A phantom flew down within view of the Scarab. It carried a wraith and dropped it down. Able was on the deck of the Scarab. He had to personally deal with a few Covenant forces that were harassing the Scarab but now they were ready. The city's roads could only fit six wraiths and the Scarab. Angel was on the deck with him carefully scanning the roads. Covenant forces in this area did their best to avoid the Scarab but the objective remained the same. Get to the grav lift to a CCS class battlecruisers supplying troops and vehicles. Able had ordered Zare and Sarev to scout ahead and relay any hidden positions. Thel and Naridue were on the ground watching for any enemy troops trying to ambush the armoured convoy. A pair of ghosts came round a street corner and boosted straight towards the front of the Scarab.
"Zare what did you find?" Asked Able.
"Covenant troops are very heavily dug in. The area is in traversable with the Scarab." Replied Zare. Getting off his ghost. "I suggest a tactical strike with infantry." Able sighed and radioed up to Xytan.
"Xytan we're preparing an infantry strike. Any advice?" The radio didn't reply. "Xytan do you read?" Shouted Able. His answer came in the reply of static. A phantom flew in and a single Sangheili in an assault harness came down. Hareth's voice came over the comms.
"Able get on." Said Hareth quickly. "Xytan's ship is being boarded. The Covenant jumped in with a carrier behind him and launched boarding craft." Able looked back to the wraiths in waiting and grunted as he disembarked from the Scarab. Angel followed close behind and they both entered it.
"Is anyone else coming?" Asked Hareth scanning various frequencies.
"Is the situation dire?" Asked Able.
"We must hurry. Two decks have been fully lost and the weapon control is out." Able realised why Hareth had come down and the situation that was going on up there was bad.
"Come back down to pick up Zare and Sarev if possible. I'll mark their nav points. They're moving out to scout a few more areas." Able spoke over the comms and in a few minutes Thel and Naridue arrived in the phantom.
"We're here." Said Thel. Able turned to Hareth who stood watching. He gave a nod of his head and Hareth entered the cockpit and set the phantom in motion. They felt turbulence as the phantom exited the atmosphere. Able switched to the naval battle net and it was in disarray. Multiple sos calls were on loop and there was shouting of enemy ships from behind their established lines. An alarm in the phantom rang out and Able grabbed a handle fixed into the roof. Angel wasn't able to grab it and she saw why the team was holding on.
The phantom took a sharp turn and Angel was slammed into a wall. Another turn caused her to slide across the floor and Hareths voice came over the speaker.
"Covenant interceptors are chasing us. I'm going to try and lose them through the debris of a destroyed cruiser." Angel let out a cry as she hit the roof and the phantom dived. She was in freefall and Thel was pushed into a corner. They both hit the ground hard and the phantom swerved sharply to the left.
"Oh crap!" Shouted Angel as she slammed into a wall and the breath was forced out her lungs. The phantom levelled out for a second and Angel took deep breaths and once again slid across the phantom's floor. She was able to look around and the rest of the team didn't fare any better.
Thel was the first one up and helped Naridue off the floor. Able slowly pushed himself up and the carbine he had had slid over to the right side door. The Angel slowly pushed herself up and just as she got to her feet Hareth's voice once again came over the comms.
"Sorry for the bumpy ride. Were approaching the ship now. I think were in the clear. No enemy interceptors on scanners." Able walked over to his carbine and picked it up. He slung it over his shoulder and waited for the doors to open.
"Switch frequencies to closed channel 234." Said Hareth. The squad changed the frequencies of their comms and all they heard was dead silence.
"Why are we on this frequency?" Asked Able.
"Xytan is using this frequency. Along with everyone else on the ship." Explained Hareth. "Just brace yourselves. The LZ is hot." The doors on the phantom opened and Able, Angel, Naridue and Thel drew their weapons. Hareth let the main gun on the phantom fire causing the lines of the Brutes and Kig-yar to fracture for cover.
