They opened the doors to the drop ship and Aali and John looked down at
what they were getting into. And nothing was there.
"What is this? I thought we were fighting??"
They don't know we are here yet, we'd like to keep it that way also, so.you're being sent in to eliminate them before they inform the rest.
"Oh, alright, am I going first, or are you John?"
"Alright, I'll go first, me and my team will go left, while your team will go right, we'll keep in contact with the COM channel, check in every 10 minutes, alright?"
"Right, everyone got that?" asked Aali, and the rest of her team acknowledged.
John then jumped out silently and his team followed, then Aali and her team jumped out.
After about 5 minutes of walking silently, John came in on Aali's COM.
"Have anything yet?"
"Nothing"
"Have Athena run a radar scan."
"Alright, Athena, run a life-form scan, it seems that nothing is here."
Very well Master Chief. No Life Forms found.
"John, Athena found nothing, what about Cortana?"
"Nothing.this is weird."
Then David came in the COM.
"Can I give my feed back?"
"Go ahead."
"Do you think it is possible that the Covenant DO know we are here.?"
A swift Silence took over, then John's voice was heard.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that, maybe the Covenant know we are here, but they are staying out of our way for a reason.a trap maybe.maybe we're walking further and further into it."
Silence took over again.
David Spade has a very good point. The Covenant have been tricky like that, I wouldn't put it past them.
Perhaps we should stay here and wait for them to come to us?
"And if they don't?" asked John, "I say we should continue moving, just more cautiously."
A short moment went by while John was ordering his team.
"The call is yours, Aali.I've given my team there orders, your turn.hear from you in another 10."
The COM closed down and Aali looked at her team as they waited for orders.
"Lets go, just watch yourself, and Athena, is it possible that you can keep a life form censor ongoing?"
Yes. I can do that.
"Then do so."
Very well. Life Form Censor up, picking up 0% enemy movement.
"Thank you Athena, now, lets go."
They continued moving for about 8 minutes, then Athena came in.
5% enemy movement West.
"5% how many would that be?" Aali asked.
One of the Following, 10 Grunts, 5 Elites 1 group of the Flood.
"No way to tell which?"
Too far to tell now.
"Alright everyone, we have movement to the west of us, get ready, because we have no way of knowing what it is that we could be against."
Eric then ran forward and took out his Sniper Rifle.
"Request permission to snipe from the trees?"
"Permission granted, go!"
Eric then left the group and started climbing.
Aali and Josh took out there pistols, while David had a Shotgun, and Paul was hooked up with a rocket launcher.
They stood extremely still, until Eric came in on the COM.
"10 minutes since last contact with Red Team."
"Thanks Eric."
Aali then opened the COM to John.
"John, Come in, Blue Master Chief here."
"Red Master Chief here, you're 23 seconds late"
"Yes well, Athena has reported movement."
"Is that right? What Percentage?"
10% Enemy Movement detected.
"What!? It was 5% before"
"Look's like you guys are gonna have some fun, tell me if you need us, alright?"
"Right."
Aali closed the COM channel and went back to Athena.
"Are you sure it's 10% now?"
Very sure.
"Eric, do you see anything?"
"Uhh.I think, but I can't be sure."
Then the sound of a sniper rifle was heard through the forest, Aali jumped back to him.
"Get a Silencer on that thing now!"
Eric agreed and got one on before the next shot.
Then, nothing was heard.
"What's happening?"
"I don't see anything anymore." said Eric.
"Athena."
Still 10% life form detected.most likely hiding, Master Chief.
"I guess so."
Then suddenly, an Elite was seen about 3 feet to the left of Aali, she jumped back as it slashed at her and she started shooting it with her pistol. It had no shield, but it wasn't dying either.
"Athena! Help me out here!"
Very well, Elites, there only weak spots are the orange areas on them, shoot the orange areas.
"Thank you!"
