Mission 4 - Part 2 - Ground Battle

[Spartan 999]

Special Operations Officer Sorsa 'Xirsasai

[/center]

Sorsa ran down the hall, feet hardly making any noise as he shot down a tailing Sentinel. Up ahead, he saw four prone forms, smoke wisps still drifting off their charred corpses. He stopped before the bodies of Major 'Sraomee and the three others of Murcurial Denial lance. He glanced around, making sure there were no Sentinels about to attack.

"Take their weapons and equipment...they have no need for it any longer." Sorsa said to the Special Operators that were near, taking a plasma grenade and decently charged plasma rifle from Minor Po'rotee's body. "Til, help yourself."

Sorsa stood, then looked right. A massive door stood there, just like 'Sraomee had said. His eyes narrowed as he contemplated.

"Get ready," He growled, approaching the door cautiously. "I believe there may be something behind here." He waited until everyone else was prepared and behind cover, then nodded to Til. "Pray to the gods, brother--I have a feeling we'll be needing all the luck we can get."

Sorsa approached the door, then placed a massive hand on a center panel. There was a great whirring, which was swiftly followed by the door sliding apart. On the other side hovered a massive Sentinel, which turned to "look" at the Sangheili standing several meters away from behind two bright blue shields. An Enforcer barred the way.

With a familiar sound of seemingly combined needler, plasma rifle, and spiker fire echoed as the Enforcer fired a stream of glowing projectiles from behind its shields.

Instinct kicked in. Sorsa activated his camouflage as he somersaulted back, barely dodging the red projectiles.

[z]

Rakath V'keelaii

Loading on to the elevator, turning to shoot down one more infection form before the platform shot up. He looked to the humans and nodded. "Well done." He said in a tired voice. He could not wait to get a rest from this.

as soon as it hit top floor, Rakath waited for the Marines to leave before jogging along to an entrance on the far right, activating his beacon Kallmee's Phantom landed a moment later and he was on.

"Kallmee... Take us to space, land us... anywhere..." Nodding, the Phantom tilted up and shot out into the sky.

[kuran]

Corporal James Beaufort
Fireteam Raptor
Spec-ops ODST


"Come on, come on, move your asses!"

James almost pushed his team into their pods before jumping into his. Strapping in and wedging his weapons into their places, he breathed a heavy sigh.

"Okay Raptor. We're getting reports of a new enemy around the control room. UNSC and Covenant forces are both pulling back, and we're going to help cover the withdrawal. So strap in, shut up, and shove a cork in your ass."

It was an old saying, one that every Helljumper knew. It was incredibly lame, but now, as they were dropping into combat, they took comfort in it, as had thousands of ODST's before them.

The launch sequence went off with silence. None of them spoke during a drop usually. They were all pumping themselves up. James popped a disk from one of his vest pouches into a small dataplayer.



With the usual *thud* and lurch, they dropped. Bright light streamed through the pod's viewport and James was blinded momentarily by the sudden appearance of a sun, before his visor's polarisation kicked in.

At the level that the ship they had launched from was at, it didn't take long for them to arrive. Seventeen and a half seconds, to be prescice, according to James's HUD. Other than the short duration and the slightly harder than normal impact, it was like a thousand other uneventful drops.

After the usual head-rattling impact, which usually left James with a bit of a headache later on, he reached forward to hit the hatch releases.

The hatch exploded outwards, hitting a tree trunk nearby. James stepped out, rifle raised, and into pandemonium.

The other members of his team had all landed nearby. He could see that almost right off. What took a moment of analysis was the squad of Marines that came hurtling their way, screaming in terror.

James stepped into the path of the Marines, who completely ignored him, even when he tried to stop one. Lenov attempted to catch one and almost received a rifle butt in the face.

What was even more surprising was what came behind them. Some hundred paces away in the direction the Marines had come from, there seemed to be a...James had no idea what it was until he peered in to take a closer look.

It was a writhing mass of small insectoid....things. They seemed to be no more than a foot tall, but were advancing down the path quickly. They appeared to be disgusting little spider things with a bulbous back.

Lenov, being the pragmatic one, looked to the rest of the team. "A new Covvie species?" He inquired. The rest of the team including James shrugged. "Whatever they are, they routed that squad. So light the bastards up. We should be falling back as well, we're supposed to be helping with the retreat."

They all turned and opened fire, falling back in an orderly formation. While two members of the team provided covering fire, the other two retreated up the path, then turned to give the other two covering fire in return. They quickly found that the little bastards gave a satisfying "pop" when shot. Though despite that, there were hundreds of them, and they were closing in on the team...

Sergeant Sato Takashi
REVIVE-4
Control Room, Exterior

Sato had also discovered that this new enemy made an interesting "pop" when shot. In fact, he thought it was quite amusing, spraying the forms down with a hail of fire from his SMG as he stood up from behind the warthog and sprinted for the control room opening. There were Marines in there after all.

Flattening himself against the wall to the side of the doors, he chanced a peek around the corner. What he saw made him go paler than he already was. A squad of marines were just now coming up from the elevator.

Sato waved his hand franticaly. "Hurry! Retreat now!"

Turning his attention back to the clearing outside of the control room itself, he saw that these new insectoid enemies were literally everywhere. They were almost surrounded, despite the fact that the remaining marines were doing a good job of mowing down their enemies. They just kept coming.

Sato turned and unloaded his clip into a small group of the flood, then cursed as it clicked-empty. Throwing aside the smg, he drew his sidearm and continued picking them off when they got too close.

Where were those damn marines?

[Deleted]

Second Lieutenant Killinger
Second Platoon
Retreating...

"Where the fuck did that damn elite go!" A Marine called out, looking around for ripples, thinking it may be cloaked, "Doesn't matter soldier!" Hicks cut him down. Then, a voice from the end of the hall, a Soldier standing pat against the new hostiles.

A marine pulled the trigger, and the pop from the hostile made him smile. Pop.. Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.. Pop sounded as the Marines engaged a larger group and regrouped with the soldier at the entrance, "Thanks, Soldier. Lets move!" Killinger nodded at the REVIVE operator.

"X-Ray one and two, we are topside, requesting pickup!" Killinger yelled into the mic, about thirty seconds later two pelicans roared overhead, "Copy all, Lieutenant! Arizona's free, we can get the hell out of here now!" The Pilot responded.

