To begin, I would like to say that all suggestions and/or comments are welcome, so please do not hold back.
Anyways, enjoy:
Crows
Prolog
0900 HOURS, OCTOBAR 23, 2552
SOL SYSTEM, PLANET: EARTH
Asphalt cracked apart as the LRV's wheels sped across the abandoned highway. As the road twisted into a straightaway, the driver hit the throttle, accelerating the vehicle to its maximum speed. Another man was seated to the right of the driver, who wore distinct black armor. He turned his head upward, scanning the sky for any covenant aircraft. It was quite a beautiful sight, the African sun just beginning to rise, projecting an orange tone over the landscape. Something caught his eye.
"I think I got something," the man said, leveling his battle rifle as he did so. The gunner turned the vehicle's light anti-aircraft gun to roughly the same location. Nothing moved. "I'll wake em' up," the man said. A single three-round burst erupted from his battle rifle, Resulting in multiple "caws" as crows flapped away, terrified.
The man responded rather angrily, saying "*** crows." One of the men snickered. The other, who was driving the vehicle, turned his head to the man, and replied "Calm down, they're indigenous to this region." He turned his head back to the road, which began to U-turn around a cliff. As the vehicle rounded the section, two blue behemoths became visible.
"What the hell are those?" The driver yelled. One of the creatures roared as the vehicle approached, while its partner's weapon began to emit a green glow. Upon witnessing this, the passenger yelled out "Plasma weaponry, they're covenant- open fire." He began pumping rounds at the creature, not seeming to have any effect.
As the gunner began hammering them with the vehicle's machine gun, the creature released a fully charged burst, missing the vehicle by inches. One of the Behemoths raised its shield, preparing to crush the hostile LRV. The gunner perceived what it intended to do, and began to scream "Stop the *** Car!"
The vehicle continued, heading straight towards the beast. "Stop the *** car!" he yelled as the shield came crashing down.
An explosion echoed throughout the jungle, causing crows to flap away from their perches.
Chapter I- Hostile Lifeform
1231 HOURS, November 29, 2552
SOL SYSTEM, PLANET: EARTH
"So, may I ask what this meeting is about?"
A folder was placed on the table, followed by a response, "37 days ago we lost contact with our scout patrols- no radio, no COM, absolutely nothing."
The other Man opened the folder, revealing pages upon pages of reports and pictures. But there was something else. "What is this?" The man asked, raising a small black box from within the folder.
"It's a recorder, turn it on." The man questionable placed his finger above a red button, he then looked up to the other man, his face silently asking "this button?" He nodded in response. The other man's finger pressed down, activating the device.
It began by projecting a low roar, which began to get louder and louder, then something else...- almost resembling screams.
"What was that?"
"Crows."
Chapter II - Reconnaissance Team
"Let's lock n' load people! I want this squad ready for deployment by 1300 Hours" The Lt. shouted.
His squad replied in unison, yelling "Sir, yes sir!" The squad then broke ranks, and began the jog to their weapons locker, leaving the Lt. alone in broken down hanger. He looked around at the cavernous room. It was dimly lit by flood lights, which barely had the power to sustain a steady stream of light. A single thought appeared in the Lt.'s mind, "Crap shack."
The squad had exited the hanger though a metallic-green door, which lead into a labyrinth of concrete corridors. As the caravan continued on its journey, Jenkins, the squads sniper, had begun to converse with another marine.
"So what do you suppose we're heading out for?" Jenkins asked.
"Hell, with the mess we're in now, who knows?" The other marine replied.
"I guess so-" Jenkins tripped, falling flat onto his face. The marine helped him up, although the rest didn't seem to notice.
"Thanks."
"No problem, what'd you trip on anyway?" He asked.
Jenkins looked back, seeing a scuffed up bird with black feathers. "Just a dead crow." He responded.
As the two exited the room, Jenkins thought he heard something- the pitter patter of small feet, but he quickly dismissed the idea, for any covenant would have been detected.
Chapter III- Hell with wings
Screaming penetrated Jenkin's ear drum. He and the other marines had, just moments ago, been suiting up. No time for that now. Another scream rang throughout the Hallways. "All right Alpha Squad, we're moving out, serpentine!" The leader of Alpha Squad, Phill, yelled.
They moved cautiously through the long corridors, taking up defensive positions. Phill and Kelly had generally been moving ahead of Jenkins, as his long sniper rifle wasn't meant for such close-quarters combat. However, despite of their suspicions, they had not encountered any hostile contacts.
It was at this point that Alpha Squad reached the hanger's bright green doors. Phill motioned his hand forward, a common military signal used to indicate "move up." In this case the signal was aimed at Kelly, who slowly approached the door, preparing to unlatch it. She wrapped her hand around its handle, and turned towards Jenkins, then to Phill, checking that they were ready. Her fingers came up one at a time, three, two...one! The door flung open, revealing nothing but the hanger itself.
Kelly curiously stepped out, scanning the room for any contacts. She turned back to the others preparing to say "all clear," but was consumed by a horde of black birds. As Kelly began to scream, Phill yelled "Open fire!" He then proceeded to barrage the swarm with a hail of MA5C shells, which seemed to be almost easily evaded.
Kelly's screams began to fade, causing Jenkins to realize the truth, "Seal the door, it's no use *** it!"
"No, we can still save her!" He replied.
"Soon they're going to be done with her, then they'll come for us!"
Phill ignored Jenkins comment and continued to fire. *** it! Jenkins wasn't about to let them both die, so he ran for the door. "Don't!" Phill shouted, but Jenkin's pace didn't slow. As Jenkins sealed the door shut, Phill slammed against it, banging his assault rifle again and again at the rough surface.
"*** it!"
Jenkins turned away, blocking out Phill's erratic shouts. He then activated his COM, attempting to contact the other groups, "This is Alpha Squad, we have lost Kelly to hostile contacts within the hanger, repeat, hostile contacts within the hanger, do not engage, do not engage."
None of the squad's acknowledgement lights winked on, something was wrong.
"This is Alpha Squad, come in?"
No response.
Jenkins turned back toward Phill, who had gotten himself together, now awaiting Jenkin's news.
"We've got a problem."