CHAPTER 5
2213 Hours, August 13, 2553 (Military Calendar)/ Inside Daygars compound on planet Raiek
Alex drove full speed after the moving Marines. He wanted to keep up with them and protect them if need be, and the only way to do that was to make sure the two forces didn't get separated. Pressing the pedal into the floor of the Warthog, Alex called back to his troops. "All right, everyone! We have no idea where James is, but regardless, we have to follow those Marines into the complex. This is going to be more complicated than we thought."
Gripping the side bar of the Warthog, Jarrett talked to his brother firmly. "How is that? Why don't we just blow the heck out of this place and leave?"
Alex sighed. "It won't be that easy. According to that Captain, there is a Prophet on this planet. To truly destroy this place, we have to kill him first. As long as he lives, Raiek will be free to prosper and free to use that cannon against us. If even one shot gets a hit in to the Colonies, we're history."
Jason looked to where the Marines were heading. Night was falling, and none of them wanted to be around when darkness came. He spoke clearly into his mic after verifying with Alex. "Slow down, troops. The Spartans have a plan!"
Within seconds, the other Warthogs and ATVs slowed to a stop and circled around the Spartans. Alex dropped from the driver's seat and spoke to the Marines. "Fellow soldiers!" he called. "Night will soon be upon us. As I speak, James is trying to save Foehammer above our heads." Every Marine looked up to see Foehammer circling. "Once he rescues it, or if, the Marines will leave, and we shall camp out here. While we're here, we'll try to locate the best place to move in tomorrow morning. That is when we shall storm the fortress and take it down!"
Cheers rang up at Alex's heroic words. "And that is when the Prophet will fall!"
Jason moved next to Alex. "We have to get moving and find someplace to rest. The Covenant have retreated back inside for night, but in the day they shall return to their Shades atop the roof."
Alex nodded. "Of course. But by then, no one will be around. Let's find a place to stay."
James pulled out his MA5B assault rifle and opened fire. The bullets ripped into the shields of a red-armored Elite. After several shots, his shield failed, and the bullets tore into his side. Howling in pain, he collapsed.
The second, black-colored Spec Ops Elite roared and hurled himself at the Commander. Dodging to one side, James withdrew an M6D pistol in his other hand, and laid the Elite to rest with two shots to the head. The alien's brain blasted out the other side and onto the deckplates.
Just when he thought things were going his way, a Hunter rumbled from the cockpit. "HAHAHAHA!" It laughed at him, mocking him. Dressed from head- to-toe in blue armor, the Hunter bore a shield on its left arm, and a fuel- rod cannon on its right, capable of taking out any Spartan in one shot. Aiming its cannon arm at James, the Hunter roared and fired.
The beam ripped along the ground, tearing out large chunks of metal. Since it was so thick, nothing went through, but the charge was there. The beam narrowly missed James as he leaped out of the way, holding his pistol. The large bolt went out through the same area James had come in, not even grazing the Pelican dropship. Landing softly on a padded section of the wall, James aimed a pistol at the Hunter's head, and fired.
This seemed to only anger it, but that was what he wanted to do. Jumping up, he stood right next to the loading ramp door. "Come on!" James taunted, aiming the pistol right at the Hunter's thickly-armored head. "Let's see what you're made of!" With a howl and a growl, the Hunter charged head-long at James.
Throwing himself to the side, James pounded on the door controls. Hissing open, the doors came fully open in seconds. Unable to stop itself, the Hunter tumbled out the back. With another press, James snapped the doors shut again. James had to stabilize himself with a railing to stop himself from being sucked out.
Running out from the cockpit, the pilot threw his arms around the Spartan. "Oh, how can I ever thank you?" he cried. "There is no way you could ever know how happy I am!"
James tried to shake off the man. "Really," he said, smiling under his mask, "it's no problem." This man was near insanity from being captured for so long.
Just then, the third Elite made himself known. Dressed in full gold combat armor, weilding a plasma sword, the catlike monster hurled himself at James, knocking the two of them backwards. The plasma burned right through the ship's hull, sending them both out the back.
Outside, James grabbed hold of the Dropship's left wing, blown onto it by the air rushing over the wings and suction of the engines. The Elite landed on top of the craft, digging his sword and claws in, trying desperately to maintain his grasp. It was obvious he had not meant for this to happen.
James's pistol clattered away to the ground. But his assault rifle he still had. Drawing it on the Elite, the fired off several rounds. Just then, Foehammer came to a halt. The pilot wanted them to have a fair fight.
