Hey guys I'm back!
So I'd like to thank you all for reading this far and hope you enjoy this next chapter. Show your appreciation with a review! It allows me to see if people actually read and enjoy this story!
"Many of you are wondering why we allied with the Elites. Many of them are wondering the same. I will say this now:
We will cut our ties with them as soon as hostilities with the Covenant have diminished. When the loyalist Covenant are dead our alliance with the Elites ends!"
Admiral Lord Hood, Speaking about humanities alliance with the Elites.
CSO class Supercarrier Unrelenting Truth, 05:00 hrs, July 11 2557/ UNSC Military Calendar/Military Standard Time
Fleetmaster Ltho' Rodomee wasn't sure how he was to proceed. His ships, numbering at last count as three CDV class corvettes and two CCS class battlecruisers had decimated a small force of reclaimers in their odd, triangular ships before another ship appeared.
This was a ship he was familiar with, one he knew he could kill however much to the displeasure of his crew he stayed his hand, watching as this one ship beat four of their fellow reclaimers. It confused the aging Fleetmaster greatly however he ordered the group forwards and the Fleetmaster watched with despair as the new ship disappeared in a slipstream portal, appearing again above the holy ring, depositing drop pods and other ground forces to the surface.
That was six human hours ago. The ship had again run and he was about to give chase when he was stopped by a power far greater than him.
A minor Prophet. The Prophet of Trinity, to be precise. So he waited.
And waited.
And waited some more.
Now he was here, in the Prophets holy chambers, waiting for an audience. The two Brute honor guards stood stock still, yet the Fleetmaster could sense their dislike of him. He couldn't care less. This was his fleet, the Brutes would abide by his rules. Honor guards or not.
The fleetmaster's thoughts briefly turned towards the Humans. He found it funny that they had been allies not a decade before and yet were fighting each other again. The Fleetmaster could hardly blame the humans.
No the Arbiter held the blame. He thought so highly of humans. He believed they could have peace, have an alliance. They did, for a time but it wasn't a true alliance. No it was one born out of desperation and a need for survival.
Even the Arbiters most trusted ally, the Spartan 117 wasn't his friend as he thought, nor his confidante. The blind fool just didn't see it. That demon would have killed him a thousand times over under any other circumstance. It would have killed all of the Covenant if given the chance. The Fleetmaster pledged that no demon would ever thwart the journey again.
Which was why, when he received word that a team of demons had boarded from one of the hangers he canceled his meeting with the Prophet and put the ship on alert.
He had demons to kill.
SPARTAN Kevin-G097, Aboard CSO Supercarrier, 05:25 hrs, July 11 2557/UNSC Military Calendar/Military Standard Time
"...and got it." Julianne said, unlocking the hanger door. We moved through in a loose V formation. The purple walls and floors felt familiar and...homey?
You really should try and control your emotions, Petty Officer. And yes that last was mine. sorry about that.
Oh...right. The A.I, Sabrina. The ONI Spook had had her A.I paired with me for this op...it was unsettling to say the least. Her cool presence was odd and I felt extremely light headed.
"Noted. How far?" I asked, barely getting out of sight of a roving band of Jackals.
"Three kilometers to go until you reach the first junction." She said out loud, or rather over the team comm frequency.
"What's our target again?" Michael asked as he snapped the neck of a lone Grunt.
"Main reactor." Julianne said, her tone of voice suggesting she was bored as she got to work unlocking another door.
We stepped out into what looked like a giant forest of sorts. Tall, lean trees greeted us and unfamiliar flora lined the walls. In the distance I could see a large door marked with a NAV point.
"That leads to the main reactor, there are doors to your left and right that lead to the bridge and officers quarters respectively.
"Why is this ship so big?" Michael huffed before turning to me. "You think their compensating for something?" We both chuckled before Emily, walking past us elbowed Michael in the ribs. Sophie brought up the rear.
I was hesitant to bring the team's medic but the medical officer cleared her for duty. She had been given meds that should cancel out the hallucinations. I hoped they cancelled out the hallucinations.
We went down into the forest, always watching our backs and checking our sensors. We couldn't be to careful as we had no support from the UNSC Fire By Rank or the teams on the Halo. We were alone.
I wasn't sure why there were almost no hostiles. A ship this big had to have thousands of troops and workers. So where were they?
"We have three hawks on overwatch, your twelve, Rapier 2." Emily said from behind me. Julianne went low, her form going stock still as her armour blended into the surroundings. "Permission to engage, Rapier Lead?"
I nodded once and Emily sent a suppressed burst from her battle rifle at the trio of Jackals. Each shot from her three round burst impacted a head and each head, body attached, tumbled to the ground. We moved forward.
"Hostiles rear!" Sophie yelled. "Brutes!" I turned to face the hulking forms and saw Sophie fire a burst point blank only to get swatted aside.
