Desert Wasteland

Codename SANDTRAP

3 Months before reassignment.

"This is Hornet V-89, over. We have reached the perimeter."

"V-89, this is Rat's Nest. Solid copy, you are clear to disengage, over'

The pilot turned to his passenger, who was beginning to look anxious.

"Okay, sir. You're clear to drop. When you link up with your squad-

"I understand the procedures" he said, visibly annoyed. "Prepare to disengage in 5…4…3…2…Drop"

He leapt out of the Hornet, bracing himself as he hit the sand and rolled.

I'll never get used to this he thought to himself. He looked up and gave the signal, secretly wondering why it was necessary. There hadn't been any real military action in the UNSC for years.

"Time to get dirty" He mumbled, loading an SMG.

"Blue Squad, this is Gunnery Sergeant Kingston. I need a sitrep and your current position, over…Damnit, nothin' but dust and echoes out here. Gotta find an Elephant, get a better Com link." As he looked around, he noticed a crane of an Elephant sticking out from behind a tower of the ruins.

There's my radio…Why the hell aren't they responding? This was a land scouting exercise, not trench warfare! He thought to himself. As he headed to the back ramp of the Elephant, his worst fears came true: five dead Marines, all with hideous cut wounds on their bodies.

"What the hell?! What could have killed all of them?!"

Wait a minute… this was a six man squad, so…

"Blue Squad members, report! That's an order!

"Sir? Over here."

He looked up to see a young, wounded Marine in the cockpit. He rushed up to help.

"You okay, soldier?"

"Yes, sir. Just a bad bruise."

"What's your name, son?"

"Will Holliman. Blue Squad sniper regiment, 3rd division"

"Good to meet you. I'm Blue Squad second Gunnery Sgt. Michael Kingston, but call me Mike. Uh, what the hell happened out here?"

"Been trying to figure that out myself" Will said uncertainly. "Last I remember, we were attacked by something…" He trailed off, unsure of what else to say.

"Like an animal, maybe?" Mike tried to refresh the soldiers memory, desperate to know what had killed so many men.

"No, sir. I know this sounds crazy, but I think it was a Covenant. An Elite…?"

"Covenant. Out here. This long after the war?" Mike was starting to doubt this Marine. "Are you sure you're not going into shock?"

"Sir, with all due respect, I know what I saw. It was wearing golden armor, and had some kind of sword. That's how it… killed them. It took all my ammo to neutralize it. But that was days ago."

From his description, there seems to have been a Zealot. But why would it be out here? Mike was starting to get worried.

And I thought all the Elites went back home after the war… looks like ONI needs to hear about this.

"Listen, Will. For now, all that matters is getting you out of here. Can you walk?"

"Yes sir"

"Then set your boots on the line. I'm calling us a ride" He said, stepping over to the COM system. "Hornet V-89, this is Blue Squad Gunnery Sgt. Kingston. Requesting pickup, over."

--"Uh, sir? You'll need to contact Rat's Nest for a Pelican."--

"Yeah well, we only need a Hornet. Now get over here, that's an order!"

--"*sigh* Affirmative. Prepare for dustoff, over."--