EIGHT YEARS AGO...

(Red-098)

[Date]-[November 4, 2547]

[Time]-[0811 Hours – Standard Military Time]

[Location]-[Aboard Pelican Dropship Charlie-Four-One, Inbound To Forerunner Excavation Site, Quaint, Viverz System]


The roars of the D77-TC Pelican's engine came through 098's helmet's interior speakers, filling his ears with the reassuring sound. It was a comforting sound – for as long as the engines were loud with life, nothing was askew.

098 had shared Blood-trays with a significant amount of Marines throughout his service – and they would often complain about the noise of the Pelican's engines. 098 used to complain himself during his younger years when he and the other SPARTANs were being transported – but those days had long since elapsed.

098 slammed an ammo magazine into his M392 DMR, slinging it over his back, a clanking sound telling him that it connected to the magnet strip on the back of his armor.

098 didn't have a favorite type of weapon; he always used what the designated quarter-master recommended for the mission – no matter their class. This time, the mission called for an M392 DMR. Due to its medium to long-range, it would be essential to dealing with Covenant soldiers from a distant. It had its drawbacks, though – for not being good at short-range, or its clips always being small. But 098 would only use the weapon when he knew that allied forces were close to guard his flank.

098 figured out the strategy. He would engage the Covenant soldiers from a distance, and if they got too close, he would quickly switch to his M6D for short to medium-range engagements.

The ODSTs would only engage when 098 gave the order – to prevent the waste of ammo. While stocking up was an essential task before the mission's start, ammo was known to run low when not conserved – no matter the mission, wasting rounds would always lead to mishap.

With his DMR loaded with 7.62×51mm rounds, it would take one headshot to eliminated a Grunt, unshielded Elite, Jackal or Drones – regardless how tough the helmet, they may wear, was. Brutes would often take two shots due to their thick skulls and reinforced blue caps that they regularly wore. It may have required more shots, though – depending on where 098 shot the aliens – but a single to the head would usually end the life of nearly every species of the Covenant.

Along with his DMR, 098 additionally had an M7S SMG equipped to his right thigh's magnetic weapon strip.

Loaded with 5x23mm M443 Caseless FMJ rounds, it dealt less damage than the normal M7 SMG but made up for it with precision and tactical customization. It would be useless against shields, however, but could tear flesh apart quickly. 098 would save the M7S for quietly eliminating Grunts and Jackals – other uses varied, but skill told 098 that they were irrelevant for the possible hostiles he and the ODSTs would face.

His other thigh, the left one, had an M6D holstered to its magnetic weapon strip.

Using 12.7x40mm M225 SAPHE Rounds, the weapon was more than a little effective at short-range, and 098 would only use it for short-range combat – medium as well, if the situation required it. He would also use it at long-range if he ran out of ammo in his DMR. But the chances of such happening were minimal; 098 always bought enough ammo with him and knew how to conserve ammunition – A common criteria for SPARTANs.

If 098 did have a favorite weapon, it would be the M6D. He made sure he had one everywhere he went. It was a useful weapon in all situations, and his mission perimeters allowed him to have one issued – forces of the NAVSPECWAR only used the armament.

He also had four M9 fragmentation grenades, six electromagnetic pulse grenades and six Stun grenades on his grenade belt that went diagonally across his torso, overlapping his ammo belt that ran the opposite way over his torso.

The equipment was all sufficient, but no SPARTAN was complete without their MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor. 098's version was the default Mark IV variant – cosmetic upgrades didn't suit him; the armor got the job done.

With the most powerful weapons, equipment, and armor in Human history, 098 and his SPARTAN-II comrades were the most powerful weapon Humanity had, and they were Humanity's only hoped against the Covenant Empire.

"ETA?" ODST Captain Isaac Royce asked the Pelican's pilot over the heavily encrypted localized COM channel.

Isaac Royce was your typical, generic ODST Captain. His accent gave indication that his birthplace was a European country called Germany. German colonization efforts never reached the lengths of other European countries, so the likelihood that he was a German colonist was small. There was the chance, he may have hailed from one of the Jovian moons, but he had the feeling of being from Earth about him.

098 had not seen his face yet but could tell that he was young by the sound of his voice – too young. It was odd that the Office of Naval Intelligence hired members of a Squad of ODSTS that were being led by an ODST of such an early age. His rank and age also suggested that he graduated from an academy. But being a Captain meant that he was probably in charge of an entire Company – reaching such a position meant that he had to have been skilled in leadership. 098 hoped that his assessment held the reins, and the young soldier didn't cause such a high-risk mission to fail.

"Minus three." The pilot, Tuscany Clad, replied over the COM channel in his odd accent that 098 couldn't pinpoint. Knowing over a hundred different languages, 098 should've been able to work-out the accent, but failed to narrow it down.

"You heard her, girls! Lock and load," Royce said, getting up to his feet, adding, "Spooks, pull up your diapers to hide those little willies of yours – we're going in!"

"Asshole." One of the ONI scientists mumbled over the channel.

"Oh, yah, like, oh, we didn't hear that." ODST Lance Corporal Evett Candraz jeered in her South American accent.

Unlike Royce, 098 had seen Candraz's face. Her voice didn't sell it, but she was young as well. She had her hair shaved to near boldness, leaving only the slightest of buzzcuts. And to make her look even more like a generic soldier, she had an explicit tattoo of a naked female torso on her neck. She also had a tattoo of some blood drops leading away from her left eye – like she was crying blood. She also had a tattoo saying "Fuck The ET" On her right cheek, leading up to her right ear.

It was more than likely she came from Earth as well due to her accent gave weight and there was a definite lack of Hispanic colonists. Her skin tone was also too Hispanic to make her a colonist. There was no adverse effect on her race other than her speech pattern and her accent sometimes being confusing for 098 to understand.

"Quit arguing." The Co-pilot, Amber Wong, said, her voice full of authority. She may had been a Lieutenant, but this was her ship as much as it was Clads, and she wouldn't tolerate any bullshit on it.

"They started it." 098 heard the youngest of the scientists, Ratchet More, complained from his seat – his voice was not coming over the COM channel which raised 098's attention.

(COM deactivated.) "Keep COM activated, sir," 098 told Moore, his lacking any emotion and having a strong, stern aura to it. Nobody ignored 098 when he spoke. The voices' of SPARTANs were forged to be strong through constant vocal use – the more active the voice was with authority, the more soldiers would pay attention. Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mendez's methods worked – the payoff was well worth it since the training could be lined up with having a hammer smash the SPARTANs' throats. Having a hammer smashing their throats would have been preferable in 098's mind, but he never questioned Mendez's techniques.

"I would've turned it back on." Moore reassured 098 – over the COM, this time.

