UNSCDF Chapter 19- A Team Effort

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

City Park

March 24, 2001

1700 Local Time

          Zyrok woke up the roof of the adjacent building in a pile of rubble and smoke. The building they were originally in was now leaning beside them.

            “Guys?” Zyrok stood up and shouted.

            “I’m alright.” Taylor stood up from a pile of debris and coughed.

            “Schmidt?” Zyrok scanned the roof.

            “He’s here.” Taylor walked to an unconscious Schmidt shaking his head.

            “Hey man. Wake up.” Zyrok gently nudged.

            “This is too crazy.” Schmidt complained and opened his eyes.

            “Echo 1-3, do you read over?” Forester spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Go ahead 2-3.” Zyrok responded.

            “Great, we thought we lost you. The Titan is currently following us.” Forester replied.

            “Copy that. We’ll relocate and then flank the Titan.” Zyrok replied.

            “Copy 1-3, make it quick. We’re getting low on amno.” Forester replied.

            “Loud and clear, we’ll notify you once we’re in position. 1-3 out.” Zyrok waved his men over.

            “Here’s the situation gentlemen, Forester is going to lure the Titan to us. We’ll need to blow it up with the HK69 Schmidt has.” Zyrok explained.

            “Let’s blow it up!” Schmidt pulled out his HK69.

            “Let’s hurry. The Warthog doesn’t have that much ammo.” Zyrok pointed to the fire escape ladder.

            Zyrok peeked down on the streets for zombies and saw none. He waved his men to go first while he checked his watch. Taylor went down first and then followed by Schmidt. Zyrok took one more glance at the roof and then climbed down. Zyrok led his team down an alley and whacked two zombies with his gun as they ran towards an office building. In the distant background, Zyrok could hear the turret of the Warthog firing and decided to quickly head inside the building.

            “A few levels up and we should be fine.” Zyrok looked at the building directory.

         Taylor opened the doors to the stairwell and two zombies rushed out. Taylor shoved one zombie aside and then tripped the other zombie. Zyrok walked beside Taylor and placed two clean shots to the zombie.

            “Let’s hurry. Forester is waiting for our cue.” Zyrok ran up the stairs.

            Zyrok opened the door to the fourth level and pointed at the windows facing the street.

            “There, break the glass.” Zyrok pointed.

            “Got it, sir.” Schmidt hurried off.

            Schmidt swung his handle of his HK69 into the window and shattered it.

            “Echo 2-3, we’re in position in an office building. We’ll pop orange smoke to mark location.” Zyrok spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Copy 1-3. Waiting on your mark.” Forester replied with gunfire in the background.

            “Schmidt, pop smoke to the center of the street.” Zyrok commanded.

            “Aye sir.” Schmidt replied and took out a smoke grenade.

          Schmidt pulled the pin and threw it down to the streets below. The grenade hit the ground and exploded an orange smoke that lifted into the skies.

            “Get ready gentlemen. Weapons hot.” Zyrok looked at the orange smoke drifting as the wind blew.

            “Echo 1-3, we see your smoke. Get ready marines, things are going to be noisy now.” Forester spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Solid copy 2-3, see you soon.” Zyrok replied as he took out his USP.

            Down at the intersection of the office building, a Warthog sped out from a corner with its turret firing rapidly behind them. In less than three seconds, the Titan emerged sprinting rapidly behind the vehicle. The Warthog sped past the smoke and then skidded sideways as it did a U-turn.

            “Fire!” Zyrok commanded as the Titan entered the smoke.

            Schmidt fired a round of his HK69 and placed a good shot to its right arm and blew it off. Taylor sniped at some of its spikes on its chest while Zyrok fired at its head, but did no damage. The Warthog sped towards the injured Titan and rammed its left leg. The Titan wobbled for a second and swung at the Warthog. It managed to clip a piece of the rear bumper and flung the Warthog across the street.

            “Again!” Zyrok shouted.

            Schmidt fired another round at the Titan as it began to chase after the damaged Warthog. The grenade missed and Schmidt quickly reloaded. Zyrok watched as Casey and Nevarez got out of the Warthog and dragged Forester out of her seat.

            “Cover fire.” Zyrok sprayed his pistol to attract the attention of the Titan.

            Taylor fired multiple rounds into its injured leg while Zyrok fired at its severed arm. The Titan felt pain as the bullets pierced into its skin. It turned to the direction of fire and began to run.

            “Steady Schmidt. We’ll need to make that shot count.” Zyrok watched as the Titan approached them down the streets.

            “Understood sir!” Schmidt replied.

            The Titan ran up beside the building and started to smash. Luckily, the Titan was one floor below them and Zyrok saw the opportunity.

