Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to my Halo - MechWarrior/BattleTech crossover. Thank you all for your support. I greatly appreciate it and the feedback you have provided.
Just so you know, I will be scrapping the current poll that I have displayed, so that I can create a similar one. The new choices haven't gotten much attention, so I plan to re-release the poll so that those choices have equitable representation. Still, I want to thank you for your votes, as they have helped me choose which stories to write greatly. (Edit: Thank you for voting on the new choices. I'll wait a few more days before closing the poll.)
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Disclaimer: I do not own the Halo or MechWarrior/BattleTech franchises. They are the respective properties and trademarks of Microsoft Game Studios, 343 Industries, Bungie, FASA Corporation, FASA Interactive, Catalyst Game Labs, Piranha Games Inc., etc. Any material original to the franchises belongs to their respective developers and publishers. Any material not original to the franchises is of my own invention. I do not own any music listed in each chapter. Any music listed belongs to it's original composers and/or artists.
Installation 00
High Charity Crash Site
December 20th, 2552
If there was one thing that made Bero nervous, it was the fact that he was, once more, facing his old enemy: the Flood. Already, he could feel his hearts thumping hard enough that he could hear them with each beat. His skin also felt clammy, as though he had just come back from a swimming trip. Remembering the techniques for calming himself, he gently breathed in, and out, letting his hearts slow down to a normal rate.
As he did so, he remembered what they had come here for. While everyone knew that they had the Index, Admiral Chernenko, and Shipmaster 'Vadum, were worried that the Flood, if they learned of this, would conduct a major attack on the fleets present, as well as on the newly built Installation 08. As such, they had decided to get rid of the Flood before mounting a major assault on the installation's Control Room.
That was where he, and a few other Sangheili and SLDF personnel, came into play. The plan was to deploy a high yield thermonuclear bomb inside of High Charity, specifically the backup nuclear fusion reactor that was located inside of the wrecked space station. Once the bomb, a weapons-grade HAVOK, was placed there, they would arm the device, and retreat to a safe location, with the bomb being placed on a timer that would give them roughly ten minutes to reach minimum safe distance.
"Once that timer begins, the bomb can't be disarmed," Chernenko had explained to him, and the few people chosen for the mission. "That means that, once it's activated, get your asses out of there fast. Once you exit the place, we will begin the operation to take Installation 08's Control Room. The plan we have will, regrettably, cause some damage to the Ark, but Tragic Solitude has agreed that this is our best chance. Any other option is too risky at this point."
That prompted Bero to look around at the team that was with him. Two Sangheili, Usze and N'tho respectively, had come along. Chernenko had also bolstered them with SLDF Special Operations personnel. Richmond, a twenty year veteran of the SLDF, was the man responsible for the bomb's safety, while Alan, like Bero, Usze and N'tho, were charged with keeping Richmond safe, even though the man was fully capable of fending off the Flood if need be.
"Hey, you got that Man-Portable Flamer ready to rock?" Richmond asked Alan.
"Yeah," Alan replied. "Thing's fully gassed up and ready to go. Until the squad leader says otherwise, however, weapons tight."
"Gotcha."
N'tho, sensing Bero's underlying nervousness, asked, "Are you alright, Zealot?"
"I'm fine," Bero replied, taking a deep breath before letting it out. "I am… anticipating the mission. This will be my greatest challenge yet. I hope that my strength of will is up to the task."
"It will be," N'tho reassured the younger Sangheili. "You are a strong warrior, Bero. Not many could have reclaimed their mind from the Flood in the manner that you did. We will complete our mission successfully."
"I hope so," Bero replied. To be honest, he found N'tho's words to be reassuring. Already, some of that underlying nervous energy had bled away, though he was still hyper-vigilant. Given the situation that they were about to enter, that was perfectly normal.
The Pelican they were in shuddered as it approached High Charity. Looking at one of the live feeds from a screen on one of the chairs, Bero could see the state that High Charity was in. It wasn't good, as the station had crashed tail-down on the installation. As such, much of the station's structure there had collapsed into rubble, leaving only the dome, which had been built around an asteroid, intact.