Moore was unusually young for an ONI field scientist – age came with experience, and he must have been a fast learner to had been where he was currently. He had a light stubble on his round face; his hair trimmed short. His voice was also very soft at times, further giving evidence that he was younger than twenty.

"Always keep your COM on during an operation." The other scientist, Timothy Preynar, sternly told Moore, his voice carrying more authority than Wong's, and having a natural hard feel to it.

Being Moore's first mission. It would be normal for him to make rookie mistakes – but rookie mistakes got people killed. In 098's opinion, Moore shouldn't have been assigned. But, ONI scientists were at a limited availability on Quaint, and CENTCOM had to work with what they had.

"Sorry." Moore apologized, his voice soft. Whether he was using the softness of his voice to garner sympathy or that he was genuinely upset would never be known.

098 heard the ODSTs chuckle over the COM, the voice being unrecognizable, making disciplinary actions that much more complicated.

"Cut the shit." Wong told the ODSTs, having heard the chuckle over the COM.

098 got up and moved to the Pelican's bay door, ready to leap out when Wong or Clad gave the say-so. A SPARTAN was normally the first one ground-side – unless the situation begged to differ.

"You just gonna stand there?" ODST Master Sergeant Jeff Woods asked 098, his voice thick with a Slavic accent. His homeworld was harder for 098 to get his head around – the Slavs were a modern ethno-linguistic group among the European Union, and hence were popular among European colonists. His homeworld could have been any out of hundreds.

(Affirmative.) "Affirmative." 098 replied to Jeff Wood's question, ignoring the suggestive mock that was with his earlier words.

Jeff Woods was another generic ODST. He had the rough attitude backed by a sharp voice. He was also physically rough – more roughness to his physical and mental form only made 098 feel that he had to be cautious around the ODST.

As rough as he was, he also looked wild and wouldn't win any beauty contests. He had a thick beard with long hair that was tied up in a ponytail. 098 took note that his hair was breaching the regulations on how long military personnel could have their hair. Tattoos were not absent; he had a combat knife tattooed on his cheek, leading from his left ear and ending at the left corner of his mouth.

Jeff Woods also had more scars than any of the other ODSTs on the operation – as much as 098 despised the ODST, he would've preferred if he were in command of the Company Royce was leading. Heading away from the end point of the tattooed blade was a scar that led from his mouth and went across the left side of his jaw. 098 guessed the combat knife tattoo was for cosmetic effect. He also had a large scar going across his forehead – an Elite energy sword was the cause of the discoloration due to the burn scars around it.

"We're still 'bout two minutes off." Woods told 098 in response to his earlier answer, not dropping the fact that 098 was not going to sit back down.

"Does it matter?" Royce asked. "Let Sierra stand – It may give him enough exercise that he won't need to use the gym."

(Hostility is detected. Operation success lowered to unacceptable levels. Direct intervention may be mandatory for operation success.)

"ETA is two minutes." Wong reported, not taking in that his timing was inappropriate.

"Your joking, right?" Moore asked, annoyed at Royce's attack on the SPARTAN-II Program.

"You spooks are the jokes," Royce jeered. "You think you can win this war with psychos," Royce shook his head. "We ODSTs are the best Humanity has against the Covenant, and you're letting your pets kill us all!"

(UNSC Atlas. Misconception of reports validated.)

"Enough!" Preynar snapped, breaking his silence and intervening – much to 098's relief. "Focus on the mission, damn it! If you're the best, act like it!"

Preynar wasn't the type of man a person should annoy. He had a cold look which matched his cold persona; having sharply angled eyes and, furthermore, having very gaunt and sharp features. His nose seemed to have once been sharp, but he was missing half of his nose from a scar that ran diagonally across his face.

Due to his extensive scarring, 098 believed the ONI agent used to serve in the military – that, or the field operations, he had been sent on, were more than the average ONI field-trip.

"Quit arguing over the damn COM!" Wong shouted over the COM, her Chinese accent mixing up her words and forcing Woods to chuckle a laugh.

Moore let out a sigh, getting up and falling in next to 098 so he could follow him out.

"Don't listen to them." ODST Gunnery Sergeant Dwayne Walker told 098 as he positioned himself next to Moore, gripping his M7S tightly.

Walker was the only ODST on the mission that was not cocky, aggressively loud. He was quiet and lacked a rapid speech pattern. He was also friendly towards 098; often trying to raise a conversation with 098 – which 098 sternly refused.

He had a firm, quiet voice that set him apart from his comrades. He also had his hair shaved to a small mohawk with a light stubble giving him the generic soldier look. He had no tattoos on his face but had scars to make up for that. He had one scar that began at his forehead and circled around his right eye, leading to the tip of the right side of his top lip. He also had one more scar leading from his the left side of his neck heading up behind his left ear and over the left side of his forehead, leading back down to the top of his left eye.

"You siding with the damn SPARTAN?!" Royce growled at Walker, slamming his armored fist down onto his armrest.

(Current hostility levels irrelevant.)

"There're only two sides, Captain," Walker replied, sighing. "The Humans, and the Covenant. Remind me again: is there a middle ground?"

"Well, well, Walker. Well spoke. You're a credit to the Corps." Woods sarcastically jeered with static crackling as he spoke over the COM.

(Hostility levels are rising further. Operation success has minimal chances. Intervention mandatory.)

"You're forgot 'bout the fuckin' Insurgents!" Candraz aggressively reminded Walker.

(Intervention Mandatory. Awaiting superior intervention. Manual intervention will wait a further ten seconds.)

"The Insurrection doesn't mean anything at the moment." Walker shook his head, annoyed at what was transpiring – annoyed that he was an associate with such ODSTs that would put meaningful occurrences in the universe before the status of the high-risk operation they were all participating on.

"Bullshit!" Woods snapped. "The Covenant are right on our fucking doorsteps, and the Insurrection is still a problem! Don't tell me they don't mean anything – they do!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Wong screamed over the COM, her voice so high-pitched that 098's eyes squinted.

"Calm Down!" Preynar ordered the ODSTs, rising from his seat and taking a few long steps forward before halting in the middle of the blood-tray, crossing his arms behind his back.

Everyone went quiet – further proof of the authority that stronger voices carried.

"Now," Preynar addressed everyone. "We have a mission to do, and we cannot have any personal conflicts endanger it. So, you will put aside any personal feelings you have for whatever stupid reason. And you will think and function like soldiers – for if you don't... we will fail the mission... and the Covenant will get their hands on that data. Now, we will all follow Sierra's command, or you will be court-marshaled. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

"Yes, sir!" The ODSTs chorused.

"Good," Satisfied with his speech, Preynar nodded. "Wong, ETA?"

"Plus one, sir." Wong replied; her voice muffled slightly by static.

