Disclaimer(I keep forgetting this part): Halo is owned by Bungie, not me. Amy, Josh and the Dragoons are my characters, all else belongs to Bungie as well.
Dujonus lay in wait as the wind continued to caress the shattered hull of the Phantom and blew sand around in a scene reminiscent of miniature tornadoes that appeared briefly along the horizon and disappeared quickly.
There had been no sign of movement for a good twenty minutes, and the fear of being flanked and surrounded continue to grow.
"Captain Dujonus, this is Ephanus, we still await your arrival back at the Consecrated Offering. What is your status?" The Second's rough voice buzzed violently over the speakers as Dujonus marveled the comm system was able to work at all.
Dujonus cursed himself for not trying the system himself, such mistakes should not have been made by a Captain in the Brute army.
The thought dissipated, however, as the Brute noticed that the terminal itself was in shambles, with purple metal jetted out from the console at odd angles. Several of the pieces of contorted metal had sparks intermittently hopping between them, reminding him of odd electrical experiments his class used to perform.
Unable to respond, Dujonus focused back on the plateau in front of him as he continued to listen to Ephanus's attempts to establish communications.
"Captain Dujonus, if you can hear me, we have locked onto your phantom's coordinates and will be sending a group down to your location."
With that the Second's infernal background noise was silenced as Dujonus wondered if he would be able to hold out that long.
The infertile land that surrounded Dujonus's ship would give him the upper hand, at least for a bit, as there was no reasonable cover an assault on him could use. However there was the problem of the area to his back.
If someone gets behind me I am as good as dead. Dujonus did take some consolation in the level of protection the Phantom's hull would afford him, but even it wouldn't last, especially under heavy fire.
A sudden shimmer from just beyond the plateau's horizon caused Dujonus to duck just in time as a 14.5x114mm APFSDS round slammed into the bulkhead behind him and sent fragments of what used to be a sensor all about the cabin.
Dujonus wished he had a beam rifle as he took aim with the carbine and fired, knowing it was probably an exercise in futility. As soon as the shot was away he ducked back inside as another projectile bore a hole into the Phantom's structure.
"Pathetic humans! You dare to sit there and take shots like I am some rodent with its head out of a hole! Come and fac…"
Gurgling noises filled the cabin as blood began to pour out of Dujonus's neck. Kiersten appeared out of thin air, her blade surgically implanted into the Brute's throat. "Careful what you wish for."
The large Brute fell lifelessly to the ground as the Dragoon retracted her blade, sanguine liquid dripped lazily from its point.
"Objective completed, target eliminated." Kiersten continued to look at the crumpled creature as its blood continued to pool about its head's perimeter.
"Ma'am, we've got company. Two phantoms on approach."
"Copy that. Marines, stay back and set up sniping positions. Dragoons, I want active camo at the landing zone. I want them dead before they touch earth."
Acknowledgement lights winked on as Kiersten stepped out of the Phantom's shattered hull and gazed skyward. Although they looked like little more than specks, Kiersten could make out the approaching phantoms and stood motionless as she waited for them to descend.
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Amy studied the wreckage as the rest of her team fanned out, taking up flanks on her left and right as they kept their weapons trained on the downed Phantom.
"No signs of movement ma'am. I think everyone bought it in the crash."
Amy wasn't so sure. There had been shots from the direction Kiersten's team had went, and the wreckage didn't look that bad.
"Keep your eyes open people, don't assume anything here."
As if Amy's words were a cue a marine to her right screamed out in pain as crimson flowed from his front and back, his body ran through by some unseen force.
"Cloaked elites! Dragoons switch to thermal imaging!" Another marine fell to Amy's left as his head was violently torn from his body and tossed at another nearby marine before he too soaked the sand below with his blood.
Panicked Marines began firing wildly into nothing, a few rounds hitting Dragoons despite their unique IFF tags.
"Marines! Stand down and retreat! Dragoons, take the assholes out!" Amy turned just in time to see a marine begin to turn away, only to have his back opened up from tailbone to shoulder blades by a plasma sword.
She immediately began sprinting full speed in the direction of the assailant, and switched over to thermal view only to discover the area washed out in a convergence of heat that she at once knew was hotter than her target.
"Shit." Amy couldn't think of more appropriate words as she closed the distance to the Elite. The world came back into view as Amy switched back to her standard vision sensors just in time to see a series of plasma bolts rushing to meet her.
As if unphased by the sudden volley, Amy ran unimpeded as the bolts struck her, washing over her shield and draining it by fifteen percent.
Plasma continued to lower her shields as she neared her target, when the sudden sound of sand being displaced filled her periphery and she suddenly found herself off-balance.
Amy crashed hard into the sand as she felt something immediately leap on top of her and began pounding against her shields, lowering them further to the forty percent mark.
The small grunt that was now on her back was unlike any she had ever encountered before as she struggled to get up under the constant barrage of blows being dealt.
As suddenly as it had started the pounding Amy was taking stopped, and a haunting serenity enveloped the scene. Amy scanned all around, but there were no signs of the attackers.
