Note: hey guys, thanks for the reviews. Those things just give me so much inspiration to continue the crap that I'm doing ( if anyone else uses this language to describe my story, I will be seriously peeved). Here's the major battle with the " past" Covenant. Enjoy!

Ch.7 The Unsteady Alliance

Over the muddy terrain rose the army of Ghosts, Banshees, and Wraiths. Plasma and shells pasted each other as each impacted on their opposing sides. The Wraiths' main cannon released a burning ball of inferno that obliterated multiple vehicles and marines. The fast moving Ghosts fired their plasma turrets and gunned down marines while evading the tracer bullets of the Warthog's guns. Sky-high Banshees released plasma shots from their fuel rod guns as they gunned down the Scorpions that could not trace its evasive maneuvers.

Meanwhile, plasma shots peppered the marines as hundred of Elites and Jackals slowly headed towards their position. Huge charged shots homed in on unfortunate marines, blasting them back as their body mass exploded from the impact. Rapid-firing plasma washed over the battlefield and cut through Hell-jumpers who had been in the front line. Counter-attacking seemed futile as the bullets bounced off the shields of the Jackals and were absorbed by the shields of the Elites.

Only the Scorpions seemed to be controlling their terrain of the battlefield. With their armor piercing tracer bullets cutting down unlucky Jackals and Elites the tanks fired its huge main gun that wiped out ranks of Covenant crossing the hill and groups of Ghosts that had been pursuing a lone Warthog. However, these mighty titans were unable to do much damage to the Banshees, it heavy 90mm shells missing as the vehicle barrel-rolled and boosted past each shot. Groups of these " Hell flies" bombarded tanks with their plasma and fuel rod cannon until the overwhelming heat melted the tanks engines and crippled its shields. By then the driver had already been dead.

The Master Chief rained hell on the Covenant as he let loose a barrage of armor piercing bullets that tore down their enemies into mere blood and gore. Robert went full speed as he ran over unlucky Jackals, whose shields could not withstand such a massive force. Elites that rolled out of the way were immediately gunned down by the Spartan. Chris was firing his rocket launcher so fast that the Master Chief could have sworn that he had made the gun semi-automatic. Wraiths exploded and ghosts crashed as these deadly missiles hit their mark. Still disliking the Hell-jumper for his loud mouth and tough demeanor, the Spartan couldn't help but admire the soldier's aggressive and skill as he knocked a jackal clear off its feet with his launcher. Gore splashed onto the windows. Robert immediately pressed the button for the windshield wipers.

Just as their vehicle was heading towards edge of the forest where the Hunters had first appeared a huge ball of plasma crashed yards in front of them. With no time to swerve the vehicle plunged into the makeshift hole and short-circuited.

The three passengers clambered out and continued their assault. The Master Chief was skillfully holding the rifle in one hand and dealing out swift punishment on the Covenant while throwing fragmentation grenades on any nearby enemies. Chris was still firing his rocket launcher and blasting a group of Jackals that had wandered to close to their position. Robert was firing rounds with his Battle Rifle, suprising the Spartan with his accuracy as the bullets all got head shots on his adversaries.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over the group as a Banshee hovered above them, charging its guns.

" Move!" yelled the Master Chief as he slung his rifle and grabbed both soldiers. He leaped twelve feet with his occupants just as two huge plasma bolts crashed into the Warthog that they had been using as cover. The Banshee flew past them, making a curve as it headed back to finish them.

Just as the Banshee got in range of the three, a huge plasma shot flew over their heads and collided with the vehicle. Bits of metal and blood rained on the Master Chief and soldiers as the vehicle was vaporized. This seemed to be a cue for then hundreds of plasma bolts rained from the forest and smashed into the Covenant army. Wraiths fell apart as the strong plasma washed over its hull while numerous Ghosts and warriors were descimated by the attack.

On his radio, the Spartan heard the Admiral give orders.

" Looks like we have some unlikely allies, soldiers. I want gunners to put suppression fire on the Banshees and them only. Homing rockets and Scorpion guns cannot seem to hit it. I need more snipers back here to take down the zealots with the swords that are wiping out marines!"

Just as the radio shut off, several pairs of Hunters emerged from the forest. Their guns were charging another shot as they held their shields at a defensive position. They slowly moved towards the stranded group and in a suprising gesture, formed a defensive circle around them. Chris had his mouth open while Robert eyes were popping.

" You two stay here," said the Master Chief. " Just continue shooting at nearby Covenant and stay clear of the tanks. I'm going to go fight."

