Author's note 1:
Before we begin, I have something to get off my chest. I know I shouldn't give them my attention but they crossed the line this time. Fucking pricks.
I invite all of you dear readers, to go and check the reviews for "Halo Concordia."
I wrote my perspective on the story and simply pointed out how I couldn't understand shit because the story was written like a poem from ancient times. Like… I don't know, Shakespeare, Dante or Virgil?
I was, of course, attacked by my stalkers: the guests spamming death threats and other shit.
Now, look at the reviews of the users: "HughJasz" and "JolieHotDog". Am I the toxic one out of the three? Or are there more people who share my same opinions although they phrase their criticism with different words? (Although, Jolie is toxic).
As for "LizardMan" and the other "Guests": You fucking disgust me. You cannot check other reviews before deeming my criticism as pure toxic shit.
UPDATE: I'll respond to these two guest reviews because they didn't understand the logic behind my description.
Guest: (Hey, I can speak for those reviews: they were not sending death threats. Gino, please stop exaggerating) I'm surprised I even have to explain this. I used the ":" to describe the guests attacking me, who PREVIOUSLY spammed death threats and other shit. What other shit? There was one guest who spammed: "AAAAHHHH! YOUR MOTHER LIKES IT DEEP afagaafga". Or well, the letters weren't exactly that. So, things like fucking my mother. I never said that they spammed death threats IN THAT COMMENT SECTION. We're good now? Yes? Good! Now stop reading this boring stuff and enjoy my work!
412-973-8468: (Just accept that you're an a*** and move on) Again, check the reviews of HughJasz and JolieHotDog. If you're really sure I'm the asshole, at least insult THE OTHER asshole(s).
I will not accept any other guest reviews on the subject.
As Bungie already said: "This is our final communication on the matter."
Silverwingzz: The datapad I described could, Ghost could hack in the UNSC network and pull whatever information he needs in.
Enjoy!
Stupid Elites! Getting all bossy against us while we can do nothing in return. A grunt sighed as he patrolled the area he was ordered to. He kicked a rock with his foot and watched it falling in the abyss of the location. It's so boooring, but at least the Demon isn't here.
CLANG!
The grunt jumped in surprise. What did the rock hit? He slowly padded his way to the edge and peaked.
A human vehicle raised above his head. The little alien screamed and ran away. "HELP! HELP ME!" He exclaimed.
Now that's a first.
Most of the aliens Jake fought back home were not this goofy or cartoonish. They were out for everybody's blood and often fought each other for the scraps. These grunts? They couldn't be considered a great threat aside from their plasma guns, even a civilian back home if properly trained could eradicate the little pests.
The pelican slowly descended and turned around, it offered the edge in plain sight so they could jump.
"This is as far as I can go." Foehammer informed.
"Roger that. We'll be able to find our way to the Control Center from here."
Covenant's turrets were placed in front of a door, but where was the patrol? Did the grunt that escaped go to his buddies and alerted them of their presence?
"Watch out for ambushes, we're in a close location, not in an open environment." The Hive's tactics soon became a routine to memorize for him, the majority were indeed based on directed ambushes to snatch the Light out of a Guardian before finishing them.
"Affirmative." Master Chief answered and robotically followed the Titan as he began marching.
"There he is!" The grunt from before yelled as he approached the long hallway with his squad. "I told you! The Demons are here!" The Covenant scattered around the area as plasma beams hit both of the warriors, their shields held on.
Jake hid behind a pillar and peaked from his corner. A good concentration of the aliens made by grunts, jackals with shields and Elites stood in a certain position to pin him down: about six members.
"Do we have No Time to Explain? I could use a helping hand." He winced when plasma crashed against his shoulder. He hmm-ed and rolled it, he could still feel his surroundings. The shields had recharged.
"On it. We might need heavy weaponry later. I'll prepare Heir Apparent for you."
Hung Jury transmatted away and its place No Time to Explain materialized. He settled the rifle on the external portion of the pillar and fired. He hit a grunt in the head with his three bullets shot and killed him, No Time to Explain charged a bit but it wasn't enough so he mowed another Unggoy.
He sprinted away and circled the room while Chief dealed with his own problems. He double jumped on a platform and carefully aimed for a jackal's hand, if he managed to knock the alien back, the shield wouldn't protect him temporarily.
Jake succeeded in his task. He eliminated the jackal and did the same to his companion. The familiar portal emerged and hovered above his shoulder, immediately targetting the two Elites remaining. It actually proved to be quite effective against their shields, it didn't take long for the minor to lose it and he was quickly sheared down.
The second Sangheili was definitely smarter than his ally, he growled in frustration and retreated to the other part of the room where the rest of the platoon was busy with Chief. Jake leaped down the platform and chased him.
