Chapter 2: Shield Base.
Date: 16-08-2535: 18:30 PM
The Sun was beginning to set as the sound of two Raptors, were heard in the far distance of Shield Base. The staff immediately at Shield Base prepared the landing pads for the Raptors, as they approached ever closer. The lights of the pads lit up indicating for the Raptors where to land.
The Raptors slowed down as they got close their landing unfolded as they began to land. The Raptors finally touched down and landed on the landing pads. "Ha, finally we got to shield base. My butt hurts from all this sitting around on my ass all day." Ivan remarked at the long flying trip. "Yeah, Yeah, you know why we are here smart ass" Mason retorted back at Ivan as Honor Team departed from the Raptors, they had arrived in. "Eh, alright big boss I'll shut up since that's what you mean by it." Ivan joked back to Mason. Honor team made their way to the gate that let deeper into Shield Base. The gate's massive blast door opened up to reveal a officer awaiting for Honor Team. "Ah, so you have arrived at Shield Base, Honor Team." The officer said to Honor Team. "Yeah, sorry the air traffic was a bit slow today." Ivan joked in response to the officer's remark.
"Ah huh, alright" the officer responded to Ivan. "Just ignore him." Mason interjected. "Alright, sir." The officer responded to Mason. "Can you please stop the joking Ivan." George said in little bit annoyed tone. the discovery of Harvest by the Concord was still weighing heavily on his mind. Seven just looked on to the group with her arms crossed. While she was still standing on the ramp of the Raptor. "I'll bring you to General Brant now than Spartans. Mason nodded to the officer to lead them the way to General Brant. The officer than lead Honor Team through the inner base they passed through many hallways. "It's big here" Amelia said to Elena. "Yeah, It definitely is big here so many hallways, we have to walk through." Elena replied. "Nah, it's good for the Muscles all this walking." Ivan interjected into the conversation.
"Oh, shut up Ivan. No asked you." Amelia jokingly replied to Ivan's remark. They continued on joking with each other. Seven was walking next to George. George's weariness showing as much as ever. He hadn't slept well which was clear from the bags under his eyes. When he hadn't his helmet on.
"We have arrived Spartans. The General is waiting for you behind these doors. " the officer told the Spartans. "Thank you." Mason said to the officer. The officer than nodded to Mason and walked in a different direction afterwards. Honor team open the doors to the briefing room. Where General Brant was located in. He was standing in front of a window, over looking much of Shield Base as Honor team walked in. "You are finally here Honor Team, the situation is getting worse across the planet. So i dont want to waste time on pleasantries and get straight to you're briefing for your new mission." General Brant said as all of Honor Team fully got in the briefing room.
"Yes sir, we understand." Mason replied to the general. "Good. And now for the briefing and you're mission. You are going to attack a large Concord base on the planet which has been able to remain under our noses for weeks at minimum. You will aid in the offensive on that base. 22 divisions aided by 831 tanks, 2.436 Armored assault vehicles and 967 fighter jets. Your roll will be to infiltrate the base and lower the shields of that Concord base than the ground army attack the base can wipe out the Concord present on the outside of the base while a London class frigate will shoot the base into ruble with it's mac cannons. This will cripple their operations on the planet." Just as General Brant finished his briefing.
Honor Team and Brant heard a anti-air gun fire. They all looked outside the window and saw Concord fighters swarming the skies Shield Base's anti-air Air guns had immediately opened fire on the Concord fighters. Many of the Concord fighters got shot down very quickly. They were never known for their 'good' flying skills. "Get ready Spartans, we have a base to defend." Brant ordered to Honor Team as he grabbed his pistol. "Yes sir" Mason replied to Brant's orders. "Move out Honor team" Mason himself ordered to his team.
Honor team quickly made their way out of the briefing room and got into the hall ways they sprinted extremely quick back to the entrance gate that lead into the inner of Shield Base. As they made it to the entrance gate to reinforce it. a large Concord force had penetranted to entrance gate. They were the deepest of any Concord force into Shield Base. The League Soldiers were barely holding them off.
Seven took up a defensive spot first she lined up her RA rifle and shot the Senglo commander dead. her shot straight between his eyes. She than began shooting dozens of grunt Durtan soldiers dead. Dozens of Durtans began to swarm the opened entrance gate. Them trying to get past the defenses however George got in front of them as he grabbed his RA minigun and opened fire upon them the Rift Accelerated bullets shredding any basic armor the Durtans had. And piercing their bodies like paper. They all fell to the ground. Elena was in a higher up position with her RA sniper rifle. She was picking off troop after troop trying to reinforce the Concord advance. Mason and Amelia were together dealing with several elite senglos, several of which got picked off by Seven.