Able was the first to jump out landing on top of a Brute with a thud and knocking his helmet off. He fired a single shot into the Brutes head before turning to the enemies. He took a hit from multiple spikers which his shield deflected. He took cover behind the wreck of what was once a phantom on the floor of the hangar. Angel was opposite him behind an upturned weapon crate. He watched her bring herself above it and fire the carbine into the enemy force.
Able followed but ducked as a plasma grenade skimmed the top of his head and exploded a short while away from him. Able turned to try and see Naridue and fell but they weren't there. He followed scanned quickly around him and then lifted his head up. A green bolt whizzed past his head and in the small amount of time he saw where they were. They'd gone into camouflage and were now right behind them. Angel cried out in pain as a shot struck her in the shoulder. Her shields were down and she grabbed her wound to prevent bleed out.
Able raised his rifle and fired multiple inhumanly precise shots into Brutes. Some shots hit them were their armour was weakest and some were disabling shots. Able only lowered himself back down when blue was visible around his armour. His shields hadn't taken the hit he had expected and he reloaded. The phantom Hareth had dropped them off in was hit multiple green barrages and it crashed into a platform above as its engines were damaged. Able ducked as another grenade flew by and he checked the phantom. He saw Hareth climb out and move to cover. The enemy hadn't noticed him yet. A tactical advantage. Able heard fire and poked up his head. He saw Thel rip apart a Brute with rapid and firm strike. Naridue was flanking the enemy so they either ran towards him or Thel.
Able took his chance and ran towards Angel. Her hand was covered in blood but the bleeding had stopped.
"Angel can you still fight?" He asked with concern.
"No. Tried when the bleeding stopped." She replied.
"Then I'll drag you out. Can you walk?" Able asked.
"Does limping count? I got hit in the leg with a spiker. Tried moving from this position but they hit me." Angel replied. "Still hurts like hell." She added.
Able picked her up and carried her over to where Thel finished off the last brute with a swing of his sword.
"Angel is too injured to fight. Thel take point, Naridue you follow. I'll carry Angel." Able ordered. Angel let out a groan and said to leave her behind but Able ignored her and carried her through the ship. Hareth regrouped with them and he had a needler and a plasma pistol. The group moved through the ship encountering small pockets of resistance. They made their way into the bridge and they took a step back from the sight.
There were bodies all over at least fifty of them. Some were Sangheili but most notably was the Brutes. Five no six by Able's count were in the room. They scanned the area before they heard movement. They turned their guns behind them the whole squad ready to fire.
Relu uncloaked. She held an energy stave that had blood on it and she nodded her head in their direction.
"Able. Good to see you." She said looking around the empty bridge.
"Where is Xytan?" Asked Able looking around. His heart racing.
"He is alive. In fact he killed two of the chieftains you see here." Relu motioned to the two dead chieftains. There hammers snapped in half. "I'm surprised Xytan killed them. He's in bad shape. Follow me." Relu said leading them out the bridge. They exited through the door on the opposite side and multiple Sangheili ran through. A few stopped to take a look at Angel but realigned themselves with the task at hand. Relu led the team to an open room where a large number of Sangheili where handing out ammunition and weapons to the remaining crew.
Able was surprised how little the amount of fighting in the corridors was. He looked around and spotted a familiar face looking back at him. Xytan was holding his side where his injuries were and he slowly made his way to them on a limp.
"Able, Thel, Naridue, Angel, Hareth. Good to see you." Xytan said with a smile. "The Covenant tried to take this ship. We've done our best to defend it but there are too many. Their carrier is still docked however and now that you're here my plan can be completed." Xytan beckoned them to follow and Able carefully put Angel down on the floor.
"Is this position comfortable?" He asked caringly, trying to make sure her injuries wouldn't cause her harm if she sat weirdly.
"I'm fine big guy..." She said. "Thanks. For getting my out of there." She said gratefully. Able lifted up her helmet and looked into her eyes.
"Do not thank me yet. You could still die." He said with solemn.
"Not with you looking out for me." She replied with a smirk. Able couldn't help but chuckle as he slowly stood up and turned to walk away. "Stay safe Able." Angel added.
