The Spartan of the Planet of the apes
Disclaimer: I do not in anyway shape or form own Halo of the Planet of the apes franchise, nor am I associated with them in any way. This is a non-profit fanwork written solely for the purpose of entertainment. This is no way canon in any shape or form.
Hope you all enjoy!
Chapter 1
"They're animals!" = Normal speech
'There may be more inside.' = Thoughts
"The Spartan's here!" = Hand signals
"/ Target's down. I say again, target is down. /" = Radio
(Flashback)
(Location: Reach, )
Lex-B312, otherwise known as Noble Six, threw himself into cover as he fired off a small burst of 7.62x51mm rounds at the Covenant squad that currently had him pinned down behind a destroyed Warthog, managing to kill a Grunt and wounding a Jackal with a shot to the arm.
Unfortunately, that didn't do much to stop the barrage of Covenant weaponry that was currently directed at him.
It's been a few hours ever since he had provided coving fire to allow the Pillar of Autumn to escape the planet, and ever since then he's been battling entire Covenant battalions all on his lonesome. While at first he was able to fend them off, now he was running out of ammo and getting tired. He may have been an augmented super-human outfitted in the best technology developed by man, but everything and everyone had a limit before they started getting worn out.
Peaking from behind the charred M12 Warthog that served as his cover, he spotted a dead Colonial Guardsmen laying with his back slumped against a concrete barrier, with an MA37 in hand, which made it likely that there may be more magazines in his pouches.
Sure, it was entirely possible that he spent his last mag before succumbing to his wounds, and Six would have to move across open ground to reach him. But he had already burnt through a quarter of his sole remaining magazine for his MA37, and he only had two more frag grenades and mags for his M6D left.
In the end, he decided to try it as he had no other options and more Phantoms could be seen approaching in the distance. Any opportunity to improve his odds, not matter how small, needed to be taken.
Taking a frag grenade that was clipped onto his armor's webbing, he pulled the pin before chucking it into the sea of Covenant. The shrapnel killing and wounding several Grunts and Jackals based on the screams of pain that filled the air. The super-soldier took advantage of the reprieve to sprint to the next barricade, laying down suppressive fire with his MA37, taking down several more grunts and jackals that managed to avoid being blown apart from the shrapnel released by the frag and moving so fast that he kicked up a cloud trail of dust, dirt, and rubble behind him.
The Elites on the other hand maintained their discipline and returned fire. Sending a volley of plasma, needler rounds, and concussive shots at the super-soldier. Though the concussive rounds missed, a few plasma and needlers very nearly managed to hit him, the only thing stopping them were his shields that glowed in bright gold upon impact which drained about half of its energy.
With more fire coming straight for him from the aforementioned split-lips, Lex dove forwards into cover, kicking up a small cloud of dust as he slid forward, stopping just behind the concrete wall where the deceased UNSC Colonial Guardsmen laid. He frantically began patting down his ammo pouches for another mag. Unfortunately, what he had found was far cry from what he was hoping for.
The Guardsmen only had one full magazine remaining on him, with no grenades of any kind. Not even a single mag for his sidearm.
A single MA37 mag at the cost of another one in addition to one of his last few frags.
Cursing under his breath, Six ejected the now empty mag in his MA37 and inserted the one he had just acquired, the ammo counter resetting back to thirty-two when he racked the rifle's charging handle.
Gritting his teeth, he decided to do the only option he had left: go on the offensive.
If he was going down, he was going to take as many with him as he could.
Pulling the pin on his sole remaining grenade, he hurled it at the Covenant platoon. As soon as he heard the frag going off, he ran out of cover and charged the aliens head on. Hopping that they would be temporary disoriented from the grenade as before which would allow him to seize the advantage. It seemed to have worked as the remaining Covenant troops with either coming out of cover to avoid the shrapnel.
That was all he needed.
Firing in rabid and controlled bursts, Six neutralized the Jackals and Grunts before firing on the nearest Elite which was a ranger, thankfully managed to drain his shields and kill him, before moving on the Major. Firing about eight more rounds before the rifle clicked dry and the ammo counter displayed zero.
Throwing the MA37 as hard as he could into the Elite, which knocked him to the ground and breaking several of his ribs. Six drew his Emile's Kukri, that he hesitantly took when the fourth member of Noble team died, and tacked the Ultra that was too slow to move out of the way to the ground and stabbing him in the throat as hard he could, resulting in the blade going all the way through before twisting the blade and slicing it out. A rather gruesome scene followed as the Ultra chocked to death on his own blood as he grasped onto his throat in a futile attempt to stop the blood that was freely following out. All the while squirming on the ground with eyes filled with pain and desperation as he feebly attempted to cling onto life.
