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Revolution by Gruntkiller



Revolution: part 1 Allies by necessity
Date: 25 August 2002, 2:33 pm

      It's been 2 years since the master chief and cortana escaped halo but still there has been no sign of earth or any human colony.

      "We should be passing the outskirts of a covenant controlled zone" said cortana.

      "We should increases our speed and get out of here as fast as possible then" said the MC

      "Wait I'm picking up something on my long range sensors it's a covenant cruiser, its locked on to us, we better get out of here now!" said cortana.

      Suddenly the radio crackled "halt identify your self or we will destroy you!"

      "And who are you" answered the MC

      "This is the rebel cruiser, arishon," answered the comm.

      "Rebel?"

      "Yes we are fighting for the freedom of the covenant people." Said the comm. "now tell us who you are or we will destroy you."

      Cortana said to the MC "we could use them to help us back to earth, they may be interested in an alliance with us."

      "And if they aren't?" said the chief.

      "They will destroy us anyways, it's worth a shot." Answered cortana.

      "This is the master chief, John of the UNSC, we wish to form an alliance with you, we can assist you in your fight," John (the master chief) through the comm.

      "Very well then" said the comm. "we will use a tractor beam to guide you to the docking bay, you may be useful to our cause."

      Five minutes later the longsword fighter was locked down in side the arishon's docking bays and was surrounded by elites wearing green armor. The hatch on the longsword opened up and the MC walked out with no weapons in his hands for fear that they would open fire upon him, all the elites guns where trained on him.

      All of a sudden a door opened and a grunt in gray armor walked escorted by to elites with plasma swords.

      "So you are Master Chief John," said the grunt "wow you're a Spartan you will be of great use to us."

      "Yes who is your commanding officer." Said John, as he looked at the grunt "please call me John just John."

      "I am the commanding officer of this vessel...John, I am among the highest ranking grunts ever to have served for the covenant army, then I defected the of the rebels because executions of the rest of my family" said the grunt "and call me sear, general sear."

      As John looked down in amazement at the little grunt he thought to himself maybe they do stand a chance maybe just maybe the rebels and the humans could form an alliance and tighter bring down the current covenant army.

      "Please follow me I will show you your quarters and then you must tell us what you are doing in the middle of nowhere," said sears as he turned around and went back through the doors from which he came with the MC at his side and followed closely by the two elites who turned off there plasma swords after seeing that John was unarmed.

      "Well was I right we just made a new ally." Said cortana.

      "You where right," said John

      General Sears looked at John and said "who are you talking to" then the elites looked at him and began to reach for their plasma swords.

      "Chief you're going to have to tell them about me do it now!!" said cortana in an alarmed voice.

      "Ok, General I have an AI construct named cortana in my helmet," John explained, "She is from the ship the Pillar of Autumn which was destroyed by the covenant army Cortana and I are the only survivors"

      As they turned around a corner sears went to a door and punched in an access code, then the doors opened.

      "This will de your quarters, you may rest now but later you must tell us about your army and how we can form an alliance with them," said sears "have a good rest. You may hang on to the construct until we are ready to examine it."

      "Thanks," said the chief as he walked inside his quarters after he was inside the doors closed behind him.

      The room contained one bed a table with two chairs around it and a console on the wall. The chief then took off his helmet and placed it on the table, as he continued to take off his armor he remembered how long it has been since he wore cloths, on the bed there was a shirt and pant which assumed where for the elites because when he put them on they where several sizes to big.

      He got in the bed and turned the lights of and almost emedeatly fell asleep.

Next chapter: Earths last chance.



Revolution: part 2 Earths Last Chance
Date: 25 August 2002, 8:26 pm

      John awoke suddenly from his Semi-peaceful sleep, he looked around the room nothing had changed since he went to sleep, except there was a message on the console, John got up and walked across the hard cold metal floor to the wall mounted console and read the message.

      John
      Please report to the war room when you are ready the elites outside your door will show you the way.
                                                General Sears
P.S. bring your armor and the construct.

      John thought to himself that he should open a comm. Link to earth soon to help form an alliance. He then turned around and went to his armor and began putting it on.

      "Have a nice rest?" said Cortana as he put on his helmet.

      "Yes even a covenant bed beats a cryo tube," said John

      As he walked out the door the same two elites that had escorted him last night where they're waiting for him.

      "Our orders are to take you to the war room there you will tell the General about your weapons, ship, and how we can form an alliance with your home world." Said one of the elites.

      "Ok" said John as he followed the elites to a large room with a large round table in the middle of it. All the seats except for one where filled with elites in gray armor just like sears in the seat across from the empty one sat sears the only grunt in the room.
As John walked in all of the covenant at the table looked at him as he sat down.

      "This my fellow commanders is our ticket to defeating the covenant army," said Sears, "not only do we have a Spartan but he can open up a comm. Channel to his home world, then we could form an alliance with the humans who are more then likely in the same situation as us."

      "As I understand the humans are losing ground fairly fast and will welcome any help." Said an elite "This Spartan may just be the key to winning the war."

      "Yes, but not only that he has an AI construct," said sears "with the help of the construct we could develop new weapons to battle the enemy with, John theirs a slot in front of you if you could place the Constructs chip in there she would be able to open a comm channel with your home world."

      "That ok with you Cortana?" said the Chief

      "Ok, yank me," said Cortana

      John took the chip out of his helmet and placed it in the slot in front of him, seconds after the chip was inserted Cortana's holographic image appeared in the center of the table. All of the Covenant in the room look at it in amazement because they where never able to produce an AI Construct.

      "This is amazing, the wealth of knowledge is extensive." Said Cortana

      "Open up a comm channel to earth," Said John

      "Got it"

      Seconds later a voice crackled through the comm. "Who is this, this is UNSC HQ, please state your business."

      "This is Spartan 117, please let me talk to your CO" said John. All the elites where looking at John in shock.

      "Spartan 117 we thought you where dead, Where are you, well send a ship immediately to pick you up," said the CO

      "There's something that you must hear first, I have met with a Covenant rebel faction, they are in desperate need of an ally to help them. They may be Earths last shot at survival." Said John.

      The CO replied in shock "An alliance with the Covenant?"

      "Yes,"

      "I'll have a ship sent immediately to negotiate an alliance." Said the CO.

      Then the comm. channel closed, all the elites looked very happy, but sears looked the proudest.

      "John next on our agendas is how can we duplicate your weapons," said Sears "we have one of your weapons here, could you please take it to the training room where its statistics will be reviewed in a simulator."

Next The Simulator
      



Revolution: part 3 the simulator
Date: 25 August 2002, 11:13 pm

      As the Chief entered the simulator room he noticed it was different the room then what he had expected the walls where covered in a black material that he had never seen before, then all of a sudden the light dimmed and he was in a large room with four doors. Suddenly one of the doors opened and a blue elite ran out shooting at the MC, John lifted his rifle and began shooting back at the elite thinking that its shots could not harm him. But to his surprise his shields began to come down.

      He then jumped behind a pillar for cover and continued to fire, the elite to Johns surprise was also using tactics, it hid behind a locked down ghost and only got up to fire. John then seeing that another door had opened and three jackals come out shot at a fuel tank next to the ghost that the elite was hiding behind. The explosion killed the elite and knocked the jackals over knocking out one of their shields, John shot the shield less jackal killing it. He then turned his attention to the remaining Jackals while firing he got up and ran at them, the Jackals seeing what was coming began to charge there pistols but it was too late the MC was already there. He slammed on of the Jackals shields with the butt of his gun the attack went straight through the shield catching the jackal it the head killing it instantly.

He then turned to the other Jackal who began to run away, John took his aim and put a bullet through its head.

      As John turned around another door opened and 10 grunts ran out throwing grenades and hiding. John shot two grunts whom where foolishly in the open; John then began picking off the others when they popped up to throw grenades.

      Just as he picked off the last grunt the fourth door opened and a hunter charged out and fired at John missing him by inches. As John began to sidestep and return fire the hunter charged him and began swiping at him with his shield, as John ran away the hunter charged up its gun and fired hitting John in the back sending him to the floor.

      This would have killed a normal marine but Johns Armor saved him he turned over on his back to see the hunter raise his shield to finish him off, but John was to quick he grabbed his gun and fired up into the exposed orange section of the hunter, the bullets ripped through its flesh killing it.

      The hunter's body began to fall on John, but seconds before it landed and crushed him the hunter was gone and John was left lying on the floor of the simulator room.

      "Ok, we have all the statistics we need," said a grunt behind a glass window, "The General has ordered me to bring you to the bridge immediately after we where done in the simulator, he wants to brief you on your first mission for us."

      John got up and walked out of the simulator room into the hall where the grunt led him to the bridge where General Sears was waiting.

Next chapter: motivation under fire



Revolution: part 4 Motivation Under Fire
Date: 31 August 2002, 1:56 pm

      As the Grunt led John to the ships bridge He noticed a lot of activity. There where elites suiting up into their green armor and cleaning their weapons, John was left wondering what was going on.

      The doors to the bridge opened to reveal a flurry of activity as elites in gray armor rushed to their stations, and at the head of it all was general Sears. The grunt looked calm as he stared out into space while issuing orders.

      "General," said John.

      "Ah yes your finally here," said Sears "We have a mission that will require your skills. The ship that the UNSC sent is now under attack by covenant boarding teams, you and several squads will be sent to help the humans. You will go in your ship carrying six elites with you the rest of the force will be brought in drop-ships. Any question"

      "When do we leave?"

      "In 15 minutes, you will be led to the docking bays to meet your squad by Reg." He said as he pointed at the grunt that brought him to the bridge "Good luck."

Reg led John down to the docking bays and said "Good luck,
you will need it." Then he turned around and went through the door they came trough.

      John walked towards his long sword near the end of the hanger, there where columns of elites running towards the drop ships and grunts franticly climbing up into the ships. Then John noticed that in front of the long sword six elites all in green armor holding plasma rifles stood up looking at the MC as he approached.

      "Good to meet you," said an elite.
      
      "So you're the one that the covenant fear," said another.

      "Get inside the ship where leaving," said John.

      All the elites then filed up the ramp into the fighter, all of them looked slightly confused when the entered the ship some of them where saying, "where do we sit," and other were saying, "this place is a death trap, theirs only one escape route." John ignored this as he sat down in the pilot's chair.

      Then a purple image of Cortana popped up on the console in front of the Chief, everyone stared at it as if it where some strange alien, "Hello" she said, "well this is a rare sight six elites and a Spartan all in same ship and there not trying to kill each other."

      "I thought you where still in the cruisers computer." Said John.

      "I'm just here temporarily to guide the ship." Said Cortana.

      Just then the fighter lifted off the ground and rotated 180 degrees.

      "You are clear to launch," said a voice through the intercom.

      The fighter then jolted forward and left the docking bays followed by ten green drop-ships.

