Hello! So this one is by far the shortest chapter to date. I apologize for that. I appreciate the patients.

I love the Idea of having someone Beta reading. I'm not to sure how to do that though.

We should be getting back to normal starting next chapter. I just wanted to get this out to give the story a little progression for you guys. Anyways here we go:

CH 7: The Flood

"Move it up", They were just about to enter the structure. It was massive. Just as impressive as the first time. If only the atmosphere wasn't so eerie maybe they could have almost enjoyed the scenery.

Marines flooded the complex, Captain and Spartan following closely behind. All the Marines were on edge. A handful of them know nothing of what happened back on the Covenant carrier. Those who do tried there best to ignore the possible pending fate of this op.

"You know... if your right about all of this...", Keyes was doing an outstanding job at keeping his composure. Though he would never admit it, he feared the possibility. The stunt back on the carrier proved enough.

"I know", John responded coldly. "Through there", The Spartan pointed down a short corridor leading down to an opened room.

Lying in the middle of the room were a group of dead Elite fighters.

"What the hell happened here", the Marines set up a perimeter on the bodies.

"I've never seen anything do that to an Elite before..." Mendoza chipped in his own curiosity.

"Which is weird right, I mean, look at it. Something scrambled the

insides.", One of the Marines kneeled near you get a closer look.

"What's that, Plasma scoring?", Sergeant Johnson was looking for every reason not to believe the Spartan.

"Yeah I don't know, maybe there was an accident, you know, friendly fire or something", none of them could piece together a logical explanation.

The Captain and Spartan caught up to the group.

"What do we have, Sergeant?"

"Looks like a Covenant patrol. Badass Elite unites all KIA", Johnson's eyes were glued to the bodies.

"Real pretty..", Keyes turned to the Spartan, "friends of yours", he asked in a softer tone.

"We're acquainted... we should move" John walked past the scene.

"Agreed, Sergeant?", the Captain followed behind.

"You heard 'em men"

The group made there way though a poorly lit, descending hallway leading to a locked door.

"Get ready", for the first time during the op, the Spartan pulled his weapon.

After a few moments of tinkering, the Marines opened the doors and filed in.

The Spartan raised his weapon towards the first door on the left.

"Marines, secure that doorwa-"

"No, hold position,set up an L-flank on the door", The Chief cut him off, the Marines hesitated. On one hand they have a higher up giving them a direct order. On the other was a thousand pounds of death giving them a contradicting order.

"You heard the Captain, get that doo-"

"No, do as the Spartan says"

"I pulling second squad", Sarge reached for the radio.

"No time, set up now"

"What's that sound", Mendoza was a bit shaken.

"You hear something Mendoza", Johnson glanced at him.

"It's them", Chiefs grip tightened.

Loud banging sounds echoed through the room. The door they took aim at gave way and blew into the room.

"What the hell are those thing?", Mendoza called out to the squad.

"Engage", the Chief opened fire on the infection forms. They looked like little balls of rotten flesh.

A few dozen of these things flooded out of the room only to be met with a wall of lead. A single spore broke through there line and began to crawl towards Mendoza.

"Oh this is loco!", Mendoza bolted towards the exit.

"Get back here Marine! that's an order.", The Captains attempt to stop the Marine failed as he disappeared through the doorway.

"Contact down!", Johnson yelled out to the squad.

"What the was that sir!?", Perez asked no one in particular.

"That was the flood. Only spores. Sir, if you are satisfied, we need to get out of here... now", The Chief cautiously walked back towards the exit. Hearing that from a Spartan did not help the moral.

"Agreed, Sergeant?"

"Alright, let's move", Johnson and the the rest of the squad followed closely behind the Chief.

"I got Echo four-nineteen on station as back up exvil", the Captain revealed to Chief.

"Good. We'll need it"

Once again sorry for the length next one should be better in all aspects. See you then! Hope you enjoyed!