[Halo] Onyx Wind

[Erasmas]

Onyx Wind
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Symbol-1.jpg



The ship you were sent on was as familiar a home as any place you had ever known. The Dawn Evader was small, sparse in comfort, sleek, fast, and she didn’t need a pilot while outside of atmosphere. She was equipped with what she needed and little else… a lot like your team. She contained a complete arsenal of UNSC and covenant weaponry, jettison pods, and even the capability of hammering down a few MAC rounds. Best of all, she came with a cloaking device that allowed her to run silent of those that might be looking for her out here in the black. And then there was Valkyrie.

Valkyrie was the Dawn Evader’s AI. She was little, blue, and feisty. She didn’t put up with much of anything from anyone… but she was loyal, quick with compliance and calculations, and… in a strange way… protective. With a temperament like a mother bear, she had dragged your asses out of a tight spot more than once. Valkyrie even referred to you as “her boys” from time to time.


--o---o---o---o---o---o---o---o---o---

You all remember where you were several months ago when you learned of the fall of Reach; in fact, you remember the very moment it was relayed to you from Valkyrie. A slight hesitation between trigger-pulls, a rock dropped into the bottom of your gut, but not tears… not then, at least. There would be time for that later.

And now that that time had come and passed, a new mission was handed down. Team Onyx Wind was told to board their ship and move out. The only word you caught before take-off was Helion. As usual, you were given no idea of what your mission would be and knew that you would have to wait to find out.

But Helion is not a completely unfamiliar world to some of you. While you’ve never been there, you have come to find out two things about it. The first is that Helion is the largest source for mining caddamine penzothol in the known universe. Among its other uses, caddamine penzothol is one of the main chemicals utilized in the enhancing experiments done on Spartan soldiers.

The second bit of information about Helion is that three years ago, a team of Spartans was dispatched to put down an uprising. The conflict ended in a massive explosion of one of the main mining complexes that wiped out both the insurrectionists and the Spartan team. This drew a lot of attention and questions directed at the UNSC’s interests on Helion… leading to the military’s absolution of presence on the world.

Now, it appears, they were keen on the idea of getting reacquainted.

[Erasmas]

You stared out the window of your bunk into the empty blackness of space, contemplating both deeds done and deeds yet to come. Countless stars streaked by as you traveled, and the thought that each one of those stars represented a solar system with its own series of planets revolving around it. Any one of them could be a world to somebody out there… any one of them could have been Reach. You tap the glass with your knuckle.

Glassed, you think to yourself, burned the land and boiled the sea.

There were 700 million civilians on Reach, and that isn’t even including the astronomical number of UNSC personnel that was lost. Some of them got off-world before it happened, but those that didn’t… people turned to ash, the metal structures reduced to liquid, the very air turned to fire… all in an instant.

“Chow,” the voice of your Captain rang out over the PA system. You dressed into your “skins”, as they were called - a skintight body suit designed to be worn under your armor. You exited your bunk and headed to Mess, joining up with the other members of Onyx. As you ate, the same thought ran through your head like it always did – Eat up… it very well could be your last. Often times, in fact, this last meal before the mission was referred to, affectionately as “The Last Supper”. Valen was the only member of the team that did not eat this meal, since he had to be getting suited up early. As you finished eating, Onyx 1 entered the room, his green Mjolnir Mark VI armor covered in deep gouges and carbon scoring. He carried his Security-issue helmet tucked under his arm and was already armed, the electro-magnet contacts holding the battle rifle against his back and the SMG against his hip.
“I’m on my way to the bridge for the pre-briefing. You boys’ve got one hour to suit up. Hop to, Onyx Wind.”

With that, your Captain left the room… and left you to your preparations.

---o---o---o---o---o---o---o---o---o---

You headed down the hall into the Ready Room, where there were seven bays, each securing a different suit of armor. The dark gray steel of the room gave off a reluctant reflection of the cool blue-white lighting. The metal flooring was cool beneath your feet except for one spot, in the far corner. The Engine Room was beneath that portion of the floor and it always kept it warmer than the rest of the Ready Room. A slim locker beside each bay indicated your callsigns and held your specifically selected weapons and items within them.

You took a deep breath, inhaling the mixture of old gun smoke, plasma residue, and grease. The Ready Room always had that smell to it… the smell like something was brewing… like war was on the horizon.

It was time.

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan walked up to his familiar black and red armor. Even at 7 feet tall and built like a freighter, he was small compared to it. As he stepped into the armor he felt complete again. Without his armor he felt like half a man, with it though....he was a demon in the eyes of the Covenant. As the seals hissed and the small nuclear reactor powered up, his slightly overconfident attitude returned. "Any bets on how were going in this time?" he asked without turning around.

[Q'telun]

John stared at his scarred gray armor and smiled. "Either a drop in or Valkyrie is gonna shift her lazy ass and fly us down herself. Course, I could be completely wrong and I'll be going down in just my skin for that last comment." Grinning, he slipped Kaylee into her port, and Mal into his. "All systems are good to go! Hell, we could probably take on a few brutes in this girl."
"Thank you Kaylee." And with that, John pulled his boots on, starting the laborious process of getting on armor.

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung pulled open his armor locker and started donning his armor. "My bet's on drop in. Seems to protocol since Reach." Still putting his armor on, he jacked The Doctor into the AI slot.
"You up for some firefights Doc?"Have you ever known me not to be up for putting some holes in meat-bags?
"Fair Point." And with that, he slipped on his helmet and sealed it.

[Sam Fisher]

Sammael lay in his bunk mind buzzing with hatred; Reach destroyed almost a billion dead. His nightly ritual since the fall of Reach started again, his ear piece droned on as he fell into a light sleep.

{Reach Aszod city civilian list part 15: Lukács Kazimír Jónás, Román Eduárd Jónás, Sami Janika Jónás, Jóska Jancsi Jónás…}

The list went on even in his sleep each name dug into his soul fuelling his hatred, he would purge the devils from this world until his own dying breath.

….

He ate in silence, the earpieces still reciting name after name of the seven hundred million casualties on reach, if he lived to eighty he mighty possibility hear each one but in his line of work that was unlikely.

….

Only once he was down in the armoury did he remove it and like the rest of the Spartans, he began the ritual of armourment, soon his fragile form was encased in the blessed armour and soon he would be given the chance once again to end the foes that tormented humanity. Some Spartans choses to keep their helmets off for now, but Sammael equipped his straight away covering his bald scarred head. His display flashed up and quickly his sentinel companion activated the basic AI flashing up a systems check.

He turned to see his brothers and felt a surge of pride and excitement in his soul. The armoured angels of humanity would once again decent and do what they did best; fore they were angels of death. Tristan the team’s close combat specialist voiced a question on their entry method. Acolyte the AI in the floating sentinel took in the question and turned back to its master. Machine code flowed through the com-link and displayed a message for Sammael’s eyes only.


[Increased] … [Temperature] … [?]

Sammael grinned and spoke in a slightly raspy voice. “That’s right Acolyte, probably going in hot.”

He began the ritual of checking his rifle for imperfections it had taken some use in recent times and it soon would again. It would need to be in top working condition to spill the blood to begin to repay the fallen.

Acolyte floated a few inches higher than the Spartan’s head buzzing and humming in a way which quickly grew irritating.

[Q'telun]

John stepped in between the crane arms to put on his knee guards, and turned towards Sammael to say "I swear, if that drone of yours gives away our position again I am going to space it myself. I've always wanted to know if it could survive slip space."

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan laughs and says, "Oh its not that bad. It saved us the trouble of having to find all those split jaws, and it tore apart that squad of Jackels when it flew behind their shields." then he sits down and waits for his turn with the crane.

[Sam Fisher]

Acolyte turned to face John and his threats. The calculations quickly were searched on all known knowledge of slipstream survival capabilities.


[ Chance < 0.01%] ... [Insufficient]… [Armour]

Sammael Leaned against his locker letting out a small chuckle despite his teams words of jest Acolyte was a liability when trying to be stealthy and usually had to be carried in powdered down mode in such situations. so much of his original forerunner shielding and tech had been replaced to keep it functioning.

“Everything has a purpose, however I will keep such events from happening… again”


It felt good to be back in his armour without it his mind wandered and Sammael was quickly lost in repetitive rituals and anything to keep his mind on track. The armour bore no major damage but many signs of use, its dark steel and red colours reflecting the violent nature of the Spartan.

[Q'telun]

John grunts, but whether it was in acknowledgement or from the fact that the crane has just attached his chest-plate is anyone's guess. He steps forward and rolls his shoulders forward a few times, then picks up his helmet.

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan steps up between the cranes and takes his turn at getting suited up. As his bulky armor is strapped on to his body he goes silent and focuses on preparing himself for the coming mission.

[Xacerbate]

As He watches his comrades change into their armors, his current thoughts are put aside. All He knows, all He will ever know, standing before him. A slight smile runs across his face, momentarily.

As He turns his head back towards his armor, the sensation is lost, the dark void returns. He picks up his helmet.
Staring deep into the face of the helmet, his mind is quelled.

"I still can't believe it."
But what he was really thinking, was that he didn't want to believe it.

Ever since Reach, a dark void has grown where his heart used to be, a deep loathing sensation overwhelms him whenever eyes are upon the enemy.

He closes his eyes, and gears up. He never liked to watch his own transition, but instead feel it.

As the last few clicks are made, his peace settles, the sound of the armor powering up always made him feel superior to his human body.
As the last system checks finished, He was no longer his former self, He was now Hindrance.
Catch wasted no time, she immediately greeted him through a personal comm.
"So what are we killing this time? Or are we doing another covert?"

"Not sure yet. If we get into a jam and have to run, make sure you warn me before making me take another suicide jump..." snapped Hindrance.

"But then it wouldn't be fun..." answered Catch, in a sly yet soothing voice.

Hindrance exhaled, glad to be back in his suit, he curled his hands into fists, admiring the metal he now wore.

Talking now to the other Spartans he added his thoughts.
"Dropping in seems to be the popular choice, either way, it's the wait that I enjoy. Seconds of thought, before the action starts."

Hindrance picks up his DMR with his right hand, hanging down, now looking at the barrel, wondering if he should check it.

"Take the risk." joked Catch, somehow reading his mind.

Hindrance directed his attention toward the weapon, before turning to Argyle to ask,
"Remember when we split off into two groups a while back, and we somehow ended up switching DMR's? I forgot to ask, just how did you get blood on the inside of my barrel?"

[Q'telun]

John staggers when he leaves the crane area, then curses "笨天生的一堆肉, Kaylee, how many times do I have to tell you when I ask for a suit check, I mean TURN THE 狗操的 THING ON!"
"Well sorry. You're the one too damn lazy to do a check yourself. And I just do what I'm told, and you told me to check if it was working. I don't have to turn it on to do that."
John grumbles under his breath and then says through gritted teeth, "Kaywinnit Lee, please turn on the Spartan armor so I can move more than 10 feet."

[Erik Vale]

Argyle was smilling as he put on is armour. It was more like it being assembled around him really, with the cranes as such. Argyle was only tall due to modification, being just shorter then the rest of Onyx team.

Well you remember how my group had to split again. We got pinned so I jumped up a boardwalk into a peice of cover, and an Elite had the same idea."

Argyles armour suddenly emmited it's ow distinct double laugh, from both the AI's laughing. No chippped in first, followed so shortly by Io.

"The look of surprise on both your faces! I'll have to send you the camera feeds."
"I have to remind him to jab."

"And you won't let me forget it. I was going to swap to my spiker, and it has a blade on the end."
"So he reaches out, and I shock him because what else am I going to do?"
"Lucky the thing was basically a grunt."
"And I'm stabbin' forward, thinking to impale him then fill him with lead, and I think 'I need to Sharpen this, wait, is it jammed?'.
"Even the Elite was looken down, wonderin' how he had been impaled with a blunt stick, and realising he was impaled in a riflle."
"Yeah. Good times. I can't believe you didn't clean it out properly!"

[DoctorFaust]

As Volsung gets his chest plate locked into place and starts the power-up sequence, he say "That was definitely not one of your better missions Argyle. Took me so long to patch you up after that I wasn't quite sure it was worth it." As he walks out of the crane station, popping his joints back into place, and starts pulling on his knee guards, he remarks "To be fair, that brute could have jumped anyone, but that was one stor røv hole he put in you"

[Erik Vale]

"Oh I don't know. I stopped him from fireing on everyong else."

"And got shot for taking so long to think of it."
Io's retort was quick, like a well practiced joke. And it was. Ioach didn't like having to be patched up.

"Oh sush you. So what made your team so late Hinderence? Did a grenade come close?"

[Xacerbate]

Hindrance continues cleaning his weapon, and starts over again to add a nice polish.

"Oh right, a pack of armored elites... They came in masses, took a while to take down..."

Catch interrupts his comm, and laughs mockingly as she explains what really happened, "The fool stepped on the exact rock I told him not to, and tumbled down the cliff. Needless to say, we had to make our way back..."

Hindrance, removing Catch from his suit, regains control of his comms.

"I should get back to inspecting the rifle..."

Hindrance stretches around a bit, before finally placing Catch back into his suit.

[Q'telun]

"I remember that! You damn near missed the ship off that rock! Lucky you we decided not to lift off to high and you rode a... remind me what you were riding into the Dawn Evader's hold?"
"Some covenant thing wasn't it? Too small to be a Banshee."

[DoctorFaust]

"Must've been a Ghost if it was to small to be a Banshee." Volsung says as he walks over to the arms craft and retrieves his SMG.

[Erik Vale]

Where he manifesting, Argyle would have been sure Iaoch would be smiling, as it waited for Catch to be placed back in his suit.

"I know the feeling. Argyle has been learning slowly, but he has been falling short on his jump."

"Oh sush you."

"Need I remind you of when-."

"No, thats their jobs."

Argyle waives one hand lazilly towards his companions, his wrist doing the work as to avoid fouling the machines.

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan let the crane put his helmet on. As his custom visor lit up it showed what he had last been looking at. It was the list of names from the majority of the Spartan II program. All but one of them were listed as MIA, but he knew that only a handful of them were actually missing. The rest were dead. The list had grown greatly ever since Reach.
"I'm detecting elevated levels of stress, are you alright X-217?" A female voice chimed in his ear."I'm fine Bell, just need to get some stuff off my mind. Play Crystallize (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHjpOzsQ9YI&feature=youtube_gdata_player). I need some music. he says, his light celtic accent twisting his words.

Now that hes properlly armored he feels complete. He sits down and says, "I'm still not sure where you got that Ghost, all I know is that my shoulders were sore after smashing in that many skulls."

[Xacerbate]

"I managed to kick a grunt off of it."

Hindrance having finished polishing his weapon, places it in its 'holster'.

Well, now that I think about it, he was sort of under me as I fell...

Hindrance begins a second set of system checks.

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan laughs, then turns and opens his locker. He pulls out his gravity hammer and checks it over for damage or caked on blood.

[Q'telun]

John paused in the middle of pulling his gloves on. "Ghost, thats what its called. Kaylee couldn't leave that thing along. And when I did finally let her check it over she didn't want to leave!" John cracks a smile.

[DoctorFaust]

"She does love getting her hands on anything with an engine. Especially something she hasn't gotten to mess with before." Volsung laughs.

[Vixsor Lumin]

@doc and @x you guys are using the same color

Tristan, satisfied that his hammer is in working order, begins running a systems check on his Spartan Laser. Bell used the interface in his gloves to link with the weapon and ensure that it was safe to use. As a stream of data flew over his HUD he looked around at the assembled Spartans. "So.... we've all known each other since we were six. We all know what we're avoiding talking about, so I'm gonna say it..... Reach has fallen. The last true stronghold before Earth just got glassed."

[Erik Vale]

Argyle shakes his head.

"There are plenty of strongholds along the way, and the Covenent are no longer steam rolling us. I know it's just propaganda but if the science teams have there heads anywhere but in their b***, they surely have to be near something important. Call me a optimist, but we couldn't be pulling delaying actions much longer."

"I call you an optimist. But this is what we do. This is all we can do, unless someone has started to try diplomacy."

"Oh sush No."

*Sigh*. By the way, No has just found that report you wanted. Shall I plaster it on your hud."
"Yes please..."

You could all guess what he was looking at. It would probably be a report of Argyle's sister, the only family he knew of that was still living. Maria was also a Sparten, just a little younger. A barely audible sigh would eventually emanate from the speakers from the rest of the team. It wasn't exactly a good sigh, but it wasn't a bad one either.

[Q'telun]

John secures his helmet in place before turning to Tristan. "Reach was the last planetary stronghold. The spartan program, ODST, and UNSC are now the last stronghold before Earth is glassed. And we are sure as hell not going to fail Earth." With that, John chambers a shell in his shotgun and puts it on his back, and slaps his SMG on his waist.

[Xacerbate]

Does it really matter if were using the same colors? Also, I did not realize at all we were, I was surprised to see we had the same AI color as well.

Hindrance remained silent, looking for a solution to this crisis.
"What has Valen said about this? Perhaps he'll know more. Not that he wants to be bothered right now."

Catch, enthusiastic about another mission, adds to the conversation.
"It's possible there is an attack of some sort being planned, however against a covenant fleet that large, something under the radar would have to happen simultaneously."

What date is it?

Asked Hindrance, an idea coming to him.

[Vixsor Lumin]

it might get confusing later

"I don't know the exact date, but its sometime in late 2552." Tristan turns to John and says "So the Spartans and the ODST's are our hope? the ODST's may be better than the average marine, but even they are nothing compared to Spartans!" he pulls the report up that he had been looking at and flashes it onto everyone's HUD. The list of names from the spartan program was depressing. There were only a handful names that were labeled as active. "The only Spartan who made it off Reach was S-117. The only other Spartans that are alive are stationed on far off worlds, or are on some classified mission that even we cant know the details of." he looks down sadly, the venom leaving his voice. "I'm not saying we give up, but i think its time we start planning for what to do if we lose...."