Lex paid no attention to the split-lips suffering as he switched focus to the Major, who was now getting back on his feet despite clearing being in pain as he raised his plasma rifle and fired.
Drawing his M6D and firing at the Major, thankfully managed to pierce its shields before killing the Elite just as the slide locked back. Unfortunately, he would have no time for a reprieve as a Phantom now hovered over him and opened it's side doors, signaling that troops were beginning to deploy from the dropship. Six thumbed the mag release on the M6D, making the empty mag fall to the ground before inserting his last remaining one before pressing the slide release. Rapidly firing at another Elite Ultra that was charging towards him after it had jumped from the Phantom, his teeth bared and energy sword in hand as his eyes filled with killing intent.
Firing the remaining bullets into the split-lip that thankfully managed to drains it's shields, Six quickly threw the pistol at the Ultra. Hitting directly on it's helmet that thanks to his augmented and enhanced strength, managed to hurt and disorient it as it now stumbled forward as it clutch it's head with it's free hand. Taking the advantage, Lex drew his combat knife and close the distance before shoving the blade through the mouth of the Ultra. However, as soon as he stabbed the split-lip before him, he heard an animalistic roar from his side that sounded dangerously close.
A howl that he instantly recognized as belonging to a Jiralhanae, AKA a Brute. A species that he despised with every fiber in his body.
Unfortunately, he was too slow. As he pulled out the kukri and raised, an the blade end of a gravity hammer pierced through his shields. The sharp piece of metal caused excruciating pain within the Spartan-III as he was knocked to the ground as the remainder of his strength faded.
Lex felt his insides burning up from the intense heat of the plasma burning his organs. Blood began to splatter on the inside of his visor as he began coughing violently. The world around him began spinning as Lex started feeling lightheaded, only maintaining his coherence thanks to his augmentations and sheer will power. A notification popped up on his HUD telling him that his armor built-in injectors began administrating painkillers, adrenaline boosters, and dispensing biofoam to seal the injury, but Lex still felt like he his insides were set on fire.
The culprit of his current wounds, a Brute Chieftain with a rather long beard, stared intently into the dark, silver visor of his HAZOP helmet, as if he was intent on making his face the last thing that Six saw before he killed him. Clearing relishing in the fact that he was going to personally kill a daemon, which is considered to be an extraordinary accomplishment to any Covenant warrior that managed to do so.
However, Lex's attention wasn't focused on him. As his life began to flash before his eyes and found himself back on the day where his life changed and played a major part in making him into the man he currently was.
He saw the face of the Brute that had butchered his parents with a smile on its face. The Jiralhanae letting out a sadistic howl as the blood of his father and mother stained its armor while the rest of its kinsmen were feasting on the bloodied remains of the people that took refuge in the same bunker that him and his parents did in an attempt to survive the Covenant invasion of Jericho VII. It would sadly be futile as the underground shelter was found by a passing Brute clan that breached the doors soon after and massacred everyone that was inside.
Everyone except for him, as his father had ordered him to hide in one of the bunker's vent and to stay there no matter what happened. The grate being buried underneath the bodies of those the Brutes slaughtered without mercy.
Before, Lex had been too afraid, a shame that he's been carrying for years. For the next several years, every time he went to sleep, he always found himself back in the same room. The screams of his parents as the Brute Chieftain ripped them apart limb from limb.
When the freak had murdered the ones who gave birth to him, he did nothing but hide.
As he mentally found himself back on the day that forever changed his life and played a major part in making him into the man that he was today. Noble Six found that he was no longer afraid. A far cry from the scared child that he was years ago
Now...he was only angry.
Very angry.
He clenched his fists so hard that he swore that he felt his hands bleeding, despite being armored. But that did little to quell his anger as it seemed to only increase his already boiling rage.
Even though the world around was become fuzzy, he still was able to retain enough focus and clarity of mind to see the faces of the Brute that had embedded its enormous hammer and all the surrounding Grunts, Jackals, Elites, and Brutes, whom all had growing fear on their faces as they had all collectively come to the realization that they had just made a horrible mistake in coming here. Even the rest of the Brutes began feeling fright as they took a step back.
