eco

Eco Daskalakis-Perez Literacy

Gears of War

In the year 2067 there was a war between the COGs, who are human soldiers, versus the Locusts, which are monsters that live underground. The leader of the COGs is sergeant Hoffman. The COG soldiers are called Gears. The leader of the Locust is General Raam. The locust army is made up of many different types of Locusts. After years of planning, the Locusts have decided to try to kill the humans and take over the world. Now Dominic Santiago has freed me, Marcus Fenix, from prison for betraying Hoffmans’ direct orders. Dom and I have to meet up with Alpha squad and stop General Raam.

Dom directed me through the guards’ quarters, and into the fight. “Watch out Marcus.” Said Dom. The Locusts have started their attack against us. “Get to cover, Dom.” I said. We were able to defeat the Locusts except for the Corpser, which is a massive spider-like creature. “Run, get to the helicopter.” Said Dom. We barely escaped the Corpser, and got to Hoffman’s helicopter. The Corpser dug deep underground. The helicopter transported us to a battleground were we met up with Kim, commander of Alpha squad. Carmine was there too. Carmine is a soldier in Alpha squad. Hoffman conversed with Kim about a foolproof method to wipe out the Locusts. He called it the Lightmass bomb. To figure out were to deploy the bomb; we needed to use a machine called the resonator. The resonator is a machine that is able to map out the Locusts underground tunnels. Unfortunately, the resonator was with Alpha squad. The Locusts have Alpha squad pinned down. It is my job to rescue Alpha squad and deploy the resonator.

Kim directed us to an old looking building. Once we got to the building a hole from underground formed. Locusts poured out of it. Kim said, “Marcus, throw a grenade into the hole, it will stop the Locusts from coming out of it.” I lobbed a grenade into the hole, when it exploded the hole collapsed on its self. Dom and Carmine killed the Locusts that were able to get out of the hole before I threw the grenade. We moved around to the side of the building when another hole popped up. “Hey Marcus, there is a chainsaw on the front of your Lancer (machine gun), if you are in close combat you can rev it up and kill your enemies. Ironically, I turned a corner and there was a Locust shooting at Dom. It was my chance, I ran up to it and revved up my chainsaw, in seconds the Locust had been ripped in to two pieces. That was the last Locust from that hole. We moved forward and came up to a bridge. It led us to the front door of huge building. Kim opened the door. A hole appeared under a statue plugging it up. One more hole sprang up at the exit. I said, “Dom, take care of that hole, I’m out of grenades. “You got it, Marcus.” Said Dom. Just as I had asked, Dom threw a grenade into the hole. “Good job, Dom.” I said We went outside and down a flight of steps. We saw two dead soldiers next to a wide hole. Three Locusts ambushed us and one was on a troika, a large machine gun on a stand. “Take cover, and Marcus you flank right.” I ran to a wall on the right side of the troika. I turned left to find a Locust in my path. I took out my pistol and shot it in the head. I ran forward until I came to a small archway. At the end of it was the Locust on the troika. I revved up my chainsaw, but the noise just brought the attention to myself. The troika swiftly changed its aim from Kim to me. Kim saw his chance and before the troika could start shooting, Kim killed the Locust operating it. “I’ve got your back, Marcus.” Said Kim “Thanks Kim.” I replied We kept advancing to a two-foot circular wall that we jumped over it and there was ammo and grenades inside. I picked up some grenades. Once we were filled on ammo a holes appeared one by one, but we had enough grenades to plug them all up.

We approached a “fork in the road.” It was a building, but part of the wall was torn down. In-between the break in the wall was a wall from inside the building, creating the “fork in the road.” Kim said, “we’ll have to split up, Dom and Marcus go right, carmine and I will go left.” Dom and I did as we were told and went to the right. There was a hallway that led to small entrance. Beyond the entrance was room filled with old furniture and two windows. When we looked out the windows we saw a Locust on a troika shooting at Kim and Carmine. They were in a narrow hallway with a door behind the Locust. I said, “Kill the Locust on the troika before he kills Kim and Carmine.” Dom and I started firing at the Locust on the troika, and then Kim and Carmine did too. “Hey Kim, go through the door behind the troika.” Said Dom. As Kim opened the door, I went into a bathroom and found a door similar to the one Kim had opened. I opened the door and to my right was Kim and Carmine. “Dom, come over here.” I said. “Comin’ Marcus” replied Dom We met up with Kim and Carmine and went up a staircase and through another door. We found ourselves outside of another large building, most likely infested with Locusts.