"Bravo Kilo is beserk!" Emily yelled. "Run!" So we did. I saw Sophie get up and run with us, she was limping but seemed otherwise unharmed.
"They're gaining!" Michael yelled, firing a sustained burst. The Brutes just shrugged it off and kept coming. There was a small intersection of forest that would be suitable for an ambush and we had enough of a gain on the Bravo Kilos that we could hide.
I gave a series of hand motions quickly and my team hid themselves in the bushes and behind trees. With our Photo-reactive panals active alongside the active camo we were nigh invisible.
When the Brutes came rushing in followed by a rather large group of Grunts I reevaluated our options.
The grunts would be the easiest to deal with. A grenade in the middle of their group would scatter and frighten them. The Brutes however...
When a team of SPARTAN II's had snuck into a Covenant space station a single Brute had killed one of the team and very nearly killed the other in one on one hand to hand combat. The moral of the story, you ask?
Don't ever fight alone.
I quickly issued orders to my team before Sabrina, who had been remarkably quiet spoke.
"Be advised, Petty Officer, that those Brutes are wearing Honor guard armour."
I knew what armour they were wearing and so asked rather rudely. "And?"
"Just be careful. There's two of us in here you know."
"Noted." I said. I didn't need a computer program to tell me how to command my team. "Pick your targets. Rapier 3 lob a pineapple into the middle of the Grunt formation. Everyone else focus fire on the Apes. Don't get separated and don't engage them in CQC...execute."
I saw Michael pull the pin on an M67-HE and throw it. The Grunts, either not noticing or not reacting quick enough were completely obliterated by the subsequent explosion. The Brutes were a different story.
I fired at the closest one, noticing Michael quickly assisting me while everyone else took on the task of dispatching the farther one. To my surprise the five rounds fired from my M395 DMR bounced off the helmet of the brute and the fire from Michaels MA5B just made it mad. It charged us.
At the last moment I rolled out of the way, Michael sidestepped and bashed the Brute in the back. If Michael had preformed that strike on anything else it's spine would have snapped in two. The Brute merely grunted and backhanded Michael across the head, sending his limp form flying into a container.
The Brute changed targets, charging Emily from the side. I gave a rushed warning her before quickly firing off another burst, aimed at the brutes legs to destabilize it. I succeeded, the brute landing mere centemetres from Emily.
Emily, who was in the middle of warding off the other Brute along with Sophie and Julianne noticed the Brute, fired another burst at her original target while at the same time she pulled out her knife and stabbed it into the Brutes arm.
The blade, 10cm of titanum, didn't pierce the Brutes skin as she had hoped but bent at an unusable angle. Emily managed a small "Fuck." Before the Brute pulled at her legs, pulling her to the ground and punching her in the gut repeatedly.
I sighed knowing I'd have to switch to my pistol or go into CQC.
I placed my rifle on my back and pulled the M6H from its holster. I ran over, ripping the Brutes helmet from its head before firing a single round into its thick skull. Or atleast that was what I would have done.
The Ape noticed me and stuck it's large arm out, at my speed I didn't realize before it was to late and the Brute had its hand around my neck. I gasped for breath that would never come as I fumbled for its helmet. I finally managed to rip it off and shakily pointed my sidearm at its head. I pulled the trigger.
Nothing happened. Lady Luck hates me today.
I realized to my dismay that the safety was still on and after quickly flipping it off fired a single round.
The High Explosive Armour Piercing round went into the skull of the Brute and impacted the brain then as cleanly as possible exploded.
I was showered with gore however I had other things to worry about. I turned towards the other Brute to find Julianne and Sophie triumphantly standing atop it, beating it with their rifles. The Brute had a multitude of holes in its body and I chuckled. Julianne had flexed her not so muscular arms and the image wouldn't have looked out of place in one of the many museums on Earth of conquering heroes of the planets many brutal wars.
I was interrupted by a coughing sound from behind and below me however. I turned to find Emily had been pinned under the Brutes dead carcass.
"Get this thing off of me!" After I quickly pulled her out with a little help from Julianne she ripped her helmet off and threw up her past three meals onto the purple deck.
"What happened to you?" Julianne asked, chuckling.
"I just had a face full of it's junk all over my helmet!" She yelled. Julianne's chuckles became full blown laughter.
CSO class Supercarrier Unrelenting Truth, 05:30 hrs, July 11 2557/ UNSC Military Calendar/Military Standard Time
To say Fleetmaster Rodomee was fuming would be an understatement. He was about ready to strangle one of the many bridge officers for incompetence.
"Fleetmaster we've lost contact with the demons pursuers! there's no response!" A rather gutsy Elite Major yelled.
"Get cameras on them! I want them found! Double the guard for the Prophet!"
"I have a recording from the main foyer. pursuers are all dead. What should we do?"
"What are their numbers?" The Fleetmaster asked.
"Five, Fleetmaster. One is incapacitated."
