November 3rd, 2552

0230

Covenant Space

Planet Code Named Scylla

Rain pelted a large city with purple structures piercing the skyline, a clap of thunder breaking the rain's constant drumming. Five ghostly figures take various forms of cover, remaining totally as a lone Kig-Yar walked toward them. The Kig-Yar, armed with a Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol, approached the group with a seemingly bored slow gait. As the Kig-Yar passed the first Ghost, the Ghost dropped in behind in step with the avian creature. A flash of light gleamed from the Ghost, and in an instant, the Kig-Yar dropped to the ground. The body was caught by the second Ghost in line to silence the fall. After letting the body down, the Ghost straightens up.

"Fireteam Claymore, get ready. There's going to be more."

X

Fireteam Claymore is a group of UNSC super-soldiers known as Spartans. In their case Spartan-IIIs from Gamma Company. Spartan-IIIs are designed to be expendable, a desperate move made by the UNSC. In an effort to slow the Covenant's endless march into human-controlled space, The Office of Naval Intelligence planned to trade the lives of the S-IIIs for time. Surgical strikes into the Covenant's territory, missions with almost no hope of survival to cripple the Covenant's war effort. They would rely on superior battle tactics and teamwork rather than advanced technology and equipment to achieve their combat effectiveness.

Alpha Company was the first S-IIIs, war orphans trained and augmented into UNSC's finest soldiers. Most fought and died in Operation: PROMETHEUS, in which they destroyed a Covenant Shipyard on the edge of human space. That, if left unchecked, would almost certainly have accelerated the total destruction of the Outer Colonies. ONI viewed the operation as a formidable strategic victory, ultimately saving millions of civilians from Covenant glassing. In fact, the training and deployment of future SPARTAN-III companies were accelerated due to Operation: PROMETHEUS.

Beta was next, and they improved on the shortcomings of Alpha. Beta focused heavily on training teamwork to help prevent the loss of unit cohesion, which ultimately led to Alpha's downfall. Unfortunately, it mattered little as in Operation: TORPEDO, the UNSC achieved another major strategic victory. However, Beta Company was effectively annihilated as a fighting force. The Covenant, in return, suffered a heavy blow that would prevent them from refueling close to UNSC space.

Lieutenant Commander Kurt Ambrose was frustrated and deeply saddened with the loss of his Spartans which caused him to make changes in Gamma Company's augmentations. Like Alpha and Beta, they received the standard augmentations of carbide ceramic ossification catalyst, which causes Skeletons to become virtually unbreakable, allowing survival in harder impacts. Fibroid muscular protein complex drug allows the increased density of an individual's muscles, greatly enhancing physical strength. With the Retina-inversion stabilizer drug, color sharpness is significantly improved upon, and night vision is heightened. And lastly, The Improved colloidal neural disunification solution drug dramatically enhances the individual's reaction time, decreasing the time taken to react by 300%, known as "Spartan time." They also were given an illegal brain augmentation under the secret orders of a desperate Kurt.

A Neural-altering non-carcinogenic mutagen alters vital regions in the individual's frontal lobe to enhance aggressive response, making the animal part of the brain more accessible in times of stress. This allows the subject access to enormous reserves of strength and endurance. And enables them to remain fighting even under the influence of a wide systemic shock that would be instantly fatal to an average human. It also depresses higher reason centers of the brain over time; requires regular doses of a smoothing agent to be taken to avoid uncontrollable aggression.

The Spartans from Fireteam Claymore have recently graduated and are now on their first mission, Operation: Thanatos.

x

November 2nd, 2552

1900

Covenant Space

Planet Code Named Scylla

The Owl insertion craft groaned as it entered the atmosphere, and Miles G-010 sat restrained in his harness. The operation is simple enough to covertly sneak into a Covenant City and assassinate a San'Shyuum ONI marked as a high valve target. This San'Shyuum was found to be behind at least a dozen glassings of human worlds. But Miles couldn't shake a feeling in his gut from growing; he chalks it up to nerves and glances at May G-057. May is the Fireteam's almost undetectable scout, and when she wants, she can seemingly vanish in plain sight. May noticed Miles's gaze and swiped two fingers across her visor, a Spartan smile. He gave her a thumbs-up as her voice entered his helmet.

