Walking the Halo
Chapter IX
Zek stepped into the massive room and instantly dropped to one knee. The room had a gigantic window at other end. In the standing in the very center of the room towered an enormous pillar. Several flashing computer monitors sparkled with activity. Behind the column was a second that was an access elevator to a spot no Coven could enter. On the far side of the room starring out the window were three Apostles.
The Apostles were the leaders of their great Coven. There were a grand total of twelve of them. Each one positioned to command the Coven classes. One Apostle had command over all however. The Apostles were the only ones who still had any understanding of the creation of the Coven. That Lord Apostle knew more than all. The Lord Apostle was not often seen by the lower castes. Zek did well to humble himself as much as possible.
"Enter Zek," called the Lord Apostle from across the way. Zek didn't hesitate.
Zek arrived ten paces behind them then instantly dropped back to his knee.
"How long we've come. The great Lord almighty has indeed blessed us." Lord Apostle turned to Zek, "Don't you agree?"
"Yes my lord." Zek responded.
"All these years of turmoil and we have not yet once come across another intelligent species. Not once. Now we find these humans no more than a few years ago. They have more technology than we would have thought possible for their mentality. After some research we see that Jay-sus has come to them as well. However under a name in their tongue. They had the nerve to base their knowledge of time off his birth on that planet. And yet now we find that they have destroyed His message. Ruined any understanding of what He has taught. They do not know how to interpret his message and spewed out millions of random hierarchies.
"We have looked over your footage you obtained on the planet's surface. We are proud of you Zek. You have shown us that they have the ability to defend against us. We are again proud that you stood up for what you were taught. We are confident that given time you would have dominated but you choose the noble and fair path. Again proving your worth to the coven. The lord smiles on you this day Zek.
"The other Apostles and I have concluded that the infidels should be punished for such miss use of the word of god. You shall be a wondrous asset to this cleansing. We talked of your proposal to transfer to a combat unit and finish what you started with this human. After much talk we concluded to deny your request."
Zek's spirits sank with disappointment. He stayed his ground anyway.
"However there is more yet to be discussed about you Zek. Come with us." The Apostles hovered about on chairs that defied gravity much like many of the ships in the fleet only on a smaller scale. The three fluttered over to the elevator near the center of the chamber. Zek followed them into the elevator disbelieving what was happening to him. He knew they were taking him some where that only the Apostles could enter.
"Tell me Zek do you remember the tales of the Apostles right arm? The Seraphim?" Lord Apostle inquired.
"Slightly my lord." He replied shyly.
"Good, they were the only other ones to enter the Lord's camber." Just then the elevator came to a halt and swished open. Behind the doors was a mass inner dome and it loomed greater than the previous chamber. Zek could see the Coven fleet massing in its daily routines through the enormous window dome. He had never could have seen this room from the out side.
A path lead out to a circular balcony it the center point of the huge spherical dome. In the middle of the balcony sat another pillar. This one didn't go all the way to the ceiling however and in fact was not a pillar at all but a cross. It was one of punishment in an early day before the rise of the Coven. The cross blended back slightly to stretch out its victim's torso to the tearing point. On the cross was a statue of Jay-sus the Lord incarnate. Zek knew it without even being told. All Coven knew.
A tomb stood straight and tall at the foot of the tremendous statue on the cross. There were markings on the tomb door that Zek didn't recognize. Around the tomb were the other Apostles. Some of them were conversing while others simply watched their approach. Zek looked and noticed that around the outer ring of the balcony were more tombs. There were twelve to be exact which made a total of thirteen tombs.
"Within this tomb lay the armor and seal of the Apostles' Guard. Their right arm. The Seraphim of the realm of time. You have the choice to become the Seraphim. You will be granted more power than any combat squad leader. The only ones you have to answer to is us. Do you wish to complete your rivalry with the human? Become the Seraphim and be trained for drop even a super human."
The tomb doors hissed open and revealed the armor. It seemed to sparkle in a way that Zek had not seen in any armor. He approached the armor and looked at his reflection in the helmet piece. It didn't take long for him to think.
"My lord… I am…" He started to say.
"Don't worry you are more than qualified and have proven yourself worthy. Take it Zek. It would honor even us."
"How can I deny you after such a compliment? One that I don't rightly deserve. However the lord has led me here for a reason. My Lord Apostle by the scar marking my face I swear my life to you and your almighty. Command me as you so see fit."
Chapter X
The General's office was just as shiny as the last time Dan entered. Alexia stood off to the side again. Coleman was in the process of sitting down in his seat as Dan appeared.