"Thank you Seven" Mason said to Seven through the comms as he looked at her position. Seven nodded to him in return before she focused on other targets. Marco charged into a large group of Durtans. thinking he could easily take care off them. "Take that you worthless shit scum." Marco said in a very smug and arrogant tone before several Durtans got the jump on him. He severely underestimated them as they got to start beating his armor up with little effect. *Shotgun shot* the Durtans on Marco got shot off of him. As Ivan got to him and gave him a hand to get back up. "It seemed like they really liked you, Four" Ivan said to Marco. "Shut up, I was beating them, Two" Marco said in an annoyed and ungrateful tone. "Yeah it really looked like that man, it really did." Ivan sarcastically replied to Marco's ungratefulness. "I told you to shut up." Marco said angerly for a second time as he stormed off and to fight another group of Durtans.
"Alright everyone move forwards and keep up the pressure they are starting to crumble" Mason commanded to Honor Team and the remaining league soldiers. They all began to push forwards the Concord attack group had depleted through a large portion of its numbers. And so they began being pushed back however when Seven and the other Spartans came into full view many off them turned around and ran away calling them Devils.
Other League forces arrived and reinforced the Spartans in the counter attack they pushed the Concord back. Hallway after hallway their alien blood splattering onto the wall and ground however things changed when they entered a large central hall a Elsari Matriarch had arrived she flew in to reinforce the Concord forces, though they continued retreating. this Matriarch was a powerful one and would take on the League forces on her own. The Matriarch was truly a powerful Trinotic in raw power. "Hmm, you weak humans are nothing. But Spartans, how interesting" She said before she released a Trinotic shockwave killing nearly of the League troops as got launched back and died when they hit the wall with extreme force. Honor Team quickly took cover behind some ruble.
"Dammit of course a Matriarch has to be present here." Mason said. "Alright Two, Three go around and flank her from the left. Five, Six you go around and flank her from the right. Four, Seven. You stay on me we will distract her. "Yes sir" Honor team replied to silently to Mason order. except Seven she instead nodded to Mason. "Alright than let's move."
"Mmh, where you hiding Spartans, hidding." The Matriarch said to herself. "Mh" she sensed movement, she unleashed two Trinotic blast one onto Two, Three and other one onto Five and Six. They survived the blasts, as their Excalibur Armor took the impact from the Trinotic blasts. However, they were than knocked against the wall. Their Excalibur Armor again protecting them from that impact against the wall. But they were left dazed just for a second. But that was enough time for the Matriarch to grab them with telekinetically with her Trinotics.
"So what do we have here. Some Rift Spartans how interesting. Your helmets are extremely valuable within the Concord and hold significant status. Since a single one of you can wipe out entire platoons on your own." The Matriarch said to the four Spartans. Before she continued. "Anyway before I kill you all. I should introduce myself shouldn't I to all of you. Even the last two of you hiding behind that ruble over there. So come here" she said in an excited tone." As she grabbed both One and Four telekinetically. Seven remained hidden the Matriarch hadn't yet noticed her.
Seven quickly got onto the move and went around the Matriarch. Remaining completely unnoticed by her. She went to the back of the central hall and got a maintenance ladder. She climbed the ladder silently. And got to the top of the central hall. Seven than silently jumped onto a support beam each step barely making any noise.
"So, now that we are all here. I will introduce myself before killing all of you. I simply like the Spartans or other higher ranking individuals to know who I'm before I execute them. Now as for the introduction I'm Matriarch-" before the Matriarch could say her name Seven jumped down from above the Matriarch with her combat knife and stabbed it into to the Matriarch's neck.
"AGH!!!" The Matriarch screamed in pain as Seven's combat knife sank even deeper into her neck before killing her. The Matriarch fell live less and fell to the floor. Honor team was finally let go and they too fell to the floor. They landed on their feet. Seven also landed on her feet making a heavy metal thud sound as she landed.
"Holy shit Seven, you killed a Matriarch! I have never seen someone pull that off." Elena remarked to Seven's kill. "Indeed impressive but we need to keep focused there could be more out there in the base." Mason replied to Elena. " Yeah, you're right we need to move and kick out the Concord bastards." Elena responded back to Mason. "Aw, you sad little Connie ass couldn't foresee a Spartan killing you from above. Matriarch, don't know you're name?." Ivan mocked the now dead Matriarch. "Two, Remain focused you hear me." Mason said to Ivan. "Yeah, yeah, I can't make fun of the dead Matriarch because it takes the focus away out of my ass." Ivan retorted back to Mason. "Let's move" Mason ordered.