"Believe me. Safe isn't a job well done." Able replied with a tone that mixed between seriousness and sarcasm. He walked over to Xytan and the rest of the squad before ordering a Minor to watch over her.
Xytan briefed them on the situation. They were to board the enemy carrier and if possible secure the armoury and bridge. Knowing full well it was a suicide mission they all agreed. They restocked on supplies before getting ready to move. Even with only three members up they were still a force to be reckoned with.
Zare had waited at least 35 minutes before taking command of the forces. The plan to lead a tactical infantry strike was happening with or without the others. Sarev stood next to him with the willing volunteers for the mission, he had acquired the services of six Minors two majors and four Ultras and a single special ops. The ragtag squad was ready to move and they did. Zare ordered the rest of the men to guard there 'asset' and they ventured out towards the battlecruiser.
Zare crawled slowly to a small opening overlooking the enemy cruiser. The grav lift had sent down a few extra troops and they were patrolling the area. Zare waved his hand and a Sangheili in assault armour with a beam rifle crouched down next to him.
"Set up here." He whispered quietly. The Sniper nodded and hid behind the wall waiting to fire. Zare crawled back to the rest of the twelve man team. He had split them into two squads of six and he briefed both on the plan. He asked them if they were ready and they nodded in response. Happy with it Zare sent them off. He only had his six now and signalled for them to follow. He ran up to a low laying wall and ducked underneath. He beckoned one of his team over and the sat opposite him hiding under the wall. Zare set a navpoint and motioned for someone to move up to a destroyed Scorpion just out of sight of the Covenant. An Ultra in a Pilot class harness ran up to it drawing his Carbine. Zare set up more navpoints and the Sangheili split off to move to their points. Zare waited for them to get ready so he could send the signal to the sniper. Team 2 would have to pick up quickly if this was to work properly.
Zare raised his hand watching a brute chieftain clean the blade of his brute shot. He pointed to him and almost in an instant the Brute's hat flew off. Another beam fired and missed as the Brute ran for cover.
"Engage!" Shouted Sarev and the Sangheili opened fire. The Covenant troops ran for cover with a few falling flat from their injuries. Zare took a shot with his Carbine at an exposed Brute and the Sniper had the same mind. A beam knocked off his hat and Zare's bolt knocked him down. The other team now joined the engagement. Flanking from a large building with height advantage. Reinforcements came down the lift but were blown away by a fuel rod opening up on them. The Covenant forces moved to meet this new threat losing men to the sniper. A large number of Kig-yar yelled out and screamed as a plasma grenade stuck to their friend. They were thrown around by the blast and picked off one by one. The Covenant couldn't hold and Zare moved forward quickly avoiding the more open areas. He crouched down behind the debris of a destroyed car and peeked over the bonnet. A grenades exploded on the other side and Zare ducked down covering his ears. A loud deafening ringing reverberated throughout his skull causing him to close his eyes as the pain only grew more potent. After a few everlasting moments of ringing he finally opened his eyes. His vision was blurred and he turned his head as the ringing subsided. He discovered why the explosion did as it did. A bit of shrapnel had struck his helmet but his helmet was still very much in one piece thanks to its design. He gripped his rifle tighter and bit his lower jaw. He leaned up and over the hood his vision still blurry and he barely made out the shape of a Kig-yar. He looked through his sights trying to concentrate on the targets skull. It was a perfect shot. He brought his sights level and pulled the trigger.
The Kig-yar flew back dead and an overconfident Minor rushed towards the lines. Zare spotted his shape barely making out the blue combat harness. He yelled out to him. Shouted to him to get back and in an instant. He fell. The Minor tripped under his own feet as a beam struck through his head. Cleanly leaving a small hole on both sides. The Kig-yar sniper in question honed his sights towards Zare. And something clicked.
