Chapter8
UNSC 1st Platoon of 1st company
Unknown star system, 2563, September, 19th
Deep within Forerunner vessel
The dark corridor was dotted with light as a squad of marines swept their assault rifles' underslung flashlight over the Forerunner alloy. The lights play across the silvery metal occasionally coming across a maintenance sentinel that dratted around.
"This is way too easy" stated a Marine as he check his corner.
"Yeah, I keep getting the feeling that something is watching us" replied another in a hushed whisper as he rechecked his ammo counter that glowed a bright blue on his MA5B.
"Can that chatter….. and move like you got a purpose" Snarled the sergeant as he caught up with his marines. He was about to chew the squad when a Sentinel Enforcer dropped from the ceiling and ripped the sergeant apart with it's gigantic claws.
"CONTACT!"Howler a panicky private as he fired a wild burst from his MA5B. Bullets ping off the Enforcer's think armour as the private spray it with full auto. The was a sudden whoosh before a Jack Hammer impacted the Enforcer dead center. The Enforcer exploded in a bright blast before the light faded away.
"Keep moving. We need to get to that insane AI fast" Yelled the Lt as more Enforcers dropped from the ceiling. "Shit not good" Yell the Lt as he backpedalled, MA5B firing wild burst at the Robots. The golden sentinel was silent while it's Blue white laser play across the surface of a nearby Enforcer.
"We're getting overrun here" Yelled a Marine before a blast vaporized him. Suddenly the lights in the corridor lit up and swarms of sentinels flew in. The Enforcers shifted their firepower onto their smaller brethren, whose shield flared bright white as they try to repel the firepower directed at them.
"I suggest we move now" Said the golden sentinel as it quickly retracted its weapon and turned around. Sanders didn't argue and the rest of 1st platoon quickly followed the sentinel.
"Captain, Hull integrity is falling to critical levels. Deck 7 is reporting fire on that deck." Said Serina as the two plasma torpedo torn into the damaged side of the ship.
"Sound decompression alarm and vent the atmosphere. It should stop the fire" ordered Cutter as he survey the damage to his ship on his commander screen.
Atmosphere was vented in an attempt to stop the fire from spreading. The molten Titanium-A plating suddenly solidify as the fire was instantly put out by the cold vacuum, turning from a bright yellow to a dull red.
Serina cocked her head to one side before saying "Fires have died down and hull temperature is stabilizing."
"Status on the remaining Covenant vessels?" inquired the Captain.
"Both Covenant Destroyers have been destroyed. The Battlecruiser is currently placing itself between the Unknown fleet and the Assault Carrier." Reported Serina as she survey the fight taking place. "Warning detecting an energy spike!" shouted Serina before a bright blue beam of light hit the ship in the middle of the unknown fleet.
The beam suddenly shut off and there was a moment before the ship detonated in a fireball that scattered the remaining unknown ships. Even as the ships were thrown around like toys the sensors on the Spirit suddenly started beeping.
"Captain we may have a problem" Said Serina as large numbers of blue white portals appeared. The portals flashed hecticly as a large number of Covenant vessels spilled into normal space. The bridge was filled with stunned silence as they witness a whole Covenant armada coming into the battle.
"Captain, we have lost the cruiser !" yelled a crewmen as he frantically as his eyes darted across his holographic console. "Sensors are also picking up more of those portals more ships are incomming!"
"Order a full retreat!" Snarled the Turian Captain as he assessed the situation.
As one the Turian frigates try to escape by moving towards the Mass relay. However their plans were foiled as the CCS class Battlecruiser slid into their path blocking the path. 8 of the surviving frigates fired their thrusters and managed to escape a head on collision but one unlucky one slammed into the Battlecruiser's shield. The frigate crumpled as it kinetic barrier failed while the battlecruiser charged up its laser banks and opened fired on the turians.
"We lost another frigate! Incoming enemy Guradian laser fire!" reported the crewman. "Engineering reports the engines are overheating! We need to vent the heat soon !"
"Calm yourself." Whispered the captain as he try to find a way out of this situation.
"Sir! More weapons fire from the new comers! Tracking them!" reported the weapons officer as he quickly manipulated his console.
Even as he did so the com officer reported "Incoming signal from the new arrivals! Putting it through the codex….. No match sir"
"Weapons are not directed at us sir." Reported the weapon officer.
"Onscreen" reply the captain as he survey what remains of the Turian fleet. The galaxy map shifted and disappeared replace with a tactical image of the battle field. The original unknown that they were chasing was highlighted in yellow while the ones that devastated the Turian fleet was red. Zigzagging lines represent the energy weapon used by the later crisscrossing the space between the new fleet and the surviving two.
"They're firing on each other?" asked the Captain confused. "Nevermind, helm, get us out of here. There will be a reckoning for this marked my words" Growled the captain. There was no time wasted as the turian reploted course and the eight remaining frigates jumped out of the system via the mass relay.
"Fleetmaster we are entering normal space" shouted the helmsmen as the Assault Carrier Shadow of Intent.
"Sensors get me a scan of the area. Arm plasma torpedo 2 and 3." Ordered Rtas Vadum as his eyes watch over his bridge crew.
"Detecting Covenant vessels in the area!" yell a communication officer as he sent a ping throughout the system. "Putting Registration data into the Oracle... Fleet master that's a Jiralhanae fleet!"
Rtas Vadum keyed his com device and yelled" All ships Fire at will burn their mongrel hides!" Acknowledgements filled his screen as individual shipmaster confirmed his orders.