"Box them in. Don't let them leave that intersection! Get shock teams ready." The Fleetmaster clicked his mandibles together and smiled. "And get our prisoners ready for a show."
SPARTAN Kevin-G097, Aboard CSO Supercarrier, 05:30 hrs, July 11 2557/UNSC Military Calendar/Military Standard Time
"Rapier 4 how is he?" I asked Sophie as she crouched beside Michael, waving a medical scanner over his limp body.
She turned to look at me, my helmet reflecting in her own gold visor. "He's fine. a little head trauma but he should be okay."
"And how are you? You holding up?" I asked.
She nodded. "Yeah. No hallucinations to report." She used her rifle to help stand up, giving Michael a soft kick to wake him as she did.
"2, 5 how's our exit looking?" I asked.
"Green on my end." Julianne said over comms. I received a single green acknowledgement light from Emily.
"Good. Sabrina any updates from their system?"
"They're boxing you in but not charging...odd. I don-"
"Hear me Demons and tremble!" A voice said over the ships intercom as a screen to our right came to life, showing the Split-Lip in all his glory. "I am Fleetmaster Ltho' Rodomee of the fleet of Unyielding Servitude. Lay down your arms and your comrades may yet live." The image then changed to show six SPARTANS. Five wore an outdated version of SPI while the sixth wore a Mark V variant. They had their hands bound and were on their knees.
"What is this?" Michael whispered. "Who are they?"
"Tighten up Rapier, Defensive position Omega." I said. My team formed a circle, our weapons pointing outwards in all directions.
The intercom blared to life again. "I will kill one of your comrades every 30 seconds until you surrender." The Elite pulled out an energy dagger, igniting it and stepping behind one of the SPI armoured hostages. The Elite slowly and methodically tracing along the armour, the occupant within fighting back a scream. I tore my eyes from the screen as the dagger plunged into the helmet, killing the person inside.
"They are currently on the bridge. If you run I could stall him." Sabrina said over the team comms.
"Good. Rapier lets move!" I yelled. "Stay together and check your sensors. We need to be quick!"
I received a four green acknowledgment lights in response as we started running.
As we ran we killed around twenty hostiles of various species and rank. Mostly Grunts and Jackals but a few Elites here and there. No Brutes, thankfully.
We made record time to the bridge, taking only a minute. Even so I knew a minute was far to long. In that time the Elite could have killed them all.
I braced at the doors as Michael set a breaching charge. When the charge detonated we ran in, our IFF tags showing who not to shoot. I quickly took down an Elite officer and a trio of Grunts and my team dealt with the other hostiles.
As one we approached the Fleetmaster, he had taken two of the four remaining SPARTANs as shields.
I held up my fist and my team held their fire.
"Wise move, Demon. Wis-" One of the Fleetmasters hostages used their bound arms as a large fist and smashed them repeatedly into the Elite's stomach. Finding the opening we were looking for my team fired.
The Elites shields crumbled from the withering torrent of fire and dissipated, allowing Emily to fire a three round burst into the Fleetmaster's skull.
I ran over to the two former hostages, quickly finding out how to deactivate the cuffs binding their arms.
"Thanks, SPARTAN. I thought we were done for." One of them, a female, said quietly. "I'm Brittany, that's Felix." Brittany said, pointing towards the other former meat shield. "Over there are Hansu, Asher, Elizabeth and Ralph. Or at least it was Ralph."
I nodded solemnly. Sophie was checking the others wounds while Emily and Michael secured the immediate area. Sophie turned to me.
"He's dead, sir."
"Can you fight?" I asked Brittany. She nodded, whatever sadness she had for her comrade could wait. I handed her my pistol.
"Who's in charge here?" Another voice, the one Brittany said was Asher, asked.
I went over to her. "Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin-G097, squad leader of Fireteam Rapier, SPARTAN III Gamma company. I assume your in command of them?" I asked, broadly gesturing towards the other SPARTANS.
"What's left of my team, yes." She said.
I nodded, emotionless behind my visor. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thanks." She sighed heavily. "Do you have a plan to get out?"
"We entered with EVA packs. This was a demo op, not a rescue mission. We didn't know about you until Split-Jaw over there told us. I could possibly get a Pelican to go and wait a while out of range of the enemy guns but..."
"If our suits are breached we cant leave." Asher replied, catching on.
"Yes."
"If you guys are here to blow the reactor you could just blow the bridge. The power of the blast should mess this ship up pretty good." A voice cut in.
"Felix!" Another SPARTAN muttered.
"What? It's true!"
"Castle team. Quiet, please." Asher said. "Felix work with Rapiers engineer. Hansu see if you can get anything of value from the ships databanks. Elizabeth help secure the area. Brittany gather up some weapons."
"Any of your team have a suit breach?" I asked her.
She shook her head. "None that I know of. Castle do any of you have suit punctures?"
A chorus of "Negative" answered her.