"Ah, Dan." The General started, "It has been what three weeks since your trip to New York? I'm still not happy with to say but we've moved your friends into some basic training. But anyway that's not what I called you here for. Out of the other Spartans you were only one's to get any photos of these things. I'm proud of you. If any could I knew it would be you. I know it sounds like I'm playing favorites among you all but lets just say there is something about you that I feel is more equipped for being leader. Anyway, Master Chief we've developed what you could call your Mjolnir armor."
Dan couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Like from the video game sir?"
"Just like from the video game soldier. We made sure that you didn't get it until it matched the armor from the game exactly. Granted we don't have any artificial intelligence to put in and see if you could carry someone with you but maybe in the future. Though we did get in just about every thing else. The motion sensor tracking, the enhanced abilities, health monitor and even the over shield. Don't say anything I know what you're thinking. How? Well I'm sure that you are more than well aware there are things I can't tell you. Well that's one of them. The point is we have it and we're giving it to the Spartans.
"We believe that what happened with you and that lizard thing may occur on a larger basis. You want to talk world war? Ha. Not quite. If these things become hostile we may not be able to stop them. Dan. You and the Spartans may be our only hope at defending against these things. I can almost guarantee that if they came hundreds of light years and we can barely get to the moon on our own I'm sure they could wipe us off this planet with little to not effort. We are doing everything within our power to find a ship in orbit but they obviously are evading our radar or whatever it is those guys use. We can't find them so we have to I'm told search visually. Which to do that isn't going to be very easy. Those things could attack when ever they want and we'd never see it coming. We don't even know if it is one or one hundred ships up there. Intelligence tells me that there probably isn't more than two or three. That way they can hide from us easier.
"So we are going to start training all of you how to use this new armor in the mean time. Hopefully we can get you to a combat ready stage before they open fire. Alright. Any question?"
Dan couldn't speak. He did not know what to say. "Only the one's you can't answer sir."
"I see." Coleman stated, "Then go inform the others. Alexia you can be the spokes person for the mommies and daddies."
"Alright" she replied. Dan assumed the 'mommies and daddies' were the people who monitored communication chatter and vitals of each Spartan.
Kristina was curious to see what was behind the curtains. She remembered the large elevator chamber. It was more of a hanger with some minor offices in the corners. Of course the huge express elevator on one side of the room was a bit out of place. So was the curtain.
All of the Spartans were anxious to know yet no one moved. Dr. Arkling stood near by. He didn't seem all that thrilled for the social gathering they were having. General Coleman was talking to some other soldiers. All of them could hear what he was saying but knew better than to listen. That would spoil the surprise.
The general turned to them and saluted. They responded with a crisp return salute.
"At ease." Coleman announced than turned back to the soldier. Two Spartans in the back started inquiring what was behind the curtain. They were too quite to be heard by any body but other Spartans.
"What do you think Kristina?" Ray's voice came up behind her.
"I think if it's a gun I'll kill you with it." She muttered under her breathe.
"You know you're kind of sexy when you're mad." Ray pestered.
Kristina didn't even respond because the General turned back to them this time ready to finish what he started.
"At ease." He repeated, "Well you've all heard that you're getting more armor correct?"
A roar of "Yes sir" answered.
"Good," Coleman agreed, "Well how about we let you look at it. Dan?"
Out from behind the curtain stepped a large green demon. Kristina remembered back to the game their lives were now based on and realized that it was the same exact armor. The armor was described as something out of a Greek myth and this one stood up to that quality. The visor hide the wearer's face completely and glared an orange tint just like the action figure Kristina remembered from Dan's car. Dan began to rotate and show off the back side. The only thing Kristina didn't expect on the back was a huge box like structure. She remembered the action figure's back had a great deal of armor but the new armor seemed to have much more.
"I can see that you are all anxious to suit up." General Coleman remarked, "But first we have to do some explaining."
After about an hour of explaining the different features and that the huge bulk on Dan's back was a storage unit they were admitted behind the curtain to join their Operators next to a set of armor for each one of them. Kristina slipped on her suit with little to effort with the help of her operator, Brandon. She watched as another Spartan got their suit on. Moving in the Mjolnir armor was rather awkward. The other Spartan started by simply raising his hands to shoulder height. Kristina did the same. Before long the two were walking around the room getting use to their armor.
All of the sudden there was a knock at her left shoulder. She turned to see the last face she wanted to. Though Ray did not have his attention fully on her. He leaned closer to her to say something while looking else where.
"Take a look at Erika over there." He pointed out.
