Humanity's Worst Fear

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Halo or Halo related characters.

A/N: Here's Chapter 4!

Chapter 4

"All personal, please prepare for a slipspace jump. All nonessential personal, please report to the cryo bays." The overhead speakers with the voice of Cortana said. Master Chief, Sergeant Johnson, and technicians were on The Fate's Mercy, an Omega-classed ship, the strongest classed ship in the UNSC. The crew capacity of the ship was more than 1,000, but ONI didn't want to waste good marines to the Flood (just in case), so there were only 100 crew members or so. About half are them are in cryo sleep, while the other half make sure the ship is in good working condition.

"Cortana, do a system's check of the ship. Make sure we don't have anything wrong." MC ordered.

"Yes, Captain." Cortana replied. "All systems are operating at peak efficiency."

MC nodded in approval. "Get us in to Slipspace. Our destination is Beta Halo."

"Yes, sir." Cortana said, and disappeared for a few seconds, then reappeared. "All hands, we are heading into Slipspace in 5…4…3…2…1…NOW!" As she said the word, there was green and blue light surrounding the 10 kilometer long ship. The ship tore a hole in space, and forced itself in. There was a blinding light as the advanced Covenant/Human slipspace drive kicked in and the ship disappeared.

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Meanwhile…

"Sir, the ship is now in slipspace, headed toward Beta Halo." A "dumb" AI said to Admiral Hood. Hood just nodded in approval. He liked Cortana better than Jake, the AI who was monitoring the station's functions now. Jake was "dumb" so he didn't have any sense of humor, didn't try to make a conversation; he just did what he was supposed to do. Right now, he was busy this station was safe, and firing the MAC cannons at every ship unfortunate enough to get in the Cairo's kill zone. It appears that he is doing a good job.

Anyways Hood took a last glance at the tactical display. He sighed and headed towards his quarters when the klaxon alarms began to ring. He ran back to the tactical display and nearly fell unconscious at what he saw. "Jake, tell me what is happening right NOW."

"Sir, there appears that 10 capitol ships are locking onto us with plasma torpedoes."

"What? The Flood is actually locking on?'

"It appears so, sir". John said, emotionless.

Hood scratched his head furiously. "Tell our defense cluster to fire on those 10 ships."

"Sir, the other stations are too busy keeping the Flood at bay from landing on Earth. We can't let them all land on Earth. About 50 percent have gone through."

"Then fire with all we have!" Hood said, annoyed. Maybe he was too used with Cortana here….

"Yes, sir."

"And give me a damage report on those ships when you are finished. Make sure they are all completely destroyed."

"Yes, sir." Then Jake disappeared. A few minutes later, and a few violent shakings later, Jake reappeared. "Sir, all ships are destroyed but two of them managed to fire. Time of impact is in 5 seconds."

Hood pressed the announcement button. "All hands, brace for impact!"

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Meanwhile…

The Arbiter was furiously fighting the Flood which the stations let them slip through. He had already lost half of his troops, and many more are injured. He just hoped that they weren't infected with the parasite.

"Remember warriors, aim for the chest!" He shouted over the sound of combat. He fired the Human shotgun at a Flood combat form sneaking from behind. The infection form within popped and the host was rendered useless. The Arbiter tried to fire again, but the sound of clicking made him throw the weapon on the ground and he took his carbine out. He angrily reloaded it with a fresh cell, and fired at an infection form sneaking behind a Human. The infection form popped, and the Human gave the Arbiter a thank-you nod and quickly focused on another Flood. These Humans can fight well, but they don't watch their backs. Maybe I should teach them to have a sixth sense when this battle is over, the Arbiter thought as he open fired on a combat form holding a Rocket Launcher.

He was getting tired at the 5-hour straight battle. He was ordered to defend this Human base at all costs. He was only supplied with a few Marines to defend it. They were faring the situation well, even in the given circumstances. Maybe I'm wrong. These Humans are tougher than I thought. He thought as he blew up several combat forms with his newfound rocket launcher. He reloaded quickly and faced a long day of battle.

