Hello! What's up readers? Who's ready for the longest chapter in this book so far? I am! A lot of things are about to go down and I'm excited to see your reactions! Many thanks to my beta readers are in order (see below for names).
Last Friday I broke 30,000 hits on my story! Many thanks to you for reading this and shaping my writing for good! This story will eclipse the 75k word count when this chapter is done. 86,000 (give or take a few) words in total! Thanks for bringing me this far!
In the meantime why don't we do a review or two?
Wileomogarff:I liked bringing Lasky in to the story as well. I hope this chapter is to your liking!
Trife:Excellent points. I went back to the first chapter and fixed the description of it to clarify a few things. Thank you for catching that.
Guest (1): You'll have to read to find out that one.
Divine Toaster:Thank you for your time in reading this!
And now it's time for an author's note! Today you will be introduced to Eric and Dean. The replacement names for Will's brothers Tyler and Alex. The other chapters have been edited to correct fallacies (all errors are corrected to my knowledge).
Without further ado enjoy!
Chapter 12
Confederacy Staging Base,
Tycoai System: Border of Wild Space
Two hours after purported "leave" of the Allied Species:
12:00 hours local time
The inky blackness of an asteroid field with rocks the size of small moons was suddenly shattered with a blur of movement and color before giving form and shape to an expensive craft, a Solar Sailor flanked by two fighters. They three craft immediately swerved to the right and down weaving around a large cluster of rocks. They approached the largest one and paused. Suddenly two massive doors slid apart revealing the inside of an asteroid that had been carved out within were rows upon rows of metal struts holding and supporting an entire fleet hidden within the asteroid that presently dormant. Behind them a massive set of blast doors sealed off the asteroids main purpose.
But not for long. A figure inside the ship mused.
The three ships proceeded inside slowly and landed on a private deck with a glass wall revealing the nature of this facility. It landed and the droid escorts split off outside. The landing deck descended and a rich and elegantly figure stepped out the weight of his 82 years pressing down upon him. Even so he relaxed an immersed himself in the power that he had always suspected lay hidden away for the few and elect to discover. By focusing on himself he felt the galaxy moving until he stood at its metaphorical center surrounded by the power of the force.
He gave a smile of satisfaction as he felt the weight of his years lift as he became the center of the universe.
He let it slip and made straight for a conference room by turning a corner.
He paused before the door and put a smile on his face. Today was after all a chance for all to revenge themselves on the Allied Species who had left a small planet literally burning in their wake, something the Republic had taken advantage of in full.
Their arrival had been a surprise that all were still reeling about. How after all did a group of slug throwing primitives throw off an entire invasion army? Not to mention he had lost a valuable asset. The Neimoidian Mar Tuuk may have proved incompetent a second time but he was a massive breach in intelligence that had necessitated a series of major changes to protect security.
Such things couldn't be revealed to a bunch of primitives after all.
He waved his hand and the doors hissed open revealing a conference room wherein sat the Separatist council attended by various Generals, Captains, and Admirals. Behind all of them in the back paced General Grievous his talon like feet clanking against the metal floor. Behind him in the corner stood his "apprentice" Asajj Ventress watching with cold interest. The meeting it looked like had been started without him.
"Ahh Count Dooku." his attention and gaze were turned at once to the Neimoidian addressing him.
"We uhh...were not sure if you would arrive here on time. Said Nute Gunray a little nervously as the figure of the Count stepped gracefully through the threshold and into the room.
The Count's deep booming and oily resonant voice carried through out the the room as he put his full displeasure on the cowering figure.
"I am so sorry to have disappointed you. You can be assured you have my full displeasure but I feel that you may regain your standing if you listen to what I am about to say.
He sat up slightly nervous wringing his hands.
He ignored him and the rest of the rabble.
"You may wonder why I have you called you here today. You are all very aware, I'm sure, that not even two weeks ago and we believed the galaxy uninhabited in general. Now we have been attacked by primitive outsiders who have thrown our plans to secede and exist as a separate entity into chaos. Today I have learned from my master about a way to strike back and regain our position and momentum which we lost in the wake of our defeats in the Tobali system.
The council murmured excitedly at this information.
Dooku let the words sit and stirred the cauldron of the conference room.
"I have called you here for a reason. I have been informed the Allied Species, barbarians they may be, have made orbit around a planet in Wild Space. This planet is covered with ancient and advanced technology. The group known as the Storm has made it a point to set up a base of operations. The Allied Species are there because they are in a race to rescue two different ships that have crashed on the planet. I propose we take them and our technology for ours. My sources tell me that they intend to jump ship as soon as possible and leave this galaxy to attend with their own matters at home.
I propose that this can not be allowed to happen. Many of their important military heads have traveled here to run this Campaign of theirs. I propose a swift and fast strike that decapitates their leadership or throws them into chaos while we strike at the planet, Storm, Republic, and Barbarians alike. If we take the crash sites and hold them for ransom we can send a clear message that we are not done with our efforts in bringing peace to the galaxy. If they wish to fight us they shall be crushed underneath our iron fist."
"My Lord?" asked San Hill, the head of the Intergalactic Banking Clan.
"Yes Chairman?"
"How do you propose we do this? The sheer size of our fleet stored here won't be enough! The vessel that fought our fleet at Rhen Var destroyed almost all of us by catching us off guard. What do you propose we use?"
"As a matter of fact I do." he said a slight smirk touching his mouth.
With a wave of his hand the windows that were darkened all around suddenly had their blast shields raised and the room saw at large the reason this facility was so large. Another wave triggered the lighting of a darkened room and all gasped suddenly save the cyborg general in the back and the Sith Assassin.
They all got to their feet and walked over.
"But my Lord Count, how? We were told it had been destroyed! Crashed on a moon with no hope of retrieval!" said Nute Gunray faintly now turning to survey what lay below.
"Grievous."
"Yes my lord?" asked the cyborg general with another fit of rasping and coughing.
"You are to take control of the ship. Do not fail me again or your punishment will be swift and terrible."
"I understand. The Jedi and all those who ally themselves with them shall be killed most swiftly." he said with sadistic glee.
"I have more important matters to attend to at the moment. I suggest all of you members of the Council return to your specific posts or risk alerting the Republic to our presence."
The group pressed at the window turned and hastily exited as the droid general and the assassin remained.
"I want no survivors rescued if they do not agree to your hostage demands, both of you. If they attempt a rescue kill them and your prisoners until they meet your demands.
"With pleasure my Lord."
"General? I don't want a ship alive and escaping. Leave them dead in space so they are helpless to watch us slaughter them one by one understood? This is to be the day that every man woman and child in the other galaxy learns to fear us from millions of lightyears away. And should you by chance meet any on the ground you are to kill any of these Spartans you meet.
"Do you refer to one of the soldiers that boarded my ship in the Tobali system? Or one of the soldiers that was purported to help lead the defense of our siege on the crash-site?"
"The freaks that engaged me in the old factory?" interrupted Ventress.
"It seems you two are well acquainted. My only orders for you regarding them are this:"
and the words echoed around the room as the mouth twitched and said with with a smile and quite simply in a sinister whisper,
"kill them."
UNSC INFINITY (INF-101)
Forerunner Planet "Yukon", Wild Space Regions.
7:13:12 Hours, December 9th UNSC Military Time and Calendar
"Weapons do we have a missile lock?"
"Affirmative."
"Fire Howlers one through Fifty at the nearest crusiers to keep them off us while we descend into atmosphere!" ordered Captain Lasky as the ship moved closer and closer to the surface of Yukon.
"Confirmed fire!" yelled the PWO.
