Oh Robert not another criminal.'
'Don't worry it's only for a month max.'
With that he led me outside to meet his son. He was only four but was moving bricks from one spot to another with great ease.
'John, I want you too meet Frederick he's going to be staying with us.'
'Wow another person to play with, come here Fred I want to show you my cubby house.'
His little hand grabbed mine and led me off his brown almost black hair swaying in the breeze his smile and laughter contagious and soon I too was laughing and smiling forgetting what had and was to happen. For a month I stayed there helping Robert at his day job of a builder. But then the day came for when I had to go into the spaceport to meet with the Resistance officials. Robert was taking me too the port but before I left I talked with John.
'Why do you have to go Uncle Fred?' He asked with wide eyes
'Its complicated but perhaps your father can tell you when you're older.'
'Will you come back?'
'I'm not sure but here's a little something you can have it used to be my fathers.' I said handing the knife I used back outside Sigma. 'Its lesson is why I must go.'
He cradled the knife in its holster and slowly took it out. On the blade was engraved a message
"To fight in what you believe takes great valour."
I had spent the month tossing and turning wether joining the resistance is the right thing to do and that knife's message kept coming back to me, and the decision became clear. I'm not sure Dad knew that the knife would alter his son's life son much. The message sparked his want for a mutiny, which had cost his life, his son then used it to kill his first person and then again use the message to motivate him towards a life in the resistance.
'Just don't tell your Dad, your only 4 after all.'
'Okay.'
The ride to the port was quite with Robert only shaking hands in silence before departing. I found the greasy fat man who took me on and pushed me into his ship with the rest of the universes' unwanted scum. My new life was starting one that I'm sure would finish the same time my life did, it was something I had to accept because there was nothing left so I might as well make the most of it.
Warriors of Valour: Part 3
Date: 4 October 2003, 8:03 AM
'Okay get off' the greasy man snarled at us in the hold shoving us outside to be greeted by a nice looking planet except for the makeshift bases that spotted the field the ship had landed on.
'This way' He snarled again leading the group of twenty men towards a large base. As we entered he lead us towards a large chamber where we lined up at attention. A man wearing a ragged officer's uniform came in looking each person up and down until he came to me.
'Name, son'
'Frederick Stiles, sir'
'Oh yeah, ever killed someone Fred.'
'Yes, sir' I said quietly not proud of it even though the sergeant deserved it.
'Who was it?'
'A marine Sergeant, sir'
'Holy shit, no wonder you're here. Okay first ten your to join Major Brosnick's unit the rest to join Major Matthews.' He quietly lowered his voice so only I could hear. 'Why did you kill him son?'
'He killed my father.'
'Your with Matthews, stay alive Fred I can see you have great potential.'
I followed ten of the new recruits mostly thieves and murderers towards one of the barracks where I got a bunk with a little Italian guy called Marco.
'Hey name's Marco what's yours?'
'Frederick, just call me Fred.'
'Okay, why are you here? I'm hear because I "accidentally" blew up a marines barracks.'
'I killed a marine and hijacked a ship.'
'Oohh, nice. Well you better get some rest we've got a new mission tomorrow. Oh, sleep facing away from fat Bob if you want to survive.' He said pointing to a fat recruit two bunks down just releasing a fart that was so loud it rattled the windows. I couldn't sleep while thinking of what could happen tomorrow but eventually fat Bob's chorus of farts drowned out my thoughts allowing sleep to come.
I awoke fully aware as Marco shook me.
'Come on man, Matthews waiting.'
We ran out the barracks and back into the main base where the briefing was held. Fortunately we where one of the first people there and I was able to see Matthews. He was middle-aged maybe 40 with a very crisp marine uniform; Marco said he had a dishonourable discharge from the service even though there was no evidence he had blown the mission.
'Okay ladies listen up' He boomed once a fair amount of troops came into the room 'today's operation is on a planet just 2 system away nice and easy, new base not yet completed holds some weapons we should capture, resistance is light so we're going to drop just past this forest proceed through to the bases gates and gain entry. Then Alpha and Bravo team enter the base while Charlie team wait outside. Once inside is clear Alpha team will escort Bravo team who will carry the weapons to the bases main square where a pelican will come in and pick us up. So lock 'n' load.'
'Sir, yes sir.' The squad sounded in unison and walked out into the armoury. There I loaded up on a simple MA4D a short rifle with a long range and very accurate, only capable of single and burst fire mode unlike its newer counterparts that had full automatic. Marco as I thought got some demolition charges instead of a pistol. I kept my father's M3B pistol but took extra MA4D ammo because I didn't want to use the pistol.
