Chapter 2: First Assault
Nick and the marines arrived at Earth nearly 12 hours after the explosion of High Charity. They called HIGHCOM to tell them not to fire upon them as they entered system. Once back at earth they were debriefed and told to re-group.
John was promoted from Sergeant to Captain for his bravery in battle. Max was put to rest as his injures were fatal, and the flashed cloned limbs did not take. Nick was the last person that they talked to in the debriefing. They asked if he killed the entire Covenant and eliminated the entire flood, and other questions, every answer was yes.
After the debriefing Nick was told to go to the armory for some upgrades. Once he got there he saw it. What he saw a blue MJOLNIR Mark VIII armor. The armor was the most impressive thing he had ever seen. The lab technicians told him to take off his Mark VII and put on the Mark VIII. Nick slowly took off his Mark VII and donned the Mark VIII.
The armor was a perfect fit. It fit better than any armor he had ever worn. The techs told him to go to the "zapper" as the people in the UNSC called it. He stepped inside the "zapper" and pressed the button. The golden rings moved up and down every inch of his body. Then zing, his shields went up in 0.012 second. The lab tech told him that this armors shields could take a round from a ship held MAC gun. Nick thought to himself "wow."
The tech then led Nick to a training course where they would use live rounds. The goal was simple take out the 5 Scorpion tanks at the other end of the course. Nick grabbed 5 C7 charges and jumped down to the course.
Nick started to run to the tanks when BOOM! All 5 tanks fired and hit him at the same time. His vision was blurry and he could hardly see. He checked his shields, they were still at 1/4 charge. He took cover and let his shields recharge. Once they were charged, he ran for them. This time taking cover every 4 seconds. The tanks fired at the same time, and recycled shells every 4 seconds. He got to the tanks, and planted the first 3 charges. Then the far tanks fired its shell. The blast blew up the first 3 tanks and blew Nick across the course. He got up and ran for the last two tanks.
He got to the fourth and planted the charge. He quickly armed the fifth charge and threw it. At the same time the fifth tank fired its main cannon. The tanks exploded, as the thrown charge detonated and the planted charge exploded. Nick was blown across the room and into a wall. The test was over and his shields were finally gone. They quickly recharged and he walked up to Colonel Ackerson, who just arrived. He said, "Well done 121 you are truly the best."
Nick was about to say thank you when John came running into the room. Colonel, Nick the Covenant they are attacking Earth.
"God Damnit those son of a bitches! They dunno when to give up. Where are they attacking?" "Right here." " John, get one of those Scorps revved up and Nick, I want you front line. Now go!" Colonel Ackerson yelled as he ran for the alarm. The Base was as loud as hell from the whining alarms, warthog motors, and complete with the scorpion tanks.
"Now as soon as that gate opens, let 'em have it!" Ackerson called over the speakers. The gates busted open and Covenant troops fled in. Every two seconds about five marines would die. Nick heard chatter all over his radio. "A little help over here?" "Help! I'm stuck behind a warthog." Nick mumble to himself "Well you guys have the easy part."
Nick covered the marines and the Colonel. The marines did their best they never had a chance. 121 grabbed a fallen M90 and pumped it. He ran up to and elite and blew a 2 foot hole in its chest.
He turned to kill a Zealot, but he was too late the Colonel's head got cut clean off. "Damn" Nick said to himself.
He primed a plasma grenade and a stuck it on the Zealot. With a BOOM! The grenade went off killing the Zealot and 4 grunts. He went through the fates and to the elevator. When he got there it fell to the ground floor. "Damn" he said to himself again. He mission was to get on a Covenant flagship, take control of it and go the Covenants main space station and blow it up.
He fought up the stairs until he got to the first floor. Marines lay everywhere, some holding on to their life others dead. Nick walked outside to see a Covenant flagship hovering over the city. That was his objective.
Marines hurried to the fight. Helljumpers ran to assist and Longswords and Pelicans cluttered the sky. He saw an n overturned warthog and John fighting next to it. Nick ran up and flipped it and got on the gun. John said "Damn I am glad to see you'll drive."
John turned on the Warthog and they went down the street. Nick gunned down every Covie bastard he saw. The LAGG cut down everything that was not human. They got to a crossroad and ghosts came from all sides. Nick unloaded the LAGG onto them and BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, the ghosts went up in flames.
John asked, "Where too?"
Nick said, "The Covenant Flagship Double Time!"
"Yes SIR." said John.