At least, that's what he thought the alien would do.
"Behind you!" Ghost cried. Too late, the Elite roared and knocked him off his feet, No Time to Explain flew against a wall. He tried to reach for Null Composure but the Sangheili grabbed him by the throat and slammed him on the glass.
The Elite seemed to be scanning him, he sniffed him and rumbled in his throat. Jake had faced much more dangerous foes, but he decided to humour the being and did not respond to the physical aggression, yet. "The Supreme Commander has ordered your capture, 'Guardian.'" The Titan's eyes slightly widened at the common nickname used. The Elite leaned closer and chuckled. "He however said that we could bring you in as a rotten corpse since your construct can simply revive you. I think I'll take my time and-"
CRACK!
The Sangheili slowly looked down at the arm deeply buried in his chest, blood started dripping from his maw. Jake yanked it away and allowed the being to step back, a hole the size of a fist adorning his torso. The Elite shifted his gaze on the Titan who stared back.
He fell on his knees before letting his body collapse on the ground.
"Never underestimate the strength of a Titan." He wiped the blood from his glove and retrieved No Time to Explain just as Chief joined him.
"We heard the conversation." Cortana carefully began.
"It seems the Covenant have placed a target on the back of his head." Ghost continued. "They will likely try to capture and experiment on us. They'll be interested specifically in the resurrection process."
"One problem at a time." Jake raised a hand. "We first need to find Halo's Control Center and then we'll worry about my safety. Chief, you scavenged ammo and grenades?"
"Yes. We should move on."
He did not expect to find himself on a bridge with snow slowly descending from the air. He opened his palm and squinted his eyes at the snowflake posing on it.
"Interesting. The weather patterns here seem natural, not artificial. I wonder if the ring's environment systems are malfunctioning… or if the designers WANTED the installation to have inclement weather."
"Could be both, Cortana. We watched various landscapes: from simple forests filled with rivers, to the Silent Cartographer's beaches. Maybe the ring was designed to perfectly mimic the atmospheres of habitable planets like Earth, or maybe the systems did malfunction."
"Seems reasonable."
Jake heard some snores vibrating. He looked to his left and right: two grunts were hunched over and quietly sleeping. He drew a straight line with his finger under his throat to Master Chief and then raised the same finger to his helmet, where the mouth would be. We kill them, quietly.
John touched his thumb and index together to form a "O". Roger that.
He approached the little guy and lunged forward, wrapping his strong arms around the head.
CRACK!
The body stopped wiggling and laid motionless in his grip. He discarded it and walked away. The bridge was divided in two portions: one continued on the same level while the other went down in a parallel line.
He pointed to himself and then to the lower level. I go there. He pointed to Chief and then to the upper one. You continue here.
Roger that.
Only three Elites and two jackals patrolled the lower level of the bridge. The Titan decided he would firstly eliminate the subordinates before concentrating on the upper cast. He aimed No Time to Explain and fired two bursts of three bullets each, killing the jackals.
After a second, he heard gunfire echoing from above. Chief must have joined him in the gunfight.
He had to admit, the Sangheili's shields were tough enough to withstand his enchanced weapons, but unlike John's bullets they still mowed down everything in their pact. He effortlessly headshotted one of the two Elites, the second retreated behind a pillar and did not dare to peak.
Not this time.
He bolted and ran, increasing his speed with each second. He ducked down when the Elite tried to elbow him and shoulder charged him, instantly atomizing his foe.
"This is Fireteam Zulu requesting immediate assistance from any UNSC forces." He reached for his helmet and cleared the signal. "Does anyone read me? Over!"
"I didn't think there were any human forces left in this part of the ring."
"Must be a patrol sent here to investigate the region just like us."
"Could be." Cortana cleared her throat. "Cortana to Fireteam Zulu, I read you. Hold position, we're on our way."
"There's an elevator in the next room, it will lead you both to Zulu's location." Ghost beeped and sent a marker to his HUD while he shared another with Cortana.
They literally rushed through the exit when the elevator brought them down. On the far left side, Zulu team was pinned down by Covenant's heavy artillery. Jake executed a grunt sitting on a turret without hesitation and then gestured to their side. "Chief, you go there and provide a distraction while getting that Warthog up and running. I'll stay here with my sniper and cover you."
The weight on his back shifted and in the place of Null Composure, One Thousand Yard Stare materialized again. He crouched on one knee and aimed down his sights, his gaze landed on an Elite operating a turret sitting on a hill, a strategic position against the marines.
He held his breath-
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
One bullet ricocheted on the shield, while the other completely missed its target. He fixed his mistake with the third shot and the head was cracked, the body falling from the weapon's seat.
"I need to train better." He reloaded the rifle and opened fire again on a jackal. "I can't miss crucial targets like that."