She then aimed for 2 seconds and with one clean shot took the Elite out. Aali then quickly turned and watched as another Elite tackled David. But she couldn't get a clean shot at it, and as soon as she called Eric's name, the Elite fell limp and blue blood oozed from a wound in it's head.
Head shots work well also.
"Gee thanks now."
She then watched as about 10 grunts came at them. Aali switched from her pistol and took out her assault Rifle, but with Paul's rocket launcher, half of them were already dead by the time Aali got to firing.
"Life Form Check."
0% Master Chief.that was our battle of the day, 1 out of the 3 groups have now been taken out.
"That was one of the groups?" she said surprised.
Then Eric jumped down from the tree.
"Shit, if that's all there is, then I'm not gonna beg for more.if that's all they wanna give us, fine."
"I guess you have a point.Athena, open COM with 117."
Very Well.
"Red Master Chief here" said John.
"We took out the first group of the Covenant."
"It was only a 10% threat.and it was supposedly a group?" asked John.
"They seem better than before.perhaps the AI's were correct, the have been doing there Homework while they were here." Said Aali.
"Well, if you took out the group, then we're done for the night, lets head back to the ship, good job Aali." He said.
"Thank you."
"I presume everyone got out ok?"
Aali turned to David.
"I'm fine, just got the wind knocked out of me." David said.
"Great, then lets get back." Said John.
The COM closed again.
"Ok Athena, how do we get back?"
Follow this map. Athena set a map to Aali's headset and they began walking back.
"Very nice all of you!" congratulated Dr. Slattery.
"Yes, that was great team work I must admit." added Dr. Benton.
I should say, that it would be a good Idea that the Spartans get some sleep now, especially Blue team.
"I like that idea!" said John, smiling.
Aali then stumbled into her bed area, she was sharing it with John, David, Danny and Paul.
She fell onto her bed and took a deep breath, it was actually a fresh smelling pillow, and sheets. She lifted her head and looked around to the guys she was docking with, David and Danny were playing cards, Paul was reading and John was thinking again. She got up and walked to John.
"You ok?" she asked.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" he asked back.
She lowered her sight to his hand, it was trembling slightly, she then sat her hand on his.
"I don't think you should be here anymore." she said calmly.
"What do you mean?" he asked curiously.
"Well, you've been training since you were 6, and now you're 22, I think it's time you."
She stopped because she felt his gaze on her.
".I think you should hang up the MJOLNIR armor, John."
Silence took over the room, even Danny and David stopped playing cards at this, and Paul looked up from his book.
"You're crazy Aali." said John.
But then she grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back into the headrest.
"Don't call me crazy John! I know what I'm talking about! And this place, this life is tearing you limb from limb and I'm tired of watching it!"
He sat silently and stared into her brown eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Aali."
"DAMNIT JOHN! LISTEN TO ME!" she cried
She then looked around and realized that everyone was watching them, but she moved closer to his ear and whispered after that.
"John, I care soo deeply about you, I know what you've been through, I've followed your life and I know everything that's happened. I am so deep into it you can't tell me that I don't know how it feels, because I do. I'm worried about my team too, but John, you have to, and I mean HAVE to follow orders, the orders are there for a reason.you have to promise me that you will follow them." she whispered lightly.
He took a breath in and spoke softly.
"And if I don't?"
"I'll get you Court Marshaled." She answered plainly.
He pushed her away and looked surprised.
"You wouldn't!"
"I would in a second if I have any reason to believe that you are not going to follow Orders, damn John, you of all people should know the importance of following orders.or maybe you should read the files, code- named 'The Fall of Reach' to understand exactly how you were at one point."
He sat silent.
"John, I know that you still hurt after losing your Spartans, I know you can't sleep because of it, and I know that you don't want it to happen again.but, I WILL have you court marshaled if I believe you will risk your life to save the lives of the inferior, as Cortana calls them."
"I hate it when Cortana calls them that." sighed John, "Any of them could be Master Chief right along with me, maybe even better, but she makes it sound like they are the human shields that will protect us."
Aali Closed her eyes and shook her head slowly.
