UNSCDF Chapter 24- The Scavengers

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

UNSC Richmond Outpost

July 25, 1999

1400 Local Time

          Hawkes opened the door for Charlie as they exited the briefing room. Cole had given Charlie a rifleman into their newly formed squad called “Echo Squad”.

            “Hey Taylor, do you know how to fly?” Hawkes joked at the young marine walking beside Casey.

            “I don’t, but we’ve got Stewart.” Taylor countered as he pointed at Stewart.

            “Alright gentlemen, knock it off. Zyrok, you ready?” Casey told him men as he looked at Zyrok.

            “Huh? Oh, I’m ready.” Charlie snapped back to reality as he thought about Sarah.

            “First search and recover mission for us. It doesn’t seem that hard.” Hawkes assured himself.

            “Yeah, let’s just get this done already. Stewart, fire up the Pelican. We’re leaving in ten minutes.” Charlie commanded.

            “Understood sir.” Stewart nodded and ran off.

            “You heard the LT. Let’s move! Double time!” Casey hustled.

            Charlie watched as Casey and the others ran down the hallway and disappeared around the corner. Charlie thought about his first mission and went to the cafeteria. He watched as Mary served food for the other marines and walked up to her.

            “Hi Zyrok.” Mary noticed Charlie approaching.

            “Hello Mary, how are you?” Charlie greeted.

            “It’s been busy today, what about you?” Mary scooped soup into a bowl.

            “I’m alright. We’re just about to head off for another mission.” Charlie replied.

            “Another one in such a short time frame?” Mary asked.

            “Yeah, this one’s going to be a search and recover mission.” Charlie responded.

            “Well, you be careful out there.” Mary wished.

            “Thanks Mary, I’ll see you soon.” Charlie smiled.

            “Bye Zyrok.” Mary waved as Charlie walked off.

        Charlie exited the cafeteria and headed out the building. He walked to the landing pad and saw Stewart cleaning the windows of the Pelican. Hawkes was inspecting the turret while Taylor sat patiently on a seat. Casey walked out of the cockpit and greeted Charlie.

            “All set boss.” Casey pointed at the Pelican.

            “Great, let’s get going.” Charlie walked up beside Stewart.

            “Sir.” Stewart greeted.

            “Let’s go.” Charlie replied.

            The marines entered the Pelican and sat comfortably in their seats as it lifted off. Charlie watched his men chat loudly as he sat by himself wondering about Sarah. He had witnessed what the zombies were capable of and how powerless one can be when faced with a horde. Deep down in his mind, he wasn’t sure if Sarah got evacuated in time to safety. He could only hope for the best and that she was safe. For all Charlie knew, he probably was lying to himself so that he’d still have a purpose in life. His family was gone and he was alone. Sarah was the only person who he cared and that was his inspiration to continue on. Charlie watched as the Pelican flew over houses and apartments and then over a bridge.

            “ETA 2 minutes to Insertion Mike.” Stewart called out from the cockpit.

            “Roger that.” Charlie replied and put on his military helmet.

            “Let’s do this.” Casey pumped his shotgun.

            “Listen up marines, we’re about to enter the Scavengers’ turf. Maintain stealth and fire if fired upon. We’re there to recover a downed asset.” Charlie briefed.

            “Don’t forget the zombies as well.” Casey added.

            “Great, we’ve got two factions that we’re up against.” Hawkes laughed.

            “It can be used to our advantage. Just keep that in mind.” Charlie gave his thoughts.

            The Pelican descended on a rooftop parking lot of a mall and the marines ran out. Charlie gathered his men beside a pillar and watched the Pelican lift off.

            “Echo Squad, I’ll pick you up when you’ve recovered our asset. Good hunting, Foxtrot 515 out.” Stewart spoke on the RaidCall as the Pelican disappeared into the clouds.

            “Alright people, report says we should walk south for one kilometer into the neighborhood.” Charlie studied his datapad.

            “Let’s keep our formation tight.” Casey suggested.

            “Remember, after five hundred meters, we’ll be on Scavengers' land.” Charlie warned.

            The squad moved down the ramp and walked onto the streets. After walking for a few blocks, they saw warning signs placed on windows and doors telling any one who entered may be killed on sight. Taylor looked at the sign and gulped. Hawkes simply walked over to a sign and kicked it over. Charlie watched and decided not to comment as Hawkes grinned at the destroyed sign. Charlie led his men down a street and then heard a truck approaching.

