UNSC In Amber Clad Log

ENTRY 2

Tank Beats Everything

Lance Corporal Melissa McKenzie

October 20th, 2552,

19:40 EAT {East Africa Time}


Both Shyld and McKenzie gazed up in awe to heaven above. Blotting out the sun in a thick shade was a UNSC-grade Pelican in a full green hue. It acted as a graceful cover from the blazing star above closer to the atmosphere than the Humans were used to on Earth (which is surprising for how lush the environment is). Even still, the cargo it beheld was their truest of hopes and sights. Their mouths gasped at the very nature of the beast. This Pelican in its womb held like a crane the infamous M808 Mainline Battle Tank… The Scorpion. The black logo on the sides of the main cannon tells of its nature. A sleek and thick metal hide covered the beast from top to bottom. Shiney new treads are ready for use.

The Pelican hovered with the tank only ten feet above the ground. Loud snaps were heard as it let go of the mechanical horror. Thunder rumbled the ground. Even the Warthog they were in, as the tank landed. Mud splattered a bit, and she was so perfect. Both marines ambled closer for a moment taking in the awe-striking view.

The Chief however wasted no time and immediately climbed the hull of the metal war machine with such ease. It swayed from the heavy one-tonSpartan mounting the beast like a horse. Entering the cockpit with a hard thud, his body almost sank into it adding extra weight to the hull of the tank. The two marines immediately followed, climbing on top of the vehicle on the sides. Sitting down to each end they glared at one another confused at what the future might hold.

As the engine of the machine awoke with a furious and roaring might, the whole thing rocked from the inside bellowing out into the roar of the UNSC's finest land conqueror.

The tank moved and it was as if the ground itself moved with it. Mud tread marks behind were left as scars within the dirt in the wake of the beast claiming new territory. Rolling around to the front far side of the building, the strange ancient bridge was in place for their advancement. It was smooth and very cleanly made for it being surrounded by archaic structures. Almost as if it was being maintained through a third party. Time itself should have aged it beyond the realm of the fresh scents of freshness. To the right-hand side of the gorge was an astounding waterfall descending with a graceful presence as its water came down the side and into the valley below. The rocks around it smoothed and crisp from the erosion and power of water. The lush green was even more outward due to the dew of water here and was quite evident. Now to the left however was still the magnificent view of the open valley of the giant cratered lake. All of the buildings standing mighty in the water with beams of light stretching to the heavens seemed all too unreal. Now that Mckenzie had the time to ponder it,

This is not Human, or Covenant, this is something different. Something that made both of their governments and worlds feel so small and almost unworthy… something forerunner and ancient. Expanding to The Throne itself was the curvature of the ring and it was behind the realm of reality it was very difficult to take in. This was very much beyond belief.

Life itself snapped back as the enemy Wraith was still lingering on the far side. Its sleek blue frame was hellishly alien as it stood as a wall of Covenant metal acting as a barrier to their path.

It roared in opposition firing its blue motors of thick plasmid death. They came down gracefully with impending doom, crashing into the earth and scaring the earth with black searing wounds. A mini crater of sorts formulated from each blast and each one nearing closer to the green UNSC tank with each adjustment.

Both Shyld and McKenzie were a little startled by the booming sounds around. Ears ringing from the explosions ravaging the sides. It was hard as they both squinted as even the blob of plasma was very blinding to look at directly.

The main cannon of the Scorpion turned in the direction of the Wraith. Gears shifted and moved out of place as the high-powered steering snapped it to its intended location.

Pointed down range, the long twelve-foot barrel ignited a shell from the canister. An orange fireball erupted from the metal creature as a shell the size of a knife. This knife-sized shell fires at almost a thousand feet per second. The tank itself rocked and the two marines onboard the tank gripped their ears in pain from the sharp ringing sound in them. It rattled their heads being so close to the blast, and they could feel the heat from the main cannon down their backs.

A huge white contrail was left in the wake as the shell penetrated the Wraith without delay or hesitation. Yellow sparks rippled off the blue hull of the Covenant tank. Purple fire erupted from the main cockpit, and the elite pilot inside breached the canopy at the top desperately trying to flee. He hopped out of his vehicle seeing it in flames and wrecked from a single blow from the UNSC, but it was no use.

Whirring up at the base side of the Scorpion's cannon was this chain cling. It grew louder and louder until death was unleashed. The Gatling gun from the side of the main function released peppered bullets in the general direction of the tank and fled the pilot. Bapping rocks and dust puffed into the air as the ground was mauled by the barrage. It scared everything it touched like a tsunami of bullets. The grace of death was sharp and painful.

Striking the armor of the blue elite it took only three shots to strip its shields. Tearing into the flesh it was completely undone by the power of the machine gun. A blue-purple-powered mist is what remained after the bullets destroyed the entire following of the thing. It fell over with a faint plea for help as the mangled corpse had its innards and body parts splattered into a puddle of blue goop in a twenty-foot bubble around the remains.

