Halo belongs to Microsoft and 343 Industrys respectively! All I own is the characters and story!
Hello!
Welcome to Halo: Installation Theta!
Another series I'm willing to work on!
Unless I only have one chapter and no motivation
*Cough Cough* Return of Darth Revan *Cough Cough*
Anyways lets begin!
Halo Installation Theta: Prologue
Date: November Third, 2552.
Time: 13:00 Hours
Location: UNSC Noble Cause.
A Halcyon Class cruiser flies through the black abyss of space, on it's four month voyage back to the progenitor of humanity: Planet Earth. The Noble Cause had just barley escaped Reach after the severe glassing it suffered at the hands of the Covenant: A coalition of several alien races. The ship's atmosphere was tense, all marines on board have a foreboding feeling of sheer dread hanging over them, like a blanket of fear folded over a bed of doom. Captain Summer Jones anxiously observes a distant planet, barren, yet habitable in appearance. She eyed the glassy orb closely, internally debating wether to investigate or not.
She makes up her mind, nodding to herself from her command chair. "Ensign! What's the status of our warp drive?" She turns the seat to a small pale officer operating a command console, who glances over his shoulder to respond.
"Still ongoing repairs, Ma'am!" He affirms with a nod. "Still about a month or two before fully operational, or so the engineers are telling us."
The tanned woman makes a guttural noise of disappointment, turning the chair forewords to observe the azure planet. "That planet...run scans on it. See if we can land there. Save the thrusters some much needed fuel." She orders no one in particular.
Minutes pass until another Ensign pipes up. "Habitable, Ma'am! Should we set the Cause down for landing?" The officer relays to her higher up.
Jones smiles for the first time in what felt like a million years. "Excellent. Better to hide from the Covenant bastards tracking us." The Captain removes her white hat, running her gloved hand through her black hair. Any moment of calmness was brought to a swift end, by the same female Ensign panicing.
"Ma'am!" She sputters out, fear lining her voice "Covenant fleet! Eight'O'Clock! One Cruiser, three Corvettes! What should we do?!"
The Captain punches the left arm rest, while raising alarms from the right, activating the shipwide intercom. "All troops to their stations, repeat, all troops to their stations! We are being intercepted by a Corvette fleet! I want everyone out and ready to fight!" She barks through the microphone. "Move it!"
The pale bridge worker turns in his chair to face his superior. "Even her?"
She contemplates the question, scratching her chin, before nodding in conformation. "Yes, Even her."
Location: Cryogenics
Time: 13:06
The cryo technicians banter back and forth about 'blasting the Covenant a new one' and 'how we're gonna avenge Reach' before the cryo bay's emergency intercom begins barking orders at them.
"Open Charlie 882's pod immediately!" a male's voice instructs the two "and send her to the bridge! Quickly!"
The two technicians look at eachother for a moment, before instantly tapping the keys of the computer.
"Spartan III huh? Covies will regret the second they step foot on the Noble Cause!" The younger of the two enthusiastically says, typing as quickly as his hands would allow, desperate to see the super-soldier in action.
His partner chuckles "Hoorah!" He presses the final switch which begins to unthaw the a tube in the far corner of the room. "Lets go son. We need to see her in person. Calibrations too." They both are exited to meat a real-life Spartan.
The pod's lid opens up fully, revealing the Spartan III in all her glory. She was about 6'7, Clad in glossy cobalt MJOLNIR armor with a grey undersuit. Her narrow gold visor shimmered magnificently under the bright lights of the cryo station. Adorned on her breastplate was the code '882' in small white letters. The Spartan groans as she fades into consciousness, carefully examining her surroundings. She shakily sits up, noticing the two men approaching her position.
The shorter of the two lets out an impressed whistle. "Recon armor. Nice." He stares her giant form up and down. She pays no attention to his remark.
The Head technician approaches the opened pod, Data pad in hand. Scanning her systems closely.
