Author's notes : Hello ! I know it's been a very long time since I've updated, but I promise that I'm going to do my best to update more frequently now. For some reason, half of that last chapter was in italics. I do apologize for it and had I realized it sooner changed the chapter - but I'll leave it as it is. Also, Halo Reach is an amazing game. I'm introducing a new way in delivering my chapters. They're going to be told through different perspectives, but in third person still. I will state at the beginning of the chapter's who's view it's being told / seen in.
Disclaimer - I do not own Halo or any part of it. I wish I did though.
Chapter Two
Master Chief.
Click. Click. Click.
Rachel was on her stomach at the top of a hill under some cover as she adjusted the sights on the sniper rifle. As she peered through the scope examining the area, her focus rested on a destroyed, and now smoking warthog, with three dead marines beside it and a burnt out flare. With a sigh, she pulled back from the scope and shook her head.
"Well, that's the EVAC point but it's been hit and the marine's are dead. The flare's been long since burned out." Rachel explained to Master Chief, and the AI in his helmet. Standing up she fastened the sniper rifle to her back and held her pistol turning to Master Chief for instructions.
" I've been trying to connect to the nearest comm signal, but I've found nothing. There aren't many covenant comm signals either." Cortana spoke, informing chief.
Walking over to the legde Chief peered over it and took in the scene before him. Three dead marines, a destroyed vehicle and many unanswered questions. Lowering his MA5B assault rifle Chief lifted his leg and placed it on the rock and rested against his leg. " Cortana, do a sweep of the areas comm transmissions and find the last one that was sent out." he said in his synthetic voice.
" Got it." Cortana answered into his helmet. A few moments of silenced passed until Cortana's voice chimed back in. " Last trasmission sent out at 14:30 hours. More than an hour ago." she informed him.
"Play the transmission." Chief said as he pressed a buttom and linked his comm to Rachel's.
"Ground team BRAVO RED reporting to Command. Command come in! We're out numbered! There's too many of them! Enemies like we've never seen before - static - we don't - static - too many - static - can't wait - static - need immeadiate EVAC -static - oh shit they're - -static -
"That's the end of it. " Cortana said slowly. " But, the strangest part is that the transmission was cut from Comman's side." she informed both Rachel and Chief.
Standing straight, Chief's eyes were still focused on the ground below them. " Try to contact command, find out what's going on." he spoke while turning to face Rachel."Lieutenant, since you've been stationed on this planet, what kind of enemies have you encountered?" he asked curious as to what the enemies the marine's never seen before, were.
"Just the standard covenant. Grunts, Jackals, Brutes, Elite's and hunters. There's been various types of indigenous creatures but none have proven to be hostile, they've all avoided our forces." Rachel explained recalling all of the time she's spent on the planet.
A very serious thought entered his mind as he thought about what this other 'enemy' could be, and Chief hoped above all else it wasn't what he had in mind. " Any response?" Chief asked Cortana.
"Negative. The lines closed from their side. I've already sent a message through." she answered.
"Corana, search through the UNSC's files to see if they found any structure's nearby . We need to get into the system and find out about this planet." Chief instructed.
"On it." the AI responded as she tapped into the files.
"Lieutenant," he started turning towards her. " We're going to search those bodies and destroyed warthog for ammunition and any valuable items we may need." he said as she nodded her hed and started down the hill with Chief right behind her. Stopping ot look up at the sky Master Chief took note of how dark it was getting and knew they needed to get somewhere safe for the night. Without proper directions or orders from command they were sitting ducks in the middle of no where.
It had been about an hour or so that they were traveling through the darkness of the woods. The sun had set and they were still miles away from the nearest structure according to Cortana's readings. Master Chief was moving slower than usual because he had to make sure that he was close enough that Rachel would see him. Afterall, he had night vision equipped in his helmet whereas she, didn't.
However, when it came to moving over or around obstacles he found that she was quite efficient in doing it without any assistance. Truely it shouldn't be something that was very amazing considering marine's got appropriate training for any terrain but, some of the obstacles that had to climb through, over or around were challenging and even took the Chief some extra strength to bypass them. So, for a mere marine to do it as well without the equipment he had was... impressive.
Stopping atop a hill Chief held his hand up in a fist signalling for them to stop. Dropping down to one knee he peered over the side of the small cliff that overlooked a valley below. The sound of shuffling came from below them as well as gargled voices and the humming of vehicles.
"The Covenant." Rachel spoke from beside Chief as he nodded his head.
"It appears to be one of their outposts." Cortana inputed.
"Is there any way around them?" Chief asked.
"No. This cliff extends for about four kilometers in each direction and moving along it would only put us further from the mapped structure." she explained.
"It looks like we have no other choice. We're going to have to take them out, quietly. I'll go down there, wait for my signal and then snipe the jackal's and any Elite's you may see." he ordered to Rachel as she nodded and took out her sniper rifle getting into position.
Carefully, Chief moved over the side of the cliff and climbed down as slowly as possible trying not to rustle too many rocks. Taking out the knife he had attatched to his armor he crouched down low behind a tree. There were several sleeping grunts in front of him. Moving slowly, he managed to slit every one of their throats in between their environment masks and armor. Lifting his hand he gave the signal to Rachel.
When Chief heard three crack's of the gun go off he knew that the covenant's sniper's were down. Putting away his knife he quickly pulled out his pistol and peered around the corner of a barrel. Any sleeping grunts were now away and the Elite's were on guard looking around for the source of the shots.
Moving out from cover Chief squeezed down on the trigger and shot several grunt's staright in the head killing them instantly. They environment mask filling with blue liquid as their suits leaked methane, the alien's home planet air. The Elite's spotted him and let out a loud cry then came charging at him firing off shots from their plasma guns. Switching his pistol for his assault rifle, he held down the trigger and filled the first Elite full of bullets. Another one drew close but at the sound of a crack from a sniper rifle the Elite fell to the ground with a large hole in it's head.
Moving fast, Cheif quickly got rid of the grunt's and ran towards their signaling station before they could get off a distress signal. Bashing his assault rfle and arm into two jackal's with shields, they fell to the ground with a scream. Jumping over fallen bodies Chief took down any in his way and watched as others dropped around him after the sullen sounds of the sniper rifle.
Finally reaching the signalling station Chief jumped onto the back of an Elite wrestling it to the ground before it could press the button. Snapping it's neck, Cheif rose to his feet and took a plasma granade that was strapped to the Elite. Arming it he threw it at the signalling station and ran fast ducking behind a barrel full of covenant weapons. When the explosion went off it was amplified by the explosive capablities of the station itself.
Looking up at the top of the cliff where Rachel was he saw her reloading the sniper rifle. But his eyes soon widened when he saw the ever so familiar gleam of a sword behind her and the outline of an Elite appearing from beind invisible. "Shit!" he said as he sprinted towards the cliff before she was sliced in half. But.. he was quite a distance away and didn't know if he'd make it..