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Last Resort - Part 1
Posted By: Nem0fTime
Date: 18 February 2004, 8:26 PM


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The Pelican swerved as a pocket of wind caught it in a tight angle, "hold it together Echo 230" one of the marines yelled, out. Slowly the Pelican came to a hover a few feet of the ground, and six marines and the Master Chief dropped out of the Pelican into a Swampy area. They all loaded their weapons a few marines carrying pistols, one carrying a Jack Hammer Rocket Launcher, two other carrying assault rifles, and finally the master chief and the last marine were carrying shotguns with maximum clips on them. Finally a Marine called out, as he was looking around. "Sir, I think I found something you should see quickly!" The rest of the marines and the Master Chief ran over there to an edge of a small ledge and below them were covenant forces and a new alien species attacking them. It looked like beings made out of rotten flesh or the undead were attacking the Covenant Grunts, Jackals, Hunters, and Elites. There was large pools of blue, purple, and orange blood and some green slime everywhere and the covenant forces were loosing the battle horribly. Though humanity was being driven into extinction, the Master Chief called out to the Marine with the rocket launcher, "let me see that for a moment Private Johnson." "Alright, here you are sir. I was just wondering sir, what do u plan on doing with that sir?" As soon as the master chief had checked the ammo supply on the rocket launcher, he replied "I plan on giving our friends down there a very warm welcome!"
Just as that he fired and the first rocket raced through the air to meet the enemy below at impact it killed three grunts and an Elite, and two of the undead beings but somehow the undead beings kept coming. He fired again exhausting the first clip of the rocket launcher. He handed the rocket launcher back and took out his pistol and turned on the 2x Scope, to zoom in some, and was just about to fire on one of the undead forms, when he saw one of them was human or all of them were human, and then though of the pain the marine went through, and opened fire. He put two bullets in the head of the first combat form, as it dropped dead. Just as he was about to fire on a really fat one, the combat form without the head got back up. Many of the marines recoiled in disgust and shock. They themselves then unloaded their pistols from their belts, and also scoped their Pistols and opened fire on Covenant and the combat form undead beings alike. Bullet casings started to eject from the pistol barrels as with the mutual actions covenant and the alien forms started to drop to the ground dead. Just then the MC saw a smaller alien form jump out of the chest of the combat forms, and then the combat formed dropped dead. Realizing what had happened, he yelled over the fire " Aim at their chests and fire at will!".
The Elite's took more than one clip but in the end they too fell to the ground dead. As a marine was about to replenish his pistol with a fresh clip, he screamed in agony, and the Master Chief and the rest of the marines turned to see why they screamed, just in time to see that a smaller form had latched itself to the marine's head as he kept on screaming. The Master Chief ran to the marine, grabbed the or what looked like an infection form, and ripped it from the Marine's back of the head. As soon as that occurred the alien form popped like a balloon with some greenish liquid and pieces of flesh. The MC shook his hand to get rid of the gore on his hand, and unsheathed his shotgun, and told the marines to unload their AR's and Shotguns, and attack the combat forms below. The MC went in guns blazing and the marines followed him in deadly precision, but soon they themselves were starting to get overwhelmed. He picked up some static and then heard a message. "This is Echo 235 inbound to the swamps is anybody there, I repeat is anybody there!?" Cortana within the MC's helmet replied over the comm "Roger Echo 235, we read you, we need immediate extraction, we are under attack from an unknown form of beings who have killed an entire covenant battalion and are still coming." Just as she finished green gore splashed a rock wall as a shotgun shell ejected from a marine's shotgun and a flood form fell to the floor dead.
The Master Chief opened fire with his AR, titanium tipped bullets tore through the chest of one of the combat forms, guts and gore splattered the entire area but the combat form kept coming, finally after emptying his entire clip into it, a waste of precious ammo the combat form fell dead to the ground. Not having time to reload he tossed it away and picked up a needler and saw a carrier form a few hundred meters away, next to him he saw three elite bodies with plasma grenades. Finally making a mental calculation he ran, kicked a flood form in the chest killing it instantly, using its body he made himself jump in the air higher, and fired his entire clip of needlers. Pinkish-Purple jagged edged projectiles started to home in on the carrier form, the twenty sunk into its soft flesh and few seconds detonated with an explosion of two plasma grenades, which caused the carrier form to explode. The explosion ignited all surrounding plasma grenades and with the explosion they took out 15 combat forms and 35 infection forms. The Chief knew that he had to protect the marines at all costs, given the fact that they had no shields. He reloaded his needler and ran back and elite combat form jumped behind the marine and was about to slash the marine. The MC threw the weapon hitting the combat form in the head causing it to stagger, as he ran he bent down slightly and picked up an AR, just to find it was loaded with 45 bullets. He jumped over a dead body and brought its butt-end of the rifle on its head. It staggered a few feet and the MC unleashed his clip from the AR killing the combat form and riddling its body with more bullets than it was required to kill it.
