Last Hope

Chapter Fifteen

"Well," Logan said "what are we waiting for?"

"We need a plan," Pookie said.

"Yeah," Rose said "and I've got one."

"What is it?" Tucker asked.

"Well," she started "we still have one rocket left.  We could use that as a welcoming present, hit the bulk of them with that.  Then hit the stragglers with a few sniper rounds, but we don't have anymore snipers."

"Yeah we do," Tucker interrupted.

"How?" Chy asked.

"Hang on," Tucker said "This is Spartan 609, requesting four ordinance drops."

"This is UNSC Armageddon," a voice said through an open radio signal "permission granted for ordinance drop on your location.  Please verify the cargo."

"Three sniper rifles," Tucker responded "and an extra set of magazines for said rifles."

"Confirming order," the voice said "Three 99C-Series 2 Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle Systems with and another drop of just spare magazines for the systems.  Is that correct?"

"Always so formal," Tucker said shaking his head "yes, that's correct." 

"Drop commencing," the voice said "packages away."

There was a loud rumble, it seemed to be right over them.

"What is that?" Clementine asked "another Covenant ship?"

"Nah," Sabre said "too quite, has to be human."

"And three," Tucker said "two-"

When he reached one there was an enormous thud above them that cut him off.

"There's the weapons I ordered," Tucker said "I'll be a sniper, I'll take Noob, Ashley, and Rose up there.  Rose, once you're out of rounds, get your butt back in here.  Logan will be waiting and he'll keep you safe."

"Okay," Rose said looking at Logan.

"I'll keep her safe," Logan said.

"What are we gonna do?" Sabre asked.

"You guys are gonna keep your heads down," Tucker said "you guys have done enough."

"No," Chy said "you've done enough, you saved us from those wraiths, two hunters, two chieftains, and a whole crap ton of other aliens.  You should be the one keeping you head down."

"With all due respect," Doc said "it was our job to get you out of here not the other way around."

"I'm gonna remind you guys," Tucker said shaking his head "you already got me out of here.  When that shuttle first took off, I was out of here, but I came back, and now it's my job to keep you guys safe.  It's my duty as a soldier to keep you guys safe."

Nobody said anything, but finally Sabre spoke up.

"I'm sorry," he said "but that's a stupid decision."

"What do you mean?" Tucker said "you guys could decide the outcome of the war."

"So could you," Clementine said "in fact, that's the reason we're even here.  For you, you're important."

"I never said I planned on dying," Tucker said "I just want to make sure you guys don't.  To be honest with you guys, I've thought about dying here, today.  But then the thought of you guys comes into my mind, and it gives me a reason to keep on fighting.  But, if I had to die I'm gonna die fighting for something.  Something that I want to keep going on, something that needs to keep going.  I'm not that something, I never was."