Halo: Predator Lost

Earth: Special operations command.

Seal Team Bravo:

Sitting at the briefing table, Bravo team begins a new briefing regarding targets who threaten world peace.

" Alright Bravo team some new information has come to light regarding one of our failed ops" Started Lt commander Blackburn

" So what, did another team get the job done?" questioned Jason hays, leader of Bravo team.

" Something like that. Mandy here is handing out forms and information packets you all need to sign. Long story short failure to keep your mouths shut will result in imprisonment or death."

This got everyone's attention as signing similar forms in the past were few and usually were the result of extreme secrecy. However, those also resulted in high-risk missions.

"Okay so are we hunting the group that did our job for us or is this some CIA black op that went south so bad we have to clean up their mess. You know what a case of beer say's it was Delta and we get the honor of joining them and showing them who's better." Sunny say's while signing the form.

"I'll take that bet". Clay agreeing to it.

Mandy seeing this can't help but shake her head knowing that, what they are about to hear is something even she questioned. " Alright, Sonny in that case you lose the bet." Sonny had a look in his eyes and was about to say something before Blackburn raised his hand to shut him up.

"Mandy please continue".

"As I was saying a known bomber and terrorist Zaheed was killed hiding in a small town in Iran within the mountain region. As it just so happens we had an agent in the area to monitor his movements and provide intel."

Ray raises his hand. " I'm sorry but what does this have to do with us?"

Mandy looks to Blackburn. " Because Bravo since you failed to kill this man, you're about to be informed of something far more dangerous that did kill him. Believe me, the story is hard to stomach and will make you question your very sanity. Mandy, If you would please."

sigh..." Last week over the course of a seventy-two-hour period armed soldiers began to disappear, then very quickly rumors started of a vengeful ghost. Children described it as the monster of Nasnas as on one occasion a body was found fully skinned on the side of a nearby cliff. The agent in his report stated and I quote. The fear of death exhumed from every living person and upon seeing a distinct shimmering in the air I knew death had come.

Shortly after that, the entire down went nuts as an odd and loud roar caused a panic. In a few minutes, the agent spotted Zaheed with his men dead around him and his car disabled. The shimmering disappeared and standing at roughly eight feet high was a hunter. The hunter challenged Zaheed with blades and Zaheed opted to show remarkable skill in sword fighting that lasted all of a minute before he was disarmed. Pulling a pistol out Zaheed did manage to put a few rounds into the hunter but in the end, a spear went through his heart and his skull with parts of his spine were ripped out of his body.

Any Questions?"

"Just one, what do you mean by Hunter" Jason inquired since this was by far a very brutal way to take out a terrorist, and what was described didn't sound human

This time Blackburn responded and with the remote, pulled up the pictures the agent took of the hunter. "Bravo team let me introduce you to an extraterrestrial and no I'm not joking. These images were taken with the agent's hidden chest cameras and are for now the only real images we have of this alien race. Despite being called hunters they have been given the designation of Predators for the fact they tend to pick and choose their targets."

"They are stronger, faster, smarter, and way more advanced than us." Added Mandy.

The group was shocked, to say the least as alien contact seemed to only exist in science fiction. Jason couldn't help but wonder why a supposedly advanced race would hunt people instead of outright conquering the planet and so a question had to be asked. " How many times have they visited our planet?"

" So far at least four times that we know of. An early group of CIA contractors was all but decimated with only two survivors back in the 1980s. Another incident in LA. with the most recent being in Antarctica until now. With what little we've been able to gather these hunters only go after those who would give them the greatest challenge. Special forces, criminal gangs, anyone who looks like a threat is swiftly killed. Women and children aren't attacked, indicating some form of moral code similar to our rules of engagement. At least that is the hypothesis."

"I don't know about advanced since aside from cloaking tech this thing looks like Poncho Vela." Clay has a toothy grin on his face. As the hunter was carrying a PKM with a lot of ammo. An MG3 was also seen on its back.