"Echo team, you guys got anything?"
A series of "negatives" were returned as the remaining Marines frantically patrolled the area. "It appears they tucked tail and ran."
"Hardly. Keep your eyes open team. We don't need anymore surprises here."
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"Why we run? Hajaf kill stupid humans!"
"Calm yourself little one. We had to make our escapes. Some of them were not… human. They were not the demons either, but something else. I fear they may have been the ones that slaughtered the Brutes we found, and therefore we could engage them no longer. Also I go the feeling that not all was being seen. Some of their warriors were hidden and positioning themselves to strike. We must prepare for such a battle."
Hajaf huffed at Akon's words, but did little else. E'Las was bringing up the rear as the trio sprinted away from the contact with the human force.
"Will they not follow us Akon?" E'Las's voice joined in on the conversation, exhaustion beginning to cause his words to be broken as his lungs screamed for air.
Akon looked to the distance at the approaching phantoms. Their vector indicated they were heading for the vicinity of the Brute Captain's downed ship. "Not likely. I think they are more interested in Dujonus's backup." With that the trio slowed and took refuge amongst some rock outcroppings.
Normally the time would have been right for Hajaf to sleep, but thoughts of his brother flashed through his mind and troubled him greatly. The pair had always been close, having completed their studies and training at the same times and were never separated in their service to the Covenant.
"Covenant no more. Only Sangheili and Unggoy now. Stupid Kig-Yar and Jiralhanae must die!"
"Calm yourself Hajaf. We still do not know where alliances lie. It is true that the Brutes and Kig-Yar are against us, but there is no proof that this is the Hierarch's desires."
"Your brother believed it. So you should." Akon looked away from the small Grunt in frustration. That sort of comment would have gotten any other of his kind killed, but Hajaf was not to be trifled with, even by a skilled warrior. There would be time for dissent to Hajaf's spouting, but in the midst of an upcoming battle was not it.
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"Stand down marine! Do you want to get yourself killed?" Amy's red-and-brown-headed form faced off with Corporal Gittelman.
"We have to go after the bastards! They have to pay for what they…" The corporal was on the verge of breaking down as his eyes shifted back to the numerous bodies that laid in congealing blood about the scene.
Those were his friends, his team, and he wanted vengeance. The olive-skinned man gritted his teeth together has he contemplated what he should or shouldn't say next.
"Yes ma'am, you're the boss." The man's response through gritted teeth didn't inspire confidence.
"Amy, Phantoms on approach, rendezvous at nav point theta and come wearing your good suit." Amy couldn't help but crack a smile at the suggestion as she turned back to the group.
"Alright, listen up. Marines, dig into the ship and see if someone can tell me why the hell Brutes and Elites seem to be fighting. If we can get them to keep killing each other then we can take some R and R. Dragoons, you heard Kiersten, fall out to the check point and show up cloaked. I imagine we are going to hit 'em when they land. Now move out!"
The group of Dragoons sped off in quick succession as the small group of Marines began entering the shattered remains of the dropship.
Amy looked to the sky at the now detailed craft as they were only a couple hundred meters from the surface. Amy could also see Kiersten's team on her IFF map.
"ETA twenty seconds to contact." Multiple sounds of metal sliding smoothly from sheathes sounded as the group extended their arm blades, ready to strike at the first sign of the enemy.
The group slowed down, and a force of invisible soldiers waited as the dropships slowed to a hover about twenty meters off the ground and cast a beam of luminescent purple upon the surface below.
"Wait for it." The soldiers stood silent as one by one brutes began descending down the hermetic elevators and touched earth.
"Now!" Kiersten's words were responded to quickly as the Dragoon's rushed into the force collected beneath the Phantoms. Screams filled the air and plasma flew wildly as the Brutes and Jackals struggled to make their shots connect.
Kiersten was coated in the blood of a Jackal as she pulled her blade from the side of its skinny head, giving away her location as several in the groups began to fire at her.
A Brute managed to find Phillip -023's arm and picked the Dragoon up before smashing him into the dirt. The impact faded his shields as the hulking creature jumped on top of Phillip's pale white form and clapped his head between massive hands, collapsing it. The Dragoon's hologram faded as the creature began crushing in its chest.
The sounds of metal being stressed rang out before it separated and revealed the complexities within the chest cavity. As second life faded from Phillip's eyes, he brought his MIR to bear and pulled the trigger, punching a hole into the Brute's head, causing it to collapse lifelessly on top of him as life left them both.
The amount of blood being spilled was beginning to wash out from under the cylindrical light as limps were removed and more bodies fell lifeless to the ground.
The last brute fell as Amy and Kiersten pulled their blades out of each side of its back. The couple of remaining Jackals fell quickly as the purple light ascended angelically up into the craft.
All the Dragoons extended their stabilizers and calculated trajectories as they prepared to jump, intent on not letting their targets get away. Plasma shot wildly from the craft's three mounted cannons, one getting lucky and slamming into Steve as his shields and cloak faded.
