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A Smart Grunt by Gruntsneedpity



A Story of a Grunt Epilogue
Date: 18 August 2004, 11:47 PM

Jub-Jub was new to the Covenant. He signed up at his home planet, Covenant Planent 05, the Grunt homeworld. The reason it is named Covenant Planet 05 is because the grunt race was taken over by the Covenant hundreds of years earlier. The avarage Grunt lived to be about 40 (because they were considered cannon fodder in the Covenant hierarchy). They had to sign up when they were 10.

Jub-Jub was heading into his first battle at a planet called "Reech". The Elite in charge of his squad, 'Mosana Gesya was also new to the force.

"Drop in 5 units!" shouted the pilot over the speaker in their dropship.

"I hope I don't die in this battle...I hope I don't die in this battle" Jub-Jub was thinking.

The dropship doors opened, he saw eight marines standing outside the dropship...

Jub-Jub's life flashed before his eyes. He remembered that day his brother was sent to the front line. He saw at least a thousand or more grunts standing outside the ship to be shipped out. He knew he was going to be in that situation.

One grunt broke from the croud. An elite, wearing a mask because of the methane, started to fire at the poor grunt. The grunt made it only 100 units before finally getting hit in the back. The elites started to laugh at this fool. He knew he wasn't going to do something as stupid as that.

The marines started to fire at the elite, because they knew he was the biggest threat. 'Mosana's shields flickered as he exited the ship. Jub-Jub drew his plasma pistol and started to fire at the marines. He saw one of them face him and start to fire his assault rifle.

Luckily, 'Mosana saw this and turned his rifle at the marine and shot him before the grunt would be killed.

"Be more careful you fool," he said as he pushed Jub-Jub down.

"Yes, excellency. I'm sorry for my mistake."

The two Jackals assinged to Jub-Jub's squad ran past him firing thier plasma pistols. He then saw a rock land right beside them...but realized it wasn't a rock.

"GET AWAY FROM THAT NOW!" he shouted at the jackals. Apparantly they weren't listening because milleseconds after that the "rock" blew them to little tiny pieces.

Jub-Jub saw that he and only nine grunts, four elites, and two jackals were left, and it looked like there were a lot more marines than them. He charged the marine line with an armed plasma grenade in one hand and his plasma pistol in the other. He threw the grenade at the largest concentration of marines he could see. When it landed beside them all of the marines jumped from cover into the open...

...then their mistake was met with a hail of plasma that melted eight marines. Jub-Jub quickly took cover and fired at the four remaining marine positions. He could only count 14 more marines' helments. He quickly motioned for the rest of his allies to come to his position.

All refused except for two grunts. He saw the bullets whiz past them and knew they were scared stiff. He wondered why the elite wouldnt come up and help them out.

"Okay, I need covering fire so I can get up the hill and get a top shot on them."

"Alright, good luck."

The two grunts started shooting, one armed with a pistol and the other armed with a needler, at the marines. Jub-Jub quickly ran for the hill to his right. The marines hadn't noticed because of the suppresion fire by the other grunts. He then saw the elite finally run up with the rest of the squad to his original position.

Jub-Jub settled behind a large rock and checked his right to make sure he wasn't getting flanked. He saw no one so he started to fire down on the marines. They quickly realized what was going on and fired back at him. He saw one of the "rocks" he saw earlier land right next to him...

Two little grunts are running in a frozen field: Jub-Jub and his brother, Keelop. They are rushing back to their homes and he sees his mother waiting for him at their doorway. She is angry because they were late for their ceremoney at the Church of the Prophets. They were to be determined if they go into the collective as a soldier or worker.

Jub-Jub was pulled back before the "rock" exploded. He looked back and saw that it was another grunt that saved his life.

"Thank you very much," said Jub-Jub,"I owe my life to you now."

"Nonsense. You'd probably done the same with me," said the grunt.

"That was the second time my life has flashed before my eyes today!" said Jub-Jub.

"No kiddin-"

He was shot in the back mid-sentence. He saw a marine lying on the ground,shot in the stomach, fire one last shot. The marine knew he hit the grunt fatally and gave one last smirk before he died. The grunt that had saved Jub-Jub's life had died right next to where his life was saved.

"I hate humans," Jub-Jub thought, "but it was the Prophets who started this war. Should I hate the people who started this war or the people who kills my race?"

"Pack up slime! We are leaving this planet," said 'Mosana.

"Yes, excellency."

The next day, he got onto a dropship that was headed back to the starship he was stationed on.



