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Halo: The Return Part 3
Posted By: NeoX<TheMasterda@aol.com>
Date: 19 August 2002, 3:52 pm


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Spartan Leader:
Well then, I guess you have to go through some training. But seeing how you are a quick learn, it shouldn't be a problem.

The Leader takes John to a fenced up base, in which upon entering John sees a Warthog, and a Scorpion Tank. But he also sees some new things that he hasn't seen before. First an almost Banshee like thing but it is wider, thinner and sleeker. The classic green, and brown color is all over the ship. It has two machine guns, and in the front a single missile launcher. There is a plastic cover that slides over the driver and the firer.

Spartan Leader:
That is our version of the Banshee, its called Ace Wing. It is faster, and more powerful than the Banshee; but it is a little sluggish. But it can take out Banshee's without a problem. Lets move on, we found the Warthog's were a little to big, so there we have a dune buggy, also known as Sand Duster.

The Leader points over to a small car, with a mini-Vulcan cannon on the back. The gun is activated by a trigger on the right handle and the left handle has a trigger for dropping land mines. It's quick, and can fit into many small places. It also cannot be flipped due to its roll cage.

Spartan Leader:
Moving onto some new weapons. This is the only new weapon you haven't used. It is a modified version of the elites sword. It is a plasma sword nonetheless but can do something's that the Covenants swords can't. For instance, ours can spin, you grasp these two paddles tightly, and then the sword be comes loose and can swing in a circle. Good for cutting off the heads of those damn Grunts, and Elites. But in the case you face down a Hunter with one of these you can launch it with a small air powered cannon in it. It will fire the plasma sword itself a good hundred feet. It can also be placed back into position, and then after five seconds it will reactivate. Now onto the last new thing, it is called a porcupine grenade. Its not the explosion that makes these baby's deadly, it's the steel balls that shoot from it.

The Spartan throws a PP grenade into the middle of a box.

Spartan Leader:
This box is made out of the same stuff that the Covenant's ships are. Just watch what is does. Oh, and by the way it is 10x's thicker.

The Leader throws the box high into the air, as the box goes out of site they hear a loud explosion, and as the box lands, John sees that there is nothing left. All that falls down is a few steel balls, and some shrapnel. The Spartan Leader goes onto tell John that the PP grenades have taken out whole ships before, and will be their main weapon against the drop-ships. John is amazed by all this, and is ready to go. But before he can try anything out he is told it is time to go. The leader tells John that he can download all the info in his way over there. The suit is connected to John's brain and is capable of having information sent into it. The two head back to the base and get ready to board the ship in an hour. As the time pass John is told that it is time to prepare for the cryo-tubes. John says he will enter his tube last. The leader asks why, and John replies that he wants to make sure everything is okay before he enters.

MC:
I will check the radar, and then retire to the tubes. Then I will let Cortona keep us on watch to make sure no one tries to attack us.

Spartan Leader:
John, I guess I didn't tell you about the new suit mods. There are some new things.

MC:
Cortona, scan the area, 5 times. I don't want anything sneaking up. If anything comes up take them out with whatever is needed.

Cortona:
You got it John.

MC:
So, what's the new stuff?

Spartan Leader:
First off call me Enco. Second the first mod is probly the best. You see this little cord?

Enco pull a long cord out of his palm, it is black and seems to retract.

Enco:
This plugs into you AR. It makes it so you can zoom, or look around corners. We can take out Covenant with out them seeing us. Try it out.

John sees the little hose like thing, and pulls it out. He asks for an AR to try it out. Enco throws him one but John doesn't know how to plug it in. Enco tells John to look under the cross hairs, John does and he sees a little plug. As he plugs it in a short little flash happens and John notices his view is lower.

MC:
Only one problem, I can't watch my sides.

Enco:
That's what Cortona, and your radar is for.

John is indeed impressed with this new gadget. John asks what else is new.

Enco:
Well you strength can be powered up. But that lowers you shield power, your shield can be boosted too. It makes for good sliding, and for great stealth. It's a hell lot of fun when you get bored.

MC:
I'm not out there to have fun.

Enco:
Yea, I forgot. You are the serious type.

MC:
It's a war, and we have to stay alert. The second you lose that readiness you die.

Enco:
Don't worry; on the battlefield we are better than anyone.

MC:
Sure you are rookie.

Voice:
Love-boat come in Love-boat.

Enco:
Love-boat here. What is it HQ?

MC:
Love-boat?

Enco:
Inside joke.

Voice:
We are going to need you to turn around. We are detecting a large Covenant movement. We need you to abort your mission and get you ass back here before they get here.

The Spartans had only been gone for a half-hour, and one thing puzzled John. Why hadn't Cortona seen the ships? Could thy have entered after she was done? Still why didn't they pick up on the normal radar.

MC:
UNSC, come in.

Voice:
UNSC, what is it 117?

MC:
Where are those Covenant forces coming in?

Voice:
Alpha-Omega, section 4.

That was just past the sun, could it be that the Covenant were trying to mask their entrance? John flashed back to the war on Reach. He realized that the Covenant do these two things in war, distract, and attack. John knew something was wrong, but couldn't tell what it was.

MC:
Cortona, you heard the man, turn this ship around.

Cortona:
You got it Chief.

As the ship turned, it hits John. The sudden appearance of the Covenant on the side of the sun was their distraction. But what was the attack going to be? UNSC was now watching the skies. Again, it hits John. When the Covenant invaded, why was it so small? No, the Covenant wouldn't invade small. They were landing, and then waiting, the invasion had already started before UNSC even knew it.

MC:
Cortona engines at max. Get us back to earth. We have got some trouble.

Cortona:
What is it John?

MC:
The Covenant has already landed. Inform the UNSC. Message read "Red Alert. Covenant on earth. Scan last invasion area. I repeat Covenant on earth."

Cortona:
Sent. Engines at 300%, ETA 5 minutes.

MC:
Enco, get your people ready; we have to be ready fir anything. Cortona, get me a sat. photo's until landing. Same area as we landed. Check for any Covenant activity.

Cortona:
On it Chief.

Enco:
All Spartans report to weapons deck, suit up, and get ready the exo's. We may need them.

MC:
Exoskeletons?

Enco:
Just another mod. We use them for heavy combat. I recommend you grab one too.

MC:
I like to stay open in my movements. I recommend you try and stay the same way. The Covenant has more ability than you think. I have seen them use gorilla tactics on us. Be ready for anything.

Cortona:
Chief, Covenant activity found; Its not good.

MC:
Show me.

On Johns HUD pops up a map; Cortona explains where the Covenant bases are. Ten red dots appear on the screen, all at the northwest of the main UNSC building. She than shows where the Covenant movement is; thousand of blue dots appear on the mad. Three around the bases, and two opposite of the NW bases; the Covenant is pre-paring a flank. John never shows his fear, but this is the first time for everything. John drops his AR, and stands in one space not moving.

MC:
We've lost... I swore it to myself I wouldn't let it happen.

Enco:
Master Chief get ready, we are landing in less than a minute.

Cortona:
John! Snap out of it! It's not over. You can do this. It is far from over.





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