Two minutes was all it took, and the Marines didn't take a casualty, how-ever they did take a M.I.A, presumed K.I.A type of deal. As the Marines boarded, Killinger made the final call. "Take us back to the F.O.B, they are going to need all the help they can get, then come back and pick up the remaining ground teams from here.. If there are any still alive."

[Wax™]

Captain Travis 'TJ' Jenkins (O-3)
1st Recon Reaction Force: Able Company
Retreating... Packing up UNSC Field HQ

Jenkins ran down the bottom of the ramp that was inside the Forerunner building than began to run back up, he checked each room to make sure it was entirely empty, the breif room was empty, the armory was empty, the supplies room was empty, but when he got to the medical bay there was a man still on a stretcher on the far side of the room, Jenkins turned around and looked up to see too men running out of the structure.

"You two! Help me with this man!"

"Yes Sir!"

They both replied almost at the same time before running to Jenkins' position, Jenkins ran into the medical bay and looked down at the man who had been struck by a Forerunner Sentinel, his name was Alex, Jenkins gestured the two men to grab each side of the stretcher and lift him up, Jenkins grabbed the plasma bag and began to run with them as they got the man out of the Forerunner building and rushed him to the last Pelican waiting for the last man at the base.

Jenkins jumped onto the Pelican first and held the plasma up, two other marines then dragged Alex on the stretcher to the far side of the hatch while the other two men got on the Pelican, Jenkins looked up to a Sergeant and gestured him to hold the plasma.

"Hold this"

As he did so Jenkins linked up with Admiral Klix.

"Admiral... This is Captain Jenkins... The Field HQ has been evacuated, everything it out and all vehicles are up, last of the men are coming up now"

UNSCS Titan (NPC)

"All ground forces... This is the UNSC Destroyer Titan, we are coming to your location to pick you up from the control centre and transport you to suspected exit for new mission" Spoke the Captain of the Destroyer.

The UNSCS Titan slowly began to drift away from it's current position and took less than five minutes at the max to make it over the Convoy that had exited the tunnel a few hundred meters away from the Tunnel was the Forerunner Control Room, the UNSC Titan engaged it's thrusters away from the UNSC and lowered itself down slowly before lowering all of it's loading ramps to let the convoy on, there should just be enough to fit all the man and hopefully the vehicles on.

Staff Sergeant Jason 'Iceman' Bowers
Task Force 77: DELTA DESTROYERS
Retreating... To UNSCS Titan

"You heard the man over the radio! Let's go... Common move!"

Jason yelled to everyone that was down on the ground, Jason let go of his SAW and strapped it to his chest tight before running up to his Warthog and jumping into the drivers seat he then stepping on the gas, he did a sharp 90 degree turn and booted the pedal to the floor racing the Warthog to one of the lowered loading Platforms, once he was on he moved it to the far side and got out before moving to the opposite side to lay down extend his SAW's bipod and begin to fire on the new enemy which exploded with sickening pops.

1st Lieutenant Matthew Eversmann
ONI Section ZERO: ORION REVIVE
Retreating... To UNSCS Titan

Matthew was crouched beside a Warthog at the entrance to the Control Center structure, he was firing his MA37 like crazy at this new enemy that just appeared out of no where, massive squid looking creatures that exploded with a sickening pop every time you hit one with a bullet, Matthew got up and stepped back slowly as he continued to fire his clip ran empty, he let go of his MA37 with one hand pulled his M6Z from it's holster and began to fire on the incoming squid things before holstering it and slapping a new clip home in the MA37, then then turned to the UNSCS Titan that landed not too long ago, about a few seconds.

Matthew began to run from his position to it, it was about two hundred meters at the max which was a fare distance away from the Marines and the new creatures, Matthew ran as fast as he could occasionally turning his head to fire on some of the squids, he then looked forward and jumped onto one of the hanger's loading docks with some other marines.

[Huka]

Major Domo Til 'Muramee

The Major Domo complied with his friend's suggestion of getting more supplies and had everyone scavange. As he looked around, he noticed that the bodies were somewhat fresh and a certain oddity came to mind. He felt..."Someone was here before us." He said and then started to hear the movement of another door.

Spinning to see Sorsa opening the next door, he barely had the time to warn him when a sudden barrage of projectiles struck at him, but Sorsa was quick on his feet. Vanishing in the midst of a somersualt, the Special Operator evaded the death sentence.

"Enemy!" Til warned with his plasma rifle and pistol in hand. What he saw was a massive construct. It hovered almost soundlessly over the floor with two massive shields infront of it, and large eye looking at the Covenant forces.

"By the Gods." He muttered before it fired again a rain of mixed projectiles. "Get out the way!" He roared before rolling aside quickly, before seeing one of his own succumbing to the attack.

Not another one!

Roaring, he fired his plasma weapons; they were effective but not as he would wished.

It slowly turned to him and its eye started to burn red. Frozen at this sight, Til could only pray, but someone tackled him before a large intensely red beam shot from the Enforcer's eye.

Looking to see who saved him from being ash, he saw it was Skor. "Keep in motion, Mentor!" He urged before getting up to fire at the Sentinel with his plasma repeater.

Looking around, Til saw his lance and the Special Operators fighting for their lives, some dying from the Sentinel's devastative power, and other fighting even harder.

Not wanting to be outdone, Til snarled deeply, and rose to his feet, firing with a vicious roar.

The Enforcer was yelding to their collective power for a moment but its shields returned.

"Do not let up, strike its shields with collective overcharges, and strike from its sides!" Til advised as he holstered his plasma rifle to pull out his plasma grenade.

Pressing its activation glyph, he rolled to the side, and thrown it at the giant's side.

It activated and exploded but blew only a small piece of. "Do not relent or die!" Til howled.

[spartan129]

Gunnery Sergeant Francis Hayes, Badger Two-One
Badger Armored Platoon, Alpha Company, Task Force 77
UNSC Convoy inside Shield World

Either a UNSC fighter or a sentinel crashed into the ground twenty meters away from Hayes' tank, just as Hernandez gunned down another sentinel with the coaxial machine gun. A sentinel had crashed into the barrel of the main cannon, making the weapon unserviceable.

"Keep it up, Hernandez!" Hayes shouted over the explosions and gunfire.

"All ground forces," the destroyer's captain's voice came over the comm, "This is the UNSC Destroyer Titan, we are coming to your location to pick you up from the control center and transport you to suspected exit for new mission."

"Eagle Two?" broadcasted Lieutenant Marshall, "This is Badger One-one, requesting transport to the Titan, over!"