[Q'telun]

Even with their helmets on, it is evident John is staring Tristan straight in the eye. "We will not fail. If we are about to fail, then we cripple the enemy in any way possible."

[DoctorFaust]

I can change colors if you would like me to.

"I think that we all know damn well that the only alternative to winning for us is to take as many with us as we can. As it is, there's maybe 10 active Spartans that I can think of off the top of my head, counting us." Volsung says as he finishes pulling on his gauntlets. "The only way we're going to win the war is either by killing all of the split-jaw ba****** or if the scientists pull a miracle out of their hats. Either way, there really is no guarantee that this isn't just the advance guard or that they don't have more reinforcements available to them." He sighs, pulling out his needler rifle and starting to strip it to check for any damage.

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan nods and and loads a power cell into his laser. A high pitched whine fills the room as the weapon powers up. "Well I was thinking more about how we would lead a resistance and not die, but im ok with crippling the aliens before fading into the void." he says, and from his tone its easy to tell hes smiling. He stands as the laser's covering opens up and the targeting scope pops out on the side.

[Q'telun]

"A resistance is only possible under occupation. From what we've seen, the Covenant wouldn't leave anything TO occupy. The best we could hope for is humans scattering through the black and rebuilding as best we can."

[Xacerbate]

I'll go ahead and change to Orange since you posted in blue first :)

Hindrance loads his DMR, followed by his Assault Rifle.
Then Hindrance let out his thoughts, in a cool confident manner.
"Were the best at what we do. I'm sure our missions will be important, if not vital. Were not picking daisies out there. Everything we do on the battlefield will contribute to the effort."

"Actually, you did pick a flower off the planet we were on last month."

Commented Catch.

Hindrance let out a long sigh.
"What I'm saying is that Valen knows what he's doing, and he's going to put us where were most needed."

Catch-22 brought up something on Hindrance's screen she had picked up while boarding the ship.

Hindrance took a minute to think.

"So... We might be going to Helion, if what was heard is correct. My guess is that we're going to recapture it for the Spartan Program Development. If that's right, then we will have to succeed. This will provide an essential resource we will need in the war."

Hindrance looked around the room at the rest of the group before continuing.


"I think were all a little beat about Reach, but don't put too much thought into anything else except our mission, Valen will, and is, putting us where we need to be"

[Q'telun]

"I doubt we're going to be "recapturing" a human controlled planet. If they've asked for spartan help, that means its under imminent threat of Covie invasion. Which means holding the damn place at all costs. Which is not going to be fun." John turns on the maglock on his boots and walks up the wall and starts pacing on the ceiling.

[Xacerbate]

Basing this information off of the first posts from Erasmus, try not to refer to timelines in-game, if you are.


Hindrance looks up at John, and asks,
"Human Controlled at the moment? Where did you get that information?"


"One grunt, two grunt, three grunt..."
Starts counting Catch, obviously anxious to get to the destination.

[Vixsor Lumin]

"There haven't been humans on Helion for three years. Im not sure its theres any covenant there, but i would bet 3 days rations that it'll be an Innie controlled planet. The last team that went in was fighting the damn Insurrectionists." Tristan said holstering his laser.

The Insurrection is basically a terrorist group that wanted the colonies to split from the UNSC. not sure if anyone knew that, just making sure theres no confusion :smalltongue:

[Sam Fisher]

OCC Just realised the improbability of having a sentinel at this point before the rings discovery. But I’ll roll with it.

Tristan, spoke with some hesitation as he spoke of reach. It was like a physical weight placed on the Spartans. For a moment no one spoke but slowly they talked some with almost forced confidence others with a morbid realisation of what the human colonies could end as. Sammael stood up for once finding a voice of passion he turned to his brothers burning with emotions.

“It is Dark times, the homes of our people burn and our angels begin to fall, so few of us remain but until our last breath we will fight”

Sammael turned to the Acolyte floating at his side gesturing with an armoured hand.

“It has not been long since we raided that covenant science ship, this AI even in its broken form named us Reclaimer!” he stared at the silver body, metal of unknown origins and felt a surge of hope.

“Brothers this is not of their making and this divine machine recognised our plight this is our hope. Tha makers are the hope of mankind all we must do is find them”

[Q'telun]

John stops his pacing. "The buzzy clicky thing is our hope? Good lord, we may be in more trouble than I thought. I don't like the idea of fighting any humans, Independents or UNSC, when there are so many more Covy brains we could be emancipating from skulls."

[Xacerbate]

Hindrance lets out a small chuckle.
"If we could recapture Helion without an insurrectionist shooting at us, that would be great. Perhaps on seeing us, they will stand down, however, we must be ready to do what it takes. It will be interesting to see how they are doing, despite their belief, I do hope no great evil has come their way."

Hindrance looks up eyes closed, picturing Earth in his mind.

"Hopefully they aren't doing too great either eh?"

[Erik Vale]

"Yes, I could use something to shoot at. Without having him dinging me. I mean, who taught you guys to use cover, a deaf bat, remember the time Hinderence was caught staring a frag in the face?"

[Vixsor Lumin]

"That was a a good mission." Tristan says with a smile. "It was the first time we ever killed a Brute Chieftan. he adds and lovingly pats his hammer.

[DoctorFaust]

Yeah, and you made a huge mess of him while doing so." Volsung says while reassembling his rifle. Damn near took his head off with that hammer of yours.

[Vixsor Lumin]

"Well first he dropped it, and then after I picked it up he tried to use a Spiker on me! I mean why would he drop this beauty?? Apparentlly each hammer is a sacred family relic, and he dropped his to get away from a grenade. I'm sure they have some law or something about how that's 'dishonerable' or something. He probably would have had it taken away and used on him by his own men or something." Tristan says checking the connections between the power cell and the striking surface of the hammer.

[Q'telun]

"All I remember from that mission was the bullet hell we went through on the way back up. God that was horrible to fly through. I wasn't even sure if we were going to be pressurized once we got through it."

[Erik Vale]

"I almost fell asleap that trip. It was like a soft pelter of rain on the ships hull."

Argyle looks like he is getting ready for a smack over the head.

"Damn they are redacting the sh** out of their reports.... And they keep them so long. Ahh, theres the paragraph...."

[Erasmas]

You feel the Dawn Evader come out of slip-space and the room is suddenly plunged into a blue glow. Looking out the small slit of a window, here in the Ready Room, you can see that you have arrived at a solar system with a brilliantly blue sun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Locations-Kallanos.jpg


"Onyx... rally up and report to the War Room." The voice of Valen broadcast into your helmets, cutting short the discussion that was taking place.

The War Room is what you called the ship's cargo bay hanger. It held the Drop Pods and enough room for a handful of vehicles. For the moment, it held your Pelican, nicknamed "Rush II", and two Chaingun Warthogs, called "Razorback VII" and "Pumba IV". Your team was in the habit of naming the vehicles they acquired as a replacement... either through UNSC assignment or through "borrowing" them whenever found. Obviously, Onyx Wind was a little harder on land-based vessels than air-based ones. The other thing that the War Room contained was the only area for your full team to assemble when completely geared up, if anyone wanted to move that is. And so, this became the briefing area - where you would finally learn the details of your mission.

As you exited the Ready Room, you passed through the only truly 'scenic' chamber aboard the entire ship, aside from the bridge. Consisting of a long hallway with a row of large, UV Ray-shielded windows along one side, this room afforded you a fairly unobstructed view of what lie outside the ship. The Window, as this hallway is referred to by your team, is currently bathed in the blue light of Kallanos and you catch your first glimpse of Helion as you pass through it towards the War Room.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Locations-HelionPlanet.jpg


Through another set of doors, you find V21 waiting for you, stoically standing by the hatch door of the War Room. He hits the button and moves to the side to allow you to enter the room before him. As you pass him, in turn, he gives you each the customary greeting that you have all established - a gentle clashing of your raised right forearm, just below the elbow. As the last of you enters the largest room on board the Dawn Evader, Valen walks past you, brushing his fingers absentmindedly along Drop Pod Alpha. You all know that that means you will be dropping in. Your leader was not too fond of flying; whether it was a Pelican, the Drop Pods, or anything else and this action somehow seemed to reassure him. This was always a tell-tale sign of how the mission was to start, however, since he touched whatever method of entry was planned (which was almost always air-based).

"Valkyrie - we're assembled."

In the middle of the empty space of the War Room, a familiar blue female shape began to appear. A lightly armored warrior with feathered wings, she was both intimidating and magnificent for an AI. She could appear soft and embracing or hardened and menacing... it all depended on her mood. For now, at least, she seemed to be perfectly calm.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Valkyrie.jpg


Valkyrie was a strangely motherly figure to you and some of you even went so far as to call her "Momma" or "Mum". In a way, although she was only a program, she didn't seem that different to each of you. Her soul, the aspect of her that you saw, had form and voice... but seemed incomplete, like you. However, the Dawn Evader was her true body, giving her soul purpose and the means to enact her will - like when you slipped into your Mjolnir Mark VI armor.

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristanpumps his fist in triumph when he sees that they are going down in drop pods. He loved going 'feetfirst'if he hadn't been chosen to become a Spartan, he probably would have become an ODST. When they reach War Room, he smiles widely inside his helmet. "Hi Momma! How are on this glorious day?"

[Erik Vale]

Argyle's suit spoke in an eiry triple voice. Few people took two AI's, and fewer still actively practiced with them to say a few things in unison.

"Greetings Valkyrie, what suicide mission are you sending us on today?"

Fortunately for your sanity, they kept their laughter to themselves. It was a very, very old joke for them. One that Valkyrie didn't really like however.... This lead to a very familier escalating prank war every now and again.

[Q'telun]

"Aww, but I wanted to fly us down this time. Rush is getting all cranky, poor girl."
"If you're good Kaylee, you can fly us out again. Assuming we don't die, as always. Morning Val. Whats the mission, captain?"

[DoctorFaust]

Good to see you again Val."
It's nice to finally see someone that's my intellectual equal again, especially after having to be around these mountains of muscle."
"Be quiet you. Anyway, I take it we're going down in these old things again?"

[Erasmas]

"Hello, boys... I see you finally got the lead out and decided to join us. I hope we aren't disturbing your relaxation too much. And, Argyle, it's only suicidal when you decide to deviate from the course that I labor so diligently to lay out before you. You know how I hate improvisation; it's so primitive and crude."

Valkyrie moved across the room, the interface of both the War Room and the Bridge allowed her to appear full-sized for a normal human female. She unfurled her wings, filling the space with the digital sound of a buffet of wind as she floated towards the empty space of wall that served as the presentation surface. The AI began conjuring images and schematics before her, and as she turned her attention to the task, she said, "Valen will fill you in on the first portion of the details."

Valen moved so that he could see each of you and removed his helmet, taking a knee and placing it upon the floor beside him.

"Gentlemen... we've been sent to find the answer the question that has been weighing the heaviest on the collective mind of the UNSC for the last several months – how did the damn split-jaws learn about Reach? For one reason or another, Fleet Admiral Harper feels that the answer to that question lies here on Helion. Our directive is simple… investigate the possibility of Covenant presence on-world, and if there is one, to make certain that those individuals will never utter an other secret ever again. Recon and Elimination is the name of the game, Onyx Wind. Valkyrie has the logistics."

"The atmosphere of Helion appears to cause a great deal of interference with our orbital scanners, so you will be going in practically blind. Without knowing what exactly is down there, I'm not risking a bold entry - which is why you're getting dropped in. Much to my disliking, communications between Onyx and the Dawn Evader may also be touch-and-go because of the interference. But you can bet your asses that I will be with you every step of the way."

Valkyrie's eyes flashed, the definition of her irises and pupils disappearing into bright blank orbs... a sign of her heightened anxiety and emotion at the idea of this situation. She paused, briefly, before continuing with the briefing, pulling up a three-dimensional schematic of Helion and turning it as she needed.

"You will be dropped here - a sinkhole caused by over-mining just south of the Baldujon Ridgeline, here... Nav Point Alpha. Unfortunately, the majority of the data about this planet in the UNSC database is outdated or seemingly irrelevant. However, just in case it proves pertinent, I have marked the old mining facility involved in the Insurrectionist Uprising as Nav Point Zeta."

"Any questions, Onyx?"

[Q'telun]

"Is this stealth, or Sherman's march?"

[Erasmas]

"We'll go in quiet at first and judge the situation as it comes to us. If we see any Covenant group small enough, we take them down quickly and as quietly as possible. If we find any installations or larger groups, we'll hash out a plan to use... louder means."

[Vixsor Lumin]

"Sounds like a plan to me! So do you think there are any humans left?" Tristan says excitedly.

[Erasmas]

"Hard to know. If there is, there's a good chance they won't be UNSC-friendly. The last time they saw Spartans, it didn't exactly end well for them. But it's possible that there could be folks who're new to the world."

[Erik Vale]

"Nope. Guns out, walk quitely, see if we can grab cominucations. Hope the place is still friendly. It's just a more optomistic version of a repeated mission. With a little less info to start, of course."
"Nice to see you so eager, Argyle."
"We always are."

It would be easy to believe that Argyle and Gno' are grinning, with Ioach feels a little worried by it.

[Q'telun]

"I'd like to think that after Reach any human is very friendly to Spartans. Our table manners are infinitely better than a pack of Brutes descending from a corvette. Whats our ETA?"

[Sam Fisher]

Sammael followed the other Spartans and their newly returned leader into the war room. The other’s comments and greetings to the master AI were all but ignored in total attention Sammael placed on the winged angelic AI who appeared and briefed them on their mission. It was unclear whether the AI appearing as she did was a good thing to focus the slightly mental Spartan or if it merely pushed him deeper into deluded zeal. Whatever the case the steel and red Spartan listened with unblinking eyes through his red visor.

Their leader spoke and asked for questions but Sammael had none. Now the mission was decided he was merely a tool, a weapon to be pointed at the enemy and bloody and terrible vengeance would be wrecked for all the lost and whether it be covenant or traitors the enemy would be purged from Helion.

Acolyte watched the image of Valkyrie and acknowledged its masters devotion, its simple AI struggled to cope with a strange information it almost felt jealousy anger it’s processors slowed down and rebooted and turned it’s camera to Sammael.

[Erasmas]

"Alright, Onyx Wind... lock and load! We're going in."

Valen stands and replaces his helmet, the sound of the seals hissing slightly, and makes a circular motion with his finger pointed upwards, pivoting from the elbow. He then makes his way slowly towards Drop Pod Hotel, the eighth and final in the line of pods.

Valkyrie turns and walks towards the center of the War Room, where all of you will be able to see her once in your Drop Pods.

"Strength and honor, boys! Come home soon."

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan sprints to Bravo pod. Once there he reaches over and places a hand on the visor of Alpha. After a second of scilennce he pops Bravo open and manages to work his massive armed and armored body into the pod. "Oh! One last thing Mom! Since comms are being touchy, will we have MAC support?"

[Sam Fisher]

Sammael walked at a steady pace across the room to his assigned pod, Acolyte floated nearby and had to be strapped in securely to the pods interior, the first drop he had failed to strap the drone in it had smashed into his helmet on impact leaving both damaged and lowered their mission effectiveness dramatically.

The pod door closed and for a moment there was only the silence before external communications came online. The Spartan tightened his fist who would come back alive from, if there was one thing he had learned it was dropping into a battlefield was safer than the unknown.

Acolyte buzzed flashing up machine code into Sammael's HUD


[Combat Mode] ... [Boot] ... [73 Seconds]

[Erasmas]

"Friendly or no, X65, all non-Covenant are to be treated as Red-lit Hostiles, meaning we return fire only. Covenant are a Green Light all the way; but keep your heads and maintain caution about when to engage. That's especially the case on those MAC rounds, X218... only when there is no other alternative. I don't want to send a flare up for whatever cavalry might be present."

"MAC support will be online and operational. It will simply be a matter of whether or not I get the transmission requesting the artillery. But I promise, the moment that I have confirmation on a target... well, they say Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. You boys just tell me who's so scornful down there and we'll see what Hell has to say about it afterwards."

As each of you enters the pod of your choosing, you disengage your weapons and place them into the securing panels beside you, enabling their various safety functions. You magnetize the contact point on your back and both of your feet, and fasten down the harness across your chest. Your pulse races as your heart pounds, but your hands remain steady as they work the various buttons and switches as you ready your pod for jettison... this was never an easy way to travel.

As a Spartan, the common misconception is that you do not feel fear or anxiety. The truth of the matter is that you felt it the same as any man or woman... you just don't pay it any attention. It doesn't shut you down the same way, or cause you to hesitate or waver; for some of you, it has even become a fuel... an energy that feeds into your prowess and sharpens your skill. Honed and directed, it becomes the razor-sharp point of the spear of your wrath.

It wasn't just the things that could go wrong with the drop, such as a miniature meteor striking your pod in descent and causing it to careen off-course. And it wasn't just falling, as a rock to the ground, it was like being a bullet in a S2AM pointed directly at the floor. Things were about to get shaky.

[Q'telun]

John steps into his pod and assumes the familiar position for orbital drops.
"Kaylee, mal, status reports."
"Good to to sir."
"Positive"
"Then we go where angels fear to tread."

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung lopes over to his drop pod, disengaging his weapons and making a last minute check of his suit as he went. "Doc, bring up the medical portion of your programing. We're going to need it more then the other stuff. Once you're done with that, close the pod and seal it."
"If I must."
"Yes, you must. I would prefer not to burn to a crisp before the mission starts."
The pod door closes behind them, making a faint hissing noise as it seals to hold in the atmosphere, while Volsung opens the storage compartment to stow his med kit and guns.

