"I have defied gods and demons..."
Test of Mettle
Halo: Infinite
One Hour Earlier...
The room was dark and cold. Demonic in feeling and having the sense of evil, breathing on the neck. Hairs would stand up, eyes shift around knowing that you are not alone. This was horrible, this was vile, this area, caked in cunning and despicable snares. In the center shot a blue hologram from some sort of a projector is on the floor. The hooded man ambled forward into view, shade blocking his glaring and wicked eyes, and he bore a massive Grinch-like smile on his face. Folded hands behind his back, he stood there, ominously in that unholy manner.
After a moment, another man from the shadows crept forward. The older man, Count Dooku, came into the blue light of the hologram which reflected off his old and faded eyes. Bowing his head low, he knelt before this evil overlord.
"Count Dooku," said the man, "this disturbance in the force only grows."
"I feel it, it comes from that distress signal."
Pointing his finger his smile turned to a concerned frown, "We must figure out what this is... as this could change the whole course of the war. Bring him here, to Raxus..."
"Yes, my master," he said.
The ramp in the back of the ship let out a hiss of air before extending downward. Coming down with a thud and making contact with the floor, the Chief slowly stepped down and had his sidearm tactically aimed forward. Each clomp added to one another telling of his size. Iron sights of the weapon directly pointed at the older man's head, he quickly took an observation of the surroundings. There were at least two hundred robots in there with the man, and the hangar was empty (in turns of the context of the crew that should be working/operating on the ships and moving crates around, etc).
And in the background, a slender silver ship circular in nature, clean and shiny. It seemed regal and advanced only for the highest class in society (Naboo Royal Starship). On the on-ramp to the vessel that went into the belly of the beast, a woman was stumbling down and handcuffed by some of these strange tan robots.
Completely exposed, the Spartans snapped back in their mind and felt off.
The cloaked one stuck up his arm and immediately followed the entire small army of these tan robots in perfect synchrony turning their weapons to the side and being at ease. A choir of the same mechanic sounds echoed around in the silent hangar during the movements. Putting his hand down, he stared for a moment at the Spartan. Based on his facial expression, he did not recognize him or was familiar with the green MJOLNIR that he wore. His voice was soft but firm, uptight and gentlemanly,
"We received a distress call, and I assume this is you?"
Not even pausing, he kept his sights on point, "Who are you?"
"My apologies for the potentially hostile environment," waving his hand again, the bots dispersed from their straight ranks and in formation walked to two sides of the room going opposite directions. Once they reached the wall or door, it opened automatically and they moved in perfect unity out of the hangar. Their automaton nature created booming footsteps, that drowned out any other noises in the entire hangar.
Once they left, the man approached the Chief, "I am Count Dooku, commander of this ship."
"He doesn't seem hostile, but a facial scan revealed no match, he does not exist in the UNSC database."
"Is this UNSC?"
The man raised his eyebrow, "I am not familiar with the 'UNSC', but I could help you find them," gesturing, he began to walk to the side.
John with a long hesitation, lowered his weapon, holstering it to his side (a loud metallic cling was heard, a magnet of sorts). Following behind the man, it was amazing just how much bigger and broader he was compared.
The Master Chief followed this strange man. Everything was completely different than anything back home. Even the ring worlds of Halo and the Ark were more at home than this since he had been on forerunner installations three times now.
Now in some sort of a hallway, the doors in front opened up, revealing a black metallic corridor. Droids of various sizes and designs moved lifelessly a bit, still quite busy from the battle that was going on outside. Going about various activities, Cortana was amazed whispering in his HUD, "Is this entire ship run by robots? The UNSC barely used them in civilian life let alone in the military."
Interrupting was Dooku, he looked back with a faint smile, "We received your distress beacon quite a while ago. Long enough for the Republic to find it too I see."
"Are those white armored soldiers?" asked the Spartan.
"Ah, I see you have met the clones..."
"They are clones?"
"Yes," he sighed collecting himself like a gentleman, "the senate uses lab experimental abominations, 'clones', to fight their own battles."
"And I assume you oppose them."
"Yes this is true," he sighed, "but of course, violence always turns the bend... and I am assured victory was your outcome?"
"They shot first."
"As I suspected, complete barbarians."
Eventually, the two made it to a bigger door that slid open quickly down the center, releasing a short and fast puff of air, and a massive bridge was revealed.
Similar B1 pilot droids with blue stripes and markings walked lifelessly around as their programming demanded. A one-hundred-and-eighty-degree observation windshield spread around the front half. Outside, wreckage and destroyed warships paled in comparison to this mighty beast. Twinkling stars failed in their astonishment at the war happening outside. The few Republic Venators that remained were darting away in full retreat. In the direct center of the bridge was a massive control panel with four robots controlling it.
But more noticeably, a cloaked robotic figure was facing the other way. Rearing its head around, it was completely half dumbstruck by the Spartan II now on the bridge. Standing only a few inches taller, it was a little hunched over and even tried to stand upright a bit to look intimidating.