"Only a Hunter can safely hit a moving target from this distance, Jake. You're still a sharpshooter to the core anyway."
"Mmmh." He sincerely did not believe in the statement. Ghost was simply trying to act as emotional support for his flaws as a Guardian. They called him: 'The greatest Guardian who ever lived.' But how can he be the greatest warrior if he can't even hit a target?
The marines became bolder with each alien dead and buried under the snow. Maybe too bold. One of the soldiers, in fact, led the charge, not waiting for Master Chief to do so. He glanced to the right and widened his eyes as a Wrath prepared a plasma beam to launch against the marine's position.
Fuck.
He sprinted and did not think twice, he knocked aside the soldier with enough force to send him rolling on the snow far away, without hurting him too much. He didn't have time to turn around as the beam already impacted on his back, the burning was only temporarily and he already felt numb by the time he landed on the ground.
Jake heard various shouts probably coming from Zulu, he felt four or six hands grabbing his shoulder and dragging him behind.
It was when someone shouted 'Medic!' that he used the adrenaline to talk. "D-don't."
It was hard to speak with all the blood forming in his mouth. Thankfully Ghost appeared right on time. "Please everyone, step back and do not waste your medical resources. I'll take care of him."
"But he'll die!" The medic shouted. "I have to check his wounds."
"Zulu team, stand down." Chief's voice echoed from the comms. "Let the Ghost treat the Guardian, that's an order."
Making sure no one would waste resources on him, he allowed himself to be carried away by darkness.
When he was resurrected, collective gasps around him could be heard. He ignored them and immediately stood up, although Chief's hand stopped him. "Take it easy, I don't know how it works for you Guardians but I wouldn't rush after coming back."
"What about the Wraith?"
"He destroyed it." Cortana explained. "Along with the rest of the Covenant patrol."
"You don't waste time, do you?" He asked with a masked hint of sarcasm.
"No." He didn't know if Chief caught him, but he did help him standing on his feet. "You're ready to continue?" John offered No Time to Explain, the Titan accepted the offer and cracked his neck.
"Let's find the Control Room."
"Sir?" He shifted his gaze to the approaching marine, he was the man he saved. "I-I wanted to thank you for saving my life."
He nodded. "I have limitless opportunities, marine. But you only have one life: Make it count." He dismissed the rest of the stares coming to him and nodded to the Warthog. "Does it work?"
"Yes." Chief pointed to three marines. "We have retrieved two ghosts with us. One of you will follow us on the Warthog while the others will use the Covenant's vehicles."
"Yes, sir!"
Jake mounted on the machine gun and took a sharp breath. The ride was quiet, no Covenant in sight.
At least for thirty seconds…
Two Wraights with turrets on a hill up a tunnel which housed another entrance. The bigger surprise was the giant tank ready to be used in front of them.
He smirked. "Now we're talking."
He checked the ammo for the machine gun on the tank and prepared himself. Chief was of course the driver and the user of the main cannon. The marines meanwhile positioned themselves on the seats around the vehicle, they were exposed but they knew the danger in doing so.
He caught the trail of two Banshees flying in the air. "Concentrate fire on the Wraiths, Chief. The Banshees are mine." CLICK! He deactivated the safety.
Jake unleashed his lead on the aliens. It was a game of throwing and catching, with the banshees heading straight for their target and firing before diving straight up again. He had to caliber his bullets carefully and aim for the correct trajectory.
Chief used his cannon to quickly brush aside two Hunters, he then concentrated on the Wraights. BOOM! Hit. BOOM! The Wraight sprinted away at the last second. BOOM! Hit, last bullet required to destroy it.
"Incoming!" Ghost announced. The second Wraight wasn't standing there doing nothing. It fired when it knew Chief was too preoccupied with its companion to even notice him. The plasma connected directly with the tank, the screams of the marines fell in the background as soon as they died.
"Shit." The Titan muttered. He had already destroyed the banshee fucking with them. He turned his attention to the second Wraight and back to the tank. "It can withstand about three other hits." He said. "I'll take care of the second Wraight."
Before Cortana could protest with the preposterous claim, he already dismounted from the tank and double jumped in the air.
CREAK!
Thundercrash proved to be quite effective against the armour, he already used this super for Fallen tanks before. It exploded in many pieces, surely the alien maneuvering it wouldn't survive that.
Chief finished the second Wraight and drove to the entrance of the tunnel, not before destroying the turret up the hill of course. Jake followed him and opened the door through a holo-panel nearby. The way led to the interior of the mountain where a bridge stretched across a gap… with more Covenant troops waiting for them.
He glanced at the tank and winced at how broken it was. They couldn't use it to cross the bridge, it wouldn't through half of it.
