Brewing Storm
Chapter 3: Answers

Disclaimer: I do not own Halo or any of the characters involved except Guardian L. Lightning and Guardian S. Storm

Chief's squad continued to make their way through the jungle, clearing out a valley of snipers and eventually moving toward a large power plant-dam hybrid.

"Radio chatter's been talking about some Marines who got caught and are held here." Johnson told Chief.

The Arbiter pointed at the far side of the structure and the group followed his finger to see a marine being tossed into a small building.

"There, you see how the Brutes bait their trap?"

Chief nodded and looked through the scope of his rifle, he surveyed the whole plant before nodding. He looked to the squad of marines behind him and laid out a quick plan. After everyone was clear on their role Lightning put his hand through the loop on his belt again, drawing out the same weapon as before.

"Save that for bigger targets: Brutes, chieftains if you see any. They've got large headpieces." Chief told him.

He nodded.

The squad waited for Chief's signal, and after a moment of waiting they slid down the small cliff they'd been hiding on. As they touched down on the concrete of the dam the began to open fire on the grunts nearby. Lightning sighted their Brute commander and lifted his rifle, holding a charge before firing it straight through the large ape-like alien's chest. As he fell some of the nearby grunts began to panic and flee. As the first few turned, others soon joined them and the Chief's squad had an easy time mopping up the routed survivors. Pushing forward they entered a large structure that led out on to the dam's main walkway. More Grunts and a few brutes, one of which was a Chieftain. Chief looked to Lightning and ran his thumb over his throat and flicked his head toward the Chieftain.

Lightning nodded back and gulped. A lump had formed in his throat as he walked forward. He took aim and charged up the weapon once again. He felt it hum in his hands before the shot fired, arcing through the Chieftain's torso and into some of the nearby grunt's methane packs, causing them to explode. The Marines all looked to Lightning who seemed just as shocked at his weapon's destruction.

"Move, they're not all neutralized." Chief called to his squad which snapped everyone back to attention.

The team pushed forward, catching the dazed and stunned survivors of the initial blast off-guard. They quickly finished them off and pushed back toward the small structure that housed the captured marines. Mopping up the pair of brute guards with ease they freed the marines and called for an evac dropship. Holding position against a new force of covenant they were relieved as the friendly pelican unloaded a barrage of missiles at the bridge, clearing it of hostiles. The squad piled in and soon they were flying toward home base.

The pelican set down in an underground landing pad, and as the marines disembarked Chief, Arbiter, Johnson, and Lightning were met by a woman in a gray military uniform. She saluted them and they saluted back.

"Where'd you find him?" She asked Johnson.

"Nappin', out back."

"I'm sure of it."

She began to lead the way deeper into the base, giving a sit rep of what's been going on after the Prophet of Truth's fleet burst through the UNSC blockade in orbit. They were now excavating near the outskirts of the city of New Mombasa. They were digging for something, but the UNSC hadn't discovered what that was just yet.

"Also. A familiar face showed up to say hi," She said to the chief as they turned and entered the command center.

A figure wearing a suit of yellow MJOLNIR armor turned and saluted the Chief. Chief saluted back.

"Chief. Good to see you again." He said.

"Lieutenant Lightning." Chief answered back.

"Storm these days. That's Lightning. Long story." Storm answered as he pointed at Lightning.

"Might explain why the kid didn't know how to use his weapon when we found him." Johnson spoke up.

"Yes. You could say he's new to this whole situation. I'll fill him in on all the details. If you'll give me a moment with him?"

Chief nodded and pushed Lightning towards Storm. Storm nodded to him and led the way to a quiet corner of the command center. He lifted his hands and took off his helmet, the pressurized locks hissed as he did so. Lightning gasped as he found himself looking at his own face, but older, and more grizzled, with a large scar running down the left side.

"Who are you?" Lightning asked.

"Guardian S. Storm, your mentor. Sorry for not finding you sooner. You caught us all off-guard when you materialized."

"Materialized?" Lightning asked.

Storm nodded. "I don't have time to explain everything, at least not right this minute. If you want I can send you back to my home. You'll be safe there until I complete my mission here."

Lightning looked back to Chief who was currently discussing things with Commander Keyes, the woman in the gray uniform.

"I'd like to stay." He answered turning back to Storm.

"Good man. You might want this then." Storm held out his hand and a large case appeared on the ground underneath it. Lightning lifted the lid and found an identical suit of armor to Storm's inside.

"It's MJOLNIR armor. Potent stuff. I don't much like getting hit so I wear mine when I come to this world." He explained.

Lightning nodded as he pulled the helmet out.

"Get suited up Private Lightning, you have five minutes." Storm slapped him on the back as he stood up and began to make his way back to Chief on the others.

"And remind me to go over your weapon choice with you later." He called back over his shoulder.

Lightning nodded as he began to dig through the box and pick out the different pieces of armor.

After a few minutes he flexed a few of his limbs to make sure the armor was secured. He then approached Storm and the others as they finished the briefing.

"Sounds like you have a plan." Storm told her.

Keyes nodded.

"Ma'am!" a soldier called to her.

They all turned to look at him.

"I have Lord Hood."

"Patch him through."

A large screen lit up with an older gentleman in a white military uniform.

"I trust you have good news commander?" He asked.

"As good as it gets sir."

"So I see. What's your status?"

"Green… Sir" Chief answered.

"Lightning, glad to see you brough some extra firepower this time." Lord Hood nodded to the Guardian.

"Thank you sir," Storm answered back.

They began to go over their plan:

Truth's ships were excavating like Commander Keyes had told them, and they had anti-aircraft batteries set-up along the perimeter of the excavation site. If they could punch a hole through the defenses by taking out of one of the batteries then Lord Hood would initiate a strike with some of their remaining heavy-class ships. As they were about to go over the final details the power went out.

"What's the situation soldier?" Keyes asked.

"Power's out and the back-up generators are offline and rebooting."

"As soon as they're back up re-establish communication with Lord Hood and-"

She was cut off as the screens lit up again. A gray-skinned figure with a large gold crown and red robes was now features on the screen.

"You are, all of you, vermin…" He began.

The Prophet of Truth continued a monologue explaining how the Human Race will burn and their planet will fall, as the Covenant will take what is rightfully there's, and not even their greatest soldier can stop them.

As the Prophet finished the power returned and the screen dimmed.

"Ma'am, multiple reports of hostile forces closing in on the base. What do we do?"

Keyes thought for a moment. "Tell everyone to get out. Abandon the base."

He nodded and began to issue the orders.

"Sorry to give you so little break, but we need you back out there again." She told Chief and the Guardians.

"No problem ma'am, it's what we do." Storm answered back.

"Ma'am, squad leaders are requesting a rally point. Where do they go?"

Keyes pulled her sidearm out of the holster on her belt and pulled back on the weapon to ensure it was loaded.

"To war."