We boarded the pelican with Alpha team, luckily Marco and me didn't get separated and we were in Sergeant Matthews's team. That was when our luck changed as the Pelican begun to lift off an engine cut out shortly sending Marco falling out of the Pelican. I rushed to the side and heard a piercing crack. We re-landed and Matthews came up to Marco.
'Well you've broken your leg, not to bad enough for you not to walk on it.'
'I can still shoot though sir.'
'What's that got to mean?'
'I can stay in the pelican in case the extraction becomes a little hot.'
'Okay but you have got to stay off that leg.'
The rest of the journey was uneventful; people just sat their tweaking there guns for two hours. I couldn't talk to Marco he was opposite Matthew's at the back with fat Bob then me. The silence made the pilots voice even more unexpected.
'We are entering the atmosphere now guys.' Came the voice while the whole ship rocked 'okay approaching the LZ now go, go, go.' The door hissed open to reveal a meadow with a forest edge ahead. Matthews jumped down first with no shots being fired, he signalled to the rest of us to get out. Fat Bob jumped down but as soon as his foot touched the ground a bullet entered his neck. The blood splattered everywhere staining my breastplate.
'Tree line.' Marco shouted as he fired a burst into the trees making a marine fall from his treetop. He pushed me out to get a clearer shot. I landed on the ground Bob's blood making grass stick together. I crawled forward as bullets whizzed past my head, I looked back to see three more men get hit in the pelican, I looked forward as Matthews foot landed ahead of me.
'Fire your weapon Stiles.'
With that I got to my knees selecting single shot and firing into the trees. Every time I fired I could feel my courage and adrenaline rising, I saw a muzzle flash to the right so I turned and fired at the marine turning the bark behind him a deep hue. I continued crawling forward firing in the general direction of any muzzle fire. Unaware of Matthews beside me his shout startled me.
'Cover me!'
I rose with him firing a burst into to any possible hiding spot, Matthew threw his grenade into a bush to the right and once it blew up the squad ran forward. I ran into a bush and saw two marines one reloading. A single shot from my gun ejected one man's cerebrum from his head, I then reversed the gun bashing the butt across the other man's face. He staggered back unarmed into a tree; I could see the desperation in his eyes but didn't flinch as I shoved the gun as hard as I could into his neck.
'Regroup' Matthews called from further in.
We all joined up only five of the original squad of ten. We continued towards the base meeting with Charlie and Bravo team, they had come across no resistance so had full teams. We arrived at the forest edge on the side of base; the military had erected a wall that looked so thick.
'Anderson,' Matthews called before a man appeared out of the trees. 'Take three men and place a charge on the spot there it seems like a weak spot.' Anderson and his group started edging forward, they where halfway there before two machine guns in the towers opened fire and slaughtered them where they lay. People returned fire only to be met with an overwhelming hail of bullets.
'Fall Back!' Matthews shouted as two people next to me twisted around and fell with perforated chests. The entire group fell back further into the trees and we assembled around the team leaders waiting for the obvious counter attack.
'I suggest we get an extraction point for the M56-TC to come in and pick us up'
'Shut up Johnson' snarled Matthews 'we can't give up a catch this big.'
'But we've already lost ten men'
'Sirs,' I spoke up uneasily 'I have a plan that can take minimum causalities.'
'Will it work?'
'I don't know if it will work but all I need is a rocket launcher, no men.'
'Rockets don't penetrate the wall, we tried before we left.'
'Just let me try.'
'Done' Johnson said passing me a rocket launcher 'call us on the radio when you have broken the wall.'
I started to walk off and Matthews followed. 'Sir I said I don't need anyone else.'
'If your going to risk your life with this stunt I want to be there too, plus you haven't forgotten the guns.'
So we walked back to the forest edge where I silently dropped the rocket launcher as Matthews set up position lining his crosshairs on the nearest gun outpost. I eased a rocket out of the ammo pack. This rocket launcher was only single barrelled and needed a rocket to be slide into place in the tube before launch. I unscrewed the top and eased out the explosive and gave it to Matthews.
'Walk twenty feet in any direction and place this carefully on the ground. It will blow with even a slight touch.' He nodded and walked away returning just after I had fished out one of Marco's demo charges out of my bag.
'You son of a bitch' he exasperated.
I smiled as I set the timer to 30 seconds and jammed the explosive into the open rocket.
'Better get away.' I said levelling the launcher holding the rocket at the end.
'Why?'
'Because I don't know if it will explode on impact with the bottom of the rocket tube or get stuck.'
He walked off talking into his radio obviously asking the rest to slowly move up. I tilted the rocket launcher set off the timer and let the rocket slide down the tube, it didn't get stuck and it didn't explode but that was the easy part. I aimed for about ten seconds on the wall and fired. Automatically the guns started to fire, one gunner fell from his seat as Matthews fired, the other gunner soon after. The rocket wedged itself into the wall and after 10 seconds it blew up rocking the ground. The wall was burst open, once the smoke had cleared all teams moved in and secured the base.
