HRP reboot - Chapter 2: On the Run

Yang looked at the screen, then back to his chair, "Saoirse, you know better then I do, a Commander of a ship who abandons it. If it weren't for protocol, or the reason why I just got off the comms with one of the Admirals... I would consider your offer, unfortunately for you, on at this time, I cannot. I am still going to pursue you, and I am still going to take back that ship." He waited for a response.

As the Major waited for the recon team to get back, some civilians were still left on the ground, they put them into the pelicans and waited.

They waited for an hour or two, "This is Recon Bravo! We've found Alpha and Zulu Squads... no sign of Golf Squad though sir. And their wounds seem to be plasma burns, no signs of UNSC equipment found, we'll keep searching but... What was that? Jenkins, check it out... *loud scream and sword going through Jenkins' body* OH SHIT! TAKE'EM DOWN! TAKE'EM DOWN! *Assault Rifle rounds are heard* Son of a bitch! Taking casualties sir! I repeat! We are ta- *Sword going through Recon Leader* -gack- Burn in hell.... Mother fucker.... *Grenade pin sound, and then static*"

Major Henderson- "FUCK! Secure the perimeter! Make sure nothing gets through!"

Saoirse sighed. "You really are throwing away a Commander? We saved her from a dying ship; are you saying we should have let her die?" Her voice grew dangerous. "If so, then I promise you. When the Hornet is on fire, and the covenant are banging on your bridge door, and you beg us on your hands and knees for help, we will fire a Shiva and let you burn. Now fuck off. I have a two more SHIVA tac nukes, two hundred and fifty archer missiles, and six MAC slugs, not to mention the added benefit of being your worst nightmare. Do not test me. You will fail."

The video cut, and Saorise moved and knelt in front of Lindsey. "I can arrange for you to be taken to the UNSC forces on the ground."

As the Major moved his men around the LZ, Django and Achilles Squad rushed right into the middle of things. Plasma flying over their heads, no sign of Gerry or Django squad, John commed his men, "This Master Sargent Do'Tree, does anyone read me? Taking heavy fire from Covenant forces! PO1 Gallegos, Sargent Graham, LC Barnes, Corporal Lancaster, does anyone read?"

Doc got on the comm, "I'm here sir! Running to your position right now!"

"Copy Doc, just be careful on your way here! I'm stuck in a cross fire!"

As the two rejoined eachother again, another voice was heard, "This is Sargent Graham, contacting Master Sargent John... I'm getting a bad feeling, we were sent here to get killed and not help civilians, over!"

Barnes spoke up also, "This is Lance Corporal Barnes... I'm not to sure where I am but it's really dark... and it seems to appear I am in a building. My door is jammed by some rubble, and my oxygen tanks are leaking! Can someone please help me!"

John shot at some Covie before responding, "Copy Barnes! We're on our way! I've got your pod on a beacon, we'll get you out. Kyle, get to his location as quickly as you can!"

As Kyle's pod opened he remembered Gerry, "What about about Gerry, Sarge? He's still out there!"

"We'll get him after we get Barnes out, understood?"

Kyle grumbled and grabbed his rifle, and jogged towards Barnes's position.

Rubbing his shoulder and wincing in mock pain, Ozren chuckled. "Oh no, take it easy on me Lin! You know I bruise easily!" At that, Lin smirked and looked back at Daniel. "How long before we get shipped out?" Daniel grimaced. "We have a day, maybe two to unwind, but they want us there soon."

Lindsey did as she was asked, but when a fellow member of the UNSC told her that she should of died she looked a bit shocked. According to protocol she had to evade capture not matter the cost. She had operational knowledge of what the UNSC was up to out here. She was not sure what to say to the offer of being returned to the planet. If the UNSC won it would not doubt mean a nice visit from ONI for her, something she was keen to avoid. She pursed her lips before finally replying. "Actually... Since the current situation has changed perhaps... I can provide some you with useful intelligence however in exchange I wish to join your crew until we reach a neutral world where I will leave, find a ship and return to UNSC space with the story that I managed to escape your clutches and only gave information after a week of torture" That would seem like a good story to tell command if she ever made it back or out.