Tan armor is similar to the droids was his hide, but much more battered and worn. Slender arms and spider-like legs, with for a moment seen was an organic limp sack with all its fleshy organs and vitals kept inside.
Now the trapezoid metallic fins-for-ears flexed a bit as the dark green reptilian eyes squinted.
"This is General Grievous, my trusted lieutenant," said Count Dooku gesturing to the cyborg automaton (who still staring at the Chief), "and well, now that I question the notion, you never introduced yourself."
At the following moment, the entire bridge agitated and sputtered like a violent earthquake. A sudden barrage of giant blue lasers fired from Republic turbo cannons above trembled the entire vessel. Light teal bubbles rippled around the ship as it took the reign of fire. Even the Master Chief and Grievous lost balance for a moment before regaining a foothold. Yellow lights from sensor relays around blared showing the danger close by. Out the window, one could see three Republic Venator warships attacking in strategic formations.
They were back for another run.
"An ambush!" one of the pilot droids wailed.
Grievous pointed out his finger and spoke with a commanding tone, "Open fire!" he went to the side, "Circle the ship around and prepare for a counterattack!" his thick Scottish synthetic accent was clear and bold, with a hint of a rasp to it.
Their vessel's shields took even more damage since there was a very brief break. But this time, red crimson lasers like rain bombarded upwards to their targets. Hitting the Republic cruisers with a strong might, the battle had begun again.
"Prepare to charge the ion cannon!" shouted the droid general.
Turning to the side, Dooku frowned, "I am sorry my new friend, but we will have to save the pleasantries for later."
"Ion cannon at fifteen percent!" it said.
The droid to the left pointed out, "Fighters and gunships launching from the hangar bays!"
"They are attempting to attack this vessel?!" shouted Grievous with an insulted tone.
"They are attempting to rescue the senator... with such guerilla tactics..."
The radar in front of them blared wildly showing new contacts. Little red dots on a yellow flashing screen popped in as more of them were darting out of Hyperspace, a cluster of fighters hauling towards their position. Small and nimble they bolted to their battleship at full speeds. It surprised both Dooku and Grievous, but there was a revelation for Sith Lord,
"Skywalker..."
"Ion cannon at fifty percent!"
As the fighters strafed in attack formation, they bobbed and weaved around their cannons' turbo lasers quite easily, not a single one being shot down.
"Launch all fighters!" Grievous wailed with a clenched fist.
After pressing a few buttons, there were loud booms like detaching metal from somewhere below, and both the Chief and Cortana stood in awe watching on the bridge as dozens of fighters of strange designs streaked out of the belly of this beast, engaging in dog fighters with this 'Skywalker' and his yellow Y-wing bombers. Blue and red beams of energy popped out in space as these smaller ships fought each other in sporadic skirmishes zipping like insects in the view of the giant warships.
"The bombers are coming in for a strafing run!" the head yellow droid said at the controls.
"Cannon is at seventy-five percent!"
As the ship began to rumble, the color outside on the side glowed a bright pinkish-purple. It grew in brilliance by the second, to the point of almost a blinding hue. With the rolling tectonic tension on board increasing in intensity.
The pilot droid in front shouted looking at the radar, "Bombers incoming!"
In an instant, a massive explosion from the back of the ship rattled everyone onboard. Rocking back and forth was everyone on the bridge, even a couple of B1 droids toppling over at one point. Orange flames engulfed the outside as the infamous purple disc around the Malevolence fainted to a dim and black, even part of this giant array falling apart and drifting into the void of space. Erratic infernos encased the wounds of this vessel, telling that that precise bombing strike did severe damage. Red lights flashed on the bridge telling of all the scars this ship has had inflicted. It was intense and chaotic, and after a moment, when the aftershocks of the attack faded, one of the pilots spoke again recuperating itself,
"Uh, the main cannon has been disabled..."
"So is the Hyperdrive..." said another to its left.
Grievous let out a quick distilled and angered cry before smashing one of the droids to smithereens sending a quick puff of smoke and smashing metal around in the vicinity. Looking back to Dooku, he was met with an immediate frown of disapproval,
"General control yourself!"
"More ships coming out of Hyperspace!" wailed one of the droids.
More radar pings appeared as three more Republic warships appeared out of thin air. Up above the other three, there was a total of six cruisers pelting the Malevolence, even when that massive Separatist battleship unleashed all its cannons it still could not overpower six Venators without its main ion cannon. These ships immediately opened fire It was completely off-putting for Cortana and she was completely dumbstruck.
"There were no detected Slipspace ruptures? How did they get here?"
The bridge rattled and stumbled more as explosions rocked with fiery booms. The SII and his AI companion awkwardly stood there without knowing what to do, for too long the Spartan would only fight, and the AI provided assistance, and now for both of them, they stood there completely dumb-faced.
"Sheilds are failing!" it added.
"General," he said, "I think it's time to pay that senator a visit."
With a slight grin, Grievous would only nod, "It would be my pleasure."
Elsewhere...
