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A Spartan's Path- Prologue
Date: 20 November 2003, 4:00 AM

A Spartan's Path
- Prologue
By: Myth



During the battle for Earth the last chance of victory, twenty eight SPARTAN II super soldiers were being transported to Earth with Four hundred ODST and marine regulars. While en route the battle squadron was engaged by Covenant Carriers and Destroyers. The Human ships fought hard and were somehow pushed just out of Sol when a ring world, installation 015 appeared in the eaves of Epsilon Eridani System the Halo floated. The two surviving human warships entered atmosphere and brought down their vessels with minimal damage, although the Covenant were flooding into the ship from every nook and cranny. One hundred and forty five marines survived, and only twelve Spartans were accounted for...the rest were lost when they entered atmosphere, most of the troopers were fighting near or in the lifeboat bays, when entering the assault boats were wrenched from their supports and tossed away along with all the combatants in the launch areas. Spartan Ryan 417 a.k.a. Myth was the lead Spartan with Zach 119 a.k.a. Ghost as second in command. The other ten included: Dragon 049, Sphinx 106, Viper 448, Cobra 115, Zero 000, Wraith 018, Arrow 093, Ace 014, Scythe 120, and Razor 248. The human ship "Swordsman" and the "Apache" lay two miles within each other...they had been serving as the main bases since the landing on Halo.
Myth ambled down a long corridor that was devoid of any Spartan or Marine other than himself. His black Mark VI armor gleamed with small splotches of his blood staining various places. Myth's helmet was held just under his arm and he was only armed with the standard UNSC M6D battle pistol. A wide plaza opened in front of the Spartan, with two marines crowding at a vending machine. Ryan passed them by and typed in a quick access code, opening his quarters. The medium sized room sported an armory closet, a normal closet, and his bunk, along with a desk supporting his laptop. Myth rested his helm on the desk and slid the pistol along it, unbuckling his gun belt. A combat message flashed across his computer, Ghost hit in a few keys. "Sir the Captain wants you at the bridge, ASAP." He typed. "Roger Zach, on my way." Ryan responded. Captain Pritchard sat in his command chair, looking over the swarm of HUDs flying over the main view screen. The bridge officers were rerouting most of their station's computers for battle tactics, castings, communications, and even weapon control. Forty 50mm auto cannons were still operational, along with the heavy MAG 90mm guns stationed in launch bays, the bow and aft, etc. Pritchard sighed and Spartan 417 and 119 entered the bridge. "Sir!" they stated in unison. "It's good to see you Spartans. Covenant ships are still arriving in system, along with endless wings of Banshees and Seraphs are the main focus of battle...though the 145 marines we have with the 12 Spartans, it might not be enough, and besides the ring is rumored to sport a more dangerous foe than the Covenant." The officer said. "Sir, permission to scan the ring for non-human life forms." Ghost interrupted. "Granted" Ghost walked to a vacant station and typed in a wave of commands. "Sir? I've got a few contacts, but only in the swamp sections of the ring." Ghost said. Pritchard turned to Myth. "Assemble a squad and what you need vehicle wise and move out." He said. Myth nodded swiftly and walked at a brisk speed from the bridge. Myth entered the Spartans training gym and called Dragon, Razor, and Sphinx. A fire team of ODST would watch their six. The short walk to the Spartans' armory rewarded Myth with a plasma rifle and an assault rifle. Dragon swiped a flamethrower and a M90 shotgun, Razor sheathed his duel plasma coated swords and took a plasma rifle for back up. Sphinx took up his M19 SSM rocket launcher and a mini gun, that was heavy gear but he could take it. Ghost walked in selecting a plasma rifle and assault rifle. The team made their way to the launch bay and awaited the ODST detachment. They arrived minutes latter, armed to the teeth with assault rifles and shotguns. A pelican dropship, scuffed and dented from escorting troops from three days hard fighting, swooped down only meters from Myth. Ryan jumped aboard, taking a seat at the edge of the troop bay helping two marines in. The other soldiers hopped aboard Echo 779, it swooped again back to its bay and two crewmen drove up a jungle class Warthog and attached it to the holds on the tail of the dropship. Flight Commander Jack Finn flew his bird out of the bay and into Halo's open air.
Thick eaves of jungle seemed to grow across the ground as the pelican flew overhead. Finn wrestled his controls and brought the ship down in a clearing several hundred meters from the installation. His load of troopers and Spartans bailed from his dropship and into the unknown swamp. Private First Class Chris Xavier was thankful that the day was only 0500 Zulu and not night. Chris was nervous but not frightened, there were five Spartans at his back, even though he was on point, he had backup on his six. A vacant Covenant dropship was set down directly outside the complex, he heard Johnson moan under his breath but the Sarge quieted him. Xavier took a deep breath and entered the complex.




To be continued
By: Myth


Guys, Shell shock will be completed but I don't know when. I like this one and will soon develop...hopefully an awesome series. Until chapter 2 or Shell Shock 5, bye.

A Spartan's Path- Chapter 2
Date: 24 November 2003, 3:19 PM

A Spartan's Path
- Chapter 1
By: Myth


The PFC in front of Myth shouldered his MA5B rifle and disappeared into the mist. Myth heard a yell and winced, raising his plasma rifle. The scream was cut short though, giving a hint that the private was still alive. Private Johnson fearless sprinted in after his buddy. Myth then heard something unsuspected, a laugh from Private Johnson. Ghost and Myth were even forced to sustain their laughs as they saw Xavier had tripped over a corpse of a Brute felled by an Elite's plasma saber. Civil war often occurred between the two species. Dragon helped the helljumper to his feet and walked to the far edge of the room, seeing no hatches or corridors, bashed through a steel grating or whatever kind of metal the aliens had placed there and discovered a lift that would carry the humans to the underground to the objective marker Kale, his AI had placed. Kale was busy with monitoring various things at the moment and when the Spartan wasn't in full armor, Ryan uploaded him into the Covenant battle net and let him screw things up in their caste. The humans piled aboard the lift and it descended deep into the complex. The lift stopped and the soldiers cautiously continued down a dark entrance. The room that waited was filled with Covenant. Shades were stationed at the doors, obviously something was here. With combined power from the Spartans and marines, the aliens fell without a prayer. The team continued into the next room to find it littered with Covenant corpses. Each body had gaping holes in their chest and their was no sign of the foe. Myth led the way across a light bridge and opened a hatch. The Spartan entered the rectangular room, it had two causeways in the center descending down to another hatch, but there was large windows looking into what appeared to be a containment center. A strange holo-board sat before the unbreakable windows, three silver armored Elites lay slain by the controls, "something is not right." The marines and the other Spartans were in the next room. Ryan held his breath and descended down one of the causeways....


A black clad Elite named Ridley 'Kamazee crushed the infection form under his boot, raising his plasma rifle for more when no more came. Ridley turned and called to the other squad of Elites behind him. They followed closely, none wanting to get lost with the Flood only a door behind them. The next room opened to present a massive battle between the Brutes and a dozen combat forms. Ridley found them a good distraction and sealed the hatch behind him and ran to the Phantom dropship hovering outside. The ten Elites filed in and 'Kamazee lied that was the last of our men in the complex and the pilot took off, leaving twenty Brutes to fight until they died.


Myth was about to open the hatch when gun fired flared outside. Ryan sprinted back up the ramp and bashed through the light blast door. The marines outside the containment room were battling down a mob of grotesques, more coming at the second. Dragon slung his shotgun and lit the room up with is flamethrower. The combat forms melted and panicked, and now Myth knew fire was the most effective. The humans sprinted from room to room until right when they got outside, a beam of red plasma washed over the entire complex, glassing the area instantly. "Finally, the covies do something right!" an Australian ODST shouted as the rest of the squad ran at full speed back to Echo 779. There she was, the dropship was right were they left it. Flight Commander Jack Finn helped the wounded aboard and got the heck out of there.
Echo 779 landed softly, its marines bailing out. The bay was safe and since Myth knew he would be reporting back anyway, he made the long walk to the bridge. On the way Ryan removed his helmet and tossed it on the bed, praying thanks to God that the creatures didn't escape...or did they? Ryan forced himself to type up the report on the mission and went to sleep.


Having the Flood on this ring already dealt with and the library sealed from anyone's entrance, now for the humans, and first battle for the ring. "But the super-soldiers" 'Kamazee thought. War would come swiftly to the vermin, and smite them down with a heavy fist. The Prophet's Honor was set down in the forests of Halo. In the battle above the ring, the warship was hit by a signal beacon while in the circumference of Halo. The systems temporally died and the ship was forced to touch down. Seven Banshees were assigned to fly cover, and ten Ghosts to secure the ground area, that wasn't exactly meant for the stationing of ground troops. The Hunter brothers Dwien and Trien stood just at the base of the gravity lift, four Covenant Elites stood just in front of him. Two ground transports pulled in, dropping off about fifteen wounded cobalt and scarlet clad Elites. Dwien raised his scanner that was attached to his arm mounted cannon a red beam stretched over the troopers; four of them had infected blood streams. Dwien blocked the four after the others had passed. He grunted signaling to stand closely together and regretfully fired his fuel rod gun. A stunned look sprang of the Field Officer's face as the four blue clad Elites were transformed into a pile of grotesque bone, blood, and innards. Dwien lowered his cannon and was thankful that the other wounded Elites had ascended to the ship before he annihilated the infected ones. A rookie blue Elite consulted with his data pad, finding all possible infections had been neutralized.