"Copy, Lieutenant," came a sharp reply, "This is Eagle Two-two. I've got two albatrosses coming down-you and your wheels are gonna have to roll on into the holds, we don't have enough transport for you to get out. You got that?"

"Got it, Eagle Two," replied Marshall. He switched his channel so that only his platoon could hear him, "You got that, Badger?"

"OORAH!"

Minutes of firing and being fired upon later, the albatrosses came down and deployed their ramps. All on fire, the four tanks of Badger Platoon rolled up onto the albatross. Hayes and Hernandez were with Marshall on Eagle Two-two, and the other two tanks were in Eagle Two-three. The two albatrosses closed the hatches behind the tanks, and shook as they began to ascend. Hayes glanced at his readings...any longer down there and Badger Platoon would've been scrap metal.

"Badger, stay in your tanks until we get onto the Titan," Marshall ordered, "None of us absolutely need repairs yet."

[Deleted]

Vice Admiral Klix
UNSCS Arizona
In Atmosphere

"Rotating left." The Navigations officer responded, "Admiral, Captain Jenkins reports that the field HQ had been evacuated and the last of the men stationed there are on the way back up." The Comm's officer informed.

"Right. Open channel." The Admiral ordered. "Captain, good to hear that the rest of the ground teams are on the way back. Sadly, a new contact has appeared, and you need to hold the loading zone. They are described as balloon like creatures with arms. You and your company, along with Both Captain Lloyds need to hold that zone with any vehicles regrouping from the control center." The Admiral said, before clicking off the comm channel.

Second Lieutenant Killinger
Second Platoon
Loading Zone

The Pelican throttled down, turned left and the troop bay opened to a flurry of activity. Pelican's were attaching vehicles well bringing troops back to the surface, but second platoon, who was cut 1/4th during the assault in the control room, was ordered to hold the zone so troops could get onto the Arizona.

The Convoy was estimated half way back already when the Destroyer messaged the entire ground team, so it was either their births at the Arizona, or cramped inside the Destroyer, and they decided the Arizona would be better.

Most of the Air Cover was already back as well, such as the Two Vultures, a few longswords and dozens of pelicans. The area was looking clear so far, but Killinger, after a short engagement knew how deadly these creatures were.

If the destroyer was lucky enough to get survivors at the Control Room, they were good, but if they got boarded by these things, the Destroyer could be lost, so the Commanding Officer had a choice to make.

[spartan129]

Gunnery Sergeant Francis Hayes, Badger Two-One
Badger Armored Platoon, Alpha Company, Task Force 77
On albatross Eagle Two-two inside Shield World

"Shit, we're going down!"

The shout from the comms stopped Hayes' heart. He hadn't felt their albatross shake, which meant that Eagle Two-three had been hit.

Shouts from Eagle and Badger as well as the whir of a crisped engine resounded through the comms, and it was hectic to say the least. Hayes' stomach lurched as his scorpion rolled through the bay of the albatross, which was descending fast to catch up with Eagle Two-three. Then, Hayes heard it.

A bang, an explosion...He knew that Eagle Two-three had crashed.

"GOD DAMMIT!" shouted the pilot of Eagle Two-two. "Eagle Two-three! Badger Three, Badger Four? Do you copy?"

Marshall's screaming voice blared on the comms, "HARPER! HENDERSON! Fucking respond, that's an order!"

"I'm checking on them, sir!" said the pilot, "They didn't go down too far-they might've survived!"

The albatross hit the ground, hard. Hayes jumped out of his tank, not caring about anything except checking on his fellow marines. He heard Hernandez grab his assault rifle off the rack, just as Hayes grabbed his own rifle. Hayes ran to the personnel hatch, which was promptly opened by Marshall-who was already there, shotgun in hand.

The three marines jumped out into blaring heat and blinding light, and immediately saw the burning rubble of the crash site. Hayes felt sickened-the albatross was in three parts that he could see. Two tanks lay in ruin in the middle of two of these parts, having rolled into a depression. One of the tanks still had a frame and some plating-the other was little more than scrap metal.

The three marines ran over to the tanks. They knew what was coming, but couldn't believe it. With Hernandez watching their backs, Hayes ran to the destroyed tank while Marshall made his way to the somewhat whole one. Hayes searched around in the rubble and ashes...He nearly vomited as he touched what he thought was charred bone.

"Harper and Jewell are okay!" shouted Marshall, and Hayes heard him sigh in relief. "They're banged up pretty bad...but nothing a little trip to the medical bay won't cure."

Hayes couldn't respond. His mouth was dry. The only somewhat intact objects Hayes came across were two dog tags:

HENDERSON
BRIAN K: O NEG
022 335 132
UNSCMC; M
ATHEIST

ALFARO
OLIVER H: B POS
025 342 986
UNSCMC: S
ROMAN CATHOLIC

Warm water seeped down Hayes' face and burned his eyes. He scavenged through the debris, looking for something, anything…

"Marshall," Hayes choked out finally, after wiping his face on his sleeve, "They're…" he couldn't say it. Marshall nodded solemnly; Hayes knew he understood.

"Hayes…" Marshall said, "check the cockpit. Hernandez, help me with Harper and Jewell. They can't walk on their own."

"Yes, sir," Hernandez responded promptly, lowering his weapon as Hayes sprinted to the third part of the ship, the cockpit.

He reached the hunk of metal, which was in surprisingly good shape. The hull had taken most of the impact, although the windshield was angled downward into the sand. Hayes climbed over the cockpit, and went into it from behind.

He sighed in relief. The pilot was alive-coughing up blood and sporting a hunk of metal stuck in his shoulder, but alive. Hayes leaned down to him. "You're going to be okay," he said to the pilot, "We're taking you back to the ship, okay?" Hayes undid the man's seatbelt, and looked at the metal in his shoulder. He didn't want to make a problem worse, so he picked up the man and carried him out of the cockpit.

"Hayes!" shouted Marshall as he walked back, "Harper and Jewell are back on the albatross, they-fuck!" He raised his shotgun and rained a sentinel with lead pellets. It crashed to the ground, only to be replaced by another, which Marshall promptly took out. "Get to Eagle Two-two!" he shouted at Hayes as he backed up, then addressed Hernandez on the comms, "Hernandez! Cover us!" Marshall began running to the albatross, occasionally firing back behind him. His rifle on his back, Hayes carried the pilot back as fast as he could. Assault rifle fire from Hernandez sprayed out of the door, and Hayes heard more robots explode behind him. Marshall jumped through the personnel door, firing around the corner with his shotgun, as Hayes sprinted to it. Crouching, he laid the pilot down inside the ship.