"You heard her. Get your asses behind Sierra, and prepare to make a quick entry!" Preynar snapped, everyone quickly rushing to their assigned positions to prevent Preynar's wraith from continuing.

(Hostility lowering. Operation success increasing to maximum levels.)

"Reduce distance in case combat is engaged when the door lowers." 098 told the team, all of them immediately complying without protest – Preynar's words got through their heads, and they understood the gravity of the situation.

"Lower the bay door." 098 told the pilots, raising his DMR as his orders were carried out, and the door lowered, fresh air being filtered through his helmet.

"I'll mark hostiles when a visual is established." 098 told the team, hearing a couple of "Rodgers" in reply, the bay door adequately lowering to let the sound of wind whooshing past the Pelican as it sped forward fill the blood-tray.

098 couldn't see the alien structure or the excavation site yet, but knew that he would get eyes on when the Pelican spun around to deploy the team.

"Sit-Rep?" 098 asked the pilots, keeping his eyes open for any Covenant aerial craft that may have been tracking them.

"All clear, so far." Wong reported.

"Acknowledged."

098 looked around at the land that was whooshing past. The distant mountains were no more than a blur of blue in the foggy sky with the landscape only being the orange plains of the planet, oddly shaped trees covering the plains. Herds of alien animals were also running for the shelter of the trees at the sound of the Pelican's engines.

"We're closing in." Clad reported.

"Wait..." Wong broke in. "We've got an SDV-Class Heavy Corvette in the distance."

(SDV-Class Heavy Corvette. Roles: Advance reconnaissance, ship-to-ship warfare, ground assault, aerial support. Length: nine hundred and fifty-six meters. Width: three hundred and ninety-nine Meters. Height: one hundred and seventy-five Meters. Known armaments: six full-sized plasma torpedoes, twelve pulse laser turrets. Threat level: high.)

"Is it a threat?" Royce asked, an unnerving amount of worry in his voice.

"Not unless it sees us." Wong replied, having the calm that Royce lacked.

"Well, will it see us?" Royce asked, getting agitated.

"Hopefully not." Wong replied.

"And if it does?" Royce asked, his voice growing more concerned and having the addition of irritation.

"Then they will likely come after us because we've 'desecrated holy land' or something like that." Wong explained, amusement in her voice. 098 disagreed with her amusement tactics.

"What's the plan if they spot us, for fuck sake?!" Royce was close to snapping; 098 noticed the increase in his heart rate via the connected vital read on his HUD.

"Depends on the situation," Wong let out a sigh. "Don't worry, Captain – I have it planned out."

Royce let out an annoyed moan, quitting his pursuit of the topic

"Mark targets when spotted and only communicate using the TEAMCOM – but maintain radio silence when contacts are near. Weapons are not free." 098 laid out the operation's boundaries as the Pelican began to spin around. Finally, 098 saw it. The alien structure was neither Human nor Covenant in design. It was definitely created by an advanced alien race; the structure was in no way constructed of anything other than an advanced metal – not concrete or stone that Humans used for construction.

Facilities, structures, artifacts and installations similar in design to this one had been found all over Human controlled space. It was believed that the Covenant worshiped whoever made them – Covenant transmission intercepting gave evidence to the aforementioned favorite theory.

The installation was about as large as a small city when it was previously located underground, but being dug up by ONI excavation teams revealed the exterior of the massive structure.

From what was visible from the Pelican, 098 saw the rich geometry engravings in the metal and the unique architecture that distinguished the structure from Human and Covenant design. Bright blue radiant lights were shining from individual engravings, making the structure seem alive with power.

Not much other than the top of the facility had been dug up. The top of the structure was flat with no towers or any elevated platforms or walls on it. But it did have several small openings – that upon closer inspection – revealed to be the entrances to the structure. 098 zoomed in and saw that the openings were indeed the entrances, and a bright blue, glowing ramp led down into the structure. The ramps were uncovered and exposed where they connected up to the top of the structure – that may have proved troublesome if any aerial vehicles passed over the structure.

Furthermore, in the middle of the upper part of the installation was a large circular hole that looked to be like a main entry way. But 098 believed it built for some other purpose, and he didn't like the fact of it being designated as the point of entry for the structure. It was also troublesome since it gave the Covenant aerial surveillance a clear visual on anything that was directly below the large circular entryway.

"Disengage from original POE and land at the newly marked one ASAP." 098 told the pilots over the COM, continuing his analyze of the structure.

"Okay... but why?" Wong asked.

(Engaging in elaborate.) "Original POE is open and will provide hostile Covenant aerial surveillance with a visual of the interior of the structure. Insertion fatal probability is high."

"Okay. re-establishing POE."

"This is stupid." Woods grumble.

(I am in command.) "Keep the COM clear of chatter." 098 said, Woods letting out an annoyed moan but complying nonetheless just as the Pelican began to lower itself near a small entry points.

"Looks like you guys are gonna have to hoof it a bit." Clad told the team.

"Acknowledged." 098 replied, sweeping the area for hostiles.

When 098 was with his SPARTAN comrades, he wouldn't need to say "Acknowledged", "Affirmative", "Negative" or anything similar to that. All SPARTANs had three lights on their HUDs that they used to coordinate responses while maintaining radio silence. ODSTs and Marines also had the three lights on their HUDs – but since there were unarmored and untrained scientists on the team, they would have to communicate verbally.

098 didn't like the idea of civilians coming along on an essential operation. But apparently, only high-ranking ONI officials could access and cleanse the data. And the AI of the excavation site had activated an emergency lock-down failsafe, preventing anyone other than the assigned scientists who worked at the site to access the data. The AI being a dumb one and requiring a lot of system overrides to change its protocol. Why ONI didn't just have erasing the data as part of the failsafe was evident – they didn't want the data being destroyed unless it was necessary. More catering could have been involved, but apparently wasn't.

"Okay," Royce sighed nervously. "Just in and out. No sight-seeing, right, sir?"

(Affirmative.) "Affirmative." 098 confirmed, Royce letting out a sigh of relief in reply. (Anxiety levels high. Probability of anxiety levels increasing is high.)

"Ten secs." Wong reported.

(Ten... Nine... Eight... Seven... Six... Five... Four... Three... Two... One...) "Disembark!" Wong ordered, 098 immediately dropping off the edge of the blood-tray, smacking down on the ground and quickly scanning the area for hostiles.

(Clear.) 098 signaled for the team to follow and heard the loud thumps of the four ODSTs behind him followed suit by the soft thuds of the two scientists.

"Keep low. I'll take point. Vintage two, you'll take up the rear. The rest will scan for hostiles and remain alert." 098 ordered, slowly making his way to the closest of the small entrance.

"I'm gonna take the bird to cover," Clad told the team over the COM. "Give us a call when you're ready for EVAC."

