On August 19, 2552, the second day of the Siege of New Alexandria...
In just two days, the UNSC had already lost all its positions outside the city. Officially, they had withdrawn on orders, but everyone knew that a lost position was a lost position. It wasn't some fig leaf or excuse to hide the fact that the battle had gone badly!
After all, fighting in the streets or turning defeat into victory might sound nice, but it was only a last resort for the defending side. If the situation allowed it, who would let cruel enemies invading their home enter the vast metropolis they had spent countless years building, then allow the fighting between friend and foe to destroy it completely—and let invaders or stray bullets hurt civilians who might get caught in the crossfire?
But now, whether they liked it or not, it was too late. The urban fighting in New Alexandria had already erupted the previous evening, and the invading Covenant forces had begun to fight the defending UNSC troops, Army units, colonial defense forces, and police with savage, bloodthirsty fury!
They fought their way down every street, through every building and across every patch of rubble, launching fierce attacks against the city's defenders. They also began slaughtering civilians who had nothing to do with the war and were completely unarmed.
At that moment, inside a fortress hastily converted from a sturdy steel building on the outermost ring of New Alexandria, UNSC soldiers were locked in a bloody battle with Covenant troops pouring in from outside the city, stubbornly resisting their assault.
"Watch out!"
"Open fire! Machine gunners, fill in! Get those heavy machine guns firing! Drive them back!"
"Where's the rocket launcher? Quick! Take out that Assault Cannon!"
Boom! Boom!
After a machine gunner was knocked