What was intact was an unsightly mess. Large tears and rents were present in the dome's hull, exposing the interior for all to see. Large sections of the hull were also covered in large amounts of Flood biomass, giving the impression that the station was a living organism infected with some horrid disease. A disgusting place to be at, Bero thought, his mandibles creasing into the Sangheili equivalent of a disgusted grimace.
As they flew in closer, he immediately noticed the smell of the place. It was a sickly, but oddly sweet, smell, akin to that of putrefaction. Alan, upon smelling it, gagged loudly. "Fuck!" he cursed loudly. "What a horrible smell!"
"I cannot agree more," Usze replied, grimacing as the smell reached his nostrils. "The Parasite smells as foul as it looks. Disgusting, but fitting."
"Stay focused," Bero told them. Clearing his throat, he said, "Now that we are nearing the doom of the Flood, the Star League and fellow Sangheili are retreating to their ships and leaving through the Portal. I need not remind you of the stakes that we are facing; if we fail, the Parasite will endure, and our children, and grandchildren, will pay the price of our failure.
"If we succeed, however, know that we will have bought a future for our children. It will be a future where Sangheili childlings and Human children can play alongside each other, free of the specter of the Flood and the Covenant's menace. Remember this, once we are inside. It will give you the strength and conviction to carry out our mission."
Alan and Richmond saluted to that, while N'tho and Usze roared in agreement. Moments later, the light from outside dimmed dramatically as the pilot, spotting a large hole in the hull of the wrecked station, zoomed inside. "This is as far as I can go," she reported to the others. "Schematics show that it's the closest that I can land to the backup reactor. You'll have to hoof it from here."
"Understood," Bero replied. "Warriors, prepare for combat." With that, Richmond walked over to Alan and made sure his Man-Portable Flamer was ready for work, while making sure the HAVOK bomb was snugly secured to his armor. Helmets had already been put on and sealed for all members of the party, so no one had to worry about breathing in any spores.
A muted thump rumbled through the VTOL as it landed on some kind of platform. Once the troop bay hatch opened, everyone piled out. Landing on his feet, Bero took a moment to look around.
The interior was worse than the exterior in this case. Almost every square centimeter of the interior was covered with Flood biomass. Brownish-tank growths and flesh covered the walls, floor and ceiling of the place, while fleshy sacks of some sort were present at regular intervals. Walking forwards, Bero heard a squishing sound; looking down, he noticed that the soles of his hoof-boots were covered in a combination of mucus and Flood tissue.
"Disgusting," Richmond remarked, retching loudly as he did so. "The Flood do not understand the concept of cleanliness at all. Blech."
"Tell me about it," Alan agreed. "This looks like the interior of a poorly maintained sewer, turned up to eleven."
"Quiet your bickering," N'tho chided the two. "We have a mission to perform."
"Agreed," Bero nodded. "Richmond, you will remain within the center of the group. The rest of us will clear the way ahead of our position. It is time to move out."
With that, everyone began to move forwards. Alan was particularly vigilant, with the flame projector in his hands shaking ever so slightly as he advanced forwards. Due to the nature of the flamethrower, and it's effectiveness against the Flood, he was in the front of the group, with N'tho, Usze and Bero behind him. Richmond was in the back, though he was also highly vigilant, his M42D pointed back at the way they came frequently.
As such, everyone was surprised when Alan, giving a loud shout, fired off a burst of flame from the Flamer. When Bero looked, he found that a Pure Form had been roasted, the high temperature flames licking and consuming it's sickly flesh. "An excellent kill," N'tho praised Alan.
"Thanks," Alan replied. "Let's, uh… let's keep moving."
As they did so, Bero groaned as he felt a pressure in his head. Moments later, a familiar, and unwelcome, voice rumbled in his mind. Friend of my enemy, why have you come? the Gravemind asked him. I offer no forgiveness: a father's sins pass to their sons.
Shaking his head, Bero was about to advance when the Gravemind said, Ah, I know you, friend of my enemy. You are the one who's mind and form is fluid, everchanging. You could have a far greater destiny, if you join your voice with mine.
Not interested, Bero replied. Get out of my head. Moments later, the pressure left his head, though he found himself breathing hard as he did so. The Gravemind knows that I am here, he thought, worry and a hint of fear, suffusing his mind. I cannot allow it to gain control. I will not let it gain control!
