Chapter IV

—At First You Don't Succeed…—

0340 Hours, October 5, 2550 (Military Calendar) \
Covenant Platform, 16 Cygni star system,
Operation: RAIDER.

Sangheili Field Marshall Nihkou'te 'Vanamdee stormed through the tube-shaped passageway, pushing aside lesser Covenant soldiers. He was furious, and it didn't take much for him lose his temper. The distinguished Elite fought viciously during his service to the Covenant, earning him a reputation that even out fear in the most courageous of hearts. For even his name meant 'conquering warrior'. He'd eliminated thousands, and he wasn't about to be stripped of his duties because the integrity of this station had been breached by the enemy. Human activity had been rampant in this system for months, and Covenant operations had been foiled by the works a demon pair.

'We were so close,' Nihkou'te argued with himself.

The knowledge of the humans' inner colonies was at the Covenant's fingertips, then poof...! It was taken away with a simple detonation. That wouldn't happen to this station. Too much research and data was stored here, and if Nihkou'te had to fight these intruders himself, then he'd do it. The dark maroon-armored Field Marshall turned a corner, advanced a few yards, then stood before the station's security sector. He passed through the automated door once his clearance was approved.

Quartets of Sangheili were seated at their individual stations, keeping strict watch over the station's cameras, defense systems, and so forth. At once, at the hissing sound of the door's opening, the Sangheili turned to face the Field Marshall. Though their faces were obscured by armor, every Elite's eyes enlarged with intimidation. It was rare was see Nihkou'te in a good mood, and that was only when he slaughtered hundreds in combat. Now, however, his attitude was—as usual—less than favorable.

The Field Marshall stood over one of the Elites, briefly analyzing the multitude of screens before him. "The intruders," his deep, intimidating voice inquired. "Have you secured their position?"

None of the warriors spoke in fear that they'd be physically punished by their answers.

Nihkou'te growled in impatience. "A swift and creditable answer will suffice. Speak!"

"Our intruders are unknown, sir," an Elite on the far left answered. "We have only a fragment of their advancements."

"Show it to me," the Field Marshall ordered.

The Elite technician struck his slender fingers against the holographic keys, accessing footage of the firefight within the station's outer rings and light bridge transport tunnel. When the video was found, the Elite let it play. Nihkou'te centered his vision onto the footage, scanning every detail down to the smallest integer. He watched as a squad of lesser Elites stormed the rings, firing at an unknown enemy. One by one, though, the Elites had fallen disgracefully in combat. Swift humanoid beings eluded the camera's ability to isolate a clear snapshot.

Nihkou'te's anger intensified as he witnessed the lopsided engagement within the transport tunnel. Fellow Covenant continued to fall, being slain by warriors that impressed and outraged the Field Marshall. It wasn't until one of the armored warriors fought against a pair Mgalekgolo pair that Nihkou'te confirmed his theory.

"Pause it!" he grumbled.

The footage froze. 'Vanamdee leaned toward the screen, squinting his abnormal hazel eyes. There, just before the single Mgalekgolo turned to strike the elusive intruder, a perfect image was taken. Yes, it was confirmed—demons, or Spartans, had infiltrated the station. The Field Marshall slammed his fist the nearby wall, leaving a deep impression. How could this have happened, and how could they have gotten so deep into the station without an alarm being raised? Nihkou'te hissed. Everyone around him was fueled with incompetence.

"Alert the station," 'Vanamdee commanded harshly. "Inform our troops to exterminate these vermin, and don't report back to me until they're annihilated."

Saber Team rolled from the light bright, landing onto the adjacent walkway. Their bodies expelled the pressure that weighed upon them from the rapid-moving acceleration. Jace felt like vomiting, but he held down the bile in his throat. He shot a glare behind him, pleased to know any Covenant trailing them would fail in catching up with them in time. But the Spartans faced another dilemma—a large, sealed door before them. It wasn't surprising. With all the recent fighting, the Covenant probably wanted to seal the threat away from the main body of the station. It was possible to force open the entryway, but the Spartans didn't know what lied on the other side.

A horde of Covenant troops? A Labyrinth-like interior that would possibly take hours to reach the control sector? Less than twenty-nine minutes remained, and the Spartans had a feeling they'd be on this station longer than they'd like. The only obstacle that remained now was getting around this door. For the moment, the Spartans departed from one another, scouring the environment for some type of maintenance pathway.

