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Private Harper sat quietly in the Pelican as it neared the drop off. The other Marines with him were silent too. It wasn't a great mission to go on for anyone. Brutes were tough and took a lot to take down. And to only go in with recon vehicles and infantry. Harper sighed and shook his head. What was high command thinking? Looking out at the rapidly disappearing city scape Harper thought about the coming battle. Whether or not he'd survive and how many he would kill.
The soldier tapped his foot in anticipation. Constantly he checked his weapon sights and sidearm. It was going to be a tough day but he was sure the Marines would pull through.
"We're coming up on the LZ now." said the pilot over the COMM.
Harper felt the Pelican start to slow and descend into a winding canyon. The air was fresh and crisp with the morning. Harper breathed it in gratefully then dropped out of the Pelican as it landed. The rest of the platoon piled out of the other dropships and began to assemble. Each of the pelicans dropped Warthogs. In total there were only ten. Four of which were transports that were used to carry the Leathernecks to their objective. The rest were the regular chain gun totting beasts that had earned a reputation amongst the UNSC.
Hopping into the passenger seat of one 'hog Private Harper readied himself for battle. As the jeeps rolled and bounced along towards their destination, Harper chatted with the driver. Both had a lot in common. Except the other was a Corporal and not a Private, like Harper.
The combined rumbling of the engines created a massive roar that echoed off the canyon walls and spread for kilometers. Carniferous forest lined the canyon floor along with various shrubs. A lot of it was alien plants but some of it was flora native to Earth. The occasional pine or spruce could be seen dotting the area. Harper seemed to be the only one to notice this but he pointed it out to the driver so that he would feel more comfortable in the area. But suddenly the canyon came to a stop and the warthogs burst out into the angry red sun of Hydra II.
Harper covered his face and waited for his eyes to adjust. Once he got used to the light he looked out on a wide break in the rock formation. He had been wrong, the canyon had not ended. It had merely stopped to a wide expanse of woodland and continued on later, furthur away. Of course, most of the wood had been blown away to make way for the Covenant base at its center. Harper looked out at the outpost for a moment before looking around. The vehicle convoy had stopped and now waited, a long line of metal horses ready to stampede.
It was a magnificent sight. The Marines with their signature vehicle the Warthog, a sign of Human spirit in the eyes of the enemy. Harper's heart swelled with pride as he looked across them. Their metal frames shining in the light and temporarily turning them into deadly eyes of fire. Suddenly there came a response from the Covenant, two ghosts rushed out from a small grouping of trees. The two bug-like machines moved off from their patrol and straight for the Human convoy.
The response was almost instant. Chain guns chattered and high velocity 50mm rounds tore through alien flesh and armour. A load roar came from the Marines as the two craft detonated in twin explosions of blue fire. The sounds of the warthogs were drowned out as the entire company roared a battlecry. Harper joined them and off the jeeps went, bouncing down the hillside towards the white domes of the Covenant camp. All weapons opened up and Harper fired alongside them.
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Hydra II, Operation: Daybreak