~

      "Five minutes till we reach our target. Everyone get ready we will be landing under heavy fire." Said Cortana.

      John picked up his assault rifle and went to the weapons locker; he took four frag grenades and a pistol.

      A blast shivered through the ship, "where in the docking bays, opening the hatch." Said Cortana.

      The opening hatches revealed a scene of pure chaos, plasma and bullets where flying everywhere, then John opened fire as the fighter touched down. John and the elites ran for cover and fired upon the covenant lines from behind; this sent the enemy grunts into a panic, some of the grunts where to scared even to search for new cover, they where ripped apart by both plasma and bullets.

      The other drop-ships soon landed and close to two hundred elites and grunts came pouring out towards the enemy, almost immediately decimating the covenant lines. There was blood from the enemy flying everywhere and even the sounds of exploding grenades and the cry's of pain where droned out by the sound of gun-fire.

Soon the enemy was destroyed and a sense of overwhelming joy seamed to fill the hanger over the dead bodies of covenant army as the covenant rebels met with the UNSC marines.

      The most attention seemed to be directed towards the MC, "wow, he survived Reach." Said many of the marines.

      Then John put his gun in the air and yelled out "form up into your squads, and prepare to turn the tides!"

Next part 5: turning the tides

      



Revolution: Part 5 Turning the Tides
Date: 2 September 2002, 7:34 pm

      As the covenant rebels and the marines formed up into their squads John yelled out "each squad pair up with another one covenant squad with one marine squad."

      John was left with 10 groups of covenant rebels and marines; it was a sight to behold both covenant and human forces working together among the smoldering remains of their enemies.

      "Each group take a passage," said the Chief, "destroy all the covenant forces. Move out!"

      Johns group took the passage to the right of them. When they approached the door it opened revealing two elites and some grunts who where coming to find out what happened. John the rest of his group opened fire at the oncoming enemies killing them before they even know what was going on. John and the rest of his group then continued up the passage.

      They then came across a hall with marines fighting 5 elites in it, John told the group of marines to fall back into the room where Johns group lay in wait. The marines turned around and ran into the room, one of them was caught in the head with a plasma bolt and died before he could reach cover.

      Just as John expected the five elites came charging into the room not expecting to find anything but some marines, But they where wrong the marines and rebels opened fire turning the elites into a mush of mutilated flesh.

      The marines were in shock to find a squad of both elites and marines working together. "Come with us," said John "lead us to the bridge."

      One of the marines replied "its overrun with covenant the captain being tortured right this moment."

      "I guess we will just have to save the captain and retake the bridge." Said John. "Do you know where the Captain's being held?"

      "Ya all the captured marines where taken to the mess hall," said a marine, "its one of the easiest places to defend."

      "All squads converge on the mess hall, there are marines being held there." Said the Chief through the comm.

      "Rodger, the armory is secure, alpha squad moving to mess hall." Crackled the radio.

      More and more messages from squads came in as John and his squad made their way towards the mess hall. Then as they turned a corner they saw a horrific sight, a marine lying on the floor being kicked and shot in the arms a legs by two grunts. John raised his gun and took his aim and put a bullet through each of the grunts heads. John and the rest of his squad both marines and covenant ran to the tortured marines side trying to help him.
The marine just looked up into Johns face and said with all his strength "Don't let earth fall." Then the marine's eyes began to glaze over and they all knew he was dead.

      "Come on we gotta planet to save," said John as he closed the marine's eyes.

      "The mess halls just up around this corner said a marine as they slowly crept up a hall," said a marine.

      "No grenades, there are marines in their, we don't want to kill," said John as he took a fiber optic viewfinder and looked around the corner with it. "Their are two elites and a stationary gun at the door, I'll use a grenade here the doors are sealed so I wont hurt any marines." Then John chucked a frag grenade around the corner; this was followed by an explosion and scream of pain.

      "Alpha and Bravo squad in position, ready to commence attack," crackled the comm.

      "Where are the other squads?" asked the chief.

      "Delta is back at the docking bays, and Foxtrot is heading towards the other entrance to the mess hall."

      Just then John heard a green elite come around the corner followed by a mix of grunts, elites and marines.

      "Get ready where about to commence attack," said John.

      "All squads ready," said John through the comm.

      "Rodger"

      "Rodger"

      "Rodger"

      "Use no grenades, all squads commence attack." Said John.

      An elite up front kicked open the doors and all of the squads moved into a living Hell. In the center of the room there was a pile of dead marines, and all of the benches where covered with tied down marines. On a chair on an elevated platform sat the captain, blood dripping down his face from torture. The entire enemy where elites because they where much more threatening and intelligent making them better for interrogation.

      Plasma and bullets filled the air ripping many marines and elites both rebel and enemy to shreds in seconds. A plasma grenade landed on a marine in John's squad, the marine seeing what was happening ran full out into a group of three elites, when the grenade went off its force could be felt throughout the room leaving all three elites dead and one marine martyr.

      Minutes later the battle was over, and many of the captured marines where being released and given weapons. John rushed up to the Captain and untied him. The captain looked up and said "Is it over."

      John just said "Almost."

      Soon all of the squads where ready to fight again but this time they where reinforced by marines with a bone to pick.

      "All squads will form up into on group then we will storm the control room." Said John.

      Minutes later a group of elites and marines where running up the halls towards the control room. There where some opposing forces but they where quickly mowed down by a raging army that was the first clear spot in the sky for earth's survival. It was a sign of a revolution, one that would change the fate of both the covenant and the humans, forever, they where turning the tides.

      The small army of covenant and humans turned the corner into the control room, they where immediately met by a force of enemy covenant. John's squad was faster though and many of the enemies were wiped out before they could even react. Soon the control room was secure and the captain returned to his rightful spot on the bridge.

      "We did it," said John to him self, "we turned the tides."

Next: Part6 hitting it where it hurts



Revolution: Part 6 Hitting Where it hurts
Date: 8 September 2002, 4:13 pm

      The covenant rebels and the UNSC began negotiations almost immediately after the battle for the UNSC frigate "Athens."
During this time many important technical advances took place through the combination of both covenant and human technology, such as the new AR 2, which used plasma tipped bullets, which literally tore through armor. This weapon is now in mass production and is being used by both covenant and human forces.

      Among these advances a new order was formed called the Spartan order, this only contained the best of the best of both covenant and human forces. They use a new suit that is a combination of both covenant and human tech. This order is led by the best soldier the galaxy ever knew, John, Spartan 117, the Master Chief.

~

2 months after the battle for the Athens

      John looked on as an elite and a human both Spartans fought inside a boxing ring, the elite, colonel shred, appeared to have the upper hand until the human, sergeant Jones, managed to uppercut Shred, knocking him out clean.

      "Good job Jones, work on that blocking." said John as he helped pull Shred on to the ground.

      "What just happened," asked Shred as he began to revived and put an ice pack on his head.

      "You've just been knocked out by sergeant Jones," said John.

      "Good fight Shred," said Jones as he took off his gloves.

      The comm. suddenly crackled, "John please report to the briefing room."

      "On my way," said John wondering what it could be this time.

~

      John walked up the halls of the UNSC carrier "Argentina" with a steady pace, his mind lately kept flashing back to Halo and the many marines that he had led to their death in the nightmarish battles against the covenant. He could never seem to forgive himself for not saving any of his brothers in arms. But each time his thoughts strayed to Halo he had to try to forget it for that would be using a conscience, something he wasn't supposed to have.

      John walked into the briefing room to find several UNSC and covenant officers, including general Sears, "Good to see you again." said Sears as John took a seat at one end of the table.

      "Good to see you," said John. "So what did you call me for, you know I was supposed to be teaching advanced level 5 melee tactics to some of the new Spartans."

      "Well this is much more important than driving the butts of guns into dummies heads," said a UNSC officer standing up at the other end of the table, "Allow me to introduce myself, My name is Hawks, Captain Hawks, and I will be briefing you and the rest of you here on our latest mission straight from HQ."

      OK thought John as he looked at Hawks, who must have been nearing the end of his career judging by the gray hair and weathered look on his face but still seemed to be brave and hardened.

      "Our mission is to take out a covenant planet that seems to be covered in shipyards and weapons factories," said Hawks, "if we take this planet out we will cripple their supply for new ships and weapons, let alone decrease their morale immensely. Any questions so far?"

      "How are we supposed to do this they definitely have orbital defenses, and they are going to call the Covenant fleet the minute he come within range of their sensors." Asked John.

      "That's where you and your Spartan's come in, John," said Hawks, "we feel confident we can sneak several drop ships into the atmosphere without being noticed. Those drop ships will head towards the comm. center and shut down all signals to both the enemy fleet and the planets orbital defenses. Then our main combat group will be dropped on the planets surface and will neutralize all covenant forces."

      "Why don't we just shut down their comm. center and then bombard them from space," said Sears.

      "We will not do that because intelligence reports that there are several covenant cruisers nearing finish. If we succeed we can take those cruisers along with new weapons and any covenant willing to join our cause." Said Captain Hawks in a tried voice.

      All of the people in the briefing room seamed to like the plan even John felt that it was worth the risks. "So when do we go?" asked John.

      "Your have 48 hours to ready your troops," said Hawks, "your dismissed John all the rest of you stay there is still something I want to talk to you about."

      John walked out the door and began to walk back to his troops quarters left thinking how they where going to pull this off.

~

      John stepped into the Spartan quarters and yelled out "All Spartans report to the troop briefing room immediately."

      All the Spartan filed into the troop briefing room and sat down in chairs which where set up like a lecture theatre. Up front John stoop watching all the marines and elites sit down and talk to each other. Then John began to explain their mission.

      "In 48 hours we will be dropped into an enemy comm. center on a covenant planet, our job is to shut down all communications between it the covenant fleet and the planets orbital defense." Said John "After this is complete we will join the regulars to secure the weapons factories and shipyard on the planet, once the yards are secure all useable weapons and any covenant willing to join our forces will be loaded up onto the ships in the shipyard, which we will use as our ride off the planet. All clear?"

      "Yes Sir!" yelled the Spartans in unison.

      "Good, I suggest you all go and ready your armor and weapons." Said John, "Dismissed!"

~
48 hours later

      John walked towards the covenant rebel drop ship that was repainted to look like one of the covenant army. From his left side ran General Sears came up.

      "Here," said Sears handing John a chip, "its Cortana I thought you might need her down on the surface."

      "Thanks" said John, "I was wondering if id get her back."

      "Good luck, if you need any support just call me on the comm. All my troops will be there in minutes." Said Sears.

      Then he ran off to a ship painted green on the other side of the docking bays.

      John walked up to his drop ship to see a line of twelve troops consisting of a mixture of covenant and marines, among them stood Shred and Jones who stood next to each other, their where more troops coming too but they would take other drop ships down to the surface.

      "Load up!" yelled the MC, as he walked over to the pilots seat got in and closed the hatch.

      When he buckled up he popped the chip containing Cortana into his helmet.