"Relax, Miles, you shifting around like crazy," May told him over a private channel.

"I'm good, just a funny feeling." Miles turned away from May. Miles could feel May's continuing stare as he tried his best to ignore it.

"Claymore, listen up!" the voice was coming through Clark G-195 external speakers. Clark is the team leader and is very well respected by those he leads. "The Owl is going to drop us 10 klicks from the city, by the bank of the river. From there, we move upriver towards the main spire. If the intel is correct, we will be entering through a slum."

The shaking intensified as the Owl raced closer to their destination. Clark was cut off as he was bucked into his harness hard. "As I was saying. Once we get inside, we will have to remain undetected. Otherwise, that'll be that. " His helmet dipped down as he considered what precisely that meant. "Remember, not only are we killing a high-ranking Covenant official, we are sending a message. If we want you dead, we will find and kill you."

"5 mikes til we hit the DZ." The ONI pilot said over the ship's comms. "Once we touch down, you are on your own. The Fleeting Winter will be maintaining stealth on the dark side of the smaller moon. It will be leaving in 48 hours with or without you." Her voice showed no hint of emotion.

"Roger," Clark responded, and He turned to Brett G-214. "Is the Havok prepped just in case?" Claymore was issued one HAVOK Tactical Nuclear Weapon. If the Fireteam is likely to be eliminated, they detonate the device. Ensuring even in defeat, the mission would be accomplished.

"There are civilians in that city, Clark." Brett's voice rumbled deeply.

"That wouldn't stop the Covenant." Alexis G-303 broke in. Her voice barely held back outright anger.

"Besides. Orders are orders. You know that. We aren't talking about this again. Is the Havok prepped?" Clark warned with an icy tone, causing Brett to turn away from his gaze.

"Affirmative, the Havok is good to go." The response came from clenched teeth.

Miles gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. Which May only noticed because she was still looking at him.

"Hey, seriously, what's wrong?" Her voice came over the speakers in his helmet.

"This mission," He took a long pause. "It feels off. I dunno; it feels like we could be doing more." A pause. "Something more important."

"I get what you mean, but this son of a bitch has billions of lives on his hands. We have to take him down."

"Instead of stopping more attacks from the Covenant from ever happening, we are just getting revenge. Why?"

"I'm surprised you, of all people, would be ok with letting this guy off. You know he was the one in command when-" May's voice wavered toward the end, a memory welling up in the back of her mind.

"I know, I know," Miles replied quickly. Deep sadness seeped from the words. "But you know I heard from Taylor that there are rumors Earth was attacked." May let out a snort of laughter.

"Taylor is full of crap."

"Well, something has FLEETCOM in disarray." Fleetcom is the organization that is responsible for ship deployment, mission structures, and space operations. May never answered as the Owl's drop light burned to life, lighting the drop bay in an eerie red glow. The drop door lowered, filling the bay with the sounds of jet engines and rushing wind.

"Two minutes, Claymore!" Clark yelled over the roar of the engines. "Gear Check!" The harnesses holding The young Spartans in are released. They stood almost as one and began to check each other over. Making sure everyone in the Fireteam was ready for a quick drop. Miles closest to the opening looked out over the horizon. The fading light of a sunset, golden into a swirling purple, transfixed Miles for just a moment before his Spartan training took over. He shook his head clear and checked his rifle, an MA5K Carbine. The MA5K Carbine is a variant of the MA5 series of rifles, commonly used in special operations.

"Thirty seconds." Clark gave a hand wave, and the Spartans disappeared, leaving the drop bay empty. The hand wave was a signal to activate The SPI's photoreactive panels. Which renders the user almost entirely invisible. SPI, or Semi-Powered Infiltration armor, is an armor focused on stealth. It lacks the defensive abilities and force-multiplying nature of Mjolnir and is much cheaper to produce. Therefore it was ideal for the Spartan-III program.

The drop changed to green. The Owl slowed to a hover 5 meters above a rocky shoreline. Ten seconds later, the bay door closed, and the Owl raced back to orbit.