Both marines could not help but watch. They were speechless. Never before had they ever seen a creature so feared and hated by the entire UNSC be eliminated so quickly. After so many years of being hunted left and right by these elites, many thought they were straight-up immortal omens sent from hell that had taken on physical form (mostly thought of by a pocket of civilians). But this was an astounding sight. A deep and sickened grin came across both of their faces seeing something like that beholden to their very eyes. This moment of triumph however interrupted from the husked Covenant vehicle as it began to make noise. A buzzing build-up of sound that came as an origin of inorganic arose from the bowels of the flaming scrap metal. The climax occurred with a large blue explosion of shrapnel being sent high into the air like a volcanic eruption.

As the teal reflection of heat and smolder came off of the marine's faces they could not help but leap for joy in their souls.

Shyld himself stuck up his fist in the air shouting, "hell yeah!"

McKenzie, pondered this and stored it in her heart for future recovery as thought and well of the courageous oasis. She had never been much of a speaker, but more of a listener. Her thoughts however, deep and meaningful, were interrupted by the calling of her squadmate,

"Ya see that LC?!" said Shyld.

She responded, sort of softly not liking the display and quite rather trying to look away from the sight, "Yeah I did. Fuckn awesome."

Going past the grievous remains of the elite pilot, the tank rolled right over it. Whether it be purposeful by the Spartans or not it was still gross either way. The sound of a multi-thousand-pound war machine cranking over the guts and pieces of organic sent splooges of blood and goop everywhere splooging out the side of the treads. The undercarriage was painted in the ink of war by the blood of this Sangheili and it was not a pretty sight. Bones snapping and contorting and even added its sound that was strangely more noticeable than the tank's engine. It did not hesitate to push through the bag of meat. None of them felt any resistance going through the pile.

They turned to the side and a huge opening in the side of the mountain came to be only a few yards in front. Shaded and covered by the sun above the smooth tan cobblestone. Moss stretched and dangled down like vines from the almost cave entrance. It was wide enough to fit the Scorpion into, but barely. The dark-lit arcade had a long pathway that went up a ramp to their left, stretched with columns acting as support beams holding up the entire side.

Ascetic and very well put for how old this almost makeshift cavern is. Failed attempts to recreate this even by the oldest of humanities civilizations would pale in comparison to these structures.

Passing through the light tunnel came to an open area on the side of a mountain facing a tight valley. Another waterfall dripped down the side of the inside causing moisture to build up. Moss drifted from the ceiling like a forest upside. Rick's and boulders toppled perfectly in the shape of squares to a 1 by 1 ratio. It was so balanced and designed to perfection that it was marbling to wonder.

The sun sprinkled through enlightening all it embraced like a hug. It was warm on the face and gave an ominous glow. Moments like these often are overcome and do not last long.

Two Covenant Ghosts zipped around the corridor with fiendish intent. Plasma guns mapped plasma rounds to them at stifling speeds. Some hit the body of the tank and scared the hull, and some missed.

The two marines fired back with their weapons (both BR55 Battle Rifles). Triple bursts down range sparked small fiery bolts off the ghosts as metal hit metal. A second more delay before,

Another ear-splitting boom from the main Scorpion cannon. McKenzie could not help but drop her rifle to her lap as her hands were raised to cover both ears. The sharp ringing blinded the hearing as she could only watch as the Ghost was torn asunder by a single shell. It exploded in blue flames and swerved to the side (or whatever remained of the vehicle as there was so much debris it was hard to tell), slamming into the other Ghost. Both vehicles collided with the Sangheili plea of concern as they shifted directly into the wall with direct and violent force.

The two marines could only watch as they were folded with a powerful might never be seen by them. It was beautiful and spectacular to see such an unholy force as the Covenant was undone in this manner.

Rolling down the corridor to the next hallway and past the ghost wrecks was a squad of grunts. The complete helplessness seen by the waddling space penguins was very pathetic. They squealed and pleaded for life itself as they saw the metal monster roll into their habitation. They hid their best but the machine cannon unloaded on them like lambs to the slaughter. bright blue blood puffed like smoke, staining the walls of the ancient ruins, as bug-like limbs flew everywhere. Pleas in death and decay floated over one another as they echoed inside the walls of this structure (of course drowned out by the sounds of the main machine gun from the tank).

The smell of methane was so pungent that both the marines had to breathe through their mouths for a second. Even still the air was hot and heavy in their lungs as they passed by the corpses of the grunts.

Out in the corner not seen by any of them was a lone Red Sangheili Major. The berserker in a holy rage towards the tank on the far left side opposite to where the main cannon side was pointed.