      "Hello again," said Cortana, "Ill fly the ship just sit back and relax."

      "Ok, you know our course," said John.

      "Of course I do, I was briefed on it to," replied Cortana.

      The comm. came to life and said "Spartan 117 you are clear to proceed to the LZ."

      "Rodger, all systems active and heading out," said John.

      The drop ship lifted off the ground and flew out the docking bay under the control of Cortana followed by 5 more drop ships.

      "This suit has a lot of new features" said Cortana "your motion tracker has been updated to a life sign detector, you will be able to see covenant standing still now too."

      "I know all the features of this thing already." Said John.

      "Oh ok, T-minus 5 minutes till we reach the LZ." Said Cortana.

      "All troops ready your weapons 5 minutes till we reach the LZ, we will have the advantage of surprise." Said John through the comm. as he put a clip into his AR and turned off the safety.

      "Where entering the atmosphere, so far we haven't been noticed." Said Cortana.

      The drop ships flew over the planet, which did not appear to have any major population centers. instead it was covered with factories and shipyards. The drop ships reached the planets comm. center, which was basically a large square building with several huge antennae coming out of the top of it. All of the drop ships landed near the center on a large space of what appeared to be pavement. When the ships landed several unarmed grunts ran towards the ships to lead them to the hangers. Then all of the hatches opened up and the Spartans jumped out opening fire on the grunts, turning them into a bloody mush in seconds.

      "LZ secure all troops move up!" yelled out the MC.

      The gunshots aroused the comm. centers security and within seconds there where 20 elites running out the main entrance towards the Spartans, "Kill the intruders," yelled a red elite who appeared to be the squad commander. The Spartans in turn began to fire upon the elites. Their plasma tipped bullets ate away at the enemies' shields and tore through their flesh, leaving most of the elites dead in seconds.

      The firefight between the remaining elites and the Spartans ended quickly leaving no Spartan casualties.

      The Spartans ran towards the comm. exchanging fire with several-armed covenant that perched on top of the building. All the Spartans made it to the building and began to open the door when some sirens began to go off. Almost immediately several elites and grunts began to run towards them from a nearby building, the Spartans turned around and blew them all to hell leaving a couples puddles of flesh and blood.

      "The comm. centers control room is on the top floor of the building. I'll upload a nav point to show you the way." Said Cortana.

      "Ok, good job Cortana." Said John as the nav point appeared on his HUD saying 200m. "Lets move out all teams follow me!"

      As the Spartans moved up the hall they saw several grunts and elites all without armor on run towards the centers armory, The MC thought that they where probably workers and technicians and came up with a plan.

      "All teams stay here and cover our back, Shred, Jones, come with me," said John.

      They crept up the hall towards the entrance to the armory and stopped just to the side of the door, "Ok on three we all throw one grenade into the armory towards their grenade and ammo crates, once the grenades are in their we fall back to the rest of the group." Said John as he pulled the pin on a grenade but held the spoon back. "One, Two, Three!"

      The three Spartans ran up to the door, which opened when they got close to reveal about 30 grunts and 20 elites, they threw their grenades into the room, the minute the grenades left their hands they ran back to the rest of the group.

      Inside the room one of the grunts picked up the grenade with a curious look on his face, "Ha! Their throwing some kind of rock at us!" those where the last words of that grunt, right after he finished his sentence the grenade went off vaporizing him and setting off the crate of plasma grenades right next to him, this combined with the other grenades turned the armory into a large molten hole.

      "Ok lets head up to the control center." Said the MC.

      The squad reached the control center without meeting any major opposition, John opened the door to find several grunts with charged plasma pistols cowering in the corner of the room, the MC threw in a plasma grenade at the group ant step out of the way of there shots, in a blue explosion all the grunts where dead and they had taken the control center.

      The Spartans filed into the room and quickly shut down all communications to the Covenant fleet and the orbital defenses.

      The MC then opened up a comm. channel to the Argentina "You may move in for faze two, repeat all orbital defenses are offline you may move in."

      "Rodger, we will pick you guys up and the LZ." Answered Hawks.

Next: part 7 striking fear



Revolution: Part 7 Striking Fear
Date: 12 September 2002, 6:17 pm

      Within minutes of the call being sent up to the fleet, 300 small dots appeared in the sky. All drop ships; this sight alone was enough to turn many enemies from confidence to retreating.

      The green rebel drop ships and the gray pelicans filled the sky, this was a sight to behold, on the ground many grunts that where beginning to rush the comm. center turned and ran for the nearest defensive structure. Many of them never even had the chance to turn around because of the rain of sniper and plasma shots coming from the drop ships. This was a sight that struck fear into the enemy's hearts and created hope in the Spartans.

      Suddenly a hail of plasma fire came up from the ground and hammered a rebel drop ship on edge of the attacking force blowing it to pieces. But then came their answer, several rockets fired from the back of a pelican rained down on the area where the fire came from and stopped it, permanently.

      The first of the drop ships landed leaving their cargo of soldiers to fend for their own, soon all the troops where on the ground engaging the covenant forces.

      "Ok lets go join them, there going to need our help." Said John.

      "Hua!" yelled the Spartans in reply.

      "Lets go get kick us some covenant army ass!" yelled out Jones.

      All of the Spartans ran out the room and towards the entrance to the center. Without meeting any opposition they joined the rest of the soldiers who where already moving up towards what appeared to be a weapons factory.

      The doors to the factory opened up and several wraiths came out and opened fire upon them, killing several soldiers in their first volley.

      "All heavy weapons concentrate on those vehicles," said the Chief through his comm. as he dispatched an elite with a plasma sword.

      "Rodger," said a marine.

      Within seconds several rockets and fuel rod shots where flying towards the factory an in a large explosion destroyed the wraiths and killed some enemies that where nearby.

      Before long the first factory was reached and secured, this was the point where they were supposed to receive reinforcements.
The drop ships began to appear in the sky but then something else appeared, hundreds of plasma shots rising up and meeting the drop ships. Destroying most of them. This was the covenants turn to strike fear, hundreds of grunts and elites came running from a large building about 1k away.

      "Where screwed," yelled the voice of a terrified marine through the comm.

      "Calm down, we're not dead yet," said John, coming up with a plan. He radioed up to Sears and told him the location of the building that the covenant where coming from. "Everyone find cover," yelled the Spartan through the comm. "and don't get up until I say so."

      Within seconds everyone was down behind something, waiting to see what would happen. Suddenly the sky turned a plasma blue as a massive shot from Sears' ship slammed down into the building that the enemies where coming from, killing most of them.

      "Ok, everyone CHARGE!" yelled John through the comm. as the dust began to settle.

      Everyone popped up from behind their cover and ran towards the remaining enemies firing their weapons, creating what would be considered a slaughter to many, but the MC knew that it could turn around any minute. Within minutes all that was left of the enemy was a small group of 10 grunts and an elite surrounded by Rebels and Marines. A grenade threw by a marine went straight into the bunker where the enemy laid, suddenly the grenade came flying back out, the elite threw it back at them. The grenade hit the ground and bounced right in front of Sergeant Jones blowing up ripping Jones' armor to shreds and leaving him wounded severely.

      "We need Med-Evac now! Spartan down!" said John through his comm. to the Argentina.

      "Med-Evac in bound, secure an LZ," the comm. responded.

      "Cortana, what's his status," said John.

      "He needs medical attention immediately or he'll die," said Cortana.

      John was running towards Jones to help him, but he found a rather unusual sight. At Jones side Shred sat injecting him with morphine and trying to calm him as Jones screamed out in pain while wiping the blood from his face, which the helmet has ripped straight off of by the explosion.

      The rest of the soldiers in a rage charged the bunker and shot until the enemies where turned into a mush of purple and blue. Then their attention was turned towards Jones as he screamed out in pain.

      Within minutes a pelican with a red cross painted on the side landed a couple meters away from Jones, several medics jumped out of the pelican and ran towards them carrying a stretcher.

      "Hold still we are here to help you," said a medic to Jones. "We are going to bring you back to the Argentina. OK"

      Jones nodded with a look of pain on his bloody face.

      "Shred you go with him, he'll need a friend at his side," said John.

      "Thank you," said Shred as he helped lift Jones onto the stretcher.

      Jones began to speak "Chief, blow them all to hell and show them who's their daddy," He said through the blood on his face.

      Jones on the stretcher accompanied by Shred and the two medics was loaded onto the pelican. The pelican rose and closed its hatch, quickly rising up into the clouds.

Next: part 8 In Rage



Revolution: Part 8 In Rage
Date: 15 September 2002, 11:01 pm

      "Ok troops, our next target is a shipyard approximately 2k from here, I have ordered up the Argentina to drop us some warthogs for the journey, they should be here in a couple of minutes," said Cortana through John's comm. "It appears that the AA that took down the last wave of reinforcements was destroyed by the blast from Sears' ship."

      Within minutes several transport ships carrying enough warthogs for the whole battle group landed and released their cargo.

      "Everyone load up, Cortana is uploading the directions to the shipyard now. Move out!" said John as he jumped up onto the bed if a warthog and took control of its 50mm gun.

      A marine jumped into the driver's seat and an elite into the passenger. The warthog's engine roared to life and began to head towards the NAV point, which appeared on his HUD. All of the troops where still enraged from the grenade that nearly killed sergeant Jones.

      A couple of minutes after they left the DZ for the warthogs they encountered enemies, hundreds of them, mostly grunts. The warthogs plowed through the enemy ranks with guns blazing leaving piles of broken bodies in their wakes. Suddenly a blast from a fuel rod gun missed John's head by inches letting him know that they had much bigger problems then grunts and elites, they where now fighting hunters too.

      "All teams watch out, there are hunters out here, about 20 of them," said John as he opened fire upon a hunter with its back turned, sending orange blood all over the surrounding area.

      Just then a warthog near John turned to avoid a blast from a hunter causing it to fish tale, the blast plowed into the rear of the warthog killing all of its passengers instantly and sending large pieces of metal into the air. John looked towards the hunter that did this and noticed something different, this hunter had golden armor on. John began to fire upon the hunter when another shot left its gun missing John by inches. The firefight continued until the hunter managed to get close enough to the warthog to kill the driver with its shield. John jumped off the warthog just as another blow from the hunter destroyed the 50mm gun. John and the elite who also managed to escape the warthog where fighting for their lives against the golden hunter.

      The hunter with an amazing swing of his shield took the elite's head off leaving purple blood squirting from its stump of a neck. John taking the opportunity threw a plasma grenade onto the hunters exposed back. The hunter seeing what was happening ran at John but it was to late, the grenade exploded killing the hunter and mutilating its body.

      The body of the hunter hit John as it flew through the air, knocking John down on to the bodies of enemies that lined the ground knocking him unconscious.

Several Hours Later

      John awoke to find himself tied to a chair inside a purple room surrounded by blue and red elites.

