*Be warn, contains war violence (Hench the name). Enjoy.**

**Six's POV**

Dirt was tossed into the air as the column of military vehicles thundered down the barren grounds of Reach. The Scorpions soon fell behind as the more agile vehicles move forward, turning themselves into live bait in order to draw out easy targets for the tanks. Helicopters flew overhead, from Hornets supplied with heavy weaponry to the light flying Falcons, the birds in the air are ready to assist in the coming battle.

'This was what it was like before we made spaceships' Six thought to himself as he checks his battle rifle one last time.

The convoy was almost to the Dark Zone, where the Covenant is no doubt preparing for them. Auntie Dot provided them with low altitude imagery from Short Sword jets when they did a recon run. It showed large scale movements in the Dark Zone, possibly Wraiths and Scarabs. This didn't boost morale among the troops, but it did help motivated the Spartans; there'll be enough targets to shoot at.

Across Noble Team's secured line, Carter spoke, "That Spire is our number one priority Noble. Do what you have to ensure its dead. Jun, what's the status on that death pack?"

Jun responded in a rather enthusiastic voice. "Signal lock is loud and clear."

"Copy that." Kat replied in her ever cool voice. "Requiring signal lock on the Pylon." As if on cue, they passed the cliff where the jammer rested on as Kat started the count down. "Detonating in three, two, one." She raises and presses the detonator with one hand and kept the other on the wheel.

Six watch the spectacle as the tower was engulf in flames. A small revenge for the humans slaughtered in the mountains. Six's head quickly twists forward when he heard the familiar wail of plasma shots.

In front of them was what looks like every Banshee ever created. It was like a great flock of purple scavenger birds was heading straight towards them, with hundreds of fire balls already released. The cars and four wheelers all swerved to avoid them, but all around Six heard both machine and men groan in pain as the intense heat began devoured their flesh. A small bright blue sun suddenly came out of nowhere and lands on top of a Warthog, killing all inside. Like a bird caught in a storm, the human forces were swept into an all-out battle.

"Split, now!" Carter cries. He wasn't the commander of the entire invasion force, but every Marine followed his orders. Alpha team splits to the left, heading to the plains, while Bravo heads to the right in the direction of the mountains.

There was only a single bridge that could be used to cross a gorge that was separating the plains from the mountains, and at the moment it was full to the limit with Warthogs all madly trying to cross into momentarily safety.

"Maybe we should hold back and wait," Six barely finished his suggestion when Kat suddenly shouted "No time" and punches the gas.

Six looked up and saw that a plasma mortar round was bearing down on the bridge.

"In coming!" warned Six, but Kat was in the zone, nothing was stopping her. She simply shifts the car's gears and said "might want to hold on to something."

Taking her advice, Six grabs the upper rail above him while he listens to Lin praying louder than before. Six was hoping that they could make it across the bridge before the flying grenade hits it, but it was too late. The plasma slams into the bridge and it shatters like a stone hitting ice. However, Kat didn't slow down, in fact, she gunned the engine some more. A small part of the bridge was raised higher than the other pieces and became an improvised ramp. At nearly a hundred and fifty miles an hour, they jump over the crumbling structure, allowing weightlessness to take over. The sensation was one that Six enjoys, but it came to a bone crushing stop when they landed. The warthog started doing back flips while the contents of the car came undone and flew around its occupants.

Whether it was from the Gs he was experiencing or something hard hit his head, Six suddenly felt himself black out. He tried to fight it but it was too strong and he was out before he knew it.

**Shress La' Vdamee POV**

Shress watches from her perch as the Covenant and human forces collide. It was like watching two great super storms crashing together. This was her first time witnessing such a large scale ground battle. The smaller human vehicles broke off, not even engaging the charging Covenant forces, and flank them, one side heading to the plains while the other heads to the mountains. Soon the small Ghosts and Revenants found themselves facing the larger human war machines. They blasted away at each other, and rammed into their adversaries until fire took over. She shudders as she imagines how terrible it was to be burned alive.

Suddenly a Ranger ran up to her and shouts, "Zealot!"

"What?" she asks.

"A squadron of humans has broken our perimeter, they're closing in on our position." He said in a frantic voice.

Shress didn't like the thought of killing humans, but she takes out her concussion rifle and nods at the Ranger. "Lead the way."

**Six POV**

Six awoke to Kat's voice. "Six can you hear me? Six we got to move, now!"

Six opened his eyes and saw Kat firing her rifle at Covenant forces coming at her from a hilltop. The bodies of Marines were littered at their feet.

Slowly, the Spartan got up. He heard a yell behind him and turns around just in time to see a warthog attempt to jump over the now destroyed bridge. They didn't have enough momentum and crashed into the cliff before they fell into the canyon. Six knew the screaming he heard from the Marines inside the doomed vehicle will haunt him for the rest of his life.

"Six! Come on I need your help!" Kat voice brought him back to reality.

Six grabs his grenade launcher off his back and said, "On my way!"

He ran up to her side, took cover behind their overturned Warthog and started shooting rounds into the ranks. The grunts squealed and tried to take cover, but the grenades detonated, igniting the flammable gas inside their packs, causing more explosions to erupt. The Elite commander roars in frustration as a bulk of its forces was destroyed in less than a minute.

As Six took cover and reloads, he notice Lin was slumped up against their improvise cover, unconscious. He made to shake his shoulder, but Kat suddenly yells "Incoming!"

Not sure what to expect, Six grabs Lin and ran from their cover while Kat provided rear security. Suddenly the floor of the canyon shook and Six fell to the ground, dropping Lin in the process. He looks up just in time to see a Banshee pulling away from their location, leaving their overturned Warthog a crispy skeleton.

Seeing Lin still out cold in the middle of the road, Six braved the fire from the enemy's weapons and crouched next to the young Marine and checks his vitals. He had a pulse.

"Hey, hey!" Six shouted as he shook the soldier.

The kid opened his eyes and looks up at the Spartan in confusion.