Honor Team from there moved away from the central hall into the hallways again wiping out Concords left and right Seven continued to be a deadly Spartan killing several more commanders and elite senglo warriors either with her RA Rifle, RA pistol or in hand to hand combat.
Mason than got a communication message from General Brant. Mason Took in the message. "Spartans, you need to go outside Shield Base. And destroy the Concord communication dish they have set up. Destroying this dish will sent the Concord forces into disarray as they lose communication with each other. And this will allow us to to counter attack them more effectively and kick them out of the base. I'm sending you the coordinates now." General Brant finished his new directive to Honor Team.
"Understood Sir, we will move out immediately and take down the communication dish of the Concord" Mason responded to Brant's directive. "Good, report back to me when you're done Spartans." Brant replied back to mason "Team, we got a communication dish to destroy move out." Mason ordered.
"Well I guess your ass will get to do something after all Two." Amelia said to Ivan. "I guess so, haha" Ivan responded back.
Honor team from there moved to the main entrance of Shield Base. They assisted league troops retaking the entrance from the Concord. Dozens of league soldiers fell during the fight for the entrance but they regained the gate as Seven killed the last few Concord soldiers. Honor team moved outside into the main staging area of the base which the Concord had taken control over. Seven closed the gate behind them and shot the opening panel. as to prevent more Concords from swarming back into the base. Honor team than got behind cover as to check out the Concord presence in this area of the base.
"Alright this area we need to clear than we can get outside the base and get to the communication dish of the Concord and destroy it." Mason told his team just as Concord forces began to fire on their position. "Damn we never get a nice break from the damn Connies do we?" Ivan joked to the team. "Two, please remain serious." Mason ordered Ivan. "Fine don't get boot straps up my ass, Sir." Ivan retorted back to Mason. "Sir, can I unload my minigun into them?" George asked Mason. "Negative their plasma will shred your armor to molten metal." Mason responded to George. *boom* a plasma grenade hit Honor team's position. "Agh" George got pushed t9 the ground by the force of the explosion his cover getting completely destroyed by the plasma grenade.
George quickly got back up and hide behind some bits of rubble. "Dammit, damn Concord" George said to himself. "You alright Five?" Mason shouted over the plasma fire from the Concord. "Yeah, I'm sir." George shouted back to Mason. George was now separated by a gap from the the rest of the team. George was now looking for a opening to cross the gap but he couldn't. the opening didn't come. "Seven what are you doing?" Mason asked Seven, as she getting ready to climb a pipe and get onto the overpass above the Concord.
"My job sir." Seven answered Mason. Before she climbed onto the overpass she ducked behind the overpass's barrier wall as remain undetected and unseen by the Concord forces in the staging area. Seven followed the barrier wall until she was behind the enemy. She jumped down and took cover behind some crates and began, silently killing Concord after Concord with her combat knife. She moved slowly forwards moving from cover to cover and silently killing any Concord in her way.
A Senglo commander was focused on them rest of Honor team. He wasn't focused on what was happening behind him until he heard a scream he immediately grabbed his plasma sword and activated it. as he turned around to meet Seven in the Eyes he slashed forwards his blade severely missing Seven. Seven meanwhile grabbed her RA pistol and shoved it in his face. She fired one round into his head the bullet piercing his shielding and into his brain killing him instantly.
The Concord around their commander turned around as they heard the screaming. But we're to late to stop their Senglo commander from being killed by Seven. They pointed their 0lasma guns at Seven but she went behind cover just before the first plasma bolt was fired in her direction. She than jumped away from the cover just as a plasma grenade hit the cover and detonated. Turning the cover into a smoldering mess.
Seven unloaded her 15 magazine into the Concord killing 15 Durtan soldiers each a bullet between their eyes. Seven landed on her feet and took cover again. She reloaded her RA pistol and switched to her 48 round RA Rifle firing on the Concord again.
