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OSIRIS XIII 01: SHADOWS OF THE SWORD by TheRedFaction
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OSIRIS XIII 01: SHADOWS OF THE SWORD
Date: 5 April 2003, 3:09 AM
The year was 2557. The Covenant, a race of religious aliens, has returned to wage war on humanity once more. They have returned, however, smarter, faster, and more advanced than ever before. On their side is a secret weapon: the AHGEW, or an Anti-Human Genetically Enhanced Warrior. This new soldier is called the Massumune. The genetic combination of the strength of a Hunter, the intelligence of an Elite, the covert abilities of a Jackal, and the gas mask of a Grunt led to its creation.
However, humanity also has something new: Osiris XIII, thirteen elite super warriors with the intelligence, strength, and combat abilities of five SPARTANs each. They serve humanity as part of the Marine Core under the covert organization Osiris. Two new super powers going head to head for the first time. For one of them, however, it will also be the last.
Osiris
From a distance, Halo appears as through it is the home of a mysterious race that poses no harm to anything in the universe. Of course, anyone who may assume this is horribly wrong.
Osiris I
"Wake up, Lawrence. It's six-thirty Earth time so get out of bed."
Ugh…AI can be such an intrusion. Lawrence pretended he didn't hear the soft voice that rang into his head. AI was designed to help us, not drive us crazy.
"Lawrence. Captain calls briefing in ten minutes. He demands the presence of Osiris I."
Osiris I? Why do they call me that? It's my call sign, not my name. Lawrence continued to pretend he was asleep.
"Lawrence, you seem to forget that my sensors are indicating that you are fully conscious and your energy level is at normal."
Stupid sensors. "Fine. Tell the Captain I'll be there in ten."
"Will do, Lawrence." Silence.
"This is 343 Guilty Spark Correspondence. Captain Lander has called briefing in ten minutes. The presence of Osiris XIII is demanded. Thank you."
The Captain stood while Osiris XIII remained seated at a large table. The Captain had a holographic projection screen behind him and was busy indicating locations on it.
"Three days ago, a special forces squad was sent down to Halo for classified reasons. However, at nineteen hundred hours and thirty-seven minutes on their first day, their transport was downed by an enemy missile. Intelligence reports show that the transport was downed by a missile from this location."
The holographic image displayed a blurry satellite photo of a dense forest. In the middle of the forest was a large compound with a missile battery mounted on the top.
"We believe that this is the source of the anti-aircraft missile. Although this photo is several days old, the compound is still in working condition. Of course, such a weapon poses a large threat to our forces. Questions?"
A single hand went into the air. "Yes."
"You say this poses a threat to our forces. Can we not destroy the system with our long-range air to surface missiles? Even from the ship, can't we take this thing out?"
The Captain looked down, swaying a little. He looked at the ceiling, the lights shining down at his face. "Our ship to surface missiles are capable of destroying targets on distant locations. Halo is well within our reach. However, this system's exact location is not known."
That last sentence raised a few eyebrows. "What do you mean, Captain?"
He continued by saying. "The system is stealth and our satellites are blocked from locating it exactly. We had to scan the surface for this image. The Covenant have developed a sort of blocking device that deletes the known coordinates of a vital location. This system is called Angoron. We do not know where it was developed, where it is uploaded from, and how exactly to eliminate it."
The soldiers glanced at one another, exchanging expressions.
"Therefore, we will need this system to be destroyed. Then we can focus on Angoron's broadcasting location and have it destroyed."
"And you need us to do this?"
"Exactly. We will be launching a search for the compound, have it destroyed, then extract you all and investigate Angoron."
Nothing came from anyone. "Questions?"
Still silence hung in the room. The only sound was of the light breathing from everybody.
"Very well. Launch is tomorrow. Good luck." With a smile and nod, the Captain left the room, the holo image still focusing on the compound with the words 'DESTRUCTION IS VITAL' flickering above it.
Sunday. September 19, 2557// Military Calendar.
"Osiris XIII, report to docking bay immediately."
Thirteen men and women, dressed in battle suits, approached the docking bay airlock. They each carried a semi-automatic MA5B rifle.
"Osiris XIII on deck. Board immediately. Good luck."
Lawrence laughs to himself. Luck, huh? Luck. If it's luck we need, then we'd have lost before.
The seat restraints pressed against Jennifer, who went under the call sign Osiris II. She quickly checked to make sure her rifle was loaded just before a robotic arm clutched it and locked it into position behind her.
"Launch in thirty seconds. Shields engaged. Power level maintaining at ten. Clear the docking bay."
The hatch on the rear end of the Penetrator cruise transport slowly shut with a hiss. It then locked; seven iron bolts slapping down into position on the door.
An automated voice came through the transport: "Launch in twenty seconds. Cabin pressure set to Halo standards."
Here we go.
"Launch in fifteen seconds."
Trevor, referred to as Osiris III, closed his eyes gently. His rifle was also snatched from his death grip and locked into a special storage container behind him.
"Ten…"
Everyone grasped their restraints and held on like there was no tomorrow.
"Nine…"
"Eight…"
"Seven…"
"Six…"
"Five…"
"Four…"
"Three…"
"Two…"
One never came. It was quickly drowned out by the roar of the engines as they fired full throttle. The Penetrator rumbled as it slid out of the bay and blasted into the silent vacuum of space and was fired towards Halo.
"We are inbound, vector 180. Halo is approximately two hundred kilometers away and closing."
"Copy. Impact in five minutes."
The Penetrator closed in on the chaotic world before it, heating up as the upper Halo atmosphere consumed it. It blasted through the atmosphere, absorbing most of the heat that surrounded it. The clouds below closed in as the Surface drew nearer…
A single Grunt, still sleepy in the early morning light, reached into the ocean as it washed against him. He felt for a fish or clam or something to eat. The clouds hung low, only a few hundred feet above the Surface. The tranquil air was suddenly filled with the Grunt's scream as a black shape ripped through the cloud layer and instantly impacted with the ocean, submerged immediately by the salty waters. Waves from the impact pounded the shoreline, soaking a befuddled Grunt.
"Surfacing. Rafts deploying now."
A hissing sound surrounded the transport, followed by an army of bubbles, eager to find air. A long tube-like raft inflated on both the port and starboard side, stopping the ship's decent and bringing it to the Surface.
"Osiris Infinity, this is Osiris XIII reporting from the Surface. We have landed successfully in the Kara Ocean and are bound for the water'' surface. Over.""
Silence followed. Then, "Copy, Osiris XIII, we have confirmation. Proceed."
Two lifeboats were loaded with the members of Osiris XIII. They were sealed from the ship, which was still on its way to the surface. The doors locked, and they jettisoned from the transport, one after the other, tearing into the abyss and heading for the shore.
The Grunt was still staring at the water that lay out before him when two smaller black shapes plowed onto the beaches, leaving behind a trench in which the ocean flooded quickly. The doors hissed open, and out spilled thirteen humans, each armed. The Grunt shrieked and tore into the tropical forests behind him, flailing his arms wildly. The human soldiers opened fire on it, innocent or not, as it fled. It fell quickly before the onslaught of bullets. Then, as the Grunt lay lifeless on the beach, they silently continued. They hadn't made it a hundred feet into the forest when the Penetrator, now afloat in the ocean, suddenly burst into flames, debris flying in every direction. Their transport was now lost, as was radio contact with the Infinity.
Then, as if things couldn't get anything worse, the sound of a Covenant task force closing in on their location filled the crisp morning air.
"We're in trouble."
Next: Osiris XIII 02: Operation Impact…
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