Turn 2: CAS Inbound

[Cartwright]

The crack of weapons fire could be heard all around the base. Explosions created miniature earthquakes and rocked the environment around the brave Marines as they held off the approaching Strogg forces. A machine gun nest had been created near the breach in the electric perimeter fence and Sergeant Meyen moved both squads towards the front portion of the base. The Strogg armor was well on its way, a cloud of dust being thrown up into the air.

Mortars began to land all around the base. One of the landing pads had been struck as a drop-ship landed on it. The situation was deteroriating as more and more Strogg approached the base. Close Air Support would not arrive for another four minutes and though to those outside the bloody battle, this did not seem long. But for those in the midst of hard combat, it felt like hours. Every passing second brought the enemy convoy closer to their intended target, Camp Omega.

"We've got Strogg breaching the perimeter fence from the west!"

"This is Charlie Team, we'll get 'em!"

All over the communications, Marines gave off situation reports. Each seemed to emphasize the dire need for air support or fire support. However, it seemed the Lord in Heaven had granted the Marines one small answer to their prayers. A fire base had been set up on the eastern hills to provide fire support for the Marines.

"Alpha 1/6, this Oscar 7/0, we need immediate fire support at map grids 67412, 75851, and 69871. Danger close, over."

"Uh, affirmative Oscar 7/0. Fire support inbound."

Artillery shells began to detonate all around the base, decimating incoming Strogg platoons as they charged the perimeter defenses of Camp Omega. The air filled with the roar of cheering Marines and morale was renewed with vigor. They had a chance of fending off the hordes of enemies that wished to kill them all - or worse. CAS was inbound and on its way and with fire support, they may win the battle after all.

<Actions>

[Shadow]

Shadow allowed himself a small smile but the battle was not won yet. "Keep up that fire marines! Don't give them the chance to break through! Destroy all of the bastards that want to kill humanity and never stop shooting!" He ordered reloading his gun almost unaware he was doing it himself. A berserker managed to get through and he ducked then hit it's gut with his elbow and kicked it to the ground immediately firing several shot into it's skull. "We've always been able to win this, we just got a little confused as to our own prowess. Camp Omega will not fall!"

[Mr. Death]

Mr. Death was ducking and weaving, dragging injured marines from the front lines backward to the back lines where it was less dangerous. . . Only slightly less dangerous. The cries for help were innumerable, and even Mr. Death could barely keep up. It didn't help that many of the Medics were FNG's or Medics who didn't know shit.

Elias was dragging an injured man backward when a mortar hit nearby, sending him and the injured man flying. Elias stood up, ready to carry him the rest of the way when he noticed he was only holding the man's arm. He tossed it down, spat, cursed, and went on his way trying to help the injured once more.

[Cartwright]

Hoot scanned the area for targets down the scope of his fifty caliber sniper rifle. Nothing would get past him. They had received artillery support, which meant they had a better chance of actually succeeding in this battle. Hoot noticed a Strogg Grunt approaching Sergeant Gravitt and a Marine handing him a S.A.W. He sighed, took aim, and fired. The head of the Grunt suddenly exploded into a million bits. Hoot spoke into his helmet microphone.

"Hey Gravitt, sniper's get more head!" Hoot said, grinning.

Hoot kept searching for target's and called out as many as he could. The friendly artillery was not letting up on the enemy. Hopefully the Strogg would either retreat or all die. One or the other was fine with him.

[Shadow]

Shadow watched the battle for a second... "Strogg have plans... They are smart when they need to be..." He looked around something was gonna happen... He keyed his comm. "Hoot, check the area for any strange things. Strogg wouldn't even rush us like this." He waited something just didn't feel right but it may have just been all the battles and slaughters getting to him...

[Sergeant Gravitt]

The Sergeant grunted a reply to Hoot and shouldered the light machine gun; it was heavier than the assault rifles he was used to, but he'd manage it. He stood to his full height, leaning forward on his right foot set on the lip of the small crater he and a few other Marines had taken cover in and unleashed a hailstorm of screaming hot lead. Body parts were removed wholesale as the massive rounds slammed into the virtual wall of flesh.

