CHAPTER 2
Date: June 11th 2550
Location: New Alexandria, Chiron II
Gunfire hissed past Merek's shoulder as he ran. The heat from the plasma bolt seared the skin under his armor, blisters forming and popping at the time. Energy shields were wonderful for preventing the bolt from killing you but heat-proof they weren't. Rolling over the defilade he pulled the M392 Designated Marksman Rifle, or DMR, over his shoulder and settled into a firing crouch. Glancing over at Cryss he chinned his helmet comm and relayed, "The device is set, give it a few minutes then we go." Cryss, squad leader of Cross squad, nodded, his red EOD UA/HUL's lenses glinting in the harsh desert sun. His hand clenched into a fist as Merek began firing at the advancing file of Grunts. He held the pose for three minutes then spread his finger. Cross squad sprinted out of cover, Merek and Myka switching to their M45TS shotguns.
Cross squad, consisting of S-D020 Cryss, S-D028 Merek, S-D211 Myka, and S-D0112 Casi pounded boots over the soft sand as plasma bolts sizzled past them charring sand into glass. In response their own guns snapped up and spat hot death back at the Covenant. Two M45TS shotguns one MA37ICWS assault rifle and one DMR pounded the advancing aliens into submission. Blue-grey Unggoy blood soaked parched sand as the clatter of reloading sounded through the air. Casi yelped as a needler round struck the sand beside her, whipping around she blasted the unfortunate Jackal from his feet with her DMR. As it flopped, lifeless into the sand Casi shouted in warning. In the shimmering desert sun stood four Sangheili warriors, light glinting off of their hard edged armor.
More plasma bolts seared past them as the Sangeili opened fire with their plasma repeaters, the SPARTANs diving for cover behind the scattered dunes. Merek hissed in frustration as he slung his shotgun and drew his DMR. The device would go off soon and they had wanted to be far away before it did that. Sighting down his scope he took aim at the centermost Elite, firing of four rounds. The 7.62X51mm tracers struck the Elite dead center on his chest killing his shields. The massive lizard staggered, making him an easy target for Casi's headshot to spray purple gore out the back of his helmet to spatter the glassy sands.
"Thanks Merek," she called over shoulder. Merek sublimated his irritation at having his kill stolen by the markswomen and increased his pace over the searing sands. A large embankment hove into view already scorched by combat. From behind the dune spat gunfire and grenades that ripped into the charging aliens, dropping several in pools of blood. As Cross squad leapt over the defilade Merek was struck from behind by something that knocked him spinning into the trench behind it. Rising to the firing step he felt around on his back, a scorch had burned itself into his plate. He gave silent thanks for the reinforced plates he had opted for at the last upgrade, they had saved his life. Popping his head over the glassy sand he noted that instead of the number Covenant troops decreasing from the vicious action that had just taken place in the open desert their numbers had grown. They had met the force attacking the emplacement.
A green sun erupted on the dune beside Merek and he felt a hand yank him down. Cryss slapped him on the shoulder. "Stay down dammit! They have hunters," he shouted over the noise of battle. Merek swore viscously and loaded a new clip into his DMR. Nodding at Thunder squad who had held the emplacement while Cross had completed it's mission Merek popped back up and sighted. Gunfire ripped into the file of Grunts and the little aliens barked and squealed as their numbers dwindled. As his clip ran dry Merek slapped a fresh clip into place and resumed firing, his first shot disintegrating a Jackal's head. As the creature collapsed a loud CHOOM sounded as one of Thunder squad fired a rocket into the horde, scattering blood and bits of meat over the desert. In response plasma seared the air at the eight SPARTANs.
Merek played the reticule over a team of Grunts supported by Jackals and one Elite. Lowering the rifle he yanked a grenade from his belt and flipped the pin free. Heaving himself onto the trench lip he launched the sphere with all his strength. The explosive landed in the middle of the squad and detonated. The center Grunts were vaporized and most of the Jackals collapsed, shredded by shrapnel. The Elite huddled behind his shields but fire from Casi and Myka made short work of the tall alien. Snarling with fury a Hunter whipped around, a viridian glow building inside his weapon "DOWN…FEUL ROD!" screamed Casi as she threw herself at Merek slamming him back into the trench. Searing heat filled the air and the world turned green.
