Halo: Planet Exile

“Lieutenant Manroc, remove weapon system locks and charge MAC guns. Lieutenant Naerov, get us into position.” Captain Provon ordered the lieutenants.
“Aye, sir.” Lieutenant Manroc typed in the commands and reported “MAC guns at twenty-three percent and charging.”
Lieutenant Manroc manned the weapons console. He wasn’t very enthusiastic about his job, but he followed orders. That’s something Captain Provon need on his ship.
“Tom, boost reactor to one-hundred thirty percent and get those MAC guns charged ASAP.” Captain Provon ordered the UNSC Snowstorm’s shipboard AI, Tom. Tom’s avatar resembled an Allied soldier from World War Two, including a Thompson M1A1 Submachine gun to add realism to the avatar.
“Sir, with all due respect, we don’t need the power boost. By time we’re in position, the MAC guns will be charged and ready. I would recommend that we use a power boost after we fire our first salvo.” Tom suggested.
Captain Provon considered Tom’s suggestion, and said “Ok, Tom. After we fire our first salvo, boost reactor power to one-hundred and thirty percent and divert power from the engines to accelerate the charge rate of the MAC guns.”
“Aye, sir.” Tom Replied.

The UNSC Snowstorm slowly got into formation and locked into place.
“Sir, MAC guns are charged and ready to fire. Transferring firing control to your station.” Lieutenant Manroc reported. He punched a series of firing codes into the computer, and locked down the controls.
“Sir, we’re receiving firing solutions and countdown timers from the Leviathan’s AI.” Lieutenant Heirbra reported.
“Transfer the vector to Lieutenant Manroc and show me on the main view screen.” Captain Provon ordered and he turned to the screen. A line on the tactical map connected the Snowstorm to a Covenant Frigate. The firing timer appeared in the corner of the screen, reading twenty-one seconds. The room fell silent, and Captain Provon readied himself to fire.
Twenty….. fifteen….. ten….. five…..
A red glow appeared on the Covenant vessels as they charged their guns.
Four….. three….. two….. one.
Captain Provon hit the button. The UNSC Snowstorm shook as the dual MAC guns fired, along with the rest of the ships in the formation. The Covenant’s fleet fired, sending huge fireballs of plasma at the fleet.
“Receiving more firing solutions and timers. Admiral Stanforth is on the priority channel, sir.” Lieutenant Heirbra reported.
“Put him on, holotank three.” Captain Provon ordered. A holotank in the middle of the bridge turned on, revealing Admiral Stanforth’s hologram.
“All ships: hold your positions. Divert all engine power to recharge your guns. We’ve got something special cooked up. Do not--I repeat, do not--under any circumstance break position or fire before you are ordered to do so. Stanforth out.”
The holotank turned off.
“Orders, sir?” Lieutenant Manroc asked.
“You heard the man. Lieutenant Naerov: keep us in formation. Lieutenant Manroc: divert power from engines to MAC guns. Lieutenant Heirbra: transfer vector to Lieutenant Manroc and show me on the main view screen.” Captain Provon ordered the lieutenants. The view screen showed a line that connected the Snowstorm to a Covenant destroyer.
The UNSC’s first salvo struck the Covenant fleet with unimaginable force. The Covenant’s shields flashed, dimmed, flickered, and disappeared.
Three…two…one. The wall of plasma struck the Cradle as the firing timer ticked to ten. The Cradle burst into flames, falling apart within seconds.
“Lieutenant Heirbra, scan for escape pods from the Cradle.” Provon ordered the lieutenant.
“No escape pods detected, sir.” Lieutenant Heirbra reported.
“Thirty men died for us today….” Captain Provon whispered to himself.
Five… four… three... two… one. The Snowstorm shook as the dual MAC guns fired along with the rest of the ships in formation. Captain Provon stared at the main view screen as the rounds flew towards the Covenant. The room fell silent as everyone stared at the view screen. The Covenant’s fleet fired another wall of plasma, and the salvos flew through eachother. One third of the MAC rounds missed, but the rest struck the Covenant. Dozens of Covenant ships fell to the sheer force of the MAC rounds, including the Snowstorm’s target.
“Sir, Admiral Stanforth’s on the priority channel. Audio only.” Lieutenant Heirbra reported.
“Patch him through.” Captain Provon ordered. Captain Provon heard static, and then his voice came through.
“Lead to all ships: hold your positions, make ready to fire. Transfer timers to your computers… and hang on to your hats.” The Admiral said through the communications speakers.
“How much longer until the Covenant’s salvo hits us?” Captain Provon asked Lieutenant Kalu.
“Thirteen seconds, but I think the Cradle is going to take the hits for us.” Lieutenant Kalu reported.
“What’s the Admiral planning this time?” Captain Provon whispered to himself.
Ten…five… Captain Provon watched as the wall of plasma proceeded toward the formation.
Three…two…one. The wall of plasma struck the Cradle as the firing timer ticked to ten. The Cradle burst into flames, falling apart within seconds.
“Lieutenant Heirbra, scan for escape pods from the Cradle.” Provon ordered the lieutenant.
“No escape pods detected, sir.” Lieutenant Heirbra reported.
“Thirty men died for us today….” Captain Provon whispered to himself. The Covenant’s second salvo kept going.
“MAC guns recharged and ready to fire, sir.” Lieutenant Manroc reported.

