Top Honours: August 28th 2534
Location:Training Area, Surface of Onyx
"At ease!" called Mendez and the twelve members of Alpha and Beta squads prepared to listen in to the briefing for what was, for them, the most important exercise of their careers so far.
"I know you are all eager to clash head on for Top Honours but every time you lot have gone at each other at least one of you has ended up in medical. This time you will each be simultaneously assaulting two structures controlled by trainers, you will be given no more details than that, you will do your own recon and the first team to successfully seize control of the structure wins. You will, however, also be judged on your tactics and preparation, since I do not want to encourage you to just charge in without planning ahead. You may draw your equipment from the armoury in the next twenty minutes. Fall out."
The two teams both headed for different sections of the armoury, anxious not to give away any plans to the other. "Alright", said Carter, "Maria and Jun, I want you two to provide sniper cover, Steven and Emile, close quarters. Kai, you and me need rifles but you and Emile each carry explosives. All of us grab sidearms and a few grenades and meet me here in ten minutes."
The group dispersed and headed off to the relevant areas, Steven happily grabbed a shotgun and loaded it full with cartridges, then stuffed more into his pack. He then grabbed a sidearm and threw half a dozen spare magazines for it into the pack. He attached the shotgun to the magnetic panel on his back and the pistol to his thigh, the grenades went around his belt.
He turned back and looked around, seeing everyone else was almost ready, except for Jun and Maria who were setting up their sniper rifles. As nervous as he felt Steven couldn't wait for the exercise to begin. In the time he had spent in the Halo universe he had become tougher, faster and more intelligent than he had ever though possible. He relished the challenges of being a Spartan but there were two things constantly looming over him, the thought that any day someone could find out about his origins and decide to give him to ONI, the other was the knowledge that some day in the not too distant future Operation PROMETHEUS would be announced, and signal the death of every single Spartan III he knew, including himself, although he didn't know how most of Beta would fare, since several would go on to form Noble Team.
He was forced to push these thoughts aside as Carter called them all over. "Everyone got their equipment?" Carter asked, his voice revealing the anticipation he was feeling. Once everyone had confirmed this he nodded and they headed out of the armoury to await for their transport.
Almost as soon as they had sat down outside Alpha squad arrived, "Good luck." said Shane as they went by, his voice sounded frosty to say the least. If it weren't for their years of training there would be a serious risk of a brawl starting between the two groups. "Likewise." Carter said, his tone equally dangerous.
Several minutes later the Pelicans had landed to pick up the Spartans and shuttle them off to the training area.
On the journey there each member of the team was watching out of the small windows, making the most of the little aerial recon they could get. In the distance Steven could just about make out a squat concrete structure, thanks to his augmented vision he could make out at least a dozen tiny people moving about on the roof, presumably their opposition.
They didn't have much time to look out since the Pelican was soon lowering down until it hovered just about the ground in a small clearing in the jungle. Once the hatch swung down the Spartans charged down the ramp and headed straight into the jungle, eager to make sure that their position wouldn't be easy to find.
Once they had moved a sufficient distance from the drop point Carter signaled for Maria to keep watch on the area around them and listen in via her radio while he talked through the plan.
"Okay", he began, "Here's what we're gonna do…"
Almost exactly one hour later the whole team was in position, Maria and Jun posted on a nearby hill providing sniper cover for the duration, Steven and Emile stood just ten metres from the front gate of the compound they were to capture. Carter and Kai had snuck into the base around dusk, the low light condition still gave their eyes perfect vision but it would play havoc with the guards since it was still too light for night vision and too dark for the naked eye to be effective.
Since there had been no gunfire from within the facility Steven could only assume his fellow Spartans had succeeded in their infiltration, he and Emile were now waiting for the go signal for them to begin their assault.
Suddenly Carter's status light flashed green, go time.
He and Emile hurried to the entrance, watching as the guards swapped their duties, one lot out another one in. The new guard's eyes would not be used to the darkness yet giving yet another advantage to the Spartans on top of their active camouflage. Just as the guards were changing around the Spartans snuck past, the guards too busy with changing shift to notice the almost silent footsteps just before them.
Doing their best to stick to the shadows Steven and Emile followed the guards who were heading back into the compound. As the guards each swiped their access cards across the card reader and opened the doors the Spartans stealthily dived through after them, careful not to touch the door and arouse any suspicions.
Emile's status flashed green, informing the other members of Beta that he had Steven were in, but it was also to give the terminate instruction. Simultaneously they dived forwards, Steven wrapped his arm around the guards throat holding him still, before he had time to cry out his other hand grabbed his face, covering the mouth to stop him yelling. Steven stood there until the guard went limp. The two Spartans dragged the unconscious bodies of the guards into a nearby supply room, fortunately empty.