"Can you hear me?" Six asks, thinking the recent explosion messed up his hearing.

"I can hear bells ringing sir," was Lin's reply.

He wasn't sure if the Marine was trying to be funny or not, but Six just chuckles as he lifts the boy up and gave him his battle rifle. Together, the three of them destroyed the Covenant forces, with Six and Kat did most of the work while Lin gave covering fire.

With the threat neutralized, Kat got on the radio, "Command, this Bravo 1, we need additional support, over."

"Copy Kat," replies Carter calm voice, "Pelican should be there by now."

Sure enough, a large Pelican flew in and detach a Warthog from its rear. Six couldn't help but feel excited as he jumped on top to take the turret, a Multiple Launch Rocket System, or MLRS, design to destroy ground armor and enemy aircraft. Nice.

**Shress La' Vdamee POV**

The final human was blown to smithereens. Shress tried her best not to gag at the gruesome might her rifle could cause. She gazed at the fallen humans, feeling a twinge of guilt as she thought of how Michael would feel. She was no longer bound by her oath to not kill humans but she now feels terrible for doing it.

Her sad demeanor was missed by the males that stood around her. They all congratulated each other on the humans they just killed. Suddenly there was a burst of fire from her right and she turned her gaze on more humans, who were attacking. They were wearing helmets with glass covering their face's and had armor that was different from the ones the common human soldier wears. Was it Michael?"

**Six POV**

The coal refinery hasn't been put to use since the early days when Reach was being colonized. It was like a great hulky beast that was slowly dying as it turns to rust. It began to fade as time ate away at it. It has been empty for years, now however, there were Marines and Covenant troops alike moving through the once deserted building as the UNSC soldiers push forward, driving the aliens back.

Six and Kat were at the front as they led the Marines onward. At first trying to get the Marines to follow the Spartans was like getting startled rabbits to follow rabid wolves. They were simply defeated, they didn't believe they could succeed, let alone survive the battle. That all changed after Six single handedly destroyed a Tyrant turret, not only bringing in the aid of the Saratoga and Grafton, but also giving the soldiers the morale they desperately needed.

As shocking as it was, Lin was still with them, now holding the title of Marine who lasted the longest on a Spartan suicide mission. His prayers must have worked after all.

They came to a halt when they reach the final balcony. An Elite with a plasma turret had them pinned for a while. But the alien didn't realized it had set up its gun next to a large tank of explosive liquid. With a couple of tossed grenades, the gun along with the alien, were destroyed.

As the whooping Marines ran by, Six slows down a bit to look at the dead Sangehili. Its broken body was twisted in odd angles and its mandibles were left wide open. Six had a disturbing image of Shress spread out like that flash in his mind. It caused him to shiver. They were on different sides of the war, not to mention species, but now they were friends and for some reason, Six felt an obligation to try and keep that friendship.

"Lieutenant," Kat suddenly shouts over her shoulder, "get over here, we have a problem."

Six rushed forward to came up beside Noble Two and the Marines and looked for the threat. There was a massive courtyard below them, with stairs leading up to the opposite side of the factory. He now saw what disturbed Kat, two squadrons of Grunts, all being led by a red armored Elite.

Six felt his stomach drop, knowing that the red armor marks the wearer as a Zealot.

"Is it Shress?" Six tries to distinguish if it was his extra-terrestrial friend or not, but he was too far away and couldn't tell.

"If its Shress, maybe she won't attack," Six thought.

That changed however when the Sangehili saw them. It roared a challenge and fired multiple blasts with its concussion rifle. The human forces all dived for cover, but the powerful balls of energy still got them. It blew one human to ashes, while blowing everyone else in different directions. Kat and a few lucky Marines were just blown off their feet, but Six, as well as four other Marines, were carried over the rails and landed in the courtyard ten feet below.

Despite this, Six was still unsure if it was Shress or not. Did she not see him, or worse, is their friendship over?

The Spartan pushes himself up and looks around. Three of the Marines were killed by the impact of the crash, but one was still alive. He grabbed the Marine and hauled him behind the cover of a rusted container. When he glanced at the Marine, he was shock to see it was Lin.

'Maybe these prayers are a serious thing,' he thought before the Zealot began shooting at their location. Six got down low and inspects Lin.

"Where you hurting at?" he asks.

"My back feels weird and I can't raise my arm," a pained Lin said, as sweat and some blood covered his face.

Six had no idea what to do with the back, but he knew what was wrong with the kid's arm. Without warning him, Six grabbed the hurt arm and popped it back into place with its socket. Lin screamed, but smothered it a bit with his hand.

"Sorry Marine," Six said before he looked above him.

Kat looked back and made quick hand signals which Six nodded to. Kat and the remaining Marines were going to give suppressing fire while he takes out the Zealot.

He kneeled and handed Lin his rifle. "Shoot anything that's not human, I'll be back." He said. Lin only nodded back while he tests raising and lowering his arm.

Six pulled out his Magnum pistol and combat knife and held the blade in his left hand and positions his arm in front of his body while he rested the hand with the gun on it, to steady his shot.

He waited in cover next to Lin until he heard the thunderous cry of human weapons letting loose their load of bullets. With that Six ran around the corner and took off.

He ran into the first group of Grunts who was too preoccupied trying to shoot the Marines to notice Six until it was too late.

Six shot two Grunts in the head that were placed in the rear before he drove his knife into one of the Grunts in the front of the group. The last Grunt tried to turn and shoot, but Six kicked the small creature aside, forcing it into the wall. It looks up in time to see Six raise his pistol and shoot it in the head. With the first group down, Six ran upstairs to engage the remaining forces.

The Grunts were all dead but the Zealot was still fighting, hopping all over the place while firing its powerful weapon. Six had no idea what to do. Should he drive the knife into the Zealot's throat like he was trained to do, or should he check and make sure it isn't Shress first?

Six took a breath slowly before he moved forward as silently as possible. The Zealot had its head turn so he couldn't even tell if it was female or not.

He hoped he wasn't making a mistake when he came up behind the Sangehili and whispered "Shress?"