(Acknowledged.) "Acknowledged."

"Keep an eye on that Corvette." Royce reminded the pilots.

"Yeah, yeah." Wong muttered in an annoyed tone.

(Unneeded chatter.) "Clear channel." 098 ordered to have Royce mutter something 098 couldn't understand over the COM. 098 was going to tell him again but decided not to after Royce discontinued his verbal insubordination.

"What's that glowing?" Preynar questioned.

098 remembered that the scientists wouldn't have seen the entrance ramps from the blood tray. Additionally, they never used the hard light inclines when working at the excavation site – their assigned tasks being data sorting and not examining or excavation the structure.

"The ramps are hard light, I think." 098 heard Wong explain over the COM before 098 could elaborate himself.

"Hard light?" Moore asked, adding, "Hey, Preynar, Weren't the guys digging around the top talking about hard light tech? I'm starting to think the Covenant adopted their technology off of these guys."

"That explains a lot." Preynar grumbled, annoyed.

098 put his armored hand up, signaling for the team to halt as they all arrived at the small entrance.

"What is it?" Moore asked, worried by the sudden stop.

"Can the hard light ramp be deactivated?" 098 questioned the scientists.

"We don't know a lot about it ourselves – but I would say yes," Preynar confirmed. "I get where you're heading with this."

"Agh, why didn't these damn aliens just of built normal ramps, eh?" Candraz asked aloud, irritated at the inconvenience.

"We should be fine – unless there's a terminal to deactivate the ramp, and the Covenant are near it." Moore explained.

(Acknowledged. Compromising situation is occurring.) "I'll go first." 098 said.

"Sir," Walker quickly broke in. "We need you alive for this op. Let me go first."

(Verbal consultation acknowledged.) 098 turned and nodded for Walker to proceed by himself.

"You've gotcha nice pair 'o balls." Candraz jokingly remarked as Walker descended down the hard light ramp; M7S raised, 098 observing carefully.

"Gunnery Sergeant, can you see a surface under the hard light?" Preynar asked.

"Negative, sir." Walker replied.

"So, if the hard light disappears, we'll fall to our deaths? Is that what you mean?" Preynar asked.

"Affirmative, sir."

"Shit." Royce and Woods muttered at the same time.

"Well, are there any hostiles on your motion sensor?" Preynar asked Walker.

"Not that I see, sir."

"Hurry your ass up, Sergeant," Royce broke in, breaking the strict protocol that forbade breakage of transferring tactical data. "I don't like being in the open."

(Unneeded chatter.) "Clear the channel." 098 ordered the ODST Captain, Royce letting out a sigh but ceasing to persist.

"Sir," Walker reported in over the radio "I'm at the bottom of the ramp and inside the structure. No Covenant forces spotted, and I think I've found what looks like the terminal for the ramp."

"Have you got access to it?" 098 asked.

"Affirmative, sir." Walker confirmed.

"I'll move down the hard light ramp," 098 announced, turning to face the ODSTs and scientists behind him. "Don't follow me."

"But we've already confirmed that the Covies don't have access to the ramp's controls." Moore protested, confused.

"Possibility of trap: moderate." 098 clarified.

"I see."

"Do not to follow me." 098 reinforced his order, turning and beginning his traversal down the ramp, slinging his DMR over his back and subsequently grabbing and raising his M7S once he heard the sound of the DMR connecting to the magnet on his back.

098 moved slow enough down the ramp that the Covenant would have time to initiate their trap – if there were one – but fast enough so that he might make it if the hard light ramp was deactivated. Wondering how the Covenant could monitor the ramp's hallway, 098 examined his surroundings, seeing that once the ramp entered the structure there was no way anyone could observe the corridor. A wall flanked the corridor on each side, the only opening to the hallway being in front and behind.

(Possibility of trap, lowering.) "Rally on my position," 098 told the team, arriving at the bottom of the ramp. "But for precaution, move ASAP."

"On it." 098 heard Royce and Woods reply in unison.

098 quickly holstered his M7S on his thigh, grabbing his DMR off of his back to survey the area.

098 had never seen anything like he saw now. There were no corridors; the entire installation was open. Since it was open, 098 could see various ONI equipment surrounding the interior of the structure; towering lamps, terminals hooked up to the alien terminals, crates with supplies, and – after little searching – the large terminal that housed the data they were looking for.

Near the terminal, was an energy turbine which was directly below the large circular opening that was believed to be the primary entrance to the structure. Around the energy turbine, there were large anti-gravity wells that had massive cylinder pillars levitating above them. There was also multiple levels of balconies in the structure's interior which would prove as good sniper points for both the team and Covenant soldiers. The walls of the structure were odd, as well; the walls moving and shifting – 098 could see through the gaps the walls made while moving and behind it were more moving walls, all coiling together to prevent 098 from seeing the actual inside if the structure's walls.

The inner architecture of the installation was the same as the outer – with straight, patterned engravings and seams in the metal that gave the structure its alien look. (Doctor Halsey would find personal enjoyment at this location.)

098 heard Moore, Preynar, Woods, Candraz and Royce arriving at the bottom of the ramp behind him, the two scientists panting, not used to the physical strains of a field operation.

"Here, sir." Moore placed a hand on 098's shoulder to support himself while he quickly regained his breath.

098 heard Royce whistle in astonishment as he fell in beside 098. "These guys know their shit."

"What're these aliens called, eh? Pretty-boys, right?" Candraz asked.

"There's no official name, yet," Moore began explaining, still panting. "But through surveillance of similar locations with Covenant forces located within, we've captured and translated Covenant chatter, and they call these aliens 'Forerunners'."

"Forerunners?" Woods repeated, curious at the name.

"Yeah." Moore confirmed, stretching his arms.

"That may've got some meaning." Candraz said.

"Exactly!" Woods said in a tone that said, now you've got it!

"Fall in." 098 ordered, making his way over to another ramp that led to the lower levels.

Royce let out an annoyed grunt, annoying 098 who was becoming tired of the ODST's constant defiance against him.

"Captain-" 098 began but halted when he heard something, quickly signaling for the team to stop, hearing the distant screeches of Jackals.

098 waved for the team to take cover behind some braces surrounding a small, lower evaluated area that the terminal for the ramp was located.

"What is it?" Moore asked 098 as he and the rest of the team hurried for cover, anxiety in his voice. Having never encountered the Covenant before, 098 suspected that fear would arise within him when combat was imminent – but wouldn't have them tamper with the mission.

"Maintain radio silence." 098 ordered, directing the order specifically at Moore but not singling him out, quickly taking cover and slinging his DMR over his back before pulling out his M7S.