" From what we can tell this is the first time any of them have used weaponry not their own. As you can see from the data this one is not packing anywhere near the same stuff they usually carry." Continued Blackburn.

"To be more specific aside from the spear, wrist blades, and the computer you see on its left arm which doubles as a nuclear device. No other weapons were observed. The usual description is a very prominent plasma cannon powered by a large battery-like protrusion on their backplates. Along with a number of other bladed or otherwise retracted weapons on their belts and legs.

This one aside from the weapons it acquired from the Iranians is so under-armed and armored it must have had a good reason. So our best guess is this predator reduced its arsenal in order to make the hunt more challenging" Black burn finished

"Okay so an alien, right, took down one of the most wanted terrorists on the planet and you want us to hunt it"? Sonny said. Though if he was being honest with himself such a thing would be a bad idea. Never mind the fact this thing somehow carries a nuke on its arm.

"Well that's just it, we want you to not so much hunt but to track down its movements and gather intel on it as best you can without being noticed. A special division albeit with high body counts had been created to deal with them but with little success". This was so far the strangest briefing Mandy has done with Bravo team and for a good reason.

Jason however when going through the notes noticed why such divisions kept getting killed. Every time something new was discovered about them and supposedly a way to kill them. These hunters would rapidly change tactics and the next one encountered would pull something new. Nothing was known about their culture or way of thinking, however, since a few have been killed there is only one real way to adapt to new tactics.

"Slam!" Everyone's attention was immediately on Jason.

"Something you want to add Jason". Blackburn and everyone else was now curious.

"Yes, apparently it never really occurred to anyone to think a little more conventionally."

Everyone not realizing what he was getting at remained silent.

"The only way these hunters or predators can know who to hunt and adapt after losing their own is simple. They have been studying us and likely have their own surveillance assets in our system or on our own soil. Take this guy, for instance, he clearly organized the ammo he salvaged based on the different machine guns he acquired. Meaning he knew exactly what rounds they fired and likely how to work them. Then there is the fact he hunted a specifically wanted terrorist who wasn't exactly known by widespread media."

"With the way their stealth tech works there would be no way for our satellites to pick them up. Meaning any attempt to hunt one of these things down assuming it hasn't left the planet will only result in us becoming Kia." Clay added

" Not to mention the fact with that kind of intel, we are clearly at a major disadvantage. Even if we know the terrain these guys clearly observe everything so the moment we kill one. whoosh they learn from it and even if you send someone who's fought them before odds are they are going to die." Ray added his two cents.

"Not all of them" Mandy pauses for dramatic effect. " Antarctica showed why they come every so often and in exchange for any information on why, how, when, and where, she got to keep her gift and vowed to never tell a soul outside of us. Her name is Alexa Woods a former environmental technician but still a guide in various environments and nations.

She is the first and so far only person on the planet to work with a hunter, in order to survive black serpents later dubbed Xenomorphs by her description. Plus the data we managed to recover from a mask the hunter dropped." An image shows up on the screen depicting the creatures. " Unlike the hunters, these creatures only have two goals, kill and gather more hosts to propagate their species. However, that is for another time. It was through Lex we managed to get a good idea of what the hunters use in terms of weaponry, armor, and age.

According to a now-dead Sebastian, these hunters would return to our world every hundred years and they've been doing this for thousands of years. According to Lex the ones she encountered may have likely just been teenagers. Killing the Xeno's was and likely is a right of passage, much like old tribesmen." Looking at her watch Mandy realizes the time "and thus the actual mission now comes to mind."

...Earth

Location Iraq a few days after the operation.

Someone once told me, that one doesn't know one's self until their freedom has been taken away. In this case, it was my armor, weapons, Paya even thermal netting that was removed for this so-called hunt. To make matters worse the mask I was given only had the thermal vision on it and nothing else. The objective was simple I would be branded an Elite if I managed to act like a Yautja and take a considerable number of trophies.

