Chapter Six: Apocalypto
May 28, 2549 10:00
Yonik Nuclear Reactor
The frigate was now high above the reactor. Pelicans drifted back and forth between the ground and the UNSC ship.
The wounded had gone first and the civilians were now being evacuated.
"The Covenant are on their way again." Nick stated. The troopers who were around Blue Team all voiced their concern and looked at Albert for guidance.
"Alright, everyone stay back towards the LZ. Nick, you've got the Scorpion. Ivan and Amad, you stay with Nick. Grey, come with me." The soldiers followed their orders without question.
The two Spartans started walking towards the Covenant that was making their way down First Landing Mountain. Grey looked over at Albert. He couldn't see his face behind his visor but he knew Albert was calm under his armor. Grey felt nothing. "Listen Grey, they're going to throw everything they have at us. We cannot let them break through."
"So what're you suggesting we do?" Albert stopped and Grey did as well. Albert was staring at the line of Covenant coming down the road. Grey had a feeling that losing so many Spartans and other personnel was starting to get at the major.
"I say we hijack some Covenant vehicles."
"Easy enough; what should we go for? Some Wraiths…Banshees might be better…"
"No." Albert put a hand on Grey's shoulder. "There is a Scarab coming up the mountain to annihilate us."
"So, you're suggesting we steal the fucker?" Grey asked. He knew this plan was bat-shit crazy, but for some reason he liked it.
"Exactly…and the Scarab should be here…any…minute…" there was a loud clanging noise of metal parts and the Scarab appeared at the top of First Landing Mountain. Grey and Albert looked at each other. "Ready to do something incredibly fuckin' dumb today?"
"Hell yes, sir." The two Spartans hefted their weapons onto their backs and started sprinting towards the giant super-vehicle. They rushed through the crowds of Covenant infantry, shoving Elites out of the way and plowing through the yelping grunts.
The Scarab spotted the two Spartans and the 'head' started to charge its main gun. It fired its plasma beam down at the Spartans. Grey and Albert split directions as the beam went right down the road, vaporizing the Covenant that was unable to get out of the way. "How the hell are we going to get up into that thing?" Grey panted.
"I have some plasma grenades; I'll see if we can blow a hole in the side." The Scarab fired again but the Spartans were able to dodge the beam.
The pair was finally able to get under the Scarab and took a few breaths. "Do you have some plasma grenades?" Grey nodded. "Okay, use them on the Scarab's leg there." Grey went over and tossed both blue bombs at the leg. They stuck fast to a vital spot and detonated.
Pieces of the leg came crumbling off and the Scarab was forced to lower itself. Grey accompanied Albert over to the left side of the Scarab. They spotted a panel and Albert tossed his own plasma grenades at it. The door blew apart and the pieces fell onto the ground.
Albert and Grey jumped on the pile of destroyed metal and then jumped inside the Scarab. A group of grunts squeaked in surprise at the appearance of the two Spartans and attempted to flee. Grey gunned them down with his assault rifle.
They checked the bottom level of the Scarab and found no form of control. An Elite investigating the noise came down only to be cut down by Albert's knife. "Take this." Albert tossed an energy wrist blade to Grey. Grey nodded and attached it to his other wrist. He activated both blades and held up his fists.
"I'll take the lead." Grey said, half-jokingly. Albert nodded and let the younger Spartan move forward. As if on cue, an Elite charged down the ramp only to run into both extended energy blades. Grey withdrew the blades from the alien's chest and let the body roll down.
The two Spartans stormed on top of the Scarab and cut down the Elites and grunts that were waiting there. "Where the hell is the cockpit!" Grey and Albert fell down as the Scarab shuddered. The giant machine started moving down the mountain towards the reactor.
"Oh shit…" Albert muttered. "Alright, most Scarabs are controlled by Lekgolo worms…but I know some models have more conventional controls."
"Sir, there's a hatch here." Grey tried to open it but it seemed to be locked. He decided to cut it open with his wrist blades. When he finished, Albert tore it off. An Elite looked up them in surprise.
Grey slammed his fist on the Elite's head and the wrist blade sizzled in his its skull. Grey pulled the limp body out and tossed it away. Albert jumped in and Grey followed.
It was a tight squeeze but both Spartans were able to sit down.
"I'll drive and control the main gun. Use the AA gun mounted on the back to take down as many Banshees as you can or the Pelicans are gonna be cut to pieces." Grey took the controls in his hands and Albert took what looked like the movement controls. Screens popped up in front of them. Albert's showed the path and the reactor complex while Grey's seemed to be higher up.
"Major, that Scarab is getting closer…" Amad said shakily over the comms.
"Idiot, they're controlling the Scarab." Nick's voice butted in. "Badass moves guys. But we've got a cluster-fuck of infantry on the road and Banshees overhead. Thin'em out; the Pelicans are having a hard time landing and taking off."
"Roger that; let's cause some trouble." Albert had acquainted himself with the controls and was already charging the plasma beam. He fired the main gun and the huge green beam of plasma went down the road, obliterating every Covenant vehicle and infantryman running away from it.
Grey started firing the AA gun. The Banshees danced around in the air, confused as to why their own Scarab seemed to be firing at them. Alien garble filled the comms in the Scarab and Albert flicked them off.
Banshees began to explode and plummet to the ground. To make each shoot down even better, they would fall on the Covenant ranks that were attempting to move away from the roads. The crashing Banshees took dozens with them.
"I never thought I'd be doing something like this when I was in training." Grey said to Albert as he destroyed several Banshees with one on volley of plasma rounds.