"Hey we got Brutes charging us! Head up!" Julianne said, running into the room, Michael only steps behind her.
"Castl-" Asher started but was stopped by Michael.
He held up his hand, all fingers showing before lowering them one by one. When the had all gone down a loud boom was heard as well as several pitched wails.
"Bravo Kilo's down, sir." Michael said. "We should move though. I'll set the rest of my charges then we can book it."
"Agreed. Rapier provide cover around Castle." I replied. "Rapier 5, Rapier 4 you have our six, Castle disperse yourselves where you think you can be useful but don't get cocky. 2, 3 on me."
Michael and Julianne ran over, Michael set then configured his charges.
"What do you need boss?" Julianne asked, her posture showing she was rather restless.
"I want you two up front. Kill anything in your way and don't stop for anything. Our only chance we have to get out of her is if we're mobile. Clear?"
They nodded.
"We're ready." Asher said from behind me. I could hear the pain in her voice, I could see it in Castle's actions as a whole. They had lost a friend, a comrade, a brother. I knew the pain would hit Asher the most, as the leader she had failed her most basic but most important duty.
I knew what she was going through.
Which is why I remained completely emotionless as I replied. "Good. Lets move."
"They have put the ship on high alert. EVA isn't an option anymore." Sabrina said over the comms. I hadn't heard her in a few minutes and almost forgot she was here.
"Who was that?" Hansu asked.
"ONI A.I. I trust her." I said.
Julianne and Michael were infront with Hansu and Elizabeth behind them. Then came Myself and Asher followed by Brittany and Felix. Emily and Sophie brought up the rear.
"We need a new exit strategy." Emily said as we started to head out.
"Rapier 3 you disabled the shields, right?" I asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Because I have our exit."
Flight Officer Lilly 'Pilot' Booke, aboard Pelican Delta-206 "Poltergeist"
...One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three-
"Hey boss."
-One thousand four, one thousand five-
"Boss."
-One thousand six, one thousand seven-
"For fucks sake!" I heard the sound of something being thrown and expertly caught the rather large ball of gum wrappers in my left hand, the other continued my game of paddleball.
"What?" I asked, chucking the gum wrappers into a small garbage can beside me.
"Why are we just sitting here? I want some action!" Haverson, my replacement co-pilot said. He was a native of Paris IV and had joined the Navy for glory and medals.
I sighed. Haverson didn't realize yet that the 'action-packed' job of a Pelican pilot consisted of two things:
1. Drop Marines and their assorted crap at a hot LZ then bug out and
2. Pick up Marines and their assorted crap at an even hotter LZ when they inevitably retreat.
"If you wanted action you should have joined the Marines." I replied, my voice even.
"You know I hate mud and dirt and all that stuff. Plus they walk to much!"
"Maybe you just don't walk enough." A third voice belonging to my Crew Chief, Sweets, said. Sweets was the stereotypical version of the big black man that looked as though he could rip you in two but was a caring, gentle giant in reality.
"Oh hah hah Sweets, very funny. You shoulda' been a comedian." Haverson snapped before muttering under his breath "smart-ass."
"No he's right man. Look at me, I'm a Marine. You see me panting after walking everywhere?" The fourth and final voice of my crew, Lance Corporal Hernedez said from behind the M247H machine gun. As the back ramp was closed and we were in zero gee she more or less floated behind it.
She was Latino though she looked as pale as a polar bear. She was a career marine from San Fransisco who had joined up at sixteen to get away from the gangs and thugs two years before Earth had been attacked and had fought at Tribute and Earth and had joined my crew at Reach when we retreated.
"Fuck you Hernendez. You don't count."
"No? You wanna eat those words?" She replied.
"Ha like you'd do anything! Your such a sissy..."
I tuned them out and went back to focusing on my game.
One thousand forty four, one thousand forty five, one thousand forty six...
"Pelican Delta 206 this is Rapier One, come in." I keyed the comm and replied quickly.
"This is Poltergiest we copy. What do you need Rapier?"
"Change of plans. We need you to come into the rear hanger of the Supercarrier. How copy?"
I heard Sweets spew out his gum and Haverson stutter something I didn't hear while Hernendez chambered a round in the machine gun and gave me a thumbs up.
I loved my crew.
"Copy all Sierra. Give us a tick." I replied before turning to face my crew in the bloodtray. "Haverson get the 40mm ready. Sweets get us ready for wounded. I don't doubt the SPARTANS are badass but you can't be to careful. Hernendez as soon as the ramp drops start shooting."
I received a nod from Sweets and another thumbs up from Hernendez while Haverson said nothing as he joined me in the cockpit.
"Let's do this." I muttered, placing my paddleball into my pants pocket before starting the engine. My bird shooting across space.
"How are we doing? Haverson. Remember your my guide." I said.
"Yeah. Uh we're fine so far."
I chuckled. "I mean when we get to the giant ass ship. Then your my guide."
