Halo: Generation 2- The 2nd Generation of Spartans By: Sol 249

Prologue

1200 hours, January 1, 2552 (Military Calendar)

New York City/ America/ Earth/ Sol System

"Set off those charges NOW!!!" Spartan-249, Andrew yelled over the sound of persistent plasma fire. As the charges exploded into a fiery red cloud, the Spartan turned his MA5B rifle at the squad of Covenant Brutes charging towards him and fired an entire sixty round clip into the blue armored mass. One came close enough to cut down the Spartan with an energy sword sharp bayonet when a hail of knifes flew through the air and stabbed the beast down.

Spartan-277, Cody, stood over the dead alien with the two fingered 'smile' sign over his helmet. Then the Spartan took out his BR55 and rushed to overtake a group of vulture-like Jackals who were harassing a pair of Marines. Repeating flashes of light brightened the darkening area as twelve shields were smashed and the holders were killed. Being one of the two Special Operations leaders, this handiwork was common with him.

Meanwhile, Spartan-250, Monica, was taking on four red armored Brutes all by herself. The Spartan was one of the most adept at fighting hand to hand combat, and seeing her fight was proof of it. She ducked under one Brute's arm and punched the barrel of her M6C pistol through its chest, then she fired at the other alien's through the Brute's chest spraying blood and gore all over the vicinity. Another row of Brutes came in, and all died in an order as Monica fired her modified S2 AM Sniper rifle. The Spartan was also adept at being a scout.

Spartan-266, Special Operations leader no#2, Cameron, rushed by on top of a flying Banshee and was busy trying not to fall off the vehicle. Plasma sprayed across the Banshee's hood as Covenant soldiers below tried to shoot the Spartan off. Molten alien alloy splashed at Cameron, globs of overheated metals splashing off his visor. Cameron reared back and flipped under the vehicle, grabbed both of the 'wings', and using strength amplified by the MJOLNIR armor he twisted the wings into an unrecognizable mass. The Banshee exploded, and Cameron appeared meters away and was already in combat against a single, gold armored Brute.

Andrew's attention was taken by the body of a Spartan flying through the air. Spartan-254, Evan, slowly got up and charged at a trio of Grunts once again. The first Grunt flipped over the Spartan's back and kicked him in the back of the head. Evan lunged forwards uncontrollably as another Grunt leaned back and put a full powered punch into Evan's face. The Spartan lurched back again… just as the last Grunt body slammed Evan to the ground. Evan lay immobile on the ground.

"Pffft, I don't know why he can be called a Spartan." A voice said behind Andrew. 249 turned around and faced Spartan-283, Kyle. He was in charge of assault, and was Andrew's second in command. The Spartan charged towards the three Grunts and fired point blank at them with his shotgun. A Brute howled suddenly and appeared out of nowhere. It landed on top of Kyle and was about to shoot the Spartan in the face with its Covenant carbine when Kyle reached up and pulled the beast's head off with a heart sickening POP!

Suddenly, a flurry of sniper bullets stabbed at a group of overconfident Drones that thought that they could kill Kyle and an unconscious Evan. Blood plashed the plasma burned pavement as the swarm was reduced to nothing. Somewhere in a building, sniper CO Spartan-223, Smith, was reducing groups of Covenant to blood splats. The screams of a squadron of Banshees came to life as the vehicles appeared over destroyed buildings. Apparently, the air force was dispatched to take out Smith.

"249 to 217, could you take out a squadron of Covey bogies at Smith's position… over." Andrew said over the COM.

"Sure thing lead, I'm on my way." The voice of Philip, heavy troop CO replied. On the rooftops, the form of a gray armored Spartan appeared. Philip took out a trip mine and tossed it onto one of the twelve Banshees flying below him. Three seconds passed… and the Banshee blew up taking two others with it. Three of the remaining ten scout craft turned to Philip's position and let loose a rain of plasma at him. Philip ducked, rolled, and ran from the fray. Then the Spartan turned, jumped onto one of the Banshees, and shoved six fragmentation grenades into its cockpit.

By the time the WHAM! Of the exploding Banshees was heard, Philip was already firing a full salvo of rockets at the other seven Banshees. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven… the Covenant vehicles exploded in quick unison before they reached Smith.

"Oh, God!!!! Help us someone!" The voice of a Marine screamed. Andrew spun on his heels to be awarded with the sight of eleven red armored Brutes led by a single, gold armored Brute attacking a trio of Marines. Andrew quickly shoved his M6 pistol into its holster and unslung his MA5C rifle. Five of the Brutes took sight of the charging Spartan and opened up fire with their Spike rifles as another tossed a spike grenade along the Spartan's trajectory. Andrew pivoted around the molten projectiles the spike rifles spat out and caught the spike grenade with his fragmentation grenade. In half a second, both grenades were tossed back and all six Brutes were blown to bits. The last five red armored Brutes roared and activated their energy swords, circling around Andrew and growling for blood. BAM! A sniper bullet passed through one Brute's head and Andrew was out of the circle.

Thanking Smith mentally in his head, Andrew scooped up the Brute's fallen energy sword and backward sliced the closest Brute. The teal armored Spartan grabbed the other energy sword and spun around to face the remaining three Brutes. The Brutes on either side of Andrew lunged forward and were blocked with Andrew's dual wielded energy swords. The last Brute went for the kill… until it had a hole kicked into its chest. Andrew dropped to the ground and both energy swords barely scratched his visor. The Spartan rolled forwards and grabbed a fallen spike grenade… it was tossed back and both Brutes were shredded.

Standing back up, Andrew sighted the gold armored, gravity hammer wielding Brute standing over the three dead bodies of the Marines. A shot of ice cut through Andrew's veins, and the Lieutenant lunged at the Brute. The hammer slammed down and was blocked by two energy swords. Both enemies pushed their lethal weapons against each other for a few seconds until the brute slammed its foot down into Andrew's knee. The Spartan grunted in pain and fell to one foot loosing his position as the hammer swung down… and two gauntleted hands caught the end. Andrew looked up and saw Spartan-248, Katy, looking down at him.

"Need some help?" Katy asked.

"I'd appreciate it, yeah." Andrew replied. Katy nodded and swung her end of the hammer around to slam into the Brute's abdomen. It growled and roared uncontrollably until Andrew lashed out an energy sword. The headless corpse fell down, and the Spartan stood up.

"Thanks." Andrew said.

"Anytime swabby." Katy grinned.

"This is Spartan-249, the LZ is secure, let the operation commence." Andrew reported over the COM. Overhead, several Pelican gunships flew through the hazy air of the once glorious city and landed. Ninety one Spartan-II Bs filed out… enough to take on an entire legion of the Covenant's best troops.

Andrew had read the files and stories about the previous Spartan-IIs, the fall of the military planet Reach with most of the Spartans defending it… and Spartan-117's battles alongside his remaining companions. The first generation of Spartan-IIs was an endangered species. As Andrew stared out at the ruined city of New York with his energy sword kept at ready, he knew that the second generation of S-IIs wouldn't become reduced to a small squad. Heck, they were the best of the best… what could happen?