Halo: Speed of Darkness (Prologue)
Posted By: Thanatos 117<thanatos117@yahoo.com>
Date: 2 February 2004, 2:25 AM
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PROLOGUE
0947 Hours, February 8th, 2492 (military Calendar)/ Sigma Octanus III, Grid twenty-three by forty-four
"Contact, Rebel infantry and tanks are moving in. I want demolitions on that right flank now." Corporal Harland whispered as he eyed the first wave approaching the compound.
"Copy that. Can we expect air support Corporal?" Private First Class Fincher replied.
"Unknown. Reports indicate most of the major airfields were bombed from orbit." Harland said.
He took a moment to look around. "Red team, I want sentries set on the left flank." He said to his team. "Move out."
He climbed over the trench wall and approached a hollowed out building that got hit by a B-12 rocket a few weeks before. One by one they moved into the trees and strategically placed the four LAAV M-18 belt fed guns. He looked across the field to see if he could spot blue team. Three teams of two were spread out laying out claymores and mines across their position.
"Claymores and mines are good over here, Corporal." Fincher said.
"Roger that, rendezvous at the commissary building. I want overlapping fields of fire once we get there. ETA on first wave is five minutes. Let's move." Harland replied.
Harland could hear the enemy soldiers talking amongst themselves as they approached his team. He waited for a distinct explosion to open fire. He could hear one of the tanks coming to his position. He could make out a click out of all the noise and then an explosion followed.
He took a deep breath and sat up and fired into the oncoming wave, as did blue, green, and foxtrot teams. Under the sudden hail of lead, sniper rounds and a few rockets their first armored platoon fell.
"Engage according to operation parameters!" The Company commander said to the team leaders.
"Follow me!" Harland said over the continuing sound of automatic rifles.
Over thirty other soldiers came out of trenches, buildings, and any other possible hiding place and charged into the forest.
"Fincher, set off those claymores now!" Harland yelled into his comm. A few yards ahead he could hear explosions followed by yelling and dying. Harland came to some mangled remains of bodies and continued on.
Two rebel soldiers with rocket launchers ran out of some trees and Harland put three rounds in each. One fell and unintentionally fired a rocket into the air.
Three more followed out of the trees and fell to the ground under fire. Harland switched magazines and said into the comm., "Fix bayonets." He continued toward the clearing.
Harland found his way into a creek bed and shot an enemy soldier in the heart and slammed the butt of his rifle into another soldiers head. He brought out his M6D Pistol and shot him in the face. Up ahead were five bunkers. Fire rained down on them as Harland threw a grenade into their midst.
A rocket came from behind Harland and impacted onto one of the bunkers ahead and it erupted into a ball of fire. "Hold position. They probably have their lines protected with claymores and mines." Harland said to all the other advancing teams.
"Roger that, holding position." Blue team's commander, PFC Fincher replied.
The comm. was chaotic. Commanders shouted orders, people requested assistance, and the sound of gunfire hailed through. Around Harland were the bullets flying through the air and distant explosions. But he could make out something else... something he didn't think he would hear.
It started as a low rumble then turned into a scream as a Longsword bomber flew by over head.
He looked ahead to see fire and smoke rising into the air. Another one was approaching close.
"Cover!" He yelled and lay down in the grass and mud as hot ash and fire erupted near by.
He sat up and something hurt near his stomach. There was no more gunfire and no more grenades going off. His helmet was gone. He could still hear people calling out to each other. He heard a crackle and Fincher's voice on a radio. "Harland, come in over. Harland this is Fincher with Blue team over." He searched and found a body with a long distance radio. He picked it up.
"This is Harland, I got you." Harland said.
"Good to hear from you Harland." Fincher replied back. "We got trouble. Second mobile infantry is on its way. They're inbound to our position, ETA is thirty minutes. SATCOM wants us to evacuate, over."
Harland felt his stomach and red blood poured out. Everything went black.
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