"If you want me to fly-"
"You? Touch my baby? No. When you get your own bird you can fly her however long you want."
"Just saying if I'm guiding you then why are you even here? Shouldn't I be flying myself?"
I sighed for the umpteenth time that day as I tried to come up with a good response before settling on. "Haverson shut the fuck up. I'm busy."
I had attempted landings in enemy ships before. They were quite easy to be honest however the reason they were so easy was because there were capital ships to cover me and Longswords escorting. I had none of those things.
This mission was suicidal and insane but that's why I joined the Navy.
"Hey what about the Covvie Point Defense Guns?" Hernendez asked.
Oh shit. I forgot the PDG's!
I quickly keyed the Comm and attempted to radio the SPARTAN team.
"Spartan you deactivated the enemy's PDG's, right?"
"Negative, didn't have time." He replied in a calm, almost nonchalant voice.
I let out a slew of curses and told the Spartan we'd probably die.
"Sorry. I'll buy you a drink if we get back."
"Do you guys even drink?" I asked.
"...No."
I once again let out a sigh before telling them we would be there in three minutes and said we'd wait for five but no longer.
At the two minute mark I saw the group of enemy ships, or more accurately the 29km beast and its escorts.
It was a beautiful sight. The stars had taken on an ethereal green glow and the enemy ships looked like calm places of tranquility and, not the genocide dealing warships they actually were.
The enemy didn't fire at all as we approached. Something I found odd and at the same time scared me more than anything else.
Whoever said humans were the most afraid of the unknown was a fucking genius.
"Hey why aren't they shooting?" Haverson asked.
The enemy chose that moment to open fire on us. Only the Supercarrier fired but it was still thousands of lasers and plasma weapons.
I ducked and weaved my Pelican through the torrent of fire as my crew let out every curse known to man.
"Everyone shut the hell up! I'm flying here!"
As the hanger came into view I prayed the Spartan team was already there. Thankfully they were along with six others. One of them was on the ground, unmoving.
I landed the Pelican as Haverson opened up with the 40mm and Hernendez opened fire with the M247H as the Spartan team ran towards us, firing as they ran.
I saw that the six new people had scavenged Covenant weaponry in their hands and two of them were carrying the unmoving Spartan.
"Get in, come on!" Sweets yelled, firing his pistol at the assorted hostiles in the hanger.
"Eat shit you Covvie fuckers! Yeah!" Hernendez, caught up in the heat of the moment, yelled as she decapitiated a trio of grunts and two Elites.
When all the SPARTANS were inside and secure I gunned the engine, propelling my Pelican out of the hanger and into space.
I heard a pair of feet come up behind me and realized it was the Spartan team leader.
"Nice timing, pilot. Can you fly us out of here?" He asked.
Out of a giant 29km warship who's only target is us? Sure, why not!
"Yeah, buckle up. It'll be a bumpy ride!" I replied, pushing my thoughts aside.
We soared through space, dodging pulse lasers and plasma rounds. All the while from the back I could hear a heated discussion occurring between the original Spartan team and the new guys.
I sighed as I dodged another torpedo before focusing on the task at hand.
SPARTAN Kevin-G097, aboard Pelican Delta 206
I made my way back to the troop bay, finding one of the former prisoners kneeling over the body, saying last rites. Or at least I think that was what they were doing though I couldn't be sure. The Mark V armoured SPARTAN, for that's what they had to be, was sitting in the seat closest to the door, her helmet off, cradled in her hands.
"Ma'am?" Sophie asked, standing beside her. "I need to scan you for injuries, sorry, its procedure."
The Spartan merely nodded, allowing Sophie to scan her.
"Physically fine, a little malnourished but that's to be expected. The rest of your team is the same." She paused uncertain of what to say to the silent Spartan. "For what its worth I'm sorry about your friend." she added quietly.
The Spartan standing by the door shot up and Sophie flinched backwards in alarm. He took of his helmet and flicked it to the ground with marked lack of care.
"You think sorry is enough?" he suddenly shouted, his voice cracking making the words that more raw. "He's dead! Oh my gosh...Ralph's dead and you lot did nothing!" He said directing his anguish towards my teammate.
Sophie was clearly taken aback by his outburst and I felt a flicker of anger against this other Spartan. I sympathized but taking it out on another was going to far and that was my teammate. She didn't deserve his anger.
Castle Eight caught my eye and imperceptibly shook her head.
"We couldn't do anything." Sophie replied trying to calm him down. "Really...we know...I know what you're going through, more than anyone else-"
"Liar!" he spat. "How could you know? How could you feel what I feel?" He cried out, becoming lucid. I saw him lunge at Sophie only to be punched mid-stride by Julianne.
"We know because ten of our team members died in front of us while we watched. We saw our family killed in front of us. I held my best friend in my arms while he bled out in some godforsaken tunnel on a planet nobody cared about! Don't think you're the only one here who's felt loss, you son of a bitch because that is as far from the truth as possible!" She said, panting in-between breaths.
