Second Chapter, any questions posted for the first chapter will be answered in the third. Please read and enjoy.
1230 HOURS, JULY 26, 2602 (MILITARY CALENDAR)
UNKNOWN SYSTEM, PLANET CODENAMED "STRONGHOLD"
SLIPSPACE ORBITAL DROP POD
There were no alarms, no screaming of wind or fear of death. The pod began to heat up as it pushed its way through the atmosphere of Stronghold the ONI name for the Brute home world. The pod rattled slightly as its computers readjusted its vector a small dull screen showing changing latitude and longitude as the angle became more and more shallow. A timer rapidly dropped closer to zero as the pod shook. Scout images showed the Brute home world was covered in dense jungle of similar composition to Earth's jungles. The midday temperature generally rose to nearly 120 degrees Fahrenheit and with combined humidity could feel much hotter. The Brutes had constructed large cities near rivers and lakes staying near water supply. No one knew what kinds of creatures resided on the planet and what Spartan X would encounter when he landed. They knew a very large fleet was over the planet and millions of Separatists Grunts and Hunters were there among the Brutes, Jackals and Drones. Engineers were also on the planet, but as Engineers did not choose a side in the Brute War they were considered neutral.
For once the timer was dead on. Spartan X exhaled the air in his lungs as the pod struck a tree and was flung out of control into the ground. Metal screeched on rock as the pod spun on its center of gravity on a downhill slope. Knowing he could be heading for a cliff X pulled the hatch release and the door flung off. Grabbing the two large bags on either side of form fitting body holster he leapt from the careening craft into the underbrush. The pod continued another hundred yards before smashing into a rock and coming still. Instantly X drew the hilt to his energy sword. It was on benefit of now having technological trading between Elites and Humans. His Mk VIII armor had active camouflage which was activated while he listened to his surroundings. He needed to find cover and a base of operations. He was one man cut off from all contact on a planet with an estimated four billion enemies on it. Lifting the two satchel bags again his active camo compensating to surround them he quietly slinked off.
Aboard Brute Cruiser Hammer of the Gods
"Where did that pod land?" Fleet Commander Rakituluss barked at the radar operator sitting at his left.
"Near Misyrt. A patrol has already been sent to investigate." The radar operator, a Grunt said, its purple armor gleaming in the blue light of the bridge.
"The Prophet of Rage wishes to speak to you Fleet Commander." The com operator, another Brute said looking uncomfortable in his position. Brutes were not meant for the close confines of space ships, at least not the Elite designed ships. Rakituluss wished he could command one of the Brute constructed ships in position around him, they were fortress like able to take damage not yet seen by the humans.
"I shall return. Keep monitoring that pod." He barked and moved from the bridge down the ramp passing a dozen armed Brute guards. It was easy to navigate the ships interior to the Atrium where the Prophet of Rage stood. Rage had taken command after the unfortunate death of the Prophet of Truth. Rakituluss took a knee in front of the Prophet.
"Rise Rakituluss. I have great news for you my most loyal subject. The council and I have agreed that you have earned the right to command the Fist of Rage. You shall use the weapon ship to destroy our enemies and their worlds until none can stand before the might of the Covenant." Rage spoke slowly and as the words entered Rakituluss's brain a sense of pride filled his chest.
"Thank you your Holiness, I shall not fail you." The Brute moved his right arm across his chest and bowed his head. "Hail the Gods and may the heresy come to a violent end when I destroy their worlds.
Jungle outside of Misyrt
X moved carefully through the trees, he had found a place to stash his weapons and now was patrolling a mile radius around it. It was well out of the way of the drop pod and near a rather large city which had a constant guard patrolling it. X had counted two dozen Wraiths ready to go into action and there were regular patrols of Choppers sent out into the jungle. He didn't know if these were for him or if they were just training exercises to keep the Brute troops ready for action. The sniper rifle was directed down a visible street and he could see young Brutes and families walking around, something that hadn't been recorded before. Young Brutes were about the size of Grunts, covered in fur and violent. Five were in a brawl at the moment punching and clobbering one another. They were like lion cubs fighting was seen as a learning experience most likely. Especially if one looked at older Brutes, all of it had to come from somewhere.
Now the only question was what is he supposed to do? Ackerson said the Elites needed a distraction, but what would be a big enough distraction to have the fleet above the planet looking down at the planet? The cities… That was the answer. If enough cities came under attack the Brutes above would be scrambled and become confused, if only he could turn the Separatists against their new commanders. Could he incite rebellion in the ranks that would not only start here but spread throughout the entire fleet? Yes he could… But how could he accomplish that?