Any orbital station, either human or alien, would have an area where the laborers would travel to avoid the traffic of the station. Alex stretched her eyes skyward, scanning the upper regions of the spoke. Something caught her eye. Her faceplate zoomed, catching sight of a stretch of catwalks that went from one end of the tunnel to the other. That, however, wasn't the factor that made Saber-Two smile. The catwalks went through a small opening in the top left and right corners of the sealed doorway.

Alex keyed her TEAMCOM. "There…"

Jace turned his face to Alex, then followed her pointing finger to the catwalks above.

"…they lead straight through. Engineers probably use them."

Saber-One took two steps toward the right, enhancing his faceplate to its maximum zoom to view the catwalks. Engineers floated along them, transporting bits of material as they passed through the pocket-like exits. That was their entrance. Spartan-A290 wasted no time as he hurried for the towering ladder that went from the floor to the catwalks. It was quite a ways up—about eighty meters. The Spartan pair began their ascension, double-timing it. Alex's arms burned as she pulled her strained and battered body up the ladder. She dismissed the discomfort as something superficial and continued onward.

When they reached the top, Jace pulled himself up onto the catwalk, turned around, then assisted Saber-Two. An Engineer paused, its pathway blocked by the armored intruders. Saber Team stepped aside, and the Engineer went by them. Like ducklings, the Spartans trailed the Engineer at the creature's pace, eventually reaching the other side of the sealed door. Before them laid an expansive deck that would dwarf a dozen UNSC Prowlers. The portion of the deck was separated into six compartment blocks, similar to that of office cubicles. The remaining region was open, having four light elevators that ascended to the higher levels.

Overall, the deck must've been used for sorting wanted and unwanted material. From what the Spartans could observe, the materials being examined resembled harnessed energy from the sun. It glowed brightly within its casings as privileged, armorless Elites carried them in and out of the cubicles. Was this mysterious energy source the reason the Covenant's activity had risen in the 16 Cygni system? If so, then Lieutenant Commander Nolan would get his questions answered. But before the Spartans jumped the gun and rigged this place to blow, an exploration into the station's database was needed.

Unknown the Covenant's knowledge, the Spartan pair continued onward, using the convenient catwalks to easily maneuver through the various decks undetected. Engineers mostly traveled with them, while Jackals were few; and any Jackals encountered were quickly dispatched. After a while, though, something just wasn't quite right. Jace slowed his pace abruptly, holding up a fist for Alex to acknowledge.

"We've been made."

Saber-Two allowed an Engineer to float around her as she met Jace's faceplate. "That's a particularly odd statement, being that these Engineers are the only ones that know we're here."

"Then why haven't we encountered more Jackal snipers along the catwalks, or bustling laborers below. They're either onto us or—"

A series of crimson light fixtures above flickered sporadically, while an alarm boomed about the station. Exit ways began to seal shut, while others opened to allow armed troops through. Jace leaned over the railing, watching an Elite Ultra instruct its squad of Elite Minors to their positions. It had taken the Covenant longer than expected to wise up, but Jace wished it would have come later than now. The catwalk's nearest turn-off lead to the next deck, so the Spartans would have to ditch their casual advancements.

"Got a gameplan?" Alex asked, tightening her grip around her acquired plasma rifles.

"Yep," the Lieutenant answered quickly. "Same gameplan from our previous op."

"Run n' gun to the bridge?" Saber-Two supposed.

"Hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast," Jace instructed, swapping his assault rifle for the Covenant Particle Beam Rifle. "We stop for nothing, even we're hit. If one of us falls, the other keeps going. We complete this mission by any means necessary. Got it?"

"Copy that, Lieutenant," Alex concurred, motioning herself in a "ready" stance.

At once the Spartan pair charged down the catwalk, darting right to enter the nearest deck. An ascending and descending incline stood before him, and since the bridge was probably near the top, the Spartans headed upwards. Alien shadows motioned against the walls, mostly Grunts from the look of it. Jace checked the mission timer: 00:18:12.

