[center][h1][color=007236]Private Hunter P. Mudak[/color][/h1][/center]

The day was easy at first, get in the landing ship and get on the ground. Easy said, easy done. Next was to secure a F.O.B. for ground missions. With the amount of troops in place that would need to be done. One had been decided on based on lack of covenant activity and its potential to become a natural stronghold. The position was secured fast enough, but a large portion of the troops were not as lucky to make the landing. A little less then a single company made landfall in the correct location, out of the whole battalion that was sent in to fortify the potential Forward Operating Base. Hunter thoughts the events were odd, his particular unit didn't have much of any contact when landing. When the pelicans went to return to retrieve supplies and more troops, that is when things started to go south. It took less then ten minutes before all the available landing craft in the area were shot down or disabled. Air support was still present, but on a very minimal level. Most of the company was picked off within the next hour trying to scramble for cover. Many of the potential fortifications were dependent on AA guns that never made it to the land.

Hunter found himself dragging another soldier from his platoon. He didn't know the fellow soldier's name, only that they needed help and that were was a lot of blood. Machinegun fire shot off from behind him over his head and acted as suppression fire against some of the hostiles that were trying to kill him. The explosions went off behind him sending the makeshift structure into ruins as well as the machinegun giving him coverfire. He tried to pick up the injured soldier in attempts to move him faster, thinking that dragging was easier, but he just lost the only thing keeping them safe. The moment he did so bright purple needles struck their chest, soon exploding sending blood and bits of their uniform everywhere. "[color=007236]Holy Shit![/color]" Hunter screamed as the Marine's life ended.

He dropped the corpse and ran as plasma and other less then fun sounding lasers went by him. He stopped only to try and return fire, only to be forced to keep running. Every once and a while he would come across more soldiers across the makeshift fort. Every time it would end the same, the Covenant would catch up, the wounded would be dragged away, and more would die. Soon he found himself outside the landing zone with his fireteam. Somehow they all made it out alive. He wasn't sure if he was pleased or pissed. He was still on mixed terms with most of them. "[color=007236]Corporal, the fort's gone. What's the situation with our evac? They're killing us back there.[/color]" The varying gunshots could still be heard from this position. Despite what Hunter had been through it didn't look like his fireteam was doing much better. There was conflict on their current front, so Private Mudak was sent to retrieve more ammunition. Luckly they held out. Not by a lot, Hunter could see that most of the ammunition pouches on his corporal were empty or had empty magazines in them.

His corporal started to speak. "[color=ed1c24]Ride's not coming, most the ships got shot out of the sky after dropping us off. We're stranded. We're not reading anything from Burning hope either. Comm's officer says he isn't reading anything from the whole fleet. Things are bad out here.[/color]" His team leader took a sip from his canteen before speaking again. "[color=ed1c24]We're traveling on foot to the next closest outpost. We believe it's about a ten hour walk from here. Hopefully what arms and ammunition hold out until then.[/color]" Hunter was in shock hearing Higgins, they had been there for less then two hours and already most of the company that did land had been killed. The Corporal seemed like he was struggling to speak now. "[color=ed1c24]There's talk... There's talk about leaving behind the wounded, and anyone else who can't make it that far. To save time... The current commanding officer is trying to spread ideas of... using them as bait, and looting them for ammunition.[/color]" He broke out into a some kind of mix between laughing and crying. "[color=ed1c24]To make it worse, I think I am agreeing with them! The only reason I haven't yet is because I don't think we'd make it that far either way.[/color]" This lecture continued for a while. It only stopped when Hunter eventually cut him off.

Hunter barely able to speak cut off his team leader nervously. "[color=007236]Sir, they're getting close. If we leave now, we can still make it before it gets too dark.[/color]" The Corporal just looked up at the young private. "[color=ed1c24]The... The order hasn't been given yet.[/color]" He spoke it like a true panicked soldier. Hunter didn't hate his squad, but he wasn't going to get himself killed because his officers were too scared to act. "[color=007236]Okay then, I'll just... Go see what I can see then.[/color]" He left, seeing his team leader for what he thought would be the last time in his life. Now he just wondered who would live longer, himself or the Corporal. Ass of right now, he was AWOL, even if it was just to regroup with other troops.

For hours he could hear the explosions behind him, hearing the cries for help, the screams of pain, the rambling of those few who happened to survive a little bit longer, and when the battery in his headset died, only his own thoughts. "[color=007236]Dammit.[/color]" Part of his wanted to pull out his personal radio, the little crank he might still be able to pick up some channels of chatter. But he wouldn't be able to reply, and the crank on that thing was not a quiet at all. So now everything was quiet, it had been a long time since he had seen any signs on life, and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He was exhausted though, and his water ran out a couple hours ago. He would be fine for a bit bit he needed water by tomorrow if he was to keep pace. At least it was dark now. Now nothing could see him, unless they had night vision goggles... or had natural night vision... Do any aliens in the Covenant have that? Hunter wasn't sure off the top of his head. He also started to think that he really couldn't see that well. He knew the general direction he needed to go to get to the out-post. His whole company did. But the exact position he wasn't sure. Maybe he could find it by the sounds of gunfire.

He could hear the commotion from pretty far. Or maybe it was close and he was bad at telling? Damn he hated second guessing himself like this. Soon he found himself in a rather interesting situation, there seemed to be a fireteam of... Humans? had he made it? He saw the dead elite on the ground. Maybe it wasn't as dark as he thought it was? maybe it was still just exhaustion. He made himself visible, not realizing he still had blood and plasma marks on him. "[color=007236]I come in peace humans.[/color]" He said half laughing and mostly exhausted. "[color=007236]I heard there was an out-post in this direction? I am lost. And my equipment is more or less useless. SO please tell me you guys know what you're doing?[/color]" He was still trying to smile. But he was scared shitless.

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