Chapter 37

Contamination

Author's Note: Sorry that this took so long, I've been doing other things. For example, I've started playing Super Metroid again. Sorry guys, Chief may be badass, but Ms. Aran will always be the babe in power armor that kicks major ass. I guess I just like girls with guns...that came out wrong. Before you say anything, no I haven't played Other M, and from what I've heard about it, I'd rather it stay that way. Ok, let's get going.

"I don't like this," Jack muttered as the Phantom slid to a stop, the doors opening.

"Don't tell me you're scared," Wrex said, a grin covering his face.

"Fuck you hunchback. I've got a problem with tight dark spaces because I just got out prison thank you very fucking much." Marton resisted the urge to bellow at both of them as he jumped out of the Phantom, the other two behind him.

"Stay behind me," Marton said as he unholstered his screecher, Wrex drawing his assault rifle and Jack her SMG at the same time. "Be ready for anything."

"MARTON!" Marton winced as Rutherforae's voice roared across the Battle-Net.

"What is it Adolas?" he asked.

"The Phantom must have tripped some sort of security perimeter, kinetic barrier generators have been activated. there's no way to get on or off it, the strength of those barriers is ridiculous."

"What!" Jack shouted into the COM unit she had been given. "We're trapped on this damn thing? Well get us off of it, use you firepower to take down the barriers."

"Kinetic barriers only block projectiles you uneducated fool!" Rutherforae bellowed. "Marauder ships only use energy weapons. If we open fire on the ship we will burn away at the hull and expose it to an unhealthy amount of radiation. We could kill you easily or cause the ship to explode or disable the life support. If you want to get off that ship, you'll have to find the kinetic barrier generator and disable it or cut off it's power supply."

"She is right," Marton said, looking at Jack. "For the moment we are on our own."

"I never should have gone with you," Jack muttered as Marton and Wrex continued forward, exiting the hanger bay that they had landed in. Swearing under her breath, she began to follow them.

As they walked through the doors to the hanger, they entered a long winding hallway, that ended with another door. They crossed it, the door opening for them as they did. They entered a small square shaped room that was lined with terminals and various other pieces of equipment.

"This technology is Human," Marton said as he approached on of the terminals. Placing his hands over the keyboard, his fingers began to dash across it, typing in commands. "Let's see what secrets you have," he whispered.

A window popped up on the screen, displaying a Human wearing a black and white jumpsuit with an orange symbol over the heart. "Chandana has got to be one of the most brilliant scientist's I've ever met," the man said, a slightly disturbing smile on his face. "He knows things I could never dream of knowing, but after all these years I finally get something she doesn't. This ship is more than just an inactive husk. I actually managed to get into some of it's databanks, and I learned something amazing. This ship used to be 1/10th of it's current size, and the amazing part is that it was destroyed 37 million years ago, and it only increased in size 100,000 years ago."

"I figured it out, there's a bay of microscopic machines hidden in this machine. They received orders from somewhere, and even though the ship was disabled long ago, they still worked. They mined nearby asteroids and planets, bringing back supplies bit by bit, improving this ship with the instructions that was sent to them. They made this ship the behemoth that it is now, but they weren't able to do everything. I learned that the nanobots only did what they could with the supplies they could reach, they were supposed to do so much more. They were supposed to replace the kinetic barriers with energy shields and replace the main processing system for this ship."

The man's smirk spread as his eyes widened. "But the processing system on this ship isn't something you mine for or synthesize in a lab. We've never used it before, but it's all around us. They use it all the time. That's why they told me, they wanted me to be a message. They wanted me to be the prophet that will outline the future of the galaxy!" The window vanished.

"Sounds like he cracked," Jack muttered, staring at the terminal with disinterest.

"She may be right," Wrex added, looking at Marton. "I've seen warriors crack under the strain of war before. It gets to be too much for them and they start spouting nonsense. It sounds like they're philosophers of the highest degree, but in the end they're nothing but madman."

Marton started at the terminal, a curiosity in his organic eye hidden by his helmet. "Let's keep moving, the longer we tarry the longer..." Marton paused. From beyond the door behind him was a mess of explosions and shouting. "It would appear that we are not alone," Marton muttered. As he spoke, he reached for his thigh at took a metal sphere from it. He placed the sphere on the ground, where it unfolded into a mechanical spider the size of Marton's head.