'Charlie team hold, Bravo and Alpha with me' Matthews shouted bursting open the door to the only building. It went down into the ground, both teams where getting very close to the weapon storage before some marines opened fire from it. Matthews slowly leant round the corner greeted with a hail of bullets.
'Well that's sure to be the where the weapons are, Stiles, Micheals. We'll give you cover fire I want two grenade's in the door. I grabbed a frag grenade from my pocket and the man next to me did too. Matthews fired off a burst as me and Micheals stepped out and threw our grenade, well at least I did, Micheals got hit in the arm and dropped his armed grenade. I quickly gave it a good kick and pushed Micheals back around the corner before I dove back in to. Fragments came flying down the hallway before the squad ran down the hallway into the chamber guns at the ready. It was empty.
'What the...' I trailed off as my flashlight ran around the room with nothing except four dead marines.
'It's empty' Matthews spoke the understatement 'Charlie team you copy it's empty' Nothing 'Charlie team respond.' Nothing came through and the same though struck everyone, it was a trap.
'Let's haul ass' shouted one of the soldiers. The two teams bounded up the passageways to finally burst out into the base. All the Charlie team members lay dead on the dirt ground. An engine sounded to the right as a M12 LRV and 40 marines came out guns blaring. At least ten men fell in the first thirty seconds, we where being slaughtered, Matthews shouted into his radio to get an extraction. I couldn't see because the soldier next to me got hit in the head and the blood had covered my face. We where down to only 6 men before the M56-TC came with chin guns blaring. They came in low and two rockets came soaring through the air blasting two pelicans out of the air sending them crashing into the wall. As the pelican landed I could see Marco lying on the M56-TC's bay floor, thank god he's still alive. Three men where shot in the back as we retreated back to the M56-TC, now it was only Matthews, Johnson and I. The M56-TC took off Matthews and Marco firing into the advancing lines, I was hoisting Johnson into the bay as three bullets went clean through his back one landing in my arm. I tried desperately to hold him but the pain from my arm was getting to great. I think he saw my wound so he let go firing back at the marines. The M56-TC sped off and I could see Johnson firing become less frequent until it finally stop. I cradled my arm as the blood sloshed onto the floor.
'Here I'll fix that up.' Marco said taking my arm wrapping a bandage around it. I let my head fall to my chest until Matthews spoke up.
"Was it your first time out kid?" I nodded "I'm sorry, no one should see that there first time out.'
'What being slaughtered?' I said hoarsely.
'Yes, it's a price most pay for the bad choices they made. I heard your story, you didn't make bad choices and this life was forced on you. You deserved to survive, which you did. If it's any consolation you did good today so good in fact I believe you can be the commander of a new squad I'm getting initialised.'
'But it was my first time out.'
'That's right...you did so good first time out image what you can do with some training. Some people have the ability to lead some don't. You have it my friend I saw it today.'
'Thank you sir.' I said trying my best at a salute with the bad arm.
'Ahem' Miller cleared his throat.
'Don't worry Marco' Matthews said with a smile 'you've been one of the team members I selected for months I was just trying to find a worthy squad leader.' He finished looking at me.
'So what's this new squad called?' I asked.
"Warriors of Valour."
Warriors of Valour: Part 4
Date: 4 October 2003, 8:05 AM
(2516, in transit to Gilanta Nova IV)
'Okay lets go over the plan again.' My words echoed through the M63-TC's bay.
'Yes sir Sergeant Stiles.' Called most of my squad except one.
'Oh do we have to Fred.'
'Yes Marco we do.' Marco had not changed over a year and we were still the best of friends, he and I felt comfortable together and could create plans that were almost perfect. Once I had taken the position of squad leader of the "Warriors of Valour" Marco became my demolitions expert. He was quite a joker and was able to keep the squad in a good mood. I looked around at the rest of my squad members as I folded out the map.
Joanne the deadliest sniper the Resistance had to offer, Matthews had described her as a cold-hearted killer and that was what she was. She rarely missed a shot and was never found far away from her custom modified sniper rifle, She had modified it so much the original model was unknown as Joe's gun. She was strikingly beautiful but strictly professional, that was something Marco had found out the hard way.
James heavy weapons expert, a lumbering hulk of meat. He could easily take on 50 marine troopers and 3 M807B MBTs easily, that was something the entire squad was thankful for. He too was deadly professional but was usually found to be help and participate in many of Marco's practical jokes. He always packed himself with a newly acquired M17 shoulder mounted rocket launcher; unlike previous models it had dual barrels. He was almost always the "contingency plan", which meant if we got in trouble he would lay out the explosives and bullets to get us out.