[Erik Vale]

Argyle's Pod

"Combat suits active. All routines have been preped."
"Tactical suit is up. You hud should be on full. Roaming search?"
"Yes. I want you in ASAP."
"Activated."
"I walk through the valley, in the shadow of death.
"I fear no evil, for I am the enemies demon."
"War is hell."
"And I speak unto the devil what he is to do."

Argyle's HUD flashed. She was Alive. Not here, but alive. That was what he wanted to know.

May they be so lucky, as to be in heaven 5 minutes before the devil knows their dead."
"And when they reach hell."
"They shall know they screwed with the wrong race!"

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan looks at his HUD and said to Bell, "Bell, I want you to focus your processing on trying to keep an open line between our targeter and Valkyrie." she responded instantly saying, "I'll do my best X 213." Tristan reactivated his combat HUD and opened a team wide comm channel. "You guys ready to rain some hell?" he said excitedly.

[Erik Vale]

Been ready since I was 8. Argyle says with a smirk, reminising on. Well. Many things.

[Q'telun]

"Psalms 64:9. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of Spartans; for they shall wisely consider our doings."

[Erasmas]

Once you were all in your drop pods and everything was set, the hatches containing the pods began to pressurize. This would keep the War Room, and the rest of the interior of the Dawn Evader from being exposed to the dangerous elements of space.

A red light came on within the large bay and began flashing. There were three long wails of a siren, and then the Drop Pods were each fired in turn. One at a time, they hurtled through the void between your ship and the atmosphere of Helion below. With no air resistance, this part of the drop was smooth and easy... despite the G-forces already pulling at your body. Kallanos' stunning azure light seemed to shine even brighter outside of the ship somehow; maybe it was a difference in the UV-shielding in the glass, maybe it was mental... it didn't matter. It was merely a bit of beauty before the potential harshness that lay ahead; the calm before the storm.

"Pucker up, boys! Hoorah!"

As you began to enter the atmosphere of Helion, rocketing towards whatever geography was beneath you, your pod started with the shaking. Gradual at first, it increased as the density of the air did. Soon, the display panel that showed the external heat reading spiked out at just over 2,000 degrees F. As your teeth rattled together in your head, you breach the upper atmosphere and enter into the lower layer of cloud cover, which moves about more like thick woodsmoke than vapor. However, it finally thins enough to afford you your first intimate glimpse at the planet.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/DropPod.jpg


You continue to plummet, seeing the rapidly-approaching sinkhole bearing the mark of Nav Point Alpha. It was a large circular expanse that, from here, only looked to be the size of a dinner plate. Before long, the HPPM (Horizontal Plane Proximity Meter) in your pod begin beeping. That damn thing is so annoying, you remember as you deactivate the noise-maker.

"Everyone doing alright so far?"

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan hits a particularily rough patch of air and feels his head smack against the restraints. He smiles and yells happily. "WOOHOOOO! Hahaha! I'm doing fantastic!"

[Erik Vale]

One by one, the group unit that was called Argyle responded. He was on target, and to himself, almost an observer.

"All biological readouts within expected paramiters, lower than normal. Suit funtionality at 100%, I am Ready Valkyrie."
"Suit redouts normal, full up... Now. HUD finished, and I've cleared up the tiny bit of static. I've still got lock with you, static acceptable, How's it on your end?"
"I knew we were going it muffled, Onyx 3 O23-Argyle is ready to go."

As always, the way he spoke was a little disconcerting. Almost as if he was a kid controlling a remote controlled droid (Very few. All of them were gone now for the war... To say that they were quickly destroyed by the Covenant was a understatement). However, it was old news. And if things got hot, he would return to first person.

[Q'telun]

"Well, X65 is doing just fine, he's just having a little trouble communicating, we're having a little trouble with the compensators. It shouldn't be a danger to him, so me and Mal are just leaving it alone. Its much nicer when he isn't filling the airwaves with his sarcasm."
"Hate...You...Kay..lee..."

[DoctorFaust]

"Verdomme!" Volsung suddenly exclaims "I think I damn near caught an asteroid with my pod just then. Other than that, my pod is still in one piece and my suits readings are all in the green."

[Sam Fisher]

Falling ever closer to the target the G-force only lightened by the suits strength nether the less was felt, Sammael watched the planet grow ever closer too many had died of a bad landing too many good men and even the occasional Spartan.

“Hoorah” Sammael responded weakly through clenched teeth he was almost fearless anywhere except moments like this when he felt helpless. He liked the ground under his feet and once more feared a death without taking the enemy down with him.


[Hoorah]

The Spartan’s mood lightened, the strange AI seemed to pick up the oddest quirks at times there was a mystery there, it hid far more intellect than the average simple AI the UNSC used.

[Erasmas]

OOC: Alright gentlemen... I need you each to roll a Fortitude save. Keep it in a spoiler, and use the site die roller. I have a link in the OOC thread that will show you how if you don't already know how!


In turn, each pod slammed into the ground with enough force to crush a Scorpion battle-tank. Luckily, that's exactly what these Drop Pods were designed to do. Dust, ash, and sand had risen up in a plume around you, obscuring any sight... for those that managed to stay conscious from the fall.

[Erik Vale]

I Have Landed

Argyle waited to hear the landings from the other 6 pods. It was odd, landing first... He said the cry, as it was to keep everyone on the right count. At to tell everyone he was concous. On the off chance that all the others with linked suits were also out cold. Unlikely....

"I've Landed. Im Aware.
"Suit running at optimal."
"Suit links are maintained. I have a sketchy line to Valkyrie, but it wont hold."

The last one thudded home.

"Oppenin' the can."

The door flew open, kicked. As usual it just fell off. The dust was still blinding, almost totally so. Activating his IR made it better, he could actually see. He was looking around at the other pods, checking lifesigns for the unconcious.

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan's drop pod slammed into the ground hard and one of its retrothrusters mis fired. it bounced into the air and smashed down again on its side. His eyes lose focus as he blacks out slightly. Then Bell chimes in his ear, "X217. Its inadvisable to sleep immediately after a drop." She said with a matter of fact tone. "Bell..... was that a joke?" Tristan asked incredulously. His AI stayed silent. Tristan opened a comm to the others "It was a bumpy ride, but I wouldnt have had it anyother way." he kicks off his door, which had been jammed in from the landing. "Whose still alive?"

[Erasmas]

"V21 here; rough landing, as usual, but good to go. Everybody on OW-013, seems he is mid-point, and I don't hear a response from him yet."

[DoctorFaust]

"Armors in the green, guns and my med stuff are still intact, so I guess I'm good to go. Have a nice drop Tristan?" Volsung asks as he kicks the pod door to get it to open. He grabs his kit and stows it on the suits "holsters". Volsung jumps down out of his pod and onto the planets surface, and starts off towards Sammaels pod. "On my way now boss."

[Sam Fisher]

The pod flew onwards the ground streaming ever closer. Alarms flashed, the Spartan’s eyes darted to the display. Sammael let out a curse, just seconds from the ground and one of the pods main shock-absorbers had failed. He gritted his teeth and prepared for impact. The impact shook the pod, pain spread through his body. His vision blacked out as he fell unconscious luckily the Suits shielding had taken the lethalness out of the crash.

[Vixsor Lumin]

"It was my favorite kind of landing. The kind where i get to do it twice. Headed to OW-013 now." Tristan gets up and pulls his hammer from his back. he begins running to the dust cloud where OW had landed.

[Erik Vale]

"You needn't tell us. Argyle responging, and this unit can actually tell where I'm going without falling off a cliff. Dust still has normal visibility around 50 apparently".
"Restoring quickly near us. They can probably see, their further out. Volsung, we can probably handle it, and we pack emergency supplies just in case."
"Doesn't happen. Samuel's see sheilds begining to restore, might this unit suggest you all set up a safety perimiter until everyone is up."

[Q'telun]

John felt the landing before the sensors registered that he had landed. He punched the door off the pod and stretched. "I agree, we do need to set up a perimeter. And we need a secure comms channel so that we don't broadcast our presence more than necessary. And don't give me that 'But drops broadcast our presence' stuff, we look like meteors on the way down."

[Erasmas]

You each arrive at Sammael's pod and find the door still shut, showing a sizable dent where it sat in its frame. Likewise, the pod seems to be spewing some sort of liquid from the rear quadrant and you can all smell hydraulic fluid.

In addition to the situation with OW-013's pod, you also notice that you have seen nor heard anything from Hindrance.

[Erik Vale]

Argyle moved towards the door, seeking to grab at the frame.
"Any other units noticed that Hinderence has been quite. Perhaps someone should check on him, because I'm not seeing that he has taken any hit, perhaps his communicator is damaged."
Grabbing at the door, he yanks, and should take it straight off. Like the doors were desinged to do...

[Vixsor Lumin]

"Ill go see how Hinderance is doing in a sec." Tristan walks around the edge of the pod, and looks in through the now open door.

[Erasmas]

Argyle has a difficult time getting under the frame of the door, with the seal being so tight on these pods and Spartan fingers being larger than average. However, one good punch to the already dented area gave more than enough of an edge to grab a hold of. A second after this, O23 rended the door from its placement as the rush of sealed air from inside bursted past you all. Inside, Sammael's body lie motionless, still held in place by the restraints and his magnets.

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung reaches in and unstraps Sammael from the pod, catching him as he starts to slide forward. "I had forgotten how heavy these things are when there's no one in there to move them." Volsung grunts as he pulls Sammael out of the pod and inserts an attachment from his med kit into a port on the suit. "Alright, suit diagnostics show his vitals are fine, but I'm going to pop the suit to wake him up and check for a concussion." He says, pulling off Sammaels helmet, rolling him on his side and hitting him between the shoulder blades a few times.

[Erasmas]

After disabling his suit's electromagnets, two of you are able to work the unconscious Spartan free. Removing his helmet and giving him a hard smack on the back, seems to have done the trick.

Sammael coughs twice, blinks against the light a few times and then cracks a smile at the corner of his mouth.

[Sam Fisher]

Even in the depths of unconsciousness Sammael could hear the sound of metal scrapping and the feel of movement as the Spartan was dragged out of the metal pod. Slowly Sammael opened groggy eyes; his helmet had been removed revealing a bald scarred head. Fighting the weakness the Spartan pulled himself up and out his squad mates grip.

“Thanks, I am not doing that again, never again.” the dark armoured Spartan turned back to his pod giving it a good kick to make sure it was dead and couldn’t try and kill him again. Reaching inside Acolyte was quickly disengaged he had survived the bump unharmed.

The small sentinel floated to the gathered Spartans.

“Keep an eye out for anything approaching hostile or not.”


[Scout] … [Request] … [Approved]

The drone floated up and started panning around using its superior targeting sights to look out for anything that could be a threat.

Sammael refitted his helmet with a satisfying hiss as it pressurised. Grabbing his sniper rifle and fitting it to his back he reappered to the rest of his squad ready for combat.

“OW-13 Combat ready sir”

[Erasmas]

As you begin to look around, you find yourselves within a rather deep sinkhole... just where Valkyrie aimed you.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Locations-Sinkhole.jpg


"Welcome to Nav Point Alpha, Onyx Wind. Let's collect H04 and not make this any more of a picnic than it already has been!"

[Erik Vale]

"Well lets move towards the next point. You lot have a long walk, This unit thought to bring Jet's."
Argyle began walking towards the group arround the perimeter. ((I'm assuming where ignoreing the currently missing behind us, saying he is awake untll we have to decide about him))

[Vixsor Lumin]

I think its a good idea to ignore X for now.

"I reccomend we get the hell out of this sinkhole. If anything shows up our only cover is the pods, and they're to spread out to be able to force a retreat from the offense." without waiting for an answer he starts heading up the side of the sinkhole looking to get some highground.

[Sam Fisher]

A message popped up on the Spartan’s HUD.


[Smoke] ... [SW] ... [Edge]

Sammael turned to his squad.

"Eyes on smoke, South West of here over the sinkholes rim"

He waited for his commanders orders despite its spotting capabilities Acolyte was not suited to stealth and could give away their position.

[Erasmas]

"Good eyes, Onyx 2. Welcome back!"

Valen smacks you on the back of your helmet and laughs. He turns and takes off in a southwestern direction.

"To the smoke it is, team. Move out!"

Soon enough, and with a little bit of effort, you move up the steep inner slope of the sinkhole. Cresting it's stop... you all easily see where the smoke is coming from - about a mile off, nestled in some rocky outcroppings, you see what looks like a collection of buildings.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Locations-MiningTown.jpg

The smoke is rising up from among those buildings.

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan activates his visors zoom feature, to try and get a closer look.

spot [roll0]

[Q'telun]

John activates his thermal vision, and thumbs the shotgun's safety off.

[Erik Vale]

Argyle moves up, battle riffle in his hands.

"Flanking for scouting. This unit will take the left hill. The Drone should take the right."
"Camera active, IR Active and split. I'm sending you both feeds Onyx 1. Roaming for active devices..."

[Erasmas]

Visual zoom reveals that there is a solitary sentry in the tower to the left, but he appears to be sleeping. He must not have spotted your landing, though there is also quite a bit of rock cover between here and there.

Thermal scanning highlights the area in a slightly warmer tone this far out, with the only other signatures coming from your team and the extremely hot pods that you are now leaving behind. Though it is the middle of the day, the temperature seems to be fairly cool.

"Roger that, Onyx 3."

You sweep out to the left and the drone makes for the right flank, as the rest of your team heads straight up the pipe, picking their way through boulders and shallow ravines. Roaming picks up on a single signal from within the range of the encampment.

Those of you down the canyon that leads to this small gathering begin hearing the faint echos of people talking amid other small noises.

[Q'telun]

"How do we want to play this, commander?"

[Vixsor Lumin]

"I would assume with great caution and descisive action." Tristan says with his irish accent gently twisting his words. He pulls his hammer from his back and is obviously smiling beneath his helmet.

[Erik Vale]

"There is currently no evidence of hostilities, the drone is also sending images that suggest they are merely cautious. Expect them to be cocky however. Caution Advised."
"And people think AI's sound mechanical."
"Leave it. Wireless device found, I am hacking into the network."
"Go ahead, tell me if you need a hand."

Argyle sets his own vision to normal, the IR link moving to the secondary zone.

[Q'telun]

"Alright, how about this. Onyx 2, cover us and get an important looking one in your sights. Onyx 1, 6, and 5 go and initiate contact. Onyx 7, 3, and 4 will hang back and provide suppressing fire if the situation should necessitate it." John looks around, scanning the area slowly. "Mal, I need points where I could provide the most amount of covering fire."

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan nods and says, "Understood. Let's go make some friends." He moves forward staying at the front of the group, but not to far ahead.

[Erasmas]

"X65 has a good plan, let's roll. OW-013, I want an announcement before you engage; you don't have to wait for my reply, just give us a heads up before you pull that trigger."

Valen moved forward to a particularly large boulder and stacked up on it, peering around the side of it, near the ground.

"Six, I want you sweeping to the left, and clear that out building. Five, I want you on the right, moving through those rocks. You three find places to stack up and move in slowly behind us. Give us a leash, but don't make it long one. Onyx Two... you let me know when you've got eyes."

John's AI replies, [John]"Wellsir, if I were you... which I ain't... I'd be making sure nothin' came a'spooked outta either that bunker window or that big ol' open door. Though I reckon that fella in the tower might be mighty itchy as well."

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung grins as he walks up towards the front of the group of spartans. "I wonder if they want to come out and play."

[Q'telun]

"Got it. Thank you Mal."

[Erik Vale]

"Nope. Unlucky choice this time."
"This unit isn't particularly lucky. Onyx 1, no connection, locked out, Gnomere's still roaminging.

[Erasmas]

"Alright Onyx, eyes on me."

Valen stands up from behind the rock and begins approaching the compound. Seconds after he begins his approach, the sentry jumps to his feet and begins shouting in Colonial... as he levels his rifle at V21.

"[Colonial]Someone's coming! Oh sh!t... it's one of those military tank soldiers from the government! It's the bastards that blew up the Yangmun Facility!"

[Erik Vale]

Argyle reacts quickly without thinking, his AI's talking.
"No Cover. Provide Surprise."
"Hostility confirmed, thankfully it was only a lockout. Hud aligned."
His Riffle barked, a single shot thudding in the wall next to the man's head, a warning shot.
"Yuor Supposed to ask first. He has shields...."
"[Colonial]I Suggest you lower your riffle. We two just wan't to talk."
Re entering the suits comm's Argyle Speaks.
"Apologies sir. But now there are two of us."

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan stays silent. His only ranged weapon would be a waste to use on personnel, but he was no where close enough to be able to use his hammer. He walks up with Valen with Valen and makes sure his hammer is held in the least threatening position possible.

[Erasmas]

The sentry flinches as the concrete beside his head fractures, sending small pieces everywhere. He lets out another shout, over his shoulder... where there is already a lot of commotion happening.

"[Colonial]They're firing upon us!"

His DMR then sounds off a single shot, before he ducks down behind the half wall in front of him. The shot, narrowly missing Onyx 1, causes a small plume of sand to jump up from the ground behind him. Sammael can see the other two that were by the fire are making their way to the main opening, one with a shotgun and the other with an assault rifle. He then sees two additional people exit one of the buildings, carrying the tripod and machine gun to set up a mounted 50 cal.

"[Colonial]You say there are two of you and yet I can see three. Are you a liar as well as a government pig?!"