            “Now! Everyone aim at its head.” Zyrok peeked over the ledge as the building shook from the Titan’s smashes.

            Taylor fired at the spikes protecting its head and severed it. Zyrok fired his USP at its head while Schmidt aimed and fired his HK69 to its neck. The grenade hit its mark and exploded violently. The explosion ripped the upper portion of the Titan off and burned the rest of its body. The Titan wobbled and collapsed to the ground in flames.

            “Hoorah!” Schmidt high-fived Taylor with satisfaction.

            “That’s how we roll.” Zyrok smiled at the corpse.

            Zyrok reloaded his gun and looked at the damaged Warthog. He saw the marines taking shelter in a building with Forester lying on the ground.

            “Echo 2-3, what’s your status, over?” Zyrok spoke on the RaidCall with concern in his voice.

            “Zyrok, it’s Forester. She’s not looking too well.” Casey spoke and waved at Zyrok.

            “Copy, we’re on our way.” Zyrok waved his men over and waved back at Casey.

            Zyrok and his men ran down the stairs and exited the building. Zyrok glanced at the burning corpse and then hurried into the building Casey was in.

            “What’s the situation?” Zyrok asked.

         “Multiple rib fractures and minor lacerations to her back.” Casey injected a morphine needle into Forester.

            “Call for evac now!” Zyrok crouched beside Forester.

            “Yes sir.” Taylor responded.

            “I’m sorry Zyrok.” Forester moaned in pain.

            “Don’t be, you did great.” Zyrok smiled as he took off his helmet.

            Taylor spoke on the RaidCall with Pruett and then turned to Zyrok.

            “Pruett’s coming over to the orange smoke in les than ten.” Taylor reported.

            “Good.” Zyrok assisted Casey as he wrapped bandages around Forester’s chest.

            “Ow.” Forester cursed as the bandages were tightened.

            “Sorry. Help is on the way. Hang in there LT.” Casey apologized.

            “I’m calling it a mission abort.” Zyrok concluded as he looked at his tired marines and then Forester.

            “Don’t. Finish the mission without me.”  Forester grabbed Zyrok’s arm.

             “Either way, we’re sending you to the nearest medical facility.” Zyrok looked at Forester’s wounds.

            “Ok, but finish the mission. We are almost done.” Forester glazed at Zyrok.

            “Fine.” Zyrok nodded.

            A Pelican flew over the smoke and slowly descended. The engines shut off and Pruett rushed out with a medic kit.

            “Pruett, take Forester to the nearest UNSC base for medical attention. She’s got fractured ribs and lacerations to her back.” Zyrok directed as Pruett looked at Forester.

            “Got it Captain.” Pruett nodded in acknowledgement.

          “Alright marines, let’s bring Forester to the Pelican.” Zyrok commanded.

            The marines huddled around Forester and slowly lifted her up. They walked to the Pelican and laid her on the seats.

            “Schmidt, you take care of Forester while Pruett flies the Pelican.” Zyrok ordered.

            “Yes sir.” Schmidt nodded and handed over his HK69 to Zyrok.

            “Let’s get her out of here.” Zyrok patted Pruett to go as Schmidt climbed aboard.

            “Yes sir.” Pruett saluted and ran into the cockpit.

            Zyrok watched as the Pelican lifted off into the sky and flew out of their view.

            “So, it looks like it may be a while till they get back.” Zyrok concluded.

            “Yeah, it’s getting dark. We should get shelter.” Casey suggested as he noticed the skies darkening.

            “Alright, let’s get a DNA sample of the Titan.” Zyrok pointed at the charred corpse.

          Taylor took out his combat knife and cut off a piece of its skin and placed it into his backpack. Zyrok nodded thanks and glanced at his watch.

            “Is the Warthog still operational?” Zyrok looked at the damaged Warthog.

            “I’ll take a look boss.” Casey volunteered and went to the Warthog.

            Casey inspected the Warthog for five minutes and then shook his head.

            “The turret is broken along with a flat tire on the rear left tire. The engine coolant is leaking as well. Pretty much it’s dead weight for us if we want to use it.” Casey summarized.

            “Leave it then. We’ll walk by foot.” Zyrok concluded as he looked at nearby buildings.

            “Sir, I suggest that we take shelter on ground level. That way we have easy mobility to move about in case we encounter hordes.” Nevarez pitched in.

            “Good idea. Let’s get going.” Zyrok pointed at a convenience store down the street.

            “Hustle. Hustle.” Casey yelled.

            Zyrok glimpsed at the dead Titan and sighed as he thought about Forester. He was worried about her, but he had a mission to finish first.