The Zealot turned and fired at point blank range. Six however jumped out of the way and made to skewer the alien's throat, but the Zealot caught his arm and threw him into a wall. The Sangehili brought up its rifle and pulled the trigger, but there was only a click that signaled the gun was empty.

The Spartan threw himself on the Elite and started pounding it, trying to beat it to a pulp. But this Elite was strong and was determined to kill. It punched Six in the gut with the force of a jackhammer missile, which caused Six to wheeze as the Zealot tries to get him in a headlock. Six twists out of it and jumps into the air and delivers a round the house kick to it's head, which caused the Elite to stumble away.

It made to charge at Six again when there was a sudden explosion of gunfire. The Marines has maneuvered themselves down the stairs and up to the platform where Six and the Zealot were fighting. They positioned themselves in a straight line and open fired. The Sangheili's shield only lasted for a minute before it was destroyed and the bullets started hitting. Six watch as fountains of purple liquid burst from the alien's body until it collapses in a heap at Six's feet.

Without realizing what he was doing, Six got down on his knees and removed the alien's helmet.

It wasn't Shress, it had brown skin and its skin had lines surrounding its eyes, which suggested that it was an older warrior.

Six let out a held in breath, thankful that he didn't just try to murder his friend.

"What are you doing?" asks a confused Kat.

"Um, just curious," was Six's reply, before Kat could say anything else he asked, "Did you get Lin?"

She nodded before she said, "I sent two Marines to get him back to base, his spine is out of place, he's done for today."

Six nods along absent mindedly before he got up and lead the way deeper into the facility. There was no additional contact until they exit the building. A pair of Grunts were trying to escape when the attack force opened fired. One Grunt fell under the hail of bullets, but the other was able to jump onto a ghost and speed away.

"We've got to keep moving," Kat said as she approached a Covenant Revenant. It was a scarlet two rider only vehicle with a cannon in the rear.

Six nods and said over his shoulder, "Marines, hold this site until additional forces arrives."

"Oorah," replied the remaining Marines as they took up guarding posts by the door.

Six made his way to the Revenant and got in the driver's seat while Kat got on the passenger's side. Six stared at the mass of blinking holographic buttons, levers, and the oddly shaped triangle that took the place of a wheel before him.

"You do know how to drive this thing, right Six?" asked Kat.

"No clue," was his reply. "Guess I'll just have to wing it."

**Shress La' Vdamee POV**

Shress watches as more strange metal pods fell from the sky. Flames burned all around them as they fell until finally landing within the protective sphere of the Spire. Metal doors were pushed out with great force and more black clad humans jump out.

She had no idea who these humans were, they were better trained than the average soldier, yet they weren't as skilled as the demons either. She supposes she should be thankful for that as she again opened fire with her blaster in one hand and readies her sword in the other.

She glanced at the Rangers and sighed. They were still standing in the open, easy targets, foolishly relying on their shields to keep them safe. Shress decided to use this to her advantage as she moves around to flank the humans.

There were only five of them this time. Perhaps they were running low, since this was the fourth batch of soldiers to fall from the sky since the battle began. Shress looks up and studies their movements. They were all hidden behind rocks, hiding from the blasts of plasma, all spread out. She could probably kill three before the other two realizes what's going on, but then she'll risk being shot at.

She was interrupted by a howl of pain and looks at the Sangehili Rangers in time to see one of them fall. He succumbed to the deadly metal of the humans. Seeing her fellow warrior fall enraged Shress, she was going in for sure now.

She jumped over the rock she was hiding behind, threw a grenade at one human while she fired her blaster at another. The humans weren't prepared to be flanked; it wasn't long before the grenade exploded killing one while her blaster killed two more.

The remaining two humans however began to fire at Shress, forcing her into cover. Her only hope now was that the Ranger jerks come and save her.

It wasn't long until after she thought that did another soldier fall. The Rangers suddenly charged forward and mowed down the humans, leaving only one left.

The lone warrior turned and started shooting, trying to kill the Rangers. It forgot about Shress. That was a bad mistake. Shress jumped from cover and ran to the human. Hearing the running feet behind it, the human turned and lowered its gun, but Shress grabbed the weapon and pushed it upward. Then hit and shattered the glass shielding the human's face. While this happened, Shress uses her other hand that held her sword and drove it into the human's body.

The human released a cry, which caused Shress to look up and peer into its shattered helmet. The human was young. It looked as if it has yet to reach its twentieth summer. It's strange pale blue eyes was wide and its mouth moved but no sound came out.

Shress suddenly found herself gently taking out the sword and lowering the human to the ground and watched the young human slowly lose its battle against death.

'What have I done?' She thought. 'It's so young, why is it even fighting?'

As if in answer, she heard a massive explosion and turned to watch as a large number of human vehicles get blown to pieces as the Covenant started to crush the humans.

She looks down at the alien, who was still watching her in fear. 'This is its home' she realize. 'its fighting to save its home, just like what we would do if someone invaded our home.'

Shress suddenly felt compassion take her heart as she watched this young warrior die before her eyes. She spent years serving the Covenant by destroying the heretic humans, but now she realized that they weren't the heartless monsters she was raised to fear, but a species much like their own, they breathe, they think, and they die.

The young warrior's eyes grew wide with fear as its breathing became more labored. She wanted to help this human, to comfort it, a small absolution to calm her troubled soul, but how, it was going to die, there was nothing she could do to change that fact. Echoing in her mind was Michaels voice, the last day they talked, when he held her hand. 'It's a sign of assurance among humans, no matter what happens, I'm there for you.'

Without really knowing why, Shress took the human's hand in hers and gave a small squeeze. The human now look more shocked than afraid, but Shress could see death was ready to take the human. She wondered what it was like to know you were about to die. She would be terrified, just like how this human was feeling right now.

'What would I want if I knew I was going to die?' Shress thought.

The first thing to come to mind was to listen to her mother when she sung her favorite lullaby, the one that Shress would fall asleep to after a long day of training to be a house mistress when she was little. A song that offered hope and opportunity in a low soothing voice that would always make her feel better.