A Story of a Grunt Part One
Date: 19 August 2004, 9:27 PM

Jub-Jub remembered his combat expirience on the planet "Reech." He remembered that grunt that was shot in the back that had saved his life just units before.

He remembered the "rock" that had almost made him grunt soup. He knew he should keep the past behind him. It was only the beginning of the war (for him anyway).

Keelop was missing. His mother, father, and two of Keelop's friends were searching the ice forests to find him. Finally, one of Keelop's friends, Neeray, shouted saying he found him. They all ran to where Neeray was located. Keelop was sitting beside and ice tree balled up.


"What's the matter, Keelop?" asked his mother, who was conforting him.

"I have to go into the army in two days. I don't want to leave my family and friends around! I refuse to!" shouted Keelop in a rage.

"Wake up Jub-Jub!" said a voice, "We are going to go soon. Pack up your stuff and get ready in 15 units."

"Alright, Nawee. I'm coming."

Jub-Jub got off of his bed and walked to his equipment locker. He pulled out his armor and breathing aparatus and put them on. He had to go through two doors so none of the poisonous oxygen would get into his quarters and kill the rest of the grunts in there.

He walked to the meeting room and sat down at his seat designated for him. An elite wearing red armor walked to the front of the room and a holographic image appeared.

"This is an ancient artifact. We and 12 other ships are to go there and investigate it," said the elite.

Several elites in the room gave a smile. Jub-Jub and the other 54 grunts in the room knew it was honorable to the elites to go to a holy place.

"Silence! This artifact is in hostile hands. A human," he growled as he said human, "ship is in the area. It obviously came here by accident. Our first orders are to combat this ship and when it is destroyed, we go to the ring and search for any survivors. Fall out!"

All the elites left the room first, followed by the jackals, and then finally the grunts were allowed to leave.

THREE HOURS LATER

"All parties prepare to board the human ship!" said a voice over the intercom. "Covenent assigned to boarding crafts 254-319 report to ship."

Jub-Jub looked at his number he was given. It read 320. Good. He never wanted to go to that human ship in the first place. He knew the first boarders would take the ship.

Suddenly, the ship lurched and Jub-Jun lost his balance, and hit his head on the bulkhead to his left.

Jub-Jub is standing in line at the ship, The Truth and Reconciliation. He looked behind him at his family and sees that his mother is crying.

"Hurry up," said the elite that was herding the grunts onto the ship.

When he got into the ship the roof opened and 56 masks fell to the ground. That was a problem. Only 56 masks and 92 grunts.

"These are temporary breathing aparatuses. They only have 4 hours worth of methane for you to breath in. You must fight for them. Only 56 grunts in this room are going to walk out breathing. The rest of you are going to be dead," said the elite wearing an oxygen mask.

The methane in the room was turned off immediatly after he finished. The grunts were panicking and some were banging on the door they came into.

Jub-Jub awoke to the sound of footsteps rushing past him.

"What happened?" asked Jub-Jub to another grunt.

"We were hit and are going to the ring's surface for repairs. Orders are to get into evacuation pods to ensure survival of all the troops that get to one. We are to meet back at this ship when it has landed."

Jub-Jub ran to the nearest evacuation pod and saw that six grunts, two elites which were red and blue, and three jackals made it there already. He was the last passenger.

"All clear! Get us out of here!" the red elite ordered the pilot.

Jub-Jub felt a rumble and knew they had launched. He was hoping none of the humans had made it to the ring-world before them, but he never had the best of luck (except on Reach).

"We are touching down on the surface in four units! Prepare for a landing!" shouted the pilot.

"You heard him you dumb grunts! Strap up!" shouted the blue elite.

Jub-Jub strapped on his harness and closed his eyes as he braced for a hard landing...



A Story of a Grunt Part Two
Date: 23 August 2004, 11:19 PM

Jub-Jub was jolted forward very slightly. He opened one of his eyes and wondered if he was dead. The blue elite that was standing across from him was smiling.

"Dumb fool," he murmered.

"Round up the troops, Namelee! We need to get to the ship as quick as possible. All of our communication equipment is destroyed beyond repair. You see our situation," said the red elite,Hanwa, to Namelee.

Jub-Jub stepped out of the pod and looked around. They were in an ugly, brown plain. Jub-Jub scrinched his face at the ungliness.

"Yes, first commander," he said. "You, little grunt."

All the grunts looked up to see if the elite was talking to him, including Jub-Jub. Namelee was pointing to a grunt that was standing next to Jub-Jub. The grunt started to shake, not knowing what to expect.

"Come."

The grunt was too scared to move.

"NOW!"