Dmitry helped Becky and placed her into the falcon. He clambered on board after her. "Hold on Becks" Dmitry whispered to his trainee buddy. "Your going to make it" Becky looked really pale now and struggled to reply. "I'm scared..." She whispered as if she did not want her rescuers to hear her. Her rifle shook in her small, pale hands, sitting down anyone could see actually how ill fitting her armour was. Dmitry was the only one out of the pair who actually looked like he could pass it off as a soldier, Becky just looked tiny and seemingly lost in a uniform.

"If I wasn't holding out for someone I would make that authentic." Saoirse teased. "Bisexual." She explained to Lindsey, then stood up and offered her hand. "If you wish to join, you're welcomed to. But endager the Spartans...endanger my daughter...and you will be tortured. Ok?" She gave Lindsey a serious look. "Mama bear is pretty potective."

Ren heard, of course.
"Trainees shouldn't have been sent here." He muttered.
That's when the door blasted open, and an Elite, a really big one, lumbered out. Ren opened fire, but his rifle clicked empty. His barrage took out the Elite's shields and rifle, and the alien roared and charged. Discarding his gun, Ren drew his knife and charged, and a furious hand to hand battle began. Ren rolled with blows easily, slashing the Elite and driving it back.
With a kick he almost sent it over the edge. It scrambled for something as Ren drew his sidearm. He got off three shots to it's chest as blue energy erupted, slicing the pistol. Ren didn't have time to retreat.
Rika screamed as the Elite drovee the sword through Ren.

Ren was lifted on the sword, the Elite laughing. He reached for something around his neck and threw it towards the Falcon.
"Ri. Love you."
Ren drew a grenade, pulled the pin, let go of the lever, and grabbed tg e Elite's mandible.
"Spartans never die you bastard."

The Elite was blown into a few pieces as Ren was thrown away. The sword flickered and died, and his broken body slammed into the ground by his dogtavs and Rika.
The girl slumped to her knees. "Ren...?"

Ren didn't move.

Shakily picking him up, as well as his tags, she stumbled to the Falcon and strapped him into a seat.
"Make sure...he doesn't fall." She told the trainees in a hollow voice.

The Falcon soon winged it's way to the December.

Jaryd was busy keeping an eye on the surrounding area, so he hadn't seen everything. But he did see the grenade and the explosion and the death of Ren. He started a scream but punched his comm off so nobody heard him. He followed in silence behind the falcon, being a little more liberal in where his rockets went.

As Achilles got to Barnes's pod, it had been wedged in between to poles, "We need to move the pod from side to side... or use some explosives. Damn it... We need Gerry"

As the others were trying to get to Barnes, Gerry was lying on or stabbed by a pole, bloodied. His pod had hit the side of a building, then went towards a pole, and he was unlucky enough to hit it. He coughed up blood, looking at the pole. Some how he wasn't sliding down with the pods door. Instead the pod was forced off when he hit the pole. So it lay on the ground, about 40 feet below him. It wasn't looking good for the old trooper, not at the moment anyway.

"Alright, we're going to need to use what we got. Doc, got some tape, and wrap these grenades around the back pole." Doc nodded at John's command, and did as he was told. Time was running low for the young troop inside of the pod.

Becky found herself sobbing silently at the sight of a dead Spartan. Dmitry fired out of the falcon every so often though he kept glancing at dead Spartan and the other trainee. He was still alive but he had not words to calm the panicking Becky. He was not made for this, she was not made for this. They where just trainees how could the hope to stand firm in the face of the enemy?

Lindsey shook her hand and smiled at Saoirse. "Well it does not matter to me there is no one waiting for me back at home... There was an ODST once but he got killed by the Innies" She did not intend to harm the Spartans or her daughter. "Don't worry Ma'am I don't intend to harm your family or the Spartans I just want to get back to the helm of a warship" She shrugged and asked. "So what do you want to know?"

The ONI Prowler Nightmare glided through the dark, her stealth systems engaged.
"Captain, we have a confirmation on the ship," Said Wynter, "That's her."

