Another chapter, another attempt to entertain you all. I honestly do not have anything else to add, so on with the show!

Halo belongs to Microsoft Studios

Mass Effect belongs to belongs to Bioware

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XX Skitarii; Tyran - 2776 CE XX

Screams and gunfire mingled with the sounds of agonised roars as civilians fled from the mutated attackers. The Flood, or some kind of other creature horrific creature that infects and mutates others to propagate, tore through Tyran's capital city. The things acted like the Flood, seeking to attack and infect as many people as possible while showing little to no sense of self preservation. All that mattered was spreading the infecting. Skitarii's civilian police force had broken down, officers fleeing with the masses, and it was up to sporadic groups of the city's UNSC Army garrison to try and hold the line.

The creatures lacked the sensory tentacles of standard Flood combat forms, instead seeming to rely on the host body's eyes and ears to find targets. Instead of the brown-green biomass the Flood produced the creatures seemed to be mutating the host bodies to create thicker, denser muscle mass. The creatures also seemed to sport massive, pincer like claws as opposed to the Flood's tentacles.

"How the fuck are these things spreading so fast?" Corporal Matsuki wondered dumbfound as the squad caught their breath atop a bank.

"Infection is spread on contact. No need for Infection Forms." Lance Corporal Agu noted as he checked on the squad's resident rookie.

"Command, Command come in! This is Lieutenant Shepard repeated over and over, trying to get evac for him and his squad. "I repeat, this is Lieutenant Shepard. My squad is un-infected and has Intel relating to the outbreak. We require immediate evac… Come in Command-"

"Give it up Shep, we've been burned." Matsuki sighed bitterly. "They're gonna deny we were in the city and say we died tragically while out on that 'training exercise'… We're screwed."

"If it's any consolation the Rookie is fine." Agu chimed in, trying to find the silver lining amongst a solar system of jet black clouds. "Claws tore through the ceramic and punctured the titanium in places but didn't make it to the Kevlar… As long as he avoids any gut shots kid'll be alright."

"Tunnels are gone." Shepard announced as soon as the report showed up on his VISR. "Pelicans took out the island side entrances and Army has blockades at the other end… Orders are to shot on sight if anyone tried to escape."

"So what? We just sit tight, avoiding the monsters until Blackwatch arrives and clears this up?" Private Smith asked, the naivety and wide eyed innocence actually making Shepard uncomfortable.

"Kid Blackwatch is gonna Glass this city, hell maybe the entire region, to make sure whatever ever the fuck that was doesn't get loose!" Agu snapped gruffly, man was one hell of a medic but his bedside manner left a lot to be desired. "Matsuki called it, we've been burned."

"We're getting out of here." Shepard snarled as a civilian transport attempted to escape the blockade, only to be blown out of the skies by patrolling Pelicans. No way the UNSC was gonna risk this outbreak spreading. As the flaming wreckage plummeted downward into the dark waters of the river Varnak an idea began to form in Shepard's mind. It was the kind of idea that normally one would dismiss out of hand and deny ever even having it, but right now Shepard was desperate enough to try anything. "Hey Rookie… Your seals still good?"

XX Acheron Fossae; Mars – 18 Months Previous XX

Hidden mines detonated, simulating artillery fire, as the members of Hastati Squad moved across the battlefield. One of nearly a dozen squads comprised of candidates for the 105th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the most prestigious Orbital Drop Shock Trooper combat unit there was. Every year nearly three hundred potentials, drawn from all four branches of the UNSC, were offered the chance to compete. The chance to train and test oneself to the extreme and hopefully become ODSTs, the best humanity fielded… The single largest group to be passed in the last century was twenty five.

Hastati was comprised of four Marine candidates; a Sergeant with close to twenty years combat experience, a Corporal who'd done nine years against the worst the Jiralhanae have to offer and a pair of newly minted lieutenants who had both bartered their time in the Penal Squads to get officer training.

"Down!" Shepard growled as he tackled Sergeant Masaki out of the way as Hoplite Squad, made up of members of the UNSC Army, emerged from cover and opened fire. Modified ICWs, adjusted to fire significantly weaker rounds that delivered a weak electrical charge, whizzed past as Shepard and Masaki hit the ground and rolled apart.

