The Marines lock and load, ready to move.

Johnson: First Squad, you're my scouts. Move out! Quiet as you can.

The group starts making their way through the forest.

Johnson: Bravo Team, this is Johnson. We got him. Fall back to the extraction point. Over.

G. Sgt. Reynolds: (COM) Roger that. Reynolds out.

A Brute howls off in the distance.

Marine #1: That sounded close.

Marine #2: Yeah, too close.

Reynolds: Johnson, L/n, be advised. Hostiles are -{static}- on the move -{static}-. I've got eyes on a -{static}- Brute Pack -{static}-. Over.

Y/n: We didn't hear that, Gunny. Repeat?

There's an ominous whisper of gravitational drives as a Phantom flies overhead above the trees.

Marine #3: (whispers) Sergeant Major, Lieutenant, Phantom inbound.

Johnson: We stick together and we're gonna get spotted. Let's split up, meet back at the LZ. Chief, Y/n, go with the Arbiter, head toward the river. Second Squad, you're with me.

Johnson and Second Squad climb up the cliff by the waterfall. Y/n taps the Spartan.

Y/n: Come on, Chief. This way.

Chief follows Y/n and First Squad to the river for pickup. They spot a Brute Major accompanied by a squad of Grunts.

Brute Major: Spread out, you whelps! Find them!

Marine #3: (whispers) Up ahead! Single Brute, plus backup!

Master Chief, Y/n, and Arbiter engage the Brute and Grunts. First Squad provides assistance for the Chief and Y/n. After killing the Covenant patrol, they regroup. Arbiter stands over the Brute corpse.

Arbiter: The Prophets are liars, but you are fools to do their bidding!

A couple more Phantoms arrive and deploy additional lances of Grunts and Brutes. After clearing these enemies out, they form up at a winking flare at an underground cave.

Marine #3: These Brutes are tough.

Marine #4: Grunts ain't no slouches either.

Arbiter: The Grunts' new-found courage is but fear. When we are victorious, all who serve the Prophets will be punished.

Y/n: In other words, the Covenant are dumb as hell for taking us on our own turf! Time rack 'em and tag 'em.

Marines: Oo-rah!

After advancing through the caves, the team enters a massive forested expanse and find a "Grunt Camp". Sleeping Grunts litter the first half while a few Brutes, Jackals, and other Grunts patrol the far hills.

Marine #3: Sleepers! Take 'em out, nice and quiet!

Chief and Y/n take out their knives and are able to take out four Grunts before the rest wake up and warn the others.

A large battle erupts in the camp. Additional Covenant reinforcements enter from the next area, but all fall to the team.

Johnson: (COM) Y/n, Pelicans are en route, but I can't reach Bravo. If you find 'em, get 'em to the extraction point.

Y/n: Copy that, Johnson.

Arbiter: Come. The landing zone is this way.

Beyond the encampment, a Brute Captain is torturing Sergeant Reynolds on a log. Several other Covenant troops are nearby.

Brute Captain: Tell me its location!

Sgt. Reynolds: Kiss... my... ass.

Chief shoots the Brute's hand, making him roar and drop Reynolds. They team clears the area and Reynolds grabs his rifle.

Sgt. Reynolds: Brute Chieftain. A Phantom. Pinned us down... killed my men.

Y/n: Just take it easy, Sergeant. Let's get to the rendezvous.

First Squad crosses the log bridge, clearing out additional Covenant troops.

Arbiter: The river, hurry!

The UNSC squad continues forward and heads into the cave. They move down a steep slope and enter an underground cave leading to the river where Johnson has established an extraction point.

Chief's vision suddenly distorts and he supports himself against a rock. Y/n notices and grabs his arm.

Y/n: Chief, what's wrong?

Purple lines flare across his view and the face of Cortana appears.

Cortana: Could you sacrifice me to complete your mission? Could you watch me die?

Marine #3: (looks back) Sir, you okay?