"Understood, Wynter. Continue observations," Replied the captain
"Aye aye, sir."

Jaryd calmed down enough, but his voice was still angry. he commed up Rika. "Rika. After this, when we get everybody safe, I'd understand if you needed a vengeance run." He switched channels to message Siri. "Siri, we have a man down. Bringing him back."

"Everything." She told Lindsey.

Then she whirled around. "Ri -"
"Ren." Michael said with a hollow voice.

Saoirse fell to her knees.
She knew Rika was utterly devastated.

Rika shook her head. "I have to get those trainees to the December. He died to keep them safe. I will not risk making that sacrifice for nothing."

The Falcon finally landed in the Hangar. Saoirse had broken away from the bridge, leaving Lindsey behind, and ran.
As Rika stumbled out of the Falcon and dropped her helmet, Saoirse hugged her.
"I'm here baby. I'm here."

Rika cried into Saoirse's chest as Michael carried Ren away, leaving Lina to direct civilians out and into a designated storage room more into the ship.

Jaryd landed his hornet and went over to Lina to help direct people along. "This way people keep moving. Nice and slow, if you drop something we'll get it. Don't hold up the line. There's a lot of people and we have got very little time. Thank you for your cooperation people." He switched to internal comms to talk to Lina. "We miss much?"

As Gerry grunted, and coughed blood, the others finally got the explosives ready. "Alright... Get back, lets go! On my mark... 3....2....1.... MARK!"

The explosion was heard from afar, Major Henderson was one fo those people who did hear it. "That didn't sound good... keep an eye out! And get these civilians on the Pelicans and onto the Hornet! Move! Move!"

Gerry's vision was beginning to blur. His grip on the pole and his massive wound was going limp. Indeed everyone was right... You do see your life flash before your eyes right before you go.

Dmitry stood slowly, helping Becky walk. "I'll find you a doctor Becky and then they'll fix you right up" He said though both of them looked amazed to be off that world alive, clearly someone had been smiling on them. The sacrifice of a Spartan had shown Dmitry how he wanted to die, saving others, he wanted to be a soldier more than anything. Dmitry staggered slightly causing Becky's left foot to touch the ground, she cried out loudly from the pain.

Lindsey stayed on the bridge, reading through a battle report of what was happening on the surface. She wondered absently if it was possible for self destruct codes to be sent to her ship from this one... She would have left the bridge with Saorise but she was not sure the Spartans would appreciate her company or comfort just yet. When... If Saorise returned Lindsey was mostly certain that she would tell her what she knew. It made sense really they had saved her life she owed them some answers, they weren't innies so that suited her fine.

Jaryd put his arm in front of the trainees. "Hey, wait here. I'll find a medic, but I'd like to talk to you two for a while. Don't worry we'll find a medic, but we don't have any doctors."

Dmitry nodded slowly and carefully sat Becky down. "Thanks for the rescue Spartan" He held out his hand to him. "We know that we owe our lives to you Spartans and I doubt it will mean much to you but I owe you all a drink" Becky was quiet however she still looked shocked, her hands clutching the looted plasma rifle in a white knuckle grip, shaking ever so slightly. She did not believe that they where safe.

Jaryd chuckled. "I'll be sure to collect when I acquire a taste for alcohol." He looked at the other one, the one with the rifle. "Hey. Relax. You're on a frigate. You're safe."

"Any chance we can head out sooner?" Lin asked, much to everyone's surprise. Normally, she enjoyed the chance to relax. Daniel blinked, and then responded. "Well, yeah. We can head out in a few more hours. But why so rushed?" Lin rolled a shoulder. "Resting up.......makes me think of her too much. Going on a mission takes my mind of her." Chris made a move to put a hand on Lin's shoulder, but thought better of it. Ozren sighed before saying "Damn, was hoping to have some fun. But I'm willing to put it on hold for you, little sis."

Dmitry grinned at the Spartan, he would think of a way to honour the example showed to him earlier. Becky looked up at Jayrd and shook her head, her helmet sliding down her face somewhat so she had to push it back. "Why?" She whispered shakily. "All... Day there where Covenant attacking I.. I cannot be safe they where everywhere"

Jaryd suppressed a chuckle. "Ma'am, I have a motion sensor. I can tell you that there is nothing but friendlies around here. You are safe. Now, hand me the rifle."

