Chapter 19: Return of NOBLE
AN: Hello all, again! Shocker, right? Spirit of Fire, Sergeant Forge, and James-005 all return in one chapter? Also, I apologize for the inconsistency in ch.18: Carter is not on the Forerunner ship with Jun, Jorge, John, and James (Man, that's a lot of J's) I changed it, but for all of you who read it on the first day it was published, I am sorry. On with the story! (Seriously? No one got the Gears of War reference in the last chapter? REALLY!? Augustus Cole? The Cole Train? The thrashball superstar? Nothing? COMMUNISTS, THE LOT OF YOU!)Update: I have a new story, The Sera Chronicles (The planet from Gears of War). The first couple of chapters are up for reading. Check it out. I think it's pretty good."
Dear God in Heaven, what is that?!" "I think it's a Covenant Carrier, James." "I figured, John. But how did they get it? Did they steal it?" "Don't ask me, I don't know." "Actually, our new pal The Arbiter and his friend let us on for the journey back to Earth." "Wait, you made nice with the Elites too?" "Yes, James, I thought we went over this back when you were on High Charity?" "We did, Carter. I just didn't believe you." "Do not call my species that vile human name. We are Sangheili, and we are proud of it." "Who's that?" "That's the Arbiter's friend, Shipmaster R'tas Vadum." "Oh… sorry." "It is trivial, Spartan." "Could we all just stop arguing, and put this Pelican in the ship?" "Of course, human. Opening hangar bay 7 now. Shadow of Intent, out."
On Shadow of Intent'sbridge, Carter, Emile, and Johnson stood back while the Arbiter, R'tas, and a few other Sangheili that the carrier picked up along the way controlled the ship. "Damn, look at 'em go." "This would go a lot faster if you three helped." "Okay… what do you need us to do?" "Go down to the hangar bay and prepare one of those Pelicans of yours for departure." "We can do that." "Do not deviate from a very straight path to the hangar. Even though we now work together, I will not allow you to explore my ship." "That's fine, Shipmaster." The three humans left the bridge. "Arbiter, you appear discontented with something." "I am, Shipmaster. I understand that this is your ship, but would it not have been better to send one of us with them? To ensure that they did not explore the ship and discover the Huragok onboard?" "I understand your concern, Arbiter, and I thought the same thing. There is a Sangheili following them. He is using an Active Camouflage module to conceal his presence." "Alright."
Ravo E'tang stalked silently behind the three humans, making sure that they did not explore the ship and find the Huragok. His Camo module was working perfectly, and his helmet camera was transmitting directly to the Shipmaster. R'avo had been an Ossoona, or "Eye of the Prophet", before the Prophets turned the Covenant against them. After being rescued by the Shipmaster, Ravo had pledged his skills to Shadow of Intent, becoming akin to what humans called a "spy" for the Sangheili. The humans were still on course for the hangar, though they were moving at a relatively slow speed. If they did deviate and explore, Ravo knew he could not do much to stop them, since no Sangheili with as little combat experience as he did had ever killed a Demon on his own, let alone two and a "marine", so he just kept on walking and listened to their conversation.
"Do you guys get the feeling that we're being watched at all, or is it just me?" "There are probably cameras all throughout this ship, Emile. So yeah, I do think we're being watched." "All I want to know is: where the hell do they keep all the guns? I was looking for what seemed like hours for an armory and couldn't find a damn thing." "Maybe, Johnson, they just keep their weapons with them." "That would explain it." "Guys, we're here." Let's get that Pelican ready for dust-off." "Why not just use the one that James is flying in? It looks like it's just fine." "I don't know, Emile. Maybe they just wanted us off the bridge to talk about the hinge-head stock market or something." At this point, Sgt. Forge had already landed the other Pelican and was waiting for the others to board. "Hurry up! We ain't got all day, here!" "We're coming, but you better have a couple of guns onboard, because I need one!" "We'll get that all sorted out at Crow's Nest, Johnson."
The Pelican was about to take off when there was a knock on the bay hatch. Forge lowered it, and the Arbiter walked into the troop bay. "You didn't think to leave me here while the Prophets continue to hunt for a way to fire the rings, did you?" "We don't now. Let's go." The hatch sealed and the bay pressurized. The Pelican flew out of the hangar and shot off towards Earth.
Crow's Nest. East Africa. Near ruins of New Mombasa.