There wasn't going to be enough time, at least not enough to catch their ship by the time it completed its orbit. It didn't matter at this point. They'd have to jump that hurdle when it came. One a three-count, Saber Team sprinted up the incline, surprising a cluster of Grunts cowardly moving about. Alex rolled a grenade into the bunch, clearing them from their path. Bodily fragments squished underneath the Spartans' boots as they powered through. Shoulder to shoulder, Jace and Alex stormed through the station, brutally slaughtering dozens upon dozens of Covenant troops.

Corpses of Grunts, Jackals and Elites lay over one another, their bodies crowding the floor. As the Spartans advanced further, the Covenant began to up the ante. They had to be getting closer to the bridge. There was no other reason to increase their manpower. Elites, mostly Major and Ultra-class, began appearing more frequently, and it wouldn't be a surprise if larger, more skilled warriors joined the fight. For now, the last Elite had fallen. Alex dropped her drained plasma rifles, exchanging them for a barely used Needle Rifle. She fluctuated her right arm, dismissing the throbbing pain in her forearm.

"You gotta stop fighting those things. We got weapons for a reason, you know?" Jace suggested, worried that frequent hand-to-hand combat with Elites was an unnecessary risk.

"I like to improvise," Alex retorted, admiring the pink crystals that protruded from the Needle Rifle's side.

The Lieutenant grunted in disagreement. He tentatively rounded the next corner, inspecting the next area. From what he could see, they'd finally hoofed it to the control room, but the doorway was strangely left wide open. Jace didn't like it, but it was either that or find an alternate route. For added protection, Jace snatched a pair of shield units from a Jackal pair. He tossed one to Saber-Two, then attached his own to his right forearm. The shield's strength was limited, but it would have to suffice. Although their armor could absorb a direct hit from a plasma weapon, repeated abuse would cause the armor to fail.

Subsequently, the Spartans stalked toward the alien-like archway that led into the control room. The control room had a courtyard-like appeal. Alien, tree-like light fixtures were erected meticulously throughout the control room, providing a calm, tranquil ambience. Enlarged holograms of the station were visible atop several consoles, while rings of stations were aligned around the outer edges. The Zen-like atmosphere, however, had hastily retreated at the sight Covenant soldiers charging into the control room to greet their guests.

A pair of Elite Ultras stormed the terrace, unleashing a salvo unto the Spartans. Jace and Alex at once separated, each one diving for the nearest sliver of cover. The Lieutenant rolled before the angular base of one of the light fixtures, while Saber-Two hunkered down behind a smooth edged, bench-like fixture. Sangheili, Unggoy, Skrimisher Kig-Yar, and a single pair of Mgalekgolo rose up against the Headhunters team, a last stand.

Jace tapped his TEAMCOM as he simultaneously weighed his combative options. "This should be fun."

Alex laughed softly, replying, "Don't have too much fun."

With that the Spartans went to work, combating the Covenant troops that poured into the control room. In a few seconds time, Jace withdrew into the cover, reloading his assault rifle after downing several lesser Grunts. The hulking Hunters stomped their way closer to the Spartans. The Lieutenant caught sight of one of the Skirmishers in his peripheral vision as it tried a sneak-attack. An emerald hue glowed against his armor as the specialized Kig-Yar charged its plasma pistol. The second the brave condor-looking alien motioned its pistol wielded hand around the light's customized base, Jace grabbed the Skirmisher's wrist, yanking it to him. The plasma pistol fired, scorching the floor beside the Spartan. Saber-One closed his fist around the feathered head of the Skirmisher and bashed it into the floor three times.

With its skull crushed and face mangled, the lifeless alien toppled over. Jace took up its plasma pistol, charged it, then leaned out. Despite taking a few hits, he fired the overcharged plasma bolt toward an Elite Ultra. The skilled Sangheili warrior sidestepped the plasma, but the orange-armored Major behind him took the brute force. With its shields gone, Jace shouldered the Particle Beam Rifle, firing a single plasma streak into its head, ending it. A ribbon of plasma splashed against the light's base from a Hunter, forcing Jace to retreat. Scorched fragmentations from the plasma rained down upon the Spartan like swatted fireflies.

Just yards away, Alex sent a bombardment of needle rounds into an Elite Major's chest, killing its shields. The alien doubled-back, retreating to replenish its shields.