Spartan-073 didn’t like missions that took place at midnight, especially when the enemy was the Covenant. Although he had the right equipment to handle a Covenant patrol, he still didn’t like it.
‘It’s too quiet…’ Kyle thought as he trekked through the thick jungle. He was supposed to scout the area, which added to the sensation that he might be being watched. He wished the rest of Orange team was with him for this mission, but Commander Geomacra insisted that he should go alone, for stealth purposes. Kyle stopped. He saw a Covenant patrol ahead, and they hadn’t spotted him yet. Kyle slowly brought his silenced M7 Submachine gun to his visor, and targeted an Elite, which he assumed was the patrol’s commander. He shot a silent burst at the Elite’s head, and the Elite fell to the ground. A pair of Jackals activated their wrist-mounted energy shields and hid themselves behind it. The Grunts grabbed their plasma pistols, and scanned the area. Kyle fired another burst that caught a Jackal in it’s unshielded back. It turned it’s energy shield toward Kyle, and fired aimlessly into the forest. The other Jackal figured out what was going on a second too late. Kyle fired a burst into the Jackal’s head before it could turn it’s shield. The other Jackal spotted Kyle now, and directed it’s fire at Kyle. The Grunts fired aimlessly into the forest, but didn’t hit Kyle. Kyle shot one burst for each Grunt, and they fell. The remaining Jackal ran towards Kyle, unshielding itself. Kyle caught it in the head with another burst, and it fell onto the soil as it’s wrist-mounted energy shield disappeared.
‘Back to the mission…’ Kyle thought. He collected the Covenant’s weapons and energy shields and hid the bodies in the bushes, and started back to Firebase Alpha.

Kyle saluted Commander Geomacra when he entered the debriefing room.
“At ease, Spartan.” The commander told Kyle. “Give me your report.”
“One Covenant patrol was spotted and neutralized five kilometers from Firebase Alpha at 0020 hours.” Kyle reported.
“Good work. Meet me in the Mission briefing room with the rest of your team at 0200 hours.” Commander Geomacra ordered.
“Yes, sir!” Kyle saluted again.
“Dismissed.” Geomacra ordered, and Kyle walked out of the room. Kyle walked into the Spartan’s bunkroom, and saw the rest of Orange team. Spartan-096 Grom and Spartan-127 Ramon were polishing their MA5Bs. Grom was the team’s demolition expert, although they were all trained in all specialties. Ramon, on the other hand, was truly gifted when it came to accuracy. Ramon was the team’s sniper, and he preferred the SRS 99D-S2 AM Sniper rifle, although he used a MA5B as a sidearm. Spartan-107 Hal, the team’s technician, always used the M90 CAWS Shotgun and a M6B sidearm. Spartan-011 Yanze, Orange team’s newest member, preferred the BR55 Battle rifle and a standard M6 sidearm. Yanze came from Yellow team, which was neutralized via Covenant Scarab. Yanze didn’t talk much about what happened, but he was a good soldier. Grom, being the demolition’s expert, preferred the Spartan Laser and the standard M6 sidearm. Kyle is the Orange team leader, but is also the main stealth/scout of the team. Kyle always used the M7 SMG and the M6C/SOCOM sidearm, although he excelled with most of the UNSC’s arsenal.
“Ok team, listen up,” Kyle ordered the Spartans, and they all snapped a crisp salute. “I want you all to meet me and Commander Geomacra in the Mission briefing room at 0200 hours. Ready your gear, and make sure you don’t miss the briefing.”
“Sir yes, sir!” Orange team said in unison as they saluted. The Spartans then went back to their business. Kyle walked to the armory, and he grabbed his M7 SMG and M6C/SOCOM sidearm.