Then there was Helen our pilot, driver etc. whatever, if it was metal and could move she could use it. She was most renowned for a move she pulled at a major skirmish with the UNSC. She flew a longsword between two cruisers crippling each other with there shots and then turning around going through again in a gap only 100 metres apart making the pursuing fighters panic and fly into there own cruisers. Due to her light frame and nimbleness she was an expert of infiltration, when she did have to go into the field she took only a silenced M4A pistol and a knife.
I checked that my father's M3B was still in the holster before continuing 'Okay we just got reports of the UNSC holding some civilians here' I said pointing at a building in the city's centre 'There all orphans used for testing, we're going to get them out and suggest joining the Resistance. Now Helen is going to take us onto the roof, it's a fairly useless facility so resistance is extremely light. That is were Marco, James and I are going to get out. Now Helen drops off Joanne on a nearby roof and then stays in close proximity in case of air attack. Marco and I will blow the roof, James your to stay on top. There is a barracks and vehicle yard close by James and Jo can take care of them when they come to investigate. Marco and I will infiltrate and rescue the orphans, recon shows no more than six, we should be able to hack into the mainframe and find a map. Then we escort the subjects to the roof where Helen will come in and take us home, okay.'
'Yes sir.' They said sitting back down waiting for the doors to open and the mission to start, the Warriors of Valour where professionals they had a 95% success rate and today I knew they wouldn't disappoint.
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The plan went off without a hitch and soon Marco and I where bounding down a corridor with the muffled gunshots from James and Jo coming through the windows.
'Next left is the holding cell.' Marco said pointing at a door. I came up and gave it a good kick to send it crashing down. My gun jumped in my hands as a guard crumpled to the floor. Marco went up and snatched a key chain from his belt; he opened all the cells and only four people walked out.
'Four, where's the rest of you.' Marco spoke first.
'We are all that survived the test's.' Said what seemed to be the leader of the group, he was around the age of Marco and me and for being tested on he seemed all right.
'Right well get your stuff we're here to get you out.' I said checking outside the door, Helen should land in two minutes and she should land just as we got out to the roof. We got to the roof meeting only four other guards that were taking car of. The test subjects seemed docile even though there was gunfire sounding all round them. Helen landed and Jo helped everyone into the bay, the mission was a complete success in less then ten minutes. As we flew away we saw two tanks rolling out of the barracks, I thought I could see the disappointment in James eyes until I saw he was hit in the leg.
'James your hurt.' I blurted out reaching for a nearby med kit.
'Oh don't worry its only a flesh wound.' He shrugged of but I was going to attend the wound if he liked it or not, I didn't want him to die from loss of blood.
'Sir, if you mind.' Said the orphans' leader reaching out for the bandage and attending James wound. He worked professionally and had the blood stopped and wound covered in a minute with a clean tight bandage.
'That should do it.' He said getting up
'Wow thanks' James said stretching his leg.
'Where did you learn how to do that?' I asked once he sat down.
'Where we just came from'
'What?'
'The facility was researching genetic programming. Their ultimate goal was to be able to program their soldiers' brains to tweak their skills. Of course they didn't program something like close combat to us they only tried medical skills. I was the first test subject to successfully adapt to the programming.'
'How many was there to start with?'
'Twenty.'
'Twenty...I'm Frederick Stiles by the way and I know how hard it is being an orphan...'
'Daniel, name's Daniel and I'm not an orphan.'
'What?'
'You said twenty orphans, I was one of the twenty but I'm not an orphan.'
'So you actually have a family.'
'Yes when the UNSC came looking for orphans they didn't get enough from the orphanage so they got kids from neighbouring houses, I got caught up. So for the last six years I've lived in the same cell under the watchful eye of the UNSC.' At that point one of the orphans slouched over and fell off their chair. Daniel instantly jumped up and went to their help, watching Daniel I now saw what Matthews saw in me just 15 months ago. So then and there I made a decision to help give Daniel a good life, I just hope Matthews approved and Marco didn't get too angry.
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Six hours later I was in Commander Matthews office with the other orphans, the other squad members had gone off after the debriefing.
'So the resistance is willing to help you into a new life as a civilian or you can join us and fight the UNSC.' Matthews finished stubbing out his cigar and one by one they came up and told of what they wished. Two wished to return to normal civilian life and then it was Daniel's turn.
'I'd like to join the Resistance sir.' He said forcefully.
'Sure?' Matthews said offhandedly giving him a chance to go back.
'My best friend was programmed on the table beside me. It failed, his brain cells expanded and one by one exploded, it lasted 12 hours before he died. The doctors refused to give him a sedative or lethal injection; I was tied down for half a day listening to his screaming as UNSC doctors talked about what they had for lunch. I'd love the opportunity to bring the UNSC down.'