"Unfortunately, they are just that."
"What is this? I thought we were fighting??"
They don't know we are here yet, we'd like to keep it that way also, so.you're being sent in to eliminate them before they inform the rest.
"Oh, alright, am I going first, or are you John?"
"Alright, I'll go first, me and my team will go left, while your team will go right, we'll keep in contact with the COM channel, check in every 10 minutes, alright?"
"Right, everyone got that?" asked Aali, and the rest of her team acknowledged.
John then jumped out silently and his team followed, then Aali and her team jumped out.
After about 5 minutes of walking silently, John came in on Aali's COM.
"Have anything yet?"
"Nothing"
"Have Athena run a radar scan."
"Alright, Athena, run a life-form scan, it seems that nothing is here."
Very well Master Chief. No Life Forms found.
"John, Athena found nothing, what about Cortana?"
"Nothing.this is weird."
Then David came in the COM.
"Can I give my feed back?"
"Go ahead."
"Do you think it is possible that the Covenant DO know we are here.?"
A swift Silence took over, then John's voice was heard.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that, maybe the Covenant know we are here, but they are staying out of our way for a reason.a trap maybe.maybe we're walking further and further into it."
Silence took over again.
David Spade has a very good point. The Covenant have been tricky like that, I wouldn't put it past them.
Perhaps we should stay here and wait for them to come to us?
"And if they don't?" asked John, "I say we should continue moving, just more cautiously."
A short moment went by while John was ordering his team.
"The call is yours, Aali.I've given my team there orders, your turn.hear from you in another 10."
The COM closed down and Aali looked at her team as they waited for orders.
"Lets go, just watch yourself, and Athena, is it possible that you can keep a life form censor ongoing?"
Yes. I can do that.
"Then do so."
Very well. Life Form Censor up, picking up 0% enemy movement.
"Thank you Athena, now, lets go."
They continued moving for about 8 minutes, then Athena came in.
5% enemy movement West.
"5% how many would that be?" Aali asked.
One of the Following, 10 Grunts, 5 Elites 1 group of the Flood.
"No way to tell which?"
Too far to tell now.
"Alright everyone, we have movement to the west of us, get ready, because we have no way of knowing what it is that we could be against."
Eric then ran forward and took out his Sniper Rifle.
"Request permission to snipe from the trees?"
"Permission granted, go!"
Eric then left the group and started climbing.
Aali and Josh took out there pistols, while David had a Shotgun, and Paul was hooked up with a rocket launcher.
They stood extremely still, until Eric came in on the COM.
"10 minutes since last contact with Red Team."
"Thanks Eric."
Aali then opened the COM to John.
"John, Come in, Blue Master Chief here."
"Red Master Chief here, you're 23 seconds late"
"Yes well, Athena has reported movement."
"Is that right? What Percentage?"
10% Enemy Movement detected.
"What!? It was 5% before"
"Look's like you guys are gonna have some fun, tell me if you need us, alright?"
"Right."
Aali closed the COM channel and went back to Athena.
"Are you sure it's 10% now?"
Very sure.
"Eric, do you see anything?"
"Uhh.I think, but I can't be sure."
Then the sound of a sniper rifle was heard through the forest, Aali jumped back to him.
"Get a Silencer on that thing now!"
Eric agreed and got one on before the next shot.
Then, nothing was heard.
"What's happening?"
"I don't see anything anymore." said Eric.
"Athena."
Still 10% life form detected.most likely hiding, Master Chief.
"I guess so."
Then suddenly, an Elite was seen about 3 feet to the left of Aali, she jumped back as it slashed at her and she started shooting it with her pistol. It had no shield, but it wasn't dying either.
"Athena! Help me out here!"
Very well, Elites, there only weak spots are the orange areas on them, shoot the orange areas.
"Thank you!"
She then aimed for 2 seconds and with one clean shot took the Elite out. Aali then quickly turned and watched as another Elite tackled David. But she couldn't get a clean shot at it, and as soon as she called Eric's name, the Elite fell limp and blue blood oozed from a wound in it's head.