Commander Geomacra walked into the briefing room, and Orange team saluted.
‘Late, as usual…’ Kyle thought.
“At ease, Spartans. You have a big mission ahead of you.” Geomacra told the Spartans. “You will be assaulting the Covenant’s nearest firebase, which is 30 kilometers north from here.” The hologram projector in the middle of the room sparked to life, revealing a map that connected Firebase Alpha and the Covenant firebase using a line. “Your main target is a Covenant frigate, which is hovering above the firebase’s gravity lift, which is ferrying supplies to the Covenant firebase. Your first objective is the Covenant’s barracks. You will set charges on the outside of the building, and detonate them. Once the barracks are destroyed, your objective is the Covenant’s command center. Use any means necessary to destroy or capture the building. You will then neutralize any other Covenant forces in the area, and go up the gravity lift. When inside, you will capture the frigate, and inform me of your success via comm link. Spartan-107 will be provided with an AI, which you will use to fly the ship. This mission is highly classified, so it’s codeword is OPERATION: ROCKLANDS.” Commander Geomacra told Orange team.
“Sir yes, sir!” The Spartans said in unison as they saluted, and they walked out of the room.

“We have clearance to land the Spartans, sir.” Lieutenant Heirbra reported to Captain Provon. The UNSC Snowstorm’s orders were to deliver Spartan Orange and Black Teams to the planet Exile. When Captain Provon had asked why the Spartans needed to go to the Zeta Damascus System, ONI repeated the same old answer, ‘It’s classified, captain.’
“Lieutenant Heirbra, prep two Pelicans for Spartan deployment.” Captain Provon ordered the lieutenant.
“Yes, sir.” Lieutenant Heirbra said. She thumbed the comm and said “Spartans, prepare to deploy via Pelican.” Lieutenant Heirbra looked surprised for a moment, and then told Captain Provon “Sir, the Spartans are requesting to prep the Pelican themselves.”
“Tell them I said permission granted, lieutenant.” Captain Provon ordered the lieutenant.
“Yes, sir.” Lieutenant Heirbra said, and then thumbed the comm again and said “Permission granted, Spartans.”

“Permission granted, Spartans.” Kyle heard Lieutenant Heirbra over the comm channel. Kyle then turned to Orange team.
“Ok, team, this is it. Your orders are to prep a Pelican to deploy us.” Kyle ordered.
“Sir yes, sir!” The team said in unison, and they all made their way to the hanger with supplies. Kyle then walked to the Black team’s bunk.
“Sergeant Amy.” Kyle saluted. Amy saluted back.
“What’s our orders, Gunny?” Amy asked.
“You are to prepare a Pelican to deploy you and your team.” Kyle replied.
“Yes, sir.” Amy said as she saluted. Kyle saluted back.

“Ok team, we’re landing in five minutes. Start untying the ammo.” Kyle ordered the rest of Orange team. The Spartans got up and started working as the Pelican dropped into the atmosphere.

The Pelican hovered above the landing pad. Kyle moved the joysticks and the Pelican’s thrusters turned vertical, and the Pelican slowly lost altitude. Ramon clicked the button that engaged landing mode, and the landing gear dropped. The Pelican’s landing gear consisted of two long titanium beams that emerged from the rear of the Pelican, and a tiny wheel dropped out of the nose of the Pelican. The Pelican lightly touched the ground, and Kyle disengaged the thrusters. He then turned the Pelican off and walked through the troop bay and out of the Pelican.

“Cover me, I’m reloading!” Amy yelled as she ducked behind a fallen tree and handful of plasma bolts flew over her head. Black team had encountered heavy Covenant resistance east of Firebase Bravo. At first, they thought all it had been was a Covenant patrol, but after they shot the first burst, hundreds of Covenant forces had appeared.
“Roger that!” Spartan-016 Aaron yelled as he fired randomly at the Covenant, dropping a handful of Grunts. Spartan-014, or Amy, preferred the SRS 99D-S2 AM Sniper rifle because she was the team’s sniper, and also because of it’s accuracy. She wished she had one right now, but she was stuck with the BR55 Battle rifle for now. Amy slapped a clip into place and fired a burst at an Elite, and it fell to the ground.
“We need reinforcements!” Spartan-132 Brock yelled as he unloaded his M7 SMG into a Covenant Elite.
“I’m calling the Sand Dune for reinforcements!” Amy yelled after she shot a burst into an Elite’s skull. The UNSC Sand Dune was a frigate hauling about 7000 UNSC soldiers, Marines and ODSTs alike.
“Roger, that!” Spartan-119 Haggard yelled as he threw a grenade at a group of Jackals, sending them sky-high. Spartan-055 Luke didn’t say anything due to the fact that he lost the ability to speak during OPERATION: GUARDIAN. All Luke did was shake his head and proceed with shooting the Covenant.
“Sergeant Amy to UNSC Sand Dune! Does anyone hear me?” Amy yelled through the comm.
“What do you need?” Amy heard Captain Famdra ask through the comm.
“Requesting troop deployment at my location, over?” Amy replied.
“Roger that, Sergeant. Troop deployment in your area imminent. Please stand by.” Captain Famdra replied.
“Ok team, stand by for troop deployment!” Amy yelled at the rest of Black team. Moments later, Amy spotted Pelicans flying towards them.