Hayes turned around to fire one more shot at the sentinels, then leaped through the door. He could hear it closing when suddenly he felt a singing heat in his lower back. He screamed, his vision went black; the last thing he felt was excruciating pain in his back and his nose breaking as he landed face-first on the albatross's cold metal floor.

[z]

Lucy Grey

Looking back and fourth for a moment, lifting her SAW and holding it tightly in her hand she stopped for a moment, perking up. "Lead the way Jason!" She called out over the COMM.

Lunar all loaded into their original warthog, while Lucy tossed herself in to Jason's, Popping up with her SAW and opening fire to hold off whatever the fuck this... Thing was.

"Someone fucking drive!" She yelled as the Warthog took off.

Fredrick Johns

Pushing himself up into Delta's Warthog with some female helljumper and the Sarge, Fredrick perked up and began firing his M6 pistol.

"Got your back, Sarge. DRIVE FASTER!"

Eden Lawrence

Her M6 and B9 came up as she opened fire on another floating robot after another, and now these flying things.

Leaping up on the Warthog Drivers seat. "Sato! Get in!" she yelled. and then, next thing she knew there was the sound of another laser... A shatter of glass....And then... a warm liquid leaked down her side... and yet she felt nothing.

Her mouth twitched and she slowly looked down. Her arm was blasted clean off- her numbed one- and she felt nothing. Looking to Sato she began to feel dizzy before slowly fading out and her head hitting the horn.

[kuran]

Sergeant Sato Takashi
REVIVE-4
Control Room-Exterior

Sato slammed home a fresh clip for his M6 and continued taking pot shots at any of the strange insect things that came too close. He looked over his shoulder as he heard his name called.

It was Eden. She was calling for him to hurry up. He expended the last few rounds in his clip before holstering the pistol. He was totally out of ammunition anyway.

He turned and ran for the warthog, hoping to outrun the flood that were coming from all sides. But as he was no more than ten feet from the 'hog, he saw his team mate collapse and hit the horn.

"Shit."

Clambering onto the step that lead up to the driver's side, he was more than shocked to see Eden's arm had been taken off. She was loosing blood fast, and he didn't know enough first aid to even attempt to stop the bleeding. Not to mention the chittering, squirming hostile force all around them.

Sato sighed heavily. No. This would not be the end of the team. Taking hold of what he could reach, namley, Eden's waist and her good arm, the slightly built agent heaved and hauled his team mate out of the warthog, sending them both collapsing into the ground.

Standing as quickly as he could, Sato against grabbed hold of anything he could and began dragging his fallen mate back towards the direction of the waiting Pelican. But even he knew that the enemy surrounding them on all sides would overtake the pair of them long before he could get her on board.

"COVERING FIRE!" he shouted, seemingly in vain, towards the Pelican, knowing that the chances of the marines within hearing him over the roar of the engines was slim.

He tripped over a rock, sending them both sprawling again. Yelling out in frustration and anger, Sato stood again, resigning himself to his own death, here on a mysterious planet, outside of a strange room, surrounded by an unknown enemy.

Taking a moment to come to terms with this, he stood, sliding the pair of long combat knives he loved dearly and taking position over Eden's apparently lifeless corpse. He would die to defend his team mate, just as any member would do for each other.

As far as reasons to die went, it wasn't a bad one.

Facing down the crawling monsters coming from all sides, he steeled himself, letting out his frustration, anger, rage, all in one long yell of anguish.

And faced death...with a smile.


((Kill, this is your cue:P))

[Deleted]

(( Kuran, you do know that my pelican had ALREADY returned to the HQ..? I will save you, however.. I can save you. ))

Captain James Fawley
Vulture Gunship
Control Center

"Captain, hostiles approaching some friendly forces!" The Co-Pilot informed. "Bring auto-cannon's online, arm all missiles and revert non critical power to weapons." The Captain ordered, and the small three man team inside the canopy roared to life.

No later then five seconds, the Captain had taken control of the auto-cannons and fired them into the.. Balloon type hostiles, watching the high explosive rounds blow them into.. Fleshy pieces.

He continued to fire, rotating the weapons so that could get behind the the Marines who were being surrounded. The two auto-cannon turrets, facing completely different directions managed to soften the group up.

"Fire missiles, grid pattern around the Marines on the ground!" The Captain ordered. Rather loud thumps game as the small missile turrets rotated, and fired there payloads. The Captain watched as the auto-cannons ammunition counter dwindled, and the live feed from those cannons showed specs of bright yellow light indicating that the missiles had reached their individual destinations.

What ever happened next, he was hoping that the Marines would run...

[Wax™]

(Did this so we could hurry up and get moving)

Captain Travis 'TJ' Jenkins
First Recon Reaction Force - Able Company
Location: En:Route to UNSCS Arizona

"Captain Jenkins... This is General Sink... I want you to re:route your Company to land at suspected exit out of the planet... Setting co-ordinates to your pilot's HUD so get ready to deploy"

Is all Jenkins managed to hear over the radio over many other transmissions, Jenkins didn't even get a chance to reply the General had already ceased the transmission and began talking to other ground troops, Jenkins looked to his men in and around the bay of the troop-carrier Pelican he was in and nodded to each and every one of them before drawing his MA37.

"Alright... You hear the General... The core needs a door... And we have been ordered to make one... Ooh-rah?"

Jenkins addressed to his men.

"Ooh-rah Sir!"

Jenkins smiled and nodded as his men replied in a cheery voice, his Company had barley gotten to see any battle or fighting this OPERATION and have heard all about this new enemy that inhabited the planet and was released once the control room was deactivated and the defenses were brought offline, Jenkins looked down to his MA37 and inspected the weapon, he had not fired the weapon at all this operation and was a bit disappointed he then looked down to his side-arm which had not been fired either, he was interrupted from his thoughts by the Pilot.

"Captain... Touching down in thirty seconds with the other Pelicans holding your company... Get ready to bail out"

The Pilot spoke.

"Roger that Lieutenant... Thanks for the ride"

"Captain..." A Private spoke. "We're gonnah get out of here right? I don't want to die in here!"

"We'll get out son... Don't you worry about that"

Jenkins smiled toward the man than looked out the back hatch as the ground got closer.

"Ten seconds ground team..."

Jenkins stood up out of his seat and got ready in a small crouch as he prepared to bail out the back, holding the handle of his MA37 with his right hand and holding an over head handle with his left hand.