      "Sir the enemy is advancing," said a blue elite to a red one.

      "Flank them with some grunts, and set up some shades on the highest ground you can find, I don't want to lose this battle," said the red one. "Ah so the one they call John has awoken, the killer of the great hunter Arib."

      John's mind was racing "Cortana where are we," said John "Cortana?"

      "In case you are wondering the AI in your helmet is now in our possession, it will be of great use to us," said the elite. "Your friends are brave and are lasting much longer then we had expected, we think its due to this thing you like to call rage, in their state of rage they seem to be fighting more fiercely then they did on Reach. But they won't last much longer, all of them will meet their deaths soon enough."

      A monitor was brought out and placed in front of John.
The monitor was turned on showing a view form what John thought must have been a security camera on the shipyard where he was being held. On the screen he saw the battle group now on foot battling their way through what must have been 1500 covenant soldiers. He watched in horror as an elite with a sword jumped onto the group killing two rebels, and turn to decapitate a marine, but then the elite crumpled over and died from fire coming from a Spartan, one who seemed to be fighting like there was no tomorrow. He bashed the butt of his gun into the head of an elite and turned around and fired upon a group of grunts. John recognized him almost immediately, Colonial brigs. Brigs was a soldier that had come from a long line of soldiers almost all of which had died in war through acts of bravery.

      Suddenly he saw on the monitor several auto-guns mounted on the walls of the shipyard activate, and begin firing at the attack group. Many of the marines and rebels left in the open where tore to shreds by the thousands of plasma bolts. Several soldiers tried to fire back with rockets and fuel rod cannons but almost all of their shots were blown out of the air by the auto-guns. While the auto guns suppressed the attack group a squad of about 15 gold elites with swords jumped into the trenches where the group was taking cover. Gunshots and screams could be heard coming from the soldiers who where almost guaranteed death in battle.

      Then John remembered something Sears told him on the Argentina, "If you get into trouble call up I'll send everything I got to help you." John then noticed the comm. panel on the wall if only he could get there.

      John then remembered something he had seen demonstrated on Reach during his training. "If you overload your shield it will melt away any metal around you," he remembered the drill sergeant telling him. The chair he sat on was metal and so where the chains around his arms and legs. He began to say the code that allowed the overload.

      "Delta Tango Charlie Delta 117," John whispered into his helmet. Suddenly the shield indicator in his HUD began to turn orange and he could feel heat coming from his shields.

      Several elites turned around to see the MC rip the molten chains apart on his arms and tear the ones on his legs off. The elites looked on as if not believing what they just saw as John turned and punched the nearest elite in the head, killing it instantly.
All of the elites shields where down because they did not want to waste the batteries, giving John the upper hand.

      "Kill him fast," yelled the red elite as he hauled a plasma pistol from his holster and began firing.

      John ran towards the red elite who appeared to be the only one with a weapon in the room. The elite began to charge a shot but John was already there he grabbed a hold of the gun and pointed it at another elite who was running at John, the gun went off killing the elite instantly. John turned and brought back his fist, it all seemed to go in slow motion, John's fist began to come forward, all of the elites in the room stared at his fist as it struck the red elite's head snapping his neck with a loud crack the was heard throughout the whole room. John grabbed the plasma pistol from the now dead elite and fired upon the rest of the elites killing most of them as they ran at John hoping to kill him painfully. John was still had the advantage and in second all of the elites where on the ground killed by plasma burns.

      John locked all the doors leading into the room and then walked over to a table where a chip laid surrounded by what looked like different types of drive to insert the chip into. John picked it up and put it in his helmet, suddenly Cortana's voice could be heard inside the helmet.

      "Chief I was wondering when you'd come and get me," she said in an annoyed voice.

      "We have to call the Argentina, and Sears right now where fighting a losing battle," said John.

      "Ok just put me in a comm. terminal and I'll call up," replied Cortana.

      John walked over to the comm. terminal and inserted Cortana into it.

      "Comm. channels open," said Cortana.

      "Hello this is Hawks who is this," said the comm.

      "This is Spartan 117, requesting all available troops immediately." Said John.

      "Ok I will send every troop available in the fleet, you do realize that your 4 hours overdue," replied Hawks.

      "I don't care just get the troops down here now!" said John as he watched on the monitor as three marines where killed as they tried to attach grenades to the auto-guns.

      "All our troops on the way," said Hawks, "over and out."

      John took Cortana's chip out of the Covenant computer and put it back in his helmet. He then picked up his assault rifle, which was on a table and his pistol. John walked over to the door that he had locked earlier and began to unlock it.


Next: Part 9: The Winning Punch



Revolution: Part 9 The Winning Punch
Date: 19 September 2002, 12:14 am

      The MC opened the door to find several armed guards who were trying to get into the room. John lifted his rifle and put a bullet through its head, he then turned and shot at the second one, a grunt, The grunt pulled out a grenade a threw it at John. John moved out of the grenades way and pumped the grunt full of lead, behind John the grenade exploded destroying most of the comm. equipment.

      John began to run down the halls of the shipyard, killing any covenant unlucky enough to get in his way. John reached the door to the yard and opened it. Out side hundreds of covenant fired upon the trenches where the remaining strike group laid. The nearest auto-gun turned towards John and began to fire; John lifted his gun and destroyed the gun with what seemed to be close to a full clip of plasma tipped bullets.

      Within seconds he was under fire from the covenant and the remaining auto-guns. John kept jumping from cover to cover while continuously firing trying to open up a window for the strike group to use. Then Brigs jumped up from the trench and fired off a rocket at a group of covenant and then another at an auto-gun, both of the rockets found their marks. Brigs hauled out his AR and began to fire upon the remaining covenant. Brigs' fire was soon followed by the guns of the strike group all firing as one, completely destroying the auto-guns and slaughtering many of the covenant.

      The sky suddenly began to turn black, many of the soldiers both covenant and human looked up to see what was happening. Hundreds of drop ships descended from the sky; sniper fire began to rain down upon the covenant soldiers below killing almost all of them. All of the drop ships began to land opening their hatches and setting their troops loose upon the enemy. Several of the drop ships where disengaging tanks, warthogs, and ghosts. All of the troops began to yell in one battle cry as they began to rush the building turning anything they encountered into a bloody mess. The halls of the shipyard where crowded as some rebel engineers began to open the hatches to the building bay where the covenant ships where being built.

      "Sir drop ships are landing near all of our targets our troops seem to be winning the battle, we should begin to load up this ship and get into orbit," said Cortana.

      "Ok," replied the chief, "all squads load what ever weapons you can find onto the ships where getting out of here."

      John opened a door, which led into the building yard. He opened the door he was met by a huge covenant cruiser at least 2.5 k in length. The purple ship seemed to be completed but according to intel only the cryo bays where left to be built. The ship was a purple color and about 800m high. The troops filed into the yard and stared in amazement at the cruiser and began to search the yard for any covenant that may have taken shelter there.

      "Sir, all the useable weapons and vehicles from the weapons factory have been taken and will be loaded onto the ship when they arrive," said Cortana, "just go into the ship and find a place where I can pilot the ship from."

      "Ok," replied the chief as he climbed up a ladder that led to a hatch in the ships hull. The insides of the ship where just like the truth and reconciliation which John remembered too well, the cramped corridors the vast docking bays and the winding passages, all bringing back memories of halo to John as he walked towards the bridge followed closely by several technicians and a couple soldiers.

      John walked into a hall with his rifle ready to take out any remaining covenant that took cover in the ship, instead he found two elites who had taken off their helmet and raised their arms in surrender. The soldier next to John a Marine shot one of the elites to death while screaming "You killed my family, go to hell you bastard!"

      John grabbed the Marine and took his gun away from him, for a second their eyes made contact through John helmet he could see the rage in the soldiers eyes and the vengeance that he desired, "These aren't the ones your after, take your rage out on a real enemy," said John, "go sit down and take a break."

      John then walked over and looked down at the bloody body of an elite on the ground the other elite was staring at John trembling in fear that he would meet the same fate.

      "Take him to the cells and lock him up," said John as he looked at the elite, "he may have some interesting information for us."

      The rest of the journey to the bridge was uneventful. The MC followed by the technicians and the soldiers entered the bridge which had two pits one on each side, the pits where filled with stations but up at the front of the bridge their was a large holographic map and a series of control panels this was the captains seat. John walked up and inserted Cortana's chip into the computer while the technicians all sat down in the stations in the pits.

      Cortana's holographic image appeared above the control panel, "All the ships basic functions are functional and the weapons and engines are coming online now. OK once the vehicles are on board we can proceed to orbit to assist the fleet in destroying this planet."

      "The ship is secure we have taken 4 covenant prisoners with 0 friendly casualties," said a voice over the comm. "The ship is unlocked and we can leave this place once the hatches are sealed and the doors to this place are opening."

      "Good job marine hurry up and get the remaining soldiers in," said Cortana.

      "OK," said the marine.

      "Our engine systems should be charged in a minute just sit down and relax, its almost over," said Cortana to John as he stared at the maps on the control panel.

      "All other sites are secure the others are loading up their ships and preparing to rejoin the rest of the fleet," crackled Hawks over the comm. "You may extract yourself and your troops from the planets surface whenever you are ready."

      "Rodger, we are preparing for extraction," replied Cortana, "Our engines are charge and the gates are open were out of here."

      Just then the cruiser began to rumble causing the MC to sit down, the ship was lifting from the Building yard into the air through the open gates on the roof of the building. As the ship raised the ride became smoother and smoother until it was completely stable. As the ship became higher and higher the sky became lighter and then darker as they entered orbit.

      "We have achieved orbit proceeding to join the rest of the fleet," said Cortana.

      "Rodger, good thing you made it when you did according to our scanners the area around the yard is swarming with Covenant who would be more than happy to blow your brains out." Said Hawks. "Over and out."

      The cruiser came in sight of the fleet who where all pointed towards the planet ready to destroy it. Several minutes later the cruiser joined them and turned to bring their guns to bear on the planet, several more ships mostly cruisers joined them but among the group was one assault carrier a valuable possession.

      "OK all ships open fire at your own discretion," said Hawks.

      "Opening fire," said Cortana.

      Hundreds of balls of super heated plasma and huge shells all flew towards the planet as one huge volley followed by another before the first hit the ground, The ground on the planet turned black and huge explosions covered its surface, then the second volley hit causing even fore destruction, this continued until the hole planet was black and covered by explosions, then it was deemed "Uninhabitable".

      "Ok all ships will withdraw to Aristol 4, complete success," Said Hawks over the comm.

      Onboard every ship celebrations were being held for this was the first successful assault on a covenant planet. Both covenant rebels and marines held up bottles of drink and threw their helmets into the air in celebration, as the fleet traveled through slip space.