[Erik Vale]

"Tristan you silly...Guy's really, stay where you are unless you have to, you make it difficult."
"Quite." [Colonial]”Apologies, it has been a while since this unit has had to speak to some low lying frontwater pukes. Tree of us want to talk, some others just wanted to crack, and harm. And don’t think there are just tree of us proud members of the UNSC.
You all know he can speak colonial quite fluently, the mistakes he’s making must come from wanting to cover the amount of them there are. Probably while cursing Tristan. However, it is obvious he has gone to intimidation.
"More are probably coming. I can’t see any."
"Just as long as they are low on the heavy stuff, we’re fine. So do you want to talk Valen? Or are you going to leave us to the torture of the language Tristan is making Argyle pull?"
”Quiet you. But yes, seriously Tristan? Do you plan on being a sparten Body Shield? Honestly? Covering fire was provided.”

[Erasmas]

"Situation is officially hot, gentlemen. Respond in kind, Onyx Wind!"

[DoctorFaust]

"Roger that Valen. I've got one of the gunners in my sights. You want me to take the shot?"

[Erik Vale]

Argyle sighs in his suit. Of course this would be declared, but perhaps a short conversation at least. Well, no one would be friendly.
“Doc, he said hot, hot means hot, which means if they have a gun, shot them.”
He then speaks through his loudspeaker.
[Colonial] “Sorry boys, but boss calls hot. Those found bearing arms will be shot so drop ‘em and lay down. This is what happens when you aim at a Spartan.”
“Tell me when you want me inside the gates, or I’ll go in when Tristan breaks down the door. God knows that boy needs close support.”
Mentally, he starts slowly counting to 5, giving time for his warning to the colonials sink in as he takes aim on the most dangerous person he can see through his DMR….

[Q'telun]

John scrambles the last of the distance to cover the areas Mal pointed out, draws his SMG and takes aim.

[Vixsor Lumin]

wasnt i supossed to come with you guys? why would my guy hang back? hes not able to provide cover fire or any kind of decent ranged support.

Tristan realizes that there was some kind of miscommunication and that it was his fault that things were going hot. Well i can either beat my self up about it and feel bad, or beat them up and learn from it. he thinks to himself. He doesnt bother activating his speakers and just says over the comm "Sorry guys, but for some reason i thought i was part of the welcoming committy." he grips his hammer and charges for the men carrying the .50 cal, figuring it would be a bad idea to give them time to set up.

[Erasmas]

"That's affirmative R36, and quickly!"

Valen moves towards the concrete wall, clearly intending on stacking up on the outside of the gate opening. As he moves against the wall, he hurls a frag up, trying to bank it off of the covered walkway over the gate. V21 then immediately reacts to the person stacked up behind the left of the gate opening and activates his Drop Shield, the blue dome spreading out with an electric hum.

"50 cal, moving up top. And I got one inside the gate here, opposite side of me!"

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung pops off two quick shots at the main gunner of the .50 cal, then runs to cover closer to the sentry. "If you can, try not to kill all of them. We may need to question them later."

[Erik Vale]

"Reinforcement spotted."
"Alighting, target dazzled."
"Minimize mortality. Need to catch, lower heat further radius. Infurno primed and tossing." [Colonial]"Here's for shootin' at him."
O-23 stood up, leaned back and tossed a grenade, his head mounted camera turned a little, flaring.

[Vixsor Lumin]

"Ill do my best to leave at least a few alive." with that he moves over to the left side of the entrance across from Valen. He steps back and thumbs a button on his hammer, and energy crackles across the head of it. With a grunt he swing s his hammer at the wall.

ok here we go! I'm assuming that two handed weapons still get 2 damage for every -1 penalty, but if that's wrong we can just subtract it from the roll.
Breaking the wall. [roll0] +6 from spending a charge +4 str bonus and power attack for 2 to get a +4 again.
Accuracy on the guy behind it [roll1] -2 from power attack
Damage [roll2] I'm not sure if this would get the PA damage boost or not, but its not in there.
Electric damage from spending a charge [roll3]

[Erasmas]

Yes, Vixsor... you can add the Power Attack bonus to the damage. Also, please roll an additional 2d4 for me (for chunks of concrete that may/may not hit the poor fellow)!

[Vixsor Lumin]

yay more damage! [roll0]

[Erasmas]

Volsung pops the Tango carrying the machine gun tripod, burying two pink needles into the man and stifling his screams.

Argyle hurls a flame grenade deep into the compound, hitting an approaching Tango in the foot as he came out of a rear building. The fragile artillery exploded, covering the man in a chemical-fueled pyre and engulfing the doorway he was standing in. He fires his assault rifle wildly into the air as he crumples to the sandy ground in a heap.

Tristan moves to the opposite side of the gate opening from Valen, charges his hammer up, and smashing the blunt weapon straight through the reinforced concrete wall. The hammer itself, 'cushioned' by a pillow made of concrete smashes nearly full-force into the torso of the man stacked up on the other side, sending his broken body flying away from his position with a sickeningly wet crunch. After a second, Tristan is able to wrench his hammer free from the hole.

The gunmen all respond, with two of them turning their full attention to the threat that Tristan seemed to be imposing. The sentry, however, was intent on trying to use his vantage point to take out your rear rank first... aiming his fire down on Argyle as he popped out to throw his grenade.

[Erik Vale]

Argyle smiles a wicked smile when he spots the grenade landing on target. The IR section of his camera lights shows the entire room lighting up as he ducked behind the rock. 'Full of propelents....' Argyle thought.
He did however, have to hurry down as he was being fired on. His sheilds read full, Triston was being fired on. But the group was being fired on by the sentry. Argyle speaks into his suit. "Advisory, Ioach flaring people in compound while I disable sentry."
"Possible."
"Advisable, CQ will allow for better subjugation, then you can provide covering fire. That grenade however was out of peramiters."
"No it wasn't. Tango's luck however made it lethal. Send advisory to Onyx 1, activating jump pack."
"Advisory, Triston's shields have dropped to almost non-existance."
"I would suggest you lot provide Triston with some protection. I'll take care of the guy in the Sentry tower."

Argyle moved back and then pulled a running leap of the stone he was hidding behind, giving his jet pack a boost as he flew towards the sentry tower, he had swapped weapons to have his 'Spiker' drawn but safety on, glaing through his now see-through helmet at the person who had just oppened fire on him, as he spoke through his suit, his two AIs joining in to create a truely disconcerting voice.

"Drop your weapon and I will refrain from breaking limbs, you have 3 seconds to comply!"

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung comes out of cover and runs up to the bunker with the shooter in it. He sights down through the opening and fires twice at the guy holding a battle rifle. "Looks to me like there's only the one that Argyle jumped up to left. Anyone else see more coming?"

[Erik Vale]

Running through her cycles Gnomere updates Onyx Teams tac markers for known oposition. Particularly there is a big patch near Triston, who had just punched through the wall.

"Listen up, it was already said, check his sheild marker, he neads help."

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan heads for the nearest cover and hunkers down."I'm fine, my shields held. I just gotta lay low until they recharge. Did we get both of the .50 cal guys, or just the one with the tripod?" He says, adrenaline pumping through his blood.

[Erasmas]

Tristan charges across the open gate, ducking into Valen's still-active drop shield. V21 puts his hand upon your shoulder and spins you back behind him and against the wall. He then pulls his combat knife and charges around the wall, dropping to his knees and sliding past the shotgun-wielding Tango. The steel of Onyx1's blade gleams as it strikes out across the backs of both of the man's knees, severing his ham strings. The man drops his weapon and collapses to the ground screaming in pain.

"I've got one for our 'interview' all lined up."

Volsung opens fire on the man dug into the bunker, missing him but causing the Tango to take full cover.

As Argyle lands next to the sentry, he drops his gun and raises both of his arms. Soon after, a small puddle can be seen forming around the man's right boot. He is visibly shaking, and seems on the verge of tears.

[Erasmas]

The Sentry reels from the hit by Argyle, dropping his weapon and calling out in pain. He doesn't go down, but he grabs his arm with his opposite hand as if in great distress.

The person in the bunker in dug in like a tick, and doesn't seem to be giving up... at least not just yet. He produces his assault rifle once again and sprays exchanging fire at Volsung.

[Vixsor Lumin]

are my shields back yet?

[Erik Vale]

Clean up Time.

"One captured. Two tango's known standing. Shall I remain here?"
"Updating Tac's of known. If you 5 can handle that one firing on you and Tristan can handle the single other remaining, we can begin interogation processes now. However Doc will be wanted here, not neccesarilly needed however."
"And they call me polite...."

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung looks around his cover to see if the shooter is still in the bunker, but recoils suddenly, his shields flashing around him. "Søn af en tæve! The svin nearly got through my shields." He exclaims. "Let me get this one and then I'll be up. I think Valen hamstrung the one that shot Tristan." Volsung says, pulling out an incendiary grenade, priming and then throwing it in towards where he saw the shooter last.

[Vixsor Lumin]

"Then I've got the tango with the shotty." Tristan says as he sprints towards the shotgun weilding man. As soon as he is within reach, Tristan swings his hammer and steps into the blow, using the momentum of his sprint to add more damage.

charge and attack.
Attack -3 from PA +2 charge[roll0]
Damage 2H attack (no ammo used) [roll1]

[Erik Vale]

[Colonial]"Sentry, I request to be allowed to set your arm before major injury occurs. My fellows have just captured another who will need medical attention more urgently.

While Argyle was trained in first aid, treating fractures was something he knew very well, already his hud was alighitng with pre-programmed basics from 'No, who seemed to have done some of her own research on the topic.

[Erasmas]

"Copy that, Onyx 3. Keep him up there until we get that Tango in the Bunker sorted."

Volsung's grenade goes off inside the bunker, flames momentarily rolling out of the openings. Tristan rounds the corner with his hammer raised and ready to strike, but sees that the shotgun-toting Tango was already on the ground. Valen was resheathing his combat knife as he towered over the man.

The Sentry only manages a weak nod in response to Argyle. When the bone snaps back into place with a clearly audible crack, the man shrieks in pain once more. He drops to his knees and lower himself into a sitting position on the ground.

Suddenly, the bunker comes to life again and gunfire erupts from the slot as it had before. The grenade thrown by Volsung either didn't kill the insurgent, or there was another that took his place! The semi-automatic fire from his assault rifle is cut short and your hear the sound of metal on metal - PING!


Tristan, you can still attack the man if you wish... but he was already down before you charged to him!

[Q'telun]

His voice a whisper, barely there at all, John says "Mal, weak points on the bunker, anywhere my breaching mines can get through."

[Vixsor Lumin]

Tristan would have spit on the corpse, if he hadn't had his helmet on. "Tuilí." he cursed in Gealic. "My tango was down before I got to him, anyone need back up?"

[Erasmas]

"I've got this one, Onyx 6. See if you can't help get to that Tango in the bunker."

Tristan sees Valen scan the immediate area with a glance around. He points, the first two fingers of his right hand extending to indicate direction.

"Try that door there. And, Spartan... check your corners."

You knew that was Valen's way of telling you to be careful. Any time you breach into a space, the corners were almost always the likeliest spots to meet resistance because they were often the least checked.

Responding to John, Mal pipes up, [John]"Now, not to be ornery, but I do believe that the whole point of a bunker is ta not have weak points. But, if you're being of the insisting type of mind... I reckon you could just toss a charge in through the window, though they are directional and all. Although... that corner nearest of the gateway could prove a might less strong than the rest of her, if I had to muster a guess."

[Q'telun]

"Not good. Oh well, under the window it is." With that, John charges forward and slides to the window of the bunker, pulls out a charge and slaps it on right between the window and the ground.

[DoctorFaust]

"John, Tristans already going in there. Do we really need to blow a hole in the pokkers bunker on top of sending in our walking tank just to get one guy?" Volsung asks while breaking cover, and then proceeds to run to the wall of the compound and slide to a stop just inside, near where the shotgunner is lying.

[Vixsor Lumin]

"If he just tossed a firework in there, you can bet my arse is goin in there." he says stopping before the bunker.

[Q'telun]

"Tossed? No. There are no doors on my side of the bunker. I am rectifying this situation." With that, John pushes the plunger on the detonator and hopes for the best.

[Erasmas]

Sammael's drone paints the target held up inside the bunker and he steadies himself, taking a knee and propping his elbow on it to give him stability. It's going to be a difficult shot, and he waits for his moment to pounce. Meanwhile, Tristan edges open a somewhat rusted steel door, moving into the concrete complex behind it. Outside, John runs up to the bunker, sliding beneath the slot as he does so, and ends up stacked up behind another nearby boulder. Anyone that looked saw that amid his slide, the Spartan not only planted an explosive, but also managed to arm it as well. Volsung closes to where Valen and the downed Shotgun Tango are, V21 nodding towards the injured man as he arrives.

"Can you stop the bleeding?"

Tristan works his way through a dimly-lit hallway, through crates and barrels. At the end of the corridor ahead, he can see sunlight pouring in. As he rounds the corner, he sees a figure looking out of the bunker slot, readying for another round of fire at something just outside the opening. Tightening his grip upon his hammer, he steps to move forward and there is a report. But not the report of an assault rifle, like he had expected, but the sound of Sammael's 50-caliber sniper rifle. Blood sprays across the ceiling behind the man and across the front of Tristan. A split second afterwards, the Tango's body rocks backwards on its heels and falls to the floor.

Sammael gets a simple read-out from his drone, the text blinking up in the corner of his HUD.


[Kill Confirmed]

[Sam Fisher]

The sniper had been biding his time setting up a shot. Acolyte found a target deeply entrenched in a bunker, he was smart enough not to give Sammael a clear shot frustrated but ever patent the sniper waited. A small smile gripped the Spartan it was a crazy shot the likes sane man would attempt but in his head he couldn’t miss.

Looking done the scope of his sniper the Spartan aimed for the lip of bunkers ledge. Acolyte flashed up a warning of the inprobablity of the shot but instead he pulled the trigger. “For Darren March teacher of reach” the shot flew perfectly ricocheting off the ledge and impacting the guard he fell in a spray of blood a shot to remember.


[Kill Confirmed]

Sammael opened his com-line stepping out of cover but keeping an ever sharp eye on his surroundings.

“Enemy down sir, awaiting your orders”

[Vixsor Lumin]

"Jesus!" Tristan says as blood paints the wall. He does a quick mental check and says into the comm, "Acolyte, how in the nine hells did you get that shot?" He walks forward to examine the body, searching for anything useful and if its still alive

[Erik Vale]

"I feel like I just missed something awesome."
"Probably."
"Anyhow. Onyx 1, would you like to perform interrogations, or shall I start here?"

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung closes with the downed shotgunner and kneels next to him, pulling out his med kit as he goes. "Yeah, I can stop the bleeding, easy. You hit him with a pretty much textbook slice, clean cut, not to deep, all that jazz." He then pauses as he hears the report from Sammael's shot. "Nice shot, and a damned lucky one too, from what Tristan just said. Muscle damage is the only issue here, and I can just hit his leg with some bio-foam to fix that. Alright, Doc, can you run emergency protocol 417 for me please? Target the cuts on his leg, and try not to use two charges if you can."
"Initiating protocol 417. You want a drink with that as well?"

[Q'telun]

"Onyx 5, out of the bunker. My breacher is armed and I do NOT want to drop a bunker on you. Take the tango if you want, but just get out."

[Erasmas]

[Colonial]"There were only seven of you?"

Valen crouches down beside the Tango while Volsung works to patch him up. The man looks up at the Spartan, his pain-ridden face reflected in your leader's blue visor.

[Colonial]"Yes. Only the seven of us were assigned to this outpost. But I won't tell you where the rest of our people are. You'll have to kill me before I will endanger them."

Valen stands back up without responding. Instead, he broadcasts his next order.

"Stand down Onyx Wind. Initial threats neutralized. O23, if your Tango can move, bring him down here to R36. OW-013, you keep on eye on the medical procedures from on-high. Onyx 4, 6, and 7... on me. I want a sweep of the entire complex to ensure that all are present and accounted for. "

[Vixsor Lumin]

"Sure thing 1." Tristan says leaving the bunker and miracle corpse. He joins up with the others who are running the sweep and tries to wipe the grime from his hammer.

[Erik Vale]

"Just a broken arm for this guy that I've reset. I'll ask if he's a wimp."
[Colonial]"You fine to walk? The boss want's you with the others. And fightings over, we wont hurt you if you don't try and use your other arm to shoot us with the first weapon you can find."
"Mmm. Take his gun's ammunition, more will always be handy."

Almost as a second thought, Argyle bends over to pick up the man's riffle, it's barrel crushed from when he stepped on it. He walks the man out, but without touching him, merely keeping a step away.

[Q'telun]

John disarms the mine. "Roger that 1." He then stows the mine and his SMG and pulls out his shotgun. "Thermal is now on."

[Sam Fisher]

Sammael dropped quickly back down into the relative cover of the hill side both he and his drone alert to movement below them. From there they could see anyone trying to sneak up on the rest of his Spartan team.

“Understood sir”

---
AMMO
3 Shots in sniper 56 extra rounds.

[Erasmas]

Volsung and Argyle keep watch over the two injured captives as Sammael keeps look-out from above.

Meanwhile, Valen, John, Tristan, and Hinderance sweep the compound... which is little more than a handful of concrete outbuildings sitting atop mining entrances that have been collapsed and sealed off. There isn't much to salvage, aside from the weapons and food brought in by the Tangos that were camped out here. Although, the sweep team does find a health pack and a Spade class truck.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Vehicles-Spade.jpg

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung walks up to the truck and prods it with his foot a couple of times, then bends down to look at the chassis. He turns to John and asks, "Are you and Kaylee sure that this thing will be able to support the seven of us? Hell, are you sure that we'll all fit?"

[Q'telun]

"Fitting I leave to you guys. And I have the utmost faith in my driving abilities. Kaylee is only the driver in space, you know that." John hops in the passenger side seat. "All aboard the Spartan Mobile!"

[Erik Vale]

"Any of us could drice it well, it's whether or not we give warning to jump before we ram a covenant wraith class tank. Which is why I'm not letting 5 drive."

Before another word is said, Argyle takes the drivers seat.