Zare jumped over the cars hood and fired multiple rounds. The sniper turned his head and let out a cry as Zare filled him with radioactive bolts. The other Sangheili began their cover fire and a few followed suite. They charged with him frightening the remaining Kig-yar who began to drop their weapons. The brutes snorted at them and continued to fight only to be forced back into their cover by the projectiles. The brute closest to the front line took the brunt of Zare's wrath. Zare had jumped on him and began to slam his fists into him. The energy daggers on his wrist activated and he plunged it into the brutes eye who gave a massive roar of pain. Zare followed up with a clean cut across the brute's throat and he turned to the others. A Kig-yar threw his weapon towards him and raised his hands in surrender. A brute captain charged with his brute shot's blade ready to slice into Zare. The brute never made it however, as a blue ball stuck to the right hand side of his face. The brute disappeared of him went flying in every direction. Zare ran and picked up a Kig-yar's needler tossing the whimpering beast to the side. He raised the weapon and crystalline shards fired rapidly into the unarmoured parts of a brute. Zare was unlucky enough to have a few carbine rounds hit his left side. He rolled to a small barricade as blue energy showed his waning shields. He reloaded flicking the needler up and the pink crystals showed their full length. He leaped from the corner as a grenade landed right by him blue plasma following his leap. The explosion knocking out his shield and he kept his head low as carbine rounds whizzed over his head. He threw himself against a bullet ridden wall which allowed him to recover. The beeping quickly subsided as his shields began to regenerate. A few more carbine rounds struck the wall making more holes in the other side. Zare took a quick glance around the wall as a brute was pushed into another causing him to fall over. A grenade landed on top of the two killing them both as plasma engulfed them. Zare caught sight of the Sangheili that did it. A minor class who'd just finished off a brute chieftain with a hammer. He didn't get to see how the brute was disarmed but the Sangheili stood with the brutes hammer tossing it aside. Zare shields recharged and he ran out to assist the Minor who fought against the odds. Zare fired a round at a brute who's helmet flew off and the Minor fired killing him. The Minor turned to him and gave a salute.
"There's two more Brutes. The Kig-yar surrender." The Minor said looking around. Zare gave a quick nod and noticed the two Brutes in question running as fast as their fat legs could carry them. The ship above them opened its grav lift and sent down reinforcements. They were almost instantly obliterated as fuel rods fired at where they landed. Zare let out a smile before rallying the troops that didn't need to watch for reinforcements.
#
Able threw the brute towards Thel who gave a clean thrust into his neck. He turned and ducked under a slice from a brute shot. Naridue cut along brutes back and turned around quickly. The corridors of the Covenant carrier were becoming more and more crowded. Able tossed a grenade blasting a number of Kig-yar, Brutes and Unngoy to tiny bits.
"With me!" He shouted looking back to Naridue and Thel. They both nodded and pulled back. Naridue let loose blasts from a concussion rifle he had picked up keeping the enemy back while they retreated. The three man team ran quickly. The corridors behind them had the sound of Brute captain shouting orders and enemies giving chase. They knew where to go but they had to lose them, and quick.
Able saw an Unngoy seal the door in front of them and they slid to a halt. He turned to Naridue and raised his rifle quickly. Looking down the corridor.
"Naridue get the door. Thel cover." Able swiftly ordered. Thel gave a nod and Naridue cracked open a panel and got to work. They stood for a heart racking four minutes as Naridue quickly worked on the door.
"Do you think they ran?" Thel whispered as if listening to the intense silence.
"No." Able replied. "Either they're waiting to move or..."
"Or what?" Asked Naridue hitting an override switch.
"They're already on the other side of the door." Able finished with a dry mouth. He turned to Thel who gave a nod and he kept an eye on the door. Naridue sealed up the panel and opened the door. Thel moved through quickly, his weapon raised scanning his surroundings. He kept his free hand close to the hilt of his sword and his other keeping the plasma rifle raised.