Myth charged his plasma rifle, and grabbed two magazines for his assault rifle. Ghost stood next to him doing the same thing. Razor and Scythe were sheathing plasma coated swords and donning plasma rifles, Dragon had his normal set, Sphinx had his favorite extended tubes M19 SSM, Zero had his MA2B along with two combat knifes, Arrow grabbed his two sniper rifles: S2 AM and a plasma extended range rifle, Ace had a similar set other than he carried a S4 AM, which packed a highly explosive round that could crack through Hunter armor with ease, he carried a M6D for close work, Wraith carried a M90 shotgun and a M6D. Viper and Cobra took the mini fuel rod guns and assault weapons. "My Spartans will not fall." Ryan said under his breath. Dragon assembled his squad, Ghost made his, and Myth chose his team. It included: Arrow, Scythe, Zero, and Viper. They ran outside to meet Covenant troopships landing the aliens only a few hundred meters from the "Apache" and closing. One of the U-shaped signal structures glowed bright red and exploded. Grass surrounded the crash site along with multiple trees, providing the marines with cover. A Ghost headed directly for Myth, his fist formed an iron shovel and punched into the nose. The hover sled tugged him along, until Ryan pulled himself upward, slinging into the cockpit engraving the pilot's head, the corpse tumbled from the vehicle and Myth found himself surrounded, without his squad, by Covenant. Furies of MA5B slugs were unleashed from his weapon. A Hunter that was dealing with two squirrelly marines turned and charged. All of a sudden its neck exploded in orange blood as Arrow stood right behind the corpse, S2 at his hip. Myth rewarded him with a thankful nod and went to assist Sphinx. The other Spartan was surrounded by Covenant and his empty launcher lay at his feet. He fired the mini at hip level cutting down the aliens at the waist and sometimes the chest. Myth knelt beside him and took careful aim at a Jackal approaching a marine. The assault weapon tore though the Jackal's weak body, and then the MA5B was thrown from his grasp. Ryan looked up to see a boastful Elite standing with a plasma saber at his neck. The heavenly sound of the XD4C mini gun echoed though the sky and cut the gold veteran in two. Myth brought his plasma rifle to bear and spotted Razor and Scythe easily, their ice blue swords flashing. Razor beheaded a Jackal, turned and jammed both plasma coated blades into a Hunter's chest plate and the walking tank fell without a scream. Scythe had a much different fighting style. He only carried a single blade, except in had a longer hilt, made for two hands. Both of these Spartans had loved and adored swordplay, so when time came for weapons, Chief Mendez took time out of normal training to advance these two's sword skills, Kale had helped with that. Myth continued fighting until he sighted his two snipers. Ace fired another H.E. round and Myth saw a Hunter's chest blossom open in a red-orange blast. Arrow was helping out the marines with the Elites. Myth then saw something he never expected. Easily seven Grunts threw themselves upon Ghost, which was fighting along with Zero. Arrow swung his rifle, but had no shot. Ryan's face was taken by horror as one Grunt primed a plasma grenade...



To be continued...
By: Myth

A Spartan's Path - chapter 3
Date: 24 November 2003, 3:21 PM

A Spartan's Path
- Chapter 3



       Ghost shook with a fury, trying to shake the kill thirsty devils off. Arrow fired his rifle from his chest, and blew the Grunts with the grenade into several pieces. Myth jumped off the drop, landed with a roll, and sprinted over, taking the gunner position in a marine's warthog. The LRV sped up and crunched a couple of Brutes. Then the walking tanks (Hunters) came into the fray. The beast raised its cannon and fired. The blast hit the 'hog right in the engine, the passenger flew out, but Hunter crushed him with the mastiff boot. Myth opened his eyes and saw the driver; his leg stuck under the dash board that had bent downward, digging into the leatherneck's leg. Ryan heard the man scream, trying to get his leg free. Ghost ran there quickly, after killing the Hunter with a sidearm he took off a dead human. Myth called: "MEDIC!" a medic sprinted over. The Spartan pushed up on the dashboard and the medic pulled the marine out. There was a deep cut in his thigh, and the armor was pressing into the wound. The medic slung the trooper over his shoulder and carried him out of the fray. A wide river now separated the two armies. Both exchanged projectiles and energy bolts. The familiar roar of an M90 shotgun was etched into the air as Wraith blew an Elite in two. Wraith and Sphinx were next to each other now, which meant mass death to the covenant.

       Rana 'Ralozee fitted into the silver battle armor, taking up his plasma pistol and two rifles. 'Ralozee had no religion, no faith in the Covenant, and no fear of the Prophets all of this was because he half human, his father was an Elite though his mother was a human. He was the sole rebel of the Elite. He had been somewhere between siding with the humans and being alone. One of the Spartans, or humans called "Myth" saw him kill a blue armored Elite and gave Rana a nod and passed him by. Ralozee kicked open a door and let loose a fury of plasma upon an approaching Brute. The animal yelped in pain and tumbled to the ground. The Elite ran by the body and through another hatch that led outside the Forerunner complex. A firing squad of Elites stood on the docking platform, one cobalt armored rookie fired at him. Rana exhausted one rifle and brought his elbow down, indenting the Elite's helm. The second rifle flared and knocked two Elites over the edge. The last Elite was clad in scarlet armor and held a needler, his shields flickering angrily. Ralozee threw up his fist and caught the Elite in the upper mandible. The trooper dropped the weapon and fell...down but far from out. Rana made a grab for his pistol but the red armored warrior tackled him down. The other Elite punched him twice then rolled him towards the cliff edge. Both of them fell. Rana made a final swing and clenched his claws onto the platform as the other Elite fell and shattered on the ground. Ralozee looked for a few seconds and pulled himself up. A Banshee rested nearby, down below by a river, with a grassy plain, along with two Elites guarding it; one was armed with a fuel rod gun and the other with a plasma lance. "No!" He said quietly. Ralozee took a plasma rifle off one of his victims and soon found a Ghost. The hover sled raced across the ground and soon found the Banshee. The Ghost flew over the aircraft and crushed the sword wielding Elite's skull. The other fired the fuel rod weapon. Ralozee was thrown to the ground and upholstered his plasma rifle. The rifle flared and the other Elite fell. Rana climbed aboard and took off.

       Myth knelt and fired rapidly at the opposing forces, his assault rifle reaping death with great numbers. Then Ryan caught a glimpse of a Reaper. The gun turret raved and set the log next to Spartan 417 ablaze. Myth forced himself to stay still as he took aim with the M19 jackhammer launcher that a corporal handed him. "Whoosh!" the tubes' force could knock over a young marine, but not a Spartan. The rocket flew true and destroyed the deadly gun. Wraith hit the dirt on his stomach along side him, looking over the other side of the river. "Let's rock n' roll marines, move in!" a sergeant yelled. Nearly twenty marines sprinted across the waist deep water, rifles raised. A Warthog pulled in front of Myth, driven by Dragon. Myth smiled under his visor and took the gunner seat; Arrow ran up and took passenger. "Show time!" Arrow yelled as Dragon stomped on the pedal. The all terrain vehicle braved the river and came out ahead of the marines. Myth bailed from the vehicle and saw nothing but terrain. A marine materialized next to him, the soldier's MA5B searched for a target. "Where the f*** did they go?" the noncom asked. "Don't know." Myth said truthfully. "Kale, where is my tracer?" he asked on his internal comm. system. "You took a hit in the left side of your helmet when your shields were down... I can't do anything right about it now." Kale said. "Dang." Myth muttered. Two marines crawled forward, both wielded M90 shotguns. 22 marines and 3 Spartans were in the, what looked to be a dead end. Ryan cautiously walked forward and touched the wall that blocked whatever was behind it. Myth pressed against it with his shoulder and it gave. An amazing scene awaited him. Grass, trees and even a stream flowed through the cavern. Two exo-suits a.k.a. Morotors stood on two mech. legs and mounted mini guns attached to the arms, waddled inside, its marine operators searching for a target. Myth dropped his plasma rifle and took up a fallen shotgun. Something wasn't right....

       Rana 'Ralozee landed his assault craft on the platform, bailed out and slaughtered a team of Grunts. The commander, a blue clad Elite retaliated but died trying. Rana grinned in accomplishment and continued towards the control room.
The control room of installation 015 was huge, much bigger than 04's. Catwalks jetted out from the main bridge, leading to various doors and control towers...one for every major structure. 'Ralozee's armor disguised him as any other Elite, even though he was half human, his body remained mostly Elite. Rana's hand slipped over the butt of the plasma rifle and slowly pulled it out. He started with the Elites. Plasma flowed from his reaping weapon; two of the aliens took blasts in the torso, forcing them to tumble into the abyss below. More of their kin opened up on him. The rebel Elite dove and primed a plasma grenade he stole off a dead Jackal, the explosive fused to an Elite's needler rifle, the alien's face turned to horror as 2 seconds ticked by...then 3. "BANG!" the remaining four Elites were engulfed when the needles in their buddy's needler erupted. Rana walked on forward, and dropped the depleted plasma rifle. He unsheathed his plasma pistol, and pressed it to the prophet's skull. Luckily, the control board was holographic, so the prophet's brains and blood didn't soil it. Ralozee sheathed the pistol without any expression, and went to work.

       Myth was right, Shade guns had killed most of the marines, but the morotors were still standing, firing with the minis. Everything in the way was converted to paste. When the battle was over the Spartans and marines emerged and found the marines suffered multiple injured troopers and 35 marines were slain. A troop carrier Warthog slid in and picked up seven marines, towing them back to the Apache, all and every one of the Spartans had depleted their ammunition, or energy core, if another attack force had come, the only weapon bearing Spartans would be Razor and Scythe. Myth and his Spartans were picked up by a pelican and transported to Bravo Base.
       Ryan 417 and his men bailed from the dropship and Myth slipped the shells into his shotgun. The Spartan had 48 rounds for the weapon, along with two magazines for his assault rifle. Ghost was the only other Spartan on this mission, the mission for control of the fastest route to Halo's control room.
A beach head grew in front of Flight Commander Jack Finn, his finger was rubbing against the trigger on the 70mm gun mounted on the chin of the ship. Covenant troops swarmed the beach, despite the limited ammo he was allowed on this flight, Jack fired and was rewarded with the slaughter of two Brutes and an Elite.

       Private Second Class Peter Reline sat in the Covenant torturing device; he could make out two pulsing blue lights on either temple that were driving him crazy. The marine was breathing heavily, tears welling in his eyes, seeing his squad mates lying dead on their torture devices. He could see a Grunt enter the room in his peripheral vision, then the Elite in golden armor. Peter had time to say: "Oh no, oh no please, NO!" seconds later the pleas were transformed into earsplitting screams...

       After one minute of battle the marines and two Spartans were making steady progress up the beach head.........