"Five... Four... Three... Two... GO GO GO!"

Yelled the Pelican Pilot... And as the Pelican touched down Jenkins jumped back and turned to face his team.

"Go go go! Get out of there!"

Jenkins turned around and begun to run towards one of many Forerunner pillar that surrounded a massive blue shield of solid light which seemed to be the exit of the shield world, Jenkins stopped and crouched at the pillar and stopped connecting COM's with the rest of the Company.

"First Platoon! Form up on the Pillar directly opposite mine about three hundred meters across, cut across the light bridge, Second Platoon on me and Third platoon on the Pillar to my right..." Jenkins stopped as he took a look at a round light globe that floated in the center of the Pillar about eye level with Jenkins. "...Does this turn it off?"

Jenkins looked at the item suspiciously before placing his hand over it and pressing his fingers against the panel, the panel glowed for a second before massive mechanical sounds were heard and the pillar shrunk in size the the panel of light turned a dull blue as if acting deactivated.

"Able... I found out how to turn off the shield... Each of the four pillars are capable of being turned off via a panel on the ground side, just touch it and it goes off... I am moving to pillar four to deactivate it... Red team move with me"

As Jenkins began to run to an opposite pillar a squad known as 'Red Team' peeled off and began to run with Jenkins about one hundred meters away, Jenkins ran hard and took in many short breaths before slowing down to a small jog, as he ran he got word from one of his Platoon Commanders who had shut down one of the pillars controlling the shield that led to an exit.

"Captain... Pillar two is deactivated"

After about another thirty seconds Jenkins heard from the Platoon commander of third platoon.

"Captain... The third pillar has been taken out... Waiting on you Sir"

When Jenkins reached the fourth pillar he slid onto his side and skidded to a halt, he then looked at the control panel and lifted his hand to deactivate it, once he did the top of the pillar slid down into the bottom half and decreased in size, he then ran out to the side and watched as the massive light circle around the hole flickered then dispersed into nothingness, Jenkins smiled and then radioed in the same crew of Pelicans that had dropped them in five or six minutes ago in the area.

"Pelican pilots... My team has taken out the barrier... Pick us up and take us back to the Arizona"

"Roger that Captain... Coming in now"

Jenkins re-grouped with the rest of his Company and the full group hung around for about a minute and then divided the forces and climbed onto around ten or less Pelicans in order to take the whole company back up to the ship as a whole, Jenkins sat down in a seat closest to the cock-pit, he still had not fired a single shot and would probably get a medal for it, that was the usual bull shit, all you had to do these days was participate for a medal or ribbon, no real effort was required.

[gravemind]

Grave Mind Listener Imprisoned within the 'Forerunners' world

I have waited, for the chance to be free, the glimpse of light that will ultimately allow me access to the surface worlds unending resources. And lo I behold the surface, a variable utopia of bodies and war. Humans against the Covenant. Both damned by their insight for power and their inability to grasp patience. Having waited I now am rewarded with this opportunity to strike, moving with grace and determination, into the fray, to claim the bodies of these creatures.

The Grave Mind's mighty stalk like head rose up and swept the room with its tentacles, feeling its freedom having finally come. The only way it could be awake is if the seal had failed and released him.

It then pushed out it's mental link, feeling all of the forms under its control. It needed to take all of the intelligence of this world. pushing it's tentacles up it began to pull it's stalk like form forward, through the cavernous prison it was in. It found itself at the top of the cylindrical room, where the large doors were at that they had lowered it down through.

It slid smaller tentacles into the crack of the un-powered door, the first obstruction of many, using little of its full strength it forced open the door, this action caused the team of Elites ,that were standing on it, trying to find its use, to fall in. The grave mind reacted by sliding its tentacles around them, forcing their arms into their chest and bringing them up to the face like stalk it had.

"You...." It boomed into the face of one elite "You will nourish the minds of "The One" and allow it to grow." The sangheili roared a response but the Grave Mind cared little, lowering them all into a large flock of the Infection forms, used to take the mind and bodies of all sentient life.

They swarmed the elites, cutting into their necks and sliding down to wrap their tentacles around the spines of the creature. Soon the grave mind felt even more knowledge flooding into his mind.

They have a ship...

As soon as that thought reached it, all of the flood on the planet had their priority's shifted. Instead of taking all of the sentient life on this planet, they must hurry and amass a large enough force to take one of the ships.

All of the sudden any fights the flood were part of would become more ferocious, as they felt the Grave mind's will pushing them to fight even harder.

[Spartan 999]

Special Operations Officer Sorsa 'Xirsasai

[/center]

Sorsa fired at the Enforcer until his plasma rifles hissed, overheated. He activated his camouflage, then slipped around to the side. Lirm and Kora followed him, also camouflaged. They ducked behind cover, then each threw a plasma grenade as one.

The pulsating orbs stuck to the side of the massive Sentinel, then exploded within milliseconds of one another. The Enforcer jerked away from the explosions, then turned to start firing at the three Special Operators, leaving its left side open to attack from Til and the others.

[Huka]

Major Domo Til 'Muramee

With the Enforcer's side wide open thanks to Sorsa's distraction, Til urged all of his warriors to fire at will, with no stop of plasma or explosives, but as the force burned into the Enforcer, the giant machine continued to fight and destroy the organics.

"Is this thing invincible!?" Til roared as he dodged more projectiles while his plasma rifle cooled from overheating.

[Spartan 999]

Special Operations Officer Sorsa 'Xirsasai

[/center]

Sorsa rolled, avoiding the latest volley of fire from the Enforcer. Til and those near him fired upon the massive construct, making it turn towards them now.

"Sorsa, I have an idea!" Lirm shouted to him. "But you'll need to distract it while I climb!"

"Will do." Sorsa growled, squeezing more into cover as red projectiles thudded into the metal around him. "Kora, follow me!" He sprinted out, firing at the Enforcer. Now it turned to the two Special Operators as they strafed it. The Enforcer fired at the two, sending a hail of red spikes at them.

Meanwhile, Lirm activated his camouflage as he started scaling a pillar, muscled limbs bringing him up quickly. Finally, he reached the top. He peered over the edge, hands clasping nervously as he calculated the drop was about nine to twelve meters. The Spec Ops Major looked up, then crouched low as the Enforcer drifted towards him slowly.

With a roar, Lirm sprang off the top of the pillar, managing to catch hold on top of the Enforcer. He pulled himself up, then drew and activated his energy sword. He started cutting away at the Enforcer's hull. As he cut away a large piece of metal, he saw complex lights underneath. Figuring they were crucial, he stabbed down.