'Would the human appreciate to hear a song before it died? Would it understand the words I'm saying or know how sorry I am?' She looked down at the human as the death begins to shroud its body.

She never sang before and most certainly not in front of anyone, let alone an alien, but that's what she did. She started to sing. First she hummed the melody before opening her mouth and sang in a slow and gentle voice. She sang in the ancient Sangehili language, one that she was sure no human had ever heard before.

"Come my child, my dear child. Come and rest you head on the dreams of destiny."

The warrior's eyes grew wider than ever before and she felt the eyes of her astonish companions on her now, but she kept singing.

"The storms and wars are still flaring, but my dear child you will escape to dream."

"Live to dream and dream to live, my dear one, of a life different than this."

"Know that you will see a future of which you helped to create."

"A future, a future, that only you my dear one can reach, a future better than this."

The humans eyes were drooping, but its eyes were still focused on Shress.

"Live to help, live to heal, and live to love."

"Seek the forgiveness of others, so that you may be at rest."

"Learn to care, learn to feel, and learn to live."

The human was barely breathing, but now it was clutching Shress's hand, as if to urge her to finish the song.

"This is my dream, my dear one, to see you bloom and live."

"Sing this song to everyone and create your future."

"Remember this song my dear one, my dear one, sing it to others my dear one."

Tears were running down the human's face, but its eyes were devoid of fear as Shress finishes.

"My dear one, my dear one, sing this song to those who needs it the most."

"Build your kingdom, my dear one, build your family, my dear one, and build your dreams my dear one forever more."

Shress looked down into the human's eyes before finishing.

"Sing this song my dear one, remember this song my dear one, before your eternal slumber."

The whole field was quiet after Shress was done singing. She felt embarrassed with all the eyes staring at her but that changed when she looks down.

The human she stabbed, the human she killed, the human who was afraid of her, that human smiled at her.

She smiled back and squeezes its hand as she watches it. Slowly, the human seize breathing, its eye color started to fade and the pressure on her hand disappeared. But that smile was still on its face.

Shress was still held its hand, wondering what to do next when a Ranger approached her. She looked up and was disdained to find it was Dinjit, her current suitor.

He gave her a strange look before he said "Zealot, what-"

He was interrupted by the wail of a Ghost. Sure enough, when Shress stood, there was a Ghost that sped towards them, with a frantic Unggoy riding it. He came to a speedy halt, but the momentum was too great, which caused the Unggoy to fly from its seat and land directly in front of Shress. The Rangers around her laugh at the lowly soldier's misfortune.

The small creature got unsteadily to its feet before he looked at the towering figure above him. He squealed before waddling backwards to give Shress some space before he spoke.

"Commander, the demons, they are coming closer. They just conquered the third outpost and are now on their way to your last defense point." Here the Unggoy voice twitch with fear. "It won't be long before they get here."

The Rangers growled among themselves, eager to kill the approaching humans while Shress thought about this. They had four outposts all position to keep the Spire safe, if these humans made it this far, than they won't be easy to stop. Especially if there were demons helping them.

As Shress thought this through, she just realized something and looked back down at the Unggoy "Soldier, why did you just now call me Commander?"

The small alien quivered before He spoke. "Commander Ruan is dead mistress. The demons killed him" He looked up at her with his small scarlet eyes. "You're the Commander now mistress."

Shress felt herself become light headed but willed her body to remain standing. Ruan dead? That was impossible. In her experience nothing could kill the season veteran, but she had been proven wrong.

She shivered at the revelation. She was now the only Zealot on the human world and now acting Commander of the Covenant ground forces. She felt sick to her stomach.

One of the Rangers step forward and asked. "Zealot, what are your orders?"

Before she could reply, the ground shook and the warriors all looks to the East. The spot where she was sure the third anti air gun was station was now bellowing great clouds of purple smoke. The humans have struck another victory.

Shress steeled herself, now wasn't the time to be sick, now was the time to act.

She turns her gaze to Dinjit. "Go and try establishing communications with the Prophet of Regret's Fleet, I need to know how far away they are."

Her suitor nodded before taking the Ghost (ignoring the Unggoy's protests) and sped away to their camp.

Shress turns to the reaming Sangheilis. "fall back to the spire and construct defensive points, we need to keep the humans at bay until at least one of the fleet's ships gets here."

The males nodded and started running back to the Spire, with the Unggoy trying to keep up. Shress was their commander now, and though she didn't want to receive her promotion in this fashion, but she still had a duty to perform; to serve the Covenant at all costs.

After she ran back to the Spire and rode the grav lift to the top of the Spire, Shress began observing the battlefield.

It looked like it was anyone's victory now. The Covenant had superior weapons than the humans, but now the humans had two of their war ships helping them now, providing support from above. On the plains, most of the ground war machines have been destroyed, which left the troops to fight in close quarters combat, either by weapon or fists. She watches as humans gathered in groups and to ward off Covenant forces. The Kig-Yar, and Sangheilis fought individually, leaving only the Unggoy to combat in groups. The sheer force that each side as they battered each other was enormous and the amount of blood that was spilled was enough to make anyone's stomach churn.

She watches the strange ships for a minute before she confirmed that no turrets were shooting because the humans must have destroyed them like the Unggoy reported. This was bad, without any large scale air support of their own the humans could actually win this battle. She tried to listen for Dinjit to see if he had successfully contacted the fleet, but he either couldn't hear her or he just wasn't responding.

As Shress walked the interior of the control room. The working Unggoys would glance up her before they looked down again. Even her two newly assigned guards couldn't help but stare at the Zealot as if they have never seen her before. Never have there been a female Commander, not in the history of the Covenant and most certainly not among the Sangheilis.

Shress felt her nerves flare again. She has been under a lot of pressure just for being a warrior. Now hundreds of soldiers are looking up to her to lead them into battle. This was just unreal. She had dreamt of this moment but now she wishes it was a dream and she could just wake up and find that her world was still the same.

