Page 39 (1/2)
"We can't allow the Covenant to get inside," Kurt said, "and I' part of our team ahead It would only weaken our forces here, and potentially leave any advance party facing Sentinels on the other side"
She looked up at hi with your tactical analysis"
Kurt unholstered his M6 pistol and set it next to her "You un and racked the slide as if she had used one e
The Elites had spread out in three lines They presented Jackal shields, interlinked them, and started a slow advance toward the hill This was another inspired tactic If the Spartans fired at theh these disposable shields and would still have their personal overshields to contend with
The Hunter pairs towered in the center of the formations The thick slabs of alloy they used for shields were ilanced to Ash standing by his side, and then to his pack on the ground Inside were the two cut-down FENRIS warheads Kurt double-checked the detonator control pad in his gauntlet's data socket Still there
"All squads," Kurt ordered "Counter inco enemy vectors"
Ash and Olivia moved closer to Kurt at his seven o'clock position Kelly, Will, Holly, and Lucy clustered at four o'clock Chief Mendez, Fred, Mark, and Tom took position at twelve o'clock
"At fifty renades to break those lines, plasnore the Hunters Folloith sniper fire When they're close enough, use rifles"
"How close, sir?" Holly asked There was a quaver in her voice--not fear, but anticipation
"When they're on the stairs," Kurt told her "Kelly, stand ready with the LOTUS et to the base of the hill And some would cli, and a great deal of luck
Green acknowledg Elites were two hundred le shot yet
Whoever commanded thelistening gold arear of Covenant Majors on the field
One hundred meters
The SPARTAN-IIIs shifted froesture not ns on Kurt's tactical display barely showed a flutter
Chief Mendez caught Kurt's assessing look and gave him a confident nod
This hat he and Mendez had trained the Spartans for their entire lives They would survive this They had to
At fiftytheir four hinged jaws as if anticipating human blood
"Thro," Kurt ordered
Blurred trajectories of burning blue plasrenades
The advancing Elites hesitated, and a ripple distorted through their precise lines The plasrenades hit; there was a flash of blue-white that drained clusters of overlapping Jackal shields and knocked renades hit, bounced, and rolled into their ranks--and exploded
Bodies and splashes of blood flew through the air; blue and red armor tumbled from the center of the blast
Kurt hefted his sniper rifle and targeted Elites still dazed, their overshields weakened and flickering
The Elite Majors growled orders, and the lines struggled to close
Kurt squeezed off a shot, and the round tore through one Elite's open helht and left cale shots, and more Elites in the broken line fell
Three Elites stood their ground and returned fire
Plasma bolts impacted on the stone near Kurt's head He felt the heat wash over his SPI armor plates
This hat he had hoped for: chaos He'd happily exchange fire at this range when he had a scope, cover, and a superior angle
A Hunter bellowed in rage, lu fire instead of re- for the line, and ha its spine Turning, the Hunter screamed at the other two Elites and they quickly closed ranks
Kurt kept firing, picking off stragglers as their for one Elite in the knee joint, one in the eye, until their Jackal shields overlapped
He took a quick body count Eleven down in the for his position
They continued their advance to less than five meters from the base of the stairs
"Hold your fire," Kurt ordered "Kelly, LOTUS to standby"
The flowerlike LOTUS antitank mines had been placed in the crux of the first steps and overlaid with a square of silver reflective blanket that served as caroups of five Elites split from their line and took up position to either side of the stairs, angling their shields toward the top Five more Elites took cover behind them and opened fire Plasma and crystal shards flashed up the slope
Kurt ducked and the air scintillated overhead He crawled to the edge and peered over
The Hunters moved up the stairs followed by the balance of the Elite warriors… just passing the first step
"Now," he told Kelly
The LOTUS exploded into athe approaching force
The concussive force roiled though Kurt's insides
Three simultaneous sonic booms echoed off the walls
Kurt popped up with his assault rifle and opened fire Ash and Olivia were at his side, MA5Ks spitting rounds down the staircase
The Hunter pair, halfway up the steps, stood stunned and bloodied by the concussive force, their impenetrable shields askew
Kurt aimed at the closest Hunter's unarles of eels within his arrabbed his last plasrenade stuck to the Hunter's abdoe eel sy and squealing on the steps
The Hunter staggered back and fell; the gestalt lost cohesion and spilled into a s Hunter ducked behind its shield, bellowing a vengeful cry
Kurt picked up a rifle and joined Ash and Olivia, co Elite solders on the stairs
A cluster of Elites at the base regrouped, their shields regenerated, and they returned fire
Ash and Olivia ducked behind cover
The hill trembled behind Kurt
He turned and saw a Hunter pair plod onto the top at the four o'clock position, flanked by a vanguard of three Elites with energy swords
Kelly reacted first, rabbed an Elite's wrist, and snapped it She folloith an elbow to the Elite face-- twisted the sword free and slashed, cutting it in half, as well as the two Elites on either side
She spun to face the Hunters