"Sir, Admiral Tchkova for you ASAP!" yelled the Comms officer.
"Put him up!"
The image of a aged native of Reach in a similar command chair flared to life on a monitor above and in front of him.
"Confirmed hits, two kills!"
The Bridge cheered and the two rapidly cooling stars that had been cruisers quickly faded away.
"Captain I don't have much time." said the Admiral. "We have plans for our Frigate Escorts to help cover us when we descend into atmosphere. Seeing as your more fit to the task I want you to deploy your troops and such when we reach the upper fringes of atmosphere. See if your Frigates can provide local fire support for your ground units. We'll cover you with the EMP cannon and MAC Guns."
"Roger Admiral. Thanks for the assistance."
The connection closed.
"Roland, plot me the best route through this maze." he said starring at the dozens of cruisers blocking his way.
"Captain I would advise we hold our course." he said after a moment.
Lasky realizing this implication called out to the Command Deck, "Helm get us to full burn and ram the ship in front if it doesn't move! Shift focus of the shields forwards."
"Aye sir!" Helm called out.
"Roland are teams ready?"
"Yes sir, Spartan Fireteams and Marines fueled up and ready to go. We got every Pelican we can in the hangar bays waiting for your orders.
"Launch our fighters, get them to clear the area." he said looking at a cloud of gnat like drives of Banshees as they stuck close to their Light Cruiser escorts.
"Sir, hold off on that until we knock this cruiser out." said Roland.
He was right. A Battlecruiser had crossed their paths.
"Incoming fire, torpedoes inbound!"
"Brace for impact!" he ordered.
The torpedoes launched from the Battlecruiser hit the ship with enough force to buck the ship slightly.
"Roland report!"
"Damage was minimal sir, shields down four percent but we can ram it without risk."
"Helm you heard Roland, take the ****** down!"
"Ramming in five!" Helm called out.
"All hands brace for impact!" he called over the ship-wide intercom.
He clenched his teeth as the Infinity bore down on the much smaller Battlecruiser. This time was different from Requiem when they had the speed of slipspace still with them to their advantage.
The Cruiser had inevitably saw its fate and tried to run and flee but it was too late.
With a CLANG! and an alien sounding screech that reverberated around the entire ship the Infinity hit the Battlecruiser head on snapping its shields with a bright pop before having it shoved back as it bowled it over and tore it open in a ball of purple and blue fire that swallowed it in secondary and then tertiary explosions as Oxygen turned the ship into a molten wreck."
"All clear Captain Lasky." Roland informed him. "Shields at 78%"
"All right then launch all fighters and Pelicans! I'm clearing them for ground contact! All Spartan Fireteams are to be deployed in five minutes." He looked over his shoulder at the rows of Spartan Handlers.
"Are we ready?"
"Yes sir Captain!" said the Spartan named Dalton.
The rest gave a nod and saluted staring straight ahead.
"At ease. You all will need to keep a level head today. Understood?
"Aye aye Captain." they chorused still looking straight ahead.
"Weapons!" he paused and then gave the order that every ship loved. "Fire at will. Clear the airspace of hostiles!"
The ship shuddered as the weapons all over it leaped to life.
He took his seat again buckling himself in side the crash webbing.
The rest of the crew taking care of the ship gave him some time to think. He felt his mind drift to his conversation with Commander Palmer. What he would have given to have Blue Team onboard. He sighed and cleared his head of that thought and desire. He had received the report from Lord Hood that he had ordered them to proceed to Installation 03 and investigate something that was currently as of now classified.
What was left of Gamma Company was else where on other assignment, he thought for a moment of his decision to transfer two Spartan III's. That was enough for a Fireteam but he needed the full compliment of Spartans the Infinity could handle. Making a note to transfer another team aboard he kicked himself mentally for wanting Blue Team on his ship again.
His bias towards the Master Chief might-no he was sure-had been created and solidified because as a young cadet attending the Corbulo Military Academy he had met the legend himself when the Covenant ruthlessly attacked the colony and academy with violence. It was only by him that they escaped, and for that he would forever be indebted. There were many others that hadn't deserved to die.
How ironic it was to be serving with the father of one of his squad mates, he had learned from Roland when learning about the Admiral that Tchkova was the father of late daughter Dimah Katerina Tchkova. She had been the first to die when a Corvette had fired on the orbital elevator and destroyed it and killing her because of her impatience to get out. She had fallen to ground from what had been at least five miles in the air.
He winced as he thought about that prospect he would have much rather preferred her death though to the deaths of the others. The faces of Junjie Chen, Walter Vickers, and Chyler Silva filled his head for a second. He had been so hesitant to leave her, Chyler, her broken lips forming his name before she lost consciousness. He knew that what remained of the defense force and recovered and exfiltrated her body out system but he didn't know where anybody else had left to. The military was rather large after all. It didn't matter. He had seen the severity of the wound, nobody survived that without medical attention.
For the moment as he drew himself back to the Spartans he was glad he had been able to secure the Spartan III's onboard the Dauntless. Contrary to what Sarah believed he fully held that the Spartans were valuable additions and something that all could learn from. Honestly, she needed to stop beating on William. The man had a hard life as it was but Palmer had now planted the question of whether he should transfer more Spartan III's to the Infinity...
"Captain?"
Roland interrupted his thoughts with another flash of orange.
"What Roland?"
"Spartans and Marines ready to go on your orders."
"Give the order to deploy everything as soon as conditions are appropriate."
Spartan Gabriel Thorne ran through one of the main corridors with almost everyone else that was going groundside. He was late and cursed himself for the thousandth time as he wove out of a massive knot of people and sprinted ahead of all. Too much time at the armory, now he was stuck almost five minutes late.
He ran into one of the larger hangars to see the rest of his Fireteam waving him over. The roar of the bay was unbelievable as the noise and din of a hundred individual aircraft filled it so that the words of his team were swallowed up by the confusion.
Seeing him they all clambered on a Pelican with a squad of Marines.
"Where the **** were you Thorne?" asked Paul DeMarco agitated.
"I got caught behind traffic." he said sheepishly.
"And you **** near missed your flight." said Madsen.
"Oh give it a rest Madsen." said Tedra Grant from behind her teammate.
"You Thorne are one lucky Spartan." said teamate Carlo Hoya clapping him on the back before he gave a laugh which all the Spartans shared. A few more seconds and Palmer would have been making you do who knows what." said Hoya with a fading trace of a smile.
"Hey all you Spartans and Marines back there, I need you guys to buckle up. We got clearance for takeoff and I intend to get you all down there as fast as possible to save my butt some trouble." Their Pilot said huffily over the intercom.
All of them in the bay quickly took a seat. The Marines with them were being unusually quiet.
"Hope you guys are seated 'cause we're blowing this joint!" The pilot cackled and Thorne left his stomach behind as the Pelican shot out of the hangar and dove for the surface.
"Here we go Majestic!" DeMarco bellowed as the dropship twisted in a violent spiral."
"Here we go." Thorne echoed in his head as the Pelican soared towards the ground far below him.
UNSC Morning Light: 7:20:04, December 9th UNSC Military Time and Calendar
Hangar A-02,
Forerunner Planet "Yukon"
As a group of twenty five men entered the hangar from the upper decks they were treated to a harsh voice yelling out commands.
"Eighth Platoon! Move your butts faster! I wanted you groundside hours ago! Third Platoon had better be here within the minute or they'll be cleaning in the kitchen for a month! Come on Rangers move move move! The 75th Ranger Battalion does not accept slowness!" boomed a woman in full regalia on top of a large crate where her voice actually managed to be heard over the roar of Pelicans leaving and departing.