“Dom and Marcus, go check out if any Locusts are here.” Said Kim I moved close to the building and as I approached Locusts burst out of the doors. I killed one with my chainsaw and picked up the shotgun that it was holding. A hole appeared inside of the building. I lobbed a grenade directly into it, but one Locust got out. I decided to use my new gun. The Locust did not notice me, so I snuck up on it and shot it in the back. The shot completely tore the Locust apart. I said, “Reload your weapons, and be ready for anything.” Carmine tried to reload his lancer, but it was jammed. He tried to show Kim when a gunshot rang out. A Locust sniper shot Carmine. We were forced to go inside the building because of the risk of being sniped. We continued through the building when we met up with Cole, Alpha squad member. “We have to save Baird, he’s trapped inside the tomb.” Said Cole Kim said, “Lets go get him, Cole take us there.” Cole led us to the tomb were we met up with Baird, who had the resonator. “Its about time you guys showed up.” Said Baird Kim radioed for a chopper to pick us up. When the chopper was in sight, the Locusts ambushed us, and shot down the chopper. Locusts surrounded us. Before I had time to react, General Raam was behind Kim. Kim noticed him too late. Raam grabbed Kim by the neck and unsheathed a long, jagged sword. Raam swiftly thrust the sword into Kim’s stomach. Blood poured from Kim’s stomach and dripped from his mouth. When Raam was done with Kim, he threw his corpse onto the ground. Locusts overran us so we hid in the tomb. I radioed command to say that Kim was killed, and I got promoted to take over for Kim. A soldier went crazy and ran down the hall. A berserker met him at the end of it. A berserker is an eight or nine foot tall Locust that is blind, and hunts by sound and smell alone. We ran further into the tomb before it noticed us. We went into a hallway where the berserker burst through a wall. It followed us to the exit of the tomb. When we ran out of the tomb I activated the Hammer of Dawn. The Hammer of Dawn is basically a signal for a satellite that sends down a beam that is capable of destroying massive structures. The beam fell directly above the berserker’s head. The beam fried it in a matter of seconds. Dom said, “I had no idea the hammer was that strong.” Baird said, “Well we’re lucky the satellite was in the right position or else we wouldn’t be able to use it.”

We walked until we reached a fork in the road. I said, “Dom and I will go left, Baird and Cole go right.” Dom and I went past an archway and through a door. It was a dead end. Suddenly, the wall in front of us exploded, and beyond the wall were two boomers. Boomers are large Locusts, not as big as berserkers, who use boom shots (grenade launchers). I saw Cole and Baird above the boomers. “Cole throw a grenade at them!” I said “Get down behind those boulders!” replied Cole. Cole threw a grenade under the foot of one of them. The grenade ripped apart one boomer and injured the other. Baird shot down the injured boomer. “Nice throw, Cole.” Said Baird I said, “There is no time for talking, keep moving and we’ll meet up as soon as possible.” We walked around the whole building and did not meet up until we got outside the building. A fence separated us, but there was a building in front of us that would allow us to reach each other. Unfortunately there was a troika inside of the building guarded by many Locusts. We were able to eliminate all the Locusts very easily. We finally reached each other at the troika.

We travel to a small town and approach a gate. There is a man guarding the gate. I said, “Open the gate, we need to get through.” The man did not respond he just opened the gate for us. Everyone in the town fled from us to their homes. They also looked very poor, and their houses were made with extra metal and wood that they most likely found lying around. “Lets get out of this place.” Said Dom “Yeah, this place creeps me out.” Replied Baird A stranger said “Hey its Santiago, how you doin’.” Dom said, “What’s up, man.” Dom had clearly met this man before. I’m surprised because frankly he looked like dirt. It appeared as if he had not showered or cleansed himself for many days. Dom said, “Do you still have the Junker.” “Yup, works just fine too.” Replied the man “You think I could borrow it.” Said Dom “No I can’t give you my ride, man.” “Come on you owe me for before.” “Fine, but we’re even no more deals asshole.” The man gave him directions to it, and Dom led us to an old gas station. On the way there Dom explained that the Junker had a UV turret, perfect for killing Krill. Everyone understood besides me. I asked, “What are Krill, and why do we need a UV turret.” Dom answered, “Krill are bat like creatures that only come out at night because intense light kills them, I think you know why we need the turret, right. I asked, “Where do they hide during the day.” Dom responded, “They hide underground, like the Locusts but not with them. I understood and kept moving.

After a while we finally reached a gas station with the Junker parked near it. The Junker looks like a sideways cylinder with wheels. The front was rounded with a part that looked like what is on the front of a snowplow. We drove the Junker on the highway, fighting Krill the entire time. Command radioed us to go to a designated area where we could get underground. We rode on a machine that was like an elevator. It lowered us down into the Krill hideout. It looked like a huge cave with a bottomless pit. We were suspended by a strip rock that branched off in many directions. “This place is gigantic.” Remarked Baird “Lets not get distracted, we still have a job to do and I’m not leaving till we finish it.” I said. Along the way I found a sniper rifle that had been abandoned down here. On another strip of rock there was a Locust sniper. It looked familiar for some reason. I looked through my scope and realized it was the sniper who killed Carmine. I shot angrily at it without thinking, and of course I missed. Now the Locust had the advantage. It took aim at Dom. “Get down Dom, he’s aiming at you!” I warned Dom. He shot wildly while ducking. That was a great idea because it threw of the snipers aim. I regained the advantage because it had to reload. While it ducked down I took aim. I was ready this time, and I desperately wanted to avenge Carmine. The Locust Moved into sight and before it could look through its scope I took my shot. The bullet soared with a piercing sound. Then the only noise was the sound of the dead Locust hitting the ground. The bullet hit the Locust dead in the head. “That shot was amazing, Marcus.” Said Dom. “I did it for Carmine, I couldn’t afford to miss that shot.” I said.

