halo.bungie.org

They're Random, Baby!

Fan Fiction


Stealth
Posted By: Bodie<bodie_bumm@hotmail.com>
Date: 28 March 2006, 10:13 pm


Read/Post Comments

Ninth Age of Reclamation,
49th cycle (Covenant Battle Calendar),
Eastern Sangheili mission briefing chamber,
Covenant Holy City High Charity.

"The Huragok have detected something! Something from the Gods! It is unknown what it is, but we must find it! It is critical, if we are to reveal the secrets of the Divine Ones!" the Zealot explained, enthusiastically, to the twenty Elites in the room. Some shouted cries of approval; others kept silent, contemplating the Zealots words. When the noise hushed down, the Elite spoke again.

"There is one minor drawback, however. We believe the artifact is residing on an outer Human world. That escalates the importance of retrieving this artefact, before any humans discover its location." he sadly explained.
"What planet, Excellency?" asked a jet-black Elite in the front row.
"Colony CMII, known to the Humans as "Sigma Octanus IV". Not one of their major planets, judging by their distance and defence systems. This will be an easy attack." The Elite finished, and the crowd cheered again.

"Attack? You wish us to attack the Humans, Excellency?" Mahi 'Saporee, an Ultra, asked, "Wouldn't a stealth operation be more suitable for this situation?"
"Yes, 'Saporee, you are correct, but our presence will not be kept secret from the humans, and if need be, we will need to protect the stealth ship." The Zealot replied.
"Stealth ship?" enquired 'Saporee.
"Yes, a small craft will land and a squad will retrieve the artifact form the surface. Our meeting is over, brothers; I shall see some of you later, for more briefing." The Zealot finished, and the Elites shuffled out of the room.
"'Saporee!" the Zealot called.
"Yes, Excellency?" 'Saporee replied.
"I am choosing you to pilot the stealth ship. Your battle tactics are one of a kind. You are the perfect candidate." The Zealot told him.
"Me? I thank you for the honour, Excellency, but surely there are higher ranks-"
"Ranks mean nothing! You are a better tactician that any Zealot! You will pilot the ship!"
"Of course Excellency."
"Good. Meet me in six hundred units at Hangar Bay twelve, and I will show you your ship."
"Yes Excellency, I will be there."
And with that, the Zealot left the room, leaving 'Saporee to reflect on the burden placed on his shoulders.

Ninth Age of Reclamation,
52nd cycle (Covenant Battle Calendar),
Hangar Bay twelve,
Covenant Holy City High Charity.

'Saporee wondered what his ship would be. He hoped it was not small. Small, to him, meant weakness, and a cowardly role. He would rather be on the bridge of a Destroyer, or Battle Cruiser, behind shielding, and brimming with weapons with which he would make human ships burn.
"'Saporee!" the Zealot from the briefing chamber called out, from aroind the corner.
"Yes, Excellency, I am coming." He replied.
He walked out, hoping to see a warship, or at least a Frigate around the corner. When he saw his future ship, his heart sank; it was larger than a Phantom, but smaller than a Frigate, and it looked unarmed. 'Saporee was disappointed.
"Do not worry," the Zealot said softly, as if reading the Ultra's thoughts. "With this ship, you could be the one to first learn of the Gods' secrets! And, if you complete this mission, the rank of Zealot will be bestowed upon you. You and this ship will be what many Covenant will die for!"
"Die for, Excellency?"
That last part worried him; he did not want his brethren to die.
"Yes, to protect this ship. Follow me, I will show you the battle plans, then you will test the ship." the Zealot replied.

'Saporee followed the gold armoured Elite into the side holographic room, where pilots were briefed before launch.
"These are the plans" the Elite said.
'Saporee was shocked. Phase one was to send a Destroyer, a Carrier, and two Frigates to Colony CMII, and discreetly land 40 Phantoms on the surface to collect the Forerunner artifact. Then, phase two was a battle group of thirty Destroyers and Battle Cruisers to escort 'Saporee's ship, and to crush any human resistance. 'Saporee's ship would be in orbit about Colony CMII, and would receive the transmitted information form the artifact, secured by the ground team.
"This is brilliant, Excellency… if it works." 'Saporee remarked.
"Exactly what I thought. Come I will show you your ships capabilities!"

Back in the hangar bay, 'Saporee was ushered onto the ship, and saw it only contained three stations. Above each of them it read its function; Communications, Navigation, and Ship Status. Elites would man these consoles when it was time, but for now, they were computer controlled. 'Saporee sat in the command chair, and felt the ship move. Only then, did he realise the true capabilities of this ship. His ship. It was highly light, and maneuverable, being only 130 units long; had a far infrared laser beam, to intercept the ground team's transmission; could jam human missile systems; and had improved shielding. Between this ship, and the brilliancy of the plan, 'Saporee thought this operation would go well.

Ninth Age of Reclamation,
63rd cycle (Covenant Battle Calendar),
Covenant Stealth ship, Shielded Wisdom,
In slipspace, co-ordinates unknown.