"Hey, Hoot! Try and keep up!" he called out over the noise, hoping the sniper could hear him over the noise.

[Dire Wolf]

((OOC: I will let Cartwright post on any strange things the squibs are doing.))

"Asshole, you stole my kill!" Hoot said calmly over the comm, he did not want to be too loud. Having the squibs decide to put a 40 mike mike mortar on his ass was the last thing he wanted. Hoot saw another strogg, this one was looking particularly pissed off at Sgt. Gravitt's forward fire team. Hoot put the cross hairs on the Squib's center mass...

As he pulled the trigger back he saw the outline of a squib's head come up, and it was really close. Hoot had enough time to yell "Compromised!" over the communications before the creature grabbed him by the face and flung him across the room, he rolled down some stairs that lead into the basement of the house. He looked up at the ceiling, he slowly got up and looked up at the stairs.

There a soldier stood at the top of the stairs, it slowly and clumsily walked down.

Hoot quickly pulled out his ancient yet effective H&K USP and pointed it at the strogg. He pulled the trigger quick, he was not going to dick around with accuracy here, quantity over quality. The soldier already had an assault rifle pointing at Hoot, the marine never really had a chance. The squib fired a 3 round burst into Hoot's right arm, he dropped his pistol. Hoot involuntarily jerked to the right, than as the second salvo hit Hoot's right knee he hit the deck hard.

The soldier grunted and picked Hoot up by the drag strap on his armor, the squib slowly walked back up the stairs. Hoot slowly brought the Combat knife out of it's sheath with his left hand and did a quick slash across the inside of the strogg's elbow, the thing released him. Hoot than made a series of quick slashes across the creature's calf and the back of it's knees. The soldier fell back wards and began to slam it's massive fist into the Marine.

Hoot dodged all he could, but the squib caught him in the gut with one of it's giant metal hands, Hoot involuntarily doubled over and coughed up some blood on his visor. He slowly stood up, and jumped on the strogg. From what he could see past the blood stained visor he could tell that the squib was also one hurtin' unit.

Jared brought the knife down on the squib, plunging it deep within it's chest, he could feel the thumping of it's heart at the end of the blade. Hoot threw his helmet to the side and watched as the light left the Soldier's eyes and felt the heart stop at the same time. Hoot pulled the knife out and rolled over, catching his breath. He got up and slowly made his way twords his ancient pistol. He holstered it and said over the comm "Damn, I love the Corps! I am one hurtin' unit but alive and in dire need of relocation. Will scout until it either clears up or I can move to another building, over."

Hoot holstered his pistol and walked up the stairs to his sniper rifle. He went prone and looked for any shenanigans the strogg were trying to pull.

[Cartwright]

Hoot saw the Strogg planting mines just outside the perimeter. It did not take Hoot long to realize what the Strogg were attempting to do. They would have the armored unit force the Marines to retreat and as they did, they would run straight into a death trap. He would need to call this in. As he continued searching, he saw two sniper's preparing to post up and act as mop up units for any survivors of the mine field trap. He would need to take them out.

The situation around there are was worsening by the passing minute. One minute was left before close air support arrived and the Marines had suffered major casualties. They would have to fall back soon if the air support did not do an excellent job. They only prayed it would not come down to that.

<Actions>

[Shadow]

"Stay alive marines! We can beat the bastards! No retreat and don't you stop shooting or I will shoot you!" The Lieutenant yelled over the roar of gunfire hammering into the strogg. "Hold on just a minute more!" He keyed his com. "Hoot I NEED that information!!!"

