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Attack on Sol (Part 4)
Posted By: Slit Throat
Date: 23 May 2004, 3:30 PM
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The grenade flew straight at the Elite's faceplate and attached itself. The Elite roared in anger and charged at the Master Chief but the grenade exploded before he could get close. The explosion took out 4 of the other Elites and dropped the shields of the rest.
The Chief opened fire on the remaining three Elites killing two almost instantly. The last got too close and took a swipe at the Spartan with its energy blade. He rolled aside still firing. The Elite finally moaned and collapsed in a bloody heap.
"Nice job Chief," complimented Cortana, "now we need to deal with that cruiser. I do not recommend destroying it as that would likely wipe out the entire city."
"So you're saying that we go in and neutralize the crew... alone?"
asked the Master Chief, doubtfully.
"Not alone," responded Cortana, "I'm picking up several NAV points. They match the identity of the other Spartans."
"Good," sighed the Chief, relieved, "lets go get 'em."
"Will, give me a hand!" shouted Fred as he fired upon the oncoming tide of Covenant soldiers, "fire those... " Fred was cut off as a two large explosions detonated among the oncoming aliens, killing them all.
"Nice shot," exclaimed Fred as Will emerged from behind a piece of rubble, "Where's Linda?"
"She's back there," said Will, jerking a thumb over his shoulder toward a tall building, "covering our flank."
"Well," said Linda, joining the group, "there's nothing to cover now. But I did see several large explosions from a highway back there. I wonder what caused it."
"That would be me," said a voice behind Fred. He spun around, bringing up his rifle. As soon as he recognized John, however, he lowered it.
"Where have you been?" asked Fred, "we've been here for a couple of hours and have been attacked multiple times! We could've used your help."
"I landed several hundred kilometers away, saved a group of Marines, and fought my way halfway across the city. You might say that I've been busy," responded John calmly.
"Okay, so now that we're al together, what are we going to do about that cruiser?" asked Will.
"Well, Cortana and I worked out a plan. We board the cruiser and take over the command center. Cortana will then take the cruiser up into the atmosphere and begin the self-destruct sequence. We get out of there and help the Marines take the city," explained John.
"That might work," said Fred, "but what will the Marines do while we assault the cruiser?"
"They'll hold their positions," answered John "the cruiser takes precedence." The other Spartans nodded.
"Then lets get to work!" announced Linda.
The Spartans jogged quickly along the streets of New Mombasa. All around them, death, destruction and chaos reigned. Buildings collapsed and fell, covering the streets with layers of debris. Surprisingly, the closer they got to the cruiser, the fewer battles were fought. Just a few blocks from the gravity lift, the Spartans realized why.
A huge ring comprised of thousands of Covenant troops encircled the lift, all of them ready and alert.
"How are we supposed to get through that?!" asked Will as the Spartans pulled back behind a building.
"We're not going through," responded the Chief, looking up at the top of the building, "we're going over.
It was a matter of minutes for the Spartans to get to to the top of the battered and broken building. Standing on the roof, they could see the whole of the burning city and the sleek purple shape of the cruiser fifteen meters away.
"Okay," said Will "now what?"
"Now," explained the Master Chief, "we board the cruiser. The Covenant seem to think that no one can get in the ship other than the gravity lift. So, we use our grappling ropes to attach to the hull and pull ourselves up. Then we descend into the ship via the maintenance hatches on the top. Any questions?"
"Sounds good Chief," agreed Fred, "lets do it."
The Spartans threw the ropes onto the cruiser's smooth outer hull. The ship's shields were down for some reason which made the boarding possible. Soon, the Spartans were standing above an open maintenance hatch and preparing to descend into the enemy vessel. Fred, who was point, dropped first into the alien corridor and immediately came under fire. A pair of Brutes at the end of the corridor had dropped to their knees and opened fire with plasma rifles.
"Team!" shouted Fred into his com, "I'm pinned by a couple of Brutes. Need covering fire!"
The other four Spartans dropped to the deck and opened fire with their Battle Rifles. The first Brute dropped with a low moan, while the other, bleeding from multiple wounds, pulled a plasma grenade and activated it. Linda landed a head shot a moment later and the grenade exploded harmlessly.
"Whew," sighed Will, "those guys can take a lot!"
"Lets move," ordered John.
As the Spartans moved deeper into the ship, they encountered more resistance. Grunts, Jackals, Elites and a few Brutes attempted to halt the intruders' progress but were cut down mercilessly.
After about fifteen minutes of intense fighting, Cortana noticed something on the Covenant Battle Net which she had been monitoring.
"Chief, I'm picking up human vital-signs on this ship. It would appear that the Covenant have taken prisoners. I recommend that you release them before you destroy this ship."
"Copy that Cortana," said John. "Spartans, we have a snag. It seems the Covenant have been keeping some captives here on this ship. Cortana recommends that we rescue them."
"More bodies would slow us down," pondered Linda, "but the extra firepower might be worth it. Also, I don't feel good about leaving human prisoners to die."
"Then we rescue the prisoners," announced John. "Cortana, which way to the detention center?"
Corporal David Nunéz stared dejectedly out of the Covenant holding cell. He and his men had been captured trying to hold a small outpost on the edge of the city several hours previous and had been brought to the cruiser. Nunéz had no thoughts of rescue nor of escape. He had decided that his fate was sealed and would try to make the best of it. However, these thoughts froze in their tracks as he both heard and saw the Gold Elite in charge of the brig crumple and fall, its head fountaining purple blood.
David stood up and moved to the front of his cell. The other Elites and Grunts turned in response to the shots, jerked and fell. Soon, none of the guards were left alive. David saw a large shape move across the brig to the control panel. The shield blocking the cell that he was occupying winked out and David stepped out into the gore splattered detention center. The large shape and three more like it moved closer, close enough for David to see that they were Spartans!
The Master Chief watched as five Marines walked cautiously out of their cells. He quickly picked out the commander, a corporal, and moved toward him. The Marine was still in shock but managed a salute.
"Corporal David Nunéz sir!" shouted the Marine, "twelfth company. Thanks for the help."
"My pleasure Corporal," said the Chief, "now you can either help us blow this ship to bits, or you can get back to the fighting in the city. Your choice."
"We're with you sir!" called one of the other Marines, picking up a fallen Elite's plasma rifle. The other Marines shouted approval and armed themselves.
"Then lets move out!" said the Chief as he started for the door. Before he reached it, however, it slid open to reveal a squad of ten Elites with rifles extended and ready.
The Spartans dropped to their knees and opened fire a split-second ahead of the Marines, who screamed curses at the Covenant. The Elites had obviously not expected to find anyone and were taken by surprise. Four of their number were down before they got a shot off. A frag grenade landed among the aliens, detonated, and sprayed the humans with purple blood.
"That showed 'em!" cried one of the Marines.
"Lets move Marines," ordered the Chief. The humans jogged out of the detention center and moved swiftly through the ship. The extra firepower provided by the Marines made each firefight quicker and easier. Along the way, the Master Chief briefed Corporal Nunéz on their plan. Within ten minutes, the humans stood just outside the cruiser's control center.
"Well," muttered Nunéz, "here goes nothing."
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