False Hope - FB - Completed

[Huka]

For November only *Huka serving as GM*

0300 Hours, April 14, 2537(UNSC Military Calendar)/ 60 metres from targeted FORERUNNER-classified artifact, 117 kilometers from UNSC Base Gamma; UNSC colony world Loki II, Sigma Sol System

Sergeant John Mark Brown crawled cautiously with Private Leo Kent ahead of the others on a grass-covered hill, shrouded by the night.

Producing binoculars from his belt, John hovered the optics over his eyes, fixing its vision to see through the night. Getting the common green night vision, the sergeant saw the large Forerunner structure sitting in a large valley, mountains in the distance, and by the doorway was protected by a trio of the large saurian aliens classified 'Elites' and a pack of hunched over creatures with heavy triangular tanks on their backs commonly, and rightfully called, 'Grunts.'

His main focus was on the more ornated-armored Elite with the crest of his helmet. A Major. The leader moved about, looking at his soldiers with a clawed hand comfortably on a plasma rifle resting on his hip, obviously ready for a assault despite his blue-armored subordinates' relaxed postures.

Replacing his binoculars, John kept his eyes forward, and tapped Leo in a short series, sniper rifle.

With practiced speed, Leo quietly passed a SRS99C-S2 AM to the sergeant. After positioning his rifle, he turned on the night vision before looking through the scope, and caught sight of his targets again.

The Covenant door security remain somewhat active, especially when the Major kicked a Grunt who made the mistake of taking a nap and scorned with harsh growls and alien gibberish.

Taking this chance, John inhaled, checked the readout before firing.

Pieces of the Elite's skull and internal organs splattered all over the scared Grunt, causing the little creature to yelp and scream before the dead alien's heavy body fell on it.

Taking the chaos as a sign, John carefully shot down one of the Blue Elites and a Grunt before the rest of his squad moved in to finish the job.

[darthsloan]

Sloan never knew his sergeant could land a shot like that. Well, no one in the squad knew. Maybe the reason behind this is because he mainly kept the squad basic, using the old MA5B assault rifles. It wasn't a bad gun, but it could do nothing at a long range that the MA5C could. However it did pack a punch and were handy against Banshees, for its armor piercing bullets could punch right through those flying freaks.

After the shot the rest of the squad moved from cover and opened fired on the remaining covenant squad. They focused on the remaining elite, but soon with it off guard, the squad reduced it into a bloody mess. Some of the grunts tried to run but they shared the same fate as their elite friend. With all opposition dead they all shouted in near unison, "Clear!". Jimmy said it shortly after, making Chaney snicker.

[Huka]

John and Leo walked to meet with the rest of the squad. "Good work everyone. The first phase is done and now the second part is trying to get inside and gather the intel necessary to better our chances against the Covenant. " He said, checking the ammunition in his trademark M5AB.

"But sir, didn't Recon indicate that was more Covie forces? Where are they?" Leo asked absent-mindedly. "Most likely inside, Private, which is why I am having you carry extra ammunition and grenades than usual." The sergeant said, looking at Leo with a slight smirk.

"I don't see why bother. The Covenant is surely overcrowded in there if intel is true. We can just toss a few gren-" Lucas bragged but Kenya suddenly slapped him in the back of the helmet.

"We are trying not to damage too much of the structure, idiot. Those Spooks want it preserved as much as possible." She scorned and Lucas nodded in submission of the more violent woman.

"Now that everyone is done hitting one another, may we go in now?" John asked with a raised eyebrow. Snickers and nods were his answer.

"Good, Private Sloan. You take the lead. Kenys and I will take middle, Leo behind them, and Lucas will protect our flank." He ordered, looking at Church for movement.

[darthsloan]

((Church is my ODST Lulz XD, ill ignore that and pretend you said Sloan))

"On it Sarge", Sloan said as he checked his ammo before heading inside. It didn't look like what he thought it did. It looked like cold storage chambers in a way, but it was warm and was eerily different from what humans or covenant built.

It was also.... empty? They all knew there were covenant troops lurking around but it seemed... empty... void... any other word that could be used for empty. He scoffed and fixed his glasses so he could see better. There was a room on the right with a wide open corridor, but no door, he rushed ahead and took cover on the near side of the corridor before peeking around the edge at the room. Despite his anxiety, the room was empty. There could be extra corridors leading deeper into the structure, but if sound moves like it should they should HEAR if their are any. Sadly it was all quiet save for the pitter patter of the squad's feet. He turned around and expressed his confusion to Sarge, "Hey Sarge, what gives? There's nothing here."

[Huka]

Keeping his rifle, John was wandering the same thing, "Don't know, Private. They might be deeper in the construct. Should be careful of any camoflaged ones." The sergeant said before seeing one of the halls more lit than the others.

