Chapter 4 – Decision
I love these games with a variety of aliens to play about with.
Spec Ops Leader: I despise being known as a plaything.
See?
Spartan 152 stepped out of the Heron. The snow crunched beneath her armoured boots. She gripped her gun and looked at the part of her team that had also gone in one of the three Herons. Master Chief accompanied them and got out of the vehicle, which sped off when all had exited.
The landscape was covered in a smooth layer of snow. It had several small mounds and the tell tale scorch marks of Covenant vehicles. Spartan 152 studied them for a minute.
"Right people we've been beaten here by our aliens friends," she told them. "They're armed with six Ghosts, two Spectres and three Wraiths, so be prepared. We'd better be on our way then."
The Spartan walked up the first mound and surveyed the area again from her vantage point. More scorch marks that veered away from their destination. Spartan 152 frowned as she noted this. The team moved up beside her and also started to look. There was no time to stand and stare.
"Come on people, move it!" she ordered.
The team started jogging and 152 smiled slightly. What a sight, the human race's protectors jogging like the average person. Only in a group of twenty four, heavily armoured, armed and kicking up snow everywhere.
Spartan 152 ran up to the front and slowed to a jog. Already she was wishing she had ordered Warthogs.
"Mayday, mayday. We are under attack, we are under attack. Does anyone read?"
"Yes, white team here, who is speaking?" Spartan 152 asked and started to run again.
"This is, erm…well…"
"Hand is over, lad… This is Sergeant Murry, outpost Delta Delta Delta Alpha. Are you close?"
"Yessir," Spartan 152 replied. "On our way. Team move!"
"What kind of outpost name is that?" a Spartan beside her asked.
"Get moving," Spartan 152 ordered sharply.
The Spartan did so and Spartan 152 could barely see Master Chief as she tried to keep track of him. She didn't want anything to happen to him: the Navy didn't need a hero dead even if the humans were doing well.
She still had no understanding of why he came along. He could have easily stayed tucked up tight in the middle of a huge armada. Then again if she put herself in his boots…she understood in a way. She couldn't not fight, she couldn't be useless, she had to have some meaning, some reason for being. Then again maybe that was her, maybe the originals weren't like that.
Gunfire broke her line of thought and a Ghost whirred past. Her shields were down in a flash. Spartan 152 shot at the Ghost with her assault rifle. It turned and headed straight for her. She stood firm and readied herself.
KABANG!
The Elite driver was dead and Spartan 152 looked from the body to Master Chief standing nearby. How she wanted to scold him for that, for taking her kill. However she kept her mouth shut and went to find the sergeant.
The plain of white sheet of snow was littered with a variety of blood, bodies, vehicles and aliens. A white structure was placed in the centre of the chaos. Gunners shot out of slits along the walls of the structure and Warthogs wove madly through the ranks of Covenant.
Spartan 288 calmly looked through the scope on his sniper rifle. He watched a red armoured Elite point somewhere out to a blue armoured Elite. Spartan 288 aimed and fired. He felt a slight surge of excitement as the bullet pierced the air with a deafening crack.
"Sir, reinforcements have arrived," the Spartan heard a Petty Officer inform the Sergeant.
"Took them long enough," the Sergeant grunted. "Right then lads, let's get the show on the road! Get the Scorpions out and some…"
The Sergeant was interrupted as the wall he was stood beside exploded. Spartan 288 looked up and abandoned his post to help the Sergeant. Though up close the signs were obvious, and the Spartan checked his pulse before closing the Sergeant's eyes.
Another blast hit it's target and the wall where Spartan's post previously had been lay in ruins. Through the smoke, snow and dirt the Spartan saw a figure and his scanners indicated someone was there. Spartan 288 raised his sniper, long range or not.
Then it vanished and the blip disappeared. Spartan 288 took out his other weapon, a pistol. He raised it and backed out through the corridor behind him. He didn't like cloakers he wasn't good against them.
He bumped into someone and spun around firing three times. Spartan 288 took a few deep breaths before looking at the Spartan crouched on the floor.
"Er…Falcon?" he asked cautiously.
Falcon nodded and lowered his weapon. The Spartan stood up.
"It's me, Gerry. Remember, pal?" the Spartan told Falcon.
Behind his visor Falcon smiled, containing his sudden wave of excitement.
"Yeah, I remember," he replied. "Where have you been, you combo genius?"
"Marshes and bogs," Gerry replied. "Giving out nicknames and getting in the odd spot of trouble."
"Definitely you," Falcon laughed.
"You doubted that it was me?" Gerry asked with amazement.
"Kind of," Falcon admitted.
"What's with the uncontrolled shooting?" Gerry asked.
"Disappearing blip," Falcon explained.
"Ah, right…" Gerry murmured looking around.