As another group of men entered the hangar the woman directed her anger at them.
"Why are you not in the Pelicans with Second Platoon!?"
"No excuses Major Crespo!" called out one of the soldiers in the newly arrived group.
"Well you better have one by the time you toddlers make your way from the surface! You're Pelicans are over there. I don't give a **** what your reasons were!"
The group hastily made its way over to the D79 Pelicans pointed out who were being loaded with different armaments and Platoons. When they had all hastily climbed aboard the troop bay and took a seat they all took a moment to relax and enjoy being out of the line of fire.
"You would have thought it was her last moments on Earth!" said Corporal Eric Gunther as he took a seat next to friend and squadmate Tim Brown who cracked a smile. He took a moment and examined his reflection in the mirror. He was 25 years old and sported a soft pair of blue eyes framed by a short cropped mess of brown hair.
From next to him another man chimed in,
"Probably slept in this morning, now she's trying to make up for it with an extreme amount of ****ing." Specialist Rob Kisling.
The other members of the squad laughed at the joke and behind the last man, Sergeant Major Harry Bowman, the Pelican bay sealed up with a hiss.
All conversation stopped as twenty four uniformed men looked over at the men and women in the blood tray of the Pelican.
"All right Leathernecks, listen up!" he said. The Sergeant was a native to Alaska (at least that's what he claimed anyways) and as such he was powerfully built. Muscled, broad, and a toughened face completed the look. He was wielding an MA37 Assault Rifle, the simple and rugged rifle of the Army for over twenty years despite newer models being adopted, and looked to face all of them again his small mustache quivering as he prepared to speak to them.
"We're going to have a countoff. Seems like we were all a little too slow for Miss Erin's liking." he said in his rough and calloused voice.
The troops in the bay groaned.
"Stow it Second Platoon. First squad?"
Nobody spoke.
"I said Giant squad?"
"Oh, sorry Sergeant Major. Sergeant Jackson." a large African man boomed from over the shape of his M392 DMR.
"Meiners." said a much shorter woman with brown, almost black hair wielding an unorthodox weapon of choice, the MA5C.
"Talbot." a twenty year old male spoke up.
"Endesha." said an African woman. Eric recognized her accent though. Was it Mombassan?
"Lutz." a blonde woman spoke up.
"Kolby." said a blonde male wielding a M6J/C Carbine variant of the M6 sidearm line that featured a detachable stock and a brushed nickel finish. The weapon's barrel was only 355mm long but with the select fire built into it, it possessed the power to not only deal death out but deal it efficiently. A massive twin drum magazine was attached to underneath vastly increasing the amount of ammo it could carry.
"Good, you're not missing anybody. Second Squad?"
Again nobody spoke.
"Oh for the love Valkyrie Squad."
"Sorry Sarge!" blurted out Second Squad's leader.
"Just start."
"Jacob Bauer!" the overzealous Corporal yelled out.
"Haverty." said an Canadian Ranger professionally.
"Gunther!" Eric called out.
"Branley reporting!" said a Australian Ranger.
"Hanson here." a young private called out.
"Lee," a woman called out.
"Emerson!" finished a red haired woman.
There was a moment of pause while Sergeant Bowman looked around.
"Good, you all made it as well. Third squad?"
A third silence met their ears.
"For *****'s sake!"
The bay erupted with laughter suddenly.
"You know what forget the countoff. Third squad it looks like you and fourth are here. You're off the hook." Bowman said sitting down as the men cheered.
"Hey guys, this is your Pilot here. Welcome aboard your bird hocus today, she's pleased to finally see some action. Are you guys done with your ****** countdown? I'm being asked to move our *** off the hangar."
A loud chorus of yes filled the blood tray.
"Figured as much. Looks like its your routine drop today. Drop you off at say 40,000 feet and I can go pick up some armor to deliver to the Marines. Sergeant Major? Do you have any words before my flying makes you eat them?"
"Well actually I do Mr. Pilot." Bowman said getting to his feet to a loud chorus of laughs. "As Hocus here just said I got a few words for you today about our mission. Our job is simple. We got a Covenant camp set up right in the spot we want to set up camp. Obviously this can't work because the ******* don't like to share. So what do we do? We get to blow **** up today instead of lounging about doing who knows what."
"Oorah!" the cry came out from twenty four different Rangers.
"**** right Rangers. And do you all know why we and not the Corps are touching down first?"
"Because Rangers lead the way!" came the voice of every member.
The Pelican underneath them rose and slowly started moving towards the shielded bay doors of the hangar.
"I'm sorry I didn't hear you leathernecks loud enough! Try it again one more time"
"RANGER'S LEAD THE WAY!" Eric bellowed with the rest of the twenty four men clad in jetpacks and armor.
"That's the Spirit you *******!"
Loud cheers echoed in response and in spite of himself Eric found himself grinning. He, for whatever reason was dwelling on his encounter with his brother Dean's CO. A gruff Scotsman.
"You know it's a shame the ODST's don't know how much fun a Platoon really is!" Eric said to Tim who was sitting across from across him.
"Probably because their heads are stuck in their pods half the time!" he called back.
The rest of the bay exploded into laughter.
Eric from behind the specialized CH252 helmet that was the direct ancestor of the MJOLNIR Air Assault helmet laughed and then frowned for a little bit. He felt a pang of pity for his younger ODST sibling. The last time he had seen him was right after he had lost a squad mate. He had been visibly distraught and it had carried over afterwards. He had found that fact out when attempting to videolink with him. One of his squadmates had answered and said he was in the infirmary for reasons he didn't know.
Pulling back to the present he decided instead he would leave another message to be delivered. His helmet had the appropriate software in any event.
He in a second had pulled up a screen where he could see his face reflected. He watched the red light of recording blink on.
"Yo bro. What up?" he started speaking. "Haven't seen you fully in a while. Hope you're doing okay. We're about to be set on a combat drop as you can tell." He glanced for a second at several of the Rangers punching each others shoulders at some unheard joke.
"I know you would rather be in the middle of the action. You'll find a way to pay the assassin back. In the meantime see if you can work on getting yourself back into your killer ODST state kay? I'm sure your pod and the Storm are dying for you to come back. See you soon bro. If Will's haunting you again do me a favor and focus on dropping in again. I'm sure that's what he would prefer you to do. See you in action soon."
He closed the recording and clenched his seat handles as the Pelican roared out of the hangar and into the thin air below.
The rest of the Rangers broke out into a cadence to lighten the mood. He joined in to pass the time but he couldn't shake from his mind now from Dean or William. He wasn't willing to dwell on the fact that one was dead and the other was dealing with death. He now found himself paying attention to a new song that was popular back home.
"I got a girl back home you know, in the land of rain-in the land of snow,"
Just who did he have? He had his family. They were doing fine, his sister was going on to become a dancer, his other younger brother was working in weapons tech and his parents were happy whole and eager to have been able to speak with him.
He couldn't deny that years and years after Will died that he wasn't affected. He had surprised himself in the process as well. William had been previously looked down upon as the bossy filler person when his parents weren't around for whatever reason. Immediately after he had regretted being the person that had been to him. Now that he was gone he was achingly aware of the person he had been. Sure he had flaws, a little bit of a temper here and there, arguing with others that he believed weren't correct in their viewpoint, but he had been a caretaker that had gotten him out of scrapes...
"Gave me the mud all mixed with the snow! Why girl! Why can't you see my glow!
You said I had a shine, like I was something divine!
But girl you just had to go and break me!"
Some of the Rangers cheered as one launched into a ridiculous impersonation of the singer. Eric stared at the ground.