"Hey what you punching him for?!" an angry Castle Three said standing up.
"Sit down now Spartan." I said firmly.
"And you, lock it down, Felix! You're not helping anyone." Asher added, looking up from her helmet in her hands.
"Well excuse me miss Noble." he said bitterly. "When was the last time you cared about any of us dying?"
A hail of angry retorts immediately shot up from everyone assembled.
"Shut up!" Asher roared and silencing the Pelican in an instant. Her blotched face suddenly became livid as she stood up walked directly over to Felix staring him down.
"Explain yourself Spartan!" She yelled.
"Making an observation Ma'am!" He growled angrily.
"You have no right to pass judgment Felix." she growled angrily. "Do not forget that I was there when Graciella and Isabel were killed by the Field Marshal. I was there in that bunker with you when New Alexandria was glassed. I was there when every single member of Noble Team fell to save a freaking rock that was already dead from the moment the Covenant showed up! I was there on Tylos with you and I were burned to death in a vain effort to stop the Covenant war machine. I was there for EVERY. Single. Death!"
Felix looked to utter a reply when Asher suddenly swore and both teams flinched visibly as she slammed her fist against the wall and whispered something unheard by the others and her voice cracked and wavered as she let emotion run its course.
"He gave his life in the service of humanity. None of us deserve a death like his but he took it like a man. A real man, he looked death and the eye and he said 'take me with you.' Look at us! We are fighting when we should be supporting each other."
Nobody spoke, nobody dared to.
"What would William think if he saw you guys now?"
She sat down and buried her head in her lap. Felix whispered an apology to Sophie though it didn't seem entirely sincere and the bay became absolutely silent once more.
I looked away, towards the other two members of my team. Michael was in the midst of watching the other Castle members while Emily was slowly and quietly loading stun rounds into her sidearm incase of another physical outburst.
The marine who had been manning the turrent when the Pelican picked us up sighed before smiling. "You guys are gonna blow that Supercarrier, right?" She asked.
Michael nodded, pulling out the detonator for his explosives. There was no countdown, no warning except when the ship exploded.
Even though we were behind a closed Pelican door and my visor was darkened to the maximum i still shielded my eyes as the largest explosion I'd never hear occurred.
"Boom." Michael said quietly.
I nodded before heading back into the cockpit.
"Where are we headed, pilot?" I asked as the veteran Flight Officer turned the Pelican towards the Marathon Crusier in the distance.
"Re-arm for you and re-fuel for us. Then I don't know. Wherever we're needed I suppose."
"What's it like groundside?" I asked, watching as we past the gigantic ring world.
"Chaotic. We've got reports of flood, Covvies and Imps tearing the shit outta' eachother with our guys caught in the middle."
"What about the Spartan team already groundside?"
"Last I heard was they were being overwhelmed by flood though I have faith they'll pull through."
I nodded, digesting the information and compartmentalizing it. A four way firefight wasn't something I wanted to get into.
The pilot flicked some switches and dials before muttering something incoherent.
"Huh. Well Sierra looks like you and your team are wanted on an ONI Prowler. I didn't even know there was a Prowler here!" The Co-pilot said.
"Haverson shut up!" The pilot said before facing me. "He's right though. ONI wants you now."
"What about the others in the bay. The former prisoners?"
"The spooks want your team and your team only. I don't know about the others but I assume they'll come back with us to the Fire By Rank."
I headed back into the troop at once again to brief my team. They gave nods of affirmation but were otherwise silent.
I also noticed the split.
As if a line had been drawn down the middle of the Pelican Rapier stayed to one side while Castle stayed on the other, neither side interacting with the other.
I sat next to Julianne and motioned for her to set up a private comm channel.
"Boss." She said.
"That was stupid, you know." I said. ""You drove a wedge through both teams."
"I had to. You know that, right? He had no right to say what he did."
"And you did?"
"That's not the point. He was out of line."
"You punched him in the stomach."
"Actually it was the left rib cage."
"Still." I said firmly.
"You wanted to do something, I know you did."
"I'm not commenting." I said before changing the subject. "What do you think ONI wants us for?"
"The spooks? Probably a debrief or something."
"Yeah."
I had expected a debrief, everyone of us did. What I didn't expect was five suits of armour lined up on a wall along with weapons I hadn't seen before.
The suits of armour were incredibly sleek and were all matte black in colour with a secondary colour of matte white. There was no identifiable visor visible on the helmet save for two cyan coloured circles, one on top of the other separated by the armour itself. Like the rest of the armour the helmet had a sleekness to it I hadn't seen before. It also looked alien but also human at the same time.
An ONI technician motioned us over.
