The Pelican flew at high speed, roaring as it cut through the Naboo sky, accompanied by a formation of Republic LAATs and more UNSC transports. On board, the entire platoon of Marines prepared for what they knew would be one of the toughest battles. Weapons were ready, gazes steely, and everyone adjusted their equipment with precision, checking every detail before the drop. The atmosphere was charged with tension and excitement, the perfect mix of fear and adrenaline.
Standing in the center of the Pelican, Sergeant Avery Johnson was in his element. With his trademark cigar dangling from the edge of his lips, he leaned against the wall and let out a puff of smoke, watching his men. After a moment, his face lit up with a wild grin, the kind of grin that could inspire even the most frightened.
"Marines!" he shouted, drawing the attention of the entire platoon. He stood up energetically, moving with the confidence of someone who had seen his fair share of action and was still eager for more. "My mom…" he began, leaving a couple seconds of dramatic pause as everyone turned to hear what was coming. "My mom didn't raise any cowards, let alone any son of a bitch who would let some fucking alien kick his ass."
Laughter erupted on the Pelican, a mix of relief and anticipation. Johnson continued, seizing the moment. "We're here to teach those fucking aliens a lesson. This is our planet now! Naboo is human territory, and we're not going to let these Covenant bastards take it without a fight!"
He paced back and forth, pointing at every Marine who was paying attention to him. "So listen up, ladies and gentlemen. We're not just going to win today. We're going to make the Covenant wish they never got out of their fucking beds this morning. We're going to make every single one of those bastards have nightmares about us for the next hundred years! Got it?"
"Yes, Sergeant!" the Marines shouted in unison, slamming their fists against their chests or the walls of the Pelican. The energy immediately surged, infecting everyone on board.
"That's right, we're going to kick their asses and show them why humanity doesn't fuck with anyone! It doesn't matter if we're in space or a fucking swamp, we're going to blow them to smithereens!" Johnson gave them one last look, his grin widening even further. "Now get those guns ready and go make the UNSC and the Republic proud! Hooray, motherfuckers!"
"Hooray!" the Marines responded, slamming their helmets together and slapping each other on the shoulders. Morale was high, motivation was at its peak, and everyone was mentally preparing for what was to come. As they neared the landing point, Sergeant Johnson bit down on his cigar with unwavering determination.
The Pelicans and LAATs continued on their course, troops ready for combat. The offensive on Keren was about to begin, and nothing was going to stop the UNSC and Republic from taking that city back.
The Pelican touched down and the Marines barely needed a second of respite. With trained precision, the ramp lowered, and as soon as it was deployed, the first group of Marines sped out, covering their sectors with relentless fire.
Explosions echoed around them, dust and debris flying as the battle line quickly formed. Sergeant Johnson charged forward, firing his rifle with deadly accuracy, taking out a Grunt that had tried to sneak up on them from the side.
"Go, go! Don't get left behind!" Johnson shouted, waving his arm. "I want this place secured before those aliens even know what hit them!"
A group of Jackals attempted to regroup on the other side of the plaza, taking cover behind their energy shields and firing plasma blasts at the team. The Marines responded with concentrated fire, aiming for the small openings in the shields, until the bullets found their marks and took down several Jackals.
"Watch the sides!" one of the Marines shouted as another group of Elites advanced from a nearby building, firing in rapid succession and forcing the Marines to take cover behind whatever they found around them.
"Leave those cowards in blue to me!" Johnson shouted with a defiant grin as he charged towards them, firing and dodging with calculated moves. He took advantage of a moment when one of the Elites was exposed to throw a grenade, which landed between their feet, exploding in a wave of fire that instantly disintegrated them.
"Come on, gentlemen, we'll earn lunch after this!" Johnson exclaimed, taking the lead. "The command center will be ours, and anyone who tries to stop us is going to get more lead than they've ever had in their life!"
As the Marines secured the perimeter and engaged in combat, a column of Warthogs and Scorpion tanks began to descend, escorted by the Pelicans, which reinforced their line with more troops.
The battle intensified in the streets of Keren, with explosions echoing around every corner and plumes of smoke rising into the sky. The UNSC Marines moved with agility and precision, firing from vehicles and on foot. Accompanied by towering Class II Spartans, they advanced relentlessly, forcing the Covenant back through the ruins of the city.
