Chapter 31

November 27, 2552, 1730hrs, Voi, Kenya, East Africa Protectorate, Africa, Planet Earth

"What do you mean 'worse'?" Mike asked, noting Master Chief's tone.

"It's the Flood," Chief answered, gripping his assault rifle more firmly.

"Okay, what's the Flood?"

"The Flood is a parasite. I fought it on Halo," Chief stated. "It infects and transforms anything living in its path into a mindless creature in a matter of seconds."

"The Flood is capable of devouring a whole continent in a matter of days," The Arbiter added in his deep bass voice. "They are like locusts. Their singular desire is the destruction of everything they face. If they are not contained they will consume your whole planet."

Mike didn't know what to say, the news stunned him. Alissa let out an audible gasp of surprise as she processed the information.

To emphasize the point Commander Keyes came over the general comm. "The Flood - it's spreading, all over the city."

Lord Hood cut in. "How do we contain it?"

"Find the crashed Flood ship; overload its engine core," Commander Keyes declared. "We either destroy this city, or risk losing the entire planet."

"Did she just say 'or risk losing the planet'?" Matt asked incredulously.

"Do it," Lord Hood ordered.

"Chief, make your way to the crash site," Commander Keyes ordered, the sense of urgency thick in her voice.

"All right Chief, we'll help get you there," Mike declared. "Wolf Pack, Wolverines, saddle up, new mission." He'd face all matter of foe and was having trouble processing what he'd heard. He didn't doubt the truth of what the two warriors were saying but to imagine any creature with that kind of destructive force was just something he struggled to picture.

To the right of the special operations party two Marines were visible on a cliff edge in the distance. Suddenly they began trying to fight off several grotesque sinewy beasts with deformed appendages.

"Oh my god, what's that?" Matt said, his voice showing fear for the first time in as long as anyone knew him.

"That's the Flood…a combat form it's called," Chief answered.

They watched as the Flood overran and mutated the two Marines into more Combat Forms. To punctuate the point hundreds of greenish meter to a meter-and-a-half tall bulbous creatures with multiple tentacles surged past and towards the human defensive line.

"Infection forms!" Master Chief called out. "Don't let them touch you or you transform into what we just saw." The Spartan supersoldier opened fire with his assault rifle and surged forward in the direction of the crashed ship that had unleashed this fury. Thel 'Vadam roared and followed in his wake.

"Wolverines, fall back and defend the rear, Wolf Pack, with me, we're going to help Master Chief get to the crash site and overload that engine," Mike ordered charging after the Spartan II.

The ODST Wolverines retreated in disciplined bounds. Their effective fire was able to keep the tip of the Flood spear at bay but already a number of less-disciplined Marines went down and quickly evolved into a mindless enemy. They in turn began to add to the number of the new invaders bent on consuming everything in their path.

Most of the UNSC troops tried to scramble out of the way and most field discipline went out the window as survival instinct kicked in. Small groups of Marines did rally to hold the Flood at bay but it was not enough. Others were able to do fighting retreats to strong points in the hope of holding off the attack. Everywhere though, alien and human alike entered quickly into a battle for survival. In some cases, UNSC and Covenant troops found themselves fighting together against the more lethal threat. Yet try as those who stood their ground might, there was nothing that would stop the number and hunger of the surging Flood who were spreading over not only the battlefield but also into the city of Voi.

While everyone else was trying to get out of the way, Mike and the Wolf Pack stayed in tight formation, supporting the Master Chief as he sliced through the Flood coming the opposite way moving towards the center of the creature's advance.

Fortunately, the new threat seemed to have no organizational structure so the more disciplined human assault was able to move through the initial wave fairly easily. The ones that did show any interest in the Spartans and their Elite companion were quickly dispatched. Luckily for the Spartans the bulbous creatures known as Infection Forms were fairly easy to destroy. Only a couple of bullets from their weapons was enough to cause them to pop. They didn't face any more of the more dangerous Combat Forms which made maintaining momentum easy. The issue that loomed though was not killing the new invader but the sheer number. While easy to kill they seemed to relentlessly come non-stop. Terrell swept his GPMG back and forth and the others covered their arcs pushing forward. The Master Chief was a whirlwind of destruction firing his assault rifle in disciplined bursts while the Arbiter had switched to his energy sword and was deftly cutting through the creatures like he was slicing wheat. They were making good progress and had momentum but the sheer weight of Flood coming against them threatened to stop their advance short before they reached their objective. No Spartan or their Sangheili ally wanted to know what happened if they slowed down or were forced to stop.

