TIME FRAME: This chapter happened during the events of Halo 2 Cairo Station
Author's Note: Readers please note I re-posted the chapter 4 Hidden Ability the same time as this one, due to it having some problems. You can now read it clearly with no problem.
Chapter 6 Cairo Station
Stahn came back a few moments later sitting next to Zen. Zen saw a figure heading towards the far end. He wore a suit, a military suit.
"Who's that?" whispered Zen to Stahn.
"Oh that's Fleet Admiral Sir Terrence Hood; AKA Lord Hood. He is the leader of the UNSC. This treaty between the Separatist Sangheili and the UNSC is very important. That's why his here." said Stahn. Zen could only reply only by a nod.
The doors parted as the Master Chief, Sergeant Johnson and Z'jo, Nira and a Sangheili which Zen guessed to be Zide 'Evanam marched toward Fleet Admiral Hood, who was standing at the stage by a large screen. Zide's armor was almost identically the same with Z'jo except his was colored off brown. Zen made a mental note to ask Nira why she was the only one wearing a standard elite armor whilst her brothers' wore custom made. Behind the large screen was an enormous view port. Naval officers cheered as well as the other aliens as they approached. The 5 stood straight, snapping crisp salutes which Lord Hood returned.
"Gentlemen, we're lucky to have you back," said Lord Hood. An officer approached Hood and whispered in his ear. The Admiral then turned to the holopedestal next to the screen and said,
"Go ahead, Cortana." Cortana materialized out of the holopedestal, pulsing purple as calculations scrolled across her body.
"Another whisper, sir," she said, "We have probes en route."
"I apologize, but we're going to have to make this quick," Lord Hood said, and then turned back toward the screen. Cortana looked toward the Chief, Johnson, Z'jo, Nira, Zide and smiled.
"You look nice." she commented. "Thanks." said the 5 simultaneously.
The ceremony proceeded onwards. Sergeant Johnson, Master Chief, Z'jo and Miranda Keyes, Nira and Zide whom was called a little later, were given awards accordingly to what they have done to prevent the events on Halo and such. After their awarding, the doors opened to reveal a Sangheili to walk in. He wore gold colored armor meaning he was a Supreme Commander. Zen somehow recognized the figure but couldn't put a name on it. It wasn't until the elite's name was announced on the microphone that Zen knew who he was. He was Novi Torva. Zen then remembered the story that Z'jo told him and made a mental note to ask to continue the story later.
Novi was soon followed by Gorund Oryon, which Stahn whispered to him that he was the director or head of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). All of them, Gorund, Novi, Johnson, Master Chief, Nira, Zide, Miranda, Z'jo and Lord Hood, assembled around a podium, which a scroll of parchment was laid. It vaguely reminded Zen of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. After the last person to sign the treaty, alarms started blaring throughout the Cairo, making everyone stop.
Cortana appeared in the holopedestal and said, "Slipspace ruptures directly off our battle cluster."
"Show me," Lord Hood replied, turning toward the large glass screen. A map of the immediate space snapped into view, with Earth taking up a large portion of the screen. In the lower left were the positions of the UNSC ships, the Malta, Athens, and Cairo, and the new signatures of the Covenant battle group which faced the Human fleet and Heretic.
"Fifteen Covenant Capitol ships holding position just outside the kill zone," Cortana reported. The screen showed a part of Hood's fleet move toward the Covenant, and a voice crackled to life over FLEETCOM.
"This is Fleet Admiral Harper," the voice announced. "We are engaging the enemy." Lord Hood's arm shot out for a button on the panel beneath the screen.
"Negative, Admiral." Hood ordered. "Form a defense perimeter around the cluster." He released his finger from the FLEETCOM button, and turned to Miranda Keyes. "Commander, get to your ship, link up with the fleet." The commander gave a quick salute.
"Yes, sir," she replied. She did an about face, and jogged to the bridge doors that had begun to open. Shipmaster Novi followed after.
Hood turned to Cortana's hologram. "You have the MAC gun, Cortana. As soon as they come in range, open up."
"Gladly." Cortana's image flickered, flashed brightly, then her avatar disappeared. Admiral Hood stared at the glass screen's projection of the map, stroking his chin. His face screwed into a puzzled frown. "Something's not right..." he muttered.
"Why?" asked Johnson.
"There fleet is small, Reach was attacked by something bigger than this."
"Maybe they are ill prepared, maybe they didn't know that this was your planet." said Z'jo.
"Sir!" one of the bridge officers shouted to Hood. "Additional contacts; boarding crafts and lots of 'em!" The view on the screen split into four different frames, showing a panoramic view of the Cairo platform via video cameras. Small dots slowly started to grow in size.
Hood scowled. "They're going to try to take our MAC guns offline...give their Capitol ships a straight shot at Earth." He craned his neck at the Spartan and Johnson. "Master Chief, Johnson, defend this station.