[Dire Wolf]

Hoot's eyes widened as he looked at the strogg laying AP mines "Sir, The Strogg are laying AP mines on the perimeter.... Wait one....... 2 snipers deploying on the ridge, over" Hoot said as he peered through his Oracle Thermal/Day/Night 1-25x variable scope. He pulled the trigger back slow and steady like he had those countless times before. He regulated his breathing and watched the crosshairs move up and down from the beating of his own heart. He guessed that the snipers where at 1,000 yards, that is one long ass shot for even the best of snipers. Hoot looked at the trees....... no breeze what so ever. But he would also have to take the Coriolis effect into account.

He aimed about 2 feet to the right of the squibs, and slowly pulled the trigger back the rest of the way. He felt the slug of the rifle kick into his shoulder and watched the bullet "curve" straight into the chest of the first sniper. The second sniper took notice and was very upset at this new turn of events. He began to look for Hoot and bring a communication device to his mouth. "Ohh no you dont mother fucker!" Hoot said as he pulled the trigger again, this time the bullet "Curved" into the sniper's shoulder.

The sniper fell out of view, but Hoot could see blood spraying across the leaves.... blood loss would take care of the rest. "Yeah, I bet that hurt! 2 snipers are dead, over."

[Shadow]

Shadow growled and threw a grenade to where they would retreat. "Try out smartin' me motherfuckers..." He turned and tons of explosions detonated behind them as well as the alarmed gurgling sounds of exploding strogg. "Ha! We've got this one guys! And Hoot, nice work." He is assault rifle was in his right hand and his pistol side-arm in his left both firing in the way. It was damn near a miracle he hadn't been hit through it all.

[Mr. Death]

Elias was working as fast as he could. He didn't have time to drag this marine back to the base, he needed help right there. If he dragged him back to the base, the man would die from blood loss.

Elias scratched his mohawk for a moment, thinking, planning on what he would have to do. The marine was missing half of his face, burnt to a crisp from a mine, and his leg was missing as well. There were multiple fragments of shrapnel in his chest, but strangely enough, the man might have a chance of making it.

Elias picked out the hot pieces of metal with his K-Bar, flicking them out into the dirt. A bullet flew true and hit Elias just above the ankle. Elias clamped his jaw and grit his teeth, fighting through the almost unbearable pain. Another flew true and hit him in the left hand, right in the knuckle. Elias yelped momentarily, but kept working. Another scraped against his back, but didn't hurt too ba-, another hit him in the ribs.

"Hayek. . ..It's Elias. . .I" He coughed up a little blood
"I need support. . . Find me on your. . ." He coughed up some more blood
"Personal Loca. . .Displ. . . " He coughed up more blood, another hit him in thigh. He didn't think he'd make it through this one.
"I'm. . .Hi. . .Bad. . ." He said. Things were becoming blurry for his good eye, but he shook his head, rubbed his eye, and continued operating.

Something was strange about the marine now. It took Elias a moment to realize that the man's head had a bullet through it, and many more dotted his body. Elias' luck had once again proven useful, because those bullets were more than likely meant for him.

[Shadow]

"Elias! Stay alive I'll find ya!" The Lieutenant ducked in a crater, "I that saying mortars never hit the same place twice works here..." He muttered and display looked for Elias. "Shit.." JUmping out of the crater he sprinted through the hail of fire both side were dishing out running to find the UMSCs best medic. He slid down into a crater it took him a minute to realize these were strogg around him... "SHIT!" He jumped out tossing a grenade and diving away then rolling up and running again. It was an amazing and odd sight to see. "Stay with us Elias!" He yelled over the gunfire and explosions.

[Mr. Death]

Strogg rushed at Elias, but were gunned down by his shotgun. He was almost invisible, tucked between corpses, barely sitting up. Anyone would be able to tell he was weakening by the minute. His breathing was constricted, and he was barely staying focused. Luckily his medical knowledge was keeping him alive, any normal suicide suit would have been dead by now, but he knew what was happening to him, and he was doing everything in his power to prevent his eminent death.

[Shadow]

Hayek was just above Elias after a few moments his guns blazing, he set his side-arm back in it's slot and grabbed Elias with one arm several bullets finding their marks on him. Throwing Elias over his shoulder he started running back. "I need some cover fire!" He yelled.