"Good job Spartan," someone complimented over the COMs. "I saw that explosion from orbit."
Mar recognized the voice of his boss's boss instantly. Finally, the Shipmaster, Rtas 'Vadum, had arrived. And it was a package deal. Everyone in attendance knew that with the Shipmaster too came the Plague, his loyal bodyguard and personal killing machine.
He bellowed, "Find where the liar hides, so I may place my boot between his gums!"
"We'll know soon enough, Shipmaster," Commander Keys assured him.
Johnson was still in the Pelican providing overwatch for the ground crew, and so interjected, "Infantry on the spire! Mop 'em up!"
Wham! Wham! Wham!
Scorpion tank rounds slammed against the Cartographer building with force, and all the Humans converged on it. Chips Dubbo and the Demon had already taken off in the Warthog. None of it felt real. Mar turned and looked back at the Scarab remains.
Falzud...
Falzud had been a very formidable warrior. Of course, so were the rest of the hand-picked Elites in Mar's Special Operations lance, but there was a reason he had chosen Falzud to come with him on this mission. He'd was by far the most skilled when compared to the others and quite possibly, Mar himself. Now he was dead. Mar wanted so badly to trade places with him but simply couldn't, and knew deep down that it didn't matter how remorseful he felt. Nothing would bring Falzud back. Mar had gotten his best friend killed and would have to live with that for the rest of his life, however short it may be.
He died with honor, Mar.
He did. But he shouldn't have had to.
Mar lightly touched his ribs. One of them was definitely broken, but he'd dealt with worse in the past. Much worse. It wasn't even close to the pain he felt he deserved. He'd be okay for the time being. The Red Twin drew his sentinel beam and walked over to the Cartographer building.
I will avenge him. Starting now.