'The only good thing about this is that I can finally get rid of Dinjit now without losing face.' Shress thought with a grin.

The grin fades as she thought of those words. Commander. That's her destiny, her dream, but she doesn't want it. She thought of the human she killed, the one she sung to. She than thought of all the other humans she has killed as well, how many of them were that young? How many of them were that scared?

She shivers as she remembers. As a Commander, she is to lead her people to exterminate the humans. She would even be expected to participate in the glassing of a planet so she could prove herself worthy. She looked out the window. Could she really be able to destroy this planet, destroy all these people? For the first time in her military career, she felt vile and regret beginning to form in her gut.

"Commander!" A worker on the console cried. "There's a human aircraft heading our direction. I think it's going to try and breach the shields."

"What!" she replied and walks onto an open walkway that encircles the spire. Sure enough there was a small green speck with primitive rotors heading their way.

Surely by now the humans must realize that all their technology has cease working once they cross into the shields array, what idiot is foolish enough to try and fly their way in?

**Six POV**

"We've lost all power, we're going down!" the pilot shouts as the Falcon begins to spin out of control after they cross the threshold of the blue shield.

"Lock your armor Spartan!" Jorge shouted as he grabbed handles position alongside the interior of the Falcon. Six was quick to copy his motions.

He watched in horror as they fell to the ground and the last thing he thought before impact was 'not again.''

Unlike last time he didn't pass out, he was awake throughout the whole thing as they crashed. Like the Warthog, they slam into the ground but the chopper began rolling end over end. Six's armor lock kept him from moving, but suddenly like a branch snapping, the handle bars his hands was glue to broke apart from the Falcon's body and he was spewed from the fallen vehicle. Six swore he bounced, skid, and finally slid to a halt on the hard rocky ground while his body remained in its feeble sitting position, the handlebars still in his hands.

'Why didn't I stay with Kat? Pulling guard duty is less painful than crashing into enemy territory' he thought bitterly.

Slowly, Six switched off his armor lock, and his limbs fell to his side, heavily battered from the interior of his armor. The lock system causes more pain than prevented them, was the Spartan's opinion, but Six supposed the setting saved him from accumulating far more severe wounds.

He turned to the Falcon that now look as if was kicked around like a ball by giants. Speaking of giants, Jorge hauled himself up from the wreckage and dropped his gun on the ground before dropping down himself and begins to loosens his muscles.

How was it that Six, the smaller Spartan, got flung out of the Falcon when the heavier Spartan remain inside? Wait, did he just answer his own question?

"The pilot's dead." Jorge said in a cool voice, neither too hard nor too soft. "We need to get moving."

That was when Six turned his attention to the Spire in front of them. It was massive, nearly a mile tall and the bright color blue. The ray shields were expanding from the top of the long thin building, protecting it from all intruders.

Six looked to the raging battlefield in the distance. They were all fighting for this spire, and now Noble was close enough to touch it. This was the end game.

With that in mind, Six unslung his rifle and followed Jorge to the Spire. The hike was treacherous as they moved towards the base of the spire. The rocky canyon floor had loose rocks that threatened them with twisted ankles while distance explosions shaked the massive boulders on the cliff next to them, causing a few to fall. The two Spartans tried to remain silent and crouch low behind large boulders, they were trying to get as close to the Spire as possible before they started the fight. They would both tense if they hear the overturning of rock, only to discover it was moved by the tremors of war. They were getting jumpy, and for good reason, this was the most important thing in the entire Covenants arsenal, they could and would fight to the death to protect it.

They crested a hill that overlooks the Spire and the first thing Six notice was the bodies. Most of them were humans in black armor, ODSTs, Special Forces judging by the coloring and looks of their armor system. It was a one sided fight, nearly all of them looks like they were covered in multiple burn marks, some haven't made it more than a few feet from their pods before being killed.

Six was told that there was ODSTs sent in but they had not heard from them. They couldn't tell if they didn't survive the jump to the surface or if the shielding array has burn their comms. Now the two Spartans knew the answer.

Than Six looked at the base of the Spire. It was protected by nearly a dozen Rangers, all highly trained by the looks of them and they had set up Shade turrets. It would take them at least ten minutes to dispatch them, and that's if they're lucky. Six looked to Jorge who shook his head. They were of the same mind. They both knew the UNSC didn't have much time left. They needed to end the battle now while there's still an army left.

Six looked desperately around when he noticed a human crane out of the corner of his eye. The colonists must have been about to start a mining operation before the Covenant interrupted them. With his trained eye, Six made quick calculations while he followed the crane as its frame made a sort of stair way up into the sky in the direction of the Spire. He then noticed that the midsection of the Spire was open, which revealed the elevator like grav lifts, pulsing blue as they connect the top of the building to the base.

He turns to look at the ODST again and saw one of them had a jet pack. He had a crazy idea, so absurd it might actually work.

Six whistled to get Jorge's attention before making rapid hand signals, to which he nodded, reluctantly. The plan Six just translated to him which called for the hulking Noble Five to lay down fire while Six moves in solo.

'So much for the Lone Wolf stuff staying behind' Six thought as he looked among the ODSTs for a suitable jump pack. 'Maybe it's in my blood.'

Finally Six found a suitable jump pack on a decease ODST. "Sorry," He mumbled as he took the dog tags and the small jet pack. He was hooking it on to his back when he noticed the ODST body he just took the pack from was different from the others.

All of the Special Forces operators were lying in pitiful broken shapes all over the ground, but this was set aside differently. It was lying on its back, hands at its side and the dead blue eyes within the broken helmet stared off into the heavens. What surprised Six the most was that the guy was smiling, a soldier died smiling in the midst of a fight?

Curious, Six got down low and inspected the body some more. The soldier's name was Kalivod. It looks like he died from a sabre wound. Yet he was laid down on the ground gently instead of being kicked and beaten like any other soldier would. It even looked like something, plausibly a Sangheilian judging by the shape in the dirt, kneeled beside him. Did this person, this Sangehili, comfort the solider and that's why he's smiling. Six has never heard of such a thing before.