Dmitry tried to encourage her to surrender the weapon. "Becks give him the rifle" Becky shook her head causing her helmet to slide down once more. "No, I can't be safe Jack thought he was safe and they... They killed him! Marko too oh god it was horrible... Blood was everywhere" She shuddered. "Elites just came out of nowhere"

Jaryd knelt down to be more on eye-level with 'Becks.' "Listen to me, you are safe. You have spartans and Marines everywhere around you. If anything shows up, we'll kill it long before it gets to you. If anything even tries it'll be dead before it takes a heartbeat."

She nodded slowly listening to him. "I'm.. Scared" Becky whispered to Jaryd. She shut her eyes trying to block out the memories of watching her comrades being butchered by the Covenant. She clutched onto the rifle still however it was more like she was hugging the rifle than holding the rifle to fire it.

"Everybody is scared. You look like you're training to be marines, this is part of training. You learn how to be scared, and how to use it. Now please, give me the rifle. I'd like to fiddle with it." Jaryd said, extending his hand out slowly. He looked up at the man, gesturing with his head to his friend.

Dmitry shook his head and said to Jayrd. "Me and Becks are friends but.. We weren't in the same squad she saw elites butcher her whole team no more than a few hours ago I don't think Sir that you'll get the rifle from her" Becky still held onto the rifle. "They just came out of nowhere... The rifles didn't do a thing... Magnums.."

Jaryd sighed and nodded, looking back at Becky. "Uh..Becky? I have a task for you then, if you think you can do it. I need you to keep a hold of that rifle, and play fair with the medics, alright? Think you can do that?" Lina had waved over two medics who started coming over, alerting Jaryd via suit comms.

"It's Becky but... Most call me Becks" She told the Spartan. "I.. I can do that... I.. I think" Becky did not sound so sure. Dmitry looked at Jayrd as if he was about to question his plan.

"Good enough for me." Jaryd stood up and shrugged, looking at Becky's friend. "By the way, I don't think I got your name. Or if I did, it didn't cement in my mind well enough."

Becky nodded watching him stand up she let the medics work on her injured leg, slowly releasing the plasma rifle. Dmitry grinned at the Jaryd and saluted him. "Trainee Dmitry Venovie"

"No need to salute, Dmitry. It's Jaryd, by the way. With a y. Don't ask why it's a y, it just is a y." Jaryd nodded and made the smile gesture.

"Of course hey man if you ever need back up or want something come see me and I'll help you out" He leaned for and whispered to the Spartan so that Becky could not hear. "If you want I could fix you up with Becks I happen to know she is single"

"Sorry. Not that much of a people person." Jaryd shrugged. "I prefer machines and gadgets to be my lovers."

"No way I bet you could get any one you wanted in the entire UNSC" He objected good naturedly. "It was one of the reasons why I joined up, girls like marines" Dmitry knew why Becky had joined up, to get away from a life of poverty and crime.

"Seriously. I don't like people much. Hence why I went to tech and gear. Modified this pistol on my leg and the rifle on my back. Helped change up that falcon you rode in on, gonna work on that longsword when I get a chance." Jaryd replied. not bothering to point out all the things he was talking about.

"I don't think she does either but anyway why rescue us for? I mean we where hardly key personnel" Dmitry wanted to know why exactly they where deemed worthy of rescue. He glance at Becky who had put down the plasma rifle, she had her teeth gritted as the medics did their work.

Jaryd shrugged. "The other's would probably have yelled at me if I knew about you two and I let you die. That, and I don't like leaving people to die. So really, it was either get yelled at and feel bad, or not get yelled at and not feel bad. Kinda an easy choice don't ya think?"

"Yeah I understand I try to never leave anyone behind even if I lost my fireteam but at least Becks made it out" His smile faded somewhat. Becky spoke up. "Spartan you can have the plasma rifle now"

Jaryd looked at Becky and knelt down again extending his hand. "Called me Jaryd. That's with a y." He looked over at Dmitry. "That's good. Finding positives in negative situations. Healthy mindset. Now I know I don't have to smack you upside the head later on for panicking."