Barely even acknowledging the men, 882 speaks in a callous tone. "How long." She begins to climb out of her pod, shakily getting on her booted feet. "How long since Reach?" The smaller being before her sighs somberly shaking his head. She seems to catch his meaning, deciding not to press any further. Standing at full height, she easily dwarves the other beings in the blank silver room. They stared at her with a mixture of shock and awe: a look she is completely grown accustomed to over her 13 years of service.
Before 882 can leave however, the head technician holds his palm vertically: Indicating her to stop. She froze, waiting for the meaning of this. "Hold on lieutenant. We need to see your suit calibrated. Basic procedures 'n' such." She sneers from under her visor. She knew her suit was fully functional, and she didn't want to waste any time doing pointless procedures delaying her from an order. She sighs, wanting the procedure to be done with ASAP. He instructed her to move her arms upwards, which she did without question. Then he instructed her to lift and drop her legs, as if she were walking. Lastly, he instructed her to look up to the ceiling, then down to the floor. After the test is done, he nods in satisfaction. "Right Ma'am, your suit is fully calibrated. Please procede to the bridge for further command." She nods slightly immediately taking off to the bridge.
She is stopped by the shorter technician. "Hey, uh Spartan!" She freezes slowly turning her head to the man. He nervously gulps, uncliping a Magnum from his waist and offering it to her. "Give those covie bastards hell, Ma'am!" She smiles under her helmet, accepting his gift.
She tightly grasps the weapon in her left hand, examining the silver gun closely, nodding in satisfaction. "Thank you Marine. I'll kill a few for you." She lightly jokes, before leaving the room with a power walk.
When she's gone, the shorter man laughs slightly. "She could probably take out a Super Carrier with that!"
His comrade joins in laughing "Honestly, that wouldn't suprise me." The two laugh in the cold room, before awkwardly returning to their work.
Location: High Servitude.
Time: 13:05
The Sangheili Ship Master closely observes the Noble Cause from a distance, slowly calculating his next strike. His mandibles twitch in disgust at the enemy ship he was ordered to follow for the last few cycles. He felt a mixture of annoyance and eagerness. He tapped his hoof on the purple floor beneath him, patiently waiting for the team he had summoned. A fellow Sangheili crewman approaches the Shipmaster. "Why have we not engaged the heratics yet? We outnumber them four to one.
The Shipmaster's eyes tighten in thought, a sneer appearing on his aged face. "There could be a demon aboard that vessel...the sheer amount of damage those abominations can cause is worrying. They have demonstrated their destructive tendencies on the Long Night of Solace, and the Holy Ring...I have summoned a team of Zealots to board their filthy vessel...and exterminate the Demon."
"How can you be certain one is aboard?" The crewman was interrupted by the primary bridge door opening, revealing 5 Zealots, all clad in maroon. All eyes in the bridge turn to these heroes of the Covenant, some filled with pure admiration, others with envy
The tallest and most decorated Sangheili bows his head in respect to the Shipmaster "You have summoned us, Shipmaster. What do you require of us?" his deep voice almost echoes throughout the aubergine room.
The leader nods to the Zealot "Khyla. This mission...will bring you upmost glory if you succeed, and certain death if you fail." His old voice was weary. "Board their ship...and exterminate the Demon on board."
Khyla freezes up, not in fear, but the chance to bring retribution to those who have fallen to the hands of a demon. There is no greater pleasure. "Consider the Demon dead."
The Shipmaster sneers bitterly at Khyla "I hope your zealously won't get in the way of your skill. You say you can kill it. But will that be the case? We shall see. We are preparing a landing party. Join them." He points to the door, before returning to a command station.
The Zealot bows his head once more "I will not fail." He says, turning on his heels, heading for the exit.
Location: UNSC Noble Cause bridge
Time:13:14
882 had made her way to the bridge in record time. Suffice to say, she practically jogged here, which her superior Spartan genes allowed her to do with ease. The bridge was in chaos, people scrambling at their stations, trying to predict an attack. Surprisingly, no one stares at the Spartan as she enters the room. She silently observes the chaos from a distance, trying to comprehend what's even happening. Once she properly spots a cruiser from the main viewing port, she understood. 882 with two long strides approaches the captain: Who jumps upon seeing the larger woman.