The Enforcer jerked to the side, becoming dazed from the attack. Lirm lost hold on his sword as he grabbed for something to hold on to. As the Enforcer spiraled around the room, belching smoke but still firing at the various Covenant forces, Lirm pulled himself on top once more. He drew his fuel rod gun, then quickly slid the barrel into a niche in the Enforcer's armor.

"Victory...at any cost..." Lirm growled. He closed his eyes, then pulled the trigger. The Enforcer exploded in a huge fireball of metal, the flaming chassis falling to the floor with a loud bang.

Sorsa shielded his eyes until the bright light faded, then stared at the flaming remnants of the Enforcer. He crossed his fists over his hearts, saluting his brother whom he had fought with for many years. Kora did the same, as did Marum when he approached. After several seconds of honoring their fallen comrade and friend, they let their arms drop almost as one. Sorsa looked at Til, face impassive under his helmet.

"We must go; I don't think we have much time left."

[Huka]

Major Domo Til 'Muramee

Til looked at the fiery mess before them and looked to the surviving few. "We have lost many in this accursed battle. May this venture have some worth in the end." Til mused before going around the corner to get the door that held the Control Room.

But to his bewildered disturbance, he saw the door was open and corspes of Sangheili and humans were scattered about. Walking slowly with his plasma pistol in hand, he and everyone behind him, walked over a bridge that seemed to stand over a endless chasm.

Before them was a holographic console that stood before a large virtual form of the planet.

"Who?" Til's voice quivered as anger built beyond his discipline commanded. "WHO GOT HERE BEFORE US!?" He roared in fury, slamming his fists onto the surprisingly solid console, making it shimmer for a moment before it reformed properly.

"HOW DID THEY PASS US!? IT MUST HAVE BEEN HUMANS! ONLY THOSE ANNOYING CREATURES COULD HAVE GOT HERE!" The infuriated Major Domo roared in fury and dispair.

"We did this for nothing? Brother, were our efforts useless?" Til asked, his body shaking. Then a deep laugh rumbled behind them.

[Wax™]

//NOTE: ALL COVENANT PLAYERS ARE NOW ABOARD THE TWO COVENANT SHIPS THAT WERE INSIDE THE PLANET, DUFFLE WILL BE IN CHARGE OF PC'ing THE TWO SHIPS OUT OF THE PLANET AFTER THE UNSC SHIPS//

//NOTE: THE FIRST PART OF THIS POST IS A FORCE POST... MEANING ALL UNSC FORCES ARE NOW ON UNSCS ARIZONA OR TITAN, IF YOU WERE AT THE CONTROL CENTER YOU ARE ON THE TITAN//

CO of the UNSCS Titan (NPC)

"Captain..." The Operations Officer aboard the Titan spoke.

"What is it Lieutenant?"

"All UNSC remaining Forces from the ground have successful been transported onto the Titan and Arizona... Also the exit to the 'Shield-World' has been opened Sir"

"Good... Let's get out of here..." The Commander paused to contact the Admiral. "Admiral... This is the Commander of the UNSCS Titan... We have all ground forces and are now moving to the exit of this place... Following the Arizona.


The UNSCS Titan slowly heightened it's altitude before banking a hard right in a tight 360 motion the Titan soon was at the back of the UNSCS Arizona waiting to leave the Shield World.

Captain Travis 'TJ' Jenkins
First Recon Reaction Force - Able Company
Location: En:Route to UNSCS Arizona

As soon as the Pelican docked with the UNSCS Arizona Jenkins stepped right from the troop bay and re-grouped with his entire company, he stood around waiting for the the large troop to form up in front of him before addressing the company as a whole.

"Alright boys and girls! I want each and every one of you to get busy... Help un-pack and stow away our gear and tie anything down that is not needed... If you don't have anything to do... Find something to do... I don't care if it involves picking your nose or scratching your arse get to it!"

"Yes Sir!"

The company yelled in reply, Jenkins nodded to his men before looking around the massive hanger, he then made his way to one of the man sized exits that led into a corridor, Jenkins stepped through the door-way into the corridor and instantly found himself in a flurry of Marine and Naval personnel, Jenkins made his way left down the corridor to the front of the ship and took an elevator ride up two decks and made his way to the Bridge where hopefully the Admiral was, once he was in the bridge he approached the Admiral to his face and gave a crisp salute, his armor still all dirty.

"Admiral... Sir! My company has successfully opened the exit out of this place... Awaiting new orders?"

[Deleted]

Vice Admiral Klix
UNSCS Arizona
Inside Shield-World

"Captain replaying message from UNSCS Titan, they are following us, sir." The Comms officer said, before his personal comm channel opened up, giving the same message, "Admiral... This is the Commander of the UNSCS Titan... We have all ground forces and are now moving to the exit of this place... Following the Arizona." - The Admiral opened up the comm channel, and responding. "Copy that, maintain fire with the Point Defense Guns on the hostile below, they are gathering."

"Sir, SMAC systems are hot!" The Weapons officer interrupted, "Shall I charge!". The Admiral was quick to cut him down. "Negative, bring all reactors online and put them into engines. I want maximum output on all reactors."

Then, the Admiral's Comm channel buzzed again, this time it was a Marine Captain relaying his message that his forces managed to open the hatch protecting the space outside, but the Admiral already knew this, "Captain. Scan all areal vehicles for spores or anything of this new contact."

"Navigation, bring us around, arbitrary heading three-two-two, inclination two point four one." The Admiral ordered, "Followed by a course correction of three-three-one, declination three-five after we are close to the opening, then level off vertically and get out of this planet."

"Aye, aye." The Navigation's officer replied, typed on the command and the holo-table in the middle of the Bridge updated with the new course. It had them almost above the hole, then pointing downwards to exit. On full power, it would take seconds to clear.

"Ops, how far is the Titan?" The Admiral asked, "Admiral, they are on our tail, maintaining safe distance from out reactors." The Ops officer replied, realized the holo-table had not been updated and typed in a quick command that showed a live feed of the Titan.

The Admiral braced his chair, the clock on the main screen counted down, and keyed the //ALL HANDS// button. "All hands in low gravity rooms hang on to something, that included for this time the hanger bays!"

The Arizona's main view etched downwards, followed by a hole growing larger and larger by the second. Then the maneuvering thrusters fired, sent the massive Cruiser into a parallel line with what the Navigator had planned, pointing straight towards the small hole.