'Okay' Matthews said uneasily 'you can join sergeant Jones platoon-'
'Sir if you would.' I interrupted rising from my chair 'I would like to recruit Daniel into the Warrior's of Valour.'
'Do you think he's up to it?'
'Ever fired a gun?' I asked Daniel.
'Sure, they programmed weapon handling in us but kept all guns off base.'
'I think he's ready.' I announced to Matthews 'plus we need a good medic.'
'Okay, welcome to the Resistance Private Daniel.'
'And welcome to the Warriors of Valour.' I shook his hand, saluted Matthews and lead Daniel out of the room.
'Thanks, sir I really want to fight and to fight with you is a real honour.'
'Well that's not the complete deal. Daniel I want you too be my second-in-command.'
'But I haven't even been in the field.'
'Yes you have, the facility. I talked to the other orphans they said they would never of survived if you weren't there to lead them. You've got great leadership potential in you, I want it to come out.'
'I don't know.'
'Do you know how many missions I went on before I got squad leader of this squad. One mission. Matthews saw something in me that I now see in you, you don't have to take the position I'll still want you in my squad. It's just something I know you and the squad could benefit from.'
'I'm sorry sir but I don't think I'm ready for a command post' he said leaving me in the hallway, I'll ask him again at the briefing tomorrow though.
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'Good morning campers' I said as Marco came in his usual place as last.
'Oh come on sarge you should of seen this girl last night we-'
'Marco! Shut up' Helen said stopping the chatter.
'Now we've got ourselves another rescue mission this time workers building a new space port fairly insignificant for the UNSC so our mission isn't a great blow.' A complement of groan with a sarcastic 'Yah' of James came from the group.
'But here's the good news there is virtually no UNSC presence in the target zone. Just a small barracks in case of an emergency. At 2100 hours all prisoners are locked up in the dormitories and the guards go to there barrack. If we get in at 2200 hours we can get the prisoners out with little annoyance be back at base in time for the Resistance's trademark greasy breakfast.'
'Where are we going sir?' Helen asked with a smile.
'Believe it or not, Gilanta Nova II' with that Daniel's head stuck straight up 'what is it?' I asked.
'That's my...home planet.'
Warriors of Valour: Part 5: Revenge is sooo sweeet
Date: 28 November 2003, 9:58 AM
Note: Sorry that this series is pretty dark, trust me i'm not some goth or something. I ussually don't write about dark stuff like that but thought i'd see how it had an impact
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The shock was still in Daniel's face as Helen set us down near the camp on his home soil. Once he set his foot on the ground a smile spread over his face, he was home. It seemed strange he still remembered home after six years and to me home was a foggy nightmare after only two years. But then where he was just yesterday was a place he didn't accept as 'home', rather the opposite to me for I knew the Resistance was my home.
'Coming Helen?' Marco asked.
'Keep your pants on I'm just setting her down.' Helen was an infiltration expert after all and we were infiltrating so she naturally came with us. We moved off from the clearing leaving the pelican, there was only one barracks and that was in the camp so there was minimal risk leaving it there. We soon got to the gates; once Helen had been hoisted over the wall it only took five minutes for her to open the gates. When she greeted us at the entrance I noticed smoke rising from her silencer.
'Operator of the gates' she said noticing my gaze.
'We better move the body, we don't know when the rotation of duties is at.'
Once I had moved the body I met the rest at the dormitories where Marco had just finished placing explosives on the locks of the doors.
'I don't want any noise.'
'Don't worry shouldn't be louder than one of James's farts' he replied pushing the plunger making smoke rise from each door not a sound from one.
'Good work' I called back rushing to the furthest door waking and ushering everybody out of the building meeting everyone else and their group. We lead them out the main gates with Helen closing the gates after us; the only sound came from a little girl slipping on a branch. It had worked, a success with only one kill, well by any standards, we only had to reach the M63-TC and we were home and free. The group reached the clearing and just stared at what was in front of them.
There was a huge tree that had fallen down right on top of the M63-TC's nose.
'Holy shit.' Helen summed up what everyone was thinking rushing forward to her now crippled "baby". James moved to try and budge the tree trunk but it didn't budge.
'All right, Marco help James, Helen try to fix it the best you can with the tree in the way, Joanne keep a secure perimeter, Daniel attend any injuries the captives may have.' I then turned to the captives who where huddling in the centre under the tail of the M63-TC. 'I need any men fit enough to help us move the log, I don't need to tell you we need to move it to get out of here,'
About ten men came out and helped James and Marco. We had just moved the tree when I was next to Daniel and his voice was purely elated.
