"What are you doing? Launch the escape pods!" A soldier urged me in a panic. I looked at him then looked back at the loading hall hoping to see just one more person running into the life boat. I could never live with myself if I launched right before someone could board. It would be as good as me putting a gun to there head then pulling the trigger. My heart was beating erratically in my chest as a nervous sweat crawled down my spine. My hand was shaking over the launch button just incase any hostiles poked there head into the loading hall.
"For gods sake! You'll risk killing us all if you keep us any longer!" A maintenance worker yelled at me loosing his cool.
"No! How would you feel if I closed those doors on you before you could board?" I said as collected as I could.
"It doesn't matter if the covenant comes in and kills us!" The same soldier said.
"There are only seven of us, this life boat can fit twenty. I refuse to even press the launch button until it's halfway full unless there was an emergency." I said firmly.
"I don't care! I don't want to die!" A freaked soldier yelled approaching me. My hand went over my pistol in preparation. I wouldn't kill him but I would pistol whip him into some sense.
"Yeah! It's just a matter of time!" The maintenance worker yelled. Quickly the six other survivors panic level reached its peek and threatened to sweep me away along with them. They started crowding around me in an intimidating manner.
"Hey, back off! You guys need me to fly the boat!" I warned them.
"We won't need you if you end up getting us all killed!" A soldier screamed grabbing me by the arm. I tried to jerk away from him but the other six survivors started to assist him in dragging me from my spot in the pilots pit.
"Stop! You are all cowards! You are a disgrace to the home planet!" I yelled angrily at them trying to keep myself into the life boat. Unfortunately I couldn't fight them off. I was shoved into the hallway onto the ground. I popped up instantly and went to run back into the life boat. My heart clenched in absolute fear as the doors closed. How could they do this to me? Was this humanity at it's most primal?
"COWARDS!" I screamed running out of the hall. I then ran down the corridor looking for another life boat still docked into the pillar. I stopped at the end of the line and panted with tears threatening to spill. They were all gone and those fuckers were launched off into space. Before they could get too far a covenant ship shot them down. I almost was glad that they died.
'Fuck, I didn't think this is how it would end! Damn it all, I only went into the air force because of the low casualties rates!' I mentally cursed running to the nearest maintenance pathway. My only hope was to check the other life boat. Maybe there would be one still open for me. Despite me only having a single clip in my pistol it was better than waiting here for them to gun me down. For a moment I consider taking the easy way out, the cowards way out.
It would be easier then what I've heard that the covenant would do to you should they find you alone. I pulled out my pistol and cocked it. I took a deep shuttered breath pressing the barrel to my temple. As I got ready to pull the trigger I started hyperventilating. I waited for a few seconds before gasping as I dropped my gun from my head.
"Fuck I can't fucking do it. God, fucking help me." I pleaded before running into a maintenance tunnel. I wasn't a coward! How could I choose now of all times to not be a coward! I turned on my flash light but put my hand over it only letting some out between my fingers when needed. I moved at a steady pace as silently as I could. The entire process was nerve wracking. If I could take out an Ungoy or something then I could steal their gun. Then I would feel a little better walking around this ship.
I peeked my head into a hall and looked both ways for any sign of the covenant. With everything clear I scurried to the opposite wall and flattened myself against it. Once I had caught my breath and barrings once more I continued down left. Just twenty feet down was a fallen soldier. I shaked my head and knelt down besides him.
"Sorry." I whispered as I took his extra round of ammo. "It's just that I need it more than you now. May you rest in peace soldier." I said straightening up. I saluted him for a few seconds in respect before continuing on my way. The next thing I saw was an Ungoy. It was dead and it's tank on it's back was leaking out into the air. I didn't know what it was but I was sure it wasn't oxygen so I stayed clear. So far so good but I was growing worried that it was too quiet.
I once again checked both sides of the corridor when I reached an intersection. One side was filled with corpses from both sides, but mostly human. Then the other side was filled with the same but the difference was that a Elite and a crew of Ungoy where patrolling. I backed away from the corner forcing myself to breath slowly from my nose.