"Give me Heir Apparent, we'll proceed the old fashioned way." He motioned to Chief to exit the vehicle. "I've got another trick of the technology we developed at the Tower I wanted to show you. No matter what happends, stay behind me. They shouldn't be able to destroy the shield if everything goes according to plan."
"What do you have in mind exactly?"
"Using me as cover while shooting everything that moves." He shrugged and turned around. He let Heir Apparent rotate, the arc shield charged up around him. "Let's move."
"The Demons!" An Elite shouted. "Protect the passage to the holy Center!"
Everything went according to plan, the plasma shots while very powerful and capable of piercing even the armour of a tank only bounced off Heir Apparent's ability. And all because the 'bullets' weren't made of arc energy to counter the correct element.
It was simply a massacre.
"Clear!" He announced. The warriors lowered both of their weapons and crept further in the room.
Whatever extra defense the Covenant threw at them to avoid an assault to the Control room was dead or destroyed. He imagined the Control Center to be filled with machinery considering the technological limitations this humanity and the aliens had, wires everywhere or what not.
Instead, a simple terminal in the center of the room seemed to be the only available interface, with a holomap displaying the general structure of the ring floating around it.
"I expected… more, to be honest."
"Me too."
It surprised him when Chief answered back. He looked at him and shrugged as they marched to the terminal. "Still, if this is the brain of the super weapon, we have to be careful with what we touch."
"Affirmative."
"That terminal. Try there."
Master Chief detached the chip containing Cortana and inserted it inside the terminal. Her hologram appeared while Ghost materiliazed from his dimension… but did not approach to scan.
"Why aren't you joining Cortana?" He whispered.
"I don't know if Halo contains counter-measures fatal to AIs or Ghost alike. Consider Cortana as our guinea pig if something bad happens." Ghost whispered back.
"You alright?" John asked.
"Never been better! You can't imagine the wealth of information-the knowledge! So much! So fast! It's glorious!"
Someone's excited.
Jake cleared his throat. "So, mind telling us what sort of weapon is this?"
"What are you talking about?"
The hell?
"Let's stay focused, people." John raised a hand to stop him from saying anything else. "Halo. How do we use it against the Covenant?"
The AI gasped in surprise and pointed an accusing finger at them. "This ring isn't a cudgel, you barbarians. It's something else… something more important."
Jake couldn't help but huff in annoyance. "Cortana, now it's really not the time to go Skynet because of the amount of fascinating informations you are currently processing. We came here for a reason: to use Halo against our enemy or to, if it's too dangerous to manage, destroy it."
His words were not listened at all.
"The Covenant were right! This ring… it's Forerunner! Give me a second to access… yes! The Forerunner built this place…"
"Well…" Ghost chirped. "…since she's rambling and not going rampant, I guess I can interface with Halo as well." He floated to the panel and-
"No! That can't be."
Ghost floated back in surprise and rotated his shell, clicking in question.
"Those Covenant fools! They must have known! There must have been signs!" Judging by the way she perfectly mimicked human's fear, there must have been something scarier than the Covenant she discovered among the files. But what?
"Cortana, what's wrong?"
"Slow down, you're losing us."
"The Covenant found something. Buried in this ring. Something horrible. And now… they're afraid." She mumbled under her breath for a few moments. Chief and Jake glanced at each other before the latter shrugged, he didn't really know what to think about this revelation.
"The Captain! We've got to stop the Captain!"
"Keyes?" The Titan asked. "Cortana, what are you talking abou-"
"The weapons cache he's looking for, it's not really- we can't let him get inside!"
"We don't understand-"
"There's no time! Get out of here, find Keyes and stop him before it's too late!"
Jake chose not to question the urgency in her voice, he tapped Chief's shoulder and nodded to the entrance. "Let's go, quickly!"
Ghost disappeared in his dimension. "Echo 419, this is Ghost. We require an immediate extraction from our current position. I've sent you our coordinates."
"Roger that, incoming."
They stopped on the edge of the pyramidal structure and waited for the pelican.
"Something scared her." The Guardian pointed out. "Something big. And dangerous. Any ideas?"
"I don't know, but it can't be Covenant."
The pelican hovered over them, the cargo door slowly opened.
"Whatever it is, one thing's for sure. If it bleeds, we can kill it."
Author's note 2:
I have skipped the majority of the mission's segments because the gameplay of Halo: Combat Evolved is so fuckign repetitive. I assure you that when we get to Halo 2 and 3, the chapters will be much longer and more detailed.
I have decided to focus, with the arrival of summer, on a single story and proceed as to not mix the releases of each chapter for different stories. We'll see more of this crossover now.
Next chapter we burn down Flood and have a face to face between 343 Guilty Spark and Ghost. Can't wait for them to butt eyes in.
Until next time!
Gino out!