Like a pack of wolves hunting a moose, the giant Malevolence took all the blows that they could give. Disabled ion cannon crippled it as this smoldering battleship took more and more damage by the second. It rotated around and moved in the other direction, attempting to flee. Shrapnel and chunks everywhere, this battle created a grave sight as at least two other Republic Venators lay in shambles and pieces earlier annihilated by this mechanical beast.
On board a particular one of these Venators stood a man wearing white clone armor, but a brown Jedi tunic. A brown beard, which he ran his hand through in deep contemplation. He gazed out the observation window, his reflection dim and faint in the glass. Conflicted eyes, this man was a man of thought. Around him were clones and a busy bridge as booms and vibrations from the roaring cannons wreaked havoc on their opposition.
A deck officer behind in a grey uniform approached the man with a quick almost emotionless tone, "General Kenobi, the Malevolence is in full retreat."
Taking a deep breath, Kenobi sighed, "Yes, but I sense something, dark..."
"Eh... Sir?"
At that moment another soldier approached them. This one was similar white armor of most clones except was faded and well-worn. Jaded orange paint marked the mail as a form of identification and with pride. He was just as upright as the officer, the same height and stature. As he approached, he took off his helmet revealing the same face as the officer, except a little older and a lot deeper and faded skin.
"General," he huffed, "there's a message sent from the warship."
"Well then let's see what they have to say, Cody," said Kenobi.
Roaming to the back of the bridge lay huge holo-walls with men operating on them like control kiosks. Office chairs on the sides with men at those conductors. In the center was a war table of sorts, with a blue shining screen on the top of the table, with red and yellow buttons along the sides. Cody pressed a few of them hearing clicks and beeps before a projection shot up from this table. A hologram of the General Grievous, holding a woman by the throat. She, clearly distorted and in pain, shrieked a bit as the seven-foot droid beast squeezed a bit upon her neck. A raised her a bit in the air as she struggled (but clearly to no avail) to get free.
"I have you senator," he cackled with a grin behind that horrid mask, "I would suggest you stop your assault unless you want to see this little thing torn to pieces!"
After that, the hologram faded, and the message ended. The bridge was eerily quiet for a second, but the men quickly got back on task seeing timid stares from Commander Cody.
After a second, Kenobi would sigh, "Tell all the ships to stand down."
General Grievous laughed like a synthetic demon gazing outside the glass. A reflective mirrored image of the droid commander bounced off the mirror as he stood close to it. The Republic ceased their bombardment, and the Malevolence was in full retreat. They in a cold war just followed the Separatist Capital Ship, weary of its every move. While Grievous reveled in his cowardly victory. This room was small and dark, and very empty for the most part.
"They will come for me..." a feminine voice began to cough up blood from behind, "you know that right."
The droid turned around, and there was the senator he was borderline torturing. Covered in cuts and bruises, she hung like meat for the grinder. Head raised slightly, the droid abomination took two heavy stomps towards the woman, placing one of his long metallic fingers underneath her chin raising it higher clearly giving her discomfort from that angle,
"Oh, I am counting on it," he said with an evil tone.
Winding up his fist, the creature let loose a violent punch directly into the woman's gut. A quick screaming with the sounds of ribs crunching, this a very savage blow. Taking very hard deep breaths, the wind was knocked out of her, as she spat up a substantial amount of blood. Sweat and red ooze dripping from the brow, her head fell low again as she lost consciousness from the violence.
16th of June 2557
35 days before The Release
FIGHT CHAPTER NEXT LET GOOOO!
Hope y'all like where this story is going cause I am. Sorry this has been slow cause I've been very busy recently that doesn't help. Plus I have been involved with a mil-sim on Battlefront 2 so that eats up my time. Anywho, I have a big idea for this story that I know y'all will love.
Not really any new announcements, I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as possible... But we will see lol.
COMMENTS!
ikusatsunagi- You're welcome :)
SupremeSongLeader - Love the thinking, but I think I might wanna take it further than that, you'll see. Trust me though, nothing weird I hate that stuff I don't want to be lowered to that level of an incel.
Jctherebel - oh you will be...
amerikhan786 - I love that think in all with the ideas they are so awesome and cool, especially for in-depth lore ideas and thinking. But you have to try to cater to an average fan fiction enjoyer type audience, at least that's how it processes in my mind. Creates a more diverse audience that way. Don't get me wrong I'm not gonna ignore lore, but I'm not gonna dive too deep if that makes sense. Like if "oh I'm sorry did you not read that one Star Wars legends comic published in 2009 about the energy strength of a lightsaber?!" Yea that type fanfiction just bothers me. People want to love it but I don't wanna feel like I have to research a story BEFORE I read it UNLESS it's a sequel, does that make sense?
Guest - That's good ;}
Overall I love the comments and I love that you guys are like this so far. I don't really have too much to say, I mean I have never been a fan of large authors notes, but hey that's just me.
Stay safe out there, you'll fine me playing Ewok Hunt... heh...
~ 1DL1NG KN1GHT