'Mrs. Mchagin' he said beaming at the elderly women he was currently treating.
'Who are yo-...Daniel...Is that you?'
'Yes, its me oh its good to see you.'
'Do you know her?' I asked floating above them.
'Yes, she used to take care of me when Mum was at work. Where is my Mother?' he asked hope glinting in his eyes.
'Oh Daniel I'm sorry but...but two months ago she got terribly ill, they didn't have anything to treat her so they took her out and...shot her.'
The impact on Daniel was instant, his shoulders slumped and his lips started twitching.
'Daniel I'm sorr-' I said putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Instead he brushed it off and walked to the forest's edge sitting on a stump. I left him with his thoughts. 'How long Helen?' I asked as she came out to get a drink.
'No more than an hour.' She replied.
Marco came out with all the M63-TC medic packs and preceded to drop them on the ground, he was obviously bored with sitting here. 'Here you go Daniel all six-...where's Daniel?'. I flung around the stump he was sitting on was empty, dam he better come back soon I thought.
'Ah sir' Helen said uneasily. She held out her knife sheath, it was empty. Oh no, I thought to myself.
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It took a half hour to get the M63-TC; there was a fault in the fuel injectors that would need more extensive maintenance back at base. But it took an extra ten minutes for Daniel to return, when he did he handed the knife to Helen; blood glinted all over it in the moonlight. He then walked straight up to me.
'I accept your offer to become second-in-command for the squad, if the offer still available' in a very monotone voice.
'Well then consider the space filled.' I said returning the stiff salute he had giving me.
'Oh the barracks won't give us much trouble now' he then emptied his pockets onto the ground. At my feet he had laid twelve UNSC dog tags; all of them covered in blood, the dew on the grass started to make the blood run onto my boots. I fished them up and followed Daniel into the M63-TC, not once during the return journey did he say a word about what he'd done, he just sat there staring at the back door his teeth barred.
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'So that's it?' Matthews asked me after I had giving him an edited debriefing of the mission.
'Yes sir. We got thirty prisoners all of them have been asked to start a new home.'
'Okay, I'll deal with that in the morning, you can go Stiles.' I began to walk out before Matthews called me at the door. 'Stiles, how did Daniel go?'
I thought quickly, should I tell him, if I did he might discharge him for unstableness, but they had shot his mother. 'Just fine' I replied casually, I really thought Daniel could make it in the Resistance and I wasn't going to let him go easily.
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(2516 September 27th, Resistance home Planet)
'Wake up everyone' I shouted into my squad's barracks 'come on we gotta be outta here by nine.'
'Five more minutes, mum' James groaned.
'Shut up James and get your butt out here.'
Once the squad had assembled Daniels walked up to me reporting everyone was accounted for, it was routine but stupid there was only six in the squad. Daniels over the past two months had grown into the commanding officer I saw in him when I first met him, on a couple of missions I had been wounded and let Daniel control the squad himself.
'The Resistance's top brass have been looking over there units records and they noticed that out squad has only failed four missions in the seventeen months it's been commissioned, those failures with minimum consequences. So they have decided to send us on a vacation, don't worry only a short one; we are to look after a new base they are building in the outer rim.'
The entire squad groaned and then realised this was actually the first time they hadn't been fighting and warmed to the idea of sitting down feet up with their guns in their laps without having to fire them. While in transit to the planet Marco decided to play a game of poker with an old pack of cards he had (Not strip poker which Marco first suggested). As everyone played I looked on and saw how much the squad had groan together, unlike other units we had never had to deal with the loss of a team-mate nevertheless we had grown into some sort of family. We had complete trust with each other and knew all of our strengths and weaknesses; I had to commend Matthews who had picked a squad where someone's weakness's was covered by someone's strength's. We landed and everyone got out and began to set up base, we were going to be here a while, just the way we liked it.
Warriors of Valor: Part 6: Is that a light at the end of the tunnel, or a train
Date: 7 December 2003, 4:26 AM
(2516 October 3rd, Outer Rim: Colony 136)
'I repeat all Resistance units in the close proximity immediately return to base, I say again return to base. A UNSC Halcyon-class cruiser has just appeared in our sector it is currently disabling our space defences, we have picked up multiple troop carriers heading towards the planet. We need all infantry, Armour and Space units to make haste back to the base planet.' Matthews's voice came trough the radio in perfect clarity the anxiousness in his voice easy to notice. All the people in the radio room looked at each other, my squad at me, me at the new Colony's commander.
'We need a fast ride back home' I rushed out the words.
'There is a longsword in the hangers' the commander suggested.
'It will have to do.' I replied turning to my squad, not exactly as fit as they could be but in good shape anyway. I had a face of 'Sorry-guys-but-orders-are-orders'.
