An Unlikely Team-up

It's the year 2400 and since the attack on the MANTEL corp. landcarrier. MANTEL had been struggling to gain their power in the profit margins but have failed. The corporation soon met an alien species which have seemed to be from this planet or legion code-named THE COVENANT. MANTEL soon gave up on cornering the pharmicutical market and began recruiting new soldiers. The leader of MANTEL Corp., James Segar had planned to unite with the COVENANT forces and began his quest to conquer. But little do they know... Two men stand in their way.

Chapter 1 - Awakened

Master Cheif awoke from his cryogenic tank, looking around puzzled. Where was he? This doesn't look like the space craft in which he had frozen himself. He walked along the corridors glancing at strange objects and designs he had not seen before. To him, these designs were of a more primitive life form. He soon heard the sound of a shotgun pump. He turned around only to be staring down the barrel of the gun.

- Oh, it's you... - The man said.

He appeared to be well-toned as well heavily armoured from head to toe and from the look in the man's eyes... he's been through hell. He stepped aside and pointed to a door down the corridor.

- Merino wants to see you. - He said in his mexican accent.

Cheif, not knowing what was going on, followed the man's orders and proceeded to the room in which he had indicated. He peered around the door which had slid up. He saw an old man about in his fifties, sitting in a big black chair. He had a white combed back hair and a white beard and black mustache. He wore a light beige vest and a green folded sleeve shirt. He also appeared to be missing a finger... He stood up and walked over to Cheif and put his hand out.

- Ah, you must be the Master Cheif. I am Gabrielle Merino... but my friends just call me Merino. -

The Cheif shook his hand. Merino walked over to a computer and uploaded some files and data.

- Come here friend, I have something you might want to see. -

Cheif walked over and stood beside Merino staring at the files. He saw pictures of soldiers in heavily armored black suits with an aura of yellow. He also saw a picture of a man wearing one of those suits sans helmet. His face was appeared to be in a unhappy state. He stared at Merino, puzzled.

- Tell me Cheif, do you know who these men are? - He said as he pointed to the picture of the soldiers.

Chief shook his head. He had no idea who these men were. Their technology seems strange, and were definitly not from the Covenant, as the soldiers were human, not grunts or elites for that matter.

- Those people, Cheif, are Mantel soldiers. -

Cheif thought back at the name. He had heard that name before... the same name that had been plastered on medics as well as some scientists who worked in genetic engineering. Why would a pharmacy company make an army? Besides, this company existed before he was even born.

- Cheif, we have been fighting with those people for many years. There was a year where we had thought that was the end to their madness. But unfortunately, many decendants had taken the role of power in the Corporation. - He said grimly

The Cheif nodded, as he was still trying to figure out what was going on.

- Do you know what these people have done? They have killed many of us. And no matter how much we fight back... Mantel gets stronger. These soldiers however are oblivious to what they are doing, as they are being influenced by a powerful drug. It is called Nectar. This drug heightens the senses as well as the skills of a soldier that take a dose. However, too much will cause these men to go in a state in which they are filled with rage! Should this last, the men will die. It is unfortunate that good people could be manipulated by this company. That is why we must fight! - he said as he slammed his fist onto the desk.

Merino took a deep breath and sat down in his chair. Cheif understands how he feels about a re-occuring menace.

- I have frozen myself many times, that way I could lead the rebellion for many years. It is depressing, but as long as I know I'm doing the right thing. Then I'm okay. - he said

Merino got up and pointed to the man in the suit with the unhappy expression.

- This man, has helped us in the years and as I have been frozen in time to continue the rebellion, he has been frozen to defeat Mantel at any time. Master Cheif, I want you to find him. You and him are our only hope to finally destroy Mantel and it's evil influence. But Mantel isn't the only thing you have to fight. I'll tell you the rest tommorow, get some rest. I'll be giving you the briefing in the morning. - He said as he showed Master Cheif to the door.