To be continued...
By: Myth

A Spartan's Path - chapter 4
Date: 4 December 2003, 3:27 PM

A Spartan's Path
-Chapter 4



       Staff Sergeant Jarred Douglas trudged up and mounds of sands on the beach head, his assault rifle barked as it peppered a Hunter's venerable back side. The beast fell and a Brute charged him. Douglas dropped the AR and put his shotgun into action. The M90 buckled as it gave the Brute a spread fire round in the face and neck. Jarred continued up the beach, jumping into artillery made foxholes, and popping up and slaughtering Covenant troops. The Sergeant led the assault up the beach head with only the Spartans ahead of him. Jarred dumped the shotgun dry and donned again his AR again. Private Xavier jumped up next to him, firing a standard issue assault weapon. The two marines advanced steadily and finally came to the end of the beach. The staff sergeant looked over his men to see none lost. Two pelicans swooped down. One dropped a M41 LRV assault vehicle, the other a troop carrier, with a mounted 30mm gun above the cab. Myth took the passenger seat in the assault hog and Ghost took the gunner position in the troop carrier. The second dropship then released a fresh squad of marines. The team was under command of Lance Corporal Gerick.
* * *
       Private Reline was only inches away from death, though he could vaguely make out plasma and bullet fire coming from outside the chamber. Most, if not all of Peter's face was drenched with blood, the bodies of his squad had been removed, but their blood still stained the devices. Then things looked up, the familiar roar of a LRV's engines growled outside, he heard the death call of several Elites, and then the explosion of the main door. The Golden armored Elite ran inside, he activated his plasma saber and Peter felt the warmth come closer until it was unbearably hot.
* * *
       Myth burst through the door of the Forerunner detention center to see an Elite ready to behead a captured marine. Myth's rifle raged as the golden armored commander fell under a steady tidal wave of bullets. Peter looked up to see a Spartan standing over him, MA5B at ready. Peter gave the soldier a brief smile and slipped into a coma. Myth emerged from the death chamber, the unconscious marine slung over his shoulder. Two marines knelt and covered him with their MA5Bs. Ryan set the marine into the troop carrier 'hog and it sped back to the LZ. Sergeant Douglas was covering his six while Myth trudged up the hill. The landing dock was held by four black clad Hunters. 417 showered the first with his assault weapon, seeing the well aimed rounds puncture the leathery orange skin. Its bond brother charged, swinging its shield like a massive club, the bulk smashed into Myth. Xavier and three other marines stood cover for the Spartan, seeing him smash into the tree next to him, which broke its roots and crashed to the ground. Ryan slowly brought himself to his feet, braking out his shotgun, seeing his AR bent and battered from the bash. Jarred rolled out from behind a rock and let loose a fury of assault rounds. Another noncom appeared and fired the tube of the M19 SSM rocket launcher. The Hunter disappeared into a shower of thick orange blood and warm meat. Ryan charged forward, hurling twin fragmentation grenades, distracting the aliens. Xavier and his men finished them with their weapons. Myth slowly slid extra shells into his M90 and proceeded into the complex. The hallway was short, but harbored some shotgun rounds and a brace of plasma weapons in the back. Also Ryan discovered two glowing green doorways...they seemed to have but solid wall behind through. Myth held his breath and entered the door...
* * *
       Rana 'Ralozee several commands to the main computer, hoping that he wasn't too late. A covenant war team consisting of 98 covenant soldiers entered the library, searching for the remainder of the Flood to gain total control of this ring, contact with that team was lost seventeen hours after their departure... Ralozee new the risks of the Flood, and if they escaped from library, which to no doubt of Rana's they would, the ring would fall to the Flood. Ralozee was even more worried that 565 Guilty Spark would find his "Reclaimer". He had to destroy Halo...
* * *
       Myth felt his body being torn to pieces and pasted back together within a fraction of a millisecond. Ryan 417 was now on the top of the island, looking onto the vast expanse. Two Banshees sat in front of him and two more of the attack craft on the opposite platform. Myth sprinted across the grassy plain, and then stumbled upon the entrance to the control center.
* * *
       'Ralozee typed in the second-to-last command when the main door began to open. Rana continued to type, pushing away the reality of a fresh wave of Covenant soldiers taking his life. The key was inches from his hand when an ice blue plasma steak whizzed centimeters from his skull. A fuel rod caliber gun wielding Grunt charged, Ralozee grabbed the gun with the Grunt still attached and fired the weapon dry into the mob. The Grunt made a accidental move and shot the weapon at the floor, killing himself and throwing Ralozee over the control panel. Even while Rana fell, he knew he had accomplished his mission, Halo would be destroyed and that was his mission, he knew the Flood would escape if he did anything else to stop them.
* * *
       Myth felt a slight wobble as what seemed to be something akin to the island sinking. "Holy Crap, let's get the heck outta here!" a marine screamed as he felt water begin to wash over his boots. "Granted, Myth said emerging again from the teleporter. The marines killed off most of the Covenant, and humped it back to the LZ. Corporal Gerick stood in knee deep water with the rest of his squad. Private Reline laid on the stretcher out of reach of the water. "Spartan 417 to Lieutenant Finn, need three pelicans here ASAP, island is sinking, repeat sinking, need immediate evacuation on the double." Myth ordered into his boom mike. "Roger that Myth, on my way." Jack responded. The trio of dropships appeared a few minutes later leaving the marines now in waist deep water. The pelican lowered down as far as possible and the marines started to file in. Minutes later, the island exploded and shifted into the water. "What the heck is happening Lieutenant?" Myth called to the pilot. "Heck if I know, we gotta get out of here!"
* * *
       All of the islands on the ring had now sunken. The 113 remaining marines stood in sharp lines, a Spartan in front of each line. Several company sergeants and First Lieutenant Jake Conley stood straight, assault rifle cradled his arms began to address his troops. "Men, we've had notice of the UNSC battleship "Athens" in position to pick up escape crafts off the ring. Bad news is, the Covenant still have ships on the other side, many of the crafts won't make it....Ops personnel have determined Halo is going to explode, if we don't leave soon we won't be. Anyone not willing to take this risk, step down." Conley stated. No one did. "All right, I'm glad to hear it, good luck people..." he concluded. Myth assembled his Spartans after the briefing. "All right Spartans, store up on weapons and be ready to move...if anyone doesn't make it, don't slow down, if we do then we would be loosing two Spartans, you read me soldiers?" He asked. "Sir, yes sir!" they said unison. "Now let's move out, double time!" Ryan ordered. Marines scurried across the deck, jumping into Warthogs and loading weapons, though all knew their only chance of survival would be in the pilot's hands. Explosions erupted outside, along with giant earth quakes. Then the unthinkable happened, the Flood were back...

To be continued...
-Myth

A Spartan's Path - chapter 5
Date: 9 December 2003, 3:54 PM

A Spartan's Path
- Chapter 5



       "Open firing!" a leatherneck ordered as the combat forms were crippled and torn apart by the MA5B slugs. Snipers on the hill sides made the difference in the battle; the cover provided the other troopers some hope of living. Chris Xavier held his rifle high, though only with 47 rounds remaining; he didn't hesitate to pump the combat forms full of lead. Strange hovering assault craft flew into the battle, red particle beams searing though the Flood. "What the heck are those things?" a noncom asked as he raised his shotgun. Myth lowered it as the humans watched the creatures burn under the lasers. The other Spartans had arrived, giving the marines a chance to fall back to the pelicans. Ace and Arrow were with the other snipers, pushing back the Flood, then came the infection forms. One S4 round from Ace took out hundreds of the monstrosities. One of them jumped high, landed square on the back of a marine's neck. The man screamed as the tendril drove straight through his armor and wrapped around his spinal cord, the screamed came to an abrupt stop and the body crumbled to the ground. "Everyone, fall back, fall back!" The Spartans covered the defender's six, as more and more Flood came, and the Sentinels started disappearing in twos. Covenant troopships sped overhead, but didn't attack, passing by and into the atmosphere. The first pelican appeared from the bay, sawing down combat forms at the waist with the 70mm chin mounted guns. The Flood fell back for a few seconds, allowing eight marines to pile into the dropship as it ascended towards the "Athens". Rocket launcher bearing marines finished the last of the strike force, marines dead: 17

       Myth sprinted inside, helping marines set up 50mm chain guns and pushing down containers and damaged computers for cover. Rocket jockeys and snipers lined the pelican racks, with the assault troopers down low on ground zero. Four more pelicans entered the atmosphere, leaving Myth with 12 Spartans and 72 marines. "Here they come!" a PFC yelled, opening up with his assault rifle, riddling the lead ex-Brute. Behind the grotesque were millions of infection forms. "FIRE!" Ghost ordered and hundreds popped. The some new breed of Flood came, a bulbous looking figure with a swollen body from the sternum up, along with a lower body that once belonged to a Jackal. A stray round struck the thing and it exploded, showering the area with wet flesh, spongy gore and infection forms. "Oh crap, pop those things before they get too close!" Ryan called. Marines acknowledged the order and a team of them focused on the carriers. Six pelicans remained...they needed nine. The last of the forms were disposed of and Myth signaled for the next two pelicans, now the marines, more eager to get off the ring, loaded 15 men in each.

       First Lieutenant Jake Conley held on to the supports of his seat in the most recent departing pelican. His eyes were glued to the view port of the pelican watching the four other dropships speed towards the "Athens". Suddenly, a steady beam of red plasma speared the dropship next to them. The craft then self destructed, nearly smashing into another. Conley winced and closed his eyes. Nervous noncoms sat about him, all of them clenching their harnesses.