Marine #4: (concerned) Your vitals just pinged KIA.

Chief: (steadies himself) I'm fine.

First Squad leaves the caves with the river around the next bend.

Johnson: (COM) Chief, Y/n, Pelicans are at the river. We've got company, so hustle up!

Beyond the steep slope is a substation next to a raging river. A pair of Pelican dropships hover above the river as gunners in their troop bays fire upon a cluster of Covenant troops that have tunneled themselves in the substation.

Pilot #1: (COM) Hold on. Got a contact.

As the group takes out the Covenant forces that are closest to the Pelicans, two Banshees streak in along the river.

Pilot #1: (COM) Banshees! Fast and low!

Pilot #2: (COM) Break off — now!

The Pelican's thrusters burst into flames after the Banshees' attack.

The Banshees fire their fuel rod cannons at the Pelicans, and score direct hits on both. Explosions cascade over the Pelicans.

Pilot #2: (COM) Watch yourself!

Pilot #1: (COM) I'm hit! ARRGH!

Pilot #2: (COM) Lost a thruster. Hang on!

Johnson: (COM) Get a hold of her!

Pilot #2: (COM) Negative! We're going down!

Both damaged Pelicans streak away around the river bend in a futile attempt to escape. Echo 51's wingman loses altitude and immediately plunges into the river beyond the dam, most likely drowning all of its occupants. Echo 51 manages to clear the river, but skims the top of a cliff, flips over in the air, and crashes out of sight.

As Chief, Arbiter, and the Marines moved to secure the substation, Y/n stopped and saw the Banshees coming back. He switched to his sniper rifle and aimed at one of the Banshees' nacelles. He unloaded an entire magazine, damaging the Covenant fighter but not enough.

The Banshees neared and Y/n was about to load another magazine into his rifle, but Chief tackled Y/n down as a plasma bomb hit the ground.

The Banshees veer off and fly away as Chief and Y/n stand up.

Y/n: Thanks, Chief.

Arbiter: The Banshees will return. Hurry, back into the jungle!

They all re-enter the jungle.

Johnson: (COM) Y/n, can you hear me?...(static)

Y/n: Johnson! What's your status?

Johnson: (COM) My bird's down. Half a klick (static) downriver from your position.

Y/n: We'll be there soon. Hang tight!

Marine #3: Jackals. On the ridge. Stay low. Looks like they got Carbines.

After they clear the valley of Jackal snipers, they see a bridge. Three Marines are crossing it, under heavy fire, retreating from the wreckage of Echo 51. They hear Johnson's voice over the COM unit as a Brute leads a charge against the fleeing Marines.

Johnson: (COM) Come on, you dumb apes! You want breakfast? You gotta catch it!

Johnson and some of the Marines frag the Brute and the other Covenant troops on the bridge, and run off into a cave.

Chief: We have to hurry.

The group encounter many hostiles, including a Jiralhanae Chieftain on the side of a Phantom, who flies off.

The group secure the area, and discover Echo 51's crash site by the riverside. The crashed dropship, lying on an outcropping along the valley wall, is surrounded by assault rifles, battle rifles, a sniper rifle, ammunition, and grenades.

Y/n: The radio might still work. We're gonna need evac-support once we find Johnson.

Y/n motions one of the Marines to help him while Chief and Arbiter watch. Arbiter notices Chief's intense focus on Y/n.

Arbiter: Is something troubling you, Spartan?

Chief: Just... looking is all.

Crow's Nest Control: (COM) Echo Five-One, this is Crow's Nest. Echo Five-One, please respond!

Marine #4: Got it. Try it now, sir.

Y/n: This is Lieutenant L/n to Control, do you copy?

Crow's Nest Control: (COM) Loud and clear, Lieutenant. What's your status?

Y/n: Good and bad. We've found our objective, but the Covenant took out our dropships. Be advised: the Covenant have transport ships near out location. We need another Pelican out here ASAP with some heavy weapons.

