Chapter 3 #3

The Longsword exited slipspace and Master Chief was awoken from his cryo chamber. Reluctantly, he took some of the inhalant.

Chief! Wake up. Look at this! Cortana exclaimed.

As the Chief rose from his chamber, he saw another Halo.

"God damn it! Who the HELL is messing with the slipspace drive?"

All of a sudden, the ship lurched forward and entered the atmosphere. The Chief braced for impact.

BOOM! All was silent. MC got up and exited the now broken Longsword. He gaped in wonder. Outside, the land was completely drowned in sand. The desert spanned as far as the eye could see. Out of nowhere, a ship appeared. It seemed to be searching for something. Then, MC recognized the purple plating… the Covenant.

He ran into the Longsword and quickly armed himself with a rocket launcher. 5 rockets were fired but they only drew attention to the big drop ship.

Why are you standing there! Get ready to fight! Cortana screamed.

Without hesitation the Chief grabbed a M6D pistol and an assault rifle. As the Elites and Grunts unloaded, Master Chief chucked a Frag. Grenade. Only 3 Grunts were killed. The chief charged at an Elite firing his assault rifle and smacking the bastard. He took out the rest with his pistol.

Might want to get a plasma pistol before you go. Cortana suggested.

MC heeded Cortana and took a plasma pistol and a few plasma grenades from the scattered, dead bodies. Cortana scanned the area for more Covenants, but none were found. They set out northbound.

After a few miles, MC tripped on a hard object. The object resembled a button. The Chief cautiously pressed the red button and quickly stepped away. Slowly, a hatch opened. Sand poured in the seemingly bottomless hole.

"Go down?" The Mater Chief asked.

Might as well.

He climbed in and dropped. It was about a few seconds before he reached the bottom. The passage dropped down into what looked like a laboratory. The computers and instruments were all labeled with the unmistakable Covenant language.

You think they are researching the Flood too?

"I wouldn't doubt it." The Master Chief replied. "So that's why this planet is so significant to them."

MC walked on exploring the alien equipment.

Insert me into the computer maybe I can get some information. This program is fairly complicated. I think we have underestimated the Covenant's technology. They have been researching the flood for many years. Before they vowed to kill us.

They found a door leading into a cell chamber. Inside was hundreds of Flood jailed behind a large plasma screen.
"Not the Flood."

Just leave them alone. We need to disable this Halo. Right now we are approximately 500 miles from the Halo control room. I can set some coordinates and teleport us there. Ok I got it.

MC vanished into thin air. He reappeared in a snow-covered terrain. With his M6D pistol and plasma pistol, MC marched into the control room. Inside, 2 Hunters and 3 Commander Elites was waiting for him. Both sides were surprised to see each other. After a second of staring, Master Chief opened fire on one of the gold Elites. The 3 Elites lurched at him while the hunters stayed behind. One Elite's shield was depleted, then it was dead. MC fired like crazy. As the Commander Elite fell, MC grabbed the Elite's plasma sword and started slashing wildly. Luckily, he was able to slash through one, but the last Commander just wouldn't give up. The determined Covenant slashed, barely stabbing the Chief in the heart. Finally with one quick stab, MC was able to kill the Commander. Almost forgetting the Hunters, Master Chief did a little celebration. The Hunters charged at him attempting to smack him but MC had faster reflexes. Just when one Hunter revealed it's neck, MC quickly emptied a shell of plasma pistol right on target. The heavy body gave a dull thud as it dropped lifelessly to the ground. The other Hunter was now very pissed. Being careful not to reveal it's unprotected parts, the Hunter charged. MC moved to the right, then left, dodging every whack. The Chief had just smacked the Hunter. He turned back and saw a lime green fireball coming straight at him. The blast was so powerful; MC's shields were completely gone. He ducked behind a crate but the Hunter was no idiot. It lifted the heavy box and was just about to slam it on MC. MC rolled to the right and got up. Armed with a M6D pistol, he pumped a whole cartridge into the beast's neck. The massive plating clanked on the floor.

Now, to disable the planet. We can't blow it up because we have no ship to escape on.

"Damn! We should go back to the Longsword and try to fix it."

As MC walked outside, he saw a Covenant cruiser but no sign of enemies.

We could escape on that cruiser. But than again, there are bound to be Covenant on it.

" We're just gonna have to take that chance. Cortana activate self-destruct sequence." MC inserted Cortana into the AI slot.

The Master Chief ran out the door. A group of Jackals spotted him and started chasing. The Chief ignored them running as fast as he could trying to reach the cruiser on time. The cruiser door closed just before the Jackals got in.

"That was close." The Master Chief panted.