One of the marines Private Nickelson said to the MC "sir the pelican it landed we should head out now!" as he finished his final shotgun shell popped out of his weapon and a combat form fell dead, and the area was cleared from the enemy for a while. He dropped the shotgun picked up a fully loaded AR and started to step backwards quickly. The MC's radar picked up more red blips heading this way. The Master Chief yelled out to the marines, "find any covenant useful weapons and technology including some grenades if possible, salvage whatever you can in the next minute and head back to the Pelican on the double!" He himself picked up as much ammunition he could find for the shotgun, pistol, and assault rifle and then he tossed the ammo inside the pelican. Then he ran to the marines and helped them take some more stuff, finally in the remaining few seconds he grabbed a fully loaded needler and 20, 20 round needler clips and ran back to the Pelican as fast as he could. He tossed the weapons into the Pelican as he was about to get into the Pelican two shots rang out, the first one caught the master Chief in the chest but his shield blocked the round, the other one caught a marine in the leg, and blood fountained everywhere as he screamed in pain and agony.
He turned around to see a combat form meters from him, he picked up a nearby fallen plasma pistol and set it on overload and fired the shot. The charge shot caught the combat form square in the chest. The plasma ripped open its chest and the rest of its flesh melted away from the super heat. The rest of the blast killed the infection form within killing the combat form completely. The Chief then took apart the pistol as his red blips on the radar got closer. Some of the marines from their area opened fire to give the chief cover for whatever plan he had. The Chief found the pistol's power core, and set it on overload, then put it back in and hurled it into an area filled with plasma weapons. He grabbed a few extra assualt rifles for the spent ammunition he was covered for, tossed it in, got in and yelled to the pilot to punch the engines and get them out of there. As they left they watched as the pistol exploded causing 15 other plasma pistols to explode causing 6 plasma rifles to explode. Finally the chain reaction explosions reached the plasma and fragmentation grenades. They expanded the blast 10 fold and the blast took out over 50 combat forms, 300 infection forms and 15-20 carrier forms. This was a minor victory for the marines for the real mission was yet to come. The Pelican left the area and the fires became a blur, but before they left the sector there was a larger explosion that shook the ground and air on HALO Installation 06. The marine with the binoculars said that he saw one of the structure explode. The chief thought to himself, all those lives gone to waste by the flood, and the forerunners for not creating technology strong enough to let the flood loose on HALO itself.
The chief knew that the covenant human war was over and there was an alliance between the two but there were still some Planets in the covenant empire who had broken away and would every now and then attack a human colony hoping to finish what they had started or, foolishly started. The Chief closed the Pelican door, as it pressurized for outer space. The Pelican left the Ring World's atmosphere and went to meet a small allied Covenant-Human Fleet, consisting of three Covenant Cruisers, one flagship and two destroyers. While the earth fleet consisted of a cruiser, four frigates three admiral flag ships, and four heavily armed class X-3 battle ships. They were the newest additions to the fleet with help from the Covenant allies. It carried 6 Nuclear Warheads, energy shields much stronger than a covenant destroyer's, 8 Plasma Cannons. Four Super MAC guns, 23 MAC guns and finally it carried a 12 Fusion reactors 8 for the Jump drive the rest for weapon systems. Each battleship also carried a crew of 1200 technicians and 500 engineers and 7500 marines. It also 1500 Covenant Elites each armed with special Plasma/Projectile Rifle, with reinforced shields that could withstand up to three shades firing upon it from three different directions simultaneously.
The Pelican docked into the UNCS ship U.N.C.S. Nemesis, and the MC and the rest of the marines were greeted by two Elites and four Marines, the Elites had modified English translators which allowed them to speak English well. They greeted the chief and asked him to come with them to the bridge they have some news that the admiral and the prophet would like to discuss with him. He went with them to the bridge when he came to the admiral and Prophet he bowed for a second and then got back up, and saluted the admiral. The Prophet told him to be at ease, same as the admiral, the Master Chief asked the prophet and the admiral what the news is. The Prophet and the admiral answer in unison, but the admiral stops and allows the Prophet to speak. "Our scouts have reported that an undesired caste within the empire have taken control of one of the nearby HALO's and have claimed that they have found a way to turn on the weapon, and eradicate every human, but they don't realize that both of us are within the same part of the galaxy and will eradicate us all. We require you and some of your and our forces to go to that HALO and take out those forces, if its possible salvage some of our equipment and vehicles and if you have a chance forerunner technology. Then after that destroy the HALO structure and return here. We're going to need you for the threat that is coming for us two races. Our ship the Acquired Truth got a hail from a ship with a race of beings who claimed to be forerunner and told that ship that they swore to destroy all races in this galaxy if they did not stop destroying the HALO's." Just before the ship could jump into slip space, it was fired upon. "They sent this message to your ship here, before they were destroyed. Also before the ship was destroyed they sent a map of space that contained these vessels."
