3.
New
York City/ North American Protectorate/ Mission clock 03:19:52
Two
acknowledgement lights winked on Fred's HUD as the in front of him
melted away under the intense heat of the scarabs main cannon,
sending him to the ground. 'This isn't working' he thought as he
picked himself from the ground, retrieving his fallen battle rifle.
He looked out the newly formed window, the steel continuing to glow
bright red as it cooled.
Three squads of marines, Fred, Will, and
Linda held an ambush for a Covenant assault on the North American
UNSC HQ based in New York. Everything went smoothly as planned, Will
and one squad of marines were stationed in a structure on one side of
the street, Fred and another in the building opposite, and Linda and
a few other snipers were stationed on a bridge spanning between the
two buildings. As soon as they opened fire, the battle quickly grew
out of hand. They expected a lot, 10-15 wraiths, banshee cover, and a
legion of Brutes, Jackals, and Drones, but two scarabs along with
everything else was a tiny bit more than expected.
Fred finally
saw his opportunity as one of the lumbering giants strayed a little
to close to his building. "Now!" he shouted through his com
channel. The lights winked once again as two rockets raced through
the air and detonated on the deck of the first scarab, sending
several jackals sailing through the air. Three brutes ran from the
cockpit to the deck as Fred and several marines jumped from their
positions and onto the deck as three simultaneous shots rang out from
the bridge, causing each of the brute's heads to explode as the
bullet traveled through. The scarab stopped dead in its tracks and
adjusted fire at the causeway. Linda realizing what was about to
happen got up from her prone position and started towards Will's
building to her right. The two snipers also seeing the threat were
close on Linda's heels, despite her having the advantage of being a
Spartan. The scarab opened fire, its cannon cutting through the
bridge like a hot knife through butter, completely turning the steel
structure into a hulk of molten metal. Two more rockets raced through
the air and detonated on the second scarab's deck, killing several
brutes on impact, the signal for the marines to board the hulking
beast. Fred pulled the pins from two frag grenades and threw one down
each side of the corridor in front of him. Two Jackals' came
running around the corner, using their handheld shields to protect
their birdlike heads, and were met with the bullets from Fred and the
other marine's battle rifles. They fell where they stood as the
grenades detonated, killing what ever creatures were left inside.
Fred walked down the ramp into the cockpit and peeked around the
corner, finding nothing. He turned the corner rifle at the ready, the
deafing sounds of the ensuing battle outside amazingly dulled inside
the belly of the beast. Only the hum of machinery and dull thuds of
explosions could be heard. Surprisingly the cockpit was empty,
besides the bodies of four other jackals lying in the middle of the
room. Fred heard a loud clank and was met with a Brute standing
behind, he squeezed, the trigger aiming for the brutes face. The
bullets merely ricocheted off a shield that glowed for a second and
then returned to normal. The brute was on him in two strides,
grabbing him by the neck, the seals on the new MarkVI suit breaking
under the strain of the brutes grip. "Another demon. Your part
in this war has ended," the brute said grinning as he squeezed
harder. Fred, for the first time in his life, felt helpless, not
being able to have the ability to fight back, to fight for his life.
He felt the rage building up inside him, his hatred of the Covenant,
of the ONI scientists who turned him into a monster, the loss of his
brothers and sisters he grew up with, and of the war that held no
purpose. Fred tightened his grip over the brute's hands and began
to pull the massive creature's hands from his neck. More seals in his
arms ruptured and the crystalline gel leaked to the floor of the
scarab. The brute watched horrified at how one of the demons could
overpower a brute's strength. 'They truly are not of this world,'
the brute thought to himself as he dropped the Spartan to the ground
and ran for the deck, knocking down the marines that stood mouths a
gape at the Spartan that lay unconscious on the floor in front.
Linda
picked off another brute that tried to enter the empty wraith that
sat in the middle of the street. Another brute dropped midstride,
then another, and another, the only lull in fire when she had to
reload. She watched as Will fired to rockets onto the deck of the
second scarab, giving more jackals the ability to fly. Several
marines jumped on board and mopped up, while Fred fragged and entered
the first scarab.
Will dropped the empty rocket launcher and
grabbed his battle rifle. 'Things are finally looking up' he thought
to himself as two marines carrying canisters of ammo for the turrets
ran by. He loaded his battle rifle and started picking off the drones
that fluttered about, attacking the marines with their tiny arsenals.
Linda continued picking off the seemingly endless tide of brutes.
"I need more ammo," she shouted to the ammo runners
rushing off empty canisters. She saw the marines jump from the scarab
back to the hotel, as the second scarab exploded a moment later. Then
something caught her eye. A brute came running out of the cockpit and
then over the edge of the first scarab, falling to his death.
"That
was odd," she said to herself as one of the runners came back
carrying sniper clips and dumping them next to her. She reloaded her
rifle, tossing the empty clip behind with the others and looked back
into to the scope only to see two marines holding Fred's limp body
between them.
"Fred!" she screamed as she threw her
rifle to the ground and ran as fast as she could down the hall.
Will
watched the drones fall from the sky as the rounds met their skinny
bodies. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Linda barreling down
on him.
"What's the matter," he asked, curious as to why
she didn't have her beloved rifle.
"Fred's down," she
replied not breaking pace. Will instinctively dropped his rifle and
followed suit. They both jumped down onto the scarab and grabbed Fred
from the marines.
"He's only unconscious sir," one of
the marines said backing off, watching the Spartans care for their
wounded comrade.
"It was unbelievable," the other marine
started, still in awe of the Spartan, "he just pulled his hands
away, and things started popping, such strength," he added.
Linda removed Fred's helmet to reveal a pale face stained by a bloody
nose and a huge bruise around his neck, where the brute's hands once
were.
"We'll take him from here. You two kill this scarab,"
Will said lifting Fred from the floor.
The scarab exploded as Will
and Linda carried Fred down the battle scarred hall, past the
marines, cheering as the Covenant fled, to a make shift infirmary
down the hall.
"Don't worry," Will said reassuring his
comrade, "He'll be fine."
"I know," she
replied as they continued down the hall.
