Turn 4: The Siege Through Hell

[Shadow]

"First squad help them clear the way so we can get to the drop-ship! We need to move! Come on Meyen!" The Sergeant was running again as soon as the strogg were cleared and his squad followed.

[Matt]

"Yes sir." Meyen said.

Meyen again picked up Godchild and ordered his squad to help clear the way. He this time used his assault rifle with one hand while carrying the wounded medic. There were a lot of Strogg down range, so the Corporal did what he was trained to do: Kill. He fire 2 ten round burts at a Strogg Berserker, wounding it severley. Hoot was doing his job, sniping the enemy and picking off dozens of Strogg. Hoot was firing burts at Strogg soldiers killing them instantly. The medic on Meyen's shoulders was shooting his pistol putting down covering fire.

After a few minuets of intense fighting, the two squads finnaly reached the dropship.

[Shadow]

Sergeant Hayek shot the berserker in the head essentially stealing Meyen's kill but seriously who cared at this point? The drop-ship came in shortly after they hit the roof and cleared the strogg there and Hayek was a the last to get on, making sure all the survivors of the two sqauds got on before him.

[Matt]

Its was quiet on the dropship. Everyone just went through hell a little bit ago, almost everyone got hit or wounded. Godchild looks like he got the most wounds. While in the dropship Meyen took out a can of Copenhagen and put a pinch in his lower lip. This calmed his nerves a bit.

"Anyone care for some?" Meyen said.

[Cartwright]

"Welcome aboard, boys! We have to cut this ride short, the battalion is attacking city hall. You'll be right back in the fight. Over."

The Marines boarded the drop-ship, even after hearing this news. Better than getting blown up by the Strogg. The drop-ship began to take off and they all heard the chatter over the communications.

"Command, we have the package and are leaving now. Dropping them in the city square to take the City Hall with the rest of the battalion. Over."

"Roger that, Echo Two-Zero. Drop your chalk at the designated landing zone on your HUD and then leave the area. A drop-ship refueling point has been established. Land your bird there and refuel. You'll be picking the Hell Hounds up again. Over."

"Affirmative, command. Dropping chalk at designated LZ. I'll need a brief while my bird is on the ground, Echo Two-Zero, out."

The Marines rearmed and reloaded. Nightengail patched himself up and was ready for the upcoming battle. They would all be tested now. The heart of the Strogg forces in Andromeda was concentrated here. They would have to act quickly and keep their fingers' on the trigger at all time.

The drop-ship did a reconnaissance run over the landing zone to make sure it was in the green. After assessing the situation down below, it descended onto the designated LZ. The Marines piled out quickly as the ramp lowered.

"Good luck, Devil Dogs. I'll be seeing you again soon, hopefully. Echo Two-Zero, out." The pilot said.

The Marines leapfrogged from one cover position to the next until reaching the main courtyard of the City Square. Strogg were engaging the other Marines forces'. Perfect. They had the element of surprise. The Marines got into ambush positions and opened up, slaughtering the Strogg with well-placed shots. All was going well, until the ground began to rumble and all combat ceased.

"Holy shit! That things' friggin' huge!" A Marine said over the communications.

"This is Captain Morrison, we have a Strogg Gladiator! Keep your heads down Marines!"

PFC Alfronso and Private Hudson ran out of cover, firing at the giant beast.

"We can take 'im, amigo!" Alfonso exclaimed, firing his entire magazine into the beast.

To his dismay, the creatures' full body armor was tougher than it looked. It was roughly thirteen feet tall and its head was only thing NOT armored. A giant organish energy shield emitted, guarding all but its feet from fire. It took a gladiator stance and approached the Marines. It's shield than dissipated and it fired its primary weapon, its Rail Gun. The orange beam hit Alfonso and his uppertorso disappeared in an instant. His lower body fell the ground, smoking. Private Hudson ran, but was cut down from Strogg soldiers' assault rifle fire.

"THAT BIG MOTHERFUCKER IS PRIORITY!" Hayek exclaimed, "FIRE!"

The Marines opened fire. All hell broke lose. Confusion was ripe throughout the air. They would have to fight to take the City Hall.

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[Matt]

The Marines were falling back while firing their rifles at the Strogg gladiator.

"SHIT! Fall back!" Meyen screamed.

This thing wasnt going down antime soon. They need tank and/or air support.