"Six, move." Jorge whispered over the comms.

Six said one last sorry to the soldier before making his way to the crane. It was easy to climb onto, but once he starts running up its neck, he'll be visible and an easy target. His only hope of survival was that Jorge keeps the guards occupied.

Six breathed steadily. This wasn't some mission where his life is at risk, but the life of the entire planet of Reach. Men, women and children. He just hoped he doesn't mess it up.

He heard the sudden crack of Jorge's machine gun and the startled alien cries. Six waited until he heard the Covenant returning fire before running up the crane's neck. He sprints most of the length up, ignoring the throbbing of his body from the beating he had to endure since last night.

He only got halfway when he was spotted and energy bolts began to surround him. The crane protected him from the worse of the damage as well as his shields, but when a Shade's single bolt clipped his leg, his shields drop to half power. This motivates him to run faster.

At last he reach the top of the crane, he didn't even have time to breathe as he jumped.

His momentum carried him two feet higher in the air before he began falling. He waited a bit as he fell, he only had enough power in the jump pack for one jump. He needed to time it correctly or risk over jumping his target. As he fell the Covenant began shooting at him once more like he was a bird and they were the hunters. The blasts were threatening to destroy his shields before he reached his destination.

He finally got at the level he needed and activated the jump pack. He shot into the air, enemy rounds missing him by a mile as he was carried into the air at great speed. He probably rose an additional thirty feet at breakneck speed when the energy was used up and he fell again.

However, he was able to pinpoint the exact area he needed to jump in order to make it into the exposed grav lift. Sure enough as he fell his current position had placed him in a path that led to an open lift. He was about to hit the roof of the foundation part of the Spire when the grav lift caught him.

At long last Six let out his held breath as he traveled upward. It felt like riding in an elevator, except without walls or a floor which unnerved Six even though this wasn't his first time using such a device.

He looked down and watched as the image of Jorge fighting of Covenant troops slipped away. He hope his friend would survive. If he doesn't than it was up to Six to avenge him by destroying the Spire.

His gut wrenched as the magnitude of the situation hit him. Every living creature on the planet was now relying on him to take out the Spire. He lets out a sigh; he was trained to handle pressure, but never in such a large magnitude like this.

Finally the grav lift threw him in the air as he reaches the top of the tower and Six landed standing with cat like agility. He scanned the room with his rifle before confirming he was alone. He slowly edged out of the room, scanning for hostiles. Outside the room was a two way corridor, encircling the room he came out of, no doubt leading to the control room.

This was bad, he could be flanked and be massacred before he knew it, now he wishes Jorge was here. He shook his head. There was no time for regrets. He had to push through, now.

With that Six moved forward and turned the corner. Only to find himself face to face with an Elite.

Both warriors jump back, Six raised his rifle while the alien went for a plasma grenade. Firing with only one hand, Six shot his rifle and the bullet hit the grenade, activating it. It began to smoke as the Elite cried out in alarm, trying desperately to get rid of the sticky bomb while Six took cover behind the wall. Six felt the muffled explosion and only then did he turn back and tried to detect what else lies in his way.

At the far end of the corridor was a marvelous frame; inside was flashing with holographic buttons. Six was about to sprint for it when a group of Grunts got in the way. They all growled before charging. They raised their meaty arms and shook their guns over their heads as if forgetting they were projectile weapons.

Only one lucky sucker got enough wit to fall back into the control room after Six took most of them out with a single clip of ammunition. It was while he was reloading did Six hear the footsteps and knew he was being flanked.

He kept his cool as he stood and walk forward slowly, listening as the footsteps follow him, despite its attempt at being silent, the follower had heavy feet, an Elite for sure. As smoothly as he could, Six unhooked a grenade, making sure the assailant didn't see it before popping the pin. He made to throw it into the room, but at the last second hurls it behind him. There was a light growl as an Elite leapt from the shadows to avoid the blast.

The Elite was trying to regain its footing when Six struck. He bashed the Elite in the chest with rifle which drained away the shields before reversing the rifle back into its original place. He pointed it upward until the barrel went through the gap between the alien's mandibles. Six didn't hesitate when he pulled the trigger in quick succession, resulting with multiple bullets entering and exiting the Covenant trooper's head.

Six stepped away as the corpse hit the floor. He briefly examined his grisly work when he heard the pounding of running feet behind him. He turns to fire but a massive figure slams into him, pushing him to the floor which causes him to lose his grip on his rifle. In a single fluid motion, Six was back on his feet in a battle crouch stand while pulling out his combat knife. Six was ready to slice the Elite in front of him when he stopped. It was Shress.

He had no idea how, but he knew it was Shress. He supposed that after nearly a month of staring and talking, he was able to recognize the armor the Elite was wearing. He saw the familiar scratch on her knee guard, the gash of a close caliber round on her chest plate and the dent on the shoulder guard, the place where he hit her during their first meeting. She was standing in a ready crouch as well, energy sword in hand while her face was hidden within the confines of her helmet.

Six lowered his guard and simply said "Shress," but before he could say anything more, the Elite leapt at him.

The energy sword began taking slices at him. Six backtracked, duck, flinched and countered using his knife. The steel blade clashing with the energy sword caused a small storm of lighting to interrupt. Six was able to push Shress in a corner and put his weight on his small knife as he leaned against the Zealot, trying to keep the sword away from either of their skins.

"Shress!" He grunted through clench teeth. "What are you doing? It's me, Michael!"

She didn't reply. In fact, she kept her head down and tried not meet his eyes while she struggled to free herself. Six lets go of his knife, causing it to fall to the ground and grabs the energy sword, trying to wrestle it from Shress's grasp. He was taught how to disarm a person nonlethal, but none of the scenarios taught him what to do when he was fighting a being whose strength could match his.

Finally he head butts the Elite, dazing her, and yanked the sword from her grasp and jumped back, and held the sword up at Shress's throat to keep her from moving.

