Title: Halo 3: Sergeant McCorin Style/Chapter Three
Author: Ice-Eagle Y'Siri
Disclaimer: I don't own Halo or any associated characters, objects, concepts, etc.
Summary: As Staff Sergeant under Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, things can get pretty...interesting. What I wasn't expecting was having Elites/Grunts/and the occasional Hunter pair on my side. As the one of the only female ranking officers in his squad, I had a lot to learn.
When the Chief crashed through the ceiling, I knew I made the right decision to stay by the back wall. The tremors just from him landing were enough to slightly unsettle me. How much did he weigh, for crying out loud? 800 pounds?
"About a thousand, Sergeant. And before you ask, you were staring. Now," Johnson's voice was barely audible through my helmet speakers, "it's time to go. Everybody, stay behind the MC and the Arbiter, wherever the hell he is. Worst injured in the middle, everyone else surround and protect. Let's go, folks."
I gave a sloppy salute and picked myself up. I was peering around and found a plasma rifle handed to me, along with a pistol. I looked up to see the MC holding them.
"Thanks, sir."
He nodded and motioned me behind him, " Stay behind me. Keep an eye out for the Pelican; it should be here soon."
"Sir."
And so we set off. Pvt Simmons trotted up to me amidst the screams and fssshesof plasma fire, "Thanks for keeping me calm back there, Sergeant." I shrugged while yanking him out of the way of Needler rounds, then blew the offending Grunt into the sky with a grenade.
"Sure, Private. Calm is always good in a battle field. Don't ever lose your temper, or go hysterical. I nearly got myself killed doing that once. Maybe if we survive this I'll tell you all the story, if our superior doesn't first."
I saw Srgt Johnson grinning crazily, "Are we talking about the Boom story, SS?"
I sighed and rolled my eyes, "Yes, sir. The Boomstory." Good Lord. I had hoped that he might not've remembered and the whole conversation could've slid down the drain without being recalled. Damn, damn, damn. Why did I even mention it at all?
Our group ducked behind some boxes before moving up the ramp to the second story, myself looking around in the sky. I trusted Johnson with making sure my head wasn't blown up. Suddenly, I saw a speck in the distance, growing larger very quickly. Peering closer, I saw that it was one of the Pelicans. Thank God.
"Master Chief, sir," The only way I could tell that he was listening by how he paused slightly before continuing to shoot, "The Pelican's here. I'd say another 300 yards or so. Maybe less."
"Duly noted, Sergeant. Everyone, get down," His voice was calm, "The Pelican is about to unload about 30 Sidewinders into the surrounding area."
Taking him at his word, we all ducked and just listened to the explosions go on in front of and around us. I used the very temporary respite to prod extremely cautiously at the wound along my side. Carefully peeling away the clothing, I winced at what I saw. Though it wasn't that deep, the wound was about 6 inches long; the plasma had cauterized most of it and I probably had some kind of radiation poisoning going on locally. Sighing, I covered it back up to see everyone else beginning to stand.
I took Johnson's hand and stood up myself, leaning a little on him for support before regaining my footing. My Sergeant gave me a slightly concerned look.
"Sergeant, you aren't going to die on me, are ya?" I shook my head.
"No, but one of the greenies might if we don't board soon, sir. I was just grazed, remember? He's got a Needler round still stuck in him; the adrenaline probably helped him ignore it, but he'll need enough painkillers to fell an elephant before he'll feel better."
"Gee, and I wonder how you know about something like that..."
"I got one of those before a year or so back, remember, sir? During the Boom story." Now Simmons and Johnson grinned enough to split their faces.
"The Boom story, eh? I've got to here about this, ma'am."
Darnit. I mentioned the blasted experience again. Shoot me now. Actually, never mind. I already got my "getting-shot-awesomely-during-battle" wound today. I don't need another one. Anyway.
The Pelican backed and lowered until we could all hop on. Well, I had to climb, and Johnson gave me a shove up into the ship. It sucks being one of the shorter members of the squad. I was 5 '9' and everyone else was between 5'10' and 6'2', excluding the MC and Sergeant Major.