Just how had he treated him? It was too late to do anything about it now. He was gone, no way to repair what had happened better to move on and try and fix his relationships with others. He sighed and pulled himself back to reality.
William, after all would've approved.
UNSC Dauntless (DBD-312)
Dauntless Hangar 03-01A, 7:18:02 hours
"We're all set you two! Climb on board!" the Pilot announced turning to Will and Chelsea.
"Excuse us Pilot-" a voice from behind asked.
Will turned as he prepared to step inside the bay and in one of the chairs.
Two Army troopers and a squad were standing unsure of where to go.
"We were assigned gunner duty?" the two in front asked.
"**** right you were." Said the Army Pilot. "On the guns now. The rest of you are going to get a little crowded in the troop bay."
The group muttered and shouldering their MA37's climbed in squeezing another three people in the bay. Will and Chelsea moved so they took the two seats closest to the pilot.
While the Marines were usually the ones assigned ground ops the Army was being called up to join the action on the ground and serve an offensive role in their role of garrison and defense. They would take the planet and set up base permanently. As the Brass wanted to move things along it was decided that they would put their offensive tactics and training to the test. Not that the Army would complain, they relished the opportunity to do something a little out of the norm.
"****! Look at the Infinity!" one of the troopers said.
"What Wallace? Is it with your mother?" asked another man snidely
But Will watched as it slammed into a Battlecruiser and watched with a grim sort of glee as the ship bent and snap spewing purple flame before it exploded in a ball of hot plasma.
"Hoorah! Score one for the Swabbies!" said Wallace.
The others echoed their elation.
"Please tell me you saw that Henry."
"The whole **** thing!" exclaimed a young private eagerly clutching a video recorder on the side of his helmet.
The rest of the squad whooped and hollered as he announced his intention to post it on the ship's blog.
"Hey, anyone else notice the two Spartans?" asked someone else and suddenly everyone's eye was on the two Spartans.
"Yeah stupid. They obviously want to talk to a real man!" said another trooper flexing his bare arm showing an impressive amount of muscle on it directing his gaze at Chelsea.
The squad laughed at the remark and the ridiculous display.
"Jeff you're an idiot!" Henry managed to choke out through laughter.
"Idiot." agreed Chelsea over a private link.
"Do you want me to write him up?" asked Sarah from inside Will's helmet over the comlink to Chelsea.
"Nah he's not worth it." Will said with humor in his voice.
"Well what Spartan?" asked Jeff displeased with his lack of response.
"I actually wanted to speak to your CO." said Will with a challenge in his voice and instantly the aura of coldness was shattered.
The other members let out a mixture of OH snaps! and rising oooohhhh's and laughed again.
"Your mom wants to speak to the CO." retaliated Jeff with a glint in his eye.
"I saved your mom's life during the war." Will responded evenly.
The two sides were now fixated on the two as they continued to trade words for five minutes. The Trooper was pretty good, he had let his arrogance take over though and made the mistake of suddenly declaring "I saved your Mom during the war."
"I bet she thought you were in debt to her somehow." said Will seizing the advantage.
"Why's that?"
"Because you were repaying her for having the son that's saved your skin from being tanned by your CO for your disappointing amount of masculinity."
The Falcon was filled with laughter as Jeff realized what had just been said. He stared dumb faced and finally cracked a smile and joined in the laughter. He was rewarded with pats on the back from his team and Will extended his hand in a handshake.
The Army Trooper took it hesitantly and shook it and apologized.
"Try to impress her some other way in the future trooper.
Jeff paled suddenly as he realized that he had essentially been hitting on a female Spartan. Chelsea suddenly took up the act and leaned forward tilting her head looking him up and down and suddenly pulled away with mock disgust. Will joined in laughing this time as Jeff made the smart move of sitting back as far as possible.
"Better luck next time soldier." Chelsea said with a glint of humor.
"You know it figures I would hit on a girl who could kick the crap out of me." he said dismissively. "Still.." he flashed a smile at her.
"Whatever solider." Chelsea said ignoring him.
After a few chuckles Henry broke the silence.
"You know Spartans? If you're ever looking for a break from all the Spartan things you do we have a firing range competition every month. I'd be willing to wager you'd easily beat us.
"-or poker night!" interjected Wallace.
"Sorry, I don't gamble and a shooting competition would be too mean for you."
A collective groan was let out by the army troopers.
"Dang it, why do you guys have to be killjoys?"
"It's in our nature." Will grunted. "We're human as well you know. We do have some grasp of social interaction contrary to popular belief. Tell you what, you save our skins somehow or become Spartans and I'll have that competition with you."
They muttered their ascent and started a conversation of which he had no interest in instead sitting while the Infinity descended through the layers of clouds. A subtle shift in gravity told him they were descending now. A flight of Sabres flew past engaging a Seraph that exploded into flames as its drive detonated. Behind them a Marathon class cruiser had moved into orbit and was releasing a large group of Pelicans.
They cheered accordingly as they flew by and waggled their wings.
"Hey, Pilot!" yelled one of the occupants of the Falcon.
"What?"
"How long we gunna be stuck here on this crate?"
"As long as we're still in space moron." he quipped back.
The Falcon erupted with laughter as the Pilot shamed the speaker.
"Moron." Agreed Will.
He was treated to Chelsea laughing over the comms at that statement.
A Poseidon class Light Carrier zoomed over their heads in a different direction flanked by two Strident class heavy Frigates and a Vindication class Light Battleship as they descended into atmosphere. All of which were preparing to engage what might be below. They were still in air too thin to support the rotors of the Falcon and with the payload of Spartans and Warthog it was carrying Will was glad they weren't falling to the Earth.
Will noticed all around them now Pelicans were being loaded up with supplies and a mixture of the Marine and Army compliments. There were a few Albatrosses that were readying for departure with supplies and troops that was momentarily shadowed by the enormous hulk of a Vulture Heavy Gunship as it was moved via crane to another spot were it was being loaded up with ordinance, a quintet of Hornet's were getting set to go, and some Falcons to his right were being loaded up with Army squads and the hangar was reaching its previous noise levels as some of the Pelicans were preparing to leave with ground compliments of Marines. From way to his left a column of Scorpion tanks and Warthogs were being attached to the back of any vehicle that could carry it.
A fully decked out combat Pelican roared out of the hangar and disappeared from sight with a roar and likewise a second and a third did after a moment. Suddenly from above them Will heard the engine hiss to life and the rotors start moving slowly.
"Hey we're moving Samuel. Better get your butt strapped in on that gunner's chair." said Henry as the extended platforms on the side retracted leaving the Falcon sitting on two very narrow skids. The man named Samuel quickly took a sit and strapped himself in pulling the gun turret down and towards him.
Will mused for a second on the very fact they were in a Falcon, an older yet reliable and staple of the Army Air Force that could easily transport a Marine squad and provide fire support for troops below. While they weren't against using Pelican's, the Army preferred more of an 'all-in-one' package, even if it was a little bit older. Will wasn't complaining, he had seen them in action against ground troops and the valuable addition even one made to a firefight.
"Hang on to your helmet's people. Better pressurize them too! Tower has just given us permission to take off!" The pilot said cockily as the rotors spun up even faster until the crane released it and it was flying under its own power.
He laughed as the rotors were spun up to take off speed adding to the cacophany.
"And we're off people! Woohoo!" he finished with an elated yell as the Falcon began to inch forward.
He had gained enough thrust to move the heavily laden Falcon out of the bay when suddenly he jammed on the thrusters and it sped out of the hangar and into high atmosphere above.