Shress lets out a hiss but stayed where she was as the two of them pant as they recover from the struggle.

All the while, Six's mind was in turmoil. 'Why did she attack? We're friends.' Despite this though, he felt cold fury welled up inside. She knew of this invasion, yet she didn't tell him. He risked his neck to come and see her, to form their friendship he risked his career, the only thing that could ever come close to a family heritage. Worse, he gave her his trust, the one thing he held in reserve for only his friends, a privilege she had abused.

"Why?" he demanded in Sangehili, surprise to hear his voice full of scorn.

Shress stopped her struggling as she heard the strong emotion as well. She looked into his face plate and finally he was able to see her eyes. He was taken aback when he saw her eyes are moist. Is she crying?

She opened and closed her mouth a couple of times before finding her voice. "Michael had no choice-"

"You always have a choice." Six replied angrily.

She shook her head. "You don't understand. my Commander is dead." She looked up at him again and said, "I'm now the Commander of the Covenant army."

Six felt his limbs grow heavy. Before him was probably the most critical person of the whole Covenant forces. If he killed her, it would throw the enemy into a frenzy, they could win this battle.

But it was Shress, the alien he came to know as a friend. Shress was the one who taught him things about the Covenant, the one who helped him to become more open to others, the one who loved to speak of the noble history of her people. And surprisingly she was the one who's voice he came to enjoy, from her questions to her laughter. Thinking of these things made it harder for him to shove the sword into her throat.

As if sensing what he was thinking, Shress whispered, "you can do it."

Six looked up in shock as Shress elaborates. "I'm done Michael, I can't lead this army, I may be a Commander, like how I wanted, but I'm done killing, done murdering," Here she sighs. "You're right, I am a murderer."

Six stared at her in shock. Was she cracking under the pressure. There's definitely something wrong with her. He didn't even think about it as he pulled the sword away from her throat, but she didn't attack, just gave him a confused look.

"Shress, I'm not going to kill you." Six said in a determined voice. "You asked me why I didn't kill you earlier, it was because I realize how much I came to appreciate your nobility, you're not a murderer."

"But I am," she cried out. "All these years I thought I have been killing heretics, now I discover I truly been murdering innocent people." She finished with her voice breaking a bit.

Six put a hand on her arm, she flinches, so instead he took her hand in his, trying to reassure her a little. She calmed down a bit before Six spoke.

"Shress don't know what to say, but you are worthy, you are strong, you'll do what's right. I know you can."

Shress gave him an odd look. "And what would the right thing to do? Tell the Covenant to stand down? They'll sooner execute me, I can't lead the Covenant, and I can't kill any more humans." She looked up at Six and began to plead. "please Six, just end it," Here she actually got kneeled. "I don't know what else to do."

With a sudden flash of anger, Six threw the sword to the ground, grabbed Shress and pulled her back up. "Shress! I can't kill you, before I didn't know why I couldn't, but now I do, it's because fate brought us together to be friends, and friends don't kill each other."

Shress still looked down cast. "It doesn't matter, I can't lead the Covenant." She looked at him. "What do I do?"

'How should I know?' Six wanted to scream at her, but held it back. He knew he couldn't kill Shress, and Shress now knows she can't kill humans anymore. 'Think, think, what can we do?'o Just as he thought it, he knew there was only one way out.

"Come with me," He said suddenly.

Shress jerks back in surprise. "What?"

"Come with me, fight with us. You know the truth, maybe you can tell others of your race, we can stop this war, we can let the Covenant know the Prophets are liars." Six explained.

Shress took a step back. "I, I don't know Michael, I'm not even sure if everything the Prophets told us was a lie-"

"It's all a lie Shress," he said with conviction, "If we're not heretics then who knows what else the Prophets are hiding from you, they're just using you and your people."

Here she growled. "But Michael, if what you say is true, than we've been lied to our religion, our honor, our faith. You are asking me to believe that after hundreds of years our way of life have all been based on a lie? How can you expect me, or my people, to accept that as the truth?"

She got him there. Six tries to think of a comeback when he saw movement in his peripheral vision, a bright green movement.

"Watch out!" he yells as he tackles her to the ground, the Fuel Rod energy bolt missed them by a few centimeters. Six turns to face the new threat, a single Grunt with a plasma launcher.

Wasting no time, with no weapons in hand, he rushed forward. The Grunt began taking wild shots, trying to kill the Spartan, but he jumps and dashes until he was in front of the alien. It tried to shoot him at point blank range, but Six grabs its head and twists. The broken neck Grunt falls to the ground and lets loose another green bolt as its fingers pull the trigger out of reflex, but the shot missed Six.

"Michael!" Shress calls in a semi shock voice.

"What?" he asked before noticing the smoke and hearing the fizzing of machines. He turned around and saw that the bolt of energy has carved into the console of the control computer. There was a flash of light; outside the shields disappeared, vanishing like mist.

Six turned to Shress and raised his hands, "I didn't mean to do that."

Before she responded, Six's radio buzz to life, "Six," Carter calls, "We're inbound, nice job on the Spire, get ready to hump it, the Grafton is ready to destroy that thing."

'Great' Six though before turning to Shress, "Shress, are you coming? It's the only way out."

Shress steps back, as if he just sprouted extra limbs, "I-I-can't."

Six was thinking desperately on what to do, he couldn't leave Shress to die, nor could she continue to fight for the Covenant, than it came to him. He turns to Shress and asked "Ever thought about being a spy?"

"A spy?" she asked in a distasteful voice. He knew to be deceitful in the Sangehili culture was considered disgraceful, but at the moment there was no time.

"Yes, a spy." He confirmed. Shress looked insulted before Six continued. "Look Shress you come with me or you be a spy for us, earn the trust of my people. Those are the only options at the moment."

Shress truly looks torn as her gaze switches from Six to the battle outside.

'I'm asking her to take a leap of faith, to make a choice that'll change her entire life forever,' Six thought.

