Chapter 4
UNKNOWN PLANET. FEBRUARY 5, 2553. NIGHT.
The team left the shuttle and started to hike through the dense forest. By the time they reached the base of the waterfall, Will was feeling a bit unsettled. A planet this lush should have tons of wildlife. However, the only noise he heard were a few birds and a quite hum of insects. No creeping mammals were seen on their trip to the waterfall. Will shook the thought from his head and thought to himself, this planet is so full of mountains perhaps evolution took a different path. Perhaps birds are the dominant species.
Tao suddenly yelled out, "I found the lower entrance, just like the intelligence said." Will followed Tao behind the waterfall. There before them was what looked like a huge grate and out of it was coming what looked like some kind of peculiar water. DelSoul said, "Your kidding me, we are going to have to crawl through this planets sewers." Tao said, "I scanned the water, it's surprisingly pure. Perhaps they purify everything before dumping it back in the river." Retler added, "I didn't know these religious psychos actually cared about the environment." Will said, "Probably only on planets they haven't glassed."
Will then pressed a switch on his armor, the HUD display on his helmet went on line and illuminated in his vision was TRACKING ON LINE. SHIELDS ON LINE. FINAL SYSTEMS CHECK....ALL GREEN. Will said, "Lets get going." He then kicked in the grate and the team began to enter the pipe. About ten minutes later they came to what appeared to be a maintenance hatch. Tao put the lock breaker on the hatch and activated it. A few seconds later the hatch popped open. Everyone climbed out of the pipe and Will let out another low whistle. The area they were in was filled with machines, perfectly merged with the cavern walls. There were numerous ramps and catwalks above them. Light seemed to be coming from an unknown source and they could hear water rushing through the pipes lining the floor.
DelSoul said, "I take back what I said looks like their sewer system isn't so bad after all." Regar said, "I want to get out of here fast. All the chemicals are screwing with my nose." He was teetering back and forth looking a little woozy. Will and the team began to climb the ramps up to the top of the waterworks. DelSoul said, "So where the hell is the Covenant." Suddenly Wills tracking device picked up a ping heading their way. Will said, "You had to open your mouth, get down." Everyone ducked behind the pipes. Will peeked around a pipe and saw a lizard being led by an elite carrying a Covenant battle carbine.
The lizard and the elite began talking and the team turned on their translator devices to listen in. The elite said, "Hurry up and fix the filters. Everything has to be in top shape." The lizard replied, "Why the hell do you guys give a dam now?" The elite answered, "You sacrilegious piece of hide, the high prophet in charge of technology is coming for a personal inspection and commander Plo wants everything running a maximum efficiency--so keep working or else I'm going to have myself some target practice."
Will whispered to Retler, "Take Them." Retler whipped around the corner with his rifle fully loaded. The elite screamed, "Infidels sound the al---- -." Before he could finish Retler fired two darts from the rifle hitting both the lizard and the elite. Their eyes rolled back into their head, coughing blood and collapsing to the ground. Everyone came from behind the pipe and Will asked, "What the hell is in those darts?" Retler replied, "Sand Panther Venom--super concentrated. By now their insides should be liquefied." To make his point the kicked what was the lizard and it giggled like Jell-O. Will said, "O.K. that's disturbing, but I'm not complaining. At least they didn't raise the alarm. Still did you hear what they said? Why the hell should such a high ranking prophet come to such a remote place as this? That weapon they are developing must be more important than the Coalition thought." DelSoul simply picked up the dead elites carbine and said, 'I'm not complaining, I got free fire power. How the heck does this thing work?" Will quickly pointed at the release on the rifle, having had experience with Covenant weapons. "That's the trigger, and this little gauge on top shows how much power is left. This is one of the few weapons the Coalition knows how to operate." He then pointed to a hidden switch, "Press this button to eject the energy pack--this things a slow firing automatic but extremely powerful. Make sure you know where your aiming. The stopping power is about the same as a
Republican T-21 heavy rifle." DelSoul said, "Dam this small thing has that much fire power? I like."
