[C-Deck] One-stop Shopping Spree

[Gray, L.]

Gray listened carefully to Stringer, then gave a ooh rah with Leona. Gray and others then moved over to where Durant wasv waitng for them. When the man began to speak, Gray, once again listened carefully whilst trying to fight feelings of rising anger welling up inside of her. She could still feel the scars on her back and cheek tingling from the adrenaline that was coursing through her body. Once Durant had finished speaking, she followed Stringer and the others down to the hangar area.

When they got down, the hangar was rife with activity. People were rushing around all over the place and in the midst of all of the activity, Gray noticed three Pelicans nearby. When Durant spoke again, Gray listened carefully before moving with the rest of Second squad over to Pelican Five Two Zero. She listened and nodded when Stringer spoke again. As she went to board the Pelican, Stringer stopped her before she stepped onto the ramp.

When he had finished speaking, Gray instantly replied. "Yes Corporal. You can count on me Corporal. Come hell or high water, I plan on helping to keep you, and everyone in our fireteam alive. I did it in my previous battle and I refuse to let it happen on this occasion. I'm not confident that I can do it, but I will do my damn best." she said determinedly. She returned the smile he gave her and stepped into the bird. Once in, she was soon joined by Lawrence and Silva. Looking round, she also noticed that Durant and his radio operator were hitching a ride with Second Squad.

Standing just behind Stringer and hooking her right hand in the netting above her to keep herself steady, Gray turned to Lawrence and Silva. "Alright you two, listen up. Let's get ready to kick ass out there." I'm just as scared as you guys are, scared is good. It means you are alert, you're on your toes. Anyone who says they are not are either lying or dead. Just keep your head down, stick with me and Corporal Stringer. For my part I will make sure I do my damn best to get you guys home alive, I can't do it on my own though, so help me out and don't do anything stupid. Lastly remember, we are a team. We are in this together.'" Her friend nodded and Louise looked at Silva and nodded. Turning back, she noticed Stringer speaking to Sergeant Mason. Gray stayed quiet though, using the time to mentally prepare herself for the task that lay ahead.

[Silva, J.]

Silva, felt pretty wick being fully kitted out in marine gear. The machine gun was a nice change, a hefty weight to carry but also great death. She honestly was pumped for her first clash with the alien menace. New Paris had been subjected to much propaganda, showing the UNSC fighting the Covenant, preventing the aliens from overrunning humanity. The people once kind and peaceful had become possessed with a furious hatred for the Covenant enemy who slaughtered whole star systems and for the traitors who attacked the UNSC from within. 

The marine had been close enough still to hear the end of Stringer's sentence to Gray. She bristled furiously within, Michelle didn't count herself as a green. She'd fought the Innies in the New Paris Uprising, took part in the Assault on Napoleon Ridge. To her that counted as live combat since bullets were flying and colonial militia were dying in the dozens. Apparently however to the UNSC Marines, this did not count as actual combat. Something which made her want to pound the heck out of any marine who said it wasn't real combat. 
Yes they weren't real soldiers, but they fought to defend their homes from the enemy within. 

She stiffened briefly, the comment about being green stung especially just before a live drop. Michelle gritted her teeth and tried to focus on what she had learned in basic, which aliens were the most dangerous, the vulnerable spots. Not that it matter, Silva was incredibly inaccurate, that was probably why they gave her a machine gun. Accuracy didn't matter when you had enough fire power to waste an entire platoon. She said nothing, yet her eyes betrayed the frustration that she felt. She was scared, only a fool went into battle without fear. 
Fear kept you alive, however if you let it control you then you would die. 

All that matter now was to face the alien threat, kill all of them, save everyone, go back to New Paris, marry her beloved, have a family, hunt down the traitors. A sound plan. It happened to be something better to focus on. "I'll come back... I  keep my promises." Silva whispered pulling out the photograph of a pretty looking girl. She didn't seem to want to show her platoon it. Yet it would be easy to see the picture in the confines in the Pelican. The look of frustration vanished from her eyes to be replaced with one of sadness and love. 
Things would of been different, were it not for the war and Silva being good at her job.