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Hood was furious. Ships came pouring out by the hundreds and the Humans were losing. The odds were getting worse by every slipspace rupture. The odds were approximately 10 to one, of course on the enemy's favor. "Jake!" Hood hollered.

"Yes, sir?" Jake asked as he appeared on a pedestrial.

"Give me a firing solution on that ship that is locking on to us!"

"Yes, sir." Then Jake disappeared.

30 seconds passed, but the AI didn't appear.

"Jake!" Hood hollered again. But no response came. "Urgh. No need to worry about him now. Weapons! Get me a firing solution now!"

"Yes, sir!" A bridge officer stationed at firing control said.

No respond came for a few seconds. "What now?" Hood said, enraged.

"Sir, I'm trying my best, but the system locked me out. I can't access the MAC cannon, or any other weapon!"

Hood's face was turning dark red. "Jake! Where the beep! are you?" Again, no response came. Just then, the plasma torpedo that was locked on hit the station. Violent shaking was happening for a few seconds.

"Sir, hull breaches from deck 10-32! I'm trying to seal them now, but the computer won't let me in!"

"JAKE!" You could actually see steam coming out from his purple ears. "Find Jake right now!"

"But what about the hull breaches?"

"Just do it NOW!" Hood ordered.

"Yes, sir!" The technician was typing on his keyboard to access the system, but to no avail. After a few minutes of useless typing, the technician yelled above the alarms "Sir! I tried my best but I can't get in!"

"Jake…. I'll get him…" Hood made a silent promise. Then he punched the station-wide announcement button. "All hands, this is the captain! Abandon station now!" But the speakers didn't work. "Urgh…' His face was turning black. Everyone was scared. No one has seen the Admiral this angry before. Relying on a silent order that they knew was coming, they started working feverishly to seal the hull breaches and gain control back of the ship.

"Sir! Sensors report our MAC cannons are now targeting another station!"

"STOP THE CANNON!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

"We're trying sir, but its not working!" The bridge-worker said frantically.

"Get me communications NOW!" Hood thought that if this is not going to work, they are all doomed.

"No communications, either, sir."

Hood sighed deeply. "Then we can at least save good lives. Sweep this station and get everybody out of here! Give the injured the top-priority."

"Yes, sir." The tactical officer went to open the blast door, but it didn't work. He tried several times, but to no prevails. He started to turn around to the Admiral, but he spoke first. 'Let me guess. The door doesn't work." The tactical officer just nodded grimly.

"Sir! The MAC gun is starting to fire! Estimated time of impact to The Glory Field is under 10 seconds!"

"I'll take anyone's suggestions." The Admiral was unusually calm all of a sudden.

"The only plan I can think of is self-destruction of the Cairo." A random Marine on the bridge said.

"Any other suggestions?" The Admiral asked with a grim face. "No? Then I think we should do it."

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From another station…

"Sir, it looks like the Cairo is targeting us!" A tech said.

"What? Get me a secure link to the Cairo!" The Admiral of the station said.

"No link can be made, sir! Looks like the communications grid is down." Another tech said.

"Then get the plasma cannons targeted at the MAC round! Get me a firing solution when the round is fired." The young Admiral said.

"Yes, sir." The tech worked feverishly to get a firing solution before the round was fired. Just then, a huge explosion was heard and seen. The battle stopped. Enemies and allies all stopped the battle for a few seconds to watch the Cairo blow. The explosion was enormous, three times bigger than the station itself. They were in awe.

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Meanwhile…

Jake the AI teleported his data chip just in time. He didn't have enough privileges to stop the self-destruction. He was in another station, this time The Glory Field. Maybe he would have another chance….

A/N: A twist is going on here… is it? Anyways, R&R if I should continue or not. Any comments or criticisms would be appreciated. I should have the next chapter up in a few weeks or so. School work and stuff you know… Urgh…