Disclaimer: I do not own Halo, much to my annoyance.
'Zakamee watched Grgra shoot the hell out of the targets for another minute before he reestablished order. 'Zakamee waded through the Oathbreaker troops and laid a hand on Grgra's shoulder. The Grunt stopped firing and looked up at 'Zakamee.
"All right, everyone," Ordered 'Zakamee, "That's enough gawking. Get back to your assigned stations and continue with your drills. I want at least eighty five percent accuracy from everyone before we leave. Got that?"
"Yes, sir, File Commander 'Zakamee!" Responded the Grunts and Elites. They returned to the firing cubbies or to the front area to mill around depending on whether it was their turn up or not. 'Zakamee looked down at Grgra as the sound of weapon's fire picked up again.
"How did a Grunt of your caliber get tapped for the medical caste?" Asked 'Zakamee of the white armored Grunt.
Grgra shrugged nervously, "I guess I'm just naturally good at it, sir."
'Zakamee snorted, "Yeah right. And I'm the Prophet of Justice. You can tell me, Grgra. It is not like you could be killed for heresy."
Grgra scratched his leg with his thumb, a sign of nervousness in Grunts, and shook his head. 'Zakamee narrowed his eyes but didn't press the question. He then turned away from Grgra and was about to head over to speak with Orine when an alarm went off and red lights started flashing. A human female repeated a message over the intercom.
"Attention all personnel, report to battle stations. This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill. Attention all personnel…" And the message repeated.
'Zakamee turned to his men and shouted to be heard over the blaring alarm and repeating message.
"Drop your weapons! Drop your weapons! The humans are just going to think this is our doing and we don't need to give them any more excuses to think so!" He ordered. Most of the Oathbreakers tossed their human weapons on the floor but a few held on to them, heedless of the possible consequences. Just then, the door leading into the firing range burst open and a dozen fully armed Marines came rushing in. At their head was a large, blond haired male who 'Zakamee recognized as one of those humans that carried an insurmountable grudge against the species of the Covenant.
"Get your ugly alien asses on the floor!" Shouted the captain, his face bright red, "Any of you so much as twitch and I'll get a nice new Covie head to hang over my mantel!"
'Zakamee grimaced and lay belly down on the floor with his hands stretched out in front of him. He saw the soldiers in his immediate field of vision do the same and breathed a sigh of relief. The hateful captain would have no excuse to kill any of his people this time at least.
"That's good! Now get up one at a time and walk out of the door! I hope your puny alien minds can handle that much!" Raged the captain.
'Zakamee was the first to get to his feet and he walked right up to the captain. This close, with his face inches away from the human's, 'Zakamee could look directly into the other's eyes and saw fear. Fear of 'Zakamee, both of his alienness and of what he represented. Despite the fact that 'Zakamee and this human were technically allies the Elite couldn't help but crack a quick grin at the captain's true emotions. His lower mandibles twitched and the captain's face went purple. Unexpectedly, the butt of the shotgun the captain held slammed into the underside of 'Zakamee's head.
"Get moving you Covie scum!" Shouted the Marine as he menaced 'Zakamee with his shotgun. 'Zakamee raised his hand to his face and it came back smeared with purple blood. 'Zakamee slowly turned from the epileptic human and stalked out the door. As he was about to exit, one of the Marines put his hand on 'Zakamee's arm. 'Zakamee paused and glanced at the Marine. He was one of the guards from the Alien Barracks.
"Sorry, man. The captain just has some issues." He said.
"So I have noticed." Responded the Elite and let out a small chuckle. The Marine patted him on the arm and waved him through the door. He was held in the area just outside the door while a few other Grunts were led out and then the lot of them was escorted to their barracks.
A few minutes later the entire group of Oathbreakers was locked inside their barracks and no one had told them why.
"It's the Covenant." Stated 'Jasakee. "Why else would they lock us up like a bunch of rabid narks?"