Next: Part 10: An Unwanted Surprise



Revolution: Part 10: An Unwanted Surprise
Date: 24 September 2002, 9:18 pm

      John walked to the sick bay to see how Sergeant Jones was doing, John walked into to the room to find Jones' bed surrounded by other Spartans including Brigs and Shred.

      John pushed through the crowd until he had a view of the bed where Jones sat upright with a iv line hooked up to his wrist, Jones' face was covered with cuts and his chest was rapped in a large bandage.

      "How are you feeling," asked John.

      "Like I just got the shit kicked out of me, thanks," replied Jones. "Did you get them all?"

      "Yah every last one of them," said John.

      The comm. began to crackle, "All troops prepare for combat repeat all troops prepare for combat."

      "What happened," asked John through his comm.

      "We just picked up a distress beacon coming from the Kamloops which is on patrol near Aristol 4," replied Hawks.

      "Ok," said John, "all Spartans get ready we may have a problem."

      The MC ran towards the armory as he entered the door he grabbed the nearest 2 weapons an assault rifle and a pistol, he loaded up on grenades and then ran towards the docking bays.

      As the MC reached the docking bays they where within visual rang of the Kamloops, through the large sections of shielded glass the covered the bay's hatches to space several large chunks of metal could be seen, on one there was the words "Kamloops" printed on it. It was now clear what happened as more and more pieces of debris came into view, the Kamloops was destroyed by the Covenant.

      "All troops prepare for combat, incoming covenant craft," said Hawks through the comm.

      The ship began to rumble just like the pillar of autumn did when the covenant boarding craft docked. Suddenly there was an explosion along the bays doors leaving a circular hole from which covenant began to pour in. John lifted up his rifle and fired into the swarm of oncoming covenant killing several, John then ducked behind a warthog that was parked in the bay.

      Several Marines joined John in the battle. One marine jumped up to only be met by a plasma bolt in the face, it didn't kill him but his screams could be heard over the gunshots. Several medics ran over to the marine lifted him up and ran to the sick bay carrying him. A marine next to john jumped up into the turret of the warthog and began to fire hundreds of 50 Caliber plasma tipped machine gun rounds into the swarm of covenant, many of them where ripped to shreds spraying their blood all over the covenant coming behind them who where also quickly exterminated.

      "All Marines find cover and prepare to destroy any more covenant intruders the show up here." Said John. "Where are the largest enemy penetration points," John said through his comm.

      "At the life boat bays there are several enemy transports docked there," said Cortana from the ships computer.

      "Thanks, tell all available troops to converge upon the lifeboat bays," replied John as he walked out of the docking bays and headed up a corridor towards the lifeboat bays.

      The ship gave a sudden jolt as a superheated plasma shot from a covenant cruiser that came out of slip stream near the fleet, John grabbed onto the walls to keep himself upright. When he regained his balance he began to run towards the bays. Several covenant grunts ran towards John, they where quickly dispatched leaving their blood flowing down the corridor.

      As he reached the lifeboat bay to find hundreds of covenant troops in a firefight with marines and covenant rebels, the air was filled with plasma and plasma tipped bullets. John watched as a sniper bullet from the other side of the bay went through an elite and then through a Marine's head killing both of them instantly.

      "Watch what you're shooting," John yelled as he began to open fire upon the enemy killing several grunts and a jackal.

      Within minutes the enemy was destroyed leaving piles of dead bodies all along the bay. John and the marines all began to throw grenades into the transport ships bays as they began to leave for the cruiser they came from. The explosions from the grenades badly destroyed several of the transports and badly damaging the rest.

      "All sections of the ship are secure, defend all possible entry points until all clear," said Cortana.

      "Good," replied John.

      The battle in space raged on for the next 10 minutes until the covenant cruiser was destroyed, leaving three destroyed long swords all the pilots managed to escape unharmed and hundreds of dead covenant.

      "Ok we will continue en route for Aristol 4, with any luck they haven't found it yet," said Hawks.

Part 11: The Race For Humanity



Revolution: Part 11 The Race For Humanity
Date: 28 September 2002, 8:21 pm

      The mixed fleet of covenant rebel and UNSC forces came out of slip stream near Aristol 4 to find a charred planet covered in smoke and rings of fire, all around the planet debris from the planets once massive orbital defenses floated closer and closer to the planet.

      "They reached the planet first, were to late," said Cortana, "im not picking up any life signs from the planet, but there is a small pod approximately 2000 Km from here, I say we go in for a closer investigation."

      "Ok Cortana, all ships proceed to PQ-67," said Hawks, "And all ships be on high alert for any Covenant activity."

      All the ships closed in upon location of the pod, "Bringing in the pod troops report to docking bay and prepare for incoming."

      As the pod was locked down upon the floor of the Argentina several Marine including John punched in a code to the hatch causing it to open up. All of the Marines trained their guns on the insides of the pod, at the far end of the pod there was a recording chip lay upon the floor, there was nobody inside. John walked in and picked up the chip and inserted it into his helmet.

November 8 16:46, UNSC Captain Trevor
      "We are under attack by covenant forces, there are too many of them, our orbital defenses have been destroyed repeat, our orbital defenses have been destroyed," said the voice of what John assumed to be Captain Trevor. "We are being over run, they have captured one of our cruisers, get to earth before they do, everything is at risk," static to strong for John to interpret fills his ears then a last few words can be heard, "get to earth don't worry about us, just get to earth before they do!" Then the message ended with the sounds of elites yelling out orders and the screams of Marines as they were being slaughtered.

All of the Marines stared at John waiting for the news, John took the chip out of his helmet and said, "we have to get to earth immediately."

On the bridge there was a flurry of activity as Hawks yelled out orders to the various officers at their stations, he was not alone every ship in the fleet had been ordered to go to high combat alert and to prepare for the jump to earth.

      "All our engines are ready we can commence jump as soon as you are ready," said Cortana.

      "Good commence jump," replied Hawks.

      Through the comm. channels every ship was alerted of the jump and then lead by Hawks every ship made the jump.

      The fleet came out if slip stream a little before the moon but even from that distance they could tell that they where in for a fight. All around the earth blue plasma bolts and large MAC rounds could be seen flying around sometimes followed by a brilliant explosion.

      "They have taken sector A4, all ships pull back to A1," crackled the comm. from a ship that fought near earth.

      "All ships fall back we have reinforcements on route," said Cortana.

      "Ok you heard the lady all ships fall back," crackled the comm. again.

      "Sears take all the rebel ships to the left flank of the enemy we will take ours to the right, on our signal attack with everything you got," said Cortana.

      "Ok," replied sears through the comm.

      As the ships came closer to the battle they saw hundreds of covenant cruisers fighting the few brave UNSC ships that were backing off slowly towards earth. Almost as soon as they where in visual range of the cruisers thousands of covenant fighters began to strafe the Argentina, they where met quickly by every fighter that was carried upon the fleet. The battle for earth had begun.

      John ran down the halls of the Argentina towards an escape pod he was followed by Brigs, Shred, and several other Spartans.

      "What do you think your doing," said Cortana to the MC.

      "Saving earth," that's all John said before him and the other Spartans climbed into the pod.

      John climbed into pilots seat and punched the release button. The escape pod flew out into space; John quickly took control and flew them towards the nearest cruiser. The pod swerved left and right trying to avoid the plasma bolts coming from the enemy fighters, but a escape pod is built for fairly straight flights not combat maneuvers and every once and a while a plasma bolt would slam into the pod causing it to lose control for several seconds.

      The pod bounced along a covenant cruisers shields till John found an opening to the docking bays; the pod made a quick turn and slammed on its braking system. The pod slammed into the docking bays floor and slid along taking out several grunts and elites till it hit the wall with a loud clang leaving a path of crushed bodies, destroyed equipment and scorched floors.

      Brigs who was closest to the doors hit the open button and ran out firing upon the covenant who where still staring in shock at the pod, Brigs was followed by Shred and the other Spartans, last of all John walked out of the pod lifting his rifle and put a bullet through the head of a near by grunt. The Spartans all ran for cover around the bays from which to attack the enemy from, plasma quickly heated up the air as hundreds of rounds flew around most of which missed their target.

      An elite ran out the doors leading from the bays with a strange device in his hand, suddenly all of the incoming fire stopped as every enemy elite, grunt, and jackal took cover.

      "Duck!" yelled out Shred.

      Everyone not knowing what was about to happen ducked, soon there was a huge explosion that sent many of the enemy flying into the air, next to John a Spartan who looked up to see what had happened was picked off in the head by a large piece of metal. John ran over to the Spartan to find himself to late, the large triangular metal was sticking through one side of his helmet and out the other, blood began to seep through the helmet onto the floor slowly flowing towards the bay doors.

      John stood up to find a small crater near the doors where the elite once stood, it was a suicide bomber all of the Spartans began to get up and move around but they found no more covenant that where alive. John and the rest of the Spartans moved through the badly damaged doors that led to the maze of halls which John would have to use to find the Bridge. As he began to make his way through the halls slowly he heard loud footsteps coming from around the corner, he knew what they where coming from, hunters.
John turned around the corner and threw two frag grenades at the approaching hunters he was followed by the other Spartans who shat at and threw grenades. Suddenly the first grenade went off setting off the rest the hall was filled with shrapnel and fire sending 7 hunters flying through the air killing them instantly.

      John and his Spartans ran up the hall towards where they thought the control room would be. John quickly opened the doors to find that they were in the elite quarters. John and the Spartans fired upon the elites who where suiting up for battle, one Spartan in front of John was hammered 5 times by plasma fire in the body, he fell to the ground and crawled towards cover, John looked at him and knew that only the Spartans shields were gone.

      The battle in the elites quarters raged on for several more minutes, many times did Spartans have to duck behind cover for their shields to come back online. Soon there was only 1 elite left, he quickly dropped his weapon and put his arms up in the air in defeat.

      All of the Spartans approached the elite cautiously always keeping an eye on his hands so that if he made even the slightest twitch to pick up his weapon he'd be filled with plasma tipped bullets.

      "Show us the way to the bridge or you die a very slow dishonorable death," said John in a clod voice.

      "Follow me then," replied the elite as he began to walk towards the door on the far side of the room with his hands still held high in the air.

Next: Part 12: Biting Off More Than You Can Chew



Revolution: Part 12 Biting Off More Than You Can Chew
Date: 3 October 2002, 7:01 pm

      The Elite led John and the Spartans through the winding halls of the cruiser at gunpoint. From up ahead 10 grunts ran around a corner and yelled out "Intruder!" at the sight of John and the Spartans.

      The yells of elites, grunts and jackals could be heard as they rushed to help the grunts.

      "Oh shit," said a Spartan.

      "Everyone open fire," said John.

      Within seconds the grunts were dead on the floor with their blood splattered over the walls, but unfortunately their friends had arrived. Plasma bolts flew past the Spartans heads as they fired upon the ever growing crowd of enemies, Shred threw a plasma grenade at the enemy, it landed on a grunt who didn't seem to notice in the midst of the battle, with a loud explosion the grunt was vaporized taking many of the covenant around with him, but their were still a lot left to clean up.