More plasma quickly flowed onto the now-visible target and ate a hole through Steve's armor as the empty husk of the soldier fell to the ground, smoldering trails from the Dragoon's chest flitted in the wind.
"Go!" Amy yelled with frustration in her voice as the remaining Dragoons launched into the air and sunk their blades into the Phantoms' hulls.
Acting more like spiders closing in on a struggling fly than soldiers trying to bring down a ship, the Dragoons dug in and made their way toward the craft's rear ramp area. Amy and Kiersten looked about for survivors as a blast came through their comm channels.
"Fifty-third to Dragoons, do you copy? This is Corporal Josh Dunson. We are under attack by unseen forces. Using the downed Phantom for cover, but we are getting pounded and need assistance."
"Roger that fifty-third. On our way." Kiersten switched over to the Dragoon internal comm network. "Dragoons, take out those craft. Amy and I will give the boys in the fifty-third a hand."
Acknowledgement lights winked and Kiersten turned to see Amy had already taken off, and couldn't make out her form through the dust trail she was leaving behind. "Silly girl." Kiersten kicked up dust as she broke into a full sprint.
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Nog looked about the spacious confines of the Phantom's cabin as small pings echoed throughout the cabin. The earth below was quickly disappearing as the dropship ascended, heading for the relative safety of the cruiser in orbit above.
The Jackal had not seen the carnage on the ground, but had began departure proceedings as soon as audible reports from the ground had came back, mostly in the form of screams and grotesque sounds of death throes.
The continual pings were making the Jackal nervous as he tracked their movements; something was definitely moving to the back of the craft. Nog couldn't recall hearing of Phantoms being boarded and taken over in such a way, but feared he would be the first.
A spark of ingenuity ignited in the young Jackal pilot as he steered the craft to bring his wingman into view. At first he noticed nothing out of the ordinary, but suddenly his sharp eyesight picked up on a movement that would have gone unnoticed by most.
A form of some sort had moved from one colored section of the adjacent Phantom to another, and in doing so had to recalibrate some form of camouflage. The process was almost instantaneous, and the Jackal questioningly looked at the craft until he saw yet another movement.
His initial thoughts had been correct. They were being boarded, and he was in no way capable of repelling them other than a measly plasma pistol.
The thought of being helplessly boarded and giving whatever the creatures were access to the ship brought anger inside the Jackal pilot.
A reluctant idea began to hatch inside Nog's mind as he sought an instrument to carry it out. It would be his last moments, but his finest.
Nog unlatched the plasma pistol from his side and brought it into view, tilting it from side to side as if studying it for the first time.
With an elongated sigh the creature left the controls as the auto piloting system took over and walked to the craft's midsection.
The pings were beginning to give way to a forceful pounding sound and Nog knew he was running out of time. The Jackal pilot punched in a short series of strokes on a control panel and a short cylindrical tube hissed quietly from an angled surface.
Nog punched in another set of strokes and waiting as the top of the cylinder separated into two separate halves, as if it was a ladybug preparing to take flight. The solid bright purple button on the top of the cylinder shone brightly into the Jackal's eyes as suddenly the rear ramp activated and began to open.
Wind enveloped the inside of the craft and tried to pull out the small creature inside of it, but Nog held on intently.
The bewildered Jackal pointed the plasma pistol toward the opening and fired a couple of shots that passed harmlessly into the atmosphere beyond.
Nog's body suddenly erupted in pain as he looked down to see a solid form of his own blood protruding from his chest. Life began to quickly leave him as he let out a choked laugh and slapped his hand down on the button.
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Amy and Kiersten both stopped as the flash of light illuminated the world around them. Amy's visor darkened to compensate, and she turned to try to find the source of the flash. The scene she saw horrified her.
The partially destroyed hull of one of the Phantoms lurched in mid air as it began to lose altitude. Flames had almost entirely engulfed the craft as it began its descent. More troubling, however, was the absence of the second Phantom that should have been there.
"Kiersten to Dragoons, anyone copy, over?" Silence filled the comm channel as the two remaining Dragoons continued to stare at the falling ship. Suddenly something ignited within it as well and went critical as the ship exploded into another brilliant light that temporarily overloaded Amy's vision.
"Dammit, does anyone come in, over?" Amy broadcast on all channels, hoping that there would be someone to respond.
"Dragoons, this is Corporal Dunson again. Where the hell are you guys? We are getting pounded!" Amy realized there was no more time to guess or reflect on what might have happened, as they had Marines to save.
"On our way Josh." Amy at once cursed herself for responding in such a casual fashion, hoping that the chaotic scene enveloping Josh would keep him from picking up on her identity.
"Can't help them standing around here, let's go Amy." Kiersten placed her hand on Amy's shoulder and gave her a motivational shove. Amy once again broke into full sprint as thoughts of saving Josh rang urgently in her mind.
A/N: Only one more chapter to go. Thanks to everyone so far who has followed this story and for the reviews. Let me know what you think of this chapter and hopefully I will have the last one out within a couple of weeks.