X

November 2nd, 2552

2030

Covenant Space

Planet Code Named Scylla

Fireteam Claymore made their way to the outskirts of the slums district that was running rampant along the outer edge of the city over the last hour. They were held up in a group of small trees and shrubs.

A group of pirate Kig-Yar had made the slums their headquarters. The Covenant Military gave the slums a wide berth to avoid ambushes.

"May, report." Clark's deadpan voice broke through the silence.

"That group of Kig-Yar isn't military. They are armed though, Pirates maybe."

May had left the group to move in closer to the slums, where she was right now Miles could only guess. He enhanced his visor's optics and zoomed in on the Kig-Yar. The small group of the aliens were lounging around what seemed to be Covenant weapon drop pods. The only problem was they were right by the entrance to the sewers Claymore planned on using.

"Pirates, that could be an issue," Alexis commented.

"We can move past them into the sewer system easily enough. We just need to find a different place to enter the city," May replied. Clark stood entirely still, looking at the group of pirates. After a long moment.

"No time. Clocks already ticking. We push now; I'm uploading markers to your HUDs." A small red triangle appeared over one of the Kig-Yar's head on Miles' Hud. The Kig-Yar had a holstered energy pistol, the alien leaned against a weapons pod.

"Claymore move into positions. On my mark."

Miles slipped from behind the foliage silently and pushed forward toward the outcropping of run-down buildings. He lifted his MA5K, the butt of the weapon snug against his shoulder. His finger slipped onto the trigger, and he released a long sigh. Miles watched the Kig-Yar for a long moment. The alien seemed anxious to Miles.

"Three, two, one, mark." Five coughs of suppressed gunfire cut through the three Kig-Yar. Miles had caught his Kig-Yar with a burst of 4 rounds that caved in the beak of the Kig-Yar. Purple blood now covered the weapon pods, and the Spartans pushed forward.

"Grab what you can quickly. We have to move." Clark ordered over comms.

Alexis knocked her fist against Miles' shoulder as she passed him. He gave her a two-fingered swipe across his visor in return. A small moment to celebrate Claymore's first confirmed enemy kills.

May picked up two shield gauntlets. One she handed to Clark, and the other she tossed to Miles. Miles fixed the shield to his arm, happy with the added protection.

"Claymore, time to move," Clark also fitted the shield to his arm. The team followed him into the slums. The noises of the city started to grow louder. Nearby, Miles could hear squawks from Kig-Yar ringing out, and shouts of Sangheili came in return. But the roaring of transport ships, both military and not, overwhelmed most sounds.

The setting sun was hidden as dark gray clouds rolled across the sky, and a crack of thunder silenced for just a moment all other sounds.

"Storm coming in," Brett commented. "We should get cover in the sewer before the rain."

"Agreed. Once we get down there, Miles, you take point." Clark stopped at an intersection the team stacked up behind him. A quick glance around showed that the path was clear, and he advanced toward the sewer entrance. The entrance was a large pipe opening up into the river.

One by one, the Spartans climbed down from above and into the pipe. Ankle deep water rushed past them, and Miles didn't want to stop to think about what else was in the water. The footing wasn't easy, but they steadily moved closer to the target.

The sounds of squawking instantly stopped Miles. More Kig-Yar, and headed this way almost on top of them. Coming out of a side passage into the larger pipe was a Kig-Yar with more behind it. The rest of the fire team can't shoot past me, Miles thought in an instant. He raced forward, slamming into the lead Kig-Yar. The blow sent the alien to the ground; Miles stepped down hard on the alien's chest, holding him down under the water. Miles felt it clawing at his boot, but Miles lifted his MA5K and fired into the side passage without a pause. Cries echoed off the walls as the armor-piercing bullets punched into the soft bodies of the Kig-Yar.

The cries faded away along with the clawing at his boot. In a smooth motion, Miles reloaded and stepped into the side room, looking for more threats.

"Clear." The side passage was just a tiny room with a few chairs and tables.

"The pirates must use the sewers to smuggle," Brett observed. "We are going to need to be careful moving forward.

"Drag that body in with the rest. This doesn't change anything. We still have a job to do." Clark stared down the sewers wondering just how many aliens were down here with them.