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


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A Spartan's Path
- Chapter 6



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

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

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

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

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





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