Crow's Nest Control: (COM) Copy that. Kilo 023 is en-route.

Y/n: Understood, Control. Hopefully we'll find Johnson and have the area cleared by the time you get here. L/n out.

They head up a slope, clear out more Covenant, and arrive at another cave.

Marine #2: Sergeant Major went this way, sirs. Through the cave.

The Master Chief and Y/n lead them through the cave and into a narrow section of jungle. They soon arrive at a clearing.

At the end Chief and Y/n reach a low cliff, viewing a Covenant-held dam. Arbiter spots the Brute Chieftain beating Johnson on the far left in front of a small building.

Arbiter: See how they bait their trap?

The Chieftain roars at Johnson. Johnson punches the Chieftain in the stomach with no effect. The Chieftain growls loudly and kicks Johnson back inside the "prison".

Arbiter: I will help you spring it.

Y/n: Reynolds, take the men and flank right. We'll punch up the middle.

Sgt. Reynolds: Yes, sir.

Chief, Y/n, and Arbiter battle their way across the dam, engaging a plethora of Grunts, Jackals, and Brutes.

Once enough of his subordinates have been killed, the Chieftain charges, oftentimes activating his invincibility device.

Chief and the Chieftain grapple against each other for the gravity hammer. Arbiter waits for the the Brute's invincibility to deactivate and takes out his energy sword, stabbing the six-foot ape in the back.

The Chieftain cries out in agony before Chief yanks the away the hammer and swings it at its' former wielder, sending the Brute into lake several yards away.

Y/n enters the prison and sees Johnson and several dead Marines behind an energy field.

Johnson: This isn't as fun as it looks. Cut the power!

Y/n deactivates the plasma shield. Johnson breaks free of his bindings and stand up. Y/n tosses him a discarded Needler.

Johnson: We're even, as long as we're only counting today.

Y/n: You're welcome. Kilo 023, what's your ETA?

Hocus: (COM) Imminent, Lieutenant. Find some cover. Gotta clear a path.

Johnson: Roger that, Hocus. Friendly gunship, coming in hot!

Two Phantoms arrive, carrying reinforcements. The group engages the newly-arrived Covenant troops. The Phantoms hover over the river, with their Grunt gunners opening fire with their plasma turrets.

Johnson: Hocus! Phantom!

Hocus: (COM) I see 'em! Standby. Going loud. Everyone down!

Pelican Kilo 023 rounds the river bend, directly in front of the two hovering Phantoms. Hocus, Kilo 023's pilot, lets loose a missile barrage, etching the air with vapor contrails as the first Phantom explodes in a brilliant coruscation of light.

Hocus: (COM) Scratch one Phantom!

Kilo 023 fires two missile barrages at the second Phantom, and sends it plunging into the river.

Hocus: (COM) Scratch two!

Hocus lowers the Pelican to the dam for pickup. The Marines and Johnson all hop up. Arbiter comes up next and helps Y/n in. He extends his hand to Chief, which the Spartan hesitates to take but Y/n nods to him and Chief takes the Arbiter's hand.

Kilo 023 takes off. Johnson gives the Chief a pat on the shoulder and goes into the cockpit.

The back hatch closes and Kilo 023 flies over the first dam, en-route to Crow's Nest. Sentries on watch in the jungle spot Kilo 023 on approach.

Marine Sentry: IFF confirmed. Contact is Pelican Dropship Kilo 023. Over.

Crow's Nest Control: (COM) Roger that. What's the word, Kilo 023?

Hocus: (COM) Sierra 117 on board. Request priority clearance. Over.

The two Marine Sentries bump their fists and smile.

Crow's Nest Control: (COM) Deck's yours. Come on down.

Kilo 023 descends into a hole in the ground.

(SORRY FOR THE LONG CHAPTER BUT I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH A LOT OF STUFF, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS LETS YOU GUYS NO I HAVEN'T LEFT YET!)