In this story Cortana never stayed on Delta Halo and she detonated In Amber Clads reactor and blew up Delta Halo along with High Charity. However disorganized and crippled the Covenant are, they are still intact. With only the Brutes, Prophets, a handful of Elites and Jackals holding the Covenant together there is little hope for their victory over Humanity. The board of directors for the UNSC are reluctantly in favor of accepting the rest of the Elites, Grunts and Hunters onto earth and have been stationed at a remote military facility awaiting the boards overall decision. The war is closing to an end, and here is the story of: The Recruit...

The Missing Spartan

November 7, 2552

Washington II, Capital of Planet Prime

The Master Chief woke up with a startle by the pelicans turbulence, brought his rifle to bare, and everyone in the pelican went stiff. He realized he had fallen asleep on the way down to the city from the New super carrier Trafalgar II. He relaxed and watched as everyone else did as well. Damn he thought, this isn't a good example for the marines and especially the other Spartans. He sat straighter and went over the mission in his head again, which was surprising in its simplicity. Go in and help the Marines seek out all of the hostile forces and eliminate them. This was almost to simple, there has to be a catch, but he wouldn't know until it showed itself. But why worry, his entire team was compiled of Twelve battle hardened Marines, and four other Spartans. There was little to worry about,

Two minutes after a brief flyby the platoon hit the ground and things got bad fast. As soon as the pelican lifted off a group of Jackals peeked out from a large garbage bin and fired four charged plasma bolts and each caught a Marine from behind. The Spartans spun and fired, bullets ripping through the container and shredding the Jackals. One of the Marines was seriously injured but stable. Master Chief placed a NAV marker on a clearing towards the Southwest,"thats our LZ, if it gets too hot we retreat here and call for extraction. Will, take...Corporal Jagg, to the LZ and patch him up. Linda, get on a roof and eliminate any targets that so much as stick a hair out in he open. Fred your with me and the Marines. Team we got a mission, lets do it". The team split up and John and Fred's team started moving out when multiple cracks were heard: Linda's rifle John thought. Just as they turned the corner, a group of ghosts were spotted turning into their street. "Son of a- Hey", John muttered as he looked back to see a marine with a Rocket Launcher. John motioned the hesitant marine up front and took his Gun. He looked around the corner, hefted the launcher and fired. The rocket flew home and detonated halfway between the right wing and the driver seat. The Ghost veered right and collided with the neighboring Ghost and both blew up in a blue flash. John switched his attention to the third Ghost, locked on, and fired. It spiraled forward and exploded on the Brute driving. Just as the final ghost came bolting through the carnage a shot rang out and the Brutes head exploded. Thank you Linda. Just then Wills biomonitor skyrocketed and flat lined. What the hell? "Fred, get back and locate Will". As his acknowledgment light winked he ran off, and the remaining assault team members proceeded.

Fred raced back to find Corporal Jagg laying on the ground with a crushed head. Next to him was a Brute hunched

over something. Fred approached slowly with his Battle rifle raised, when the Brute spun and hit Fred with its Brute shot. Fred hit the ground with shields depleted. He rolled backwards to his feet and took a wide stance and drew his arm back, awaiting the Brutes next move. If it shot Fred, hes dead, but if it berserked, which Fred hoped for... he had a plan. The Brute howled into the air and through his gun down and charged Fred on all fours. Perfect. Fred flexed his fingers straight out, locked his suits hand and wrist joints and swung forward catching the brute in the forehead, plowing threw his skull and out the back of it head. As the Brute clawed in confusion at his head he went limp. Fred removed his hand shaking off all the brain matter and excess Brute, when he spotted Will. "WILL" Fred yelled, as he ran over to see his friends broken body. Wills armour was riddled with fist prints, and his faceplate was shattered, Fred closed his lifeless eyes. "I got that bastard for you Will". Over the com Fred could hear John," whats Wills condition over"? "He's Dead" Fred replied.