Chapter 5 – Metropolises
1602 hrs
5th December 2552
Pelican India 265
En Route to Insertation Point via New Mombasa
"The message just repeats: regret, regret, regret. Any ideas?" asked Commander Keyes from the In Amber Clad.
"Dear humanities, we regret being alien bastards, we regret coming to Earth and we most definitely regret that the corps just blew up our raggedy-ass fleet", chanted Sergeant Johnson in the Pelican's commanding seat. His speech was shortly joined by an "Uh-rah" from the marine pilots.
Commander Keyes countered, "Regret is a name sergeant. And Intel figures out that he is a prophet, a religious figure."
"Master Chief, get down there and clear the city. It's the only place where the Prophet of Regret has decided to land. We're going to find out why", ordered Lord Hood.
"Kilo grid one-three-five is hot. Recommend mission abortion," cautioned the spotter team.
"It's your call sarge."
"We're going in."
Just then, a Covenant land destroyer – a Scarab, appeared and directed its powerful plasma beam at the pelican. The Pelican took some heavy fire before turning and crash-landed.
1624 hrs
5th December 2552
Pelican India 265 crash site
New Mombasa, India
"Chief, can you hear me?" came Cortana's voice as the Master Chief stepped up.
"Shake it off marines, go, go, go!" yelled Sergeant Johnson.
The Master Chief looked around the courtyard. It was empty save for the marines and the crashed Pelican. The marines gathered around a doorway and made a stunning entrance that completely surprised the Covenant. The Master Chief nodded in approval.
The Chief made his way up a half-demolished building and took a firing position at the turret on the roof. He rained fire down at the Covenant from his stationary position. First, it was a group of Elites, Grunts and Jackals followed by a group of air-borne Drones who were first seen during the attack of the Cairo.
Pelican India 793 radioed that if the marines could get to the other side of town, she could provide some reinforcements. As such, Sergeant Johnson ordered a marine to satchel open the door, not knowing what was waiting on the other side.
Ka-boom! The door went down, only to be replaced by two hunters. A species in the Covenant who look like overloaded tanks. The Chief sprayed fire on the Hunters who went down. The marines then proceeded through the door.
A peek around the corner revealed Jackals with beam rifles, the Covenant's answer to the Human's sniper rifle. Sergeant Johnson told a sniper to take out the Jackals while the rest of the marines took out the Elites and Grunts.
Unfortunately, Pelican India 793 carrying reinforcements went down near a beach, thanks to the Scarab. However, the Sergeant was needed elsewhere. India 766 came to pick him up from the landing zone that the marines had fashioned.
Now the marines under the command of Master Chief did the same as they had done to clear the landing zone in yet a similar setting. Finally, they met up with some marines stranded outside a hotel. Master Chief then cleared the passageway from the main entrance to the back entrance of hostiles.
A Covenant carrier, a new and improved version of what the Covenant were using during the assault at Halo Installation 04, came forward and rained heavy plasma bolts on the hotel surroundings as the brought reinforcements. It was soon down to hand-to-hand combat with the Covenant.
A Warthog pulled up after the battle. Master Chief hopped into the driver's seat and they drove out to the remains of India 793. A ghost was parked nearby, an ominous sign that the Covenant had investigated this crash. Master Chief stepped on the accelerator as the Warthog spun towards the water floodgate.
The Warthog bumped up the hump as the gunner of the LRV started opening fire with the Warthog's chain gun. Master Chief, though he could not fire as he drove, rolled over a couple of Elites. Private Darren King, next to him sweared aloud, wondering where the Chief got his driving license from.
The next section of the beach was a repeat of what had been the first although with the addition of red plasma fire. The gunner had, however, managed to take out two of the carrier's plasma turrets. A great help.
Finally, they reached the city's main highway. The vehicle made a few bumps and started down the highway. A couple of Wraiths, the Covenant's version of the tank were traveling down the highway. The gunner opened fire at the Wraiths. However, the Wraiths could either open fire and cause the tunnel to collapse or they could stop and the drivers open fire upon them. No reaction came.
