Ishkabibbl's Story Part 3
Posted By: Ishkabibbl<Sock41@Cox.net>
Date: 26 March 2003, 1:35 AM
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There was still a lot to do but most work was done by techs. They hacked and wrote programs so the shade turrets and banshees would operate on their own in the defense of the base. I was usually bored because Hec was constantly modifying his banshee. One day after insane boredom I walked up to Hec and asked, "How's that banshee coming along?"
He looked up boasting, "It's not a banshee it's a shrike." He showed me it and it was WAY different then the banshee. It looked as if it could be armed with rockets and bombs. "Pretty cool Hec." Hec just nodded again and started working on it again. I started on my way back into the room I shared with Hec and Mark when a tech walked up to me. "Would you happen to know where the warthog would be?" I was surprised at this question considering no recons were ordered today. "No clue but maybe they found another downed pelican." He nodded and left. Once he was gone commander Wolf came on over the battle net, "Will my former squad report to the briefing room." I grinned, finally something to do.
In the briefing room we all sat down. I thought something was wrong when I realized there were only 5 of us left. "Alright men its time you were reformed under new leadership. Ishkabibbl you are the new sergeant of the squad. Your squad's identification will now be Lonely Wolves. You will all be given access to our pelican and scorpion. Everyone is dismissed except for Ishkabibbl."
As my new squad left I walked towards the commander. "Ishkabibbl you will report to tech Vick for special training at 0900 tomorrow. That's all." I walked out wondering what a tech could teach me. Once I reached the room Mark congratulated me. By now it was late so I went straight to bed. Later on I heard Hec walk in, but before I could ask anything I fell asleep.
I woke up at 0755 because Hec walked into my bed on his way out. "Damn it Hec! Learn how to walk sometime soon." Hec would have responded but he's done this so many times he gave up. He shrugged then left. Since I was up I got my shower and ate some breakfast. By the time I was done it was 0830. I walked down to the southwest hanger, he was the only one who worked in it, and said "Hey."
He looked up and started showing me his shrike. As it turns out it's a high altitude fighter/bomber. It carried capsules filled with plasma grenades that made a plasma bomb. It carried rockets on its wing tips and 4 fuel rod cannons on the center. He also talked about how its shields were as strong as our pelicans and its armor was made out of hunter's shields. I laughed and said, "Hope they don't attack soon." I walked towards the other hanger where Vick was going to meet me. I got there a few minutes early but Vick wanted to start right away. "Alright Ishkabibbl I've been assigned to teach you how to work with an AI and basic mechanics. Also your friend Hec will expand your knowledge in mechanics and covenant weapons. Do you have any questions?" I shook my head no and we started working. After a few weeks of training my AI and I got along fine. His name was Shadow and it was programmed to be a 'smart' AI like the Master Chief's Cortana.
After my mechanics training was finished with Hec and Vick, I got shadow to help me with some modifications to our squad's pelican. Once the blue prints were ready I started working. After about a month it was completed. During this time a few covenant attacks occurred but all were repelled with only a few injuries. I was called again to the briefing room with my squad to prepare to test the new pelican. Once we were all there Wolf started speaking, "Alright Lonely Wolves its time for your pelican to go for a test flight. Pretty much the flight plan is already laid out," He turned on a holographic map of the local area, "we will do some combat drills here," A marker appeared on the map, "and you will be inserted here, and evac will be here." More markers appeared. "Also you will be testing your skills. So your tank will coming along for the ride." My men looked angry at this seeing straight threw the commanders plans. We were going on a suicide mission. The area that they were 'practicing' was a massive covie hot-spot. The commander went through the rest of the plan and dismissed us. I called all our men to the southwest hanger which we now shared with Hec. The seven of us talked discussing the plans. "I'll cover you guys with the shrike." We thanked Hec for his willingness to go on our suicide mission.
"Well this is going to happen in two weeks right? You should get cracking on the tank. You need to fortify the passenger spots, and you better let Shadow handle the tanks weapons." Jenny borrowed my holo map and with a little adjustment the blue prints for the conversions were up. Everyone tried to chip in with the work, but most of it was done by Hec and me. We finished it after 12 grueling days of work. After getting Jenny to make sure the pelican could hold the tank, we went out on a test run close to the base.
"Alright men I'm dropping the tank now." Before the pelican even got to the ground 4 of us were out and running for the tank. I checked my combat timer; it took a total of 30 seconds. "Alright Jenny meet us at the evac zone. Hec stay on combat alert."
"Affirmative moving to EZ now."
"Starting scans, Sir." I got in the driver's seat and took off. "Ok everyone this is close to the base, but be careful they might be hanging around. So stay frosty." 4 affirmatives rang through my headset. We approached the EZ with no sight of Jenny. "Hey Jenny we're at the EZ come get us." Out of nowhere the pelican appeared and it was already landed. We all nearly screamed at it, but realized Jenny just added cloaking to the pelican. While she was chuckling she told us, "All right everyone buckle up." After a few minutes we were back at the base. We all felt good after the debriefing in the hanger and most of us went to sleep.
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