       Razor sliced one combat form in two, and the next he beheaded. Scythe was next to him, using fierce and extremely fast combinations on the mobbing forms, so fast most Flood couldn't even raise their melee arms. The biggest quake had just hit, which felled most of the marines. Spartans covered the fallen troopers as they ran for the last pelican. Myth ignored the craft, cutting down the endless tide. An infection form leapt and landed right on Wraith's visor. The tendril broke off his helmet, revealing his bloody face. Wraith howled in pain as the tendril pierced his neck. For Myth, all sound drifted from his ears, a stunned look on his face. Wraith popped the form with his last strength and tumbled to the ground. "Nooooo!" Ryan screamed. Myth cradled the Spartan in his arms, Wraith's head lay back, limply, a strong face that would never change, and the Spartan was dead. Myth yelled a battle cry cutting down easily twenty Flood. Zero yelled to the other Spartans "We gotta get out of here...as of now!" The front line was littered with marines bodies. Dragon, Viper, Scythe, and Cobra covered the team. Viper jumped in front of Cobra, sacrificing himself for his fellow Spartan. The combat form stabbed the Spartan, and then shot him at point blank range with a captured shotgun. Scythe disappeared in a tidal wave of infection forms. Two more Spartans had just been killed, "Pull everyone back now!" Myth ordered. The Spartans filed into the pelican, along side the three last marines Dragon fell from a combat form whack, as did Sphinx. Ghost was feet away from the ship; he looked at the men inside who were motioning for him to get in, then at the two Spartans that would die soon. He turned and defended the Spartans. Myth slung Dragon and Sphinx over each shoulder dumping them into the dropship. "Ghost, we're in, let's go!" Zach nodded and turned, he parried two blows but was caught in the stomach, his helmet was already gone, and the melee arm without a body was stapled into his kidney. Ghost felt unimaginable pain as blood flowed from the breached armor, shields were gone and couldn't be recharged, and then the infection form grabbed his back. His fusion pack sparked and exploded and the tendril was still there. Ghost stared at the dropship, seeing Myth ahead screaming to him. Zach saw Ryan ready to get out but Ghost wouldn't let him die, Ghost ripped a fragmentation grenade off his belt and held it in the air. He could see Myth mouth "No" but no sound. He motioned for them to go and primed the grenade.


To be continued?

A Spartan's Path-chapter 6
Date: 13 December 2003, 3:53 PM

A Spartan's Path
- Chapter 6



       Conley eagerly watched the next pelican approach the "Athens". The craft wobbled and crashed into the bay. The marines bailed from it, and watched it explode, no men lost. "Thank God." Jake said, helping an injured man to a Warthog. "Where are the Spartans?" he asked the sergeant of the dropship. "I couldn't tell you sir; they were still on the front when our ship departed." The noncom responded. "But sir there was still one last dropship...."

       Myth felt tears welling in his eyes, for the first time in his life. The figure of Ghost... Zachary 119 was engulfed in a pillar of fire and shrapnel, taking nearly fifteen Flood with him. Myth smashed his fist against the atmospheric doors, denting them. The other Spartans were just as upset, but dared not show it. Most of them had lost most their weapons, and Myth's helmet was dented from a tentacle, but the only thing he really lost was four Spartans. He ejected the clip from his AR and dropped the weapon to the deck plates. A Banshee appeared on the pelican's port side. Myth stood upright, his hand shooting to his pistol hilt, all ready knowing it wouldn't any good though. The assault craft didn't fire but flew wing for the human craft. Myth's HUD flashed its name, serial number and rank across his visor; Jacobs, Michael: 120, First Sergeant. Razor was the first to speak, "Hey mate, Scythe made it out!" he said with his Australian accent. There was a duel cheer as the Spartans' burdens of grief were lessoned by the surprise of Mike's life. "First good news since we hit that rock..." Myth said letting his head hit the back of the seat. Halo then, deep in the black velvet of space behind the dropship, exploded, sending bits and pieces in every direction. The Spartans stood silently until one of the marines spoke; "Holy Crap, glad we didn't wait five more minutes!" he said cheerfully. The others gave a short laugh and then the pelican entered the gravity locks of the "Athens". Unfortunately, the Covenant had boarding parties in the ship already but they weren't even a nuisance compared to the ravaged lines of the Flood. Myth jumped off the ramp and was greeted by a few marines but he was focused on getting to the armory. After having Kale open a few restricted Covenant controlled areas of the ship, he found a firing squad of marines holding Covenant from a door. A red painted arrow on the floor read: ARMORY, with the explosion symbol they used. Ryan shot out the last few rounds of his pistol and secured the marines' position. "Thanks sir, we couldn't hold for much longer." Myth read the corporal's tag: CORP. THOMSON, BRETT. "Thomson, you and your squad follow me, I'll grab some weapons and then we'll get moving." Ryan said, jogging into the armory. This station was pretty well stocked, considering the amount of fighting. Myth swiped a few clips for his pistol, then pulled open one of the explosive racks, taking a M19 SSM launcher and a M90 shotgun, and eight frag grenades. Though with his helmet gone, shields wouldn't charge, Myth had to keep that in mind, still, the MJOLNIR armor was plenty of protection. The following hallway was filled with combat Elites. Covenant stationary energy shields protected the boarders' entrance of the ship. Ryan set down his shotgun quietly and took the launcher off his back, shouldering the weapon and took aim at the bay accepting another assault boat. The boat landed, showing two Hunters and three Brutes. The rocket flew and hit the lead Brute in the waist, igniting its plasma grenades and its mini fuel rod gun. The explosion was monumental, killing all in the boat and in the area around it. The craft flew from the supports sucking out nearly seven covies. The air lock cycled closed, leaving the covenant dead. The humans continued, until coming into the cryo-chamber, were several crewmen were trapped in the observation center and the main floor littered with marine bodies. The last 102mm rocket flew, and then Myth swapped it for a fallen marine's SMGs also leaving his empty pistol. "Corporal! Flank 'em from the main floor!" Myth said. 417 twirled both subs, firing, taking down Grunts and Jackals with the 5.78mm rounds. Myth ducked and rolled, then opened up with the assault weapons. 7.62mm slugs took down the last of the aliens. "Move it marines!" Myth ordered. The troopers hopped down from the overhang, sprinted through the last section of the ship. The mess hall was the only thing that stood in their way. The other Spartans had flipped tables and set up barricades defending the bridge. A team of ten marines were also there, but Scythe and Razor weren't accounted for. Myth riddled a gold armored Elite charging a wounded marine, then taking cover by Dragon. Thomson's squad entered from a blast door, catching the last of the aliens by surprise, killing off the rest of them. The mess hall was clear. Ryan left his Spartans there for now the next hallway revealed Razor and Scythe. Both had two plasma coated swords, dueling against three golden armored veterans of the Elite.

       Scythe swung one sword downward, clashing with the alien's plasma lance, jabbing forward with his second; action was carried out, sinking into the gold armored SOB's stomach, the Elite looked at the blade, then back at Scythe, uttering something between a death call and a battle cry. Scythe let go of the sword hilt, and whipped out his captured plasma rifle. The plasma round cycled into place within the rifle and ejected the energy blast. The Elite slumped down limply and Scythe tossed the rifle away. Razor slew the last of the Covenant troopers in the area. Scythe issued a nod to Myth, "all clear".

       Myth ran to the bridge blast door, which was guarded by a security team of marines, there was seven of them...three remained. Their dead had been lined up neatly, their ammo recovered. Myth nodded to the Lance Corporal, then had him open the door. Captain Fredrick Kemp stood, hands clasped behind his back, a M6D pistol buckled at his hip, a legion of campaign ribbons lined the top left of his deck uniform. The deck officer's appearance was near perfect, then to show the battle beaten Spartan Marine, who's once black MJOLNIR armor, now covered in blood, his two centimeter long brown hair lay down, a white scar running from his temple to the middle of his cheek. His SMG 900s were still in his hands, his assault weapon was nowhere in sight. The captain turned and greeted him with his rank and name. " Good to see you First Lieutenant Ryan Barkley." Ryan was used to "Myth" or "417" it had been a long time since he had been addressed by his last name. "Sir, all dropships from the ring have arrived...anyone else can't be waited for..." Myth lowered his head. Fredrick took a deep breath and knew he was right. "Where was your assault group heading?" Kemp asked. "Sol" Barkley murmured. "Very well...Richards, select a random exit vector, cover our tracks, we're headed home." The junior bridge officer gave the captain a strange questioning look, but turned back to his station, set the vector as ordered, then followed Cole Protocol and set coordinates for the Sol system. "Aye sir, we're on our way."

       Ship Master Kalle 'Ganamee intercepted the transmission of the human ship, then motioned to his bridge communications officer, a scarlet clad Elite, rose from his position and jogged up the ramp to the main command platform. 'Ganamee allowed the Elite a minute to patch his station through the mainframe and then contacted the superior ship master in the campaign for the human's home world.
       "Ship Master 'Ganamee to Superior Master 'Ralosee, approximate count of the human super soldiers is nine, they are headed to Earth, advise that they don't get there." He said. "Yes ship Master, I agree, they won't pass quadrant 4, I have three flagships and two carriers at my command, as for the other entry quadrants, the human ship shall not brake the atmosphere of the vermin's planet." The Master commented.

A Spartan's Path - chapter 7
Date: 15 December 2003, 4:44 AM

A Spartan's Path
- Chapter 7
Entering Sol System

       The "Athens" entered normal space just outside of Mars. Explosions stretched across the surface of the planet. Spartan Ryan "Myth" Barkley thought of the marines fighting against the Covenant forces planet side. The human warship was now clean of Covenant, though their battle was just beginning. Captain Fredrick Kemp gave Barkley leave for the drop bay.