Corporal Malone and Lieutenant Leng provided suppressing fire with their own ICWs while Sergeant Masaki brought her MA-TS8g combat shotgun up and caught one unfortunate soldier square in the chest. The man gave a pained groan as lights built into his armour flashed, signalling his 'death' and that he should be ignored. Shepard tossed a training grenade then dove behind cover. Once clear of the enemies' line of sight he set off, using the simulated city ruins to cover his movement as he pushed forward to flank the enemy.

Emerging from the ruins of what was meant to have been a shopping centre Shepard fired off a round from his DMR, the stun round pinging off the helmet of a Hydra hardsuit wearing soldier. Ducking back into the centre Shepard listened to the sounds of rounds pummelling into the doorframe he'd hidden behind while the occasional tracer flickered past. The boom of a shotgun firing, followed by the sounds of ICWs off to the side, told him the other members of Hastati Squad had used his distraction to push forward and finish off Hoplite.

"All good Sarge?" Shepard asked casually as he stopped a grumbling soldier and plucked a grenade from the man's belt, secure and replenish whenever possible on the battlefield after all.

"I'm fine Lieutenant. Thanks for the save." Masaki replied as she paused to brush some dust and dirt off her hardsuit. The four members of Hastati Squad moved into the centre and paused. Shepard had his HOLOPAD up and projecting a 3D map of the area for them to study.

"Fastest route to the central plaza is through that tower across from us, then north." Leng pointed out.

Second Lieutenant Kai Leng was two years Shepard's junior but, thanks to some falsified papers, had just as along a service record as the former gang member. Earthborn, Leng's parents had been political dissidents before they split completely with hundreds of others to settle the 'Independent Human Colony Mindoir'. On Mindoir, the separatists found everything they wanted. Freedom from the oppressive control of the United Earth Government. Freedom from the UEG's fascist attack dog the UNSC… Freedom from the powerful ground forces the UNSC placed on every colony to protect it from alien aggressors. This last fact proved to be Mindoir's undoing when batarian slavers attacked in 2770. The farms and communes had little to no defence against the well-armed and determined slavers. By the time the batarians where finished less than one hundred of the colony's six thousand settlers remained. Close to four thousand had been killed in the attack, the remainder unfortunately found themselves subjected to horrific implanting in preparation for their new lives as slaves.

The fourteen year old Kai, who had survived because he'd been traveling between communes with a family friend to trade, was left orphaned and alone. Two year later the boy had use falsified records to apply for, and be accepted for, the chance to serve in a Penal Squad to earn his UEG citizenship. By the time his deception was found out Leng already had his citizenship and, like Shepard, was planning to use a recent officer recruitment drive to upskill himself and continue his military career. With was his exemplarily record, and one understanding recruitment officer, that kept Leng from having his application rejected and maybe his citizenship revoked.

"That leaves us too exposed, better to swing north-west and approach the plaza from the opposite side." Masaki countered. Sergeant Rachel Masaki was a native of Cadia, one of the closest human worlds to Jiralhanae Space. Facing more kig-yar raids and jiralhanae assaults than any other human world the Cadians where unsurprisingly some of the most militarised and combat ready humans in existence. It was rare to see a Candian serve in the Marines, and almost unheard off for one to serve in the Navy, as most preferred to carry out the planetary defence roles the UNSC Army and Air Force specialised in.

"We don't have the time." Corporal Malone grumbled. Shepard didn't know much about the man other than what his features and name implied, African and Irish heritage, since he hadn't been willing to share when the squad had been introduced earlier that day. "Leng is right."

"Lieutenant Leng." Leng corrected.

"Knock it off, both of you." Shepard ordered, cutting off any possible infighting. Malone resented the fact that it took nine years for him to be noticed by the 105th while Shepard and Leng only had to do three and a half years in Penal, then rush through officer training, to get offered a chance. Shepard had considered telling the cranky old asshole that maybe he should have made more of an effort to impress whoever it was that sent out the invites, but didn't since it'd just provoke the rather large man into attacking him. "The Sergeant is right, that route leaves us too exposed-"

"We don't have time." Leng cut in.

