Halo: Conflicts

Chapter 3: Maginot Line

August 19, 2552
Planet Reach
1230 hours
   
Marines yell orders as cars, sandbags, and dumpsters are positioned as cover. A small convoy of Warthogs enters the city block and the vehicles park in strategic locations, their mounts ready to use. Snipers line several rooftops in wait. Barricades, mounted turrets, and riflemen fill nearly every meter of the block, but this is not unusual. The same setup exists on every road parallel to this one.... a rigid barrier of UNSC strength. This is the modern Maginot Line.
   
Among the Marines are six Spartans, tall and ready for the approaching battle. Josh-A124 has taken his position among the elevated marksmen. John-A222 is speaking with a Marine officer while the rest of his men prep their weapons or sharpen their knives. The Marine officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson Sorvis, speaks to John. "Commander, you and your Spartans are going to play a big role today." He sniffs, weary of the hours of preparation. "We're expecting a hard hit so you Spartans will need to kick some extra ass." John looks over his shoulder at his men. Adam-B226 looks around, watching the Marines. John nods and responds, "Got it, sir." Gesturing to the sky, Lieutenant Colonel Sorvis continues. "The fleet is finished. All our ships scattered or destroyed, our resources are limited. Stalwart Dawn is prepared to send ODSTs, the 25th Battalion, as needed, but she has a very narrow window." He pauses. "Our goal is to hold until then." The Spartan nods again, prompting Sorvis to return the gesture. The Marine then turns to address other affairs, and John approaches his men. He comms, "Josh, you awake up there?" The response comes through,* "Won't be for much longer if these apes don't show soon." John looks each of his squadmates over. "We have our objective, Spartans. Let's make the most of it." The Spartans nod and reply, "Yes sir." John turns his head, looking into the distance.
   
1345 hours
     
There is a pulsating hiss as a brilliant blue plasma mortar arcs over the heads of UNSC forces. The gunfire is deafening. Sniper fire rains down into the enemy ranks in volleys. Warthog turrets and mounted machine guns spray the hostiles as if they were a wildfire. The Marines and Spartans alike duck behind their barricades, constantly leaning up to send rounds at their foes. A plasma mortar crashes behind them, sending a Warthog spiraling in flames. Marines shout over the gunfire. "Medic! We need a medic over here!... Maintain your fire!... Tangos to the left! Hit 'em hard!" John-A222 stands alongside several Marines, firing a DMR at the combined force of Grunt, Jackals, Brutes, and Hunters. Timothy-A130 climbs over a crate, Spartan Laser in-hand. The charged red beam pierces through an enemy Wraith, sending debris into the air. Lieutenant Colonel Sorvis comms to A222. "Commander, move your team up. We need to show some o-" The comm cuts. John looks back for Sorvis and spots him, glowing pink crystals protruding from his shoulder and thigh. John moves back and grabs him by the arm. The Spartan continues firing with one hand as he moves the injured Marine behind a crate. "I gave you.... gave you orders... Spartan. Get out there and.... Kick their asses." The Spartan nods and gestures a medic over. "Will do sir." He straightens and moves back up. He fires and looks to the side at his men. Adam, Timothy, Tyler, and Nathan all exchange nods with the Commander. They stand firm for a moment, checking weapons until John speaks. He comms, "Going nova." With that, he leaps over a barricade and charges the line of Covenant. The other members of his squad follow, plunging into the alien wall.
  
1350 hours
  
John is holding a Jackal by the neck. It squawks until the Spartan slams it into the ground. He raises his DMR and send bullets piercing into Grunts, Brutes, and all others in his path. Adam beats the shield of another Jackal, busting it. He rips a Carbine from its hands and drives it into the Jackal's head. Tyler-B037 pumps his shotgun repeatedly, sending spreads into the waves of Covenant. Timothy fires a rocket, eliminating an entire Covenant lance and leaving only a blast mark. All of this occurs in the intense crossfire of Covenant and Marines. John's DMR clicks empty and he draws a submachine gun from his thigh. A Grunt is peppered, falling back in a splash of fluorescent blue blood. Throughout the engagement, local comms are a mess. Orders, reports, questions.... All fill radio frequencies. Suddenly, a new voice is heard. "This is the UNSC Stalwart Dawn here to assist. Helljumpers inbound." Many UNSC forces, including some of the Spartans, briefly look up to see the pods pierce through the clouds. Adam's shields burst and he tactically roles to a nearby crate as they recharge. John's shields shimmer as they block plasma and spikes. Columns of smoke descend to the surface as a hellstorm of ODSTs impacts in the distance.
   
1834 hours
  
The sun is setting, but the gunfire is still constant. UNSC forces are being pushed back for the third time. Despite the droves of Covenant infantry that have been killed, the UNSC faces similar, if not greater, losses. Josh-A124 is moving through the second story of a large building, firing from windows at every opportunity. He can see the volley of blue plasma mortars light up the darkening city streets... along with flames. He reaches a stairwell and practically dives down them. He is on the ground floor in a matter of seconds. The thunder of gunfire is muffled by the building walls as he charges out into the street. He runs towards his team but is knocked to the ground as a large Brute slams into him. The beast roars as Josh draws his knife. It then is silenced and collapses, revealing John-A222 standing behind it. "Hurry, we need to move." Several squads, many of which are fractions, dart past, pursued by Brutes and Jackals. John fires an assault rifle, trying to distract some of the predators. Josh gets to his feet and nods. Together, they run down the street toward a makeshift UNSC line.
  
They turn as soon as they are with allies, firing. The combined fire of Marines, ODSTs, and Spartans drops many hostiles, but does little to slow the overall momentum. "Are we losing John?" Josh asks. He sends several sniper rounds into a cluster of Brutes. "Not yet." There is a rumble and the ground vibrates. Some of the Marines look back, along with Josh, only to see a line of Scorpions rolling up behind them. The tanks fire their primary batteries in series, placing explosions into the very heart of the Covenant mob. Several Brutes continue forward, but Grunts and Jackals begin to fall back.
  
The line of UNSC forces charge, with tanks bringing up the rear. The artillery pummels clusters of enemy infantry. Covenant squads place great distance in between them and the UNSC line and the battle slowly quiets. After a short time, scout teams move up and disappear into the war-torn city ahead.
  
2046 hours
  
Small fires light the streets. Marines and ODSTs try to identify dead and salvage what they can. A resurgence of UNSC forces is pushing up, engaging Covenant forces wherever they can. The deployments are now highly fireteam-based. John-A222 stands in a local restaurant with several UNSC officers. The abandoned building serves as a makeshift command center. A recon team leader speaks, "The Covenant have by no means been devastated." He points to regions on a holoprojection of the city sector. "Covenant teams began focusing their attention on isolated raids and skirmishes rather than the full-force assault we have been experiencing. Another officer, First Lieutenant Jacob Misarik cuts in. "They just lost interest in us? No way." Major Matthew Cumberland shakes his head. "I've seen Covenant tactics. They are planning something." He pauses "They didn't lose interest.... They no longer see us as a threat."