'Oh come on they just had to choose when we where on holidays.' Marco shouted, he still hadn't finished his bickering when everyone had suited up and were on the Longsword.
'Right team we are going straight to the main base and command can decide where we go from there.' I said mainly to Helen as the team just sat around on the hold getting ready for the fight. The Colony was only two hours sub-light time away so there was no need for cryo freezing, for what I thanked. I had never gotten used to cryo freezing ever since my first stint escaping from my home planet.
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'Holy Shit' Joanne said looking out the window as we slowed out of hyperspace. Just visible on the other side of the planet we could see a UNSC cruiser. It was humungous; I had never actually seen a military star-ship. Helen cautiously sped the ship forward until we where coming into the atmosphere. As always she was able to land with minimal effort and perfect results. Of course this was exceptionally good considering what looked like three battalions of Marines were attacking the landing pad.
The doors hissed open and smoke trails came from Joanne's gun as she could shoot through the small gap, then James and Marco started providing covering fire as me and Daniel jumped out covering the squad as they came out. As we forced out we were able to create a bubble within the marine's lines and we finally got to the main base. The group spilt up Joanne and Helen to go into the base, James and Daniel to the south, Marco and I to the north. We had just taken position behind a flipped M9 LRV when the fighting died down.
From the corner of my eye I could see a resistance soldier trying to sneak through the grass back to the cover of the main base. A shot rang out through the clearing as the soldier stiffened in his crouched position and fell back down, blood gushing profusely from his leg. A young soldier fired a short burst beside me at the place he thought the shot originated from. Fire instantly erupted from everywhere, and the young boy slumped over with the exit wounds on his back. Everyone fired back and soon the clearing was ablaze in fire again. As I fired I noticed that the soldier in the grass was still alive, it wasn't really that far, I thought foolishly.
'Cover me.' I shouted and ran out into the grass setting my rifle to single shot picking of at the muzzle flashes. I fell beside the wounded soldier and looked at his agonizing face, it was Matthews. I reloaded got up and fired a burst into the closest trees.
'Fire your weapon Matthews' I shouted at him jokingly as I hoisted him helping him walk with one arm. Using my back as a rest for his arm he fired as I helped him limp away firing blindly as well with one arm. At the point I picked him up fire from our base intensified until we got back into cover.
'Put him here sir.' Daniel said already attending the wound.
'There were no-one else at the south sir, so we brought some people to help you finish up.' James shouted over the constant rattle of gunfire. In ten minutes the last marine gun was silenced as Joanne sniped the last survivor. Matthews was back on his feet and led us into the base.
'Thank god you guys are here.' Matthew's said wincing as he bent his leg sitting down 'we where cooked until you came.'
'Thank you sir' I replied 'What do we do from here though.'
'We're going have to counter attack and take back the planet of course.'
'Well where did they land.'
'Just to the south.'
'If we could get enough people together it could be possible for us to jam there interplanetary-ship communications and then take by force, if we didn't jam the comms they would bomb the planet base just to make sure, no matter how many we have its nothing against a nuclear warhead. Once we did we could send a small team up to infiltrate and sabotage the ship without them even knowing we had retaken the planet. Just depends we how many people we have, because I mean they wouldn't have that many troops on land yet and they would of sent most to attack the main base.' I said meaning the troops we had just stopped.
'We currently have two battalions; once I pull in all the recon, training and remote units we should have close to a division.' He winced again as Daniel put another painkiller injection in his arm.
'Then I suggest we get them together.'
'Sirs,' a private shouted bursting in with a handful of holo-maps. 'We have just received satellite photographs of the UNSC's landing zone. There where a few they forgot to knock out' Great I thought as I snatched them and analysed the grainy black and white photo. It was a pretty bland clearing looked like no grass. Surrounded by a small ridge except for a small slit for where a river came out of the clearing. A bad spot to defend because any attacking force would have higher ground except it was the only place on the small planet large enough to land multiple troop carriers easily. This is going to be a turkey shoot.
'Also sir,' the private said addressing Matthews 'we just got word from our UNSC contacts, there were only two cruisers close to our sector. One of them was transporting blueprints for the new Gorgon class Destroyers and neither have reported back after unscheduled hyperspace-jumps.'
Matthews's eyes light up, if this cruiser was the one and if we could get hold of those plans we could do some serious damage I thought to myself. I'm sure everyone else was too. But they were pretty big 'ifs'.
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The grass was scratching my forehead and it was annoying as hell, but the attack was about to start soon and my squad and I, like every other resistance member around the clearing, would go into action and quickly try and take the base. The second hand on my watch slowed to a stand still, the muttering of Marco and James was only growing in sound as the time ticked closer to the point where we would launch ourselves into the war lottery once more to see if we won life or death. I had already chosen a path my squad would take, there was no cover on the ridge so everyone except Joanne would move forward to the garage. James would roll out a M10 LRV and man the gun on the back. Daniel, Marco and I would then proceed to clear each building.