"I know, but being late is better than dead!" Shepard growled, shutting the other Lieutenant up. Taking a moment to study the map Shepard tried to think of another possible route, one that provided plenty of cover but would get them there in good time. As he traced his finger from the plaza along the possible routes to take Shepard's eyes drifted to Masaki, and he recalled something she'd said during their introductions. "Hey Sarge, you have demo training right?"

"Yeah… Why?" Masaki asked slowly, confusion and a tiny hint of unease in her voice.

"Because this building-" Shepard began as he pointed to a point on the map. "- backs right onto the plaza, pretty close to the bunker entrance, and is on the route you pointed out. We have training grenades, which have a small explosive charge, and some of these wrecked vehicles still have fuel cells… Think you can jury-rig up an IED, blast through the walls?"

"I… Eh… Maybe." Masaki began before falling silent. When she spoke again she nearly torpedoed Shepard's plan. "VISR data says the building is meant to be a bank, vault walls will be too thick for an IED to breech."

"Then we avoid the vault, blast out an office on one of the upper floors and drop." Leng commented, showing his support for the plan.

"It'll still take too long, best bet is through the tower and straight north." Malone objected.

"Might work. Head for the bank, procure a fuel cell on route… Blast should catch anyone fighting in the plaza off-guard, we might be able to rush the bunker before they can recover." Masaki murmured. "alright Lieutenant, we'll do it your way."

The team made good time, travelling at a steady pace, through the simulated ruins. As they turned onto the street the fake bank was located on Corporal Malone pointed out that the IED wasn't needed, since the upper levels had windows they could drop down from instead. Moving into the bank, covering any and all possible ambush points along the way, Hastati Squad ascended to the first floor. Masaki was on point, her combat shotgun well suited to the tight stairwell and maze of cubicles they travelled through, with Leng and Malone close behind to watch the flanks. Shepard took up the rear, MA-PDP drawn since the DMR was less than ideal for close combat. The sounds of gunfire rang out from the rear of the building, at least two other potential squads had made it to the plaza it seems.

Moving to cover under one of the large windows, somewhere one normally would avoid due to an ICWs penetrative power but the weapons in use would be too weak to punch through, Shepard holstered the pistol and readied his DMR. Leng and Malone took a window to his left while Masaki took cover to his right.

"Ideas?" Shepard asked.

"I count three separate squads, two Marine and one Army." Malone reported as he peeked up and surveyed the plaza. "Looks like the Marines have ganged up on the Army boys… No one seems too close to the bunker entrance."

"Army are pinned down directly across from us, using those raised garden features as cover." Leng added. "Marine squads at Eleven and Two o'clock respective… Army isn't gonna hold out much longer."

"Don't have a clear shot on anyone at Two o'clock, but I think I can get at least two of the Marines at Eleven." Shepard muttered as he smashed out the remaining glass panels, the sounds of ICW fire and distant explosions drowning out the noise. "If you could position yourselves to hit the squad at Two o'clock we could drop a lot quickly."

"You want to hit the Marines first?" Malone snapped, inter-service rivalry had him wanting to team up and finish off the Army first.

"Why not just ignore them, move for the bunker while they're distracted with one another?" Leng asked.

"too risky, second they see someone moving for the bunker they'll all turn around and open fire." Masaki said. "Area around the bunker entrance is too exposed, we wouldn't stand a chance."

"We have to clear them out, and hitting the Marines is better since the Army has already taken a pounding. Marines are in better shape so taking them out is the best course of action." Shepard explained. "Drop down and get into position, I'll wait for you signal before I take a shot."

Masaki, Malone and Leng dropped through the busted window Shepard was hidden behind and moved out along the edge of the plaza. Using the features and large decorative flower beds as cover the majority of Hastati Squad positioned themselves to strike. While they'd been moving the Army squad, who had been whittled down to just one soldier, managed to eliminate two Marines.

"Malone in position."

"Leng ready."

"Fire when ready Lieutenant."