Walker took cover to 098's right, Royce sliding in behind, Woods taking cover to the left of 098, and Candraz falling in behind Royce. They all had their M7S in hand. Moore took cover behind Candraz with Preynar doing the same behind Moore. Both Moore and Preynar had an M6C/SOCOM in their hands – albeit, Moore's hands were trembling with fear.

The cover, they were in, didn't provide a proper amount of maneuverability, but if they ambushed the Covenant correctly and efficiently, the latter need would become irrelevant. The cover did, however, hide the team, so the Covenant would have to walk behind the braces to be able to see them.

Walker did the hand signal that stood for Covenant, asking 098 if there were Covenant forces nearby. 098 merely nodded in reply, not risking further movement.

(Intel collection is mandatory.) 098 tapped the side of his helmet, telling the ODSTs to turn on their inbuilt translators. Walker nodded in reply and passed the signal on to Candraz and Royce while 098 then turned and did the same with Woods, tapping the side of his helmet and indicating for Woods to pass the message on.

It was difficult to communicate without the use of coordination through the COM. They couldn't use the COM, though, because the Covenant had sensors that intercepted the radio signals. So, when the COM wasn't an option, hand signals would become vital for issuing orders.

There was the distant screeching of Jackals and chattering of Grunts. The Covenant were getting closer. (Negative visual.) 098 pulled a tiny camera linked to his and the ODST's HUD from his pouch, activated it and placed it just up on the top of the brace. He then tapped the side of his helmet, silently asking Walker if he had any feed – for which Walker nodded in reply, turning to check if Candraz and Royce's feed was working while 098 turned to check with Woods.

Woods nodded as soon as 098 turned around, already anticipating what the SPARTAN was about to do.

The feed was located on the bottom left corner of 098's HUD, but 098 could increase its size through blinking his eyes several times while having them directed at the feed, having it increase in size.

What 098 saw didn't faze him. (Twelve Grunts. Class: Special Operations, various ranks. Five Jackals. Class: Special Operations, various ranks. Two Elites. Class: Special Operations.)

To prevent the risk of the ODSTs and scientists engaging the same targets, 098 used the feed to mark each target and selected which person would engage which target. To make sure they all knew their targets, 098 tapped the side of his helmet, doing a hand signal as well.

Walker nodded, turning to check with Candraz and Royce while 098 turned and saw Woods immediately nod, not having the patience to wait for 098's question..

With everyone's targets confirmed, 098 did the signal to ask Woods if he were ready to attack – which he confirmed with a nod. 098 then turned around and did the same thing with Walker before signaling for him to send the message around.

On the camera, the Covenant soldiers were directly on the other side of the braces, just a few meters away.

"Whose new brother that was on Phantom?" One of the Grunt asked, its squeaky voice coming through 098's interior speakers. The amount of trouble Grunts put 098 through didn't justify the squeaky voice ONI decided to use for their translation voice. It was probably a military propaganda tactic, but it made soldiers underestimate the Grunts.

"Babaloh? He is a replacement for Dabap." A second Grunt answered, its voice also high-pitched.

"I notice Dabap missing. What happen to him?" The first Grunt asked.

"Oh, they say he somehow got poisoned from food nipple." The second Grunt explained.

098 heard what sounded like someone trying not to laugh over the COM.

"What was that?" An Elite barked, growling slightly afterward.

(Possibility of exposure rising.)

"What is it, brother?" The second Elite of the Lance asked.

098 took out an EMP grenade, holding up two fingers, saying that he needed two more. Walker nodded, taking one out and signaling for Royce to do the same.

"Something's... not right..." The first Elite slowly said, its suspicion rising as the Royce got out his EMP grenade.

"Engage." 098 ordered over the COM, all rising out of cover behind the braces in unison, 098, Royce and Walker throwing their EMP grenades at the group.

The Covenant soldiers didn't even get time to react before the grenades went off and bought down the Elite's energy shields and the Jackal's personal defense gauntlets.

098 began firing his M7S as soon as the EMP grenade left his hand, the ODSTs and scientists engaging as well, the muffled gunfire filling 098's ears and the suppressed muzzle flashed catching his eye. Nothing diverted his attention.

098 targeted the Elites, knowing that he would take them down with two rounds. Both of the Elites' heads split open with blood and brain matter splattering everywhere once the bullets slammed into their heads, the FMJ rounds working as efficiently as they ever did for the SPARTAN.

Two shots and two of the deadliest warriors in the galaxy where dead.

098 then turned his attention to the Grunts and Jackals.

Along with the ODSTs and scientists fire support, the Covenant scouting team was downed before they could even react to what was happening. No screeching or barking from Grunts and Jackals alerting any of the other possible Covenant scouting units. All that did sound off was the soft bangs of the EMP grenades going off followed by the grunts and gurgles of a few Jackals and Grunts as they were whittled with bullets.

"Confirm elimination." 098 ordered the team, moving out from behind cover, grabbing the tiny camera as he moved and pocketed it in the appropriate pouch.

"Can we talk now?" Woods asked, a mocking ring in his tone – that 098 did not approve.

098 simply didn't reply. He knew that he was joking since the ODSTs were trained to know immediately when to maintain radio silence and when they could lift it. The fact 098 told them earlier was because he didn't trust them to not act without his reinforcement of the correct procedure.

Reloading his M7S, 098 switched it to semi-automatic before he began sending a round into the heads' of each downed Covenant soldier to make sure the kills were confirmed.

"You didn't answer my question." Woods muttered, emptying his clip into the heads of some Grunts, nudging them playfully with his boot.

(Unneeded chatter.) "Clear the channel." 098 ordered Woods, increasing the aggression in his voice to make sure Woods understood that he was pissing the SPARTAN off.

"Sir," Walker broke in urgently. "More Covenant soldiers heading down the ramp we just came down."

098 snapped around, hurrying towards the terminal "Do you have positive visual on the targets?" 098 asked Walker, speeding up and entering a sprint.

"Negative, sir," Walker replied, falling in with 098. "But I'm positive that it's the same type of Lance that we just encountered."

Arriving at the terminal, 098 examined it over. It was holographic and was emitting from some type power core in the holotank that was surrounded by the Forerunner metal.

"Here." Walker pressed one of the holographic buttons, the sounds of Grunts, Jackals, and Elites screeching, roaring and shrieking in the distance confirming that the ODST had pressed the correct button.

Walker tapped 098's shoulder, pressing the button again, reactivating the ramp for when they needed to EXFIL. Giving Walker a nod of approval, 098 began making his way back over to the rest of the team, Walker hurrying up behind him. "Are all the targets eliminated?" 098 asked.

"Yes, sir." Moore replied, his voice shaking.

(First combat engagement. Possible post-traumatic stress disorder.) "Vintage four, status?" 098 put a hand on the scientist's shoulder to get his attention.