       "First Lieutenant 417, sir!" The nine Spartans said. Myth's helmet was secured tightly to his suit, two holsters on his hips sported SMG 900s and he held a M90 shotgun in his hands. "All right Spartans, w we're going planet side, lock and load our RV point is at grid thirty two by forty four," Ryan said. "You read me Spartans?" they responded in unison: "Sir, yes sir!"
Myth took the short elevator ride to the forth dropship rack. A team of his marines was lined there smartly. Including the seemingly invincible PFC Chris Xavier, though now bearing with two proud arcs indicating Corporal on his left shoulder pad. His sergeant was next to the marine, wearing his sergeant's cap backwards, a M90 shotgun in his hands, a born to kill tattoo marked his right forearm. Two Australian marines stood next to them, one of them the team sniper, armed with an S2 AM and a M6D pistol, the other was their explosives expert, he carried a M19 SSM rocket launcher and the newly made battle rifle. The others carried light weaponry: assault rifles, SMG 900s, battle rifles and one bore a flamethrower and a shotgun slung over his shoulder. Myth smiled. "Entering Earth's defenses." Kale said. "What are you waiting for marines, let's go!" The sarge smiled and ordered them into the pelican. The atmospheric doors cycled closed, the humans pulled down their harnesses. Sergeant Miller locked his shotgun beneath his feet and pounded on the door to the cockpit: "go". Nine pelicans elevated from their racks, fed fuel to their engines, with Myth's dropship taking point. Myth jolted and rattled as the dropship sped at mock 3. Ryan could make out Covenant starships and then a flock of Longsword Interceptors flew wing for the drop craft. Wings and wings of Banshees swooped forward from a carrier. The Longswords ripped the agile craft to pieces. Myth pulled himself out of his seat, and opened the door to the cockpit. The co-pilot was busy navigating while the pilot: none other than Flight Commander Jack Finn was flying the ship while firing tow of the pelican's rocket pods. "Turn at 45 degrees!" Kale ordered Finn, which just dodged a mini cruiser trying to block the way. One of the pelicans didn't or couldn't pull up and smashed into the hull of the ship. Myth hoped that none of his Spartans were on that dropship. The squadron of human craft finally made it to Earth. The orbital MAC guns were blazing, Barkley saw a Covenant Destroyer take a hit from nose to tail. The pelicans jostled as they breached atmosphere, but finally made it through. Myth could make out the scenes of battles that were seemingly sewn into the ground. The scene below was South America, Brazil- Now the hottest war-zone on the God forsaken planet. The dropship continued, revealing to Myth a gigantic city, rising above clouds. The city base could not be seen, but it appeared to float. Ryan Barkley had never seen "humanity's dawn" as the marines called Earth when he was five years of age. The pelican touched down on the platform. Myth slammed the last shell into his shotgun and turned on the safety. Miller bailed out and led his team down a narrow causeway and to the lower level of Brazilia. Myth hesitated but chose the other path. Injured marines lined the drop zone, medics helping them into the pelican. Two red clad Elites emerged from an apartment door. The marines guarding it were cut down by the blue hot plasma, two medics reached for side arms but their faces were melted. Myth turned and fired the shotgun for the first alien. It took the barrage of bullets and stumbled backwards, the second fired a random shot and leapt behind a barricade. The blue bolt hit the shotgun in the barrel..."Holy Crap! How the heck did that happen?" Myth said out loud as he dropped the melted shotgun. He reached for his SMG 900s and threw sheets of slugs at the Elite.

       A void filled the mind of Spartan 119. With all his thought he couldn't picture what was happening. He made himself open his eyes, his right did so but his left couldn't open the left. He felt around the eye, and made the horrible discovery that the skin above the eye had melted over. The Spartan stood up; his armor charred and marked with three bloody holes punched in his side, though he couldn't feel it. His mind finally began responding to his thoughts. He was in a...Covenant cruiser! He shed his worthless armor, standing in a light jumpsuit. 119 searched the room for life, but only saw a few dead combat forms, but found what he was looking for; his helmet. He had survived by a combat form standing in front of the frag grenade, then another carried him here for what he feared most: infection. He sighted a dead cobalt armored Elite. 119 had no idea of his name, though he found a M6D pistol in his holster that had GHOST etched into the handle. Ghost pulled up the limp body and searched it for breaches; none. And shields appeared to be in operation. He pulled the armor off the corpse and regretfully slipped into it. The armor quickly slid on, the suit surged him with plasma electricity and the suit immediately molded to his shape. He favored the helmet that his eyes or now eye could see through, and the armor was as light as MJOLNIR and even a little more comfortable. His HUD translated to English (which amazed him) and his shields went live. He was alive and ready for anything around the next door. He reached down and pulled the M90 shotgun from the dead combat form. Pounding and weapons fire dented the door, tentacles and infected fingers slid through the crack, and tried to pry it open. "Bring it on you SOBs, you can't kill me, I've already died!" Then the door gave and enemy was upon the Spartan.


to be continued

A Spartan's Path - chapter 8
Date: 15 December 2003, 4:46 AM

A Spartan's Path
- Chapter 8


       The Spartan fired the SMGs again, ripping into a green shield bearing Jackal. Myth signaled to Finn to take off and sprinted down a ramp, then exposed to a massive battle. A firing squad of marines took refuge behind a wall, popping up when they were offered a shot. Myth took the opposite way of the marines killing two Grunts with the last of his ammo. He searched for weapons, finding a M6D pistol off a dead private's belt and also found a plasma rifle. A Ghost pinned the marines down on the other side, one tried to fire but plasma burned him down. Ryan slung the alien weapon and drew the pistol, firing it three times at the Ghost; the Jackal at the controls took rounds in the head then slumped out as the Ghost flew into a wall.

       The lead combat form was rewarded with a foot wide hole in its chest, as was the second. Ghost lowered the weapon to his hip and fired again taking the legs for two more of the combat forms. 119 hurled a plasma grenade down the corridor and heard wet flesh and limbs slash against the walls. Ghost dropped the empty shotgun and threw a metal fist into the next one's head. Ghost kicked down a few more, and then closed the blast door on a trio of them. Flood bodies covered the entrance to the room what looked to be a barracks. Ghost jogged to the end of the room to see a pile of Elites, Grunts, Jackals and Brutes, all dead and rotting, which appeared to have been there for awhile. Ghost took two plasma rifles and a needler then bashed through the next door. The next room harbored a Jackal being mutated into a carrier. The scene was gruesome, but Ghost didn't hesitate to kill them both. Then as if an answer to prayer, the ground was littered with Flood bodies, which had been armed to the teeth with human weaponry. He only took what would be extremely effective against the Flood. He pried a shotgun out of dead hands, also finding a rocket launcher under a ex-Brute body. He continued his search, finding five cartridges for his M90 and even a few extra tubes for the M19 SSM. The next room was the Counsel Room; it was extremely large, with the main floor, and two balconies. He stood on the first one. The floor below was swarming with Covenant, which held a braking door.

       Ground Field Officer Ishna 'Klazamee held a needler in one hand, a plasma rifle in the other, both aimed at the bursting blast door. Jackals were in front, shields up, all held plasma rifles, needlers, or plasma pistols. His fellow Elites were armed with anything the Covenant had left, plasma lances, needlers- anything. Grunts activated the energy stationary shields, and ran back to the balconies to man the Shade guns. The head prophet sat calmly, floating in an anti grav cart, the very prophet in charge of the HALO campaign. Ishna readied himself, seeing the door begin to brake. The lead combat form bashed through, bearing an over charging plasma pistol. Plasma and needles punctured the soft bodies of the Flood, tearing them apart. "Kill them all!" Klazamee ordered in the Covenant tongue. His needler blazed 17 projectiles, punctured, then detonated. He dropped the needler and drew his plasma sword. Flood melted under his sword's commanding flash. The purple needles flew and conquered. Then something- Klazamee didn't know what- smashed through the wall and killing several Elites with a massive shield. A fuel rod cannon was mounted onto the arm of the beast. An infected Hunter. Klazamee's hand shot to the human pistol buckled at his waist. He drew it, shot the infection in the back. The skin broke in a green splash, through the creature was not affected. A needler bearing Jackal filled the Hunter with the glassy needles, they exploded, and the Hunter toppled, though crushing the Jackal under its bulk.

       Ghost watched this battle from the balcony. He obtained a plasma sniper rifle off a dead Jackal, and assisted the Covenant as much as he could, knowing it was the right choice. More and more Flood flowed through the door, but he was astonished how the Covenant held them at bane. Finally the front lines were overthrown by the Flood. A sole Elite clad in golden armor, fought even through the deaths of his comrades, slicing down Flood with an ice blue blade. 119 dropped the depleted plasma weapon and jumped from the balcony, shotgun in hand. Holes appeared in the Flood lines, weapons with arms still attached sailed through the air. If the Covenant knew he was human, they didn't care.

       Lieutenant Jeremy Pearson of the 506th airborne jogged across the plain of what was left of Installation 015. The piece of Halo wasn't floating in space but holding steady, with a Covenant Cruiser docked along with a large Covenant space station. The 506th were the only survivors that weren't on the Swordsman or Apache. "Helljumpers, feet first into hell" was their slogan. Pearson and his men all wore helmets that covered their faces; their armor was black with camouflage fatigues underneath. Pearson had a MA2B slung over his shoulder, with a S2 AM in his hands. He had several snipers in his company, most of his other troopers carried shoguns and assault rifles, though Flood contact had been minimal since the ring's detonation, they wanted to be ready. Jeremy looked forward, then turned and signaled to the others to get low. The marines did so, readying their arsenals. There it was: The Prophet's Strength. A battle took place at the gravity lift, between the Flood and the Covenant. Pearson cursed and motioned to several snipers to get up here.
       "Sir, there's about 15 combat forms in that area, not to much, but I'd be careful." Lance Corporal Daniel Owens said, his S4 AM up and ready.
       "Noted, wait for my mark, I'm moving a squad up on the opposite hill, watch for my signal." Pearson replied.
       Jeremy reclined, and pointed to four of his snipers, the other five would stay with Owens. Pearson ran down the hill unnoticed, his SR at his hip, ready to fire at the first thing that looked in his direction. The sniper team made it without notice, all of them on their stomachs and ready to fire. Pearson raised the signaler and hit the button three times, sending the directly to Owens' HUD. Sniper rounds from the other hill crackled through the air, the highly explosive rounds cutting the combat forms in two. The company had two S4 AM bearing snipers; their explosive rounds detonated 10 milliseconds after impact. The S4 rounds made short work of the Flood. Soon after, the ground was clear of hostiles.

       Meanwhile on Earth, Myth had located one other Spartan: Zero. The two super-soldiers ran down the twisting streets of Brasilia. Zero took point MA2B in hand. The Spartan rolled behind a barricade as a plasma orb detonated only feet away from him. His shields flickered and died. Myth saw no movement what so ever from the Spartan. He raised his plasma rifles and fired; killing two Jackals and a Grunt. Zero removed his helmet and shook his head, gave Myth a thumb's up and replaced the helmet. The Spartans split up each tagging along with a team of marines. Staff Sergeant Colin Reinhart stood behind the Spartan Marine First Lieutenant. The street was filled with Covenant soldiers, and marines, It had been raining for 36 hours now, and most of the storm drains clogged with dead bodies, the water had risen to knee level, which played hell for fighting conditions. Myth trudged through the water, firing three round bursts at any hostile that showed itself.

