Phoenix Logs/Multiplayer Maps/Fort Jordan


 * On an isolated battlefield in an isolated war, old strategies return to relevance.


 * "Poor kid never saw it coming."


 * Corporal Kyla Emmett pulled the edges of a tattered UNSC banner over the
 * lifeless body of a young Marine they'd all just called "Matthews." Kyla had seen
 * plenty of action as a member of Boomerang Company - even well before this
 * latest excursion to yet another otherwordly alien installation. The seasoned
 * ODST had expertly dispatched the enemy scout responsible for their party's
 * latest casualty, but it wouldn't make a difference in the long run if things didn't
 * change quick. She was part of a dwindling resistance force stationed at Fort
 * Jordan - a scrappy outpost set up on a strategically-located island on the Ark's
 * surface.


 * "Why are they even here?" Kyla's thoughts were interrupted by Jacob Arden, a
 * Hellbringer with zero patience and even less of a filter.


 * "Probably because we're still here."


 * "Which begs the question..."


 * Even behind that gold-mirrored faceplate Kyla knew the facetious face he was
 * making. She ignored him and gave a final once-over at their lifeline - a lone
 * remaining Mastodon APC that allowed them to traverse the artificial island
 * scavenging for supplies. Not to mention, it offered at least some sort of
 * protection from the remaining Banished forces that lingered on with seemingly
 * no other priority than to make their lives miserable. Jacob knew good and damn
 * well why BOTH sides were still there. The UNSC had come here looking to set
 * up camp near a downed Covenant craft in the hopes of salvaging anything the
 * technicians on the Spirit of Fire might find useful. Not long after, the Banished
 * came looking for it as well, led by a Jiralhanae warlord who had too much pride
 * to call for backup. Immediately the Banished took down their long-range
 * comms, and a battle of attrition began. For weeks numbers on both sides had
 * been dwindling, and it seemed a final clash was not only inevitable, but soon at
 * hand.


 * Kyla was joined by two remaining members of her ODST contingent within
 * Lotus Squad, as well as a specialist sniper, the sardonic Hellbringer, and three -
 * well, make that two now - frontline infantry. A number that made it easy to fit
 * in an M650 but difficult to win any wars.


 * "We're out of time, Corporal." The transmission came crackling through her
 * headset, carrying the voice of their sniper who had set up shop at the edge of
 * their local comm range in the hopes of giving whatever early warning they could.
 * Ristyx was on his way, and most Banished warlords weren't known for their
 * diplomacy. The corporal slapped the side of the Mastodon and gave a signal to
 * the others.


 * "We're making another run for it?"


 * "No Jacob," Kyla said calmly as her helmet fully polarized. "no more running."