Evacuation

Location: Arcadia, Pirth City, Temporary Cover

Space System: Procyon System

Date: March 3, 2531

Time: 0845 Hours

We could hear them before we saw them. The heavy, mechanical thud of Covenant footsteps echoed through the broken streets, getting closer with every second. Allen was already moving, setting up positions by the windows and walls that still had some structural integrity. The civilians were huddled in the back corner, still and quiet as we prepared for another fight.

I pressed myself against the crumbling wall, my M392 in hand, keeping my eyes trained on the street. The tension was building in my chest again, my breathing steady but my heart racing. We had been through so much already, and now we were stuck, waiting for evac that was taking its sweet time.

"Pelican's still five minutes out," Allen said, his voice a quiet rumble over the comms. "We hold this position until they arrive."

Five minutes. It felt like an eternity.

Ramirez was crouched by the doorway, his SPNKR propped up against the wall beside him, ready for anything heavier than what we'd faced so far. Slink was just across from me, her eyes scanning the streets through the cracked window, her MA5C steady in her grip. She glanced at me briefly, giving me a nod. That subtle shift between us from earlier was still there, the tension replaced by something else—trust, maybe. We didn't say anything, but we didn't need to.

Doc was hunkered down with the civilians, trying to keep them calm, though I could see the worry in her eyes. Her job was just as important as ours, and maybe even harder—keeping them from breaking down completely as the war raged just beyond the walls.

Location: Arcadia, Pirth City, Temporary Cover

Date: March 3, 2531

Time: 0850 Hours

A distant roar signaled the arrival of Covenant forces, and I tensed up as the first Grunt patrol came into view. They were scurrying through the rubble, sniffing out any signs of movement. Behind them came the Jackals, shields up and rifles at the ready, forming a defensive line as they advanced toward our position.

I caught Allen's hand signal—a quiet motion for us to hold fire. We waited, hearts pounding in our chests, watching as the Grunts drew closer, oblivious to our presence.

I could feel the tension from the others. We were all ready to open fire, to protect the civilians, to hold this position no matter what, but we had to be smart. Allen had taught us that much. He wasn't just a leader—he was a mentor, especially to me. His calm, calculated approach kept us alive.

The Grunts moved within range, their methane tanks glinting in the sunlight that filtered through the broken buildings. A few more seconds and they'd be right on top of us.

"On my mark," Allen whispered through the comms. "Three… two… one…"

The street exploded into chaos. My rifle barked in my hands as I squeezed the trigger, sending rounds tearing into the first Grunt in the patrol. It squealed and fell, its methane tank hissing as it hit the ground. Slink was right there with me, her MA5C spitting fire as she dropped two more Grunts with clean, efficient shots.

"Nice shootin', Junior," she muttered through the comms, a hint of appreciation in her voice.

"Thanks, Slink," I replied, keeping my focus on the advancing Jackals.

Ramirez let loose with his SPNKR, the rocket streaking through the air and slamming into the Jackal line. The explosion sent the Covenant soldiers scattering, their shields flickering as they fell back. "That's how you do it!" Ramirez shouted, his grin audible in his voice.

"Keep it up!" Allen barked. "They're not done yet!"

He was right. The first wave was just the scouting party. The real threat was still coming. I could hear the unmistakable sound of an Elite's deep growl over the noise of the battle, and my blood ran cold.

The Elite appeared out of the smoke, its massive form towering over the rubble. It was decked out in shimmering blue armor, plasma rifle in one hand, energy sword in the other. The sight of it was enough to send a spike of fear through me, but I held my ground.

"We've got an Elite," Doc called out over the comms, her voice tense. She kept low, shielding the civilians as much as she could.

"I see it," Allen replied. "Focus fire! Take it down!"

The Elite roared, charging toward our position with terrifying speed. Plasma fire lit up the air as it sprayed bolts of energy toward us. I ducked behind cover just in time, feeling the heat of the plasma rounds as they slammed into the walls around me.

