Location: Miranda Colony - Covenant Convoy Route
Date: April 12, 2533
Time: 0530 Hours
The smoke from the destroyed Wraiths still hung in the air as we pushed forward, taking advantage of the brief moment of chaos in the Covenant ranks. Plasma fire streaked across the sky, illuminating the rocky terrain in sharp flashes. Every step felt heavier as we fought to maintain momentum against the growing Covenant resistance.
"Keep pushing! We need to clear that last transport!" I shouted, my voice hoarse from the constant yelling.
Alice was ahead, leading Alpha Fireteam in a wide arc to flank the remaining Ghosts and transports. Her movements were precise, her rifle steady as she picked off targets one by one. I had to give it to her—no matter how tough things got, she never lost focus.
I ducked behind a large boulder, reloading my M392 as I signaled for Bravo Fireteam to move up. Barnes and Silva were keeping pace, their weapons firing in controlled bursts as we closed in on the last of the Covenant supply convoy.
"Cass, they're bringing in reinforcements from the east!" Alice called over the comms. "We've got to move fast!"
I cursed under my breath, glancing over my shoulder at the ridge where a new wave of Covenant forces was approaching. More Ghosts, backed by Grunts and Jackals, were barreling down on us. We didn't have time to sit around.
"Bravo, focus fire on that last transport! Take out the drivers before they can get away!" I ordered, my eyes locking on the bulky Covenant supply vehicle that was still trying to make its escape.
Barnes was already on it, her rifle trained on the driver's cabin. A few well-placed shots, and the Elite piloting the transport slumped forward, dead. The vehicle skidded to a halt, its massive wheels kicking up dust as it ground to a stop.
"We got it!" Barnes shouted, her voice tinged with adrenaline.
But the victory was short-lived. The reinforcements were closing in fast, and we were running out of time.
"Fall back to the ridge!" I called, signaling the retreat. "We've done what we came here to do. We need to get out before we're pinned down."
Location: Miranda Colony - Rocky Ridge
Date: April 12, 2533
Time: 0545 Hours
We scrambled up the ridge, the ground shaking beneath us as the Covenant reinforcements fired their plasma cannons in pursuit. The heat from the shots made the air sizzle, and the rocky terrain provided little cover. I could feel the weight of every step, the exhaustion starting to set in, but we couldn't stop now.
"Come on, we're almost there!" I shouted, urging Bravo Fireteam forward.
Alice and Alpha Fireteam were already at the top, laying down suppressive fire to keep the Covenant at bay. As soon as I reached the ridge, I dropped to one knee, raising my rifle and firing at the approaching Ghosts.
"We need air support!" Alice called over the comms. "There's no way we can hold them off much longer!"
I gritted my teeth, knowing she was right. The Covenant forces were pouring in, more than we could handle on our own. But we had completed the mission—disrupting the supply line. Now, it was just about getting out alive.
"Doss, we need extraction!" I barked into the comms, trying to keep my voice steady as the situation worsened. "We've got the transports, but the Covenant is closing in fast!"
Doss's voice crackled in my ear, calm but firm. "Copy that. Pelicans are inbound. Hold your position for five more minutes."
Five minutes. In a firefight like this, it might as well have been five hours.
I glanced at Alice, who was already pulling a grenade from her belt. "Think we can last that long?"
She flashed a grim smile. "Guess we're about to find out."
Location: Miranda Colony - Ridge Defensive Position
Date: April 12, 2533
Time: 0550 Hours
The next five minutes were a blur of gunfire and explosions. The Covenant forces kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. Plasma fire rained down on us, forcing us to take cover behind whatever rocks and debris we could find.
Barnes was beside me, her face set in determination as she fired her last few rounds into a group of Grunts trying to flank us. "I'm almost out!" she called, her voice strained.
"Make every shot count," I replied, reloading my own weapon. My ammo was running low too, but we didn't have a choice. We had to hold.
Alice tossed a grenade into the path of an approaching Ghost, the explosion sending the vehicle skidding off course. It crashed into a boulder, bursting into flames, but more were still coming.
"Where's that extraction?!" Silva shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
"Almost there!" I called back, firing off another burst at a Jackal that was lining up a shot.
And then, through the smoke and dust, I saw it—the familiar shape of UNSC Pelicans swooping down from the sky. Their engines roared as they descended, their side guns already opening fire on the Covenant forces below.
"Pelicans incoming!" Alice shouted, her relief evident in her voice.
We didn't waste any time. As soon as the Pelicans touched down, we sprinted for the ramps, covering each other as we made the final push for extraction. Plasma fire chased us all the way, but we didn't stop. We couldn't.
I reached the Pelican last, diving onto the ramp just as the engines roared to life. The doors slammed shut behind us, sealing us inside as the dropship lifted off, leaving the battlefield behind.
I leaned back against the cold metal, my chest heaving as I caught my breath. Around me, the rest of the squad was doing the same, exhausted but alive.
"We made it," Barnes muttered, slumping against the wall.
Alice sat down beside me, her helmet in her lap, her face flushed from the heat of the fight. "Close call," she said with a wry smile.
"Too close," I replied, wiping the sweat from my brow.
We'd done it. We'd completed the mission. But the war was far from over.
Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base - Miranda Colony
Date: April 12, 2533
Time: 0615 Hours
Back at the base, the mood was subdued. We had completed the mission, but the toll was starting to show. The squad was tired, the constant pace of the war wearing on all of us. But we didn't have time to dwell on it.
Doss debriefed us quickly, nodding his approval as we reported the success of the operation. "Good work out there. We've dealt a serious blow to the Covenant supply chain, but don't get too comfortable. There's more to come."
His words hung in the air like a heavy weight. We knew what that meant—more missions, more battles, more losses. But we were soldiers. This was what we signed up for.
As the debrief ended and the squad dispersed, I found myself standing alone near the edge of the base, staring out at the distant horizon. My mind drifted to Sam, wondering where she was, what she was doing. The war was keeping us apart, but I couldn't shake the hope that someday, it would be different.
For now, though, I had to keep moving forward. We all did.