I couldn't take down one of those things alone! A veteran soldier would have all kinds of trouble killing an elite. I had no choice but to find another way around them all. At least I will be more careful since I spotted them. I kept an eye behind me as I crept away. As I did I looked all around myself in search for a safer path for me to travel. That's when I found a blinking light with a ceiling panel knocked down. If I could get up there I would be able to crawl around unnoticed!
I looked around myself but saw nothing that would help me out. I had no choice but to come back when I found something down the line. So I went on my way on my tip toes and tried to hurry it up. My stomach was twisting itself in knots this whole time from all the nerves. I found a storage closet where a cart was. It was tall and sturdy but was on wheels. I closed myself inside and sat on the ground. I breathed a prayer of thanks when I saw the brakes for the wheels.
I scrambled back up and took the cart with me. Once possitioned under the missing panel I locked the wheels. As I climbed up I heard the approaching sounds of the enemy. I panicked slightly and doubled my efforts to get up. Once my upper body was up I threw up a knee and dragged myself into the crawl space further. Once I was completely in I got up onto my hands and knees. I still had to be scrunched down because of how low the ceiling was.
I crawled slowly as to not make any loud noises to attract attention. Below I heard the muffled grunts of the enemy passing by. I stopped until I no longer heard them then turned right. If I kept this up I would be at the east side life pods in no time. By no time I meant a few hours. Especially since I had to take a few minutes break in order to avoid any cramping. Then there was the problem of lifting up the panel under me once I got there. I wasn't going to worry over it at the current moment. When there was a will there was a way and by god I have a will!
I was halfway through when I heard combat. That could only mean that there was still people fighting on board. I thought about getting down to help but dismissed the notion. I was just a pilot, my job was to get something to fly and do just that! If that made me a coward then so be it. I've dealt with enough shit for the last hour and a half that I don't care.
I took another break and ended up snoozing off until the pillar jerked me awake. In a startle I began crawling towards the life boats in a hurry not know what was happening to the pillar. I wasn't even off her and I already felt the loss. The pillar had been my home away from home for seven years now and had housed all my friends.
I finally crawled my way over the life pods loading corridor. I then worked on the task of pulling the panel. At first I couldn't even get a grip on it and when I did it felt like it would crush my fingers. My grunted trying to lift and pull the panel away. I was sure I was going to pop a blood vessel in my head or something. I took many breaks to catch my breath before returning to my task.
When the panel was just pulled back enough for me to jump down I did just that. Landing with a grunt I feel onto my hands and knees below. Quickly I scurried to the nearest life pod. It took three tries to finally find a life pod still docked. I sighed in releif and got into it. This time I took off immediately, it was by sheer luck that I had made it. Even knowing logically that no one would come running into the life pod I still felt bad as I was launched away from the crippled pillar. I leaned back in my chair and took a moment to relax. I laughed in my relief but soon stopped upon noticing a enemy ship in pursuit of me.
"Fuck, leave me the hell alone!" I yelled at them in frustration. They shot at me and managed to land a few hits. Thinking quick I possitioned myself towards a planet that looked to be able to sustain life. The only problem was the ring of debris that it had circling around it. It wasn't optional but it was my only choice.
The ship behind me kept me on my toes as I raced for the planet. Once I was in the ring I would be safe from them, but not from all the debris. Upon entering I was pelted with soccer ball sized rocks right off the bat. I tried to steer clear of all the big things. The ship behind me faced the same troubles as I did. All I really could do was pray that nothing destroyed the life boat. Then, I exited the ring and for a few seconds everything was calm. That was untill I started entering the planets atmosphere.
The life boat started to burn up and shake. This landing wasn't going to be a nice one, that was for sure. I put on the emergency landing gear and braced for the impacted. Emergency landings never was my favorite thing in the universe. I closed my eyes right before I landed. My seat belts saved me from flying out or around the life boat but it did nothing to shield me from the glass flying at me or my head hitting the side grip bars.