Gaming-Is-Served- Thank you! Glad you are enjoying the story. Your comments are greatly appreciated. Hopefully this chapter meets your expectations.
Chapter 5: Extraction
"Sir, their pushing out?" A few with with a squad or two of Grunts left through the far corridor.
"That's just what we need, hit em hard Marines" Sgt Johnson along with his ten remaining Marines retaliated against the small remaining force. The gunfire overwhelmed the remaining troops.
"Men, check ammo and supplies. We're moving ASAP" Sgt posted up on the door.
"I mean it's weird right? Why would they leave mid fight" The Marines began counting grenades and ammo.
"Quit the chatter. Get your shit and get ready to move. Captain's waiting on us"
"Rah" The Marines joined Sgt Johnson at the door.
"Clear" The team punched through the corridor.
"Check those corners Marines, slippery bastards could be anywhere" The Corridor was ghost silent. Not a single Covenant fighter spotted.
"Take it nice and slow Marines, we could be walking right into an ambush" the air was stagnant. The team was on edge. Why weren't there any contacts.
"Sir, got something" the team joined the Marine in the other room.
"Three Jackals, all KIA" He sounded confused.
"What do we have here... plasma scaring, two lacerations... pretty, could be the Chief" Sgt Johnson observed the bodies.
"Let's keep it moving Marines" the team pushed through to a landing bay.
"Contact! One level up!" Plasma rained down on their position. The Marines were out numbered. Two Elite Ultras fires down from what could be described as a terminal station.
The Marines fires back. It had little to no use. They were overwhelmed by plasma fire.
"Echo four-nineteen... we're taking heavy fire... request reinforcements... first landing bay" gunfire interrupted the transmission.
"This is Echo four-nineteen, entourages the landing bay alpha with QRF... standby"
"Reinforcements are in rout Marines" Johnson reassured his squad.
"Can they get here any faster" they began to panic.
"Shut your mouth and return fire Polito" the Marines were low on ammo. They won't last much longer.
"Target the Elites" Sgt called out.
All the Marines began focusing fire on the Ultras. There shields tanked the shots.
"Their not going down!"
"Another word and I'll sent you up there" Sgt said as he fired on the Elite position.
The Elites attention was drawn by something across the platforms
"Why are they-" a streak of blue plasma flew towards the elites from the opposite side of the platform.
The first Elites shield flared and deactivated.
"Now!" All Marines fired at the defenseless Elite. It fell within seconds.
"Foe hammer inbound" Sgt looked out the the landing bay door and saw a Pelican closing in fast.
The second Elite was struck by a burst of plasma, effectively killing its shields.
The Marines, with a new found courage, jumped from behind their cover and fired on the Elite.
The Ultra went down before it had time to register what had happen.
"Nice shot show off!" Sgt Johnson called up. No response.
"Marine?" Silence was all that responded.
"Chief?... lets keep moving Marines... keep your eyes peeled" Sgt waited for the Marines to deploy from the Pelican.
The Marines made there way through the landing bay and found their way to second deck. No contact was made with enemy fighters.
"Cells should be through those doors" Sgt pointed out doors across the hall.
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The doors to the prison cell opened. Marines piled into the room and began to secure the sector. Towards the back of the group, walking in like he owns the place, was Sgt Johnson.
"Assuming any of this is true. What could you possibly do to alter the war?" Chief stared at the Sergeant, drowning out Cortanas question.
"Chief?" Cortana tried to regain his attention.
"Sorry.. I" Chiefs watched as the squad deactivated the cell security system.
"Well.. you've certainly changed" Cortana said to herself.
"Aren't you the one suppose to be saving our asses Chief" Sgt Johnson approached the Spartan with an extra AR.
"Captains not far, you take point Chief" Johnson rallies the Marines.
"Sgt..." Chief wanted to say something but nothing came to mind.
"What is it Chief?" Sgt questioned.
"Nothing... we need to move" Chief began for the door.
"You heard the man. Hurry up Marines" The group exited the room and made way for the second prison cell.
"Expect contact. Stick with the Chief" Sgt advised his men.
The team pushed through into the room. Chief nearly predicted into the room.
The bullets ripped through an Elite using a cloak towards the security panel. He went down.
A second one charged the Chief. Without think the Spartan side stepped and jabbed the barrel of the weapon into its gut, sending it to the ground.
Sgt Johnson fired a single round, piercing the cloaked Elites head.
"Can't let you have all the fun" Johnson smirked.
The Chief deactivated the security system and walked into the cell towards the back left.
"Coming here was reckless, you two know better then this... thanks"
"Good to have you back sir" Sgt Johnson Gabe his respects.
"You guys did good. Let's go men. We're moving out, lock and load your weapons" a group of Marines appears from the other cells and rallied in the Captain.
"While the Covenant had us locked up in here I overheard the guards
talking about this ring world. They call it...Halo."
"One moment, sir. Accessing the Covenant battle net..." Cortana chimed in.
"...According to the data in their networks the ring has some kind of deep religious significance. If I'm analyzing this correctly they believe that Halo is some kind of weapon - one with vast, unimaginable power."
"And it's true. The Covenant kept saying that whoever who controls Halo controls the fate of the universe" the Captain added
"Now I see, while the Chief and I where here we overheard an Elite... send a squad to search for a control room" Cortana paused to allow the Chief to speak. He didn't take the opportunity.
"That's bad news. If Halo is a weapon and the Covenant gain control of it, they'll use it against us and wipe out the entire human race. Chief, Cortana, I have new mission for you. We need to beat the Covenant to Halo's control room. Marines, lets move." The Captain grabbed a weapon off of the dead Elite.
"Yes sir" the Marines responded.
"Chief you have point" The Captain ordered.
"Sir we need to move to the hanger, Foe Hammer is caught in an air battle. We'll need our own ride" The Spartan has to be carful on what he does. The Captain and Marines will need something more than just the word of mouth in order to believe any of what he has to say.
"Chief?" The Captain questioned.
"Can you fly a Spirit?" The Chief asked.
The Captain has a small smile wash over his face. "Let's move for the hanger"
The Marines pushed for the Hanger. Very little contact was met on the way back. They made way into a ship AI access room.
"Odd" Chief said to himself.
"What is it" Keyes questioned.
"Nothing, I expected more contact than we have received since we got you out" the Chief responded.
"Let's just count ourselves lucky than shall we
Other than a few grunts, there was no real resistants they ran into.
"Rest of the hall is smoky stay alert" Johnson called out.
The hall leading to the hanger was fogging up due to a broke line towards the ceiling. Whatever gas it was it was harmless.
Just before they made it through the hall their luck ran out. The unmistakable sound of an energy sword ignited and the fog glowed in a eerie blue.
The Marines raised their weapons.
Chief checked his weapon and shouldered it? readying himself for what approached from the smoke.
A single silver Elite wielding an energy sword emerged from the smoke. Why him of all people.
"Rtas..."
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