An armored Warthog moved through the ranks, its machine gun at the rear unleashing constant bursts of fire on the Covenant troops. Scorpions covered the flanks, their heavy cannons tearing holes in the enemy ranks, while Grunts and Jackals fell into a frenzy of fire and destruction.
Sergeant Avery Johnson led his team from the vanguard, throwing grenades and firing in rapid succession. Beside him, a group of clones and two figures stood out: Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, who had just landed and were joining the offensive. Anakin swung his lightsaber, deflecting plasma bolts with deadly precision, while Ahsoka moved her lightsaber in a fluid, defensive dance that took out any enemy that got too close.
"Look out!" Anakin shouted as he deflected a plasma bolt headed toward a Marine, "We need to clear the way across the street or we'll be trapped!"
"You heard the Jedi, guys!" Johnson shouted to his team and the Marines around them. "Nothing's stopping us! Take cover and keep your eyes open! We'll take care of those aliens!"
Johnson charged forward alongside a group of clones firing toward the other end of the street, where several Elites and Brutes had dug in, firing fiercely to prevent the advancing Republic and UNSC troops.
Ahsoka joined the Marines and clones in their advance, taking out the nearest enemies with quick swipes of her lightsaber. "This city is going to be ours!" she screamed, dodging a shot from a Jackal as she spun and cut it in half.
Meanwhile, one of the Spartans charged at a Brute that tried to lunge at Johnson. With brutal force, Samuel knocked it down and took it out with a headshot, covering the Marines behind it. Shots continued to fly, and the screams of the soldiers filled the air.
Anakin led a quick attack on the Covenant position. Using the Force, she pushed a group of Jackals against a wall, leaving them vulnerable to gunfire from the Marines and clones. The combined troops' gunfire continued, and with each step they advanced further into the ground the Covenant had occupied.
As the fighting intensified on the streets of Keren, Ahsoka couldn't help but notice a difference in the way the UNSC Marines and the Republic clones engaged the enemy. The Marines advanced in near-perfect coordination, their movements precise, and each covered the comrade next to them. It seemed like every action was calculated and executed with an efficiency she had, thus far, only witnessed in the Jedi.
Instead, the clones advanced more head-on, lacking the same ability to adapt quickly that the Marines displayed. At times they seemed to rush in without sufficient cover, relying on their numbers and armor more than advanced tactics. Though their valor was undeniable, Ahsoka watched as, one by one, many clones fell, in contrast to the Marines, who kept their casualties more controlled.
"Master..." Ahsoka said as she deflected a plasma blast.
"What is it, Ahsoka?" Anakin replied, spinning his lightsaber to deflect a blast into a column, where a group of Jackals had dug in.
"Have you noticed how the clones... lag behind the UNSC soldiers? The way they fight is... different. They're not as synchronized, and they're taking more casualties."
Anakin cast a quick glance toward the Marines and then back to the clones, who were struggling to keep pace and fall in line with the advancing UNSC soldiers. The clones were brave, disciplined, but the difference in tactics was clear, especially in a high-intensity urban combat like this.
"I've noticed, Ahsoka, but this is no time to be distracted by those differences." Anakin parried an attack and threw a group of Brutes against a wall with the Force. "The clones are trained to endure and advance in a different way, but right now we need every unit we can get, no matter what. Focus on the fight!"
Ahsoka nodded, though she couldn't get the image of the clones falling at a faster pace out of her head. As she advanced with her lightsaber raised, she noticed a group of UNSC Marines directing her to the best position to attack and was surprised to see them giving orders to the clones nearby, helping them take safer positions and better use cover.
The battle reached a harrowing intensity in the streets of Keren. Johnson's squad, along with a squad of clones and the Jedi Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano, advanced through the ruins, clearing every street and position they found. Meanwhile, the communication on the radios kept broadcasting new targets.
"Johnson, this is command! We have reports of civilians trapped in a building north of your position. High priority. We need to clear it now. Remember, you may be surrounded," the voice on the comm commanded.
Johnson nodded and looked at his men. "You heard him, girls! We're going to make this quick. Marines, in entry formation. Clones, cover the windows and corners, I don't want a single stray bullet."
