Chapter 7 – Regret
0532 hrs
7th December 2552
Aboard UNSC In Amber Clad
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
"Ouch!" exclaimed Commander Miranda Keyes, Commanding Officer of the In Amber Clad as it jerked out of slip space. The ship had earlier performed a side-along jump along with the Covenant cruiser, the Revengeful Desire.
A loud rumble was heard on board In Amber Clad as Revengeful Desire accelerated towards the nearest object in space. Not long later, Commander Miranda Keyes pointed at the object and asked Cortana, "What's that?"
"That is another Halo. Much in similarity to the one Captain Keyes found. It's activated and may be fired at any moment", replied Cortana.
That was enough for Commander Keyes and she ordered Lieutenant Hunter to bring them down to the surface.
"Chief, you'll take the ODSTs, hard drop. Sergeant, take the Pelican and find the Prophet of Regret", ordered Commander Keyes.
0001 hrs (Sergeant-Major Avery Johnson Mission Clock)
7th December 2552
Pelican India 123
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
India 123 flew out of the In Amber Bay moving at its 70km/h cruising speed in the sky on an intelligence mission for the Master Chief's group of ODSTs. The trip was pretty much the same for every recon mission that the Sergeant had done. However, this time, he saw something unusual and demanded the Pelican fly in that direction. It was a temple and he saw a purple beam with the Prophet of Truth floating down from the Revengeful Desire. He immediately headed for In Amber Clad with the news.
0001 hrs (SPARTAN-117 Mission Clock)
7th December 2552
Drop Pod I241
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
The Drop Pod was launched from In Amber Clad's underside and it fell towards the surface at over 200km/h. The exterior of the Drop Pod burned out as it entered the atmosphere and finally, it made contact with the ground. As the Pods fell apart around him, scouting Covenant Jackals fired their plasma pistols when an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST) muttered through the group's radio, "Can't we even make a little less noise around here?"
It was a battle between plasma and bullets as a Covenant Phantom, their new-age troop carrier rained red plasma fire on the humans. They ran for cover as the Master Chief took down an Elite Swordsman with a well-placed punch. He grabbed the Energy Sword and gave it a flick as he gasped in wonder when the plasmic proportions formed a blue sword shape.
With the assault on the first temple almost complete, the Humans had done incredibly well in the battle with barely any casualties nor fatalities. Pelican India 211 dropped a Warthog LRV with Cortana's thanks. The Chief climbed into the cramped driver's compartment with a marine taking the side seat and his gunner, the machine gun.
The Chief drove towards a structure near a canyon when suddenly; a blue explosive flew out of bush and affirmed itself to the Warthog's windscreen. It was a plasma grenade that made them realize they had been ambushed by a convoy of Grunts. "Jump!" exclaimed the Master Chief. The marines and the Chief jumped just in time as the explosive blew the Warthog into smithereens, scattering shattered glass on the idiotic Grunts who had rushed to the Warthog after throwing the grenade and died on the spot saving the Chief a whole lot of trouble.
0136 hrs (Sergeant-Major Avery Johnson Mission Clock)
7th December 2552
Pelican India 140
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
He stood in the passenger's cabin of the Pelican facing the monstrous tank that was being transported. The M088B 'Scorpion' Tank was covered with ceramic plating. There would be no way the Covenant would be able to destroy one of these wonders of engineering. This weapon of mass destruction would be aiding the Chief on his mission to eliminate the Covenant Prophet of Regret.
"LZ clear, over and out", came Cortana's voice over the Pelican's in-built radio. The Pelican's pilot made a slight turn and spun the Pelican down to land on the landing zone. The overhead electromagnets that held the Scorpion in place deactivated as Covenant Wraith tanks appeared opposite the cliff fired their plasma balls towards the landing zone. However, all plasma balls missed the spot.
As Sergeant Johnson hopped off the Pelican, both the Chief's and his mission clocks fused together.
