Location: En Route to Forward Defensive Line, Virek
Date and Time: May 21, 2553 – 1830 Hours
The sky is darkening, casting long shadows across the base as we move out, heading for the forward defensive line. The air is thick with tension. The URF is regrouping for another assault, and we're running out of time. But it's not just the URF we're up against. Kane is out there, waiting for his moment, and we know he's not alone.
We load into the Warthog, the engine rumbling beneath us as we tear through the outskirts of the base. Santiago sits beside me, his face set in a grim expression. In the back, Dash and O'Neill check their weapons, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of movement.
It feels like we're driving straight into a storm, and for all we know, we are.
"I still can't believe Kane did this," Dash mutters from the back, his voice laced with anger. "After everything we've been through, he just sold us out."
"He didn't do it alone," I say, gripping the wheel tighter. "He's got allies. And if we don't stop him, they'll tear this battalion apart from the inside."
The thought makes my blood boil, but I push it aside. Focus. Stay sharp. We have a mission to complete.
As we approach the defensive line, the first sounds of distant gunfire reach us. The URF is already testing our defenses, probing for weaknesses. But the real attack hasn't started yet. When it does, we'll know.
We dismount and move into position, taking cover behind the makeshift barricades that line the perimeter. The landscape ahead is open and exposed, a perfect killing field for whoever gets caught in the crossfire. We know the URF will be bringing everything they have, but we're ready for them.
"I want eyes on every angle," I say, crouching behind a barrier and scanning the terrain. "When they come, we hit them hard. No mercy."
Santiago nods, positioning himself beside me with his rifle trained on the distance. "They won't know what hit them."
But even as we prepare for the coming fight, there's a sense of unease that I can't shake. It's not just the URF we're fighting. Somewhere out there, Kane and his allies are waiting for their moment to strike. And when they do, the real battle will begin.
The minutes tick by, the tension mounting as we wait. Every distant sound feels like the precursor to an explosion, every shadow a potential threat. My mind races, piecing together what we know. The URF attack is coming, but it's not the only thing we need to worry about. If the turncoats in the battalion make their move during the assault, we'll be caught between two fronts.
I glance at Santiago. "You think they're out there already? Kane and the others?"
He doesn't look away from the horizon. "They're out there. Watching. Waiting. But we'll get them. We'll make sure of it."
Suddenly, the radio crackles to life. It's Lieutenant Baird's voice, tense and focused.
"All units, be advised: the URF is mobilizing for a full-scale assault. Hold your positions and prepare for contact."
I feel my pulse quicken. This is it.
I give the signal to Dash and O'Neill. "Get ready. It's about to get real."
The next few seconds stretch into eternity, the silence before the storm. And then, all at once, it hits.
Gunfire erupts from the treeline as URF forces pour out, their weapons blazing. Bullets rip through the air, slamming into the barricades as we return fire. The battlefield explodes into chaos, shouts and explosions blending into a deafening roar.
"Hold the line!" I shout over the comms, firing into the advancing enemy. "Don't let them break through!"
The URF soldiers are relentless, their numbers overwhelming. But we hold our ground, pushing them back with everything we have. Santiago drops two of them with precise shots, while Dash and O'Neill lay down suppressing fire, keeping the enemy pinned.
But through the chaos, I catch a glimpse of something in the distance—movement where there shouldn't be. My heart sinks as I realize what's happening.
"Kane," I mutter under my breath.
I grab the radio. "Baird, we've got movement on the east flank. I think it's Kane. He's making his move."
Her response crackles through the comms. "Understood. We're tracking him. Stay focused on holding the line."
But it's not just Kane. I can feel it. The turncoats are preparing to strike, and when they do, they'll use the confusion to take us out from the inside.
As we fight off the URF, my mind races. We need reinforcements. We can't hold this line and stop Kane at the same time. And I know the loyalists are trying to contact Regiment, but there's no telling if they'll get through in time.
An explosion rocks the ground to my left, throwing me off balance. I hit the dirt hard, my ears ringing as debris rains down around me. For a moment, the world blurs, but I force myself to my feet, my rifle still clutched in my hands.
"Kowalski!" Santiago shouts, helping me up. "You good?"
I nod, shaking off the disorientation. "Yeah. Let's keep moving."
The URF keeps pressing forward, but we hold the line, even as the battle threatens to spiral out of control. But as the minutes drag on, the pressure builds. We can't hold forever, and Kane's move is coming any second.
Suddenly, the comms crackle to life again—this time with a different voice. It's Major Patterson, one of the senior officers.
"All units, listen up! We've made contact with Regiment. Reinforcements are inbound. Hold the line—we've got support on the way."
A wave of relief washes over me, but it's short-lived. The reinforcements are coming, but so is Kane.
"They better get here fast," I mutter, ducking behind cover as bullets tear through the air. "We're running out of time."
But then, in the distance, I hear it—the unmistakable roar of engines overhead. I glance up and see them: a squadron of UNSC strike fighters streaking across the sky, their afterburners lighting up the twilight.
The cavalry has arrived.
"Let's go!" I shout to the others, my voice filled with new energy. "Push them back!"
We fight with renewed determination, our backs no longer against the wall. The URF forces falter under the combined firepower of the loyalist Marines and the incoming strike fighters, and for the first time since the battle started, it feels like we have a chance.
But even as we push forward, I know the real battle is still ahead of us. Kane is out there, waiting for his moment. And when he makes his move, we'll be ready.
The sound of heavy armor rolling in catches my attention, and I know the reinforcements are here. The Regiment Battalion and Fox Company from the 22nd Orbital Drop Shock Battalion have joined the fight, hitting the URF hard from the rear.
The tide is turning, but the mission isn't over yet.
I glance at Santiago, who nods back at me, understanding what's coming next.
"We're going after Kane," I say, my voice steady. "Let's finish this."