       Ghost stood still, one hand on his knee, the other holding the shotgun with perfect balance. The alien Forerunner armor could take serious punishment if you used it correctly. The golden armored Elite placed a clawed hand on his shoulder; one Ghost had never felt before - a friendly one. The Spartan had a feeling that the alien knew he was human; the Elite stood a full foot taller than him. Ghost said something and it translated into the Elite tongue. He was beginning to favor this armor more than the MJOLNIR. The Elite handed him his energy sword in thanks and directed the human the way out quietly. Ghost gaited through the corridor, past an Elite helping one of his wounded brethren then it came to him that he had no idea where he was-regarding planet. The next room was inhabited by every kind of Flood form. A carrier waddled forward, as another dropped from the ceiling, both steadily advancing. Ghost raised an assault rifle in his left hand, his shotgun in the right. The cough of the shotgun killed one form, and the rattle of the assault weapon detonated the other. The last of the AR rounds finished the infection forms. He dropped the AR and cocked the action back on the shotgun. He slung the rifle and shouldered the heavy rocket launcher. The door sensed his presence and opened. Ghost grinned and fired a death sentence of 204mm rockets. The floor about 119 was slick with green blood. Ghost slung the launcher and stepped onto the gravity lift.

A Spartan's Path - chapter 9
Date: 15 December 2003, 4:47 AM

A Spartan's Path
- Chapter 9


       Lieutenant Jeremy Pearson crept down the hill side, assault rifle raised. One flood form stood up, but crippled under Pearson's rifle. He kicked the ravaged figure, which then appeared to be an ex-human. The dog tags were still around the combat form's neck they read: Patrick Downs. He had never hesitated to kill the infected humans, already knowing that they weren't the humans he had fought with, they were scum, they were Flood. Pearson's men then arrived in the valley. The Covenant ship's port side was suddenly lined with blue and orange explosions. The Covenant troopers there were tossed out of it like rag dolls. Owens could make out an Elite sailing through the air. A Banshee was destroyed by the explosions. Pearson lowered his binoculars and kept his sniper rifle where it was. A blue clad figure raced through the lavender beam called the gravity lift. It had the armor similar to the Covenant Elite, through had the body form of a human, the figure held a shotgun, no plasma weapon. Jeremy and his ODSTs still had their rifles ready. The figure held his M90 up as well, ready to fire at the first humans he had seen for what seemed like weeks.
       Ghost dropped the rifle just then. The marines stood expressionless sheltered by their helmets' visors. They slowly began lowering their weapons as they found he was human. Ghost's helmet lay under his arm, a KLAVEN combat knife in his other hand. The knife stretched 16 inches; it was definitely a knife worthy of combat. Pearson saluted to the Spartan and shook his hand, "Lieutenant Jeremy Pearson, 506th airborne, helljumper division." He said. "Spartan 119." Ghost said bluntly. Jeremy raised an eyebrow but welcomed the trooper into his men's ranks. A golden fire ball of metal arced gracefully over head, then smashed into the Covenant warship. A chain of explosions erupted across the ship, then began to brake its artificial gravity. Pearson yelled: "Let's get out of here!" His men didn't have to be told twice, they slung their weapons and broke at a sprint. Ghost lagged behind, covering the ODST division from any Covenant resistance. More of the golden fire balls flew into the enemy ship.

       'Klazamee saw eight of his soldiers fly out of a massive hole that appeared in the ship. He took another plasma lance off a dead commando and brought his attention back to the Flood. Two plasma lances etched strobes into the dark room, the bridge of this ship would never be taken when his kin defended it. Four other black armored Elites activated single swords, and the Elites on the command platform held needlers in one hand, swords in the other. Every accessible door into the bridge became dented with tentacle whips and bullet shells. The doors flew open, combat forms flowing as a flood into the bridge. Klazamee hoped the humans destroyed the ship soon...he threw his hand forward in a battle cry and charged straight into the door in front of him. Fazamee watched his master charge into the first door, as body parts, weapons and charred metal rotated around the Elite. The Flood form in front of Klazamee exploded in two, as did the second, his shields screamed as they died, never again would they recharge. The gold armored veteran beheaded four more forms before they pushed him back to the main room. Only three Elites remained alive. One was struck in the face with a human assault weapon, and another was branded with a plasma grenade. The Elite hurled its energy lance, which stapled two forms together, then went kamikaze and tackled nearly seven M19 SSM launcher wielding Flood forms. The Elite was successful in head locking a few Floods before the warrior was engulfed in the plasma blast. Three Elites remained, "BANG", two. The second to last Elite threw itself in front of Klazamee and was stabbed with five tentacle whips. The corpse fell and Klazamee primed his last grenade, it flew gracefully then detonating. The Flood combat forms in front of the last warrior disappeared and a white sheet stretched over the Elite's vision.

       The last MAC round, punished the Covenant ship to the ground. Pearson and his men were a fair distance away from the ship when Jeremy came face to barrel with a MA5B assault rifle. At first Pearson thought that it was a Flood combat form, but Jeremy heard a giddy voice of a marine private. "Wow, we got something human!" he said jokingly. He motioned behind him to four pelican dropships and two squads of marine regulars. The ODSTs and the Spartan filled the crafts, then the marines followed suit. Once in space the ODSTs and the Spartan were introduced to the Athens' brother; the Spartacus. The pelican scrolled into the bay and a few hours later they where on their way to Earth.

A Spartan's Path - Chapter 10
Date: 24 December 2003, 10:39 PM

~Author's Note
Dang, I made an error in one of my early stories; The First Lieutenant Ryan "Myth" Barkley is supposed to be a Master Sergeant, I just realized that the Master Chief is supposed to rank the younger Spartan, sorry guys, try to make do, Enjoy.

~End Note



~*six months later*~



       Danny 248 a.k.a. "Razor" swept his arm across the armory shelf, taking five fragmentation grenades. A team of marines stood on the docking racks just outside the armory, checking weapons and ammunition. He clipped the frags to his belt, and then reached for an assault rifle. His duel plasma coated swords rested in their sheaths attached to his back. The door was already opened, exposing several pelican dropships. The massive floor below sported MA808 MBT Scorpion tanks, M12 LRV Warthogs-both editions, and swarms of marines ready to leave the ship. The Threshold UNSC cruiser, edged toward the human planet. Earth, it was called, A thick weave of Covenant battle ships sat stationary, sending routes of troopships and Phantoms towards the surface. A few of the ring space stations were constructing more of the orbital MAC guns, but other than that, the UNSC was counting on recruiting marines and ODSTs from The planet called Cadia, another Reach like planet, in fact, its could pass as Reach's twin. The Cadians were skilled fighters, though not marines, these once pirates were allied with their human defenders. Rumor was that Cadia had, or was training another group of Spartans. Danny was returning from the lush planet and headed for Earth. MAC guns on the ship came alive, firing golden heavy shells into the Covenant ranks. A carrier was struck in one of its bulbous shuttle bays, which smashed into the main portion of the ship, which therefore detonated in a blue-white explosion. The UNSC cruiser accelerated and put itself into position for its dropships to disengage.
       Danny patted a marine sergeant on his shoulder, signaling it was show time. The name SGT. BLACKWELL, AJ was stenciled over his right pectoral. Another field officer was in charge of this mission, his name: Lt. Jeremy Pearson. Razor slapped back the charging lever, slid a fresh clip into his rifle and secured the weapon under his fusion pack. A team of marines sat ready, shotguns, assault rifles and some carried SMG 900s. One member carried the team's M19 SSM jackhammer rocket launcher. A door burst at the far end of the docking bay. Covenant mercenaries flowed into the bay. That was their downfall. One of the MA808 Scorpions turned its cannon barrel to the door, it fired, destroying the aliens and igniting several fuel canisters. "All right marines, that would be our cue, move it!" Blackwell ordered. His team saluted and ran into the drop craft. Another team of Covenant opened a door on Danny's docking rack. The Spartan unleashed both his blades and signaled for the marines to keep going. The swords glowed dull silver, slicing from side to side beheading two Elites. The third slung a vicious blow with its rifle, but Razor jammed both blades through its stomach. A sword wielding Elite charged, tackled and was set to kill the Spartan when the barrel of a M6D pistol was pressed to the Elites forehead. A muffled clap erupted from the weapon. Even the alien's energy shield couldn't protect him from that range. Razor looked up to see Flight Lieutenant Patrick Folly standing with a smoking pistol. Folly took his position in the pilot chair of the pelican and lifted off. A marine on the edge grabbed his hand and pulled him in. The pelican glided through the air, and then was joined by eight more and a wing of Longswords to fly cover. Danny put his pistol into its holster and looked out the window. Covenant warships were attempting to fall back into formation but the UNSC kept them at bane.