Neither Spartan had seen any need to waste their limited number of stun round shotgun shells so soon in the mission. Each Spartan appropriated the access cards from the guards and headed back into the hall.
The two pushed on into the base until they reached the first room. On the door in small black letters was printed, Barracks. Quietly Steven pushed open the door. In the few moments he had to observe the room he saw several bunks positioned around the edges of the room and in the middle of the room a small table with five guards sat around it playing cards, poker by the look of it.
This was all he had time for however as the small group turned to see who had opened the door and instantly got their feet when they saw that the door had seemingly opened of it's own accord.
Steven grabbed his pistol from his hip and brought it up in a solid two handed grip, took aim at the nearest guards and fired a single stun round into the man's chest, he fell backwards off his chair and landed in a heap, unconscious.
Pushing further into the room Steven target the next guard and fired, another round dead on the centre of mass. Next to him Steven heard a loud bang and a thump as a Emile fired of his shotgun, stun balls flying everywhere from the modified round, hitting all the remaining guards and those that had already been taken down.
"Show off." muttered Steven once the small battle was over, shutting the door behind them the pair moved further into the room to relieve the guards of any weapons or ammunition. "Just 'cause you didn't think of that." Emile replied and Steven knew he was smirking underneath that black visor.
Suddenly a voice came from behind them, "Hey guys, can you deal me… Who are you?!" Spinning around with speed only a Spartan could achieve Emile brought up his fists and prepared to fight, the guard lunged forwards swinging a fist at Emile but he easily brought up his arm to block the blow, his other arm jabbing forward, fingers extended and hit right in the man's solar plexus, winding him and knocking him to the floor with the force of the blow.
The man lay on the ground wheezing as he tried to stand up, staggering to his feet. Emile jabbed forward with two fingers hitting the man in the throat instantly returning him to the ground, unconscious. "Bastard wouldn't give up." Emile said, half to himself.
The pair continued on, clearing rooms one at a time, slowly working their way up the base floor by floor. Fortunately they had caught the base at a good time, a lot of personnel were asleep and were easy enough to knock out.
Finally, two floors and several dozen guards later the two Spartans were at the bottom of the staircase leading to the top floor of the base, form the outside it looked as though it was only big enough for one room due the vaguely pyramid shaped building.
They each loaded up the last of their stun shells and racked the slide. Emile nodded to him and motioned for him to breach the door. Unclipping the explosive charge from his back Steven activated the timer and set a ten second timer, magnetically locking the charge to the door.
They backed a few metres down the corridor and turned on their sound dampeners until they saw the flash and rumble of the explosives. Turning in unison they sprung forwards, charging into the room. Either side of the door two guards were knocked backwards by stun shells.
While Steven elected to continue with the weapon dropped his to the ground and leapt into the nearest group of enemies, his fists and blur as he dismantled the guards, leaving them in a heap on the floor.
Several minutes later the room was secured and the two move over to the computer terminal, perhaps there was some intel Mendez had left for them to find.
However, before they could activate the terminal they heard an unmistakable sound, a safety flicking off behind them. They turned to find themselves looking down the barrels of a pair of MA5Bs, the standard issue UNSC assault rifle.
"On your knees, freaks." spat a voice from behind the two soldiers holding the weapons. They parted slightly to make way for the man, clearly the leader. His visor glinted under the artificial lights, he too had his rifle leveled Steven's face.
Steven gulped slightly slowly lowering a rifle until a moment later something caught his eye and he raised it once more. "Are you retarded?!" roared the ODST stepping forwards and whacked the butt of his weapon into Steven's face.
"No." Steven replied, perfectly calmly, "but you are." he smiled lightly as the ODST stepped nearer and depolarized his visor. "How so, freak?" he stormed, his words dripping with venom.
"Well, what good team comes in without back up?"
Behind the ODSTs the distinctive whirring of active camouflage shutting off appeared and two more Spartans appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, their rifle aimed at the ODSTs.
The three Marines spun around, taking in the new arrivals, their eyes wide with shock or fear, Steven couldn't tell. Before the man had a chance to make another snide comment Steven brought if shotgun up and whacked the butt over the ODSTs head and he instantly crumpled.
Carter stepped forwards, pulling off his helmet, a smile plastered across his face. "Good job guys, we did it."
Author's Note: Back again with another chapter, 2012 words of story. As ever if you have any ideas for what you would like to see in this or have an opinion please review. I need feedback if I'm going to keep you guys happy! Updates might be low since I've just started school again.
