The evac pelican's engines roared as it cut through the sky, taking us back to Outpost Delta. The adrenaline of the mission still buzzed in my veins, but the moment we touched down, exhaustion hit. The anti-air turrets were gone, but the Covenant wouldn't sit still for long. Our brief victory would only buy us time before they regrouped.
Yang, Nora, and I hopped off the pelican, boots hitting the cracked ground with satisfying thuds. The rest of our teams were already there, rejoining us on the landing pad. Bishop stood with Ruby, Weiss, Jaune, and the others, all of them battered but alive.
"Well done," Bishop greeted us, his voice flat but appreciative. "Anti-air is down, and we've crippled their operations here."
Mission Complete: Neutralize Covenant Forward Base
Reward: +3000 Experience Points
Before anyone could relax too much, Major Thorn came storming across the pad, his scowl cutting through the relative calm. "I need a full debrief in the command tent. Now."
"Guess we're not done yet," Jaune muttered under his breath, adjusting his helmet.
Ruby shot him a tired grin. "Not even close."
New Objective: Debrief with ODST Command
We followed Major Thorn into the command tent. The holomap still flickered, red indicators showing hotspots of Covenant activity across the globe. Thorn didn't waste any time.
"Listen up," he said, his gravelly voice cutting through the haze of exhaustion settling over us. "The operation was a success, but we've got a bigger problem. Intelligence suggests that this forward base was just the tip of the spear. The Covenant's true objective lies deeper in enemy territory."
Thorn gestured toward a section of the map, where a series of Covenant ships hovered ominously over a mountainous region. "There's something buried out there. Something the Covenant wants badly enough to pour everything they've got into securing it."
"What is it?" Pyrrha asked, her tone sharp with curiosity.
"We don't know," Thorn admitted. "But whatever it is, they're willing to burn Earth to the ground to get it."
New Mission Unlocked: Investigate Covenant Excavation Site
I crossed my arms, eyes locked on the map. It wasn't just another fight; this was something bigger. Whatever the Covenant was after, it had the potential to tip the scales of the war—and not in our favor.
"We need to move fast," Thorn continued. "I'm sending in three teams again. You'll recon the area, hit them where it hurts, and find out what they're digging up. Hawk, you'll take point on this one."
I blinked. "Me?"
Thorn nodded. "You've proven yourself, Spears. I need someone with your skillset leading this op. Bishop and the others will back you up."
There it was again—Spears. My real name, slipping out in front of the others. I shot a quick glance toward Ruby and her team, but they didn't seem fazed. They'd known me as Hawk long enough to accept that I wasn't just another random soldier dropped into their ranks.
New Objective: Lead Recon Team to Covenant Dig Site
"Alright," I said, nodding. "What's the intel on the area?"
Thorn pointed at the map again. "The Covenant has set up heavy defenses around the site—turrets, patrols, and air support. You'll need to get in fast and quiet, figure out what they're digging for, and disable any critical equipment. You'll have support, but don't expect an easy extraction."
I studied the map closely, already formulating a plan in my head. "Sounds like a suicide mission."
"Most of ours are," Bishop said with a dry smirk.
"Good thing we specialize in those," Yang added, punching her fist into her palm.
New Squad Assignment: Yang, Ruby, Weiss, and Pyrrha.
"Alright, team," I said, turning to the others. "Gear up. We're moving out in one hour. Let's see what the Covenant's so interested in."
One hour later, we were on the move. The pelican hummed beneath us as we skimmed the surface of the mountainous region, flying low to avoid Covenant sensors. The ride was tense. No one spoke much, the weight of the mission settling over us like a storm cloud.
Ruby sat beside me, her battle rifle resting across her knees. She was uncharacteristically quiet, eyes focused on the approaching mountains. Yang and Weiss were checking their weapons one last time, while Pyrrha adjusted the strap on her helmet. This wasn't just another mission. This felt different—like the outcome of the war was riding on our shoulders.
"You ready for this?" Ruby asked, glancing over at me.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied. "You?"
She grinned, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Always."
New Objective: Infiltrate Covenant Dig Site
The pelican dropped us a few clicks out from the site, landing quietly on the side of a ridge. The air was thin, and the wind howled through the mountains, carrying the faint smell of plasma and burning metal. We disembarked quickly, moving with purpose toward the Covenant perimeter.
I motioned for the team to take cover behind a rocky outcropping, and we scanned the area. The Covenant had set up a small base around the dig site, patrolled by Elites and Jackals, with Grunts manning the turrets. Plasma cannons lined the perimeter, and Covenant Phantoms hovered overhead, ready to rain down fire at a moment's notice.
"Looks like they've got this place locked down tight," Weiss muttered, her eyes narrowing.
"We'll need to be smart about this," I said, eyeing the turrets. "If we take out the outer defenses first, we can slip in and sabotage whatever they're working on."
Ruby nodded. "We go quiet, take them out before they even know we're here."
New Skill Unlocked: Tactical Infiltration
Description: Allows you to lead your squad in stealth-based operations, increasing your effectiveness in enemy territory without raising alarms.
We split into two groups. Ruby, Weiss, and Pyrrha moved around the eastern side of the camp, aiming to disable the turrets, while Yang and I moved west, preparing to neutralize the guards on patrol.
Yang gave me a sly grin as we crouched behind cover, the faint glow of plasma fire lighting up the distance. "You ever do this back in your world?"
"Not exactly like this," I replied, keeping my eyes on the enemy patrol. "But I've done enough sneaking around to know how it works."
"Good," Yang said, gripping her shotgun. "Because I've got a feeling we're gonna need every trick you've got."
We moved in silence, slipping between the shadows and staying low to avoid detection. The patrols were spread out just enough to give us a window of opportunity. Yang took point, her movements surprisingly quiet for someone packing so much raw power. We approached the first group of Grunts, and before they could react, Yang took them down with a well-placed strike. No alarms. So far, so good.
New Objective: Disable Covenant Turrets and Secure Entrance
"Turrets are down," Ruby's voice crackled in my ear over comms. "Ready to move in."
"Copy that," I replied. "We're heading for the entrance now."
With the outer defenses neutralized, we regrouped near the entrance to the dig site. The Covenant had built a sprawling facility around a massive crater, their equipment humming with energy as they worked to unearth something from the depths. Whatever it was, it was big.
"Look at the size of that thing," Pyrrha whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the sight.
We had no idea what they were digging for, but one thing was clear—it wasn't natural.
"I don't like this," Weiss muttered, her fingers tightening around her DMR.
"You and me both," I said, my grip tightening on my shotgun. "Let's find out what they're hiding."
New Objective: Investigate the Covenant Excavation.
We moved into the facility, the tension mounting with every step. The Covenant wasn't just fighting a war here—they were preparing for something bigger. And whatever it was, it could change everything.