Absolution Part 3: Evil so Close
Posted By: canada769<foxdown@fuse.net>
Date: 13 August 2004, 3:06 AM
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EARTH NEW MOMBASA
PUBLIC VIEWING STATION
0600 SEPTEMBER 14 2552
The master chief stood at relaxed attention beside the admiral. It was one of the things that he hated most. He had the ability to run faster then any other human being in the world he could take down scores of the covenant soldiers with his bare fists and yet he was forced to stand at relaxed attention. He considered it an extreme waste of his abilities. Yet he stayed, kept to his orders, set an example for the rest of his team, what was left of it anyway. His team now dwindled at a low number of four Spartans and one MIA. The master chief (john), Will, Linda, and Fred. The MIA Spartan was Kelly who was taken on some other quest by the Spartan's creator Dr. Halsey. No one had any idea where they were or if they would ever see either of them again. The admiral's speech was a secret to everyone except to the rest of the admiralty. It was pretty obvious that it had something to do with the info that he, the other Spartans and cortona had brought from the trip back from the planet Reach, and of course the on coming covenant attack and the possible destruction of the human race.
The admiral had not only been rushed to complete his speech but he had to shock the whole world telling them that it was extremely likely that they were all going to die. He had included everything this time. The UNSC's huge failing war, the destruction of Reach, that almost all of the Spartans were actually dead and not actually MIA. He also told them that the draft that hadn't been used since WWI. Most of them hadn't even known what the draft was so he had to explain to them that if the draft came into effect all of the men over 16 and all of the single women with no kids would also be put into the UNSC. Many of them were shocked and out raged. Many said that this was just a stunt to get more women and men into the service. But then he greatly pressed the point that they were fighting for their existence. It was quiet after that. His words rang hollow in the great expanse of the stadium. They hadn't even pondered the chance that we may actually lose this war. In the end they had to except their fate or join the draft to fight for their lives and the lives of a million other humans.
IN ORBIT AROUND EARTH
DOCKING AND REPAIR RING, BATTLESHIP GETTYSBURG
0747 HRS SEPTEMBER 14, 2552
Cortona had gone over the data that she had gotten from he time on halo. There was so much info that she got so fast and then with their current situation that they had faced on halo and on their trip over here to Earth she never really had time to study the info that she had so carefully gathered. This was her only really down time that she had to go over the data that she had gotten.
First, there was the data gathered on the forerunners and how their civilization had ended so abruptly caused by the flood. It seems that the flood had been in the process of being contained and stored in the containment cells that the humans had later found them in, when some of them had gotten loose or had just evaded capture. The forerunners had been infected and the flood began to multiply. The monitor that Cortona had found very tiresome while their time on halo, had been forced to fire the antimatter emitter that destroyed all of the life in that current sector. Luckily the other rings hadn't been powered on yet, since the monitors of the other insulations were still completing basic dietary function tests on the flood tissue, but no other rings had living flood on them. When the monitor had fired the other rings weren't able to do the same, keeping the evolving humans alive. Ironically the cells that some of the flood that had been captured and put in deflected the emitter's rays and kept the hibernating flood inside alive. This is where the humans of the Pillar of Autumn found and then accidentally released the flood.
How easy it would have been, she thought. If she had just chosen a different route so many good soldiers wouldn't have had to die.
Then she had the crystal to think about. What was it? She still couldn't figure how it was made or its full abilities. She new that it had the ability took speed through slip space at that it had strange effects on artificial gravity beams and such. Even though she thought is was destroyed there was still the possibility that some of the shards still existed and since the covenant could trace the ship they had before when they had the crystal, what was stopping them from being able to trace the shards through space?
A voice came over the loud speaker, "Cortona?" It was admiral hood. I have finished my speech and me and the Spartans will be coming back to the Gettysburg, which I trust has been reloaded with weapons and supplies?"
"Yes sir" replied Cortona, "it was one of the first things that I had done when we arrived on earth. I thought that you might want the Gettysburg ready when the covenant get here"
"Good thinking" was his reply. "I have always admired your ability to assess any situation-
" "WARNING" interrupted Cortona. "I have just detected a growing battle group of more then 30 light class covenant carriers massing on my long-range sensors. It seems to be a first wave attack I am sending a distress signal down to the surface of Earth now. Admiral I suggest that you get the Spartans and yourself back up to the docking ring fast!"
EDGE OF JUITERS ORBIT
COVENANT LEAD BATTLE CRUSIER, LIGHT OF THE ANCIENTS, BRIDGE
SEPTEMBER 14, 2552 YEAR OF THE LIGHT
Onie "zamozee looked over the humans planet from his ship's outboard cameras and laughed at their pitiful attempt to get their ships in place for the first and final attack. So little of the human fighting ships remained. He was sure that having him in the lead battle ship and him giving the orders that his attack would be the only one needed. The humans usually only defeated their ships when they had the covenant greatly outnumbered. Even then the humans came away with badly damaged leftovers. As soon as the prophet gave him the signal to go ahead with the attack he would move in and destroy the humans for what they were, a nuisance and unholy rodents.
A COM channel opened and a deep, strong voice echoed through the almost empty bridge, "ship master, you may now proceed with the destruction of the unholy ones."
The elite replied, "So it shall be done"
"Also ship master" the prophet began, "we want the human race to be fought face to face." We wish you to deal with the inadequate space battle ships then proceed with unloading the soldiers on to the ground."
The elite was taken aback with this last piece of information. He knew that the humans were best at fighting on the ground, but he could not openly question a prophet. He replied, "so it shall be done master" the COM channel clicked off and the shipmaster called all ships to break orbit and head in attack formation towards the human planet. There would be blood spilt on this day and he knew that he would be welcome in paradise for his loyalty and great duty.
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