Location: URF Base, Northern Hills, Virek
Date and Time: May 23, 2553 – 0730 Hours
The smoke still hangs in the air, thick and acrid, as we push forward. The airstrike hit hard, taking out several of the URF's fortified positions, but there are still plenty of hostiles left standing. They're scrambling now, disoriented and panicked, but they won't go down without a fight.
I grip my rifle tightly, staying low as we advance across the charred ground. O'Neill is on my left, his eyes scanning the area for threats. Santiago and Dash are moving up on the west side, keeping pace as we push toward the URF command post.
The sound of gunfire erupts ahead, and I drop to one knee, raising my rifle and scanning the area. A group of URF soldiers is trying to regroup near the remains of a bunker, their weapons trained on us. I take aim and squeeze the trigger, the recoil kicking against my shoulder as I fire off a burst of rounds.
The URF soldiers drop, but more take their place, firing back as they dig in for the final stand. Bullets ricochet off the rubble around us, and I can feel the heat of the battle intensifying with every passing second.
"We need to keep moving!" I shout over the comms. "Don't give them a chance to regroup!"
Santiago and Dash move up, laying down suppressive fire as we push forward. The air is filled with the deafening roar of gunfire, explosions, and the screams of wounded soldiers. It's chaos, but we're making progress, inching closer to the heart of the URF base.
As we approach the command post, I catch sight of a URF officer barking orders to his troops, trying to rally them. He's surrounded by a group of heavily armed guards, and it's clear that taking him out will deal a serious blow to their leadership.
"There!" I shout, pointing toward the officer. "We take him down, and this whole thing falls apart!"
O'Neill nods, already moving into position to take the shot. But before he can fire, a rocket streaks through the air, slamming into the ground just a few feet from us. The explosion throws me backward, my vision blurring as I hit the ground hard.
For a moment, I can't hear anything but the ringing in my ears. My head spins, and my body feels like it's been hit by a freight train. But I force myself to push through it, dragging myself to my feet as the world slowly comes back into focus.
Santiago is at my side in an instant, pulling me behind a pile of debris. "You good?"
"Yeah," I grunt, shaking off the dizziness. "Just a little too close for comfort."
He nods, glancing over at O'Neill, who's already back in position, lining up his shot again. This time, there's no hesitation. He squeezes the trigger, and the URF officer drops, his body crumpling to the ground.
"That's it!" I shout. "Move in! Take them down!"
The remaining URF forces are in disarray now, their leadership shattered. We push forward, overwhelming them with coordinated fire and precision strikes. I fire round after round, my focus razor-sharp as we clear the area. The UNSC reinforcements pour in behind us, securing the base as we press on toward the command post.
When we finally reach the entrance to the bunker, the doors are blasted open, and inside is nothing but smoke and chaos. The URF is falling apart, and it's only a matter of time before the base is completely ours.
I step inside, my rifle at the ready, scanning the dimly lit interior. The sound of footsteps echoes down the hall, and I raise my weapon, ready for whatever comes next. But instead of more URF soldiers, I'm met with silence. It's over.
"We've got it," O'Neill says over the comms, his voice filled with relief. "The base is secure. The URF is done."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. We did it. The URF is finally finished—at least on Virek. But even as the relief washes over me, I know this isn't the end. There will always be more battles, more enemies, but for now, we've won.
We step out of the bunker, the light of the rising sun casting a golden glow over the battlefield. The fires have died down, and the smoke is beginning to clear. Around us, UNSC forces are securing the remaining URF soldiers, their weapons discarded as they're led away in cuffs.
As I look out over the battlefield, I feel a strange mix of emotions—relief, exhaustion, and a sense of finality. This fight is over, but there's still so much left to do. The war may be winding down, but it's not finished yet.
Santiago walks over, clapping me on the shoulder. "Hell of a fight, huh?"
I nod, smiling despite the exhaustion. "Yeah. We did it."
But even as we share a moment of victory, my thoughts drift back to Emily. I made it through, and I'll see her again soon. The thought brings a sense of peace.