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Earth: A Halo Tale: Part 4: Chapter 7
Posted By: Nike<jimmyneedles09@aol.com>
Date: 27 February 2003, 10:01 pm
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0410 Hours November 21, 2554 [Military Calendar]/
Weapon and Training Facility, UNSC HQ, Washington D.C.
“What?!” John said, awe-struck.
“Yes, Master Chief, the Forerunner,” Lieutenant Mendez asserted. “The scans showed that the X-2 was of Forerunner origin.”
“I know, but how can the X-2 be a Forerunner weapon if it’s purple and pink?” Purple and pink were, after all, the Covenant colors.
“That’s what puzzles me. If it’s a Forerunner weapon, then why does it have the Covenant’s colors on it?”
“Maybe they spray-painted all X-2s imported from the Forerunner’s homeworld.”
“Or maybe the Forerunners have ties to the Covenant and the Flood,” Mendez said. “Let’s save the what-ifs and philosophy for later, Master--”
He was interrupted by the sound of a crackling head set. The lieutenant placed the headphones over his ears and said, “What is it?”
“This is General Tuga, Lieutenant,” he said. “We’ve just gotten news of a small Covenant task force moving towards the colony Zebes III. The force is supposed to be made up of three frigates, a carrier and a medium-sized corvette. Tell the Master Chief to get the Spartans ready to go and you go muster 6th Regiment’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, then get aboard Admiral Keyes’s new cruiser, the Shrine of Pitted Dreams. Be ready to move out at 0430.”
“Understood, General. We’re moving out.” Mendez set the head set back on the table it had originally been placed on. “Master Chief, a small Covenant task force has been detected near Zebes III, a major colony in the Middle Colonies.” The Middle Colonies were between the Inner and Outer Colonies. “Get the Spartans ready to go and meet be and 6th Regiment’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions aboard Admiral Keyes’s new vessel, the Shrine of Pitted Dreams. We’re to be ready by 0430. Now, hop to.”
John snapped to attention and gave Mendez a sharp salute. Mendez returned the gesture. The Master Chief high-tailed it down the hallway to the Spartan Quarters.
He burst through the door. John immediately got to the point.
“Dog those cards! Get into uniform! We’ve got a mission! We’re heading to a colony world called Zebes III, a major colony located somewhere in the Middle Colonies. A small Covenant task force composed of three frigates, a carrier, and a medium-sized corvette has been detected. Battalions 1-3 of the 6th will be supporting us. Now, double time it to the armory and then to the Shrine of Pitted Dreams.”
As the Spartan IIIs donned their MJOLNIR II armor, they listened carefully to the Chief’s briefing. More details would be provided aboard the SoPD, though.
The Spartans and the Chief sprinted down the hallway, 25 pairs of metal boots clanking on the floor in perfect unison.
The Spartans each grabbed one of the new Rat rifles from a rack of other weapons. Some grabbed what the UNSC simply called the “SMG.”
The new R90, or “Rat” as the Marines call it, is completely different from the MA5B. It has an 80-round magazine, with a rate of fire of 600rpm, and it comes with a 2x scope for basic sniping. It had a longer barrel for better accuracy on full auto, single-shot, or controlled bursts.
Many other Spartans grabbed different things. Snipers grabbed sniper rifles. Heavy weapon experts, like Sam, grabbed rocket launchers and C-12.
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of the 6th soon entered the armory. The Master Chief glanced over at the door, and when he noticed the colonel of the 6th walk in, he said, “Spartans, ten hut!”
His Spartans stopped what they were doing and snapped to attention, as did John. They saluted 6th Regiment’s colonel and lieutenant colonels. The colonel returned it.
“At ease, Master Chief,” the officer said.
The colonel was an average sized American with gray hair and beard. John suspected he was in his early 50s. He was, surprisingly, in good shape for a man his age. His nametag read, “Colonel Stacy Leach, 6th Regiment, United Nations Space Command, Planet Earth.”
Once all the Spartans and Marines were armed and ready, Colonel Leach said, “Double time to the docking bay! Move, move, move!”
The Spartans and Marines ran to the docking bay at Delta Sector.
Stacy noticed that his Marines were running slower, slacking off a bit. “Let’s go, you ladies, move it! Triple time!” This made the Marines increase their pace.
Admiral Keyes sat in the command chair of his new vessel, the Shrine of Pitted Dreams. He pulled his grandfather’s pipe out of his pocket, lit it, and puffed once, examining the curls of smoke thoughtfully.
At least, he thought, I’m not the only ship going. And he was right about that fact.
About 17 other ships were going, as well. Keyes was the head of the fleet of frigates, destroyers, and cruisers that were en route to Zebes III.
Cortana, after going through a rigorous upgrade, was being sort of nasty, but was glad that the upgrade made her function forever, instead of dying after seven years of use. She was currently monitoring the COM channels and internal cameras.
“Admiral, I’m detecting movement on External Camera B3,” Cortana said.
“Show me,” the admiral replied.
The vision of External Camera B3 flashed on the main view screen. Keyes saw what the movement was; the Spartans and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions. Admiral Keyes chuckled.
“Cortana, it’s only the Spartans and the Marines you caught movement from.”
“Oh...” Cortana trailed off.
Colonel Leach’s voice echoed over the ship’s COM system. “Admiral, can you open the ramp doors? They seem to be shut tight.”
“Yes, sir. Hold on a second.” He paused. “Lieutenant English, open the main ramp doors.”
“Aye aye, sir,” Lieutenant English replied. His fingers lightly tapped in the commands. “Ramp doors are opening, sir.”
A low rumble echoed throughout the bridge and the rest of the ship. The camera showed the three battalions and the Spartans moving through the open door. The ramp folded up and closed.
“Are we ready to move out, Cortana?” Keyes asked.
“The engine is at 97%, Admiral...now at 100%,” the AI replied.
“Good. Lieutenant Malcovich, fire up the engines. Ensign Knight, ready the S-MACs and ready Archer missile pods A through E,” Admiral Keyes said.
The two crewmen jumped to their tasks, the light hum of fingers tapping on plasma keypads being sounded off in perfect unison.
The distinct whine of the engines warming up echoed throughout the ship, as was the sound of the Archer missile interlocks opening.
“Cortana, get me online with the rest of the fleet.”
“Yes, Admiral.” A moment’s pause. “Communications line established.”
Keyes took a deep breath. He spoke.
“All hands, this is the Admiral. Prepare to move out. Captain and commanders, warm up your engines and move out into Phalanx Paux Formation 4. Tell your Marines that there’s a 90% chance that they’ll be sent to the surface of Zebes III, and to be ready. Keyes, out.”
The monitor, in which Keyes’ image had appeared, snapped off. He sat back in the command chair, lit his pipe, and puffed once, examining the curls of smoke. He would need a battle plan. He was the head of this fleet. He knew it wouldn’t be a good thing to be caught with his pants down with no plan. Keyes started thinking about what he would if he found Covenant battleships as the SoPD rumbled out of Gamma Station’s Delta Sector. TO BE CONTINUED A/N: Yes, it took me awhile, but school, snow, and a week-long vacation distracted me. Hopefully, this was longer then my previous parts, though this is only one chapter. Part 5 is on the way. I’ll give you all a cookie if you can be patient. This is Nike, over and out.
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