A loud thump caught his attention and Naridue and Able were next to him sealing the door behind them. A few screams made them move quickly. They turned a corner and Naridue quickly opened the door. They all took a quick step in and looked around. There were Brutes bleeding and slowly dying around them. Some looked up and reached for their weapons only to be hit in the skull with a swift round. Again another thump resounded. A hammer was swinging wildly and they ran quickly. A Brute tried to stop them but Able slid under his blade and kicked out his legs. Thel drew his sword and cut at the Brutes neck and continued on.
The three of them turned a corner and they saw what they thought was the impossible.
Relu quickly jumped back from a hammers swing from a chieftain were four of them but one was clearly just a slumped corpse. Relu held with a firm grip on her stave and swung after the Chieftain missed. The blades plasma coating made a clean cut through the hammer causing it to fall onto the floor and leave the chieftain with just a metal pole. Relu took the momentum of her rightward swing and brought it up into the air. She let her hands slide up the shaft and with viscous efficiency as she quickly brought it to the second chieftains chest. The blade cut deep into his shoulder before she spun round him and kicked back. Her hoof sent the chieftain tumbling into his friend and landing on top of him. The chieftain used the broken pole and went to slam it into her and all she did was stand back on one leg and the blow skimmed past her. She let out a smile as she brought herself back down to two feet and thrust her stave into the chieftain's skull. She pulled out the blade and took a quick spin to decapitate the chieftain. She turned to the other two and readied herself. She spun the stave twice as they both got up and then she made her move. With a swift strike she cut at one of the chieftain's arms. The plasma cut through the allow protecting him and his arm came off. The Chieftain staggered back grasping his arm as the plasma had both cauterised and the blade had caused cuts. She ducked under a blow from behind and drove the bottom of her staves shaft backwards into the final chieftains groin. He reared forward and she grabbed by the neck and with a strong pull flung him over her right shoulder and spun her stave cutting off his head. She turned to the last Chieftain who clutched his missing arm. She smacked at the back of his legs with the shaft causing him to fall onto his knees. She circled him and rested the blade next to his neck. The Chieftain looked up at her with eyes burning with pure hatred.
"You can't best a real warrior." She said to him quickly slashing at his throat and letting his body slump over at her feet. She turned her head towards Able, Naridue and Thel and gave a small bow.
"Impressive." Said Able looking around. Thel and Naridue moved up to her and Naridue gave her a punch on the shoulder. Relu hissed as the impact forced came to her sides and shook her with pain.
"Still injured." She said recovering from her adrenaline rush and motioning to her ribs.
"Sorry." Replied Naridue backing away slightly.
"Reactors through that door." Relu pointed out pointing her stave towards a door directly opposite of where they came out of. "Did you bring the ordinance?" She asked looking at them with a smirk.
"The reactor is the bomb." Replied Able. "Let's move." He said nodding to Naridue who moved to the door.
"I'm heading back. Good luck." Said Relu with a faint nod. "I will be no more use if I stay." She added and cloaked. Thel moved to the door followed by Able and Naridue hit the override. The door slid open and Able ran in first. He had his weapon raised and ready to fire. A Kig-yar jumped and turned to them but before he got his shield up a single green shot sent him down.
"Naridue, Reactor. Thel with me." He ordered and both nodded. They locked the door and moved to the reactor. There were no engineering crews which caused an uneasy thought to dwell on their minds. Naridue got to the terminal and began his security bypass. Able and Thel kept their weapons raised on the last two doors waiting for them to slide open before firing. Naridue tapped away at the reactors terminal and a door slid open.
Three Unngoy and a Kig-yar walked in and Able let loose a spray of fire. The Kig-yar threw an Unngoy in front of it and moved to a corner of the room. The remaining tried to charge their pistols but were met by Thel's shots and fell swiftly. The Kig-yar looked over to them and activated his shield. He moved to grab his needler until a sharp pain caught his wrist. He flinched and Able finished him with a single shot once the Kig-yar exposed himself. Guiding his rifles barrel back to the door. A Brute ran in and in reflex Able pulled the trigger and watched the Brute flinch and turn towards him.