The Pelican descended through the cloud layer and approached a surprisingly lush forest area, which was odd for East Africa. The trees split apart, revealing a landing pad. "Pelican 3-Charlie-Six to Crow's Nest, requesting permission to land. Authorization code Victor-3- Echo-Sierra 0117, over." "3-Charlie-Six, this is Crow's Nest, you are clear for docking in hangar bay 7: proceed north for ½ kilometer, over." "Solid copy, Crow's Nest." The Pelican accelerated towards hangar bay 7. In the bay, John was holding Cortana's data chip in his hand. Johnson walked up beside him. "Where is she, Chief? Where's Cortana?" "She stayed behind." "We'll get her back when we finish with that damn Prophet." "I know."
The Pelican touched down in the hangar bay, and when the boarding ramp lowered, the team saw a handful of marines standing around the dropship. "Look at that! SPARTANs!" "No way, you better not be shittin' me!" "No, for real. Honest-to-God SPARTANS. Nine of 'em." "NINE?" "Alright, people, get a move on. Sorry about that. Not many marines get to see one SPARTAN in their lifetime, let alone nine. Chief, good to see you and your team again." "Likewise, ma'am." "Come on: let's get you up to speed." Commander Miranda Keyes led the team to the command center, briefing them as they went. "The Prophet of Truth could have hit anywhere, but he chose here, East Africa, the ruins of New Mombasa." "Why?" "That's what we're trying to figure out, Commander."
The command center was massive in size, with three large screens mounted on the far wall. "Get me a direct link to Lord Hood." "On it, ma'am. Uh… ma'am? Incoming transmission from FLEETCOM at… Reach?" "Patch it through." "Yes, Ma'am." "~~~ to Sierra-259, this is a priority one transmission. Sierra-259, if you are receiving, please acknowledge. This is NOBLE Actual." "Holland? Corporal, is this channel secure?" "Can't really guarantee secure on an open channel, Commander." "Could the Covenant trace it to us?" "I could." NOBLE Team whirled on their heels to the source of the voice. "Kat?" "Commander." "But… you died on Reach…" "Long story, Commander. Short version: prototype Hardlight Hologram. ONI wanted it tested and gave me one. Saw that Phantom coming in and decided to test it." "But James was able to use the Magnum on its belt." "That was real." "Damn… You could have told us." "ONI wanted it kept secret, to have a real reaction to its 'death'." "But it talked to us." "That… I don't know why." "Can you get this channel secure?" "I can try." Kat walked over and took the Corporal's seat. She punched in a few codes, and then handed a transceiver to Carter. "Best make it quick, Commander. I tried my best, but I can't guarantee they won't intercept it." "Okay." Carter took the transceiver and held it to his ear. "Carter here… Sir… Yes, sir… Sadly, yes… No… We can do that, sir. Carter out." "So, what did he want?" "We're being redirected to the town of Voi to run a counterassault. Covenant all but smashed the marine contingent there." "Voi? Where is that, anyway?" "According to Holland, about 30 miles northwest." "Noble Team, Good to see all of you in one piece." NOBLE turned on their heels and saluted Lord Hood. "Commander, what's your team's status?" "Green, sir. But we've been redirected by Colonel Holland to the town of Voi to run a counterassault, sir." "I guess that just leaves the Master Chief and Red team here, then." "Negative, sir. Red Team is being deployed elsewhere." "Well then, Commander Keyes, you better have a damn good plan." "I do, sir. Truth's ships are concentrated around the excavation site. A ground assault could neutralize any AA's that the Covenant has around it, and then the fleet could destroy Truth's ships." "There are a hell of a lot of 'maybes' in that plan, Commander. I only have a handful of ships, and I don't want to risk them. Arbiter, is the Shadow of Intent still in orbit?" "Yes, but it cannot take down all of Truth's ships alone." "That's what I needed to know, Arbiter. I'll get what ships I can, and we'll await the signal t…"
The lights went out, and all power ceased in the base. "God damnit, not again!" "Emergency generators, now!" "Yes, ma'am." "As soon as we're back up, reestablish contact with~" The central viewscreen flashed to life. "You are, all of you, vermin: cowering in the dirt, thinking… what, I wonder? That you might escape the coming fire? No. Your world will burn until its surface is but glass, and not even your demons will be able to come crawling, blackened from their holes to witness our passage. For your destruction is the will of the Gods. And I… I am their instrument."
"Cocky bastard. Just loves to run his mouth, don't he?" "Johnson, coordinate an evac of the base." "Ma'am?" "We're about to get hit." "Yes, ma'am." "Spartans, I need you on defense. NOBLE, secure the hangar, make sure nothing enters, and get the Pelicans out in one piece. Red Team, you're the QRF. Any calls for assistance come in, you're going. Master Chief, you're with Red Team." "Yes, ma'am." "Follow me. I'll show you the armory." "Lead the way, Sergeant."
The Battle for Crow's Nest begins! Nest time on Spartans Never Die.
