Chapter Three

At the UNSC command post, Jenkins was anxious about the return of Redford. He had disrespected his old colleague and he figured it would take some special apology to get his friendship back. But Redford didn't return. It had been 8 days since he went MIA and after much searching by troops, Jenkins and Major Emile feared the worse.

"Do you think he's really...? Emile enquired.

"You mean dead?" replied Jenkins.

"Of course."

"Let's just pray for the best then."

A private came rushing in the command room screaming "We're under attack from the Covenant."

Everybody dashed to their posts. Emile said farewell to Jenkins and sped off into the distance. Many troops 

scattered around like mindless wildebeest. The Hornet Brigade arrived and picked up Jenkins so he could escape the command post in one piece. Major Emile figured that he had pushed the Covenant army back far enough to successfully allow Jenkins' escape. The Brutes had different ideas and rammed through the marines. Emile was shot in the stomach, and since he was baring no armour, it tore right through his flesh. He fell to the ground in agony. Three soldiers turned around and saw the major lying in a pool of blood. They carted him away from the scene. One of the soldiers radioed in a paramedic whilst the other two looked for bandages.

"Major. My name is Corporal Ingram," said the guy who was using the radio.

"I'm...fucking...dying!" Emile bloated.



"Sir, remain calm."

"I don't...think you noticed...but I'm...in a...lot of pain. How can I...possibly remain calm?"

The other two left the control room leaving Emile and Ingram alone. There was a chilling silence. Emile started breathing heavily, eventually coughing up some blood. Ingram panicked and ran out of the room screaming. There was no one left to aid Emile. He soon realised he was going to depart from life and saw a magnum pistol close by. Reaching with all his effort, he finally held the weapon in his hand and, without hesitation, pointed it to his face, and then pulled the trigger.

The UNSC marines had struggled to kill the remaining Grunts and Brutes that had invaded the command post. This assault meant that the Prophets believed that Commander Redford 

returned to the UNSC. However, nobody, not even Jenkins knew where Redford was. His mysterious disappearance after escaping the Hunter's grasp left everyone in confusion. Both sides needed Redford for interrogation. There was a chess game going on and he was the king piece, i.e. an essential part of both armies' plans. Redford himself had been caught in the middle of a scheme from the UNSC and Covenant.