"Hey what can you expect she does not know how to reload her rifle and it takes me two minutes" He objected. Becky looked at Jaryd and shook his hand. "It's true we only held them twice and the first time we fired them was today" She looked crestfallen when she realised that for most of her squad it had been their last.

"Well, Becky, welcome to accelerated training." At this point the medics were long gone, but Jaryd only just now realized. "If you're lucky someone will teach you how to fight properly. If not, you'll just have to watch and learn. Quick demonstration." He pulled out his bladed M6C and racked the slide, caught the bullet as it went out the chamber, ejected a magazine onto the floor and slotted a new one in, racking the slide again. "Maybe someday you can do that. Doubtful, but maybe."

Both Becky and Dmitry watched, eager to learn as much as possible. Becky spoke. "Wow.. Er could you do that with the MA5C" She looked at her assault rifle and said. "I think there is something wrong with it.. It keeps jamming" Dmitry listened quietly thinking that Jayrd must know plenty about war. If anyone was to teach them effectively it was to be a Spartan.

"Yup. And an MA5B, M6 series, an M7, M90, M99, M12, and other weapons." Jaryd said, calmly refilling his magazines and putting everything back in place, standing up again.

Saoirse had handed Rika off to Michael, then headed over to Naryd. Ahe heard most of the conversation, then tapped Jaryd's shoulder. "Michael said that the Pelican took a few hits. He wants you to look it over." She gently pushed him towards said ship. "I'll keep an eye on them. Alright?"

After sending Jaryd off, she knelt down in front of Becky.
"Becks, right?" She said lightly. "I'm Saoirse. It's not spelled how it sounds." She smiled. "You guys doing ok?"

Michael managed to slip Rika's armor off and put her to bed. He looked back once, then closed the door.

Requiem appeared next to Lindsey, moving a chess piece
"So. Commander Lindsey Ryan. Oc the UNSC Nevada, before we nuked it to oblivion." He looked bored. "Now please fi d a seat. We have to hide." He switched to a shipwide broadcast as he sealed the few decks below that were still open to the elements.
"Attention Crew and passengers. The Long and Dark December will be going underwater. We are rated for that. Yes I'm serious. Now please sit down and wait patiently until we arrive at the ONI base Atlantica. That will be all."

Becky nodded slowly to the Spartan before turning to see Saoirse. Dmitry snapped off a perfect salute while Becky half heartedly gave an attempt at a salute. "Yes it's Becks Ma'am... I.. I've been better" She tried to put on a brave face to the commanding officer. "I lost my entire fire-team today... I saw them die.. The drill instructors everyone but me and Dmitry" Becky doubt that she would be able to cope in another combat scenario, few marines ever came back from losing their entire team for a trainee to do so? That would be impossible.

She looked surprised to see an AI but did as suggested. "You remind me of the AI on my ship... So if you don't mind me asking what is your name? You already know mine" Commander Ryan sat down and buckled in, it felt good to be on the bridge of a ship even if it was not her own. She belonged on the bridge it was where she felt most at home. "Wait you said underwater? Surely the best tactic would be to leave system and head to the Otra System and hide in the asteroid belts?"

As they got Barnes out, John commed for Gerry, "Corporal Lancaster, are you there? Repeat, what is your situation, over!"

Gerry couldn't reach his comm, "God damn it... if only they knew how much this hurt... How much I've lost over the hour...."

Doc looked to John, "Why don't we use the tracker you had to find Barnes, Sarge?"

John nodded, "Barnes, you good to walk? Great, let's go."

The four of them moved on ahead, they were going underneath the back end of the December. As they moved underneath it, Kyle spotted heavy enemy resistance, "Yo, Sarge! We got enemies up ahead! Lots of them! Might be high time we asked Major Henderson for some boys."