The UNSC Marines immediately took up positions, moving in tight formation. Johnson led, and his men advanced methodically, checking every room and hallway. The clones, though not as experienced in urban combat, followed directions, taking advantage of cover and covering every angle.
As they reached the designated building, Johnson raised his fist, signaling the others to stop. The Marines activated their night vision goggles, detecting slight movement of Covenant patrols inside. They knew that any mistake would cost lives, and their faces showed relentless focus.
With a quick gesture, Johnson signaled a pair of Marines to place charges on the front door. As they exploded, the door blew to pieces and everyone entered with pinpoint precision. The Marines moved silently, communicating only with gestures and glances, while the clones and Jedi brought up the rear.
Inside the building, the Covenant was quick to respond. A burst of plasma fire lit up the building, and the Marines began to return fire. Johnson led the charge, dodging and firing as he gave instructions to his men.
Suddenly, an Elite emerged from the darkness, charging straight at Anakin. The creature delivered a brutal blow that the Jedi barely dodged, losing control of his saber for a moment. Johnson reacted instantly, launching himself at the Elite without hesitation, his knife at the ready. The hand-to-hand fight was fierce; the eight-foot-tall Elite attempted to strangle him, but Johnson, taking advantage of his increased strength thanks to the effects of the first-generation Spartan I, blocked the grab and delivered a series of blows to the Elite's neck, jamming the knife between the seams of its armor.
The Elite tried to recover, but Johnson gave it no chance, drawing his pistol and shooting it in the head with deadly precision. With one last spasm, the alien fell to the ground.
Anakin, surprised and impressed at the same time, looked at Johnson with a grateful smile. "Not bad, Sergeant. I owe you one."
"Don't worry, General. I'm here so you don't end up with an ugly scar," Johnson replied, wiping his knife before turning back to direct the squad. "Come on, we're not here to admire the scenery! Marines, move forward."
Further into the building, they found a room filled with Grunts and Jackals defending a desperate position. The Marines advanced with tactics and precision, throwing grenades into the areas of highest enemy concentration before firing in controlled bursts. The Covenant creatures tried to resist, but the Marines and clones gave them no respite.
Finally, they came to a heavy door blocking the room where the civilians were. "Johnson here, we have visual contact with the room, proceeding to clear!" one of the Marines shouted as Johnson placed another charge on the door.
The explosion exposed several frightened civilians, who were crouching and taking cover behind makeshift furniture. Marines and clones rushed to evacuate the civilians, providing cover as the Covenant attempted their final assault. However, the relentless and well-coordinated team held them at bay, down to the last Jackal.
-x.X.x-
At the other end of Keren City, the situation was critical. Enemy fire was constant, and the UNSC Marines, along with a small squad of clones, had dug in at a series of ruined buildings, withstanding the relentless assault of Covenant forces. The soldiers held their positions with difficulty, crouching in the dust and smoke as plasma rounds whizzed overhead.
"We need immediate air support at coordinates 015, 327. Repeat, 015, 327. The Covenant have reinforcements at this position, and we need a sweep. Requesting a Longsword fighter for precision bombing, over." one of the officers shouted as he dove behind a ruined wall, narrowly dodging a plasma round that exploded just a few meters away.
Confirmation came almost immediately, and the voice on the radio boomed out firmly: "Roger. Longsword fighter inbound. Hold positions."
The soldiers regrouped and prepared a defensive line as engine noises could be heard in the distance. Suddenly, the Longsword fighter passed overhead, and a couple of seconds later, the distinctive sound of high-precision projectiles heading towards the target could be heard. Explosions shook the area upon impact, with devastating force that disintegrated the Covenant troops on the perimeter.
The Marines and clones took advantage of the moment to advance quickly, while smoke and fire covered what was once an enemy position. The timing was brutal: while the Spartans of Noble Team joined the offensive, the clones and Marines covered their flanks, eliminating the Grunts and Jackals that tried to repel the offensive.
Inside the buildings in the area, the Covenant forces were organizing for a counterattack, launching ambushes from different levels and using improvised barriers to create bottlenecks. Noble Six and Emile, with precision, broke through those barriers while the others covered every corner and corridor.
"Going up!" Emile shouted as he reloaded, and with a swift movement, he made his way to the next floor of the building.