The Fleetmaster manipulated the holographic control surveying the area around his fleet even as his ships moved to engage the Brute controlled vessels suddenly a piece of reading caught his eye. "Communication officer Voro' Chonchiyo contact that human ship"
"By my honour" replied Voro' Chonchiyo before he attuned the Shadow of Intent's communication frequency to match that of the UNSC E-band "Unidentified Human ship This is the Sangheili Assault Carrier please respond" Voro' Chonchiyo waited a few seconds before repeating "Unidentified Human ship This is the Sangheili Assault Carrier please respond". "They are not responding Fleetmaster" grunted Voro' Chonchiyo as he attempted to try one more time.
Suddenly his holographic control changed as it received a reply throught the frequency. "Fleetmaster receiving a video feed from the human vessel"
"Put it on screen" replied Rtas Vadum as he focus his attention on the central dominating holographic viewsreen in the ship's command center. The hologram shifted and changed into a video showing the bridge of the human ship.
"This is Captain Cutter of the UNSC vessel Spirit of Fire to what do i owe the honors" Said a man with salt and pepper hair. He made no attempt to hide his sarcasm as he glared at the officers in the Shadow of Intent's bridge.
"Hold your peace human, we are not here for a fight. Much have changed since your vessel have blown up the Shield world."Growled Rtas even as he stood up from his chair.
"I assumed you are referring to the Forerunner planet that contains a fleet of Forerunner vessels?" mused Cutter as he paced in the video screen. "Yeah we blown it all to hell and we'll do the same to as many of you ship before we go down. I for one will not go down without a fight!"
Rtas Vadum hold up his hand even as officers of his Bridge snarled from their seats "Captain Cutter of the Spirit of Fire hull designation CFV-88. If I was not aware of your ship's current status as being designated as lost with all hands, I would have let my officers fire and melt your ship into MOLTEN SLAG!" Snarled Rtas as he try to regain his composure."Now if may please listen!" as he survey the surprised face of Cutter "There is an UNSC patrol fleet nearby so unless you wish to continue being stranded, I suggest you wait until I can contact them" With that Rtas personally cut the com channels.
"Humans," Grunted a Sangheili Minor as he sat back down "Always disrespectful"
"Do not let appearance fool you brother" Said Rtas Vadum as he sat back into his commander chair "They have more than you give them credit. Now Voro' Chonchiyo kindly send a slipspace communication to notify UNFleetCom we have found one of their missing ships."
Even as the major nodded, Rtas return his attention to the surrounded Brute fleet. The battlecruiser went down easy, it's shields and armour destroyed by the 6plasma torpedo fired at it. The Assault Carrier however was a different story. the 10 Plasma torpedo fired at it impacted the ship's shield revealing the silver white energy that protected its hull from the super heated plasma.
"Enemy assault carrier shields are down to 56%, Detecting Energy build upon it fore energy projector!" reported the sensor operator before a massive destructive beam of photon cut into a Sangheili Destroyer's shield. The silver white film held before flickering and finally failed under the tremendous firepower brought on it.
"Fire our energy projectors! Full barrage!" Snarled Rtas as he survey the damage to the destroyer. The one key advantage the humans have gave them over the Jiralhanae was the humans understand and improve technology, even though a ship as old as the Shadow of Intent was given new and more efficient reactor designs, tremendously increasing their power output by 300%. The Sangheili vessel fired it fore energy projector and 2 beam of highly excited photon cut into the weaken shields of the enemy assault carrier and finally neatly slicing the ship in half.
"Enemy vessel destroyed" Reported the sensor operator as he check the read out.
"Sweep the system, I want every corner of this sector searched that was only an advance scouting party for the Jiralhanae's remaining fleet"
"My honour Fleetmaster" Replied the sensor officer. There was a few minutes of scanning before he gave out a gasp.
"What is it?" Inquire Rtas as he noticed the minor quivering.
"There is a forerunner ship in the system... Fleetmaster and if the sensors are correct, it is currently active..." replied the minor awe shocked as he nearly kneel down in honour of the Forerunner.
"Pulse the greeting of the ancients" whispered Rtas as he and most of his bridge crew shifted their gaze to the main view screen. There was no mistake, the Forerunner vessels is a Leviathans class key-ship one capable of destroying whole planets in one shot.
Major Domo Voro' Chonchiyo followed Rtas order and pulsed the greeting on every known frequency. Seconds later a reply perfectly intoed in the Forerunner language was received "Request for reclamation received... Request Denied. Rampart AI confirmed on board containment and dismantle of Rampart AI underway. Be advised Reclaimers onboard" with that the com channel cut off.
Rtas Vadum split 2 of his mandibles in what pass as a grin. So the humans are already onboard.
Somewhere in a small solar system, fleets of blocky grey ships move about around a blue green planet, along with 215 newly rebuild MAC stations.
"Admiral receiving slipspace communication from the Sangheili Shadow of Intent, they found the Spirit of Fire!" Reported the communication of the UNSC cruiser Leviathan.
"Well what are you waiting for? Order the fleet to alert status, we are bring those people home!" replied a man with salt pepper hair. "It's about time you came back Cutter…." Muttered Admiral Harper as he open a private channel to Cairo station. "Hood you're gonna like this….."
Author's note: Been a bit busy will update as often as possible. Got some exams coming soon. But take heart I will not abandon this story as I like the way it's going. =)