UNSC In Amber Clad Log
ENTRY 3
Soldiers
Private First-Class Dakota Perez
October 20th, 2552,
20:11 EAT {East Africa Time}
The scenery was beautiful. The jungle lay with low-hanging trees and tall skyscraper bushy tropical ones. Bushes ranging from knee height to over six feet tall are scattered around making the immense layer of unscathed madness that is Mother Nature seem impossible by vision. This was an artificial environment created by Halo, and the Forerunners And in fact, it was. It was almost impossible to see past the treeline. The jungle lost almost all light from the sky above; one could hardly see the all-encompassing ring that encircled the heavens above. It seemed beyond the perspective of any environment any human had seen in any world or colony within the entire United Earth Government. This was awe-striking and wonderful.
In the center of the steaming beauty was the giant tan and faded ancient structure. It had cracks and vines growing out of those cracks. Trees enclosed them telling of their age. Chiseled rock and stone carved by an artist who desired a true masterpiece lay scattered and ruined. Almost withered to the level of depth that one would expect of the legendary Atlantis, but its forested jungle cousin.
However, this one has a grizzly sight.
Bodies of both human marines and ODST and that of Covenant be stilled in his unholy rest of death. Blood ran through the stone staining it for the next eternity. Blue, purple, red, and green all mixed together in this one harmonious cord of death. Limbs scattered, blood still steaming in some places telling the battle was recent. This was gross and appalling to many, but to some, the desensitized, it was almost a sick and twisted sense of home. That to a true soldier, the battlefield was not just a dwelling, but a place of residence.
Two marines in spite of all of this sat on a huge, eroded stone. Chatting away with their weapons lowered and to the side vertically up against the cube of stone. It was Beuregard and Perez (last names displayed on their shoulders). Two marines draped in green, the uniform of the UNSC. Standard BDU, and a little dirty with the dirt around, these were not made to just be pretty, but to be worn.
"Jesus man we have been here by ourselves for a good ten minutes now," said Perez. Tan face and three-day fade coming in, especially to the area around his chin and lips.
Beauregard responded with an eyeroll, "Man Perez you don't know how to wait do you."
"I mean come on, two marines and a squad of six shock troopers left alone for an hour to defend this outpost that was Covie not even an hour ago. Then the troopers went off to fuck all and here we are. Of course I am worried."
"We will be fine, just stay put and just wait for them to come back."
"Just a 'routine clear'," he said, shaking his head and hands in disapproval.
Now Sergeant's/squad leads are not particularly supposed to poke at their squamates as some could see it as provoking or insinuating. However, in the time of war, especially this one, that rule of military tactics was hardly used in practice. Not like anything that could be considered as inappropriate, but like something that could jab at one's fellow mate. Funny enough, Beauregard was known for this. It was his pleasure in a way, a weird one that is for sure.
They sat in silence listening to the wind pass between the still treetops, birds of strange origin and decent squawking their songs. Of course, this was Halo, a world and ecosystem of animals arranged by the Forerunners and their ancient builder hands. From their careful crafting came the most powerful weapon that God himself would find deceitful. The cosmos groans at the blight to its skin like a scar that Halo created. In still, from simple beauty, came its own environment. The Forerunner's could have left Halo baron and without any sense of intrinsic nature. The station would have still been in operation either way. However, they did not. They chose a strange beauty of a lush capacity of jungled habits, golden deserts, and high mountains stretching their own ranges. Flowers, trees, and even the rock upon which all planets were grown if one was to look closely would see how all were from different areas of the known gap of space. Every corner of the Milky way that was inhabited with life the Forerunner's took something from each world, and transported them here, to this ring. Perfectly representing all of life in a twisted way.
Unknown was that both marines knew about this place. It bewildered them and they felt small in a way. Seeing the giant encapsulating ring circle around the entire atmosphere was something beyond the realm of reality, there was nothing like this in the history of space exploration. No one who was on the previous Halo escaped other than the Master Chief from what they were told, so what was on this one? Why was it so special? Questions that few could ever answer. Maybe the secrets of this installation die with its creators' intentions all those thousands of years ago.
Beauregard recollected his mind, and put words to the silence, "Probably would have been better with the Chief."
"What? Us?"
"No you. You'd get shot and used as a meat shield because you're a fucking idiot," slapping his helmet quickly, he pulled back and chuckled.
Perez too chuckled and laughed a bit about the thought. The comedic side of his CO was something he appreciated, keeping their mind off all the bodies and blood. Especially the smell. The smell was horrid. Freshly killed grunts have their methane sometimes still lodged in their breathing tanks, which creates the reeking inhale of rotting eggs. So pungent and thick the grunts can only breath proper and pure methane, making the smell the absolute worst. Mouth breathing would not even help as the rise stink would get into the nostrils somehow.
"I wonder how Shyld is doing with the new gal," said Beaurgard.
Perez laughed again, "She will be fine."
"Oh, so now you change your tune…" he quickly thought, "Wait, is this because she's Mexican?"
"Bro," Perez gave a sarcastic expression before slapping his shoulder, "you think I am some kind of racist?"
"Probably, you have been single your whole life. It has gotta be for some reason."
"Fuck you."
They both laughed again together, just having a good time amongst all the death around them. To most, this being civilians, the untainted, it was unbearable to even think about being in this environment was that of a haunting nightmare. But to them, the soldier, this was normal. Beyond that of a sense of oneness, but that it was a created mindset of just turning the chaos not into order, but to that of nothingness. The decay and destruction around soldiers are taunted to tunnel vision all aspects of it, to that of almost the recognition of its nonexistence. Applicably it echos off one another like a chamber which creates a deeper sense of comradery to most soldiers. This is exactly how a band of brother's form.
It is in death, there is brotherhood. It is in the desensitization for the now living that has passed. There is no order, it is the refusal to admit that there is chaos. It is the ignorant bliss of death, is what makes them whole.
Do not worry yall short chapter post as the transition between this chapter to the next makes more sense to divide it in two. Anyway next one coming in the next couple of days do not worry! Sorry for the late update I had a super busy summer with a lot happening and going on. 50 hour weeks are insane not gonna lie, makes it impossible to practically have any hobbies lol.
Anyway, I love this story and have thought deeply about it and will edit and add more descriptive themes here and there so stay tuned! I hope you all like this so far as much as I do. This little pet project has come a long ways so far in my mind to finally on paper.
Comments!
TheBobinat0r - thanks for the comment bro. It means a lot not gonna lie. But yea, Covenant was kind of obnoxious to write about when you think about it on a deep level.
Again, thanks for sticking with me through that HELL of a summer. Promise to write soon do not worry my BEAUOOOOTIFUL peeps! Until then, stay tuned!
~1DL1NG KN1GHT