John chuckled and responded over the comms, "Negatory, Henderson is a very paranoid man. He thinks the bugs on the ground are after him. He wouldn't spare one unit to come and help us, unless it meant he was getting promoted doing so. If you can, Kyle, find us a route around them, wouldn't cost us a lot of ammunition."

"We need repairs and all supplies at base Atlantica." Requiem said. "And I am Requiem."

Saoirse waved her hand. "I'm no soldier. Alright? No saluting." She held out a hand to Becky. "C'mon. Let's get you cleaned up, alright? No fighting. We'll explain latter." She smiled kindly.

Lina finally got the civilians settled, and she motioned Jaryd and the Marines to follow her. Michael joined them, Michael now hefting a heavier machine gun. The marines looked confused, but followed into an adjoining storage container.
"Pull on them."
The spartans turned, guns raised. The Marines flinched, but all of them stopped. The Marines raised their hands.
"Renegades." They muttered. "But a Frigate?" Leon stepped forward. "What is this?"
"Drop your guns. We're sorry, but we'll be confiscating those and then return you to UNSC forces." She sighed. "We're deserters. Tired of being property, and not people."

The Marines threw their guns down, but two of the ODSTs tried a rush. Lina planted two in each of their chests, knocking them down. Their ballistic armor saved their lives.
"Really?" Michael said. "We could have killed you."

The rest didn't try anything. Lina radioed Saoirse. "We have the marines."
Saoirse tapped her earpiece and waited for Becks to take her hand.

As the ODSTs were moving through building to building, hiding from the Covenant, Major Henderson was having his own problems with them.
"I need Reinforcements Captain! I have invis elites taking out my guys, and I have one squad MIA! I know my objective sir... Yes sir...." The Major sighed, went over to one his Commanding NCO's, "Get the rest of the civilians and lets get out of here... I also hear that on that ship we got Marines, ODSTs, and Civilians on it... We need to make contact right away, maybe negotiate with the rogues... Maybe get promoted if we do. Anyhow, get me a comm link to them ASAP."
The Sargent nodded his head, saluted, and ran off. Henderson was becoming more and more paranoid of his situation. 3 squads dead, and one MIA... wasn't looking good for the young Officer.

When Achilles squad finally reached the end of the Covenant strong hold in the city, they saw 3 Marines being escorted to some kind of imprisonment. "Sarge, we should get back here after we save Gerry. We don't know if he's hurt or not!"

John looked at Kyle, "Alright, but we come back for them. No man left behind, even if the UNSC doesn't really care about it. Let's move it people!"
After an hour of searching for Gerry's pod, they came across it, "Well here's the pod... where's Gerry?"
They heard a cry of help from somewhere above, it was Gerry. Stabbed through the side by it, "Hnn!" Doc spoke up, "I need to get up there Sarge! We gotta help him!"

Without anything to get him down, they needed to think on their toes, "What if we could find a fire truck of some sort Sarge?" Asked Barnes, "Then we could use it to get Gerry down, and save those three Marines"

John nodded, "Good idea" John commed to the UNSC Hornet, "Captain Yang, this is Master Sargent Do'Tree, we need a location of a firetruck, asap." He nodded while listening, then after a couple of minutes, "Thank-you sir, see you when we get back. Alright, Kyle, Barnes go to this waypoint, Doc and I will stay here and keep Gerry company so he knows he is going to be rescued."

The two nodded, and headed towards their objective.

"Gee, thanks," Lin said with a grin on her face. Dragon left the atrium then, on their way for the airfield.

Later on, Dragon squad was aboard a dropship bound for their new ship. Well, technically it wasn't their ship, it was just going to ferry them and the other ODST's to the next planet. Whatever rest they got was aboard the ship, and the same went for food. The ship, a weathered old destroyer named the Garuda, soon made the jump to slip-space, and thus Dragon was once more on its way to the next mission.

Marcus and his ODST's got a similar billing as Dragon's, albeit the ship they got was a little less weather beaten than the Garuda. The ship, a battle worn cruiser named the Fairweather Thunder.

Marcus was just happy Wolf was getting a new mission, cause he felt that the squad was getting a bit rusty, and a couple people had trigger fingers itching to kill a few hinge-heads.