Master Chief started running off heading for the nearest weapons rack and bolting for the door.
"There he goes again." said Johnson to himself.
"All right you saw the Chief, Z'jo, Nira, Zide. Let's go." But before they could start running Stahn stood up to Zen surprise and yelled at them "What about us?"
Johnson just rolled his eyes and sigh, "Well what are you waiting for?" And with that Zen and Stahn joined the party.
The 6 then headed for the nearest, weapons rack and grabbed weapons. Zen placed his helmet on and his HUD activated. It showed him a targeting aid, his shield power, ammo counter and radar which labeled enemies as red dots and allies as green. The Chief and Johnson took a BR55 burst fire rifle, Zen and Stahn took 2 SMGs dual wielding them. The Sangheili siblings just took an Assault Rifle with Scope and an Energy Sword at the rack which they clipped to their hip.
"Hey Zen." said Z'jo. Zen looked at him. "I'll finally get to show you my skills on the Energy Blade like said."
"Looking forward to it." said Zen cocking his SMG's.
After taking their fare share of grenades and clipping it to their hips they immediately made their way to the nearest door that was about to be breached.
A group of Marines were assembled around a bulkhead door that was spewing sparks. The Covenant were welding in and blowing the damaged door, as they always did. Some Heretic Sangheili, Unggoy, and Kig-Yar were present. The Unggoy glanced at each other nervously, the Sangheili stared coldly at the door, and the Kig-Yar pointed their overcharged plasma pistols at the door, shields raised to protect their body.
The sparks ceased and then the door exploded open in blue mist. Blue and green plasma bolts and pink crystalline needles lanced from the blasted door and pierced armor, burnt skin, and ruptured shields. The Kig-Yar let loose their overcharged plasma bolts. The skillful first retaliation worked effectively as it took down all of the Sangheili shields. Then the Unggoy, Marines, and Sangheili opened up and took down the Covenant very quickly.
"It's over already?" asked Johnson whilst reloading his rifle. "Damn! That was easy!"
A few moments later their radios crackled with the voice, of Novi Torvar.
"Guys the Covenant are retreating. I think there's a bomb on the stations. We're getting out from the station from a phantom right now." Sure enough a white flash, flashed from the side and the space station Athen exploded in blue flames. Moments later, another flash, Malta exploded.
"This is bad, REAL BAD." said Stahn with a hint of panic in his voice.
"Chief find the bomb and try to disarm It." ordered Hood over the radio.
"Yes sir." he replied. He turned to the party.
"You guys get out of here." he barked. All of them glanced at each other and replied simultaneously "What?!"
"Don't argue with me; Johnson take them to the nearest escape ship." ordered the chief.
"Sure thing Chief."
"We're not leaving you." said Zen and the 'Evanam siblings.
"Zen, you are a Creator your powers are vital to the success of us humans, you 3 are almost equivalent to a Spartan. With the 4 of you together, you can help win this war even if I die." growled the Chief.
"You big idiot!" yelled Zen then stalking away. The 3 siblings followed him whilst the chief when ahead to find the bomb.
* * * * * * *
Nira turned on her active-camo and started sneaking to the Covenant who were guarding the ship bay. There was one Covenant Phantom left which was being guarded by a few Covenant soldiers. Nira volunteered to take them out herself with the help of her active camouflage whilst the rest of them sit back and relax.
"So you're the Creator?" asked Zide to Zen eyeing him curiously.
"Yeah." replied Zen sitting down. Zide didn't break his gaze so Stahn said
"You were expecting him to be older weren't you?" Zide nodded breaking his gaze. Johnson chuckled. "You'll be surprised with what the kid can do." Zen stood up.
"Please I am not a kid, I am 18 years old." he said irritated.
"But to me you're still a kid, kid." said Johnson with a teasing grin. Then they could hear the familiar activation sound of the energy sword phish then the sound of Covenant soldiers taken by surprise and the sound of them dropping to the ground.
"CLEAR!" shouted Nira.
The 6 of them started running towards the gravity lift. Once they were in they immediately took their seats whilst Zide took the driver's seat.
"Where to?" asked Zide.
"To In Amber Clad." answered Johnson whilst smoking a cigarette.
"Here we go." said Zide turning the Phantom on and driving out of the Ship Bay.
From out of everyone's view Nira took Zen's hand and held it, squeezing gently. Zen was surprised by the act but returned the favor whilst looking at Nira. Her face turned a slight purple when Zen looked at her but she asked "Do you mind?"
Zen opened the visor of his helmet to allow his face to be seen. He smiled then said "Its ok I don't." And with that he sealed his helmet visor again, obscuring his face. He knew he didn't mind because at the very back of his mind, he liked it.
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