HRP Second Story Chapter 1

I whisper under my breath, more to calm my nerves than anything.

"HellJumper, HellJumper, where have you been...

It wouldn't be heard past maybe 5 metres at a push, but the words I trained with seemed slightly comforting.

=After we hit the bump, I check my IEDs and breath a sigh of relief when they don't go off=

Be on your guard, Mike...you're in the lion's den now...

=I keep looking around, watching for any sign that we were being watched=

I went into one of the huts so I could remain dry, where I knelt down on the mat which was in the centre of of the hut. I got my Data Pad out from my utility and attempted to salvage the surveillance of this encampment. I connected the Data Pad to the Corvette and was trying to establish a holographic link to it.

Code:

////_:Connection established .:. attempting Superluminal communication:_\\\\
///_:Re-routing anonymous source to confidential source:_\\\
///_:[||||||||||||||||||||||||] LO54;FF6'3(?)<c?>:_\\\

///_:Holographic link requested......:_\\\
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
///_:Holographic link confirmed .:. connected at: 2:32 AM (?):_\\\

Corvette, Determined Voice, respond?"

"This is...(sound of static)...Corvette Determined...(sound of static)...Voice's Chief Advisor; we read you...(sound of static)... loud and clear Sangheili Special Operation's."

"What is going on with the surveillance down here in the encampment? The sensors and other equipment installed have shut down."

"We understand...(sound of static)...what is going on. The weather p...(sound of static)...atterns play a major role in this as...(sound of static)...it has knocked out all electrical charge within...(sound of static)...a mile of the centre."

"Is it salvageable from down here?"

"Negative...(sound of static)...you will have to wait until the storm is...(sound of static)...over. The storm will pass over you soon which...(sound of static)...will...(sound of static)...cease communications between you and the Determined Voice."

"When will communications be back up?"

"When...(sound of static)...the storm...(sound of static)......(sound of static)......(sound of static)..."

"Determined Voice? Determined Voice, respond?"

=Rylok nodded to Zuka=

R- Ok lin ov sin wor ag nuur.

Z- Junnli khan.

=Rylock walked up the stairs and into the main room of the brig building. There he met with Vera, and the two of them walked together out the building's front door and stood at the entrance. Rahn and Korr went into the room and took the places of their squadmates. Zuka went back into the room with the caged humans=

Z- Iv yuu vil naht teil mii waort yuu gno, I vil gut yuu. Duu yuu ahnterzdant?

Actually, no it doesn't. It means all the more reason to be. Get it right Scott.
I quietly get off the Warthog and equip my DMR. Then start looking around at the buildings and the remains of some of them.

=i turn and hop off, making as quiet a landing as you can with Spartan armor. I pull my sniper rifle out and hold it ready, moving towards the first point on our journey=

=I follow behind Two, looking at a decent ten meter climb, in nearly full combat load=

Well...I do need the exercise

=I sigh as I continue to follow the squad=

Gonna be climbing the stairs, whoop-de-do. I just want to get past it.
I wait for everyone else to go first then start walking behind them.

And so I sit in the soaking Warthog, awaiting the Spartans and Troopers to complete the mission. I scan the area for any unusual movement, after all it's only me, a couple marines and an injured trooper left sitting with the hogs.

I nod as I take point. I look up the stairs, seeing that it's clear. Then start up them.

=i stay behind everyone else, keeping my rifle ready as we move into the building. The rifle would do very little in such a close quarters area, and would really just be a hindrance. It made sense for me to stay back=

=i kept moving up, not really bothering with a wave back to Two. I took one step then another carefully and silently up the stairs, deciding to put the rifle on my back and just get my knife out. If anything happened, I'd rather be using my knife rather than that blasted rifle=

I scanned my arcs, double and triple checking the shadows. I saw movement, and lined it up, only to find a rat.

At least my eyesight is good...

I put up my DMR and grab my recently silence Magnum. Then I start opening the doors and going inside, checking for any Covenant.
Once one was cleared, I'd move on to the next one.

Ellie had the four 'hogs parked out of sight; two carried the standard machine guns; her's carried the special missile pods. The final 'hog was a troop carrier, brought to quickly carry Dusk and the civilians out. It would be best if they got out soon.
Ellie was sitting on the bumper, breathing softly. This is where she wished she had some air support of some kind, even if it was just a single Pelican; would be better then nothing.
"Waiting. The worst part of any war."

I nod to what the ODST sergeant said.
"You never know if an enemy has you in its cross hairs. Just waiting for the order to shoot."

I watched from the back of the warthog as we were preparing to leave. It was raining much harder than earlier but I didn't mind getting wet. We were waiting for Marik to retur from his meeting. It figure just as we return to camp we are sent out again and boy has it been a long day, at least I can catch some z's as we headed to the encampment near the front line. The news was that along with the surviving ODST's there was a rumor that a Spartan was on the planet. I personally have never seen one but it would be something to see it in action. I saw Marik walking to our warthog.

