Halo: The Nameless War
Chapter 7: Saving Captain Keyes
"Omega Team this is Cortana. I'm having a little trouble receiving you. I'm afraid your transmissions won't be able to reach the chief and I here unless you have a very powerful AI. The fact that I could read your signal tells me that you have an AI, not and very strong one but an AI nonetheless. However, there are more pressing matters at hand. Captain Keyes has gone to try and intercept another one those mines I sent you to. The Covenant have been very busy, you may remember the camp you discovered when you landed. Head there and aid him. The fact that you are transmitting tells me you took the weapon from the Covenant. My guess is it was the AI. How you escaped the Covenant they sent to retrieve them is beyond me but now you must hurry. An AI would be a great help to the captain, see to it that he gets it."
"Bad news," called James Williams from near the front of the Pelican, "our transmission couldn't reach Cortana, there must be some interference blocking the airways. She thinks the AI is the weapon the Covenant was mining, she has no idea about the Flood. That's not the worst part. The other camp, another like this, Captain Keyes has gone on our mission."
"After all we did to him and he goes off to get himself killed?" called Miller, almost shouting in exasperation, "we have to help him."
"Yes sir," replied Williams, "in the meantime I'm going to search the Covenant airways. They must be sending out tactical data of how to deal with the Flood. I'll keep you informed."
They travelled for three hours, Williams constantly on his panel and everyone else fitting every weapon they could on any part of their bodies. On the way to the Pelican they can taken out another Covenant battalion with one of Ried's bombs. They had taken everything of worth, knowing they were likely to be gutted by the Flood before they could die. Because of this they were now equipped with two plasma batteries each for Plasma Rifles. Everyone without one had taken one. At the end of the trip, when they were nearing the Covenant camp Williams gave them an update.
"The Flood are causing more problems than the Covenant thought possible. They started off attacking patrol groups, taking the odd Elite here and there you know. When they had enough they attacked a Marine camp. The Marines didn't stand a chance. Then apparently, they took over the Marines like they did the Elites, creating a sort of super human. Now they're equipped with Shotguns, Pistols, Assault Rifles and worse. Rocket Launchers. When they had this they attacked a Covenant base set up here and slaughtered everything inside. In just three hours they now hold a quarter of Halo. Yet, they've stayed away from the Master Chief somehow. I think they're avoiding any real carnage until they have a proper foothold, but that won't take long."
"How the hell are we meant to stop them?" asked Gainer, holding her Shotgun tightly, "if they can take anything that tries to kill them we don't stand a chance."
"Yes, we do," said Jerkin, not in his usual positive manner, but determinably, "on Halo they are isolated. The autumn is out of action so they can't use that to get off. Call me old fashioned but when I saw their eyes I noted they probably didn't have half a brain cell between all of them, and there are a hell of a lot of them. They know what they're doing tactically, but I think it likely they're picking up all transmissions and stopping them. Now our transmission could have jeopardised this. We basically informed them that Captain Keyes was alone and needed help. If they can take him over they get enough to last a long time. One, he can fix the ship, not himself but he knows how. 2, he's surrounded my Marines, more soldiers. 3, he's at a camp, they will want to release their brothers and sisters. Now as long as the Covenant keep them off the Truth and Reconciliation they can't get off this rock and they will be protecting that cruiser with every life they've got. If we act fast, we can get the captain, fix the ship and not have to worry about the Covenant chasing us because of his or her own problems. We can fly over and destroy their ship and then we can get out of here. It's simple enough, we get the captain, and we survive. Let's go."
They moved quickly, staying quiet but still whispering possibilities of what the Flood could be. Mesa came up with the great idea of comparing it to the flu. If it manages to sneak into one and infect them, an epidemic starts unless the incident can be isolated. They moved towards the camp and, as they first set eyes on it they saw the Flood rushing in. It seemed Jerkin was right.
They rushed into the camp after the Flood. As they reached the bottom they came into a room where there was blood but no bodies. Above them was a narrow walkway that stretched between two doors above them. They proceeded onwards, but as they entered the next room they heard a deafening roar, then came the sound of gunfire.
They turned and saw a large hole in the wall near the entrance passage leading into another room. They rushed in and headed down the corridor until they found the source of the disturbance.
Around the room were many overturned tables, Omega Team hid quickly behind them. Across from them, on the opposite side but firing from the same position was another team of Marines. In the middle of the room was a furious and greatly physical battle between the Covenant and the Flood. Neither was making much headway.
The fight was reckless. The Covenant had a desperate fury that was frightening. However, the Flood were slowly chipping down the ranks of the enemy. They fought relentlessly until the other Marine team sent across their plan of action. As one, all sixteen Marines launched frag grenades into the midst of the battle. The Marines hadn't even been noticed. The explosion rippled outwards, sending pieces of the enemies across the room. It was clear. The teams climbed over the tables and ran to meet each other in the middle of the room.
"Thank god you turned up," yelled the captain of the other team, shaking Miller's arm furiously, "when we first saw those things turn up we thought we were done for, but then they started attacking the Covenant. We were glad and we didn't damage them for a while. After that I got a scratch across the leg, nothing serious, but enough to get us hiding from the battle."