Merek awoke to thunder. A shout followed by gunfire and the whine of plasma sounded over his head. The world twisted and revolved as he tried to focus on something. The last thing he remembered was Casi slamming into him and the air turning unbearably hot. His hands scrabbled over the glassed sand in search of a weapon but instead brushed over a MJOLINR plate. Following that plate he encountered a joint. A gasp echoed beneath his helmet as his shaken brain processed what he was seeing. This was Casi's leg, without Casi attached. A groan dragged his gaze up to the lip of the crater. There was Casi, or what was left of her. The entire right side of her armor had been burned away and her face nothing more a skull covered in scorched flesh. Her arm was no where to be seen and her DMR was twisted mass of glowing metal.
"Casi," he murmured. Pure sadness welled up in him as his enhanced vision took in the extent of her injuries. Fatal even for a SPARTAN. He bellied over to her and was about to take her tags when she groaned again. Stirring she tried to push herself to her feet but collapsed back into the sand. She turned her ruined face to Merek and growled in a slushy voice, "C'mon, get me back to my feet. I'm fine." Merek shook his head, forcing his horror down, "No Casi. You can't fight like you are. You're blind for one…for another…" He was about to finish speaking when she slapped his hand away.
"I can see in one eye at least," she spat as she tried to lever her self with a nonexistent arm. Seeing that there would be no reasoning with her Merek dragged her from the crater despite her protests. Placing her on a dune higher than the rest he placed his DMR beside her and murmured, "Just don't miss." She swatted at him as he dashed away. Grasping the rifle with one hand she sighted the scope with her remaining eye.
"Right," she hissed. "Let's see how many of you I can send to Hell before me!"
Merek pulled his shotgun off his back he checked the loads on it. The six round in the magazine were heavy with buckshot but some of the shells held in his webbing had melted and fused. Shaking his head he racked the pump and resumed sprinting for the trench. As he reached the defilade an explosion of sand burst through the wall and something solid slammed into him, knocking the shotgun free from his hands. Rolling to kill the impact he came to his feet, knife already in his hands. As it shook off the sand that had covered it the Elite warrior roared a challenge Merek was only too happy to accept. It was time to take some revenge.
Throwing his shoulder into a tackle he rammed the Elite back into the sand and began pounding on it's shields. As the blue-white barrier flashed the Elite struck out with one massive fist that impacted on Merek's chin and sent him reeling from his adversary. As he regained his feet Merek flipped the knife in his hand around into a reverse grip as his Covenant counterpart ignited the energy dagger mounted in it's wrist. The two killing machines faced each other, green reptilian eyes meeting cold silver visor. The combatants circled each other feinting and posturing but in the end it was the Elite who made fatal mistake. In it's pacing the massive lizard had turned it's back to the trench it had bust out of.
Merek lunged forward smashing his knife hilt into the Elite's face, the alien grunted in surprise but brought up it's own blade. As it fell Merek followed it, earning himself a deep slice up his left arm. His weight combined with the fall burst the Elite's shield and allowed Merek's combat knife to slide into the soft throat of the Covenant killer and send dark purple blood pouring onto the sand. The creature twitched once as Merek wrenched his blade free but remained still thereafter. As Merek wiped his knife clean he watched the emerald eyes of his victim mist over in death. A short laugh barked from his lips as he flipped his shotgun back into his hands and sprinted back into the fray.
Merek glanced at the chronometer on his HUD and swore, the timer on the device was about to his zero. Chinning the squad com he shouted, "Grab you asses SPARTANs we've got a nuke about to hit zero!" Curses sounded over the com as the SPARTANs rushed to find cover from the EMP shock that would accompany the blast. A rumble started in the desert that turned into a roar and a burst of static brushed along Merek's HUD as the first waves EMP coursed over the desert. Flinging himself flat Merek covered his head as the shock wave tore his breath from inside his helmet. Sand covered him and his shields flickered as something struck him across the shoulder.
When the roaring and wind had ceased he glanced up at his shield bar. It held steady for a minute then dropped to zero. His shields were gone. Footsteps crunched on sand and Merek raised his head. An Elite staggered past, shields a solid blue. Merek lunged forward, bringing the barrel of his shotgun to bear on the alien's head. He fired, sprawling the Sangheili onto the dune with a halo of purple blood preceding him. Thumbing another shell into the shotgun's breech Merek laughed. Time to finish this.