0622 hours, August 30, 2552 (Military Calendar)\

UNSC Vessel Forward Unto Dawn, Rim of the Milky Way

near "The Ark"

"We gotta give the Chief some cover," shouted Sergeant Cameron Zener over the comlink to the rest of this squad. Zulu squad was following the Chief through the canyon to the cartographer when they were ambushed by enemy armor.

Under cover fire the Chief advanced with the 102mm High Explosive Anti-Tank or HEAT rocket launcher. From his cover, the Chief popped off two rounds scoring two direct hits. The Brute Chopper and the Grunt on the Ghost both went up in flames. The Chief's gravely voice crackled over the com, "Lets move."

"You heard the Chief, lets move Marines!"

"Hotel Sierra! You see him pop those shots off," questioned Herb Gutierrez, the squads newest member, affectionately dubbed "Rookie". The other Marines just shook their head and continued forth, they had seen the Chief in action, they've seen what a Spartan could do given the right tools.

Monty "Tank" Singleton just snorted and spat on the ground near Rookie's foot. Standing six foot five, Monty was ever bit of his nickname, being the only person in the squad that could come close to reaching the Chief's height. Pumping another round into his M90 shotgun, Tank spoke over the com, "Shut and do your job Rookie, can't have you distracting the Chief."

"Cut the chatter, we got inbound," Zener barked. Almost immediately the squads sharpshooters dropped into prone positions, two with S2 sniper rifles and the triple shot of a SR Battle Rifle sounding in unison. The snipers, Elsa Doyle and Percy "Striker" Gomez squeezing gas fed rounds into the incoming Brutes with steady hands while Alice "Goat" Grimes popped off a triple shot with her Battle Rifle. The Brutes dove for cover and fired off bolts at the incoming humans.

The squads only medic, Loretta "Doc" Osborn followed the two rifleman, Benton "Hammer" Poole, a large man with a standard Assault Rifle, and a skinny man with a pointed face, appropriately named Wesley "Rat" Ratliff, who took point with an Assault Rifle. The three shot off to the right flank under cover fire and rock formations. As Doc slid into position, Hammer shifted his head to the left and spat another wad of spit before grinning at his fellow Marines, "Lets fuck 'em up." Doc paled slightly before nodding. Rat wore a feral grin as he, Hammer, and Doc swung left and lit up the Brutes exposed right flank.

The Brutes shifted their field of fire to counter the new threat, but with the lull in fire, the rest of Zulu team with the Chief blitzed the unsuspecting Brutes. Three grenades landed at the feet of the Brutes that never knew what hit them. As they rounded another pass within the canyon, the small group of humans come upon an entryway to the Cartographer. Upon their approach, several Phantoms, the Covenant version of a Pelican, swoop in with Elites dropping down, one with silver armor taking the lead.

The Elites parted ways as humans made their way to them. The silver Elite, the Arbiter, greeted the Master Chief when he came close enough, "Welcome Spartan, we must hurry and stop Truth, before we are burn in the cleansing fires of the rings." The Chief nodded before turning at the sound of inbound enemy armor. The rest of the group pivoted as well and began taking cover. The Chief, Arbiter, and Elites began moving into the structure when they saw the nine Marines staying behind. Zener, as if sensing the unasked question, faced Chief and grinned as he spoke, "You guys stop the crazy fucker upstairs, we'll stomp these apes and rendezvous with you and Johnson up top. Get moving, we'll give you the time!"

A slight hesitation and the Chief made his way into the structure. The Elites looked to their commander for instructions but the Arbiter merely nodded to the Marines and he and the rest of the Elites followed the Chief. The Marines swung their attention back on the incoming Brute armor. Doyle and Striker picked exposed gunners on the enemy vehicles while the rest of the squad opened up with Assault and Battle Rifles. As the vehicles came within range, Singleton popped out of cover and nailed a Wraith with the last two rounds in the rocket launcher. The Wraith went up in flames as the other vehicles swerved to avoid the wreckage.

Grimes focused her sight through her scope, efficiently dropping most of the basic infantry, like Grunts and Jackals, with short controlled bursts. Rat and Rookie to her right laying down heavy fire on the enemy as Hammer, Doc, and Sarge shifted left to get a clear line of sight on Covenant taking cover behind the wrecked Wraith. A Marauder, packing several Brutes, came charged through the smoke, the spike shots coming from the Brutes weapons clinking into the wall just above the Marines heads. A look of disgust washed over Zener's face though it dropped quickly when Tank broke cover and lobbed a grenade several feet in front of the inbound vehicle. The timing was perfect as the Marauder flipped killing the gunner and one of its side occupants.

Tank, grinned and dove forward for cover behind a rock formation. The victory was short lived as Rookie shouted above the din, "Wraith fire, take cover!" Tank only got to see Sarge's face pale before ducking behind his cover. "Fuck," was all Tank could say as the blast from the Wraith landed no more than three feet to his left, completely engulfing him in flames. Death was instant. Goat was the first to break cover and popped a round off, killing the gunner of the Wraith.