Moore turned his attention to 098, tilting his head. "Green, sir."

(Negative.) 098 shook his head, repeating his question. "Vintage four, give me an immediate sit-rep on your status – absent deviation." 098 added more authority to his voice, visibly intimidating the young ONI scientist.

Moore let out a sigh "I'm just a little shaken, Sierra. I'll last – don't worry."

Satisfied with the answer, 098 released his grip on the scientist's shoulder, turning around to address the team as a whole. "I'll take point. Vintage two, you'll take up the rear."

The team was a two levels above the ground level of the structure, and the ramp to the level before the central level was close. All they had to do was cross the next level, and they would arrive at the level with the terminal on it.

"Eh, Why didn't Wangy dang or Claddy warn us 'bout those Covies comin' down da ramp?" Candraz asked, aggression masking her tone.

"Are you daft?" Preynar asked Candraz. "I assume you're taking the piss, right?

"Wah?" Candraz took a step towards Preynar, flexing the M7S in her grip, trying – but failing – to intimidate the ONI scientist.

"You know that long-range COM chatter's dangerous!" Preynar snapped; his patience lost. "Best-of-the-fucking-best my ass!"

Before Woods or Royce could protest, 098 signaled for the team to halt, hearing distant Jackal screeches.

The ODSTs and scientists would be unable to pick up any distant sounds – unlike 098 whose augmentations and armor systems enhanced his hearing abilities and sound detection. A SPARTAN was a vital asset on an operation such as this, and everyone – even the defiant ODSTs – knew to listen carefully when 098 signaled so.

At the moment, 098 would be able to eliminate the Covenant better on his own – that, and he had his doubts on whether he could rely on the ODSTs. These facts handed in; 098 held his hand up, giving the signal that said, I'm going to scout the area.

"Are you crazy?" Woods asked, more loudly than what would be preferable. His voice must have been heard; Elite and Grunt barks were being filtered through 098's helmet – they heard Woods.

Annoyed, 098 slowly approached Woods. (Vintage five inflicting negating effects on the mission). 098 grabbed Wood's shoulder, doing the hand signal that told him to maintain radio silence.

The Covenant chatter was getting more frequent and louder – which meant that the Covenant definitely knew something was up. Knowing that he needed to act quickly, 098 snapped around and rushed towards the ramp leading down to the level above the main level.

"Sierra?!" Royce asked over the COM. "What the fuck are you doin'?!"

"Maintain radio silence and stay in your current position – I will eliminate the targets." 098 said as he began quickly sprinting down the hard light ramp whilst getting out a stun and EMP grenade while he ran, the distant barks of panicked Grunt getting louder.

(Panicked sounds consist of twelve Grunts, four Jackals, and an Elite trying to calm them down. Likely same type of team as the previous two.)

Reaching the bottom of the ramp, 098 saw that he was right. Twelve Grunts, five Jackals and two Elites – one of which was a Zealot – snapped their attention to the ramp 098 was sprinting down when a Grunt barked and pointed out the SPARTAN.

098 tossed both of the grenades into the crowd of Covenant soldiers, drawing his M6D Magnum and waiting for the grenades to detonate.

(Analyzing possible engagement paths... done.) The grenades detonated just as 098 finished working out his attack pattern, the Elites' shields disrupting along with the Jackals' point defense gauntlets.

Both of the Elites grabbed their energy swords off of their hip – running on battery meant that EMP grenades were ineffective in disabling energy swords – flinging their arms into the air and snapping them down. The quick movement activated the two ionize blades of the sword, hot, sizzling rouge energy zapping around the blade. Both of the Elites roared challenge at 098 before breaking into a charge at him.

098 raised his pistol, firing off a round that, as he suspected, the Elites immediately dodged to the side of, avoiding the round's path. It was a typical strategy with an easy workaround. 098 instead aimed and fired a round before quickly snapping his aim to where one of the Elites – the Zealot – had dodged, firing a single shot just as the alien realized what had happened.

The round pierced the Zealot's throat, its forward movement making the shot send it flying back to the ground, purple blood oozing out of its mouth and flooding between its four mandibles that trembled in shock, more blood squirting from the Zealot's throat.

The gurgles of its dying comrade brought a roar of anger from the other Special Operations Elite, making it increase its sprint.

098 holstered his magnum and dodged to the right just as the Elite got within physical contact, the Elite swinging its sword in the direction that 098 dodged – which 098 avoided as well – before back stepping. The Elite peered its head slightly towards the rest of its Lance, letting out roar to get its comrades moving. Being among some of the best, the Grunts and Jackals regained their composure, charging into the fray.

Grabbing his pistol with his left thigh again and raising it, 098 managed to place a single well-placed shot into the heads' of a Jackal and Grunt before he had to dodge again as the Elite swung towards him, leaping back when it missed its foe.

The Elite roared in frustration as it charged again. But this time, 098 leaped right over the Elite and landed a few feet behind it. Confusing the Elite, it didn't snap around fast enough or dodge out-of-the-way before 098 fired a single round from his M6D. The bullet went straight through the rear of the Elite's head, sending blood and brain flying out with the round through the exit wound on the front of the Elite's head.

With his back to the rest of the Lance, 098 snapped around, weapon raised, and began placing headshots on the aliens as they began fleeing, distraught over the death of their leaders. Regardless, ten well-placed headshots neutralized what remained of the Lance, not even an effort put against him.

(All targets neutralized.) "Proceed to my position." 098 ordered the team, reloading his M6D, grabbing the spent clip from falling to the ground before placing it in his empty clip pouch.

"What the hell happened?" Royce asked over the COM, annoyed at 098's taking of the reigns – ODSTs didn't like missing out on combat.

"Firefight between Covenant Special Operations scouting Lance." 098 elaborated, knowing that he was explaining the obvious – but indulging the ODST nonetheless.

Royce let out a sigh. "No, why did you engage without backup? You went in blind, Sierra – damn it."

(Engaging in elaboration.) "The objective of this operation is for the scientists to reach the designated terminal alive. Any risk of naturalization is to be avoided – orders by CENTCOM." 098 explained, holstering his M6D and pulling his DMR off of his back, assessing the area.

"Nice job." Walker patted 098's shoulder as they continued down to the next hard light ramp – which was close by –continuing to the final level without any more confrontations.

"Sierra, terminal's just over there." Moore pointed out once they reached the main floor, falling in beside 098 who had taken point.

"We're open for engagement," 098 reminded the team, scouring the area for any possible Jackal snipers. "Proceed with caution.

Woods scoffed. "If there were any Covies left, they'd already take us out... thanks to you."

"Him?" Preynar snapped, turning around to face the ODST. "You're the one who broke radio silence – alerting every damn Covenant soldier in this structure of our presence! Don't pin this on the SPARTAN, you fucking twat!"