There was a cave that appeared to move, but then a figure approached the front of the cave. I saw what it was, and it was the corpser. It backed up into the cave. “Oh shit, lets get the hell outta here.” Said Cole. We ran as fast as any of us probably ever did before. I noticed the glow of a pool of acid further up. The corpser appeared above us in another cave. It jumped down in front of us. I underestimated its size it was colossal. The corpser roared so loud it shook the cave. We shot at many angles but it was not affecting it. Its underbelly was a lighter color. When I got an aim I shot my pistol at it. It roared again. I saw an opportunity and shot it in the mouth. It reared back and scooted many feet back. Then I noticed that it was standing on a bridge that was stabilized mainly by two hooks. I pulled out my lancer and shot until one hook unhooked from the rock. The bridge started leaning to one side. Dom caught on and shot his lancer at the other hook. This time the bridge collapsed, and the corpser fell into the acid wit a shriek. It was quickly engulfed in acid. Suddenly it jumped up and clawed the edge of the rock. It was not able to get up, and slid down again into the acid. “Oh my god! That was scariest thing that happened all day, and we were in some crappy situations today!” Said Baird “Damn Marcus, that was quick thinking man.” Remarked Dom. “Didn’t I tell you I was gonna get the job done. “Yeah we can count on you Marcus.”

I noticed another extension from the rock. I led the team across it. We approached a big hill of the rock. To the right there was another extension that led to a torque bow. A torque bow is a weapon that looks like a bow and arrow but is activated by a trigger. The arrows that it shoots explode in about two seconds after contact. “Hey Dom go get the torque bow.” I said. “Whatever you say, Marcus” replied Dom. He went over and retrieved the torque bow. We were finally able to get over the hill. To our surprise there was a Locust factory. We ran up the side of the factory. Two strange looking Locusts approached the side of the building from the inside. Command told us that they were called Theron guards and Theron sentinels. I aimed my sniper rifle and Dom charged up his torque bow. We killed the Locusts surprisingly easily. Now we went around and I took out my shotgun. We stormed the factory and I shot a sentinel but it did not die in one shot. I realized that these Locusts could take a lot before going down. That was one of the toughest battles I fought but we won without any serious losses. It was time for the resonator because we were in the heart of the Locust tunnels. Baird took the resonator off of Cole’s back. He activated it and we rode an elevator to the surface. When the resonator went off it caused a painful ringing in our ears. The data was sent to command. We all dropped to the ground from relief and exhaustion. “Finally that damn piece of crap is off my back” said Cole Baird said, “I’m just glad to be done with that mission.” That was when Hoffman radioed us from command to give us the bad news. Hoffman said, “That piece of shit didn’t give us the info we need, we’re missing most of the data.” “It doesn’t matter, look at this.” Said Baird. Baird held a spherical machine that command analyzed. They told us that that had all the data we needed. “I picked it up from a dead guard.” Explained Baird “Good work, now we have one last mission for you.” We were told to go to a train that had the lightmass bomb on board. We used the Junker to get there. We boarded the train and it started moving to the target area.

Out of nowhere a berserker burst through big boxes at the end of the train. We did not have the Hammer of Dawn. I realized that there was a release button for the car that the berserker was on. I took out my sniper rifle and aimed directly at the button. In one shot the car released and the berserker went down with it. “Once again your sniping saved us all, nice job.” Said Dom. It started getting dark so we picked up the pace, and rushed through many cars carelessly. The next car was the on e that contained the lightmass bomb. Luckily this car was filled with ammo because we were going to need it. We opened the door to the last car. At the end of the car along with the lightmass bomb stood General Raam. He wielded a troika without the stand in his hands. To add to the problems the Krill came storming in. I saw my only chance of killing Raam, a troika behind him. “Dom, distract Raam I’m going to go for that troika.” I said. I mad a desperate attempt to get to the troika. Raam started shooting. His bullets were inches away and getting closer. Suddenly an arrow hit Raam in the chest, and exploded at the perfect moment. That got me just enough time to get to the troika. I steadied my aim and fired at Raam. I heard him scream in pain and in within a couple of seconds Raam dropped with a bang. A chopper picked up Dom while I activated the bomb. The train was heading for a cliff. The helicopter got as close as it could and I reached for Dom’s hand. He barley caught me as the train descended into the Locust tunnels. The tunnels erupted with acid and lava as the lightmass bomb exploded. Hoffman said, “That was exceptional, Marcus Fenix, I congratulate on a job very well done.”

These are the questions i would like you to answer_ - Does the setting fit the story? _- Is the setting described well?
 * Setting:**