Then a sharp whack was heard. Gerry's shields flashed before falling and Gerry fell to the ground.
"Damn!" Falcon hissed and shot into thin air.
Explosions and shouts were heard outside as Falcon scanned around.
Where is it? That damn Elite. Something's not right…why isn't it charging or shooting? Falcon thought to himself jumping between thoughts. Sounds like there's people outside, close…
Then to his amazement the plasma blasts stopped, leaving only projectile weapons to ring through the air outside. Falcon quickly remembered about the situation at hand. He backed into a wall: now no one could sneak up on him from behind.
"Soldiers, white team has arrived," somebody announced over the radio.
"What's going on out there?" Falcon hissed. "Why aren't the Covenant firing?"
"No idea. What's wrong with you Falcon? What's with the whispers?" a fellow Spartan asked over the com-link.
"Nothing to big," Falcon replied raising his voice again.
Two energy blades flashed on and Falcon opened fire. The Elite charged at Falcon, who dodged narrowly. The alien spun around with such speed that Falcon could barely keep up. It stayed cloaked but the swords slashed and scarcely missed his head. Falcon rolled and twirled in an attempt to advoid being chopped in two.
Suddenly Falcon tripped over a piece of rubble and fell backwards. He shot into the space between the two swords and an energy shield flashed in response.
For a split second Falcon saw the white Elite before it vanished again. In one swift movement a blade swung down and sliced off his hand. Falcon yelped in pain and went to reach for the pistol when both swords drew up alongside his helmet.
"Don't bother, filth," the Elite hissed and materialized. "I would have thought you could cope with pain better."
Falcon merely stared at the visor that covered the Elite's eyes. He looked at it with scorn, but he couldn't help but admire certain features. The helmet was perfect: like the original Elites yet different. The body armour suited perfectly and nothing was out of place.
Falcon came back to reality and looked away, embarrassed and almost ashamed. Though there was nothing wrong with noting such things, it made him feel like he was betraying the navy. The very thing he spent his life serving.
The Elite, after putting away it's swords, grabbed his 'good' arm and started to drag Falcon off. It confused Falcon why the Elite was going deeper into the human complex.
Nonetheless Falcon jerked his arm away in an attempt to free himself. The Elite punched Falcon in retaliation. Falcon winced and took a moment before trying to punch back. The Elite stopped him with ease, acting as though it were nothing. It caught him hand and twisted it. Then it raised it's free arm and struck Falcon again, this time harder then before.
It dropped him and took out a small, strange object. Falcon started to crawl away but the Elite gave him no chance. It hauled him back and stabbed something into his arm. A strange tingling sensation ran though his body before Falcon blacked out suddenly.
Tisiphone smiled as the demon slumped. She hoisted the limp body over her shoulder and went further into the middle of the complex.
She was not one to figure it out as she went along, she planned things. So she knew for a fact that this being one of the newly built outposts there would be vehicles near the centre.
She grinned even more at the thought, her jaws curving upward.
"…Why didn't you go to help?" a human, a measly grunt by the sounds of it, asked.
"Sir, I was kind of being attacked by twenty thousand Covenant," another retorted.
Tisiphone cloaked and slowly put down the demon. She peered round the corner to see three human soldiers standing, rifles in hand. Tisiphone took a plasma grenade from her belt and looked at it.
No, not yet. They do need such energy wasted, a voice sneered in her head. Make it quick, swift, unnoticed.
Tisiphone put the grenade back on her belt and readied herself. She stepped out from the corner and proceeded to position herself right behind the one they were addressing 'sir'. She whacked him, snapping his spinal cord in two. The leader fell to the ground.
"Holy…" A soldier started but was interrupted as he too fell to the floor.
Tisiphone, crouched by the dead, human leader cocked her head. The other soldier stood, suspended by fear, his finger lightly touching the trigger. Then his head jerked abruptly to one side, breaking his neck.
"You were taking too long," Megaera's familiar voice told her.
Tisiphone checked her helmet clock. She stood up and went to pick up the demon.
"Two minutes is hardly late," she replied.
"Well hurry on," Megaera hissed.
Tisiphone sighed and strode on to the centre.
"I presume you've taken the centre hanger," Tisiphone said.
"Oh no, I've left the best till last," Megaera answered and Tisiphone could tell that she was grinning hungrily.
"Commander…commander?" a voice broke his line of thought.
"Nyah, what is it?" he grunted.
"The humans are right there, sir. We should attack now," the lieutenant said.
The commander snapped around, bringing his face right up to the lieutenant. In the snowy light he looked a lot taller and more menacing.
"Do not give me orders, lieutenant," he snarled. "We will attack when I say, when the council says."
"Yes, sir," the lieutenant replied. "Though if you are commanding the troops why is General Fulamee here?"
The commander backed away and relaxed a little.