"Fireteam Rapier?" We nodded. "Good. Let me introduce you to your new armour. The MJOLNIR GEN2 Pioneer. optimized for dealing with harsh terrain. It's not new, not particularly but with the modifications given to it it's something else!"
"Something else?" I asked.
"It has special alloys and systems to completely eliminate heat and IR readings and to deal with unknowm viruses and pathogens better than others like HAZOP, for example. Not to mention the shielding system and modified barrier generators." The techie replied.
I could hear my team salivating at the mouth when they heard that, still I was skeptical.
"Modified how?" I asked. "And what barriers?"
"The shield is longer lasting. I'm sure your aware of the relatively short amount of damage it can take.
"10-15 seconds exactly when confronted with an MA5C." Julianne said.
The techie nodded. "Yeah. For this armour we've used modified generators mechanisms so the shields can take a tank round. Though you'll still feel the impact and after that round it's by by shields." He paused. "And the barriers? Well you know how the Jackels have those gauntlets for shields? Well we've managed to install larger ones onto the hands. As well as beefing them up with tech recovered from Trevelyan. When you get into the armour I'll demonstrate."
Okay, now that was nice.
"We'll get you all suited up then we can move onto the weapons and barriers. Please step to the armour corresponding with your service number."
We did and upon undressing and putting on newer black body suits soon found ourselves on the same apparatus used to suit up SPARTAN IV's on the newer ships.
When I had the helmet on a flurry of icons appeared but I found the Interface was remarkably similar to our SPI armour. With a quick flurry of eye motions I found that I could see again. I heard Emily ask why there was no visor on the inside when there was on the outside and the techie replied that the helmet used a surplus of external cameras and sensors on those visor pieces as well as others on the sides to show us what was happening around us at all times. The helmet possessed a 10x zoom feature as well. The armour felt a little heavier than I was used to but I quickly got used to it as did my team.
Soon we were just as good if not better than before and the ONI tech excitedly moved onto the barriers.
"Who wants to try first?" The tech asked. We all stepped forwards. The man chuckled. "Team leader step up!"
I did and saw my team had surrounded me.
"Alright, now to do this position your left arm as though you were using a shield." I did this. "Good, now place your right hand palm up on the middle of your bent arm and think of a barrier."
I did as I was asked and soon saw a pulsating rectangular barrier of blue light in front of me.
The tech continued talking. "We've tested this barrier with a civilian pistol up to the main gun on a Scorpion MBT, nothing could penatrate it. There is a few drawbacks though. For starters you can't move as freely and you won't be abe to fire a weapon of any kind. It also only protects where the barrier itself is shown. Watch your backs. Oh and there's a time limit, as you can probably see in your HUD. I nodded as I noticed the circular image of the barrier drain inside my helmet. I also saw the barrier was turning red.
I deactivated the barrier as my team took turns making their own. When we finished the tech moved over to the weapons.
We crowded around him as he pulled one of the five M395 DMRs off the wall.
"This is a modified M395. The barrel contains internal flash and sound suppressors and the magazine capacity has been increased from 14 to 35 rounds. The default ammo type is a Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized High Explosive round cambered in 7.62x51mm. The scope has a number of functions from target identification to a sniper like zoom. It also functions as a laser sight as I doubt you'll need the scope."
From behind me I saw Emily mutter approvingly as the young techie continued. "As you can see we've also installed vertical fore-grips to each weapon though under barrel attachments such as grenade launchers and shotguns can be utilized as well."
I heard Michael give a low shout of thanks to the man, who returned the gesture by heading over to the other weapon displayed, unlike the DMRs there was only three of these pistol shaped weapons.
It was shaped like an M6C though near the end of the barrel the weapon looked more akin to a rail gun or plasma pistol. I wondered why anyone would want a pistol sized rail gun before the technician pulled the gun off the wall and activated it.
Green lights chorused through lines on the side and a green light was visible in the barrel. My mind make the connection before it had even finished turning on: It was a Plasma Pistol.
"This is the Mirish Plasma Projector-1 or the MPP-1 for short. Internally it's a Covvie Plasma Pistol. Externally it's an M6C. Bottom line? It kills things."
"How does it work, like where does the battery go?" Julianne asked.
The techie smiled as he replied. "The battery goes where the magazine would on an M6C. For reference there's 350 shots without overcharging it." He demonstrated by ejecting the piece and showing it to us before placing it back in the weapon, turning it off. "There's only three of these though. They're the first production models."
"When can we use these?" Sophie asked.
"Right now." Another voice said. We all turned to see an ONI Captain. "Fireteam Rapier if you'll please follow me."
We did, the ONI technician telling us we could customize our weapons later.
We were led into a briefing room. In th middle a holographic table dispalyed a structure I wasn't familiar with. Also inside the room was the ONI Leiutenant, Leiutenant Miller.
"Good work with that Carrier SPARTANS. I had my doubts and yet here you are." She said.
None of us said anything.