"The fuck is that?" Jack swore, looking at the spider.

"A drone I designed with limited artificial intelligence," Marton explained. "Nowhere near the level of Human A.I.s, but it is still intelligent enough to make sound choices on it's own." He looked at the spider. "I need you to scout out the area ahead, send a live feed back to my cybernetics."

The spider scuttled off out of the room. "What do you see?" Wrex asked as Marton stood still, the drone's sight being transmitted to his cybernetic eye.

"Humans, wearing the same uniform as the man in the recording. They seem to be fighting creatures similar to the ones the Humans encountered on Eden Prime, if our sources were correct that is. I do believe that the Humans called them Husks. Odd, the Humans seem to be attempting to hold their position, denying the Husks access to the area behind them."

"What do we do?" Wrex ask. "Sit back and watch the show?"

"No," Marton said as he raised his screecher. "We intervene."

XXXXX

In the outer slums of Omega, a Turian stuck his head out from behind an overturned table and pressed down on the trigger of his rifle. A trio of Infection Forms that had jumped at him were blown to pieces as hit bullets pierced them. "Son of a bitch," the Turian swore as he spotted a Krogan Combat Form charging at him. He opened fire at the Combat Form as it charged at him, hitting it directly in the face. The Combat Form continuing to charge, slowly losing momentum until in finally fell to the ground, dead.

"It takes even more to drop those bastards now," the Turian swore as he ducked behind the table, cooling his overheated rifle.

It had been an hour since the Jiralhanae ship had crashed into Omega, and since then they had been viciously attacking the outer slums. Early waves had consisted purely of Infection and Carrier Forms that had attacked the residents, massively boosting the Flood's reserves. Afterwards Combat Forms had deployed from the wreckage and had joined with the first wave in a coordinated assault, pushing deeper into Omega.

They had gained a good deal of ground before Aria's forces had regrouped and set up strategic defensive positions, attempting to deny the Flood further access. The Flood had responded by constantly throwing themselves at the defensive lines, which were starting to thin. To make matters worse, scouts had reported that a third wave was making it's way from the wreckage of the ship, this one was different from the other two, comprised of Forms that Aria's forces had yet to engage.

"Damn it, when the Hell are those reinforcements going to get here?" the Turian muttered under his breath. "I've been holding this position on my own ever since these damn things arrived here. What are this things any-" the Turian was cut off as a long yellow tentacle snaked it's way around the table and wrapped itself around the Turian's waist. The tentacle pulled back and the Turian was violently yanked from out from behind the table. The tentacle pulled the Turian through the air before slamming it down into the ground, shattering his spine.

The tentacle unwound itself from the Turian's corpse as it returned to it's owner, a massive 20 foot tall Flood Pure form with two giant tentacles for arms. A Flood Juggernaut Form. The Juggernaut Form stared blankly at the Turian for a moment, checking that it was dead. As if it had lost interest in it, the Juggernaut turned and made it's way towards the passage that the Turian had been guarding.

A concentrated ball of biotic energy flew from the passage, aimed at the Juggernaut. With lightning reflexes, it slammed the ground with it's tentacles, propelling itself into the air. The ball of energy completely missed the Juggernaut as it fell back to the ground. The massive Flood stared emotionlessly at the source of the attack, and saw Aria standing there.

"You can't rely on anyone these days," she muttered as a biotic aura surrounded her. For a whole minute, the Juggernaut and Aria stared at each other, as if daring the other to make the first move. The stalemate was broken as the Juggernaut threw it's right tentacle like a lasso at Aria, intending to rip her head off. Aria dove to the side, avoiding the tentacle as it ripped through the wall behind her, throwing a Warp at the Juggernaut as she did. With one of it's tentacles still extended, the Juggernaut couldn't jump with them. In an attempt to avoid the attack, the Juggernaut threw it's left tentacle at the ceiling, grabbing onto the sides of an air duct as it pulled itself up, it's right tentacle trailing behind it.

"Slippery little fucker," Aria muttered, staring at the Juggernaut as it clenched onto the vent. Taking one tentacle off of the vent, the Juggernaut threw the other one at Aria. Aria dove to the side as the tentacle tore through the ground, leaving a gash like hole in the ground. Gritting her teeth, Aria threw a Warp at the Juggernaut. The Flood was not fast enough to react, and the Warp hit the tentacle that the Juggernaut was hanging from. It made no sound, even as half of it's tentacle was severed at it was sent plummeting to the ground.

