UNSCDF Chapter 6- The Insertion

Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, USA

Insertion Alpha

March 20, 2001

1230 Local Time

            Zyrok sat at the seat behind the cockpit door of the Pelican and looked at Echo Squad calmly sitting down and chatting. On the turret stood an excited Hawkes as he looked at the places the Pelican passed by.

           “Alright Echo Squad, we will be approaching Insertion Alpha in three minutes.” the pilot spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Copy that.” Zyrok replied.

            “All right gentlemen, lock and load!” Zyrok shouted out loud as he pulled out his USP.

            “Sound off!” Casey shouted as he pumped his Washington 870.

            “All good here Sarge.” Stevens checked his M16.

            “Same here.” Taylor adjusted his M21 scope.

            “Ready.” Stewart slung his UMP to his back.

            “I’m good.” Hawkes hollered as he took a glance at his M16.

           The Pelican descended slowly over farmlands and landed at a patch of tall grass. Hawkes scanned the fields with the turret and looked at Zyrok.

            “Clear!” Hawkes shouted.

            “Everyone out!” Zyrok commanded.

            “Let’s go marines. Out! Out! Out!” Casey stood up from his seat and waved at the marines.

            The men quickly jumped out of the Pelican and formed a circle in the field.

            “Good luck Echo Squad.” the Pelican pilot spoke on the RaidCall as the Pelican lifted up.

          Zyrok looked as the Pelican turned its heading back to the base and another Pelican approaching towards them.

            “Good luck Zyrok.” Forester spoke on the RaidCall and waved at Zyrok.

            “Good luck Forester.” Zyrok waved back.

            Zyrok took out his datapad and pressed some buttons. He looked at it for a minute and then placed it onto his belt.

            “Alright marines, Omega Squad’s camp is two kilometers east of here. We’ll split up into two squads and approach it Southwest and West from the camp.” Zyrok directed.

            “Stewart and Taylor on me.” Zyrok pointed.

         “Alright, you heard the LT. The rest of you form up on me.” Casey waved his hand in a circular motion.

            “We’ll be call sign Echo 1-3.” Zyrok spoke to Casey.

            “We’re call sign Echo 2-3 then.” Casey responded.

            “Copy, let’s move.” Zyrok stood up and hustled his men to move.

            “See you later LT.” Casey waved and walked in a different direction.

          Zyrok led his men through some tall grass and then motioned to crouch. In the center of the grass field stood a spiked muscular zombie. Zyrok thought about whether to kill it or not, but decided it would be in the team’s interest to complete their objective.

            “We’ll go around it. Our task is to go to Omega Squad’s camp.” Zyrok looked at the zombie as it stood still.

            “Good idea, we’re not even sure how to fight it.” Stewart looked at the zombie.

            “We’ll just have to go around using the grass for cover and keep ourselves quiet.” Zyrok motioned to move right from the zombies.

Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, USA

Insertion Bravo

March 20, 2001

1245 Local Time

          Forester watched as their Pelican lifted off. The group of marines gathered around Forester and waited for their orders.

            “Alright marines, I’ll form Tango 1-3. Sergeant Mitchell, Corporal Milo, and Private Tyler on me.” Forester gave out instructions. “The rest of Fire Team Tango will form Tango 2-5.”

            “Understood.” Stokes nodded.

            “Copy ma’am.” Mitchell replied.

            “Tango 2-5 would enter the power plant while 1-3 would be searching the labs.” Forester directed.

            “Understood LT.” Mitchell acknowledged with a nod.

            “Let’s move people.” Stoked shouted.

            “Good luck Sergeant.” Forester waved him goodbye.

            Stokes led his men to the building next to the power plant and entered last before taking one more glance at Forester’s team.

           “Alright, the lab is a couple hundred meters from here. Let’s get a move on it.” Forester pointed at a charred building.

            “Keep your eyes sharp.” Mitchell steadied his MSG-9 as he looked into the scope to observe the surrounding areas.

            “Will do Sarge.” Milo held his UMP close to his chest.

          “Be careful, we might encounter the mutated zombies. Engage only when under attack.” Forester pulled out her SIC Apollo sidearm and walked forward.

            “Not sure if we’re lucky if we encounter the zombies or not.” Tyler scoped with his SA80.

            “Doesn’t matter. We’re here to find Omega Squad. Let us be lucky in finding them.” Mitchell replied with a grin.

          “Or what’s left.” Forester interrupted as she looked at a severed arm on the ground with a UNSC insignia.

            “Damn.” Milo replied with disgust.

            “Keep searching.” Mitchell urged on.

            “Suddenly a zombie ran out from behind Tyler and knocked him to the ground.

            “Argh.” Tyler shouted in pain as he smashed face first into the ground.