" Yea?" snarled the Hell jumper. " And just how the hell are you going to be able to survive in one piece in that war zone freak?"

" By stealing a Ghost," the Spartan replied calmly as he slowly began to jog towards the battlefield.

" Now that's a real hero," murmured Robert as he watched the Spartan disappear over the ascending hill.

" Or more like a dumbass," muttered Chris. " But at least a brave one."

Ch. 8 Dude, where's my Ghost?

Three Jackals collapsed to the floor with penny-sized holes in their heads as the Master Chief sprinted past, putting a fresh clip into his rifle as he moved on.

Just as he got into a view of a group of blue Elites wielding plasma rifles, a Ghost hummed to life as it headed towards him. The sunlight reflected off the red armor as the veteran Elite boosted his vehicle to run him over.

As the vehicle loomed closer the Master Chief bent his legs and leaped high into the air, keeping his knees forward as he rose in the air. The Ghost passed right over him but the tall Elite smashed into the the Spartan's knees. The velocity and impact cracked the alien's neck and the limp corpse flew off as the vehicle careened and crashed nearby. The Master Chief sprinted towards the fallen vehicle, hosing down nearby Jackals with his twin SMGs as he neared the vehicle.

Using his super-human strength he flipped the Ghost over and entered its cockpits. Having driven the strange hovercraft during his battles on Halo he expertedly started the radiator and took off. Holding down the trigger he littered the air with superheated plasma that scorched through the Jackals shields and burned the Elites. Covenant that stood in his way were used as speed bumps as he boosted his vehicle over the fighters.

As he continued to ride the vehicle, Elites began to recklessly attempt to board the vehicle. The brave warriors would grab a wing of the Ghost or jump on the front in an attempt to extract the Spartan out. Using his iron fist he punched two of the Elites in the mandibles, blood and teeth spewing as the aliens were knocked off. However, a black Elite had landed on his front during the battle and had steadied itself. Ad the Master Chief turned around to reach the controls the Elite smashed his heel into the Spartan's chest. Bits of gold burst from his armor as the organic shield took the brunt of the attack. He felt the anguish of the symbionts as they screamed for the death of their brethren. He groped for a weapon to counter-attack.

His hand fell around a short and curvy handle. As he attempted to drop the unknown object, a huge burst of plasma erupted from the stem and was slowly configured into the shape of a sword. Acting on instinct, he swung the blade at the Elite and ducked as a wave of blood poured from the gaping gash that he had cut cleanly through the Elite. With surprise still on its face it dropped off from the Ghost, a pool of purple blood forming around it as its corpse emptied itself of life contents.

Releasing his hand from the trigger button he clamped his left hand on the maneuvering controls and held down the boost button. As he began to smash past Covenant, he ignited the sword once again and began to swing it near the adjacent enemies that had been able to dodge the rampagne. A trail of blood and gore marked the path of the Ghost as the Spartan continued his bloody work. Just as his carnage report read sixty, he saw seven huge dots appear on his radar. Turning around he saw a fleet of Ghosts boost towards his location. He quickly pushed the vehicle to full throttle as he attempted to outrun the Ghosts.

" This is Spartan 117 reporting to Admiral Timberlake," he said over his COM. I have seven Ghosts on my tail and am heading to initial LZ on coordinates 3 and 24. Request Scorpion support."

" Roger that Master Chief," replied the Admiral. " Sending two Scorpions half a click from LZ. Give constant reports of your coordinates during retreat."

Slightly peeved about the Admiral's use of " retreat", the Master Chief pushed his Ghost to the fullest extent as he put more vigor into his slashing. His Ghost slowly turned to a dark purple as his kill count rose.

However, the Ghosts tracking him seemed to be faster. Without even using their boost they were still easily keeping up with him. Judging by the bleeping bar that was slowly diminishing and the smoke that was bellowing out from the left wing he assumed that he was a little slower than his adversaries. Just as he was contemplating how to much farther to go, a bombardement of plasma fire splashed over this Ghost. The left wing was destroyed by the attack while the Spartan felt more of his symbionts peel off from the attack. His shields wavered as the openings left by the gold organisms were hit with stray fire.

Just as he was about to finish his ascend on a hill, his right wing exploded from the heavy fire and he was flung from the vehicle. His golden shield of organisms disappeared as he collided with the hill. He got to his feet shakily as the seven Ghosts neared his crash site. Pulling out his twin SMGs he decided to have a last stand and unlocked the safety. Better dying looking like a hero he thought. With a pull on the trigger he rained bullets on the incoming vehicles, ready to take down as many of the Elites as he could.