"Hide from this, Fido," she exclaimed, tossing a grenade where the Elite had gone.

The Major's body was catapulted into the air upon the grenade's detonation. Saber-Two glanced at her motion sensors, sighting a cluster of enemy targets to the east of her position. She rose for a better look, discovering a congregation of cowardly Grunts and elusive Skirmishers armed with Focus Rifles. The little mongrels were smart, wedging themselves behind and between X-shaped support pillars. Getting an accurate shot off would be challenging and would waste time. The Petty Officer, however, would allow physics to kill them. With a pair of plasma grenades, Alex activated one, then stuck the second one onto the primed one.

Briefly, she stood up, drew back her arm, and launched the grenades clear across the courtyard. From the watchful perspective of an Elite Ultra, it seemed the golden children of the UNSC had lost their touch. The Ultra, though, was mistaken. To its astonishment, the plasma grenades bounced off the adjacent wall, landing directly where the aliens had collected. The grenades immediately exploded, clearing out the Grunts and Skirmishers.

"Show off," the Lieutenant teased as he sniped another Elite.

"I sense a hint of jealously," she laughingly replied.

"Yeah, whatever," Jace deflected. "Heads up; Hunters comin' you way!"

"Copy," Alex received. "I got 'em."

Saber-Two wielded her empty Needle Rifle, waiting for the Hunters to come into range. Their weighty steps exploded against the metallic floor to the Spartan's sensitive hearing, alerting her that they were close. When they stopped, Alex knew she had limited time before they overran her flank. She marked a stationary weapons capsule. At the first possible moment, the Spartan bolted for the capsule. The Hunter pair sent a crisscrossing ribbon of plasma after her, desperately trying to hit her. Alex nimbly maneuvered her body over and around the plasma streams, and by the time the Hunters charged up for another shot, the Spartan had already blindly snatched a weapon from the capsule and hid behind it. She looked down at the weapon she'd taken—the hilt of an energy sword.

Alex caught her breath, inched down on her haunches, stealing a glimpse of the Hunters. They waited patiently for the Spartan to show herself. Saber-Two lazily stood up, gripping the plasma repeater with white knuckles. She had only grenade left, and one grenade would do little against two Hunters. But the Headhunter shrugged away the apprehensiveness. This is what she was trained for. The pin in the grenade was pulled, then thrown between both the Hunters. Before it could blow, Alex rounded the capsule, charging the Hunters with nothing but an activated energy sword. The grenade blew, and the Spartan attacked.

Stunned, the Hunters never knew what hit them until it was too late. Like a skilled butcher, Alex sliced and carved up the exposed regions of the Hunters' bodies. The tiny, worm-like creatures that made up the bodies of the Hunters squirmed helplessly on the floor, only to be stomped on by Alex. She then stood over the remaining Hunter, preparing to slay it. From Jace's vantage point, the watchful Elite Ultra slyly began sneaking up behind Alex with its energy sword drawn. Saber-One cursed softly to himself as he abandoned his flank and charged for the Elite. The Ultra increased its gape, drawing back the sword to strike down the female Spartan.

Jace threw away his spent assault rifle, dove forward, and wrapped his arms around the Ultra's legs. The Ultra roared in surprise, gaining Alex's attention. She whipped around, just as the sword grazed her chest plate. The Elite kicked away the Spartan that entangled its legs, but was beheaded milliseconds after. Jace stumbled upright, keeping low to avoid the incoming plasma bolts. He leveled his particle beam rifle mid-chest, resting briefly a nearby weapons capsule.

"I owe you one… again," Alex credited, crouching down beside him.

"We got Elites, Grunts and those featherheaded pricks left. Guesstimation? We can't fight all of them, and reinforcements are undoubtedly en route. To make matters worse, our mission timer are zeros across the board. Ship's already made a full orbit, so we need an escape strategy."

"Already done," Alex confidently replied.

"Really?" the Lieutenant said with skepticism.

"We hijack a Covenant Seraph, track our ship, then haul derrière," Saber-Two explained.

"Agreed," Jace concurred.

The Headhunters, then, rose up to finish the remaining Covenant soldiers within the control room, only to encounter the station's commander Elite—Nihkou'te 'Vanamdee.