[Erik Vale]

"Come on, pile in. Everyone got what they need or want, good, lets go. Let's find ETA, Gnomere, put up the next mark in bold, Everyone, remember everyone here is hostile."

"Done, lets go."

Starting slow the Truck began gaining speed as they moved off to their next Nav-Point.

[Sam Fisher]

Sammael made his way quickly down from his vantage point and met up with the rest of his team around the spade class vehicle. There seemed to be some disturbance over who was going to drive but without really listening he climbed into the passenger seat.

“Try not to crash; I’ve had enough of that for one day”

He grabs Acolyte who is floating nearby and shoves it into the footwall and puts his heavy foot on top securing it in place.

[Erasmas]

You all load up into the Spade vehicle and head out on the only road leading from this village. The wounded men watch you leave, soon disappearing in the dust and distance. You travel on for over an hour, with no clear choice in direction, as you see no crossroads or structures. This is a seemingly vast landscape, filled with little more than sand-covered hills and scrub plants basking in the blue light of Kallanos.

[Erasmas]

Argyle and Volsung both spot something off in the distance... something that stands out against the otherwise bleak horizon. With the aid of Sammael's scope, the group can barely make out what it is.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Locations-ISeeSomething.jpg

Zoom (x2)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Locations-ISeeSomething2.jpg

Zoom (x10)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Locations-ISeeSomething3.jpg

[Erik Vale]

Argyle tilts his head a little talking to Gnomere inside his suit, after magnifying by what little the helmet could, he co-ordinates using his camera to insert a running image of the area into the other Spartan's helms., and slowing down allows Sammael to get a look at it.

"So do you have any clue what it is? Because from here, we can only avoid it, move at it, or slow down and send the drone ahead. Unless you have another idea 1. I got a preference for moving over and using my suit link sending the drone to take a closer look."

Then Gnomere pipes up.
"If I had to take a guess besides an odd coloured smug, I would guess Covenant tech by the colour scheme. Something small though, not a vehicular, not that that makes things to much better. Any gueses Kaylee?"

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung peers at the object through the scope of Sammael's sniper, slowing the video and magnifying it what little he can after it passes out of view, and then pastes the few good frames up on his HUD for his AI to see. "Hey Doc, just for conformation, can you compare images of covvie drop pods to the thing in the video?"

"Yeah, sure, I'm more than happy to do any task you feel your meatbag body is not up to handling. And so you don't bother me more after this, yes, it does in fact appear to be a drop pod or equipment cache of some sort, size and color config matching those used previously by the covenant."

"Pokkers. In that case, my vote goes for investigating, either personally or using the drone"

[Q'telun]

"Kaylee, get me the trajectory of the U.I. ship, calculate the LZ, then tag it on my UGPS."

"Done, done, and done."

[Erasmas]

"If it indicates Covenant presence, we need to investigate it. With the possibilities of hostiles in the area, I want the team together."

Argyle could tell that the Spade could handle off-road fairly well enough; it was no Warthog, but it should suffice.

[Erik Vale]

"As ordered boss. Now then, Everyone keep all your limbs within the verhicle, this unit suggests you turn on your boots and wants everyone armed and watching, remember, theoretically there are friendlies around so don't just shoot at anything you see that might be humanoid, make sure it's covenent. Enough children have been mistaken for grunts. Keep the drone down, it won't be able to keep up"

Argyle turns and drives in an almost straight line at the proposed covenent dropship and Gnomere adds new Nav mark to the Tac Map of everyone. While Argyle drives fast and recklessly, but is very sure and capable. Aided by two AI and his suit, he can drive better than any human.
He does eventually tell Iaoch to shut up and get out of his hud though....

[Sam Fisher]

Ow-13 grips the side of the truck hard leaving indentations in the metal. He watches as his drone is left behind up in the air as the race on ahead. He takes his sniper rifle back from been used as a spotter and quickly examines it for any damage. He turns to the driver.

“Slow down when we get near that ridge, I’ll jump out and keep my brothers covered.”

[Erasmas]

Team Onyx Wind rumbles forward, Argyle turning the Spade off the road. Deftly maneuvering, O23 picks his way between rocks and gulleys and it is obvious to anyone who casts a glance his direction, that his full concentration is on the task at hand.

Suddenly, you hear a familiar voice squelch into your headset.

"... Wind... Come in, Onyx...... do you read...?"

Shortly after this, the Spade arrives at the base of the ridgeline where Sammael had requested to be let off. The suspected drop pod was only about 200 yards away.

[Erik Vale]

After dropping off Sammael Argyle keep's driving, pausing only long enough for those who wanted to get off to jump.

Then the voice came through.

"Onyx one, your communications, and this unit is driving. AI Gnomere."
"On it, I'll try and clear it up, If you can help Valen, or have any advice I would like to be able to talk with Valkarie sooner than later."

Now Argyle is driving slightly slower. But only Just.

[Erasmas]

"Valkyrie, come in; we read you! It's good to hear your voice."

Very quickly, the Spade pulls to stop about ten meters from what is, in fact, a Covenant drop pod. It looks as though it is still intact and had not been utilized.

Meanwhile, Sammael crest the nearby hill and stops dead in his tracks. In the same instant, Valkyrie chimes in.

"Oh, no..."

OW-013 sees, spread out along the valley floor on the backside of this hillock, a virtual sea of purple and pink. Further than his eyes can see, they register the hex-patterns and curved surfaces that can only mean one thing... Covenant. It takes a moment, but after the initial shock wears off Sammael realizes that he sees no movement. There are no signs of actual covies and upon closer inspection, all of the equipment left behind shows visible signs of damage or disrepair.

[Erik Vale]

"Valkyrie, Please tell us more than oh no. It would be nice to know if and how bad a position Onyx Wind are in. Gnomere, send Valkyrie a data-burst be quick, this needs to be looked at. Onyx 6 would you please stand close guard while Onyx 3 Investigates. Tactical Suggestion, spread out and be alert."

Argyle obviously wasn't stressed out enough to drop his third person voice, but anyone could tell his vitals where a little up. Before he gets out of the Spade, he equips his Spiker.
Meanwhile, Gnomere is sending a short voice transmission followed by a recording of all that has happened so far up to Valkyrie.
"Humans are distrustful to hostile towards UNSC forces, Covenent forces confirmed in artefacts but no Covenent forces spotted. Onyx 2 is performing a round about scout and has yet to respond but is still lively. The rest of Onyx wind has just approached and is investigating an unopened Covenent drop pod..... Should we leave it closed?"

[Q'telun]

"I say, call in a few MAC rounds and burn the valley. Don't take any chances with a group of potential covies this big."

[Erasmas]

"Calculating... an encampment this size precisely matches the numbers of the force that attacked Reach. I think... I think we are looking at the Covenant Launch Point for the invasion."

Valen hopped out of the Spade and began jogging his way over to the hill where Sammael was dropped off. He broadcast as he went.

"Open the drop pod. But do it carefully."

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung jumps out of the Spade truck and heads toward the drop pod. As he runs, he says, "I agree with John. Let's just drop a couple of MAC rounds on it from orbit and then see if we can find anything important in the rubble." He slows to a walk as he nears the drop pod, coming to a halt just in front of it. He reaches out to pull it open, but jerks back as a thought occurs to him. "Actually, John, can you come check if there's any explosives wire up to this thing?"

[Erik Vale]

'I agree with burning the place out, it is to dangerous. However considering a lack of contact, we should hold fire until we can do more than blow up some empty tents..."

"Aye Sir. Unit Argyle agrees with combat AI Iaoch. As for wireing explosive, wait to see if AI Gnomere can get in. Opening now"

"Half a second..."
She doesn't make it clear if she's thinking of something else or if she's talking about the hack.

Argyle moves up to open the door with brute force, but he waits fo Gnomere to give a go-ahead or denial as to wether she can find the pods electronics and either unlock or open the dor....

OOC
If the awsome Knowledge-Covenant roll produces something, you can say it using Gnomere.

[Erasmas]

Finding the release latch, Argyle brazenly opens the drop pod, its small jets of plasma shooting the cover off a meter or two. Inside, both Argyle and Volsung can see that there are four Needle Rifles and eight plasmas grenades inside.

[Sammael]"Keep an eye out on this purple mess. If anything moves, I want it dead and reported to me."

"Stay that target locator. If there are any more of these split-jaws around, they'll see and hear those d@mn rounds for miles. And I'm not wasting artillery on a ghost town... if there is a presence, then we hammer them. Three, Five... what did you find?"

[DoctorFaust]

"Some weapons, but no covvies. Needlers and plasmas. I'm going to grab some ammo and then go poke around some."

[Erik Vale]

Argyle takes a moment to attach a plasma grenade to his grenade belt, inserting it to the spot vacated by a fusion grenade.

"As stated, weapon drop pod."
"I would guess that this would be either re-arming for a military action or for a covert group doing a resupply, but I doupt it's for covert. Just a mis possibly.... No, that would be to convenient."
"Unless is is planned to use the Drop pod as bait or another such item, that we resupply what we need and then use the left over ammunition and grenades to demolish the pod. It is doupted another is required for scientific investigation."

[Erasmas]

Valen begins making his way back towards the Spade as he gives his orders.

"Alright, rig it up and blow it. Let's see if we can't draw out anybody that might be hiding out down there. OW-013... you let me know if you see anything down there poking its ugly head out when this things blows."

John moves to the drop pod and rigs up one of the remaining plasma grenades to the remaining plasma cell of the entire pod. Once everyone was clear, he activated the explosive and ran for cover, ducking behind the Spade half a second before the blue ball of fire and purple shrapnel obliterated itself. Nothing was left of the drop pod, except a small crater in the sand lined with glass.

As Sammael peered out over the abandoned encampment, not a single thing stirred, aside from that which was blowing in the wind.

[Erik Vale]

"There is nothing like a good explosion. OW-013, has anything changed at your position?"
"I doupt much will change immediately. I suggest allowing for a 10-15 minute response time."

[Erasmas]

Several minutes pass without a trace of movement from down in the valley expanse below.

"Alright, Onyx Wind... that's enough down time, let's..."

Valen is cut short by Sammael's drone chiming in that he sees something; although, he indicates the sky as opposed to on the ground. When Sammael finally sees what his robotic counterpart is talking about, he feels a mild twinge in his gut that would be reminiscent of panic in a normal man. He scopes in and spots a V-formation of seven Banshees breaking the horizon line and just now entering the far side of the abandoned encampment.

[DoctorFaust]

"Derʹmo!" Volsung exclaims, as he sees the Banshees bearing down on the squad. He pulls out his needler rifle and makes a beeline for cover, crouching down behind a large rock.

[Erik Vale]

"Covenent Active, To Cover! Focus fire on the Illuminated, above all keep cover!"
"This must have been a scouting base that they have fallen back from."
"Doesn't Matter. Gnomere, if one of them is stupid enough have them suffer an automated eject."
"I'll give it a go."

Knowing at most it will help for one strafing round, Argyle quickly deploys cover, hoping for a chance to hijack a banshee.

[Erasmas]

Valen pipes up.

"I don't think they are heading this way, that seems like an awful lot of firepower just to investigate a plasma explosion. And if they weren't deployed to find us, we should just tuck up and let them pass. Maybe we can follow them and find out where they're going. Could be that they'll lead us right to the mothership."

Sammael can see that the Banshees appear to be traveling at cruising speeds and are not engaging their boasters, from the lack of their long blue plasma wake. And indeed, once they get out over the encampment, they bank in formation slightly and head in a more northernly direction.

[Erik Vale]

Argyle watches them move off, then slowly rises. He deactivates and restashes the cover.

"Didn't even care we where here? Must have had another mission, or been assigned for scouting only."
"Tracking and plotting. Valen, do we follow?"

[Erasmas]

"Affirmative, Onyx 3. Gentlemen... load up."

Valen returns to his position on the Spade class vehicle.

"Come in Valkyrie."

"I'm here, Captain. Go ahead."

"Tag those birds and keep an eye on them. Assign them Nav Point Charlie for the team."

"We have another flux in atmosphere drifting our way, it will likely cause communications to falter again, but my scanners and other instruments seem to work fine through the haze. Roger those orders."

"Roger that. Over and out."

[Erik Vale]

"Well then. Gnomere, tag them also, lets go Onyx."

((Drive Roll))

Argyle's Roll [roll0] (19)
Argyl's Base Bonus: 6
Gnomere's Roll: [roll1] (19) (Becomes 27)
Bonus to Roll: 8 (4 Pilot, 4 Smart)
Gnomere's Granted Bonus: 8
Iaoch's Roll: [roll2] (12) (Becomes 18)
Bonus to Roll: 6 (4 Pilot, 2 Dumb)
Iaoch's Granted Bonus: 4

Total: 37.

[Erasmas]

All of Onyx Team loads up and you roll out of the immediate area, heading in the general direction of the road once more to even out the travel as much as possible. It appears, as fates may have it, that the Banshee Squadron was heading in the same general direction.

"Give them a good leash, Onyx 3. We don't want them catching us in their rear-view mirrors."

[Erik Vale]

"Acknowladged."

[Erasmas]

Onyx Wind presses on, driving on for close to an hour and a half. Soon, you find the road you are on begins to gradually rise while the ground to the right slopes downward. And growing up from the horizon, you all see a structure ahead. As you near it, you see no movement and it seems to be some kind of way station. Your road dead ends at a large steel wall, with a mechanized gate barring your further passage. The lowered area beside you looks as though it is some kind of run-off trench, as it too dead ends in a culvert-type drainage tube some 30-feet across.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Locations-CulvertEntrance.jpg


There are also appears to be a free-standing terminal station nearby, just off the side of the road.

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung exits the spade and walks over to the door. He raps it a few times with the back of his hand to get a feel for how solid it is, and then walks over to the terminal and examines it for a power supply before pushing several buttons in the hope of turning it on. "Anyone know how to operate this thing?"

[Erik Vale]

"That is this units role, Onyx 5."
"No need to be rude Onyx 3. Lets go."

((Dice Rolls))

Knowledge Covenent (To see if its something likly remembered)
Gnomere (+8 Skill, +4 Advanced AI, Base Roller) [roll0]
Total:

Use Computer
Gnomere (+12 Skill, +4 Advanced AI, Base Roller) [roll1]
Argyle (+10 Skill, Aiding Roller) [roll2]
Bonus: 9
Iaoch (+4 Skill, +2 Simple AI, Aiding Roller) [roll3]
Bonus: 5
Total: 47

[Erasmas]

Volsung finds a power switch and, after flipping it, the terminal blinks to life. Once it does so, however, he finds what he sees to be little more than gibberish and code. The whole structure definitely was man-made, with no Covenant tech in sight presently. Valen, who had been investigating the controls for the gate on the road, calls out.

"Gate panel is fried and the damn thing looks like it's all but rusted in place. I don't think we're getting through that way. Keep looking."

When Argyle answers Volsung's request, he finds that it is an operator's access point, allowing them to control the floodgate nearby. After a second or two of prodding around in the innards of the program, it becomes clear he could override the safety protocols into thinking that the culvert was full and trick the floodgate into opening. A quick glance reveals that the Spade would easily fit between the bottom two slats, if the team could lift it into the pipe. He can also tell, however, that doing so will cause the alarms to sound.

[Erik Vale]

Argyle Speaks.
"Human tech... This unit can open now but I would set off alarms. I can keep looking for a way to skip those, but it might be easier to make the alarms unable to activate then blow the hatch. Being based for-"
"Unnesserary Input. Onyx 1, would you prefer to go in guns blazing or spend maybe half an hour seeing if we can get in quitely. I doupt this will be able to lock us out on the plus side."
"You've given then the option of using explosives and expect them not to take it?"

[Erasmas]

"The chances that these alarms going off would be loud enough to be heard by some random patrol is pretty slim."

Argyle can tell that, although he is fairly confident in his ability to hack the system, that it will take several minutes to do.

[Erik Vale]

"I worry more of computerised alarms, far of warnings if their manned, possibly with cameras tracking us through the tunnels. But then again, it is douptful, just an eventuallity. Everyone back in the verhichle and drive it up here."
"Well then. It's time to get driving."

Argyle waits for the squad to return to the verhichle and drive it up near the floodgate, then opens the gate, running to the verhichle.

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung runs back up to the car after what seems like several weeks debating on how to open the floodgate, managing to beat out Tristan to the drivers seat. He gets in, guns the engine, and drives it over the lip and into the culvert, finally pulling to a stop a few feet away from the flood gate. Hopping out, he circles around to the back of the truck in preparation to lift it into the tube. "Right, Argyle, pop the door so we can get this thing through."

[Erik Vale]

After opening the floodgate, Argyle jogs to the car, jumping onto one of the cramped spaces on the back left for him.

"Well, lets get moving."

[Erasmas]

Argyle begins messing with the terminal, hacking his way into the system. The moment he tells the floodgates that they need to open, the alarms do indeed sound... loudly.

UNK - UNK - UNK - UNK - UNK

Sammael, who had perched himself on top of the wall, broadcasts:

"Not to alarm anyone, but we've got company."

"What are we looking at, Two?"

"Inbound Phantom, sir."

Valen curses. "Sh!t. Onyx 3... stay on that system. I want this thing open ASAP. We'll hold them off until you're done! Onyx Wind, I have Three's back, the rest of you prepare for a drop."

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung jumps as the alarms sound, spewing forth a string of profanities, finally ending with a succinctly put "Well, sh**. Tristan, you're probably going to want your laser at this point. How far up are the phantoms?" Volsung stands and runs around the truck, pulling out both of his guns, chambering a round in each before stowing the SMG again. He stops on the side facing the wall and props his rifle on the truck and zooming in to get a view of the phantoms.