Multiple guns fired at once as soon as the second reached the appointed place and fire emerged from everywhere. Soldiers jumped up and moved to their assigned places, some falling on the ridge. Joanne's sniper rifle cracked continuously as she took down targets with ease, we got up under cover fire and made the short run to the garage.
All of a sudden I heard a watery thump as pain seared through my stomach, I stopped and dropped to my knees. I dropped my gun and grabbed my abdomen, as I looked I could see blood pouring over my hands, staining them and the ground. Daniel rushed up to me instinctively reaching for his med pack.
'No' I said pushing it away, but he just came back 'that's an order, we need to take the base, we need as many soldiers as possible and you're a soldier aren't you' I said coarsely through coughs
'The shot has obviously severed your kidney if I don't treat now you're going to die!' he pleaded.
'The squad needs a leader and that is you now,' as I spoke the world became hazy and I was unable to distinct his features. I forced a smile but blood streamed from the sides down my cheeks 'make me proud.'
'Sarge' he pleaded hovering over me.
'Go!' I shouted, he turned around and ran off firing more aggressively than I had ever seen him before, I had taught him well. I slumped over onto my back and fumbled for my pistol, I was unable to undo the holster until a reassuring hand eased it off and placed the gun in my hand. I looked up and Marco was hovering over me now. I smiled back at him happy my best friend was here too.
'I'll miss you' He said over the raging battle only twenty metres away 'Hopefully I'll see you again, but not to soon.'
'Thanks Marco' I grasped his open fist like brothers as I pointed the gun at myself; I caught a glint of the bullet that had killed my father two years ago. I place the barrel against the roof of my mouth and said one last thing.
'I'm coming home Dad.'
*CRACK*
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2516 - Current
Daniel and the "Warriors of Valor" secured victory however there was no information or blueprints on the new UNSC Destroyer model, however a large cache of weapons was seized. All marines capture that day (27) mysteriously died from gunshot wounds that night, all still had their hands bound and were lined up against a wall. The discovery was made shortly after Daniel and Marco visited the prisoners for unknown reasons. No inquiry was made and the deaths were labelled as natural causes.
Matthews (Commanding Officer)- Became new Resistance leader two weeks after Frederick death. He and the Warriors of Valor created a small memorable stone at the place of Frederick's death. He then appointed Daniel as deputy Commander. He successfully led the Resistance so well that the UNSC contacted the Resistance to initiate negotiations. He died before negations started from undetected heart problem in 2523.
Daniel (Second in Command/Medic)- Rose to rank of Resistance leader by 2523 at which he married and had a son named Sam. 2526 becoming sick with administration and the UNSC unwillingness to negotiate, he assigned a new commander and returned to one of the Resistance's elite units, he was unfortunately killed in transit to first mission by a Covenant cruiser. His son became a technician in the UNSC, specializing in Cryogenic freezing; Sam was posted on the Pillar of Autumn. Died in 2552 when Cryo bay 2 was overrun by Covenant forces in space around Halo instillation 04
James (Heavy Weapons) - Defected and became candidate for Spartan II project, did not survive genetic alterations, he become number 20 on the death list of 31, James - 098.
Joanne (Sniper) - Defected and became a candidate for Spartan II project, she survived the genetic alterations to become Joanne-021. Recently acquired MJOLNIR armor helped in incursion aboard Covenant ship near Chi Ceti 4. Died in 2531 due to a pelican collision with Covenant stealth ship at Battle of Harvest.
Helen (Pilot) - Defected and became a pilot in the UNSC. While in service she was the wing mate of 'Foe Hammer'. Decorated for going above and beyond the call of duty on multiple occasions. She was assigned to Admiral Cole's ship during the battle of Harvest. She died when she collided with an invisible Covenant stealth ship in transit of placing two Spartan operatives (Frank-017 and Joanne - 021) on Harvest surface.
Marco (Demolitions) - He left the resistance and fled to Earth. He changed his name and then he became a successful businessman completing destruction of old buildings, bridges, oilrigs etc. He married and had two children Cassandra and Frederick. Once the Covenant attacked, he joined the marines and was selected into the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers program. Due to his skill, experience and leadership he easily rose to position of Deputy commander of the ODST in the Terra system.
Robert's son, John, joined the Spartan program at age six. Successfully adapting to the genetic alterations to become John - 117. The dagger Frederick gave him is still used by John to this day who always fights for what he believes in. The Human Race.
###Well that's it hope you guys liked it, thanks to people who posted comments.###
SHIVVY
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