As the tanks exploded due to too much firepower from the chain gun, the Master Chief reached the end of the tunnel and was told to wait for India 317, which would be carrying reinforcements.
1724 hrs
5th December 2552
Peace Bridge, New Mombasa Expressway
New Mombasa, India
The marines and the Master Chief climbed out of the Warthog and leaned on it. They started chatting about their lives, their ambitions, etc. They had just reached the fact that none of them had ever seen the Master Chief in person when a Pelican carrying a MB088T Scorpion tank hovered and slowly landed. Following the tank came Sergeant Johnson.
The Chief growled at him, "I didn't know reinforcements meant you and the tank."
"Let me tell you what the ladies like…they like superior firepower", followed by a morale boosting speech from the Sergeant.
After hooking the Warthog, the Pelican rose and left the Landing Zone just as the Master Chief climbed into the driver's seat. He tested out a button, just to make sure that he could still remember the controls, which was followed by a deafening roar. He had launched a shell.
Sergeant Johnson climbed up and asked, "Chief, you okay?"
"Just testing out things…" replied the Chief
The four marines climbed onto the track pods of the Scorpion as the huge ceramic plated creature rolled out on the bridge. Numerous ghosts (the Covenant's LRV) fired but were beaten back by the Scorpion's main gun. Infantry were nothing; soon the Scorpion arrived at the other end of the bridge. The showdown was just about to begin.
1738hrs
5th December 2552
New Mombasa Expressway
New Mombasa, India
It was a battle between three Banshees, five Ghosts and three Wraiths. In all, a total of eleven Covenant assault vehicles versus one miserable human Scorpion tank. However, the tank charged on firing at the Wraiths as the marines with battle rifles fired at the Ghosts and the sole marine carrying a rocket launcher engaged the Banshees. The battle was over before ten minutes had even gone by as the tank went down into the tunnel. Soon, they arrived at a blockade and the Master Chief stopped the tank.
A Warthog drew up and a female marine handed the Chief a shotgun, who accepted it with thanks. He then climbed up the barricade and opened fire at the Covenant as rockets flew over his head. He turned back to see the female marine firing the twenty pound rocket launcher. "You're strong", he said.
He crawled through a highway access hatch with the marines and came out to the huge city centre of New Mombasa.
1753 hrs
5th December 2552
Downtown New Mombasa
New Mombasa, India
A warthog pulled up and offered a lift. The Master Chief took the chain gun and the Warthog begin it's many rounds to eliminate the Covenant. Finally, it moved on to another area where the driver stopped, saying that he needed a break.
The Master Chief knocked him aside and stepped into the driver's seat and zoomed off without a word. He made a turn to the left and parked the Warthog in the lobby of the building with marines.
He met up with a Lance corporal, who greeted him while Cortana asked him for the Commanding Officer there. This was replied that he was at the top of the building. The Master Chief told the officer if he had seen the Scarab. Just then, the Scarab blew up a Scorpion.
The Chief turned and ran up to the top of the building, he crossed a bridge picking up a Rocket Launcher and twenty rounds for it. The Scarab suddenly came to a stop at the hotel and the Chief seized the opportunity to jump over. He assaulted the Elites on the main level and entered the control room. When he thought no one was in, an Energy Sword suddenly flickered to life and charged towards the Chief. He opened fire and the Elite carrying the Sword fell, dead.
The Chief made his way to the surface where Sergeant Johnson had brought India 849 to pick him up. India 849 was soon back at it's docking bay on board the In Amber Clad.
Apparently, the Prophet of Regret had decided to leave Earth in Revengeful Desire. Commander Miranda Keyes thought it was important to follow the Prophet. She queried the Cairo, "Sir, permission to engage."
"Negative Commander, not on your own, not against a ship that size" came the reply.
"Sir, we have no time to explain," Miranda pressed on.
"Green light. Green light to engage", Admiral Lord Hood finally gave his consent.
The In Amber Clad drew up next to the Revengeful Desire as it jumped into slipspace. Both ships disappeared from the face of New Mombasa leaving the city in ruins.