Disclaimer: Halo belongs to Bungie and Microsoft. I prefer to think I own
the characters I make up in this story but if you really want them, don't
sue me, I love my books.
'Zakamee, Grgra, and the other commanding officers stood at the head of the remaining Covenant aboard the Ascendant Justice. Arranged in the accuracy range of the training grounds the ranks were much smaller than 'Zakamee would have liked, and from the grim looks on his peer's faces, they thought so too. 'Zakamee checked his notepad again, just to make sure the numbers were absolutely correct. They were, unfortunately, out of the original complement of two hundred Elite's and one thousand Grunt's, less than a tenth of that number remained. Including the Elite's that 'Zakamee found in the barracks, none of who had returned yet, there were twenty-three survivors. Only four of that number were high-ranking officers, they were himself, 'Drakee, the Emissary, and 'Jasakee, whom 'Zakamee had been forced to include so they wouldn't look too depleted. About one hundred and thirteen Grunts were left, the vast majority being Minors and thusly, scared out of their wits.
'Drakee began a speech meant to reinforce the wills of the soldiers gathered here. 'Zakamee paid no attention to it, as he had helped compose it himself. It was full of inspiring language and death threats to the infidels that had dare defile this sacred ship. It was kind of boring actually, but 'Drakee was the kind of Elite that was enthusiastic about everything he did, even giving inspirational speeches to those who knew they were going to die anyway. What 'Zakamee was really thinking about was why the Human AI had done nothing to impede their progress. This very gathering had so many risks attached to it that the possibility's for disaster boggled the mind. 'Drakee finally wound his speech to a close and started giving the troops their objectives. This team go there, that specialty group sabotage this, 'Zakamee was almost startled by how laconic he was feeling.
'Drakee eventually dismissed the gathering and the soldiers scuttled off to their various tasks. The other officers also left until 'Drakee and 'Zakamee were left alone. 'Zakamee looked at 'Drakee quizzically.
"You may come out now." Said 'Drakee to a patch of air. "You are not in danger with us two."
'Zakamee was about to voice his concerns about 'Drakee's sanity when he remembered this was standard operating procedure when addressing Spec Ops Elite's about to go on a top secret mission. 'Zakamee flinched and grabbed at the air to his left. The Elite whose arm he had grabbed chuckled and shut off his active camouflage.
"Good. Now can you tell where the rest of us are? I hope your long absence from the shadows hasn't addled your sight." Said the Elite, with a mad grin on his face.
'Zakamee shuddered at this pathetic specimen, the very nature of Spec Ops Elite's rendered some of them completely paranoid and so they had their camouflage on at all times, to throw off their 'pursuers'. 'Zakamee released the other Elite's arm and swept his eyes across the room. Grinning, he quickly responded.
"There are three others. One is hanging onto the ceiling above the second target. The second is standing in that corner over there," 'Zakamee pointed to a corner of the room some fifty units away, "And the last is sitting in a spot that was the third row, second column."
As 'Zakamee located them the Elite's shut off their camouflage and ran over to join the first Elite. However, the one that was sitting simply, sat there. The first Elite grinned and pulled out a remote, pressing the button dropped the camouflage from the dead Elite sitting there, its body propped up by a piece of metal that, as though it knew it was discovered, slipped and allowed the body to fall over.
"You were right on one account Shade." The Elite emphasized the last word too much, 'Zakamee knew he was to work with this group as Spec Ops Elite's only know each other by nicknames. It throws off any potential pursuers to their real identity. "There are three of us, but you missed one." The three Elite's chuckled again.
'Zakamee snarled and wheeled towards 'Drakee, who backed away surprised. Reaching forwards 'Zakamee tore off the golden armored Elite's' helmet, and revealed an identical silver one beneath it. The Spec Ops Elite's jaws dropped as their buddy with the 'perfect' disguise was revealed. 'Zakamee snorted and tossed the helmet down in disgust.