Shaken by Tank's death, Sarge fought for control of his emotions, They had managed to get through Boot together and served in the Marines until now. Mourning would come later if there would be a later, now he had seven other soldiers to mind. "Fall back into the compound, let them come to us," Sarge shouted through the comm. Rat and and Striker were the first to the door, they spun and knelt fired off rounds covering their squad mates as they ran forward almost doubled over.

They reached the entryway, Rat and Striker falling in behind them as Sarge worked furiously on the door to get it to shut and lock, "Ah shit, this thing don't work worth a damn. Move further in and get a foot hold Marines, this is going to be a hellavu fight!" The squad moved into the structure passing the corpses of a few Brutes, Grunts and a lone Elite. As they rounded a corner, Sarge gazed back the entryway as the first Brute came into sight. Sarge silently swore a storm as the first one was a chieftain, judging by the headdress. The pair locked eyes for a moment before the chieftain bellowed a war cry. Sarge's rebuttal was a clip to the face with his weapon, "Move Marines!"

As Sarge followed his team on his HUD, Goat barked through the comm, "Sir think we got company ahead of us too." Several red blips showed up ahead as well as behind. Grime faced, Sarge quietly assessed the situation. Looking to his team, he saw them looking to him for orders. Sarge closed his eyes, seeing Tank's death, his home burning from the Covenant glassing the planet, the countless deaths of his fellow humans, and his weight of the world upon his shoulders. His eyes shot open and held a edge to them and in a grave voice said, "Back to back Marines. This is where we hold 'em. Lets show 'em the proper way to kick ass."

A chorus of 'ooo-rahs' answered his order. Opening the comm to the Chief, Zener gave what would be his final transmission, "Chief, Arbiter! We're pinned down here between Brutes and something else. You boys got anything to spare, now would be a good time to do so!" The comm was silent for a moment but any sound was drowned our by Brutes firing their way into the Marines' kill zone. "Roger...Marines...inbound...ETA...nutes...over." The Marines met the Brutes fire with fire of their own. "You ain't paying for the rounds Marines! Use 'em," Sarge barked over the comm. A Grunt covered in plasma grenades charged forward into their right flank were it wrapped itself onto Goat. She screamed as she tried to melee it off, the explosion cutting off her scream.

"Shit! Keep it up Marines!"

The fight was a losing one, they knew that. But they had to give the Chief time to stop Truth. So they'd bite the bullet and go down fighting if they had too. Sarge's blood froze when Doyle shouted over the din, "Flood!" Even the Brutes knew what that meant. Suddenly, what was a fire fight between Covenant Brutes and Human Marines, now became a bloody free for all with the introduction of the infectious parasite . A Combat form fell from its leap and descended upon Rat, slashing through his protective chest armor, cutting into flesh and bone. He unloaded a full clip into the parasite but fell as a few spikes from a Brute put him down.

Hammer and Striker were back to back blasting anything that came into their field of fire. Hammer swept his weapon in an slow arc to nail as many of the infection form rushing at them. He snarled at the small forms as they began to pop and destroy one another. Striker struck a combat form in the jaw with the butt of his rifle. It stumbled before he could bring his rifle to bear. The Brute behind the combat form tried to crush them both. Striker lowered to his knee and brought the rifle barrel and squeezed off a round that blew through the Flood into the face of the Brute that crumpled as what was left of his brains splattered onto the floor.

A round from a Brute Shot, wielded by a infected Brute sent them flying and crashing into a weapons crate opposite of the room. Hammer swore loudly as made a grab at Striker. He went silent as he turned the skinny man over, his eyes already vacant with death. Sharp pain shot through him as he examined himself. Both of his legs were gone. Eyes widening, he felt a parasite latch itself onto his back. "Fuck off you little shit," swore the big man, trying to dislodge the parasite by rolling. Feeling control slipping away, Hammer did the one thing he had left, popped the pin on one his fragmentation grenade and rolled over onto it. The blast killed him and the parasite trying to infect him.

Doyle and Rookie were working their way to the last two members of Zulu team, Sarge and Doc. Brutes firing at them and the Flood, the Flood firing at everything, and the Marines caught in the middle. Sarge swung his weapon and blasted another form that too close for comfort. He caught sight of Doyle and Rookie working their way over to them. A grim grin spread across his face, but that too faded as he shot another Brute that came after him. He looked back and his heart plummeted as he watch a chieftain rush in behind the two and bring its Gravity Hammer down upon them. Doyle was killed instantly, her back bending at a completely perfect right angle. Rookie was sent sprawling forward, desperately trying regain his footing.

Sarge got a bead upon the chieftain and squeezed the trigger, intent on saving the young mans life. An infected Brute stepped between him and his target, the bullets shredding its body instantly. Even as it fell, Sarge was slapping another clip into the rifle. He raised his weapon as the hammer came down on Rookie. He fired as the hammer met the young mans body, sending torrents of crimson liquid shooting out to either side of Rookie, blood fountained from his mouth. The rounds glanced off the Brutes armor, its attention brought to Sarge, whose eyes widened, "Oh fuck me sideways."