The others hadn't noticed, as they had dropped down through what appeared to be a sphincter of some sort, which apparently passed as doors in the Flood infested High Charity. Landing on the ground behind the others, Bero found, much to his surprise, that he recognized the place. "This is where the High Council Chamber used to be at," he told the others. "Even though it is wrecked, I still remember the layout."
"Good to know," Richmond remarked. Looking to his left, he said, "Hey, look! There's a platform that a Pelican can land at. It's not very large, but it could land there quite handily. Alan, cover me. I'm going to plant a Landing Beacon there."
"Got it," Alan nodded, with the others following him. Once they got to the platform, Richmond pulled out a device that visually resembled a Stielhandgranate, only with a small dish on the top, and plunged it into the ground. Pressing a button, they were rewarded with a beeping sound, indicating that it was active.
"Once we've planted the bomb, I'll trigger the Landing Beacon," Richmond informed the others. "That'll tell the Pelican where to land."
"An excellent plan," Usze beamed. "That will -"
"INCOMING!" Alan roared. "We've got a shit ton of those zombie bastards coming down on our asses!" Turning around, Bero, who was furthest from the group, spotted what the man meant. A large swarm of Combat, Infection and Pure Forms were charging directly at them, all of them howling and roaring in a nightmarish cacophony.
"Defend yourselves!" Bero roared, with the others turning around. "Show them their fatal mistake!" Turning around, Usze and N'tho began firing their own plasma weapons, which were similar to the one the Arbiter got on Delta Halo, with high velocity plasma bolts zipping through the air. Richmond, while in the back of the group, fired his M42D, setting several flood alight with the HEI rounds loaded in the mag.
Alan, however, was the star of the show in this case, as the moment the Flood were close enough, he depressed the trigger of the flame projector. Almost immediately, a massive gout of fire ripped out of the muzzle of the flame projector, streaking over thirty meters through the air before splashing onto the oncoming onslaught of Flood. Alan's face was a mask of barely contained rage, though the grimace was likely due to the fact that he could feel the heat from the incendiary weapon.
The Flood howled, a nightmarish roar of rage, fear and pain as the plasma bolts, HEI rounds and burning fuel impacted them with full force. Flames licked at the flesh of the Flood, consuming and charring them, while thick, black smoke rose from whatever had burned incompletely. Combat and Pure Forms tumbled to the ground as the flames consumed them, though due to their tough constitution, they were able to shamble towards the group somewhat.
The wall of fire, combined with the intense heat from the flames, forced the Flood to move around the conflagration in order to get at the others. A slight adjustment of his aim allowed Alan to cut off the left flank with another gout of flame, incinerating more Flood in the process. This allowed Bero and the others to focus on the right flank, which was the only exposed area.
Bero roared as he dove into the group, Energy Sword flared and ready as he began to swing his weapon. Limbs, infested liquids and limbs flew through the air as he cut through the horde with the skill that only a master swordsman could accomplish. N'tho and Usze fired wherever Bero wasn't at, in order to relieve the pressure on him.
Within a few minutes, the Flood had been driven back. Flames still continued to eat at the Flood's initial charge, with thick, oily smoke billowing into the air. "Such a conflagration," N'tho remarked as he looked at Alan. "Do you Humans always use flamethrowers like this?"
"Pretty much," Alan replied. "I know, it's primitive compared to regular plasma, but you can't deny it's effectiveness. Fire, in this case, is very much man's best friend."
"I cannot dispute that," Usze agreed. "It is strangely cathartic, seeing the flames of your weapon consume and devour our enemy." Bero, who was nearby, frowned slightly when his mind conjured up the image of a pile of burning Flood corpses, with Usze standing on top with a similar Flamer, laughing maniacally. While disturbing, it was a fitting image.
"It is time to go," N'tho remarked, dispelling any thoughts like that. "We cannot allow the Parasite to regroup."
"Agreed," Alan nodded. "Mind the smoke. It's thick and oily, so expect drastic reductions in visibility."
"Take care not to use it too heavily in the reactor core," Bero advised Alan.
"Got it, sir."