Tao said, "If your down gawking at enemy technology, I've found a way out. Top of this ramp leads right to an access corridor. Probably leads to the base storage rooms and lifts." Regar said, "about time I feel like I'm going to pass out." The team climbed the ramp and went through the door. There was a purple hallway and a sign mounted on the wall. Will looked at it and his helmets computer immediately translated FIRST LEFT: STORAGE----- FIRST RIGHT: SECONDARY ARMORY. SECOND RIGHT: SECONDARY SECURITY CONTROL-----SECOND LEFT: LIFT BANK. STRAIGHT: STORAGE ROOMS 2-25.
Will told the team what the sign said and remarked, "We should probably take out the security control. The will lessen their ability to detect our movements." Tao replied, "Just get me in there and their system is fried." DelSoul remarked, "While your at it can you crack open the door to the armory? I want to get some batteries for this thing." They slowly made their way to outside of the Security Room. Tao put his lock breaker on the access panel and activated it. Tao said, "It should be open in a few seconds." Will pulled out a cyro grenade. Suddenly the door slide open, Will pulled the pin and tossed it into the room. There was what sounded like a muffled explosion followed by a whooshing sound. It was followed by screams then silence. Will and the team made their way into the security room. On the floor were the frozen, fragmented remains of several grunts. Will smiled and thought how he loved those cyro grenades.
From around a terminal another elite popped up holding a plasma rifle in one hand--his entire right arm had been frozen and shattered. He rushed right towards them mindlessly. Suddenly there was a humming noise Regar had powered his axe and dashed towards the elite taking off his head in one sweep. Regar growled, "Too Easy."
Tao began hacking into the security computer and said, "There I've shut down most of the security on the lower levels. However, I can't shut it all down, this is only a secondary terminal." Retler said, "So where is this so called super weapon located?" Tao said, "One moment and I'll locate it--Bingo I've got it. Five floors up, there is a massive underground docking bay. According to the computer that is where it is. I've also released the lock to the armory." Will smiled under his helmet and said, "We'd better get moving, they will probably send a patrol down here once they try to contact this security station."
Please read and review
Next Chapter: Silent Judgment
Rave Drifter
UNKNOWN PLANET. FEBRUARY 5, 2553. NIGHT.
The team left the shuttle and started to hike through the dense forest. By the time they reached the base of the waterfall, Will was feeling a bit unsettled. A planet this lush should have tons of wildlife. However, the only noise he heard were a few birds and a quite hum of insects. No creeping mammals were seen on their trip to the waterfall. Will shook the thought from his head and thought to himself, this planet is so full of mountains perhaps evolution took a different path. Perhaps birds are the dominant species.
Tao suddenly yelled out, "I found the lower entrance, just like the intelligence said." Will followed Tao behind the waterfall. There before them was what looked like a huge grate and out of it was coming what looked like some kind of peculiar water. DelSoul said, "Your kidding me, we are going to have to crawl through this planets sewers." Tao said, "I scanned the water, it's surprisingly pure. Perhaps they purify everything before dumping it back in the river." Retler added, "I didn't know these religious psychos actually cared about the environment." Will said, "Probably only on planets they haven't glassed."
Will then pressed a switch on his armor, the HUD display on his helmet went on line and illuminated in his vision was TRACKING ON LINE. SHIELDS ON LINE. FINAL SYSTEMS CHECK....ALL GREEN. Will said, "Lets get going." He then kicked in the grate and the team began to enter the pipe. About ten minutes later they came to what appeared to be a maintenance hatch. Tao put the lock breaker on the hatch and activated it. A few seconds later the hatch popped open. Everyone climbed out of the pipe and Will let out another low whistle. The area they were in was filled with machines, perfectly merged with the cavern walls. There were numerous ramps and catwalks above them. Light seemed to be coming from an unknown source and they could hear water rushing through the pipes lining the floor.
DelSoul said, "I take back what I said looks like their sewer system isn't so bad after all." Regar said, "I want to get out of here fast. All the chemicals are screwing with my nose." He was teetering back and forth looking a little woozy. Will and the team began to climb the ramps up to the top of the waterworks. DelSoul said, "So where the hell is the Covenant." Suddenly Wills tracking device picked up a ping heading their way. Will said, "You had to open your mouth, get down." Everyone ducked behind the pipes. Will peeked around a pipe and saw a lizard being led by an elite carrying a Covenant battle carbine.