Moore rushed ahead to the terminal, wanting to get the data and complete the mission so they could leave. The mission had gotten to everyone – 098 saw it, and he didn't like the chances of a successful EXFIL.

"More, hold up!" Preynar went after Moore.

"Fucking Spooks!" Royce yelled after the both of them, breaking the silence he had so far kept. 098 knew since before they were deployed that Royce's anxiety was sky-rocketing. The fact that he was on a high-risk operation, the lack of his Company, the rate at which the planet fell; all of it fed into his anxiety, and it seemed he had suddenly cracked.

(Aggression levels are rising.) 098 turned around to address the ODST, letting as much authority as he could muster enter his tone. "Cease your aggression."

"Fuck you, fucking psycho!" Royce snapped back.

"Cease your aggression – or I will be forced to retain you physically," 098 cautioned Royce, taking a step towards the ODST, ready to act if his hostility continued.

"Sir, please, just listen to him." Walker place a hand on Royce's shoulder, gripping his M7S tightly in case anything happened – 098 guessed Walker would assist him and not his superior, but the message Walker was sending was vague.

"Yeah, yeah, okay." Royce said, taking in long, sharp breaths.

(Mental stress. Status update mandatory.) "Vintage two, Status?" 098 questioned Royce.

"I'm all right." He aggressively shot back.

"Negative." 098 shook his head, repeating his question. "Vintage two, an immediate sit-rep is mandatory-"

"Just leave me the fuck alone." Royce snapped, getting more agitated and increasing his breathing – almost purposely just to make a point to 098. He was acting juvenile, and 098 wouldn't stand it.

"Your mental status is vital to the success of this operation. Give me an immediate sit-rep." 098 all but refrained from grabbing Royce by the shoulders.

"FINE!" Royce yelled defiantly. "I'm not green! I'm not fine! I just want to get the fuck out of this fucking place – SO HURRY THE FUCK UP!"

(Positive mental stress.)

"Just Hang on!" Moore yelled back, typing in the encryption codes to retrieve the data.

"Captain?" Walker placed his other hand on Royce's shoulder, steadying the ODST, who looked as if he were about to collapse.

"I just want... want to get out of here." Royce steadied his breathing, calming himself down.

098 bought his DMR to bear when an electronic sound echoed through the structure, surveying the area for the source of the sound.

"There." Woods pointed to the source, 098 quickly spotting what it was. The two dozen tubes running vertical along the circular base of the turbine were all emitting a blue energy which met up in the middle of the turbine and formed a massive blue energy ball, electric static flaming around the ball.

"What's this?" Moore asked, walking towards the edge of the energy turbine, eyes fixed on the blue ball of energy. As he examined it with Preynar joining, 098 and the ODSTs rushed over, staying further away from the edge than the scientists had.

"You got the data?" Royce asked, getting agitated again.

"Yeah..." Moore replied, distracted by the massive ball of energy.

"Then let's get the fuck out of here!" Royce said, turning to head back to the hard light ramp that the team had just came down a few minutes earlier, stopping and snapping back around when he realized that no one was following him.

"Hang on, Captain – we're just recording this real quick, so hold your pants." Preynar said, pulling out a data pad from the pocket of his pitch-black fatigues.

"You think those scouts were the only Covies here?" Woods asked, adding. "We need to leave right now, spooky boy!"

"Affirmative," 098 agreed. "We need to EXFIL for EVAC."

"We only need a moment." Moore ignored their pleas, pulling out his own data pad.

"Fucking hell," Royce growled, approaching the scientists. 098 hurried after him and got ready to engage Royce if he attacked the scientists. "Listen, dipshit!" Royce snapped at the scientists, grabbing Moore by the collar of his fatigue. "We've got a mission to carry out! We've got ourselves a PROTOCOL! We're leaving, now! You told us that we're all to obey the SPARTAN – SO OBEY HIM!," Royce pointed at 098. "Now fall in.. or I will take that fucking data from you and leave my-fucking-self!"

"Fine." Preynar said, defeated, putting his data pad back into his fatigues pocket, waving for Royce to let Moore go.

"But, sir-"

Preynar snapped Moore a look before he could protest. "They're right, Moore, we need to leave as soon as possible."

Moore let out a sigh but put away his data pad without any further protest.

098 waved for everyone to regroup. "I'll take point. Vintage two," 098 turned to Royce. "You'll take up the rear."

"Sir," Preynar came up beside 098. "I apologize for back there; you're in command of this mission, and I'm meant to follow your orders-"

"Irrelevant," 098 interrupted. "Let's-" 098 spun to the sound of a scream, raising his weapon when he saw Candraz floating just off the ground, blood pouring from two, close holes in her chest.

(Elite, optical camouflage activated.) "Engage!" 098 ordered, pulling out his M6D.

"OH, FUCK NO!" Royce exclaimed.

The Elite deactivated its camouflage, revealing itself to be a Zealot. Its armor was red with radiant blue lights emitting from trimmings and engravings of the same color.

Its mandibles divided into four as it roared in challenge, pulling Candraz from its blade and throwing her over to the group in an attempt to intimidate them.

"YOU DARE DESECRATE THIS HOLY PLACE?!" The Zealot hissed, breaking into a charge towards the group.

098 opened fire, but with the Zealot's powerful shields, the rounds were deflected from it, its shields barely dropping an inch. The ODSTs joined their fire with 098's, but the rounds from the M7S were in no way effective against the Zealot's shields – no surprise to 098, but an inconvenience.

098 dodged to his left flank as the Zealot got close to him, sliding across the ground but controlling his momentum steadily. Knowing that his M6D wouldn't succeed in eliminating it, 098 holstered the magnum and charged at the Zealot.

"Engaging in physical combat." 098 informed the team over the COM, breaking into the fastest sprint he could, moving faster than even the Zealot anticipated. Ignoring 098's speed, the Zealot lunged at 098 once he got close, bringing its blade into the air and slicing it down towards 098. Sliding to the side of the Zealot, 098 grabbed the armed hand of the Zealot, trying to pry its hand open and steal its blade, dodging the swipes the Zealot was flinging at 098 with its other, free hand.

"YOU DARE LAY YOUR DISEASED HANDS ON ME?!" The Zealot roared. 098 gave up on trying to steal the blade and tackling the Zealot. He instead knocked its arms aside, wrapping his arms around its waist, using his left arm to hold back the Zealot's right, armed arm.

Even with 098 weighing half a ton, he couldn't tackle the Zealot off of its feet.

"UNHAND ME, DEMON!" The Zealot hissed. It then grabbed 098 by his right shoulder – its right, armed hand being held back by 098 – and began pushing its enemy off of it. It was concurrently trying to bring its right arm around to slice at 098.