Back in the rear area, not far from the tunnel and factory complex the UNSC forces had stormed through to begin their assault on the Covenant position at Voi was the rear element of the attack. Logistics troops scurried about in resupply and support functions. Trucks full of ammunition and other needed supplies for the assault sat with engines running waiting to move in and fulfil their task. A field hospital from a medical battalion was set up and already dealing with the wounded who were coming out of the fight only a couple of kilometers away. It was a well-orchestrated dance that supported the main element fighting to open the door for the Navy assault that had just taken place. A cordon of Marines provided security towards the front to ensure the rear echelon elements including the senior command team, were protected.

Yet in many ways they should have looked to the rear for the real threat.

A Middle Eastern man with hard eyes and close-cropped black hair hopped out of the supply truck he'd jumped on to in the staging area to the front. Though the olive drab BDUs he wore had no identifying markings on them none paid attention as the effort to keep the battle going kept everyone focused. The ONI assassin had keyed in his location and gotten the approximate location of the target from Admiral Parangosky's Smart AI Black Box before hitching a ride to the front. A new picture of his target had been sent on to his communication device and his order to kill Natalia Misriah without prejudice had been confirmed. He'd gotten the green light and would use the cover of the human's desperate fight for survival going on to his advantage to slip past the distracted UNSC troops, kill his target and slip back out. No one would see it coming. This was a favorite scenario for the skilled operative. He didn't think much of the politics of the day or what he was doing, this was merely business.

The assassin carried a Magnum pistol in a holster on his hip with a silencer in his utility pouch plus a series of knives and several vials containing a variety of poisons. The seasoned killer was prepared for a different type of combat.

There was a general din in the area as the results of the UNSC Navy attack on the Covenant position were assessed. Earlier cheers had turned to audible groans as the lack of success of the desperate mission became evident.

Now there was a new buzz coming up from the various logistics personnel but this was of little interest to the man who saw the growing confusion as an opportunity to easily accomplish his mission and get our unseen. That was his specialty in fact, his was a singular focus.

The assassin knew his target had been placed with the senior command element, as a controller, so knew he'd find her in the operations center. He easily spotted the large Bobcat mobile command center and knew she'd be inside. It would be tricky but this wouldn't be his hardest kill ever. In fact, the challenge was motivating to him. The experienced operative moved nonchalantly to within thirty meters and paused as if assessing a pile of crates holding field rations. All the time though his gaze was at the vehicle putting his plan together. There were a pair of Marine sentries standing outside who seemed to be getting increasingly nervous looking down the side of the large vehicle as if waiting for a threat when to him they should have been looking to the rear.

Good, he thought to himself, they're distracted. This is going to be easier than I thought. Part of the man was disappointed it wouldn't be as much of a challenge but the professional in him knew that this was business, not a personal hunting expedition.

Plan finalized, the assassin put his hand loosely into his utility pouch and onto the suppressor and began walking casually towards the vehicle.

"What, the Flood, here?" Colonel Steele exclaimed in shocked surprise at the area command center as he received the chilling report of what had been on the recently arrived Covenant ship.

"Wait, you know what this is?" the operations officer asked, starting to see on the monitors in the command center the destructive force of the new threat and not believing his eyes.

"Yea, I was briefed in on it right before Earth was attacked," the officer stated, looking at the video feed from an overhead drone.

"But what is it?" Major Grant persisted.

"No time for that, you'll find out soon enough," the Marine full colonel responded grimly. "We've got to lock this place down, now."

Natalia heard the exchange as she was sitting right beside the two senior officers. A chill went up her spine as she saw swarms of the bulbous creatures surging towards the M6A1 Bobcat Command Vehicle they were in on one of the video monitors at her station.