The beast roared and charged forward. It brought it's weapon to bear as it came within range of the human before it. "Doc move," Sarge barked. When he didn't get a response, he rolled to the right and glanced at where Doc had been. Standing there was combat Flood form slashing at a Brute. Doc's once pretty face now hung off to the side and bobbed sickeningly as it moved. The Brute swung its fist and smashed the Flood form. A roar from the chieftain brought Sarge to his senses. The remaining two Brutes finished the Flood as the chieftain focused on the human before it. He back peddled away from the Brute as it gave chase. Not watching were he was going, Sarge tripped over a Brute grenade, reminiscent of an old German potato masher but with spikes. Grabbing it in one hand, Sarge rolled forward and to the left as the Brute brought its hammer down, seeking the Sergeant.

Scrambling back to his feet, Sarge swung the grenade, arming it as it smashed into the chieftains headdress, and leaping away. The Brute roared its righteous anger before being blown away. It staggered for a moment before collapsing in a heap. Sarge brought his rifle to bear and unloaded into a Brute trying to dislodge a Infection Form. It crumpled to the ground and the parasite popping into gas as Sarge fired a round into it. The feral growl behind the Sergeant sent a shiver into his spine. Slowly he turned and came face to face with the remaining Brute. It lifted its meaty fist and crashed into Sarge's face, instantly breaking the jaw.

Sarge fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes, face bloodied, and jaw broken. The Brute slowly advanced upon the human, its weapon raised above its head to bring it down onto the human. The sound of plasma burning through the air, and the distinct smell of hair and flesh being burnt wafted into Sarges nose. The Brute collapsed, revealing an Elite that looked down upon the human. Blood flooded Sarge's mouth, his neck broken, unable to cough it out. The Elite tried to move the wounded man in front of it but stopped as it spasmed in his arms. The fierce look in the humans eyes stunned the Elite momentarily. Slowly it nodded, bringing out its Energy Sword, it quickly thrust it into Sarge's body. Pain flashed across his eyes passed as quickly as it came. His head lolled to the side as death took the Sergeant.

The Elite looked back at the Chief, Arbiter, and what remained of the party of Elites. The Chief, knelt down next to the fallen sergeant, gazing at him before straightening up. "Come on, lets finish this fight, for them, for everyone." The rest quietly followed the two out of the structure. Silence prevailed in the now tomb.

The trio looked upon the scene in front of them impassively. Two men and what appeared to be a young woman. The oldest looking one, hair white and face wrinkled with age spoke first, "Why have you shown this to us, Kami-sama?"

The young woman, sighed and looked at the older of the two before replying in turn, "As deity of your world, I must do what feel is necessary to protect my domain. Your world is in constant strife, and I fear a darkness is descending upon the Elemental countries. To counter this darkness, your world needs men and women with strength and courage. While I must admit, the shinobi of Fire Country possess the Will of Fire, I'm afraid that that alone will not be enough."

Kami sighed as she gazed at the fallen Marines, proud members of Zulu Squad. Her eyes softened slightly, moisture threatening to over come her eyes. "These warriors, these 'Marines', will play a key role in countering this evil," she said as the world around them began to fade to nothingness. The bodies of the Marines didn't fade with the background, but their wounds and missing limbs restored.

The other man, tall and sporting a white coat with flames dancing across the hem, turned and spoke at last, "Will they be given a choice?" The older man frowned and gazed at the deity, studying her features before she shook her head. Both men sported a frown at this. To fight for ones own terms was one thing, it was something completely different to be forced to fight for something you had no commitment to.

As if sensing their distress, Kami spoke again, "They will agree to fight after I have shown them the same images as I have shown you today. They will prove most valuable to you as them grown into their own fighting force." She pivoted to face them, her simple movement as graceful as gliding. "You must understand, I do this only to maintain peace in your world. If not, your world will consumed by darkness. But there will be time to speak of this matter later, go and awaken in your own world. I will summon you again when the time is right."

Both men glanced at each other before nodding to Kami. They began to fade from existance when they heard he speak softly, "May my guidance light your path, Hokages." She gazed at the spot they had been standing only moments before turning and making her way to the fallen Marines. As she came to Sarge, she gently caressed his face, blowing warm air into his face, new life into his body.

Sarge's eyes shot up and greedily sucked air into his lungs. The first this he noticed when his blurred vision began to sharpen was a pair of brown eyes gazing into his. Before he could react, a sweet melodious voice rang out to him, "Welcome Sergeant Cameron Zener, there is trouble brewing that only someone of your caliber can take. You could say.. I'm in need of a few good men."

Author's Note:

Well folks there you have it. My first real foray into fan fiction and I thought I'd do it in style. It may start off like a Halo fan fiction but will become and stay a Naruto fan fiction. Hate it, like it, can't decided until another chapter? Well just lemme know. Anyone interested in beta-ing for me, just send me a PM please.

-Reg