The number would have to be large and thus rendezvous points were set up to place the skulls for pick up by others. Thanks to monitoring human communications and the recent war that started up, well actually this planet is constantly at war but still. I've been tracking so-called human bad bloods of great importance. These are by far much more challenging than targeting special operations troops used by various nations.

This Zaheed I believe they called him was not easy to kill and in fact, put up a better fight than the Batarians did. Still, he had enough reflexes to shoot me with a 1911 pistol. Thankfully as it turns out the damage to my chest was minimal and the bullets just had to be ripped out with a knife I found. Appears the bone density enhancement really did improve my healing or maybe my lack of injures means I have forgotten just how fast we heal.

His skull and pistol were mine, after all, it's not like I couldn't take weapons off the humans, I just can't use them.

Right now I'm headed for my final trial location which is some city in Iraq. The problem here is that there are soldiers all over the place, while hunting them would be easy, it would also attract too much attention and thus I hunted their prey. Too bad it would be here that things would go south since the people here have no such thing as a code. End log.

It has been two weeks since I've been here and I've come to learn two things, one, humans are as divergent as any other species out there, and two. Why in Paya's name would anyone want to mate with an animal, livestock, food, a goat as they call them. Even watching that in infrared was disturbing and I wanted to kill them for a heinously dishonorable act but couldn't. Though after they were done with the creature I was able to put it out of its misery.

Finally, something that will forever cause me to be wary around these softmeats is upon seeing a most dishonorable thing. When observing American soldiers and their habits on a base in order to better track and avoid their movements. A human female of the locals came to have some food, I could tell these Americans didn't trust the locals and yet they still let them in without checking. The female detonated an explosive on her body killing all in the mess tent.

My kind may have such devices but they are never used for such dishonorable things, in fact, the females would never agree to such a tactic. After seeing this my normal instincts took over, these radicals were below sentient, they were cowards, they were prey, they needed to be eliminated.

...Observation vessel Blood Rising.

"Well that didn't take long, Winter acted as a traditional Yautja for all of three weeks before reverting back into his normal routine. Something must have happened since the human body count is beginning to rise far more quickly than the last insurgent he hunted." Observed Night cutter

"Even so he's still following orders and has yet to use any of the weapons he's acquired. The humans in this area of the world are far more willing to act like animals than others. It's why I dropped him here, besides officially he already passed the test to become Elite."

The others looked at Wolf skeptically knowing unofficially becoming an Elite by his standards is much harder.

"We should pull him out now before the humans figure out what is going on and send in numbers of special troops to hunt him down".

"No," Wolf held up a fist, " The humans have already sent a unit to that area after one of their operatives were spared. Instead I wish to see Winter in his true element". Wolf then activates the coms. " Winter you are now weapons-free".

The others not aware of Wolf's secret plan now understood. This wasn't just a test to see how well Winter understood Yautja traditions it was to see how efficient he was at following orders.

...Somewhere in Iraq

Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, Winter had been going on a mission of death. The locals from Iraqi soldiers to women and children, anyone who so much has held up a weapon or had a bomb underneath were quickly cut down. Despite the heat signatures being similar, the US IFF tags soldiers used easily identified them and thus Winter ignored them. They may have been a bigger threat but at least they operated on a code and that is something Winter could respect.

Without the heavy armor, Winter's speed was swift, and as such many combatants were killed before realizing what happened. That is until Wolf sent the special phrase.

"Winter you are now weapons-free"

Retina's widening, the words spoken like a release valve had been opened. The chains were dropped and now the evil that was these locals would be destroyed. Retracting the wrist blades and combi spear, both of which had copious amounts of blood on them. The PKP was loaded and made ready for the blood bath that was to come.

Iraq, Bravo team investigating the same area.

Things had really hit the fan since being deployed to what was a large hot spot in the ever-growing war on terror. The US Army garrison and local investigators had little difficulty in creating a theory. Turns out the local resistance and Iraqi soldiers started dropping faster than soda cans on a shooting range after a group of GIs was killed by a female bomber.