“Enemy base spotted; two pairs of Hunters guarding the front.” Kyle reported to Orange team via comm channel. Kyle was scouting the base before they initiated OPERATION: ROCKLANDS. He knew that there was a high probability that one of the other Spartans on the team was watching, and Kyle didn’t know. “First objective spotted; sending location to your HUD.” Kyle reported via comm after he saw the Covenant’s barracks. “Now sending best stealth route to your HUD.”
“Yes, sir. Meet us at the RV point, and we’ll get started.” Kyle heard Grom reply through the comm.
“I’m going to scout the other objectives first, ok Grom?”
“Roger that, we’ll be waiting. If your not here in one hour though, we’ll assume those Hunters saw and shot you.”
“I understand. Kyle, out.” He scanned the area, and saw a well-guarded building, and assumed it was the Covenant’s command center. He saved the location to his HUD, and kept looking until he found the rest of the objectives. Once he saved all the objectives’ locations, he checked the time. It read three thirty. ‘Better get moving…’ Kyle thought, and he slowly started back to the RV point.

“Did you mark all the objectives’ locations?” Hal asked eagerly as Kyle entered the clearing.
“Yeah, and I also marked the guards’ positions, and figured out where they patrol. Now, if everyone got their gear ready while I was gone, we should get moving before they get any more troops planet-side.” Kyle answered.
“Then lets get moving.” Grom said as he shouldered his rocket launcher.

“How long does it take you to plant a single bomb onto a building?” Yanze whispered with a scent of annoyance in his voice.
“It’ll take me longer if you keep opening your mouth!” Grom countered.
“Yanze, if you ask him that question one more time, you’re going to be missing a brain!” Kyle ordered. The team was behind the Covenant’s barracks, and Yanze was a little too eager to get going for Kyle’s liking.
“There, all done, and if you wouldn’t have been talking the whole time, we would’ve been inside the Covenant’s command center shooting Elites in the face!” Grom whispered.
“Ok, meet me at RV point Gamma and we can blow some Covenant to pieces.” Kyle ordered, and they started moving.
“Stop! The Hunters aren’t at the front gate anymore.” Hal said as he held out his hand to stop the rest of the team from walking into the open.
“Grom, think you can spend your rockets into that thing’s head?” Kyle asked. He knew that technically, the Hunter didn’t have a real head, because Hunters are actually made of a colony of three-foot worms, but everyone in Orange team liked to pretend it wasn’t like that.
“I think I can spend a couple, provided that you keep me covered.” Grom chuckled. So off they went. Ramon moved up on top of the Covenant barracks, sniper rifle in hand. Grom stayed where he was, while the rest of Orange team moved into other good positions.
“Ok, team, is everyone ready?” Kyle asked everyone through his comm. Acknowledgement lights winked in his HUD.
“On three, Grom will fire at the Hunters with his rocket launcher. After that, we all open fire. Ramon, you’re only authorized to fire at Elites, and you have to have a clear shot to it’s head. If they spot you, you’re done for. Ok team, here I go… three, two, one!” Two streams of smoke flew from Grom’s rocket launcher, and they struck the Hunters. One of the Hunters lived. An alarm sounded, and Covenant soldiers poured out of the barracks, then plasma bolts filled the air. Kyle saw Grom drop his rocket launcher and grabbed his M6 pistol. After a while, most of the Covenant’s troops were spent. All that was left was the Hunter that had survived Grom’s rocket. It saw Grom, and it ran towards him. Ramon took a shot at the Hunter’s exposed flesh, but it didn’t flinch. Kyle ran towards the Hunter, and grabbed a plasma grenade up on the way. He stopped six meters away from the Hunter, activated the plasma grenade, and threw it at the Hunter’s back. It stuck, and detonated before the Hunter had the chance to hit Grom. After a couple seconds, Orange team ran towards the Covenant’s command center, and detonated the explosives that were planted on the barracks. Their were six enemy Plasma Cannons mounted around the building, and they opened fire on the Spartans. Kyle ran towards them, and jumped over one of the Plasma Cannons, then ripped the Grunt’s methane tank off of it’s back. It screamed as it ran out of methane to breath. He saw Grom fire a missile at one Plasma Cannon as Yanze was fighting a brute to his left. He looked to his right and saw Hal fire at another Plasma Cannon. He also saw Ramon running at an Elite with dual MA5Bs, one in each hand. Ramon jumped, spun in the air firing, and the Elite fell as Ramon landed on a grunt that was manning a Plasma Cannon. Kyle then ran up the stairs to the floor where the door was, and dropped another grunt manning a Plasma Cannon. He then saw one of Grom’s missiles impact on the last Plasma Cannon, flinging the grunt manning it into the air and into a wall. Yanze and Grom then came into sight a short second after the missile had impacted.
“Good work, squad leader.” Kyle heard Ramon say behind him.