       Meanwhile on the surface of Earth, A team of Spartans stood in front of a human outpost. Kelly 087, John 117, Frederic 104, and Ryan 417 stood just outside a human outpost, location: Sydney, Australia. Kelly and Fred were some of the few survivors of Reach. John's and all of Earth's defenders' hopes were that Cadia would remain a secret to the Covenant. Ryan stood in attention, usually quiet around the veteran Spartans; of course, it wasn't that much of a change, seeing that he was usually fairly quiet. Myth's helmet rested sealed on his head, his MA5B slung over his shoulder. The three other Spartans had similar weapons. Frederic carried an M90 close assault shotgun; Kelly carried a battle rifle and an assault rifle, the Chief carried an M90 and two M6D pistols. A squad of marines bailed from troop carrier and headed into the jungle. "All right, Ryan and Fred, you head for the Covenant outpost with that marine team. Kelly and I will take the back route." John said over the SQUADCOM. Three acknowledgment lights winked in the Master Chief's HUD.
       Ryan led the way down the slender path. Frederic was in the rear, the marines in between. His assault weapon was up and ready. Foliage surrounded the humans. A Grunt popped out of some bushes and stumbled onto the trail. It squealed and reached for a communicator on its belt, before it could the marines had its head full of lead. The small alien keeled over, neon blue blood pooling at its body. After pushing through a few more trees, Myth raised his hand in a fist. Fred jogged up and saw the clearing with a decent sized outpost sitting on the far edge of it. Stationary energy shields surrounded the complex, and were guarded by five Shade guns. The sniper looking through his scope cursed and passed the rifle to the black clad Spartan. Myth saw the sniper's reaction cause. Behind each Shade, the Covenant had erected 'tents' or the Covie version anyway, barracks and even a vehicle yard sat at the far end. Two Banshees hovered overhead as well. Myth caught sight of a few Grunts head for the Shade turrets. Myth handed the rifle to Fred then back to the sniper. "Oh crap, we're screwed now, those Banshees and Shades are gonna tear us to pieces." A marine said. Fred waved forward the launcher wielding private. He then motioned to the sniper; "You boys stay here and cover us, Private Andrews: take out those Banshees." Fred said to the two men. He searched for Myth and found him on the side of a hill, concealed by foliage, pistol out. Two coughs erupted from the pistol. Two Grunts on patrol dropped in their tracks. Fred tapped him on the shoulder and he led the way down. The marines kept silent, battle rifles up and ready. Myth held his M6D at chest level, shot three more rounds taking out two Jackals.

       Ridley 'Garamee saw the Jackal atop a building tumble off it, two bullet pocks in his forehead. The Elite kicked the corpse and found the Jackal's brother with half its face blown off. "Kor, Bok, and Fawk, get here now!" The black clad Elite ordered. Three Spec Ops Jackals appeared in front of him. "Scout." He said curtly. Kor took his Needler off his belt; being the leader of his squad he also carried a cut down plasma sword. The others both donned their standard issue plasma pistols. The bird-like aliens hopped off the structure and waved their weapons from side to side, looking for a target. Kor and Fawk activated their energy shields, crouching behind the venerable Bok, who by Kor, was forced to go ahead with stealth. Kor's golden shield gleamed, his treasured Needler rifle resting in a groove of the shield that allowed firing.
       Bok walked forward his plasma pistol searching for a purpose. The Jackal noticed the heat rising around his paw. Bok calmly hit one button that settled the weapon down. The Jackal cursed as he saw traces of humans: three bullet casings. He wanted to fall back but kept going, intrigued by the tracks not usually made by a human marine. After finally allowing his head to drop and look to the ground, he felt his pistol being wrenched from his paw. A clap sounded and the Jackal tumbled backwards, dead. Kor activated his comm. "Bok? Are you there? Come in." he said in the Jackal tongue.

       Kelly stood over the corpse of a Covenant Jackal. The overcharged pistol fired and hit a lone tree, setting it ablaze. Covenant soldiers awoke from their tents, most not in armor. They waved their weapons in fury and fired upon the Chief and the other Spartan. The two humans opened up on the surrounding enemies, the aliens crumbled under the projectiles. A Banshee screamed overhead, John swore and fell back, firing his two pistols. His shotgun lay on the ground next to three dead covies. He turned the corner to see two Jackals. He fired, which struck the blue shield wielding creature in the forehead. The other turned and let loose a fury of glassy needles. The purple projectiles sprang and stuck into his armor. The Jackal dropped the weapon and activated an energy sword. It charged, but John issued it a full magazine into the creature. Fred and Ryan were on the other side of the outpost, firing at a crouch. The creatures charged firing wildly. The Spartans fired at the wave, cutting them down. A volley of 14.7mm blasts suddenly tore down the wave. Ryan threw his vision behind him to see a team of UNSC snipers standing atop a rock. Ryan smiled and finished the last of the aliens then walked further into the base. A Jackal was hiding behind one of the 'tents' holding one plasma grenade. Ryan jammed a combat knife into the base of the alien's skull and signaled to his squad mates he had found a door. He pushed through to see a deep valley lined with Covenant barracks's and two motor pools along with a landing platform. Two Spartans lay on their stomachs on top of a few overlooking rocks. On John's HUD they were tagged as Vince 093 or "Arrow" and Will 043. Both held sniper rifles, gazing through the 10x scopes, surveying the alien activities. Kelly braced herself between a rock and a wall, ready to fire. Ryan dropped to his knees and readied his MA5B. John 117 was along side him, both pistols' scopes at 2x. It was 0435 hours in the morning, and the Covenant was getting ready for something. Will's finger was on his trigger but restrained from firing. Wraith tanks hovered close to the ground, sluggishly moving into a vehicle dropship. Everyone down there was clad in jet black armor, Elites and Jackals climbed into Banshees and drifted gracefully through the dark sky. The Spartans saw an armory station on either side of the canyon which evidently held active camouflage generators, over shields, and a wealth of weapons. John signaled to Kelly and Fred. Both Spartans sneaked down a steep canyon wall and to the back of the complex. Two Grunts were curled up and asleep at their posts. Kelly snapped both their necks and drew a silenced pistol and a combat knife. Kelly scaled the wall and Fred slipped an armored hand over the control panel. The Spartan tore the panel off and grabbed a handful of wires and gave them a tug. The front doors slid shut, and Fred snapped back the action of his silenced M6D. Kelly dropped into the armory from the roof door and killed the Covenant inside. Fred pried open the door and slipped inside. The shelves on the right held plasma rifles, needlers, and below held plasma pistols, the shelves in the middle held camo generators, over shields and energy swords, and the last shelf to the left held plasma sniper weapons, fuel rod cannons and mini fuel blast guns. The room was packed to the brim. Fred checked his team's biometers; John, Kelly, and Will looked good. Vince had been hit a few times, some broken ribs and internal bleeding. Ryan was hurt pretty badly. He had barely ever said anything around the older Spartans, which included never complaining or informing them of an injury. He had had his left kidney severed by what looked to be a sword burn, and his right humorous was broken and his tibia was fractured. Fred signaled to a marine medic and pulled Myth into the armory. The young Spartan removed a piece of his armor and black-red blood spilled out of the wound. The Spartan removed his helmet and Fred could see traces of a wince hinted on the man's face. The medic removed a few more portions of the armor and opened the med pack. The marine raised a needle to his eye for inspection and eased it into the Spartan's side. Myth winced and the medic retrieved three canisters of bio foam and sealed several of the man's wounds. His humorous was gently lined up and his tibia set to place. The medic sealed the sections of removed armor and clipped up the med kit and jogged back up the hill.
       "Sergeant AJ Blackwell to the Master Chief-Operation Battle axe is a go!"

To be continued
By: Myth

A Spartan's Path - 11
Date: 24 December 2003, 10:41 PM

A Spartan's Path
Chapter 11
0412 hrs, March 9, 2553
Covenant Base

       the door of the Covenant armory burst open, plasma bolts sprang into the room. Ryan sat up and was nailed in the right pectoral and twitched and fell to the ground without a sound. SPARTAN-117, John, shook off the shock of the falling Spartan and turned and opened fire into the door entrance nothing appeared to be there until a slug hit home and the once clocked Elite stumbled to the ground, purple blood pooling at his body. Two more of the camouflaged veterans stood in the doorway. Wind brushed across their shield, they shimmered and glistened and then were killed by Fred and Kelly. SPARTAN-043, Will, slung Ryan over his shoulder, and held his Battle rifle in one hand. John signaled his Spartans to go. Fred hefted a fuel rod cannon over his shoulder and followed the others. The valley was filled with two squads of marines, along with plenty of Covenant to kill. Razor 248 led the charge, swords out. The silver blades gleamed in the early morning air. Will shot twice and his shots hit and he ran for the Phantoms. He laid SPARTAN-417 in what would have been the co-pilot seat and acquainted himself with the controls. The five marines still alive leapt into the troop bay, followed by the Spartans. Fred removed the MJOLNIR helmet from his head. John asked: "Did you plant them?" Referring to the kilo of explosives Fred had planted in the armory. Fred gave him a thumb's up as the armory below exploded in a huge blast. AA fire erupted from the ground and harassed the captured dropship. John held the unconscious Myth on the seat. Another blast hit and one of the marine's biometer flat-lined. John patted Will on the shoulder and pointed to a crashed Longsword. Will nodded and eased the alien controls up on the inverted board.

       Field Master 'Ganamee turned to confirm the noise behind him. He saw a Phantom and waved it in. The Elite returned, and motioned to his two Jackals to show the LZ for the dropship full of more Covenant. Ganamee pushed through a narrow opening and entered the human fighter. He eased opened a door to see one dead human sprawled on the ground in what the alien recognized to be a human Air force jumpsuit. He continued to the cockpit and found one pilot limp and his head resting on the controls, and the other lay in a puddle of blood, with a broken neck. He heard foot falls behind him. He turned and received a volley of 7.62mm rounds tore through his shields and then into his body. His armor was shredded and his bare skin was breached and his rib cage was broken. The Elite stumbled backwards and slid down the wall, leaving a thick trail of purple-black blood. The Elite relaxed his muscles and died sitting against the wall, his rifle out of reach and then died.

       Fred stood and ejected the clip from his assault rifle. He didn't care to put in a fresh mag and slung the rifle after thumbing the safety on. Fred collected three sets of dog tags and sat at the co-pilot chair next to the dead body sitting opposite. Fred reached an armored gauntlet under the dash and hit one button. A slender disk shot out and landed in his hand. "Gotcha." He said aloud. The blue plasma disk was the key to their operation. Earth was being overthrown, every human knew it. But on this disk was the coordinates to Cadia. ONI had confirmed that this had not gotten past two dead cloaked Elites, but Fred wasn't taking any chances. Cortana had briefed them that ONI wanted the disk back in one piece. Fred cursed at this, wishing he could crunch the thing right now. Fred jogged out of the Longsword and was pinned down by a sheet of plasma. Jackals and Elites fired from the jungle. His shields flinched as the super heated blasts smashed against them. The Phantom appeared then, firing its plasma cannon. Fred leapt up and caught Kelly's wrist. She pulled him up and Fred took his seat. Fred retrieved the disk from his data port and tossed it to John who plugged it into his helmet for Cortana.