[Erik Vale]

"This unit has remote connection and works in conjunction with AI... Will remain close."
"Staying in the System. Setting Navpoints for best distribution."
"Cover Deployed. So much for noone hearing Onyx 1."
"No need to get snappy."

((OOC: Rolls and Actions))

Argyle will ready his Spiker (To leave a hand free) and activate his deployable cover. (Protecting him and the terminal)

Argyle/Gnomere will make a tactics roll to best position the spartens (Knowledge conenent may apply synergy bonus, your call)

Gnomere: [roll0]
If Synagy: [roll1] (Wait, I should hav ejust added two to the roll. Ehh.
Argyle: [roll2]
Given Modifier: 4
Total: 31
Total (If Synergy): 27 (or 33)

Argyle/Gnomere/Iaoch will continue Computer use.
Gnomere: [roll3]
Argyle: [roll4]
Modifier: 6
Iaoch: [roll5]
Modifer: 5
Total: 44

Iaoch will use the following spells: Resistance (Pending OOC Reply)

[Erasmas]

Sammael sends out:

"Just one drop ship, from what I can see. No bead on the personnel onboard yet... just the damn thing's nose since it's coming straight at us. He's flying low and fast though, leaving one helluva plasma wake!"

The rest of the team spreads out and bunkers down with some of Argyle's tactical recommendations:

Valen moves into position beside Argyle, drawing his Battle Rifle.
Sammael reports: "I have no shot and I'm too open up here." He hops down to the ground and puts some distance between himself and the wall, giving him the most time to shoot as will be possible.
The blue energy of the deployable cover of Onyx 3 hums to life as he strategically tosses emitter onto the sandy ground. Valen stacks up behind it, watching things unfold through the semi-transparent shield.
John pulls his shotgun and loudly chambers a shell, slowly walking to a fairly clear patch of ground. "This looks like a good spot for a drop. I think I'll wait right here." He activates his drop shield, the blue dome springing up around him as he takes a casual stance with his shotgun resting on his shoulder. You see the blue sunlight reflect off of his black visor as he turns his head skyward.
Bracing his aim over the hood of the Spade, the softly-glowing pink needles of Volsung's Needle Rifle likewise reflect in the golden visor of his GISI helmet. The engine beneath his arms still radiating a dull heat.
Tristan accompanies Sammael, moving away from the wall and readying his Spartan Laser, as he takes a knee. He calms himself, slowing his breathing and rapping his fingertips against the foreword grip of the heavy olive drab piece of artillery.
Hinderance readies his Assault Rifle and moves to stand with John. H04 pulls the spike grenade from his belt as well, flipping it over once by tossing it a short distance into the air. "Two heads are better than one, they always say."


The Team... was ready...

Alright guys... roll for initiatives!

Valen:
[roll0]
Sammael:
[roll1]
John:
[roll2]
Tristan:
[roll3]
Hinderance:
[roll4]

[Erik Vale]

"Use Plasma, Keep Inferno for throwing at the grunts, we're going to want to blow the turrets off early."
"Mmm... Your right, I probably cant catch two turrets..."

((Initiative Roll: [roll0], Argyle has a Plasma in hand as he guides his AI through the maze of code.))

[Erasmas]

Valen steels himself for the in-coming deployment. A covenant drop ship was kind of like Christmas... you never knew what was in the box until it was already open; except that the squeals of joy amid the laughter were replaced with the squeals of grunts amid the slaughter.


Valen is reading an action - when the drop ship opens its bay doors, he is going to open fire.

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung smacks a panel on his chest plate, depressing it enough to trigger his suits ability, bringing up an extra layer of shields around himself. That done, he sights in on the rapidly approaching drop ship's side, taking a few breaths to steady himself for the firefight about to break out. "Come on Icarus, just a bit closer to the sun now," he mutters to himself, waiting for the ship to come into range.

I'm activating my armor ability and readying an attack on whatever comes out of the door.

[Erik Vale]

Argyle crouches behind the sheild, the DMR rests behind the sheild, loosely held in one hand to be drawn, but that wasn't the weapon he planned to use.
He hald a single plasma grenade, his finger waiting to turn it on, almost primed and waiting to throw at a turret.
Meanwhile, he spoke inside, and only inside his own suit.

"AI Gnomere, focus on the panel and do anything you can to make it faster. Ignore the battle, This unit and Iaoch will deal with it. Iaoch, as soon as that dropship comes into veiw, mark all opponents, attach target priorities and who is targeting what. You will need to run the link between this suit and the suit of Onyx 1 to organise fire. I also want you to prepare lights for flashing, reserve for elleites if found.
"Acknowledged."
"Organising, Organised, Tac's Prepped and Programs running."

Then he speaks simply to Onyx 1.
"Onyx 1, this unit is ready. Small tacs are organised for rellay. All units vitals are within acceptable ranges, AI Iaoch are ready to pass on Firing Commands and AI Gnomere is monitering the terminal, rendering this unit available to provide covering fire until hard access is required."
Spartens had stress and fear trained out of them. But spartens could pick it up in each other.
And there was the tinge, the concerned tinge of someone cornered by an uncertain enemy.
However he hadn't dropped into normal speech, so he was still holding.


Argyle has a Plasma Grenade out and a held action.
Iaoch has a held action.

[Erasmas]

Sammael, reaching a distance he felt he could manage with his scope, found a nearby rock to post up on, kicking out the bipod of his 50 caliber sniper rifle for stability.

Hinderance cycles his assault rifle and lowers it back down beside his thigh. He bobs the spike grenade in his off hand with nervous energy, waiting for something to stick it to.

Tristan begins charging his laser as everyone hears the rumble of the inbound Phantom. You hear its plasma engines release their built-up pressure as it slows its approach. The red hum of the Spartan Laser filled the clearing, as what seemed like a lifetime passed.


And then it happened. The large purple vessel crested the wall, barely twenty feet above it. It looked like some sort of beetle with its rounded carapace hunched over and its pinched bow forming a shape reminiscent of mandibles. Finally, after an age, Tristan's red beam tore open the sky between his kneeling armor and the drop ship, missing the thing by a inch because of the evasive maneuvers of the pilot. He cursed as he started charging another shot, "Damnit!"

Hinderance hurls his explosive up with an audible effort, the bladed spikes of the thing sticking themselves directly into the grunt posted up on the turret. He squeals loudly, releasing his grip on the plasma cannon and grabs the handle of the grenade to remove it... to no avail. The explosion detonates, causing the Phantom to list and wobble as the screams of injured Covenant pour out of the ship, which begins immediately lowering itself towards the ground.



Sammael is readying an action. When he has a clear shot, he will take it.
Hinderance is likewise readying an action. When the dropship begins to lower, he will toss his grenade at the turret on the far side of where the rest of the team is.
Tristan charging laser, waiting for target.


Rolls
Tristan's Shot:
[roll0] (To hit with laser)
[roll1] (Defensive Pilot check for Phantom)
[roll2] (Damage, if hit)
Hinderance's Grenade Toss:
[roll3] (To hit with spike)
[roll4] (Grunt Defense roll)
[roll5] (Reflex save for others inside)
[roll6] (Inner burst damage, if needed)
[roll7] (Outer burst damage, if needed)

[Erik Vale]

Iaoch had already tacked the turrets as soon as the ship came into view.
One disapaered in a explosion.
Argyle chose the one he would throw his grenade at.
Iaoch marks the other turret as the highest priority target.
Argyle throws.


Throwing the plasma grenade, thrown at the nearest turret.
[roll0]
Iaoch still holds his action.

It was... An okay throw, and would be fine as long as the ship didn't rise or decide to delay drop for exasive manauvers.
With barely a pause, Argyle brings his DMR to hand.
"Screams indicate a medium party, Eleites and Grunts only indicated to be the only present."

[Erasmas]

Tristan's laser begins charging once more. He murmured under his breath, "Come on... come on..."

Hinderance jumps aboard the lowering Phantom, barely catching the upper portion of the hatch door. He wasn't able to pull himself up, however.



Valen (Readying - The doors to open; Will open fire on first available target)
Volsung (Readying - The doors to open; Will open fire on first available target(Already resolved))
Sammael (Readying - The doors to open; Will open fire on first available target with clear shot)
Tristan's Shot (jumped the gun on this... it is still charging, this will resolve next round):
(To hit with laser)
[roll1] (Defensive Pilot check for Phantom)
[roll6d4 (Damage, if hit) - listed in OOC thread... was 17.
Hinderance's Jump:
[roll2] (To reach the Phantom... having to make up a number as X never picked his skills)
[roll3] (Strength, to pull himself up)
Argyle's turn...
Dropship getting ready to open up. Undermounted cannon has tracked and is aimed at... ([roll8]) Valen. Will be firing on its turn.
John (Readying - The doors to open; Will open fire on first available target)

[Erik Vale]

Argyle rests inside the force sheild, DMR ready. At the moment the only priority target is a Turret, but the ship would leave quickly, most likely.... Iaoch assigned the turret to Tristan, and would leave it for him unless something big came out of the ship, leaving everyone waiting, the only sound being that of the ship.
He would probably have to help Hinderence... Fool, jumping into the phantom, he would have to fight them all. At least he would only get his hands stepped on at this point.

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung stays standing stock still as the two grenades hurled by his teammates explode. He twitches momentarily, as the phantom lower itself down towards the ground. Only when the doors start to open after a several second pause in the fighting does he actually react. The first armored head that comes out of the door to drop is met with three rounds from a needler rifle blasting away at it in quick succession, knocking it back through the doors. "Ha! Suck it covenant," he shouts, seeing all three shots appear to hit home.

[Erasmas]

The dropship finally comes to a hovering stop, roughly five feet above the ground. Her undermounted plasma turret fires, missing Valen by several feet and hitting a nearby rock, pulverizing the stone into fragments of super-heated debris. The bay doors open on both sides and Onyx Team lights up with gunfire, pelting the off-loading covenant.

Valen downs the first grunt to step off with a shot to the head, causing his body to crumple to the ground beneath the Phantom.

Volsung triple taps the second grunt off with his needle rifle.

Sammael's sniper shot glances off of the shoulder pauldron of the first Elite to step out, drawing the roaring ire of the tall creature.

John levels his shotgun and blasts into the side of the open personnel bay, dropping the two grunts preparing to exit and injuring the Elite behind them. The Hunter, deeper inside, seems to shrug off the damage.

Argyle finally is also able to fire his weapon, and tags the Elite that Sammael missed, causing the split-jaw's shields to sparkle with golden light.

Tristan's laser goes off once more, this time hitting the Phantom squarely, pushing the ship's nose down to the point of scrapping the ground before it rights itself.

This, coupled with the opening of the hatch bay doors, causes Hinderance to jump free of the mess. He lands on his feet and spins around to face the enemy.


Covenant Rolls

Dropship:
[roll0] (Undermounted Turret - to hit)
[roll1] (Damage, if needed)
Defense roll versus Tristan failed, took 17 damage.
Grunt1:
[roll2] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
Elite1:
[roll3] (Defense Roll - versus Sammael)
Grunt3:
[roll4] (Defense Roll - versus John)
Grunt4:
[roll5] (Defense Roll - versus John)
Elite2:
[roll6] (Defense Roll - versus John)
Hunter1:
[roll7] (Defense Roll - versus John)



Onyx Wind Rolls
Valen:
[roll8] (Defense Roll - versus Dropship)
[roll9] (Readied Action - versus Grunt1)
[roll10] (Damage, if needed)
Volsung:
Attacks already resolved... hit three times!
Sammael:
[roll11] (Readied Action - versus Elite1)
[roll12] (Damage, if needed)
John:
[roll13] (Readied Action - versus Grunts3&4, Elite2, & Hunter1{shotgun})
[roll14] (Damage, if needed)
Argyle:
Need to roll for these!
Tristan:
Attack already resolved... hit with the Spartan Laser, dealt 17 damage.
Hinderance:
[roll15] (Jump back to the ground)

[Erasmas]

The Phantom repositions its main cannon and shoots a blast of plasma at the Tristan. Having just shot the drop ship with his Spartan Laser apparently pissed off the pilot quite a bit, and retaliation was at hand. Tristan, charging another shot, tried to beat the cannon to the punch... but he was too late. The shot hit him square in the chest, just to the right of his sternum. The impact threw him backwards off of his kneeling position and slammed him hard into the dirt. The Spartan left a wide shallow rut as he ground to a halt some fifteen feet away. Blue plasma residue and smoke clung to his armor... but he did not move.

'"Onyx 6, are you alright?! .......... Report, X218! .......... Report goddammit! .......... "

A total of two more Grunts and three Elites hop out of the drop ship, and then are followed by two Hunters that cause the ground to shake when they land heavily upon it. Both Hunters immediately begin charging their plasma arm cannons, while the Grunts and Elites open fire on Onyx Wind.

The fifth Grunt off the ship looses his charged Plasma Pistol shot at John, hitting him in the knee and causing his shields to short circuit, leaving him vulnerable. The second Elite off of the ship moves to return the favor that Onyx Four delivered to him, swinging his energy sword at him as it glances off of John's Pilot helmet, scratching the glass of his black visor.

The first Elite, blasts his plasma rifle in Argyle's direction, missing him. The sixth Grunt unleashes a barrage of pink from his Needler, impaling Hinderance with four of the five shots.

The third Elite opens up with his Needle Rifle on semi-auto fire, hitting Valen with two of the projectiles as Onyx 1 breaks cover. V21 also lets loose with his BR55 Battle Rifle on semi-automatic, firing a burst of lead at the first Elite and likewise hitting his target with two shots.



Covenant Rolls

Grunt5 {Plasma Pistol}:
[roll0] (Attack Roll {charged Plasma Pistol} - versus John)
Grunt6 {Needler}:
[roll1] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Hinderance)
[roll2]
[roll3] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Hinderance)
[roll4]
[roll5] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Hinderance)
[roll6]
[roll7] (Attack Roll 4 - versus Hinderance)
[roll8]
[roll9] (Attack Roll 5 - versus Hinderance)
[roll10]
Elite1 {Plasma Rifle}:
[roll11] (Attack Roll - versus Argyle {need a roll, +4 for Portable Cover})
[roll12]
[roll13] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
Elite2 {Energy Sword}:
[roll14] (Attack Roll - versus John)
[roll15]
Elite3 {Needle Rifle}:
[roll16] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Valen)
[roll17] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Valen)
[roll18] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Valen)


Onyx Wind Rolls

Valen:
[roll19] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Elite1)
[roll20]
[roll21] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Elite1)
[roll22]
[roll23] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Elite1)
[roll24]
[roll25] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll26] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll27] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
John:
[roll28] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt5)
[roll29] (Defense Roll - versus Elite2)
Hinderance:
[roll30] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)
[roll31] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)
[roll32] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)
[roll33] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)
[roll34] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)

[Erasmas]

Forgot some rolls... sorry!
Needle Rifle Damage:
[roll0]
[roll1]

Defense Rolls versus Valen:
[roll2]
[roll3]

[DoctorFaust]

Ducking into and out of cover, attempting to get a clear shot at the elite currently in the midst of attacking John, Volsung turns his head to see if any of his other squad mates need help at almost the same moment that Tristan and Argyle are both attacked. Seeing Tristan being bodily flung back by the harsh blue projectile from the ship, he immediately breaks cover, loosing three shots at the elite with the energy sword before running as fast as he can in the cumbersome suit of armor over to Tristan, kneeling to the ground besides him and jacking in his medkit in one motion. " Skide lort, født disse pik sutter sønner af ludere af sataner fra voldtægt. Whoever else had med supplies, get over to Hindrance and try to help him, " he yells out as he glances at the readings. "Kneppe røv bryster voldtægt skid," he mutters to himself, jamming his fist into Tristan's suit and charging up another biofoam reserve built into his suit to prepare it for use.

[Erik Vale]

Tristen, Hunters, Crap. Argyle was about to drop out of third person, as he stood up, unclipping and throwing a inferno grenade in one smooth motion.

"This unit will move after needles blow!"
"Targets assigned!"
"Dammit, Hunters, stay mobile!"
"I think we all know that!"
"Volsung, check your signs detecter again! Provide him cover!"
"Moving Tacks."

The Elites plasma fire had flown wide as Argyle move up, the blast hit part of the wall to the left of him turning the dirty brown into an ash black in an instant. The next round would probably be closer...

Target Priority:

Elite with Energy Sword (Close combat range, high danger)
Phantom Turret (High Damage repeditive, Will force disengagement of phantom)
Grunt with Needler (Low Toughness high damage)
Grunt with Plasma Pistol (Low toughness sheild negation)
Hunters 1 + 2 (Intermitent High Damage/toughness)
Elite with Needle Riffle (Moderate Damage)
Eite with Plasma Riffle (Moderate Damage)

[Erasmas]

Volsung slides in next to Tristan's still form and can see exposed circuitry, bare skin, and pink organ showing through the melted plate where the plasma bolt made impact. It took Onyx5 less than two seconds to realize that he was looked at a part of X218's lung. With the suit being this badly damaged, it was likely that the built-in defibrillator wasn't going to work. His vitals were are trailing... it certainly didn't look good.

Sammael cast a glance towards Tristan and made a start to help him when he snapped back to the task at hand. Volsung's got him... concentrate... breathe... squeeze... just squeeze... The sniper exhales evenly and slowly, a bullet meant to accompany his breath. But instead, his rifle jams! "Sh!t! Not now!"

John shuffles backwards at the narrow miss from the energy sword. When he recovers, he curses under his breath and levels his shotgun once more, flinging buckshot and fire once again at those in front of him. The last two grunts drop directly in front of him, their action (like their lives) cut short by the loud blast. The sword-wielding Elite manages to use the grunts as a shield, avoiding the majority of the damage... but with the wounds he had already sustained, it still proved too much. The split-jaw collapses to the ground in a puddle of rapidly-growing purple ichor. The pellets also manage to damage the Hunter, orange spray decorating the side of the nearby Phantom.