Finally she sighed. "I'll stay." Six had no idea why, but he suddenly felt his body droop when he heard this. Why was he so disappointed that she wasn't coming.

She continued. "I'll be a spy for you Michael. I just I cant believe this is really happening."

Six took her hand in his again, and this time it was Shress who squeezed his hand.

"It's going to be ok Shress." He said. "I'll do everything I can to help you. That's what a friend does, right?"

Shress only nods as if it was painful to talk. They stood there hand in hand, comforting each other in silence companionship when Six's radio buzzes again.

"Lieutenant, we are a minute out, get ready to jump," the Commander's voice orders.

Six sighed and pulled away from Shress. "You have to go." He said, "Run as fast and as far as you can, this whole place is about to be destroyed."

Shress was silent as she nods before looking into his face plate. "Michael I really am sorry for everything."

He held up his hand, "its ok Shress, we'll talk about it later."

She cocked her head. "How will we contact each other?"

"I don't know." Six confessed. "But we'll find a way."

It was then did he notice the fast approaching Falcon, coming to pick him up.

"Go Shress." He said. "Now. I'll try and delay them."

Shress took a step back, then nods before running out of the corridor. She pauses and looks at him once again before running into the grav lift room. Six sighed. His friend was gone, and despite all his best arguments, is still with the enemy.

'Well now she can help us, we are no longer enemies.' He thought, making him feel slightly better.

The falcon came into a hover outside the Spire's walkway system that was just outside the control room. But Six didn't move instantly, he waited, counting the minutes, deciding to give Shress five minutes to get away.

"Six, what's taking you?" Carter demanded.

"Just checking something out sir, I'll be out as fast as I can," Was Six's excuse. He looked out the window and looks all around, looking for Shress before he spots a Ghost speeding away from the Spire. Was that her? He hoped so, because at that moment he decided to jump.

He ran through the doors leading to the outside balcony and ran towards the Falcon, hovering a couple of feet from the Spire.

He better make it, he had it with crashing that day. He ran with all his might before making the jump. He was too far, and was already falling to the ground when a large hand shot out of the Falcon and grabbed him. Six was hauled into the Falcon and saw his savior was Jorge. He must have been picked up before they got Six.

Six sat next to Carter who instantly said. "Let's get out of here."

The Falcon turns and started to fly away from the Spire. All around them, other Falcons took to the skies as well, attempting to escape the punishment that they knew was coming.

"Grafton, this is Noble One," Carter spoke into his radio. "the target is green and you're good to go. Have a nice day."

There was a pause before a male voice responded. "Copy Noble One, thanks for the update, be advise to all forces in the proximity, we are closing in on the target and MAC round has been authorized."

"A MAC round!?" asked a shock Jorge. "In atmosphere?"

"That's one way of getting their attention." Carter replied while he grabbed the handle bars sticking out of his chair. "Might want to hang on to your teeth people."

'Wonderful' Six thought as he grabbed his handlebars. 'I wonder if I can get through this day without the threat of crashing into something.'

Six then looked out the door and watched in fascination as the one thousand foot long Frigate came closer to its target.

'Here we go' Was his final though when the Grafton took its shot.

The blast was like an exploding volcano as a single large magnetic bullet was shot from the equally massive cannon as it was hurled through the air. It broke the sound barrier. With a mighty explosion, the round tore through the Spire, causing multiple explosions to erupt all along its side until the spire looks like a blue flower blossoming orange petals. Soon the whole building began to collapse on itself until there was nothing but the smoky ruins of the bright blue structure.

There were whoops and cheers traveling all over the net as the soldiers celebrated the victory while Six sat there and stared at the remains of the Spire, hoping he gave Shress enough time to escape before the round was dropped.

Suddenly there was a flash as if something like lighting tore through the midsection of the Grafton. Six watched in horror as the ship began to fall, along with the thousands of crew members still inside until the ship crashed into the canyon and slowly erupted as one massive explosion.

Six leaned slightly out of the air craft and looked into the sky, looking for what shot down the ship when he saw it. His heart froze and his breathing has ceased. Jorge spoke for them all as he said, "no, no, somebody tell me this isn't happening."

Above them, orbiting in Reach's atmosphere was a carrier, the biggest ship in the Covenant fleet. The alien space craft was almost the length of the canyon, spanning nearly twenty miles long, shrouding the sky like a great big cloud.

All across the frequencies, the happy cheering of the men faded away and was replaced with curses and cries of horror. They were too late, the Covenant found their way here.

"Command to Grafton, Grafton what's your statues?" A man on the radio asks.

"Grafton is gone!" Carter shouted into the radio. "We need to get out of here now!"

The UNSC mighty army of Reach slowly crumbled after that. A bulk of the forces turned and made their way back to sword base while others took off in panic heading in different directions. The iron will of the Marines were broken, the Spartans of Noble team was tired. But now the real war was about to commence.

This was the longest chapter by far that I have worked on. I am still looking for people who would like to be editors. I am aiming for three people max. One of them I would like to have military experience so I can get my facts straight and ask any questions on format, combat maneuvers, CQC, Mods for weapons and different types of ammo, etc. These individuals will help me iron out any wrinkles in my writing and I would like to be able to bounce ideas off of them.

Thank you all for your patience. These last two weeks have been hectic to say the least. I have had an interview for a new job happen and then had to wait for a call that could not happen. When it did happen this Thursday I had to then inform my job of me leaving and getting prepared for that.

On a completely unrelated note to those of you who play Skyrim on switch I am looking for a book in the game of the ruins of Kemel-Ze. I am going to start writing a story on Skyrim with a romance between a ancient male teen vampire Werewolf hybrid, A female World eater, and Sabrina. Other romances are possible but have yet to be determined. It will go through the companion quest line, civil war, main, dawnbreaker, thieves, assassins, and then finally hearthstone quest lines… So basically the whole game. I would really appreciate the help. I had the book and then my little sibling deleted my saved games and I cannot for the life of me remember were to find it. The story will be called Dirty Blood. I have a rough draft started when my game was lost.