2436 hours, March 10, 2553 (Military Calendar)
Aboard Pelican Dropship/
En route to ONI facility: "Stronghold"


       Will sat comfortably behind the controls of the Pelican they had acquired at an abandoned army outpost. Ryan-417 was still out but Kelly said he had been breathing more normally, and coming around. John looked at the ocean below, something didn't feel right. He pulled back the charging lever on his battle rifle but relaxed his arms. One of the marines stood at the door gun, half asleep, deep dark ovals haunted his eyes. The young soldier was suddenly wide awake when the scream of a Banshee filled the now midnight air. Blackwell and Pearson were ready, as were Thompson and Owens. The door gunner was Private Andrews. John, Fred and Kelly crouched on their seats and fired their weapons. Bullets pinged off harmlessly against the three Banshees that had melted into a rough flying "V". Plasma splashed across the hull. Andrews got a good shot in with the gun and the lead craft crippled and fluttered into the water. John hit something vital in the second and it immediately exploded and smashed into the third. John realized he was holding his breath and exhaled. The Master Chief pulled himself behind Kelly and Fred then grabbed hold of the cross sections and trudged into the cockpit. "Will!" He yelled over the noise of the engines. "What's our status and where the heck are we?" Will replied. "The Banshees got a fuel rod blast in the port engine, I lost it completely, and we're near Stronghold now, we're over the Mediterranean Sea!" He called back. John's shields flickered as a wall mounted panel exploded onto him. Sparks showered his display. John winked away the swarming black dots that clouded his vision.

       General Jacob Strauss sat silently as the ONI spooks bickered back and forth about the possibilities of the Covenant getting away with the disk that contained evidence of Cadia and its coordinates. Strauss trusted the Spartans to get their job done, he had seen it done many a time. Colonel Hicks debated against Admiral Lawler. A young MP then burst through the door, holding a bloody shoulder that leaked his midnight red blood onto the floor, half of the man's face was slicked with it also, in his free hand he held a MA2B. "Sirs, C-C-Covenant contacts outside, recommend you- The MP dropped as a blue streak of plasma seared through his back and out his chest. Blood foamed from his open mouth and he stumbled over, dead. Strauss stood, M6D in hand. A snarling red clad veteran Elite stood victoriously in the hallway. "Go!" Strauss ordered as he brought his pistol to bear. The Elite fired twice but missed. The third shot hit Colonel Hicks squarely in the center of his back. The man tried to scream but couldn't and stumbled over a chair. Strauss fired at the Elite's helmet; the HE rounds tore through the shields and struck home, knocking the alien down with a bullet between his eyes. The General lowered his pistol and holstered it, pausing to kneel down and retrieve the MP's dog tags and MA2B. Jacob pressed his back to a wall and peered down a hallway. Two British marines were holding a door closed. Major Anderson appeared from the door the offers had left from with three ODSTs at his back, he held a M90 shotgun at ready. Strauss nodded to the Helljumper officer and proceeded down the hallway. The two marines felt no punch and opened the door. A plasma grenade sailed through the air and fused to one of the marine's chest. The man couldn't do anything about it; the grenade detonated and vaporized the pair of troopers. Strauss cursed and fired a burst down the hallway where the grenade had flown. An Elite materialized out of thin air roaring at him. Two helljumpers crouched and fired their clips dry down the corridor; three Elites were riddled with 7.62mm slugs.

       Will called back to his team that this wasn't going to be a smooth landing. A cluster of Jackals in a phalanx guarding a force of rookie Elites appeared on Will's display. He clenched the controls with one hand and with the other he held Ryan in his seat. The pelican flew low and screeched against the ground. The group of covies were nothing but a speed bump for the sliding dropship. Four Shade guns turned their attention to the dropship and fired. Will shook off the jolt and saw the plasma begin to melt into the cockpit. SPARTAN-043 grabbed an edge of SPARTAN-417's armor and tugged him out of the cockpit, plasma melted everything behind them. William slung Ryan over his shoulder and carried him outside with a magnum pistol in his other hand. The magnum buckled and took a Grunt's head off. "Team! Perimeter fire, keep it tight, pattern Delta! We've gotta move inside!" Five acknowledgment lights winked blue, but Ryan's remained dark. A NAV point dropped on the entrance of the base. John shot two Grunts down and ran back towards that position. His Spartans had already formed into a half circle defending the door. John took his position and killed several of the aliens. The mountain that harbored Stronghold had been invaded. ONI and the Brass were both often here, which had made this place a prime target. John hit the button and the door sealed the Chief threw an iron hard punch and disabled the systems. The corridors were darks and smeared with red blood and an occasional splatter of blue, purple or various other alien bloods. A dead officer sat slumped against one of the walls of a conference room. John walked cautiously down the corridor, a thick trail of red blood stained the floor, the lights were out, only the Spartan's helmet lamps cut through the darkness. John saw the trail end at a headless body of who was identified to be Admiral Lawler, the commander of the space operation to save earth, he is extremely valuable to the UNSC, or now was. John directed his vision down the hallway. The ground was littered with two bodies that had belonged to UNSC marines, and another figure stood alone. It appeared like a Brute but different. Its face was similar to human, though broader, its skin was black-red, and a thick scar ran down the center of its face- black blood still appeared. It was armor heavily and held a captured assault rifle and then John realized what it was holding in its left hand: The head of Admiral Lawler.

To be continued...

A Spartan's Path - chapter 12
Date: 11 January 2004, 12:22 AM

0156 hours, (Military Calendar)
Dublin, Ireland
UNSC ONI "Stronghold" base
Level three underground = STATUS: under attack



       John rolled out of the way of a hail of armor piecing rounds that the creature unleashed. Will fired a burst which threw the thing back two steps. Kelly knelt next to him and they both fired out their magazines. The alien roared and raised a fragmentation grenade. It threw the explosive into the Spartan line. "Everybody down!" the Chief ordered. Shrapnel rocketed out in every direction. John rose with his rifle up. His motion tracer read clear, save the green blots indicating friendlies. "Cortana, Active camouflage?" he asked. "No, he's gone." She replied. John took several steps forward. The head of the admiral had been dropped, if any other person was in his position, they would have probably vomited and looked away, but John showed no emotion even under his helmet. He had seen much worse: the Flood. The Spartan turned and crouched at the ravaged body of the man. It had been searched; a few key cards and his sidearm had been thrown aside. "It didn't find what it was looking for, but I fear that other officers will be in danger." Cortana warned. John knew what it was looking for, and he had it. The coordinates were safe. "What was it anyway?" John asked. "Unknown, somewhere close to a Brute, but obviously a bounty hunter." Will sat against a wall, clutching his shoulder, blood pooling around him. John then saw a decent sized shard of shrapnel embedded into his shoulder. John locked eyes with Will and he nodded. The Chief took hold of the shard and tugged it free. A spurt of blood flew from his arm, and Kelly filled him up with biofoam. Two black armored Elites appeared down the corridor. Plasma lanced across the hallway, pinning the Spartans down with the super heated bolts. A plasma grenade primed and sailed through the air, landing squarely on SPARTAN-248's face plate. Danny's hands scratched against the explosive. Fred reached over and peeled it off, but it exploded before he could throw it. Both Spartans were thrown against the wall, gel from the MJOLNIR and blood spraying along it. Ryan opened his eyes to see his shields down to zero, the indication bar blinking and beeping red. He reached for his assault rifle and let loose a fury of armor piecing rounds into the two veterans. One fell, then the other simply disappeared without a shimmer. The wall behind the aliens was slicked with purple-black blood. SPARTAN-417 saw a brief ripple in the air; he unclipped a frag grenade off his belt and rolled it toward the shimmer. An ice blue energy sword gleamed in the air and the Elite charged, though walking right over the frag, it disappeared in a pillar of shrapnel. John crouched by Fred, his shields were permanently disabled, a few breaches in his armor but he would live, Daniel however lay sprawled across the floor in a large puddle of dark red blood. His bio meter had flat lined. John opened the fusion pack and connected a few wires, then activated the fail safe. Ryan stared at Razor's body, then looked away and jogged down the hall. A General and a few lieutenants crouched behind a barrier, popping up to fire their pistols when they could.

       General Strauss stood and fired four quick rounds then ducked. The other junior officers stood and fired off their clips, though two suffered rounds of plasma to their torsos and heads. Strauss cursed and edged his way around the barrier. He found himself in the conference room again, stepping over the dead body of the MP. Hicks lay face first on the floor, Strauss turned him over. A large hole sat where his heart was, blood weeping from it. Strauss dropped the man, and recovered his sidearm. The door the other officers used for escape was smeared with red blood. This worried Strauss, he peered down the corridor. All of the officers that 'escaped' from the conference room lay dead, littered down the way. Strauss cursed and jogged down the hallway, M6D pistol sweeping the narrow space. A flight of stairs was at the end of the corridor, the hangers were there and probably evacuating quickly. Huge holes were ripped through the conduit and ceilings above him. All of a sudden, a large creature landed in front of him. An assault rifle was hung at the thing's hip and it fired. Strauss leapt out of the way though catching a painful round in the shoulder. He winced and fired twice, then took cover. The bounty hunter Covenant alien cautiously approached Strauss's hiding, a plasma grenade clutched in his left hand. Strauss held his breath. Two Spartans appeared at the bottom of the stairs and fired assault rifles The bounty hunter flinched twice and primed the plasma grenade sticking it to its chest and it sprinted towards the two super soldiers. A third Spartan ran down the stairs, stopped half way and fired his sniper rifle from his hip. The blast detonated the grenade and killed the strange creature. The soldiers waved him forward and walked into the hanger. Strauss reached the top of the stairs to see six Spartans sitting in a pelican dropship, ready for evac. Strauss nodded to SPARTAN-117 in thanks and took one last look at the complex before the pilot brought the pelican away from the base. The structure appeared smaller and smaller and then it was engulfed in long chains of blue-white explosions. The time for the human race was drawing to a close, marine reserves were dangerously low, and the Covenant had somehow found out about Cadia, thus not yet found it, Earth would fall, and nothing would impede the vicious juggernaut of the Covenant armada...



To be continued...

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