The resulting carnage so far is one for the record books as marines and army units alike when clearing houses would find many people with their heads cut off. Torso's pierced and it didn't matter who, though more female bombers were found so it was evident that all who were killed were not friendly. Still, the locals were now terrified as many had spoken of an invisible ghost slaughtering those it found. Many said it was murder, others simply didn't care and continued to fight.

"Okay so here we are at night trying to find and track something that has likely decided to take its anger out on scumbags, based on theories of how they operate yes". Sonny said with an equal amount of sarcasm.

"Yes now keep your eye's peeled, Bravo 7 do you have something?" Jason asked. The new member of the team was just temporary as he was here to act as a guide. The problem was the operator had just barely passed seal team training and had little experience. It was only his previous employment with Weyland, now Weyland Yutani that made him useful as he didn't have to be briefed.

"I've got him boss and boy is he a big one". This is for killing my friends you alien dirtbag. Bringing his finger to the trigger of the 300 Win mag. Bravo seven squeezed the trigger. The bark of the rifle was like a lightning bolt and the bullet had in fact made its mark upon the target as a roar of pain was heard.

Everyone now looked at him, hate and fear in their eyes and Jason was the first to act.

"What the heck did you just do!?"

"That thing and its retched race killed many of my friends, both in Antarctica and elsewhere! It's better if we dissect it and acquire any tech that thing has" The hatred in this man's eyes was clear and now things just got a whole lot worse.

"Don't worry, it's only wounded so perhaps we can still take it alive and truly see how everything works" The smile the man had clearly shown something had snapped.

To say Jason was pissed right now would be a colossal understatement and thus decided the only thing to do to keep his men alive was to hope this thing was as reasonable as any other being.

" You want to hunt this thing so bad then go ahead but I'm not risking my team in a losing fight against it. Everyone disarm now I have a feeling we are about to receive a visitor." Everyone followed his orders say Seven. "Home base this is Bravo one the mission has been compromised If you receive no further communication from us in an hour then consider us Kia.

"Understood Bravo one. Good luck."

"Pauk that hurts a lot, whatever human did that was not a local and he will die for this"! The bullet had hit a rib bone and subsequently shattered upon the denser than normal structure. Using a superheated knife and his own fingers. the remains of the round were removed and cauterized.

" That is the last time I get careless around these softmeats, now then let's take a look." Upon seeing a number of heat signatures on top of a building near the end of the street with US Iff, it was clear who shot him. Winter then darts out of the alley on his way to kill the vermin who shot him and make an example of them. However, in order to ensure they didn't go anywhere, Winter quickly began firing at the position to keep their heads down.

Zip zip zip "Oh yea great idea boss let's disarm while it tries to kill us! Ray yelled over the gunfire, however, the sound only lasted for a few seconds before the creature they were observing was on the roof with them with its cloak disengaged. The creature was clearly confused for about half a second before unloading a hundred rounds into Bravo sevens chest. Shattering the armor plates and causing his body to tear apart from the force.

Out of ammo the Predator rapidly switched weapons and brought it to bear on the rest of Bravo team. The look of the creature was brutal as it was covered in human blood, likely from all carnage it did.

Gulping loudly Jason took a chance to reason with it. "Look my orders were to observe you nothing more, what he did was his own doing based on revenge and would have been court marshaled or killed but knowing what you can do, well I took a chance."

"Do you think me stupid human, the patches and insignia's place you as a Seal team within the US Navy and part of its special operations command. I know you're lethal and adaptable even without weapons". The code right here was conflicted since these soldiers were clearly not armed. However, they could easily pick up their weapons and attempt to kill me if my back is turned

Bravo team was stunned as this thing definitely knew what they were and could speak fluent English, not an easy feat given what they look like under those masks. It was living up to the info as well since it kept its weapons trained on us not risking getting shot in the back. Still, they were alive and so something must be going right.