The lieutenant pulled up the area on the holo screen that showed the area filled with 25 red blips. "That is all the ships that contained or what remains of the forerunner. We have seen you fight with the flood and you are strong race, we require you to board the flagship and capture it while most of our and your space forces engage the ships to buy you time to take over the ship." The Admiral finally spoke. We have created a ship part Covenant and Part Human. The human part of the ship is just an armored shell that is damaged. In the inside is the heavily armed Covenant Destroyer which you shall be riding in along with 1000 Marines, 1200 Grunts, 1000 Jackals, and 500 Elites. You shall be the leader of the battalion of 150 Marines along with weapons and human and covenant equipment. A small company of Elites, Jackals and Grunts who will be go to the camp in a limping form to signify that they were injured by humans to infiltrate the covenant base and in due time give The Master Chief and his forces the base's location allowing them to reach there. Also if its possible they will try to deactivate the base's defenses.
Finally comprehending all the information the Master Chief spoke, "Sir, if we are going to a HALO we require some weapons, what you said about weapons I understood, but we require shotguns, and I mean a lot of them and a bucket load of ammo for them. Assault Rifle's are extremely weak against the flood at all ranges. During the time when I was aboard the Pillar Of Autumn, I fought against the flood and caused the engines to go critical in order to destroy HALO, over three battalions of marines were lost due to the cause of Assault Rifles. So if its possible I would like all soldiers to carry shotguns, sniper rifles, and pistols. Also if there is time, I would like to know if Covenant Plasma Rifles can be upgraded to fire a charge up shot, which kills them instantly. But if its possible is it possible to do that and add a stronger power core so it doesn't overheat from the shot so more than a shot can be fired before it over heats." "Finally it would be great if All covenant forces carry Fragmentation grenades. Plasma grenades against the flood in this case are only effective at long range, because once a plasma grenade is stuck to flood it will charge you, I have seen many veteran Elites die this way." The two Elites standing nearby were shocked from what was told. They spoke up in the middle of the conversation, "if it is possible your excellency we would like to go with the great one with him to the control room of this new HALO that you speak of?" "Yes it shall be allowed, take what you need and go, we shall give you the new Plasma you speak of soon." The Elites and the Master Chief bowed quickly and then gave a crisp salute to the Admiral, and he returned it back, and then he and the Elites left.
As they were about to exit the Nemesis's bridge, when the ship rocked. Both the Elites and the Master Chief pivoted and ran back to the center of the bridge and asked. "What happened? Sir!" The Admiral responded, "a renegade Covenant Assault Frigate and a Cruiser are opening fire." "I suggest that you head for the HALO control room of this installation and try to deactivate HALO or set in on some form of self-destruct, that may draw their attention and give us a chance to retaliate on them." Just as that an Ensign reported, "Sir one of our Covenant Destroyer's have been destroyed and Covenant Troop Transport too." The Elites and the Master Chief eyed each other then ran to the Shuttle bays as fast they could.
As soon as they reached the area, they boarded into a Large Pelican filled with 50 Marines, 15 Elites, 30 Grunts and 30 Jackals. Before they got of, techs came by and handed each marine a shotgun with maximum clips and the Covenant their favored weapons. The Master Chief grabbed a Shotgun with maximum clips and then grabbed 5 more and stored them in the area for his AR ammo. He also packed up with 8 Frags, three plasma's, and five upgraded Plasma Rifle's. He gave two to the two Elites who were with him to the bridge and then secured the plasma rifle to his belt, loaded an entire clip into the shotgun, and asked the tech for 51 more clips. He then told the Marines to do the same, they too collected the extra clip.
The crowded Pelican took of from the shuttle bay followed by two Long Sword Fighters for cover if needed. They landed in the Swamp region with the forerunner entrance to the library. The Master Chief remembered the time on HALO 04 and the lives lost against the flood. His radar suddenly went crazy with red, only to see infection forms in the vicinity. He told the entire battalion to spread out a bit and prepare for a battle. The two golden Elites he had met with before told the rest to do the same, and took out a plasma sword both of them and every Covenant force ready for battle. A marine nearby saw something move by fast and fired a shell ejecting from his shotgun, and the fast moving object fell to the ground sparks flying from it. A sentinel, it flew back up and repaired itself then attacked the flood. The Chief yelled out "Don't shoot them they are allies for now." Then he ran forward shooting the incoming flood, he saw Elites, Jackals, and Grunts in their flood forms, including hundreds of infection forms and many carrier forms.
