Chapter 1:Trouble Comes In All Sizes
Whoop Whoop Whoop... Stupid Aliens.
As I stood up the bed creaked with gratitude from its release of my weight. Walking over to my armor cabinet was alot easier than walking with my armor. I am the only soldier who is genetically, biologically and technically engineered, designed to fight and defend till death (In my case many times). I was still like a normal human (Plus better vision, hearing, accuracy and a hell of alot stronger).
Whoop Whoop Whoop...
I never realized how that alarm could be so annoying. Reaching forward I placed my hand on the Identification Pad shaped as a hand to recognize it was me. (What if those aliens could clone my hand? I could definitely use another firing arm). The sheet of titanium slid silently away revealing a bulky, strong, army green full length suit of armor. I reached in and pulled it out. Once in it, I felt the weight on every step.
Beep Beep
I knew what that was. I turned to look at a large disc shaped table. A blue light fizzled to life within it and there stood a woman.
"You're a bit slow today aren't you?" she asked cocking her head to one side. She was a program in the shape of a short-haired woman to run all our space stations, equipment and extremely large weapons.
"You would too if you weighed half a ton, Cortana," I replied sarcastically, "What is it this time?"
"A few of the Covenant's ships trying to break the shield,"she said casually.
"And the alarms?" I asked knowing the answer would be that at least one of them had managed to get on the station.
With an amusing sigh she replied "To get your lazy butt moving and help the marines defend this station, that's why."
Spartan 117, report to the Bridge immediately
Cortana looked at me. "See you there, and...oh...by the way, pick up a gun on the way, Chief," she said before disappearing in a blue light.
Walking swiftly under my heavy weight, I advanced to the Armory where Dudley Parker was fiddling with a small blue coloured grenade.
"I'd be careful with that, does alot of damage when it's set off," I interrupted.
Parker jumped, almost knocking the grenade on the floor. "Geez you gave me a start there, Chief!" he said picking himself up.
"I need a gun," I said stiffly, still hearing the alarms ringing.
He ushered over to a large titanium sliding door with a small control panel nearby and pressed a few buttons. With a loud click, the door unlocked and slid aside. Parker ran in and a clatter of metal against metal was heard. A minute later, he returned with two guns.
"Well sir, you have a choice," He began lifting the guns in his hands for me to see," You can have either the BR55 Rifle with 36 rounds or the M7/Caseless Machine Gun with 60 rounds."
I reached forward and took the Machine Gun from his hand and loaded it with a reassuring click.
Nodding to Parker, I left walking down the corridors towards the Bridge.
Once I got there the doors opened to reveal a huge room filled with large computer screens displaying pictures and maps.
"About time you got here," said a familiar voice,"Thought you turned chicken on us."
Turning around, I nodded to the dark-skinned Sergeant.
He puffed on his cigar and adjusted his hat before mumbling, "Those damn aliens don't know when to quit."
We walked over to a older man in uniform with several badges pinned to his chest pocket and saluted.
The General saluted back before saying, "I'll make this brief, Cortana has informed me that two Covenant ships have broken our shield and are attempting to board us. Now Master Chief, as you have dealt with these aliens on board before, I am sending you and a team of Marines with you to stop them boarding this station."
He turned to the Sergeant. "I need you to take a team of marines to man the guns on the station," he ordered. The Sergeant & I saluted and walked out the door.
As I got outside the door, a group of ten Marines stood ready and armed. I walked through them and they followed.
"Got him!" shouted one of the marines who just splattered a small alien with his gun. We had reached the West Hanger and there were aliens evereywhere. Small Grunts were no problem, they ran away and hid most of the time. Jackals had shields to protect them, but that was easily dealt with a couple hits with the barrel of the gun. Then there were the Elites. Faster, Stronger and Tougher than humans (Not for me of course). Takes a little more to kill, but not much of a threat to me.
After killing two Elites, five Grunts and a Jackal I felt pretty darn good. The alarms had stopped which meant there was no threat now. (Odd). I looked around making sure we had killed all of them. Yep (Very Odd). The General had said there were two ships boarding...
"Chief?" Cortana's voice came through my intercom.
"What is it Cortana?" I replied waiting for bad news.
"The General has asked you to return to the Bridge and don't worry about the second ship, it has been taken care of,"she finished.
Five minutes later I walked through the Bridge doors. What could he possibly want me for? To go on a mission maybe.
As I walked up to the General, I noticed Cortana standing on a disc shaped table similiar to the one in my quarters.
"That was quick," she laughed.
I turned and looked at the General.
"Master Chief, I thank you again for another well done job ridding us of these aliens and protecting the station," he said proudly.
"But that's not why I am here, is it?" I asked, feeling there was something they weren't telling me.
The General and Cortana looked at each other and then looked at me.
"You are quite correct. We have reason to believe that the Covenant are building a huge army to destroy us," the General replied.
"Well, we all knew they would, but the unusual thing is how fast they seem to be reproducing. We have estimated with the rate of reproduction and ageing as it is, we have just under a month until they have enough power to eliminate our defences," Cortana explained bringing up a map on a large computer screen in front of us, " There seems to be alot of activity coming from the far east Delta quadrant, from somewhere within the Horse-head Nebula. What it is, we don't know."
"Which is where you come in Master Chief," the General continued, "We need you and a team of Marines to investigate this sudden increase in their army. There seems to be a planet situated in it's core. Possibly the source of disruption."
"Yes sir," I replied and saluted. I turned around towards the door when I noticed a young woman with brown hair pulled back in a braid and blue eyes walking towards us.
She was not as tall as me (then again I'm not very tall), but she looked like she could cause some damage with a gun. I noticed a small bleeding cut just above the collar of her uniform.
"Ah, Master Chief, this is Major Rhea 001," the General introduced us, "Major, this is Master Chief Spartan 117."
She reached her hand forward for me to shake. I looked at her, not taking it.
"001?" I asked looking from her to the General.
"Ah yes, Major Rhea is the same as you Master Chief, but where she lacks strength, she makes up for her brilliant intelligence," he explained, "Which is why you will be partnered with her on your mission."
I looked back at Rhea. "I work alone," I said firmly.