Aria did not hesitate as the Flood hit the floor, charging forward and jumping onto it's chest. Extending both of her hands, she formed a Warp in each of he palms and let out a roar as she sent them both into her opponent's face. Both of the attacks hit their target head on, completely obliterating it and killing the Juggernaut.

Aria let out a sigh as she stepped off of the Flood's smoldering corpse. "Very impressive." Aria's head craned to look at the origin of the voice. The Acolyte folded it's wings behind it's back as it walked across the slums of Omega, it's cold gaze locked on Aria. "It has been some time since a Juggernaut Caste has been defeated in one on one combat. You certainly are a skilled one, you will make a fine addition to the Flood."

"What the Hell are you going on about? What the fuck are you."

"We are the Flood. We are a kind that pre-exists all that you know. We have existed for millennia, plotting and waiting for our time. We will spread across the galaxy, and all will be Flood."

"All will be Flood?" Aria whispered, glancing at the dead Krogan Combat Form. "What are you talking about."

"We will take everything that makes you who you are, your memories, your knowledge, your personality, your physical capabilities, and we will make it part of us. Afterwards we will do the same to every other living thing in the galaxy, and we will achieve the greatest that organics are capable of, perfection. Once we have spread, the galaxy will know peace, and infallible peace."

"You sure like the sound of your own voice," Aria growled. "Just one question, do you have the balls to back up your words!" she shouted, throwing Warp at the Acolyte.

XXXXX

Iasa's mandibles tightened as another barrage flew from the Jiralhanae anti-tank positions, hitting the smoking leg out the Scarab. "Ramos, we can not withstand much more!" Iasa shouted as she fired a shot off, hitting the front of the centermost anti-tank gun.

"I understand that Iasa," Ramos hissed as he emptied the clip on his fuel rod, obliterating the right Shade. "Fire the main cannon, destroy those Shades!" The Scarab's mouth opened again and a bright green beam of plasma flew from it, incinerating one of the remaining Shades. As the Scarab's beam deactivated to cool, the final Shade lined up a shot with the Scarab's badly damaged leg. The Jiralhanae manning it allowed himself a small smile as he moved to pull the trigger.

The was a silent hissing noise as a jet of silvery plasma shot through the air and pierced the gunner's right eye. For a moment, the gunner remained where he was, staring down the sight for his turret. Then his body slowly began to lean back and he fell into the snow with a soft thump.

"Causality report," Ramos said into the Battle-Net.

"Both of the Ghosts were destroyed, as were one of the Demons, all passengers on it perished," a voice reported. "Both of the Wraiths gunners are dead as well, no others have been harmed."

"Very well, continue to press through the valley, but be cautious, they know that we're here. Do what you can to repair the damage to the Scarab on the move, we can't afford to stop and do it properly. I want all Demons to be ready to deploy, we are coming up on Peak 15."

The Scarab continued to make it's way through Noveria's blizzards, hampered by the damaged the it had taken. For ten minutes, the RSN convoy continued towards Peak 15, unmolested by any Coalition forces. Then, as they rounded another pass, the silvery tower of Peak 15 came into view, two minutes away. Jiralhanae infantry were heavily entrenched in front of it, with six Wraiths supporting them

"The second we eliminate all anti-tank forces, I want every last Demon to release it's load of warriors, Wraiths, assist the Scarab in eliminating hostile defenses!" As Ramos roared, the plasma mortars on both Wraiths fired, arching over the Scarab and slamming into the Jiralhanae's position. Bodies were sent flying as the Jiralhanae's Wraiths returned the favor, firing their own mortars. Two of them flew over the Scarab and hit the RSN tanks with deadly accuracy, completely destroying the already damaged tanks.

"OBLITERATE THEM!" Ramos bellowed as the Scarabs cannon began to glow. With a blinding flash, the beam of bright green plasma flew from the Scarab again, sweeping through the Wraiths, destroying five of them before the cannon was forced to cool again. Undaunted the remaining gun carriage adjusted itself, aiming at the Scarab's smoking leg.