"Where's Captain Keyes?" questioned Miller, "were you separated?"
"No, we were sent here by Cortana. They say the captain got in trouble further in. He opened up a room the Covenant were calling the armoury. Then some thing, whatever the hell it was, came flying out at him. He's pinned down now, we were sent in to get him out."
"Then we'd better get moving before he becomes one of those bastards himself."
They moved quickly, following Williams' directions. As they reached the door the captain was in they saw a horde of Covenant rush from a side passage, half of them into the room and half of them straight towards them. The Covenant were fortifying. The troops were already mostly injured or hurt but as they saw the teams above them they screamed in rage. Too late, a frag was already in the middle of them, sending them this way and that. They mopped up the last with their guns and moved on.
They made it into the room and saw it was large and square with doors all around it. The captain was trapped in a corner by Flood, fighting them back just barely and thanks in part to the Covenant attacking the Flood also from a different angle. The fight was brutal, Covenant were resorting to just clubbing their enemies rather than shooting them, albeit it was far more effective. The two teams moved in, afraid to attack in case they endangered the captain. The moved around the side and saw a battalion of Flood rushing in at them. The teams turned their weapons and shot at anything that moved.
Before they realised it the Beta Team Sniper was taken out with a vicious scratch from a combat Flood. Omega Team moved back but Beta Team, now blind with revenge on their minds, pushed forwards at the zombified human looking Flood that had killed their sniper.
An explosion blew in the higher parts of the room and a hold was presented. Covenant rushed in and straight at the Flood, now caught in a circle of death. The two teams moved away into a corner. Another explosion, more Covenant. It was getting desperate; they had to get the captain out. Reid raised her Rocket Launcher and fired, leaving the Covenant forces devastated and several Flood dead also. She fired another, dealing with a good bulk of the Flood. She began reloading, turning away from the battle she looked up and saw a combat Flood holding a Rocket Launcher.
Another explosion, more Covenant. Another, but this time eight small flying robots flew in, attacking the Flood and any Covenant unlucky enough to be caught in the beam. Omega Team rushed towards the captain, but a stray Flood grabbed hold of him, injuring his gut and ran from the battle. The Flood began to flee as a small blue robot flew down to Williams of Electronics.
"You have released the Flood, now every life form is in danger. I am Guilty Spark 343 and I have been programmed to find the best help against the Flood. But first I must find extra aid. Come here, I have a job for you."
There was a flash of yellow light and the teams were gone. The last remaining Covenant, now finishing off the grey flying robots shooting lasers, disbanded, chasing the Flood.
Chapter 7: Saving Captain Keyes
"Omega Team this is Cortana. I'm having a little trouble receiving you. I'm afraid your transmissions won't be able to reach the chief and I here unless you have a very powerful AI. The fact that I could read your signal tells me that you have an AI, not and very strong one but an AI nonetheless. However, there are more pressing matters at hand. Captain Keyes has gone to try and intercept another one those mines I sent you to. The Covenant have been very busy, you may remember the camp you discovered when you landed. Head there and aid him. The fact that you are transmitting tells me you took the weapon from the Covenant. My guess is it was the AI. How you escaped the Covenant they sent to retrieve them is beyond me but now you must hurry. An AI would be a great help to the captain, see to it that he gets it."
"Bad news," called James Williams from near the front of the Pelican, "our transmission couldn't reach Cortana, there must be some interference blocking the airways. She thinks the AI is the weapon the Covenant was mining, she has no idea about the Flood. That's not the worst part. The other camp, another like this, Captain Keyes has gone on our mission."
"After all we did to him and he goes off to get himself killed?" called Miller, almost shouting in exasperation, "we have to help him."
"Yes sir," replied Williams, "in the meantime I'm going to search the Covenant airways. They must be sending out tactical data of how to deal with the Flood. I'll keep you informed."
They travelled for three hours, Williams constantly on his panel and everyone else fitting every weapon they could on any part of their bodies. On the way to the Pelican they can taken out another Covenant battalion with one of Ried's bombs. They had taken everything of worth, knowing they were likely to be gutted by the Flood before they could die. Because of this they were now equipped with two plasma batteries each for Plasma Rifles. Everyone without one had taken one. At the end of the trip, when they were nearing the Covenant camp Williams gave them an update.
"The Flood are causing more problems than the Covenant thought possible. They started off attacking patrol groups, taking the odd Elite here and there you know. When they had enough they attacked a Marine camp. The Marines didn't stand a chance. Then apparently, they took over the Marines like they did the Elites, creating a sort of super human. Now they're equipped with Shotguns, Pistols, Assault Rifles and worse. Rocket Launchers. When they had this they attacked a Covenant base set up here and slaughtered everything inside. In just three hours they now hold a quarter of Halo. Yet, they've stayed away from the Master Chief somehow. I think they're avoiding any real carnage until they have a proper foothold, but that won't take long."
"How the hell are we meant to stop them?" asked Gainer, holding her Shotgun tightly, "if they can take anything that tries to kill them we don't stand a chance."