The lizard and the elite began talking and the team turned on their translator devices to listen in. The elite said, "Hurry up and fix the filters. Everything has to be in top shape." The lizard replied, "Why the hell do you guys give a dam now?" The elite answered, "You sacrilegious piece of hide, the high prophet in charge of technology is coming for a personal inspection and commander Plo wants everything running a maximum efficiency--so keep working or else I'm going to have myself some target practice."
Will whispered to Retler, "Take Them." Retler whipped around the corner with his rifle fully loaded. The elite screamed, "Infidels sound the al---- -." Before he could finish Retler fired two darts from the rifle hitting both the lizard and the elite. Their eyes rolled back into their head, coughing blood and collapsing to the ground. Everyone came from behind the pipe and Will asked, "What the hell is in those darts?" Retler replied, "Sand Panther Venom--super concentrated. By now their insides should be liquefied." To make his point the kicked what was the lizard and it giggled like Jell-O. Will said, "O.K. that's disturbing, but I'm not complaining. At least they didn't raise the alarm. Still did you hear what they said? Why the hell should such a high ranking prophet come to such a remote place as this? That weapon they are developing must be more important than the Coalition thought." DelSoul simply picked up the dead elites carbine and said, 'I'm not complaining, I got free fire power. How the heck does this thing work?" Will quickly pointed at the release on the rifle, having had experience with Covenant weapons. "That's the trigger, and this little gauge on top shows how much power is left. This is one of the few weapons the Coalition knows how to operate." He then pointed to a hidden switch, "Press this button to eject the energy pack--this things a slow firing automatic but extremely powerful. Make sure you know where your aiming. The stopping power is about the same as a
Republican T-21 heavy rifle." DelSoul said, "Dam this small thing has that much fire power? I like."
Tao said, "If your down gawking at enemy technology, I've found a way out. Top of this ramp leads right to an access corridor. Probably leads to the base storage rooms and lifts." Regar said, "about time I feel like I'm going to pass out." The team climbed the ramp and went through the door. There was a purple hallway and a sign mounted on the wall. Will looked at it and his helmets computer immediately translated FIRST LEFT: STORAGE----- FIRST RIGHT: SECONDARY ARMORY. SECOND RIGHT: SECONDARY SECURITY CONTROL-----SECOND LEFT: LIFT BANK. STRAIGHT: STORAGE ROOMS 2-25.
Will told the team what the sign said and remarked, "We should probably take out the security control. The will lessen their ability to detect our movements." Tao replied, "Just get me in there and their system is fried." DelSoul remarked, "While your at it can you crack open the door to the armory? I want to get some batteries for this thing." They slowly made their way to outside of the Security Room. Tao put his lock breaker on the access panel and activated it. Tao said, "It should be open in a few seconds." Will pulled out a cyro grenade. Suddenly the door slide open, Will pulled the pin and tossed it into the room. There was what sounded like a muffled explosion followed by a whooshing sound. It was followed by screams then silence. Will and the team made their way into the security room. On the floor were the frozen, fragmented remains of several grunts. Will smiled and thought how he loved those cyro grenades.
From around a terminal another elite popped up holding a plasma rifle in one hand--his entire right arm had been frozen and shattered. He rushed right towards them mindlessly. Suddenly there was a humming noise Regar had powered his axe and dashed towards the elite taking off his head in one sweep. Regar growled, "Too Easy."
Tao began hacking into the security computer and said, "There I've shut down most of the security on the lower levels. However, I can't shut it all down, this is only a secondary terminal." Retler said, "So where is this so called super weapon located?" Tao said, "One moment and I'll locate it--Bingo I've got it. Five floors up, there is a massive underground docking bay. According to the computer that is where it is. I've also released the lock to the armory." Will smiled under his helmet and said, "We'd better get moving, they will probably send a patrol down here once they try to contact this security station."
Please read and review
Next Chapter: Silent Judgment
Rave Drifter