So what did they say.

He passed by and entered the pasanger seat in the warthog I was in.

"They sent a team out there to disable those generators. Nice catch."

I nodded and put up the screen above me so the rain wouldn't hit me. I heard tbe engine start as I. drifted away

We reach the end of the rooms and enter the one with the scaffolding. It turned out, the scaffold had fallen into the room and was leaning out horizontally over the precipice. There was maybe 4 or 5 bolts holding the entire scaffold up. I took a deep breath.

Alright. Pass me the rope, I'm the lightest.

"Are you sure? I mean, there must be a way around."

I knew HellJumpers had to take risks, but this one seemed unnecessary to me.

This is the only way to get through their guard towers without chancing being spotted. We risk a full front attack. This is the only way.

I hold my hand out for the coil of rope.

I sigh, dropping my pack and taking the rope out. I half-jog over, and place the rope in her hands.

"Be careful, It wouldn't look good if you died from anything but the full covvie armada."

This is going to be fun. Nice, slow, boring and greatly anticipated.
I look at the scaffolding, wonder how the hell I'm getting over that without it breaking.

I stifle a gasp.
"Shit."

I watch, feeling helpless.

"Cover me."

I follow her out, moving much more clumsily than she did.

=i climbed up to the top, finding a good sniping position from a ledge partially covered from the ruined roof. I slid the rifle through a hole that seemed tailor made for it, and scoped in. I tapped the radio to the others=
Sierra in overwatch, over.

Four! Get back! Two of us on this is just going to make it fall.

I swing my legs up and grab hold of the beam.

I'm okay.

"Yeah, doesn't look like it, hand me the rope, I can tie it to something."

I hold my hand out, barely keeping my balance.

Shit!
I bend over and grab the beam, giving it as much support that I can. Making sure it doesn't fall or break. Or something…

=I prop up the beam with the Spartan=

God, this is a stupid idea...

=I watch Four head down, and then come back up=

Just keep the beam in place...I don't want to wear this scaffolding for a hat!

Four. Get the fuck back in the building. That's an order. You're going to get us both killed.

I begin shuffling my way along to the end of the scaffolding, rotating around the pole to avoid other metal beams that crossed the one i was on.

It was quiet, all things considered. There wasn't many left of us at the Outpost. And well, until my Falcon was repaired, I had to sit out here, and eat lovely, lovely canned food.

"And jumping feet first won't get us killed? Death is in the job description."

I pause, regaining my balance.

"It's not like they'll discharge me for this, they're running out of good soldiers. Pass me the rope..."

I pause to take a breath.

"...Ma'am."

You are disobeying a direct order Private and if you don't get back inside that building right now, so help me god when we get on the ground because I'm going to shove my foot so far up your ass that the water on my knee will quench your thirst.

I reach the end and take one hand off of the beam to unhook the rope from me and begin tying it around a secure point.

"Are you sure? I think that's against regulations."

Needless to say, I began edging towards the building, I had little doubt that she's actually carry out that threat, or to the best of her ability.

"C'mon guys. This is getting harder to hold up!"
I grunt as Dusk whatever moves further away. Well, as I said. That just made it harder.

=I stifle a laugh as I hear Two calling out Four=

Come on Four, get your ass in the building.

=I continue to hold the beam up, the only thing keeping the scaffolding where it is=

I'm with the Spartan here...We can't hold this sucker together much longer.

I finish tying the rope and let it drop to the ground below. I unhook my legs from the beam and move my hands onto the rope. I slide down slowly, landing at the bottom a few seconds later with a soft squelch. I turn on my comms.

Alright. It's clear. One at a time. Three. Four then Sierra. Come only on my mark.

=I heave a sigh of relief=

Roger that, Two.

=I stop propping the beam and wait for Four to get his ass moving=

I move cautiously along the scaffold.

"If I die, I'm not keeping your seat warm after this."

I lose my balance, barely grabbing onto the scaffold before I fall into the darkness below me.

I struggle to pull myself back up, but fail. So, I edge along the edge of the scaffold towards Dusk three and throw myself towards the ledge, barely getting a grip.

I let go of the beam and bend over the ledge. I grab the ODST's arm and pull him up some, then grabbing his backpack and using that to lift him up completely.

I pant, trying to get rid of the excess adrenaline from my near death experience.

"Thanks, Spartan."

Better be thankful for whatever they were pumped full of, huh?

Great, I was arguing with myself about the Spartans.

=I chuckle slightly and head towards the rope=

Whatever you do Mike...don't look down

=I then head down the rope, willing myself not to look down=

I stand up, glancing at the spartan.

"Remind me not to piss her off again."

I jump back to the scaffold, walking across it with as much balance as I can muster.

I turn at the end, grabbing hold of the rope tightly before I descend.

=I plop down as I hit the ground=

Three is on the ground

=I look at Two and give her a grin in my helmet