Chapter 9: Pillar of Autumn
Cutscene
Auntie Dot satellite view shows Noble Team's Pelican being pursued by two Banshees and a Phantom
Asźod, Eposz
August 30, 2552 16:52 Hours'
Dot COM:Noble Leader, seek immediate medical attention.
The view zooms in and follows the Pelican.'
DotCOM: Noble Leader, please respond.
*Cut to the cockpit of the Pelican, with Noble Six moving closer to the pilot seat. Suddenly, several plasma bolts hit the Pelican, impacting Noble Six, flickering the Spartan's shields. The view turns to the troop bay of the Pelican, and Emile-A239 is seen firing his Grenade Launcher at the two Banshees. Emile concentrates fire on a single Banshee. The grenade detonates close by, and the EMP disables the Banshee, which swoops up and crashes into its wingman. Both are taken out, but the Phantom still pursues. The view switches back to the cockpit, and moves in front of Six. Carter, critically wounded but still in the pilot seat, takes off his helmet and throws it onto the ground. Blood splatters cover the cockpit window.*
DotCOM: Please'' respond, Sierra Two-Five-Nine. You are alarming me.
Carter turns back to Noble Six. His face is bloodied, and his armor is charred from plasma fire.
Carter: (strained but calm) Not sure how long she's gonna stay together. Skies are jammed up anyways. Gotta get you off here, Lieutenant.
The view faces a critically injured Carter. Noble Six, grabbing the pilot chair, looks up.
Six: Sir, you-
Carter: Don't wanna hear it. Get the Package to the Autumn.
Six: Done.
Carter: Not yet, it's not... Emile, go with him/her. It's a ground game now.
The view switches to Emile, who drops his emptied Grenade Launcher and makes a fist-to-chest salute. In the background, two more Banshees appear.
Emile: It's been an honor, sir.
Carter: Likewise... I'll do what I can to draw their fire.
Six turns and walks to the troop bay
Carter: Six. That A.I chose you... She made the right choice.
The Pelican turns and makes the pursuing Phantom out of sight. Six and Emile position at the Pelican's tail, ready to jump off. Holding the AI Package tightly, Six crouches down as Emile grips the Pelican. Carter counts down with his fingers.''
Carter: On my mark.
Carter counts down to zero.
Carter: Mark!
Six and Emile jump out, and the view switches to Six's point of view. They slide down a canyon, energy shields depleting. They come to a rough stop by impacting the ground. Six looks up as his or her and Emile's shields recharge. Carter's Pelican flies over them, Banshees in hot pursuit. Six turns back, checks the armored matrix for damage, then places the AI data storage unit on his back. They look up to the road ahead.
Cutscene end*
*Luck by Martin O'Donnell*
Six POV
Emile and I walked to the other side of the cliff looking around the area to when Emile said "Still with us Commander?" Carter was buying us time so we could deliver this package along with Rook to the Autumn. "Stay low, let me draw the heat. You just deliver that Package." Emile and I could see Carter being tailed by two banshees as he turned left. We were far from the autumn but close enough that we could see the ship which Emile points out. "There's our destination, Six the Pillar of Autumn. Race you to her." Emile said. We head right seeing as it's better we can catch the group of covies off guard and take em' out before they alert more forces. I jump down the small little cliff and spot a grunt separate from the group patrolling by me. I grabbed my Magnum and head shot the grunt, the shot alerted the rest of the covies, here now it's fight I begin firing at the group on the left consisting of 3 Grunts and a Elite general, my sights were on the Elite. I unloaded an entire clip to knock down his shields.
Emile POV
I fired a shot at the Elite then another. "Come on," I said, firing a third shotgun shot at the Elite taking his shields down and a fourth to kill him. I turned to see the Grunts fleeing like cowards before I could shoot, I saw Six take them out before he snapped the final Grunts neck from his group he fought. "Little overkill much" "Tell that to the covenant" I chuckled at that. Moving onto the bridge we engaged a few jackals and picked them off within a couple seconds.