"We need that thing down, now!" Slink shouted, her voice sharp. She fired off a burst of rounds, but the Elite's shields were too strong. It kept coming.

Ramirez was already reloading his SPNKR, his hands working fast. "I'm on it! Just give me a second!"

"We don't have a second!" Allen snapped, his rifle barking as he unloaded on the advancing Elite.

I took a deep breath, steadying my hands as I aimed down my sights. The Elite was closing in fast, its energy sword crackling with deadly blue light. I could see Allen and Slink firing, but the Elite wasn't slowing down.

This was it.

I squeezed the trigger.

The shot rang out, my round punching through the Elite's shields just as it raised its sword. The alien staggered, its shields flickering and collapsing. It let out a guttural growl, turning its gaze toward me.

Before it could recover, Ramirez fired. The rocket slammed into the Elite's chest, detonating on impact and sending the creature flying backward in a cloud of fire and smoke. The ground shook as its body hit the rubble, lifeless.

"Hell yeah!" Ramirez whooped, pumping his fist in the air. "That's how you take down an Elite!"

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, my heart still racing from the encounter.

"Good work, team," Allen said, his voice calm but firm. "Let's get ready for the next wave."

Location: Arcadia, Pirth City, Temporary Cover

Date: March 3, 2531

Time: 0855 Hours

We had less than five minutes left, but it felt like an eternity. The streets were quiet for the moment, the Covenant forces regrouping for another attack. We all knew it was coming, but the tension between the waves of combat was sometimes worse than the fighting itself.

I glanced over at Slink. She caught my eye and gave a small nod. There was something in her gaze that hadn't been there before—respect. Maybe I had finally proven myself to her. Maybe I wasn't just the greenhorn anymore.

"Nice shot back there," she said quietly, not looking at me directly. "Saved our skins again."

"Thanks," I replied, my voice steady. "We're all in this together, right?"

She smirked, a faint smile that I hadn't seen from her before. "Yeah, Junior. We are."

The sound of distant engines cut through the air, and my heart leapt in my chest. Pelicans.

"Evac's here," Allen called out, his voice firm. "Everyone get ready to move."

I could hear the relief in everyone's voices, even Doc, who had been the most worried about the civilians. We had survived—at least for now.

The Pelicans appeared on the horizon, their engines roaring as they descended toward the extraction point. Dust and debris kicked up around us as they touched down, their troop bays opening to reveal the welcoming sight of UNSC Marines, ready to pull us out of the hell we'd been trapped in.

"Let's move!" Allen ordered, waving us toward the Pelicans.

We didn't waste any time. Ramirez was the first to board, his SPNKR slung over his shoulder as he helped the civilians up into the troop bay. Doc followed close behind, making sure the family was safe and secure.

Allen and Slink stayed behind with me, covering the rear as the last few Marines boarded the Pelican. The Covenant was still out there, and we couldn't afford to let our guard down until we were off the ground.

As we climbed aboard, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. We had made it. The civilians were safe. We were safe. For now.

The Pelican's engines roared to life, and we lifted off, leaving the burning ruins of Pirth City behind.

Location: UNSC Never Forget, Pelican Transport

Date: March 3, 2531

Time: 0900 Hours

The troop bay was quiet, the only sound the hum of the Pelican's engines and the faint crackle of the comms. The civilians were sitting in the back, exhausted but alive. Doc was checking their vitals one last time, though I could see the relief in her eyes.

Ramirez leaned back against the wall, letting out a long breath. "Man, I'm glad that's over. I'm too pretty to die in a place like that."

Allen gave a tired chuckle, shaking his head. "Good work, Ramirez. We all made it out."

I sat down next to Slink, my body finally relaxing as the adrenaline began to fade. She glanced at me, that same faint smile from before still on her lips.

"You did good today, Casper," she said quietly, using my name for the first time since the mission started.

I smiled back. "Thanks, Slink. Couldn't have done it without you."

We didn't say anything else. We didn't need to.

As the Pelican carried us back to the Never Forget, I realized something had shifted. I wasn't just a replacement to them anymore.