Will clutched the restraints of his chair as he tipped backwards slightly and to the right and the Falcon shot out into the cold air leaving his MJOLNIR suit to adjust it automatically. He looked around the edge to see the Dauntless break through a wall of clouds
"All right Spartans listen up. You're going to need to prep for your HALO jump. We'll descend to 35,000 feet and you can make do your thing then! Give me the word when you're ready and I'll release your 'Hog okay?"
"Roger that Pilot."
"How high are we?" asked Henry over his helmet comm as the air was too thin to breathe by its self.
"We are currently at 50,000 feet descending 2200 feet a minute. Without your pressure suits your lungs would be filled with fluid slowly at this height" Sarah chimed to the slightly panicky soldier.
"I think I'm going to be sick!" he cried suddenly going white behind the helmet.
"Don't do it or you'll drown yourself." said the Pilot mercilessly.
Two minutes passed and suddenly the clouds they were over broke and they got an unprecedented view into the valley. Below them a long stretch of mountains stretched out north and south with chains branching off east and west. The slopes met below and turned into coniferous forests which ran along in great rivers of dark green. Those gave way to plains that continued meeting glaciers and more mountain all along the way.
A glittering river ran its way farther ahead of them snaking its way from a large mountain through forests and carving a canyon before emptying out eventually into a large and glittering sea.
"No wonder they're calling it Yukon." Will said to himself.
A few more minutes passed where they took into the scenery and Will noticed on his HUD they were nearing 35,000 feet.
On cue the Pilot's voice crackled in his ear.
"You two all set?"
"We're good." said Will. The two made their way on to the skids and readied the parachutes on their back.
"Releasing the 'Hog now!" the Pilot said as a metallic clunk was heard. Will saw below the vehicle drop suddenly behind them its parachute waiting for them to deploy it.
"It was nice flying with you Pilot."
"Good luck to you two. Falcon Victor Three Echo out."
"We'll be looking to save your skins Spartans!" said Jeff.
"Not very likely!" Will yelled as he moved past the men in the middle of the Falcon and stood on the skid, gave a salute, and then jumped backwards off the Falcon with Chelsea following him a second after. He felt the wind tug at him as he came out of his backflip dive off the Falcon and felt the air flow around him. Here he was in his main element.
He hadn't selected the Air Assault variant of his MJOLNIR helmet right out of graduation for nothing. He pulled up a surface grid of live images being transmitted from UNSC ships as he reached the tumbling form of the Warthog. He watched his altitude quickly unwind to 15,000 at which point was able to get a hold on it. With Chelsea following close behind they both grabbed it and fell with it for a second. He scanned the live imagery with the corner of his eye.
"Good, we're moving to a good drop site."
They both clutched it and kept it from tumbling elsewhere. Will moved over his hands gripping the vehicle for balance. He motioned for Chelsea to let go when he untied the parachute. Said parachute needed him only to pull a string and it would fly free in three seconds. He took a hold of it and readied himself to push off as the altitude was winding to 9,500. He was using the map to guide it to an elevated spot where they would be able to start easily.
"Releasing it in three!" he called out. Holding a fist he held up three fingers and quickly put them down. Chelsea pushed off as the last finger went down and Will pushed off pulling it as he did so. He was rewarded with the parachute unfurling with a gust of sound and material and instantly the Warthog disappeared high above them.
He quickly reached behind and pulled his own cord and the Parachute quickly unveiled with a loud THWUMP! He looked up to see Chelsea a hundred feet above him. They were descending to what looked like a ford in the river with a large forest on one side and a prairie on the other.
He angled himself now facing upright towards the crest of a hill. The minutes fell and Sarah pointed out various aesthetic features of the planet until she interrupted their descent by saying,
"Spartans. You'll be interested to know that now we're on the ground so to speak I've been able to interface with the planet and whatever Foreruner Tech is in this area. This planet has been designated as simply Cryptum. I have no information relevant to it at the moment. I've located a sort of terminal of sorts hidden away from here in the forest. There's a "road" that leads to it."
A chill ran up his spine at the name of the planet.
"Sounds like a delightful place." said Chelsea.
"If this place is a literal crypt what do you think is here?" he asked.
"Don't get your hopes up. We're looking for distress signals okay? For all we know they're all dead." she said darkly.
Will saw the ground approaching rather fast and touched the ground his feet running up the side of the hill until he got his parachute under control. Seconds later Chelsea touched down 400 yards from him and a minute later the Warthog landing wheels down.
"Come on. Let's get these folded up and out of here." Will said.
The next few minutes were spent getting the silk rolled up and reset. They put the three packs in the storage unit of the Warthog.
"I'm driving then I guess." Will said as Chelsea climbed on the back of the LRV and warmed up the barrels of the M41 Vulcan turret.
He climbed in and started it up with a growl.
"Okay Sarah, where to?" he said shifting it into drive.
"Around the base of the hill you landed on you need to circle until you find the river. There's a path for you already cleared."
"Convenient." he replied throwing it in motion. He charged down the hill circling it until he saw the ford. There marked on both sides were little blue posts that reminded him of a Sangheili Honor Guard's staff, only these were much taller and with red lights at the top.
He steered the hog between the two and charged up the bank of a river moving northwest into a forest where a rocky cliff face was steadily becoming a mountain. He eased it slower as the road narrowed. They continued this way until a nav marker showed up on his HUD.
"There you'll find the terminal. It appears to be like an information center. It's likely we might encounter hostiles."
"Thank you Sarah. Let us know if you pick up the signals."
He left her to continue searching for the elusive signals and any other places .
As he drove the Warthog he thought of what an enemy would most likely do. The trees while thick had their leaves and branches high off the ground leaving the forest floor littered with needles and branches from trees and an enemy hiding behind it exposed. It was dark and the headlights from the hog illuminated the trees for a good distance. There was little change of a Jackal perching up in the tree. The needles were too thin at the lower levels to provide accurate cover for a sniper and up higher they would have a mess of foliage to shoot through.
Even still he kept a wary eye for enemies as the Warthog turned North up a hill and suddenly stopped in front of a large structure that appeared as they crested the hill. A metal ramp illuminated with blue light running all the way up into a door that set it farther back inside a large rocky hill.
"This it Sarah?"
"Correct. Inside you should be able to plug me into it."
He braked in front of it and turned the 'Hog off.
He disembarked from it carefully and stepped down careful not to make much noise. Chelsea followed behind holding a Battle Rifle in her hands ready to take action.
Will motioned for her to move forward up to the door. He grabbed the FS2000 that was hanging across his back by use of the magnetic strips (the other one as slung around his other shoulder.)
He watched their rear and moved up behind her. The thermals showed nothing but he was still wary. This forest wasn't too inviting at all he decided.
Chelsea cautiously went up to the door and traded the Battle Rifle for an M90 Shotgun. Slowly she went up to it until its motion sensors sensed her and slid open with a hiss.
Move up. He blinked his signal lights.
She hesitated and did so while he walked closely behind and scanning their exit. Something wasn't right, and his skin was on edge.
It was then he saw on his motion trackers a blip.
He froze and ordered her to stop by winking a red light.
She stopped as well and they were motionless. Nothing could be heard, an eerie silence was all that was heard, except for the occasional gust of wind which set his teeth on edge.
"Move up quickly." he ordered.
The two of them moved down the hallway faster but silently as they could. Their footfalls even seemed muffled.
At last after a short while in the tunnel they came up a ramp to a a single dais that looked over a large pit. He decided very quickly that he didn't want to go down into the pit. A single holographic panel stood in the middle.
"Insert me there." said Sarah marking it on his HUD.
He did so and Sarah's avatar appeared.
"What is this place?"