There, they came face to face with intense resistance: two armored Elites, standing in the center of the room, coordinated their platoon of soldiers. Without hesitation, the Spartans launched themselves into combat. Emile, taking advantage of the surprise, plunged his knife into the throat of one of the Elites while Samuel covered him, firing in bursts calculated to clear the area of any other enemy.
The other Elite turned and, with tremendous force, threw Emile backwards. Samuel took over and delivered a devastating blow with his rifle, breaking through the alien's energy armor and creating an opening for an accurate shot. At his side, Carter took down a group of Jackals that tried to surround them, firing with deadly precision at their shields and then finishing them off with plasma blasts that covered the room in controlled chaos.
As they advanced, the soldiers maintained formation, their movements precise and calculated. They traversed a series of narrow corridors, each step a fight to the death as Grunts fell one after another. Noble Six led the way, taking one of the staircases that led directly to the Covenant control center.
Opening the door, the team found the command room filled with tall, powerful figures: several Elite generals, fully armed and ready for battle. The atmosphere was charged with tension in an instant.
There were no words, just action. The Elites roared and charged at them, their energy swords whizzing through the air. Noble Six dodged an Elite's first attack, countering with a direct shot at the alien's torso, whose defenses were momentarily disabled. Taking advantage of the opening, Sam fired a burst from behind, piercing his armor and dropping him with a thud.
Emile, meanwhile, faced another general directly, spinning and striking at just the right moment, using his knife to stab him in the side before the alien managed to recover. The blows were brutal, hand-to-hand, where each Spartan risked his life.
Meanwhile, Carter and the Marines were clearing the area around the control room, eliminating any enemy that tried to get close. The clones, despite being outnumbered, were also fighting with impressive ferocity, covering the Spartans and providing suppressing fire.
After several minutes of fighting, Noble Team had eliminated all of the Elite generals, who now lay on the ground alongside the rest of their fallen troops. The control room was secured, and one of the Marines patched a signal to central command.
"Covenant control center secured," Carter reported.
-x.X.x-
Sergeant Johnson and his team sped through the ruins of Keren's streets, the roar of the Warthogs' engines echoing as they moved in convoy formation, clearing out any Covenant resistance that still stood in their way. Scorpion armor and tanks advanced in sync behind the Warthogs, covering every corner and intersection as the unit moved toward the makeshift base the UNSC had set up in the heart of the city.
"Come on, boys, we're almost there!" Johnson shouted from his position in the Warthog's gunner's seat, his eyes alert as the barrel of his machine gun swung back and forth. "This is no time to let our guard down. There are still Covenant roaches waiting to get some of this love!"
From the driver's seat, a Marine nodded, accelerating even faster as they crossed the ruins of collapsed buildings and dodged plasma craters. Although explosions and sounds of combat continued in the distance, enemy resistance was much less in this area, indicating that the Covenant had begun to retreat towards the outskirts of the city or other more fortified positions.
A Scorpion a few meters behind the Warthog unleashed a burst of gunfire at a ruined structure where they had detected enemy movement. The building collapsed in a cloud of dust and debris, eliminating what appeared to have been a small squad of Grunts and Jackals attempting to lay an ambush.
"Nice shot, Scorpion!" Johnson shouted over the radio, a satisfied smile on his face.
As they neared the location of the makeshift base, Johnson watched as Pelican ships landed at strategic points, deploying Marine reinforcements, more vehicles, and supplies. The UNSC presence in the city was now imposing, and the coordination and efficiency of their forces showed the determination with which they had come to confront the Covenant.
Arriving at the entrance to the makeshift base, Johnson and his team climbed out of the Warthog. The soldiers around them, exhausted but determined, greeted them with a nod of respect.
A UNSC officer approached Johnson. "Sergeant Johnson, reports indicate that Covenant resistance is waning in this area, but pockets of fighting are still detected to the south and at the edge of the city. We need to make sure every corner is cleared before we call this operation complete."
Johnson nodded, lighting a cigarette. "We will, officer. Tell the rest of the boys not to relax just yet. The Covenant always has an ace up their sleeve, and we're going to teach them a lesson that they have no place here."
With one last glance at his team, Johnson prepared for a quick strategy meeting at the base, making sure everyone was in position and ready to keep any Covenant resistance in check.
End of Chapter 15.