With that, they began to advance forwards, weapons ready as they moved. Unsurprisingly, the Flood had developed a high level of wariness, since they felt it was likely that Alan, who had the Flamer, would be in the front. That proved to be wise, as whenever any Flood came at the group, Alan used his Flamer to cut off all but one avenue of attack, allowing the team to manage the Flood as they got closer to the reactor core.
Even then, though, it was a challenge to remain uninfected, as the Flood were using large hordes to charge at them. One Pure Form scaled the biomass covered wall, getting behind Richmond. Alan, spotting that, shouted, "Oh, no, you don't!" before incinerating the Pure Form with a gout of flame.
It was also the same for Bero and the other Sangheili with him. There were times where they were nearly overwhelmed by large hordes of Flood, only for them to pull back to allow Alan to manage the Flood more effectively. Bero, though, knew that Alan had a limited amount of fuel for his Flamer, which was why he was being particularly conservative with it. Usze had spare fuel tanks, but the automatic pressurization unit on the Flamer itself needed time to repressurize the system, and that was time that the Flood could use to attack and overwhelm them.
As such, they were having to proceed slowly and carefully. Eventually, they reached a room that was mostly vertical, with another sphincter-like orifice at the very top. "Well, shit!" Alan frowned. "Looks like the entrance is up there, at the top of this tube room. It's a perfect ambush spot!"
"I agree," Richmond nodded. "This doesn't look good at all."
Motioning to large, flat growths, N'tho said, "We can use those growths to jump the gap. It also appears that there are tunnels in the flesh that ascend upwards. Unfortunately, Alan is right: this is a trap if ever I have seen one."
"Then we will have to spring it," Bero decided. Moments later, wings silently grew out of his back and through slots in his back armor. Thanks to the modified under suit he wore, his wings were also covered, with small pieces of armor on the areas that needed protection. "I can lift one of us up to the porta up there with my wings. The rest of you will have to proceed up there on foot."
"I'll go," Alan volunteered. "I've got the most weight of the group, and I don't want to have to jump to those platforms all the time. Usze, N'tho, keep Richmond safe."
"We will," both Sangheili nodded. With that, Bero wrapped both arms around Alan's chest, before beating powerfully with his wings. Both individuals rocketed upwards, with Bero controlling their rate of ascent before gently setting down on the platform nearest to the porta. Alan, to his credit, didn't make any comments on the flight, but simply got the flamer ready, with Bero replacing the depleted tank with one that Usze had handed him before making the short flight.
At the same time, the others began to scale the walls. Almost immediately, the Flood ambushed them, though the element of surprise had been lost due to Alan, and Bero's, positioning. As Richmond and the others ascended, periodic gouts of flame would surge down from above, striking at specific Flood.
As he reached a platform, Richmond felt something grab onto his right foot. Looking down, he gave a short scream as the Pure Form that grabbed him began to drag him backwards. At that exact moment, a gout of flame, with uncanny precision, enveloped the Pure Form, with the creature letting go as it let out a howl of pain. "Thank you!" he shouted as he scrambled to his feet and made the jump.
As the team reached the top, Bero snarled as he held his head, that pressure returning. Your resistance is beginning to test my patience, the Gravemind growled at him. Why do you resist the inevitable? Would it not be easier to simply accept my embrace, and to join your voice with mine? Why do you fight?
Because I chose to, Bero replied, fighting what seemed like a primal urge to lash out at his friends. You will not turn me against my friends! Your efforts to twist my mind and beliefs are a minor annoyance. Now leave, before I force you to leave!
You have ended nothing, the Gravemind replied, before it retreated again.
Shaking his head, Bero gasped as he recovered from that bout. I do not know how much longer I can keep up that resistance. I can only hope that I will out last the Flood.
Apparently, N'tho had noticed this. "Bero," he asked, "are you alright? You seem troubled."
"I am not certain," Bero replied. "The Gravemind spoke to me. I believe it is attempting to influence me. It is attempting to force me to attack you and the others."
"That's not good," Alan remarked.
"Not at all," Richmond agreed. "I've read novels where minds can be controlled via telepathy. If I were you, Bero, I'd try to focus on something to the exclusion of everything else in order to keep the Gravemind out. I don't know if that would work, but it's the only thing that comes to my mind."
"I will keep it in mind," Bero replied. "Thank you for the advice. If I start to go feral, please render me unconscious. I don't want to harm any of you."