"To oversee work. He is here for the council," he told the lieutenant. "To see something goes to plan."
The lieutenant bowed slightly in response. He knew better than to ask what needs to go to plan. He could only imagine what the commander would do to him. And people said he was one of the commander's favourites.
Master Chief ran to cover as he entered the outpost walls. He caught a glimpse of a stiff and felt happy in the knowledge he wouldn't have icicles forming on his nose.
"Why aren't they firing? Why the heck aren't they firing? It's natural and easy, they fire we fire. Humans kick ass, Covenant loose," a soldier murmured to himself.
"…So why aren't we firing?" a marine asked another, who came through a door with Spartan 152 beside him.
"One because if we fire they might start up. Two because we've too many casualties. Three because we can't find the sergeant and four…" he took a deep breath. "…Four because we'd like to know why they aren't firing. It may be essential."
"So who's in charge now?" the marine asked.
The three turned to Master Chief.
"I am the commanding officer on this mission at present," Spartan 152 told them and redirected her gaze.
"I see," the second soldier muttered.
"Havoc in the vehicle bay! Covenant attacking, numbers unknown. Help neede…(Thwack)"
Underneath her visor Spartan 152's eyes widened. She sprang back through the door running as fast as she could shouting orders all the way.
"All Spartans to the vehicle bay on the double!" she yelled. "Rodrigo, Jo stay outside report any suspicious behaviour."
"Sir, everything the Covenant do is suspicious," Rodrigo said.
General Fulamee purred softly as he eyed the human's defences. He adjusted the binoculars and looked again. They stood there ready and waiting. Several in obvious view, easy pickings for the Banshees.
"Too easy," he said to himself.
As Fulamee observed them he saw all but two demons disappear from the walls. He grinned and couldn't help but laugh deeply as he watched them scurry around.
They invoke no fear in me, he thought and looked at the Grunt quivering beside him. In me at least.
General Fulamee lowered his binoculars and turned to the grunt.
"Tell that Commander Genaree his troops have the go ahead," he told him.
The Grunt ran as fast as he could to where a red armoured Elite stood talking to a blue. The Commander looked down at the Grunt then at Fulamee who nodded.
Tisiphone shot down another human and tossed the demon into the ship. The room was littered with bodies and burnt metal. Megaera shot down the last human while Alecto kept whacking her last victim.
"Will you please stop whacking that thing!" Megaera shouted with a tone of disgust. "To hit one once is enough grime to last a lifetime."
Alecto stopped and stood up, her armour splattered with blood. She looked at her gun, which was severely dented by now.
Tisiphone eyed her fellow before turning to go into the ship.
"Tisiphone," Alecto called.
Tisiphone looked back at Alecto.
"More are coming," she informed her.
"Then let's…" Tisiphone started but stopped as a small metal object bounced by her feet.
Bang!
Tisiphone was knocked back and slammed into a wall. Part of a human Spectre fell and pinned her down. One arm was also trapped. She could just about see the other two cloak, Tisiphone tried to follow suit but in vain.
"Alecto I cannot cloak," she called over the com-link.
"Where are you?" Alecto asked.
"By a wall, part of a vehicle is preventing my escape," Tisiphone informed her. "Get Megaera to keep them away from the ship."
Tisiphone felt someone invisible tap her shoulder.
Tisiphone switched from private com-channel, "Alec…"
Thwack.
Tisiphone blinked but remained motionless. Alecto would hardly hit her so she went limp.
"Sir, we've one over here," thin air called.
"Alecto don't bother coming, just wait," Tisiphone said over the private channel.
She could feel someone come up and peer over the metal that held her down. She wanted to see but resisted turning her head. Soon enough she'd be free.
"Drug the bastard," the person ordered.
Tisiphone's head immediately turned and raised her free arm in defence.
"No!" she yelled. "No!"
She could now see the demon's back turned while a thick looking needle was poised in mid air. The demon looked at Tisiphone with her arm raised and walked over.
"Hello," it said.
Tisiphone looked either side of her, confused. An amber light flashed inside Tisiphone's helmet.
"No," Tisiphone repeated and sent a green light in reply. "Goodbye."
The demon spun around before a sword cut through it. The invisible human stabbed the needle into Tisiphone's arm. Tisiphone pushed something away and struggled to get the needle out. Someone started to haul her out, but Tisiphone started to slow down and put less effort into helping. She wanted to but she couldn't help it, she just felt sleepier and sleepier.
Within a minute she blacked out, unable to stay awake.
Alecto pulled again.
"Put more effort into it!" she told Tisiphone and pulled again.
Alecto looked at the other Elite who's head and arms hung lifelessly. She glanced behind her at the mass of demons swarming nearby. Megaera couldn't hold the ship forever much as she thought she could.
Time to make a decision.