Cyberpunk: Spartan Walker

Where are the rest of the team? Where are the Marines from C Company? Fred asked.

They didn't make it. Will said calmly. We separated on the road. He shook his head. We haven't contacted each other since.

Fred was silent for a moment. Jun would put the dead personnel on the heads-up display list when encountering such a situation, and he figured Fred would do the same.

This reminded Jun of the Alpha Company and Beta Company where almost all members of the III Spartans were killed, and he felt a twinge in his stomach.

Is there any news from the Beta team? Fred asked again.

No. Unreachable, sir.

Jun could even hear Fred clenching his fists.

Where's Team Gamma? Will asked.

They are elsewhere. Fred replied. I heard a little news about them on the communication channel, but I can't figure out the specific situation. I warned them to stay away from here.

Okay, Will whispered.

The corridor was sealed off by a dome-shaped door. Jun could have used the code he had negotiated with Halsey to open the door, but he suddenly wanted to see what these Phase II Spartans would do in such a situation.

The retina and palm scanners are damaged, Isaac explained. There is a voice access system. We tried it, but there was no response. The door must be a meter thick and there are no cutting tools or a hundred kilograms. of explosives, we can only be blocked here.

Have you spoken to the person on the other side of the door? Kelly asked.

The system was off, Isaac said, but no one answered. Whoever was on the other side of the door probably ran away.

Maybe it's just because you didn't say what they wanted to hear. Kelly finished, whistling a sixth-note tune with a single rhythm.

Will nodded, I didn't expect that.

Kelly held down the microphone button and blew the tune, then let go and waited for an echo.

Jun listened to the tick-tick-tick sound of the task clock, and two minutes passed. Too much time was spent here, sitting around doing nothing while the Covenant troops above were undoubtedly trying to figure out how to dig them out and tear them to pieces.

Maybe this ditty means a lot to you, he said to Kelly, but I have a better master—

A mechanical device made a ding sound, and then there was a buzzing sound inside the door. Light shot out from the crack in the door, and the one-meter-thick door opened from the inside without making any sound from the hinges.

Bright light flooded into the hallway. A blurry image stood on the threshold. Jun's helmet panel processed the image to increase its clarity, and he saw that it was Dr. Katherine Halsey.

Jun, you succeeded. Although Halsey was speaking to him, his eyes were fixed on the Phase II Spartans.

****

August 30, 2552 in the military calendar

Epsilon Eridanus Galaxy, Reach Star, over Xiaofeng Harbor.

In the crew cabin, the Spartans were checking and sorting out their equipment, and the sound of firearms being fiddled with was loud.

Just now, the invisible Pelican troop carrier carrying the noble squad quietly entered the airspace belonging to Xiaofeng Port from outside the Covenant's warning range. Then, after more than ten minutes of hide and seek, they finally arrived. Edge area near distress beacon.

This inconspicuous little city is located in the middle of a horseshoe-shaped area surrounded by mountains on three sides. The center of the city happens to be located at the confluence of four mountain streams, from where the large river formed by the confluence of the four streams flows into the valley not far away - but now these streams have long dried up due to the plasma bombardment of the Covenant. The entire city was shrouded in hazy water vapor.

The Pelican troop carrier flew quickly close to the bottom of the long and narrow valley. Although the terrain here was dangerous and easy to defend and difficult to attack, they did not encounter any resistance or encounter any enemy troops. They successfully arrived at the target area. It seemed that the Covenanters We haven't had time to launch an orbital bombardment here yet.

So far, the Covenanters have not prepared any unexpected surprises for them.

The Pelican troop carrier landed on the outskirts of the small city, and Catherine stayed on the ship to be ready to pick them up at any time. The rest of the people, led by Carter, walked to the location of the beacon.

The residents of the small town had already been evacuated, and the entire city was extremely quiet. They could even hear the roar of the backup power station on the other side of the town.

Under Carter's orders, Emil and George climbed to the roof of the tallest building in the city and installed Anaconda surface-to-air missiles on the commanding heights. They were responsible for suppressing possible harassment and reconnaissance by the Covenant forces on the high ground, enough to kill any A Covenant reconnaissance team bold enough to invade.

No. 6 was holding a BR55 battle rifle and following Carter closely. They quickly approached the city center, and within a few minutes they saw an empty Playboy Jim's Hotel not far away, with City Hall standing silently opposite the hotel.

The goal of their trip—the two-story City Bank—is quietly waiting for their arrival next to the City Hall. Carter was sure they were hiding in the vault beneath the bank, because it was so deep underground that the Covenant's plasma bombardment would not be able to reach such a deep place for a while.

Carter looked up at the top of the tallest building and saw that the reflection caused by the sun being refracted by George and Emil using mirrors sent him the in position signal.

Carter switched the status light to green, then pointed to the door of the bank's lobby and ordered No. 6: Blow that door open.

Number Six took out the explosives from his backpack and installed them on the heavy front door of the small city bank with great skill.

With several muffled explosions and slight vibrations underfoot, a large hole was blown out of the entire door, revealing the bank's lobby inside. No. 6 has reached a superb level of control over the detonation amount of the cone charge.

We don't have much time. The Covenant may arrive at any time, Carter rushed into the city bank with No. 6. There must be wounded among them, otherwise they wouldn't be hiding so deeply.

After passing several corridors, there was another heavy protective door blocking their progress. It was the only way to the bank vault. No. 6 quickly rushed forward and placed the carbon-thermite burning cable in place.

A bright burning light band eroded into the titanium alloy of the protective door. The unique smell of thermite burning filled the air, melting the door lock into solid waste. Then they worked together to open the door and continued to rush forward. .

Carter opened the communication channel with a pop, This is the UNSC Army, the Noble Squad of the Third Special Operations Group. We have received your distress signal and are now rushing to your location. Marines, please immediately answer!