Taking yet another bold risk Jason stood up to face the predator despite being dwarfed by the alien." Look I don't know how your code works, but you clearly know mine and it's obvious that you saw something that got you angry and started killing rag heads left and right. Whatever honor you have, know this, that neither I nor my team will pick up our weapons in order to kill you or try at least"

This human has balls and is truly worthy prey, for while his stance may scream challenge he is doing what's best to keep his squad alive. A trait I've yet to experience since I held little care for ghost even when he finally perished from the hard meats. Still, the hatred in his eyes is not for me but for the one I killed the one whose hatred matched that of my own though likely for different reasons.

Without realizing it I may have stolen this humans' kill. Breaking orders even in my culture usually carries a good whacking by Elders. Of course, those orders can be broken if the situation demands it, in this case however my orders were to hunt down difficult prey and act according to Yautja tradition.

Still, it has now become clear that I went beyond my orders and the time has come for me to leave this world. Lowering his weapons, Winter extends his wrist blades causing the soldiers to tense but only briefly as Winter cuts open what remained of Bravo seven and removes his skull and spine.

"You have given me much to think about human, however as a technicality this one's skull is yours."

Jason had seen much but not like this simply took the head of the one who betrayed his team, realizing the disturbing honor this one has he then did something that only one other person did.

"As a respected enemy, I offer my own level of respect, I wish you luck". Jason then salutes Winter and in turn Winter bows his head a little as well, as a sign of respect. Well, that and knowing Wolf will pound him for using a human salute again.

Winter then cloaks and jumps from the building. "This is Winter, ready for pick up as soon as I reach the rendezvous point, out."

"Command this is bravo two, bravo seven is dead and the hunter has for all we know, decided to leave".

" Can confirm bravo two, RTB when you're ready"

"Understood command, out."

"So Jason how does it feel to know your story is going to be referred upon for the next brash team till the end of time". Ray had the biggest grin on his face.

"Let's just get out of here and wait, is it just me or is Bravo seven's night vision optics and infrared laser missing". Now that the adrenaline had worn off it was clear the predator took some other trophies as well.

"Nope that is not our imagination, my best guess is he took them to adapt his is cloaking tech."

"Great, alright Bravo team, grab your gear and let's head back, command is going to have a field day with this".

...Blood Rising now leaving the Sol System.

" In accordance with the council, you Winter have now been granted the rank of Elite and all privileges associated therein" Wolf and the other elites grant him a nod of confirmation. "As such given your record your title which will now be associated with your name is Winter of destruction. Now tell me Winter how does it feel to be an Elite"?

"Snort, I feel nothing master, I have achieved my objectives as requested".

"Wow, hey Wolf your pupil here apparently holds up to his name and reputation. Tell me Winter why do you not show pride in the honor you have accomplished?" Night cutter was curious despite not being privy to Wolf's real plans.

"Pride gets one killed sir as I've seen first hand in my chiva. Now if you'll excuse me master I need to design an entirely new armor system, now that I have access to special resources." Winter leaves to the ship's quarters.

"Okay, Wolf even I know that by your standards he hasn't passed anything, what are your intentions with him"? Night cutter inquired

"Nothing you need to worry about." Wolf takes his leave to his personal quarters then activates the com system on encrypted channels.

"Elder Nova, please dispatch a shuttle to Yeager one, I'm sending a new Elite to join your crew in order to fill in for losses. It's time Winter developed leadership skills in an environment he is still not comfortable with, Wolf out".

...Yeager 1 a few days later.

Unlike the first time, this time I actually had a hand in both designing and developing a brand new set of armor. In order to better counter the kinetic force of hard-hitting objects as well as improve stealth ability. A flexible but incredibly resilient bodysuit composed of multiple layers was created, derived from the technology used in space suits this was a massive upgrade.

The gel and weaved armor layers allowed for data link processing to be fully integrated with all other components, mask, wist computers, etc. The result is even with infrared, I can't be seen when the cloak is engaged as the stuff allows better temperature control than even thermal netting.