Head shots work well also.
"Gee thanks now."
She then watched as about 10 grunts came at them. Aali switched from her pistol and took out her assault Rifle, but with Paul's rocket launcher, half of them were already dead by the time Aali got to firing.
"Life Form Check."
0% Master Chief.that was our battle of the day, 1 out of the 3 groups have now been taken out.
"That was one of the groups?" she said surprised.
Then Eric jumped down from the tree.
"Shit, if that's all there is, then I'm not gonna beg for more.if that's all they wanna give us, fine."
"I guess you have a point.Athena, open COM with 117."
Very Well.
"Red Master Chief here" said John.
"We took out the first group of the Covenant."
"It was only a 10% threat.and it was supposedly a group?" asked John.
"They seem better than before.perhaps the AI's were correct, the have been doing there Homework while they were here." Said Aali.
"Well, if you took out the group, then we're done for the night, lets head back to the ship, good job Aali." He said.
"Thank you."
"I presume everyone got out ok?"
Aali turned to David.
"I'm fine, just got the wind knocked out of me." David said.
"Great, then lets get back." Said John.
The COM closed again.
"Ok Athena, how do we get back?"
Follow this map. Athena set a map to Aali's headset and they began walking back.
"Very nice all of you!" congratulated Dr. Slattery.
"Yes, that was great team work I must admit." added Dr. Benton.
I should say, that it would be a good Idea that the Spartans get some sleep now, especially Blue team.
"I like that idea!" said John, smiling.
Aali then stumbled into her bed area, she was sharing it with John, David, Danny and Paul.
She fell onto her bed and took a deep breath, it was actually a fresh smelling pillow, and sheets. She lifted her head and looked around to the guys she was docking with, David and Danny were playing cards, Paul was reading and John was thinking again. She got up and walked to John.
"You ok?" she asked.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" he asked back.
She lowered her sight to his hand, it was trembling slightly, she then sat her hand on his.
"I don't think you should be here anymore." she said calmly.
"What do you mean?" he asked curiously.
"Well, you've been training since you were 6, and now you're 22, I think it's time you."
She stopped because she felt his gaze on her.
".I think you should hang up the MJOLNIR armor, John."
Silence took over the room, even Danny and David stopped playing cards at this, and Paul looked up from his book.
"You're crazy Aali." said John.
But then she grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back into the headrest.
"Don't call me crazy John! I know what I'm talking about! And this place, this life is tearing you limb from limb and I'm tired of watching it!"
He sat silently and stared into her brown eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Aali."
"DAMNIT JOHN! LISTEN TO ME!" she cried
She then looked around and realized that everyone was watching them, but she moved closer to his ear and whispered after that.
"John, I care soo deeply about you, I know what you've been through, I've followed your life and I know everything that's happened. I am so deep into it you can't tell me that I don't know how it feels, because I do. I'm worried about my team too, but John, you have to, and I mean HAVE to follow orders, the orders are there for a reason.you have to promise me that you will follow them." she whispered lightly.
He took a breath in and spoke softly.
"And if I don't?"
"I'll get you Court Marshaled." She answered plainly.
He pushed her away and looked surprised.
"You wouldn't!"
"I would in a second if I have any reason to believe that you are not going to follow Orders, damn John, you of all people should know the importance of following orders.or maybe you should read the files, code- named 'The Fall of Reach' to understand exactly how you were at one point."
He sat silent.
"John, I know that you still hurt after losing your Spartans, I know you can't sleep because of it, and I know that you don't want it to happen again.but, I WILL have you court marshaled if I believe you will risk your life to save the lives of the inferior, as Cortana calls them."
"I hate it when Cortana calls them that." sighed John, "Any of them could be Master Chief right along with me, maybe even better, but she makes it sound like they are the human shields that will protect us."
Aali Closed her eyes and shook her head slowly.
"Unfortunately, they are just that."