Going by gut instinct, he directed his soldiers forward. Doors were found but they were locked and after passing them, they came to a spiraling ramp leading to a lower level.

"Sir, something is not right." Kenya commented in a whisper.

"I know, keep your guard up." John agreed before tapping on Sloan's shoulder to lead on.

[darthsloan]

Sloan nodded and entered the room looking around with his rifle at the ready. He looked for any abnormalities in his vision that might give away a cloaking device. There were none. He moved down the ramp while looking down. He couldn't even see the bottom. Something didn't feel right, it felt like a trap. They had some troops outside the door but why?

At the bottom of the ramp he heard a clicking sound, though he had no idea where it came from. He jerked his gun left and right, checking all around them for any signs of covenant. Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him, but to make sure he asked the others, "Did you hear that?"

[Huka]

"That clicking? I thought so too." Leo said holding a assault rifle up to the level they just left. "You guys are just scared. Keep sharp." Lucas said with his M90 shotgun in hand, eyes searching eagerly for enemies. Far above them, a large beetle-like bug seemed to phase from materialize on the wall, cocking its head, before disappearing again.

Coming to a passageway, they walked around a couple corners, and found a single door. "Lucas, take point." John said since Lucas had the best CQB weapon amongst them.

The eager marine crept ahead with his shotgun forward, when he grew close, the door opened to reveal nothing but darkness. Clicking on his weapon's flashlight, he crept in the door, and looked around.

He could see nothing.

"Clear I guess." Lucas said, kind of disappointed, but as he momentarily lowering his gun, he saw a shimmer. "Son of a -" He screamed before something caused him to gasp in pain. Slowly a spear materialized out of his body and Lucas fell back. "Lucas!" John screamed.

Then a tall Elite appeared from its camouflage. From the look of its marked white armor, the Elite was some kind of Black Ops. It looked at the squad before it.

"Humans." It hissed before its eyes fell on Sloan.

[darthsloan]

Sloan stared back stunned by the suddenness but snapped out of it and pulled the trigger. He was blood hungry now, now that one of his friends were dead, and he wanted revenge. The thing would die. Sloan would make sure of it. However in the back of his mind, he knew he would lose this fight.

He screamed as he emptied the magazine toward the enemy, oblivious to anything but the alien. "LUCASSS!!!!" He never saw the others, but he seemed to forget about them and for a moment drowned out all noises.

[Huka]

The Elite chuckled as the bullets pinged off its powerful energy shields before lifting a hand as the angered Sloan and his squad fired at him, suddenly a horrible swarm of Drones flew out of the darkness, snatching Kenya from her feet, and the Elite vanished in the flutter.

"Retreat!" John shouted, pulling Sloan as he and the others to began to run back to the surface.

[darthsloan]

Sloan got ahold of himself and slung the rifle onto his back before quickly retreaving Lucas's tags. They had to get out of here, but the buggers were fast, it would be a meracle if they made it to the surface. In order to buy more time he drew his pistol and fired into the cloud as he and John clammered up the ramp. "The got Kenya!"

[Huka]

The buzzing screams of the Drones were intense, John shot at a few who tried to lunge for him or Sloan. Running up the spiraling ramp, it felt like his mind was going mad, and he nearly fell off the ramp if it wasn't was Leo.

Coming to the clear hallway where they came, it seemed living was possible before a needle shot into his leg and exploded. Screaming, he fell over, and looked to see his mangled leg. Seeing Leo and Sloan stop, he hollered through bloody teeth.

"No! Get back to the warthog and tell command what is here!" With hesitation, Leo grabbed Sloan before moving to run out.

Looking back, John saw the Drones crawling on all sides of the walls and flying like cockroachs. It was disturbing like a nightmare.

Grabbing his belt of grenades, he hissed in pain as he lifted himself to rest against the wall. "You uglies should know...if you try to kill a human, a lot of you are going to join him." John said before pulling one of the pins as the bugs swarmed him.

Suddenly a inferno blew outward from the swarm.

[darthsloan]

his heart was racing. Lucas was gone. Kenya was gone. Now Sarge was gone. It was only Leo and Sloan left now. He started to panic but he kept running for the warthog. He did not look back until the explosion, which knocked him from his feet out of surprise. He turned to see smoke drain from the the structure. He got back up and walked to the warthog before turning his head back again. "Leo, that was Sarge...."

[Huka]

Leo was just as horrified as Sloan but he lifted himself off the ground, "Come on, we got to get out of here and get back to base." He said, walking from the wreckage.

Suddenly he was thrown forward by something. Smelling burnt cloth and metal, he could barely look back on his thick backpack to see smoke sizzling from it. Quickly pulling it off, he saw a large black hole in it, and plasma leaked on the other side just after he pulled it off.

Looking back, he saw the Elite again, holding a plasma pistol that have just fired a overcharged bolt.