      John hauled out his pistol and began to put bullets through the heads of the enemy force their blood splattered on the enemies in back of them, who quickly met the same fate.

      The ship suddenly rumbled from a MAC round that found its mark, but this didn't seem to bother the two opposing forces, all it seemed to do was throw off their aim for a second, and a second is all it takes. The Spartans got up and ran at the enemy with guns blazing mowing down most of the enemies the last few just stood looking as if to be dumbstruck about the fact that they where about to be killed by a force that they where "superior" to according to their priests, with the sharp sounds of bone cracking all of the enemies where dead leaving a mix of orange purple and blue blood on the floor.

      The elite that was acting as their guide got up from behind pillar that he was using for cover and secretly picked up a metal object from an elite's body that lay just in front of him, as he walked towards the Spartans he pressed a button and it activated, A bright blue light filled the room as the elite brought the plasma sword to the nearest Spartans head, completely removing it. He then turned towards John, he raised his sword in high in the air but he suddenly fell to the ground, Brigs stood behind him holding a smoking shotgun.

      "Bastard," said Brigs as he kicked the elites body hard.

      "Thanks," said John.

      The Spartans continued to run up the halls quickly dispatching any enemy that dared to step in their path, which turned out to be a fair number and before they knew it every Spartan was on their last clip, in an attempt to conserve ammo they whacked every enemy that they could but this soon turned out to be useless. As John turned a corner he came face to face with a hunter, John was suddenly pinned to the wall by the hunters shield and slowly began to be crushed by the immense pressure. All of the Spartans began to fire off their last rounds into the hunter but it didn't seem to kill it. Slowly blood began to seep through the hunter's helmet, its lungs were punctured slowly the hunter collapsed as all of the Spartans continuously hit its back with their empty guns. John fell to the ground as finally the shield dropped down.

      "Thanks," said John as his shield began to come back, but his armor cracked in several places, that couldn't be repaired in field.

      The Spartans had to backtrack to pick up weapons from the many dead enemies on the ship and once every Spartan had a weapon they headed on towards where they assumed to be the bridge.

      John strafed across a corridor with his plasma rifle pointed at a grunt that was walking away from him, John slowly walked up behind the grunt raised his gun in the air and with a loud crack the grunt neck snapped sideways and it feel to the ground. The remaining Spartans ran around the corner and joined John behind the grunts body.

      "I think the bridge is behind that door," said Shred pointing towards a door straight ahead of them, besides it sat two grunts in shades chatting to each other not even noticing the squad of 11 Spartans approaching quickly.

      "I hope they hurry up and glass over the damn planet so we can go get something to eat," said one grunt.

      "Yah I'm starved, say what's on the, AHHHHH there here!" yelled the other grunt pointing at the Spartans.

      The two grunt turned around and began to fire at the Spartans, but it was too late plasma bolts left the Spartans rifles slamming into the grunt killing them quickly.

      John opened to door to the bridge to find a hoard of elites all armed with their guns pointed at the Spartans, they had been alerted by the grunts screaming.

      Plasma began to fly both ways through the air sometimes colliding with a soldier. Shred jumped to side while firing with a plasma rifle in one hand and a plasma pistol in the other killing several elites. John seeing that they where out numbered activated a grenade and threw it at the hoard of elites, it went off splattering the blood of the elites all over the room. The few remaining elites sat terrible injured on the floor trying to stop the bleeding.

      John ran up to the control panel and began to type in numbers, suddenly a volley of plasma bolts left the cruiser and slammed into a nearby assault carrier, they had taken control of the ship. Another volley was fired right into the unshielded docking bays of the assault carrier causing it to implode as its internal supports were destroyed.

      A comm. channel suddenly opened up to Johns helmet.

      "John what the hell just happened the ship you boarded began to fire upon other covenant ships," said Cortana.

      "We have taken control of it don't fire upon us I'm going for the command ship," Said John.

      By this time all of the covenant ships had caught on to what was happening and several nearby cruisers began to fire upon it. The doors to the bridge opened and several grunts elites and jackals ran in but they where immediately met by the Spartans fire.

      "How do you plan on taking it out?" said Cortana, "the command ships way to big for a cruiser to destroy even if you weren't under fire."
      "I don't plan on coming back alive," said John. The comm. channel closed and all that could be heard was the firing of plasma weapons and the yells of both Spartans and Covenant.

      "Brigs get up here," yelled John.

      "Yes sir!" said Brigs as he ran back to John but continued to fire.

      "Defend that door with your lives, were going to destroy the enemy command ship, without it all the covenant comm. cannels would shut down and they would be without their most powerful weapon," said John as he punched numbers into the panel in front of him.

      "How are we gonna manage that," said Brigs.

      "Were going to put this ship on their doorstep," said John.

      It all became clear suddenly; even the air around them seemed to change. They were going to die for humanity.

      "With all do respect I have a tradition to uphold, just set the coarse and get out of here I'll take care of the bastards," said Brigs in an almost calm voice.
Next: Part 13 The Supreme Sacrifice



Revolution: Part 13 The Supreme Sacrifice
Date: 6 October 2002, 2:09 am

      John looked at Brigs for the last time and said, "Just don't let earth fall."

      "I won't" said Brigs as he fired at an elite that took a lunge towards a Spartan.

      John turned and ran firing at the enemies that were massing on the bridge, while running he yelled out to the Spartans, "follow me, only fire upon what's in your path!"

      All of the Spartans got up and followed the MC as he ran through the crowds of covenant bashing in heads and burning them to death with plasma, the whole bridge was in mass confusion as the Spartans ran for the docking bays leaving one behind guarding a panel with his life.

      " We take the nearest drop ship out of here, do you understand," said John to the Spartans as he ran.

      "Yes Sir" replied the Spartans.

      "Why did we leave, where's Brigs," asked a Spartan.

      "This ship is on a collision coarse with the enemy command ship, Brigs is making sure they don't stop it," said John.

      All of the Spartans were stunned; one of their best comrades and friends was making the supreme sacrifice, for them all.

      All around the Spartans plasma hit the walls leaving scorch marks; many of the Spartans turned and fired upon the enemy but some just ran. A Spartan near the back of the group was nailed several times with plasma killing him, his limp body fell to the ground exposing the areas on his armor were it had been melted straight through and burned into his skin. One of the Spartans turned around and threw a grenade down the hall, when it exploded the screams of grunts could be heard as they were thrown through the air.

      To John everything seemed to be going in slow motion as he ran for a drop ship that was parked ahead of him. Suddenly warning light and sirens began to go off, the ships systems had identified that they were on a collision course. Hundreds of grunts and elites poured into the docking bays in panic trying to board any ship they could, through all of the chaos the Spartans jumped onto a drop ship and began to take off.

      Thousands of plasma bolts soared through the air at the drop ship as it flew out of the bay doors into the hell outside.

      All around the drop ship explosions from fighters went off, to the right of the drop ship a cruiser exploded in a large fireball destroying several fighters.

The cruiser that Brigs was on approached the huge command ship, suddenly its shields went yellow as they collided with the command ships, they then turned orange and then red until they disappeared. The cruiser plowed into the command ships side sending debris everywhere through space this was quickly followed by a huge explosion, everything seemed to stop except for the two ship colliding.

      On board the cruiser all of the covenant and Brigs stopped fighting and stared at the main screen it showed them plowing into the command ship, suddenly everything was covered in a white light as the engines in the command ship exploded, Brigs and all of the covenant on board both ships were vaporized instantly.

      John starred at the huge white explosion until his visor turned black to protect him from the blinding light, it reminded him of halo as the Pillar of Autumn exploded destroying the flood, this time it was saving the human race. In a strange way it seemed beautiful but this feeling was soon followed by a wave of guilt, John thought to himself that he should of stayed behind, he should of died, as he thought memories of his old friends Sam, Kelly, Linda, Fred, and Joshua from reach and how they died for him, most of all he remembered Sam and how he stayed behind on board a covenant ship to ensure that the bomb inside it went off.

      Onboard the Argentina all of the crew stopped and stared at the explosion that now dominated the battlefield. Hawks stared at it with a gleam of pride in his eye. The crew began to have renewed hopes of victory in their hopes and both the human and covenant rebel fleets advanced upon the crippled enemy fleet.

On earth a family who sat together around a fire at night trying to enjoy the last moments of their lives looked up to see the huge fireball that lit up the earth like the sun for several brief seconds.

"They did it," said the father in a quiet voice, "they did it."

      Many of the covenant ships stopped fighting and tried to retreat in the hopes of living to fight another day but MAC rounds and plasma bolts destroying many of them immediately. The few ships that saw that there was no hope surrendered by sending signals through the few comm. channels that remained open.

      Within an hour the battle had ended and all that was left of the covenant fleet was debris, John and the remaining Spartans walked to the briefing room were they would be told what they were going to do next.

Next: For The Spartans



Revolution: Part 14 For The Spartans
Date: 10 October 2002, 8:56 pm

      Earth was safe for now, which among every soldier, civilian, and the covenant rebels was a reason to celebrate. Many of the regulations about alcohol on the ships were lifted temporarily providing for a party.

      In the docking bays of the Argentina hundreds of Marines, covenant rebels, and crew of the fleet celebrated, grunts and marines danced like fools in their drunken state in front of their comrades. John walked into the bays still in his armor, following him were the rest of the Spartans.

      Many of the men in the docking bays looked at them as they grabbed a drink and sat down on some chairs that had been set up earlier.

      "Tomorrow the press is going to be all over us," said John, "I guess we can't go on unseen by the public forever."

      "I look forward to seeing earth from the ground," said Shred as he took a swig of the beer in his hand, "this drink you call 'beer' is quite good," then he took another swig and threw the empty bottle into a near by bin.

      "Its Canadian, finest in the galaxy," said John as he took a swig of his own.

      The doors to the bay opened and a limping figure came in using crutches to get around, it was Jones, "good to see you guys again," he said as he limped over and sat down, "the nurse said I could come down, for a little while anyways."

      "Good to see your doing alright," said shred.

      "Yah, thanks for helping me, without you id be dead," said Jones as he picked up a beer.

~


      The next day the ship was back to normal, except for the smell of puck that filled the docking bays.

      "Wake up everybody!" yelled out John to his Spartans, "we will be briefed in 20 minutes."

      All of the Spartans scrambled through the showers and quickly got into their dress uniforms. John led them to a conference room were they were given a bagel and a cup of coffee. After the Spartans ate their breakfast a man walked in wearing a gray uniform, upon it their was the ONI crest and under that his name, Tim Sole.

      "Hello, as you know right now you are being hailed as heroes on earth and its colonies, but with your victories their was a tremendous cost, onboard that command ship their were prophets, and the destruction of them was the destruction of a great opportunity to use them as hostages for negotiations," said Tim in an irritated voice, "also onboard that ship their were numerous weapons that we have never seen before and the rebels can't give us any information upon them. Do you realize the technological advances we could have made if that ship was captured?"