The armor itself also boasted a few upgrades from the previous one. This time the power pack was fully integrated but could be supplemented by a small external one if needed, leaving more space on my back for other things. The alloys had also been improved with better plasma and ballistic protection at a twenty-five percent weight reduction.

Finally, something that was only recently completed was the enhancement to the helmet and I do mean helmet. Taking the simple traditional style of mask, this one incorporates retracted plates that when activated surround my head in armor. The sacrifice to this was my hair or dreadlocks as humans call them had to be cut fairly short. Such a process is less appealing to females and hurts a lot but is needed for greater protection. In order for this to work the internal system and breathing hookups were redesigned. Now all I have to do is place my mask on and it automatically adjusts and seals its self.

This combined with a more modular approach for the armor allows for further upgrades or even attachments to be added more quickly than my previous armor. The result is quite frankly the first combat armor that allows one to rapidly go into the vacuum of space or deploy onto a planet's surface without switching.

Many thought a large amount of armor I normally carried showed too little skin, now it doesn't show any and feels really nice. Unfortunately, I have zero time to test it out as I'm being assigned to Elder Nova to fill in for losses.

"Wow, now you really do look the part of a killbot. Oh by the way the spinal and weight distribution was also redesigned and strengthened so as to reduce fatigue and allow better movement speed or just less pain if you want to go full tank" Spirit smiled since Winter came to her to help with that.

"Too, to be frank, this will be a new experience for me, not sure how I'm going to adjust but its sure to be interesting." Winter after final inspection puts the helmet on with a distinct hiss as the plates encircle his head

"Shall we go, Scythe is waiting at the transport"

"lets"

Looking over the inventory list Scythe couldn't help but gawk at the volume of stuff Winter was bringing and had already been delivered. Twenty thousand rounds of ammunition half of which was AP and the other a new MK II HE. A thousand rounds of a new high-velocity grenade type likely for the launcher that goes underneath the rifle. Dozens of mines, normal grenades, modified shurikens with yet more explosive filler. His old armor, multiple plasma casters including a small shoulder-mounted triple-barreled version, a dozen spare blades and combi sticks, and lastly. Scythes eyes bulged from this one, " A modified 84mm shoulder-fired recoilless rifle with again a hundred rounds of ammunition!?"

Winter and Spirit showed up with the last of Winters supplies, mostly medical and skulls

"Nice Suit, now tell me as to why you need enough ordinance to blow up a Pauking moon?" Scythe was flabbergasted, he knew Winter liked overkill but this was in the zone of crazy.

" I don't know how long I'm going to be with your clan or be resupplied so I made it a point to pack enough to last a while. Plus I've been itching to try some new toys should the mission demand it."

"Really like what, this anti-armor weapon for lack of a better term could vaporize a whole hive. You are aware we have plasma cannons this big that do the same job right"

"True but those systems give away one's position and they don't quite have the area coverage that I like. The M3 Gustave enhancement is yet another human-derived toy redesigned with Predator technology, while it lacks the ability to transform into a plasma cannon, the three warheads types ranging from flechette, high explosive, and high explosive armor piercing. Makes it useful in destroying massive groups and small ships if needed."

Spirit couldn't help but smile at this but it was time to stop the quarreling. " Can you two stop with the dramatics already. It's nearly time to say goodby and I want to have some alone time for at least a few nano cycles, Winter".

"yea, yea I can take a hint, I'll be in the ship bunks getting much-needed rest".

"He has changed since last we met, don't think he will be fond of leading a group. Still, I wish we could spend more time together than we have now unless you want to join me Spirit." Scythe holds her in his arms

"Sorry Scythe but my place is here but do be safe out there and please keep a discrete eye on him. Despite everything Winter is practically my brother so try not to get yourselves killed".

"Snort, he's too cautious to die, if the new armor he's wearing is anything to go by." Releasing his hold on her. "Goodbye Spirit and keep in touch."

"I will."

Marching back into the ship Scythe preps for take-off, finally leaving Yeager 1.