Down on the ground, Jarrett pointed up to the dropship, rocking back and forth from the warriors' movements. Alex tapped his comm-link. "James, can you hear me?" he called.
After several seconds, the Commander's voice came back through. "Yes. But I'm in a bit of a situation here. Don't try to help, you might shoot us down. Let me handle it!" Then, the link died.
"What are we going to do?" Bryce asked, staring up with the rest of them.
Alex's reply was simple. "Watch, and wait." Then, he pulled out his sniper's rifle, and aimed it upwards. "If James does need help, I'm here to give it to him. But, I need a clear shot."
Just then, James's pistol clattered to the ground. Jason retrieved it, and craned his neck back to watch the battle.
The Elite slowly stood up. Now that the ship had stopped, he could easily fight his foe. And slaughter him. He moved to the edge, his plasma sword gleaming in the dusk sunlight. "Uoy teg ot eid ylkciuq!"
"Pardon?" James asked.
"EIDDDDDD!" The Elite hurled himself down to the wing. Rolling, James leaped up and hopped two meters straight up to land on the back of the ship. The Elite jumped after him, landing right on his chest, making both of them fall to the hull.
"Get off me!" James cried, pulling the trigger. Swiftly, the Elite rolled to the side, only to receive a swift kick from a metal boot, sending him flying back. James jumped up and aimed the Rifle at the Elite's head. "Freeze!" he cried.
However, the Elite tumbled over the side. James dashed over, but all he could see was sky. Meanwhile, the Elite crawled under the ship, and jumped back up the other side. "Esirprus!" the Elite shouted. He swung the plasma sword, catching James's shoulder.
Grunting in pain, James stumbled back, and the Elite caught him with a kick under his chin, sending him catapulting down to the dropship's wing. Using his hooked boots, James stabilized himself and fired off several rounds from his assault rifle. The Elite sprawled backwards.
Just then, a sniper bullet flew from nowhere and caught the Elite in the leg.
Seizing the opportinuty, James withdrew a Fragmentation Grenade. After pulling the pin, he hurled it at the Elite, who caught it. "Hu ho..." The explosion did not kill, but alas pushed the unfortunate warrior Elite backwards into mid-air, where he fell to his death.
2213 Hours, August 13, 2553 (Military Calendar)/ Inside Daygars compound on planet Raiek
Alex drove full speed after the moving Marines. He wanted to keep up with them and protect them if need be, and the only way to do that was to make sure the two forces didn't get separated. Pressing the pedal into the floor of the Warthog, Alex called back to his troops. "All right, everyone! We have no idea where James is, but regardless, we have to follow those Marines into the complex. This is going to be more complicated than we thought."
Gripping the side bar of the Warthog, Jarrett talked to his brother firmly. "How is that? Why don't we just blow the heck out of this place and leave?"
Alex sighed. "It won't be that easy. According to that Captain, there is a Prophet on this planet. To truly destroy this place, we have to kill him first. As long as he lives, Raiek will be free to prosper and free to use that cannon against us. If even one shot gets a hit in to the Colonies, we're history."
Jason looked to where the Marines were heading. Night was falling, and none of them wanted to be around when darkness came. He spoke clearly into his mic after verifying with Alex. "Slow down, troops. The Spartans have a plan!"
Within seconds, the other Warthogs and ATVs slowed to a stop and circled around the Spartans. Alex dropped from the driver's seat and spoke to the Marines. "Fellow soldiers!" he called. "Night will soon be upon us. As I speak, James is trying to save Foehammer above our heads." Every Marine looked up to see Foehammer circling. "Once he rescues it, or if, the Marines will leave, and we shall camp out here. While we're here, we'll try to locate the best place to move in tomorrow morning. That is when we shall storm the fortress and take it down!"
Cheers rang up at Alex's heroic words. "And that is when the Prophet will fall!"
Jason moved next to Alex. "We have to get moving and find someplace to rest. The Covenant have retreated back inside for night, but in the day they shall return to their Shades atop the roof."
Alex nodded. "Of course. But by then, no one will be around. Let's find a place to stay."
James pulled out his MA5B assault rifle and opened fire. The bullets ripped into the shields of a red-armored Elite. After several shots, his shield failed, and the bullets tore into his side. Howling in pain, he collapsed.
The second, black-colored Spec Ops Elite roared and hurled himself at the Commander. Dodging to one side, James withdrew an M6D pistol in his other hand, and laid the Elite to rest with two shots to the head. The alien's brain blasted out the other side and onto the deckplates.
