Feet First Into Hell

A Helljumpers Novel

Prologue

2257 Hours, October 24, 2552

Aboard High Charity

The remaining survivors of first platoon left the Master Chief above docking bay 14. They watched with inspired awe as the bulk of the chiefs MJOLNIR armour grew smaller as he descended, down the central grav- lift, into the bowels of the station. For the last 47 minutes we had pursued, from what little Intel received from Cortana, a prophet. We had managed to track him through the dense interior from our holding pens, up until this point. We stood looking out at the perfectly constructed station from our vantage point above. If you couldn't manage to grasp the courage or stomach to peer over the platform in to the abyss below then a helljumpers life was not for you. I'm not afraid of heights but I was scared. It was too freaking scary for my taste. As I was pondering this matter a friendly hand dropped onto my shoulder releasing me from the daze.
"Everything OK Sarge? Its best we start moving on. Wouldn't want those blasted covies regrouping on us now"
The man standing there was private Zone who first saw action against the invasion of earth. He'd been part of the relieving squad in New Mombassa which I had recruited into my platoon after his had taken major casualties.
"Sure as hell we don't" I replied in the most commanding voice that could be conjured up. After reviewing the command, I was given by the Master Chief before he stepped onto the lift, I had but one choice. Try to find a transport off this god forsaken piece of alien filth. Having no way in hell to do this, I thought it would be best to rally the men with a speech that would boost their morale and hopefully forget about the tragic lost we had suffered.
"Alright you yellow belly excuses for soldiers, listen up." They straightened up to attention even though they were exhausted. That was the difference between a marine and a civilian. A marine would never show tiredness unless the mission was completed.
"The Master Chief is going to continue hunting the prophet and when he finds him, stick his size 10 boots up its god dam ass. Now ladies, the Chief has given us the pleasurable task of finding a transport off this station. He expects us to fail but will we?" There was silence.
"Marines I'd get more noise off a civilian than what I'm hearing now. Shake it off. Will we fail?" I repeated the question looking straight into their eyes.
"NO SIR!" The reply came as one. I had just managed put their minds off the atrocities we had been through.
"Dam right we aren't marines, now lets move it out."

The squad retraced its steps through the now peaceful mausoleum. The blood of the Covenant which stained the walls still flowed from those who had perished just minutes ago. I felt unusually sad that this war zone had corrupted even this room of holy sanctum. We moved on but not before refreshing our ammo supply for the carbines we were using. Around the next bend showed a trio of Grunts, two showing signs of serious laceration to vital limbs.
"Hold" I muttered under my breath lifting up an arm. Moving closer to inspect the Grunts, my analysis seemed to be correct. One of the grunts had been pulled apart by brute force and was still twitching.
"I hate it when that happens" a low reply came from behind as if he new what I was thinking. Normally any spasms would stop within 1 – 2 minutes. This meant that the killer was close and the most probable thing which could have done this was a Brute. Doubtlessly watching over us right this very moment waiting for us to come out of our position into its killing range. I hoped I was wrong but knowing my luck that wasn't to be. I signalled to the squad with a variety of hand movements, and received four thumbs up. Slapping in a fresh cartridge we broke our cover.

We slowly advanced scouring the area with piercing eyes. The bend opened up into a small room, when I say small I mean small be Covenants standards, with access to the walkway to the other towers on the other side. Or so I hoped but with only my memory guiding us we could easily get lost without the once present Cortana watching over. Poking my head around the opening revealed to me that the room was wide enough for a M808B Scorpion tank to stroll through freely. The room its self was purple, no surprise there, had many arches concealing dark places and crevices where some beast could easily be hiding. This was where most of my concentration was at hold. If something was lurking in those shadows then we'd be ready for them. As we began to draw closer to the door it suddenly parted revealing a monstrosity in its wake. A Brute. It stood there puzzled for a brief second not expecting us in front of it but then reached back and unslung its great weapon from its back. The weapon was smothered in blood, Grunts blood, that I was sure belonged to the trio down the corridor. It pointed it straight at me. Any second now, any second before that grenade incinerates us. I was getting ready to meet my end when nothing happened. I dared to look up only to see that the top half of the brutes head was missing. Its face said it all. The look of confusion just before it had met its end.

"What in hell happene…" I started to say but was interrupted from behind.
"Sarge, Look!" All around us shapes were de-cloaking showing us that this room was not as empty at it seemed. Before I had even reacted the Elites were issuing orders to us.
"Humans. Drop your weapons, you will not be harmed. You are to be escorted off this station immediately"
"Sarge?" I didn't have time to think. They outnumbered us two to one.
"Drop your weapons marines; we'll live to fight another day"
We were escorted, not a word I would have used, by the elites to a small docking bay the other side of tower 14. There awaited us 2 Phantoms prepped ready for departure to the surface. The squad was split into two but I was glad that I was issued with Private Zone. He was a good man and I would do my best to protect him. My stomach lurched as we took off but being a helljumper was used to this happening. I know this idea I had was crude but we had finally made it off High charity, still breathing.