"So have you guys given this place a name yet?" Michael spoke
bluntly, uninterested with the situation he had found himself in.
The scientists didn't reply, to intent on studying the outside wings of the crashed ship, they had remained silent for the past five minutes and were simply cataloguing symbols and signs written in the metal.
The entire ship had been destroyed in the crash many years ago, leaving three sections of it still physically impacted. All three metal pieces were heavily adorned with technological prowess and symbols, and were at least five metres long each.
They all jutted out of the soft soil like pyramids, proposing the idea that maybe more of the ship lay underneath.
Gabriel and Ureal were overlooking the scientists, while Lucifer and Raphael looked over them and noted the covenant banshee's soaring over the ship every now and then.
"Do we know what type of ship it is yet?" Michael asked, again trying to relay a conversation between the silent soldiers and civilians.
"No idea", the lead scientist replied.
"Kilo – Foxtrot 14, this is UNSC Frigate 'Wary Warden'; acknowledge contact and go for secure." His radio com buzzed loud enough to make the scientists flinch.
Ureal stood up quickly, tapping the side of her helmet with a finger, "This is Kilo – Foxtrot 14, I have you."
"Spartans, you have a Covenant Phantom headed your way ahead of schedule, understood?", Admiral Wisconsin spoke quickly, as if he was nervous over this transaction.
The commander acknowledged her confirmation, "Orders on parlay sir?"
"Just keep the scientist's safe; remember the Priority 2 Agreement as well as the ONI code of conduct with all communications.""
The phantom cruised down, its massive purple hull descending from the atmosphere into the 'dead zone'. The lead scientist stood forward, a hearty man named 'Jake Smith' and flinched as the phantom drew forward.
"Spartans, you can't let the Elite's hinder our experimental progress." Dr Smith spoke quickly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Am I the only one remembering that we have a truce with the Shanghalli?" Gabriel pondered sarcastically to the other Spartans, noticing that Michael looked as troubled as he did.
"Can it Spartan! Doctor Smith you have my personal promise that all of you are safe under my protection." Ureal shouted at Gabriel, before resorting back to a normal tone for the scientists.
The phantom reached the soli black soil, dropping of elites as it descended almost completely; Shanghalli minors dropped onto the ground led by a massive Red Zealot. They were all clad in heavy ornate armour that covered their heads, chest, shoulders and legs.
The wrist up to the elbow was left unprotected but by simple mesh covering the skin, as was the knee down to the ankle and the neck.
Most of the minors were carrying simple plasma rifles and needler's; some had gained access to covenant carbines and needle rifles; all were clad in simple light blue elite armour.
The zealot at the head carried a concussion rifle in his massive talons, the heavy red armour protecting a lot more of his body in contrast to the minors.
Roars filled the air as the Shanghalli proceeded to walk right up to the squad with no pause or hesitation. The Spartans pulled out their weaponry, ready for anything.
The elites paused at least five metres away from the scientists, all of them twice the size of the civilians and three times as formidable. Their mandibles were drawn back aggressively and their weaponry pointed forward.
"The mighty human race demands a peace treaty with us, and they bring along Demons!?" The red Zealot grumbled in pure anger, allowing the other elites roar alongside him.
Ureal stepped forward, letting her armour appear formidable to the elites; though realistically she knew that her squad would have a hard time if this turned into a fire-fight.
"My name is Ureal of the Spartan squad 'Kilo – Foxtrot 14 from the Office of Naval Intelligence with allegiance with the UNSC forces, under my command are the Spartans; Raphael, Gabriel, Lucifer and Michael." She spoke hurriedly, as if she had read this whole conversation from a manual.
The elites didn't react to her words or speech; they simply stared down the scientists in something close to anger.
Then finally the Zealot spoke.
"You speak plainly Demon, how simple is this to you? Do you not know of the betrayal you have committed to our species agreement?" He thundered, spittle exiting his mandibles.
"In accordance with the Priority 2 Agreement between the Shanghalli and race of mankind…"
"ENOUGH TALK!" He thundered back, grabbing a small white handle from his thigh and readying his thumb to activate it, "You have violated our agreement with lies and speeches, and I personally; Ta'ark of the Holy order of Zealotry, will not see this fore-pass!"
And without a pause, the elite activated the handle; sending a twin set of plasma into a symmetrical curve that ended into an energy sword.