The scope was rising to look at the pair of Hunters guarding the main gate into the city. Their blue armor glinted in the sunlight, parts of their soft orange bodies exposed underneath. He couldn't easily kill a Hunter and frame it on a Brute. But he could kill a Brute and frame it on a Hunter. He would have to watch their patrol patterns and see if there was a point where Hunters crossed paths with a single Brute in relative seclusion where they couldn't be seen by others.
A Jackal broke his chain of thought as two shield wielders passed by underneath his ridge growling at one another. The automatic translators the Elites had installed changed the message into understandable words; The thermals showed something strange up here, something colder than the air. I think it is probably just a Vsaurp but the Captain wants us to look. The orange shielded Jackal said as it circled the rocky point up to his location. He stayed perfectly still as they drew near their talking ceasing. Using his neural implants he activated the back camera so he could see behind himself without turning his head, the left side camera was also activated. The Jackals grew closer and his hands released the sniper rifle letting it rest on its bipod. The big eyes of the aliens moved to the grass as the rifle settled plasma pistols forward, but it was already too late for them. Strong hands wrapped around each vulture like neck and both were tossed off the cliff before they could react. The bodies plummeted bouncing off the path then dropping another fifty feet to the jungle below. He moved quickly to snatch up the sniper rifle and headed towards the city in a low crouch. He needed to move before the bodies were found, yes it would look like they fell but he was sure they would figure out they hadn't just fallen.
It took half an hour to get to the city through the jungle quietly and he once again lay in the prone position just in front of the gate. Now he could see there were multiple sensors and alarms at the gate. He grinned, how unfortunate for them that he could easily jump their fence and be within their city in a matter of seconds. It hit him that why only kill a Brute and make it look like a Hunter did it when he could also kill a couple Grunts and make it look like a Brute did it. Nothing else could crush a Grunts methane tube with its bare hands on the planet other than a Brute. He would wait for it to get darker before he made his move.
6 HOURS LATER
The large yellow sun was finally drifting below the horizon, and the bodies of the Jackals had been found but he had heard the Brute bringing them in chuckle about them falling off the cliff. Good they thought the aliens just fell to their deaths and no foul play had any part. The sniper rifle was left where it was a special NAV marker placed on the stock that his own personal sensors could pick up and only his own personal sensors. It was pushed snuggly under some bushes where it couldn't be accidentally stumbled upon and then he set out. He moved to where the fence met the jungle. He hoisted his still camouflaged form up into a tree at level with the branch. Darting across the branch he pushed off and flipped over the fence and landed in an alley between two large buildings. There was a group of young Brutes in the alleyway shoving around a Grunt.
"Come on shorty, methane-breather fight back!" The largest of the young Brutes taunted the defenseless Grunt shoving him against the wall.
"No leave me alone, pleaseee." The Grunt squealed in agony while one Brute punched its exposed forehead. X broke this Brutes snack with a savage fist to the head this way the neck broke downwards so it looked like a Hunters heavy blow. The next four died similarly leaving the Grunt and the largest youth who looked around in anger rising fists. A hand clenched the methane pipe of the Grunt between the mask and the chest plate of the suit and then another downward smash killed the Brute.
In an instance there was motion at the end of the alleyway and a Hunter came trotting down the alleyway its partner left at the entrance. X moved to the wall as a side door slid open and what appeared to be a female Brute came out and roared in anger. His translators handled the rest.
"What did you do to my boys you overgrown worm?!" The Brute roared and swung a fist at the Hunter hitting its soft orange spot and causing it to growl in anger. The heavy shield was raised and smashed into the Brute woman's head crushing it.
A squad of Brutes appeared at the end of the alleyway as this happened and the five creatures roared in protest. X decided to leave as Shredder and Brute Shot rounds launched down the alleyway at the Hunter. He slipped into an adjoining alleyway which met another alleyway and made a run to the fence. Using a large cylindrical dumpster to hoist himself up he left the city in similar fashion to the way he entered it. He wondered if it would be enough to start a rebellion. Only time would tell, he guessed he would know by morning.
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Authors Note: As mentioned before, all questions for the first and second chapters will be answered at the beginning of the third. If there are none it will just be the third chapter. Thank you for reading the second chapter of "Spartan XIV". I'll post the next chapter as soon as possible.