Six POV
We arrived at a small campsite with UNSC stuff including a weapon rack, I stacked up on Grenades and holster my magnum, Assault rifle and grab the rocket launcher and DMR. Walking outside I see a mongoose and so I get on it with Emile on the back and we continue to drive East, driving on the bridge through the small canyon driving down the small hill. I hear Emile say Scarabs and see a few scarabs drop along with several covenant troop pods. Dodging and weaving the the covenant making sure they don't touch me, I drive down moving past another troop pod before driving under a Scarab making a hard right and continuing through a small tunnel right as a Phantom moves ahead, punching the gas going through another two tunnels reaching a broken bridge which made my day. Emile told me we are going to have to jump it driving as fast as the mongoose can go while being shot at by the Phantom and arriving at another UNSC barracks. "Noble enemy forces blocking the road ahead" I scope in and snipe a couple grunts then focus my fire on the jackals to my right. I head to the UNSC Camp on the left to take care of the brutes and grunts in there.
Emile POV
I grab my knife and stab an elite in the head, killing him. I turn and focus my fire on the last few grunts before I attacked the wraith and blew it up. I saw Six take care of the covenant forces on the left leaving the snipers to me. I float on up and take them out. I see Six finish killing the last few brutes in his way.
Six POV
Emile and I walked towards the valley on my left, my radar showed a few hostels turns out it was a few suicide grunts trying to ambush us...they were disposed of pretty quickly and continue walking through the valley nearing the end Carter said we have a situation we see a scarab by us.
*Cutscene*
Emile: Mother... We can get past it, sir
Emile steps back in hesitation.'
CarterCOM: No, you can't. Not without help.
Emile: Commander, you don't have the firepower!
After noticing the two Spartans, the Scarab takes aim at Six and Emile as it charges its cannon. Carter's Pelican flies over and strafes it. The Scarab is distracted and stops charging its cannon.
CarterCOM: I've got the mass
Emile: Solid copy. Hit 'em hard, boss.
Carter brings the Pelican around and starts a ballistic trajectory, directly towards the Scarab.
CarterCOM: You're on your own, Noble... Carter out.
The Pelican slams into the Scarab's side and explodes as the walker charges its main cannon again. The Scarab's side bursts into flames, explosions rocking within it. The Scarab lets out a dying "scream" and struggles to stay standing. More explosions rock it and it falls down the cliff. A loud explosion is heard indicating its destruction. The view switches back to the two SPARTAN-IIIs, all that remains of Noble Team.'
Emile: Crevice to the east. Let's go.
Six nods.
*cutscene ends*
Emile and I continue forward passing a few dead marines and picking up some ammo as we turn the corner we see drones. I know we will have to fight our way through so I ready my DMR and began shooting at the drones killing them. Emile chucks a grenade killing more as we make our way through the valley in front of us is the facility that leads to the docking bay. "This is Captain Keyes of the Pillar of Autumn. We are tracking you, Noble, but we've begun our launch sequence. Proceed to dry dock, Platform D. I'll be on it myself to receive the Package."
Emile and I head towards the facility and we aid some marines being attacked by covenant forces on the ground. I zoomed in with my DMR and began taking out the Jackals and grunts leaving the Elites to Emile. I continue down the pathway and meet up with the marines as I shoot the Skirmishers killing them all that's left on my end are the Elites. I chuck a couple grenades to take down their shields and fire at the Elites as well taking a few down leaving a couple more left, I pull out my knife and jump the Elite and stab him in the head leaving one left which is quickly gun downed by the marines. We head up and through the facility making it to the other end where a couple wraiths and ghosts are waiting for us. I pick up the sniper and target the ground troops making sure no ground troops can distract me while I deal with the Wraiths. Emile takes out the ghosts as I switch to my launcher and fire at the wraiths blowing them up, I head down through the facility to the ground and meet up with Emile who finishes off the last of the reinforcements. Walking through the next facility we take out some grunts and Elites and I grab a shotgun from the weapons rack and go through a door meeting up with a group of marines. Emile and I charge through the door on the right shooting the jackals and killing them along with killing a couple more Elites. I walk out the giant open area and take a right up the stairs and right where a few skirmishers are, I toss a grenade killing them. It's just the hunters and us;Emile distracts one while I go from behind to spray into the Hunters back killing him but as a safety measure I drop a grenade on the hunter killing him for sure and I walk away to go help Emile finish off the last Hunter.