Despite the demon before them being critically wounded and deprived of most of his weaponry, he suddenly seemed more dangerous now than he did several hours ago. A primal fear began screaming from within at every Covenant soldier that they were to run now, run as far and as fast as they could, or die right here, right now.
Their instincts would soon be proven right, though none of them would be alive to know it.
Noble Six suddenly began feeling an abundance of rage inside him that rose to astronomical levels in an instinct. His strength suddenly returning as he began clenching and unclenching his hands rapidly subconscious and vain effort to quell his emotions. Cold fury overtook his mind as his brain prevented his more rational thoughts from entering, as they were unneeded and unwelcome in this moment.
Then...Lex saw red.
(Present time)
Waking up in a cold sweat, Lex grabbed the Mk50 Sidekick that he was placed on the nightstand next to the bed. His hands racking the slide and flicking the safety on before he even knew what they were doing, which was saying something as Spartans typically could process situations much faster than any normal human could. Holding the pistol in retention with his finger off the trigger, he immediately scanned for any threats in his immediate vicinity. Only to realize that he was where he settled in the night before, the dorms he had claimed for himself ever since he procured the WINTER-class ONI Prowler in his escape from Reach.
The dull grey of the crew quarters of the Prowler he had commandeered to escape from Reach. He had become very familiar with the compartment as he had already spent the last several years in it. Ever since... he found himself where he currently was.
Forcing himself to relax, he flicked the safety on the pistol before setting it down on the nearby bedstand before running both his hands down his face as he steadied his breathing and taking deep breaths. A trick that he used to calm himself at times like these.
Lex still remembered that day like it was yesterday, even though it was nearly a decade ago. The day that Reach fell and his human race being that much closer to extinction.
Some times it got to him, not knowing if their sacrifices did anything in the end. For all he knew, the Covenant could have won the war and wiped out what remained of humanity. Ending a galactic spanning conflict that lasted for almost thirty years. He understood that now there was really nothing he could do about it, but that didn't make him feel any better.
It was a certainty that we would've died that day it wasn't for a certain forerunner AI named Imperia Tempest hidden in a hidden facility beneath Reach's surface. If he hadn't retrieved him from the surface after he had finished wiping out all the Covenant troops sent to kill him and done...whatever he did, Lex wouldn't have made it. As the floating orb told him, his wounds were so severe that they should've killed him a dozen times over, only being saved by his sheer willpower, augmentations, and performance-enhancing drugs his armor was pumping into him. He was extremally fortunately that Imperia took it upon himself to save his life and heal his wounds thanks to the urging of a certain companion of his. Apparently, he had also given him a few upgrades like a bolstered immune system. Unfortunately, before Lex could inquire more on the subject, the Covenant assaulted the facility, forcing him to evacuate while Imperia had to initiate the necessary protocols despite his insistence for the alien AI to come with him. Despite not knowing him for even an hour, Six wished him luck before departing the facility.
Glancing at the clock, he saw that the time was 0925. Thirty-five minutes until the Prowler was scheduled to land. Deciding that he had enough sleep, Lex pulled himself out of bed and made his way to the Prowler's bathroom. Taking a five minute morning shower before making his way to the onboard kitchen. The overhead lights automatically turning on and illuminating the hallways in a cold glow wherever he went.
Grabbing a nutrient bar from the mini fridge, he sat down at the table he had dined on more times than he could count over the past several years. While his 'breakfast' wasn't exactly the most tasteful or appealing meal, even with the best MRE technology available from the 26th century, it contained enough nutrients, calories, and protein to allow someone to function for an entire day with no other sustenance.
That was alright. Lex had eaten worse over the years and he wasn't a picky eater. Not that he could really afford to be considering his line of work and the world he found himself in.
"Good mornin', boss." A familiar feminine voice said over the built in speakers embedded in the room with liveliness before the holographic projector placed in the upper corner of the room activated before a shimmer appeared in the chair right beside him, a spectral image forming right next to him.. The final composed image was that of a young woman that looked to be in her late 20s. She was outfitted in a typical UNSC Navy dress uniform. The figure leaned forward and clasping her hands on the metallic surface and giving the hyper-lethal across from her one of her warmest and friendliest smiles, the ones that were reserved for him and given usually when the two of them were alone.
The AI was none other than Auntie Dot, the former Dumb AI assigned to assist Noble Team now an upgraded smart AI that has been his faithful companion for the last few years-longer if you counted when she was still 'Dumb.'