0137hrs (SPARTAN-117 Mission Clock – Revised)
7th December 2552
Pelican India 140 Landing Zone
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
The Chief ran towards the nearest structure to the landing zone and was rewarded with a gold mine of Grunts and Jackals. He easily finished off all of them and arrived at a room with a translucent control panel. He pressed a few buttons and a bright light beam was emitted from the canyon's walls. Cortana accessed Halo's in-built computer system to reveal that the light beam had formed a light particle bridge.
The Chief ran back to the Scorpion and eased it away from the landing zone onto the light bridge. It did not look to safe, but it functioned as it was supposed to. He quickly reduced the Covenant Wraiths into rubble. The Scorpion's firepower was unmatched in the universe and barely anything could destroy it, save for the Scarab during the invasion of New Mombasa.
Ahead of the Scorpion were two routes that the convoy could take. However, something told the Chief to take the low route as he headed forward. Finally, after taking out Covenant 'Ghost' Light Reconnaissance Vehicles and Shade turrets and plenty of enemies with his machine gun and anti-aircraft gun. Finally, Cortana told the Master Chief to clear a landing zone for the incoming Pelican.
0253hrs (SPARTAN-117 Mission Clock – Revised)
7th December 2552
Pelican India 884 Landing Zone
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
India 884 dropped off ten marines as the Chief got out of the Scorpion for a full frontal assault on this ancient temple. The basic logic that was taught during his assault training on Reach High Command had told him, fight, replenish and fight again.
Finally, the Chief and the marines reached a room with a pedestal and a huge hologram of the Prophet of Regret. After dealing with the Honor Guards – Covenant Elites who protect the Prophets - , the Chief placed his hand on the pedestal and Cortana entered Halo's computer network.
She translated the message that the Prophet of Regret was speaking to his subjects. "I will activate Halo and carve an explosion in the universe beyond belief."
The message was entered into the UNSC communication network and Commander Keyes agreed to stop the index from occurring. However, she gave another order to the Chief, "Take out the Prophet of Regret."
0001hrs (UNSC In Amber Clad Mission Clock)
7th December 2552
In orbit around Delta Halo
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
After receiving the alarming message from Cortana, Commander Keyes had sent SPARTAN-117 on a mission to eliminate the Covenant Prophet of Regret. She had also sent her ship on a new mission – to prevent Halo Installation 05 from firing.
As calm as ever, she told Lieutenant Hunter to bring them to the other end of Halo…
0330hrs (SPARTAN-117 Mission Clock – Revised)
7th December 2552
Unknown position
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
His new orders were to kill the Prophet, which had been heard to have extraordinary powers. No one had ever been able to kill the mystical species. However, he still had to try.
Suddenly, 3 Elites popped out along with plenty of Drones. The Chief eliminated the Elites as his supporting marines thinned out the Drones. The convoy was making their way up to the surface level when a Phantom – a Covenant drop ship, dropped off two Hunters. These Hunters were usually a nuisance and had a fuel rod gun fused into their arms.
However, they were no match for the Chief. His prodigious skill soon rendered the two Hunters dead and the convoy boarded the Gondola. The Chief pressed the switch at the front of the gondola to start its engines…
0345hrs (SPARTAN-117 Mission Clock – Revised)
7th December 2552
Submerged vessels
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
The welcome party attacked even before the gondola reached shore by means of beam rifles as well as plasma shots. As the gondola docked at the building, swords flashed out at the Chief as he did a one-to-five duel against the Elites with the marines providing suppressing fire.
Cortana told the Chief that the structure was about to submerge underwater and led him through heavy Covenant resistance to a square perplex box. As the convoy entered, the Chief keyed a button and the doors closed. The box then moved downwards and with a mighty shake, it entered into open water.
The elevator floated towards a next structure as Cortana told him what she had intercepted from the Covenant Battle Network. The Prophet of Regret was asking for forgiveness for attacking Earth prematurely. Just then, the elevator shook once more and it sped up the long tube to a stop. The doors slid open as the Covenant Guard of Honor opened fire on them.