"Onto business. This-" The Spook gestured towards the holographic projection. "-Is The Library. It is where the activation index for this ring is located. We want you to go retrieve it."
I nodded. "What about supoort?"
"The other SPARTANS, when they are extracted from their current assignment will assist you. We've also got a STARS set up orbiting the complex. The plan is for the five of you to insert via HEV on the northern side of the complex. You will then move inside and obtain the Index. The Covvies and Imps both have presences in and near the building so if you see any HVT's kill them. No one in that building is a friendly. Anything in there is to be treated as hostile. Any questions?"
"What do we do if the Covvies and Imps are fighting eachother?" Michael asked.
The spook conferred with the ONI captain before turnig back towards us.
"Do your best to ignore them but if you have to engage make it quick. Anything else?"
Michael raised his hand.
"Anything not having to do with a three way firefight?"
Michael put his hand down.
"Good. You have twenty minutes to prepare before you drop. Dismissed."
We saluted before donning our helmets and heading back to the weapons and gear.
We spent a good ten minutes getting our weapons ready, calibrating scopes, loading ammo, preforming diagnostics.
For our weapons Emily, Sophie and myself kept the DMR's the way they were with the exception of Emily who modified her scope a little to giver better range.
Michael traded the grip for a 40mm grenade launcher. The launcher could fire a variety of ammo types. from HE grenades to Airburst Shrapnel or remote detonated mines. It looked like an M320 grenade launcher from the 21st century to me.
Julianne took an under-barrel shotgun attachment in place of her grip. The shotgun was an 8 round, pump action beauty that she had primarily loaded with solid slugs fitted with explosive tips. While the slugs wouldn't cause as much close up damage they could go farther than normal buckshot and the explosion would disorient if not outright kill the target.
When we were ready we headed towards the pods. There were six in total. We would be in five while the sixth one would be filled with extra ammo and supplies. We didn't know how long we'd be without support and it never hurt to be careful.
3...2...1...drop! I thought as my pod rocketed out of the Prowler. I could see the rest of my team around me, we would land close together, thankfully.
I saw the building in the distance, covered in a light snowfall as more white particles floated down. I could also see Covenant and Imperial forces battling it out all over the valley below. I marked large concentrations of both sides and quickly found the best way to the building.
"This is Lieutenant Miller to Rapier. Acknowledge."
"Ma'am?" I asked
"Disregard my previous briefing. Your support will come in the form of the Elites. Clear an LZ so they can land then move up with them. How copy?"
I wasn't working with them, none of us were working with them.
"Rapier 1 do you copy?"
"Yes Ma'am. Permission to speak freely?" I asked as my pod hit the ground, embedding itself in the snow. Around me my team landed, their hatch's exploding outwards as they jumped out, pistols and SMGs out and scanning for targets.
"Granted."
"With respect Ma'am my team would work best alone or with fellow UNSC personnel."
"I don't like this anymore than you do Rapier. Just get through it. You'll be in command anyway."
"Yes Ma'am. You can send them down now. the immediate area is secure." I said, sighing.
"Copy that. Hang tight."
We waited for twenty long minutes before the Elites showed up. During that time we took the time to better familarize ourselves with the new Pioneer armour. When the Elies finally arrived I gave a small snort of disgust. My team made similar noises. After being dropped off by a Phantom painted light green which also disgorged a Spectre transport the twenty aliens gathered around their leader, an Ultra.
"Prepare yourselves my brothers! We will cut a bloody path to the sacred Icon and burn any Heretics, False Reclaimers or Flood that stand in our way! For the Great Journey!" He yelled, his Elites roaring and yelling out war cries as we watched. The Ultra turned towards me.
"The Parasite is not to be trifled with Demon. I hope you know what you're doing."
I nodded. "That makes two of us."
I waved my team forwards as the Elites took up our flanks. I checked my weapons one last time before heading into the darkness.
ONI armour file: GEN2 Pioneer
Date first used: 05/03/53
Preliminary information: The GEN2 Pioneer first saw use by members of ONI exploration team delta 12 on March fith twenty five fifty three while exploring Intallastion 03. (See attached file) The armour was noted to preform better than the widly used HAZOP (See attached file) and after successful completion of operations was outfitted to SPARTAN IV and ONI exploration teams operating on or near forerunner artifacts or in hostile environments in general. Recent upgrades have increased its sheild capacity and allowed for a rectangular barrier to be activated on command. Testing has proved the barrier is more than worth the added cost to install it.
The armour has been nicknamed "ringworld class armour" by SPARTAN IV Fireteams due to it almost exclusively being used on or near Halo installations.
End file...
Woo! That was a long chapter! THE LONGEST I'VE EVER WRITTEN, BY THE WAY!
Yes that's right you just read 8,003 words of story.
I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without the support of my Beta and partner theotherpianist. Thank you for all your hard work, my friend. :)
Please please leave a review! As I said before it'll brighten my day up and show me people read this story!