"You have my word," N'tho nodded. "Let us move now. We draw close to our objective." With that, they continued to advance onward.
It wasn't long before they reached the reactor core for High Charity's backup fusion reactor. They knew they had arrived when they found doors that hadn't been breached by the Flood, though damage further on showed where the Flood had gotten inside. "We're almost there!" Richmond beamed.
"Stay frosty," Alan cautioned his friend. "This is where the going gets tough, and I mean really, really tough. If I was the Gravemind – and I'm not – that's where I'd have the most Flood in this place."
"Alan is right," N'tho nodded. "The Parasite's numbers are likely the greatest there, at least in this part of High Charity. Make sure your weapons and resolve are steeled, for this is the greatest challenge."
"Agreed," Bero nodded. "Usze, open the doors. We will fight off whatever is inside." Nodding, Usze walked towards the doors and opened it.
As soon as it opened, he threw himself backwards in anticipation of a swarm of foes. That proved to be wise, as several Combat Forms charged in seconds later. Exchanging the projector for his SMG, Alan fired several HEI rounds at the Combat Forms, blasting them apart while the others fired. "Push forwards!" he shouted. "Keep the pressure on!"
Roaring, Bero and the others charged forwards, while Richmond remained in the rear, though he too added his own bullets to the mix. Once the initial storm of Combat Forms had faded, they were able to get inside of the reactor core.
The reactor core was shaped like a large circle, with smaller semi-circles protruding inside at each third of the circle. Three reactor pylons were present at each third, with a walkway that led to a platform in the center of the room. Doors were present at each third, leading deeper into High Charity's ruins.
The Flood were also present, with Pure and Combat Forms in large clumps on the walkways. "GO!" Alan shouted as he incinerated a group of Combat Forms. "I'll hold 'em off! You get that bomb placed NOW!"
Rushing forwards, Richmond fired his rifle into a group of Combat Forms, before making a tremendous leap to the walkway to the platform. A loud "OOOFFFF!" gushed out of his mouth as he impacted chest first, with both arms holding onto the corrugated metal. Dragging himself upwards, he clambered up onto the platform, before running to the very center. Pulling the HAVOK off of his back, he began arming the bomb.
At the same time, Bero and the others moved to cover Richmond, with Bero walking to him. "How long?" he asked, shouting over the sound of gunfire and flames.
"Two minutes, tops!" Richmond replied. "Once the bomb's armed and ticking down, we can get out of here!"
"Good," Bero nodded. "Once the bomb is armed, we -" Before he could finish, a blinding pain that stabbed through his head gripped at Bero. The Sangheili roared from the pain as he held his head with both hands.
You will not resist me any longer, the Gravemind roared. If you will not join your voice with mine willingly, then I will absorb your voice into mine.
NEVER, Bero roared internally as he fought the Gravemind's influence as hard as he could. Fearing loss of control, he looked around for a potential solution. Spotting it, he did what he thought was needed: he threw himself off of the platform, and into the open aired abyss below.
"BERO!" N'tho roared as the Zealot tumbled ass over teakettle off of the platform. "NOOO!"
Before he could run towards the platform, Usze shouted, "N'tho, I need help! I cannot hold them back much longer!"
Damn it! N'tho roared internally. "Bero, forgive me," he whispered as he ran towards Usze.
. . .
All Bero could comprehend was pain as he tumbled headlong through the air. You arrogant creature! the Gravemind raged at him. Do you think that death will deny my inevitability?! I will consume your mind as I have an entire galaxy of flesh, mind and bone!
If I die, then I die, know that I have denied you, Bero defiantly replied as the Gravemind pushed past his mental defenses. I will never allow myself to be used by a monster like you!
Just before the Gravemind would've consumed his mind, something grabbed at Bero's consciousness. Within a moment, the Gravemind's overbearing mental presence faded, leaving his mind clear and coherent. I, he thought, confused. What…?
Relax, a voice said to him. It will be alright, Bero. Know that you have passed the final test. Your destiny is at hand.
Who are you? Bero asked.
I am the being known as The Guardian, the voice replied. Your kind would call us the 'Precursors', because we came before the Living Universe.
I do not understand.