Boom!

The Marine's shields dropped, and the 'dead' lights flickered on, almost immediately. The sounds of two more ICWs joining the fray, and the deep boom of a shotgun, rank out as Shepard lined up another shot. Another shot, shields dropped but no lights. Checking the VISR display Shepard tracked his squad's movements. Three green blips moving around, slowly inching their way towards a lone red blip while two red blips calmly moved off.

'First Marine squad down, looks like they're heading for the Army lad.' Shepard thought before popping up and searching for another target. Realising he couldn't get a clean shot Shepard prepared to move. A glance at his HUD had Shepard opening a channel to the Squad. "Incoming, plaza's southern entrance. Watch your rear."

"understood, do you have visual?" Leng radioed back.

"Negative, VISR readings only. Dropping down and repositioning for better vantage." Shepard told them before vaulting through the window and rushing to northward. Skidding to halt behind cover Shepard took aim and dropped another of the other Marines just as the newcomers, armour marking them as Naval, entered the plaza and opened fire.

"Hostile down!" Leng called out over the comms channel as his ICW fire downed the shields and triggered the lights on one. Space seemed to distort over by where the Naval personnel where taking cover just before one, surrounded by a shimmering blue nimbus, rose and made a backhand motion. The decorative plant pot Leng was hidden behind shattered and the Lieutenant was sent flying back.

"Biotic!" Malone roared as he popped out of cover to grab the dazed Leng and drag him to safety.

"Grenade out." Masaki yelled as she tossed the training grenade and managed to eliminate the last two Marines. "Shifting focus. Shepard take out that biotic!"

"Roger Sergeant, provide suppressive fire while I relocate for better shot." Shepard replied before making a break, heading back down the edges of the plaza in search of a chance to flank and ambush the Naval squad.

"Frag out!" That was Malone, the following booms indicating he'd tossed two grenades. An outburst of rather colourful Australian swearwords signalled one of the Naval boys being eliminated.

"Shields down, shit shields down!" That was Leng, who'd popped out of cover to let of a volley of ICW fire only to take several rounds himself. "Still in the game… That was close."

"Stay in cover, fully recharge before attempting to engage again." Shepard ordered as Shepard stayed low and moved from cover, another four metres and he'd be behind the enemy squad. The roar of an ICW and the ping of rounds hitting the ground behind him told Shepard he'd been spotted. "Shit! Masaki. Malone. Draw their fire, get them looking away from me!"

No one replied, but the sounds of ICWs and a combat shotgun rang out and Shepard found the suppressive fire directed at him ended. Peeking out Shepard spotted his chance. The biotic was generating dark energy for another gravity distorting display, and that made identifying her easy. Lining up his shot, Shepard waited until the biotic was up and fired.

"Shit." Shepard gulped when his shot was stopped by a biotic barrier the Naval officer had enveloped herself in. Quickly getting another shot off Shepard managed to break through the biotic barrier but before he could try and down her suits shielding a wave of gravity twisting dark energy hit him square in the chest. The impact didn't send Shepard flying, as he'd expected, but instead seemed to act as a tether with which the biotic was easily able to pull the 90kg plus armour Shepard forward a solid five metres. Hitting the ground hard enough to drive the air from his lungs, Shepard wasn't able to move fast enough to avoid the biotic levelling her ICW at him. "Ah crap…"

Boom!

The Naval officer was knocked ass over head by Sergeant Masaki's shotgun as Sergeant scored a direct hit on the woman's exposed back. Malone and Leng ended the other Naval combatants with ICW fire.

"Up you get Shepard." Leng chuckled as he reached down to pull Shepard to his feet.

"Thanks." Shepard groaned as he got up and retrieved his DMR. "Let's get into that bunker and finish this before anyone else arrives."

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I'm dyslexic, so please point out any mistakes in spelling or grammar [I spell things the way they do in England and Ireland, so some things may look off to Americans]. Please leave your opinion via review or send them via PM, I'd like to know what you think.

Well, I think that's everything I've gotta say so, hope you enjoyed the chapter.

This is Highvalour saying bye and thanks for reading.