Argyle tosses his flame grenade, bursting on the undermounted plasma cannon and wreathing it in dripping fire.

Hinderance whirls around and opens up on the Hunter that was damaged by John. He riddles the damn thing with holes and it begins leaking worse than a Warthog in the hands of a squadron of marines... but it is still up!

Dropship blasts Volsung, narrowly missing him. The plasma bolt sails over him as he ducks, splashing into the sand some six feet away. Chunks of sand and bits of hot glass rain down on Volsung and his charge. The medic covers the gaping hole in Tristan's chest, trying to keep the contamination to a minimum.

The initial Elite exchanges with Argyle once more, landing two of its shots. Argyle's shields shimmer as they are nearly depleted as the Elite then vents his rifle with a mocking scoff. "You will all die here, blasphemers!"

The third Elite opens up at Valen once more, hitting him twice and the first of which causes his shields to completely pop.

The damaged Hunter releases his cannon at John, hitting him in the left shoulder and spinning him a quarter turn back. With no shields, the hit took quite a bit out of Onyx 4... but he was still in this fight!

The fresh Hunter shoots his arm cannon at Sammael, some distance away... still scoring contact against Sammael's helmet as he messed with his rifle. The impact scooted the sniper back several feet, but luckily his shields ate the worst of it.

Valen continues firing at the first Elite, landing all three of his shots and dropping the creature's shields with his initial bullet. The beast straightened himself up and opened his mouth wide, screaming at the sky. He then leveled his eyes and V21, anger fuming from beneath his helm.


Covenant Rolls

Dropship:
[roll0] (Attack Roll - versus Volsung)
[roll1]
Grunt5 {Plasma Pistol}:
[roll2] (Defense Roll - versus John)
Charging plasma pistol (if still alive).
Grunt6 {Needler}:
[roll3] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll4] (Delay Damage on Hinderance for 4 needles)
If still alive-
[roll5] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Hinderance)
[roll6]
[roll7] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Hinderance)
[roll8]
[roll9] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Hinderance)
[roll10]
[roll11] (Attack Roll 4 - versus Hinderance)
[roll12]
[roll13] (Attack Roll 5 - versus Hinderance)
[roll14]
Elite1 {Plasma Rifle}:
[roll15] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Argyle's resolved {14})
[roll16]
[roll17] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Argyle's resolved {13})
[roll18]
[roll19] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Argyle's resolved {13})
[roll20]
[roll21] (Attack Roll 4 - versus Argyle's resolved {18})
[roll22]
[roll23] (Attack Roll 5 - versus Argyle's resolved {11})
[roll24]
[roll25] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
[roll26] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
[roll27] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
Elite2 {Energy Sword}:
[roll28] (Defense Roll - versus Sammael)
[roll29] (Defense Roll - versus John)
If still alive -
[roll30] (Attack Roll - versus John)
[roll31]
Elite3 {Needle Rifle}:
[roll32] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Valen)
[roll33]
[roll34] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Valen)
[roll35]
[roll36] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Valen)
[roll37]
Hunter1:
[roll38] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll39] (Defense Roll - versus Hinderance)
[roll40] (Defense Roll - versus Hinderance)
[roll41] (Defense Roll - versus Hinderance)
[roll42] (Defense Roll - versus Hinderance)
[roll43] (Defense Roll - versus Hinderance)
If still alive -
[roll44] (Attack Roll - versus John)
[roll45]
Hunter2:
[roll46] (Attack Roll - versus Sammael; penalty for distance)
[roll47]


Onyx Wind Rolls

Volsung:
You shot and moved... attempting the patch up on Tristan (if you still wish it) will have to be next turn!
Phantom is also shooting at you!
Sammael:
[roll48] (Attack Roll - versus Elite2)
[roll49]
[roll50] (Defense Roll - versus Hunter2)
Argyle:
You hit the undermounted turret and dealt 9 damage to it! It is still functional.
Hinderance:
[roll51] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Hunter1)
[roll52] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Hunter1)
[roll53] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Hunter1)
[roll54] (Attack Roll 4 - versus Hunter1)
[roll55] (Attack Roll 5 - versus Hunter1)
[roll56] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)
[roll57] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)
[roll58] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)
[roll59] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)
[roll60] (Defense Roll - versus Grunt6)
Valen:
[roll61] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll62] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll63] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll64] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Elite1)
[roll65]
[roll66] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Elite1)
[roll67]
[roll68] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Elite1)
[roll69]
John:
[roll70] (Attack Roll - versus Grunts5&6, Elite2, & Hunter1{shotgun})
[roll71]
[roll72] (Defense Roll - versus Elite2)
[roll73] (Defense Roll - versus Hunter1)

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung sprays biofoam over the exposed tissue of Tristan's lung, swearing almost continuously as his pulse drops down into red, before flatlining completely. "Cazzo! Doc, do we have anything to restart his heart?"
"You could always try chest compressions," replies the voice of his suit, sarcastic as ever.
"Forbandede, right. Wait, even with the damage to his lung?"
"Jack the medkit into his suit, and hook up an IV. I'll get some chems running that should prevent any more organ damage than has already been caused. And if he does kick off, make sure to recover his AI. I like her."
Ripping out a needle from his kit, Volsung attaches an IV line to it before stabbing it into the crook of Tristan's elbow. A slight buzzing noise comes out of the medkit, coinciding with a brightly colored fluid dripping down into Tristan's arm. Dropping the kit down onto the ground, Volsung locks his arms, rocks up once, and then starts pushing down rhythmically on Tristan's chest, taking care not to touch any exposed tissue.

[Erasmas]

Volsung recovers from covering Tristan's body from the shower of sand and continues trying to help him. Once Tristan flatlines, the medic moves to manual methods of recovery.

Sammael fires at the approaching Hunter, hurriedly trying to recover after removing the jam. He misses wildly, retorting "Come on big fella, hold still! Today is just apparently not my day."

John hustles forward, rushing the initial Hunter, who raises his massive shield in defense. X65 shoulders the shield open enough to juke past and jams the barrel of his shotgun into the fleshy neck of the creature, just beneath the jaw. The blast sends a fountain of orange goo skyward as John twirls out from beneath the collapsing behemoth.

Argyle begins to move towards Hinderance, to see what aid he can lend.

Hinderance reacted as John drops the Hunter bearing down on him and turns his attention to the second Hunter, lighting him up with three of his shots. The Hunter staggered his steps towards Sammael a little, but continued on regardless of the damage.

The Dropship lifts skyward, the pilot apparently deciding to leave the battle as it turned for the worse for the Covenant forces. The ship pulls away, taking a parting shot at Hinderance, hitting him directly on the top of the helmet. H04 crumples the the ground with an uncomforting sound and a physics-defying contortion of his body.

The Elite that had first gotten off of the dropship tosses a plasma grenade at Argyle, sticking him with the device! It detonates, dropping the remaining shields that the Spartan had and dealing a small amount of bodily damage beyond what the suit could protect him from!

The third Elite pops more shots at Valen, who is slightly behind cover, hitting him with two more shots, one straight through his suit and into his stomach. Luckily, the other shot (in addition to the two needles bursting from the last barrage) is absorbed by his suit.

The last Hunter moves towards Sammael, charging his cannon as he goes.

Valen continues to attack the Elite the stuck Argyle, felling him with three more shots from his Battle Rifle. Valen drops with his back against the Portable Cover and reloads.


Covenant Rolls

Dropship:
[roll]1d20-2 (Attack Roll - versus Hinderance)
[roll]8d8
Elite1 {Plasma Rifle}:
[roll0] (Attack Roll - versus Argyle {plasma grenade})
[roll1]
[roll2] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
[roll3] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
[roll4] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
Elite3 {Needle Rifle}:
[roll5] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Valen)
[roll6]
[roll7] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Valen)
[roll8]
[roll9] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Valen)
[roll10]
Hunter1:
[roll11] (Defense Roll - versus John)
Raised his shield (-4 to attacks, +2 to AC).
Hunter2:
[roll12] (Defense Roll - versus Sammael)


Onyx Wind Rolls

Volsung:
Attempting to heal Tristan.
Sammael:
[roll13] (Attack Roll {hurried penalty} - versus Hunter2)
[roll14]
Argyle:
Moving to help Hinderance. Fire deals an additional [roll15] points.
[roll16] (Defense Roll - versus Elite1 {ranged touch attack})
[roll17] (Reflex Save1 - versus Elite1)
[roll18] (Reflex Save2 - versus Elite2)
Hinderance:
[roll19] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Hunter1)
[roll20]
[roll21] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Hunter1)
[roll22]
[roll23] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Hunter1)
[roll24]
[roll25] (Attack Roll 4 - versus Hunter1)
[roll26]
[roll27] (Attack Roll 5 - versus Hunter1)
[roll28]
[roll29] (Defense Roll - versus Dropship)
Valen:
[roll30] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll31] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll32] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll33] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Elite1)
[roll34]
[roll35] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Elite1)
[roll36]
[roll37] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Elite1)
[roll38]
John:
[roll39] (Attack Roll - versus Hunter1)
[roll40]

[Erik Vale]

The Elite got him with a grenade.
The Elite stuck him with a plasma.
The chance of surviving that happens to be smaller than the chance of being hit by lightning if you live in space.
In an instanct all his AI's scream in a concert of rage and fear.
"OH F***!"

Wanting to provide Valen with some protection from the grenade he activates his jump pack and jumps slightly, bursting up maybe a meter facing the grenade away from Valen before it explodes, sending Argyle flying back and smacking against the wall.
But he doesn't flatline.

"Oh sweet Jesus!"
"Thats an A in Terror and a F in Chemistry."
"Oh god am I going to put some money in the donation tin next time!"
"Hinderence!"
"S***! Distracting Elite, Go Quickly!"
"Medical suggests broken neck, Hunter Distracted!"
"Target Priorities Modified!"
"Flying!"

With a quick burst of his jet pack, Argyle leaps over the barrier and runs towards Hinderance.

((Rolls/Actions))

Iaoch will use a slot to cast Flare on the last remaining Elite.
Argyle will move to Hinderance at full speed and perform a heal check (Preliminary assesment):
Base: [roll0]
Gnomere Assistance: [roll1] Bonus: 4
Total: 28. Ok, is there any hope what so ever (Medi-foam, holding his head still)? Or is he just outright dead and I need to get our medical officer to declare it?

New Target Priorities

Remaining Elite
Hunter

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung continues to give Tristan chest compressions for a short while more, his swearing cycling through several Earth languages and flirting briefly with Uggnoy before resolving itself into a steady stream of a particular four-letter English word beginning with "f". Completely ignoring the world around him, he barely even reacts as one of the hunters falls dead, and Hindrance takes a direct hit form a plasma cannon. He is shaken out of his reverie as his AI unit snaps at him, "Vol, he's gone. Half of his lung is exposed and he has no pulse. You can't save him, so go try and help the others."

"No, I can still save him. Give me time," comes Volsung's frantic reply.

"No. You can't. You are a medic, not a surgeon. Your job is not to fix people, it's to make them comfortable as they die."

"Gods be damned, fine. Bell, if you can hear me in there, we're going to get you out of here. It'll be all right." Standing, he draws his needler from his back and blast away at the elite, steadily advancing toward Hindrance as he shoots.

[Erasmas]

Volsung moves towards Hinderance, popping off three shots at the last remaining Elite, hitting with two of them and making his shields dazzle.

Sammael fires, finally hitting the brute in the neck, causing a fount of orange to erupt from the Hunter.

John switches to his SMG and opens up full auto on the Elite, hitting a bulls eye with the first shot and nothing else, but still managed to drop the bastard's shields all the way down.

Argyle's AI flares the Elite with his suit's lights, which the split-jaw seems to simply shrug off. The Spartan then makes his way to Hinderance, finally, but the situation looks bad - compound fracture of the clavicle... neck definitely looks broken...

The dropship, which has been rising, levels out and turns roughly northward, and begins to head off.

The last standing Elite turns his attention to John, spraying fire wildly but still making contact with one of his shots. The two needles remaining in Valen, his suit soaking up the damage from both.

The remaining Hunter shoots his cannon at Sammael, the green bolt flying well over the sniper's head and continuing off some distance behind him.

Valen calls out, "Status report! Five... tell me a story with a happy ending about Six! And Three... what have you got on Seven? Tell me it wasn't as bad as it looked!" Your team leader ran to where Tristan has first fallen and hooked the toe of his boot under the Spartan Laser, kicking it up into the air and grabbing it in one fluid motion, a spray a sand coming up with it. He snatched the artillery piece out of the air and began charging it as he continued without slowing down.


Covenant Rolls

Dropship:
Is moving to leave.
Elite3 {Needle Rifle}:
[roll0] (Defense Roll - versus Volsung)
[roll1] (Defense Roll - versus Volsung)
[roll2] (Defense Roll - versus Volsung)
[roll3] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll4] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll5] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll6] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll7] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll8] (Needle burst damage from last round - versus Valen)
[roll9] (Needle burst damage from last round - versus Valen)
[roll10] (Attack Roll 1 - versus John)
[roll11]
[roll12] (Attack Roll 2 - versus John)
[roll13]
[roll14] (Attack Roll 3 - versus John)
[roll15]
Hunter2:
[roll16] (Defense Roll - versus Sammael)
[roll17] (Attack Roll - versus Sammael)
[roll18]


Onyx Wind Rolls

Volsung:
Attempting to heal Tristan.
Sammael:
[roll19] (Attack Roll - versus Hunter2)
[roll20]
[roll21] (Defense Roll - versus Hunter2)
Argyle:
Moving to help Hinderance. Fire deals an additional [roll22] points.
Valen:
Moves to Tristan's body and grabs Spartan Laser, charging it.
John:
[roll23] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Elite3)
[roll24]
[roll25] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Elite3)
[roll26]
[roll27] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Elite3)
[roll28]
[roll29] (Attack Roll 4 - versus Elite3)
[roll30]
[roll31] (Attack Roll 5 - versus Elite3)
[roll32]
[roll33] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll34] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll35] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)

[Erik Vale]

All at once Argyle's head becomes like that of a bad psychotic, full of voices, but all just to himself.

[Self]"Broken Cervical Vertebrae, compound fractures and dislocation but spinal cord still intact. Clavicle shattered, many compound fractures. Vitals falling! Breathing suspended!"
[Self]"Commencing CPR. Contact Valkarie that **** bucket is to die!"
[Self]"He's going to need a lift out of here, he cant move at all. Apply biofoam once you open suit, hopefully it can place a coat over some of the breaks and any bleeding."
[Self]"OH Crap, ****! Suit suggests internal bleeding."

By now Argyle had just gotten Hinderence's helmet off.
[Self]"Minor breaks on the mandible, Skull intact, no bleeding through the skull, suit report synched, there is no bleeding outside of internal."
[Self]"Sipping through a straw..."
[Self]"Nick there to provide outlet if required."
[Self]"Marked, send off lights I know what to do from here."

Argyle had worked his own helmet off and combat knife out, and with barely a nick, with a thankfully unused combat knife, Argyle slips the knife a little down Hinderence's back and makes a small cut, only having to peel a little bit more of the suit which cries out in compliance. The wound is barely deep enough to allow pressure to vent for internal bleeding, and it is obvious internal bleeding takes place, blood flow is worse than it should be.
Then he commences CPR.

Meanwhile, the AI's Send of messages.

[To Volsung]"I heard what the AI said about Tristan. If you haven't already leave him, we have a live one here who may survive, but is beyond inbuilt routines and training...."

[To Valkyrie and USS ship]"This is AI Gnomere of Onyx wind Unit 3-Argyle, Identification code 178723468235409a756bc675d, uploading dogfight/airstrike mission co-ordinates for a Covenant Phantom flying at bearing code N132, we have severely wounded members and almost confirmed Human Covenant Alliance. Also, we have two wounded Spartans uploading medical reports and requesting immediate evac on terms of mission completion and medical emergency. Please Resopond. This is..."
She sets to message to repeat, then opens channels to Onyx 1.

[To Onyx 1]"Despite suits readout he is alive but fading, Onyx 3 should have him holding soon but he is going to need a patch up from Volsung over here. He isn't going to be fighting though, and will need an airlift out, once that damn tunnel opens we will need to place him in there while we await extraction.... I think it's time for us to deem mission parameters met, and am voicing this until told otherwise."

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung nearly stops mid-shot at the elite, recovering in time to fire at him at least once more, as he gets the request from Ioach. Getting back into stride, he resumes firing for a few more seconds before turning and starting to accelerate to a run towards Argyle and Hindrance. "Forpulede søster kærlige sønner af ludere. If you hear this, Ioach, make sure to not move his neck too much, and try to open the chest piece as much as you can before I get there. And, for the love of god, do not break any ribs while you're trying to save his life." Still running, he turns and fires twice more before holstering his rifle and calling back his AI in preparation of treating the second Spartan in as many minutes.

[Erasmas]

Volsung continues to Hinderance, popping off three more shots at the final Elite. He hits with his second shot, imbedding an additional pink needle into him. The new projectile didn't seem to hit very hard, but the burst from one of the old ones tears a bit of the creature's bare skin and you see purple drops leaking from his armor. Argyle is giving Hinderance chest compressions as best he can through Seven's armor. You can tell by the angle of his neck that it this situation looks every bit as bad as the one you just left.

Sammael steadies himself, despite the immanently looming figure of the Hunter grew closer and raised its massive shield-arm to make what the sniper knew would be a devastating strike. His shot is placed brilliantly, piercing the creature through one of the eyes of its helm and spraying more orange blood into the sky. The huge beast folds to the ground, digging into the sand as its momentum causes it to slide to a stop right in front of Sammael. He exhales and then pats the Hunter's corpse with his forward hand, "There, there big guy... sleep well."