"Christ almighty you-" Jones holds her hand to her chest, before composing herself "Ahem: Good to see you awake Spartan. As you can see out there," She points to the curvy aubergine monstrosity looming in the distance for emphasis. "The Covenant has been tracking us for the last four months, and finally had the balls to engage! Or so we thought. They aren't even doing anythi-" The bridge suddenly shaken by some kind of blast. Banshees flew outside the windows, bombarding the ship with shots of searing green plasma. "Boarding parties! 882! defend the ship! We'll try and fend off the flying targets! You handle any invaders!"
The giantess gives a determined nod. "Done." She cocks her gun with a satisfying click, before proceding out of the bridge, heavy steel doors closing behind her.
Alarms ring loudly as the Spartan moves quickly to one of many hangars this ship has: The choice seemed most logical to 882. Thoughts of her old crew ran through her head, and the planet she called home once: All decimated in a flash of light, leaving nothing but glass in it's wake. She scowls at these thoughts, a deep sense of regret and rage flowing through her vains, much like the augmentation fluids. after about a minute of speed-walking she reaches the bulkhead door of hanger 2. She could hear the distinct hum of a Phantom; muffled by 15 inches of steel. She decided to use the element of surprise on them: Partly because she knew they feared her, and partly she was under equiped. With the press of the console, the doors open for her. The purple drop ship loomed overhead, it's side doors hinged down making way for Covenant forces to come out. She counted 20 grunts, 15 Jackals and 4 Elite Minors. Checking her gun's reserves, she sighs. 32 bullets she had on her, even if she wanted a one shot one kill situation, she'd still be 7 short. She compromised by unsheathing her combat knife that hung on her lower back. She stealthily worked her way around to the other side of the Phantom. Her eyes immediately targeted one of the Elites. She lunged out, running as fast as she can. She used the backwards facing knees of the Sangheili as a platform: allowing her to stab him mutable times in the jugular. Purple blood splatters on her knife and armor, the grunts in the room immediately start flailing around and panicing in their babble language. She hears one of the Elites shout 'Demon!' in his native tounge. She hops off of her first kill, the tall body slumping over. She opens fire on another Elite, the magnum's bullets steadily bringing his shields down. Still firing, she crouches down to her kill, retrieving a plasma grenade from his belt. She primes the weapon, lobbing it at another Elite, who panics as it sticks to him The resulting explosion wipes out about half of the jackals, along with a few grunts. She eliminates the elites shields, shooting him twice in his exposed face, killing him. The only people still shooting her was the final Elite, and a few beave Jackals, as the Grunts scrambled around in terror. She set her focus to the open hanger entrance, which she needed to close. 882 darts out of her makeshift corpse cover to the nearest control panel. Enen though she was taking a good few shots from plasma rifles and needlers she still was able to close the blast doors. Her shields went down as she ducked for cover.
Location: Phantom approching Noble Cause.
Time:13:28
The Zealot leader Khyla's mandibles snapped shut in anger as he notices the hangar nearst the bridge shutting tightly from the cockpit window. For a second he thought he saw a demon fighting his brothers, and winning. He sees a felow Sangheili being repeatedly stabbed by the demon in the abdomen, falling over in death. before the doors shut all the way though, the cobalt clad demon just looks coldly at the phantom Khyla's in. The tall Sangheili almost shuddered at it's cold gaze, as the huge metal doors hide it's body. Khyla shakes his head to no one in particular. "Land in the second-to-nearest hanger. We must ambush that thing and kill it." He sneered in disgust at having to use a dishonourable tactic as ambushing an enemy, but it was necessary for a target like that.
