The Song of Infinity

Hidden Enemy Part 1:Combative Stance

Buck, his team and a platoon of Marines had been selected by Generals Kenobi and Skywalker to assist in an ambush. Jackhammer rocket launchers, MA40s and even grenade launchers had been packed by the UNSC's troops, with Romeo and the Marine platoon's Marksman already setting up their scoped rifles atop each of the two towers the Jedi had elected for this ambush.

Buck had been stuck with General Skywalker for the time being, the ODST's gaze peering down at a battalion of droids marching down the viaduct they were defending. He looked to Skywalker and said, "EM Grenades should do fine against these tin cans, right? Eggheads upstairs told us the units we sent to them were not shielded against pulses like them."

Anakin nodded, "That's the concept behind our Droid Poppers. An EM Pulse powerful enough to fry them."

"Sounds good to me, sir," Mickey grinned as he loaded a dual-purpose grenade in his single-shot grenade launcher. Buck hummed and snorted, watching the Clankers approaching them, all while Rex and the clones around prepped their weapons to engage the foe. Across from them, general Kenobi's troopers prepared heavy plasma auto-cannons to engage as well.

"Droid Poppers can also stun people, depending on their setting," Rex clarified as he joined up with them, causing Buck and the others to look at him, dumbfound. Rex then clarified, "I've seen holos of them being used in testing against sentients with a working nervous system. Their muscles locked up and they fell over, but were confirmed to be alive by testing. Recovery ain't that long either."

Mickey paused, "Huh. Riot control EMPs."

"Should be fun to tell ONI about," Murmured Buck as he shifted his gaze back toward the advancing Droids. He blanked, however, then elbowed Skywalker and said, "Rear of the formation. Counting three Hovertanks..." the design of which heavily reminded him of a combination between their Scorpion and the Covenant and Swords of Sangheilios's Wraith. The wide half-moon plate at the base also had projectile launchers, it seems, while two bars on the sides of the vehicle's main armored body held quad plasma cannons and, finally, the rounded, armored turret mounted what looked to be a cannon of almost similar design to a Scorpion's.

"That... Could be a problem..." Anakin sighed, then called up Obi-Wan on the com-link, "Master, we've got armor coming in."

"We saw it, too, Anakin. It's good that our allies have brought over anti-armor equipment after all... Steady as she goes," Obi-Wan replied, voice audible over the radio. The man was as calm as always, Anakin thought as his hand hovered loosely over his lightsaber's hilt.

Dutch walked up to the window, eyeing the enemy tanks, then patted his laser and said, "Good thing we brought Jackhammers and a Laser..." as he eyed the machines. Buck hummed in agreement, shouldering his MA40 while the Marines around them prepped their own heavy weapons. One of the Marines, a guy, looked toward the advancing CIS Battalion. Dutch put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Relax, kid..." before humming, "Did you guys hear the Arbiter's planning on sending his own troops in? He's in talks with Yularen now, too, after we gave them the codes."

"Oh, boy," Snorted Mickey, "Hinge-jaws are gonna be dropping in, too, eh?"

"I'd not diss the Sangheili too much, Mickey," Dutch quipped, "Sure, the bastards did what they did, but the Arbiter and his faction are atoning for it, at least."

"Was just saying, Dutch," The explosive expert replied, "I'm glad they're on our side nowadays. Feels good not to have an Energy Sword swinging for my god damn neck for once..." And that got a laugh out of the Marines and Buck. Gunny himself stared at his team with a half-smile behind his helmet, then noted the Rookie and a Clone Trooper to his right, conversing via hand signals. A bullet to the vocal cords sometimes does that to a man, but Rookie was making an incredible recovery.