"I checked the logs for an Elite named Raka 'Drakee. The AI, our AI, stopped me. I enlisted Grgra's aid and he easily broke its weak encryption's. It turns out there is no such Elite. You had this planned out the whole time and fooled the entire group on this ship. Why?" asked 'Zakamee as the other Elite's quickly regained their composure.
"We are operating on a mission from the Prophets themselves," Spoke the former 'Drakee, "We have been tasked with the death of any remaining Humans that are called Spartans. We were given complete autonomy by the High Prophet of Truth himself, and have chosen you to help us in our grand mission."
"You who have had experience fighting this 'Master Chief' and his brethren," spoke the first Elite, "You would prove most useful to our plan."
"The battle plans our brother came up with are truthful," said the second Elite, it was shorter than the others were, "He has a knack for getting our prey to expose himself."
"You would sacrifice all the other Covenant on this ship to kill this one Human?" asked 'Zakamee incredulously.
"Yes." Spoke the last Elite, "We will carry out the orders of the High Prophet, though it may mean the death's of ourselves and countless others. We are willing to pay the price."
As they were talking the four Elite's had slowly boxed 'Zakamee in. Noticing this 'Zakamee sighed sadly.
"I assume I have no choice in this matter. If I do not accept you will kill me." This was not a question on 'Zakamee's part, just a vocal affirmation of what he already knew. He wasn't surprised when the other Elite's did not respond.
"Fine. Let us get this over with then."
* * * * * *
"Gotcha!" Cortana hissed.
"Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel- Infidel-Infidel---"
A/N That little 'possibility's for disaster boggle the mind' thing actually is a quote from Tremors: The Series.
Zarbok - Ouch. That has really got to suck. Hope you can re-post them. Good luck and thanks.
Flareaoh - Thanks for the vote of confidence over chapter 6. Although I believe this chapter is more of the same I just couldn't see the next chapter interfacing with this one. Thusly, I separated the two, and although it is short, I hope it makes up with its freakiness.
To All Readers - Enjoy!
'Zakamee, Grgra, and the other commanding officers stood at the head of the remaining Covenant aboard the Ascendant Justice. Arranged in the accuracy range of the training grounds the ranks were much smaller than 'Zakamee would have liked, and from the grim looks on his peer's faces, they thought so too. 'Zakamee checked his notepad again, just to make sure the numbers were absolutely correct. They were, unfortunately, out of the original complement of two hundred Elite's and one thousand Grunt's, less than a tenth of that number remained. Including the Elite's that 'Zakamee found in the barracks, none of who had returned yet, there were twenty-three survivors. Only four of that number were high-ranking officers, they were himself, 'Drakee, the Emissary, and 'Jasakee, whom 'Zakamee had been forced to include so they wouldn't look too depleted. About one hundred and thirteen Grunts were left, the vast majority being Minors and thusly, scared out of their wits.
'Drakee began a speech meant to reinforce the wills of the soldiers gathered here. 'Zakamee paid no attention to it, as he had helped compose it himself. It was full of inspiring language and death threats to the infidels that had dare defile this sacred ship. It was kind of boring actually, but 'Drakee was the kind of Elite that was enthusiastic about everything he did, even giving inspirational speeches to those who knew they were going to die anyway. What 'Zakamee was really thinking about was why the Human AI had done nothing to impede their progress. This very gathering had so many risks attached to it that the possibility's for disaster boggled the mind. 'Drakee finally wound his speech to a close and started giving the troops their objectives. This team go there, that specialty group sabotage this, 'Zakamee was almost startled by how laconic he was feeling.
'Drakee eventually dismissed the gathering and the soldiers scuttled off to their various tasks. The other officers also left until 'Drakee and 'Zakamee were left alone. 'Zakamee looked at 'Drakee quizzically.
"You may come out now." Said 'Drakee to a patch of air. "You are not in danger with us two."
