The UNSC craft nicknamed the 'Pelican' ascended quickly, its occupants keen to get away from the planet and its violent inhabitants. Two covenant ships now lay over the forerunner dig site, the corvette looking small in comparison to the 'Infamous Fury'. Both ships barely even noticed the UNSC Battle Cruiser preparing to flee the planet, they knew the humans were going to flee; and they commended it.
Gabriel still laid down in the middle of the pelican, murmuring softly as he shifted in his sleep; the loss of blood and shock had done a great impact to the Spartan, and the medical officers may not have the skill to save him.
The Black Spartan watched over his team-mate slowly, not saying a word as his friend drifted across the fine line of sleeping and dying. He could only hope that he wasn't too late.
After waking up on the Red Dusk; with his face partially healed, Lucifer had demanded his squad's location and then stolen a UNSC pelican with a loyal team of marines to assist him. He had descended quickly and just come in time to realise he may have been too late to save the limbless Spartan from death.
Only time could tell if he had succeeded in saving at least one of his friends, god knew what happened to the others.
"Spartan!" A marine called out from behind, "Something's happening to the site."
Lucifer stood up and walked over to the window set at the main hanger doors of the pelican, he looked through and saw the familiar black soil and forestation amidst the clouds that encased them.
But the forerunner ship was different; it was slowly being ripped out of the dead soul by a large set of purple beams that emitted from the Corvette and Supreme Carrier.
The covenant ships worked together to tug the entire ship at least halfway out of the sand before their batteries depleted, ready to charge up and start again soon.
But now the hull of the forerunner ship was visible, it was a lot bigger than the humans had originally anticipated and as the Spartan watched; Storm soldiers started to swarm around the entire site to enter the sacred vessel from several positions.
The marines swore and whistled at the same time as they saw the forerunner ships mass slowly rip out of the soil, they breathed in relief as they saw that the freeing of the ship was stopped halfway; and then started swearing again as they saw Covenant Sangheili entering the vehicle.
Lucifer watched without emotion or commitment, suddenly his radio flickered and a communications transaction was sent through.
"Spartan 700 are you there?" Lieutenant Drafter's voice came over his coms.
He acknowledged his confirmation quickly, keen for the conversation to be over already.
"As article 504 demands me to inform you, the Red Dusk is preparing slip-space jump in 5 minutes; so you better get yourself on here right now"
Lucifer confirmed again, shutting of his communications and sitting right back down with Gabriel, the black Spartan hadn't bothered reporting in the forerunner site's development; he was sure another marine would beat him to it anyway.
But for now, the Spartan IV was content with sitting with his team-mate and listening to him mumble slowly as he battled death inside of himself.
Meanwhile
"Hierarch, our breeching parties are attempting to enter the 'Saviour' and discover its secrets; reports will be issued in momentarily."
The Prophet of Storm sank back down to his seat; the past events had excited him terribly; especially the excavation of the god's vessel down below. As soon as the plasma coils of his supreme carrier had cooled down and filled back up with energy, they would rip the 'Saviour' out of the earth and utilise all its riches, bounties and religious artefacts to fuel the Storm's effort.
He calmed himself down again, the ancient bristles on his face sparking sharply, "Where is the Harbinger" He called out to his operators.
"Awaiting your orders at the site your Excellency"
Storm smiled, "Good, have him lead the main party right into the delve of the ship; and be sure to remind him that our 'prize' need not be injured or squandered; these holy oracles are ever so fragile." He noted, chuckling to himself.
The operating Shanghalli nodded once and turned back to his work without further interruption.