Most of the Grunts agreed with this and murmured unhappily. 'Zakamee looked over at Yarna and Orine and gestured out of the window that he was looking through. The other two dark green Elites moved to him and looked out the small port. The massive magnetically accelerated cannon built into the center of the ring shaped space station dominated the view. The Cairo was obviously preparing for battle as lights steadily flickered on around the massive cannon, lending it a menacing air.
"Looks like 'Jasakee is right." Said Yarna distastefully; the two Elites had disliked each other the instant they met.
"That I am." Stated 'Jasakee haughtily as he came to stand with the others. "In fact, if we're lucky, the Covenant will release boarding parties and we'll get to fight!"
'Zakamee and Orine exchanged looks, 'Jasakee was worrisomely bloodthirsty.
"Excellencies!" Shouted a Grunt from the other side of the cabin, "You've gotta see this!"
The black and blue armored Grunt was literally hopping up and down near a window and wouldn't quiet down until the Elites looked out. Many thousands of kilometers away lay a number of bulbous purple ships and around them was a glittering galaxy of smaller ships. The relatively small swarm of ships seemed to be heading directly for the Cairo and its attendant MAC stations. 'Jasakee appeared to glow as he saw the approaching ships.
"Sometimes I hate it when you're right, 'Jasakee." Muttered 'Zakamee.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX(scene shift)
Private First Class Shane Bawek slid out of bed as the battle alarms went off. The sharp bang when his head hit the floor cleared the last bit of sleep from his head and replaced it with pain. Shane winced and rubbed his forehead, which would really hurt next morning. Assuming there was a next morning, he thought as he struggled to pull on his pants. His chip player continued to blare out old fashion rock music into his ear thanks to the headphones he was wearing. The music was by an ancient band called Blind Guardian and was Shane's favorite despite what the rest of his squad said about his choice of music.
Shane was the only person in his four-man cabin at the moment and he was grateful for it. He really didn't need someone around to laugh at the picture he made stumbling around with one boot on while trying to put on his armor. Eventually he got everything in its right place and rushed out into the hall. Fully armed combat teams were running to their assigned stations and reinforced plates were levered up from the floor as shields. Shane scrambled to the armory and was able to get his weapons before Gunny closed up shop.
"Almost out of time, kid." Said the grizzled Gunnery Sergeant as he handed Shane a battle rifle and SMG.
"Thanks Gunny." Gasped Shane as he loaded the weapons and prepared to catch up with his squad.
"Thank me by killing some Covies." Grunted Gunny as he hoisted a shotgun and checked the barrels.
Shane snapped a hasty salute and dashed out of the armory. It was then that he felt the tremble in the floor and he almost pitched over from the shock. Shane steadied himself against the bulkhead and then stiffened as he heard gunfire coming from the docking bay to his right. The bark of automatic weapons competed against the whine of plasma-based weaponry punctuated by the occasional scream or explosion. Shane rushed down the corridor toward the docking bay in hope of lending a hand to the defenders.
Shane never noticed the sudden cessation of noise from the bay, nor did he see mangled body that had dragged itself around a corner and out of Shane's sight just as he got to the door. All he did see was the toothy maw of a red armored Elite and all he heard was the hum of the plasma sword that cut into his chest.
Major Sula 'Krishnee deactivated his plasma sword and attached the device to his belt as he looked down at the human he had killed. His fellow Covenant ran past him in search of more infidels to slaughter but 'Krishnee simply stared at the frozen expression on the dead human's face. Was it shock? Fear? Or maybe anger at being killed without firing a shot.