"Hold on. I'm working on it." she glowed brighter for a second as she worked to process the information being shown her. She was moving through it as fast as she allowed. After a moment longer she stopped turning back to them as she did so a large holograph of the planet appeared in the empty space of the chasm.
"Now?" asked Will somewhat nervously.
"Well I have good news and bad news."
"Good news first."
"This place seems to be a You are here sign as well as a library of the planet. I've found the location of the distress beacons here." she pointed and a the holograph lit up.
"So why are you pointing to a mountain. Are they underneath?" he asked as a mountain range nearby lit up in red.
"That's where the bad news comes in."
"So they're underneath the giant mountain." said Will.
"I didn't bring my shovel." said Chelsea.
"That's not it." said Sarah. "There's a lot of reference to nets when I look at it.
Will's uneasiness grew.
"Nets? For what capturing?"
"Actually yes. I've taken the liberty of disabling the system that does it but the primary purpose of the planet seems to be the prevention of vessels from leaving this planet and locking them inside ice."
"Why, how?"
"It would appear this planet was to be used to capture any vessels with Flood contamination and prevent them from leaving by locking them inside a mountain and dispatching teams to eliminate the threat."
Will's heart dropped.
"Is there any sign of infestation? Scans? Readings?"
"No. I can detect no Flood Bio-Mass or DNA on the planet as of large."
"Wait, you said something about teams?" asked Chelsea.
And then suddenly Will's motion tracker showed that an eerie red blip. Then two, four, eight.
"Eyes up Castle 4!" said Will retrieving the data chip.
Something was moving down the hall. Methodically, mechanically.
He looked down the sight still seeing nothing on thermal.
"Eyes open." he said moving cautiously towards the dot.
"Castle, I believe there is a-"
"Not now Sarah!" hissed Will. He moved swiftly down the corridor. And still seeing nothing waited to see a blur of movement.
There was something definitely ahead.
Looking up he scanned the ceiling and saw nothing. That was before he heard something crash on the ground.
He instinctively fired a single bullet. He watched it hit something and the huge form of something shimmered. It was camouflaged and done so better than any Elite he had ever seen but the brief look at what he saw was disturbing. 12 foot high, insect like almost and wielding a massive blade like appendage on its left arm.
"Contacts!" he yelled out as it suddenly deactivated its camo and with an astonishing burst of speed charged him while he had flicked the full-auto fire on spraying lead. It ran towards him teleporting in a zigzag fashion and suddenly smashed into him with what he saw was a blade. He gave a grunt as he was knocked of his feet and it bore towards him raising the blade over. It was an insect like machine with an armored carapace behind its head and and was still very humanoid at the same time with human like feet
This was only reinforced as a mask covering its face split apart to reveal a crimson red skull. All over its body from its feet to the back of the carapace were thin blood red lines running up to meet it. The face mask retracted and Crimson lines of light marked where the skull was. Other than that a large red net like fan of light extended behind it.
He was pinned down so and he couldn't get a clear shot so he kicked as hard as he could upwards. The presence of shields was made manifest but it did the job breaking him from its hold on him and shot it far enough away that the report of Chelsea's M90 made short work. He watched in vague fascination as the thing seized up and let out an unearthly scream that had human undertones but sounded more machine than anything else and began "dissolving" in a bright red flash. Two things dropped as it finally disappeared.
He seized air into his lungs and stood up making sure he was in okay shape before yanking himself to his feet.
"What the **** was that?" asked Chelsea taking point.
"Intel reports that is a Promethean Knight."
"What?" said Will trying to calm his pace. "Weren't those only on Requiem?"
"It would appear not. This Knight is different than the rest previously encountered. I'm accessing the Planet's database right now."
"Not now Commander more of them!" Chelsea yelled rolling out of the way of a large cannon that shot globular balls of light.
He recovered his weapon and fired in precise bursts catching them in the head or chest before switching to a single shot that destroyed three.
One of them gave a howl and leaned forward. Suddenly a smaller Promethean, Sarah identified it as a Watcher, with two "rotor" wings took to the air and immediately put a instantaneous hardline shield in front of the closest one who was a second away from its death.
"Frag out!" Will yelled before tossing the armed grenade.
The Watcher seemed to give him a look of contempt before a tail of light shot out from underneath it and spinning it around tossed it back at him.
"What the ****!" exclaimed Chelsea as she kicked the grenade off the deck before it exploded.
Will thinking of an idea threw another one. It caught it without fail and he fired a two second burst catching it and turning it into shredded pile of metal before it promptly dissolved.
In the end the lack of the Watcher proved the downfall of the Knights. They were too big too hide effectively behind cover and in the end the last one was taken down by a shell to the face with the M90.
Will motioned Chelsea down the hallway with her M90 trained forward and scanning the narrow corridor as he picked up the FS2000 laying on the ground and another angular rifle looking weapon the last Knight had left where it had disappeared.
"It looks like these are designated as Guardian Knights. They have the ability to cloak perfectly and they're used in guarding the most important sites."
Sarah informed them.
"I take it they're rare?" asked Will examining the weapon. It was shorter than a Carbine yet larger than a DMR. It had a scope that floated above it and it cast red shadows on the ground.
"Extremely. I've been able to pinpoint where we'll get access to where they're locked up. The planet has apparently a lockdown procedure and defenses to prevent entry have been set up.
"Can you disable them?" asked Chelsea still scanning for more Knights.
"Yes." she said after a moment. "There's a defense manifest it looks like it might have the controls to open up the crypt about two kilometers from here." A marker appeared on their HUD's.
"Let's move." said Will. He decided to grab the weapon.
He almost dropped it in surprise when it disassembled itself and then reassembled it around his hand. An ammo counter appeared on his HUD registering the 'Lightrifle' as Sarah pointed out to him with 36 shots in it.
"Nice party trick." said Chelsea moving forward picking up glancing back momentarily.
He said nothing but it was hard to ignore the fact that it now seemed made for just the Spartan alone.
The Warthog was still parked outside and Will in haste eagerly boarded it putting the Lightrifle next to him in the passenger seat and starting it.
Chelsea hopped on the back again and Will gunned it forward. He applied the E brake getting it to make a 180 without effort and gunned it back where they had started. Outside clouds had begun to gather and a light drizzle had started.
"Probably should let the Admiral know what the heck is going on." Cheslea said as they drove.
He winked a green light and tuned his comms to reach the Dauntless.
"Sierra 317 to UNSC Dauntless over?"
"Roger Sierra 317. This is Admiral Tchkova, we read you loud and clear. What's your status? Found anything?"
"Sir, we identified a located a terminal that's identified where the distress signals are coming from."
"Music to my ears Spartan." said the Admiral."Find out anything else?"
"Sir, we confirmed there are Prometheans on Cryptum."
"Cryptum? Is that the name of the planet?"
"That is correct Admiral. We encountered a new variety of Knight that attempted to attack us when we accessed the data. I'm having Sarah send you the location of the distress signals now. According to her there are a series of defense systems and shields preventing us from entry. We're en route to disable them now. We may be able to open up the crypt as well. If so I would advise making a push to secure the location."
"Good, then we can attack when you are ready. It looks like the Storm are holed up on the opposite side of the coordinates you're transmitting. We can't attack from the air with our ships because of numerous anti-air emplacements. We can't risk orbital bombardment because they're near enough we can't attack. It's too close. A shot gone awry could have disastrous consequences if they are buried underneath that mountain like these coordinates say. You may have disabled what pulls the ships in but you have given the Storm the same advantage. Have Sarah send me the location and I'll send someone to pick you up when you're ready. I'm going to make a push for the other side. If you do take it down then it will be a race to see who gets what first."