Then the Arizona accelerated, leaving the inside of the shield world and proceeded towards the atmosphere that lay on the other side, and eventually space its-self.

[z]

Eden Lawrence

Edne was out for the count. The Medics had taken care of the bleeding, and any nasty infections she might have picked up. And she was still out... She was going to need a prosthetic.

Her body rested on the medical bed, patched up with her armor peeled away.

This was going to be a fun story to tell Actual.

REVIVE ACTUAL

"REVIVE-1 through REVIVE-6 give me a report." The woman said, holding herdatapad up and speaking into her earpiece.

"I cannot get a camera feed. Report in now." She demanded.

[Spartan 999]

Special Operations Officer Sorsa 'Xirsasai

[/center]

Sorsa growled low in his throat, looking around at the four other Special Operators. So many had died... He did wonder if all this death was in vain. It certainly seemed that way. Still, that was war; many died for something they could not get to in time.

As he opened his mandibles to say...something to Til, he heard the dark laugh sound behind him. He whirled, plasma rifles in hand as he looked to see what was there.

[Huka]

Captain Major Valerius

Emerging from the shadows, the savage captain stepped forward with most of Telus' pack and his own behind him. His bloody axes sliding on the ground, the one-eyed Jiralhanae looked around the control room and finally to the Sangheili before him.

"Once more, the Sangheili fail to prove their insignificant worth before our Gods." Valerius mocked with an evil smirk. "It is a cruel revelation isn't it, Major?"

Til was still facing away, his armored mandibles clicking.

"Now, what to do with failures like you? Maybe throwing you into the Abyss will allow you to think over your disgrace before you finally hit its bottom." Valerius laughed. “Probably a better fate than your precious lance, hmm?”

That was the last insult!

Til slammed his fists with a savage snarl before spinning to face the Jiralhanae before him, a lot more than him, but no one insults his dead warriors.

Charging before Sorsa, or anyone, could stop him, the furious Major Domo grabbed his spear from his waist, allowing it extend in his charge.

Valerius was somewhat surprised but was more than prepared for a thrust.

A tactic that came first in Til, but instead, he somersaulted into the air, curled into a ball for a split-second, and kicked Valerius in his armored chest hard.

Coughing out air, Valerius slid back in surprise at the sudden acrobatics of the Sangheili, and roared as he swung one of his large battle-axes at the smaller creature. Barely seeing the axe coming his left side, Til jumped back, and snarled.

Following his axe, Valerius quickly became a typhoon of blades as he tried to slice the nimble Sangheili into ribbons, but he reacted to every movement with snake-like precision.

“What’s wrong, Sangheili? Too weak to face a Jiralhanae head-on, or do wish to try something more of your skill, like a pack of Therus’ Unggoy?” Valerius asked, the mention of Therus caught Til’s attention, slowing him to the point that Valerius’ axes caught his spear.

The two were at standoff, fighting with their own strength. “Yes,” Valerius growled in glee, “Therus is the one that sent the Unggoy on the temple. I gave him the order.”

Til’s resolve weakened at the words but, instead of weakness, fury rose to new height, giving him the strength to match that of Valerius.

“You will pay, Ape!” He screamed, his mandibles spread to show his feral fangs, “You will all pay!” Pushing against Valerius’ axes, his spear sparked, and broke from the combined strength of both combatants.

Roaring, Til grew closer with the broken shaft in his fist, and his energy dagger flaring in the other. Slamming the jagged weapon into Valerius’ armor, breaking his shields, Til stabbed his dagger into the Captain’s side.

Grunting at the dull pain, Valerius dropped his right axe, and grabbed the shorter Sangheili by the neck. As the claws squeezed tighter around his throat, Til tried to thicken his neck, but his windpipe was starting to close.

Refusing to die without giving Valerius a wound to remember him by, Til ripped his armed hand out, and stabbed the dagger into his forearm. Yelping at the attack, Valerius’ assaulted muscles forced him to let go, and Til-not letting Valerius go just yet-hung on the giant’s arm, and swung into a good backflip, kicking under the Captain’s chin.

Falling back, Valerius felt the Sangheili jump off his falling body, and he slammed onto the floor. There was silence for a moment before the enraged Jiralhanae jumped to his feet fast. “Kill them…” He ordered, “Kill them all.”

The pack roared and charged at the vastly-outnumbered Sangheili, Unggoy, and Kig-yar. The tired Til flared his second energy dagger and got into his fighting stance, ready to fight to the death,

When the opposing groups were about to clash, a rumble shook the place. “What the-“ L’sae said before a series of noise echoed out of the abyss.

Soon everyone’s attention was now on the Sentinel Enforcer that rose from the darkness, opening its crane-like arms, and its large orb of an eye beamed red.

(ooc: Reaper, we are now on the ships)

[Dufflepud]

Aboard the Supercruiser, CNV Divine Harbinger

Inside Shield-World


"Sir, all sip systems are online and fully functional!" called out the Master of Engineering. Almost immediately after, the Communications Master spoke as well,

"All ground forces have been secured aboard both vessels."

"Good, Jaramai" replied Tehlu, "Contact the Glorious Retribution, we are ready to leave the surface of this wretched, desecrated ruin of a world!" Atneth nodded, dextrous fingers flashing as he relayed the messege. As the Harbinger's shields came fully online Tehlu gve an audible sigh of relief. He hated to be in such a vulnerable state, especially in atmosphere. The engines of both massive, sleek vessels roared to life, blue plasma fire venting out into the atmosphere to propell the gliding shapes up through the stratosphere and into the endless, star dotted night.

The disturbing events of the surface battles and the thought of the unleashed parasite seemed to gravitate back towards the war stricken continent below, leaving Tehlu's mind and that of his crew, at least for the moment. The heirarchs would be most alarmed when they heard of the disgusting creatures that had risen up againt both the covenant and the humans.

A cheer rose among the crew, but Tehlu allowed them to revel in their unprofessional thankfullness, as they were all at their peak performance regardless. embodying this, Tsam, the Master of Navigation took the three and a half kilometer ship out of the atmosphere with little turbulence whatsoever. Finaly, the campaign that had trapped the destructive behemoth planetside, useless and defenseless, was over.

As Tehlu reclined back into his throne, he sighed once more, a feeling that, if not audibly so, was shared by every living crew member or soldier aboard either escaping vessel.