      "Sorry sir but the destruction of that ship was the key to our victory, if it was not destroyed the covenant would be the ones holding a party," said John, "that ship was too large for even twenty platoons of Spartans to capture anyways, any attempt to take it would be a complete failure."

      Tim seeing that he was defeated he sat down and flipped open a file, "that is all you can do," he said to himself, "in other news we have decided that it is time for you to be revealed to the public, they had been aware of your existence for years now but they have never seen you, also we think that your presence among the public may increase the recruiting rate, and in this stage we need every able body we can get."

      "So when do we meet the public," said John.

      "In three hours, the UNSC news room is already being filled with reporters, and outside the UNSC HQ there are thousands of civilians who are hoping to have a glimpse of their saviors," said Tim.

      This was a term often associated with the Spartans, but never on this scale. A monitor was turned on showing a news reporter standing outside the UNSC HQ, around her thousands of civilians gathered many holding signs saying things like "God Bless The Spartans," and "Down With The Covenant," these images struck awe in the Spartans.

      "In about 3 hours from now the Spartans are expected to make their first public speech," said the reporter, "The leader of the Spartans is known only by his rank Master Chief." John and the rest of the Spartans got up and left the room all with their minds set on what they were going to say.

~


      Two and a half hours later John and the Spartans walked towards a pelican that would transport them to the surface. Two parallel lines of Marines made a path from the door to the docking bays to the pelican, all of the Marines stood silently at attention as the Spartans boarded the pelican and closed the hatch. The pelican lifted off the bay floor and sped out of the Argentina towards earth.

      As the pelican descended upon the HQ John could see that there were thousands of civilians all around.

      "Holy shit were bigger than U2," said a Spartan.

      "U2?" asked some of the elite Spartans.

      As the pelican landed reporters and people holding cameras swarmed the pelican while dozens of Marines attempted to hold them back. One by one the Spartans jumped off the pelican and began to walk towards the HQs main entrance, a path was marked out by Marines who tried desperately to hold back the reporters. As the Spartans walked questions were shouted at them from all directions ranging from, how does it feel to have saved earth? To what did you eat the morning before? None of the Spartans answered any of the questions, as they reached the HQs main entrances two Marines opened up the doors and saluted as they walked inside. Inside the main lobby of the HQ general Kits stood waiting for them.

      He quickly saluted and said "follow me to the conference room."

      The Spartans followed him down several passageways until they reached a conference room; inside it several men all-wearing highly decorated uniforms sat consulting Cortana who hovered several inches from the table.

      "Ah good to see you Chief," said Cortana.

      "Good to see you to," said John as he sat down.

      "Well welcome Master Chief, its good to see you and the rest of the team," said a figure at the end of the table, "ONI seems pretty pissed off about the fact that you didn't capture the command ship, but that's just like them, they would rather see a billion soldiers die than miss a good opportunity for research. But other than that were quite pleased with the results of your mission, and we are already preparing the fleet to begin our next."

      "And what will we be doing," asked John.

      "Thanks to general Sears the location of the covenant home world has been revealed to us and we are prepping to attack," said the figure, "that's all I have to say at this time, now go out their and show the world who saved them."

      The Spartans left the room and went up an elevator that took them up to a small room with one door; beside the door two Marines stood saluting.

      "Through this door please sir," said one Marine.

      John opened up the door revealing a raised platform with a podium on the top; John walked up and looked down over the sea of people that stood in front of him.

      "Good morning," said John, "in all of these recent victories we must remember the fallen, for many of them did more than we could ever do, and until now I never realized the real reason that we were fighting. But now I realized that we are greater than any foe and that we shall stand above all, for our race we will fight to the death, and in death shall we gaze upon our accomplishments and say 'we changed the universe'"

Next: Changing the Universe



Revolution: Part 15 Changing The Universe
Date: 12 October 2002, 12:30 pm

       The masses of people cheered as John finished his speech and turned around, he walked down into the small room again followed by the Spartans; he stepped in the elevator and the doors closed.

~

      On board the Argentina inside on of its conference rooms Hawks starred at a holo map of the covenant home world that Sears had given him, the world had a purple hue to it and the surface was covered with skyscrapers. Near the north pole of the planet their was a large temple made out of white marble causing it to stick out, this is where the Grand Priest was, all they needed to do was to kill him and the covenant would see them as their new leader. The covenant political system was much like a dictatorship, when the leader was killed the person who killed him became the new leader, so if they destroyed the leader the humans would become the leader.

      "This is interesting," said Hawks to himself, "the current leader is said to be 500 years old, and that he himself wiped out an entire rebellion with his own hands...we may be up for a fight."

      The doors to the room opened and John walked in still wearing his dress uniform.

      "At ease," said hawks, "how did everything go down their, according to FleetComm recruiting rates are going off the charts, it seems everyone wants to take out a few covies."

      "Everything went according to plan," said John as he looked down at the holo map, "we're really going to invade the covenant home world?"

      "Not exactly," said Hawks as he zoomed in on the white temple, "it's going to be more like an assassination, with a lot of troops that is. See this building, inside it is the Grand Priest, all we have to do is kill him and the covenant will see us as their new leaders."

      "How are we going to get to him, there's got to be at least a legion guarding this thing," said John.

      "That's the hard part, we will bombard the area around the temple from space to take out as many enemies as possible and then we send in a strike team of about...8000 troops both human and covenant rebels to storm the place." Said Hawks thoughtfully

      "When do we go," asked John.

      "In about 4 days," said hawks, "the journey will take close to 2 months, so we will be training continuously in preparation."

      As John explained the plans to the other Spartans in their training room several of the covenant Spartans seemed to become very nervous.
      
      "With all do respect," said Shred, "the Grand Priest is capable of wiping out an army on its own, do you really expect us to be able to take him out."

      "I don't expect for you to take him out," said John, "you will take him out, dismissed you have the rest of the day to do what you want."

      The next few days seemed to go as slow as the old space shuttles, like they were using molasses as fuel, all of the Spartans trained in the gym for most of the days mostly in the boxing ring because many of the covenant Spartans told the rest that the Grand Priest was shielded, so it would probably come down to hand to hand.

      Jones was slowly recovering but Hawks decided that he should stay behind on earth incase they were boarded he wouldn't be at risk of being killed.

      Four days after Johns speech the fleet composing of about 100 ships set off for the covenant home world now dubbed by many as "hell's kitchen." Many of the ships would never come back.

      On earth it was a cause for celebration, this was the first real shot that humanity had at winning the war and changing the universe.

~

One month later

      John carefully lined up a shot on an unexpecting elites head and pulled the trigger, a small red dot appeared on its forehead.

      "Simulation over," said a Cortana as the room changed back to the back from a system of winding hall to a room with a black metal covering all of its surfaces.

      "Be more careful next time, remember all it takes is one shot and your dead," said John.

      The elite felling dishonored walked out of the room and back to is quarters.

      "Pretty impressive, that elite has been undefeated by the other Marines and Rebels," said Cortana.

      The other Spartans had gone into cryo sleep due to the fact that they had mastered every single training exercise that the drill sergeants could throw at them even the one deemed "impossible" by the Marines. John was making sure that the Marines and Rebels were well trained, because he knew that when they landed all hell was going to break loose and every soldier would be needed.

      As the days passed by the soldiers became more and more stocked for their mission many of them began to train 24 hours a day just to help relax their minds about the upcoming mission.

       4 days before they arrived at Hell's kitchen the Spartans were awakened from the cryo beds.

      "Cough and swallow what you cough up" said Cortana.

      All of the Spartans choked down the slime many complaining that they didn't join the army to swallow stuff that tasted like shit. After those first moments the Spartan's moods improved.

      "I'm ready to kick ass," said one Spartan as he put on his armor.

      "You'll get to soon enough," said John, "until then stay alert were in covenant territory and we may become under attack at any moment."

      As the fleet came out of slipstream so that they wouldn't trip any hidden traps a small covenant scout ship sppoted them and zoomed off to its outpost.

      Next: Hell's Kitchen



Revolution: Part 16 Hell's Kitchen
Date: 14 October 2002, 6:39 pm

"We should be within combat range of Hell's kitchen in four hours, I'm sending orders for the troops to suit up for combat." Said Cortana.

"Good," bring all ships up to full combat status," said Hawks.

"Done," said Cortana, "all safety systems are disengaged."

~

In the Spartan quarters all of the Spartans were readying their weapons and packing ammo.

"The minute we step foot down their it's going to hit the fan," said one Spartan.

"All troops report to bays 1 through 20 and prepare for transport to DZ," said Cortana through the comm., "John 117 report to bridge immediately."

"Don't leave till I get back," said John as he rushed out of the quarters carrying an AR and several grenades.

As John ran up the halls he passed hundreds of soldiers who were moving down the halls to the docking bays.

"Hawks," said John as he ran onto the bridge.

"Good to see you," said Hawks handing him a chip, "Its Cortana thought she might be of use to you planeside."

      "Thank you sir," said John as he put the chip into his helmet.

      "Good luck," said Hawks.

      John turned around and walked away not knowing that would be the last time he ever saw Hawks or any of the other bridge crew. John ran down the halls of the Argentina until he arrived in the docking bays, Pelicans were being loaded up and vehicles were being attached to them, John counted 10 scorpions and 20 Warthogs along with 15 Ghosts outfitted with a chain gun along with their plasma cannons and an extra layer of armor.

      John walked towards the Pelican with the Spartans inside; it had no vehicle attached to it. John jumped in and sat down. Suddenly the ships MAC cannons went off sending rumbles all through the pelicans. Out side several well-placed shots slammed into the area surrounding the temple effectively cutting off its reinforcements.

      "Alls clear all pelicans disengage, you will be escorted by long swords into orbit," said Hawks, "good luck everyone."

      All of the pelicans lifted off the ground and flew out the bay doors, as they exited they were met by 25 long swords all of which equipped with thermal bombs and a full complement of Anvil 2 missiles.

      All around the fleet dozens of covenant cruisers and frigates came out of slipstream and began to engage the fleet, several serphs began to come after the pelicans and green rebel drop ships that descended into orbit but they were quickly dispatched by the long swords.

      As the attack group came into the atmosphere of Hell's Kitchen the hatches on the pelicans were opened starting a hail of sniper fire and plasma to rain down upon the thousands of covenant that scurried around trying to find a good position from which to fire from. The ground below was an inferno everywhere there was statues knocked over along hundreds of bodies and vehicles lay on the ground on fire.

      As the pelicans and drop ships landed everything went into chaos there was plasma coming from every direction killing many of the soldiers before they could return fire. All of the covenant that guarded the temple fore white armor and carried plasma rifles, except for the hunters which used fuel rod guns. Among the chaos one of the scorpions fired off destroying a wraith that lay on the ground that the enemy was using for cover. As the fighting on the ground intensified the battle in space hit a new level. The Argentina fired off its MAC cannons into a covenant cruiser destroying it but it seemed for every 1 ship destroyed 2 would come out of slipstream to replace it.