Sighing with relief, I took a seat, then the Arbiter sat to my left, and Simmons on my right. After I dozed for a bit, I woke to sneak a look at the Arbiter. Now that we were in relative safety, it was interesting seeing him relax. He suddenly turned his head and caught me staring.
"You have questions." It wasn't an inquiry.
Blinking, I said, "Do the rest of your people know what is going on? If a war erupts between the Prophets and Elites, who'd win?"
The Arbiter looked slightly taken aback. I guess he didn't hear those every day.
"Those were...unexpected." I shrugged.
"You said I had questions. So I asked. You have only to blame yourself." His mandibles clicked and I couldn't tell if he was laughing or not.
"Yes, but you humans-although I'm admittably biased-seem to be incredibly short-sighted at times and self-centered." I snorted and Pvt Simmons turned his laugh into a cough. I think my whacking the back of his head helped him regain control of himself and miraculously stop choking.
"Gee, thanks. But you have only seen this lot, haven't you? So I guess you can't be blamed." The 'hey!'s and 'aw, shaddup's made me smirk.
"You have a point."
I frowned at him as we began to land, "You're not answering my questions. Are you dodging them on purpose?" The door began to open and we stood up again. The Arbiter just looked at me for a moment, then sighed.
"Maybe-if we have more time-I will discuss matters with you. You do not seem like the rest of your kind. But we have more pressing problems at hand that must be addressed. If the Master Chief would lead us-?"
"Covie, I'm the one that knows my way around. Not the tall green one that jumped two kilometers from space." The Arbiter just shook his head and we began to shuffle off the ship. I stared at Sergeant Johnson. Wow.
I guess rank does come with certain privileges.
I knew I couldn't say that to him without getting shot. Not fair.
We stepped off and I saw Miranda Keyes waiting outside one of the doors that led inside the base. New Mombasa was mostly underground, which was wise, considering what the Covenant would've done with a visible target.
I started to go with the other Marines when Johnson called me back, "Stay with me, SS. I've got a feeling. You can get that looked at later."
Aw, flip. The last time Johnson got a feeling we barely got out of our mission alive. Whatever was about to happen was not going to be pretty. No, sir. I jogged back until I was behind my Sergeant Major and the Arbiter. Commander Keyes nodded to me and I saluted, then we started off.
"Where'd you find him?"
Johnson just shrugged, "Napping out back."
"I'll bet. It's good to see you, Chief." They shook hands.
"Likewise, ma'am."
"Let's bring you all up to speed." We moved down the hallway fairly quickly, which strained my ribs and side some. That blasted wound hurt and was hampering my ability to breathe a little. Not that I would ever admit it. The Arbiter looked down at me, then wrapped his arm under my right shoulder and lifted me up a little bit. I felt some of the weight and strain ease off and began to walk more normally.
"Thanks."
He just nodded and we continued onward inside the base. I belatedly returned my attention to the conversation.
"...but only temporarily. Now, the Prophet of Truth is looking for something called the Ark, where he'll be able to fire all the Halo rings. If he succeeds, every human being, the Covenant, every sentient being in the Galaxy..."
"The Rings will kill us all," finished the Master Chief grimly. Well, thanks, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Depressing. Way to make my day. I get injured and now I found out that an idiot Prophet is trying to trigger Armageddon. Lovely. Just. Lovely.
We moved farther in the base, down into the main control center. A giant TV screen dominated the room, with rows of computers and technicians dotting the landscape below us. Seeing a railing nearby, the Arbiter gently let go of me and let me support myself, then took a spot next to Commander Keyes.
"Ma'am, I have Lord Hood."
"Patch him through."
Lord Hood pops up on the Main screen and addresses us all, "Good news, Commander Keyes?"
"As good as it gets, sir." Keyes stepped aside to allow the MC into view.
"So I see. What's your status, son?"