'Zakamee was about to voice his concerns about 'Drakee's sanity when he remembered this was standard operating procedure when addressing Spec Ops Elite's about to go on a top secret mission. 'Zakamee flinched and grabbed at the air to his left. The Elite whose arm he had grabbed chuckled and shut off his active camouflage.
"Good. Now can you tell where the rest of us are? I hope your long absence from the shadows hasn't addled your sight." Said the Elite, with a mad grin on his face.
'Zakamee shuddered at this pathetic specimen, the very nature of Spec Ops Elite's rendered some of them completely paranoid and so they had their camouflage on at all times, to throw off their 'pursuers'. 'Zakamee released the other Elite's arm and swept his eyes across the room. Grinning, he quickly responded.
"There are three others. One is hanging onto the ceiling above the second target. The second is standing in that corner over there," 'Zakamee pointed to a corner of the room some fifty units away, "And the last is sitting in a spot that was the third row, second column."
As 'Zakamee located them the Elite's shut off their camouflage and ran over to join the first Elite. However, the one that was sitting simply, sat there. The first Elite grinned and pulled out a remote, pressing the button dropped the camouflage from the dead Elite sitting there, its body propped up by a piece of metal that, as though it knew it was discovered, slipped and allowed the body to fall over.
"You were right on one account Shade." The Elite emphasized the last word too much, 'Zakamee knew he was to work with this group as Spec Ops Elite's only know each other by nicknames. It throws off any potential pursuers to their real identity. "There are three of us, but you missed one." The three Elite's chuckled again.
'Zakamee snarled and wheeled towards 'Drakee, who backed away surprised. Reaching forwards 'Zakamee tore off the golden armored Elite's' helmet, and revealed an identical silver one beneath it. The Spec Ops Elite's jaws dropped as their buddy with the 'perfect' disguise was revealed. 'Zakamee snorted and tossed the helmet down in disgust.
"I checked the logs for an Elite named Raka 'Drakee. The AI, our AI, stopped me. I enlisted Grgra's aid and he easily broke its weak encryption's. It turns out there is no such Elite. You had this planned out the whole time and fooled the entire group on this ship. Why?" asked 'Zakamee as the other Elite's quickly regained their composure.
"We are operating on a mission from the Prophets themselves," Spoke the former 'Drakee, "We have been tasked with the death of any remaining Humans that are called Spartans. We were given complete autonomy by the High Prophet of Truth himself, and have chosen you to help us in our grand mission."
"You who have had experience fighting this 'Master Chief' and his brethren," spoke the first Elite, "You would prove most useful to our plan."
"The battle plans our brother came up with are truthful," said the second Elite, it was shorter than the others were, "He has a knack for getting our prey to expose himself."
"You would sacrifice all the other Covenant on this ship to kill this one Human?" asked 'Zakamee incredulously.
"Yes." Spoke the last Elite, "We will carry out the orders of the High Prophet, though it may mean the death's of ourselves and countless others. We are willing to pay the price."
As they were talking the four Elite's had slowly boxed 'Zakamee in. Noticing this 'Zakamee sighed sadly.
"I assume I have no choice in this matter. If I do not accept you will kill me." This was not a question on 'Zakamee's part, just a vocal affirmation of what he already knew. He wasn't surprised when the other Elite's did not respond.
"Fine. Let us get this over with then."
* * * * * *
"Gotcha!" Cortana hissed.
"Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel-Infidel- Infidel-Infidel---"
A/N That little 'possibility's for disaster boggle the mind' thing actually is a quote from Tremors: The Series.
Zarbok - Ouch. That has really got to suck. Hope you can re-post them. Good luck and thanks.
Flareaoh - Thanks for the vote of confidence over chapter 6. Although I believe this chapter is more of the same I just couldn't see the next chapter interfacing with this one. Thusly, I separated the two, and although it is short, I hope it makes up with its freakiness.
To All Readers - Enjoy!