Suddenly, a huge shell impacted in the center of the line of Ghosts destroying two and badly injuring the adjacent ones. The pilots, confused with the sudden attack, turned as they attempted to engage the new threat. A second shot followed, causing three others to explode and a few Ghosts to careen out of control from the impact. The remaining two survivors beat a hasty retreat as they boosted back to the Covenant army.

Waving a thanks to the tank operators, the Master Chief sprinted back to the battle, adding fresh ammo clips to his spent SMGs while switching his COM on.

" Sergeant Hanson," the Spartan inquired. " What's your status?"

Static crackled for several seconds before the gruff voice of the Sergeant filled his speakers. " Chief, our turrets have taken care of most of the Banshees that have patrolling the skies. Most of the Ghosts have been destroyed by our rocket launchers and by those green plasma that the Hunters are firing on them. We're practically kicking ass on the ground since our military skills are second to none. Our primary goal right now is to destroy the Wraiths that are wreaking havoc on us. We could use your assistance over here."

" Affirmative. I'll be there." Just as the spartan signed off a Warthog pulled over.

" Yo, Master Chief!" yelled a marine. " We lost the guy riding shotgun while we were fighting off a Banshee. Wanna ride?"

" Sure marine," replied the Master Chief as he got into the seat. " Speaking of shotgun, has a guy who's ever rode shot gun actually used a shot gun during the ride?

The marines gave him a baffled look that confirmed the Chief's suspicions. Pumping a shell into the chamber of his M90 Shotgun the Spartan looked to the marines.

" Then you better write this event in your diaries when you get back home."

Roaring at full speed the Warthog smashed headlong into dozens of Covenant as the gunner laid waste with his rapid firing. The Master Chief was blasting the enemies who ventured to close with his shotgun, smashing the Jackals shields and disfiguring Elites. Shell after shell popped out of his gun as he pumped the shot gun for more victims. An Elite attempted to scorch the Spartan with his plasma rifle was rewarded with a blown head while a Jackal was sucked under the moving tires of the vehicle.

Just as the Warthog neared the position where the Sergeant and his marines were rapid plasma fire slammed into the side of the vehicle. The sudden impact rolled the Warthog to the side. As the driver emerged from the wreckage he was immediately obliviated by plasma while the gunner was run over by the boosting vehicle.

The Master Chief saw the Ghost circle as the Elite prepared for another assault. The Master Chief suddenly realized that this zealot with the glimmering gold on its armor had been the one who had warned them of the battle. He pumped his rifle, ejecting the spent shell and placing a new one in the chamber just as the golden Elite sped towards him.

Plasma burst over the ground as the Master Chief jumped and strafed to dodge most of the attacks. Just as the Elite was within a few yards of him the Spartan began to sprint towards it, quickly priming a grenade and hurling it a few feet from the speeding vehicle.

The Elite swerved to the left just as the grenade detonated into a million pieces. Using his quick reflexes and calculations he quickly leaped into the smoke and landed upon the wing of the Ghost. The surprised Elite had barely time to cry out before the Spartan pumped two full rounds of the magnum rounds into his face. He finished off the assault with a smash of his rifle butt that knocked the warrior off the vehicle. Just as he was grabbing controls and changing his altitude to finish the Elite he saw a bright shiny flash of blue on the front of the hull.

" Damn," muttered the Chief as the plasma grenade exploded. The Elite had somehow had enough strength to toss a grenade while hurling towards the ground. The Master Chief was blown back by the explosion that ensured and slammed into a nearby rock, forming a huge crack that split the rock in two. His already dying gold armor was smashed as his shields took the brunt of the fall. As his organic armor began to slowly regenerate itself while the shields recharged, he stood up to face the Elite.

The Elite had its plasma sword drawn out and was pointing a finger at the Spartan. Just as he was wondering what the Elite was babbling about, Toto's voice echoed from his speaker.

" Translation start… ' Vile being! You have committed sacrilage by interfering with the Holy Crusade that shall unite all the beings on this planet into one! You have touched a Soldier of the Prophets and only swift death will redeem your actions...translation end. "

" Let's just skip the chatter and cut to the batter," growled the Spartan as he ignited the plasma sword that he had stolen from the other Elite. The golden warrior roared as he saw the covenant weapon being activated.

" Translating start… ' How dare you steal the ceremonial weapon of the Elite class! You will die by my hand today you…error, unable to decipher context."

" Oh, I think I know what that bastard is calling me Toto and I don't need a translation," muttered the Spartan.

With a roar the Elite lunged towards the Master Chief.