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Operations Crew Tango Red: Retreat and Reunion
Posted By: Shinai Purugganan<hybrid_phoenix2k2@hotmail.com>
Date: 9 August 2003, 5:18 PM
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Operations Crew Tango Red: Chapter Three
Paul unhinged the ladder hatch above the maintenance ducts and pulled the ladder down. Fend and Reyes, who were standing guard in case the Covenant they killed earlier would reanimate, climbed the ladder first and checked the access-ways with their standard flashlights.
"All clear!" Feng reported. He poked his head out of the hatch and gestured the rest to follow.
"Okay, let's get him up!" Paul ordered to Yamira and Sanders. The two carried Hebert over to the ladder and lifted his body aloft. Reyes shone the flashlight as Feng grasped and pulled the wounded crewman to safety.
Grunting voices clamored from down the dim hallway. Emergency lights flashed rapidly as a suction noise surround their current section. "Lieutenant Hikowa is draining the atmosphere! Hurry up, we have to go, now!" exclaimed the Chief.
Yamira double-timed her ascent into the maintenance area. Green bolts streamed out of the fog, which filled the section, straight toward her. She felt a sudden jerk push her.
Sanders climbed the ladder after her and smiled. "You scared the hell out of me Sanders!" Yamira yelled and then smacked him.
"That plasma was coming right at you! I just saved your life! What did you do that for?" he asked, rubbing his cheek.
"Chief, come on!" Reyes shouted to his superior below.
Paul fired off a couple suppression rounds and then jumped on the ladder. Plasma discharge stuck the duct under the Chief and a chilling blast erupted from the duct below him.
***
"Everyone check in!" Officer Keating demanded. Five other crewmen approached him and reported. Simon sighed, acknowledging that his crew of eleven dwindled to five. His insubordinates recognized the casualties as well. Everyone experienced loss at the hands of the last Covenant push toward the bridge. Although the Covenant had come within fifty meters of the command section, his crew and a few marines managed to hinder them from attaining the Pillar of Autumn.
"So what now Sir?" a female crewman inquired. The officer opened his mouth, but the intercom suddenly boomed throughout the corridor.
The Captain's voice echoed inside the ship. " Crew and ops personnel on decks one through four: report to evac stations immediately."
"That's our cue. Let's hit those lifeboats," Simon commanded.
"Just how exactly will we reach the lifeboats Sir?" a crewman queried. The others turned their heads to their commander.
"We're going back to the cryogenics area and I'll think of a way out when we get there," Simon answered.
"Pardon me Sir, but why not go through the mess hall and catch an early exit?" another crewman suggested. The rest of the team nodded in agreement and wonder.
"We'd be sitting ducks if we went that way. Other crews probably already evacuated already. Besides, we've secured the cryogenic area for the most part. There's no reason to risk it," Simon explained. "Now follow me, we're going back there on the double."
The others listened contently to their superior's orders and quickly pursued him as he entered the marine armory. Simon was right; none of them wanted to risk running into any one of those deadly aliens and Tango Red officers had a reputation of getting their crew out alive. When everyone reached the armory, Simon stopped and returned to the door.
"Everyone search the armory for anything we can use while I lock the door," he instructed.
The crew scoured the area and Simon entered a security code into the adjacent panel. The automatic door slammed shut. He walked over to a barricade. "Ashen, Matthews, give me a hand here!" he ordered.
Two crewmen immediately rushed over and both of them joked.
"Where would you like us to park that thing Sir?" jested Matthews.
"You aren't going to bring that with us are you?" Ashen followed up. The two laughed concurrently.
"Very funny. Let's put it in front of the door. That'll make sure we have no stragglers."
"Yes, Sir!" the men acknowledged and helped the officer push the barrier in front of the door, obstructing anyone from tailing them. The other three members approached them.
"All of the weapons are gone Sir. There's nothing we can really use here," a crewwoman stated.
Simon sighed and pulled out his pistol. "We'll have to stick with what we got. Everyone check your side arms. We don't want to walk into something with nothing in the chambers," Simon warned.
After reloading a couple clips, the crew nodded simultaneously.