"Sergeant," Colonel Steele called to the Marine guard standing just inside the entrance, "shut the door and button us up, now."

"But sir, what about all the guys outside?" the senior NCO asked as a number of Marines ran towards the large armored vehicle seeking shelter.

"No time! Do it now!" the colonel barked urgently. "Or there won't be any one of us left."

The delay was almost fatal. The sergeant just got the ramp up and sealed the command vehicle seconds before the surprisingly fast-moving creatures surged all over it. The leadership team inside watched in horror the feed from the exterior cameras as the security detail protecting them was swiftly overtaken by the Flood and transformed just as fast into Combat Forms. Those who'd sworn only minutes before to lay down their lives for those inside were now mindlessly clawing and scraping at the door and any opening trying to get in.

"What do we do, sir?" Natalia asked in horror, not able to take her eyes off of the screen. She immediately thought about Mike and was hopeful his armor would protect him from this parasite. Yet deep down she doubted it.

"Not much," Colonel Steele responded with a shrug, "we have to wait it out."

"Can't we drive out?" a Marine lieutenant asked fearfully.

"No, the outriggers are engaged," the senior officer replied, "we wouldn't get far. Best is we hunker down and wait it out. Put out a distress signal."

There was nothing else they could do.

Mike and the Wolf Pack had been moving well with the Master Chief and his Sangheili companion. Thus far they'd been able to move steadily towards the crash site of the infected Covenant ship. The path wasn't hard to figure out since a cloud of oily smoke rose into the sky from it. The problem was the closer they got the more the Flood coming against them from it they faced. Though not difficult to kill their numbers and erratic movement patterns made it difficult to move with any pace. So rather than move at a trot to their objective like they'd wanted the operators were forced to move at a halting walk.

The seasoned combat veteran wondered again just how fast these creatures reproduced since there seemed to be an unending supply of them. That was a question though Mike didn't have time for. The fight was right in front of him and it was relentless in pace.

Almost immediately after the crash distress calls and cries for backup were heard on the AREACOMM of the UNSC forces. They'd been totally unprepared for this new assault and some were having trouble adjusting to it. Units and subunits were urgently calling for assistance yet it seemed everyone was in the same position. Then one distress call caught Mike's attention.

"This is Impact Main, we are totally surrounded and unable to move," a radio operator called out urgently. "Request immediate support from any available station, over!"

"Natalia!" Mike whispered to himself for he knew the call sign for Colonel Steele and the command element. She was with him as part of his operations staff. For a moment he hesitated and thought to leave and help but he knew his mission. He continued to run and gun but now with an increased intensity. All the hopes he'd had came crashing down as the call was repeated and he knew there was no one to help the unprotected command group. It looked like he wasn't going to get his happy ending after all.

The ONI assassin was caught off guard when the ramp to the Bobcat command vehicle began to rise up to close faster than usual. He picked up his pace, figuring out how to take out the guards at the entrance but before he got there the pair fled in the opposite direction in panic rather than jump in the armored vehicle. That gave the seasoned veteran a moment of pause but he also saw his window of opportunity literally closing in front of his. He broke into a run and in one smooth motion pulled his Magnum out. There was no time to put the suppressor on so this was not going to be as professional as he'd liked. Sloppy or not, he needed to get the job done, his reputation was on the line. Raising the high-powered pistol, he prepared to draw a bead on his target who he knew where she would be from the schematic he'd memorized and get off the one shot he'd get. He was confident that was all he'd need and then he'd be able to use the unexpected chaos to slip away.

The assassin was too late.

A step-and-a-half from the vehicle the ramp closed and the pneumatic seal engaged with a hiss. Nothing was getting in there until those inside wanted them too. The assassin wondered if his quarry had been tipped off and had gotten the vehicle sealed before-hand but that didn't make sense. There was security outside the vehicle and likely inside too. The conundrum of what happened caused a rare moment of distraction that proved fatal. The hitman didn't quite catch the strange sound that was growing closer until it was too late. Turning to face the sound a tidal wave of Flood Infection Forms surged into the rear area. It was a testimony to the sharpness of his reflexes that the man was able to bring his Magnum up and drill one of the Flood before the others enveloped him. When the bulbous creatures moved on the assassin had forgotten his mission forever and ran off as a mindless Combat Form oblivious as to who he was and what his mission had been.