Since 098 was in the way, the ODSTs couldn't get an aim on the Zealot. So Royce ran up to the tackling duo, attempting to get a better angle. The Zealot, however, saw this and kicked Royce as he passed them.

Royce went flying in the air, making 098 worry that he would fly directly over the edge of the platform they were on and into energy turbine. Fortunately, the ODST landed a few feet away from the edge. After hitting the ground, Royce flipped onto his back, holding his chest and trying to get up onto his feet, but stumbling over, applying a lot of pressure to his chest. (Possible internal damage.)

"Captain!" Woods exclaimed, running to Royce's aid.

098 tried to turn around, attempting to get the Zealot's back to face the ODSTs – but the Zealot wouldn't budge. 098 realized that nothing would work against the massive Elite.

(Possibility of my elimination, rising. Emergency action required.) 098 put all his strength into preventing the Zealot from pushing him off of it. If it did manage to get 098 off of it, 098 would be dead soon after, having released his grip on the Zealot's right arm, allowing it to swing it around.

098 knew his efforts weren't working, and released his grab of the Zealot and quickly dodged to the side before the Zealot could swipe at him with its blade. As soon as 098 was clear, the ODSTs and scientists opened fired on the massive Elite.

The Zealot hissed as it leaped for cover behind a bulky pillar that supported the structure, the rounds doing nothing but send ripples along its shields.

"Where's its team?!" Walker asked, reloading his M7S.

"Irrelevant, eliminated current target," 098 told Walker before pulling his DMR off of his back and slowly approaching the pillar the Zealot had taken cover behind. 098 got ready to pull an EMP grenade off of his belt but backed up when the Zealot leapt out from behind the pillar and charged at 098. Having no time to react, 098 could only try his best to dodge the Zealot's next swipe. He but failed, the Zealot landing a large cut diagonally across 098's torso, steam hissing from the compromised part of his armor.

Pain went through 098's body – mainly his torso, however. (Physical damage detected. Possibility of elimination rising to near maximum levels.)

SPARTAN Red-098 knew what he had to do. He slung his DMR over his back and charged the Zealot again – the Zealot returning the favor and charging 098 as well, bringing its blade to bear.

"SIR!" Walker exclaimed.

"Disengage and get to the EVAC zone," 098 ordered them, dodging the Zealot's swing before making a grab for the right hand of the Zealot in an attempt to rip the blade out of its hands, again. The Zealot predicted this, though, and it kicked 098 back a few feet when he went to grab the hilt

"So predictable." The Zealot jeered as it charged the SPARTAN again.

This time, 098 dodged the swinging blade before lunging into the Zealot. With the force of the impact, the Zealot lost its footing for a couple of seconds. This aforementioned factor allowed 098 the time he needed to grab the Zealot around the waist again and push it back towards the edge of the energy turbine that the platform they were on surrounded.

The Zealot seemed to know 098's intentions. "You assume death fears me, Demon? If I were to die, its matter would hold little significance. I walk the blessed path, and salvation will come to me – even in death, and you will die of a cause by me. The Prophets will sing of my deeds as the Great Journey commences!"

The Zealot relaxed, letting the 098 tackle it over the edge. By the time 098 realized what the Elite was planning, it was too late. 098 attempted to break off of the grab, but the Zealot wrapped its arms around 098 in return, letting its blade drop to the ground and holding 098 close to it.

They both fell over the edge of the platform, but 098 knew that he succeeded in his objective when he saw the ODSTs and scientists running up one of the ramps that led out of the structure.

"What?" The Zealot said as they began to float upwards instead of falling down into the depths of the structure. 098 reacted as well, looking up and seeing that they were being pulled towards the energy ball. They were in the energy ball's gravitational pull. It didn't matter – the energy ball was sending energy spikes all across 098's systems, making his armor power down. These were caused only by the static electricity around the ball – touching the ball itself would more than likely kill them both.

But it didn't happen. As they got closer to the ball, 098 wondered why they hadn't died already when out of nowhere, the gravity pull increased, and they were sucked towards the ball instantly.

Everything went black as 098's HUD went offline, but everything went blue soon afterward... sky blue. 098 realized his HUD was back online, and that he must have been looking at the sky. Mountain outlines began appearing out of the corner of 098's vision. (I'm falling.)

098 quickly looked around to see another energy ball – possibly the same – surrounded by a floating archway with the same architecture as the structure. He turned his head to the left, spotting distant mountains, trees, the Zealot flying through the air as well, and a large line in the sky. (That's not a line.) 098 quickly realized that he somehow wasn't on a planet.

The Zealot let out a victorious roar before abruptly stopping, a thumping sound being heard at the same moment the Elite stopped roaring. 098 was going to turn to see what happened when he slammed into the ground.

The impact of hitting the ground shook 098's body – but the impact was thankfully absorbed by his armor's hydrostatic gel, breaking his fall and preventing it from breaking him.

098 quickly kicked-up to his feet, pulling his DMR off of his back to defend himself against the Zealot – that he assumed was charging him. The Zealot was, instead, lying on the ground – not moving with every limb of its body being dislocated, bones even protruding between the Elite's armor gaps.

098 looked up. If his assumption of the energy ball being some type of portal was true, then the two of them must have fallen from a pretty high locale. So high, 098 considered himself lucky to had survived.

To be sure that the Zealot was dead, 098 spent one round into its head, sending a spray of purple blood into the air before turning and surveying his surroundings.

Wherever the SPARTAN was, it wasn't a planet. The ring-like world 098 was on definitely related in some way to the so-called "Forerunners". The relation was made from the floating towers in the distance with architect just like the structure on Quaint. Engravings with blue like radiating from the structure along with other geometry markings that was probably a work of art for the race that created them.

There were alien birds flying in the air. Distant valleys that were full of trees and lakes. Herds of animals roaming across a distant plain. Massive floating towers on the top of distant mountains that were shooting a pulse of blue energy into the sky every ten seconds and alien structures and facilities surrounding the terrain as far as 098 could see. But the most unusual thing was what 098 saw when he looked up. Distant oceans and continents filled the sky, bordered by two lines that circled vertically across the sky, forming what 098 could only guess to be some type of ring-world.

098 knew that wherever he was, he was no longer in UNSC space.

098 proceeded to look up, examining the supposed portal. If it were a portal, then the way that 098 and the Zealot came through it was wasn't the correct way. There had to be some way to reach the energy ball. But, there was no way 098 could see, and he needed to move. If it was a portal, Covenant forces were probably going to follow after him – if they were stupid enough to go into the ball of energy without first confirming its origins.

Swinging his DRM over his back, 098 began walking in the direction that the nearest tower was in, hoping to find a way off the ring-world.