0353hrs (SPARTAN-117 Mission Clock – Revised)
7th December 2552
Submerged vessels
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
The Guard of Honor was finished within a few seconds as it was made up of mainly Grunts. The Chief stepped out of the room and into a narrow substation. Snipers flared their beam rifles at him and the marines. The room was finally cleared except for two Hunters who fired their fuel rod cannons at him. The Chief went forward and tried to take them out with his sword. However, the impervious metal alloy shield the Hunters have for another arm threw him through a doorway. His shields dangerously low, he turned round a corner just as a fuel rod shot flew pass.
The MJOLNIR Mark VI armor's shields recharged in a shiny flare and he decided to let the Hunters live. He headed for another substation with his marines who had miraculously survived up until now.
Covenant veteran troops opened fire on the Human convoy. However, the firepower of the Human Sub-machine Guns and Battle rifles were no match for their weak plasma rifles they used although the plasma shots still packed quite a punch. The convoy then entered the next elevator and punched it shut.
Cortana re-intercepted the Covenant Battle Network to tell him that the Prophet of Truth had regarded the Prophet of Regret as a total fool. However, the Prophet of Regret would be spared public humiliation.
The Master Chief growled, "I'll be killing him. So that's one more favor."
0401hrs (SPARTAN-117 Mission Clock – Revised)
7th December 2552
Submerged Vessels
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
The Chief drew his hands to his lips to motion to the marines to hold their fire as he crouched towards the lone Honor Guard who had his back to him. He drew his plasma sword, swipes the Honor Guard's waist, and grabbed his weapons.
The Convoy headed up and was almost at the roof when a radio message from Pelican India 107 told them that there were numerous Covenant forces on the roof and that they would drop additional weapons. The convoy burst onto the Covenant and fired their weapons useless. Empty cartridges flew everywhere. As the last Elite fell, the welcome sound of India 107 came by and dropped weapon casings that popped open upon impact.
The convoy replenished their supplies and went onboard the gondola that would take them to the Main Temple.
0430hrs (SPARTAN-117 Mission Clock – Revised)
7th December 2552
On Board Gondola
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
The Gondola started at a touch of the button and Banshees came attacking with their plasma cannons. However, they were rendered useless by the powerful rocket launchers the marines were carrying.
Mid-way, flying Elites appeared and attempted hijack the Chief's gondola. Their attempt was feeble and the Elites were soon sleeping with the fishes.
As the gondola approached the Main Temple, a large Covenant fleet could be seen flying overhead. Cortana cautioned the Chief to quicken his pace before the fleet could interrupt his mission.
0445hrs (SPARTAN-117 Mission Clock – Revised)
7th December 2552
Main Temple
Delta Halo, Covenant Holy City
The main entrance door opened as Covenant forces rushed out to prevent the death of their Prophet. However, their attempt was futile. Soon, he was facing the Prophet of Regret. The Chief engaged the Elites and the Honor Guards with his plasma rifle and launched rockets at the Prophet. Suddenly, a huge senital beam shook the temple as a huge hole appeared a couple of inches from where the Chief was hiding.
The Chief slowly crouched behind the Prophet's Chair and melee him as the Honor Guards killed his human allies. Soon, the Prophet of Regret tumbled out of the Chair and howled before becoming still. 'Quite dead,' thought the Chief.
The Master Chief ran towards the exit of the temple as a Covenant Phantom fired a photon beam that eradicates the Main Temple. Before arriving at the Main Temple, Cortana had arranged for Pelican India 655 to pick him up. However, the Chief knew that if he stayed on the Temple to wait for extraction, he would be dead before India 655 even turned out. He instructed Cortana to cancel the arrangement and flung himself into the treacherous seas below.
Out of the dark, a giant tentacle grabbed the Chief and dragged him deeper down into the unknown secrets of Delta Halo…