Headed through the door to the right up the stairs past the marines and I swap to my shotgun and fire at the Elite Ultra who's charging at me. Knocking out his shield I fire again killing him then I switch to my assault rifle and kill the three Jackals. I walk up the stairs, I shoot the six jackals and focus on the grunt leaving the Elite Ultra left. I spray the elite with my assault rifle taking out his shield before tossing a grenade killing the elite. I walk into the small tunnel then go through a couple doors meeting up with some marines and killing a few jackals and walking outside with Emile and the marines. "Noble to Keyes we're at the pad" "Copy Noble my pelican is ready, clear an LZ I'll meet you there"
I've taken position up top with some marines shooting at the Phantoms that drop Brutes, grunts, jackals, elites. Sniping the brutes and elites while tossing grenades at the jackals and grunts. Emile is on Mass Driver taking out banshees and phantoms. A phantom drops off a chieftain and a few brutes on me, I ran to the other end taking cover while the marines dealt with the minors I tossed a plasma grenade by the chieftain then fired a couple shotgun shells into him killing him. I see Keyes pelican in the distance so I make my way down to the pad waiting for him.
*Cutscene*
Captain Keyes steps off the Pelican and meets up with Noble Six. Marines from the Pelican secure the pad.
Keyes: Good to see you, Spartan. Halsey assured me I could count on you.
Noble Six hands the Package to Captain Keyes.
Six: Not just me, sir...
Keyes puts a reassuring hand on Six's shoulder.
Keyes: They'll be remembered.
Keyes turns back to re-enter the Pelican but stops short as a massive shadow appears in the sky. A CCS pushes through the clouds, advancing towards the Pillar of Autumn.
Keyes: Cruiser, adjusting heading for the Autumn! Noble Four, I need fire on that cruiser or we're not getting out of here! Do you copy?
Emile begins to rotate the mass driver to face the advancing cruiser.'
EmileCOM:You'll have your window, sir
Keyes and the Marines enter the Pelican.
Keyes: Bridge, this is the Captain. We have the Package. Returning to the Autumn, over
Bridge officerCOM: Copy that
Noble Six, about to board the Pelican, is alarmed by the sudden sound of a Phantom and draws his DMR. A Phantom appears close by, and fires plasma bolts from its forward turret at the two Pelicans. The Pelican escorting Keyes' is shot down and crashes on the platform Noble Six is standing on. Six dives away from the burning wreck and barely avoids being crushed. Keyes' Pelican shifts as the Phantom flies over it. Six readies his weapon and turns as the Phantom wheels overhead towards the mass driver, but is forced to duck as the starboard door gunner fires a barrage of plasma at the Spartan. The Phantom drops off a pair of Zealots by the Mass Driver. One Zealot is visible to Noble Six, the second is concealed by the Mass Driver. Emile yells in surprise. The first Zealot raises an Energy Sword, but Emile fires his shotgun through the canopy, shattering the glass and knocking the Elite to the deck. Emile stands, raises his shotgun, and fires again point-blank into the fallen Zealot's chest, killing it.
Emile: Who's next?!
The second Zealot impales Emile from behind with an Energy Sword, then pulls the mortally-wounded Spartan off the blade, holding Emile by the throat.
Emile: I'm ready! How 'bout you?!
Still alive, Emile pulls out his kukri from his shoulder pauldron sheath and stabs the Zealot in the throat before dragging them both to the floor and out of sight. Keyes' Pelican returns to Platform Delta. One of the Marines holds out his hand, gesturing for Noble Six to join them.
Marine #4: Lieutenant, get on board! We gotta get the hell out of here!
Six: Negative. I have the gun. *to Keyes* Good luck, sir.
Six turns away from the Pelican.
Keyes:...Good luck to you, Spartan...We'll get you to the autumn
Keyes' Pelican leaves.
*Cutscene end*
Keyes: Noble Six get on that Mass Driver and clear me a path"
Six heads back to where he exited in the beginning and takes out a few covies on the outside and walks inside taking out the grunts on the left side before using his DMR to take out the shields of the elites and kill them, focusing his attention on the jackals and taking them out swiftly. Six walks up the stairs and fires at the Zealots taking their shields out and killing them; Six gets on the Mass Driver and shoots down Banshees and Phantoms clearing the sky for Keyes then several Phantoms and Banshees start shooting at Six while the cruiser slowly makes it way into Sixs rage to destroy it. "Fire now Lieutenant hit her in the gut" Six rotates the Mass Driver a little and charges up a shot and fires at the glassing port destroying the CCS. "Good Job Lieutenant a Pelican is on it's way to you hang tight"
Keyes: This is Captain Jacob Keyes of the UNSC Pillar of Autumn I'm initiating a full scale evacuation to all stranded UNSC and civilian forces I'll be damned if I have to leave people on the planet."
AN: Sorry for the delay I just got lazy and bored and kind of forgot about this story but I've got three chapters worked on and ready to upload through this week so hopefully you enjoy it.