Just when he thought things were going his way, a Hunter rumbled from the cockpit. "HAHAHAHA!" It laughed at him, mocking him. Dressed from head- to-toe in blue armor, the Hunter bore a shield on its left arm, and a fuel- rod cannon on its right, capable of taking out any Spartan in one shot. Aiming its cannon arm at James, the Hunter roared and fired.
The beam ripped along the ground, tearing out large chunks of metal. Since it was so thick, nothing went through, but the charge was there. The beam narrowly missed James as he leaped out of the way, holding his pistol. The large bolt went out through the same area James had come in, not even grazing the Pelican dropship. Landing softly on a padded section of the wall, James aimed a pistol at the Hunter's head, and fired.
This seemed to only anger it, but that was what he wanted to do. Jumping up, he stood right next to the loading ramp door. "Come on!" James taunted, aiming the pistol right at the Hunter's thickly-armored head. "Let's see what you're made of!" With a howl and a growl, the Hunter charged head-long at James.
Throwing himself to the side, James pounded on the door controls. Hissing open, the doors came fully open in seconds. Unable to stop itself, the Hunter tumbled out the back. With another press, James snapped the doors shut again. James had to stabilize himself with a railing to stop himself from being sucked out.
Running out from the cockpit, the pilot threw his arms around the Spartan. "Oh, how can I ever thank you?" he cried. "There is no way you could ever know how happy I am!"
James tried to shake off the man. "Really," he said, smiling under his mask, "it's no problem." This man was near insanity from being captured for so long.
Just then, the third Elite made himself known. Dressed in full gold combat armor, weilding a plasma sword, the catlike monster hurled himself at James, knocking the two of them backwards. The plasma burned right through the ship's hull, sending them both out the back.
Outside, James grabbed hold of the Dropship's left wing, blown onto it by the air rushing over the wings and suction of the engines. The Elite landed on top of the craft, digging his sword and claws in, trying desperately to maintain his grasp. It was obvious he had not meant for this to happen.
James's pistol clattered away to the ground. But his assault rifle he still had. Drawing it on the Elite, the fired off several rounds. Just then, Foehammer came to a halt. The pilot wanted them to have a fair fight.
Down on the ground, Jarrett pointed up to the dropship, rocking back and forth from the warriors' movements. Alex tapped his comm-link. "James, can you hear me?" he called.
After several seconds, the Commander's voice came back through. "Yes. But I'm in a bit of a situation here. Don't try to help, you might shoot us down. Let me handle it!" Then, the link died.
"What are we going to do?" Bryce asked, staring up with the rest of them.
Alex's reply was simple. "Watch, and wait." Then, he pulled out his sniper's rifle, and aimed it upwards. "If James does need help, I'm here to give it to him. But, I need a clear shot."
Just then, James's pistol clattered to the ground. Jason retrieved it, and craned his neck back to watch the battle.
The Elite slowly stood up. Now that the ship had stopped, he could easily fight his foe. And slaughter him. He moved to the edge, his plasma sword gleaming in the dusk sunlight. "Uoy teg ot eid ylkciuq!"
"Pardon?" James asked.
"EIDDDDDD!" The Elite hurled himself down to the wing. Rolling, James leaped up and hopped two meters straight up to land on the back of the ship. The Elite jumped after him, landing right on his chest, making both of them fall to the hull.
"Get off me!" James cried, pulling the trigger. Swiftly, the Elite rolled to the side, only to receive a swift kick from a metal boot, sending him flying back. James jumped up and aimed the Rifle at the Elite's head. "Freeze!" he cried.
However, the Elite tumbled over the side. James dashed over, but all he could see was sky. Meanwhile, the Elite crawled under the ship, and jumped back up the other side. "Esirprus!" the Elite shouted. He swung the plasma sword, catching James's shoulder.
Grunting in pain, James stumbled back, and the Elite caught him with a kick under his chin, sending him catapulting down to the dropship's wing. Using his hooked boots, James stabilized himself and fired off several rounds from his assault rifle. The Elite sprawled backwards.
Just then, a sniper bullet flew from nowhere and caught the Elite in the leg.
Seizing the opportinuty, James withdrew a Fragmentation Grenade. After pulling the pin, he hurled it at the Elite, who caught it. "Hu ho..." The explosion did not kill, but alas pushed the unfortunate warrior Elite backwards into mid-air, where he fell to his death.