"Yes, we do," said Jerkin, not in his usual positive manner, but determinably, "on Halo they are isolated. The autumn is out of action so they can't use that to get off. Call me old fashioned but when I saw their eyes I noted they probably didn't have half a brain cell between all of them, and there are a hell of a lot of them. They know what they're doing tactically, but I think it likely they're picking up all transmissions and stopping them. Now our transmission could have jeopardised this. We basically informed them that Captain Keyes was alone and needed help. If they can take him over they get enough to last a long time. One, he can fix the ship, not himself but he knows how. 2, he's surrounded my Marines, more soldiers. 3, he's at a camp, they will want to release their brothers and sisters. Now as long as the Covenant keep them off the Truth and Reconciliation they can't get off this rock and they will be protecting that cruiser with every life they've got. If we act fast, we can get the captain, fix the ship and not have to worry about the Covenant chasing us because of his or her own problems. We can fly over and destroy their ship and then we can get out of here. It's simple enough, we get the captain, and we survive. Let's go."
They moved quickly, staying quiet but still whispering possibilities of what the Flood could be. Mesa came up with the great idea of comparing it to the flu. If it manages to sneak into one and infect them, an epidemic starts unless the incident can be isolated. They moved towards the camp and, as they first set eyes on it they saw the Flood rushing in. It seemed Jerkin was right.
They rushed into the camp after the Flood. As they reached the bottom they came into a room where there was blood but no bodies. Above them was a narrow walkway that stretched between two doors above them. They proceeded onwards, but as they entered the next room they heard a deafening roar, then came the sound of gunfire.
They turned and saw a large hole in the wall near the entrance passage leading into another room. They rushed in and headed down the corridor until they found the source of the disturbance.
Around the room were many overturned tables, Omega Team hid quickly behind them. Across from them, on the opposite side but firing from the same position was another team of Marines. In the middle of the room was a furious and greatly physical battle between the Covenant and the Flood. Neither was making much headway.
The fight was reckless. The Covenant had a desperate fury that was frightening. However, the Flood were slowly chipping down the ranks of the enemy. They fought relentlessly until the other Marine team sent across their plan of action. As one, all sixteen Marines launched frag grenades into the midst of the battle. The Marines hadn't even been noticed. The explosion rippled outwards, sending pieces of the enemies across the room. It was clear. The teams climbed over the tables and ran to meet each other in the middle of the room.
"Thank god you turned up," yelled the captain of the other team, shaking Miller's arm furiously, "when we first saw those things turn up we thought we were done for, but then they started attacking the Covenant. We were glad and we didn't damage them for a while. After that I got a scratch across the leg, nothing serious, but enough to get us hiding from the battle."
"Where's Captain Keyes?" questioned Miller, "were you separated?"
"No, we were sent here by Cortana. They say the captain got in trouble further in. He opened up a room the Covenant were calling the armoury. Then some thing, whatever the hell it was, came flying out at him. He's pinned down now, we were sent in to get him out."
"Then we'd better get moving before he becomes one of those bastards himself."
They moved quickly, following Williams' directions. As they reached the door the captain was in they saw a horde of Covenant rush from a side passage, half of them into the room and half of them straight towards them. The Covenant were fortifying. The troops were already mostly injured or hurt but as they saw the teams above them they screamed in rage. Too late, a frag was already in the middle of them, sending them this way and that. They mopped up the last with their guns and moved on.
They made it into the room and saw it was large and square with doors all around it. The captain was trapped in a corner by Flood, fighting them back just barely and thanks in part to the Covenant attacking the Flood also from a different angle. The fight was brutal, Covenant were resorting to just clubbing their enemies rather than shooting them, albeit it was far more effective. The two teams moved in, afraid to attack in case they endangered the captain. The moved around the side and saw a battalion of Flood rushing in at them. The teams turned their weapons and shot at anything that moved.
Before they realised it the Beta Team Sniper was taken out with a vicious scratch from a combat Flood. Omega Team moved back but Beta Team, now blind with revenge on their minds, pushed forwards at the zombified human looking Flood that had killed their sniper.
An explosion blew in the higher parts of the room and a hold was presented. Covenant rushed in and straight at the Flood, now caught in a circle of death. The two teams moved away into a corner. Another explosion, more Covenant. It was getting desperate; they had to get the captain out. Reid raised her Rocket Launcher and fired, leaving the Covenant forces devastated and several Flood dead also. She fired another, dealing with a good bulk of the Flood. She began reloading, turning away from the battle she looked up and saw a combat Flood holding a Rocket Launcher.
Another explosion, more Covenant. Another, but this time eight small flying robots flew in, attacking the Flood and any Covenant unlucky enough to be caught in the beam. Omega Team rushed towards the captain, but a stray Flood grabbed hold of him, injuring his gut and ran from the battle. The Flood began to flee as a small blue robot flew down to Williams of Electronics.
"You have released the Flood, now every life form is in danger. I am Guilty Spark 343 and I have been programmed to find the best help against the Flood. But first I must find extra aid. Come here, I have a job for you."
There was a flash of yellow light and the teams were gone. The last remaining Covenant, now finishing off the grey flying robots shooting lasers, disbanded, chasing the Flood.