Disclaimer: I don't own Halo
Zero Hour
Chapter One: Arrival
01:30, October 20 2552 (Military Calendar),
ODA-142 Cairo Station, orbiting Earth, Sol System
(10 Minutes to Zero Hour)
Staff Sergeant Daniel Williams sat at a video phone booth in Recreation R-01 on the Orbital Defence Platform Cairo. He was average height, slightly muscular and had light brown hair that was slightly longer than regulation length. He was calling his ex-girlfriend Anna to see how she was doing after her parents died when Reach fell. They were technicians stationed on board one of Reach's OPDs. The view screen on the video phone came to life showing, a girl in her mid-twenties.
"Hi Anna, how're you holding up?" Daniel asked.
"Hi Danny, I'm alright, it's just a bit difficult you know," She said moving her long blonde hair away from her face.
"Yeah I know, just don't do what I did when my parents died and join the Marine Corps," He said with a slight smile, "So, how is everyone?"
"They're good, Jessica is being a pain in the butt as always," She said laughing slightly, "What about you? You killed anymore bad guys?"
"I'm fine, I've killed a few," He thought back to his time spent on Halo, the Flood and watching he team mates get turned into combat forms. "Hey, in about 4 minutes put the news on, they'll be showing the award ceremony and you'll get to see the Master Chief."
"Really? Cool. I'll put it on now so that I don't forget." She got up and walked over to the TV remote showing her lovely figure.
Why did we break up? Danny thought to himself.
"I did it, so can I call you later?" She asked.
"Yeah sure," Danny replied.
"Oh Danny, thanks for ringing me it meant a lot,"
"Anytime, see ya," The view screen went back to showing a key pad.
Danny Williams got up and walked over to Corporal Charles Ferguson, one of his men. Charlie was the heavy weapons specialist which meant that he was very muscular. He was also a skin head and very scary in a dark alley. Charlie got up from the video phone booth that he was at.
"Hey sarge, Anna alright?" He asked.
"She seams alright but I'm not that sure, how about your parents?" Danny replied.
"My mom got her pacemaker installed and she feels a lot better,"
"That's great; do you want to watch the award ceremony?"
"Yeah why not." They walked to a video screen where it was being shown. The camera was focused on the Master Chief and Sergeant Major Avery Johnson. A marine walked behind Lord Hood and whispered into his ear. He then turned to Cortana and a couple seconds later an image of Covenant ships appeared on the view screen.
"Damn, looks like they found us." A marine next to them said. Everyone in the room walked over to the weapons racks and picked up either a BR55 Battle Rifle or M7 SMG. Both Danny and Charlie chose Battle Rifles.
"All hands report to battle stations, this is not a drill. I repeat, this is not a drill." Cairo Stations Defence Coordinator blurted over the intercom.
The doors for the hallway connecting Recreation R-01 and the Bridge opened, Sergeant Johnson walked in with a portable M247 GP Machine Gun Turret. He was followed by a few Marines and the Master Chief.
"Field of fire on that bulkhead. As soon as that door opens, let'em have it" Johnson ordered as he set up his machine gun.
01:40
(Zero Hour)
The bulkhead started glowing as the Covenant started to cut through it and within seconds the bulkhead fell apart, Grunts swarming into the room followed by a few Elites. Everyone started firing, Grunts getting decapitated and their methane tanks exploding.
An Elite had snuck behind where Daniel and Charlie were shooting from. They heard bones crunch and turned around to see the Master Chief whose fist was covered with the Elite's blood.
"Thanks Chief." Charlie said. The Master Chief replied by nodding.
"Look out they're coming from above." Sergeant Johnson shouted as two Elites jumped down from the floor above them. One of them grabbed a Marine by the throat crushing his windpipe.
"I'm out," Danny shouted.
"Hey." A marine shouted throwing him two clips.
"Thanks man."
Danny and Charlie moved behind an Elite shooting it in the back. A few rounds piercing the Elites shield, disfiguring its left shoulder and destroying its shield generator. It screamed in pain, turning round to see its attackers.
"Hey squid-face, eat this," Charlie shouted at it, shooting rounds at its head. Brain, blood and bone spraying everywhere.
"All clear." Danny shouted.
They cleared the next hallway, killing everything in site. The Master Chief went up the staircase next to them alone.
"Wonder where he's going." Charlie said.
"Borders in Habitat Alpha." The Defence Coordinator said.
"We better go and help those guys out." Danny said.
They ran down a series of hallways, until they got to Habitat Alpha. Danny signalled them to stop and crouch. He poked his head around the corner.
"I see two…scratch that, four elites and quite a few grunts." He said. "Ideas?"
"We draw them towards us and throw a few frags in. We then mop up the rest of 'em." Charlie whispered.
"I like it. Only one problem, we don't have any frags."
"Yes we do." Charlie got one out of his pouches. Danny smiled. He lifted his right hand up, slowly counting down with his fingers. Three…two…one. He fired a couple rounds at a few grunts. Their tanks ignited killing them. The rest of them ran over to the grunts badly burned body parts, trying to see where the shots had come from.
"Now." Danny ordered. Charlie threw the frags, killing most of the grunts and two of the elites.
"One Elite each, take them out before the grunts."
They slowly walked in firing at the Elites. The Elite that Danny was shooting at shields collapsed allowing a barrage of bullets to puncture its armor. It looked up in shock and collapsed. He turn to Charlie's Elite and emptied his clip into its shields, collapsing them. Charlie finished it off with a headshot. Just as they were finishing off the grunts a fire team ran in.
"Sorry guys, parties over." Danny shouted over to them.
"Was it a good one?" The Sergeant leading them asked.
"Amazing." Danny said smiling.
A green plasma bolt struck one of the Marines helmet, knocking it off.
"Take cover." The other Sergeant screamed. Within seconds 30 Grunts and 10 Elites had flooded into the room. One marine got stuck by plasma grenade, his entire body was vaporised by the blast.
"They just keep on coming." Charlie shouted.
"They better stop soon because I'm on my last clip," Danny replied pumping lead into the Grunts that were advancing towards their position. "I'm out of ammo."
That was the first chapter. Please R&R