      "Were hit, decks 8 through 6 are destroyed and decks 5 and 4 are leaking atmosphere," yelled an officer from his station.

      "Launch all remaining fighters and get those archer pods operational," said Hawks as he smoked his pipe.

      "MAC guns charged and archer missiles are armed," said the weapons officer.

      "Fire with 2 seconds between shots from MAC guns and launch those archers at any weakened covenant ship in the area," ordered Hawks.

      "Yes sir," said the weapons officer.

      The ship rumbled as the MAC guns went off destroying another cruiser while its archer missiles launched and slammed into a damaged covenant frigate, destroying it.

      "Awaiting orders sir," said the weapons officer.

      "Arm one SHIVA nuclear missile and aim it at that ship," said Hawks pointing at a cruiser near in back of the covenant fleet.

      "Why that one," said the officer.

      "It hasn't moved the whole battle it's probably signaling for reinforcements," said Hawks.

      "Got it SHIVA missile ready and firing solution set," said the officer.

      "Fire," said Hawks.

      He watched as the missile zoomed past the covenant fleet towards the cruiser, there was a sudden flash that seemed to blind everyone on deck for a second then there was the shock wave, all of the ships rumbled and several fighters were destroyed, virtually all of the missiles un flight were destroyed, the SHIVA destroyed its target and 2 other frigate that happened to be too close.

      On Hell's Kitchen the skies were filled with smoke as explosions erupted everywhere, John, Shred and several other Spartans were slowly moving from cover to cover trying desperately to get to the temple. All around them plasma and bullets flew tearing the air apart. Suddenly an explosion erupted right in front of John sending him through the air into another Spartan, Johns shield were half gone, as they slowly recharged he got up and shot several grunts running through the battle field with rifle in hand, each of them had explosives strapped to themselves and as they died they went off sending great plumes of green plasmas into the air. John fired another couple of rounds into the head of a nearby elite splattering it against the destroyed wraith it stood by. The hybrid Ghost proved to be very effective tearing everything in their path to shreds well that was before they were all destroyed by hunters their engines exploded and the blackened bodies of the soldiers driving them were sent into the air.

      John and the Spartans fired into the masses of enemies in front of them we watched as a Spartans shield went down and his armor was melted onto his skin slowly burning the Spartan to death.

      All that John could think about was his old friends who had died for him on Reach and how he was about to avenge their deaths.

Next: The Grand Priest



Revolution: Part 17 The Grand Priest
Date: 16 October 2002, 7:09 pm

      Plasma and bullets zoomed past the Spartans heads as they slowly worked their way through the hell of a battlefield toward the temple's entrance.

      "Chief the strike group is trying their best but there surrounded, theirs a 10% chance that they will ever get off this planet alive," said Cortana.

      "God bless their doomed souls," said John as he fired a burst of plasma tipped bullets into the back of a hunter.

      "Sir half of the Spartans have already been destroyed," said Cortana, "the ones around you now are the last of them."

      "The last real Spartan died on Reach," said John.

      "But your still alive?" said Cortana.

      "Only to avenge their deaths," replied John.

      John ran up to a half melted ghost and used it as cover, as the group of Spartans ran up too a large plasma ball from a wraith slammed down into the ground killing all but two. The charcoal remains of the others laid on the ground smoking. The remaining two were Shred and a human only known by his last name Smallwood.

      John, Shred and Smallwood fired in all directions killing dozens of covenant.

      "Move up to that pillar," said John pointing to a large white marble pillar now charred near the entrance to the temple.

      The Spartans got up and ran firing at any enemy that shot at them. All around the Spartans shells form scorpions slammed into the large pieces of metal from surrounding building that were destroyed by the bombardment from space and destroyed vehicles.

      John was the first to reach the pillar, he quickly turned and shot several elites that were shooting at Smallwood and Shred from behind. The bullets found their marks and the internals of elites were spilled on the ground.

      John and the two Spartans fired upon the two white Spartans that stood next to the entrance to the Temple, fuel rod shots slammed into the pillar taking large chunks out of it.

      After several clips of ammo the bodies of two hunters were sprawled out on either side of the entrance.

      John and the two other Spartans ran into the temple with their guns raised but they didn't find anything. John felt that something wasn't right; he thought to himself, you don't have an army guard a building and have nobody inside it. These thought just made him even more cautious.

      "Scan for life forms Cortana," said John.

      "Scanning...their seems to be one life form but its power is immense," replied Cortana, "its in a large chamber at the back of the temple."

      "Ok," replied John, gunshots could still be heard coming from outside.

      John, Shred and Smallwood moved up towards the gold double doors that led to the back chamber. As they got closer to the doors sweat began to bead down Johns face stinging as it went into his eyes but he wouldn't dare blink for fear he would be caught off guard.

      When they reached the doors Shred stood on one side and Smallwood on the other with their guns raised, John kicked open the door and ran in. The chamber was enormous, with walls at least 100ft high all covered in gold, the floors were made up of white marbles and pillars lined the sides of the room. John and the two other Spartans looked around in amazement trying just to be able to make sense of what they were looking at.

      "Welcome Spartans," boomed a voice from the far side of the chamber, the voice came from a figure sitting in a raised throne, he resembled a human with golden skin and a cleanly shaved head, his eyebrows were black and his eyes were white except for two black dots in the center of each eye, he stood up revealing a muscular body, he wore purple formfitting shorts that went down to about his knees, he was the Grand Priest.

Next: Go Tell the Spartans (Series Finale)



Revolution Part 18: Go Tell the Spartans (Series Finale)
Date: 19 October 2002, 5:15 pm

      The Grand Priest walked towards the three Spartans. As he grew closer John could feel a power coming from him, it was immense and seemingly unstoppable. Shred and Smallwood seemed to feel it to.

      "Don't try and defeat me for you will join your friends," said the Priest.

      Almost perfectly in sync all three Spartans opened fired letting all of the rounds in their MA5Bs loose flying at extreme speeds towards the Grand Priest. He just stopped and watched the bullets fly towards him. All of a sudden the bullets seemed to slow down in the air and stop just in front of the Grand Priest.

      "My fight is with you John," he said then he waved his hand in a strange motion towards the Spartans.

      The bullets turned around in the air and suddenly flew towards Shred and Smallwood at an immense speed. Shred and Smallwood fell backwards as the bullets slammed into her bodies, and passed straight through them causing blood to fly out of the other side of their bodies. They laid on the ground dead, their blood poured out through the holes in their armor. John turned towards the Grand Priest and charged at him dropping his weapon and opted for his bare hands.

      The Grand Priest grinned as John approached him rapidly, John drew back his fist and lunged at the Priest, who just raised his hand, suddenly Johns hand stopped in midair it wouldn't move an inch. The Grand Priest drew back his fist and punched John in the head sending him flying backwards 10 feet. Blood was splattered all over the inside of John's helmet but more importantly his helmet had a large crack going up through it, John looked at his shields indicator which read that his shields were at full still. How could this be?

      "Incase you were wondering you shields are of little use against me," said the Grand Priest, "the technology is as primitive as those used in our front line troops."

      "You bastard!" said John as he got up and charged at the Grand Priest again, this time he stopped in mid run not able to move an inch.

      The Grand Priest walked towards John until he was just inches from his face.

      "I know what you were about to do, John 117," said the Grand Priest; "I have been watching you for many years. I was watching the night you were taken away from your home to Reach. I know who your closest friends are and were. I know everything about you, I watched you as you escaped Halo onboard that long sword. I even know what you're thinking right now."

      John stood their struggling against the energy that the Priest gave off that threatened to knock him unconscious. The Priest reached up straight through John's shields and hauled off his helmet revealing Johns face. The air stung as it rushed in around his face, sweat poured down his face as he clenched his teeth.

      "Now its tome for your life to come to an end," Said the Grand Priest, he reached up and grabbed John's neck choking him.

      Johns tried to scream as the Priest's hand tightened around his neck. Suddenly everything began to come to him as if it were a dream. This was his destiny. Hundreds of lives spent led up to this, and it was his time to be truly called a Spartan. In his mind pictures of his friends from Reach went through his head, He remembered when he Kelly and Sam won one of Chief Mendez's exercises and watching the battle of Thermopylae in class and how the Spartans stood ready to die in the fight against a greater evil. It was now John's time. John began to fight the force holding him in place. Slowly his hands began to rise. He slowly grabbed on to the Grand Priests hands, slowly he pushed the Priests hands off him.

      The Grand Priest looked in disbelief as John began to fight back. Johns face strained as he fought back, all of a sudden his movements began to pick up speed. He was released from the Priest grip.

      "So you can fight back," said the Grand Priest.

      "You will die," said John as he brought back his fist and lunged at the Priest.

      The Priest immediately blocked John's blow, but from underneath, Johns fist swung upward and with every once of strength left in his body John struck the Priest with an undercut. The Priest head snapped upwards making a crunching noise. John quickly thought to himself have I killed him.

      Suddenly the Priest came back forward the reveal the priest face with a grin on it.

      "You thought you could kill me that easily," he said as he drew back his fist. The fist flew forward striking John in the chest sending him flying backwards 20 feet. John lay sprawled out on the white marble floor with blood seeping through the cracked armor on his chest, blood dripped from his nose and his mouth, he was dying.

      The grand priest slowly walked towards John with a wide grin on his face.

      "Your destruction will make victory ours," said the Priest.

      Suddenly a report from an MD6 echoed throughout the room. John lay on the ground holding the pistol in his hands. It had only 2 rounds left in it. The Priest looked shocked. A small hole in his abdomen began to seep a pure black thick liquid so dark that it seemed to absorb any light that hit it. John pulled the trigger again a bullet went into the Priest's shoulder. He stopped staring at John with his mouth slightly open, with his hands over the bullet hole in his stomach. John lined up his last shot and let the bullet loose into the Grand Priest's head. The Grand Priest fell to the ground dead, the covenant had been defeated.

      John let the MD6 drop to the ground. He still lay on his stomach. Blood now poured out of the cracks in his armor forming a puddle around his body. Slowly John's eyes began to close he didn't even attempt to stop them from closing, millimeter by millimeter Johns field of view closed until everything was black.

      John was plunged into darkness. In the darkness that surrounded him a figure appeared in front of him it was familiar person, it was Dr. Halsey.

      "You have finally come to join your friends," said Dr. Halsey.

      Now a hundred years later on the spot were Johns body was found their lays a unadorned stone engraved on it one of the most famous warrior epitaphs.

O xein angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti tede
Keimetha tois keinon rhemasi peithomenoi

Or in English

Go tell the Spartans stranger passing by
that here obedient to your laws we lie.





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