"You still alive!?" Leo cried and the Elite fired again. "Sloan, let's go now!" The marine suggested, jumping to his feet, now less weighed as plasma popped the earth under his feet.

Running pretty fast, Leo got in the driver's seat, and waited for Sloan to jump in.

[darthsloan]

Sloan jumped in without question. He wanted out. This place felt like death and the Elite made it so. A few bolts of energy hit here and there. One of them singed his face, leaving his right side of his face red. "Step on it Leo!" He screamed, scrambling for his pistol. He reloaded clumsily out of panic and set up a sight picture aiming in the general direction of the Elite.

[Huka]

Leo stomped on the gas and their warthog pounced forward, before speeding toward the distant base. "Now only thing we have to do is stay alive." He gasped as they left the Forerunner construct, cursing their commanders for not sending more people in the scouting.

"I am going to put a bullet in the Major's head for this." Leo growled under his breath. All seemed safe until they heard a noticable noise.

Six Covenant ghosts suddenly appeared from their sides as if waiting for them.

"Sloan, can you get on the turret?" He asked worriedly.

[darthsloan]

Sloan nodded and climbed carefully to the turret. Six ghosts? It would be unlikely to get out of there alive let alone without being wounded. The speed and wind made it hard for him to stand. He did manage and activated the turret, watching as the barrels spun.

He fired in short bursts, tearing one of the ghosts to shreds. He smirked and adjusted his glasses, preparing to fire again. He couldn't hit them this time. They were moving to fast and dodged his shots. Then they started firing. It was a miracle he didn't get hit to seriously but got hit in the thigh causing him to cry out in pain. It burned but this fueled his anger to greater heights as he tore another ghost to shreds.

[Huka]

As one of the ghosts were being torn apart by the marines' lucky driving and shooting, they were getting close to the base, thanks to being occupied with staying alive.

Sanctuary seemed so close, just over the next hill.

Just then, one of the ghosts got directly infront of the warthog. "Sloan!" Leo tried to cry out before he noticed the rider. Another white-armored Black Ops elite, but without the markings. They met eye-to-eye before it pulled out a somewhat curved rod.

With a squeeze of its hand, the rod beamed out two curved plasma blades at both ends, a double-bladed scythe.

Twirling it out of its vehicle, the Elite snarled lightly as it moved at the last second, moving to the side of the warthog, and sliced the exposed side and wheels on the left.

The warthog suddenly went wild like animal, turning on its wounded side, and flipped over three times towards the hill.

Leo's vision wavered and blurred as he woke miraculously alive from the crash. Painfully getting up, he felt his ribs broke, and his ankle sprained, but nothing critical. The sound of thunder booming nearby.

Looking around, he found pieces of the warthog everywhere, and its ruined chassis on its side behind him, no Covies around at all, probably thinking they were killed.

A little far up to the hill, he saw Sloan, who looked okay. Thank God.

"Sloan!" He called.

[darthsloan]

Sloan got up off the ground after the crash. The first thing he noticed was the calling of his name, and then the fact that he could not see well. The whole world was a blur. Then the pain set in when he tried to move his arm. It was broken at the elbow, twisted in a way that an arm shouldn't be twists. He cried out in pain and limped toward the voice. He let his arm just hang there for he was to afraid to touch it. He generalized that it must have caught itself on the gun. "Leo! Is that you?"

[Huka]

Leo limped towards his friend, "Hang on Sloan. We are close to the base." He assured, still trying to contact the base but nothing but static answered him. Seeing Sloan's twisted arm, Leo looked around as if trying to find something to fix but he could think correctly. "Come on, buddy." He cried, hastily lifting Sloan with his good arm over his shoulders. "We are too close to die now, you understand?" Leo asked, looking at Sloan tearfully.

[darthsloan]

Sloan cried out once more when he was picked up, with the pain's center in his broken arm. He felt himself lose consciousness from the pain, making him wonder how many places he broke it in. He gave some support to Leo however, but putting some force on his back with his good arm. This way he would have better balance and not fall over as easily. He smiled slightly but this disappeared when he realized something. Where did that elite go? With a urgent voice he told Leo, "Do hurry."

[Huka]

With much effort, Leo carried Sloan with his wounded ankle, and started to walk up the hill. The sounds of thunder getting louder with each step. "We are almost there." Leo said and when the hill's top was at least another three steps away, their miracle have ended with a energy sword suddenly stabbing through his chest.

Gasping and shocked, Leo looked down to see the burning blue blade. "Why did this happen to us?" He queried before with the last bit of his strength, tossed Sloan forward to be more stable on the steep hill.

Then Leo was groaned in pain as he lifted into the air by the blade. He was looking up to the dark clouds and the few open sights of stars. It was beautiful to look at really, but his mind was burning with questions.

