Chapter 1: Downhill "You all have been summoned here because our F.O.B is under attack." announced General Brooks. A murmur travelled through the briefing room. "The main problem we have is that they have attacked in numbers. And I'm talking big numbers." A projection of an aerial photograph appeared on a screen behind the General. It had large yellow marks on it. "This was taken three days ago. They had four hundred soldiers in that area." said General Brooks pointing at the valley containing the yellow marks on the photograph. He pressed a button beside the screen. Another photograph came up but this time the yellow marks had expanded. "This was taken five hours before the attack. As you can see, their numbers increased from 400 to well over 5000." said the General. "The other worrying thing is this." he said zooming in on the troops. A convoy of trucks were carrying UNSC gear. "They have UNSC equipment and very powerful equipment indeed." "1st Battalion! You are the ones flying in there to assist our troops." said Brooks. Wolf, Shadow, Hawk and Vigil entered the room. "Sorry sir!" said Wolf saluting. "We got caught up." "And so are you!" said General Brooks pointing at the squad. "We are what?" said Hawk. "You four will be heading out to the battlefield." shouted Brooks. "Now move it!" he ordered. Everyone in the debriefing room chimed together, "Sir, yes Sir!" The soldiers ran past Wolf and out of the room. "What's going on Sir!" asked Shadow. "Get to Pelican 23! Now!" ordered Brooks. "But what's happening?" asked Vigil. "The Pilot will brief you! Go!" shouted Brooks. Wolf tried to talk. "I said now!" shouted Brooks. The squad turned and ran out of the room. ********************************************************************************************************************************************************* “The Insurrectionists are trying to push us out of here!” said Wolf. “They are assaulting our Forward Operations Base as we speak.” The squad were violently lurched in their Pelican. “Jesus.” said Shadow. “How did they get this gear?” “Who knows? Black Market, smuggling or they stole it off us.” “We’re being dropped right on top of the battle.” said Wolf. “What?!” said Hawk in alarm. “Oh this is gonna be fun!” said Vigil. “Ready up!” said the Pilot to the squad. The squad stood up. Wolf checked his gear. Two SMGs, five frags and enough ammo to last him for at least twenty reloads. “Door opening!” said the Pilot. The Pelican’s troop bay door opened wide. The squad looked on as countless bullets streamed from both armies. Suddenly a shell exploded right beside the Pelican. “We’re hit! Going down.” said the Pilot in panic. “Oh God!” shouted Wolf. The Pelican slammed into the battlefield. Wolf was thrown out of the bay door and landed hard on the ground. After a few minutes, he slowly stumbled up. Wolf looked for his squad. He couldn’t see anything but the advancing UNSC soldiers run by him. Wolf caught a glimpse of Shadow. He was lying on the ground fatally wounded. Hawk ran over to Shadow and began to drag him away. Wolf also saw Vigil standing on a mound of earth. He was firing at the Insurrectionists. Wolf turned and looked at the Pelican. The fuel was on fire. He tried to run. Wolf was blown off his feet by the fuel tanks of the Pelican exploding. He landed on his back. Wolf’s ears were ringing. “Wolf!” he faintly heard someone shout. “Get up! We need to move!” Wolf felt like his body weighed a ton. He lay looking at the sky. A Falcon zoomed right above Wolf before exploding. “Dammit Wolf! Come on!” he heard someone shout again. The ringing in his ears had ceased. Wolf looked to his left and saw a SMG. He rolled over and grabbed the SMG and stood upright. “Get to that Warthog! Now!” said Hawk, the team’s Medic, gesturing towards an abandoned Warthog. Her white Prefect armour was stained red. She was dragging Shadow with her. Shadow had deep penetrations in his green Orbital armour and his visor had been shattered. “Is he dead?” asked Wolf. “He will be if you and Vigil don’t get to the Warthog.” replied Hawk. Wolf turned around and saw Vigil unloading rounds from his DMR into the advancing Insurrectionists. “HAHAHAHA! Die!” screamed Vigil. The shell casings bounced off his blue and white Deadeye armour. “Vigil! Get to the Warthog now” ordered Wolf. “What?! Im having fun here!” replied Vigil over the hail of bullets flying at their battalion. “Shadow is dying! We have to go!” shouted Wolf. Vigil didn’t reply. Wolf ran over to Vigil and grabbed his arm. “You listen to me. You obey orders from me. Now move it before I really get mad.” hissed Wolf. Vigil shook him off. “Fine.” he grumbled. The squad entered the abandoned Warthog. Shadow was sprawled out in the back. He was groaning with the pain. “Gun it!” shouted Hawk. Wolf drove the Warthog full speed swerving past the UNSC forces going the opposite way. “Get back to the F.O.B!” said Hawk. Wolf drove the warthog over the hill overlooking the base. “Sweet Jesus.” said Wolf. The Rebels had breached the gate. Its not much but its a start. Ill do more if you like it.