"All right. Let's go!" Officer Keating ordered and dashed down the hallway. Fortunately, the blast door that he saw earlier was still obstructed and remained open halfway. He crouched and crawled through and then walked over to the entrance to the cryogenics bay he and shipmates had slept in before the chaos erupted.
He inputted the clearance code into the door panel and the light flashed green. The team followed his every movement and approached him as the doors parted. Simon stepped into the room first and peered around the bay.
"It's all clear," he said, indicating them to enter with his hand.
The others slowly walked inside and later ran toward their lockers. The officer already opened his compartment and gathered his most dear belongings. It seemed there was more than the original reason why he returned, but the others understood.
"Keep it light. This isn't going to be a first-class flight," he reminded them.
The team finished retrieving their possessions and parted with what they could do without. They climbed to the observation deck and gathered around the computer console. Simon had already finished locking the door leading back further into the ship when they arrived. He walked over to the exit and started to jog until the lower level door opened. Three massive figures rushed into the room.
"Get down!" Simon roughly whispered while he stopped and ducked. The others crouched and looked onward with hope of remaining undetected.
The three intruders scoured through the cryogenics bay, concentrating on examining the contents of the cryogenic-tubes. One of the aliens considered scaling the ladder and put a hand on it.
"He's going to come up! Let's kill the bastard!" a nervous crewman muttered.
"That's exactly what I'm going to do!" Ashen mumbled and pointed his pistol at the alien. The others tried to lean over and stop him, but the round exited the chamber and impacted with the invader's head. Some of them stared and others began praying.
The bullet ricocheted off of the shield, and the three cocked their heads to the observation deck and raised their weapons. One bellowed a cry in an eccentric language.
"Ashen, you moron!" a female crewman yelled as she aimed her pistol at an alien below.
Plasma fire streaked toward them and splashed against the window. The team fired their side arms at their oncoming enemies. The bullets made contact, phasing their shields.
"Keep firing!" a shout rang from among them.
"Oh my God, they're coming up!" another reported.
The giants began adjusting to the ladder, slowly reaching the upper level one at a time until the lights shorted out. The three aliens halted, confused.
"Now, take them down!" a command came from behind the crew. A salvo of rounds flew from in back of them into the nearest glowing armor. The crew followed suit with their pistols. A flash fluttered then a gurgle echoed throughout the room as the boarder's body collided with the floor.
Another elite jumped on top of the walkway and bolted toward the defending crew. A constant stream of armor-piercing projectiles smashed into the incoming warrior. The luminous figure fell backwards and met the same fate as his comrade.
The last soldier fired aimlessly and pulled his body onto the ladder. A bullet cracked at his shields while his hand gripped the pole. The cryogenic bay's lights flickered back and revealed all three intruders punctured by multiple projectiles. The last one hung his lifeless body in abeyance by his hand. A single hole passed straight through his helmet. Simon stood behind the computer console and slammed another clip into his pistol's chamber.
"Whoa, nice shot Sir," a woman congratulated her leader.
"Yeah, good going!" Matthews shouted along with the other teammates. They all rejoiced.
"Thanks, but we don't have time for that. We have a lifeboat to catch," Simon indicated. He smiled and then ran down the corridor that led to a maintenance outlet. He entered the doorway and activated his flashlight. The crew chased him through the maze for a few long minutes until they heard footsteps echo toward them.
"Shhh, it could be more of them," a crewwoman said.
A figure stepped out from around the corner and flashed a light into their faces. "Ah, ha! You little guys can't sneak up… Oh, wait, is that you, Keira?" the figure interrogated.
"Do you mind not shining that thing at my face?" Ashen roared.
The man pointed the accessory at the floor. "You guys and girls really made it!" he shouted. "Hey, everyone, it's team two! Good to see you again Keira!"
"Nice to see you too, Ben," Keira remarked.
Feng walked up, helping Paul limp through the crowded access-way. "Great, just what I need, less space to walk through!" joked the Chief. He held his hand out to the officer. "Welcome back."
Simon shook the hand of his long-time superior and friend. "It's good to be back Sir," Officer Keating remarked. The reunited crew did their best to welcome themselves in the tiny walkway.
Paul nodded. "Well, don't just stand there! There's a lifeboat with our name on it!" he commanded.
To be continued…
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