John continues to fire his SMG at the Elite, lighting him up like a space station docking port. However, despite the barrage of lead, the creature continues forward.

Argyle begins CPR on Hinderance, trying desperately to revive him. Soon, Volsung is by his side, calling out to him.

The dropship continues to fly away, like some haunting ghost from a dream, leaving as if nothing had transpired.

The last Elite concentrates on John, spraying return fire as he charges. He hits him twice more with his needle rifle. The needle that had hit John in the last assault bursts, injuring John further.

Valen jumps and twists his body in the direction the Phantom was leaving in and fires the red beam from the Spartan Laser, hitting the purple vessel and causing the entire thing to be engulfed in a ball of fire and plasma! The smoking remains plummet to the ground beyond your sight, though your hear the crash with little effort.


Covenant Rolls

Dropship:
Flying off.
(Defense Roll (Pilot) - versus Valen)
Elite3 {Needle Rifle}:
[roll1] (Defense Roll - versus Volsung)
[roll2] (Defense Roll - versus Volsung)
[roll3] (Defense Roll - versus Volsung)
[roll4] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll5] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll6] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll7] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll8] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll9] (Needle burst damage from last round - versus John)
If still alive:
[roll10] (Attack Roll 1 - versus John)
[roll2d4
(Attack Roll 2 - versus John)
[roll2d4
(Attack Roll 3 - versus John)
[roll2d4
Hunter2:
[roll13] (Defense Roll - versus Sammael)
[roll14] (Attack Roll - versus Sammael)
[roll15]


Onyx Wind Rolls

Volsung:
Attacking the Elite, and then moving to attempt to heal Hinderance.
Sammael:
[roll16] (Attack Roll - versus Hunter2)
[roll17]
[roll18] (Defense Roll - versus Hunter2)
Argyle:
Attempting to heal Hinderance. Fire deals an additional [roll19] points.
Valen:
[roll20] (Attack Roll - versus Drop Ship)
[roll21]
John:
[roll22] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Elite3)
[roll23]
[roll24] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Elite3)
[roll25]
[roll26] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Elite3)
[roll27]
[roll28] (Attack Roll 4 - versus Elite3)
[roll29]
[roll30] (Attack Roll 5 - versus Elite3)
[roll31]
[roll32] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll33] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll34] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)

[Erasmas]

With one final shot, Sammael's echoing rifle puts one straight through the brain-pan of the last of the covenant forces. John continues to the beast, leaping onto his already falling corpse and stabbing it repeatedly with his combat knife. Once his rage subsides, he rises, the front of him painted purple with the vengeance of his fallen teammates.

Meanwhile, Argyle aids the medic as best he can. Volsung works feverishly for several more long minutes, before he notices Valen's hand on his shoulder.

"Six, that's enough. He's gone."


Covenant Rolls

Elite3 {Needle Rifle}:
[roll0] (Defense Roll - versus Sammael)
[roll1] (Defense Roll - versus John)
[roll2] (Defense Roll - versus John)
If still alive.
[roll3] (Attack Roll - versus John)
[roll4] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
[roll5] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)
[roll6] (Defense Roll - versus Valen)


Onyx Wind Rolls

Volsung:
Healing Hinderance.
Sammael:
[roll7] (Attack Roll - versus Elite3)
[roll8]
Argyle:
Aiding in healing Hinderance.
Valen:
[roll9] (Attack Roll 1 - versus Elite3)
[roll10]
[roll11] (Attack Roll 2 - versus Elite3)
[roll12]
[roll13] (Attack Roll 3 - versus Elite3)
[roll14]
John:
[roll15] (Attack Roll 1 {SMG} - versus Elite3)
[roll16]
[roll]1d20+7 (Attack Roll 2 {Knife} - versus Elite3)
[roll17]
[roll18] (Defense Roll - versus Elite3)

[DoctorFaust]

"Dammit, fine. So where the h*ll is Val?" Volsung shouts as he stands, tearing off his helmet and throwing it away. Turning back to Valen, he continues shouting, "And who in the name of the ni forpulede helveder thought it would be a good idea to send one squad of spartans to investigate an entire gorramn planet?" He turns away again, running his hand through his short blond hair distractedly before kneeling and flipping Hindrance. Muttering to himself, he says, "Catch-22, if you can hear me, I'm going to take you out of your suit now. You want to stay in, just tell me." He waits a few seconds for a reply, and then jacks him out of Hindrance's suit. Walking over to Tristan's body, he kneels down again and repeats the process, word for word.

[Erik Vale]

Argyle stood back from Hinderance. Anyone who wasn't in the suit would say he was a picture of composer.

Anyone who could see his vital signs would say very different.
[To Argyle] "Don't do it.... Damn I'm locked out."
But by this point Valen was to close to warn, and they had just been locked out of the speaker system, and it would take a while to circumvent.
When Valen heared Argyle's suit whisper he would probably stop confused a little with the audio playback.

"The chances that these alarms going off would be loud enough to be heard by some random patrol is pretty slim."
Then suddenly Argyle turned on the spot, taking a swing at Valen.

Soon after Gnomere works around the lockout, and sends another message for Valkyrie.

[To Valkyrie and USS ship]"This is AI Gnomere of Onyx wind Unit 3-Argyle, Identification code 178723468235409a756bc675d, calling for a Belay order on the airstrike/dogfight mission upload if recieved. We have two wounded Spartans uploading medical reports and requesting immediate evac on terms of mission completion and medical emergency. Please Resopond. This is..."



To Hit [roll0]
Don't particularly want to do any damage though.

[Erasmas]

Valen responded to Volsung's outburst, "I don't like the situation any more than you do, and this has gotten f^cked ten ways to Sunday in a real hurry. But ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do and die. They had no idea what was going on here, but this is what we signed up for. Now stow it; we have a job to do, Spartan!"

Volsung gets a fairly similar reply from both of the AIs, requesting to be removed and then reassigned at a later time. While Spartans were fairly stoic and to-the-point, they were not unnecessarily cold... these programs, however, sometimes took efficiency to a level of removed that certainly seemed harsh.

Gnomere picks up little more than the irritable and persistent static that has plagued this mission from its touchdown. The tiniest bits of frequency came, broadcast from Valkyrie and the Dawn Evader, but it was intermingled with garbage, static, and even the echos of past transmissions from both your team and the AI in orbit somewhere above. Deciphering a clear message was impossible, and you could only hope that Valkyrie did not hear the airstrike portion of your request. The fact that MAC rounds hadn't hammered down on you yet was a good sign that she didn't. However, that also meant that she probably wasn't hearing the remainder either.

Suddenly, Argyle lunged at Valen, missing him as the team leader evaded his fist. Valen removed his Battle Rifle from the magnet that held it to his back and flipped off the safety, keeping it pointed at the ground... for now.

"You want to explain yourself, Four; and you want to explain yourself right now."


Valen:
[roll0]

[Erik Vale]

The message simply repeats, this time louder as Argyle faces Onyx 1.
"The chances that these alarms going off would be loud enough to be heard by some random patrol is pretty slim."

He then turns to where his portable cover was, activating the deactivation sequence as he walks past it. As he waits he punches the wall once. Hard but only once. A different audio replay activates.

"This unit can open now but I would set off alarms. I can keep looking for a way to skip those, but it might be easier to make the alarms unable to activate then blow the hatch. Being based for-"
"The chances that these alarms going off would be loud enough to be heard by some random patrol is pretty slim."

After a moment Argyle turns and picks up his portable cover.
"Appologies sir... It won't happen again. Gnomere your just getting static aren't you?"
"Yes. Message is on repeat."
[Covenent]"May it foreswear it's religon..."
"I would have thought you would be swaring in English."
"Sir, given current status it is entirely possible that the covenant have called for reinforcements and today is not our day. I recomend that we pull back into the tunnel system and await evac. Other tactical notes include-"
It is entirely obvious that he is trying desperately to calm down.
"- Temporary withdrawel to ambush positions with dead spartans as bait will provide a way to avoid being cornered and destroy any covenant that come to reinforce this position. Static is preventing communications in this region, and tunnels generally have worse reception than open ground areas.... Advisory, sending Yourself, Samuel, H.... or I-"
The list again had shortened from the normal roster for solo opps. And everyone knew it was Hinderence's name Argyle barely refrained himself from speaking in those short clipt tones.
"-To high ground or the last known location where communications where established."

The entire time, Gnomere tries to get a better signal, however she doupts she will be able to do much.

Gnomere Base: [roll0]
Argyle Modifier: [roll1]
Bonus Granted: +1
Iaoch Modifier: [roll2]
Bonus Granted: +5
New Total: 31

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung interposes his body between Valen and Argyle after the first punch is thrown, but backs down after he sees that nothing more is going to come of it. Hearing Argyle's suggestions, his eyes harden for a second before he calms.

"We're not using our dead for bait. And on top of that, how can we be sure of the human-covenant alliance? Both factions shooting at us isn't exactly anything new," says Volsung, walking stiff-legged over to his helmet. Bending down to retrieve it, he wipes his hand across his face before replacing it on his head and sealing it again.

"Doc, run test 53, I want to be sure all of the equipment works after the throw. Oh, and you lot, as the designated medical officer of this unit, it is my required task to inform you that should you need counseling as a result of H…. Because of T….. Should you need it, come to either me or the slightly psychotic AI that lives in my head." He walks off, fiddling with his rifle as he reloads, the faint sound of an orchestral piece emanating from his helmet.

[Erasmas]

The culvert covering finally made a loud, reluctant creak, and the steel plates pulled apart to reveal the concrete valley behind it. Thankfully with that, the alarms finally ceased as well.

"We press on with the mission as dictated to us. We keep trying to raise the Dawn Evader to give her the details of the situation. Let's get the Spade into the culvert and put Seven and Eight on the bed and activate the magnets on their backs. When we find a good spot to leave them, we will report the coordinates to our UNSC channels for later evacuation. Now... are we soldiers or are we Spartans?"


The interior of the culvert:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Erasmas/Halo%20Onyx%20Wind/Locations-OverflowCulvert.jpg

[Erik Vale]

After a moment, Argyle nods.

"We are Spartans, and we will make Earth Proud. Gnomere, adjust the message accordingly... I think it could be encrypted better."

Argyle moves to help move the still forms of Onyx-6 and -7.


((Revised Broadcast, Rolls for encryption))

[To Valkyrie/Dawn Evader]"This is AI Gnomere of Onyx wind Unit 3-Argyle, Identification code 178723468235409a756bc675d. We have two wounded Spartans uploading medical reports, status is decommissioned.-"
Most say AI are emotionless machines, however they do have emotions, and without suppressing them, it was the closest she could come to saying dead... And Medical reports would confirm fears.
"- We are still mobile and bringing Spartens Onyx-7 and Onyx-6, when you get this send a call for location. The mission is continued."

Rolls

Gnomere Base: [roll0]
Argyle Modifier: [roll1]
Bonus Granted: -3
Iaoch Modifier: [roll2]
Bonus Granted: + 4
New Total: 20

Ouch.

[DoctorFaust]

"We are Spartans. Hooah," echos Volsung as he moves to collect 6 and 7's body. Grabbing 6's body by the armpits, he lugs it over to the Spade, flipping it up into the bed of the truck, waiting for Erik to do the same with 7 before closing the grate. Loping around the side of the truck, he is beaten to the drivers seat by John, so he swings up onto the supports of the cab. "Punch it."

[Erasmas]

Sammael keeps a vigilant eye out for any signs of reinforcements as the rest of the team relocates to the culvert. Once everyone was situated back on the Spade, Valen climbed onboard and situated himself between your fallen brothers. Having grabbed the Spartan Laser and tossed it into the passenger floorboard, he left the rest of the gear that wasn't attached behind.

John double-checks that Onyx Wind is ready and guns the throttle. The engine's hum reverberates off of the narrow concrete walls of the ditch as countless miles of it roll past you, giving you all plenty of time to think. Your minds replay the battle over and over again, questioning each move, each squeeze of the trigger.

[Erasmas]

Soon, John interrupts your thoughts... like a mortal shell splintering the ground open right in front of you.

"Huh... now that's interesting..."

You see an end to the culvert up ahead, a drop off that probably leads into whatever reservoir would have to fill up in order to facilitate this drainage channel. However, on the other side of that gap... you see a low, squat building that appears to be made of concrete, like the rest of this culvert. Covered in the same dust as everything else on this planet, you can all barely see what must have drawn John's attention... four letters faded on the upper corner of the place - U N S C.

[DoctorFaust]

Volsung starts, jolting out of his reverie at John's words. Seeing the familiar name emblazoned on the building they are fast approaching, he rips his rifle off of his back. Peering through the scope, he cannot see anything with a quick glance, but goes back to searching for any signs of activity after turning to Valen and saying, "That... certainly is. Valen, you're the one that got the most intel, U.N.S.C. say anything about maintaining an outpost on planet?"

[Erik Vale]

"Either way, it looks like we're going to have to double back."

In the mean time, Argyle brings up his DMR to take a closer look at the building.


Also, how large is the gap, particularly, is it in jump jet range?

[Erasmas]

Valen's response came through the sound of clenched teeth, "No, not a word"

Looking through your scopes, you scan the concrete structure ahead. You see absolutely no sign of any movement anywhere before you. However, there does appear to be two massive drain pipes that hang over the reservoir and a small steel balcony on the back of the building, with a steel door in the wall on it.

John continues forward, pulling to a stop right at the edge of the deep pit. Looking down, you see rubble and trash choking the drain cover in the center of the otherwise empty reservoir.


The gap is about 50 foot across... definitely in jump jet range.

[Erik Vale]

"Primary assessment suggests that this place may have been trashed, as the occupants were believed to be helpful to UNSC. I haven't been able to pick up any active computers so far... Ambushed deemed unlikely but possible..."
"The jump is manageable, and while I would say the ambush possibility is mostly programmed pessimism, especially given the disorganization of human forces, after our last run in I don't think now is the best time to outright disregard it."

After a couple of more moments, Argyle speaks.
"This unit may be able to clear the jump without jump jets, with average jump distance being 9 feet short with servo assistance. It is doubted that this station is guarded, however if a method of bridging the gap can be found, lots of time could be saved... And this unit is quiet enough that with covering fire as support it would be willing to attempt the jump.
"... Tru-."
"Ok, please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks that statement needs to be stricken from the record."
"No, he is right, the jump is entirely possible, and the jump pack makes it safe. Combined with the portable cover and fire support, even if spotted it is entirely possible that any aggressive response short of a moderate covenant contingent, which there are no signs of, however a rapid response unit is possible, would be cut down before it could severely injure Onyx-3. And that's what bio-foam is for, and the suit has a canister still."

[DoctorFaust]

As the truck pulls to a stop at the reservoir, Volsung swings off, landing with a thump at the edge of the hole.
"Prior to jumping over the giant reservoir thingy, I would suggest checking out the balcony, see what you can find inside. I don't think I'll be able to reach it with the current stuff installed in my suit, but you should be able to with your jump jets. Your call for what to do though, " he says, checking the opposite edge for any sign of movement through the scope of his rifle.

[Erasmas]

There appeared to be no sign of anyone or anything; at least on the building's exterior. Whatever this place was or had been in the past, it did not appear to have been utilized in some time.

Valen nods to Argyle, "Do it."

[Erik Vale]

"Done."

Argyle slowly walks off, going back several meters. He then turns, and runs towards the gap.
It's the sort of run that no one would like to be on the receiving end of, however this time it is just a buildup.
Calculations run through the visor and Iaoch manages servos for optimum proficiency.
And a whiper comes through the comms.
"Now."
And as his foot slams down on his own individual tack.

And the jump was perfect, a far reaching leap, hearts hold in throughts as people think that he will make it without hitting the jets, and then, just near the end, he seems to fall short, his hand reaches out.
Another whisper comes through.
"Hit it."
And just as his hand misses the concrete of the other side, his jets bark loudly and he launches over the edge and onto the ground, standing in the crouch, drawing his 'Spiker' he waits an incredibly long moment, had anyone heard?

[Erasmas]

Argyle lands on the steel grated platform with the audible THUD of metal on metal. However, as the rest of the team trains their weapons around where he has landed, the only other sound they hear is the echo.

"All clear, Three."

The balcony was small, roughly five foot by ten, and there was a single steel sliding door that led into the building from here. Beside it, there was a keypad that looked as though it might operate the door controls.

Valen looked down over the edge, into the reservoir. He then placed his hand on John's shoulder.

"Hold on entry, O23. This is where we leave Six and Seven. R36... get the coordinates of this place and make sure we have it stored before we leave here. The truck stays too - we have to lighten our load this point forward. X65... take the spartan laser and frag it unless someone wants to hump it out of here. I do not want the split-jaws getting their paws on our tech."

[Erik Vale]

Argyle nods slightly as he stops moving towards the balcony.

"Aye Sir. Gnomere, perform another sweep for operational computers, lets see if we can extend a possible bridge without leaving me lacking for covering fire."
"Running active scan now."
"V21, I will take the spartan laser. Someone needs to have a heavy weapon..."

[DoctorFaust]

John
John pulls the Spartan laser out of the passenger side seat as he exits the truck, calling out, "Argyle, I've got the laser for now. I'll hand it over once we meet back up." Stepping down off of the frame, he joins Valen on the edge of the reservoir, toting the Spartan laser on his back.
Volsung
Stepping back from the reservoir as John moves up to the edge, Volsung calls up the map of the area on his HUD. Tagging their current location with a quick glance, he saves the coordinates and sends them to each of the other team members. That finished, he starts a quick lap around the building, looking for any other visible entrances. As he starts walking, he says, "Should we send the coordinates up to Val? I know comms are touchy right now, but she is the one with the ability to actually get things off planet."