"Roger that Admiral. We'll get it done."
"Do so. Tchkova out." he said closing the connection.
They were still a few miles from their destination. They were moving into more rocky and rough terrain with a large pinnacle structure on top of a hill which they were beginning to call.
"There Spartans." Sarah said flashing the structure yellow in their HUD's.
"Storm forces coming in 12 o'clock high!" yelled Chelsea from the back of the gun turret.
Will looked up preparing to serve but there was no need, they were landing troops at the structure with two Phantoms rapidly, not caring for the single Warthog that they past.
"Well this complicates things." said Will.
"Get me up close and keep it moving!"
"Got it! Go loud number four!" he yelled as they approached the last 1000 meters. He saw the outline of an Elite moving to see what the noise was. He was startled when the Vulcan on the back of the Warthog opened up spewing lead towards it. The shields flickered and the Elite was splattered by the Warthog as it moved to get out of the way.
Just for fun he blared the horn which prompted a trio of grunts to move towards the sound where they were promptly run over as well.
The roar and concussive force of the Vulcan punctuated the air with sharp CRACKS! that sent another two Elites sprawling on the ground as they crested the hill at full speed and pulled a 180 degree turn throwing a Kig-Yar against the metal wall of the pinnacle structure where it gave a squawk before its spine snapped. A large metal pad was full of two dozen enemies that were trying to recover from the surprise of a very large lead spewing vehicle appearing in their midst.
The majority of the combatants that were Unngoy who promptly fled backpedaling firing their plasma pistols at the Warthog. There were six or so jackals left and a quartet of Elites taking cover behind some deployable energy shields. He jammed on the accelerator and drove back the same direction they had come from where he ran over a grunt that had poked his head for too long.
One of the Grunts did the smartest thing that they could've done in this situation. Will watched as a green sphere of plasma hit the Warthog and it fizzled.
He jumped out of it unslinging the Lightrifle and fired it at the offending Unngoy. An orange short beam of light erupted out of the weapon which Will noted with mild interest had lost its crimson color for its current color.
A neat hole was mid in the middle of its head and it died instantly. He swung around firing another shot at a Jackal that had shot a series of needles that had bounced off his shields. Another shot and he saw that it operated much like a Battle Rifle in burst fire mode.
Chelsea had meanwhile spun the Vulcan and within another two seconds turned the closest Elites to bloody pulps.
"Number Four fire left! Suicide grunt!" Will yelled as he saw it out of the corner of his peripheral vision.
He heard the roar of fire shift a little bit and then a second later two blasts of plasma. He ducked underneath a blow from a Storm rifle aimed by a particularly adventurous Sangheili.
He retaliated by knocking the weapon out of the Elite's hand and it fired thrice before it clutched its chest.
"Will, 9 o' clock!" he heard Chelsea yell.
He shifted his aim zooming on a Jackal that had taken a position high on the side of the structure with the Rifle's sights. He fired and a single concentrated shot hit its shield where it threw it off balance long enough to fire again at the head.
"This gun is amazing!" Will said putting down yet another enemy. He quickly realized the gun was empty of ammo on his HUD and he didn't know how to reload it. The rifle expanded as he fired the last shot breaking apart to where a single cylindrical cartridge was removed by him. Dropping the weapon he swung the German made M27 that was on his back flicked the safety off and fired painting the ground with another Elite's blood. Another two roars from Chelsea who had ditched the Vulcan for the M90 again.
"Clear!" he called out as the last enemy went down clutching a series of holes in his chest.
"Clear! Contacts neutralized!" Chelsea yelled as she swept the now silent courtyard.
"Affirmative. I got point number Four." he said reloading the M27 and trading it for the Belgian gun in the Warthog.
He put the Lightrifle back promising to look for ammunition later. He swung the 2000 around and proceeded down the hallway quickly being sure not to make too much noise.
"A few hundred feet left and there's an elevator." Sarah announced.
"Storm?"
"Can't tell but it's likely there is more at the top."
"Prometheans? Aren't they working together?" he asked seeing the elevator and sweeping the elevator.
"To my knowledge they were all destroyed on Requiem, those loyal to the Didact that is. The Storm's Battle-Net is reporting hostile activity from Promethean forces in various locales. Mainly their base in the fork of the twin peaks. It would appear they're actively trying to seek to halt further incursion and act as Security and Quarantine forces.
"Are you sure there is no indication of the Flood?"
"Records show nothing of the sort. As far as I can tell they've only had one other incident before hand where Security was breached.
"And?"
"That's it. There's nothing. I'm working on the decryption of it."
Will frowned.
"That's not too encouraging." echoed Chelsea.
Will stopped and satisfied there was nothing after looking through the thermal band of his scope stepped onto the elevator cautiously. He kept his weapon ready but moved forward and tapped the holographic glyph on the elevator. The elevator hummed dipped downwards briefly and started rising upwards.
"How's progress outside?" he asked Sarah.
"Battle-Net reports are full of reports of a stalemate attack. Either way when we take down the defenses a lot of things will happen swiftly. And if my analysis is correct we may be able to open the crypt from here but there's no telling what may happen. "
The elevator inched its way to the top where it stopped with an noticeable but quiet alien sounding grind. They were now in a rectangular room with a narrow walkway slicing the open room in half. On either side the height they had gained through their elevator climb stood around them. Farther ahead the wall they had faced below turned into a platform connected by a hardlight bridge.
As one the two Spartans moved forward.
"Hold up, Zealots up ahead." Sarah warned.
The two Spartan III's stiffened.
Will looked through the sight and saw six figures walking towards a pedestal far ahead of them where indeed six Zealots and another Elite not cloaked at all stood with another smaller figure who looked suspiciously like-
"Is that the Republic's scientist?" Chelsea asked.
Will snapped the scope up to zoom in. He took a second to register her features and then almost dropped the weapon in surprise and moving aside tackled Chelsea away from looking out at the group.
He sent a prayer of thanks upwards as Chelsea managed to recover her footing and duck as the Elite holding the alien's neck with one hand turned to look in their direction.
The markings on the armor could only belong to one individual and his blood froze for a moment.
"Warning, Hotel Victor Tango Jul 'Mdama confirmed spotted." Sarah said to confirm his fears.
"Can we contact anybody?"
"You have a secure channel. Ringing up the Admiral." Sarah said.
"Admiral Tchkova to Sierra 317 what's the problem?"
"Admiral we are transmitting visuals of Jul 'Mdama and the missing Republic scientist. We have him in our sights. Please advise."
A moment passed. Then two.
"Confirm you have a shot Castle?"
"Confirmed." said Will zooming in on the Elite's head while Chelsea brought out the BR55 on her back.
"If you can take the shot and take him down. I want you to secure the scientist as well if you can. I'll be listening."
Will confirmed and steadied the gun waiting for him to stay still. He was about to fire when a woman with graying hair stepped out into the line of fire.
He nearly cursed as he almost pulled the trigger and frantically motioned for Chelsea to stop.
"****." she swore when she saw the woman as well.
"Admiral we have a new problem." Will said tense.
"What's the problem?"
"We believe Doctor Halsey is in the group we don't have a good shot at Jul."
A loud sigh was heard on the other end.
"I know you don't like killing civilians but I think-
"Admiral we don't know whether she's cooperating to save her skin or not! For all we know she's just playing along!"
"Or she's trying to ONI down. Do you think she might think badly of what Palmer was asked to do?"
"Admiral hold on let me try something before we kill her Admiral." Will said pleading.
