Gray Team: Difference between revisions

In [[2558]] at the onset of the [[Carrow Conflict]], Gray Team were released from their cryo chambers by [[Unified Earth Government|UEG]] envoy [[Melody Azikiwe]] while the Unwavering Discipline was being boarded by [[Thars 'Sarov]]'s forces. Mike attempted to glean information on their tactical situation while Jai checked on the injured Melody before being attacked by Rojka and [[Mrata]], the latter of which was killed by Adrianna. They then recovered their Bumblebee escape craft from a hanger and escaped the ship, killing some of Thar's forces along the way. Mike attempted to pilot the craft towards the city of [[Suraka]], but was unable to keep the ship together and was forced to crash land in the [[Uldt Desert]]. Gray Team then evacuated the craft and pushed the wreck into an oasis in order to smother a fire.{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC3|Env|Chapter=3}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC4|Env|Chapter=4}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC5|Env|Chapter=5}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC7|Env|Chapter=7}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC8|Env|Chapter=8}}

After learning more of the post-war situation from a recently awoken Melody, they began traveling on foot towards [[Gila Station]] in the northern part of the [[Karfu Mountains]]. Jai also learned that the Human-Covenant War ended in December of 2552, meaning that Gray Team destroyed Glyke after the conclusion of the war. Ninty-six kilometers out from their destination, Gray Team was engaged by a [[Banshee]], which they promptly destroyed. Arriving at Gila Station, they were admitted into the facility by [[Commander]] [[Greg van Eekhout]], whose pleasant demeanor earned the team's distrust. Jai stayed to watch over Melody's surgery while Mike and Adrianna tried to glean more information about the facility and Van Eekhout. After the envoy awoke, Gray Team confronted Melody and Van Eekhout over being deployed into the Carrow Conflict. This led to the team discussing Operation: SUNSPEAR for the first time since they carried it out. They were then briefed by Melody and Van Eekhout on the threat posed by the [[Jiralhanae Chieftain]] [[Hekabe]] and the [[Sharquoi]] situated below Suraka. Sometime after the briefing, Jai spoke with Melody privately, stating that he would work to contain the Sharquoi but he could not guarantee Adrianna and Mike's cooperation. Gila Station was then attacked by a Sangheili assault team led by Thars. Gray Team was ordered to leave Melody and Van Eekhout behind and take the station's [[Warthog]] to Suraka to assist in the fight. They briefly discussed if they should return to the station to save Melody, but ultimately decided that the situation in Suraka was more important.{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC9|Env|Chapter=9}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC10|Env|Chapter=10}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC11|Env|Chapter=11}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC12|Env|Chapter=12}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC13|Env|Chapter=13}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC14|Env|Chapter=14}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC15|Env|Chapter=15}}

Ten minutes outside of the city, Gray Team was engaged by one of Thar's Banshees, which was eventually destroyed by Adriana while Jai drove. During this skirmish, they witnessed human ships making their attack run as a part of [[Operation: BUZZHAWK]] and felt the subsequent crash of the destroyed Jiralhanae cruiser [[Foebane]]. They were then engaged by two [[Voice of Maardoth]] Banshees. Adriana took out one before the other was destroyed by a squad of [[Surakan Militia Volunteers]] soldiers. This squad, led by [[Sergeant]] [[Rae Carson]], took Gray Team to a bunker where they allowed themselves to be detained and disarmed as a show of good faith. They then waited to relay their information regarding the Sharquoi to the Surakan leadership. After the initial Sharquoi attack, they were moved to a different bunker on the outskirts of the city where they were questioned by [[Governor]] [[Ellis Gass]] and [[Vice-Governor]] [[Lamar Edwards]]. From this exchange, a plan to assassinate Hekabe was put into motion. Before they started the operation, Gray Team was joined by Rojka and his remaining forces, who had recovered Melody from Gila Station and pledged themselves to fight against Hekabe and the Sharquoi. Both groups were deployed alongside Sergeant Carson's squad to skyscrapers overlooking the crater where Hekabe was commanding the Sharquoi. Mike spotted for Adrianna as she took the shot on Hekabe with a militia-provided [[SRS99-AM sniper rifle]] while Jai attempted to provide assistance to Surakan militia members who were battling the Sharquoi in the streets. Adrianna shot Hekabe clean through the head, but the [[vertex]] saved his life and allowed him to remain in control of the Sharquoi.{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC16|Env|Chapter=16}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC17|Env|Chapter=17}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC18|Env|Chapter=18}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC19|Env|Chapter=19}}

After the assassination attempt failed, Gray Team retrieved Rojka and fled the building in a [[Pelican]] dropship, witnessing the detonation of a dozen Surakan thermobaric mines around the edge of the crater and a portion of the Sharquoi retreating back into the [[Forerunner]] facility at the center of the crater. They were then transported to the Surakan command bunker, where they devised a plan with Rojka to engage Thars and force him to keep his fleet from falling into the hands of the Sharquoi. They secured a Pelican and traveled into the Uldt Desert along with Melody in order to meet with Thars in a faux prisoner transfer and duel between the two Sangheili. Gray Team and Rojka were able to ambush Thars and his forces with the help of Rojka's last surviving warriors. However, the [[Spirit]] dropship that they intended to capture and take to the rival Sangheili's fleet was destroyed in the battle, leaving them powerless to stop the Sharquoi from taking over Thar's fleet. {{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC20|Env|Chapter=20}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC21|Env|Chapter=21}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC22|Env|Chapter=22}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC23|Env|Chapter=23}}

Gray Team, Rojka, and Melody were then met by Ellis, who laid out a plan for defeating Hekabe and his forces. She had rigged a [[M68 Gauss cannon]] with a [[HAVOK tactical nuclear weapon]] as a power source, creating a device that fired a concentrated [[Electromagnetic pulse]]. This blast would neutralize the [[vertex]], leaving Hekabe unable to command the Sharquoi. Gray Team then refined the plan, suggesting that they enter the Forerunner facility via aerial insertion and mount the device on a [[M121 Jackrabbit]] as opposed to a Warthog. The team was deployed into the structure alongside a militia squad led by [[Corporal]] [[Wyse]], reaching the bottom of the facility with only one militia casualty. Jai and Adrianna then climbed onto the Jackrabbit piloted by Mike as the team advanced across a bridge towards Hekabe's position. Near the edge of the bridge, the two Spartans dismounted in order to face the incoming Sharquoi. However, the Jackrabbit was immobilized by a falling Sharquoi, forcing Mike to abandon the vehicle. Jai then ripped the device from it's mount and carried it towards Hekabe's position while Adrianna and Mike provided covering fire. Mike was then nearly killed by two Sharquoi during this final push, taking a massive blow and being thrown into the air. After Ellis fired the device and took control of the vertex for herself, Gray Team and Rojka were then immobilized by Sharquoi who were under her control. Jai's shoulder was nearly ripped out of its socket due to this immobilization. Ellis then informed the team that she planned to detonate the nuke and they all had ten minutes to evacuate the facility. They fled up the stairs, with Mike attempting to hail a Pelican in vain. A ways from the entrance to the facility, the team was picked up by a Pelican that was hailed for them by Ellis. They were able to escape the nuclear blast, though their Pelican was caught in the shockwave and crashed with no casualties. {{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC23|Env|Chapter=23}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC21|Env|Chapter=21}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC24|Env|Chapter=24}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC25|Env|Chapter=25}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC26|Env|Chapter=26}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=ENVOYC27|Env|Chapter=27}}