"Damn she's good." Elena remarked to Seven's action. "Focus" Mason replied to Elena. She nodded back to him. Concord forces began being distracted by Seven as they all slowly started to turn around to Seven instead of the rest of Honor team. "George you can unload your minigun now into them" Mason told George. "With pleasure" George replied to Mason as he stood up grabbing his minigun and opening up heavy fire onto the Concord. Who now got distracted between Seven and George firing on them George fired hundreds of rounds into the Concord. hunderds dying as a result. quickly thinning their numbers until a few tens were left which were quickly picked off by Seven's and George's fire.
"Alright, clear." Mason said to his team. Honor team moved out of their cover and towards Seven's position. As she was gutting the last few Durtan soldiers with her combat knife as to spare her ammunition. "Good job, Seven. But next time tell me what you are going to do." Mason told Seven. Seven nodded in response. "Alright" Mason responded back to Seven's nod.
"Let's move, before another swarm of them arrives here. Honor team nodded in responsed and continued on wards to the main entrance gate of Shield Base. They encountered a few more Durtans on their way and they got killed very quickly by Honor team. Seven stopped by one of the Durtan corpes. She grabbed a few plasma grenade from one of the corpes and attached them to her armor. Honor team continued on until they arrived near the main entrance of Shield Base unnoticed they got behindcover out of view of the Concord there. "Oh, no a Xyvrael." Mason said as he looked at the entrance. "Damn they brought in their heavy tanks now. It's gonna get tough to get through that." Elena remarked.
"They need to be taken out. Otherwise Shield Base's defenses won't survive this." Mason said to Honor Team. Seven placed her RA rifle onto the ground and began attaching magnets to each plasma grenade she picked up. Mason saw what she was doing. "Do it Seven" Mason told Seven. Seven didn't waste a second after that she grabbed her RA rifle from the ground and got up she ran upto behind a knocked down pillar and hid behind it the Durtan soldiers escorting the Xyvraels didn't notice Seven. She waited behind the pillar until all four Xyvraels passed by her. She looked from her cover and saw they all moved passed her including the escorting Durtan.
Seven got up from behind the knocked down pillar. And moved silently up behind them making sure none of them saw her. Seven quietly took down the first Durtan with her Combat knife before the moved onto the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. The back of the Xyvrael column was now exposed and she placed her first magnetic plasma grenade, onto to the back of the back Xyvrael. She Than moved forwards onto the second Xyvrael she again took out all Durtans around the tank and placed the second plasma grenade however the driver of the back Xyvrael saw her.
And communicated the to the other Xyvraels and escorting Durtans that a Rift Spartan was placing grenades. Seven noticed that the Durtans started turning around. She knew she got spotted and quickly retreated and detonated the two grenades she had planted. They went off and took the the two Xyvraels and several Durtans with them.
Seven aimed her RA Rifle before the Durtan escorts could react. She than open fire and started shooting killing each Durtan before they could aim their plasma rifles on her and shot at her. Seven than moved forwards at great speed and placed the third plasma grenade. She moved forwards onto the last Xyvrael. While shooting dead the last remaining Durtan escorts for the Xyvraels. Seven looked back, she saw the cannon of the Xyvrael aiming at her. And about when it was to fire the plasma grenade attached to it detonated destroying the tank and killing everyone in it. Seven placed the last Plasma grenade onto the last Xyvrael and retreated she detonated the plasma grenade at the same time as the crew of the Xyvrael tried escape the tank but they were killed as the tank blew up.
Seven made her way back to the others. She saw that they had cleared out the main entrance while she was busy dealing with the Xyvraels. "Good work Seven" Mason responded to Seven's work. Seven replied with a nod while she was walking passed him. "Alright than, open up the gate, Three." Mason ordered Amelia. "Alright, sir" Amelia replied. Amelia pressed on the console of the gate. A heavy metal sound came from the Gate as the heavy blast door opened up. "Seven, good job with the tanks. I appreciate it." George said to Seven as the gate was opening. Seven gave a nod back to George. "You don't talk much huh. Well either way thank you." George told Seven. Seven placed her hand on George as a sign of friendship. It was rare for her to do so.
Seven than walked forward. As Elena walked over to George. "Are you alright George?" Elena asked him. *sigh* "No." He said softly. "I'm here for you if you need me George." Elena said softly to George. As they locked each other in the Eyes. Both feeling a strange feeling for each other. "Thank you, Elena." George said softly back to Elena. She placed her head against his shoulder.
The gate fully lowered. It was now open. "Everyone, get ready we are moving out. The communication dish is ten clicks away. So it's gonna be a decent walk from here. Move out" Mason told his team. Honor team moved out from there they walked through the main entrance gate. And out onto the road that lead into the base.