The Phantom comes in for a smooth landing in hanger 3. Khyla is first to jump from the ship, energy sword in hand, ready to kill. His hooves echo loudly on the metal floor as he touches down. His silver eyes slowly scan the environment around him. Any slight moment of silence was shattered by many humans bursting into the hangar, guns blazing. Khyla jumps for cover as a missle barely misses him, flying out into the void of space. He snarls animalisticly at the attacker, emerging from cover, he charges the smaller man: Who screams in fear as the giant Elite was coming in point-blank. The marine couldn't do anything to save himself as he gets impaled though the abdomen by Khyla's blade. Red blood spilled onto the Zealot's armor, looking only slightly different from the maroon plating. The other humans all look horrified, stunned with fear. Khyla smiles as he sees the rest of the Zealots emerging from the phantom, unsheathing their blades. His glee is interrupted by something striking the back of his head. He falls face first into the floor, his head ringing in pain. He quickly turns his body round to look at his attacker, only to have a boot slam onto his chest, restricting his breathing. His eyes tighten in shock to what he sees.
It was the demon.
It heald the dropped weapon of the marine he slew, he was clearly struck by the bizarre metal tube. The demon fired shots off at the Phantom, trying to keep the Sangheili down. He watches in shock as the two projectiles hurdle off into the dropship's cockpit, causing a large explosion, killing several Unggoy, Kig-Yar and even Sangheili. This caused a surge of anger in Khyla's blood. He used all available strength to knock the Demon over, pinning it down with one hand and reaching for his discarded sword with the other. He heard a feminine grunt emerge from the demon, slightly surprising him. He gets close to her strange golden eye and whispers: "Lucky female...If you weren't a demon...you'd make a fine prize." He cruelly states in his native language.
His mocking is interrupted by the demon actually responding to him in his tounge. "Oh please." she mocks him "You couldn't screw a girl even if she asked you to!" she struggles beneath his weight.
He is horrified at her insult, his mandibles widen: Partly cause she can speak Sangheili, and mostly because she supposedly knows his familys greatist disgrace "What do you know of my family, demon?!" He roared at the cobalt armored beast beneath him. She knees the zealot in the groin while he was distracted, causing him to fall over in pain. She rolls aside from the winded Sangheili, grabbing his energy sword. She tries plunging it into Khyla's chest, but his instincts were quick, allowing him to grab the blades, severely burning his hands. He decideds to do the only logical action would be to throw the blade aside, taking her with it. He uses all of his body strength to chuck her away from himself. He growled at the foolish decision he just made.
Both warriors stand at full height after staggering for a moment: 7'10 and 6'7 respectively. They stared each other down, she had an energy sword, he had his wrist blades. She looks at the larger blade, before tossing it aside with a thud. Khyla looks extremely confused with her action. "Why do you do discard the blade?! Do you surrender?!"
She looks at her foe. "I wasn't trained with it." She clenches her gauntleted hands into fists. "That, and I'm curious. I want to fight hand to hand. I've always to beat a zealot to death." He scowls bitterly at her threats, turning his blades off; accepting her duel as honour would dictate.
"Very well demon, I accept this fist fight." He nods. She returns a nod to the Sangheili.
"Glad something in the Covenant has some code of honour." Her words surprise him. He eyes her up and down, before closing his mandibles. She stares him down too. Though he can't see her eyes, he can feel them meet his. She nods to him. "Lets begin. I'm itching for a fight." He nods back to her, raising his talons.
He lunges at the smaller warrior; who braces herself for impact by crossing her arms in an x formation over her chest. He strikes her arms, making her stumble backwards. Khyla takes this opportunity to continue an overwhelming onslaught of fists to her body. She suddenly counters him by grabbing his wrists and headbutting him. He shrieks in pain as his bottom-left mandible presumably breaks, the taste of blood filling his mouth. His broken appendage hangs limply from his face. The Zealot roars in pure rage at her, using inhuman speed to pick her entirely off the ground by her chest, before slamming her into the metal floor. She cries out in pain at she hits the floor stunned. The Sangheili takes her by the throat and begins choking her with one hand.
"Consider yourself lucky demon...you die with honour!" He says through a pain filled voice, some blood droppingdown onto her armor.
The Demon barely manages to choke words out "T-then do it Zealot...I-I-I-Oh my god..." Khyla's mandibles widen at her shock, before noticing a huge shadow engulf the hangar. His grip loosens as he turns to look out the hangar. His breath is stolen as he sees a Super-Carrier jump from a portal, it's size alone dwarves the Noble Cause and High Servitude; like an ant staring in the face of a elephant. Screams of shock from both Covenant and Human ring out upon seeing the vessel.