[Huka]

Major Domo Til 'Muramee

Pacing back and forth in a empty barrack with only the tired L'sae, Igri, and Sufang, Til pinched his brow between claws, he was huffing and puffing with restrained madness.

His whole lance...while almost his whole lance, killed in one foul mission. The Unggoy and Kig-yar killed the rapid Unggoy, blasted Sentinel, and...those infected devils!

His eyes shut tight as he struggled to think of Skor. He lost the closest thing to a son and little brother. Skor was going to be a strong and respectable warrior, Til could see it. If only...

Sorrow burned his soul as he saw the young...and upmost brave warrior make a final stand to protect the remnant of his lance, forcing Til to go on.

Til was force to watch as his apprentice fought on bravely against a horde of those devil with plasma rifle and shattergun in hand, before succumbing their numbers, and ending in a beautiful light of plasma.

Til have never felt such shame in his life. Never have he felt so helpless and foolish.

As the Major Domo struggled with himself, L'sae looked sad and worried. In the struggle, he nearly lost his life if were not for the sacriface of his human charge, who jumped infront of the Jiralhanae Hunter's blade.

Now, he was forced to watch Til pace in a state of internal struggle. He couldn't possibly understand the Major Domo but from looking at Igri and Sufang, this wasn't a good sign at all.

Til shook his head in brain-pulsing frustation as he started to snarl like a rapid beast. "Why did this happen?" He growled to himself.

"Commander, it wasn't yo-" Igri tried to reason but Til snapped his head at the little Unggoy with wide eyes and mandibles wide. "Don't call me that! I am not worthy of being your leader!" He screamed in anger and pain.

The scream was horrible and loud, scaring everyone in the room. Til had his right arm outstretched, shaking as his hand crackled into a fist. "I have single-handedly destroyed our lance...our brothers in my self-righteous folly." Til cried.

Igri and Sufang at one another, in disbelief and pity for their fallen leader.

Falling to his knees infront of a frightened Igri, Til looked at the scared Unggoy deep in his eyes, and dropped his head and shoulders in sorrow. "I am sorry." He whispered.

Never had Igri seen a Sangheili fall in dispair and never had imagine any, especially Til, to do so. Instead of the envisioned pride, he felt a deep connection with his commander then ever before.

"I forgive you, Til." Igri whispered. Sufang was silent, he had deep respect for the Sangheili, even enough to call him a friend, and seeing him like this was a sad sight.

Turning his head, Sufang crossed his arms, and remained so.

Slowly, Til grabbed one of his curveknives, and pull it out of its sheath. Carefully gripping it was both hands, he was perpared to finish his shame once and for all.

L'sae's eyes widened and he lunged forward, grabbing the Major Domo's arms before they made the final plunge. "No, Til. There must be some other way!" He tried to reason as the Sangheili tried vainly to end his dishonor.

"There is no other way, I have risked and lost too much to continue on walking." Til responded. "Now release me before I put this blade to your throat instead!"

Igri's hand came to assist L'sae. "He is right, Til. You have another chance. You may have lost our brothers but they still stand by you. We still stand by you. Do not put their sacrifaces in vain, you still have a destiny to fulfill." He said.

Til's eyes widened at the Unggoy's words and he asked, "What destiny is that?" His struggle loosening abit. Then a talon gripped his hands, to his surprise was Sufang's talons. "To make the Covenant stronger than it is. Bring it out of this apparent age of doubt to a age of light." The mercenary said.

Til's struggle ended and he looked down at the curveblade, realizing it was Rakath's. Rakath.

Slowly, he stood back up, rising to his feet with his eye still on the glimming blade. "This age have brought doubt to others, I will wipe this doubt, and bring closure to all. Truth will be spoken, no more regret, no more mercy to give to our enemies as I will burn a path for all to follow. We will have a end to this fight. I promise you that." Til growled, coming to a revelation of his soul.

Everyone saw the fire burning in the Major Domo's eye and shudder came to their hearts, unappear to tell if this will lead to a promising future or a horrible end.

[Deleted]

Vice Admiral Klix
UNSCS Arizona
Orbit Over Planet

"Sir.. A hole new Covenant Fleet arrived." The Ops officer reported. The Admiral sighed and responded, "Alright, thanks, Ops. Navigation, plot us a slip-space course to randomized vectors as per Cole Protocol. Comms, bring the fleet channel online."

"Admiral, channel open!" The Comms officer replied, "Aye, sir. Slip-Space course plotted." The Navigation's officer replied right after, "UNSCS Arizona hailing any UNSC Naval Forces in the area. We are not sticking around. We are slip-spacing out, I'm issuing the following order to slip-space out on randomized vectors VIA The Cole Protocol." The Admiral said, and switched his Comm channel off.

The Arizona's Fleet regrouped, what was left of it. They came in with Three Marathons, one Halcyon, five Destroyers and ten Frigates, now, all that was left was the Cruisers and a Frigate and Destroyer, and the number didn't really shock the Admiral.

The Armor plating closed and finally sealed over the main view ports around the Arizona, and the vessel entered Slip-Space, leaving behind the battle which saw many UNSC Ships and Covenant ships destroyed, many ground forces killed to the Sentinels and the Flood.

The Admiral had a long report to write, so he settled back in his command chair, raised his Personal Data Pad, and started writing into it. It was going to be a long report after all.

"Admiral!" A Marine snapped to attention.
"What do you need?"
"Sir, I was wondering if you'd like us to go into Cryo."
"No, not yet. I want a complete sweep of the ship to make sure that none of those... Balloon type creatures made it on.
"Yes, sir!" The Marine said, saluted again, and left the bridge, issuing some-sort of order to the Navy Security Force.

"Engineering, I want repairs to the Reactors at one-hundred before we exit slip-space. We will use this time we have to our advantage, open the rec-rooms and restore power to the gaming consoles and around the vessel." The Admiral ordered.

"Yes, sir!" The Engineer officer replied, with a smile.

[kel]

--Kel--

"There! The ship!" She exclaimed as the Covenant ship came into view upon their entry of a platform.

"Hurry Kel! They're taking off!" Zhal ordered in a panicked voice. The sentry still pursued them, and they were running out of breath, and becoming sluggish.

Zhal hurled his last plasma grenade at the machine in an effort to slow it down as they darted for the ship. The fighter bay was just coming into sight.

"No! Wait! Wait!" Kel called out, barely audible over the roar of the engines. She fired a few rounds at the shield, hoping someone inside would take notice and assist them in their plea for help.

[Wax™]

LOCKED FOR THE START OF THE INTERMISSION.