Chapter Three: The Truth and Reconciliation
The Pelican drop ship circled below the Covenant cruiser, The Truth and Reconciliation, waiting for the call for reinforcements from Cortana. "Echo-419, this is Cortana. We need reinforcements on the double." Cortana told Foehammer over the chatter. The 10 marines, 8 of which are in Fire Team Zulu, loaded their weapons, ranging from a MA5B to two Marines with S2 AM Sniper Rifles.
"I read you Cortana, five by five. Echo-419 inbound." Foehammer responded. The Pelican flew in to the plateau with the cruiser's gravity-lift, and dropped off the Marines. "Go go go! The corps ain't payin' us by the hour!" Sarge yelled as the Marines ran toward the Master Chief, who was next to the grav-lift.
The Marines stepped into the lift, and were pulled up into the belly of the beast. The Marines appeared inside of a large room with lots of doors. "Scanning… No Covenant forces detected." Cortana said to the Marines. The soldiers looked around at each other. "No Covenant? You think maybe nobody's home?" Jenkins asked, confused.
Just then, a door opened and 3 Red Elites and 10 grunts came running through, guns blazing and plasma flying. "No Covenant! You just HAD to open your mouth!" Private Blackmon said scornfully. 2 Marines were gunned down, both of them being from Fire Team Zulu. Jenkins threw a frag and killed 4 grunts and brought down 1 Elite's shield. It was then quickly melee-ed to death by the Chief.
Jenkins quickly reloaded his rifle, and killed a grunt right before it could throw a plasma grenade. With most resistance destroyed, the team moved out of the large room. As they were leaving, however, a pair of Hunters came sauntering through a big door into the room. "Stand back; I've got these guys." Chief said as he whipped out his M6D Pistol.
A Hunter charged, but Master Chief dodged it and shot it once in the back, killing the Hunter instantly. The Spartan did the same to the second Hunter. The 8 Marines looked around a gawked at the Master Chief as he strode over to the Marines. "Let's move it up, Marines!" He said to the dumbstruck soldiers.
The cyborg turned around and ran through the large door, into the top floor of a hanger. A commander Elite brandished his Plasma Sword, and charged the humans. Chief calmly threw a plasma grenade, which stuck to the golden Elite. The alien exploded, and the 15 or so Grunts in the area started running for their lives.
Those scared grunts were quickly mowed down, and the group moved into a corridor. After many more corridors, they ended up in a jail. Chief walked over to a console, and turned off the jail cell's doors. "Coming here was reckless. You two know better… Thanks." Keyes told the Spartan. Keyes walked up to a dropped needler, and picked it up. "Marines, lock and load your weapons. Let's be ready to move." The captain told the other freed Marines. The group of now 14 soldiers, 1 captain, and 1 cyborg moved out of the detention block.
When the group reached the hanger, Chief unclamped a Covenant drop ship, and Keyes flew that ship out of The Truth and Reconciliation.