'Krishnee knelt down and closed the alien's eyes. It was the least he could do and the most he had ever done to one of the human heretics. 'Krishnee stood up to leave but stopped when he noticed noise coming from a small device in the human's ears. He had ignored it before as being part of the station's normal sounds but he now knew it came from the odd device. 'Krishnee plucked the earphones from the human's ears and the rectangular thing that they were connected too. 'Krishnee held the earphones up to his own ears and listened to the music with interest. He reached down to the box and tapped a button. The music stopped. 'Krishnee tapped the button again and when the music started up he grinned. A last tap turned off the music and 'Krishnee slid the musical device into a compartment in his armor. He then lifted up his plasma rifle and went to kill some more humans.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX(scene shift)
'Zakamee and the other Elites had just finished preparing a plan of action when plasma fire was heard from the corridor outside. The harsher sound of gunfire responded to it and the noises continued for a few minutes before the gunfire cut off. 'Zakamee looked from one rank commander to another and they nodded as he gazed at them.
"Remember how this should go." 'Zakamee muttered to himself as the bright plume of a plasma sword began sawing through the slight gap between the door and the wall. When the sword had cut about half of the door free it withdrew and the door was kicked away from the doorway by a red clad hoof. The rest of the Major Elite followed his foot through and only the fact that his comrades could see him did the Elite not gape at the sight before him.
"What is going on in there, 'Valucee?" bellowed a voice from outside.
"I think I have found prisoners, sir." Responded the Elite a bit hesitantly, "As in Elite prisoners, sir."
'Zakamee suppressed a grin as he heard the Elite commander's thunderous "WHAT!" and dampened the emotion even more when he reminded himself what he was about to do. A gray armored Covert Ops Elite strode through the shattered doorway like a Prophet walking into his private residence, lord of all he surveyed. His confidence took a sharp blow when he saw 'Zakamee and his file but the commander recovered quickly.
"I had not been informed that the vile Humans had captured any of our brethren." Said the commander to 'Zakamee. "I would have thought that an honorable Elite would fight to the death rather than be captured."
'Zakamee bristled, "The circumstances were less than fortunate. The Demon himself had a hand in capturing my men and I. One cannot die honorably when a precise blow to the head knocks one out."
The commnder grimaced and made a gesture to ward off evil. "I apoligize. If I had realized you had fought the Demon and lived, despite the consequences of living, I would have spoken with more respect. As it is at this time I would suggest we relocate to one of the boarding craft and escape. 'Valucee and I are the only survivors from our boat and I'm sure that you have information about the Humans that the Prophets' could make use of."
'Zakamee nodded and waved his hand toward his Oathbreakers, "Agreed. Lead us and we shall gladly escape with you."
The commander broke into a grin, "Good, good! I half suspected you would want to exact revenge on the humans right now and I would not like to argue with you. Come quickly then."
The commander and 'Valucee moved back toward the doorway and 'Valucee stuck his head out to make sure that the coast was clear. At that moment 'Jasakee and Yarna had lunged at the hapless pair of Elites and gotten them in a stranglehold. The two Covenant screamed and struggled and Yarna was forced to pacify the commander. The broken necked Elite slumped to the ground and seemed to shut down 'Valucee's brain. The other Elite stared up at 'Jasakee with confusion and hatred in his eyes.
"You shall burn, heretic." Croaked the Major, "You and the humans that can corrupt even our mighty race."
'Jasakee breathed heavily onto 'Valucee's face, causing the other Elite to flinch back.
"You're wrong, Covenant. The Prophet's corrupted us and we are merely taking back what is ours." Growled 'Jasakee as he punctuated the end of his sentence with the snap of 'Valucee's neck. 'Jasakee shoved the corpse away from him and picked up 'Valucee's plasma rifle.
"Glad to see you feel better." Remarked Grgra as he snatched the plasma pistol from the commander's belt. 'Jasakee laughed in response to Grgra and when he had turned away Grgra made a little crazy motion that the Grunts had borrowed from the humans. 'Zakamee stepped over to the Covert Ops commander's body and closed its staring eyes before he retrieved the unclaimed plasma sword. Yarna hefted the plasma rifle that the commander carried and Cacar had taken 'Valucee's spare plasma pistol.
"Come. We have a station to save for our new allies, whether they want our help or not." Announced 'Zakamee to his troops and then he turned and ran out of the door with the other Oathbreakers streaming behind.