Dot and him had become really close over the last couple of years. In fact, Six would go so far as to say that it was closest relationship he ever had with someone else- other than the rest of Noble team.
"Trouble sleeping?"
"It was alright," Lex responded. "But yeah, it wasn't great."
"Having those dreams again, Lex?" Dot asked with a worried look on her face.
"Yeah..." The Spartan-III admitted.
"Is it about home?" Dot worriedly and gently inquired as her holographic facial features softened.
"You already know it is, Dot. Have you..."
"I'm sorry, Lex. But I still haven't got a clue as to how to get back." She admitted with a bit of shame. Even after all these years she still haven't come up with a way to get them back home. "I-
"It's alright," Six assured his partner. "Besides, I don't think we can just leave yet. Not while things are still... like this. Not while the people here still need us."
His response caused a weary smile to grow on his face as she knew what he was talking about.
"Anything I should know?" Lex asked as he finished his breakfast.
"Nothing came in overnight, we'll be toughing down at the colony in SF in around twenty minutes or so." Dot answered. "I already sent a message to Dreyfus, he'll meet us at the entrance to the tower." She informed her Spartan.
Six nodded in response as he got threw away the bar wrapper and exited the kitchen area before entering the onboard armor station, changing into his black synthetic undersuit, he stepped onto the platform. The armor station powering up as Dot took control and initiated the suiting up process. The metallic arms of the station powering up and retrieving the dissembled pieces of his armor and holding them up, with the ones that held his chest plate proceeding first. Attaching the front and back with a solid click before pulling away and fastening the joints together. Next were the legs and forearms, clamping into place with the same click and hiss as before, before sealing in place via the clamps with a near identical hiss.
Finally, his HAZOP helmet with the CBRN/HUL and CNM-I attachments came down from the opening right above him. Enveloping him in darkness as he came down into place and connected with a click, signaling that the helmet was now airtight. Right after, the built in heads up display began turning on as the view switched from pitch black to the interior of the room before text boxes began appearing right in the center of the screen.
[LOADING FEED]
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING...]
...
...
[BIOS: VERSION 1.938 (UPDATE RECOMMENDED)]
[SYSTEM ID- 239574-ALPHA-FOXTROT-CHARLIE]
[OS TALONET SYSPEC 14 (UPDATE RECOMMENDED)]
Eugh, right. His armors software needed to be updated. Unfortunately, that wasn't exactly an option at the moment considering that they were still stuck here with no idea how to return, so Lex would just have to continue on without the upgrades.
[MICROFUSION CELL: OPERATIONAL]
[CPU: OPERATIONAL]
[STORAGE: OPERATIONAL (WARNING- 32 BAD SECTORS DETECTED)]
[ENCODER: OPERATIONAL]
[NANOCOMPOSITE BODYSUIT: SYNCED]
[RUN SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC? Y/N]
-Y
[ INITIATING MJOLNIR MARK V SYSTEM CHECKS...]
...
...
...
[RESULTS:]
[NEURAL INTERFACE... CONNECTED]
[HYDROSTATIC GEL LAYER... ONLINE]
[MEMORY PROCESSOR SUPERCONDUCTOR LAYER... ONLINE]
[COMMS... ONLINE]
[POWER SUPPLY CONTROL UNIT... ONLINE]
[ENERGY SHIELDS... ONLINE]
[MOTION SCANNER... ONLINE]
[TACTPAD LEFT ARM... ONLINE]
[MAGNETIC WEAPON HOLDER STRAPS... ONLINE]
[RESPERATOR... ONLINE]
[PRESSURE SEAL... ONLINE]
[CBRN STATUS... ONLINE]
[FORCE MULTIPLYING CIRCUITS... ONLINE]
[ARMOR STATUS... OPERATIONAL]
[CHECKS COMPLETE]
-EXIT DIAGNOSTIC AND ENTER OPERATIONS MODE
[EXITING DIAGNOSTIC MODE]
[BEGINNING OPERATIONS]
With the diagnostic complete and armor on, Lex stepped off the platform and as he craned his neck back and forth and rolled his shoulders as he typically did when he got into his armor. Which was a habit he developed when getting into his armor, one that didn't fade away even after all these years and one that gave him a sense of familiarity. With his suit up complete, he reached over to the nearby terminal and grabbed the inserted data chip that Dot resided in and installed it in the back of his helmet, feeling a cold shiver going down his spine with a similar sensation throughout the rest of his body. Signaling that his internal brain waves with harmonizing with the Reimann matrix embedded in the chip.