Why didn't their commanders send more to investigate the Forerunner sight? Why didn't they clear channels? Just...why?

Just then, his vision caught something he didn't noticed. Hidden behind the cloud was something. Massive.

And tears fell on his red cheeks when he realize what it was.

All for nothing.

Then another blade stabbed into his chest, just below his ribs, and his invisible killer finished off the private with a light roar, tearing him apart.

His upper torso flying in one direction and the lower in another.

Satisfied with the kill, the killer uncloaked itself. A massive Elite, its dark skin completely contrasting to its gray armor. A deep growl rumbling from its throat, the Elite looked at Sloan.

[darthsloan]

Sloan was dazed from hitting the ground. The pain didn't help, but what it did do for Sloan was make it nearly impossible to see. Leo's pistol was flung toward Sloan when Leo was killed and Sloan greatfully held onto it. He began to crawl slowly from the elite, to a nearby rock to prop himself up. When this was completed he pointed the pistol at the elite and fired. The shot hit the dirt right in front of him so he fired again. This one was a clear miss. Hopelessness set in, so he placed the barrel of the pistol under his chin and pulled the trigger.

Death did not come though, but an empty, metallic click. As if in disbelief, he kept pulling the trigger, over, and over again with each time producing the same metallic click.

[Huka]

The Elite chuckled evilly and deactivated its swords, leaving only its basket-hilts. He simply walked up the hill, steps heavy and full of power, passing Sloan without much of a glance, but this was far from over.

With Sloan's stunned disbelief, another Elite walk up the hill.

Instantly the alien markings encarved on its armor was recognizable. The Elite approached Sloan with a sinster purr, cocking its head in interest, before a large clawed hand snatched Sloan by the throat, its claws pressing carefully on his skin, and its scale-like skin feeling as cold as the Elite itself.

Lifting the private high off his feet with no effort on its part, the Elite brought the human close to its masked face, and a cold and shrill voice hissed, "If you so wish to go back to your little fort, why didn't you say so Human."

With that, it carried Sloan over the hill, joining with its comrades; the massive swordsman, the almost as tall but more slender Elite with the scythe, and another, shorter than both, but appear more magnificent than the others, a more luxurious robe underneath its pure white armor.

They all were looking beyond the hill.

The tattooed Elite tossed Sloan on the hilltop and pointed ahead, "Look Human, see before you the price of heresy!"

For beyond them, where the firebase was at, a devestating battle of the Covenant completely destroying it and all who tried to defend it. The screams of pain and death echoing to the hill with the winds.

[darthsloan]

Before he knew it, another elite was there. This one looked more sinister than the other. Maybe this was because Sloan could see this one better. That also meant he had to be very close to him. This was proved by the cold hard claws around his neck, hoisting him off the ground. This caused him to drop his weapon as the now unoccupied hand held on to the elite's wrist.

The next thing he knew, was that he was on the ground again, but he landed on his arm again. This caused him to cry out in dull pain. He heard the elite accuse him of heresy and told him to look at what the price was. He lifted his head again to see a blurred version of the firebase... on fire. There were bodies everywhere, and battle can still be heard farther on but he could not hope to see that far. "Heresy?"

[Huka]

"Yes." The more 'holy' of the four replied, speaking in english like the other, but with a more common Elite speech. "Your kind have been judged and condemned with complete extermination for your sins by our holy Prophets. We were given the upmost duty to make sure that your precious Demons and traitorous allies will be wipe clean as well."

As he said this, the Elite crossed his arms over his broad chest. "This is be a taste of our judgement, I assure you." He finished.

The tattooed Elite looked at the ruins of the base with a evil chuckle before kneeling down next to Sloan. "Fortunately for you, we found a special purpose for you." He whispered.

[darthsloan]

Death and destruction was humanity's fate. It was a fate that was coming true. How many people died today? It was to many to count, at least not with his eyes. Through another voice that answered his question did he realize that there were other elites up there. It only deepened his hopelessness, for he couldn't even take on one. "Purpose... judgement..." He felt an involuntary tear drop from his eye. There was no hope.

[Huka]

The cruel Elite looked up and spoke to its fellows in their language. The others looked in the same general direction.

Then it looked down at Sloan and spoke one last time, "It is time, we are going to a long talk when we return to the citadel."

With that said, a phantom appeared, and activated its lift. The Elites stepped in its beaming light and were lifted into its interior, with the tattooed Elite last with Sloan carefully in his grasp, walking towards and lifted upward into the light.

[darthsloan]

In response to what he said, the elites starting conversing among themselves in their own language before turning back to him. He said something about having a long talk at the citadel. Citadel? Was this their base, their home?

It was in mid-thought that his was picked up by the throat once more, and the sound of a phantom's propulsion system made itself known. He looked up and knew the rest of the day was going to be long, to long.