"Sergeant call in air support!" Meyen yelled over the COMM.

[Shadow]

"We don't need air supprot! The bomb or missile will likely take out more marines than this fucker can! Aim for it's feet the shield can't reach and I want some kind of explosive planted nicely in front of it!" He yelled, "I want first squad making the gladiator top priority second squad kill any others that show up to give the gladiator support now get to work Hell Hounds!"

[Matt]

"Yes Sir!" Meyen yelled. He then turned off the COMM.
"Second squad, kill about any Strogg personel thats helping the Gladiator. First is taking care of the Gladiator. So lets get to work Hell Hounds.!" Meyen screamed.

The Corporal can see lots of Strogg infantry behind the Gladiator. So he fired on a lone Strogg soldier behind a broken wall. It went down quickly. Then he spotted a squad of soldiers setting up in a window. " Get some!" Meyen yelled. He and the medic fired on'em tearing them to shreds.

[Shadow]

First squad planted several well placed grenade throws around the gladiator each blowing off one after another and the shrapnel digging into and through the stroggs armor. Sergeant Hayek stood up and took careful aim as lead sped past him then fired 2 shots one of both of the gladiator's cybernetic eyes and the shield disapated because of the explosives and the gladiator was thrown off balance as well as blinded it then disappeared as all dead strogg did."Gladiator down! Marines focus fire on soldiers, and watch behind us! I don't want to be flanked by a bunch of fucked up robots!"

[Matt]

Meyen heard the Sergeant and turned around to watch the flanks. 'Good, nothing" Meyen thought. Though behind theres no Strogg, in front there was too many to count. They were like ants attacking a lone catapillar. They were in buildings shooting Mg's at them. Meyen threw a smoke giving them time to find a better defensive postion.

[Shadow]

Shadow immediately turned and stormed a building a couple marines followed behind him as he took advantage of the smoke and took out the surprised strogg within. "Move in here and quickly! Strogg can use smoke to their advantage too!"

[Matt]

"Copy that Sarge." Meyen said.

"Second squad were moving in that building with First. On me and hurry up before the smoke clears." Meyen yelled.

The platoon was inside the building now and ready fight. Meyen peered over a corner and saw a few Strogg Grunts charging the building. He fired on them killing one and the rest of the platoon followed suit.

"Sir are we staying here or we moving? Meyen said.

[Shadow]

"We're staying until we can see a better position to defend!" Sarge grinned as one of the grunts made it to the door way and he slammed the already pretty broken door on it's face. Breaking the door off it's hinges and making the strogg fall backwards into it's comrades. "We need something to block this door get a desk or another door and stack it up!" He yelled and fired 10 shots into the remaining grunts.

[Cartwright]

The Marines moved in and began fighting off the Strogg. The situation had turned in their favor. They were winning. Then, command brought forth bad news.

"Second Battalion, this is command. We have Strogg Gunships' inbound on your location. We count two on radar. Over."

"Roger... confirmed sighting of the Squibs. Firing... NOW!" The Tank Commander said, firing his main cannon.

The shell impacted the Gunships' shield and engulfed it in smoke. He fired into the plume of smoke once more and heard an explosion. The Gunship crashed down into a building, effectively collapsing it. The other one was ripped to shreds by several tank blasts and sped out of control, heading straight for the City Hall.

"SHIT! TAKE COVER!" Hayek exclaimed and ran.

The Gunship slammed into the steel walls and pierced through, skidding across the marble floors destroying anything before it. Momentum finally kicked in and it slowed, then ceased moving. The Marines walked out unscathed. Echo Two-Zero landed in the City Square.

"Hell Hounds, climb aboard. It's time we get outta here. Don't worry about the wounded, command is sending drop-ships for Medivac. They're in good hands." The pilot said.

The exhausted Marines climbed aboard and it took off. They were headed to the factories now. They had some time to recooperate and re-arm. Now, the only remnant of the Hell Hounds was Sergeant Hayek, Corporal Dunn, Corporal Meyen, Lance Corporal Godchild, Private First Class Lee, and Private Schmidt. The Hell Hounds had lost a lot of good people.

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[Matt]

"Alright, heres a desk, its in that corner over there." Meyen said.

Him and Hayek lifted up the desk and put it up against the doorway blocking it completely. It looked and felt sturdy enough, so they resumed on firing outside the windows at Strogg.