The Brute began to shake himself violently and Able pulled the trigger three times in succession. Each carbine bolt dug through the Brutes armour and the helmet flew off. Before Able tightened his finger around the trigger a needle flew past and hit the Brute in the skull with considerable force. Able turned to Naridue who lowered his needle pistol and looked back at him.
"The reactor is going into meltdown." Naridue said drawing his weapon off his back. "We need to move. And fast." He added nodding to the door.
"Through a tide of red and purple if need be." Said Thel drawing his sword.
"Move. Now." Able ordered and the three moved quickly through the door. Alarms began to ring throughout the carrier as the crew began to flee the ship. Able ran past a group of Unngoy who screamed and ran for their lives under the noise of the alarms.
"Right!" Shouted Able taking a corner. The squad followed never looking back as Covenant forces ran for the escape pods.
Able kept a little ways ahead following a mental map he'd drawn in his mind. It served him well as they took a left and found a corridor of their previous engagements. He sprinted down it and now the carrier began to shake. Following the blood and bodies had began to prove effective. They ran along the blood stricken trail and soon shots could be heard. They turned the corner and portable shields had been set up at the boarding area. Kig-yar and two Brutes were trying to fight their way onto the Unfathomable Silence. Thel took the charge and used his sword to take a clean cut along one of the Brutes back and followed up with a deathblow across the neck. The Brute collapsed quickly with his lungs blocked from air by his cauterised neck wound. Able took his turn and fired at the second Brute who had just turned to fire at Thel who used his sword to stop a few plasma shots from the Brutes plasma rifle. The Brute didn't anticipate this and after his rifle overheated he looked at Thel who moved the sword into a more comfortable striking position.
"Checkmate." Thel said before Naridue grabbed the brute by the neck and gave a quick twist and a sickening snap resounded.
"Exploding ship. Move." Reminded Naridue turning and sprinting to the boarding tube where a few fellow Sangheili held the line. As soon as Able ran through the first one to welcome them back was Relu as the boarding tube was detached and the ship began to evade the now exploding carrier.
"I've had enough of these interiors." Thel complained looking back to the door.
"I'm sure you'll be wanting to come back into one at some point." Relu joked. Thel and Naridue had begun to wander away and Relu decided to leave Able to do whatever an Able does in this situation.
Zare held the Brute chieftains body in his hands and let go. The Scarab lay in a thick fire and Sarev and a Minor stood by him. He looked back to the ship which crashed into the ground.
"How many dead do you think?" Asked Sarev looking to the burning wreck.
"Too many." Said Zare closing his eyes and looking down.
"They were our brothers in arms..." The minor said. "They fought so we could continue." Ge finished bowing his head in respect.
"They will be avenged." Zare vowed. "We will protect as many as we can. Even if it means our death." He paused. And they stood watching. "They were warriors in life, and warriors in death." Zare finished.
A short burst caught their attention on the radio.
"The humans... Regret's ship!" Came a hard to distinguish voice. They turned to look towards the excavated site containing the Forerunner ship as a small amount of human frigates and fighters launched an assault.
"I admire the courage. Not the stupidity." The Minor commented watching the human ships fire upon the towering spire ahead. Mighty blasts coated the Forerunner spire as the ships launched whatever weapons were loaded at the thing and the rounds had no effect. The ship began to lift off setting off a shockwave of sorts that blew Zare and the others back. A dozen other ships slammed around them as banshees fell out the sky from the sudden power loss caused by the slipspace portal.
The human ships began to fall towards the ground and Zare and his small team had only just got their ringing subsided before the comms riddled their ears with distress calls from pilots.
"New contact!" Shouted the Minor pointing to a slipspace opening. A covenant cruiser came through carrying what appeared to be brown organic masses.
"The parasite!" Zare shouted drawing his plasma rifles.
"Stay close and lets move. This infestation is relentless in what it consumes." Zare ordered watching a brown organic ball fly overhead.
"What do you mean?" Asked Sarev readying himself as loud high pitched screams began to roar.
"You'll now know." Zare said readying himself as he spotted movement on the tracker.