Then the Chief heard that irritating voice, "Welcome back reclaimer, I was surprised to see you here, but yet you are hear. As far as I know some group of the Covenant race infiltrated the Library and again at the cost of their own lives released the Flood again." "You again must infiltrate and get to the key, and activate HALO. At that point I must do what I was created not to do far, I shall set HALO for self destruct and kill the flood. I must tell you one more thing. You must find a ship called the Injured Holiness, that ship escaped this HALO's maximum weapon range while it was activated with flood aboard it. If it lands on any planet it will cause a mass growth of uncontrollable flood which will defy the purpose of all the HALO's built by the race of forerunners. It will destroy the very that they died for, if that ship and its life-forms aboard are not destroyed, all the forerunner race did will be lost in vain." "You reclaimer must do this in order for the survival of the Covenant and your race." The chief spoke, "tell me all you know about the flood and how they came to be and why was your race forced to build these HALO's." as he finished a shotgun shell popped out of his weapon and then another and another and so on...as that happened Flood combat forms started to fall to the ground dead." As the Guilty Sparks was about to speak he was shot with an plasma pistol, to escape the fire he fled the scene saying as he left. "These sentinels will assist you once again reclaimer, I shall be back to tell you what you need to know, now I must go and open all the doors in the library in all hope that you shall reach the key."
His shotgun ammo depleted for the moment, he took out the new Plasma rifle and started to kill the flood. Greenish flesh melted away at the sound of plasma rifles going off, also as shotguns went of, flesh blew apart and green blood splashed the trees and soaked the ground. A disgusting smell of burned flesh filled the area. Finally as the battle ended, the MC looked around to see for casualties, and saw two marines and four grunts dead. He knew that marines were much stronger and could hold out with fear a lot longer then the grunts, but he had the feeling of sorrow for the grunts. Then suddenly one of the grunts got back up his wounds covered in green liquid and gore, he knew that grunt would soon be infected with flood DNA which would make it loose all its memories and put it into a lot of pain. He looked at a nearby Elite and called it over. He told the Elite to shoot it in the head a form of mercy killing for sparing the Grunt the misery he would face.
The Elite walked up in front of the Grunt, did a small prayer to the gods to spare it from the misery from the honored after life. Then he got back up and pointed the Plasma Rifle at its head. The Marines turned away, and so did all other Covenant except for the Elite with the Plasma Rifle, the two Gold Elites with the plasma swords and the MC. A Plasma shot rang out and the Grunt died, a scorched flesh mark on it head. The Elite then picked up its plasma pistol and grenades for salvage of ammo and power core. Then the Chief and rest of the Elites walked with him to the entrance of the library, followed by the rest of the Covenant forces and marines behind them. The MC saw that one of the Gold Elites was hurt he called out the entire group to stop and take a small break while 10 Marines, 2 Elites, 10 Grunts and 5 Jackals Stand guard or patrol the area about 50 meters ahead of them. But he told them to stick together, or they could get lost in this area.
He asked one of the medics to come near him and treat the wounded Elite. The wound was treated with Bio-Foam and then was given some Covenant adapted morphine for the pain. The Elite got back up and thanked the Medic, that was something that was rarely seen between a Gold Elite and a Marine, it would only be a slight nod, not a thanks. The Gold Elite got back up, picked up his Plasma Rifle and moved along with the MC. The Chief told two of the grunts with the plasma pistols to move into the entrance to make sure its safe, if not then, come back here and report. If its safe then one of you come back to the entrance and signal us in, with a plasma shot to the ceiling. Acknowledging the two grunts went, in and then checked the area. Just as that when the grunt was coming back to signal everyone in, the other grunt screamed and opened fire in fear. Plasma scorched the walls, and the flood infection and some combat forms. But it didn't stop them, the grunt coming out ran towards the others, and left the other grunt by himself. Soon that one was overwhelmed and the flood infected it, and turned it into a carrier form, and it soon too joined the flood as they made their way out. Grunts and Jackals opened fire, Plasma spewed everywhere, catching the flood, rocks chunks of metal, trees everything. As the grunts and jackals acted as cannon fodder and fire support. The Elites, spread themselves out and joined the fight. While that was happening the Marines and the MC reloaded their shotguns, and they too joined the fight.





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