            “Kill it.” Mitchell shouted and ran at the zombie.

          Milo pulled out his combat knife and slashed at the zombie’s back as it tried to reach for the fallen Tyler. To Milo’s surprise, his knife couldn’t cut through the skin. Mitchell ran up beside the zombie and swung the stock of his MSG-9 to the zombie’s head. The zombie fell to the ground and growled. Both Mitchell and Tyler whacked the zombie with their guns until the zombie’s head was caved in.

            “What the hell is this?” Milo looked at the zombie’s skin.

            “A burnt zombie.” Forester approached and gave Tyler a hand.

           “That was some serious whacking. These guys are a lot tougher.” Mitchell looked at the caved in face.

            “You alright Tyler?” Forester asked with concern.

            “I’m alright LT, just didn’t expect it.” Tyler replied.

        “Other than a crack on your visor, your armor looks normal.” Milo walked up beside Tyler and examined his gear.

           “A crack? That’s nothing, I’m just glad to be alive.” Tyler picked up his SA80 that he dropped on the ground.

            “Let’s get moving and check your corners.” Forester waved.

            Forester led her team to the doors of the laboratory. The two metal doors were pried open halfway.

            “Lights on.” Forester took out her flashlight from her belt and shone in the darkness while holding her SIC Apollo.

            “Copy that. Milo watch the entrance. Nothing gets in and nothing gets out.” Mitchell commanded as he turned on his flashlight on his MSG-9.

            “Yes sir.” Milo stood at the entrance as the team walked into the darkness.

           “Weapons free people.” Forester flipped the safety switch off as she saw three mutilated bodies on the ground.

            “Looks like the scientists.” Tyler studied at the bodies.

            “No signs of Omega yet.” Mitchell spoke and looked around.

            “Tango 2-5, this is Tango 1-3. See any signs of Omega yet?” Forested spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Not yet ma’am, we’re about to enter the plant.” Stoked replied.

            “Copy that, 1-3 out.” Forester replied.

          “Sergeant, can you put a flare here to mark our path?” Forester pointed at the ground as they reached a forked path.

            “Sure thing LT.” Mitchell took out a flare and dropped it on the ground.

            “Now what?” Tyler asked as he looked left and right down the dark halls.

            “I’ll take the left and you take the right.” Forester spoke to the men.

            “You sure LT?” Mitchell asked with concern.

            “Yeah, no worries Sergeant.” Forester replied.

            “Alright, let’s move Tyler.” Mitchell took point and turned right.

         Forester looked at the men disappear into the darkness and she looked at the flare. She took one more look behind and turned left. She approached the first door and went inside. There were smashed computers and paper all over the ground. She directed her flashlight to a broken desk and noticed a helmet. Forester picked it up and examined the helmet.

            “This is UNSC’s.” Foresters concluded.

           Suddenly, a crash came from behind her and Forester quickly turned around and pointed her gun, but saw nothing. Another noise came from behind her and Forester spun around to see a burnt zombie with military equipment. The zombie ran at her swinging its arms at her randomly. Forester took a step to the right and dodged the blow. The zombie growled and took another swing, but Forester dodged again. Forester kicked the zombie and fired a round to its chest. It did not kill the zombie, but made it more aggressive. Forester fired two rounds into the head and brought the zombie down. She stood over the body and looked at the name tag. On the armor was the name “Willow” stenciled on it. She looked at the badge on its arm and saw the Omega Squad insignia.

            “Damn, the zombies got him.” Forester reached down and pulled off Willow’s UNSC dog tag and placed it into her pocket.

            Forester searched the body for any ammunition and found none. She reached into the back pocket of the body and found a notepad. She flipped it open and saw a hand drawn sketch of a burnt zombie with notes about the zombie characteristics.

            “This is good Intel.” Forester told herself and placed the notepad into her pocket.

            “This is Tango 2-5, encountering hostile…backup over.” Stoked spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Tango 2-5, this is Tango 1-3. Please repeat over.” Forester spoke back not sure what Stokes need backup for.

            “1-3, we’re pinned down by a massive… Oh no! It got through! Run people!” Stokes replied.

         “Copy 2-5, we’ll be on our way. What’s your location 2-5?” Forester turned and walked out the room.

            “We’re at power plant three. Man down! Cover fire marines. Argh!” Stokes communication ended.

            “Come in 2-5. Come in 2-5, over.” Forester spoke with concern and got no reply.

        “All units in Tango 1-3, rendezvous at Milo’s location at the front door.” Forester spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Copy LT. We’re heading back.” Mitchell replied on the RaidCall.

            “This doesn’t look good.” Forester thought to herself as she ran past the flare on the ground.