The grunt moved forward with little steps. As he got closer to the elite, it seemed as if it was towering over the grunt. The grunt, too scared to move anymore, passed out.

Jub-Jub walked up to the elite. "Why not just send a jackal? They are better scouts than us grunts," he offered.

"Because you idiot, there are not as much jackals as there are grunts. And grunts are neither as important...they seem much more...expendable. I should kill you for questioning my orders. You have no place to."

"I'm sorry excellency, please don't kill me, it was just a mere suggestion."

All the grunts in the group were furious at what he just said, but they knew not to say anything because they knew they would be killed.

"Since you have attempted to excercise bravery, you can go on the scouting mission I was about to assign to the other grunt. If you are not back in 40 units, I will excecute the other grunt. Go now!"

"What do I do?" Jub-Jub asked.

"You are to find more forces, perhaps you will find another scout and if you do, report back to me. Now for the second time, MOVE!"

Jub-Jub was traveling for about 4 units until he came up on a small cliff with few bushes here and there. He hid in the bushes and look beyond it. He saw a but he couldn't tell if it was friend or foe so he ran back to the camp and started to look for the elite. The elite spotted him before Jub-Jub could tell him about the situation.

"Report."

"I have spotted activity beyond that cliff. It seemed to be another escape pod but I'm not sure if it was ally or enemy," he replied.

"Take a jackal with you and inspect the site, then tell us what you have discovered," Namelee said.

Jub-Jub recruited the closest jackal, named Yuert, and they went to the cliff Jub-Jub spotted them at. Yuert examined the camp and told Jub-Jub it was Covenant.

They returned back to their camp and told Namelee that the camp Jub-Jub had spotted was Covenant. The elite went to his commander.

"Sir, we have discovered a Covenant camp. Do you wish us to proceed to it?" he asked.

"Yes. We could use the help if we encounter any humans. Excellent work, Namelee. Perhaps I will request a promotion in your name," said Hanwa.

"Thank you."

They moved toward the cliff where the other Covenant forces were spotted. They decided to look for a passage off of the cliff.

"We will meet here in 40 units. If we do not find one, we will look again. Move out."

Hanwa took a squad and went right while Namelee took a squad and took the left.

Jub-Jub was stuck with his "favorite" elite, along with the grunt that had passed out.

Namelee seemed like he was annoyed because he was stuck with four grunts and a jackal. Two grunts wouldn't shut up, Dermvi and Gye, and the other two were eerily quiet, the grunt that had passed out, Perley, and Jub-Jub. Yuert was just plain wierd, he thought, looking around with it's twitchy head.

"There!" said Yuert. "There is a passage down the cliff."

"Excellent. Move to the rendezvous point."

Namelee's squad got back and waited for 20 units until Hanwa and his squad got back.

"Report."

"We have found a passage leading into the plain where the camp is. My squad is ready to move when you are."

"Excellent. Your squad has the front."

"Yes commander."

Namelee motioned his squad to move forward. They started to walk to the passage and Hanwa followed. When they got to the passage Namelee sent Jub-Jub forward again to check out the camp. He made contact with the highest ranking elite there, a gold one.

"We have soldiers about three units away. I will go get them," said Jub-Jub.

"Good. I will meet with the commander there, now hurry," said the elite.

Jub-Jub brought back the small force of Covenant to the newly discovered camp. Hanwa met with the gold elite and they discussed things that Jub-Jub was oblivious to. He quickly exploited this opportunity to get some rest and that he did.

Keelop and Jub-Jub are on thier way to the church and are awaiting the word on what class they are going to be. It turned out that both of them are going to be soldiers, unlike their father, who died in a mining accident on the elite homeworld. They found out when one of their father's friends told them of the accident. The Covenant didn't even bother to tell them themselves.

The lights in the methane tent Jub-Jub was in flickered on. He knew it was time to wake up and to travel...again. Suprisingly, Jub-Jub was a little bored, and wanted a little action. He thought about the time on Reach, the way his adrenaline was pumping, explosions and bullets all around him. That was kind of fun. Fun? How can this be?

"Gear up soldiers. We have a long day ahead of us. We are going to reinforce a platoon that was under heavy fire," said the highest ranking grunt. "I hope you all come out alive."

The newly comprised force, 7 elites, 19 jackals, and 33 grunts moved to reinforce the platoon. Jub-Jub was excited and yet scared. He didn't want to die.

********************
I hope you've enjoyed this series so far, and I will make some more. But if you have any questions, e-mail me because I can't right comments. But do write comments and suggestions in the forum thing. Thanx for reading!





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