"Hard to port!" exclaimed Shyld as he hip-fired his battle rifle to the major. Triple bursts of fireballs shocked the room as the Master Chief instinctually rotated the main tank cannon to the elite. Even Mckenzie turned her rifle to focus fire. Two rifles unleashed a barrage of kinetic fury on the elite, who did not even have a weapon in hand. Seven feet tall he closed the distance to the tank at uncanny speeds. Twice that of a normal human even at a full sprint. As the beast came closer, twenty yards and closing. Mckenzie saw something in his hand, a singular purple ball. It was very shiny and blingy as it caught the light around off its sheen. She knew what this was immediately and grabbed the shoulder of Shyld,

"Grenade!" she screamed. "move!"

It was too late. A fast underhand toss of a blue fireball came like an arching meteor. It stuck to the side of the hull of the tank for a second before the bling of sound got higher and higher pitched. In a moment of pause, it burst into a bright blinding light knocking both marines off the tank. It rocked the vehicle following the loudest boom at such close range that could have popped their eardrums out of their heads. They rolled around along the smooth cobblestone of the yellow ancient rubble for a moment opposite to one another.

As the blinding white turned to black, there was a sense of loss.


A city street rocked with death and destruction highlighting the true meaning of war. Dozens of bodies scattered around from ONI and Military Personnel as well as civilians, in destroyed and mangled states scaring the Planet herself could not even begin to think about such a carnage. Hailing over the communicator of scared and overwhelmed platoons of soldiers. It was muddied and hard to tell any basic communication over any sense of radio.

An entire city leveled and in rubbled flames, the sun itself blocked by the smog of death. Gunfire and the rolling thunder of artillery made their version of white noise, one of chaos. Covenant warships hovered now only a couple hundred yards above the city itself acting as an evil tyrant waiting to strike. Their size was oppressive and monstrous in their sleek and smooth statues. There was not a single UNSC starship anywhere to be seen, probably on that whole continent. Alone, gone, and very much stranded.

There were pockets of resistance here and there from soldiers and even civilians who took up arms against the Covenant Genocide.

One squad was hunkered down behind a downed warthog using it as a covered position. A squad of ODST's rallied behind the car taking fire from all sides, they were shooting in various directions to Covenant making their way to their position. The men make callouts to one another ducking down when fired upon and doing their best to return the revenge.

An ODST combat medic labeled McKenzie on their chest was on her knees going through her bag. Behind the marines barely there was not any sense of relief. As she rummaged she quickly stated, "I got you, I got you!"

This wounded little girl in a skirt with a piece of metal protruding from her stomach as blood oozed out the gaps. Her golden blonde hair was dirty and patchy. They were screaming and were in the greatest pain that they probably have ever felt. Mckenzie in her medic uniform was hunched over the little girl applying pressure to the wound with all of her might. She could not have been older than thirteen years old, so innocent in the thick of all this destruction.

Her red summer dress with white polka dots was tattered and worn. Tears in the dress came clean through to reveal a bloodied leg from the red liquid leaking from her belly and dripping down to her body. The booms of Covenant grenades and artillery began to overpower the surround sound as even the combat medic could not hear the responses from her patient.

She could not help but glance up as a pink needle let loose by the enemy found its way to the chest of one of the ODST's. Booming into his shoulder the six-inch barb was very much glowing inside of him as blood splattered out of its entrance. He dropped behind the cover wailing in pain. Compelled by the injury, the medic came over to his aid ignoring the girl (who still was in need). As she began to accompany his wounds going through her bag quickly another ODST was slain. A plasma blast to the face incinerated his stature and facial features were removed from existence. And replaced with a black tar and the smell of burning flesh and hair. Two ODST standing, it was a complete slaughter.

There was a massive white ultra-elite who approached their cover looking down at them with a sword in hand. With no hesitation or mercy, the elite cut the final-standing soldiers. Bodies mangled and cut into clean two pieces their corpses. Its heavy footsteps approached the wounded marine and girl with deadly dismay. It frowned looking down at their remaining humans in disgust and pity as these weaklings dared to stand in the presence of this mighty Sangheili. He took two steps closer, their blade only six feet from the three of them.

Mckenzie accepted her fate and closed her eyes. As she did, the life that she knew began to fade. It was not a "flash of life before her eyes," but the opposite. It faded away to the wind itself as she was ready to drift away. This was it, the end. She could hear the distant calls of her mother from the Throne Room of God calling her home, as well as all her family members, with fellow

soldiers who were preparing an extravagant feast for her.

She thought it was over from right there, the Covenant slaughter taking over Reach.


Alright guys! Thanks for the wait, this one took a while to get out cause I had some family stuff going on. Anyway, I'm back on schedule and we will keep a-rolling! I'm loving this story so far and I have so much in store for it. I hope you do too and this will be an unexpected ride!

Comments!

Fan4654 - I do too my guy! Thanks for commenting, your support means a lot! See ya in the next one!

Ernest.Shippinglane89 - yea I wanted to have some build-up beforehand because I feel as if most romance fanfictions have zero to hardly any emotional build and pardon the language go straight to the FUCKING part lmao. I like the character's journey and investment.

Again thanks for the support of this side project! I won't let you down and I will see you in the next one! Love you all!

~1DL1NG KN1GHT