Mike had fought every form of Covenant in some of the most pitched battles of the war. He'd seen everything over the years as a Spartan but nothing had prepared him for the Flood. Their sheer numbers and mindless bent of destruction were wearing down even his resolve. Wave after wave kept coming at them and while few were Combat Forms at this point still the mindboggling number of Infection Forms made movement extremely slow. It seemed to be becoming a matter of mathematical probability. The Master Chief's mission of trying to stem the tide of this threat was beginning to bog down and a decision had to be made.

"Chief, you and the Arbiter carry on," Mike declared without fanfare. "We'll hold here and create as much of a buffer zone as we can. We'll try to buy you some time. Get the job done."

"Roger that," Chief responded without emotion, knowing what the Spartan III was telling him. He knew that this man and his team were prepared to give their life so his mission would succeed. "Good luck."

"May the gods be with you, warrior," the Arbiter declared in appreciation for his former human foes.

"And you too," Mike responded genuinely. "I'm glad we got the chance to serve together."

Master Chief and the Arbiter steadily pushed on towards the downed infected ship.

"Wolf Pack," Mike called out, "Form line, time to push back!"

"Wolf Pack!" the teens bellowed in response. Not one questioned the order or flinched at the implication of it. Never had Mike been prouder.

Time was lost on them as the Spartan team fought aggressively and used the new inevitability to push back against the threat. They began to get into a good rhythm against this erratic foe and were able to buy the Master Chief and Arbiter precious time. It was a testimony to discipline and teamwork that held them together against the impossible odds they faced.

Unfortunately, as hard as the Wolf Pack and their leader fought it was like trying to catch water coming out of a fire hose. The numbers and inevitability of their situation became overwhelming. Their time of counterattack was short-lived and now they found themselves being pushed back.

"Sir, we're about to be overrun," Adam called out urgently. There was no sense of panic from the teen who'd struggled so much with the Brutes. In fact, the thoughtful teen was in a peaceful state.

Mike had known this was coming and had already been contemplating their next move. He took a moment to assess the situation and then the grim reality became more than evident.

"Wolf Pack, form Buzzsaw!" the Lone Wolf ordered.

There was a slight pause as each of the teen Spartans took a nanosecond to process the order and the implications of it before swinging into action. Then, training kicked in and each moved into position.

The 'Buzzsaw' was a purely defensive tactic where a team would circle up around a heavy weapon to inflict as much damage as possible while making their last stand. Terrell was the point with his GPMG while Alissa slid in behind him switching to her Magnum. Matt went to one side of the machine gunner, Adam on the other. Maia went beside Matt and Mike, Adam. They fluidly moved into a tight circle with Alissa in the center covering Terrell. He then opened fired with his GPMG walking slowly in a clockwise circular motion with the others moving and firing in one synchronous movement. It was an extremely intricate maneuver that Spartans practiced rarely since their nature was to not be in a position where they were completely defensive. So, the reality of how smoothly and quickly they were able to get into this complex position was a testimony to their ability and discipline. Like a scythe the six Spartans in the circle began to move around and around in one fluid motion as one. If anyone had been watching they'd have been impressed by how well the move was executed and how effective it had been.

"Reload!" Terrell called out as he anticipated the end of the belt of ammo he was about to burn through.

Alissa already had one out and ready to go when the last linked round went out which Terrell grabbed in one fluid motion and slapped into place. Barely had the rate of fire stopped during the change out. Again, a testimony to discipline considering the distractions and threat all around them.

The Flood attack on the Spartans was checked by the sheer volume of fire coming out on a continuous 360-degree circle. Reloads were all choreographed for maintenance of fire making this an impressive spectacle. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of attackers rising to the challenge and inevitability of ammo limitations for the Spartans made for a certain unavoidable outcome. It was not a matter of if, but when. Still, it was an impressive spectacle, one worthy of the history books if there was ever going to be anyone around to write it.