It hovers over the High Servitude, before unleashing a beam of pure blue from it's bottom, impaling the smaller ship hull as if it were nothing. Khyla's grip on the Demon's throat dissapears as he stares at the Giant ship. His com link is filled with the screams of allies and friends. He immediately contacts the new ship. "What is the meaning of this treachery?! Why do you betray us?!" he roars, not caring about the Demon behind him.
He is met with silence for a moment, before a deep, malicious voice responds. "The only treachery is from your kind, Sangheili. The Prophets have called for your kind's death..." Khyla recognises the voice as Jiralhane. "Pity, someone as honourable as yourself has to die in a human vessel. I'd offer some kind of duel, but I'm rather...busy. This isn't personal Khyla. You're just a Hurdle in the Great Journey. Sybius out." The Chieftain taunts with a mock sympathy. The Zealot is completely stunned at the Chieftain's words. How were the Covenant's most loyal soldiers, now just a hurdle? His thoughts are interrupted by alarms blaring, and a human female speaking over intercom in a language he cannot understand. He stands frozen in a state of confusion and rage.
"Whats happening, elite?" He hears the Demon behind standing up. "Is there some kind of civil war in your ranks?" Her tone mocks him.
"My kind has been betrayed by the Covenant...They must pay..." He clenches his fists tightly, staring the dreadnought down. He barely takes in all the humans evacuating the room.
Khyla hears the female about to leave, before speaking to him. "Ever heard of an evacuation? I suggest you leave." Is all she says before sprinting out the room. Now Khyla is truly confused. The Demon didn't stab him while his back was turned, and she can speak in his tounge. He decides to chase after her. His long legs easily allow him to catch up with the demon: who was fumbling around with a console. She turns her head to him in acknowledgement, before looking back at the instructionless buttons.
Khyla huffs out some word "Why did you not kill me when you had the chance?!" He spits out at her. She doesn't respond as a small circular door opens on the wall. "Answer my question Female!" She begins to climb into the tight space. He is about to explode at her, until a stray explosion knocks him into the pod too. He lands entirely on top of the demon pinning her to the floor, also launching the pod by accident. He stares down at the demon, heat rushing to his face as he can't move off of her in this tight space.
"This...Well this is compromising." She sputters, starting up at the Sangheili above her, his face slightly purplish. He diverts his attention to the view port: Where he sees the human ship being decimated by the Covenant. He also notices other pods and ships escaping, all flying to a nearby planet. The two lay in an awkward silence, waiting for the pod to reach planetside...
Location: Escape Pod
Time: 13:47
882 shifts uncomfortably under the Elite, who kept him self up with his hands and knees. She is glad she is wearing her helmet at the moment, so she can't make direct eye contact with her enemy. She knew she should of stabbed him with the sword given the chance. Now here she is, under the weight of this Zealot, in a cramped escape pod hurdling for a planet which houses god knows what. Both parties decide to stay silent, as not to make anything more awkward. Truly, she is a victim of circumstance. She kicks her own leg for sparing the Elite, getting a confused look from the male.
"Why do you attack yourself demon?" He tilts his head. She hesitates for a moment.
"To answer your earlier question: I don't know why I spared you." She bluntly states. He releases hot air from his nostrils.
"You make it sound like I was losing that battle." He looks away from her. She examines his broken mandible, laughing at it slightly. "What do you laugh at female?!"
"You let your mouth thing get broken by a female."
"I should gut you where you lay." he sneers at her. "You have the blood of many Sangheili on your disgusting hands." She crosses sher arms.
"And you have the blood of many humans on yours!" He trys to retort, but comes up with nothing. Another long pause meets them. They stare eachother down for a brief moment, before a flashing red light begins blaring.
"What is that?" The Maroon warrior asks.
"Shit, we're entering atmosphere! brace yourself!" 882 shouuts as the pod begins to burn up...
End of Prologue...
well, that was different, I thought I could only write in first person. guess I was wrong.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that!
I had a lot of fun writing this.
This has been TheLastRanger!
Peace.