'Saporee looked at the view screen and the timer read five units. Five units until they dropped back into normal space, and started their mission. At the front of their battle group were the Frigates, so that if they were detected, the small lesser craft would be destroyed first. Then there was the Destroyer that was sent to protect all of the ships, especially that carrier, and 'Saporee's ship. Nestled in the Destroyer's shields floated the stealth ship, and in the rear was the massive Carrier, carrying the forty Phantoms.
"Excellency, we are coming back into normal space now." reported the ship status officer.
"Good. Navigation, be ready to move away from the destroyer, right after we enter normal space."
"Yes Excellency" came the reply.
Once the space around the battle group boiled with light, 'Saporee's ship sprang into action, firing its engines to get to its position.
"We have a human Destroyer detecting the group! It hasn't found us, but is moving towards the Destroyer!" called out navigation.
"Blast," yelled 'Saporee, but then calmed down, "What chance does a puny human ship have against the Destroyer? None! It will not be a problem." He concluded.
But it proved to be a big problem, using the Destroyers own Plasma Torpedoes to down its shields and destroy the ship. 'Saporee was amazed at the brilliancy of the manoeuvre, and at the tactical skills of its Ship Master. The Carrier moved into place, around the northern pole of the planet, but it waited until it was ordered to send out its Phantoms.
The Frigates' lateral lines heated up, preparing to fire Pulse Lasers, but for some unknown reason, an explosion occurred right in the middle of the ships. Whatever it was, it destroyed their shields, and allowed the human ship to destroy them with its missiles and super fast bullets. Then, the Carrier released its Phantoms, but only thirty-four made it through the atmosphere.

'Saporee waited, until the ground team was in place, and he waited long enough to see a small human fleet arrive around the planet, It consisted of Destroyers, Frigates, Carriers, and one massive ship, not documented before. There was also a large plate of metal that could move, and appeared to repair some ships. They were alerted by the heavily damaged destroyer, and were waiting for the Covenant's return. Reports showed that the destroyer also alerted the major city to the ground invasion, and the military had sent troops to defend it.
"They will be no mach for our Lekgolo.", 'Saporee thought. And as the real Covenant fleet came back in-system, the humans sprang into life, creating a wall of ships around the planet. All of a sudden, they released their feared bullets, crushing some shields and then destroying some frigates, which destroyed more ships. Then they fired again, but not before the Covenant fleet could release their deadly plasma. Some more Covenant ships took hits, and more were destroyed. Of the thirty ships that came, only twenty were operational. Before the plasma hit the human ships, the big metal plate moved in the way. It took all the hits, disintegrating it, but saving the human fleet, which fired again, destroying more Frigates. Then, the humans broke ranks; charging into the Covenant line and all ships released their single ship fighters. Then, 'Saporee's ship began receiving the transmission from the ground team. But, on the main view screen, 'Saporee saw a Destroyer. Not any Destroyer, but the same one that destroyed the original battle group. It was coming closer.

Ninth Age of Reclamation,
65th cycle (Covenant Battle Calendar),
Covenant Stealth ship, Shielded Wisdom,
In geosynchronous orbit above Colony CMII.

It was coming closer, and 'Saporee was scared.
"If it can destroy four battle ships and still be operational," 'Saporee thought, as the ship came closer, "What chance will my ship have?"
"Excellency, the ground team reports of Demons heading into the crystals chamber. What shall I do?" asked communications.
"Use the Lekgolo! I don't know!"
'Saporee yelled the last part. He was scared the human ship was getting closer. Then, he laughed.
"I, an Ultra, am scared of humans! I never thought of the day…"
"Sorry for that outburst. Use the Lekgolo to try and stop the humans at all costs." He told communications.
A purple light shone on one of the consoles.
"What is that?" 'Saporee demanded to know.
"The human ship has missiles at the ready!" called ship status.
"What about the main weapon? Its super fast gun?" 'Saporee enquired.
"That system is not operational, it seems." Was his reply.
"Missiles away!" yelled ship status.
'Saporee panicked, but that helped him think better, and he devised a quick plan.
"Use the radian waves to destroy the targeting sequence for the missiles, quickly." He commanded.
The missiles swirled, and fell into the atmosphere of the Colony.
"The human ship gaining speed! It is on an intercept course with this ship!" called ship status.
'Saporee had two options; save is life and end the transmission, or stay and die protecting the valuable information. He chose option A.
"Move the ship, get us away from here." He ordered.
"Yes, Excellency." said navigation, "No! The human ship is following us. It will hit in fifteen units!"
'Saporee knew this was the end. He told communications to send a burst transmission to the nearest destroyer, hoping it would come to their aid, or come to avenge their deaths. Either way, he hoped the human ship burned. When the ships collided, 'Saporee thought the humans wouldn't feel the bump, but his ship was crushed, the bridge was the only safe place. But as his ship fell through the atmosphere, shields slowly dying, 'Saporee felt content, content in knowing he did his best, and that was all he wanted.





bungie.org