"Green. Sir." I just stared in shock. Please, God, tell me that the MC did not just make a joke. I must be delirious. Or insane. Something. The only time I hear the MC make a joke I can't properly appreciate it. This just isn't fair. I tuned back into the conversation.
Lord Hood was still speaking, "I'll initiate a low-level strike. Hit 'em right where it hurts. I only have a handful of ships, Master Chief. It's a big risk. But I'm confident-"
Foooooooooooooooooom. The room suddenly turned black and now I was extremely glad that the Arbiter had put me down by a rail. I couldn't see anything to save my life. Well, barely. Computers were displaying the Blue Screen of Death all over the place.
In the meanwhile, Keyes was issuing orders,"Emergency generators! Now!"
"Shielding failed. They're down and charging," the same technician from earlier spoke up.
"You are, all of you, vermin. Cowering in the dirt, thinking...what, I wonder? That you might escape the coming fire? No! Your world will burn until its surface is but glass! And not even your Demon will live to creep, blackened, from its hole to mar the reflection of our passage; the culmination of our Journey. For your destruction is the will of the gods! And I? I AM their instrument!" Once the Prophet was done with his speech, the screens turned black.
"Well," I said over my radio to Johnson, "Do you think he has a speechwriter for this sort of thing? I wonder how long he practiced to get that right."
My Sergeant Major snorted, "Cocky bastard just loves to run his mouth!"
"Does he usually mention me?" Master Chief's voice had a subtle tone of amusement. Well. This was a new development. Maybe he was like this all the time. I had only known him for a few hours, after all.
Commander Keyes was shouting orders to her frantic personnel, "Give the order. We're closing shop."
"Ma'am?"
"We're about to get hit."
"All personnel. Defense code Alpha."
"The wounded. We're getting them all out," Keyes motioned me to her side, "And you're going with them, Staff Sergeant. Get all the wounded out of here and into the Pelicans. We'll meet you at 200 kilometers out. When you've been seen to and everyone else is safe, get to Voi. Johnson will take you down to the hangar."
I saluted and barely succeeded in not wincing, "Yes, ma'am."
"Ma'am, squad leaders are requesting a rally point. Where should they go?" A Marine Techie was holding a radio.
Commander Keyes looks grim as she replies, "To war."
Right before I exit, I roll my eyes discreetly. What a lame thing to say. And we're already in a war. Please.
"I saw that, Sergeant. Don't think I won't forget later."
I sighed noisily over the radio to Johnson, "Yes, sir. I wouldn't doubt it."
A snort could be heard over the link, "Was that insubordination, SS?"
I smirked under my helmet, "Think of it as coping under extreme stress, sir. Would I really do such a thing when I'm thinking clearly?"
Johnson just yanked me to the side and we crouched as the floor began to shake. I hope that the Arbiter and MC would be able to get their jobs done...and come out of this alive.
"SS, do you really want me to answer that question?"
"Uh, no, sir."
The Sergeant Major just stomped his cigarette on the ground, "Then shaddup and get moving. We ain't got time to sit on our asses out here."
I nodded, "Yes, sir."
And off we went.
Hola! I updated! It took me awhile to think of a plot-tacular plot-ish thing, but here is the result. The next chapter will take a little more time, and should be much more interesting. As you can see, I've been trying to stay accurate to the story line, but I won't use all the dialogue from the missions...that just makes me bored, and probably some other readers, as well.
There may or may not be a romance. If I do add one, it'll probably be to the MC, and not the Arbiter. While that is an interesting concept, he isan Sangheili, and would probably offend his delicate sensibilities. Seriously, though, I'm not really for interspecies pairings. This'll be an MCXOC, if I choose. This is also supposed to be FUNNY. FUNNY, people. That means that I won't do a lot of blood and gore. I'm related to doctors, so I won't be writing outrageous injuries and stuff; I can't stand non-accurate medical situations. Sorry!
What else, what else...
Ah, yes. Review, review, review!!!
No flames; I'll just make fudge and all things chocolatey. Y'all should know the rules by now.
I hope you enjoyed it, and will keep doing so!
Regards,
Ice