Erika was rather quiet compared to the other Spartans. She seemed to be analyzing everything around her at all times. No one really talked to her and she didn't really talk to anyone else. Covert training was her specialty. Yet she seemed the most comfortable of all the Spartans. At the same time she expressed a depression that eluded everyone else but the other Spartans. The training exercises she was put through came out almost perfect. Her squad claimed that she almost seemed to know what was coming. The expression on her face at the moment seemed that she knew the future and didn't like it. It was a face that no one had ever seen her make. Looking at her sent a chill down Kristina's spine. Even with all that armor on, she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck and on her arms raise up.
"Okay what about her?" She asked, "Women aren't my thing."
"Funny," Ray rolled his eyes, "Look at her. She's acting like this has happened before."
"What?" Kristina knocked his head with her elbow. "How could you possibly know that?"
"Watch." He nodded his head towards Erika.
Kristina watched as Erika put each piece of the armor on than took it off again. She checked the piece than replaced it back on her shoulder where she had gotten it. Kristina watched as she did this with several other pieces on her forearm, back and knees. Erika looked over the helmet as if making sure that nothing was in it. She didn't need any help from her operator who was off helping another one of the twenty-nine Spartans. Once in it and fully comfortable in the suit she stood ready for anything that might happen next. She did seem all too comfortable in a ready to kill suit of armor. She moved about as if she knew how it worked. Kristina still felt a little sluggish in the armor. Dan walked around as well and even he seemed like there were moments he had to readjust. He had been wearing it much longer than the rest of them. How did she know the suit so well?
"Okay," Kristina pondered, "now what? So you're right. She does seem as if she's done it before. Maybe she was the one the tested the suit on to make sure it worked right."
Ray shrugged, "Maybe. I'm going to let Dan know anyway."
Kristina stopped him as he started to walk off, "What don't you trust fellow Spartans?"
He turned to her and looked her straight in the eyes, "Do you trust me?"
"I trust her more than you." She snapped.
Dan had picked up on the bickering and came over. "Something wrong?"
Kristina glared long and hard at Ray. She made sure it was a look that let him know to keep his mouth shut. He quickly got the message and turned to Dan.
"No sir," he answered.
Dan left the two standing there to argue more. He kept a close eye on them so they didn't attack one another. The enhanced armor would make for an entertaining fight. They had yet to activate their over shields too. He trusted they would behave though.
Looking on he noticed Mike seemed to be starring at his helmet as if it were talking to him. Dan approached him.
"You alright Tax?" he inquired.
Tax replied as if startled by Dan's appearance, "What? Oh yeah, I'm okay."
Dan could tell something was on his mind, "What's on your mind? You look like you're thinking hard about something. That or your helmet is talking to you."
Tax smirked, "No. I was thinking." The smirk faded, "What if we never had joined the military?"
"A little late to think about that don't you think?" Dan responded.
"Yeah I guess but think about it. What if you had gone to college Dan? What if I had chosen not to go to West Point?"
"Mike, life is made up of hundreds of questions. The most annoying ones are the 'what if' questions. Sure your life would be drastically different, but so would everyone else's here on this base. We can't live in the past because we can't change the past. I wouldn't dwell on it."
Dan slapped Mike on the shoulder and started to walk off. Tax seemed still concerned though. Dan started to think about it. He didn't really want to be any where else really. He looked around the room. All his life he wanted a reason to go on an adventure and this was his chance. Than he saw Alexia off presenting Matt with a shiny helmet for him to put on. She seemed so content helping other's out. It was a quality Dan could never seem to enjoy as much.
He noticed Maria and Erin sauntering around to help anyone who needed it. Dan walked over to say hello. They say him coming and made their way over to meet him half way. Erin didn't seem all that thrilled with the environment.
"How you two doing?" Dan asked.
"We're fine…I guess." Maria muttered. She too seemed sluggish from a lack of sleep. The basic treatment of person undergoing basic training. Erin had more than just a look of exhaustion she seemed to express a sense of disgust toward Dan. She glared at him.
"You alright Erin?" Dan inquired before she burned a hole through him with her stare.
"Fine," She seemed to hiss, "Considering I was brought here against my will and forced to do manual labor that my body can not handle. Seriously how am I supposed to help put armor on a seven foot person while I only stand at five six? That and I played an instrument in high school. I did not run ten million laps around the building and lift things that weigh twice as much as me. I had a simple easy life. I am not fond of pain and labor."
"Hey its better than being dead don't you think?" Dan remarked.
Erin's next comment was simply, "Sometimes I wonder."
Chapter XI
The next five months where spend training using the Mjolnir armor. The enhancements the suit provided made physical activity much easier. Every morning when they woke to do laps around the base became a simple early morning jog. The number of laps around the base quickly increased. They completed each lap with remarkable speed without even getting all that tired. Before most of them got tired by the third lap. Now with the armor they weren't tired until around the sixth lap. They still did laps without the armor though. They all agreed doing the run in the armor might make them lazy. Ray and Vanessa were always the fastest. That was why they were made the best recon units for the Spartans.