If I were to help you understand, you would be dead long before we reached the end of our discussion, the voice in his head replied. What I can, and what I shall do, is speak to you when you have a moment of respite. For now, embrace the destiny that you have achieved. Become a Precursor, and assist the Humans in their destiny: to Reclaim the Mantle of Responsibility!
At that, Bero gasped as his wings snapped outwards. In an instant, his body began to mutate rapidly. Muscles grew ever denser and stronger, with his skeleton becoming almost akin to living metal. Scars on his flesh melted away, leaving nothing but smooth, Sangheili flesh as he began his final evolution.
The most profound changes were to his mind. Bero could feel his consciousness expanding, with his mind growing and morphing in ways that he had never comprehended, nor understood, before. I… what's happening to me, he gasped.
Your destiny, the voice from earlier said to him.
I have so many questions. Why -?
Hush, little one. When the war is over, when all is at peace, I will provide you with the answers that you seek. Find me at the edge of the stars, and I will grant you the understanding that you wish to attain. Moment later, the voice faded, while Bero's wings began to beat powerfully.
. . .
Back at the reactor core, Usze and the others were running as hard as they could, their weapons barking frantically at the Flood as they fled the room. "Bomb is armed!" Richmond shouted to them. "Run for your life! RUN!"
Panic lent speed to their limbs as they ran as fast as they could, with each man nearly tripping as they ran. Bero, I'm sorry, N'tho thought as Richmond triggered the Landing Beacon. I'm sorry that I could not save you from your doom. Forgive me… Tears stung at his eyes as he continued to run as quickly as he could.
Eventually, they reached the room where the Landing Beacon was at. That was where N'tho received his biggest surprise. "B-Bero?!" he gasped, surprised to see that the Zealot that had seemingly died was alive and well. "How did -?"
"There is no time to explain!" Bero replied. "We must flee as quickly as we can!" As he said this, the Pelican landed as close to them as possible before the troop bay hatch opened. Not wanting to argue, N'tho and the others hurled themselves inside of the Pelican.
"Hang on!" the pilot shouted as she gunned the throttle, with the VTOL quickly zooming out of the area and to the exit.
"We have five minutes before the bomb detonates!" Richmond shouted. "We'll make it, but expect a turbulent ride!"
"Hod on!" Bero shouted.
. . .
Deep inside the reactor core, the Flood were milling about trying to find the reason why the Humans had gotten inside. Humans, especially these, didn't attack for no reason at all, so there had to be one. As such, they were all looking around for the potential cause.
One Infection Form, as it milled about, thought it heard a quiet beeping sound. Hearing it as well, a Pure Form lumbered over to the spot in question. For a few seconds, it looked around, before noticing a panel that was out of place. Walking over, it lifted the panel with a bladed arm. All it could do was stare in the Flood equivalent of shock as the numbers on the HAVOK ticked down. "5… 4… 3… 2… 1…" Moments later, the place was nothing more than free floating atoms and molecules.
In an instant, the reactor pylons were consumed by the expanding fireball, before the reactor core itself was consumed in nuclear fire. The hydrogen inside only served to fuel the rapidly increasing nuclear fireball, further increasing it's yield. Within a few nanoseconds, it had consumed the entire reactor core, and the immediate area surrounding it.
It wasn't long before the nuclear fireball consumed ever greater portions of High Charity. Sensing it's doom, the Gravemind let out a long, roaring howl of rage before it too was consumed by the nuclear fireball that was forming.
. . .
Outside, Bero watched as the video feed whited out for a moment. The white light faded, revealing a tremendous mushroom cloud that surged high into the sky. Seconds later, the Pelican shuddered as the pressure wave shot past the VTOL, with the pilot nearly losing control of the vehicle. "WHOA!" Richmond shouted.
"It is done," N'tho nodded. "The Parasite has been crippled."
"Not for long," Usze remarked. "The Parasite is more resilient than that. We must remain vigilant, even as we approach the new Halo."
"Agreed," Bero replied absentmindedly. He was still pondering what the voice had told him, and the implications were staggering. I do not know what a Precursor is, but I intend to learn more, he thought. I wonder if that was some ploy by the Gravemind. Either way, it's something that I need to investigate. I do know know who you are, but I will come to where you live, and I will learn and understand what you intend to teach me.