Another long second passed by. The group was now nearly to the pedestal and 'Mdama was pressing the scientist forwards. She seemed hesitant but fearful as one of the Elite's shoved a Storm Rifle into her back.
"Send me a videolink. I want to see everything that's going on."
Will did so and the Admiral appeared with his face screwed up in concentration.
As soon as he gave him a nod Will toggled an ultraviolet light on the side of his helmet used in signalling from far away. This particular intensity was unique to human kind. If he could just get her to look at the panel next to her where it was bouncing off.
"Weapon up, get ready to fire if those goes downhill." Will said to Chelsea.
She did so and waited training her gaze on the group far ahead.
Come on! Look to your left! Will thought in desperation.
And Will from far off noticed Doctor Halsey who was looking at the panel suddenly give a start though she recovered it.
She risked a glance behind and Will stepped the briefest moment out of cover and flashed the light.
Then he waited every nerve and muscle ready to move if she was to reveal herself. His face beaded with sweat as she looked back at the group of Elite's and moved just enough out of 'Mdama's way to give Will a shot.
Will gave a sigh of relief.
"My G** you were right!" The Admiral said.
Her attention instantly snapped back as Jul gave a roar and threw the scientist back and took Doctor Halsey forward with considerably less force. She risked another glance and Will saw her give the tiniest of nods and her one remaining arm moved from back to forward.
"Number Four move up! We make for the edge of the pillars over there!" Will said tense gesturing to a distance considerably closer as he saw that everybody was focused on the Doctor at work.
They both took a moment and sprinted as quietly as they could praying the hum of the light bridge would hide their footfalls. Will crossed it and dove behind a tall pillar on the left poking out his head.
"I hope you have much better luck than the other did." growled Jul in Sangheili.
Halsey said nothing and worked at tapping and doing it as slow as possible.
"Why are you taking so long?!" roared Jul impatiently after three seconds.
Will didn't hear Halsey's reply but decided to inch forward.
"Permission to take the shot?" asked Will with as much cool as he could muster.
"Take it."
And Will felt his body descending into Spartan time and each second now was taking four.
Halsey seemed to know what was happening because she leaned forward as far as she could and Will keeping the sights level with his head squeezed the trigger holding the rifle as close to him as possible.
He felt the gun begin to kick as the hammer was brought down on the casing which ignited the propellant causing the explosion that carried the bullet out of the gun. He watched as each one of them left the barrel in a soft flash that sent it rifling towards the Sangheili's head.
The first shot hit the side of his head where the shields came alive at once and sparked and Jul in slow motion turned his head towards him eyes widened with a mixture of fear and rage he was raising his own weapon, a Carbine.
The second and third shots smashed and sparked against his neck and the shields flickered more. Time started speeding up again and he watched as the shields failed underneath the sixth and seventh shots before the eighth caught him across the chest. A dull purple blossom was seen as it impacted directly above his left heart. Two more exploded along his leg and arm as Will struggled to keep the sights on the ever faster Elite.
It was then that he was forced into cover as a Zealot moved in front and wielding what looked to be a Plasma Repeater sent an immense barrage of Plasma to him.
"Take him down number Four!" Will called out as Chelsea popped out of her cover firing bursts trying to get a clear shot at the leader now on the floor crawling away.
The Sangheili swarmed in front fighting to secure the safety of their leader. Carbine rounds, plasma, and Needles flew towards them and Will wasforced back into cover while his shields were low.
"Three Z's down! Shifting fire!"
William caught the glimpse of a purple object moving rapidly toward him. He had lost sight of Halsey and the Republic scientist who were trying to stay out of the firefight.
"Phantom!"
And the Phantom in a desperate attempt to save their leader hit the giant pane of glass in front of them and shattered it with a mighty crash. Glass pelted him as he moved back into cover and his shields dropped slightly.
"Move up!" he roared as the Zealots all dragged him towards the gravity lift.
He charged forward firing burst after burst at the Sangheili. One went down the two others were dragging Jul and firing Carbines.
He rolled forward underneath a barrage of them and fired the rest of his clip at Jul who was suspended rising upwards. More blood blossomed as he tried to take him down.
"No!" he yelled as the lift sealed shut and the Phantom hastily retreated.
"****it!" roared Tchkova.
"Target escaped. Believed to be critically injured. Send evac please we'll activate the facility and recover the personel." Will said.
"Affirmative. I'll move to capitalize on any distraction. Tchkova out."
"Come on Chelsea. We got others here." Will said as he moved forward reloading his now empty weapon. He sprinted forwards and approached the pedestal to find the two scientists huddled on the other side.
"It's okay. Target's down." Will said rolling a body off the Republic's Scientist.
Will took her hand and raised them to their feet.
He looked over at Doctor Halsey and took her in. She was missing her left arm with only a stump left and she had aged a bit during her captivity. Her hair was a little whiter and she had a little bit of a limp.
They group stood awkwardly for a second.
"I'm Doctor Vindi Yallat." the alien said. "Thank you for rescuing me. I didn't know when I would if at all be rescued. You have my thanks and that of the Republic's."
"And you have mine as well...William. That is your name correct?" Doctor Halsey asked.
He nodded vaguely surprised.
"It's been a long time Will since I've seen you and Castle. Reach never killed you did it."
"I would like to think it didn't." he said.
"Your team was instrumental in leading the Covenant on a wild goose chase which gave me enough time to move to Castle Base where it was more secure. Chelsea, I would like to think you for personally helping secure Noble Team. It..mean a lot to me."
"You're fine ma'am." Chelsea said quietly.
"But that's not what we need to talk about. I would like to apologize for putting up the impression I've been working with Jul. I need to speak with someone higher up so I can tell them all I learned over my Odyssey with the Storm. Putting up the impression of being a turncoat takes a lot more effort than you realize. I may have helped him but I also hindered him. I fed him false data, sabotaged what I could, and made the attempt to derail him while still appearing loyal. I hope you can forgive me."
"Doctor, you've done me no wrong. I have no qualm with you-" Will said.
"-but the rest of the world may not feel that way." finished Chelsea.
"Yes, I foresaw that much. We have much work to do here. If my hypothesis is correct than this is one of several locations used to open up the crypt. We are currently facing it right now." she said placing her hands on the panel again.
"Is it true that the others will open up?" Chelsea asked as Doctor Halsey tapped and moved icons around.
"That-" she tapped a circular icon. "-remains to be seen."
And from ahead of them Will saw a shadow split the mountain slowly until to his astonishment a massive circle had enveloped the middle of it large enough to drag a ship the size of the Infinity through.
"Defense grids are down." reported Sarah materializing on the panel.
The shape of a Pelican came into their vision and after a few seconds materialized with the Warthog from below attached to the rear.
A squad of Marine's stepped out to secure the area."
"Whoa its the Doctor!" one of them said.
"What's she doing-"
"These Spartans are going to accompany me to the Crypt. I'll need to be inside so I can work on determining if we can free the ships or not." Doctor Halsey said straightening up.
"I'll have to clear it with the Admiral." a Sergeant gruffly said not used to being told what to do by a civilian.
"Then do it. We don't have much time." said Doctor Halsey.
She stepped onto the blood tray with the Spartans in tow and soon the bay of the Pelican closed and they were speeding off into the noon day sky.
Alright! How about that for a chapter? The battle for Cryptum (or Yukon) is only beginning and we get to see a little bit of his other brother Eric (formerly Tyler) and a little bit of a different side to Will.
Please leave a review if you liked it! Who can find the Easter Eggs in this chapter?
Many thanks to gwb99, Lord Razer, and ArcCaptainFordo for being my diligent beta-readers.
Until next time!
theotherpianist