After about two months the over shields were introduced to the Spartans. Those three months of the five were the most entertaining. The over shield made things more difficult to grip. It made simple daily tasks like walking complicated. They all got the hang of it rather quickly though. Holding different items was another story. Even the snipers Toe and Herman had problems aiming when lying down to fire at targets. The heavy weapons units had special training sessions to learn how to deal with it. Kristina, Boris and Delray picked up on it first. Carmen and Harrison were soon to follow.
Dan had to take part in most of them all. He had to have experience with all of them to leader. Everyone did. Dan had to more than everyone else though. Everyone had their preferences and expertise. Larry and Candace stuck to their vehicles while a good majority of the other Spartans remained with their infantry positions. Tax was next to be leader if something happened to Dan. Amanda would follow up after Tax. Erika and Yoko were the best at the covert exercises.
Through out the majority of the training Erika was heavily watched by Kristina and Ray. She continued to go about her activities as if she knew something terrible was going to happen. No one ever questioned her. Though. Towards the end of those five months she began watching the sky. Knowing someone was up there watching the human species freaked most of them out. Especially Kristina and Ray who watched Erika watch the sky.
The rest of the base went about their appointed tasks. Dr. Arkling often was no where to be found which worried the operators. He was the one that told them what to do just as General Coleman told the Spartans what to do. Over the period of months Alexia began to get to know Dan's friends Maria and Erin. Who still did not enjoy the tasks given to them but did them with no argument. As they got to know Alexia their duties were relaxed a bit as they began to help Alexia out more and more. Both Maria and Erin were beginning to tolerate their new forced environment.
Zek watched the screen in front of him as the frigate came out of slip space. Some light flashed and then the planet Earth came into view. A second ship orbited the planet already. There was another flash of light as a second frigate came out of slip space next to Zek's vessel. The ship orbiting the planet was larger than a frigate. It was a Coven Destroyer. Its name was the Lord's Content if Zek could remember correctly. He had been on the ship only five months earlier.
The Apostles had spent the last five months training him for this day. He couldn't wait any longer to crush those poor excuses for mammals. Especially the one that left the scar across his left eye. The screen on his left indicated the spot on the surface where the human Dan apparently resided. That would be where Zek intended on going. He had some unfinished business.
A third screen popped up in on the large front window in front of Zek. On the screen was the captain of the Lord's Content.
"Greetings." The captain spattered out instantly.
Before the captain could even say his name Zek started barking orders.
"Captain all military personnel on your ship are to go to combat status." Zek ordered, "I am the Apostle's Right Hand, Seraphim Zek Cotos. I have orders from the High Apostle himself to exorcise this planet of the infidels who plague our lord's natural greatness. Have all drop ships prepared for a frontal assault. We are taking any and all units capable of combat at this moment. Have as many X-marks as possible ready for air support for the drop ships. I will relay a series of coordinates for you to send your ships. I also wish to have any Inserters put into combat as well. They are to be fired into enemy lines when combat begins. We expect minimal resistance at first. The humans will scramble to put up a fight. We are to have positions neutralized before human combat units even appear. Any less would shame our lord. Do not fail him."
The captain was confused, "I … Seraphim this is a research vessel it has little to no military units."
"I don't care. You have your orders captain." Zek snapped.
"Very well Seraphim." The captain submitted.
The screen vanished. Zek turned around to the rest of the Coven personnel on the ship's bridge. The captain's chair stuck out far in front of the rest of the bridge personnel to put emphasis on the leaders. The navigations officer was on the right side of the bridge while the weapons officer was on the left. The rest of the personnel sat at their consuls behind the captain's chair a little farther back.
"This will wipe the human's away for their blasphemy in one swift strike from our lord's army. We shall punish the infidels now and with no mercy. Because they have forsaken our lord and deserve none. Let us make this known to all."
Zek walked back to the Intelligence officer and leaned over to talk to him. "Have the human's picked up on our position yet?"
"No Seraphim." The frightened officer claimed.
"Good," Zek stood up and turned to face the huge window that now had the planet taking up the majority of the window, "Order the attack. I want all units to open fire as soon as possible. Once they are ready they are to strike immediately. Send the coordinates to the Lord's Content. This will be our finest hour. Captain?"
The disgruntled captain stepped forward at Zek's command. Zek turned to face him than turned back to stare at the planet again. "Have a Lander prepared to take me to the surface. I have some unfinished business."