"We should make some Scarabs of our own. Or maybe we should just take this with us." Grey thought it was funny but was too focused on shooting down Banshees so he forgot to laugh.
Albert had turned the Scarab around so that it could fire at the fresh Covenant infantry was moving over the mountain. The beam carved deep indentations into the mountain with the remains of the aliens within it. The ground became littered with the hulks of destroyed Banshees. The fighting continued for an hour with the Covenant refusing to waver on their assault. The Scarab just kept chewing them up.
All of a sudden, they stopped coming. Albert and Grey looked at each other.
"They're regrouping…or waiting for something…"
"Sir, the frigate is reporting that the Covenant super-turret that had fired on us on First Landing Mountain is fully charged and is preparing to fire. I think it is rather obvious what it's aiming for…if you catch my drift." Ivan said over the comms.
"Ivan…" Grey growled.
"I suggest you leave."
"Let's go!" Albert and Grey scrambled up from their seats and jumped out of the hole. They looked around quickly before deciding the best way to escape the Scarab's imminent destruction was to jump. "Lock your armor before we hit the ground!"
The pair of Spartans jumped at the same time. It seemed like slow motion as they fell. They hit the ground hard and their shields broke. Grey felt his left arm break and he groaned. Albert hadn't suffered any wounds and got Grey to his feet. They started running from the giant Covenant machine.
They were a good distance away when the super-turret's round hit the Scarab. Despite the distance, the shockwave knocked Grey and Albert over and even caused some of the sheds to collapse. The reactor groaned but didn't fall over.
A few moments after the hit, the Scarab exploded and the burning metal fell into a giant heap on the mountainside. Albert and Grey got onto their feet. They moved back to the LZ.
Ivan, Amad and Nick ran over to greet them. Albert held up his hand, wanting a moment to catch his breath. His breathing was labored and he was bent over, his other hand planted on his chest.
"Major…" Grey put a hand on him.
"I broke some ribs…that's all…" he groaned. "Sitrep…"
"The civilians and most of the troopers have been transported up to the frigate. All that's left are the ODSTs and us. The frigate also reported overwhelming forces of Covvies inbound." Nick explained. Albert nodded and took a long, deep breath.
"Alright…Ivan, it's time to do your job." Ivan nodded as he pulled the HAZOP helmet over his head and tightened the seal. He put on some protective gear and stretched. Amad patted Ivan on the back.
"Overload the reactor and bathe them with fire."
Without saying anything, Ivan started running to the open doorway that led into the reactor. Grey took a few steps after him.
"Wait, Ivan." Ivan came to a stop. "Are you going to have time to make it out?" Ivan was still and silent for a minute before turning.
"Save the lives of those who desire to live. Then if you have time, save mine." With that, the Ukrainian disappeared into the reactor. Grey nodded and looked at the others, who brandished their weapons.
The remaining ODSTs and the remnants of Blue Team took up position around the LZ. The Pelicans were still up in the frigate unloading their passengers. The Covenant was storming down the mountainside and at the UNSC defenses. The frigate was adding to the fight, firing heavy machine guns and cannons down on the advancing Covenant infantry.
"Ivan, what's your status?" Albert asked wearily over the comms.
"I am inside the main reactor area..." Ivan laughed a little. "…feels like home. Glowing floor means I don't need flashlight. Spray death while I ready core and run when I give the signal."
"Roger that." The men ducked down as plasma flew over their heads. Amad shivered slightly.
"Ivan talks so much of death it unnerves me especially when we find ourselves so close to it." Some of the men chuckled. Then they stood up and started firing on the charging aliens. The aliens were cut down. The jackals were able to defend themselves with their personal shields but the grunts were cut down. The Elites would come close but Nick would ruin their shields with an EMP overcharge from his grenade launcher and a marksman would finish the aliens.
"Ivan, status!" Albert shouted. "The Pelicans are coming into get us!"
"I am starting to overload the core, but there are buggers in here. I also have Elites trying to break down the door. I will make sure the reactor detonates. Head to the Pelicans, go!"
"We're not leaving you Ivan!" Nick shouted and made his way out of the trench.
Blue Team and the ODSTs started back up slowly to the landing Pelicans.
"I will not leave him!" Amad weaved his way through running ODSTs and cover until he made it into the reactor. Albert and Grey defended the ODSTs as they piled into the Pelicans.
"Where the hell is Nick!" Grey yelled.
"Amad and I are inside the reactor room with Ivan. We're pinned down and I think they might have started cooling the-" there was a loud static noise over the comms for a brief moment and then the link died.
"Nick…Nick! Amad do you read me! Ivan, do you copy!" Grey yelled.
"They're gone Grey!" Albert said, pushing him into the final Pelican. Albert and Grey stared at each other for a moment. They were wearing helmets, but they could feel each other's stare into their eyes. "I'm going in to make sure that reactor detonates." He handed Grey his dog tags. "You have to go." Grey shook his head, trying to find his voice. Albert took off his helmet.
Albert smiled one last time at Grey. "I'll see you there, my friend." The Pelican lifted off and Albert ran into the reactor. Grey sat with his legs hanging out of the Pelicans. Plasma followed the Pelican as it made its way to the frigate. Some of the enemy rounds hit Grey's armor, but he didn't care. He just kept staring down at the reactor, screaming Albert's name. It took eleven ODSTs to pull Grey further back into the Pelican.
After about twenty minutes, the frigate was now in orbit, slowly traveling away from the frigate. Grey stood at a window with some of the survivors. There was a bright flash on the planet followed by a huge cloud of fire.
Grey was silent and still. He couldn't speak. He couldn't move. He couldn't think.
Everything he had held close to him in his life was gone.