While Dot would still be able to manage the Prowler's system, the chip would allow her to see what he sees and-in a way- be there with him in person. Rather than just being able to interact with him through the radio. He then exited the room and walked to the ship's armory to grab weaponry and his gear.
After spending several seconds after entering contemplating on what weapons to bring he settled on grabbing an M4A1 SOPMOD Block II- with a PEQ-15 and flashlight mounted on the handguard rails in addition to the EOTech sigh and 4x magnifier- and a Colt Commander pistol. Grabbing a mag for the two firearms, he inserted a STANAG thirty-round magazine into the M4A1 and thumbing the bolt release, the charge handle sliding forward with a click, before tilting the gun and pulling the charging handle back to inspect the chamber. The sight of the gold round of 5.56x45 FMJ filling him with satisfaction before releasing the handle and palming the forward assist and attaching the rifle to his back. He then did the same thing equipment checks with the 1911-style pistol and magnetically locking it to his armored right thighs. Finally, he grabbed additional magazines for each firearm and placed them in his armor's pouches before picking up several M67 frags and M18 smoke grenades and clipping them onto his suit's webbing.
Setting them at RECON 1 was probably unnecessary as he was heading to a settlement that was friendly towards him and Dot, but it was just a precaution. Lex always believed in the saying 'that it was better to be safe than sorry'.
"Just to let you know, we're here." Dot informed her Spartan as he could feel the ship descending. "Touching down in five...four...three...two..." a shudder rumbled throughout the vessel, signaling that they've landed.
With his weapons and gear now on hand, he grabbed his backpack that contained additional supplies and gear and exited the armory, proceeding towards the airlock. Opening the automatic doors with a few switches on the control panel and stepping inside, the twin doors closing behind him. Activating the decontamination procedure, which began the pre-sterilization and disinfection procedure, which lasted about a minute before the doors in front of him opened, showing a ruined city that had moss and grass growing all over it with buildings that derelict buildings in disrepair.
A sight that Lex and Dot have become all to familiar with in recent years, as they had watched first-hand the events that caused the scene. That unfortunately occurred despite their best attempts to stop it.
Taking a deep breath of the filtered oxygen running through his helmets respirators, the super-soldier stepped out into the disease-stricken alternative Earth the two of them found themselves on years before.
Author's note: So, this is an idea that has been brewing in the back of my mind for some time now, ever since I first watched the Rise-War/Caesar planet of the apes trilogy a couple of years ago. Though, the people that read my fic 'Still in the fight,' may already know this. Also, thanks to TheDidactsHand for helping to provide me with inspiration with his story 'What Is An Ape, To a Spartan?" With 'Kingdom of the planet of the apes' coming out in 2024 next year, I figured now would be a good a time as any to post this story.
As much as I liked this trilogy, a part of me always rooted for the humans in these films, despite always knowing that they'll most likely lose since I always figured this was leading up to the 1968 film with Charlton Heston. And judging by the trailer to "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" it looks like they're going to be tying it in to the 1968 movie or remaking it. The latter being the most likely in my opinion as I remember then mentioning a spaceship going missing in space in Rise, at least from what I remember, I'm going to rewatch it later. Anyways, I was always on the side of mankind in media, most likely because of my inner and blatant human patriotism. Even when we're clearly intended to be the designated bad guy, looking at you Avatar (your xeno propaganda ain't gonna work on me, James Cameron) . That's right, I'm a human supremacist and I'm proud of it, glory to the God-Emperor of Mankind and Humanity first now and forever. As such, I wanted to give the human race more of a chance by tossing a Spartan in the middle of things.
Now, this isn't going to be a humanity can do no wrong kind of fic despite what I said earlier. One of my favorite things about the trilogy was the complexity and nuances shown on both sides. How it showed good and bad people on both sides and how it didn't really show either side as being morally superior to the other. I'm going to do my best to bring that over to this story as well, hopefully I will manage to do it well. If people are interested that is and this story gains traction.
So yea, let me know what you guys think, if you enjoyed this, and if you want me to continue. As always, thank you for taking the time to check out, read, and comment on my stories. I really do appreciate it.
Anyway, that's it for now. Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to read and review my stories. Have a good day and remember... stay frosty, gents.