           “Cover people.” Charlie ducked behind a bush as a truck carrying three armed men passed the street and stopped at an intersection.

            The marines stayed in cover as they watched a man holding a katana walk out the passenger door. To Charlie’s surprise, the man grabbed a briefcase with a UNSC logo on it and walked into a house.

            “That’s it.” Charlie whispered to Casey.

            “The briefcase?” Casey whispered back.

            “Whatever it is, we have to get out hands on it.” Charlie pointed at the house.

            Charlie looked at the truck turn around and leave as a black sedan drove to the house. The man with the briefcase exited the house holding the briefcase with both hands and stepped inside the vehicle. The sedan drove down the street and turned at an intersection and disappeared from view.

            “Let’s follow.” Charlie whispered and pointed.

            The marines left their cover and began to quickly sprint down then road. An armed woman walked out of a townhouse and saw the marines. She aimed her AK47 at Charlie and fired. Luckily, Taylor was one step ahead and placed a clean headshot into the center of her forehead. The gunshot from Taylor’s M21 echoed down the street and could be heard kilometers away.

            “Great.” Charlie looked around the streets.

            “Didn’t have a choice LT, her gun was pointed at you.” Taylor looked at Charlie.

            Charlie saw a group of armed men run out in front of them with guns spraying at them. Charlie took cover behind a car as Casey laid cover fire. Taylor placed his rifle on the roof of a car and started to snipe. Charlie fired his USP as Hawkes slid across the ground next to him.

            “Shit.” Hawkes swore.

            The bullets whizzed past their heads and shattered the car’s windows.

            “We need to move to the houses and away from the streets.” Charlie studied the environment.

            “We can cover you first while you get to safety.” Hawkes replied.

            “Alright.” Charlie readied himself.

            “Go!” Hawkes shouted as he got out of his cover and sprayed his M16.

            “Covering.” Casey shouted as he fired multiple rounds of his shotgun as the armed men took cover.

         Charlie ran out from his cover and sprinted to the side of a house. He took cover and waved at Taylor. Suddenly, a pickup truck sped onto the street carrying a squad of more armed men. A man mounted a M60 on the roof of the truck and laid down heavy suppressive fire. Taylor saw the truck and quickly ducked for cover as a hail of bullets flew at where he was originally standing. Charlie stood behind the wall of the house as the armed men slowly advanced to his marines.

            “We’re pinned down and we’re not going to make it. Get out of here boss.” Casey spoke on the RaidCall as he reloaded his gun.

            “I can’t stand and watch you die.” Charlie spoke back.

            “We’re going to surrender. That’s our only way out. You must leave now or you’ll get captured and we’ll have no one to rescue us.” Casey spoke as he looked at Charlie.

            “Good luck LT.” Hawkes spoke.

            “I’ll be back.” Charlie nodded and ran into the backyard of the house and jumped over a fence.

            Casey watched Charlie disappear and then looked at his men. He nodded and then lifted up his gun.

            “We surrender!” Casey shouted as he stood up slowly.

            Hawkes and Taylor quickly followed and raised their guns into the air. The armed men ran towards them and kicked the marines to the ground.

            “Why are you here?” a man shouted as he jabbed his gun barrel to Casey’s chest.

            “We’re here to take back our property.” Casey replied as he looked at Hawkes.

            “Take them to HQ.” the man pointed at the pickup truck.

         The armed men confiscated the marine’s weapons and took off their helmets. A man shoved the marines onto the rear seats of the truck and blindfolded them.

            “Is this necessary?” Hawkes spoke as he couldn’t see anything.

            “Shut up.” a man spoke and punched Hawkes to his head.       

            “Ow.” Hawkes groaned in pain and then kept his mouth closed.

            After a few minutes of driving, the truck halted to a stop. The marines were pulled out of their seats and removed of their blindfolds. Casey’s eyes widened as he saw a lot of men and women walking around the streets.

            “This is like our outpost.” Casey thought as he looked around.

            “Move it.” a soldier shoved the marines into a building.

            After going through a couple of hallways, the marines were moved into a small room and locked up.

            “Great, we’re screwed.” Hawkes looked at the locked door.

            “Keep it together man. Zyrok will come get us.” Taylor assured as he sat on the ground.