"I think not!" Ramos bellowed, as he raised his fuel rod, firing all five shots at the Wraith. All of the shots were spot on, hitting the Wraith, but not before it had managed to fire it's main weapon once more. Even as it exploded in a ball of purple fire, dark blue plasma arced through the air. It hit the already badly damaged leg, causing the fires to blaze even higher as it impacted.

Iasa felt as if the bottom of her stomach had disappeared when she looked closely at the leg. Most of the metal plating had either been blown off or melted, and the leg was holding on by a thread. A thread that was slowly becoming thinning as the Scarab's weight strained it. With a pang of panic, Iasa realized what exactly would happen if they lost the leg in their current position.

So did Ramos. "All hands abandon the Scarab! It has been lost!" As he spoke, he leapt off of the top of the Scarab, sliding a fresh clip into his fuel rod as he did, Iasa right behind him. Half a dozen other Sangheili from the assault platform's control room quickly followed suit, and those who had been manning the plasma turrets were about to follow when the last supports gave out and the leg snapped off.

With only three legs to support it, the Scarab collapsed to the ground, causing those who were still on it to overbalance. The Scarab fell on the edge of the cliff that the valley cut through, teetering on the edge. Then, almost as if it was happening in slow motion, the Scarab began to tip over the cliff. Iasa watched in horror as the Scarab, still carrying a dozen personal, fell over the cliff. It fell until it hit the ground thousands of feet below, exploding with such a force that it reached where Iasa and Ramos still stood.

"Staliu," Iasa whispered, as the Demons approached them.

"We must morn later!" Ramos shouted as he spun to face the Jiralhanae position. Half a dozen of the Jiralhanae had survived the bombardment, and were leaning over their entrenchment, firing their spikers. Ramos and Iasa dove to the side as the Demons zoomed in front of them, the spikers bouncing harmlessly off of their armor.

"They are weak! FINISH THEM!" Demas shouted, as he aimed the turret on one of the Demons, Viluse doing the same on another one. The turrets on all five of the Demon's opened fire, shredding through the surviving Jiralhanae. The APCs came to a stop, doors sliding open as RSN troopers filed out.

"Fieldmaster, Iasa, are you well?" Viluse asked as he jumped out of the turret that he was operating.

"I am fine Viluse," Ramos said as he approached the RSN troopers. "We have sustained heavy causalities, but it is my hope that we have already defeated the main force of the Coalition forces here. Despite that the battle is not over, more Jiralhanae no doubt lurk inside the facility, ready to defend whatever sorcery they have been preparing. I want all of you to divide into your pre-designated groups and conduct sweeps of Peak 15. Eliminate any hostiles you encounter, but check your fire, there may still me civilians inside."

While Ramos spoke, a Jiralhanae stirred among the dead. He was badly wounded with massive burns across his chest, he clearly didn't have long to go. Spotting Ramos out of the corner of his eye, he reached for a fuel road that lay next to a dead Major, his fingers nearing the handle. There was a loud gunshot and a bullet pierced the Jiralhanae's brain, killing him instantly. Ramos turned his head along with the other Sangheili to see twenty Salarians standing next to an empty Demon, on of them holding a smoking gun.

"Interesting," the Salarian said. "Was informed that Jiralhanae were primitive. Evidence contradicts that claim. Use of entrenchment and armor support suggests that understanding of basic and advanced tactics. Fascinating, yet troublesome, mission will be much more difficult."

"Professor Mordin Solus," Ramos said, approaching the Salarian. "I trust you and your STG team are unharmed."

"Yes, thank you," Mordin said rather quickly. "All men accounted for. Not one lost. Fortunate really, could have easily been destroyed by anti-tank fire like other transport. So sorry for you losses, spoke to some of them, interesting individuals, would have liked to talked to them some more."

Ramos only stared at Mordin for second before regaining his composure, choosing not to address the professor's motor-mouth. "We are about to start our assault on Peak 15, do you have any suggestions as to how we should continue?"

Author's Note: Marton and co land on the Reaper and find that they're not alone. Aria takes out a Juggernaut (A creature that was removed from Halo CE for being too powerful I might add) and squares off against the Acolyte.

The RSN takes heavy losses but reaches Peak 15 and prepares to storm it. Well, I think that this particular series of arcs is coming together quite nicely, though I'm starting to think that maybe I should cut back to the Normandy and it's crew to check up on them for a little bit...something to think about, anyway, tell me what you think.